The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-11-16

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| .....'t,............
| Bishop S. Ash age sc, native
| of Irasburg, VT. who drove from
! . Oregon to Mennonite distance of
800 miles in this wagon, cross
ing the Rocky Mountains.
............'.... ...........
The outfit was a butt for many
a foolish jest, for it was, indeed, a
hard-looking sight. The owner was
| found in the office of the Clifton by
FREE PRESS reporter. He had just
spent his last quarter for dinner and
his poor little team was without feed.
Mr.. Ash is of small stature, is shah
billy dressed and bushy growth of
snow-white whiskers and hair which
completely enshroud his face tell the
story of the years that have gone. Yet
he is not tramp. The clear honest
eye at once dispels any idea one may
have formed in this respect, and he at
all times gives the impression of abso-
Lutte truth. He is troubled with a
nervous squint which catches him I'M
awares, and his voice trembles from
the blighting strokes of Father Time.
''Today is the first time," he said to
the reporter, ''that | have driven my
team without feed, and | shouldn't
have done it now only that | am so
hard up"
The reporter asked him why he had
made so long trip.
II thought | might escape the hard
winters, then again l could pass away
| time that way. l have no home, all
my kindred having passed away long
ago, and l am generally at home
wherever night catches me. | lived
for some years at Mapleton where my
meice, Mrs. Leeman now resides. But
she is not able to care for me and so 1
| have been wanderer.
81 have not always been poor. My
earlier life was spent in the shadow of
the beautiful Green mountains, and
there | acquired sufficient property to
keep me in comfort But | was I'M
| fortunate and the savings Of years
were swept away. have never known
home since. My wife and child have
been in their graves for years, and l
am utterly alone" Here the trembling
old man burst into tears. Continuing
through his sobs he said:
81 did intend to drive to Mapleton
to see my neice, but l find myself I'M
able to proceed farther, and l am
going to ask the county to care for
me a while until can find something
to do"
County Commissioner Mountain
was in the Office and offered to take
him in at the poor farm, but said
he would have to look elsewhere for
the care of his team as the rules Of
the poor farm forbid anyone to bring
horses to the institution.
81 don't know what shall do" said
Mr.. Ash, ''when they take my faithful
little horses they take all the means l
have on earth, and | am afraid | shall
have to decline the county'S offer and
get along as best l may. | had in
tended, if l could, to find some place
to stay for the winter and drive to
California in the spring, for can live
in this way, and would be a burden
upon no one"
The old man grew reminiscent, and
said he had had countless adventures
while travelling with his little
schooner.
"The worlds fair people were very
kind to me" he said. "They passed
me into everything, and all the ex-
pense | had was S1.25 for feeding my
team"
He said a mountain lion made a
detour of his camp one night The
animal was mOnstrous representa-
tive of his species, and his eyes glowed
in the darkness like two balls of fire.
81 had my gun with me, but he didn't
seem to want to trouble me and |
didn't care to waste ammunition. and
after watching me for a time he
trOtted OIL"
He cut lock from a mountain
Indians hair while crossing the
mountains and he keeps it yet. The
savage was loath to part with it, as
the thought of having a wad of his
precious capillary lying at the corner
OF pale-face's vest pocket was mad
dening, and it was some time before
the old gentleman could convince
him, in the sign language, that by
parting with it he could secure an
easy entrance to the happy hunting
grounds.
Mr. Ash will probably go to the poor
farm, as he has no other place in
view. Why cannot some of our char
table societies get up a benefit enter
tainment or social for him? 1t is
indeed sad and deserving case.
Surely none of uS cOn1d haor +bo