The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-21

MfL/fE Sf<ll L. termine whether II
tEtI% [fLff5%' would he best TO push
TI</ /'sz#elH mn Redwood Valley and
XI>(|1C/ M take their chances Of in
W. - III some way getting over
them, or make an eN-
- n tended northern route
N~0~p-S around them. During
tlis nsusn tbe town Of Allegan sprang up aud
s-re,, Iilre a mpslroom. A large immigration
poured in. Within four months hhegan
claimed six hotels, double that NUMBER OF
harding houses. 10 stores, two savings banks
and fifteen faro banks; besides, in that time
the foundations OF three church structures had
been laid.
Az length the railroad was extended, but
not nm the Redwood Valley as every one ln
Allegan hoped il would. IL was feared there
might come into existence rival town tha'
would cncroach upon the interests OF Allegah,
ehould The northern route be prosecuted. but
the rival town did not appear, though Aliegsh
suffered a reaction such as visits many frontier
settlements prematurely developed. con-
adorable number Of the population elIheI TO
turned East or struggled mp Redwood Nalley
with agricultural designs.
To compensate perhaps, for her lack Of ier,
tility al Just that point where the heaullIul
Redwood Valley merged abruptly into the
rugged Redwood Canyon, nature revealed
treasure vault Of gold In one Of the mountains.
Tins discovery aided Allegan not little IN
repRining her prosperity, q Government assay
Office and smelling works being establlsheu
there 20 which an she ore from the mine was
shipped. PrOspectors probed IN vain lor anill-
erOus deposits above the so-calleo hlss
Alice mine the gold seemed TO be cohhneu
10 his one peak. II is true, few meager out
groupings appeared here and there, Dut none
which would warrant labor.
A marty Of acriculturists had followed the
canyon for 60 miles until IT lost It's incline on
level. grassy summit Of some area, pierced by q
silver-tiuted stream that came out OF mount
ain ravine on the left, aud gurgling across the
green plateau, retreated down preeiplIous
guich at the northeastern extremity.
IL was nearly year before any aooltiohs
were made TO the colony, but in due time the
village Of Observation Point was about equally
blessed and cursed with census OF loOO
souls
In social matters Observation Point did not
take any of its cues from the larger and more
sophisticated town of Allegan below. IL was
thoroughly sell reliant IN this respect. Allegan
was cosmopolitan and philistine, while obser-
walton Point was more after the style Of peace
ful New England community.
Alegan people spoke of the Point" as some
diminutive neighbOrhOOd a great distance
away, while Observation Point people, by
reason OF their altitude could not quite discard
the idea that Allegan was "just down the
NaNNDN NMENE 0NlA w AlilNot 49, NNN-lN-
see the plain on a clear day, aud they might
have seen Allegan but for Intermittent mount
aims that obstructed the view.
OF al the institutions IN Observation Point
the graded school was the greatest Visitors 70
the village were always impressed with that
fact How could il have been other than great,
under the direction OF Alice Crofton.
Tie young lady just alluded 10 was an or
phan She had come West with the only llv-
ing relative that she knew Of in the world-an
uncle who was superintendent Of the mine
which had been named in her honor. Alice
was %. by no means considered an old maid,
since the fairness Of her skin WAS still enhanced
by a girish bloom-skin that had not taken on
either the sa.iOw pall0r or the rough, beeiy
fOrdity which are the inevitable extremes Of q
EpinsterE complexion.
She was what her early companions no school
In Connecticut called smart" what IN this
section 0l the West was known as good IN.
Alice was well adapted for a teacher, possessing
that faculty--n0t rare in w0man-by which
she was able 20 dsburse her knowledge ln the
most wholesale direct, aud enectua manner.
IL was during pr0tracied drought that Oh
6eryHt0n Point fell a collective victim, so d
speak 20 the most violent attack Of cholera
Alce's Uncle Dan was paying her a visit At tho
time. All the children became Frustrated vi IA
the appalling epidemic, and the school was dis.
continued.
Tie rate Of mortality was simply frigbtful
Tie driver Of the stage between Ailegan aud
Observation Point was seized with IL while on
route down the canyon aud died before reaching
bis earthly destination. There were only tive
passengers in the stage that day-a PTesby
tefau clergyman aud an Old lady, who had
been 20 Observation Point 70 attend the fuDeTa
Of her son.
The clergyman lifted the dead driver int,
the stage, boosted the old lady on 10 the sea
on the box, as she declined 10 be any nearer IA,
corpse than possible. aud drove on. After that
stage drivers were rather more difficult 70 &c
than they had been.
Meanwhile Alice Crofton had become nurse
Early aud late was she IN tie midst OF the sick
doing al la her power 10 relieve their suher
inPs. A. last, Uncle Dan was taken. lie lin
Fcrcd with the TavagluR disease only two days
aud passed away. Three undertakers ha
come up from Alegan with collins, and on
one got back alive.
Old and young alike were dying, and thos
who bad not rs yet become prostrated weT
fleeing the village with such Of their hOus,
hold appurteuanccs as were easily transports
bic They went down the canyon by Oh
waEon-load, and the furniture followed. TIL
majority, however never stopped 10 pack u
their goods ai al, but started af00t for the plai
IN all the hurry Of fright
Strange it was that Allogau remained undii
turbed by thls scourginp yistaut, where
would have been quite as naturally assigned B
the arch enemy Of HyRca; for about Obseryt
ton Point the madrOna-sceutod breczes bic
fresh from abe mountains, and itsoomed the yer
last place IH the world where a c0utagion
this kind would assert itself ia the course
I've weeks the cemetery contained over o,
new mounds
During bis last-and probably delirious-
moments Uncle Dan had requested that all D.
money invested ln the mine should De RELEASE
by q sale oi bis interest therein aud be used
the purchase Of monuments for all the dei
victims Of the cholera. Upon Alice did d
faithful performance Of this trust devolye. 81
went down 10 the mine with her Uncle's de,
and paperE, and sold out bis claim 10 the hig
eel bidder for 81, 900. She then contract,
with Mr. Bates q mRrble.dealer In Alega
- furnish each grave IN Observation Poi
Cemetery with q marble slab. For her Unc
Dan sAe selected q very deliberately carved al
costly column, upon which was inscribed ID
original cpitgph
Meath the ground Ia b bier,
gentleman trne
hicous silently thrO'
j he long. weary year.
Daniel Croiton, died July DO is, aged c.
This was placed under her own suporyisio
az The hallOwcd grave OF her uncle. The 9th
I'D 81. -. -