The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-05-15

ing IN no way compatible with my pre-
conceived ideas of pleasure or profit. |
proceeded to the home of an old time
friend of my fathers who few years
before had emigrated from our neigh
borhood in Virginia, and whose name
was Wade Hampton. The old gentle
man was well TODD; had no sons at
home; was well pleased with my visit
and apparently took much interest in
my contemplated future actions He
resided on the road leading from San
Francisco to the gold region, and three
miles above owned the crossing ON San
joaquin River. He at once proposed to
construct ferry at the crossing and
put me in charge, The proposition met
my approval and not many days passed
until was comfortably quartered at
the ferry. Each day the girls tMr
Hamptons daughters) would drive up
with an abundant supply of fresh IA
tons and not unfrequently my table
, was adorned with rarest delicacies |
returned the astonishingly rich proceeds
I of the ferry to Mr. Hampton almost
every day, and rarely kept on my per
son more than one or two days accumu-
lation, but even that in those days often
amounted to quite considerable sum;
as no law existed governing rates, the
greater the emergency and rush, the
greater the compensation demanded for
services rendered, and the mad rush Of
| all the world for CALIFORNIA; hidden
wealth together with returned tramps
often blocked our little ferry for days
Thus for nine months my life was one
continual strain of activity accompan-
led with an unhroken stream of the
precious metal 1t is said that "famil-
iarity breeds contempt, and my famil-
iarity with gold certainly engendered
habits of wastefulness aud carelessness.
When | had leisure encouraged
strangers to loaf with me would gam
BILE to feed the feverish excitement, not
that particularly cared who won.
At length two strangers stopped with
me, loitered around a few days, engag
ing my spare time in exciting games in
variably terminating in their own loss.
One managed, however, to secure my
revolver. Then at the muzzle of my
own gun was forced to relinquish the
last shining cent had at the ferry.
Not caring one whit for the loss of the
/ money, but blazing with an uncontrol-
able desire of revenge, l. contrary to the
wishes and protestations Of Mr., Hamp
Ton. secured brace Of 9evolvers AMI
| followed the robbers to the city of Sar
Francisco, which at that time 1851. wa
an undesirable den Of thieves, robbers
gamblers and loafing Adventures 0
every conceivable character. with III
number Of law loving and law abidini
citizens inadequate to procure or sus
tain order in its ever changing motle,
: and multitudinous throngs Vice an
) crime reigned supreme in the gaudil
furnished palace saloons as well as tn
dark. dingy novels of drunken deviltry
the only distinctive difference bein
{ measured in dollars and cents CANT
ling was the universal pastime of tn
t most of its inhabitants, as well as tn
t sole occupation of hundreds
, quietly visited these hellish resort
e in search of my prey, and, after tw
weeks, had well nigh despaired of m
r purpose when one night in a gamblin
{ den | had the extreme satisfaction Q
; meeting them face to face demand
ed the money they had taken from me
e One stood by in silence; the other as
r sumed an air of bravado and replied
! young man, you are too little; you
4 words havn't enough force; don't III
: derstand you. Then, said |, II
speak in language You do understand.
: In an instant ball from my revolvt
D crashed through his brain, and he gasI
: ingly fell to the floor. The other pr,
cipitately fed, and in the confusion
|, slipped ont, evaded my pursuers and n
! turned to Hampton's. Mr., Hampto
5 expressed much regret at the course
b had so rashly pursued. and, fearin
r some advantage would be taken of m
= by the williams on whom | had fearlessl
+ sought to be and was partially avenged
e strongly advised my return to the Eas
e He devised plan for me to escape tn
b officers and flee the country. Accort
7 ingly, he drove me in closed carriag
o to the city of San Francisco where
d was safely and unsuspiciously carrie
II aboard the New York Belle, which in
e mediately sailed-the whole matte
lhaying been prearranged by my friend
: Mr., Hampton having paid them fl,
f hundred dollars to lay ten hours unit
e he returned with me- Our Toyage
y the Isthmus of Darian was by no meai
{. pleasant, but in due time We arrive
= and was put ashore. / walked aero
# the Isthmus to the Gulf Coast and +
t embarked on the Orleans Jassamil
e bound for the City New Orleans o.
# voyage across the Gulf of Mexico WI
is delightful, and | landed once more
is the city of New Orleans a much wis
It man than when | had visited it fol-
d years previous. / met and recognize
o Capt. f. Davidson on the wharf, wi
d was an old river man and resided {
d South Point, Ohio, near my childhot
1t home. His boat was ready to return
e Cincinnati, Ohio, and l quickly board'
y for that point. | remained in his Ell
l. ploy one month, then returned to IL
e home and friends in the Big Sandy Va
J. ley, who had mourned me as dead +
n four long years for in all that time
n had never written or advised them
l. to my actions or whereabouts. n
y brother and his pardner, in the mel
- 80