Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-13
A GOLD HUNTER.
The Itinerary Across the
Continent in 1849.
J. H. HIxsoN's UNIQUE DIARY
From the Missouri River to Sacra
mento in the Days of the
Argonauts Mapped Out.


mento In the Days of the
Argonauts Mapped Out.
J. M. Hixson is real estate man of
this city. and his robust frame is
familiar figure on Spring street these
days. He was for years one of the lead
ing fruit commission men in San Fran
cisco and is known all over the State of
California. He came across the conti-
nent in 1S49, and he kept diary of his
journeys, which he still preserves. A
HERALD reporter learning this prevailed
on Mr.. Hixon to copy parts Of it for
publication. and the first installment
fellows here, to be succeeded from time
to time with other portions of the story,
which must prove interesting after q
lapse Of forty-two years:
THE START.
My journal commences May 1, 1S49,
Camp No. /, one-half mile south of the
Missouri river, on the road from Liberty,
Clay county, Missouri, to Independence
via the Blue Mill Landing terry.
Our party consisted of eight men, who
owned nineteen mules and three wagons
| we'll loaded with provisions. clothing,
| firearms and ammunition sufficient to
last US on our long journey and for some
time after we reached our destination.
We bade adieu to our friends at IL q. m i.
on Tuesday, May 1st, in the streets OF
Liberty, and took up our line of march,
/ cracking our whips over the heads OF
our mules. We followed the main road
to where it crosses the town branch
there we turn to the left for the ferry.
The ferryboat was q poor excuse of the
style used along the Missouri river at the
time, with fiat bottom, propelled by
strong men pulling on long oars on each
side, with steersman in the hind end.
We had considerable trouble in getting
our stubborn mules into the rickety old
boat. The river was high and the cur
rent strong, and before the boat reached
the opposite shore we were mile
or two below the landing. By getting
on shore with long lines, and pulling
and pushing with long poles in the shall
low places, We managed to reach the
landing before sundoxn. AS this was
nothing unusual to the ferrymen in their
ordinary daily business, and hundreds Of
people and thousands of stock cross this
ferry annually, suppose should have
said nothing about it.
However, we were all happy soon
had good camping place, and having
had supper that tasted good, We rolled
in our blankets for good nights rest
without anv fear of Indians.
| May 2-We came to
CAMP NO. 2,
Near Mr.. Rice's farm, nine miles west
of Independence. We were all up early
this morning, we'll refreshed, after good
nights sleep, at our first outdoor camp.
After breakfast Of good Coffee. of our
by holding it over the fire,
good light bread presented US by friends
ready for Che at day'sh sh6mh hj66marheyy ye Wer@ aeon
On ascending the hill towards Inde-
pendence, when near Staples farm, we
could see Liberty some twelve miles
away. While sitting on my mule, gaz.
ing over the familiar places, my mind
reverted to many happy hours spen,
there during the past four years, and
thought of the unknown future in the
trackless plains ahead. A feeling oi
melancholy possessed me for time.
was somewhat skep.ical as to the correct.
ness of the chart the blind phrenologist
gave me once when be examined my
head. He said 'habitation" was not
we'll developed; that cared but little
where was 80 that was surrounded by
a lot of good, jolly fellows. Many of his
assertions / thought correct, and did
not know until this morning but that
this was all so. I doubted it now, for l
thought old Liberty and it's surround.
ings would always be dear to me.
On arriving at Independence we dis
posed OF some of our provisions, having
more weight to haul than we thought it
safe to tax our mules with, in the soft
condition of the roads and the prospect
of short grass. We sold 200 pounds of
-four and beans tor what they cost us.
AS there were rumors of several cases of
cholera in Independence we did not tarry
long in the town, but drove outside and
camped early in the afternoon. This
was lively camp. 1t was the great
rendezvous and outfitting place on this
side of the Missouri river for great
many of the gold-seekers. MIR. Rice
had large farm, and feed of all kinds
for man aud beast was abundant and
cheap in the surrounding country-corn,
oats and hay for animals, and fresh meat
and vegetables for men. A great many
emigrants who made up their outfits at
other places stopped here to recruit them
selves and their teams and wait for the
roads to dry and the grass to grow. All
OF US recognized the fact that it was at
least two weeks too early to start out on
the plains, where no feed but the short
and tender grass, with but little SUBJ
stance, could be had for the stock. But
all were impatient to get on. We wanted
to be ahead and get what there was.
A great many had already started out on
their long journey. There were q great
many here who had driven their stock
from Southern and Eastern Missouri, H.
linois, and PERHAPS other States, through
the mud, which told heavily on them.
Others had brought their entire out
fit,. wagons, provisions and ami
male, up the river on steamboats,.
while great many were here in camp,
who came by boats and depended on
getting their animals, wagons and all
their outfit here. They had no difficulty
in finding everything they waited, for
there were thousands of mules from one
year old to quarter of century, and
oxen of all ages and conditions.
and plenty of wagons in Independence
that the contractors would not accant