The Butler weekly times., 1897-12-23
ONE OF THE ORIGIN Al IAYAAWkERS,
Story of the Career of hlonzo {. cla,
Pioneer and Gold Hunter.

Galesburg, Ill, Dec. 15-In the
death OF Alonzo c. Clay Knox Coun-
ty loses ore of it's historic characters
Tomorrow the remains of one of
the covered wagon emigrants of
1S49 will be consigned to it's origin
al estate, aud the last chapter in the
history of one of the hardy pioneers
of the plains will have been written
Alonzo Clay was educated at
Knox College. and then taught
school. Early ia 1Si3 news reach.
ed here of the discovery of gold in
California,aud Mr.. Clay WAS one of
those instrumental in organizing a
party to go from here and Knoxville.
But very few of the original party
are living. They styled themselves
the jayhawkers. Mr.. Clay and Col.
John B. Cotton, now OF Kansas City,
were perhaps the leading spirits of
the party. Mr.. Clay occupied the
front wagon, winch was drawn by
four oxen. The party left here in
April. 1S49, and proceeded to
Omaha, where they took what was
known as the Mormon trail to Salt
Lake City. They arrived in that
city in good condition and without
serious adventuers. but unfortunate
ly remained here until October. It
was then too late to take the north
erDlY route across the mountains,
aud so they decided to take q more
southernly one across what was then
known as the great American desert.
The mountain guides and the famous
scout Kit Carson warned them
against the folly of this step. but to
no avail.
It was in October that they left
Salt Lake City on what was a most
hazardous journey. As time passed
they found that their directions were
erroneous. They could not return,
because the drifting eaud bad cover
ed their tracks. A merciless sun
was overhead The alkali plains
supported no animal life and was
devoid of water. As the 81 brave
jay hawkers pressed on IN as nearly
a westerly direction as they could,
they finally entered deaths valley.
Meanwhile their water supply had
diminished Their food had been
so reduced that they were obliged
to feed on the hot, fevered flesh of
the oxen. They were forced to break
mp their wagons, and to make packs
for the surviving animals. In this
valley their sufferings became ex.
treme. They were often deceived
by mirage, and hastened forward
hoping to find the promised lakes
and vegetation, only to fud that
they were delusions. Their oxen
finally died. The men were reduced
to skeletons. Death seemed to te
in store for them, as it had been for
Others who had ATTEMPTED to pass
through the valley. Seven Of the
party were left behind to perish in
the sand. while the enfeebled rem.
nant pre- ssed forward For FIVE days
they were without water, and were
on the point OF pe,ishing. Then a
fresh water spring was reached.
This was christened Providence
Spring. and still retains the name.
One of the party named Robertson,
of Mavuon, could not reach the
spring because of his e1h sted con
dition. A canteen was filled and
carried to him. With a smile on
his face he began to drink. but as
his thirst was quenched his spirit
fed.
The sufferines OF the party were
nearly at an end A few days Later,
making a turn between two sharp
angled cliffs in the mountains, they
came, on February 6, 1850, abruptly
into q beautiful and fertile upper
valley OF the Santa Clara River.
After a time spent in recovering
from the effects of their desert
Journey they proceeded to the gold
regions.
Mr. Clay retu ned here in $50
with considerable gold
The layhawkers in 1872 in CON-
menmoration of their marvellous es
cape from a horrible death in death .