The record-union., 1894-04-24
HOW SENATOR JOHNSTON GOT LEFT.
The Rush for Hay Claim Back il
the Spring of 81.
A May Morning Episode that Occurred
Near Beach's Lake, Down
the River.

A group of Pioneers had gathered the
other evening-as they frequently do
and were relating some of their early-day
ex periences, when one of the party asked
| Charles Petit to tell something about his
ranching in the early fifties.
"Well,r said Petit 81 had some rather
novel experiences in those days, many of
! which have been forgotten, as far as the
details are concerned. / remember one
little incident, however, that goes to show
that ali men did not then rely upon shot
gun and revolver as some people sup
| pose, to enforce their claims.
"Our ranch in Brighton being better
adapted to grain growing than grass, my
partner, Colonel Kip. and myself one
pleasant morning in February, 1851,
started out to look up a hay ranch. We
found and located one on some vacant
and unsurveyed Government land bor-
dering on a small lake or lagoon not far
from the Sacramento River and about
| fifteen miles below this city.
We marked of and properly re-
corded our claim, and did all that the law
required until the time when residence
upon the land became necessary. This
time was about TO expire, when one day,
about the middle OF the afternoon and a
week before we expected 10 commence
| haying, we were informed by friend
! that man named William Johnston,
who lived on the river d few miles below,
was upon the eve of jumping our claim,
and that be intended early the next
morning, with q gang OF men, to begin
! haying upon the same.
when this startling and unexpected
news reached us, our ranch-1rom dull,
| do-little-sort-of-a- place, at that season of
| the year-was Immediately changed, as if
! by magic. to one OF life and action, and
| race for the hay ranch was begun. The
! horses were at once hltched to the wagon,
and Kip started, post haste. for the city
to purchase haying and camping outfit.
after setting Isaac, our colOred cook,
to work baking bread and getting every
| thing ready as soon as possible for a start
| to the hay claim, l mounted horse and
! set out to notify number of men whom
we had previously engaged for the pur-
! pose of haying, TO come at once to our
| place for service in the hayteld, which
| they did. There were no moving ma
chimes in those days, our grass being all
cut by means Of the old-tashloned Arm
strong scythe and snath.
KID returned with the things about
dark, when, by the light of a tallow cam
die, the new scythes had ali to be ground,
which detained us until after midnight.
Then, everything and all hands being
ready for start, they were hastily loaded
into the farm wagon that stood waiting at
the door.
I'VE struck out in the darkness on a
direct line, as the crow flies, across the
trackiess prairie for the claim, a distance
of some fifteen miles or more, guided
only by the shining stars. At that time
there wasn't a house, Il human habitation,
nor sound of life anywhere within the
whole distance; nothing was heard but
the hooting of a night owl from his perch
among the branches OF distant tree, and
the yeiping of the sneaking coyote.
1--WE reached our destination, however
without loss of time, at daylight, and
none too soon, as you will shortly learn.
1.-The men started in the early morning
twilight with their scythes, one following
the other, and thus cutting wide swath
through the tall grass. The Colonel
walked leisurely along behind. while |.
assisted by the cook. erected our tent on
the grass near the lake. This we COM
pleted just as the sun was appearing over
the summit of the Sierra Nevada in the
east.
''The white tent was conspicuous look
ing object in the bright sunlight of that
May morning, and IL might be seen for 4
great distance across the broad. level
plain. While Isaac was preparing the
/ morning repast over hot stove | strOlled
out to where the men were moving. 1t
wasn't long before wagon loaded with
men was seen approaching from the west.
| As they drew near it proved to be William
Johnston with his haying crew and out
| fit, which was similar TO our own. Mr..
Johnston greeted US with pleasant
! Good morning, gentlemen. l see that l
am beaten.
Then, producing a well-filled flask
! from a recess in his wagon, he continued,
] Let us compromise this matter by all
! hands taking drink along with me-
which proposition was unanimously ac-
| cepted. After short social chat all round
our then future Senator returned as he
came 10 his ranch on the river. and we
| have been friends ever since.''