Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-11-29
CAPT. JANE.

II was early in the spring of 1851
that r,rson walked into the store oil
Chenery & llazeltine in Sacramento
and inquired for the head of the firm
Mr. Chenerv made his appearance.
II want to purchase load Of goo Is
for the northern IN mes and want tc
purchase them entirely on credit
own the six-mule team standing just
on the outside am. as you see,
dressed in male attire, but am q
woman. My name is Jane-plaiu
Jane, Women, you know, have no
rights in this world and it is not neces-
sary for them to bother about names.
drove this same team across the
plains, arrived here last fall, took my
team to the Gordon ranch over on
Cache creek and cid work of one kind
and another to support myself while
the mules recuperated. They are
beauties, as you will sec. They were
In better condition when they reached
Sacramento than any other team
saw, because took care OF them.
There Is not q mule out of the six
which would not follow me around
like dog, il turned loose They love
me, you see, because am kind to
them. My plan is take up a load Of
goods, sell them, return the money,
take up another load, repeating until
get rich and this firm gets richer
than it Is"
"Who are you, and where did you
come FROM"
ut not to our purpose to discuss
that point am here before you.
am twenty-five years Of age, am five
feet seven inches high, weigh one hun
bred and sixty-fve pounds. can lift
barrel Of -four into the wagon and
can cut figure eight in the street
with six-horse team. Twill pull the
lines over the widest team ever
hitched up. ! came across the plains,
stood my watch regularly, handled q
gun in two fights with the Indians
and asked no odds Of any man. am
here to make some money-get rich.
lam going to get rich by my own ex-
ertions. Then it's mine, you see."
"IIazeltine, come here; want to In
troduce you to this lady"
Lady,"
Eyes, lady. Though not 80 dressed
she 10 q woman, and her name Is Jane,
plain Jane; but by Jove, she is cap
tsinl"
Capt. Jane, your most obedient,"
said Mr. Hazeltine, as he extended his
hand.
The situation and the request were
explained by Mr. Chenery.
~ was hunting for a team" said Mr..
Hazeltine, land can give her load
to Shasta at ten cents pound. That
team can easily carry nine thousand
pounds The trip can be made in two
weeks, and, as the grass green, there
will be but little expense. You can
come back here with one thousand
dollars clear money and no risk"
"Risk?" replied Capt. Jane. "Do I
look like person afraid Of rislssp II
you gentlemen are afraid Of risks,
why did you come to California; l
have risked my lifc-yes, risked what
every good woman holds dearer than
life, good name for gold. Gold is
the worlds idol and | am going to
have 1t or will fill grave at the head
of which some teamster will in kind
ness stick board with Jane penciled
ON it"
This Is good list Of goods and it
looks like your figures are correct.
Your bill OF goods here amounts to
five thousand three hundred and sew
enty.hve dollars You would have TO
bring, according to your own figures,
over eight thousand dollars in gold
dust"
More risk, ell? Do you see this?"
putting her hand on revolver at her
belt. II claim to have the nerve to
use it"
She got the load Of goods and an ac.
count was opened up with Capt.
Jane All that summer and the win.
ter following she made regular trips.
The winter OF lS5O5l be it remem.
bered was the dryest season the Amer
cans had seen in California; so team
ing was not interrupted. At the end
Of the year Capt. Jane had deposited
with her merchants about fifty thou
sand dollars
Every old resident on the west side
of Sacramento valley and Of Shasta re-
members Capt. Jane. She purchased
a arm on Thomas creek, just below
the town of Tehama, The teamsters
and tavern keepers along the road in
that day had many incidents to relate
Of her Camping miles away from
anybody she would sleep in her wagon
or beside it alone, when it was well
known she had large sums Of money.
She was woman Of action. not OF
words. She talked more to her mules
than to men. When she threw the
harness on each mule walked to his
place Nor did she ever picket out
one OF them. Freed to Craze upon the
best grass they were sure to be on
hand in the morning. She kept her
Tehama property but short time,
and selling it at profit disappeared.
In 1859 George W, Frink kept the
Tehama house, at the corner of Cali.
fornia and sansome streets. San Fran
cisco John Duncan was his clerk.
There were sitting around his office
stove Gen, L. O. c. Ord, his brother,
Judge Paclhcus Ord, Judge Cy Wal.
lace, DR. Robert Semple, Geo J. W.
Denver, John Bigler Lieut.. Derby
and several other army officers The