The herald., 1897-11-13

Ayers, whose rwifely devotion Is so well
known, was constantly at his bedside
all through the trying hours, as were
his nephews, Clarence Hall and brother.
James Joseph Ayers was born in
Glasgow, Scotland, August 27, 1880.
When he was but year old his parents
removed to the. United States, taking
up their residence in New Jersey not
far from New York city. There he spent
his boyhood days, receiving his educa-
ton in the public school of the village.
Early in life he learned the printers
trade, remaining at it until he ap-
preached his majority. His work was
mostly in New York city. His temper
ament was full of poetic and artistic
elements and he reveled in the many
treasures Of English literature and graf
ified his love of art by frequent visits to
the best theaters. Shakespeare was as
familiar to his mind as to that of the
many actors and the choicest gems from
the masterpieces Of the great bard often
adorned Col. Ayers editorial work.
simultaneously with his study Of the
poets and great prose writer's of Eng
lish, he mastered French perfectly, and
the works of the writers of French
classics were as familiar to him as those
Of Rare Ben Jonson.
At the age Of IS he removed to st.
Louis to take editorial charge of the
Sunday edition of the Republic. Here
the news Of the discovery Of gold In Cal
ifornia reached him, and the next year
he set out for the coast via New Orleans
and Nicaragua. He crossed the noun
tains of Central America on foot. ex-
pecting to proceed to San Francisco on
one Of the Panama steamers. Those
vessels were SO crowded with passengers
that the party of which Ayers was a
member determined to build boat Of
their own and sail up the coast. 1t re-
quired month to construct the little
craft and when they set sail it was not
long until they experienced a severe
storm and suffered shipwreck. Ayers
and few others, in an open boat, made
Cape st. Lucas. and from there walked
to San Diego. Here they secured passage
to San Francisco. arriving there October
5, 1S49. Early in the spring he went to
the mines, but success did not crown his
efforts, and he returned to San Fran
CISCO
Early in 1851 Mr.. Ayers associated
himself with several other printers and
began the publication Of the Public Bal
ance. The great fire of June Of that
year swept this enterprise OF the face
of the earth. all the plant being destroy
ed. Returning to the mines he worked a
claim on the Calaveras river with some
success. His claim giving out he and
Henry Hamilton, afterwards and for
many years editor Of the Los Angeles
Weekly Star. started the Calaveras
Chronicle. which today is the Oldest
in California. Harry De
Courcey was partner in this enterprise.
The year 1854 found Col. Ayers in San
Francisco again. doing editorial work
on John Nugent's Herald. Two years
later the killing Of James King Of Will
liam. editor Of the Bulletin. led to the
Of the famous vigilance COM
mittee. The Herald opposed the COM
mittee, taking the law and order side Of !
the controversy. The paper lost all ito |
patronage in one day and ceased to ap-
pear. Toward the close Of the year 1866, |
Col. Ayers, with fve others, all printers,
set the Call on foot and the colonel con-
kinued his connection with that enter