The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

MS irlenos, all interested in the city
yearning to become a capital chartered
the largest and most commodious
steamer to be had, sumptuously fitted
up her cabin and staterooms, and, with
the stewards department under com
petent mana cement, reinforced with a
bounteous supply of the best provisions,
a part of which Were of fluid character.
they put into the harbor of Benicia with
flags 1.ing and bands playing That
night few of the members of the Leg
islature dined on board. They stayed
all night. The next dag. eager to es-
cape from the evil fare OF Benicia, pret-
ty much all the Legislature took up
permanent quarters on the vessel and
on February %. 1854. both houses adopt
ed concurrent resolution to adjourn TO
meet in Sacramento on March 1. The
steamer sailed away from despondent
little Benicia and the members of the
Legislature sailed, too. They met in
Sacramento on the agreed date, estab-
lished there the capital and there the
capital has remained to this day"
And so it appears, after the fashion
of men. that creature comforts were the
important factors in determining the Of
fetal residence and place of business of
the State of California. And this for
the information of those who have al
ways thought that Sacramento was Sc
lected because it was a sort of geo.
graphical center.
Sacramento was the scene of many Of
the most important events in the early
manhood Of Pierre Cornwall. First
trade engaged his attention. then bank
ing and real estate. When he landed in
California in 1S4S he was. by reason of
Eastern financial failure. $4,000 behind
the world. In eighteen months his OBJ
legations were paid and he cashed up
for $640.000. Soon afterward he left
Co. r-fe,st f,.,-
back because evil days had fallen upon
Sacramento Following a financial
slump. came cholera. Mr.. Cornwall 8
money became involved and fever over
took him. At that time Sacramento was
deserted and desolate. Only those re-
manned who could not get away. OF
this time the record is:
Mr.. Cornwall lay in his home on
Second street, between and M. and.
helpless. looked from his window upon
the desolation of the city. With pop
ulation at the outbreak of the cholera Of
about 5000, crowds f1ocked by every road
from the city and steamboats, leaving
the levee were crowded with passen-
gers. From one point alone, the horse
market on X street, the people left for
upward of a week at the rate of over
500 day. BY October % the mortality
had reached from .llirty to forty a day.
Business was suspended, all places of
amusement and saloons were closed and
the population dwindled to 5000. The
cemeteries appeared to be newly plowed
fields and most of the citizens were
clad in the habiliments of mourning.
The municipal authorities then cleansed
the city in earnest and the plague
abated. A sense of security began to
manifest itself, people began to return
and business to evince activity"
Shortly after this, however, Mr..
g. IL
he began with the energy that was al
ways his to make second fortune.
One cannot put down the book with
out realizing that loyalty to the pio-
neers who came to California with the
rush for gold has crowded out thoughts
and appreciation of the men who came
before them, because they had been
born into an INTERCHANGEABLE surging
pioneer spirit that would not permit
rest while there was an unpeopled
country to explore. OF this stock was
Pierre Cornwall. His ancestors had
gone forth into the wilderness, and so
must he. He was but Is years of age
when he left home first for the wilds
beyond his home in Chautauoua County,
New York, and later, with his brother
and a guide, for those Of Oregon, land
ing finally in California. The trip had
all the accidents and incidents of the
pioneer journeys across the plains, but
a melodramatic-a Pocahontas-touch
is given in q rescue from an attack
ing party Of Indians. The guide had
married q few months before the
daughter Of q Sioux chief. The red
father-in-law came on the scene Just
at the right moment.
This simple story Of an American
citizen who understood his duty to
his country and community, as we'll as
to himself and those dependent upon
him, may we'll stand for a type Of
which America may be proud. Mr..
Cornwall would not know defeat while
there was work to do in the world.
The reason that the story of his life is
worth the reading Is not because it
was unusual. but because it had its upH