The Calumet news., 1911-11-10
JOAQUIN MILLER
SEVENTY TODAY
THE "POET OF THE SlERRAS" is
STILL ENERGETIC AND
ENJOYING GOOD
HEALTH.

Oakland, Calf, Nov. 1O.-Receivinl
congratulations from distinguished
friends in this country, and also from
abroad, joaquin" Miller, the Poet oi
the Sierras." quietly celebrated his
seventeen birthday anniversary today
Notwithstanding his advanced years
the poet is still enjoying good health
and is mentally fresh and full of en-
ergy.
Cincinnatus Heine Miller was the
name which the poet received i'm bap-
tism shortly after the day of his birth
November 10, 1871, and under this
name was he known before he assum-
ed the pen name of joaquin" Miller
at the beginning of his literary career
In the three-score and ten years of his
life Miller has cr3Wded a greater num-
Der of adventures and experiences
than half dozen average men of the
same age could muster i'm the aggre-
gate.
He was born from Scotch American
parents in the Wabash district of In
when his father emigrated to Oregon.
then n wild and sparsely settled coun-
try. He received but little education,
hut became thoroughly acquainted
with everything pertaining to wood
craft and the adventurous life Of the
trappers, hunters and prospectors in
that region. lie was only thirteen
years old when he left home To try his
fortunes i'm California.
Becomes a "Squaw Man.
For seven years he aimlessly roamed
through the wilds Of northern Califor-
MIA and southern oregon. sharing the
life and dangers of gold -diggers. lum-
bermen and trappers and finally cast
ing his lot with a tribe Of Indians. be-
coming a "squaw man" and losing
caste with the white men altogether
by this step. He was treated with
like all "squaw men" and re-
by leading the Indians in their
attacks upon the white settlers.
After seven years of this life young
Miller returned to his home in oregon
George IL. Williams at Eugepe. Ore.
who afterward became attorney gen
eral of the United States. The follow
ing year Miller became express ness
anger i'm the gold-minihg districts of
idaho. which position he resigned to
5ecome the editor of a weekly news
paper in Eugene, orc. The paper was
shortly afterwards suppressed by the
because of the seditious
character of its editorials.
1t was while he was editor of that
paper that Miller became acquainted
With Minnie Myrtle" a frequent con-
-ributor of poetry to the paper A brief
was followed by their mar
'iage and two children were the result
IF that union. Their married life was
not happy however. His wife soon
separated from Miller and took the
child, a boy. with her Will,
he daughter, Maud Miller. i'm later
ears well known as an actress. re-
NAMED with her father.
Famc Follows Writings.
canon City, oregon. While living In
hat young and struggling town he
himself by leading an eX-
pedltion against the hostile Indians,
Who had attacked the settlement In
sec Miller was made county judge of
irant county. which post he held until
$40. His literary activity began about
S64 or 1865. lie began to write po-
ms. dealing mostly with the adventur-
'us life OF the west and published first
collection of poems in paper covers, |
allied Specimens" and next volume
With the title joaquin ct al, which |
contained a defence cf Joaquin Muri- |
tia, the famous Spanish American
who bad been the terror of
'alifornia for ten years. From this
.Iiller took his pen name joaquin"
Inder which he published all his sub
equent works.
In 1870 Miller went To London. where |
a.. ~