The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-28
A $40 GOLD PIECE.

over night at ca. and go on clear
through to Id the next day."
These were the parting words of our ge-
NAL host OF the Ukiah Inn. Mendocino
county. California / had purchased a
couple of horses and a pack mule lower
down in the valley. and was taking them
along the old Oregon stage route to my
home in the northern part of the State.
Accompanying me was my overseer. Rob
et Thorndycke Hawkins. or. as he was
more generally known. "Rancheria Bob"
and an fastener named Wilson. who was
going to spend a few months on the
ranch Ito see how il was done" / had
not advertised for boarders, nor contem-
plated starting a '.tenderfoot nursery"
bu< Wilson, whom / had met at the Palace
Ho.el. seemed such a genial. pleasant fell
low that 1t was impossible TO refuse mis-
earnest request TO join US in our mountain
life. Bob was rather opposed to the
scheme. but not being a prominent factor
IN the matter. Wilson came along.
Our route lay through a section OF the
country which had relapsed into a demd-
civilized state. the mines there having in
a measure become exhausted. the stage
route abandoned for the more expeditions
railroad. and the immense timber tracts
still being too far distant to be worked to
any advantage. The men as well as the
other conditions took a backward growth,
and those who remained were very favor
ably described as tough" Hence the eau
tioning instruction from our landlord.
Acting upon such advice. we planned our
daily route to pass L. L. at noon. We
were well equipped with rifles and side
arms. and looked forward to a very pleas
ant journey. Our horses were In fine con-
dillon az also uas the muIa perbapa ~ ie
needless to say that Bob and myself rode
the former, while Wilson was happy on the
mule.
The view was charming, with constantly
changing vistas. Now exquisite groups OF
bouquet-shaped elm trees haunted the river
nank, ana AGAIN. an open. undulating
lance. backed by the great blue-tinted
mountains OF the Coast range. We trav-
eled on, enjoying the constantly changing
view, without any incident uncommon to
any trip OF the kind. and the evening of
thu second day found US at Ca. From
here. Id was ffty-four miles and L.
l. but thirty-nine. AS these were the only
settlements in the country. We felt il in
cumoent on US to make an early start, as it
would be a good days work for the horses.
who were beginning 10 show effects of their
recent efforts.
su Various gEo. rumors s. as to the sanctity and
sined them as biologists do other hard ma
teriaD kept reaching Us as We journeyed on.
looked upon our approach as one in the
Sioen times must nave felt on nearing
Soaom or Gomorrah L. Il was one of
few where no restriction is placed on any
Slas- OF society, and the medieval law.
Night makes right" Is the only recognized
hundred people In all forming the fixed pop
uiation' though at certain seasons there
visible means OF support Of the inhabitants
was catering to the vices of their fellow
men 1t was the escape valve of that law
IaEG 0I1GG urnn am ~
civilization. Miners came there TO spend
sunday and the result of their past weeks
toll. Herders who might have been leading
a 1ermits life in the mountains for three
months brought there the result OF their
labor and did not leave until it was all ex-
hausted. We did not believe much of all
this that was told in regard to the place, con-
s:dering the greater part of the Informal
tlon OF that mythical construction common
20 the character OF such a region.
our intention of starting early in the
morning from ca was frustrated by one
nearly > when we entered the woods be-
yond &c. However. We had the prospect
OF a moonlight night and did not despair OF
reaching Id in fairly good season. We
crossed the watershed at the Mendocino
valley, and were descending into that of
humboldt, the road following the twisting
Eel river Here begins the greatest red
wood belt in the State. and, as we trav-
eled lower down the valley. we saw the
on the foothilIs assume such mamm5ffh
proportions that the distance TO their tops
could scarce be measured in as many
tor in the topography of the road, which
deviated from its course continually, obedi-
ent to the dictation of these monarcns.
This constant interruption made what had
been a fairly direct road a system of geo.
metrfcai curves. impossible to follow in any
came a labyrinth. The great size and abund-
ance Of the trees stilled the atmosphere,
giving a sombre effect to all the varied
sounds natural to the woods. We could see
limbs swinging at the tops the trees and
yet scarce hear or perceive a trace of the
wind. which must have been strong TO
move them so violently. The very Jingle of
our saddle equipment seemed discordant
amid the deeper harmonies.
IL was here. In the stage times. that
BLACK Bard" the poet hlghwayman.
reaped many a rich harvest. He was of a
chivalrouS nature, and his memory Is held
sacred in many a cabin In the woods. One
stage driver told with pride how, after re-
lieving him Of the mail and Welis-Fargo's
box, Black Bard asked him for a chew
the fact that. after rihing the mail, he
would Jot down a doggerel verse upon the
back OF some specially lucrative envelope
an extemporaneous address of sympathy
10 the owner of the ~package-and sign
er many liberal rewards. was unique. Be
ing Interrupted in his self-enforced inspec.
torship of a mail. he departed. in his haste
leaving one of his cuffs. This was traced
by the laundry mark to San Francisco
and led TO his capture. Stories as to his
prowess and the speed and beauty of mis-
horses are too numerous to mention. His
great virtue. so the people said, was his
liberality to the poor, and the fact that
he never robbed from any one but the
express company and the mail. As we
threaded the tortuous road We could easily
imagine a hignwayman stepping from be-
hind one OF the enormous trees, an6 call
Ing on us TO hold up our hands,"
Coming upon a little spring. we halted
awhile TO refresh both ourselves and our
horses. Here we calculated that we were
distant but eight miles from L. L., and
eti!l had twenty-three more TO go before
Id was reached. Ii being but little
past noon. our ride through L. L. before
dark and reaching Id in good time
seemed a foregone conclusion. Nature,
however. often upsets the best calculations,
for scarcely were we remounted when a
heavy shower came on, softening the road
so as TO make q slow walk good speed.
Our hopes fell with the rain, which was
dismal enough in the big woods, rendering
still darker a gloomy way. To return was
as far out of our plan as to continue
the woods at night being as dark as a
pocket IL must be our abiding place
perforce. We consulted, therefore. as 10
the best means to avoid trouble should the
Inhabitants feel in a sportive mood.
IL being the middle of the week was a
point in our favor, as there would in all
probability be few outsiders In town. Our
first care was Wilson. whose verdancy was
too apparent to conceal. and would no
doubt render him more or less a butt or
frontier wit. Bob advised him TO go TO bed
at once on his arrival. and said by way OF
tnducement that he could then watch our
property, which We would, of course, be
Obliged to leave In our rooms. Wilson was
perfectly willing TO do this, especially after
BOb'S graphic description of the 'dancing