Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-01

perienoe in Sonora My First APP
pearanee as a Lecturer-The Flood
in Sacramento "A Little Journey--
The Pony Express.
After a much needed rest from the
wear and tear of my official life, was
again ready for work, and was appoint :
ed by Mr. Charles Minturn as mate OF
the steamer CoFnelia of the STOCKTON
route The Cornelia had just beth
nut in commission. She was bullt III
New York, and schooner rugged she
had sailed from there, through the
Strait OF Magellan to San Francisco.
She had been thoroughly overhauled
and when | entered upon my duties
found everything in trim for me 10
use TO the best advantage my past eX-
nerience on Long Island Sound. II
placed me head and shoulders above
the other steamboat men on the river,
and | soen had the Cornella the price
of the bay. Everything about her was
"sliip shape and Bristol fashion ana
the discipline of the crew was the al
rniration of all who witnessed 1t,
While mate Of the Cornelia, | obtained
leave OF absence to go home. and Sc
cured passage on the Uncle sam. nc
night before she sailed we roWed around
the bay and as we were in semal
mood we whled away the hours IN
singing. NJ dQE NE ! l4llOAA u AA-N 49,
politan opera house was on the steam
err and her manager, thinking the No-
cal demonstration was all in ner honor,
called to her to come on deck. When
the small boat we were in came 0ppo-
site the Uncle Sam, the men crled'
Three cheers for George Bromley. -,
who is George Bromley, anyway
asked the offended lady.
Later on, however, l WAS introduced
to her and She apologized for thinking
the Jolly party was in her honor
We crossed the 1sthmus Of Panama
in TWO days and one night. The build
ing Of the road had only been COM
nleted as far as Aspinwan, and we
rode to Shagras on mules, sometimes
swimming in mud. sometimes on dry
land. II was anything but a pleasant
trip However I arrived at home in
due course Of time, and had q delight
full visit with my family and friends,
after which I returned to San Fran
cisco and the COrnelia. But the time
came when an ahle-bodied freight
clerk persuaded the owner that he
could perform the duties Of mate and
freight clerk in one salary, and / was
let out to seek pastures new for sub
sistence,
After lnocging around for a few
deys, I met an old-time friend named
Robert Parker, who was also looking
for something to do He had been at
one time quite prosperous, but the
TirSs Of Nav and June. 1851. had swept
away his fortune. and he was now
seeking an opportunity TO make new
start. We talked over our affairs and
prospects and knowing that there Were
quantities Of hides END horns on the
various ranches which we could OBJ
tain in exchange for groceries, we en-
barked in the enterprise Mr. Joshua
Ravens had a little sloop named the
Red Rock, which he kindly loaned US,
as she was Just the craft for our bust
ness. So we laid in q. cargo of gro
ceries from the wholesale store Of
Sherry & James. on credit to be paid
for from the proceeds /of our venture.
The first voyage was a grand financial
success, but not 10 BE- compared with
the second. for, during our absence,
Sherry & James had tried 10 corner
the sugar market. and Just as they
had bought up the last lot in sight and
were about 20 raise prices, ship ar
rived from New York loaded down
with sugar, and the firm Of Sherry &
James wa.s numbered among the Arms
that were. When we arrived we sold
our cargo Of horns and hides, and not
knowing who the assignees of the de-
funct firm were. we divided our profits
returned our sloOp with thanks to Mr.
Ravens. and once more we mingled
with those who had left their far
away homes in the pursuit of riches,
so elusive to the majority Of the seek
ers.
One little incident in connection with
the hide and horn business l must
relate. We had sailed out of Peta-
luna Creek and were bound for Napa,
having played our usual game Of
seVeg-up that morning TO see who
would be captain Parker had Won
and had gone below, leaving me to san
the sloop, and as I was at the helm
headed for the east end Of Mare Island
with a fresh. fair wind blowing, I no.
tlced we were not making the speed
we ought to. On looking over the side
] saw that the mud was within six
inches of the top Of the water, so I
Immediately called I'D all hands. and
up came Parker and asked Whats
up2' / said Mud" and took in all
sail, and when the tide had finished
going out We found that we were
about five miles from land and three
miles from water, and for a mile
astern we could trace our wake through
the mud. But fortunately for us the
tide had been running out an hour be-
fore we fetched up. consequently we
foated about till twelve O'Clock that
night. and finished our voyage to
Napa, where we arrived i'm time for
supper at the hotel and not having
taken food since breakfast we were
IN condition to eat whatever was in
sight When I was about to suggest
TO Parker that he had better let up as
we were TO take breakfast there in the
morning, his chair broke down. and as
he was the captain that day II added
very much to his modification. And
yet.he was one of the best men I ever
knew.
After retiring from the hide and
horn business. in 1855. I was offered
position as manager Of a m11e
somewhere up in the mining. region.
Nothing came amiss with me at that
time. so Of course ] accepted. On my
way to my destination I concluded to
stop over one day at Sacramento in
order TO secure an outside seat on the
stage, with the driver I heard some
talk of a railroad being started down
on the street levee, and thought it
would be in my line to 60 and Inspect
the work. To my great surprise. /
discovered i'm the contractor an old
friend from my native town who was
as pleased to see me as ! was to meet
him. After the usual comparison of
notes and exchange Of news
Now where are you going?" said
he.
q am on my way to take charge Of
mine up in the mountains" said l.
ooh, damn the mine" said he for
getting for the moment his early pious
training. You just stay here and
take charge Of the construction train
for building this road Your mine is
an uncertainty, but this job is sure
thing"
His argument was convincing and /
stayed with him. Upon the compile
ton of the road the directors appoint
Cd me conductor on the passenger
train. where ! remained for nine years,
the first conductor on the first railroad