The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-04-20

hhnhtt 'H9t MO- Aplil ~. ihtH
date ~siNiy-hvc years ago saw the de-
parturo from what n now Kansss
city In one OF the most grotcsque aud
oddly formed expeditions which ever
set sail upon the American plains
the Tonnosscc-C California travelling re-
public. a peculiar experiment In al
truism having It's origin at Memphis.
Tennessee. Late In January iSfS.
gold was discovered near sacramento,
California. and the news spread to
every part Of the civilized world.
Throughout the eastern aud southern
states thousands were fred with an
almost insane desire 10 reach the new
EIdorado. but between the farthesi
outpost and the Pacific coast stretched
over 1909 miles OF practically un-
chartcd. India%n-infcsted mountain
ana plain. u was to overcome these
obstacles that the travelling republic
vas formed.
Studying the problem Of quickly
reaching California, Captain Joseph
:. Watkins. a Virginian. who han
served In the legislature of that state.
conceived the idea Of forming "A eco a.
pletc government, with executive.
Judiciary. legislative u military
branches, whereby all who desired TO
become citizens thereof up 10 a GER
tain limit. might be- assured of safe
passage to the tabled gold fields.
Announcing his plan. watkins
found little trouble ~ securing vol
untcor subjects and during December,
iSlS. "a meeting was held at Memphis
to organize "A provisional government
About seventy ave volunteers from
Narous parts Of The south attenavd
and took oath Of allegiance, each
pledping himself To contribute $1,000
IN cash to the treasury and to abide
By the rule OF the majority In every
particular until the republic should
be formally and legally disbandod ~
California. The citizenship was later
~incrcased to the FUN limit. 100.
An elaborate constitution. covcrias
every possible contingency, was DRAWN
up and adopted. At the election
which followed Captain Watkins was
elected president, the other officers
being president, three judges
court 81 appeals judges members 81
legislature and many minor function
aries, ranging down 10 sheriff ana
constable. The army was organized
with a fun quota Of officers and pri-
Yates.
strictly according To law the Ten
ncsAce-C California Travelling Republic
left Memphis on the first day OF
March isfg. and proceeded by "A spec
tally chartered steamer up the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri river to the
outhttinR uoint at Independence near
here. All went we'll during this por-
tion Of the journey. Tho Legislature
held sessions az intervals and passed
such laws as seemed necessary. while
the courts tried and punished any cas-
uhl offenders among the citizenship.
Arriving az the end COL! the steamer
Journey 81 was found that the adNaue'
agents had about completed pur-
ChHscs Of equipment and supplies and
that the actual start for the gold
fields might soon be- made Tho ear
AVIAN. AZ outnttod. consisted of twenty
wagons. each drawn uy two OK teams
together with many extra cattle ana
saddle horses for the president n
leading officers. The store Of sup
plies was large and expensive Early
In April AN arrangements had been
completed and ON the fifteenth the
Tennesscc-Canfornia Travelling Re-
public set forth upon its oyagc across
the plains.
Early in its history the Legislature
of the Travelling Republic had passed
"a law cNempting all persons holding
official positions, whether rs election
or appointment. from camp drudgcry
aud guard duty. In the enthusiasm
of the start. little attention was paid
Go this law. but before nfty miles OF
the plains had been triVcrscG iis
practical workings became "a scarce
80 tFvtt.HH.. -. FN. s-.rHHn.. E.NtsHf
Legislators, Judges and an sorts OF
petty legislators Insisted upon the
privileges attached 10 their positions,
They rode while other walked. rested
In camp while others worked ana
slept while others stood guard Muir
murings were soon heard. the priv
ilcEcd class was openly rcyilcd n
before many days had elapsed mutiny
and rebellion were rife In the TRAY.
cling Republic.
The class enjoying exemptions
pointed 10 The constitution and rcfus-
ed concessions Acts of insuhordina-
tion were promptly punished by the
lower court anu whcn cases were APP
peslcd 10 the supreme court, that
august body upheld the right OF those
holding official positions To ride a
rest and sleep.
Thus, this amazing aggregation
driftcd along for days and weeks, tar
up the Platte. sighting and skirting
Pixies peak and entering upon the
mountain passes which led To tho
great basin. Probably nothing 80
ridiculous Ia the way OF an eNpedi-
ton ever had existence In the Vnited
States The humor of the thing
helped 20 keep Il alive.
soon after passing Fort Laramie,
however. anRirs came tu a crisis.
President Watkins. although an aris-