The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09

his autobiography. Transcribed while he
! talked:
MY family came to ST. Louis from New
Orleans in 1S:s. ~ was years old We
Broadway. close to what is now Cass ave-
nue.. Father rented one OF row OF frame
houses. Just south OF the cid kingsland
foundry. at Broadway and Cass.
Il went to a public school. which stood
where Scalzo's commissIon-house now is. at
Broadway and Cherry street or as it now
Is. Third and Franklin avenue McElroy,
yes. that was the name of my teacher. His
son now Is a doctor here in st. Louis.
II was one Of. the first members of the
Old volunteer Fire Department. Yes, yes.
often l remember when the fire bells
sounded that / dropped my tools If at
work. or got up from my bed at home, and
ran for the old Liberty Engine-house.
Here Is my badge. Gle took from his
pocket his badge OF membership in the first
engine company st. Louis boasted.)
i was a molder by trade. l spent my APP
premiership in the old Phoenix foundry.
which was run by Dan and Oliver Garrison.
First, nodded machinery. but afterwards
went up to the Filley foundry, molding
stoves.
ut was in 1850 that l made up my mind
to go to California. I had the gold fever
and decided that $3.50 a day I was earning
was not enough. At the time had exactly
$40 in gold after l had paid my fare on
the steamer Patrick Campbell to ST. joe.
Old Captain Bill Eads was the commander
and owner Of her. 1 remember starting out
AZ well as II 1t were yesterday. Dan and
onver Garrison were down to the Leyee to
see US go. and tell you the Levee was a
sight to see in those days-a hundred
steamboats, from UP and down the river.
tied one against the other, loading and un-
loading.
In St Joe had my first experience at
gambling. i had made deal with q man
named Burrs Holdship to cross the plains
with him. 1t being agreed that was to drive
team Of oxen Holdship, d-n him,
steered me up against u three-card monte
man. who cleaned me out of my $40 Serve
you right said Holdship. All right, old
man. said to myself. I'll square I'D with
you yet"
i guess we were hundred miles or so
out OF st. Joe when we passed a small
creek. forgot to water a COW, which was
tied to the lack Of our wagon, and Hold
ship began to curse. He ordered me to go
back and water the cow. told him to 90
himself. He started. as he said. to lick
sense into me. but got so much the best
OF It that he ran to the wagon for his gum
just then along came three Kentuckians. 1
hailed them and told my troubles. I'm lit
tie. says I. but I can lick that man all
right, II he'll let his gun alone Tho Ken
tuckians were square. They took Hold
ships gun away. and give him such 4
trouncing a. he never got in his life.
Then the Kentuckians took mo with
them. You're all right. young TELLER. says
one Of them. Come along with u.s.
In their company got to California.
driving oxen for them. And I could drive
with anybody. Could I crack that long
whip? Who-oa, BILL Who-o-ahI I can see
those oxen even now. - they'd turn. stop
aa 7 a. h>yI>
1t again. Gle gestured ~ IL swinging q
whip.)
Kelly McGue laughed in high rlss "A he
illustrated In piping voice his one.time
stentorian call to the oxen.
1T took me just LIB days to get into Cali
fornia. We did see some Indians on the
way. but had no trouble with them. Every
night the nfty or sixty wagons of our
caravan formed q circle, IN which our cat
tie were cora1led. We were afraid n hand
Of 6toux might stampede the animals. in
which case We would have been In 4 tixht
Ak
did hunt gold out thersf Yes. for q
year. But fell IN with Z chap named
Henry p. Judd. from Providence. r, 1.
Judd was gambler ana no better ever
breathed. He taught me how to deal faro
and when he got through teaching, there
wasn't no better dealer in the West than
flyers out there. too.
II stayed In California i've Year,. ana
made pretty good stake Then I cane
back to St Louis and started q eamblinr-
house on Broadway right opposfte tha
Planters Hotel Lord. I bsgsn making
money - fast didn't know VINO IA "a
With il. never knew Just how much Il I
had, must have been close to $75.ooa Vsnvs
the time had roll q hixh = thsf.
though no sooner I'd get It, then I'd drop
It somewhere Money cams and went fast