The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-07

WRITTEN FOR THE CNDAY REPrBLC.
Two strange romances have been report
ed from different parts Of the country with
in a few days OF each other. In the one
case the death of both parties brought the
romance to a close: in the other case a
marriage marked the beginning Of a new
chapter in the story.
One of these romances is reported from
Kokomo. Ind. where Barnhart Learner. a
s.-year-old pioneer. died but a short while
after his wife. 81 years old. had entered in
to rest. The other Is reported from Sharon,
Mass. a suburb OF Boston. where Gridley
b. Coburn, g. years old. and Mrs. Mary ].
Dunwoodie. four years younger. were mar
lied.
Sixty years ago Barnhart Learner and
his companion In youth. Ephraim Bates,
married and took claims adjoining each
other near Kokomo. On their claims they
erected log cabins. which. for that section
Of the country at that time. were the almost
universal residences Of the hardy pioneers.
The young wives OF tho two men had been
friends IN childhood. in GirIhood, in Young
w~omanhoof: and after marriage they were
still intimate friends. while the men were
almost inseparable and had all plans in
common.
. Learner and Bates became infected with
the California gold fever in 1Si9. and both
determined TO try their fortunes In the new
Eldorado. 1t was out OF the question TO
take their wives with them, for at that
time California was many months weary
Journey through territory swarrning with
hostile Indians and even more dangerous
white desperadoes. So the men went alone.
leaving their wives and children back in
the Indiana home.
Learner and Bates were fairly successful
in the gold fields. They labored early and
late. confiding to each other their hopes for
the future I'D the plans they had made
for the comfort and happiness OF the de-
voted wives at home. From time to time
they sent their accommodations back to In
diana. deeming it safer to risk the dangers
Of robbery on the road than the dan
gers OF robbery in the wild mining camp
For two years they toiled away with pick
and shovel. wrestling the coveted gold from
the bowels of the earth. Then they had
what they deemed was enough OF gold to
justify them in returning home. Now and
then they had received news from Indiana
long letters of patient hope from their
wives, incidents of life on the farm. little
stories of the growth and Development of
the children and all those things that go
to form the substance OF letters beween
wives and husbands. The husbands. too.
had been faithful correspondents: whenever
there was a chance to do so they wrote Of
their lives. of their progress in pursuit of
wealth and of their hopes OF soon return
ing to their families.
The msn had set the day for their de-
parture-a day in April. 1851. which time,
they thought. would be the best for the be-
ginning Of their journey. when that day
rolled around they paid a last visit into the
shaft in which they had dug SO many tons
of gold-hearing quartz In the two years OF
their mining life. 1t was more a visit of
friendly farewell than of covetousness, and
at the bottom OF the shaft, after each had
taken a memento. they sat for hours talk |
ing Of the loved ones at home and OF plans
for the future. Gathering gloom overhead
warned them of the approach of the end
of the day and they started to the top.
Learner was the first to ascend. As he
reached the surface he gave a great shout,
and. mounting a bowlder. pointed away TO
the east.