The morning call., 1893-01-10
AT HIS VERY BEST.
The Bohemian "iHigh
Liar" Returns.
TURNBULL TELLS A TOUGH ONE
The General Makes 1t Clear How Tue
lare County Gained its Great
Fertility.
TURNBULL TELLS TOUGH ONE

General Walter Turnbull has just reached
here from Tulare, where. on the shores of
the placid lake, he has been ruslicating for
couple of years, reaping grain when his
farmhands decided it was ripe for cutting,
and shooting quail.
General Tufnbull was not inclined TO talk
seriously when lie was seen yesterday. 1t
was just after having renewed aeqnaint-
anceship with the old Bohemian Club owl,
who winked louder than ever when he saw
his old confrere passing through the portals
of his headquarters.
II will not talk business to-day, boys"
the general said, as they crowded close
around him. This is NY first day in the
city. / have come here from Death Valley,
and l feel glad | am alive"
The general felt really happy among his
old associates. But they insisted on know
ing why lie claimed to be just from Death
Valley
II there is anything that the general is
equal to it is explaining himself oat OF any
thing he has said; and he never loses an
opportunity to place himself in the sun
shine and pleasurable warmth Of the
situation.
II am fresh from Death Valley the
grandcst country Oh the face OF the globe,
he said.
1T is on the shores OF a fresh-water lake.
and as far as the eye can perceive there is
nothing but luxuriant vegetation-heavy
gr0wths Of timber and brush; yellow
headed grain and alfalfa nod in the mild
breeze. Hunting and fishing is to be had
there that would drive the sportsman club
members simply wild. Still, boys" added
the general, 1t is Death Valley
"Dr. Hardness Of the Academy of Sciences
and his immediate encourage would be {
home among the stacks of archaeological
relics, so to speak, piled up here and there
in tho grain fields and forests surrounding
Tuiare Lake"
The Bohenians, who closed in nearer to
the prodigal storyteller, were eager to hear
more.
You all know" he continued, THAT
when our forefathers crossed the plains in
their prairie sehooners they brought with
them the best Kentucky stock OF horses and
cattle"
The assembage remembered all about
what their forefatbers did especially High
Priest Bromley and Dan 0Connell. The
former has had 1t long inscribed on his
family Bible how Deacon Braunley fell over
the bowsDrit of the Mayf1ower IN bis anxiety
TO reach Plymouth Rock. and the latter's
ancestor never left Ireland, but died there
while patiently waiting TO be restored to the
Irish throne. But that had nothing to do
with the story that sip OF the hz now aud
tHcH c0uIE not StOD from 1IUlH Lut
generals fluent tongue.
when the prairie sch0oners made fast on
the shores OF Tulare Lake the cattle were
valuable for beef, but the horses were in
such number that they were turned out.
There were more OF them than men aud
they had become a source OF annoyance
The best were kept which accounts for the
great number OF thorough breds and stand
ard stock that we send to your tracks every
season, ana the others were allowed 10
roam at will over the plains. The richness
OF the land and the warmth of the climate
agreed with these animals. They foaled at
such a rapid gait that they soon became as
offensive as the coyotes of those days or
the n bbts of the present time.
Il remember now how l was told when
boy of the horse drives that took place then
III Tulare County.
"Ihe settlers used to 60 for the wild
horses fer miles around, get them into
corral and shoot them down with their pis-
tolls instead of using clubs to brain them.
which is the present custom of warfare
against rabbits.
Their hides were of some use when
dreG, and their carcasses were eremated to
fertilIZe the soil, until the time came when
Tulare Cauutys soil became so rich that
there were not enough farmers TO gather
the crops.
Then it was that the people became in
d0lent, and allowed these earcasses TO re-
main piled mp without cremation. and they
mark the land broadcast with heaps of
bones blanched by the sun. That is why l
call the place Death Valley
There will come day, perhaps. in the
far-distant future when the other counties
of this State may begin to near us. Then
we will follow the steps Of our forefathers
and do some cremating ourselves and sur
pass them again so much in the richness of
our soil that they Will not be In it with
TuIare County"
General Turnbull turned to see the effect
of his mammoth story on his old-time
friends.
They were silent and dry, and it took
the stewards best Efforts to bring them
around.
mously seconded, tie general was voted
into the vacancy lie left two years ago
wheE the Bohemian high liars seat lost lis
chief ornament.