Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-26
A STORY OBJ ADVENTURE.
Experiences in the Southwest and
California in the 74O's and .5O-s.

California in the 74O.s and .5O7s.
ELMONT, VA, October 25.-(Special)-
Not far from here. in an UNCOVERED cot
tage, lives an old Confederate soldier now
in his S0th year, but still young and active
and with a mind as clear as in his young
er days, when he did battle for the cause
he so well loved.
This old gentleman was born on the
eastern shore Of North Carolina and lived
with his parents until he attained the
age of Is years. Hearing so much Of the
far West. and how easy it was to accu-
.mulate wealth in that far-off land, with
two of his boy companions, decided to see
for themselves, and in the spring of 1S4o
he babe farewell to all who were near
and dear to him and commenced his jour
ney to parts unknown to him.
In conversation with him a few DAYS
ago, he gave me an account of his trip,
which is here given in his words:
1--WE left North Carolina. think.
we'll as I remember in May, 1910. There
being no railroads at that time, or very
few, we went horseback to New Orleans,
La. After spending a short While in the
State Of Louisiana, we purchased several
additional horses and proceeded on our
way. After six months of long and
weary journey, we arrived in Texas. Then
Texas was a wilderness, and its inhabi
tants consisted mostly of Indians, some
of which We're the white mans friend,
while with other tribes unless you kept
a continual watch you would be minus
a scalp.
"All the land through that section was
owned by the government, and we had
to purchase what we wished directly from
the government. After looking over seve
raj tracts we made a purchase between
US of about fifteen or sixteen hundred
acres, and divided UP. Have you any
idea what the land cost us, per acre?
Well. it was only 81 per acre.
Now, in those days a saw-nill was
a thing unknown, and how to get house
puzzled us for a long while, but after
hard work for several months we finally
succeeded in erecting small cabin, built
of logs hewn by hand and covered with
bark. We purchased several one hundred
head of stock from the Indians. and be-
gan raising stock, which proved to BE
profitable business. Our nearest mar
ket was Shreveport About every two
years we would drive our herd there and
dispose of them. We could always find
ready sale there, and realized good
prices.
after being in Texas about two years
one of my companions died, and the other
was killed by Indians. This cast a gloom
over me, ana caused me W De lonely ana
dissatisfied So after a long while, I
found q purchaser for my little Texas
homo, and sold out, realizing very good
sum on my investment.
From Texas I went over into New
Mexico. The inhabitants there at that
time consisted mostly of half breeds and
Spaniards OF the loose type. A few
months were enough for me. Give me the
Indian every time.
From New Mexico I went to Califor-
MIA Then California was like the ex-
IRENE Western States-nothng more than
a wilderness. bought small place and
lived there for number of years, and
made money, but / was not contented.
felt lonely and yearned for home and the
companions Of my younger days. After
many attempts to sell, finally succeeded
but at a great loss. Anything, however
to leave and get back home once more!
''It was.in August, during the COS. when
7 babe farewell to my western home and
commenced my travels back to the land
of civilization. I encountered many hard
Ships but after about six months of it,
finally reached by old home. to find many
changes and everything in an uproar, war
having been declared and men respond
ing to their country's call.
st enlisted in North Carolina regi-
ment, and served throughout the unpleas-
antness, fighting in some of the largest
battles was only shot once, and the
wound amounted to nothing, as was in
the hospital only four or five days.
after the war moved to Virginia. and
I have been right here in old Hanover
county ever since. Here I expect to stay
until I die. I have been married twice
and have reared large family, and if the
young fellows around don't watch out.
I will get ahead Of some of them now,
and capture third wife.
'It's no use putting what have said
in print the old gentleman remarked as
I babe him goodbye.