Year: 1867

A San Francisco correspondent tells
the following remarkable story of one of
the pioneers of the Golden State:


The history of the pioneer of Meadow
Lake is one OF the most interesting that
l ever listened to. There must be some
thing exceedingly fascinating in the life
of trapper, spent as his has been
among the widest portions of the Sier-
ras, to induce young man Of energy
and enterprise to forego the comforts of
home and the pleasures of society, to
live the solitary life of mountaineer,
having for his companions only the un-
tanned dwellers of the desert. Yet young
men who think of coming to this country
in search of employment will do well to
emulate his example. say to all such,
take tho career Of this young noun.
taineer for your guide, and in few years
you may become, as he has, man of
influence and wealth. The name OF this
young pioneer is Hartly. He is about
thirty years of age, although his fresh
features make him look much younger.
He is small in size, slim and erect in
figure, with frame knit together with
sinews of great strength and endurance.
Years ago he was clerk in an import
ing house in Philadelphia. By strict
economy and close attention to business,
he laid by quite nice little property,
and had as fair prospects before him as
any young man could desire. Then
came the crisis of 1857, and left him
penniless. Not discouraged by reverse
of fortune, he left his eastern home and
came out to California, and failing to
obtain such a situation as he thought
himself entitled to, he went into the
mountains and established himself as
hunter and trapper among the Sierras.
During the fall of 1861 he built a cabin
on the head waters of the Ameri-
can river, and proceeded to fortify him
self for the approaching winter. Du-
ring that winter the snow fell to the
depth of tweuty-eight feet, and snow
drift covered his cabin twenty-five feet
below the surface, and so great was the
pressure that itrequired thirteen massive
timbers to support the roof de tun-
neled an entrance to the cabin which
was sixty-fve feet long. During that
time he tended two hundred and seventy
five traps and deadialls, and he succeed
ed in obtaining many valuable animals
In 1862 and 1868 he lived in the vicinity
of Castle Peak, where he remained for
FIVE months in complete isolation. At
one time, when besieged by storms, he
was kept prisoner in his cabin for thirty
two days; the snow being at that time
fourteen feet deep over the surrounding
country. In 1863 he heard from some
berdsmen who had been ranohing their
cattle in the mountains, that the country
rouud about Meadow Lake abounded in
ledces of some kind of metal, of what
thew we're not able to tell In the tol-
lowing year he penetrated the region
alone. and from one of the high peaks
near by, discovered the Excelsior ledge.
He. at the same time, discovered tho
great Eastern ledge, and at once located
them. He also discovered and located
numerous other mines, which, IT they
turn out as well as present appearances
indicate, will make him one OF the mil
lionaires of the country. Not having to
develop his mines, he has had the good
sense TO associate with him practical
business men, and they form the Excel
sior Mining Company. He is now living
on his rancho in a neat little cabin near
the Excelsior mine, and Dame Rumor
saws that he has been to Washington
Territory after bride to cheer his lonely
cabin. Whether successful or not there
are two or three Of that same brigade
left who would willingly carry their light
and sunshine into any mans cabin, and
are only waiting to be asked.