The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-02
OLD CALIFORNIA
AS 1T WAS IN 40.
General John Bidwell's RecOllec-
tiOn of Very Early Days.
What Insrired the First Emigration Move
ment-The First Train Across the Plains.
An Indian Scare.
JOHN BIDwELL of

@FENERAL j Ohm BIDWELL OF
49, Chico has written for the current
3s issue Of the Century a very interest
ing article, embodying his recollections OF
the very early days of California, and
from that article the following extracts are
taken:
In November or December Of 1910, while
still teaching school in Platte County, L
came across q Frenchman named Rou BIZ
deaux. who said he had been to California.
His description was in the superiative de-
gree favorable. so much so that l res olved
if possible TO see that wonderful land, and
with others helped to get up meeting at
Weston and invited him to make a state
ment before it in regard to the country.
At that time when man moved out west
as soon as he was fairly settled he wanted to
move again, and naturally every question
imaginable was asked in regard to this Won
derful country. Roubdeaux described 1t as
one of perennial spring and boundless Ter
tilty, and laid stress on the countless tnou-
sands OF wild horses and cattle. tie told
about oranges, and hence must have been at
Los Angeles or the Mission of San Gabriel,
few miles from it. Every conceivable
question that we could ask him was an
swered favorably. Generally the first Ques-
ton that Missourian asked about cOnh,
try was whether there was any fever ana
ague. [ remember his answer distinctly.
He said there WAS but one man in CallIorhla
that had ever had chill there, and 1t was
matter of so much wonderment to the peo-
pie of Monterey that they went eighteen
miles into the country to see him snake.
Nothing could have been more Satisfactory
on the score of health.
He said that the Spanish authorities were
most friendly. and that the people were the
most hospitable on the globe; that you could
travel all over California and 1t would cost
you nothing for horses or food. Even the
Indians were friendly. His description OF
the country made it seem like paradise
THE FIRST EMIGRANT-TRAIN.
On leaving Weston, where there had been
so much opposition, we were six or seven IN
number, and nearly half the town followed
us for mile, and some for five or SIX miles,
TO bid us good-by, showing the deep interest
wishes and desired to hear from US. When
we reached Sapling Grove, the place of rem
devious, in May, 1S41 there was but one
wagon ahead of us. For the next few days
one or two wagons would come each DAY, ana
among the recruits were three families from
Arkansas.
Every one furnished his own supplies.
The party consisted of sXty-nine, Including
men, women and children. Our teams were
Of oxen, mules and horses. We had no
cows. as the later emigrants usually had,
and the lack Of milk was a great deprivation
to the children. 1t was understood that
every one should have not less than barrel
of flour with sugar and so forth to
suit; but / laid in one hundred pounds
OF -four more than the usual quantity.
besides other things. This 1 did because
we were told that when we got into
the mountains we probably would get out OF
bread and have TO live on meat alone, which
l thought would kill me even if it did not
others.
My gun was an old f1int-lock rifle, but
coed one. Old hunters told me to have
nothing TO do with caps or percussion locks,
that they were unreliable. and thati got my
caps or percussion wet l could not shoot,
while if | lost my flint | could pick up an
other on the plains. doubt whether there
was one hundred dollars in money in the
whole party, but all were enthusiastic and
anxious to go.
AN INDIAN SCARE.
The first incident was scare that we had
from party of Cheyenne Indians just be-
fore we reached the Platte River, about two
weeks after We set out. One of our men,
who Glanced to be out hunting some distance
from the company and behind us, suddenly
appeared without mule, gun or pistol, and
lacking most of his clothes, and in great eX-
element reported that he had been sur
rounded by thousands of Indians. The
company, too, became excited, and Captain
Fitzpatrick tried, but with little effect, to
control and pacify them. Every man started
bis team into run, till the oxen, like the
mules and horses, were in a full galop.
Captain Fitzpatrick went ahead and directed
them to follow, and rs fast as they came to
the bank CT the river he put the wagons in
the form of hollow square and had all the
animals securely picketed within.
After while the Indians came in sight
There were only forty Of them, but they
were well mounted on horses, and were evil
IDENTIFY war party for they had no women
except one, medicine woman. They came
up and camped within a hundred yards
Of tho riyar hatnyv Eitzpatripx
told us that they would not have come in
that way if they were hostile. Our hunter
in his excitement said that there were
thousands of them and that they had robbed
him of his gun, mule and pistol.
When the Indians had put up their lodges
Fitzpatrick and John Gray, the old hunter
mentioned, went out 10 Them and by signs
were made to understand that the Indians
did not intend to hurt the man or to take his
mule or gun, but that he was so excited when
he saw them that they had 10 take his gun
to keep him from shooting them. They did
not know what had become of bis pistol or
of his clothes, which he said they had torn
off. They surrendered the mule and the gun.
thus showing that they were friendly. They
proved TO be Cheyenne Indians Ever after
ward that man went by the name of Chey-
enne Dawson.
THE FIRST BIG TREE.
Just at dark | came to an enormous fallen
tree and tried to go around the top, but the
place was too bruShy, so l went around the
butt, which seemed to mt to be about twenty
or twenty-five feet above my head. This
suppose to have been one of the fallen trees
in the Calaveras Grove of Sequoia gigantea
or mammoth trees, as | have since been
there, and to my own satisfaction identified
the lay of the land and the tree. Hence [
concluded that | must have been the first
white man who ever saw the Sequoia gil
gantea lin 1S4D Of which l told Fremont
Iz T.1sf -. -