The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-09
RAVENNA, O., WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1890.
A RIP VAN WINKLE OF '4e.
He Arrives in San Francisco from New
York by Mule Team.

Mustang Tom is in town, says the
San Francisco Examiner. He might
have been seen yesterday driving
about on a blackboard driven by a
pair of small brown mules. The rig
is n curiosity in its way, and the APP
pearance of general decay that fingers
about it tells of the hardships through
which it has passed. While making a
tour of the city yesterday Tom was
the magnet that attracted all eyes,
and when he pulled up alongside of
the curb stone long enough to visit a
convenient saloon Il crowd would gath
er to inspect the odd craft.
The blackboard has a seat large
enough to hold Tom and his dog Bos-
ton, a water spaniel of uncertain line
age. On the back of the seat is
strapped rusty army musket, which
has been the close companion of its
owner for twenty years. Where the
whip-socket should be an old shovel is
securely tied with the handle down
ward. A roll of blankets, in which is
wrapped an ancient frying-pan, cof-
fee-pot, and a few provisions, is tied on
the blackboard over the hind axle, and
completes the outfit with which Tom
had just made q trip across the plains.
He left New York about eighteen
months ago. visited friends in Missouri,
ri, passed through Salt Lake City, drove
on to Tombstone, Ari., struck up north
to Idaho, went through Montana and
eastern Oregon, crossed to Nevada,
and by slow stages worked his way to
this city.
When seen yesterday by the Erana-
i11e2' reporter he was dressed in a suit
badly in need of repairs. His head
was crowned by a weather-beaten,
bro;,d-brim, sIouch hat, once white,
and his feet were incased in pair of
army programs, many sizes too big,
and united. He is veritable Rip
Van Winkle of 40. Tom gathered
himself together when questioned,
and told the following story:
My names Tom Stewart, and was
born in Pennsylvania nigh on sixty
four years ago. I've been across the
plains three times, and have never
ridden foot of the way on boat or
a car. The first time | came over was
in 40, along with Il party from Boone
county, Missouri. l went to work
mining, and in '53 came TO Frisco with
fifteen pounds of gold dust and 81, 900
in slugs. l bought an outfit and went
east again, but returned the latter part
of 80.
Il worked about the mines again for
while, got married to gal at Peta-
luna, where l lived until my wife died,
about twenty years ago leaving a baby
girl. l left her with her grand folks,
and have not seen her since, but they
tell me she's fine-looking, likely young
woman now. After my wife died 1
commenced to wander about, and
have kept it up ever since.
THE smallest of them mules is
Jenny. 1 bought her sixteen years
ago, and I've kept her ever since. She
helped draw me around, and has
worn-out three mates in her day. She's
a tough one, she is
How long have you been making
your last round trip?"
Nigh on to three years. guess. In
1887 was in Idaho prospecting I
made a strike, sold out for 81, 600, and
concluded to go and see my uncle at
Pitsburg, Pa. l bought the buck
board and mate for Jenny, and started.
l couldn't pack any provisions, but
bought them along the line. When I
ran short used that old musket you
see there. I've carried her since l left
Petaluma, and can kill with her at 100
yards. l went through Salt Lake City
going back east, 1 remember, but 1
don't recollect the other big cities I
passed through. l drove into New
York, stayed there couple of weeks,
and then went and saw my uncle.
Il couldn't stand that country, so I
hitched up one morning and headed
for California. l came by the way of
Missouri, and stopped over Il few days
at Boone county TO see my old friends,
but found them all dead or gone. l then
drove to Salt Lake City, and from
there l went to Tombstone. I pros
pected week, but struck not hing, and
headed for Idaho.
From there l drove to Montana.
| that was about six months ago, and
the snow began to fall, and l crossed
over to Oregan and into northern Cal
ifornia. Here 1 got caught in snow
| blockade. Well, | never saw any thing
like it. l thought I'd perish, but luck
was with me, and by hard work l got
into Nevada, travelled south for a
while, crossed the Sierra Nevadas, and
was once again in California. l got to
this town Saturday night, and expect
to start off again for Arizona in day
or two."
,"Have you got any money!"
mo, l don't need much. l can get
feed for my team, dog, and myself
most anywhere 1 go, and that's all l
want"
''Have you many relatives living in
the east?''
''Well 1 don't know how many OF
them's living. but there was quite a
family of us. My father, Robert
Stewart, and my brother Bob were
both union men, and got killed in the
battle of Bull Run. Jim, another
brother, was a rebel, and was captain
of the Black Horse cavalry at Bull
! Run. I'm rebel, too. Just so much
so now as l ever was. Jim and mes
good ones. tell you. Jim's running
the postoffice now at Washington.
'When l leave this city I'm going
mining. I'd rather mine than eat,
would.
4 Tom passed the first night in towr
in room of a cheap lodging-house
In narrating his experience yesterday
he said:
That's the first time I've slept in ;
bed in fifteen years, and l don't wan
no more of it. I'd rather lay on tn,
floor
While driving down Market street
near Stockton, yesterday, Tom got il
front of car of the Market stree
line. The gripman rang the bell, bu
Tom, without giving the least heed t
the gong, leisurely drove along. ii
almost caused a blockade, and fly
cars were strung out behind him, whel
the gripman of the first train jumpe'
off, grabbed Jenny by the bride, an
; shouted:
why don't you take that thing o
the track?"
Tom placidly turned around, intend
ing to bring the musket into play, an
responded, ''Well why don't you 6
l around me?"
1t took the influence of policema
to convince him that cable cars can
Y turn out for mule teams.
0 Do AIligators Swallow Stones?
g The Indians on the banks of the U