The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-02
STORY OF AM ARGONAUT.
HARDSHIPs FORTY-NINERs ENDUR-
ED OF THE PLAINS.

Death From Starvation and the In
dians Narrowly Escaped-Desire
of an Exile in Australia to See the
North Star Once interchangeable
ment of n HOme-C Oming.
From the New York Sun.
Fifty-two years ago young fellow of
16 ran away from his home in the East
and went to Illinois. Then came the news
of the California gold finds and he pushed
his way on to the mines. When at last
after many hardships ne reached Nevada
City he wrote to a chum in the East
full account of all his adventures. This
letter was found recently among the pa
pers of the gentleman to whom it was
addressed, who has been dead now for
several years. The tale it's pale and
faded ink tells of what it meant to go
overland to California in the days of the
Argonauts makes curious reading for
those who in the five days journey from
New York to San Francisco now sweep
along in luxurious hotel train over
substantially the same route the writer
of the little diary took.
The youth ilinselfs did not long remain
in California The news of the marvel
Gus gold finds in Australia reached him,
and there was that in his rowing, rest
less temperament which needed little
stimulus to keep him moving. So he left
his land of Ophir, and went on over the
Pacific to the Antipodean Ell Dorado.
Here he took an active part in all the
rough and tumble turmoil of the early
days of Australian development. He was
a subordinate officer, for one thing, IN
the ill-starred exploring expedition which
the Royal Society of Melbourne sent out
under the command of Robert O'Hara
Burke. When some hundreds of miles
up the country he quarrelled with Burke,
resigned and made his way back alone
through the wilderness. Burke and all
his expedition persisted save one man,
named King who was found some years
afterward demented and a prisoner among
the savages.
But uiong prior to this the young man
had had his experiences as a public char
acter. The miners were subjected to vex-'
atious taxation. The cry or mo taxa
ton without representation was raised,
and it appealed to the Yankee blood which
the young man got from his American
Revolutionary ancestors. He was made
a prisoner in the insurrectonary battle
of Ballarat and was tried for high trea-
son, were many others. But there
was no great desire to convict, and he
was acquitted and borne on the Shout
ders of sympathizers to an adjacent hos
telry, where there was revelry.
So it happened that from 1851 to 1891 the
wanderer lived in Australia without see
ing America or any of his kin. In 1891
a nephew. born many years after his de-
parture from home, went to see him in
Australia There was high festival for
many weeks and when the nephew went
to Sydney to take the steamer the wan
derer quite broke down.
ITS no use, boy" he said. IT can't
see you go away. l must go with you.
must see the old land again. And the
North Start Lord love you, boy, you can't
guess how l have longed these years to
see the North Star once more. I'm going
with you, lad"
He bought his ticket and with the
clothes in which he stood for baggage,
after more than forty years of wander
ing turned his face toward the old home
once more, Fostering the officers of the
ship not a little on the voyage with ques-
tions as to the precise hour and minute
when they would raise the North Star.
And when the pointers of the Great Dip
per did at last show, twinkling dimly
above the watery horizon, the star on
which he had not looked since he was
beardless boy, there was rejoicing and
festivity throughout the ship.
Even in the choking dust Of the alkali
wastes he could hardly be dragged in
from the rear platform of the Pullman
car on which he insisted on riding the
greater part of his journey eastward
from California. And still. after he
reached his old home, 1t was written that
his life was to be out of the common
place.
Some six months after his return there
broke out in many newspapers through
out of the country quite rush OF personal
advertisements requesting him to meet
the writer thereof at various places. and
finally naming the Fifth Avenue Hotel in
New York. To this last one he respond
ed and there met an old Australian chum
on his way, with much wealth. to retire
ment In his old home in England.
The American chum had had an inter-
est which he had allowed to lapse, in
mines out of which the Englishman and
his brother as well had just made great
fortunes by sale to a syndicate In Eng
land. The American had some lands in
Australia, and had been rich a half a
dozen times. but in his old age was prac-
hcally "a poor man again
''But is isn't right. you know. old man."
saei his English friend. that you should
he left out OF all this last big deal, even
n you were such an awful ass as to let
your own claim go by the board. SO on
my way home ] determined 10 ma you
and ] advertised for you and here you
are and I've Ave thousand pounds TO put
10 your credit In any bank you may name;
and brother Bob. who has gone home by
way 81 Suez, Is 10 send you as much
more as soon a. ! get home ana tell him
where 20 send A."
SO the old man goo his s25Ooo and IN due
course Of time came tnoiher $4,000 from
England 10 Join II. ana be was independ.
entity comfortable in his Old homa once
more But 10 the nrsf elhtion % Eefting
back there soon succeeded D sodness which
grow DEEPER ana deeper ~ che weeks and
months rursfd on.
- hunt for my relatives ana hoyhood
friends." he said land fhs directions pso-
- giYe me al Lead 20 graYeyards. J am