The Republican journal., 1897-11-04
HON. CROSBY FOWLER.

collected and sent home by express. How
ever, the miners generally carried on their
persons all they could, but a man could
not carry about his person under his
clothes more than So, 900 or 81, 900 worth
of the heavy dust.
Mr. Fowler returned home by way of
the Isthmus of Panama, which at that
time was becoming favorite route. Some
of his gold, sewed up in chamois skin
bags, he carried beneath his clothes, sus-
pended by straps of deer hide. He had
to cross the lSthmuS on mule, the rail-
road not being built. The perspiration
caused the deer hide straps to roll up and
pull out until they became like small whip
cords, cutting into the flesh and causing
the weight of gold to produce intense
pain.
Once aboard the steamer Mr.. Fowler
was constrained to let the purser keep his
gold. AS that official viewed his clothes,
which had suffered from many months of
adventure, he remarked: "You are the
last man whom l should expect to have
any gold.'
Mr. Fowler arrived home in 1851, but
he soon began to think again of Califor-
mia. He had noticed while there that the
Mexican cows-the only ones in the coun-
try-did not produce milk, or at least
kicked so badly that they could not be
MIXED if they did produce it. He there
fore conceived the idea that dairy COWS
would be in demand there.
There was only one way to get the cows
to California, and that was by way of the
plains-the great plains of the buffalo and
the Indian. Mr.. Fowler selected the years
1858 for his venture. He was a young
man of % years, but he boldly started
westward alone, to drive his herd of cows
to California.
He went from Augusta to Cincinnati by
rail- and from Cincinnati proceeded west
ward by steamer on the Ohio river
Mr.. Fowler bought his cattle in South
er1 Missouri and Arkansas. While get
ting them together and purchasing his
outfit he travelled about Missouri consid-
er,bly. 1t was just as the Territory of
Kansas was opening, and the contest of
the pro- slavery and anti slavery people
was beginning. Bauds of Mssourians
were encountered, all travelling towards
Kansas, where they We're to vote to make
ii a slave State.
Finally the adventurous young man from
Maine was ready to start across the plains.
He had 15S cattle, most of them cows,
with enough oxen to haul his two wagons
over the mountains when they should at
last leave the prairies. Besides himself he
had with him seven young Missourians,
who We're wishing to go to California and
were glad to Join his party. They were
armed with rifles, were unerring shots,
brave, honest and kind hearted, but very
ignorant. They feared neither man nor
Indian, but stood in wholesome awe of
witches. One of them believed he had
had personal experience with certain
witch, Dr.. Skaggs, who he supposed,
caught every bullet which he fired from
his rifle. The young Missourian, being
grieved at his inability to shoot any game,
loaded his rifle with birds heart, by the
advice of an old lady experienced in com :
batting witches. At certain time he fired
this rifle over his shoulder After that
! he had no trouble getting game, and
the next time he saw DR.. Skaggs that
worthy had his right hand in a sling. The
birds heart had stopped his catching of
bullets.
1t was in March that the little outfit left
civilization behind and started ON their six
months march across the plains and the
mountains. Their route was by the old
Fremont trail through the South Pass.
They took LAWSON Cut Off, thus avoid
ing the Salt Lake region, where the Nor
mons were reported to be levying heavy
tribute in the form of pasturage fees.
The perils of the journey were lessened
somewhat by two government garrisons,
at Forts Kearney and Laramie. But these
We're long distances apart, and the Indians
were very plentiful.
But the trail was almost as we'll travelled
as country highway in Maine, and trains
were passing SO frequently and so well
manned that in few hours, in case of
attack, 200 or 300 men, all armed and
trained to fighting, could be gathered.
Trouble was met but once, however.
Near Dead Man S creek, in Utah or Nevada,
there was an attack one night. Whether
the ASSISTANTS were Indians or Mormons it
was impossible to tell. Mr.. Fowler was
on guard that night. He saw nothing,
but his dog was SO uneasy and barked SO
much that the whole camp were aroused.
Soon shots were heard farther along or
the trail, in the direction of the camp OF
a train owned by Mr. Ross of Portland.
AS Mr.. Ross afterwards related, he was
lying under one of his wagons, and saw a
man creeping up. He fired, whereupon
the man arose and discharged his rifle
The bullet struck a chain hanging from
tHo wagon, anu splll, uHe Two pdfLS SlTlk-
ing Mr.. Ross on the neck and arm Ross
and his men sought Mr.. Fowler's camp,
while the assailants started off with his
cattle.
One night, while they were marching
along the Platte river, a hail storm STAN
peded the cattle and Mr.. Fowler saw his
whole investment scattering in the dark
ness and storm. In the morning he took
the trail with his Missourians, and aftel
a long search found the cattle mixed uI
with herd of buffalos. 1t required time
and patience to sort them out; but gradu-
ally it was done. The buffalo were mo-
afraid of man or hostile to him. They
would move along with the cows, as the
latter were driven, and had habit O.
running a short distance, then, diving
forward and scooting along on their sidet
or back. They were very agile, and would
perform the act in manner very remark
able for such huge, clumsy appearing
beasts.
The buffalo were very thick on tn,
plains. They were in sight most of thu
time, feeding along the prairie, but al
feeding in one direction, accordingas the!