The herald., 1898-04-06
SOCIETY OF PIONEERS
Dangers Of California Journey in
the Early Fifties.

The regular monthly meeting of the So
cisty Of Pioneers was held last evening in
Caledonia hall. with a good attendance
The following persons were elected tc
membership: Elisabeth L. Ensign. Henri,
c. Austin. Samuel Praeger, Alfred Work.
man, James Chapman udall.
The Los Angeles Either club played sew.
eral numbers that were enthusiastically
received. Mr. and Mrs. Abernethy sang
duet, accompanied on the plano by Mrs,
Batchelder. Miss Opal L. B. Mccartney
gave two Rotations. Shakes Dog" and
Betty and the Bear.~
Judge Eaton, the president, said the
music reminded him of the contrast be-
tween the old times I'M Los Angeles and
the present. In the early days they tried
to hold union Protestant services, and thir-
ty-two people was the largest congregation
they could assemble. He was the choir
lister; Henry Alexander sang tenor. and
Mrs. Gen. Alexander played the organ.
w. II. Workman being called upon, re.
lated some Of the trials and sufferlngs en-
dured In getting to California In the early
fif!ies. The family resided in Missouri. AMI
Mr.. Workman'S father and an uncle had
been in the Santa Fe trade several years;
They owned four large OK teams and made
regular trips to New Mexico over the Santa
Fe trail with beads, calico and other wares
This was In 1885. previous to the Mexican
war Some time before this q party OF
emigrants had been captured by band OF
Comanche and Sioux Indians The mer
|, and children were killed; the small babes
and women were taken prisoners. .Mr.
Workman knew these women were in cap
tivity, and, taking a large stock of goods
proposed to the chief to trade for them
to which proposition he finally consented.
and two Of them (Mrs. Horn and Miss
Harris) were released and were taken to
Missouri, where they made their home in
Mr.. Workman's fathers family for several
years, until one was married and the other
returned to her former home in Ohio.
In 1852 the Workman family left Mis-
souri, for Los Angeles, and were six months
reaching their destination. In Nebraska
they were captured by the Indians, and re-
leased only on condition that they would
give up everything they had with them
except the wagons and horses. They trav-
eled day and night without food, unit
they reached French trading post, which
were the only human Rlabitatons in Kan
sas. From there they proceeded to o
United States fort and the officers helped
them through. They finally reached Hang
town, which was then fiourishing mining
camp, and from there went to Stockton
where they sold their wagons and came by
water to Los Angeles. Mr.. Workman
spoke of the changes that have taken
place since he first saw the old pueblo
and Of some OF the pioneers. now gone
who sacrificed much to build UP the city
He also gave an account of the journalistic
enterprise Of the Southern Californian, the
first paper published in Los Angeles. In
the office Of which he worked as a boy
IA years old. One of the editors. Col
Wheeler. is still living in the city, and
John Butts, the other partner. Joined
walkers filibustering expedition to Mica
ragua and was killed.
When Rev. Mr. Messenger. the first Pro.
testant minister arrived in Los Angeles
there were very few of that faith in thu
pueblo. and 1t was quite puzzle to know
how he was supported, but as It was in the
fruit season, his followers decided to feed
him on watermelons and grapes. It was
for Mr.. Messenger that the first Protestant
church was built the old brick building
that stood on the corner Of New High and