Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-19
GOLD MINERS OR ts4s.
HOW THE "BELLEvILLE BOYS" MADE
THE TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
Stories of the Old Times of Excitement
and Adventure on the
Road.
From the Chicago Herald.l

carried off more people than the much
tallled-of Ia grippe is likely to do. 1t was
known as the California fever" John G.
Fremont, "the Pathfinder" had just made
a report of his wonderful trip across the
desert, and every country paper was filled |
with glowing accounts of the vast amount |
of gold that was being picked up all over
that territory, and "Fremont's Guide was |
in demand in every hamlet. The fever
struck the town of Belleville, ST. Clair
county, IN this State, with terrible force.
woman and child was affected, and there
was probability of a complete evacuation
of the place. Public meetings were called
to devise means of emigrating to Califor-
MIA. Every person who was supposed to
have any knowledge on the subject of gold
was sought for and invited to address the
people. The report, however, of the Sc
we're winters in the Rocky mountains and
the discovery of whole family who had
persisted in the snow, had cooling effect
on the fever, and as spring approached the
| epidemic had subsidized, and people APP
peared to return to their usual avocations.
OF the large number affected in Belle
vile there were but eight who did not re-
cover and who were subsequently known
all along the trail to California as the
'Belleville Boys" The company con-
sisted of William S. Thomas, Edward H.
Fleming, D. H. Murray, Charles Sargent,
James West, Christopher Oatman, Horace
West and William n. Belt. These men
| formed an association with w. S. Thomas
as President and E. H. Fleming as Secre-
tary. They held nightly meetings to talk
about California and to acquire informa-
ton. Fremont's Guide was in constant
use. 1t appeared to be the accepted opin-
ion of these men that they would be the
only company or the plains and that when
they left "the States" they would never
see white men again till they should re-
turn, and accordingly signed an agreement
to associate together for two years for bust
ness purposes.
In preparing their outfit the United
States army rations were taken as basis
and army supplies for two years for eight
men were laid in. An assessment of $500
to each individual was levied and con-
tracts made for three of the best wagons
that could be put up at that time-two
large sized four-horse conveyances built
especially for heavy freight and one large
two-horse wagon intended exclusively for
baggage and mess chest. The country for
miles around was secured for appropriate
oxen, and ten yoke of the best cattle to be
found in all Egypt" were procured. The
general place of RENDEZVOUS was the coun-
try store kept by "old man" Murray,
who took lively interest in everything
connected with the trip. The winter of
AS was very similar to that of 'S9, with
perhaps more rainfall. At one time it was
suggested by old man Murray, who had
been reading Freemonts account of the
mirage, that they would have to give up
their trip if it did not stop raining, for,
said he, "The mirage will be so bad on
the plains it will be impossible to get
them big wagons over there"
There were but few companies that
crossed the plains in '49 that were better
equipped than the BellevilIe boys. Each
man was required to furnish himself with
at least two years clothing, irst-class
rife and two pistols, and each had large
sized Bowie knife made from a mill file
specially for the occasion. Each of the
large wagons had four yoke of large oxen,
and the baggage wagon had two yoke of
lighter cattle. The 10th of April, 1S49,
was memorable day in Belleville, when
the caravan drove out of town, with the
whole population assembled to bid them
"godspeed." 1t was the original intention
to load the wagons at st. Louis, but the
fear of old man Murray's "mirage" in Mis-
souri, prevented that and four of the COM
pany were selected to drive the empty
wagons to st. Joe, while the other four ac-
companied the 1000 pounds of freight and
1000 pounds of baggage to st. Joe by
steamboat, and Notwithstanding the fact
that it was near the LIST of May when they
left St. Louis, they arrived in ST. Joe sew
eral days before the wagons-all on ac-
count of the mirage"
The immense nu mber of "outfits' they
found at st. Joe on their arrival dispersed
all their former notions as to their being
the only company on the plains, and many
propositions were made to dispense with
part of the two years provisions, but after
many days spent in discussion and
planning it was finally decided TO
take it all along. The many stories
told of Indian depredations induced them
to join company of 100 men with forty
wagons. But few days travel with this
uuwieldv caravan satisfied them a smaller
company was much more preferable. At
Fort Kearny they drew out with two
other wagons and six men from St. Clair
county, Illinois, and formed train known
good Judgment in selecting camping
grounds and making short drives they ar
rived at the future site of Marysville,
I n 1,4. Nf
their departure with all their cattle in as
good condition as when they started and
with their two years provisions intact.
"There is nothing that will try man
like trip across the plains was COM
mon proverb at that time, and the expert
ence of the Bellville Boys proved 1t to be
true. Although they had accomplished
the most difficult portion of their journey,
and had arrived at that place where the
carrying out of their agreement would
have made each man millionaire within
the time specified, yet by common consent
the agreement was torn up and the prop
ertv disposed of at fabulous prices, and
each man started out on his own hook.
They had had many incidents and acct
dents in their five months travels, and
had had many quarrels and misunder-
standings, OUT all nau ueen dmlCdoiy
settled, and they had all arrived in the
center of the future Ell Dorado in good
health and in good financial position, yet
no inducement could be offered that would
! prevent them from doing what each man
soon discovered was the most foolish thing
that any set of men ever did-disband.
There are but three left of the Belle
vile Boys. Two of these are still citizens
of Belleville and one a resident of this
city. 1t is for the purpose of gathering to-
gether the remaining fragments of bands
like this that the Western Association of
California Pioneers has recently been or
ganized in this city, for the purpose of
gathering together, at least once a year,
and comparing notes of the ''good" old
times in California.
The association will celebrate the ami
versary OF the discovery of gold in Califor-
MIA on January 18th, and will give ban
quet at which many of the men who
crossed the plains in as and 40 will be
present.
AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE.
Bronson Howard, the playwright, is
rroi1cr 70 Eurnna at nuce He NAV be abb