, 1891-02-04
BEAMS BAD LUCK.
An Old Time Cheyenne Mans
Misfortune. ,.
His Thousand Mile Journey Across
the Desert.
Robbed of His Teams by a Faithless
Companion.

iSalt Lake Tribune
Toward the closing of the year that has
just passed, J.lA. Bean Of Los Angeles,
firing of the land of the orange aud one.
lunged tourist, Concluded to journey to
this field of promise. He had With his
wife invaded the evergreen forests of the
sound country. had tickeled the soil IN
the arid regions of the West in the hope
OF making a thousand blades of grass
grow where one had not grown before,
had cast their fortunes in the blizzard
stricken North and. finally, with the
emnant Of a once handsome compe-
tence, had gone to Southern California
in the hope that in that land of wonder
fnl resources aud possibilities they would
be able in their declining years to repair
their shattered fortunes. The tickle dame
still refused to shine upon them, and
they resolved to seek a new field in "the
s~torehouse of the nation To think
was to act, and they speedily prepared for
an overland Journey of over 1000 miles.
Their worldly possessions consisted of two
wagons and SIX horses, some household
goods which old associations had made
dear to them and a few dollars.
Bean engaged the services OF a young
man named j. G. Ayres, whom he de-
scribes as being of prepossessing appear
ance, aged about IS years and sturdily
built. Ayres was highly recommended to
him and he had DO hesitation in placing
10 his care his best team. wagon,
which was loaded with household goods,
and two young horses. Giving him $50
be instructed him 10 proceed on the jour
neY twenty-fo o hours in advance, as the
horses in his charge we're young and unac-
customed u travel and could not if an
even start was made keep up with the
older animals which Bean was to drive.
All preparations made, Ayres gaily babe
his employer good bye and turned his face
toward the rising sun. Since that time
Bead has not seen Ayrcs or his property.
They had agreed to meet at either Cuca.
monga, Victor or Daggett, but beyond re-
ceiving a letter from the last named place
from Ayres in which the latter stated that
everything was all right aud that he was
continuing on his journey, Bean has no
knowledge OF his whereabouts.
Mr.. Bean, however, had no suspicious
aud from Daggett proceeded into Arizona,
travelled through a country inhabited only
by Gila monsters, centIpedes, scorpions,
etc, and finally reached st. George in the
Dixie country, after a journey of almost
incredible hardships occasioned BY the
lack of water and the burning heat of the
desert. Throughout the entire journey
his faithful life companion, his wife. ut
tered no complaint, and revived the hopes
of her husband by depicting the glorious
future which awaited them IN the sun
kissed and fertile land of the Saints.
There was still no sign of Ayers, and
Bean at last came 20 the conclusion that
he had been betrayed and robbed of the
best portion of his worldly possessions.
10 return and search for Ayers was out
OF the questions nd so with heavy hearts
and almost bankrupt the unfortunate
couple resumed their tourney to this city,
arriving here on the llth inst, after a
journey Of sixty long and weary days.
MIR. Bean is cast In a mold which mis-
fortune cannot break, and as soon as he
recovered from the effects of his long aud
trying journey, he, with his remaining
wagon and team, engaged In the hauling
business, and thus far has no reason TO
complain OF a lack of work.
Friends in Los Angeles have been com
municated with, and if Ayres has been
guilty of robbery there is but little doubt
in the mind of Mr.. Bean that he will, il
living, have to answer for his crimes. He
believes that Ayrcs and others were in a
conspiracy TO rob him and advances the
following theory: That Ayres proceeded
with the outfit but a few miles, then
turned from the road and secreted it IN
some out-ot the-way spot. He then
iourneYed by easy stages to Cucamonga,
Victor and Daggett, at each place leaving
word for Bean that everything was all
right. This he did to allay any suspicion
Bean might entertain as to his integrity.
Having left word at Daggett that he had
gone on ahead, and rightly believing that
Bean would continue his Journey in the
daily expectation of overtaking him, Ayres
took the return train to Los Angeles and
disposed Of the property. 1t is barely pos
sible, however. that Ayres, possessed by
a foolhardy spirit of adventure, may have
determined to push on ahead, and blaze
the way for his employer, lost his way and
persisted, as many have before him o.
the deaert