Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-17
Only 9 of the Sc of This Vicinity Able to
Gather at the Annual Banquet
Board Last Evening.
A SEASON OF SORRY "REMINISCENCES.
The Tales Of Adventure trd Hroism Told BY Some Of
the Old. Timers.


youngest 81. The association was formed Is
members have seen where death has.reduced
the number. William O'Hara Scully
was the latest to die The old boys, with
their hair whitened by age, sat in Mr..
Skaters parlor and exchanged experience:
about the trip across the plains. which was
made in wagons.
| Major f. {. Negley acted as chairman
| and made an address of welcome. Then the
election of officers was held, with this re-
suit: Major Negley, President; W. j.
Bender, Secretary, and Henry Dickson,
| Treasurer.
Proposed Repetition Of Their Trip.
A committee was appointed TO arrange
for an excursion of the society to California
next summer. Letters of regret were read
and committee named which will select
the place for the next reunion. Those
present were Felix C. Negley, w. j. Ben
der, Henry Dickson, A. F. Gregg, George
NJ. Dosch, Walter j. Martin, John Glenn,
Jacob Cupps and William Shafer.
Major Negiey read over the list of the
someone announced what had become of the
members. Dead" was the prevailing an
swer 10 the roll call. When mess 2S was
reached, quite discussion arose over the
number, and who belonged to it. When
the numbers were given the clerk gave
the number TO one mess, the captain
gave the same number TO another mess, and
the Treasurer said it belonged to third,
making three messes with the same number.
Neither would give up and considerable
confusion followed. When mess 81 was
reached Major Negley stopped at the name
of John Lytle, and said:
One of the Noblest of Men.
'There was man among men, one of the
noblest that ever lived. John Lytle was
taken sick with a cold, which afterward de-
veloped into consumption, and he finally
concluded to 60 home to die, and took
passage on the Garden City Tor home via
Cape Horn. On the way down the coast the
vessel encountered storm and finally
oundered. There wasn't room enough in
the lifeboats :or the passengers and crew,
and ii was decided to draw lots for seats
in the boats. Lytle drew a lucky num-
Der. After taking his seat he discovered
a woman with babe in her arms standing
on the deck, and Immediately insisted on
her taking his place, which she did after
some persuasion. Lytle stood on the deck
of the sinking vessel and waved a last fare
well as the boats let its side. That was the
last seen of John Lytle, and his name is the
most honoreG in our association.
After going over the names the assenblage
adjourned to the dining room, where they
discussed an elegant supper which
only the wife of forty-niner
could prepare. After supper came the toasts.
'Our Country" was responded to by
Major f. c. Negley, who said: mo one
act helped more to break up slavery than
toe admission of California into the Urion
as free State, and to do this our Pittsburs
and California Enterprise Company con-
tributed its snare.
Situation of Slavery at the Time.
"At that time there were 10 free and Is
slave States, and the advocates of slavery
had possession of California. They were
confident of bringing it into theU nion as a
slave State, and thus have a majority, but
the thousands of patriotic young men who
providentially were taken there by the gold
fever upset all the plans of the shareholders
and carried it as free State into the Union.
time will be felt more as future centuries
come and 60"
The toast california" was responded to
by Henry Dickson, who said California is
the grandest State in the Union. Her re-
sources are almost beyond conception. The
large gold fields, tall trees, rich vegetation
and mountain scenery that surpasses in
grandeur the Alps, all 60 TO entitle her to
the name.
The toast 1.-THE Pittsburg and California
Enterprise Company" was handled by w.
J. Bender, who gave little history of their
trip from P!ttsburg to the gold regions He
said: "We assembled at the wharf in front of
the Monongahela House on March 10, 1S49,
at o'clock P. NJ, after bidding goodbye
to our friends and relatives, many for the
last time. We took passage on the steamer
Consignee. That night we ran into boat
on its way up the river, but were not hurt.
The accident dampened the arGor of the
company, because it was the first night and
some of the superstitious thought it an ill
omen.
Camped Outside OF st. Joseph.
"We reached St. Joseph March 81, and
camped outside of that city on a level plain
of about 100 acres. 1 have since visited
this place, and found the river flowing
silently along where we formerly had
camped. After some delay part of the
company became tired of waiting and de-
cided TO 60 on. This was the first split in
the company. About the first of Nav the
balance started, and made 25 miles the first
day, but at the stopping place there was
no water or grass, and finally Is of the
messes decided to 60 on to better camping
ground. Fortunately, few miles further
plenty of grass and water were found. We
1n1A Aad pIl Co.
dreds OF miles, most of the time with bare
feet, not that we hadn't covering for
then, but it was so hot that our boots be-
came stiff, and we could not wear them.
When we first reached the Sierra
Nevada Mountains we struck cabin
that had been built during the
previous winter. The stumps of the trees
on which it was built were 20 feet high.
showing how deep the snow was when it
was erected. A short distance further on
we came on the bones of the Madona family,
who had eudeavored to push on from the
cabin and persisted In the snow.
"Our ascent up the mountain was peril
Gus. Often we had to fasten our teams to-
gether with lariats. and take hold of
the brides to prevent them from falling
back.
Fever Germs Made Into Ornaments.
"On reaching the top our descent was
even more hazardous. The wagons had
to be taken apart and lowered
piece by piece, and the teams
led down in zig-zag course. Finally we
reached the bottom and Immediately went
to work hunting for the little germs that
had caused the fever, and we
found and stored away in little
bags a goodly number, which were
finally brought East. to be turned into use
iul articles
The meeting adjourned at 11:3o O'Clock.