Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-19
WONDERFUL VENTURE.
. y1Rc1N1AN WHO DROVE HIS CAT
TIE TO CALIFORNIA.
OVER MOUNTAIN AND PRAlRIA.
Capta1n Robert n. Crockett, of
wythc, and His Marvellous I'm
dertaEing-How He Succeeded
Through Snow mud Deserts.
YER MOUNTAIN AND PRAlRIA.
written for the Dispatch.)
Through Snow and Deserts.

WYTHrv1LLE, VA, October T.-(Spe-
cial)-Fifty years ago last April Captain
Robert H. Crockett, then a young man Of
g. and living near Wytheville, became
inspired with the then prevailing idea
Of seeking a fortune of gold in the new ter
ritory of California. He determined to I'M
dertake the Herculean task Of driving a
herd of stock-sheep. mules and mich
coWs-to California in the hope of finding
in that new Eldorado a ready, high mar
ket for them. In this adventure he was
partly successful. 1t was a paying VEN
ture, but he would have realized far more
than he did but for his great losses by
death among his stock, caused, as will be
referred to later on in this article, by
the quantity of alkali in the water and
the unusual want of proper food at times
in certain sections of the far West.
WHO CROCKETT WAS.
Before entering more fully upon my mar
rative, a few lines about Mr.. Crockett will
not be inappropriate He was born at
Bowling Green" in 1928, his father being
the late Hon. Charles Lewis Crockett.
For many years he was one Of the lead
ing stock raisers, grazers and breeders
in this bluegrass section OF Virginia, and
few men have done more to improve stock
raising by the introduction of new and
pure strains than he. For a btiet period,
Mr. Crockett turned partially from the
raising of fine sheep, cattle and horses
to the beguiling game of politics, and
thirty years ago he represented this coun-
ty in the halls Of the Virginia Legislature.
His colleag cues in that body were such
men as the late Hon. John E. Massey,
Ex-Governor Letcher, and Hon. a. A. H
Stuart But his public career was sud-
denly terminated. for in his GREAT anxiety
to further and protect the sheep industry
Of his constituents, he fathered and had
passed by the Legislature a dog law, the
political sepulchre Of many a solon in Vir-
ginia.
RESIDES IN DIAPERS VALLEY.
From the time OF his return from the
Pacific slope, which was in 1854, by way
of water, on the steamer Golden Gate"
to what was then Aspinwall. but now
took the North STAR" boat to New
York, he resided on and owned portion
of the celebrated Bowling Green home
stead. He lived there until 1875, when he
removed to East Tennessee. About a
year ago he returned to Virginia. and now
resides in that beautiful and fertile sec.
ton of the county known as Diapers
Valley" the scene of his early childhood,
which Mr.. Crockett describes as being as
beautiful as the land Where Moses trod,
David sang, and Joshua fought"
Being now in his S0th year and though re
tired from the active pursuits Of business
life, yet he keeps abreast of and takes
keen interest in all public questions of
this fast hour.
When I met Mr.. Crockett and recalled
his wonderful trans-continental trip. re-
questing him to tell me of it, and assuring
him that it would be of great interest to
the reading public, he very readily agreed
to do so. I HEREBY reproduce hts state
nent in his own language:
AN IMMENSE HERD.
I'm April. 1852, I left my home near
IVytheville, on fine horse. for California.
r passed through TaseWell county, down