The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-08-15
CHAPTER XI.
on Eor sutter,e Fort.


bluff bowed sailboat waved ouI
a farewells to Talbot, standing
on the shore, and laid our course tC
cross the blue bay behind an island
called Alcatraz. Our boatman was 9
short, swarthy man with curly hail
and gold rings in his ears. He han
died his boat well, but spoke not al
all. After dozen attempts to gel
something more than monosylables
out of him we gave it up and settled
ourselves to the solid enjoyment OF q
new adventure.
The breeze was strong and drove
even our rather clumsy craft at con.
siderable speed. The blue waters OF
the bay flashed in the sun and rifled
under the squalls. Spray dashed away
from our bows A chill racer in from
the open Pacific, diluting the sunlight.
After journey of several days we
came into wide bottom land country
with oaks. The distant blue hills had
grown and had become slate gray. AT
noon we discerned ahead Of us a low
bluff, and fork in the river, and
among the oak trees the gleam of
tents, and before them tracery of
masts where the boats and small ships
lay moored to the trees. This was the
embarcadero Of Suffers Fort beyond,
or the new city of Sacramento, which
ever you pleased. Here our boat jour
ney ended, and we set out to cover
the three Or four miles to Suffers
Fort.
Suffers Fort was situated at the
edge of the live oak park. We found it
to resemble real fort, with high
walls, bastions and single gate at
each end through which one entered
to large inclosed square, ,perhaps "A
hundred and ffty yards long by fifty
wide. The walls were not pierced for
guns, md the defense seemed to de
pend entirely on the jutting bastions.
The walls were double and about
twenty-five feet apart. Thus by roof
ing over this space and dividing it
with partitions Suffer had made up
his barracks blacksmith shop, bakery,
and the like. Later in our investlga-
tions we even ran across wOolen fac
tory, n distillery, billiard room ard
a bowling alley! At the southern end
of this long space stood a two story
house. Directly opposite the two story
house and at the other end of the In
closure was an adobe corral.
The place was crowded with people
A hundred or so miners rushed here
and there on apparently very impor-
tant business or loafed contentcdly
against the posts or the sun warmth Of
adobe walls In this latter occupation
they were aided and nbetted by n
number of the native CalifominnS.
Perhaps n hundred Indians were lead
ing horses, carrying burdens or on
gagged in some other heavy toll. They
were the first we had seen, and we ex-
emined them with considerable curl
Osity. A good many of them were
nearly naked, but some had on por-
lions OF battered civilized apparel.
Very few could make up fun suit of
clothes, but contented themselves with
either n cont, o. shirt, or pair OF
pantaloons, or even with only hat
as the case might be. They were very
swarthy. squat, villainous looking saw
ages, with big heads, low foreheads,
coarse hair and beady little eyes.
We stopped for some time near the
sentry box at the entrance, accustom'
ing ourselves to the whirl and move
ment. Then we set out to find Me
Clellan. He was almost Immediately
pointed out to us, a short, square, busi
nesslike man, with hard gray face
dealing competeptly with the pressure
A score OF men surrounded him, eacl
eager for his attention, While we hov
cred, awaiting our chance, two mer
walked IN through the gate. They
were accorded the conn llment OF al
most u complete silence on the part o
those who caught sight of them,
The first was Californian abou
thirty-6ve or forty years OF age. II maj
OF lofty, stern bearing, swarthy skin
glossy side whskers and bright super
ciliOus eyes. lie wore light blu,
short Jacket trimmed with scarlet ant
with silver buttons. striped SILK sash
breeches OF crimson velvet, met belov
by long embroidered deerskin boots
A black kerchlef was bound crosswls
on his head, entirely conceallng tn
hair, and fiat crowned, wide, era!
hat heavily ornamented with sllve
completed this gorgeous costume. IL
moved with the assured mir of the aris
tocrat, The splendor OF his appare
the beauty OF his face and figure an
the grace OF his movements attracte
the FIRST glance from all eyes. The
Immediately be was passed over In Il
vor OF his companion.
The latter was shorter, heavlC
man. OF more mature years. In fac
his side whlskers were beginning
turn gray. His costume was plail
but exquisltely neat, and a stranl
blend or the civil and tho militar
The Jacket, for example. had been CT
IN the trim military fashion, but wa