The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-15
Justice Fields Expert
enceS in California.
A Commercial Transaction In
Skin of the ChamOiS.
A Journey 10 Sacramento and a Big
Land Boom at Yubaville.

WASHINGTON, June lo.-lSpecfal. +
Many efforts have been made by publishing
houses TO induce Justice Field to consent
to the publication Of his memoirs, but
without success. The old justice, who
now lacks only two months of beating all
records for length Of service upon the su-
preme bench, resisted all these appeals and
adhered to his determination not to give
his memoirs to the public till after his
death. But am able TO giyo you another
short chapter from tho intensely isserest-
ing rccollcctions Of tho famous Jufist.
A Commercial Transaction.
In oxplapation of the story that when
he first went to California he was a peddler
OF pooketbools .IU-tico Field writes:
"Beforo left New York purchased a
lot of stationery and the usual accom-
paniments Of writing table, as intend
ed to practice iry profession In California
Tho stationcr, learning from some remark
made by my brother Cyrus, who was with
mo at tho time. that intended TO go to
California said that / ought To buy some
chamois skins in which 10 wrap the sta
tionery, as they wCrll be needed there 20
make bags for carrying gold dust. Upon
this suggestion | bought dozen skins
for $40. On unpacEing my trunk in
Mnrysville thcgo chamois skins were of
cour0e exposed, and "a gentleman calling at
the tent which / then occupied asked me
what would take for them. answered
by inquiring what he would give for them.
He replied OF opco an ounce apiece. My
astonishmoEt rCa-ly Chokcd me, for an
ounce was tab0l for SIC; at tho mint it
4. IN, xAtxx II
course let the sims go and blessed the
hunter who brought the cbanois down
The purchaser InaGo bags of the skins,
and tho profit 10 him from their sale
amounted 10 two ounces on each skin.
From this transaction the story arose that
! had sold rortlnonnaies in Marysville be-
fore practicing law. The story has no
other foundation.
Waiting Tor Clients.
Nothing could bc moro entertaining than
Justice Field description of his first ex-
periences as u lawyer in California. AS
soon as no bad obtained little money he
hired n room at the corner of Clay and
Montgomery ctrcets and paid $500 in ad-
vance for one months rent. lie put out
his shinglo and waited for clients, but
none came, The only employment no had
was drawing decd, for which he charged
an ounce Of gold but the client thought
that too much. so they compromised on
half an ounce.
"To tell tho truth" scys Justice Field,
II was hardly fit for business. was too
much excited by the stirring life around
me. There was so much TO hear and see
that spent half my time in tho streets
and saloons talking with people from the
mines, in which ! was greatly interested.
I felt suro that there would soon be occa-
sion in that quarter for my services
A firm Of merchants TO whom young
Field had carried letters Of introduction
now offered hiEi u chance to go to from
tier town In which they were interested.
IL was ut tho head of navigation, at tho
junction Of the Sacramento and Feather
rivers and was called Vernon. The mer-
chants owrcd town lots there and offered
to sell Field sonC OF them on credit. They
gave him ticket for the steamer Mckiin,
which they owned, and the future Justice
set out upon lis voyage Jan. l2, 1850.
"It was tho time of the great flood of
that year, says Justice Field, "and tho
entire upper country seemed TO be under
water. Upon reaching the landing place
mt Sacramento vo took IA small boat and
rowcd to tho hotel. There l found great
crowd of earnest and enthusiastic people.
all talking about California and in the
highest spirits. In fact, l did not meet
with any one who did not speak in glow
ing terms of tho country and anticipate
sudden acquisition of fortune. / had al
ready caught tho infection myself, and
these new crowds and their enthusiasm in
creased my excitement The exuberance
Of my spirits was marvellous. The next
day / took tho little steamer Lawrence for
Vernon. The hoat was so heavily laden
as TO be only Is inches out OF water.
"In three or four hours after leaving Sac
ramento the captain suddenly cried out
with great energy, Stop her, stop her
and with somo difficulty the boat escaped
running into what seemed to be q solitary
house standing in vast lake of water.
asked what place that was, and was answer
ed Vernon, the town were had been advis-
ed TO settle as Gffording good opening for
a young lawyer. l turned to the captain
and said beloved would not put ont
my shingle at Vernon just yet, but would
go farther on. The next place we stopped
at was Nicolaus. and the following day
we arrived at place called Nye's Ranch.
near the junction of Feather and Yuba
rivers
when Yubaville Was Young.
"No sooner had the vessel struck the
landing at Nye's Ranchsthan all the pas
sengers, somo 40 or 90 in number, as ii
moved by common impulse, started for
an old adobe building, which stood upon
tho bank OF the river, and near which
were numerous tents. Judging by the
number Of the tonts there must have been
from 300 10 1000 people there. When we
reached the adobe and entered the princi-
pal room, we saw map spread out upon
the counter containing the plan of
town, which was called Yubaville, and
man standing tchind It, crying out, Gen
tlemen, put yuur names down; put your
names down, all you that want lots. lie
seemed 10 address himself to Inc, and 1
asked tho price Of tho lots. He answered,
Two hundred and fifty dollars each for
lots 80 by 100 feet. took 90 lots,