Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-13

century old than to have those under 4
years. When an animal is shedding his
teeth and his gums are sore, he does
not take kindly to cottonwood limbs.
sage brush and greasewood and mine
had to live on such diet sometimes, We
had only two American mules in orr
band OF nineteen these were years old
The others were Spanish and most of
them small, and of uncertain age; but
should say there were more of them
over Is years old than under. My riding
mule was brought in from California by
one of'Fremont's men, and one we called
Jimmy Burns" had just returned from
q trip to Santa Fe, where / bought him
tie first day of the year. One we called
the "She Devil" Major Lane thought
was at the battle of San Jacinto with
others captured by Santa Ana. Well. as
to the stock to make the trip, we will see
which is the best, old or young mules,
American or Spanish, old or young oxen
for all kinds were brought into requisi-
ton.
Men of all sizes. ages and conditions,
rich and poor, old and young, all anxious
to get there before all the gold was dug
out, we're of the company. Gold, gold,
that magic word Man, man, thou
strange creature! Home, family, with
all the comforts that could be asked for,
to render one happy, if contented, are
left behind. and the rush is on to Cali
fornia, the gold dust to seek This rush
in some respects reminds one of the de-
scription given of the crusaders.
The first published account of Califor-
MIA gold was in the Missouri Republican,
in September, 184S, and small amount
of the gold was brought into Andrew
county, Missouri, by returned Mormon
soldier, in October, of the same year,
4 and in nine months there were more
than SO, 900 people pressing forward by
land over an unknown country of more
than 2,000 miles to seek gold. was moi
actuated by the same motive. Mr.. Sed
wick had said it was bound to be q
great commercial country; that in
time the trade of the East Indies must
be carried on from our possessions on
the Pacific coast. Being ambitious tc
follow my business, that of merchant
went with the crowd. OF course
would not refuse to pick up some gold il
found it around loose.
| Among the company there was one
party from large city in one of the
Middle States that was noticeable. They
we're mostly young men, unaccustomec
to labor and with no experience o.
animals, or, indeed, any OF the details O
business which was essential TO make an
outfit-to get the right kind of animals
or wagons suitable for the trip and tht
provision necessary to preserve healtl
and keep up strength on fatigue marches
They had large wagons, such as wer,
used by the freiehters to Santa Fe, wher,
they only travelled few miles day
They had young, unbroken American
mules. 1t was an interesting sight t.
see two or three of these chaps swingin,
to lariat, the mule dragging then
about the corral. Poor fellows, many o
them looked as though they had neve
been accustomed to any kind of hard
ship; indeed they looked as though the.
had been led around holding on to thei
mothers' apron-strings. No doubt man.
of them wished they were there still
They knew nothing about catching, har
Messing and hitching up team. The,
had plenty of time to learn before the
reached the "diggings."