The morning call., 1893-11-05

himself, and devoted three years In Eng
land-n Liverpool. Preston, Bolton and
London--to the not too encouraging reali-
cations of jouTneyman tailor.
Returning home for brief farewell
visit he determined to try bis success in
America, and on August q, 1916, he was
passenger aboard the clipper ship
George Washington when she sailed down
the Mersey from Liverpool on a trans
Atlantic voyage. 1t took thirty-one days
TO cross the ocean, and then he found all
the possibilities of new world before
him. He soon obtained work at his trade
In New York, and with eleven months
toll in that city and Redbank and Key
port. In New Jersey, he saved enough to
open clothing-store in Englishton where
he transacted remunerative business un-
til December, 1848.
Then An event occurred that changed
the whole tenor of his life. The confirma-
ti0n Of the news OF wonderful gold discOv-
cries in California set the country wild
with excitement. In the daily papers and
on the deadwalls Gf New York and other
cities were seen flaming advertisements to
this effect:
'Ho for the California gold mines direct!
The Al c0pper-fastened clipper-b built ship
Adventure having been purchased by the
Discovery Association will have prompt
dispatch for the gold mines direct, where
she will serve as home for the stock
DOiueT5 WDllH L06y are Juggling ROlQ. OQly
few shares left; price $500"
Alexander Montgomery at once closed
out his business. associated himself with
ffty-One companions as adventurous as
himself and together they purchased the
schooner A. Emory, OF about 100 tons bur-
den, and, loading her with provisions and
such other articles as they thought they
would need in a newly settled country,
they boldly set sail in this miniature ArgO
on January "a. 1S49, for the Ell Dorado of
the Far West.
The voyage was very eventful one,
covering 213 days until the Golden Gate
was entered. At st. Katherines the little
craft was detained fifteen days in quaran-
tine, aud an effort 10 avoid rounding Cape
Horn by going through the Straits o. Ma
gellan cost thlrty-three days in going from
ocean to ocean, owing to the sQually
weather and adverse currents.
The captain. John Clay, was fond OF in
toxicants. and this propensity interrupted
the entente c0rdiale between him and his
passengers, each of the half hundred of
whom was part owner. Before emerging
from the straits the captain discovered
that his demijohn was low. so he deter
mined to replenish 1t at Talcahuana. This
caused a controversy and the skipper was
deposed, Chief Mate Joseph A. Wilson
being placed in command, and the vessel
was headed for Calla0. where both the
captain and the passenger-owners sup
piled their needs according TO their re-
spective ideas. On July they left that
port for San Francisco, suffering some
what on the way from scarcity of water.
A portion of the cargo Of the Emory con-
sisted of lumber. brick and other building
materials. which the company readily dis
posed of in San Francisco at handsome
profit. and then. taking freight and pas
sengers, sailed for Sacramento, occupying
two weeks in making the trip. In those
days passengers were charged an ounce Of
gold or $16 as fare from San Francisco to
Sacramento, with the privilege of sleeping
on deck and furnishing their own food.
At Sacramento the company sold the
schooner for $500. a sum slightly in ad-
vance of the amount paid for her. and with
the money four OK teams were bought, and
the company divided into four parties of
thirteen men each ana started for differ
ent points in the mining regions.
The party with which MIR. MONTGOMERY
cast his lot decided to 60 to Redding
Springs, but dIscouraging reports caused
them to change their destination, and they
accordingly made their way to Bidwells
Bar, on the Feather River. There they
were Overtaken by disaster which threw
each individual on his own resources and
broke up the organization. fate which be-
fell most of the similar companies OF gold
seekers in the early days. eight Of the
thirteen members Of the party, including
Mr.. Montgomery, being taken seriously i'll.
The mining experience of Mr. Mont
gomery was varied one. Provided with
between $500 aud S400 land the scurvy."
as he facetionsly put 1t, he set out from
Bidwells Bar for Yuba City, at that time
formidable rival of Marysville for the
immense trade Of the northern mines. He
afterward mined on Feather River. dug
canal on American Bar, having Judge
Lewis OF Or0ville as near neiRhbOr.
This proved failure and left him with
only $6. Then he started on foot for San
Francisco expecting to work his passage
home round Cape Horn, but his feet gave
out and he gave two out of his last 81 for
ride to Marysville in an ox-team. From
there he worked his passage in yawl to