Weekly journal-miner., 1914-01-07
NEW YEARS DAY
 FIFTY YEARS AGO
(From Fridays Daily)

Gall the roll Ot hail century
 ago of those who observed New
 Years day in Prescott and there an-
 swered on January l, 1914, Judge \. L. Griffin, L. B. St. James, Van
 C. Smith and Thomas D. Sanders. ! Hassayampers of the first water,
 and all in the pink of condition phy-
 s:cally to start moving toward the
 century goal.
 Looking backward after fifty years have flown, these worthy pioneers
 were found in reminiscent mood yesterday. Particularly did they re-
 view the observance of January 1,
 1864, before Prescott was founded. Speaking for the party, Judge Grif- in stated that the day was ushered
 m by salute from cap and bail pistols and mutual greetings of good
 fellowship reigned on every hand.
 Tn that faraway day" said the
 speaker, there were not over half a dozen log huts in the village and the total bona ide population was not over forty male souls. The camp was supported principally by placer miners along Granite creek. the Hassayampa. Lynx and Big Bug creeks, and the Rich Hill region. X store and lodging house situated near the bridge on Granite creek to the south of the city. was splendid inducemcnt to attract the miner. while the scattered cabins proved a haven to many who came in from the coast and elsewhere. Old Fort Misery was standing on Goose Flat, there was a commodious cabin on the lot now occupied bv the Mulvenon brick building on .he corner of Granite and Gurley streets. the bull pen was occupied farther down Granite street, and not over iour or five other places were in evidence.
 After the day was ushered in. the good old-fashioned way. the bunch go; together and organized the fastidiOus order known as the Oriental Sons of Humility. I can not tell you tte secrets of the or ganization as they are as strictly cloistered in secrecy today as when the bunch took the oath on the plaza, under an old juniper tree, as tie sun was going over the Sierra FrIetta range to say good-by. The-e were twenty of us crouched on ali tours looking into the limbs to be- hold the emblem and to swear aI- ieslance., One Of the conditions ;o get III harness with the Orient1l body, however, was that Sonora must Dc acquired. peaceably or forcibly; that no minister of an orthodox church would be tolerated, and the same rule applied to Sunday school teachers; that each member before admission was to bite off the end Of cartridge; and that the symbol ot the lodge was to be affectionatelv embraced in the presence Of an eye witness every thirty days after sun down. We flourished from the start-off In two months the roll had over 100, when We built lodge room and entertained lavishly. We had somewhat of stormy meeting one night when liquor dealer sta,- cd on his oath that he had sold S4,- UCU worth of whisky from two ten gallon kegs inside of a year. This proved to be the entering wedge Of dissolving the Orientals. but the proprietor left the country before action was taken and the order kept on doing business at the old stand. We had plenty to eat, in '64. there being deer, bear, antelope, wild tu-- key and rabbits in abundance right in the heart of what IS now Pres colt. The capital came along in the spring. and the olden days of good cheer vanished into memory. We are the only survivors of New Years day of tine long ago of Prescott. and in harmony with the old-tinc ring of welcome. we still wish those oi this day the same good f1apr t,rt,-