The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-05-16

V 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 hard
ships he reached Nevada City he wrote
to chum in the East a full account
of all his adventures This letter was
found recently among the papers of
the gentleman TO whom II was ad
dressed. who has been dead now for
several years. The tale its pale and
faded ink tells OF what it meant to
20 overland to California in the days
of the Argonauts makes curious read
Ing for those who in the FIVE days
tourney from New York to San Fran
cisco now sweep along in a luxurious
hotel train over substantially the same
route the writer Of the little diary
took.
The youth himself did not long re-
main in California. The news of the
marvellous gold finds in Australia
reached him, and there was that in
his rowing, restless temperament which
needed little stimulus to keep him
moN ing SO nc left his land of Ophir,
and went on over the Pacific to the
Antipodean FL Dorado.
Here he took an active part in all the
rough and tumble of the early days
of Australian development. He was
subordinate officer. for one thing. in
the ill-starred exploring expedition
which the Royal Society OF Melbourne
sent out under command of Robert
O'Hara Burke When some hundreds
of miles up the country he quarreled
with Burke, resigned and made his
way back alone through the wilder
ness. Burke and all his expedition
perished save one man, named King,
who was found some years afterward
demented and prisoner among the
savages.
But long prior to this the young man
had had his experiences as public
character. The miners were subjected
to veXatious taxation. The cry of mo
taxation without representation" was
raised, and it appealed to the Yankee
blood which the young man got from
his American Revolutionary ances-
tors. He was made prisoner in the
insurrectionary battle of Ballarat and
was tried for high treason, as were
many others. But there was no great
desire to convict. and he was acquitted
and borne on the shoulders OF SYM
pathizers to an adjacent hostelry,
where there was reveliy.
SO il happened thar from 1851 TO
1891 the wanderer lived in Australia
without. seeing an American or any of
his kin. In 1891 nephew, born many
years after his departure 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 wanderer quite
broke down.
ITS no use, boy" he said. Il can't
see you go away. | must 20 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 wan
derlng, turned his face toward the old
home once more, pestering the officers
Of the ship not a little ON the voyage
with questions as to the precise hour
and minute when they would raise
the north star. And when the point
ers of the Great Dipper did at last
show, twinkling dimly above the wat
cry horizon, the star on which he had
not looked since he was a beardless
boy. there was rejoicing and festivity
throughout the ship.
Even in the choking dust of the al
kali wastes he could hardly be dragged
In from the rear platform of the Pull
man car on which he insisted on rid
Ing the greater part of his journey
eastward from California. And still,
written that his life was 10 be out of
the commonplace.
Some six months after his return
there broke out in many newspapers
throughout the country quite a rash
Of personal advertisements, requesting
him 10 meet the writer thereof at vari-
GUS places, and finally naming the Fifth
Avenue Hotel in New York. To this
last one he responded and there met
an old Australian chum on his way,
with much wealth. to retirement In his
old home in England.
The American chuIn had had an in
terest. 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 syndicate
in England. The American had some
lands in Australia and had been rich
half a dozen times, but in his old age
was practically Il poor man again.
But it isn't right, you know. OLD
man" said his English friend, that
you should be left out of all this last
big deal, even if you We're such an aw
full ass as TO let your own claim &C
by the board. So ON my way home
determined TO find you and l adver
tised for you and here you are an(
I've five thousand pounds to put L
your credit in any bank you ma,
name, and brother Bob, who has gon'
home by way OF Suez, Is 10 send yo,
as much more us soon rs | get hom'
and tell him where 10 send it,"
SO the old man Ioi his $4,000 and il
due course of time came another S25
600 from England 10 Join 1t. and IL
was independently comfortable In hi