The record-union., 1891-03-08

rOdCS 10 lQ0 mines was more IMAM repre-
sented in the city. 1t was greatly in ex-
means that human thought could suggest
was employed to attract the shonest
MINER and induce him to take refuge at
the "Pilgrim's Rest, and enjoy all the
comforts of home." can recall moth
ing. belonging to that period of romance
and thrifty enterprise that can surpass
the novelty and quaint designs then in
use TO entice the wayfarer into the. Home
for the Weary and Storage for Trunks"
/ staid but a few days in the young
and growing city," but while I did stop
there took the 'busy world" all in, not
forgetting to look in upon the seductive
scenes Of the Diana, ""Magnolia" and
was both brilliant and alluring, and men
who had never quailed before went down
under its beguiling influences never to
rise again.
EN- ROUTE TO AUBURN RAvINE.
It was early in December that myself
and companions left the city for Auburn
Rayine, where we had built cabin and
settled down for the winter. We crossed
the ferry with twelve heavily-laden
rainstorm. The roads, which had been
''hardef than a wedge" and 'dryer than
a bone" all the way down, had been
churned into sheet of mud during our
stay in the city. The rainy season had
set in, and the whole distance between
the two points seemed to have changed
into veritable mud-hole, in which both
down out Of sight, leaving nothing but
their hats and horns to mark the spot
where they had disappeared. We passed
many jaded oxen on the way back, and
saw many wagons submerged in mud.
We put in helping hand all along the
road and prayed" for the teamsters who
had blackened the air with blasphemy.
By picking our way along the sides of
the road, we managed to get along fairly
well, and yet we found it a hard road to
travel, and were only too glad to reach our
cabin, where the rest Of the boys were
anxiously awaiting our return. The
cOmpany'S goods were carefully removed
and housed, the mules bedded down in
the open air, and before grateful fire,
extending across the end of our cabin, we
sat down and told our story of visit to a
great city.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1852.
In the fall of 1852 was keeping small
restaurant at No. 3 X street, Sacramento
City, and the sign that swung over the
sidewalk was conspicuous for one thing
it told the newcomer where he might get
served to an oyster stew for 81. The bulk
of my business was over, and l was
GuiOeAy hithluS up NY Cs,Sh dCCOuut iOI
the day. Just then two young men were
seen surveying my premises, and mo-
ment later they walked in and took seats
at the table. It was hard to tell Just who
or what those men were. The larger of
the two wore a stove-pipe hat, a blue
flannel shirt and linen duster. The
other wore q woIhan's night-cap, striped
girded tightly round bis waist. There
was mischief there Of some sort, and
though nothing was said which gave me
a clue to their occupation, yet from their
strong, muscular frames and the fore
castle odor that arose from their clothing,
l became convinced that they We're sail
ors just ashore on spree.
They called for oysters, which were
served, and during the half-hour they re-
| manned they amused themselves greatly
at my expense / kept cool, Just the
same, and allowed the boys the fullest
latitude for rude remarks and quaint
suggestions; Upon paying their bill,
they disappeared in the darkness of the
night. Two hours later, and while was
playing euchre with party Of friends,
the
ALARM OF FIRE
Came up quick and shrll from the direc-
ton of J and Fourth streets. The alarm
becoming general, we dropped our cards
and started out. 1t was chilly Novem-
Der night, the wind blowing fresh from
the northwest, and the dust following us
in clouds as we hurried to the scene of the
contiagration. A great fire is painful
and exciting spectacle, wherever it is
seen, but for your city It was peculiarly
distressing, because the later was so iso-
lated that no assistance could be had in
season to prevent total humiliation.
Before midnight the fire had become
master Of the situation, the fire depart
ment utterly demoralized, and the
doomed city was abandoned to it's fate.
The usual frantic efforts to save property,
the same confusion and inseparable jams
of overloaded teams was seen there, as
they are always seen upon such disas-
cries of women and children, separated
from each other in the lurid glare Of
THAT NIGHT OF HORROR,
Which We're both seen and heard, and
must always; be remembered by those
who live to recall that tragic scene. The
flames spread with great rapidity, sweep
ing everything before them. The heav-
ems We're lit up for miles around, and
thousands OF wild geese, attracted by the
light, flew into the evortex of death and
were burned to ashes ere they reached
the ground. AS the fire was gradually
working its way down to Second street,
became anxious to protect my own little
possessions, which were all that had in
the world. srxs
was up somewhere near the corner of
Third and streets, when the cry came
that the fire had reached the Orleans
Hotel. I distinctly recollect the jam I
was in at that moment, and how / yelled
like Comanche, as many others did, be-
cause we did not know what else to do
than to push and yell. remember my
efforts to scale barricade of merchan
disc, household effects, trunks, drays,
horses and mules, dead and alive, piled
up in one immense inextricable mass. 1
have also an indistinct recollection of be-
ing jammed through an awning, and es-
Gaping through a second-story window
into an alley-way leading into I street.
SCENES OF CONFUSION.
Ihave never yet been able to tell how
reached the corner of Front and X streets,
or how got to the door Of my place OF
business, which was located in the block
between the Lady Adams" building and
Front street, for it seemed to Inc that
everybody was rushing madly towards
the levee, burdened down with their own
effects, or some one else's. My position
at this moment was full OF peril, and the
scene. was one that / can never forget,
Disabled as was, I saw no possible hope
to save my property, and feeling took
possession of me that must seeks place
of safety before it became too late, or take
my chances of being trampled to death
by the frenzied mob that were hurrying,
terror-stricken, to the banks of the Sac
ramento. Just at this moment
A SHEET OF FLAME
Swept across the street, enveloping the
corner of X and Second streets, cutting
off travel for the time being, and throw
ing brilliant light in the direction of my
saloon. The cry of terror following the
crash of the falling buildings had scarcely