Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-29
.FORTY-NINER READY
FOR lO1 BIRTHDAY
WILL CELEBRATE EVENT ON.
FOURTH OF JULY
Came to California Before the Days Of
Gold Strike and Remembers Los
Angeles as an lnsignifi-
cant Pueblo

uay at MS nome at Hill ana Second
streets, Ocean Park, July d. and the
aged pioneer is now engaged in making
preparations for the event.
STOPPED with age, but with eye as
bright and hearing as keen as In the
days of his youth, when with the most
noted border characters he trod the
plains in search of buffalo and other
wild game, the old man is sitting at
his little home receiving the visits of
friends and entertaining acquaintance
with tales of his early youth.
Turner is part Indian, his mother
having been a squaw of the Cherokee
nation. His father was a former En-
glish army officer who had fought with
but had later settled in Georgia, where
his son was born.
Tells of Boyhood Days
"I we'll remember the days when 1
was a boy" said Turner yesterday
when speaking of the many strange adj
ventures of his life, land when think
ing back can even remember by first
little rifle, the one my father gave me
when 1 was about years of age. I
remember how highly I priced it and
can think of nothing during my life
which gave me greater delight than
this gift.
when was about years of age
my parents moved westward and set
tied in Illinois. 1t was a wild country
in those days and 1 passed the early
years of my boyhood trapping and fish
ing on the plains and hills of that
state. When I was about Is years of
age 1 enlisted in the United States
cavalry and for five years wore the
uniform of the country my father had
at one time fought against.
when 1 was discharged from the
army 1 went north to the mountains
in Canada, where I joined the Hudson
Bay company and for more than twen-
ty years L worked for them as hunter,
trapper and guide.
II then moved into Oregon and be-
gan hunting on my own hook. For sew
eral years 1 hunted through the noun
tains there, making frequent trips to
the coast cities to dispose of skins.
Before the Days of '49
"In 1S47 came to California, as great
tales had been told me by hunters and
Indians of the game lands here. trav
eled as far south as San Diego and
then returned to the spot where Los
Angeles now stands. At that time the
present city was simply number of
little adobe huts and was inhabited by
Mexicans and the rougher class of bor-
der citizens.
"I remained in Los Angeles for about
a year and then went north to Sacra-
mento, where l was working when gold
was discovered in the fall of 49, From
then until long after the famous rush
for gold in 40 / prospected for gold,
but without much success. then re-
turned to my old business of hunting
and for ten years passed my time after
-, no
"I then returned to Los Angeles and
found that a wonderful change had
taken place in that city. New streets
had been laid out and hundreds of
houses had been built. 1 was greatly
surprised at the improvements that
had been made in the city and decided
that L would in time come and make
my home there.
st then went north again and for
several years hunted and fished where
the Umatilla Indian reservation now
stands near Pendleton, Ore. l was very
successful during the years I passed
there and at last decided to come back
to the country of flowers and everlast-
ing summer and pass my last days here.
Lives Ideal Life
"I did return and came to Ocean
Park to live. have my little home
here, my horses, dog and organ, and
/ am living what is to me an ideal eX-
istence. / can stand at my doorway
and see the great ocean on one side
and the mountains on the other. My
health is good despite my age, and 1
have certain companions with whom
can pass the time talking of the days
that have gone by. When man
reaches my age his thoughts are all
with the past, as the future holds few
hopes for him.
81 have never been married and do
not use tobacco or Intoxicating drinks.
The only time liquor ever passed my
lips was once when I fell from the
rigging of a ship in the harbor at
Astoria and broke several ribs. One of
my companions poured some whisky
down my throat while 1 was uncon-
scious, so 1 do not suppose it did me
much harm.
$50 far as women are concerned
have never cared to have one as a life
mate. Not that l am not fond of
women's company, and there are sew
eral who visit me here frequently. They
send me little dainties, which 1 appre-
ciate, and 1 am always glad to have
them call on me.
Is a Good Musician
MANY of them take interest in hear
ing me play my organ and seem to
think it strange that a man of my age
can play musical inSArumtnt. All
Indians are lovers of music and some
Of them are masters of different instru-
ments. l never took lesson on the
organ, yet I can today play the most
difficult pieces, and each Sunday play
religious hymns for several hours.
81 have many relics of my former
days. The rifle 1 used when hunting
has the place of honor above my piano.
1t is not much like the guns we use
now. but 1 have been able to bring
down a great deal of game with 1t and
for years 1t, the powder horn which
hangs above 1t and my old fishline and
bone hook were my sole means of sup
port.
"I have also several relics of my
army days, none of which 1 prize
higher than the old C. A. r. button
wear and the blouse wore while
In service.
81 do not know how many more
years 1 will be allowed by God to live
IN this beautiful country, but l feel
strong and am sure he will not take
me away before 1 celebrate my next
The people of Ocean Park