The morning call., 1892-11-06

even. What's fetched you up here? You
amt hunting be you? You amt got 10
gum"
Il came up TO see Mr.. Barnard
The name again somewhat startled the
old man and he once more stared at his
visitor, then fixing his gaze upon the ground
before him seemed buried in thought. The
old mans hut was rude but substantial
affair. constructed with logs and weather.
beaten boards on the side of hill and over
looking the bay about hundred yards off.
which could be seen shimmering through a
tange of gnarled boughs.
The roof Of the cabin sioped back from
the front, and at the rear man could easily
reach the caves. The only means of enter
ing the hu; was through a low doorway in
front and near enc corner. In This swung a
PLAIN unpainted door which was fastened
when necessary by wooden bar pivoted on
the door at one end and resting in notch
on the jamb al the other. A button above
the bar holding it in place when the door
was closed constituted the lock. A pin
hanging by a string on the outside, inserted
through hole just under the bar served for
q latch when lt was required 10 open the
door from the outside.
Light was furnished by long low win
dew IN the center of the front of the hut
-7TTdi Just below il was the bench on which
tie old man was sitting when his visitor
found him.
The inside Of the cabin was tidy and in
yiting. A stationary bunk in one corner, a
small kitchen stove, a table and few chairs
COMPOSED the furnishings.
Barnard" he repeated, "Sam Barnard,
yes, that's my name. It's nigh onto forty
year since I've heard that name and Ia
most forgotten t.
"'OId Rocky Is nv name now. all that
I've had since / came TO California and that
was in the spring OF Al. I've been west of
the Rocky Mountains ever since California
wasn't then what il is now. When L came
out here all the Americans in the country
could be named in i've minutes and they had
hard time of it to get along. The Mexi-
cans and Indians were all agains st them and
would steal everything they had.
W hat brought me out here? Well,
don't know. 1t was always my way to 60
where nobody else was, and l guess when
l came across the plains from Illinois 10
California nobody else ever did, although
hundreds have come that way since.
Yes, l think our immigrant train was
the first TO reach California, and must be
The only one OF that party that is living
and | wont be long in joining them in per-
haps better land.
Il was raised in New York State, near
Oswego. but when quite small my parents
died md was alone in the world. l went
to live with a family named Larouche.
French Canadians, and they treated me as
one of themselves. When / was almost
man they moved to Illinois, about twenty
miles or so from ST. Louis. Here LarOuche
was joined by his cousin. named Bouehere.
and they took up piece OF land together.
/ remained with my adopted parents for
several years on this farm, then decided to
take farm for myself. ] stuck 10 1t for
about five or six yeare, but il was uphill
work and l finally sold out. Luck seemed
10 turn against the cousins. Their crops
failed twice In succession. Then the barns
were struck by lightning and burned with
the gathered grain. They were discouraged
with farming and disposed of their prop
erty. had been teaching school few
miles from the farm Tor year or two after
selling my farm and was tired of ii.
Glowing reports were published in the
news peTs OF California, ard they COM
menced to interest me. My adopted parents
and the cousin had got the fever, and the
winter OF 1889 saw us preparing 10 travel
dae west to the promised land. Early in
May Of 1870 we started with two wagons
ana six horses.
he party numbered nine souls, all told:
Peter Larouche, his wife and three sons,
Francis. Emile and Joseph; jacques Bou-
chere, bis daughter Jeane and son Louis,
and myself We crossed the river in a
ferry at st. Louis and camped just outside
that place to get fitted out. We were there
five or six days, and while there met
party similar TO our own, from Western
Ohio. bound for Missouri.
Ihey were Germans, and seemed to have
studied the country as far as the mou tains
pretty well. An old trapper named Getz
was with them, and he had been in Califor-
MIA. He seemed to want to get back to that
country and be offered to captain the party
through. provided the Germans could be in
dueed to 20 with us. This 1t did not take
rs long to do. and we left the Mississippi
River with the party twice its former size,
numbering twenty-one souls. well pro-
ylsloned, but ignorant of the country
through which we were to travel.
" @ followed the Missouri River as far az
inc Kansas RIVER, then up that and alung
Its south fork. We made fair time, but did
not hurry ourselves, and in about six weeks
are, aiter starting we saw the blue outlines of
the mountains ahead of u.s. We then
turned north and Travelled along the foot
hills I'LL we came to the headwaters of The
south fOTk of the Platte River. where we
met some friendly Indians who directed us
~ " oLt o. rams we got great deal of
Information there about the route through
the mountains and it was very lucky for us
that we did. We remained there sevaraI
days, then set out In a northwesterIv dtrae-
ton, as directed, til we reached tile north
fork of the Platte River THIS we follawed
10 the Sweetwaier River.
Along the Platte River buffaloes were
plentiful and we secured plenty of meat
but when we came to the Sweetwater none
were to be seen.
THE Sweetwater was followed up to its
head, and from there we crossed over ia
Bear River, which we followed till we came
10 Salt Lake.
ut was October when Salt Lake was
reached and the territory between us and
our goal was entirely unknown to any of us.
winter was coming on and we were in a
quandary whether to go OH or wait for
spring. The latter course was decided
upon. and we set about making permanent
camp Two log huts were built in few
days and comfortable stables erected for
our remaining ten horses. Game was plen-
tlful and our -four, by careful use, hung out
Well. ttFaEa and xvoo Inn dan