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HISTORY AND GENEALOGY RESEARCH
A Pioneer Anniversary
Mariposa Gazette, Sept. 11, 1880
Next Monday, "Sept. 13th," the
date is so deeply impressed upon our mind that we feel compelled to
mention the fact, not only for the satisfaction of our own individual
pride or painful calamity, which at present matters little, for perhaps
it would have been as well had we never came to California, and perhaps
better had we never been born:but here we are on the 13th day of
September, 1880, the 31st anniversary of the day we passed within sight
of the window where we are now penning this paragraph, in company with
others, and camped for the night about a mile below the present town at
the junction of Stockton and Mariposa Creeks. At this point was the
only sign of habitation upon Mariposa Creek, except a blue tent just
opposite the Mariposa Company's mill, and a few Mexican camps on
Missouri Gulch. At the junction of the two creeks mentioned, where
afterwards Jee's store was located, we found an Italian Store
(canvass), a butcher shop and corral owned by Scott and Montgomery,
pioneer ranchers and stock men, living on the Merced at that time.
SCOTT and MONTGOMERY, we believe, were the first settlers upon Merced
River. Hon. J. M. MONTGOMERY, one of the firm still lives near the same
place. Our advent upon the creek after enduring several months' toil
and hardship in crossing the continent from Texas to the Pacific Coast
on a mule, was marked with several comic scenes of which we are not
forgetful. We shall remember our individual appearance on arrival here,
which would at this time appear ludicrous.
While traveling
downthe waters of the Gila River and at the crossing of the Colorado,
and which at that time was a stretch of ninety miles across a desert of
sand, we encountered a great many Indians who were not exactly hostile
but would steal, every opportunity. We were compelled to call upon them
at times for favors, for which they extracted from us blankets and
clothing, which, together with what they stole, emptied our wardrobe
and nearly left us destitute of wearing apparel. Among the several
deprivations we had to undergo, was that to surrender our guns, pistols
and ammunition at great sacrifice to some Mexicans whom we met
returning to their homes in Mexico from the mines in California, where
they had reaped a golden harvest.
The want of provisions compelled us to part with our weapons of defense. Upon arrival here we found our wardrobe
consisted
of the crown of a hat without rim or top; the body of a flannel shirt
without sleeves or other appendages; a pair of button less, legless,
and seatless pants already pruned; a pair of moccasins purchased from
the Apaches, which were about worn out; and in order to hide our
nudeness and for protection against the scorching sun we adopted the
Indian custom, by wearing a blanket belted around the waist with a rope
or string. This is in part a description of how we looked at the end of
a tedious journey of six months and three days and upon our arrival
here at this place on the "13th of September, 1849." We cannot remember
the names of all who were our companions on that memorable day. Those
living whom we can call to mind are Dr. W. W. WARD, residing near
Hornitos; Oscar, a colored, in Mariposa; John ALLEN, somewhere on the
Chowchilla; and James A. RICH, of Stockton; John SHORT returned to
Texas; Judge J.M. BONDURANT, deceased; Dr. H. S. BROCKWAY, died at or
near Snelling- SMITH, was killed here by the Indians during the fall of
1849; C.T. CANEFIELD, formerly of Logtown, near this place, now
deceased; Bob SPAULDING, CHAS. WORLAND and others who have passed from
our knowledge.
Our most faithful friend of them all was the
white mule that brought us through a region of country uninhabited,
except by cutthroat Indians. This noble animal [for that she was]
became quite as noted as her rider to the early inhabitants south of
Stockton. She was the pioneer express mule to the southern mines, and
has carried many a letter to the early pioneers who were scattered
throughout the mining region, on the rivers and in the gulches
searching for the hidden treasure.
Many a heart in those
days had trobbed a welcome to the approach of the old white mule, that
was expected to convey to them glad tidings from home; and many, as is
naturally the case, were doomed to disappointment at not receiving a
letter from the dear ones they had left behind, and numerous were the
adjectives gratuitously given to the
poor old mule and its rider for
not looking mare carefully in the San Francisco postoffice for their
letters, which they most positively knew were there. Ten dollars a
letter would have been cheerfully given for a letter from home in those
days. But the good old white mule and its rider only charged $2 and
$2.50 for a single letter, and from 50c to $1
for a newspaper, which
was always cheerfully paid. That faithful mule was our property for
twenty-four long years, when one day she breathed her last. There has
been quite a number of biographical sketches attempted to be given by
differing authors of this noble animal, but her history was never fully
written up. Her life was an eventful one. She
was in the Ranging
service in Texas for a number of years under Col. Jack HAYS, now of
Oakland. During the Mexican War she led in the charge when the city of
Monterey was captured, besides various engagements in Indian skirmishes
under Colonel HAYS.
We conclude our little episode pertaining
to the anniversary day of our arrival here my simply stating that now,
as we are left comparatively alone so far as companions of '49 are
concerned, we shall be compelled to celebrate our 31st anniversary by
ourself, except we invite the good old darkey Oscar, who lives hard by,
and send for old John ALLEN, over on the Chowchilla, which might
subserve the purpose of a celebration, were it not not that it would
take
at least a 40 gallon keg of the best "tea-kettle" whiskey to brighten
up their early recollections, and as that appears troublesome as well
as expensive we will take the chances of waiting patiently until our
next anniversary, September 13th, 1881, of which our companions who may
perchance be now living will please take due notice.
transcribed and submitted by Carol Lackey
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