Reminiscences

I!

I

I

I

E. F. SKINNER.

At the Age of Forty.

REMINISCENCES

BY

EMORY FISKE SKINNER

1908

VESTAL PRINTING COMPANY
CHICAGO

COPYRIGHT 1908

BY
EMORY FISKE SKINNER

I DEDICATE THESE REMINISCENCES TO

MY WIFE

WHO HAS BEEN MY AFFECTIONATE COMPANION FOB
NEARLY FIFTY YEARS

I HAVE DICTATED THESE PAGES TO HER AND SHE HAS PUT

THEM IN WRITING, WITHOUT COMMENT. WITHOUT

HER ASSISTANCE I WOULD NOT HAVE

UNDERTAKEN TO WRITE THEM

PREFACE

The thought of writing these memoirs was suggested
to me by a gentleman, who was newspaper writer, whom
I met in Pensacola several years ago. I was having
a pleasant conversation with him in which I related
some of the incidents of my life, when he said : "Mr.
Skinner, you ought to write a book giving the events
of your life; I am sure it would be very interesting."
I gave the suggestion no thought until after I was
paralyzed. In that condition I could do little but read
and talk; often I found the time hang heavily upon
me. After some experimenting I found that the dic
tating of these reminiscences made the time pass pleas-
anter to me, as it busied my mind.

Another reason for writing this book, is that I might
avoid the utter oblivion which is the condition of hu
manity in general, a short time after this life is ended,
and from which man shrinks in his normal condition.

My life has been more stirring and exciting than the
plain narrative herein related will convey to the reader.

My conduct has been governed by my own judgment,
as I have not had an older and wiser head to give me
the benefit of advice when such might have been bene
ficial; when it would have been received and followed

v

VI PREFACE

if the proper course had been suggested to me, as events
in my life have occurred.

I have sometimes regretted that I did not continue
in the profession of the law, but circumstances seemed
to force me into a business life, against my will.
Whether my success at law would have been more satis
factory to me than my business life has been, will always
remain unknown.

I trust this book will be a source of interest and satis
faction to my descendants as it shows how and where
I spent my life and my statements regarding these
events.

EMOBY FISKE SKINBTEB.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

THE CHENANGO VALLEY OF EARLY DAYS.

As things were in my father's day — When I was ten years
old— Grandfather's purchase— Milking the cows 1-7

CHAPTER II.

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES.

Threshing the boy— Edgar is bunged— The slave girl's re
tort — Boys I knew — Sherburne Academy — A boy's
fight— Early gallantry — Leaving home 8-21

CHAPTER III.

PROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH.

Inauguration of President Pierce— Out of employment— A
poor employer— The Regulator— Becoming a mill
wright—Working for Mr. Comstock; for Mr. Ran
som—Chicago in 1855 22-34

CHAPTER IV.

EARLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH.

Description of the place and the conditions — Burnham,
Foster & Knapp— A donation party— Teaching school
—Two friends— Studying law— A railroad accident . 35-47

CHAPTER V.

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT.

Our moot court and the literary society — Henry Clay
Dean— Admission to the bar — A lively debate— In
Iowa wilds with the deputy sheriff 48-58

vii

X TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER XIX.

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA.

Concluding with Mr. Schreyer— Stevedores of Pensacola
— Southern Lumbermen's Association — Pleasure trip
to Mexico— Baron Ketteler— Pres. Diaz— Bull fight-
Mexico to California— Royal Gorge 227-249

CHAPTER XX.

AVENO MINE.

Mr. Godfrey— Ay er— Payne— Patent Medicine— Colum
bian Exposition 250-257

CHAPTER XXI.

OUR NEW CORPORATION.

Buying out McDavids— Running a sawmill 258-260

CHAPTER XXII.

SECURING GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS FOR FRIENDS.

Mr. Collier and others— Escambia convention — President
McKinley— Tallahassee Convention— St. Louis Con
vention 261-276

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE NEGRO QUESTION.

Col. Tarble's real estate story— Florida climate— Leisure
life— The Negro in politics 277-283

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SUCCESSION OF ROOSEVELT.

McGourin— Cost of being a Republican 284-288

CHAPTER XXV.

MT. MORGAN MINE.

Another trip to Mexico— Guadalajara— Godfrey's rascality
—A. C. Payne— Mine worthless— Suits to recover. 289-304

CHAPTER XXVI.

CHANGE OF BASE.

Paralysis— Nephew at Chumuckla also paralyzed — Clos
ing Florida affairs— Trip to East Florida— To Cali
fornia—Grand Canyon— Phoenix 305-314

TABLE OF CONTENTS XI

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND HIS SCHEMES.

Douville— Battle Creek— Another fire— Sale to Mr. Saun-
ders 315-323

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WESTERN WONDERLANDS.

A tour of the Pacific Coast— Portland Exposition— Yellow
stone Park— Los Angeles home 324-332

CHAPTER XXIX.

MINING ROMANCES.

Mr. French's story— Lost Mines— Austin— Nevada— A
happy life 333-342

CHAPTER XXX.

RECAPITULATION.

My rules for business conduct— Influence of childhood
training— Father— Mother— Grandfather— Golf e . . 343-350

CHAPTER XXXI.

IN CONCLUSION.

My religious convictions— Definition of Faith— Prayer—
The Clergyman's responsibility— Deity— Martyrdom
of Man.. , 351-358

REMINISCENCES OF EMORY FISKE SKINNER.
CHAPTER I.

THE CHENANGO VALLEY OF EAELY DAYS.

South of the Mohawk River is a beautiful strip of
country known as the Chenango Valley. About the
commencement of the nineteenth century this valley was
in a primeval condition, as far as the work of civilized
man was concerned. It was covered with a vigorous
growth of timber, comprising every species of tree in
digenous to the state. At the close of the revolutionary
war it was an unbroken wilderness.

The men of that day were like the men of this, and
speculators schemed to obtain large tracts of land for
the purpose of selling it at a profit to the incoming
settlers. These were mostly immigrants from the New
England states, going west to grow up with the country,
who wished to obtain farms for themselves; as later
I have seen them settling in the states of Illinois, Mich
igan, Wisconsin, etc.

This valley is watered by a stream known as the
Chenango River. As the settlers have denuded the
valley of its timber, the stream has decreased in width
and depth, so that now in the drouth of the summer it
is little more than a large brook.

The early settlers of the valley had but few places
where they could market their crops. The usual way
was to haul such produce as they had to dispose of, over

1

2 REMINISCENCES

the rough, rugged and hilly roads to Albany, more than
a hundred miles distant. Afterwards the Chenango
Canal was built from Utica to Binghamton, and this
gave the farmers an outlet for their surplus produce, as
it connected with the Erie Canal and Hudson River,
giving them intercourse with New York City.

Before the canal was built through Chenango Valley
many efforts were made to transport produce from there
by means of covered flat-boats, which were called "arks ;"
these were floated down the Chenango River, then down
the Susquehanna River, while the two streams were
swollen by freshets, to markets on the Chesapeake Bay.
These trips were fraught with much danger, and often
resulted in the loss both of the boat and its cargo. In
fact the matter of transportation was a most difficult
one ; the canal, however, met well the necessities of that
section.

The land, as I have said, was covered with a heavy
growth of timber, consisting of beech, birch, maple,
hemlock, chestnut, some pine and other trees too numer
ous to mention. When I was a boy the settlement of
the country had been progressing for about forty years.
There were two lakes or ponds in the vicinity of where
I lived, situated on the tops of high hills; one of them
known as Jackson Pond and the other as Madison Pond.
When I was a lad we visited these places for the pur
pose of fishing or bathing, in summer time, and in the
winter to skate or fish through the ice. The name
Madison Pond has recently been changed to Chenango
Lake, and the place has become a summer resort.

From the hills east of the village of Sherburne, flows
a stream called the Mad Brook. About a mile from the
village on this stream there is a waterfall, at the foot of

THE CHENANGO VALLEY 3

which are a couple of sulphur springs flowing out of the
rocks. To my boyish fancy this waterfall was a grand
affair, but on my last visit to the village I found the
water of the stream nearly exhausted. On the banks
of the falls was built a summer hotel, a very pleasant
resort for visitors, during the season.

In my boyhood days, it was necessary for my father
to raise most of the provisions which would be used by
the family; the wheat, corn, rye and buckwheat being
taken to the mill, six miles distant, to be ground into
flour and meal. He had sheep and cows, as well as
horses for driving, riding and tilling the farm; each
spring the sugar for the ensuing year would be made
from the sap of sugar maples, and in the fall came the
killing, curing and packing of several barrels of beef
and pork. A quantity of cider was also turned, for use
as vinegar. Large bins were filled with potatoes, vege
tables and apples and stored in the cellar. The hidea
of the cattle killed, were taken to the tannery to be made
into leather for boots for the family and the wool went
to the carding mill where it was made into rolls and
spun into cloth, for the use of home members. Every
fall a tailoress came to make the children's clothes from
the cloth which had been woven. The home of that day
was a general manufactory for the necessities of its
inmates. The farmer needed to buy only tea, coffee
salt and the better clothes, for his family.

My father and mother made a trip to Connecticut,
when I was a small boy, with the purpose of visiting
some relatives. I remember they went as far as Canas-
tota in a lumber wagon. From there they took the
packet on the Erie Canal for New York City, and from
thence by sailboat to East Haddam, Connecticut. It

4 REMINISCENCES

was from this same Colchester County, from a place
called Westchester, that my father had emigrated to
live in Central New York. Previous to this his eldest
brother, Stephen, had moved to Sherburne, "N". Y., to
ply his trade as carpenter, there being many houses to
be built for the incoming settlers. My father joined
him in order to learn and follow the same trade, and it
was but two years later that my grandfather sold out
in Westchester and came to Sherburne also. Shortly
after he bought a tract of land for himself and his sons
and it was on a portion of this land that my father
lived most of his life. At the time of my grandfather's
purchase the method since adopted by the United States
government for surveying wild lands was not then in
vogue. Lands were then surveyed in lots containing
two hundred and fifty acres. My grandfather bought
two of these lots.

With the hope of escaping fever and ague, then prev
alent in most new countries, high ground was preferred
for the homes. It was for this reason that my grand
father selected some of his lands on top of a high hill.
In the matter of laying out roads in those days, the cus
tom seems to have been to follow as direct a course as
possible, up hill and down. Settlers did not seem to
realize that it was no farther around an apple than over
it.

At the time my grandfather settled in Sherburne, all
imports had to be brought from Albany, a distance of
about one hundred miles, and hauled by teams traveling
through the woods, over miserable and hilly roads. I
remember hearing my father tell that he walked from
his home in Connecticut to Sherburne carrying his
broadaxe, square and his clothing in a bag, on his

THE OHENANGO VALLEY 5

shoulder. He stopped at taverns and settlers' homes, as
he might find them, for lodging and meals. It is dif
ficult for us to realize the hardships to which the early
settlers were subjected. There were only such conven
iences as could be constructed on the spot of the settle
ment. My father had an advantage over many settlers,
in being a carpenter, thus able to plan and make home
comforts which many could not do.

In spite of the great variety of trees, in that part of
the country, their usefulness was limited, owing to the
lack of saw mills to cut them into lumber. Carpenters'
tools at that time were made by the blacksmith, as
were also iron nails ; cut nails were unknown. Houses
were at that time built of small logs. The floors were
made by splitting straight grained trees in the middle,
laying with the split side up, then making all as smooth
as possible with an adz. The edges were made even
by matching and straightening. These half logs were
called "puncheons."

At the time of which I write, it was necessary to go
some thirty miles, with the wheat of the farmer, to have
it made into flour. There was very little that the settler
could raise for selling. The only article he could turn
into cash was potash, manufactured from wood ashes.
There were no dentists in that locality. If a tooth
needed to be extracted, a string was tied around it with
which to jerk it out. I have heard my mother tell of
suffering of this kind which she endured, that made my
heart ache.

At this time the curse of the Indians had been re
moved from this locality, though a few years earlier
this district had been the haunt of Leather Stocking
and Indian tribes with which Fennimore Cooper has

6 REMINISCENCES

made us familiar. The condition of these early days
in the Chenango Valley I repeat from family narrative,
for as far back as I can remember, my father had a
lucrative farm, well stocked with cattle and horses, and
a good farm house provided with excellent conveniences
for that period in which we lived. He possessed good
horses, light wagons, and there were fairly good roads
for reaching town and visiting neighbors.

As a boy it was my duty to have the cows in the
milking yard by six o'clock in the morning. In the
summer time I made these excursions in bare feet. I
had to go about half a mile for the cows, and drive them
up to the house; so it is plain that I had to get up
pretty early in the morning. I recollect that sometimes
I had stone bruises on my feet, and these are very
painful and unpleasant things to endure, but luckily
boys are optimistic and make light of such sufferings.

I recollect hearing my father tell of the manner in
which he tided his stock over the long hard winters,
while he was clearing off the timber and getting his
farm ready for cultivation. He could raise no hay or
grain until this was done, so he was obliged to keep his
cattle alive by what he called browsing them. This was
done in the following manner. He would go to a piece
of woodland which he designed clearing, and would cut
down each morning, some of the birch, beech and maple
trees, and the cattle would eat the tender green twigs
of the young branches. This was all that he had to feed
them, that they might give milk for the children of the
family. This was but one of the many hardships which
the early settler endured during those early pioneer
days until he could get part of his land cleared so

THE CHENANGO VALLEY

that he might raise hay, grain and vegetables upon it,
in order to feed his family and his stock.

I reckon people of that day had some "sand" and
grit in their characters, which provided them with en
durance to meet such hardships.

CHAPTER II.

YOUTHFUL, EXPERIENCES.

I was born in July, 1833. When I was about ten
years old, my father constructed a threshing machine
of his own invention, in the basement of the barn. He
erected an upright wood shaft, the lower end of which
was placed in a block of wood buried in the earth. The
other end was fastened to the timbers of the barn. To
the upper end of this shaft he attached a beveled wheel
upon which was fastened cast iron cogs. Below this
he inserted a strong pole for a sweep, to which a team
of horses could be attached and driven around the shaft.
A pulley was fastened to the pinion of this beveled
wheel, from which a belt ran to the threshing cylinder
situated on the floor of the barn. When I was a school
boy, we threshed oats with this machine on alternate
Saturdays, it being the custom in our district to dismiss
school every other Saturday for the whole day instead
of the half day usually allowed at the end of the week.
When threshing we would stow away in a mow at the
side of the barn floor, enough straw to supply the cattle
until the fortnight came again.

When playing, I often pushed the sweep of this ma
chine and took keen delight in seeing how fast I could
make the pulley, which ran the cylinder, revolve. One
day I had a visitor, and together we pushed the sweep
to see how fast we could make it turn. During our play
the belt fell off and dropped between the cogs. This cut

8

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES 9

it in pieces. I did not emulate G. Washington by con
fessing what I had done ; instead I hung the belt out of
sight where it stayed until we were ready to start again
the next winter. When that occasion arrived and I was
ordered to make ready the horses, I realized that trouble
was brewing. My premonition proved correct. When
father discovered the condition of the belt, he "hol
lered'' for me evidently knowing the guilty party. I
went onto the barn floor without a word. Father took
a piece of board, seized me with his left hand and pad
dled me well with his right. He did not thresh oats that
day — he threshed the boy.

I remember going swimming one Sunday in Gorton's
mill-pond, which was about two miles from where we
lived. While wading about I cut my big toe nearly off,
on what I supposed was an old axe in the water. I
wrapped my foot as well as I could and hurried home.
There I was informed that I had been hurt because I
was breaking the Sabbath. I accepted the judgment,
for I knew no better then.

An incident occurs to me in regard to the fanning
mill. It was somewhat like the affair with the threshing
machine, as there was a boy visitor, this time a little
nephew, Edgar Comstock, and like the other occasion
we turned the crank as fast as we could in order to see
how much noise it made. Edgar did not appear to get
tired, but I finally told him that he must stop. When
he refused I went and pushed him from the machine,
whereupon he began to cry and ran in to complain to
his mother. I remained in the barn for I knew that
when I went in there would be trouble for Emory. At
last however hunger drove me in. Dinner was just
over. My father asked me what I had been doing to

10 REMINISCENCES

Edgar and I replied : "He sassed me and I bunged him."
This expression clung to me until I was grown and had
left home. Whenever I had trouble with any one I
would hear repeated: "He sassed me and I bunged
him." I was ever a sturdy fighter.

We had a field of very good land, about four acres,
which lay just south of the house. I recall that one
year on that land we raised twelve hundred bushels of
potatoes. These were mostly fed to the hogs and the
cattle, although we put about a hundred bushels in the
cellar for winter use. The cellar was large extending
under the whole house, probably 30x40 feet and it did
not freeze in winter.

Every spring we filled a hogshead with cakes of
maple sugar ; three or four hundred pounds, as we had
some two or three hundred maple trees. When we gath
ered the sap I would make a sled, put a tongue into it,
and yoke some steers to draw the sled around, collecting
the sap and hauling it to the kettles, where it was boiled
down into sugar or syrup. My father bought what was
called "muscovado" sugar for table use, in addition to
this supply of maple sugar and syrup. Every summer
we raised sufficient buckwheat for the winter's supply
of griddle cakes. As children we considered them a
great treat when eaten with maple syrup.

We kept from twenty to forty cows, and made large
quantities of butter and cheese. I remember the price
of butter as being from 13 to 15 cents a pound, while
cheese brought about 6 cents.

My mother, being short of girls, pressed me early into
service. I assisted in making butter and cheese, and
about the house. Eventually I became so handy that I
could cook and sew as well as look after the butter and

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES 11

cheese, and in time could do all things in the domestic
line fairly well.

My father was somewhat of an Abolitionist then,
and it made an impression on me when several of the
townsmen appeared at our house one day and urged
father to run for supervisor on the Abolitionist ticket.
After some discussion my father consented. As a re
sult of the election I believe he received nine votes in the
town.

It was my custom to go every two or three months
and bring a cousin to our house for a visit. A sister
of my mother's had lost her husband, who had died
leaving his family in poor circumstances. Her daugh
ter worked in a cotton mill in New Berlin. She was
very glad to come to us as our place was about the only
home she had ever known. This girl met with great
extremes of fortune. It came about that she went to
Florida as a woman overseer of girls in a small cotton
factory near Milton. She eventually married the owner
of the mill, a man said to be worth more than a million
and a half dollars. x A few years later she came north
and visited at my father's, bringing with her a slave
girl as nurse for her infant daughter. My father made
it most uncomfortable for every one concerned by insist
ing that the colored girl should sit at the table and eat
with the rest of us. The nurse, however, from southern
training as to what was proper behavior, did not dare
to eat at the table with white people. One day my
father took the girl aside and told her that she need
not go back into slavery. As she had been brought into
a free state by the voluntary act of her owners she could
not be forced to go back. He offered to aid her and send
her to Canada. Her response was: "Good, lordy, Mis-

12 REMINISCENCES

tab Skinner, I wouldn't stay up heah fo' yo' whole
fahm."

Living at a neighbor's home was a boy by the name
of Charles Gilfillan, who did chores for his board while
attending district school. He was a very bright pupil,
afterwards attending the academy at Sherburne, where
he attracted considerable attention. He experienced re
ligion, was then taken up by the Presbyterian Society,
and sent to a Theological Seminary that he might pre
pare for the ministry. I did not hear anything farther
concerning him for many years ; but eventually learned
that he had forsaken church orders and had gone to
St. Paul. He was very successful there, and visiting
him years after I found him the owner of the water
works of that city and worth half a million dollars.
One of his brothers, James Gilfillan, also became promi
nent. He was a lawyer, and a Register of the U. S.
Treasury.

Another lad whom I knew then recurs to me with
interest. His name was Ezra Huntley, and he lived
most unhappily with his step-mother. This boy caused
considerable excitement, in that quiet neighborhood by
disappearing suddenly from his home. A short time
after, we heard that he had gone to New Bedford,
and enlisted on a whaling ship bound for Behring Sea.
He was gone two or three years and when he returned,
was received as a hero by the boys.

My father's family was quite large at this time,
usually consisting of a dozen members. Being the
youngest I was naturally the butt of the older brothers
and sisters who enjoyed teasing me until I would be
come angry. My Methodist parents had named me af
ter two Methodist bishops and in consequence I was

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES 13

nicknamed "Bishop," and many the quarrel which the
older children provoked on this subject. Probably this
had its influence in developing the good nature, for
which I maintain such a high reputation!

It was customary for the lads from the farms who
wished a more extended education than the district
school afforded, to attend the academies of some of the
nearby towns. These schools corresponded in opportun
ity to the present high school. I was possessed with an
ambition of this kind and my father made arrange
ment for me to board with the family of a Mr. Whit-
ford who kept a grocery in this town. Near the Epis
copal Church in the village of Sherburne was located
the two-story frame building known as the Sherburne
Academy. I was sixteen years old when I entered this
school and my course continued for two winters. The
more advanced pupils occupied the second story which
was rather a large room. The seats were made to ac
commodate two pupils, one end of each seat being
against the wall and the other opening into the school
room. I occupied a seat with Homer Newton, both win
ters; he was a very pleasant boy and an excellent scholar.
I used to envy him the ease with which he learned
his lessons. Apparently to commit anything he had but
to read it once.

Directly in front of us sat two girls, one about four
teen and the other sixteen years old. The elder was
bright, witty and good natured, she lived in the same
home with Homer, as she was being educated by his
parents. I did not see her for many years after we left
school, but twenty years later I met her accidentally in
Michigan. She was married and a mother. The other
girl was a slim little miss of rare beauty, with brown

14: KEMTSTSCKXCBS

hair, beautiful blue eves and rosy lips. To my boyish
fancy she was very fascinating. I cannot say that these
girls made me m:re studious but certainly they made
the time pass mo-: pleasantly.

Of the boys anending school about half were sons of
farmers, living in the valley. Between the country lads
and the boys of the village a little friction became ap
parent which grad^illy grew into a marked division. As
was customary in ±>se days, the students formed a de
bating society, of which the lads from the country be
came the ruling -pirit By permission of the princi
pal, we held our nestings by candle light in the school
room. One of c^r by-laws prohibited the presence of
any student not a member of the club. This proved
unsatisfactory to ^: nie of the rougher village boys. One
night when we -*ere holding a debate, these disturbers
broke into the roein- through some pre-arranged plan for
entrance, giving -he club an uninvited and unwelcome
audience. I had :«ren elected president, and on motion
I adjourned the meeting. We turned out the lights and
went home, to the evident dissatisfaction of the intrud
ers. Time passei on until one day in March, when an
election was held for the purpose of choosing village
officers. On the evening of that day the proper officers
met, in the basement of the Episcopal Church, to count
the votes and determine who was elected. I boarded at
a Mr. Whitford's, not far from the church, and I
thought I would go over and see how the election had
resulted. After satisfying my curiosity on that point I
started for home. It was quite dark in the church yard,
and three or four boys followed me out of the basement
of the church and attacked me. Believing safety to be
the better part of valor, I ran away.

YOUTHFUL

15

Some boys in certain ages are like the male members
of some quadrupeds. If a stranger of their kind ap
pears among them they are not content until they find
out which is master.

The next forenoon, at recess, I recognized one of the
boys who had attacked me the night before. He was
larger than I, but I caught hold of him, threw him down
and began choking him, the other country boys standing
around to see fair play. Hie bell rang for school, but
I was too %usy" to pay proper attention to the sum
mons until the head teacher appeared on the balcony
and ordered me to stop. Our fight was ended for that
time by the appearance of the principal, but this was
not to the satisfaction of the other boy. He announced
that he would have another trial at the first opportunity.
After school that day a large boy named Delos Luther,
who came from the town of Pharsalia, accompanied me
to my boarding house. There stood my enemy attended
by several of his chums, ready for another encounter.
He attacked me and I grappled with him, while Luther
kept the other boys from interfering. I soon had my
enemy down, and I pummeled him well until he cried
enough. This ended our fighting, although his friends
tried to frighten me by saying that this boy's father in
tended to have me arrested for assault and battery.
Sometime after I met this gentleman on the street He
accosted me pleasantly and jocosely remarked that I had
given his son, Peter, what he should have done himself
— a good threshing.

Public travel in those days was by means of the stage
coach, or by canal-packet, drawn by three horses, and
which achieved a speed of perhaps six miles an hour. I
recollect leaving home when about sixteen to visit a

16 REMINISCENCES

sister living at Lodi Plains, south of Ann Arbor, in the
State of Michigan. I was taken to Utica, a distance of
about thirty miles. There I took the railroad for Syra
cuse and went to Auburn, next to Rochester, then on
to Buffalo. At the time six different roads formed a
line between Albany and Buffalo. Beginning at Al
bany, the first road ran to Schenectady, the next from
there to Utica, the third from Utica to Syracuse, the
fourth from Syracuse to Auburn, the fifth from Auburn
to Rochester and the sixth from Rochester to Buffalo.
These were afterwards combined and today form the
New York Central. This consolidation was effected by
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Sr., under charter from the
state.

From Buffalo I took passage in a steamer of good
dimensions to Detroit. A railroad was being built from
Detroit westward towards Lake Michigan, but at the
time did not extend far beyond Ann Arbor. I recollect
several kinds of rails used on this road. Some portions
had a flat rail, about two and a half inches wide by
three-quarter-inch thick, laid on stringers of wood and
spiked down. The running of cars over such rails
tended to curve the ends upward, and to draw the spikes
from the wooden stringer. When the bend was suffi
cient to raise the rails over the wheel it was called a
snakehead. It frequently happened that the iron pierced
the bottom of the advancing car, sometimes even wound
ing and killing passengers. Other divisions of the road
used rails of the shape of the modern "T" rail, divided
in two parts, these bolted together to form a continuous
rail. Another kind in use was the "I" pattern, that is,
after the fashion of the capital letter "I." Many were

YOUTHFUL, EXPERIENCES 17

the experiments made in devising a rail which would
be durable and safe.

I spent several months in the family of my sister.
In returning home I left Michigan at Detroit on the
steamer "Atlantic," one of the side-wheelers on Lake
Erie at that time. On the following trip this boat was
lost with all on board and nothing was ever heard of
her from that day to this.

Reaching the age when the youth becomes gallant, I
invited the sister of a boy friend to go with me to the
spelling school. My father let me take a horse named
"Old Judge," and we started away in the cutter for a
good time. The drifts were heavy, and in a certain bad
place the horse floundered, fell and broke one of the
thills of the cutter. What a time I had righting the old
horse, turning the cutter around, and with a patched
thill, restoring my charge to her mother's arms. I ex
pected to be well scolded at home for breaking the cut
ter, but to my surprise my father did not utter a word
of reproof.

When I was sixteen years old I started into field
work, where I took my place in the row as a man. The
summers were devoted to putting in the crops, tilling
and harvesting them. This required steady work from
daylight till dark. There were no ten-hour rules in
those days. I have heard my father say that for years
he worked sixteen hours a day in the summer season.
In the winter people allowed themselves more time for
visiting and recreation.

My brother, Zara, and myself were living on the old
home farm when I was about sixteen. We tried work
ing the farm together, but we disagreed about many
things. There was considerable friction between MB

18 REMINISCENCES

until my brother decided to leave and I was left to run
the farm by myself. I was the only one of the children
left at home with my parents, my brothers and sisters
having married or settled on places of their own. The
responsibility then fell upon me, as my father had re
tired from active management some years before. I
raised or bought all that was necessary for the farm
or the family, and sold what was marketable. It was
in this experience, probably, that I gained early knowl
edge of business methods. There were no neighbors
within half a mile, so I had small opportunity to mingle
with Others, neither did I have time for fishing or hunt
ing. I recollect trying to shoot some squirrels that
thronged the cherry trees with an old shotgun which
had to be touched off in the pan by means of a live coal.
Of course, I did not hit a squirrel very often. I occa
sionally shot a woodchuck, but they were very shy.
Sometimes I borrowed a rifle, intending to hunt on Sun
day, but my mother kept such close watch on my actions
that I found it difficult to accomplish my purpose with
out being caught and censured.

It was while I had charge of my father's farm and
business that on a certain Saturday morning a neigh
bor, Mr. Kingsbury, rode up to my father's house. It
was a sunny morning after a rainy spell. There was a
large side hill in front of the house which had been
sowed to oats. These had been harvested and stood in
shocks. Mr. K., looking at the hill, remarked to my
father that he should have those oats put in the barn.
My father replied that such was his wish, but that I
was so contrary I wouldn't do it. I turned to him and
said : "Do you want those oats put in the barn ?" He
replied that he did. I said that it should be done at

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES 19

once, and immediately set two teams at work. There
was a young man among the field hands who thought
he could do more work if he had a little whiskey to
stimulate him; so with the knowledge of some of the
other help, I went to town and bought a jug of whiskey
and secreted it in the barn. We worked most strenuously
all day, and partook rather liberally from the jug.
When it came evening, after the cows had been milked,
it was proposed that we go down the river to fish. I
objected to the teams being used, but said that I would
arrange with a neighbor to take us down. This plan
proved satisfactory, and while the man was hitching up
his horses we boys lay on the grass in the front yard.
We had brought some of the contents of the jug with
us to fortify us in the exertions of fishing, and I had
put a small bottle in my pocket. In boy nonsense, as
I lay there on my back I put this bottle to my mouth
and let the entire contents run down my throat.

I can remember little after riding half a mile. After
that all is oblivion until three o'clock the next morning ;
the boys were then having a serious time to arouse me
sufficiently to get me home.

We succeeded in reaching our house without our re
turn being known. We went to sleep in the hay mow
of our horse barn and were dead to the world until
awakened by hearing my father drive the cows out of
the yard into the pasture. Owing to our absence he
and the hired girl had been obliged to milk forty cows.

All that day I felt very weak and miserable. For
tunately it was Sunday, and for once I kept the day in
rest and quiet.

This escapade, however, resulted in serious changes
in my future life. My parents did not learn the story

20 REMINISCENCES

until the following winter, when it was carried to them
by mischief-mongers, and the end of the affair was that
I left home, never to return, except as a visitor. I had
managed the business of the farm for two years with
excellent success, and I was not afraid to face the world
for myself. I had a schoolmate friend living in Wash
ington, D. C., who was a clerk in a dry goods store. I
wrote to him, asking that he find me employment. In
a short time he wrote to me to come at once. An older
brother was brought home to take my place on the farm,
the affairs were settled, and I turned my face to new
fortunes.

The days of boyhood and youth were over.
* #'# * #*# * * #

Returning to this valley a year or two ago, and visit
ing the old village, I faced the melancholy fact that
the building in which had flourished the academy sixty
years ago had entirely disappeared, and not a reminder
of it was to be seen. The church was still there, look
ing much the same as in former days. At the rear of
the church, in the little cemetery, was the grave of one
of my grandfathers, Stephen Skinner, who married
Mary Foote, a lineal descendant of nine successive
Nathaniel Footes.

Sherburne, "loveliest village of the plain," has also
changed since the time of which I have been writing.
The banks of the canal have been leveled and the easy
going packets have been superseded by railroad cars. A
beautiful monument has been erected to the memory
of the soldiers who perished in the civil war; its loca
tion is by the side of the Congregational Church, and
at the intersection of the two principal streets of the
village. Among the names of the heroes chronicled on

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES 21

the monument are several of those related to me, and
with whom I passed my childhood. A bank has been
established and a few houses of a better and more mod
ern style of architecture have been built. But most of
the people whom I knew have gone to "that bourne from
whence no traveler returns," and I realize that in a few
years I shall follow them.

The village itself, however, is the same placid home
of a contented people, practically undisturbed by the
ambitions or avarice of the outside world.

GHAPTEK III.

FROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH.

I was greatly impressed with the public buildings of
the city of Washington, and enjoyed my surroundings
very much. To my untrained eye the architecture ap
peared very imposing. The Washington monument
was then in process of erection, having reached a
height of about a hundred feet, only a fifth of its pres
ent elevation. Wings were being added to the Capitol
building, but so far only the basements of these had
been completed. But of all the excellent opportunities
for interest and instruction no building afforded me so
much attraction as the Patent office. I never tired of
examining the contents stored within these walls.

In March of the following year I had the pleasure
of witnessing the parade incident to the inauguration
of President Pierce. In the procession Mr. Fillmore,
the retiring president, was the usual guest, and rode in
the same carriage with Mr. Pierce. I was within twenty
feet of the incoming president when he delivered his
inaugural address. This was delivered from a platform
erected for the occasion over the front steps of the cen
tral building of the Capitol. The speaker was sur
rounded by the dignitaries of state, and the ambassa
dors, which added to the impressiveness of the occasion.
There was a marked absence of gold lace, decorations
and badges, which are so noticeable in a similar scene
today. Judge Taney administered the oath of office.

22

FKOM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH 23

Mr. Fillmore, who sat in a chair beside the speaker,
would smile appreciatively whenever some emphatic
passage was uttered. The entire affair was dignified,
impressive and grand, and I shall never forget it

As time went on I found the climate of Washington
to be very trying to my New England blood. The sum
mers were exceedingly sultry, and the long hot days
had a bad effect upon me. One wilting day I went to
the second or third floor of the store building and lay
down on a pile of cotton goods. The proprietor, proba
bly missing me, came and woke me with a sharp repri
mand and the next day I was discharged. This was a
hard blow to my sense of justice, because I had tried
to be attentive to my duties and in every way to do the
best I could.

To find oneself in a strange city, a long way from
home, without employment, and with very little money,
is a strain upon the stoutest heart. I met help, how
ever, a second time from my friend, Moses Kinne. He
secured another situation for me in a short time, in a
store combining dry goods and shoes. It was situated
at Seventh Street, about a mile north of Pennsylvania
Avenue. I have been in the same locality several times
in late years, but find nothing to remind me of the old
store, which had been located under Dorsey's hotel.
This section of the city was known as "The Northern
Liberties," for what reason I never learned.

Near the store was a fire engine house. The engine
was a double-decker with the formidable name,
"Northern Liberties." The department was manned by
volunteers, who served without pay. I was awakened
one night by loud clanging of the fire bells. I hurried
out of bed and into my clothes and ran to the engine

24 REMINISCENCES

house, arriving in advance of the company. A few of
us manned the ropes, and hauling the engine out of the
house, started for the fire. I was much excited and
seemed to fly rather than run, as the men rushed the
engine at a tremendous rate of speed. And thus I wit
nessed my first fire, although, having seen some vast
conflagrations since, as I now recollect the fire of that
night, it did not amount to much.

In our business life my new employer gave his clerks
to understand that they must not let a customer leave
the store without buying something. If we did he would
demand of us an explanation. Also we were instructed
to ask more for each article than we expected to get, but
the buyer also knew that he did not have to pay the
price first asked for the goods, but worst of all, we were
not expected to be truthful in our statements. In a
great many ways this trade was very distasteful to me,
so after a time, I made up my mind that if I had to lie,
I would lie for my own benefit rather than another
man's. I -resigned my position in the store and re
turned to the State of New York.

First I spent some time in visiting my sister, who
lived in the town of Sherburne, on a stream called
Handsome Brook. I went next to Painted Post, where
my brother, LaFayette, lived. He was running a saw
mill some distance below Painted Post. Under his in
structions I began running the boiler and engine. It
was my first experience with steam, and I found it very
interesting. But I was not to be here long. My brother
received a letter from a man in Corning, by the name
of K. E. Kobinson. He styled himself "The Kegula-
tor," and stated that he expected to build a planing mill
and start a sash, blind and door factory on a large scale.

FROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH 25

He added that my brother had been recommended to
him as a competent man to have charge of the under
taking. I urged my brother to give up his present con
tract and accept the position offered. Eventually he
did so, and together we went to Corning.

Mr. Robinson owned a large cracker factory, which
occupied the ground floor. He proposed to put in the
sash and door machinery over the bakery and to add the
planing mill at one side. My brother was an expert
mechanic and understood his business thoroughly.
When the machinery had been put in position my
brother put me at work on first one machine and then
another until I could operate all the machines in the
factory. As far as we two were concerned, everything
seemed propitious, when suddenly one night we were
awakened by an alarm of fire. Going to see what it
was, for the flames lighted up the whole heavens, we
discovered the planing mill, the factory and bakery in
one grand conflagration — and my brother and I out of
a job.

The "Regulator" commenced rebuilding his factory
at once, but owing to some dissatisfaction on the part of
my brother, we concluded to leave Corning and go to
Ann Arbor, Mich. Arriving there, we found employ
ment with an old acquaintance of LaFayette's, a fore
man in the erection of a large paper mill at Geddes-
burg, on the Huron River, between Ann Arbor and
Ypsilanti. I worked on this mill for something over a
year. Charles W. Vail had a wide reputation for his
skill, it being held that he was able to erect the best
mill frame of any one in the State of Michigan. The
one built while we were with him was the best I have
ever seen before or since. It was made from white

26 BEMINISCENCES

oak timber, hewn from the log ; the basement story was
framed from 14 in. square timber, and so thick and mas
sive that when it was finished it was impossible to see
through when looking from one corner of the building
to another.

The foundation was made by bedding heavy timbers
in the river channel and covering them with four-inch
planks. Upon this foundation the mill was erected.
The building was sided up and finished with white
wood, and presented a fine appearance when completed.
I found Mr. Vail to be very intelligent, a good talker
and singer ; altogether a very interesting man. After I
had been working a short time at framing Mr. Vail
made me his personal assistant. I was called upon to
help him whenever he took his measurements, or other
occasions where he needed aid. This was very instruc
tive to me, and I fully appreciated the friendliness
which this employer showed me. All the timbers used
for the mill were first hauled to a level piece of ground
several hundred feet from the mill site and framed for
erection. When the time came to raise the frame of
the mill Mr. Vail put me in charge of the work of mov
ing all this timber from where it lay on the ground over
to the mill site. When a certain piece would be wanted
he would give me the number of it, and I would see that
it was placed where it was needed. These timbers were
moved on rollers and I was given the superintendence
of such men as were necessary for the purpose. I think
I was engaged only about a month in this service, but
by this time I had become so expert that I could frame
as well and as quickly as any man on the job. I was
about twenty years old at this time, and had been in
this employment about six months.

FROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH 27

Before the building was quite finished Robert Ailes,
the millwright, came to oversee the putting in of the
machinery. I asked if I might work with him and learn
the millwright's trade. I received a warm recommen
dation from Mr. Vail, and Ailes took me into his em
ploy.

It was his method to work three men in a gang, and
to put one of the three in charge of the work entrusted
to them. This was before the days of turned shafting
and bored pulleys and gears. The shafting was six-
sided cast iron, and the eyes of the pulleys and gears
the same shape, and these were fitted to the shafts by
iron wedges. It required very, very skillful workman
ship to fit these keys or wedges with a cold chisel and
file so that they were true upon the shaft. After a time
I became skillful in this line, and after some six months'
practice I gave up working as a "jour." After that,
during many years of labor as a millwright I served as
a "boss." Mr. Ailes eventually gave me some of the
most difficult work to be done on the mill, for he had
confidence in my ability to do whatever task he set me
to accomplish.

At length the machines came and were set in place,
and the mill started, in the making of printing-paper
from rags. A man by the name of Barnes was put in
charge of the paper making. He came from one of the
New England states and was experienced in this busi
ness. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence,
and being well disposed towards me, often gave me
friendly advice. One day he asked if it were true that
I was about to marry a certain young lady, and I ac
knowledged the possibility. She was the daughter of
a wealthy farmer and mill owner, who was also a

28 EEMINISCENCES

member of the Michigan Legislature. This man was
of small stature and had married a wife smaller than
himself. They had two children, the young lady in
question and a boy, both very small. Mr. Barnes asked
if I had considered the size my children would probably
be, should I marry one so under-sized. He dwelt upon
the duty a man owes to his descendants to give them
good proportions, good mental powers and bodily vigor ;
he said that an intelligent man should exercise at least
as much judgment in behalf of his own children as he
would for the lower animals he might raise. I had never
before thought on this subject, but his conversation led
me to its careful consideration, with the result that I
severed my connection with the young lady as soon as
I could honorably do so.

My brother, before going back to New York state,
had introduced me to a man by the name of Comstock.
He was a connection of the family, by marriage, his
brother being the husband of my eldest sister. Mr.
Comstock lived about six miles south of Ypsilanti. After
the paper mill had been completed I went out to visit
him. While there I contracted to run a little sawmill,
which he owned. It was a water mill and the dam
holding the water, that operated the machinery, was
made of clay. Minks or rats or other rodents were very
destructive, digging through such dams, and the water
running into such holes, in time so increased the size
of the fissure as to permit all the water in the dam to
run out, unless the hole was discovered early and
plugged up. Annoyances of this nature occasionally
suspended other work. As I recollect, this mill had but
one saw and I operated it without any helper.

In this portion of the state of Michigan the soil was

FROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSII 29

very rich, being a deep, black muck, extending over a
large section of the country. It was covered with the
finest hardwood timber I have ever seen. This timber
was all cut and burned by settlers, that they might se
cure clearings to cultivate. I am certain that I saw
land there that would cut twenty thousand feet of white
oak to the acre, and I estimate that this timber would
be worth today from $1,000 to $1,500 per acre.

Mr. Comstock owned quite a quantity of whitewood
timber, the logs were, some of them, five or six feet in
diameter and as free from defects and knots as a cake
of tallow, and they were of about the same color as
tallow.

While running the sawmill for Mr. Comstock I con
tracted with him to erect a horse barn. 1 sawed out the
materials in the mill and made a draft myself for the
frame. I then laid out the timbers for framing by the
system known as the square rule. Up to this time two
methods were used in laying out the timbers. One was
called, I believe, the fit and try; by this system the
pieces were put together on supports, side by side, and
the measurement of one made the measure for the rest.
This method was used by persons untrained in the use
of figures. The other way consisted in finding all
lengths by means of a ten-foot pole, and the system was
called square rule.

I was obliged to plane by hand all the lumber in
tended for covering the barn, and for door and window
frames, etc. It was my first experience in erecting a
building. I made some mistakes, but none were serious.
One may conclude that it was very substantial for a
horse barn, from the fact that the frame was made of
ten-inch square timbers, of oak. The covering was of

30 BEMINISCENCES

whitewood; after the building was completed it was
painted white, and presented a fine appearance. Mr.
Comstock was much pleased with the result.

It was while this barn was in process of construction
that I took a vacation and made a trip back to New
York state to visit my parents and former home. I
spent a few weeks there, then returned to Michigan and
completed the barn. My brother, LaFayette, came west
with me. Mr. Comstock and he went out into the vicin
ity of Newaygo, Mich., and bought some school lands.

About this time my youngest sister, with her hus
band, came to see me. They were passing through
Michigan on their way to Wisconsin. It seems that
my sister had made an agreement with her husband,
that she would consent to his selling his farm in Sher-
burne and go with him to Wisconsin, on condition that
when settled he would erect a sash, door and blind fac
tory and take me in as partner. He was to allow me a
one-third interest. They wished me to go with them to
Wisconsin at once, but my contracts with Mr. Comstock
would not permit, and it was arranged that I should
follow them some weeks later. But in this matter
events took a turn. After completing my engagement
with Mr. Comstock I started on my journey to Wiscon
sin. I proceeded as far as Kalamazoo, and stopping
there, visited my cousin, Edward Phetteplace, son of
my mother's sister, Submit. In the years gone by he
had lived in Sherburne and had attended the academy
there. When a young man, attracted by the stories of
western adventure, he had gone overland to California.
On this trip he was elected the captain of the company
with which he was traveling. When he returned to
Sherburne he was regarded as an "Argonaut" of untold

FEOM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH 31

wealth. How much he really possessed he had wit
enough to conceal, nevertheless he bought the old Kala-
mazoo House Hotel and rebuilt it with brick. During
this visit these relatives used every persuasion to have
me remain in Kalamazoo until my sister and husband
should return from Wisconsin, their purpose being to
induce them to settle here, instead of going to Wiscon
sin. I did not remain idle long . I had my kit of tools
with me and soon found employment in repairing a
flour mill, situated near the railroad depot of the town.
While I remained on this undertaking I worked alone.
When I had finished this task, the head millwright
(I forget his name) put me in as assistant to a man
engaged to erect a smut-mill some miles distant. This
fellow proved to be a carpenter, rather than a mill
wright and did not properly understand the business
required. He wasted two or three days, accomplishing
little or nothing. He became disheartened and made up
his mind that he could not succeed in his attempt. I let
him try until he was thoroughly discouraged, then I told
him that if he would let me take charge, and would do
as I told him, that we could put up the machinery. To
this he gladly consented. The very first day I had the
elevators laid out through five stories, and the machin
ery in position. The boss mill-wright was very much
pleased with my success, and wanted to know if I
would take charge of some work for a Mr. Hansom,
brother of the governor of the state of Michigan. He
owned a mill which was to have the old machinery taken
down and out, and new machinery made and erected
in its place. This was entirely new work for me, but I
felt I would be equal to the occasion and would learn
a new kind of work much in demand at that time

32 REMINISCENCES

throughout all the northwest. There were six mill
wrights who were to work under my direction; some
of them had had ten or twelve years' experience on flour
ing mills. I took great pride and pleasure in this piece
of work. The plans were all draughted out and fur
nished me, and the work ran splendidly. I took some of
the most difficult parts of the work to do myself, doing
much with my own hands; especially the bolt chest.
The hoss mill-wright came occasionally to see how I
was getting along. On one occasion he directed me
to cut the bearings in the bridge trees of the bolt chest,
a certain size. I objected for the reason that the jour
nals would not fit the bearings because they would not
all be turned one size. He stated that he would have
the journals turned to the size named. So under protest I
cut them as he required. All this time there was trouble
brewing between this boss mill-wright and the men under
my control; gradually one after another left, stating
their grievances to me. I was feeling dissatisfied with
the outlook when my sister and her husband arrived
from Wisconsin. They assured me that everything was
working well in their affairs at Oshkosh, and they again
urged me to go there. One day I discovered a young
fellow at work recutting the bearings in the bolt chest,
he was the one who had assisted me when I was erecting
the smut-mill. I went at once to the boss mill-wright
and resigned my position. He asked the cause and I
told him that I thought it time for me to leave, when
another man had to do my work over. He remon
strated with me, saying that it was a mistake, that I
might do the work, but I did not like him anyway so I
insisted that an order be given me for my wages. I
then went to Kalamazoo and presented the order to

FitOM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH 33

Mr. Ransom, who asked me what the trouble was, say
ing that he would give me charge of everything if I
would go back and complete the work. I thanked him
for his confidence in my skill, but declined his offer as
I was anxious to go to Wisconsin.

I was taken ill, a short time after this, a most dis
tressing pain attacking my back and head. A doctor
was called and I was told that I had fever and ague.
I suffered tremendously, and sickness being a new ex
perience I did not bear it with patience. During this
time my cousin's wife served as my nurse, and I was
given a course of the usual remedies ; these proved help
ful, and I recovered from the attack in two or three
weeks, when I proceeded on the journey west.

The railroad was completed at that time to Lake
Michigan, to a place called New Buffalo, if I remember
correctly. There I took a steamer for Chicago. We
arrived in the morning, going ashore near the place of
the present steamboat landing. This was in the fall
of the year 1855. Chicago was at the time a rambling
city, built mostly of wooden houses. It had a popula
tion of about sixty thousand. I took a bus for the
Garden City Hotel ; such it was called in that day. It
was located on Market Street, between Washington and
Madison Streets. It recurs to me as a two story building
of wood, having a veranda at the east side. I found
it a very fair hotel, although the immediate neighbor
hood was not built up. There must have been a rainy
spell before I arrived, as I have an impression of streets
that were very bad and unsightly. There were no
paved streets that I recollect. Most of the streets were
laid with three inch plank in the center, and in many
places these were pressed down under the mud. The

34 BEMINISCENCES

more important buildings were being raised, six or
eight feet by means of jack screws. It was tiresome
work traveling over the side walks as they were uneven
and on many different levels. The indications were
few that this was to be a great metropolis. Two or
three railroads were projected, of which the Chicago
and Galena was the most prominent.

I stayed in the city but a day or two, then took a
steamer for Milwaukee and Sheboygan. At the latter
place I took a stage coach for Fond du Lac. The fol
lowing morning I boarded a steamer for Oshkosh, which
for some time had been the goal of my ambitions. I
think that the name of the steamer was Peytona, but
am not certain. It was a fine boat for those days, and
it was well loaded with home seekers, coming to settle
up the new state of Wisconsin.

CHAPTEK IV.

EARLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH.

The principal street in Oshkosh was then called
Ferry Street. It was later changed to Main Street.
From the lower end of this thoroughfare a floating
bridge crossed to "Brooklyn," a place on the south side
of Fox River. This bridge was made of square timbers
lying side by side and fastened together. These were
planked over crosswise and a platform was raised at
one side to be used by foot passengers. Near the center
a section some sixty feet wide was cut out, one end of
which was held to the main bridge by a heavy iron
coupling. When a steamer or raft of logs desired to
pass, one end of this draw as it was called was loosened
and the current would float it down the river ; the other
end being fast by the couplings. When it was desired
to close the draw, it was done by means of a chain, one
end of which was attached to the main bridge, and the
other to a windlass on the draw. The ends of the main
bridge were held by piers at each end of the draw.
These piers were made by a caisson, composed of tim
ber pinned together and filled with stone, then sunk on
the bed of the river. When the draw was to be closed,
the windlass was turned with a crank, which wound up
the chain, and brought the draw again into place, thus
making a continuous passage for teams and foot pas
sengers.

The streets of Oshkosh were about as Nature had

35

36 REMINISCENCES

made them. Ferry Street and others near the river
were very muddy and sticky in rainy weather. Most
of the stores were on Ferry Street between Algoma
Street and the river. They consisted of structures one
and two stories high. Just east of the bridge on the
river, was a sawmill; said to have been equipped with
the first circular saw, for cutting logs, in the state of
Wisconsin. The owner was a man by the name of
Swartz. The most pretentious building in Oshkosh was
Mark's Hall. It was three stories in height, and was
located at the corner of Ferry and C'eape Streets ; it con
tained an audience room for public meetings, lectures,
etc. Farther up the street, near the corner of Church,
was a large wooden building in the shape of a Maltese
cross, occupied as a meeting house by the Congrega
tional Church, the pastor at that time being the Rev.
H. G. Freeman. He was succeeded by the Rev. William
H. Marble, an eloquent and brilliant clergyman, very
popular at that time. Between the Hall and the Church
was the Winnebago Hotel. A cheap two story struc
ture used as a courthouse and jail, occupied the pres
ent site of the county buildings. The street running
northwest from Ferry Street was called Algoma. Upon
this numerous houses were built as far as Jackson
Street.

There were several sawmills on the north side of the
river. The section of country between High Street and
the river, was mostly swamp, where grew flags and bul
rushes. It was generally covered with water. It was
at that time being filled in with slabs and sawdust as
fast as the mills could furnish the material.

Communication with Neenah, Menasha, Appleton
and Green Bay was by boat. On the south side of the

EARLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH 37

river were two sawmills, one owned by Mr. Hubbard
and the other by Reed Bros. Some two miles up the
river, at Algoma, was another sawmill owned by Mr.
Philetus Sawyer, who many years later became U. S.
senator for the state of Wisconsin.

Northwest of Oshkosh was a tract called Bald Prairie
while south and west of the city, the land was what is
known as oak openings. These burr oaks reminded me
of the apple trees which I had been accustomed to see
in the state of New York, only these were much larger
than the latter.

A Mr. Jackson was at that time mayor of the city.
He was a genial gentleman, quite popular with the citi
zens. I remember him very well.

On the present site of Hotel Athearn was situated a
two story building, known as Gill's Hall, the upper
story of which was used as a school-room, the teacher
being Mr. Henry J. Raymond. It was also used for
lectures and concerts.

Mr. Greorge Knapp, owned a farm about five miles
west from Oshkosh. I remained with him while wait
ing for my sister and husband to return from the east
Perhaps it had rained before I reached Oshkosh, but I
do know that about the time I arrived at the farm, it
began to rain, and it kept at it for weeks. The roads
became heavy and the mud very deep. It was almost
impossible to drive to town, and I thought it the rainiest,
muddiest country I had ever seen. I became quite
blue as I awaited the arrival of my sister and her hus
band. They had shipped their household goods to Buf
falo by canal, and then driven with light conveyance
across the country from Sherburne to Buffalo, where
they took a steamboat around the lakes to Sheboygan.

38 KEMINISCENCES

From there they drove to Fond du Lac and thence to
Oshkosh, over the Lake Shore road between the two
towns.

This road to Oshkosh at that time might be described
as bottomless., the mud was black and deep. At that
time every building in the city in which a family could
live, was occupied. My sister and family stayed a few
days with Mr. W. A. Knapp, a cousin of my brother-in-
law, Mr. Andrew B. Knapp. Shortly afterwards, the
latter obtained possession of a part of a house which his
father owned, and which was leased to a Mr. Ellsworth
who kindly offered to share the premises with them.
Their household goods were delayed somewhere by the
freezing of the lakes, and the children slept on mat
tresses on the floor, for there were no bedsteads. During
that winter we lived in a very cramped condition but
were as well off as the majority of people in the city, for
no one "put on style," in that new country.

The sash, door and blind factory was not started that
winter. The weather was very cold, and I found work
at my trade, in the construction of a flouring mill, being
built where the Wakefield mill now stands. I had not
recovered from the fever and ague experience of Kala-
mazoo. I had a form of the disease known as "dumb"
ague; that is I had the fever each alternate day, but no
shakes preceded the fever. I was very depressed and
stupid ; quinine had ceased to relieve me, and I was able
to find relief only in taking arsenic in small doses.

At this time two men, Nicholas R. Burnham and
Luther Foster, owned and operated a muley sawmill,
and they induced my brother-in-law, Andrew Knapp, to
buy an interest. The company then decided to build
another mill adjoining the first It was to be a gang mill

EARLY DAYS IN O8HKOSH 39

and much larger than the old one. The oak for the new
mill was found north, towards Neenah. It was hewn
and drawn to the site of the mill, which was at the
mouth of the river, to the north side. The mill was
built on piles, these being driven into the low and
swampy earth, by the pile driver, after a hole had been
cut in the ice.

The new firm was styled Burnham, Foster &
Knapp. To it belongs the credit of building the first
gang mill in the state of Wisconsin. Luther Foster
planned the mill. He was one of the firm and claimed
to have had large experience with gang mills in the
state of Maine. A millwright drew the plans and
superintended the erection of the mill. A Mr. Stearns
who was a good mechanic, was employed to build an
engine for the gang mill. He had a machine shop on
Ceape Street, where afterwards stood the John Morse
machine shop. If I recollect correctly the cylinder was
to be twenty inches in diameter with thirty-inch stroke.
At that time no facilities existed in the state of Wis
consin, north of Milwaukee, for the building of an
engine of that size. Mr. Stearns had to make the plans
for the engine as well as the patterns. He lost one or
two castings for the cylinder, not having conveniences
for pouring so large a quantity of molten iron. The
weather during the winter was dry and cold. There
were one hundred consecutive days, when the ice and
snow in Ferry Street did not melt under the rays of the
sun. There were twenty consecutive mornings that win
ter when the mercury stood twenty or more degrees be
low zero, yet at no time was the snow more than six
inches deep. There were four months of sleighing and
a steady clear cold all the time. The people had their

40 REMINISCENCES

amusements and enjoyments, and altogether seemed
very happy and prosperous. I remember a donation
party which was held in Gill's Hall for the benefit of
the pastor of the Congregational Church. At that party
I met a fair young girl, scarcely fourteen years old,
but who was destined, some four and a half years
later to become my wife.

During the spring I completed my work in the flour
ing mill, and commenced putting in the machinery of
the gang mill. In the early summer Mr. Stearns com
pleted the engine and it was erected on piling, driven
into the ground for a foundation. Around this large
quantities of stone were imbedded in the mud, to hold
it steady. .Upon the piles were bolted heavy timbers
which were wedged and dove-tailed together, and upon
these was placed the iron frame of the engine bed. De
spite Mr. Foster's efforts to make the engine firm, it
was never steady in its position. The engine was belted
to a line shaft, which ran the whole length of the mill,
and was to drive all the machinery. The muley saw in
the old mill was transferred to the new mill, and a cir
cular saw added (a new invention at that time) which
would take a cant six inches thick and from twelve
to twenty feet long and take off a board, coming and
going, one-half or one inch thick, as might be desired.
I have seen this machine drop as many as twenty-four
boards in a minute. I have known but a few machines
of this kind worked ; for some reason they did not be
come popular as I had expected.

About the middle of the summer of 1857 the new
mill was sufficiently completed to put out flooring,
fencing and scantling in large quantities. The firm
then bought five million feet of logs from Andrews &

EAKLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH 41

Haight. These logs were very dissappointing. By fall
I became convinced that Mr. Haight, Mr. Burnham and
others were conspiring to swindle the firm of Burnham,
Foster & Knapp, by inducing them to purchase very
poor logs at a very high price, with a view of other
parties getting control of the mill. I went to my
brother-in-law, who was an unsuspicious and confiding
man and informed him of my fears ; he advised me to
attend my own affairs. As far as he was concerned I
would have done so, but I felt it a duty to protect my
sister's interests, so explained my views and also rea
sons for the same to her then left it to her to do as she
saw fit. About a week after I informed her my brother-
in-law shut down the mill. Then came the solving of
their tangled affairs, which resulted in both Burnham
and Foster leaving the concern.

I decided to teach school that fall, and accepted an
engagement in the district where George Knapp re
sided. I was employed there for a term of three or four
months, I believe. This was my first experience in
school teaching, and five years had passed since I at
tended the academy at Sherburne. I however felt my
self competent to teach in all branches unless perhaps
grammar, but I taught with much success, not only
that, but all other branches studied in the school. I
had a few young lady pupils, and boys only a few
years younger than myself, also children so young
that I taught them their letters. I boarded with George
Knapp and went home at noon for luncheon. I remem
ber that one day his wife asked me to go out and call
her husband to dinner. He was digging a well with
the aid of a hired man. The soil was very clayey, and
they were down about twenty feet. When I bade him

42 REMINISCENCES

come in, George told the helper that they would first
take the tools out of the well, as he had heard of in
stances where the openings filled with water while the
diggers were away. We went in to dinner, and I re
turned to the school. In the evening when I reached
home, I learned that Mr. Knapp had proved wise in his
caution. When he had returned to the well, he had found
it full of water, running over the top into the creek not
far distant.

A short time after I commenced teaching, I made the
acquaintance of a Mr. Cooley and his family. They
lived about two miles east of the schoolhouse on the
road towards Oshkosh. There were three young ladies
in the household, a younger sister of his wife and two
grown up daughters. During that winter I spent many
pleasant evenings there.

The "openings," and prairies, in early times were
covered with native or wild grass. When this had once
been ploughed under, it never grew again. I remember
Mr. Cooley's claim that herd's grass and clover would
grow luxuriantly when sown, and would solve the prob
lem of pasturage for this country. He had fine fields of
these to exhibit as evidence of the truth of his theory.
It has since been proved that no better country can be
found for the growth of these grasses.

Spring arrived, the school closed and I went to Osh
kosh to live. My brother-in-law and his father had
gained possession of the mill, and they engaged me to
take control, and erect the two gangs which had not yet
been set up. One cool morning I was down at the mill,
looking over what was to be done, when a middle-aged
stranger appeared, and said that he intended buying
such a mill. He asked me to take him to the owners,

EAIILY DAYS IN OSHKOSH 43

which I did. The result of the negotiation was that the
Knapps sold him a one-half interest in the property, and
a new firm was organized under the firm name of A. B.
Knapp & Co., the "Co." being Mr. James Jenkins, the
gentleman above referred to. During the spring I com
pleted the construction of the mill as designed, and
employed Carlton Foster, a millwright who had worked
with me on a flouring mill, to put in machinery, in the
basement for sawing lath.

Some of the land in Winnebago County was still sub
ject to entry at $1.25 per acre. The choicest of the
land had already been taken and some of the farming
land close to the city of Oshkosh became quite valuable.

During the summer we were troubled with too much
rain. This raised the water in the river and lake so
that it came over the foundations of the mill, and up to
the pulleys and belts, which drove the gangs and circu
lars. This made me endless trouble. I made water
tight boxes to put under pulleys for the belts and pul
leys to run in. This worked all right unless some care
less workman let a block slip under the pulley, which
would cause a leak and let the water in; this would
result in shutting down the gang until the box could be
taken out and repaired. At one time the water became
so high that one of the gangs became unmanageable,
the wrist becoming so hot that it melted everything in
contact with it. I tried my best to make it work, but
gave up. Others in the mill, who were expert in such
work, tried their skill but none succeeded. It was a
mystery to all what caused the trouble. I took the time
one Sunday to fit a new cast iron shell into the piston
strap as perfectly as I could ; this I ran with "Babbitt"
to the crank pin and fitted everything in good shape.

4A EEMINISCENCES

I completed my task about one o'clock in the night. I
was very tired and lay down in the sawdust and slept
the sleep of the just until Monday morning. We began
sawing logs at six A. M. and worked till seven P. M.
there were no eight hour day limits at that time. I
put the belt on this gang in the morning and it ran cool
and nice, never bothering afterwards that I am aware.

We had in the mill then, in the shape of sawing
machinery, the muley mill, the reversible circular saw,
a gang for slabbing logs, and a live gang for sawing
the log after being slabbed. Our average cut was about
60,000 feet of lumber per day. I worked very hard,
often night as well as day until the occupation became
irksome. I had charge now of the entire business in
side the mill, that is, overseeing the men, running the
machinery, piling of lumber, etc. All this made life
strenuous. Mr. Jenkins proved to be a clever, active
man of business, and he was given charge of the prin
cipal transactions of the company. There were not
many railroads in Wisconsin at that time, the only one
in this1 section being from Fond du Lac to Horicon.
This had been built in order to transport lumber into
the prairie districts of the state. The lumber manu
factured in Oshkosh for out-put, was hauled into the
country by teams or transported on barges to Fond du
Lac and shipped from there south on this short line of
railroad. Daily steamers ran between Oshkosh and
Green Bay; they were stern wheel steamers of good
dimensions. A good steamboat also plied between Green
Bay and Buffalo.

About the year 1851, James Rouse, second husband
of my sister Exania, sold his farm at Lodi Plains,
about ten miles south of Ann Arbor, Mich., and went

EAELY DAYS IN OSHKOSH 45

to Minnesota, intending to enter claim on government
lands for himself and family. He took a steamer from
Galena, Illinois, and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and
from there to St. Anthony Falls, ten miles distant on
the Mississippi River. The country west of the river
was entirely unsettled then, and open to entry. Instead
of making his selection on the site where stands the
present city of Minneapolis he went some twelve miles
further west, to Eden Prairie and made his entries
there. A year later on a trip up the river he was at
tacked by cholera, which was prevalent on the Missis
sippi that summer, and died. His family made little
success with this venture of his, although they lived in
that country for a number of years. In the fall of
1856, Uncle Bostwick, as he was called, took occasion
to reprimand me for something I had done, or had not
done, most unjustly I thought, and it made me very
angry. I expressed my resentment in no unstinted
terms and then and there resigned my position. My
brother-in-law remonstrated with me and tried to per
suade me to return and resume work ; he endeavored to
excuse his father and the latter even apologized for what
he had said. Mr. Jenkins also urged me to reconsider,
but all influences failed to alter my decision and a Mr.
Tim Crane was employed to take my place.

Once foot-loose, I decided to go to New York state
for another visit. I took the steamer for Green Bay, an
other from there to Buffalo where I took the train for
Utica, going by stage-coach from there to Sherburne.
I visited my parents and among friends. My youngest
sister, Mrs. Knapp, came east on a visit and when it
came time to return to Oshkosh she accompanied me.
On the trip we went through Kalamazoo, Michigan.

46 REMINISCENCES

On reaching Oshkosh I engaged to put in new
machinery in a mill belonging to a Mr. Ira Griffin. It
was a sash mill, with two upright saws, designed to
cut two boards at a time. I remember that I succeeded
in this very well.

During my residence in Oshkosh I made numerous
acquaintances, among others, with a Byron Sherry and
Ebenezer James, who proved most companionable as we
held common views on such subjects as philosophy, re
ligion and politics. A deep friendship grew out of the
relation. One day in passing me Sherry slipped a bit
of paper into my hand ; it contained the following lines :

"Friendship is a name to few confined ;
'Tis the offspring of a generous mind.
With genial warmth it fills the breast
'Tis better felt than e'er expressed."

We three were in a similar business condition. The
foundry belonging to Sherry had been burned. James
had become a bankrupt through a small sawmill venture,
and I was practically out of work. Sherry and I were
ambitious to become lawyers and later we were able to
put this purpose to the touch. How well I remember
these young men ! Two years ago I went back to Osh
kosh and found James living there still. Sherry was
living in Kansas City the last I heard of him. He had
been very fine looking when a youth and was a great
favorite with the girls.

My plan to study law had been intercepted by an
other visit east. When I returned to Oshkosh later,
my mother accompanied me. She came to see her chil
dren who were living in Wisconsin.

EABLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH 47

In the year 1857 the Northwestern Railroad was com
pleted from Fond du Lac to Oshkosh and it offered the
citizens of the section an excursion over the road. A
committee was appointed to select the guests, and I was
among the fortunate, or as it turned out, unfortunate
ones who accepted the invitation. My brother-in-law
was unable to go, so I took my sister with me. The
train consisted of some eight or ten coaches when we left
Oshkosh and other cars filled with excursionists were
added at Fond du Lac and other towns. It was a very
happy crowd, composed of the representative people of
this new country. A short distance below Watertown an
ox, with the usual stupidity of that animal, jumped on
the track ahead of the locomotive and ran between the
rails until coming to a small bridge it fell through be
tween the ties. The locomotive ran into it and was de
railed, as were also the baggage car and the smoker. The
train was a heavy one consisting of fifteen coaches. A
car in the middle of the train was telescoped. Some fif
teen persons were killed or died of their injuries, as a
result of this accident. The principal sufferers were
passengers from Oshkosh. My sister was badly injured
in the back. A Mr. Philetus Sawyer, who was very bald
sustained some severe scalp wounds. He presented a hor
rible sight when, all covered with blood, he pulled him
self out of the wreck. He was not seriously injured
however. Thus our pleasure trip ended in sorrow. The
railroad company returned us to our stations as best
they could and our arrival was a scene of mourning and
lamentations, exceedingly affecting. It was a long time
before my sister recovered.

CHAPTER V.

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT.

The next winter I taught school in the town of Black
Wolf, where my brother lived. When my school ended
in the spring, I decided to go to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and
enter college there. Prior to this time I had taken a
mortgage on a saw mill at Omro to secure the money
that I had loaned my brother-in-law. Before leaving
Iowa I placed the mortgage in the hands of a young
attorney for foreclosure. I remember that I had quite
a problem to solve as to how I should reach Mt. Pleas
ant. Traveling facilities in the west at that time were
extremely limited. I eventually went to Watertown,
Wisconsin, by rail and from there also by rail to Prairie
du Chien, on the Mississippi, where I took a steamer to
Galena, Illinois, and from there another steamer to
Burlington, Iowa. In paying my fare to the clerk of
this boat I received in change twenty dollars in worth
less, counterfeit money, which fact I did not discover
until I landed in Burlington and the boat had gone on
down the river. People now know little about this wild
cat or worthless money, but at that time all persons
handling much currency, sustained greater or less loss
from these bills through bank failure, counterfeits and
discount. No bank statements were issued to the pub
lic, and the soundness of a bank was indicated only
by the rate of discount demanded. Each state had its
own laws for the establishment of banks and the issuing

48

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT 49

of paper money, secured mostly by the depositing of
other worthless paper. The bank bills of one state
would not circulate in another except at a discount, A
formidable document of protection, called a bank-note
detector, was issued in New York I believe. Those
handling money, consulted this with as much eagerness
as the modern citizen consults the daily papers.

On landing at Burlington I found myself without
good money to pay hotel bills over night and fare to
Mt. Pleasant. Something had to be done to meet the
situation, so I went to a jewelry store and told the man
in charge of my predicament, asking him to let me have
ten dollars on the security of my gold watch and chain,
until I could return him the amount. He kindly ad
vanced that sum, and I was able to conclude the journey.
Arriving at Mt. Pleasant, I found my uncle and family
living upon one corner of what was known as The
Bishops Square. Bishop Hamline, a noted divine of
the methodist church, a man of fine manners, much
erudition, but aged and infirm; his son Dr. Hamline
and Dr. Elliot, president of the college, lived on the
three remaining quarters. The last named gentleman
was author of several books, among them, Elliot on
Slavery, 2 volumes. He had the reputation of being
a most learned man. He was, I think, of Irish descent
and physically of the Horace Greeley and Oliver Gold
smith type. He had three children, two girls and a boy,
all students of the college. The commencement that
year was held about two months after my arrival, in the
college building.

I found in Mt. Pleasant few advantages for studying
law; no more perhaps than existed in Oshkosh. The
educational lines followed more the denominational

50 BEMINISCENCES

lines; some thirty superannuated Methodist ministers
lived in the town. It was the county seat of Henry
County, and the court house occupied the public square.
Prominent business houses surrounded this on the four
sides.

I made arrangements to study law with the firm of
Clark, Doolittle & Cook. Mr Clark was brother of
the noted woman writer, "Grace Greenwood." Mr.
Doolittle was a young gentleman of pleasing manners.
Mr. Cook had won some honors as a lawyer and legis
lator in Pennsylvania. He was a late addition to the
firm. I read law under such guidance with much
avidity, my first studies being Blackstone and Kent.

Mt. Pleasant was at that time quite a literary center.
Political interest was dominant and animated. That
first summer I caused to be organized a law school, as
a department of the college work. Henry Ambler, a
leading lawyer of the place, accepted the position of
circuit judge, in our moot court; he was also to occupy
the post of lecturer on statutory and common laws.
Senator Harlan accepted our invitation to lecture on
constitutional law; sometime later this gentleman be
came Secretary of the Interior, under President Lincoln.
Another practicing lawyer of some note, by the name
of Palmer, discoursed on criminal law, and Dr. Elliot
consented to lecture on ecclesiastical and Roman law.
During the fall, winter and spring these gentlemen
gave us lectures upon several subjects assigned them,
and all concerned appeared to take great interest in this
law class.

Later we organized a Literary Society; the gentle
men mentioned, all of the 13 students in our law class
and several residents, became members. The debates of

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT 51

the literary society were usually held in the court house,
and were generally very well attended. Of those who
participated, I remember Mr. Alvin Sanders, who at
that time was a banker in Mt. Pleasant, but who after
wards moved to the state of Nebraska, and I think
served two terms as United States Senator from that
state. There was also Henry Clay Dean, a lawyer who
afterwards became a Methodist minister and a chaplain
of the United States senate. He had studied law in the
office of Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, a man of
great reputation in congress. Mr. Dean was a man of
great ability as well as a great egotist. In any group of
which he was a member, he monopolized the conversa
tion. He was I think the most eloquent orator to whom
I ever listened. He was inclined to obesity, was careless
in his attire, neglected his ablutions, which detracted
much from his popularity. The following anecdote of
Dean was repeated by William Penn, a drygoods mer
chant of Mt. Pleasant, who with his wife visited in
Pennsylvania and was told of the orator's visit to this
same place the summer before. Mr. Dean had been in
vited to occupy the Methodist pulpit and after the ser
mon, was taken to dine with the narrator. A little daugh
ter of the house listened with open-eyed wonder to Mr.
Dean's table talk. After the meal, watching her oppor
tunity, she pulled her mother's dress and asked : "Mama,
did God make Mr. Dean?" "Yes, of course," replied
the mother. "Well," said the child, "Why didn't God
put a clean shirt on him ?" This anecdote was published
in the Mt. Pleasant Home Journal, and it made Mr.
Dean very angry. I recollect seeing in print a story to
the effect that Mr. Dean visited a senator, with whom
he was acquainted, remaining in his house over night.

52 REMINISCENCES

The wife of the host with female diplomacy, placed a
clean shirt and collar in his room, with the intimation
that they were for his use. A year later the senator
again received a visit from Mr. Dean ; the wife offered
the same courtesy, and later discovered that the shirt
discarded, was the very one she had given him the year
before. Personally I had reason to be grateful to this
erratic genius, for he manifested considerable interest
in me, gave me the freedom of his library ; from him,
also, I received many valuable hints on public speaking.

I became deeply interested in our moot court, and
for sometime officiated as its clerk. Cases in the court
were made up by agreement; they involved questions
of law which the students argued before Mr. Ambler
acting as district judge. If the embryo lawyer were
dissatisfied with the decision of Judge Ambler he could
appeal to our supreme court. This was composed of
three prominent lawyers of Mt. Pleasant, who had
kindly agreed to act in that capacity for us. During
the year I had some twenty suits in this moot court and
as I recollect, I won all but three of them before Judge
Ambler; the three which I lost, I appealed to our
supreme court and won two out of the three. I tried
more cases with George B. Corkhill as opposing counsel
than with any other member of the law class. In later
years this man was appointed United States district
attorney for the district of Columbia, by President Gar-
field. He held that office during the trial of Guiteau for
the assassination of the president.

Of the thirteen students in our law class I remember
only the following: James Berryman, George Baker
Corkhill, and Charles McDowell of Mt. Pleasant; also
Boss from Pennsylvania and Harlan from Kentucky.

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT 53

During the winter a debate occurred in Mt. Pleasant
between a new arrival in the place, a homeopathic
physician, and a number of allopathic doctors residing
there. Vigorous attacks were made without regard to
feelings or reputation. The debate interested and
amused me very much. Since then, however, I have
had no great veneration for the medical profession.

Politics at this time were growing strenuous. Sena
tor Douglas' introduction, and the passage of the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill by congress, had excited the feelings
of both North and South to fever heat, as to the future
of slavery. This bitter strife focused in the struggle to
gain control of Kansas, and it became a question which
party could send the greatest number of emigrants
there. This new section was not far removed from our
locality, and party spirit was intense. Judge Claggett,
of the Iowa circuit court, was a violent democrat, and
made himself most unpopular with a majority of the
people of his district, of which Henry County was a
part. An effort was made to impeach him, but he
evaded this by resigning.

There was a second cause of excitement at that time
in the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak. There were np
railroads then, west of the Missouri River, it being an
unbroken country, except for the wagon trails of the
government and the emigrant trails to Salt Lake and
California. This territory was peopled by wild Indians
and herds of buffalo roamed over these plains. The
extent of the gold deposits at Pike's Peak was a matter
of conjecture, but many went there filled with great
expectations. In the following year, a Mr. Francis
Springer was appointed by the governor of Iowa, as

54: REMINISCENCES

circuit judge to succeed Judge Claggett. He was a
gentleman of fine address, and a very able lawyer.

Ross and Berryman wished to make application for
admission to the bar, and asked me to join them. I ob
jected as I did not consider my studies completed, but
eventually I yielded to their persuasions, realizing that
the attempt would bring me no injury. When court con
vened our applications were presented and Judge
Springer appointed three members of the Mt. Pleasant
bar to examine us in open court, and report upon our
qualifications. The committee gave us a thorough test
and reported in favor of our admission and the judge
ordered us sworn in as members of the bar.

At this term of court the grand jury had indicted a
young man for burglary, and he was arraigned for trial.
The judge asked him if he had counsel. He replied in
the negative, saying that he had no money to pay for
such. It is customary for the court to appoint a mem
ber of the bar to defend such cases, and for some reason
the judge selected me. The prisoner was from Indiana ;
I visited him daily in jail until the trial the following
Saturday. District Attorney Berryman was an able
lawyer. He opened the case with skill, introduced his
evidence and rested his case. We had no witnesses for
the defence, as I remember. The trial occupied the fore
noon, then the court adjourned for dinner. It was ar
ranged that I should make the opening address, so
when the court convened in the afternoon, I spoke for
two hours. The district attorney then addressed the
jury, the court charged the jurors as to the law, and
they retired to decide upon their verdict. They failed
to agree, and after holding out all Saturday night and
Sunday, stood to disagree. The judge discharged the

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT 55

jury. On Monday or Tuesday he had the prisoner
brought before him, and ordered a new trial to be held
the following Saturday. I felt much elated at the re
sult, and was confident that I should free the young
man on the next trial, but before that time a friend or
relative of the prisoner appeared in Mt. Pleasant and
employed an old criminal lawyer to take the case. This
lawyer asked me to assist him, but I refused. My
tutor, Mr. Clark, expostulated with me, but I knew that
if the man was cleared, the lawyer, and not I, would
get the credit. At the trial the prisoner was speedily
found guilty.

About this time our literary society was indulging in
some amusement of its -own. There was a certain matter
which I had given considerable study and I proposed
the following resolution for debate which was accepted ;
"Resolved ; that the whole human race did not originate
from one pair." I took the affirmative of the question,
and Corkhill the negative. He was a fluent speaker, and
I judge I must have acquired some skill as a debater, be
cause I was usually honored with a good audience. On
the evening of the contest an umpire was chosen to
decide the question at issue, upon the merits of the
arguments. After the discussion he decided in my favor.
Such a verdict was not in accord with the tenets of the
Methodist Church or of the college. Some of the pro
fessors and other citizens, therefore, wished a rehearing,
to which I consented, and again assumed the affirma
tive side. With my consent Senator Harlan and Henry
Clay Dean spoke on the negative side. This time the
decision was against me, more upon theological grounds,
I thought, than upon the merits of the arguments.

That spring there was a great emigration to the gold

56 BEMINISCENCES

fields around Pike's Peak. Many private schooners, bear
ing the affirmation : "Pike's Peak or bust/' drove west
ward, at the beginning of the season. At the end a few
returned, with the sententious legend, "Busted" written
on the canvas. My friend Ross was seized with the
gold fever, and was most urgent that I go with him, but
I declined. He went, and I have never heard from nor
of him since. He was a nice fellow and I would like
to know what became of him. Early in April our law
class broke up and I decided to return to Wisconsin.
My uncle had a section of land lying west of Dubuque
some thirty miles or more, and he wished me to go and
see it as I went back, and to report on its location and
value. To this I consented. On the journey, going up
the river from Burlington, a man came aboard the
steamer with whom I soon became acquainted. He had
been to Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, to have a
requisition signed by the governor for the deportation
of a man who had escaped from Racine County, Wis
consin, the charge being that he had sold a piece of
land located in the bottom of a lake. The deputy's
route would take him past the place I was expected to
examine, so we continued together. Landing at
Dubuque, Iowa, we stopped there for the night. The
town is located at the east end of a canyon several miles
long, opening on the Mississippi River. We engaged a
team and open buggy for our trip inland. When we
left Dubuque in the morning, a few flakes of snow were
falling, as we went up the canyon the snow storm in
creased, and when we arrived at the end of it and drove
out onto a level prairie, a blizzard struck us with great
force. It penetrated my clothing as if it had been
gossamer. My companion who had passed through

COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT 57

many similar experiences in the northwest, was driving.
I slid under the buffalo robe, which was a large and
heavy one, and evaded the storm as much as possible.
About noon we arrived at a place called Cedar Falls.
I noted with interest a brick flouring mill. After
dining we resumed our journey. The storm was now
less severe, but the air was very cold. We came next to
a town called West Union, where we stayed all night
at a hotel which was cold and cheerless. In the morning
we proceeded on our way across an uninhabited and
trackless prairie. On this was situated the land be
longing to my uncle, which I was to examine. I covered
the location, as well as I could without a surveyor's
assistance, and we proceeded on our way across a wide
and pathless stretch of country. We came to a creek
at one place, and the deputy sheriff, who was driving,
asked me to get out and examine the stream and select
a place to ford. I did so, and stood on the bank, waiting
until he should reach the other side. The water did not
appear to be more than eighteen inches deep where he
was to cross, but when he drove in, the horses dropped
suddenly under water, broke loose from the buggy, and
finally floundered out on the other side. When the
buggy tipped forward, the driver was thrown into the
water, but clinging to the lines, he was dragged to
shore by the team. This accident amused me very
much, but it failed to affect the deputy in the same
humorous way ; instead he became very angry, and de
nounced me soundly. Later I was able to convince him
of my innocence in the matter. My companion dried
his clothes as well as he could while I patched the broken
harness, and we proceeded on our way, reaching
Decorah in time for supper. The next morning we had

58 BEMINISCENCES

the team harnessed and brought to the door of out
hotel, and my companion directed me to be ready to
leave at any moment that he should appear. In a short
time he came back in another buggy accompanied by a
stranger, who was handcuffed. He transferred this man
to our buggy, directed me to get in, jumped in himself,
putting the horses to a run for about a mile, in order to
get out of the county in which he had arrested the man
fearing to be served with a writ of habeas corpus.
This Sunday was a very different day from the Friday
before. The sun shone brightly, the sky was cloudless,
the air balmy and all Nature smiled. Even the prisoner
appeared to be resigned to his lot. It was the deputy
alone who seemed anxious, and he drove the team as
hard as they could stand it. At Cedar Falls he secured
another conveyance, resigning the one he had been using
to me. Fearing pursuit, he was resolved to cross the
Mississippi that night. Before parting from me thd
officer asked the loan of some money with which to
complete his journey home. Sometime afterwards,
when at Oshkosh I received the payment of this loan,
but I never learned the fate of the prisoner.

After parting from the deputy and his charge, I pro
ceeded to Dubuque, the next day crossed to Prairie du
Chien, and from there took the train for Oshkosh.

CHAPTER VI.

VAEIED OCCUPATIONS.

I made arrangements to continue my law studies
with Wheeler & Coolbaugh, of Oshkosh, a firm doing
a large law business. Mr. Wheeler was an honorable
man and a good lawyer, but physically not strong. Soon
after I entered, Earl P. Finch, from Neenah, studied
law in the same office.

I boarded that winter with the family of George W.
Lathrop, who lived about two miles from town on the
south side of the river. I walked into the city every
morning and back at night, which gave me good exer
cise. The next summer I went into town to live with
my sister, whose home was on Otter Street. One night
hearing an alarm of fire bells, I ran out to Ferry Street
where I saw off towards the river a number of buildings
blazing high in the air. I was at once convinced that
all the buildings on the street would burn. I went to
our law office, seized as many books as I could carry,
and ran with them to my sister's home. I then re
turned for another load of books but reaching the office
I found the building on fire and unsafe to enter.

The fire department, which consisted of one or two
hand machines was trying its best to stop the spread of
the conflagration. A locomotive and flat car were sent
to the city of Fond du Lac, sixteen miles distant, for
the fire engine of that city. The men returned with the
machine in little more than half an hour, making re
markable time for those days.

59

60 REMINISCENCES

The city was without water works at this time. Large
cisterns had been sunk at various points in the streets
for use in case of fire, and most houses at that time
were supplied with wells, into which the suction hose
of the hand machines could be dropped and the well
pumped dry. When the company from Fond du Lac ar
rived, the boys unloaded the machine on the south side
of the river, and started on a run for the fire. Crossing
the floating bridge they came up Ferry Street between
the burnt and burning buildings. It was indeed exciting
to watch this company haul the machine through the hol
ocaust of fire which was burning on every side. It was
certainly a very brave act, and won great applause from
spectators. The fire burned so rapidly that little was
saved that in any way was exposed. All the buildings
on both sides of Ferry Street, big and little including
Mark's Hall and the Winnebago Hotel were burned,
as far as Algoma Street.

While living in Mt. Pleasant, in order to straighten
out my uncle's financial affairs, I had procured a text
book on Double Entry Book-keeping, and had studied
the principles so well that I was able to put all his busi
ness transactions, so far as he could remember them, into
a set of double entry books. This experience made me
quite familiar with this system and was of great benefit
to me in after years, for I became well grounded in its
principles.

The mortgage that I held on the saw mill in Omro
I was induced by the mortgagor, to bid in, under the
promise that he would redeem the same and pay me
the cash. This he failed to do, and I became owner of
the mill. The lumber business at that time was not very
lucrative. Pine trees were so plentiful and accessible

VARIED OCCUPATIONS 61

up the river, that more lumber was manufactured than
the demand required. A Mr. Waterman and myself
entered into partnership in the fall of that year, to con
duct a lumber business and operate the mill. This mill
was what in those days was called a muley mill; its
maximum capacity would not exceed ten thousand feet
per day ; its average was even less. The employees I do
not think exceeded eight or ten men in number. The
next spring I moved to Omro that I might be near the
business. I opened a law office and Waterman managed
the mill.

Prior to this time there had been boats for towing
logs, operated by horse power. These boats were fur
nished with what is called a "grouser," also side wheels,
a rudder, and a spool for winding the towline. This
grouser is a piece of oak, eight by twelve inches in size,
and from sixteen to twenty feet long. It could be
dropped endwise and would stick in the bottom of the
river and hold the boat firm. The horses attached to the
sweep, walked on a platform built on the deck of the
boat. The circular gear, attached to the end of the boat
operated the spool around which was wound a tow-line,
perhaps one and a half inches in diameter, and from
five hundred to one thousand feet long. The horse power
would be attached to the side wheels and the horses
would run the boat out the length of the tow-line, which
was attached to a raft of logs or anything else which it
was desired to tow. When the line was all run out it
would stop the boat, and then the grouser would be
dropped, firmly fastening the boat to its position; then
the gear of the boat would be changed from side wheels
to the spool, which would be turned to wind up the tow-
line and haul the tow up to the boat. Then the same

62 BEMINISCENCES

process would be repeated. Thus a heavy tow could be
hauled up the river or through a lake. These horse-
boats, as they were called, were used principally in small
rivers. I conceived the plan of substituting a locomotive
boiler and engine as power on one of these boats, think
ing it would be more powerful, economical and conven
ient. The change as made was necessarily experimental
and crude, but it was quite successful. I towed my own
logs from the boom at Lake Poygan to the mill, as I
bought them. For convenience in towing, they were put
up in rafts about three hundred feet long and forty
feet wide. The booms were made of long logs, about a
foot in diameter ; the ends were flattened, and bored with
a three-inch auger; an oak pin held the two ends to
gether.

When enough pieces had been put together to make a
raft, the logs were placed inside of it like candles in a
box. The logs were cut in the woods in northern Wis
consin and hauled to the river bank or onto the ice,
and when the ice broke up in the spring, the logs would
float down with the current to where a channel was cut
through, near the mouth of the Wolf River to an arm
of Lake Poygan. This arm was secured by a stationary
boom into which the logs were driven, then by expert log
men they were placed in the towing-booms which I
have before described. These towing-booms were lashed
together in great rafts or floats, and then towed by
powerful tugs.

There were more than a dozen mills at one time at
Oshkosh, and at Fond du Lac nearly as many more,
There were also mills at Neenah and Menasha, For
a great many years it was estimated that three hundred
million feet of pine lumber was produced each year, be-

VAEIED OCCUPATIONS 63

ing the products of forests lining the banks of the Wolf
Biver and its tributaries. Small towboats were used
to tow logs up the Fox River to the sawmills situated on
its banks. They were of the same pattern as the one
which I altered and have described.

At a place called Portage, the Wisconsin and Fox
Rivers are within a few miles of each other. A canal
had been dug by the Fox River Improvement Company
connecting the two rivers. These streams were dredged
in order to make them navigable for light draught steam
ers towing lumber scows. A man of the name of Neff,
living at Oshkosh, had a tug boat on the Wisconsin
River, and also had some scows at Oshkosh which he
wished taken to Portage. A Mr. Barnes had seventy-
five thousand feet of lumber which he had contracted to
deliver at Portage. My tugboat captain agreed to take
the scow and lumber to Portage in specified time. He
therefore loaded the lumber on the scows and started up
the Fox River. When he arrived within two days' jour
ney of Portage, Mr. Neff met him and induced him to
unload the lumber on the river bank because it impeded
his progress. This he did and started with the lighters
up the river. The captain of the tug "Lady Jane," com
ing down the river was informed of this transaction and
reported it to me. When I heard of the affair I knew it
meant heavy damages and probably a law suit unless the
lumber should be delivered as agreed. The "Lady Jane"
was to return immediately with another tow, as towing
lumber from Oshkosh to Portage was part of her busi
ness. I engaged a couple of lighters from the captain,
got aboard the boat and traveled up the river to where
the lumber had been left. Mr. Barnes had heard of
the mishap and had started down the river to see me.

64 REMINISCENCES

We returned to the place where the lumber was piled,
and the two scows were left with us on which to load
the freight. The next morning we began this work,
and before sundown had it all on board — 75,000 feet
of dry pine lumber. This proves that we were both
strong, active men.

The next day my boat returned from Portage. I
started the captain again for that place, Mr. Barnes ac
companying him, while I proceeded to Omro. On the
return of the boat to the latter place, I was informed
by one of its hands that the captain had tried to sell my
boat at Portage. I tied the boat up to the dock and
discharged the captain. He was furious and refused
to leave the boat, I told him that he could stay on it,
that it was all right, as I wanted to have a watchman
anyway. The next day he recovered from his bad tem
per and wished to conciliate me, but he had proved him
self incompetent and dishonest. I had no use for that
kind of a man, so insisted upon his going. I had al
ready tried several captains and had been unfortunate
in them all, so after some delay I concluded to leave
the sawmill in Waterman's charge and go as tug captain
myself. I found all the business that the boat was
able to do. I was very busy all that season, and
made considerable money with the tug, also acquir
ing much experience in towing logs. There had hap
pened to be quite a scarcity of boats that fall, doing that
line of business. The freezing up of the river ended
the towing and sawmill business for the season. Of
course I had very little law business, and spent much of
my time in Oshkosh.

During the years since I had arrived in Oshkosh I
had been bound to the town by an attraction, in the

VAEIED OCCUPATIONS 65

guise of a' girl, now a young lady. She was tall, of slim
figure, with, red cheeks and a very handsome chin. She
had bright brown eyes and brown hair. What particu
larly attracted me I cannot say. It may be that when
ever I met her she looked pleasant and smiled. When
I called at her home I always visited with the family.
Her mother I found to be an exceedingly intelligent
and upright woman, and she too, always gave me a
pleasant welcome. There was at that time in Oshkosh
a bevy of school girls, the brightest and most intelligent
that I had ever met, and my choice I considered the
best of them all. We had known each other more than
four years and had been very happy in our courtship;
so we concluded in the spring of 1860 that it was time
to be married and begin a home of our own, in Omro.
I rented a cottage situated in a grove of burr oaks, fur
nished it complete for living, then one quiet Sunday
evening we were married in the young lady's home by
the Eev. W. H. Marble, the guests being friends of her
self and family and my friends and relatives. The next
day we removed to our home in Omro and lived there
as happy as mortals can be.

It occurred to me that I ought to carry some insur
ance on my mill. The local retail lumber trade at Omro
was limited, and I had shipped my lumber principally
to Waupun, Wis. I thought I would go there, collect
some money and get the mill insured. I took my wife
with me and we drove in a buggy through the beautiful
country lying between Omro and Waupun. The drive
was very enjoyable, the weather fine and the beautiful
homes, bountiful crops and handsome farms looked en
chanting. I found my affairs at Waupun in a prosper
ous condition, and having transacted my business, we

60 REMINISCENCES

started for home. On arriving at the top of a hill over
looking the village of Omro, I met a neighbor who in
formed me that my sawmill had burned the night be
fore. This put an immediate stop to our happiness and
pleasant planning. I was without capital to build
a new mill ; the prospects for the lumber business were
not good, and I was in a troubled sea of doubt as to
what I ought to do. Friends and relatives advised
against rebuilding, and this made it more difficult for
me to arrive at any decision. The question arose, should
I devote myself entirely to the law? I doubted if I
could make a living at it. Thus different schemes were
considered, but none adopted.

The railroad from Bipon to Omro had been built by
a man named Bigelow. Bonds of the township had been
given him in exchange for stock in the road, making
that gentleman practically owner of the railroad. He
spent much of his private fortune in promoting it, also
all the money he could borrow. The track was in such
bad shape that the Milwaukee and Horicon Railroad,
which operated the road called the Omro & Ttipon Rail
road, being some ten miles in length, refused to run a
locomotive over it until the road should be put in repair.
I wished to ship over this road a quantity of lumber
which had been hauled and piled along the railroad.
Andrew Wilson and another mill owner were in the
same predicament. Mr. Bigelow called for contribu
tions of money to help him in repairing the road. He
had proved himself to be a good promiser and poor per
former ; so the citizens refused to give him another dol
lar, but told him that if he would give me a lease of the
road for three years they would raise the money to put
it in repair so that lumber might be hauled out and goods

VAEIED OCCUPATIONS 67

and freight brought in. Finding that he could make
no better terms, Mr. Bigelow consented.

I had had no experience in railroad building or re
pairing, and so wrote to Mr. Blossom, receiver of the
Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad, asking him to send me
a competent man, which he did. I spent my time on the
line of the road, watching the work and the method of
doing it I soon discovered that the superintendent
whom I had engaged was a poor manager of men. I
concluded that I could do better, so dismissed him and
took charge of the work myself. The fall proved re
markably warm that year, the ground did not freeze, so
we were able to work on the road-bed until the twentieth
of December by which time it was in fairly good shape.
Mr. Bigelow had a contract with the Milwaukee & Hori
con Railroad on a mileage and pro rata basis. This
allowed me only sufficient money to keep the road in
order. I endeavored to secure better terms from Mr.
Blossom, but he argued that, being a receiver, the court
would not permit him to make another contract disad
vantageous to his receivership ; so the prospect for mak
ing money in the running of the road was not encourag
ing.

I think that description of the methods of building
railroads fifty years ago would be interesting to the peo
ple of this day. When a railroad is to be built by a
corporation nowadays it is only necessary to issue bonds
and stocks and sell them on the stock market in Wall
Street and so raise millions of dollars with which to
build the road. In those days the farmers and merchants
all wanted railroads in order to get their grain to market
and goods into the towns. Some schemer would employ
a civil engineer to survey a line of railroad where it

68 REMINISCENCES

might be needed ; then a man fitted to such work would
be employed to visit farmers along the line of the sur
vey and induce them if possible to donate the right of
way. This most of them would do, as they were very
anxious to have the road built. Then a plausible talker
or writer would induce the farmers along the line of the
proposed railway to mortgage their farms in exchange
for stock of the road and most of them, with the opti
mism of the time, would do so ; also villages and towns
would be persuaded to issue their bonds. I remember
the city of Oshkosh gave to William B. Ogden, Presi
dent of the Chicago & North- Western Railroad, $100,-
000 in bonds, to enable him to build the road from Fond
du Lac to their city. Any man who was unwilling to
give a good share of what he owned to further such a
project, and would not advise his neighbors to do the
same, was considered to be lacking in public spirit and
business foresight. In the early fifties the Chicago &
North-Western Railroad was built from Chicago to
Janesville and from there northward to Fond du Lac,
where it established machine shops and car shops, then
extended the line to Oshkosh, Green Bay and Lake Su
perior. That line of road became the nucleus of the
railways which gridiron the great Northwest and whose
lines of track aggregate nearly ten thousand miles.

CHAPTEK VII.

WESTWAKD, HO!

In 1858 political strife was engendered by the pas
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, which led to those"
celebrated debates in Illinois between Lincoln and Doug
las, and two years later to the candidacy of both, for the
presidency of the United States. Bell and Breckenridge
were also candidates. Douglas introduced a new feature
into presidential contests by "stumping" the country in
favor of his own election. I was a great admirer of
Mr. Douglas. He sent for Henry Clay Dean to aid him
by speaking through the state of Illinois in his behalf.
I believe it was my efforts which persuaded him to con
sent. On his return from campaigning in Illinois, he
reported to me that Douglas had promised him that if
elected president he would appoint him (Dean) governor
and appoint me United States Attorney for the territory
of Utah. Douglas in this canvass spoke as far north as
Fond du Lac, traveling as he went in a special train.
I went to Fond du Lac to hear him speak, as I had not
had that pleasure before. An immense crowd gathered
to hear him. I secured a good position both for hearing
and seeing. He proved a very deliberate, sententious
speaker. He told how many times he had spoken that
week and that day, then turning to Charles Eldredge,
who at that time was a member of Congress, said : "My
friend Eldridge says that I would not be able to stand
this, if I did not have the Constitution of the United
States."

69

70 REMINISCENCES

I had a great love for Senator Douglas, and desired
to see him elected president What would have been the
result to the country if he had become president can only
be a matter of conjecture. At all events he proved him
self to be a true and loyal patriot, until his untimely
death robbed the country of his services and counsel.

A proposition to form a business partnership with a
Mr. Deverill was presented to me soon after. We were
to engage in buying and selling grain, flour or any
other commodity in which we considered there was a
profit I consented, and we conducted such a business
for a year ; then upon figuring results I found that we
had made a profit upon everything I had bought and a
loss upon most everything he had bought.

Then came 1861 and with it the great war. When Fort
Sumter was fired upon, that event caused great excite
ment through the entire north. The southern states had
seceded and what the result would be for the country,
none could foresee. The firing on Fort Sumter caused
President Lincoln to call for seventy-five thousand vol
unteers "to put down the rebellion in the south." On
receipt of this news a public meeting was held in Osh-
kosh, and speeches were made by representative citizens.
Mr. "Gabe" Bouck, a prominent democratic lawyer and
politician of Oshkosh, urged the city to send at once a
company to the protection of the capital, offering his
own services as leader. He asked me to enlist, promis
ing if I would do so to make me second lieutenant of
his company. Prior to this Charles W. Felker, a prom
ising young lawyer at Omro, and I had agreed that in
case of a war we would raise a company and serve in
same; therefore I felt obliged to refuse Mr. Bouck's
proposition.

WESTWARD, HO! 71

Early in July President Lincoln issued a call for
three hundred thousand additional men. At that time
there were few military men in this country who knew
how to drill a company, still fewer who could drill a
regiment or a brigade. In all towns of considerable
size, one or more companies were being raised and
offered to the adjutant general of the state ; but it was
destitute of clothing and arms and could only accept
companies as it could provide them with equipments.

Felker and I called a meeting to be held in one of the
churches in Omro. This was well attended by the pa
triots of the village, and over fifty men enlisted that
night. Felker was nominated captain of the company,
and elected by acclamation. I was nominated as first
lieutenant and was elected in the same manner, as was
also Dr. Ambler for second lieutenant. After the elec
tion we formed in line and marched through the streets,
cheering at the houses of the different officers, and
finally retired to sleep the sleep of patriots.

After this meeting we tried to increase the number of
our enlistments. I think it was about eighty men we
wanted, and that we finally secured about seventy. I
remember going out one day with Mr. A. B. Cady, who
was our village postmaster, to see a young man by the
name of Pingrey, and if possible to persuade him to
enlist. Mr. Cady in a strenuous argument told him that
his (Cady's) grandfather served in the war of the Rev
olution, that his father had served in the war of 1812,
and that he himself had served in the Mexican war.
Pingrey listened without enthusiasm while Cady was
extolling the patriotism of his own family, and then
quietly remarked that he had never known of a Pingrey
being in any war, and that so far as he was concerned

72 EEMINISCENCES

there never would be. This reply floored Cady and
greatly amused me. We returned that day without any
recruits.

Patiently we waited to have our company accepted.
Some of our men became very impatient and often un
reasonable; several members went to Ripon and en
listed in a cavalry regiment which was being raised
there.

About this time was born unto us a son, and he has
been our only child. The event gave my wife and my
self much happiness.

When the excitement began to subside, the enthu
siasm for the war began to wane. It seemed impossible
for the state to equip the numerous companies that were
offered, neither were they accepted in the order of their
offering. Finally, one morning in September, Felker
received a letter from the adjutant, saying that if he
would report a full company by a date in July, which
he named, he would assign us to the seventh regiment
Wisconsin volunteers. Felker, not being a veteran in
matters pertaining to war, showed considerable inde
pendence, and wrote the adjutant general in reply a
very caustic letter, calling his attention to the fact that
the date he mentioned had elapsed nearly two months;
perhaps he had made a mistake in dates and meant Octo
ber 1, if such were the case, although many of our men
had enlisted in other companies, he would report a full
company, the same subject to his orders, but that if
he meant as he wrote it was an evident impossibility

and that he might "go to h ." This letter Felker

wrote and signed, and asked me to sign it also, which
I did; with it evaporated our expectations of military
glory. We afterwards learned through Judge Wheeler,

WESTWARD, HO! 73

who was in close touch with the state authorities, that
our commissions were at this time made out and all
ready to be forwarded, but that the evident spirit of in
subordination in our letter was more than the adjutant
general could stand for, and so he let our company die
a natural death rather than through military carnage.
I gave up all ambitions for military glory then. The
evident incompetency of the officers in command, the
disheartening campaigns of the war, made the future
look gloomy for the north. It became apparent to the
most optimistic that the war would be bitterly con
tested.

In the spring of 1862 my prospects were most dis
couraging. The legislature refusing process of law
against persons enlisted in the army made the lawyer's
profession a very uncertain means for making a living.
My mill was burned, shutting me off from any business
in that line. My only chance for employment in a
military capacity was to enlist as a private and this
would yield but a pittance towards the support of a
family. No opportunity for employment appeared, and
I was finally persuaded to remove to Oshkosh, where I
opened a law office with a Mr. Boyington, who had
about the same amount of law business as I had ; which
was not much. I was a democrat, and he was a repub
lican. There was a secret political organization, which
permeated the country at that time; I believe it was
called the Loyal Legion. Mr. Boyington told me one
day that my case had been considered by this order and
that he had been authorized to say if I would join it
and become a good republican, I could have any politi
cal preferment I wished, but that if I remained a demo
crat the organization would see that I had neither busi-

74: REMINISCENCES

ness nor prosperity. I was inclined to think at that time
that this resolution had been formed, but I was not to
be forced into any party in which I did not believe,
so I returned a defiant answer.

Matters crept along; nothing was talked of but the
war. I concluded that I could not succeed in Oshkosh,
that I would have to go somewhere else. After a good
deal of deliberation I came to the conclusion that I
would go to California and enter into the practice of
law in that state. It was the most promising scheme I
could think of, so I prepared to go there.

That spring I joined the masonic fraternity, and be
came a member of Oshkosh Lodge No. 27. I was fond
of masonry, and have never lost my love for it. A man
who is a good mason is a good man in any walk of life
which he may follow. At that time I was well posted
in the work and became a master mason.

I went from Oshkosh to 'New York City, and from
there sailed on the steamer "Ocean Queen" for Aspin-
wall. This steamer was built of wood and was I think
heavily loaded; at any rate she had a habit of plung
ing her bow deeply into the sea when it was at all
rough. We were eight days on this voyage. When we
sailed into the tropics the weather became very warm,
and so was the drinking water. The only way to get
anything cool to drink was to buy lemonade, made
from limes, at the bar. The food for cabin passengers
was fairly palatable. On the trip I made the acquaint
ance of two passengers, whom I afterwards met in
Nevada. One was John P. Kelley who claimed to be
the nephew of the acting governor of Kentucky; the
other was Frank Drake, an engineer at Mare Island
Navy Yard, who was returning from a visit to relatives

WESTWARD, HO! 75

and friends in Massachusetts. I made this voyage in
June, 1863.

We landed in rowboats at Aspinwall, which proved
to be a low and dirty town. We came ashore in the
morning and after a short delay were transported over
the Panama R. R. to the city of that name, where we
went aboard a steam lighter which transported us to the
steamship "North America." I was fortunate in se
curing good accommodations. This steamer, like the
"Ocean Queen" was an old wooden hull, which I was
informed had been brought around the "Horn" from the
Great Lakes. The whole after-part of the upper deck was
hung with bunches of bananas, over which were stretcned
awnings to protect the fruit from the sun.

The next morning we started on our voyage to San
Francisco. We had a very pleasant trip, occupying
fourteen days. The sea was very smooth all the way,
and we were in sight of the land most of the time. We
often saw whales sporting in the distance, which excited
the interest of all ; also the porpoise following the ship
was a novel sight.

Upon arriving at Acapulco, Mexico, our ship entered
the harbor in order to coal. This coal was carried in
sacks aboard the ship on the backs of the natives. During
our stay in this port, many of the passengers amused
themselves by throwing coins into the water and watch
ing the natives dive for them. The water was clear and
deep, and the divers invariably got the coin. When the
steamer had received the necessary quantity of coal she
proceeded on her way. After reaching the latitude of
Lower California we were most of the time in sight of
the coast, which was of a dark brown color. This was

76 REMINISCENCES

caused some said, by the hue of ripened wild oats, the
straw of which in drying assumed that color.

At the end of fourteen days from Panama we steamed
through the Golden Gate, past Fort Alcatraz, into the
Bay of San Francisco, and I had then my first view of
the city of that name. I landed and went to a hotel,
then proceeded to look up two acquaintances from Osh-
kosh, whom I knew to be living here. One had been a
dry goods merchant when in Wisconsin and was a lover
of fast trotters. The other gentleman had been a law
yer in Oshkosh. I found them located in what was
known as Montgomery Block, an office building occu
pied largely by lawyers. Mr. McCracken was en
gaged, as far as I could judge, in getting contracts from
the city for paving the streets, and Mr. Lane was prac
ticing his profession.

I thought I would stay awhile in San Francisco,
thinking that by so doing I could better choose a loca
tion in the interior in which to practice law.

I found that in the forenoon of each day a cold, raw
wind prevailed in the city ; furs for the ladies and over
coats for men were comfortable, but at sunset the wind
died down, and the evenings were delicious, reminding
me of what I had read of oriental countries. There were
many places of amusement not of a high order, but on a
par with the tastes of the inhabitants. Montgomery
street lay at the bottom of a hill and ran from Market
Street to Telegraph Hill. A few streets were built
parallel to Montgomery Street and west of it on the
hill was Kearney Street, then as now it was the center of
Chinatown. The business part of the city was between
Montgomery Street and the Bay. The shoal water on
the bay shore had been filled in with ballast brought

WESTWARD, HO! 77

by ships, and sand hauled from the hills, until quite a
city had been built on made ground. I recollect one
place where a ship had been stranded, and there were
several streets between it and the Bay. Market Street
was a bed of bottomless sand. A street railway had been
built three or four miles to a place called Mission Dol
ores, the site of an old Spanish Church. JSTear this had
been erected a woolen mill, where very heavy and warm
blankets were woven for miners. I remember buying one
for myself that weighed eleven pounds. They were
about the warmest blanket I ever saw — just what the
average C'alifornian and tenderfoot needed.

Near this mill was erected a rough theater, in which
Billy Birch and Ben Cotton, with other cork
artists, delighted large audiences every Sunday. A
street railway being the means of transportation, mules
were very busy on Sundays hauling passengers to and
from the Mission and the city.

Most emigrants to California in those days came by
the way of Panama. The overland stage route had
been established, but the latter was a long and tiresome
journey. "Frisco" was a mecca for miners who de
sired amusement and a good time.

After I had been domiciled in this city about a month,
I saw an advertisement in a San Francisco paper which
read as follows : —

"Wanted — A man to go to Reese River to build a
saw mill, and take charge of it,"

If I could secure such a position it would mean an
immediate income. I told Mr. McCraken that I was
inclined to answer the advertisement, and asked him if
they \vould pay me $100 per month. He replied: "You
ask $100 per month and you won't get the job. They

78 REMINISCENCES

will be certain that you do not understand the busi
ness." He advised me to ask not less than $300 per
month. I began then to wake up a little to the opportuni
ties of that country. I answered the advertisement, was
well received and the opening appeared satisfactory. I
engaged at the salary I asked: $300, having a written
contract with Mr. Mathewson, who was the agent of the
company. I was informed that John Parrott, banker,
Frank Billings, afterwards President of the Northern
Pacific Railway Co., and the agent of the company, Mr.
Mathewson, who had been editor of the Alta California,
published in San Francisco, also the collector of the port,
were members of this company ; so I was satisfied that
there was ample capital behind the project. I was
authorized to order and have built in San Francisco,
the machinery for a sawmill and to buy whatever was
necessary for the purpose, including food for myself and
men, and tools to operate the business. The company
claimed to have about two thousand acres of timber
land, which Mathewson assured me was covered with
trees averaging two feet in diameter. It was necessary
to have all the machinery built; none of it was to be
found for sale in San Francisco. In order to know
how much and what kind of food would be required, I
obtained a list of rations furnished by the government
to its soldiers, and from this I made my calculations
as to the food that would be needed. I was instructed
to purchase everything that would be required to oper
ate the mill after it was built; for the cutting of logs
and their hauling to the mill. It took solne two months
to get everything ready for our departure for Austin,
Nevada, which is on the Reese River, and was our
objective point. Mathewson informed me that they had

WESTWAED, HO! 79

contracted with a transportation company to deliver the
machinery and supplies to whatever mill site I should
select, and that they were to pay ten cents per pound
freight on same. I decided to take an engineer with
me, as I might not be able to find one at our destination ;
so I wrote to Frank Drake at Mare Island offering him
the place, which he gladly accepted.

The company procured us passage to our destination,
and we embarked at San Francisco on the steamer
Yosemite for Sacramento. I have a vivid memory
of that trip, of our steaming across the bay, past the
islands and up the river. I sat up late in the evening
charmed with the moonlight, and the beautiful scenery,
then went to my berth, awaking the next morning at
Sacramento. That day we went by railroad to Placer-
ville, about fifteen miles distant in the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada mountains. In the early days of Cali
fornia mining, this place was known as "Hangtown,"
owing to the numerous lynchings that had occurred
there. It was the terminus of the overland stage route.
I remember that this place was composed of wooden
buildings, scattered through a ravine or canyon. The
country between Sacramento and Placerville had all
been dug over in the early fifties by miners, and
"rocked" in miner's cradles, and later had been re-
washed by Chinamen.

Upon our arrival at this place, we were immediately
transferred to stage coaches which were of the old Con
cord build, the body suspended on heavy, wide, leather
straps, or thorough-braces. They would accommodate
nine passengers inside, and two on the outside with the
driver and each was hauled by six fine horses. These
stage horses were usually brought from the states of

80 REMINISCENCES

Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. It was the custom
to change the horses every ten miles.

We then began the ascent of the Sierra Nevada
mountains, which we had to cross in order to reach Car
son Valley. The roads up the grade were broad, smooth
and sprinkled by water carts. In many places the roads
were cut in solid rock, on the sides of the mountains,
traversing the canyon. At the bottom flowed the
American River. When we got into the coach, I took
the front seat, riding backwards, as I had been told that
it was the easiest. The hostlers let go the bridles of the
horses and we went up the grade at a smart trot. The
road had been laid out by engineers, and the grade kept
as true as possible ; sharp angles were often met and had
to be turned, and sometimes the road would follow an
intersecting ravine, going up one side, and back on the
other for perhaps half a mile or more.

At one station, where we stopped, I saw the smoke of
a sawmill near by. As I had a curiosity to see the mill,
and supposing that the stage was to wait for a change of
horses, which would give me sufficient time, I went to it,
then hurried back only to find that the coach had gone.
I looked down the road and saw it in a whirl of dust,
leaving me. I followed my first impulse to try and
overtake it, I more than ran, I flew. I gained on
it rapidly, but the driver did not stop for me. After
running a quarter of a mile, some of the passengers saw
me and called the driver's attention to my struggles to
overtake them. The driver motioned toward the other
side of the ravine, indicating that I should cross over
and head off the coach. I went to the bottom, but in
attempting to climb up the other side my legs would
not work — they were paralyzed. However, with the aid

WESTWARD, HO! 81

of my hands I managed to haul myself up to the road,
very much exhausted and out of breath. When the stage
arrived I was helped in, and a sympathizing passenger
handed me a flask of whiskey with an injunction to take
a deep drink ; that it would revive me. I did as directed,
but the liquor caused a serious nausea ; when the result
of this was over, it seemed to me that I was practically
empty.

The schedule of these stages over the mountains was
an average of ten miles an hour. We met and passed
numerous freight wagons, many of which carried ten
tons each. Behind the larger wagon would be a smaller
one called a tender, which carried the food and camp out
fit for the drivers and barley and hay for the mules.
These wagons were usually hauled by twelve or fourteen
mules, also brought from the states mentioned.

We steadily climbed the mountains, reaching a meal
station where we stopped for supper, and a change of
horses, then proceeded on our journey.

In coming up the American River I noticed that the
road was cut in solid rock on the steep mountain side.
Looking over the edge of that trail one could see the
river, one thousand or more feet below, running in a
torrent. If a coach should chance to tip over the edge
of the cliff nothing but the tall majestic pine trees,
which grew on the side of the canyon, would break its
fall before it reached the river.

It was some time after midnight, about two or three
o'clock, when we entered what was called Strawberry
Valley ; a canyon on the western slope of the mountains,
perhaps ten miles from the summit. This is one of the
grandest views that I have ever seen. I should judge
it to be a quarter of a mile in width where the stage

82 BEMINISCENCES

road passed. On one side of this level valley rose granite
walls said to be a thousand feet high. They appeared
to be perpendicular. In this valley grew almost exclu
sively what are known as the sugar pine. These were
from one to two hundred feet in height and from two to
five feet in diameter. The moon shone very brightly as
we rode through this most attractive scene.

We passed to the south side of Lake Tahoe. It lies
over six thousand feet above the level of the ocean. As I
recall it, the entire scene was very picturesque. This
spot has since become a favorite summer resort. The
lake is about twenty-two by thirteen miles in area. The
water was very clear and cold. Mark Twain describes
it as "A sea in the clouds, whose royal seclusion is
guarded by a cordon of sentinel peaks, that lift their
frosty fronts, 9000 feet above the level of the world."
I have wished many times to travel over this route again,
but I do not know whether there is now such a stage line
through the canyon, and if there were, whether the
charm would be the same.

The following morning we reached Carson City,
where we took breakfast. Our ride from Lake Tahoe
down the mountain was very exciting, and rapid, the
horses sometimes running. Carson City at that time
was the capital of the territory of Nevada. The United
States government maintained an assay office there. It
was a sandy valley with plenty of alkali dust, through
which runs the Carson River. The town as I recollect,
is situated about twelve miles from Virginia City. There
I was to meet Dr. Mathewson.

This city is built on the side of Mt. Davidson, the
mountain which contains the famous Comstock Lode. So
far as I know it is the richest ever yet discovered in the

WESTWARD, HO! 83

world. At the time of which I am writing, this
mine was at the height of its "Big Bonanza" fame, but
the tide of immigration to California and the west had
begun to ebb and was flowing back over the mountains
towards the east. The first discoveries in the Corn-
stock were of gold, but the deeper the vein was dug, more
silver was found and less gold. The method of extract
ing silver from the quartz at that time was very crude,
and much of the silver was lost in the process. Since
then, methods have been invented which save most of it.
It is estimated that up to this date, six hundred million
dollars in gold had been reclaimed from the placer dig
gings of California. But this vast sum had been wrested
from the earth by a great cost in labor. To quote the
Hon. Thomas Fitch, of Nevada : "Over fifty thousand of
the brightest, bravest, most generous, energetic, and
enterprising men on the earth; the knight Paladins
who challenged the brute forces of Nature to combat;
the soldiers who, possessed with the aura sacra fames,
faced the storm and the savage, the desert, and disease,
swarmed around the base of Mt. Davidson, and reached
out to Aurora, to the Reese River and to the mountains
of the Humboldt."

Virginia City was reputed to have a population then
of twenty-five thousand, consisting mostly of men, for
women and children were few. Saloons were numerous.
I remember entering one of the latter, where the fur
nishings were stated to have cost $30,000. The build
ings were principally of brick and adobe, though lumber
was brought from the Sierra Nevada Mountains some
twenty miles distant, and hauled to the city by ox teams
and wagons. The water was very bad for drinking pur
poses, there being in it a large amount of mineral sul>

84: REMINISCENCES

stances in solution and alkali, but — I think there was not
much of it drank ! The speculation in mines and gam
bling was furious. Many of the secrets of the lode known
to the miners were disclosed to the owners of the saloons,
making the latter bonanza capitalists. Prospectors had
searched the mountains east of Virginia City, and many
mines rivaling the Comstock had been discovered.

Dr. Mathewson and I made a journey to the foot
hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, to a town named
Galena. We passed through a place called Steamboat
Springs, named, I suppose, because of the steam issuing
from the water, which resembled the exhaust from a
steamboat, A story was told me, that in earlier days a
party of immigrants camped for the night in this vicin
ity. One of the party, hearing a strange noise, went to
the spring to discover the cause, then hurrying back to
the camp exclaimed: "Boys, hitch up and get out of
here ; we are right over hell." I did not see the springs
myself, but presume that they are much like those I
have seen in Yellowstone Park.

In coming back that night we took a more direct road,
which led over Mt. Davidson ; a fine road, built for haul
ing ore to the quartz mills. Now they do this different
ly. The quartz is smelted in furnaces, the metal then
separated, and practically all saved.

After reaching the summit of the road, it being a
bright moonlight night, we came down the grade to the
city at a lively trot ; we had a fine span of horses and an
open buggy. It was ten o'clock when we reached our
hotel.

Claims were made on the ledge in feet at that time.
One man, according to mining laws, could pre-empt only
two hundred feet. At the time of which I write the

WESTWARD, HO! 85

Gould and Curry mine was selling at $4,000 per foot,
and if I am not mistaken, it was 1,200 feet long. The
leading paper in this mining city was the Territorial
Enterprise, a wide-awake daily paper. Mark Twain
was city editor ; he gave evidence then of his great wit,
and during those days published some things in the paper
as bright as he has ever written since.

From here we took the overland stage for Austin, our
destination. The outfit was about the same as that with
which we had crossed the mountains. If I remember
rightly, the distance was about 250 miles, and the time
thirty-six to forty-eight hours. The stage road was most
ly through alkali plains, the sand being very deep and
heavy, and the ride tiresome and uninteresting. Austin
at that time claimed a population of 5,000. Silver was
discovered there in March that year. It was a motley
looking town, consisting of tents and huts of adobe and
stone. I think the hotel was called the International.
It was a structure two stories high. The town was built
in a ravine, or canyon, lying between Mt. Prometheus
on the south and another mountain not so high on the
north. Here I found Frank Drake, the engineer, and
after getting our bearings we started out under the lead
of Dr. Mathewson to see the pine land. We found it on
the west side of the mountain range, about half way be
tween Austin and Big Creek, some twelve miles dis
tant.

The first thing was to find a location for the mill.
Water being a necessity, we tramped through the sage
brush on the foot-hills for some time, but all indications
showed that there was none in the vicinity. Finally,
Drake told me that if I would not laugh at him that he
would find water, sure. I replied that I would not even

86 REMINISCENCES

smile, to go ahead. So he cut a forked twig out of some
brush, and held the two branches, one in each hand, the
stem being upright, and he walked about where he
thought there might be water. Owing, likely to some
mis-step or muscular movement, the fork of the twig
fell down towards the ground at a certain place. He re
peated the experiment from several directions, and
when he reached the same spot the twig fell each time.
"Dig down here fifteen feet and you will find water,"
he said. I could see no reason why we were not just as
likely to find water there as at any other point, so we
began to dig. We made a windlass out of some of the
growing timber, and after going so low that the laborer
could not throw the dirt out of the top we set up a wind
lass and used a rope and basket. The digging continued
until I feared a cave-in, and I concluded that after all
the best thing was to go to Big Creek, where we were
sure of plenty of water. I became convinced we would
find no water here with such appliances as we had. So
we went over to Big Creek 'and set up our house, which
was a walled tent 7x9 feet. This was to be our home
until the mill should be completed and lumber sawed
with which to build the real house. The first work in
our enterprise was to cut logs, from which to make tim
ber, and I climbed the mountain side, where I could
inspect the trees. I was much surprised and disheart
ened; the largest log I could find would only make an
8x10, sixteen feet long. I reported the situation to
Dr. Mathewson, and he did not seem much surprised,
only saying that we must go ahead and put up the mill.
We had brought no "fire" or other brick with us to set
up the boiler; some stones found in the mountain were
represented to be fire-proof, so I employed an ox team

WESTWARD, HO! 87

to haul some to the mill site, with which I lined the
furnace under the boiler. For these teams I think I
paid $15 per day. I had to pay $11 per day for masons,
$5 for laborers, and eight or ten dollars per day for
carpenters. We set posts in the ground upon which to
fix the foundation for the mill, and I had a well-hole
dug, filling it with water from the creek.

We were all without experience in hewing timber,
but I took hold of the broad axe and succeeded tolerably
well until one day I had the misfortune to split my
big toe open; this laid me up for a short time. I set
the engine up on a wooden frame, and I think that in
December we sawed the first board. Then we sawed
lumber for a house and built that. This pinon pine
was a soft, light wood. If one took a board of it and
laid it in the sun, without putting a weight on it, the
board would nearly tie itself into a knot. Notwith
standing the high price of labor and of materials, I
got the mill running at an expense of $2,500, not count
ing the engineer's wages and my salary. After getting
the mill in working order I made timber by nailing
boards together and with such timber put the mill under
cover. At first we sold lumber for about $200 per
thousand feet.

I was in the habit of going into Austin on Sundays
to spend the day with Dr. Mathewson. We were com
ing out to the mill one Monday morning together, when
he outlined a plan by which we two combining, could
get hold of the mill at the expense of the company that
had furnished the money with which to build it I
listened to his plan, until sure I had not mistaken his
intentions, then said to him : "Doctor, these men have
hired me, paid what I asked, and so far as I know have

88 REMINISCENCES

treated me well, and I shall be true to them as long as
I am in their employ." His answer was: "I think
when a man has a chance to make a lot of money, and
refuses, that he is a fool." I replied : "That may be,
but I will not cheat those men." He rode on in silence,
but from that time I knew my man. Nothing more
was said about the matter between us and I thought he
had given up his scheme.

One Sunday, in Spring, a number of the men went
into town, and as usual, some of us went up to the
doctor's to dine with him. There I was introduced to
a stranger, a Mr. Merrill, from Maine. As we were com
ing back from the mill one of the boys who worked
for me asked if I knew why Mr. Merrill had come
here. I replied that I had no idea ; then he said : "If
you won't give me away, I will tell you what he is
here for." I replied that I would not give him away.
"Well," he said, "he has come here to take your place."
I was completely taken by surprise, but had plenty of
time for thought.

The next morning Mr. Merrill and the doctor rode
out to the mill. I met them very cordially, showed Mr.
Merrill over the plant, told him of the difficulties I had
had to encounter there, the length of time occupied in
building the mill and the amount of money I had ex
pended in doing it. He appeared to be a very fair
man and complimented me highly on my work. I
thanked him, then said : "I understand you have come
here to take my place. I will say to you that I am un
der written contract with the owners to take charge of
this mill and run it, and that I will not permit any
man to replace me until the year is up. If the company
is willing to pay my salary for the year and give a

WESTWARD, HO! 89

written release from the contract, I don't care what
they do with the plant ; but if any man comes here and
attempts to supercede me by force — well, I advise him
to get his life insured before he attempts it."

Mr. Merrill and the doctor rode back to Austin and
that was the last I heard of the subject.

The territorial legislature passed a law that a person
could have title to any unoccupied piece of land which
he would have surveyed and file map of same in the
county records, I complied with the law and located
three hundred acres one-half mile below the mill.

I had considerable unpleasantness with Drake, the
engineer. When planning the machinery I had calcu
lated the engine to run 150 revolutions per minute.
Dtrake argued that such speed was too fast.

To settle the contention I had to tell him that I would
assume the responsibility, and that he must run the en
gine at the speed I had planned or I would discharge
him.

Just before my time expired Dr. Mathewson wanted
me to make an offer to run the mill another year, say
ing that the company was going to put up a quartz mill
near the sawmill, but I refused. When my time was
up Dr. Mathewson gave me a draft on San Francisco
for my due, some $1,200.

The locations of fissure veins were innumerable, but
they were all thin in this locality. I knew of one vein
that was being worked above Austin by a Dr. Good-
fellow, which was only two inches thick, but the ore
would assay $3,000 to the ton. I think half a dozen
stamp mills were erected that summer within ten miles
of Austin. So far as I know none of them ever paid
any dividends to their builders.

90 REMINISCENCES

In the fall of 1864 I occupied a room in a livery
stable in Austin with the owner. He kept saddle horses
for hire, and his mow of baled hay was a favorite place
for immigrants to sleep. I have seen sleeping there
ex-governors from the states, ex-congressmen, sen
ators; all coming to this new territory to grow up with
it and get new political jobs. I will say in regard to
the people in this section that the average of education
and intelligence was higher than that of any other
community I had ever known, though a mining popu
lation is not usually supposed to be highly educated.
I learned while in that country to have respect for
"Judge Lynch," and had my respect lessened for
"Judge Law." We had several shooting scrapes in
town; they occurred frequently. One thing I noticed
as distinguishing the bad man of the south from the
bad man of the north: the latter gave his victim a
chance for his life; he would not shoot an unarmed
man, but the former would get the drop on his vic
tim and give him no chance for defense. There were
plenty of bad men from both sections.

When I left Chicago to go to California I bought a
Colt's revolver and etrapped it to my hip; I thought
this a necessary precaution, but at the time of which
I write I had found it was not, and I had traded my
revolver for "feet" in a mine.

The Indians east of Salt Lake were interrupting the
stage line about this time and my correspondence with
my wife was very much interfered with on this ac
count. She became much worried and I also was quite
anxious about it. One day when in the post office I
asked the assistant postmaster if he had learned
whether or not the mail had succeeded in reaching the

WESTWARD, HO! 91

east, whether the blockade had been removed. He ex
pressed ignorance in regard to the matter, and I took
occasion to say that I was worried about it, as I had
been pending money in every letter to my wife. About
two months afterwards this assistant postmaster was
appointed comptroller of the state of Nevada. From
the time I spoke to him till he received that appoint
ment my wife never received a letter from me, but
eventually all the letters written prior to that time, and
all written after his appointment as stated, reached their
destination. The fellow was an ex- Wells & Fargo ex
press agent, which company carried and delivered mail
over all the Pacific coast, wherever their express routes
ran. Letters had to bear the United States stamp and
also a Wells & Fargo stamp. The express company
ran a messenger and treasure box over every route
traversed by the company, and this was over the whole
Pacific coast. Its service was more certain than that
of the U. S. mail, and was patronized by most business
men.

CHAPTEK VIII.

LIFE IN NEVADA.

In the winter of 1864-5 General Rosecranz appeared
in Austin; he was connected with some mining inter
est. A brother of Frank Drake had a book store and
news depot which was a great resort for "the boys;"
they came there to get their papers and to gossip in
the evening. The General formed the habit of coming
there also to chat with the others. He was a fine look
ing man and a good story teller; he entertained us
greatly by telling anecdotes of the war, in which he had
been so prominent a character. One night I said to
him : "General, how about Chickamauga 1" He
queried : "What about Chickamauga ?" "Well, sir,"
I said, "the papers out here reported that you were
badly whipped there." He replied: "That was not
so"; claimed that he defeated the enemy there and
gained a great victory. He also claimed that the treach
ery of General Garfield caused his downfall. The lat
ter was his chief of staff. Rosecranz sent him to Wash
ington to attend to some affairs of the army that could
not be well and safely transacted by letter, and claimed
that Garfield, instead of representing matters as they
were, misrepresented them, and came back with his
(Rosecranz's) removal in his pocket. "Old Rosy" said
that if he had known the facts at the time he might
have ordered Garfield tried by a drum-head court mar
tial and shot. A number of years later I remember

92

LIFE IN NEVADA 93

reading an authorized account in the newspapers which
confirmed this story as General Rosecranz had told it.
That winter I had become acquainted with a Cap
tain Johnston, an Irishman, who claimed to have been
a captain in the English army. According to his own
statement he was a dangerous duellist; I thought him
a good deal of a braggart, but he amused me, in a meas
ure. A Captain Kent was superintendent of the Key
stone Mining Company, and had bought a mine of
Captain Johnston, for which he was to pay at some fu
ture time; I think it was to be when he could report
to his principals in Pennsylvania and get remittances
from them. I judge finances were at a rather low ebb
with Captain Johnston, any way. He made a demand
on Captain Kent for his pay, and that gentleman re
plied that he had not yet received the money. Captain
Johnston did not believe him, and one day he appealed
to me to act as his second in a duel. This was new busi
ness to me, but I thought there might be some fun in
it, and after some palavering, consented. I told my
principal that in the first place he would have to chal
lenge his man, which he did, while we all waited for
the fun to begin. The next day, I think it was, General
Rosecranz met Captain Johnston on the main street.
The latter was pointed out to him, and the General im
mediately turned on him, with a military air that would
have intimidated almost anyone, and said: "Captain

Johnston, what is this you are making a d fool of

yourself about?" The latter in a pleading manner
went on to relate his supposed injuries. The General
replied that he knew all about the transaction ; that his
supposed enemy was acting in good faith, and that he

94 BEMINISCESTCES

would get his money in due time. Immediately the
roaring lion became a lamb.

In the fall of 1864 I bought a mine from a Mr. Hun
ter. It was a claim named after himself and was
located on the top of Mt. Prometheus, about one mile
from where I lived in Austin, and was about one thou
sand feet higher than that point. I used to go there
every day and work, sinking an incline on the vein.
When I first began walking up the trail to the mine,
and a pretty steep trail it was, I would need to stop
every two or three hundred feet to regain my breath,
but after a month or so of practice I could start from
the foot of the trail and not break a good, smart walk
until I arrived at the mouth of the incline. I had found
a vein about twelve inches thick, which would assay
$30 per ton. I believed the mine to be valuable and
bought Hunter's interest in it.

I had made the acquaintance of a Dr. Gellar, whose
home was in Santa Clara, Gal. He was a nice gentle
man ; had been a member of the California legislature,
was a practicing physician, and had been living in Aus
tin for some time. He conceived the idea of getting
the owners of mines to give him their deeds, he
agreeing to pay a certain price for any mine he
should sell. He wished me to give him a deed of the
Hunter mine, but I did not believe that people in New
York city would buy our mines; hence I refused to
give him the deed, though he was confident of success.
He went to 'New York, and after a few months re
turned, reporting that he had sold the mines, and paid
the owners the amounts agreed upon. He had organized
a company in New York with a capital of five million
dollars, a certain portion of which was set aside for the

LIFE IN NEVADA 95

building of reduction works. He had received $500,-

000 of the stock, which was worth, when he left New
York, 60 cents on the dollar. The company wanted a
competent man to manage the mines in Nevada, and
Dr. Gellar wanted me to sell him the Hunter mine, for
which he offered to pay my price — $10,000 — $1,500
cash down, with a written contract to pay the balance
when he should sell it. The great success of his former
trip to New York inspired me with confidence in his
ability, and I sold him the mine.

It may be a matter of interest to know that Califor
nia and the territories of the Pacific slope had always
held to the gold standard. All debts were payable in
gold in that section during the war, and U. S. legal
tender notes did not circulate as money, though large
amounts of the same could be purchased at a discount.

1 remember buying and sending to my wife a United
States compound interest note drawing 7 per cent on
its $50 face value. It was lost or stolen in the mails
and she never received it. This was the first and only
note of the kind that I ever saw. It would be regarded
as a great curiosity now.

In the spring of 1864 I sold my plat of surveyed
land on Big Creek to a Mr. Johnson from Crab
Orchard, Mo. He diverted water from Big Creek for
irrigation and planted it with Irish potatoes. He raised
about three hundred bushels per acre and sold them for
8 cents per pound. All vegetables and salt meats were
imported into this country from California,

Silver ore at that time was crushed in stamp mills
and the silver gathered by amalgamation. Many com
binations of silver and other metals would not amalga*

96 REMINISCENCES

mate, and perhaps one-half of the silver was lost in the
"tailings," or refuse, by this treatment.

In the summer of 1865 the overland trip across the
country by stage had become quite the fashion for peo
ple of adventurous spirit. Some notable men had made
the trip and had advertised it to the public in general.
Among others were Deacon Bross, of the Chicago
Tribune; Horace Greeley, of the New York Tribune;
Prof. Silliman, of Yale College; James G. Elaine, of
glorious memory, and Albert D. Richardson, the popu
lar correspondent, who was afterwards murdered. Many
of these were induced to make us short speeches. I re
member Prof. Silliman, in a public talk to us ignorant
miners, explained how the fissure veins were formed
and how the quartz and metal penetrated them. His
theory was that in some stage of its existence the earth
was very damp ; it was then submitted in some manner
to great heat ; this rapid drying of the earth's surface
caused it to crack. Again the surface was covered with
water in which were carried large quantities of quartz
and minerals in solution, and this substance settling in
the fissures made the veins which we were trying to dig
out. As an explanation it was very lucid ; almost any
body who had not much sense could believe it. This
theory gave me great respect (?) for scientific men.

Dir. Gellar wished me to go to New York and see the
directors of his company and said he could procure my
appointment as superintendent of the company in Ne
vada, which would be most gratifying to me. I wished
to go home and visit my family any way. I think it
was some time in October I made arrangements for the
visit to New York, being furnished with letters of in
troduction to J. S. Christy, president of the company,

LIFE IN NEVADA 97

and to several of the directors. The doctor was also to
write them direct, recommending my appointment.
When I was ready for the trip Mr. Johnson, whom I
have mentioned before, decided to go with me.

Road agents sometimes worked the stage routes, so
I put my money into San Francisco exchange, paid my
fare through to that city, and saved out only coin enough
to pay my incidental expenses. We intended to leave by
the stage that passed through Austin on Saturday. The
coach had only one or two passengers, but the agent re
fused to take any more; we thought this very strange,
but could not help ourselves. The next day, Sunday,
we left, bidding our acquaintances good-bye. The jour
ney was without incident until we arrived within a mile
of the Gould & Gurry mill at Virginia Gity, Monday
evening. There was a full moon, and it was light
enough to read print. I was lying on the front seat
with my head in Mr. Johnson's lap, partially asleep,
when the stage suddenly stopped. I heard a sharp voice
saying, "Hold your hands up or Fll shoot your head
off." Two of our passengers before this had left the
inside of the coach to enjoy a ride with the driver; one
of them was a Mr. Batchelder, of Boston, who had been
a captain in the army during the late war. He was
taking this overland trip as an adventure and to see the
great west. I knew the command I heard was given by
a stage robber. I opened the door of the coach and
stepped to the ground. A man wearing a linen coat,
with a belt around his waist, a straw hat, a mask, etc.,
pointed a double-barreled shotgun at me and said : "Get
back into the stage." I did so without delay. Then I
heard some one say, "Throw out that Wells & Fargo
box." The driver threw it to the ground, and it was

98 BEMINISCENCES

carried to the rear of the coach, on the left side. It
was an iron box, and a man broke it into pieces with a
sledge, I watching the proceedings from where I sat in
the stage. I was not much concerned. The road agents
did not usually interfere with the passengers; their
business was to rob the express box. The contents did
not appear to satisfy them. The next call was for the
passengers to get out of the stage. I knew that meant
business for us. My first impulse was to hide my
purse in the coach, but I recollected that passengers
without money were sometimes turned around and
kicked. I resolved that I would not suffer such ignominy
for the small amount of cash I had with me, so I took
my money, which was in a buckskin bag that also con
tained a silver "brick" worth $7 from the Hunter mine,
a number of odd silver coins which I had bought in
Austin, a $20 gold piece and fifteen silver dollars, and
slipped it with the purse into the pocket of a long linen
coat which I wore to protect myself from the dust. We
were made to stand in a line facing the coach, a high
wayman with a double-barreled shotgun being at each
end of the line, one back of us and one at the horses'
heads, while another robbed us. I was at the head of
the line and the weight of the coin in my pocket indi
cated where I had hidden my valuables. The robber,
without saying "by your leave," ran his hand into my
pocket and seized the purse. I remarked: "That is
all the money I have." He said: "Get back into the
coach." I made no unnecessary delay in doing so. From
my seat I saw them rob the other passengers. When
they came to Mr. Batchelder and demanded his purse,
he handed them $300 in gold. They asked him if he
had any greenbacks. He took out a pocket-book and

LIFE IN NEVADA 99

opened it ; in it lay seven one hundred dollar bills. They
demanded his watch and the diamond he wore in his
shirt front, and tore the latter loose. Mr. B. said it was
a present from his mother, who was now dead, and that
he would like to make some arrangement for its re
demption. The robber had carelessly dropped the
diamond in the road, but he stooped down, picked it up,
handed it to Mr. Batchelder and said: "Keep it."
They searched Mr. Johnson but could find nothing. I
knew he had $300 in gold, paid him just before he left
Austin. The robbers next ordered us back into the
coach, then removed the barrier they had placed at a
sharp bend in the road (it had been so placed that the
driver could not see it until he was near), then or
dered the driver to stand still until they gave him the
signal to start, which they did when they had reached
the top of the mountain.

Upon receiving the signal the driver made good
speed until he reached the hotel in Virginia City. There
were eight men passengers and one woman. The rob
bers did not disturb the latter, but asked her if any
man had given her his money to keep ; she replied "No."
Johnson was the only man who had sustained no loss;
he had slipped his gold inside his boot-leg while the
robbers were breaking into the express box. There were
three or four silver "bricks" lying in the bottom of the
stage, weighing about one hundred pounds and worth
$1,000 each, but the road agents had learned not to
want this kind of property, as its loss invariably led to
their detection and capture.

I learned afterwards that three of the robbers were
| county commissioners of Lander County, of which Aus
tin was the county-seat ; also that the secret of the Sat-

100 REMINISCENCES

urday coach refusing to take more passengers was that
in the usual course of travel the stage due to arrive on
Sunday had reached Austin on Saturday, twenty-four
hours ahead of time, with twenty thousand dollars in
gold coin which the stage company was transporting
from Salt Lake City to Virginia City. There was much
excitement in the latter town when we arrived and told
of the robhery. We spent the night at Virginia City,
but from there were to take another route to California
than the one I traveled over when coming to Nevada
two years before.

Messrs. Huntington & Hopkins, then large hardware
dealers in Sacramento, in company with the Crockers
and Leland Stanford, had built a road from this place
to Dutch Flat. When Congress enacted a law for the
building of an overland road the gentlemen named or
ganized a construction company to build the western
end of the road, which they called the Central Pacific ;
this road was to extend east of the Sierras to meet the
Union Pacific. Our coach went by the way of Truckee,
where it began to ascend the mountains. That after
noon we passed Donner Lake, rendered famous as the
place where the Donner party of immigrants endured
the terrible sufferings which has been so graphically
and pathetically depicted by Bret Harte. I remember
passing the fearful chasm at Cape Horn. I am uncer
tain whether we went farther than Sacramento by rail ;
we may have taken a steamer there for San Francisco.

When I received the draft for services from the saw
mill company I sent it to Lane, of San Francisco, for
collection. I wished him to remit me a certificate of
deposit for the proceeds from some San Francisco bank,
but I received no satisfaction. Then I wrote him some

LIFE IN NEVADA 101

threatening letters about the matter. When I arrived
in Frisco Mr. McCracken told me that I had not taken
the right course; he suggested that I let him manage
Lane, saying that he thought he could get the money.
I did so, and in a short time Mr. McCracken handed
the amount to me. I have always doubted whether
McCracken loaned the money to Lane or paid it out of
his own money in order to protect Lane's reputation.
When I lived in Oshkosh Mr. O. C. McCracken was a
dry goods merchant there, and he also liked a good
horse. After he went to California there were rumors
that he gambled. When I reached San Francisco his
wife and child had arrived from Oshkosh and he was
keeping house. I visited him while there, but he did
not introduce me to any of the gambling fraternity. His
associates appeared to be gentlemen. He was always a
good friend to me and I respected him.

I waited in San Francisco till a steamer should sail
for the isthmus. I took passage by the Nicaragua route,
then a rival of tne Vanderbilt Panama line. We landed
at San Juan del Sur. As we drew near the coast at a dis
tance of about a mile, we turned a sharp angle toward it,
and our steamer passing through some woods threaded
a little, narrow channel of water, into a circular lake,
not twice the length of our steamer in diameter. Our
vessel was of wood of good dimensions and carried six
hundred passengers, all of whom were glad to land on
the wharf after ten days' confinement on the steamer.
We had to go from this place to Virgin Bay, twelve
miles distant on Lake Nicaragua, At the landing we
found several hundred burros, also a number of two
and three-seated wagons and other conveyances, of
which the passengers were told to take their choice.

102 REMINISCENCES

I had made the acquaintance of a pleasant gentleman
who had lived at Los Angeles for several years. He
talked Spanish fluently and was a very agreeable com
panion. We each selected a burro on which to ride,
and followed a road leading up a stream through the
woods. The natives had booths where they sold fruits, na
tive drinks of all kinds, and food, also articles of local
curiosity. I bought a walking cane of a very handsome
wood that grew in that locality, and when I reached
New York City I had it turned and mounted. It made
a beautiful cane, and manufacturers offered me $10 for
the stick.

We arrived at Virgin Bay at about 3 p. in. and found
a steamer waiting to take us across the lake. There
were no accommodations at this place in the way of
lodgings, but the steamer did not leave until the next
day, as it took all night to get the freight and baggage
across from San Juan del Sur. We started across the
lake in the morning ; it was a beautiful sheet of water.
A few miles from the shore at Virgin Bay is an island
upon which are two extinct volcanoes, beautiful moun
tain cones, about equal in size and height.

We arrived at Nicaragua River where it leaves the
lake. Some dredging had been done here to deepen the
channel. Our boat went on down the river to Castillo.
We arrived there just before dark and spent the night.
As no accommodations for sleeping on the boat were to
be had, my friend went ashore to find lodging. He found
one. Our bed was of planed boards covered with a
sheet and supplied with another sheet to put over us.
I was not accustomed to that kind of bed; besides a
Spanish garcon talked in an adjoining room, which pre
vented my sleeping. In the morning we were trans-

LIFE IN NEVADA 103

ferred to a smaller, lighter draft steamer, that could
pass the rapids in the river, which began just below
Castillo. This boat was crowded with passengers. We
were served with breakfast aboard the boat, and pro
ceeded on our way down the river. We saw many beau
tiful birds in the trees, of brilliant plumage and gay
colors. Through the rapids the river was narrow and
crooked, and our passage consequently slow.

Many of the passengers imbibed large quantities of
liquor and became intoxicated. When about twelve
miles from Greytown one passenger who had taken too
much was leaning against a post on the lower deck. In
some manner his shoulder slipped past the post and he
fell over backward into the river. I watched him as
he lay there on his back, on the surface of the water.
The bell was rung and the steamer stopped, but before
a boat could be sent to his rescue I saw him suddenly
disappear beneath the water. I suppose an alligator
or crocodile grabbed him and hauled him down. I was
unable to learn the man's name, and I suppose this to
be one of those cases where a man disappears and his
friends and relatives never know what became of him.
This accident sobered the passengers, who before had
been hilarious with drink.

We arrived at Greytown after dark and were told
that the transportation company would pay our board
at the hotel. My friend had the advantage of most of
the passengers, in being able to speak Spanish. He se
cured lodging for us in the best hotel. It was of the
usual type in Mexico, as it surrounded a patio. We
lodged in the hotel for a week waiting the arrival of
the Atlantic steamer from New York. The weather
was very fine and we had an enjoyable time. All things

104 REMINISCENCES

were curious and interesting to me on account of their
novelty. I found some of the finest cigars that I have
ever had the pleasure of smoking and brought a couple
of thousand home with me. I saw some very hand
some jewelry of gold and tortoise shell that was said to
have been manufactured by the Mosquito Indians. The
carving was delicate and artistic. I bought my wife a
beautiful ring, which proved too small, and so I have
it yet.

From the fact that I have been over the Isthmian
routes of the proposed canal, both via Panama and
Nicaragua, I have felt more than ordinary interest in
the present project. I have sometimes thought that the
United States government made a mistake in selecting
the former route. With my imperfect knowledge of
engineering I see no formidable difficulty in construct
ing a canal via Nicaragua.

In my boyhood days there was but one school in
America, so far as I know, for educating boys to become
civil engineers. What I learned of engineering I ac
quired from other men who had taught themselves. I
judge I was possessed of natural talent for this profes
sion, but I lacked the early education to fit me for such
a position; a fact which I have always very much re
gretted. I did not dream at that time of the great de
velopment of our country I was to see. The business
of a farmer or merchant comprised most of the prospects
open to the ambitious boys of that day. What is before
the lads of this day is a world of magnificent possibili
ties ! How I should like to know what I now know, and
have the youth, physique and intellect that I had fifty
years ago, with the present chances for education and

LIFE IN NEVADA 105

with the possibilities in sight for the boys of this gen
eration !

Science must enter largely into such gigantic opera
tions as building an isthmian canal, but practical ex
perience and "good horse sense" are of even greater im
portance. The digging of a canal some thirty miles
long and an average depth of three hundred feet is
perhaps a possibility, but not a probability, without the
expenditure of an amount of money, and of life, that is
appalling. It involves an amount of work that is al
most incredible. But the digging of the Nicaraguan
canal, though a gigantic operation, appears feasible to
a person of no greater experience and observation than
myself.

During our stay at Greytown most of the passengers
amused themselves viewing the city and becoming
familiar with the possibilities of the country. Between
Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean there was con
siderable agricultural development, also some fine coffee
plantations. On the East side of Lake Nicaragua I
saw but little enterprise or development, the country
having the appearance of waiting for something to
turn up. The city of Greytown was an exception.

One moonlit night I took a walk through the city. It
consisted largely of poor shanties. I saw a few peo
ple gathered about a house and inquired what was the
matter; someone who understood and could speak Eng
lish replied that a couple of men were fighting. I said :
"Why don't you stop them ?" He replied : "Oh, the
men have got swords." The house was without lights
and the women at the door were wailing. The fighters
seemed astonished at my appearance and stopped. I
seized one of them and swung him through the door.

106 EEMINISCENCES

However, as I could understand none of their talk, I
went back to the hotel. As I came into the light of
the room I was greeted with the demand: "Where
have you been?" "Why?" said I. They exclaimed:
"Look at your coat." I did so; it was covered with
blood. I told them of my interference in the fracas
just related, and they suggested that I ought to have a
guardian attend me when I went out.

One morning we saw a steamer in the offing a mile
or two from shore, and were informed that it was the
steamer come to carry us to New York. We were con
veyed to this vessel in whale boats and other craft
manned with oars. We found it to be an iron steamer,
the first I had ever seen. It was a fine craft and we
found good accommodations aboard; her name was
"Santiago de Cuba." When the baggage and freight
were on board the steamer set sail. We passed through
the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico, past Cape
San Antonio on the west end of Cuba, through the
Straits of Florida into the gulf stream, and made our
way up the east coast of the United States to New York
City. Nothing of importance occurred on this part of
the voyage that I can recall.

CHAPTER IX.

WIND AND WATEK.

When our ship arrived at New York the passengers
scattered in all directions. I had made some acquaint
ances and formed some friendships on the voyage. My
friend and I remained together and boarded at the
same house, which faced what was then known as St.
John's Park. I understand this has since been taken
as a site for a freight depot for the Hudson River R. R.
I delivered my letters of introduction, gave the parties
much information about the mines of Nevada, and was
well received. After some weeks I was informed by
the president of the company that I would be employed
at a salary of $3,600 and would be expected to return
to Nevada in February. I planned to go to Wisconsin
to get my wife and boy and take them to Nevada when
I returned.

On my journey to Wisconsin, when we arrived at
Pittsburg, Mr. Charles Eldredge, member of Congress
from the Fond du Lac district, and Mr. Philetus Saw
yer, member of Congress from the Oshkosh district^
came into my Pullman car. During the journey Mr.
Sawyer informed me how he happened to run for Con
gress, which interested me not a little. He said that
Colonel Bouck, who was colonel of a Wisconsin regi
ment, resigned his commission and came home from
the army to run for Congress on the democratic ticket,
proclaiming that the war was a "damned failure."

107

108 REMINISCENCES

Sawyer said lie did not believe it, and in order to beat
Bouck he determined to run himself. He spent con
siderable money to get elected — $10,000. Mr. Sawyer,
as I recollect, served twelve years in the lower house
and eighteen years in the senate. He was a shrewd,
far-seeing man, who never went back on his friends.
He was a good talker in a chair, but could not make a
speech on his feet; he appeared to lack the nerve to
make the first effort. He was a good friend to me after
wards. Mark II anna was a similar man, but not so
genial as Mr. Sawyer; until a few years before his
death Hanna had never made a public speech, yet finally
he became something of an orator. President McKinley
told me that he was very much surprised at Mark
Hanna's ability. Mr. Hanna discovered that he could
talk on his feet and became one of the principal stump
speakers of the country during Mr. McKinley's last
campaign for the presidency.

I met my family in Oshkosh and after a few weeks'
stay we went to Sherburne for a visit among my people.
After a short sojourn there I went to New York City.
I had not been there long before I discovered that an
tagonistic influences were at work against me. I learned
that one of the directors of the company, a Mr. Bennett*
of Binghampton, wanted to send a young lawyer from
his city to Nevada to examine the titles to the mines.
I knew that was unnecessary. As it proved afterwards,
Mr. Bennett had other designs, and as will be related,
he accomplished what he wished. I stayed in New
York all summer. I had some half a dozen acquaint
ances there who were trying to sell mines. We boarded
with a Mrs. Sheik, near St. John's Park, in the locality
where I had boarded the fall before.

WIND AND WATER 109

The Fenians were then making a great noise in the
country about invading Canada, Their head center
organization was in New York. A young Irishman
who claimed to be chief clerk of this organization
boarded in the same house with us; also a number of
Irish saleswomen. Mrs. Sheik was herself an Irish
woman, but she had procured an appropriate name by
marrying a German. The talk at the table by these
Irish guests was very optimistic and very annoying to
me. I became disgusted one day at dinner because of
the young man's braggadocia, and I remarked to him
that I had boarded with a young Irishman while I was
in Nevada who had explained to me the manner in
which many Irishmen had come to this country. The
man I had boarded with, Jack Doyle, said that when a
ship was in a nearby harbor and wanted emigrants for
America, they would take some large wooden boxes, bore
many holes through the sides large enough for a man to
put his hands through, put a lot of Irish potatoes inside,
take the boxes to the mountains and leave them there
over night ; in the morning the ship's crew would go to
the boxes and would find an Irishman fastened to nearly
every hole in the boxes. He had put his hand through
the hole and grabbed a potato, and it was impossible for
him to get his hand out with the potato clasped in it.
I had asked why he did not drop the potato and so take
his hand out, but the reply was, "The damned fool
didn't know enough." When I had finished my story
the silence around that table was appalling; I did not
know for a time but there would be an earthquake. I re
marked that I did not believe the story at all, but that I
didn't know but this young fellow might be able to in
form me as to its truth. Mrs. Sheik threatened to ex-

110 REMINISCENCES

tradite me to some other boarding house, but the in
dignation soon subsided and I heard nothing more about
the wonderful things the "Faynians" were going to do.
By fall my projects had all matured, but brought me
no results. I decided to return to Wisconsin, but noth
ing there seemed to offer satisfactory inducements; so
I went to Chicago to try my fortune in that city. I met
an old acquaintance, who was in the same predicament
as myself. After some investigation we concluded we
could both get rich in a retail grocery store. I was to
do the buying and he the selling. We bought a grocery
on the west side, which we thought had a good trade, but
by the next spring we had become rather pessimistic in
regard to the future of the business. We, therefore, im
proved the first opportunity to sell out and let another
man get rich. The principal assets of the business
were bad debts, which proved to be permanent invest
ments. I spent some time trying to collect them, with
out success. I made up my mind that if I were to live
within my income I must go to work at my trade. At
first I went to work in the wood- working department of
a machine shop, but after putting wooden cogs into iron
core wheels for a few months, I concluded to try my old
trade of millwright. I engaged with Messrs. Webster
& Pray, at that time the leading millwrights in Chicago,
to take charge of the rebuilding of a flouring mill at Nor-
ville, Mich. The work required considerable skill on my
part, and I was about eight months in this employment.
I was then sent to Flint, Mich., where I put in new ma
chinery for the making of flour on the patent sys
tem, in which effort I was very successful. When I
finished and received my pay the proprietor made me a
present of a barrel of patent flour. I then returned to

WIND AND WATER 111

Chicago where my family lived. One day I saw an ad
vertisement in a newspaper as follows :

"Wanted: A Man Competent to Take Charge of a
Large Lumbering Business in Michigan."

I applied for the place and was engaged to go to
Pentwater, Mich., to take charge of the business of Mr.
Charles Mears at that point. Mr. Mears went to Pent-
water with me. On arrival I found that he had for
superintendent, a man who held the position for ten
years, until he had come to think himself a bigger man
than the owner. Mr. M. for some reason desired to get
rid of him. I was not informed as to the situation un
til I arrived at Pentwater. I then told Mr. Mears that
with his permission I would wait a week before taking
charge, in order that I might get acquainted with the
men and the business.

At Pentwater, Mr. Mears had two saw mills and a
large store. A stream ran from Lake Pentwater into
Lake Michigan ; it was about one hundred and fifty feet
wide and a half a mile in length. At its mouth a wharf
had been built out into the lake, where vessels landed
and were loaded and on which lumber was piled ready
for shipment. A vessel would arrive from Chicago, tie
up at the wharf and be loaded with from one to two
hundred thousand feet of lumber, in from twelve to
twenty-four hours, when she would be ready for her re
turn trip.

Mr. Mears owned pine lands and did his own logging
in the winter, the logs being piled on the shore of Lake
Pentwater and also on the shore of a little lake north of
Pentwater called Bass Lake. He stored logs in these
lakes for the two mills, and also cut some seven
thousand bolts for a shingle mill which he had in Chi-

112 11EMINISCENCES

cago. He also manufactured lumber at Whitehall, and
at two other lakes on the west coast of Michigan; only
the plant at Pentwater was to be under my control.

I was privately and confidentially informed that no
new man could in less than six months obtain sufficient
experience to run the business; moreover, that the old
superintendent was popular with the men, who would
not permit a new man to take his place. Immediately
after taking charge insubordination was exhibited and I
became convinced that the laborers, intended to make the
job a very tiresome one for me; therefore, as soon as
a man evinced an intention to disobey my orders I dis
charged him. At the end of four weeks I had dis
charged over sixty men ; then the rest became very docile
and gave me no further trouble. While there I rebuilt
one of the saw mills.

Living in Pentwater I found a Mr. Young, whose
native place was Sherbourne; he had married a Miss
Cook, one of the young ladies who sat in the seat in
front of me in the academy when I attended school
there, and whom I have mentioned before. These were
the parents of the present alderman, who ably repre
sented the sixth ward of Chicago. While I was there
Mr. Mears, then seventy or more years of age, married
the pretty, sixteen-year-old daughter of his landlady.

Certain agencies were at work at Pentwater antago
nistic to me. A clerk in a store by the name of Palms,
and myself attended a party one evening. Not long
afterwards Mr. Mears took occasion privately to inform
me that he had heard very damaging stories of my con
duct there. I asked : "What is it, Mr. Mears ?" He re
plied: "I am told that you got drunk." I said I was
very sorry to hear it, but did not see how that could

WIND AND WATER 113

«

be possible, as I had not seen a drop of liquor since I
had been in Pentwater, and did not drink anyway ; this
seemed to satisfy him.

A feature peculiar to Lake Michigan is the violent
gusts of wind that spring up without warning. On one
occasion my wife and boy came from Chicago to visit
me. The wind sprang up before the steamer reached the
wharf. The boat made a couple of ineffectual efforts to
land, but finally backed out and went north to the Mani-
tou Islands, where it remained two nights before return
ing. One beautiful morning in early fall I decided to
take a tug boat and go to Bass Lake, pick up a tow of
logs and bring them to Pentwater. The sun was shining
brightly and there was no wind. Bass Lake is distant
about three miles down Lake Michigan. The tug was a
flat-bottomed scow, having a hundred horse-power boiler
on deck. It was a stern wheeler, quite powerful, but un
wieldy. When arrived at Bass Lake we anchored near
the shore, spread our towing boom, attaching one end of
it to the tug, and commenced running logs into the
other end of the boom from the little lake. The wind
began to freshen. After we had put a few hundred logs
into the boom, we found we could do little against the
wind, and the tug was in danger of being blown ashore,
so the captain of the tug decided to go back to Pent-
water. The wind blew almost at right angles to the
shore; when far enough out in the lake the captain
turned the boat southward to go up the shore, this put
it in the trough of the sea. The boat rocked terribly,
and threatened to "turn turtle." We were fast being
blown ashore, as the logs helped to pull us in that di
rection. The captain cut the towline and let the logs
go ; then he was unable to bring the bow of the boat into

114: REMINISCENCES

»

the wind. I feared that the rocking of the tug would
break the braces that held the boiler to the deck and that
it would roll off into the water. The captain was a re
sourceful man and a good sailor; he tried to rig a jury
mast on which to attach a blanket from the cabin for a
sail. We saw a sea-going tug put out from Pentwater
harbor coming to our assistance, but it put out only a
little way from the pier when it turned back, leaving us
to our fate. We were being "rocked in the cradle of the
deep" all right, and were unable to get the tug's head
into the wind. I expected nothing but shipwreck, which
would probably result in the drowning of all on board.
The captain and I finally rigged a jury mast made from
a pike-pole, secured a blanket to it, and brought the tug
around, bow into the wind. After running a short time
we turned around and sailed into Pentwater harbor. The
storm subsided as quickly as it had arisen.

The engineers on the tugboats were required to keep
within call on Sundays, in case of necessity arising to
use the boat. One Sunday morning one of the en
gineers asked permission to go with some others five or
six miles blackberrying, which I granted. The party
returned on horse-back feeling rather hilarious, and ran
their horses down the principal street, which was paved
with sawdust. The horse which the engineer rode
stumbled and fell, throwing its rider violently onto the
road ahead of him. The engineer was stunned and in
jured internally. We carried him to the company hotel.
Two young doctors who had lately settled in the town
were sent for, and they gave the injured man a dose of
chloroform. The patient went into a stupor from which
he never recovered. The doctor worked his lungs like
a bellows trying to keep the breath of life in him, for

WIND AND WATEB 115

several hours. I have known of a number of persons
killed by an over-dose of some anesthetic, but there is
one consoling feature in the experience of physicians —
their mistakes are buried with their patients.

When winter came I returned to Chicago, and later I
went to Oshkosh and took charge of a lumbering opera
tion for my father-in-law. I spent the winter in the
woods above New London, Wis. In the spring when
the logging roads thawed out, I built a board shanty on
the bank of the river at the log landing, and stayed
there in charge of the logs, waiting for the ice to break
up, when the logs were to be put in cribs. These were
about forty feet square, made by four booms put to
gether and pinned at their ends with oak pins, the in
side being then packed full of logs. The cribs would
run down the river without attention. If one corner
struck the bank the crib would simply turn and go out
into the stream again. Before we had the logs all put
into the cribs, the ice above us had broken up, and the
rush of logs, cribs of posts and railroad ties made our
logs so insecure that we decided to pull out and go down
the river with the jam. We took eight or ten suitable
logs, put poles across on top, pinned the poles to the logs,
put oars on each end of this float, put our shanty in the
center of it, and our provisions and traps in same, then
got on board. Turning the logs and cribs loose, we fol
lowed in the rear of the logs in our house on the crib.
It was our intention to tie up at New London and stop
there all night, but we failed to make a safe landing;
the high water in the river making the current so strong,
that we had to run the river all night. It rained very
hard and was so dark that one could not see his hand be
fore him, except when the lightning flashed. The

116 REMINISCENCES

thunder was almost a continuous peal. Taken altogether,
it was one of the most terrific nights I ever experienced.
Of course, under such circumstances, we could not think
of sleeping. It was so dangerous to walk on the crib,
that we stayed inside the shanty and watched the shore
by the flashes of lightning. To have stepped off the raft
into the water would have meant probable death.
Towards morning, as it grew lighter the storm abated.
We came to an island in the river, which we had ex
pected to reach ahead of the logs, as the cribs should
have been turned to the right of it. We stopped here,
much relieved to escape from our perilous position of
the night

CHAPTEK X.

FBOM NORTH TO SOUTH.

I went to Oshkosh and soon became convinced that
the scheme which had brought me to that city would
not materialize. It was decided that my wife should re
main here and that I should go back to Chicago. There
I joined a Mr. Fargusson who was in the mill-supply
business. I went into the project on my own responsi
bility and secured the agency of a number of manu
facturing concerns ; this I afterwards made quite profit
able. Mr. Fargusson and I occupied the same store on
Canal St. and worked together very harmoniously. He
was, I think, of Scotch extraction, and was an honest,
respectable man whom I very much esteemed.

At first I engaged in building flour mills. I planned
one to be built at Washington, Neb., which was to be
operated by water power. Also a similar one to be
erected in Kansas, and a third one for Messrs. Baxter
& Brunner, of Gratiot, Wis. In the latter case the own
ers insisted that I should come to Gratiot, and superin
tend the building of the mill, or they would not give
me the contract to furnish the machinery for it; this I
consented to do. According to my best recollection this
was in the summer and fall of 1870. The masonry for
the foundation of the mill was laid on solid rock ; I fur
nished the machinery from the firm of Messrs. J. S.
Noyes & Co., of Buffalo, N. Y. I used water wheels,
some five in number, manufactured, I think, by G. E.
Houston, of Beloit, Wis. The building of this mill I

117

BEMINISCENCES

enjoyed very much, as I had no annoyance from the
proprietors and they did not ask me to make everything
as cheap as possible. The building above the foundations
was of wood. I built all in a first-class manner, accord
ing to my ideas of what that term meant. The owners
were very much pleased with the mill. I afterwards
read that Charlie Brunner, the junior partner, and
his wife and child were killed in the Lake Shore R. R.
disaster, which occurred near Ashtabula, O. Thus, at
one blow, a whole family was destroyed. He was a
splendid man and I loved him very much.

I planned several other mills that summer. In 1871
I took a contract to erect water works for fire protection
in the village of Watertown, Wis. At my request Gen.
"Gabe" Bouck, who was in the Wisconsin legislature,
caused to be enacted a statute permitting villages and
cities to issue bonds to pay for such improvements. The
main street of the village was continued across the dam
which backed up a small lake, furnishing a good supply
of water but a low head ; it supplied water power for a
flouring mill, and the owner donated the water to the
city for the proposed works. I set a six-foot Houston
wheel on iron posts which stood on solid rock, and built
a circular flume of boiler iron. In fact, the whole outfit
was of iron, no wood at all about it The water pipes
ran up through the streets of the village and at the
different street-corners hydrants were attached to the
pipes. When wanted for fire purposes, hose was attached
to the hydrants. While I was building these water
works the great fire at Chicago occurred. We heard
rumors of that fire which seemed almost incredible, but
they were confirmed later, so the next day I went to
Chicago. I found that our store, No. 54, or 56 Canal

FEOM NOBTH TO SOUTH 119

Street, had escaped the general destruction. I walked
through the streets on the south side, among the ruins;
it did not seem possible that such a fire could have
happened. One thing that surprised me was that the
house of Mr. W. B. Ogden, built of wood in the center
of a square on the north side> was apparently uninjured,
while everything around it was destroyed. A row of
fine trees surrounded this square on which the house
was built, and this taught me that green trees were a
great protection to buildings in case of- a conflagration.
After viewing the ruins as much as I wished I returned
to Watertown, the accommodations for strangers being
very limited.

That fall I entered into an agreement with the village
of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, for the construction
of works similar to those erected at Watertown. I con
tracted for the water pipe in Cleveland, Ohio, and it
was to be delivered at Black Biver Falls, about the first
of November.

After completing the job at Watertown, I erected a
pump in the large saw mill of D. J. Spaulding, then
president of the village of Black Eiver Falls. This
gentleman was one of the finest men it has ever been
my pleasure to know. Owing to the quantity of freight
on the lake the pipe was shipped on lie last boat of the
season. The trenches had been dug through the streets
and was awaiting the arrival of the pipe. The weather
became very cold and the ground was frozen six feet
deep. I recollect laying the pipe one day, and making
the lead joints when the thermometer showed twenty
degrees below zero. With all these difficulties to con
tend against I completed the project, gave a satisfactory
exhibition of the power of the water, received my pay

120 REMINISCENCES

and went home. Mr. S. S. Merrill, superintendent of
the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was very just to
me in repaying over-charges on freight collected at
Black River Falls by his railroad.

By some means which I do not now recall, I had
obtained the agency for the Northwest of the celebrated
carbolized hose, manufactured by the Gutta-percha &
Rubber Company of New York. The sale of this hose
was quite remunerative to me, as I received a commis
sion of twenty-five cents per foot on all that I sold.

The next summer, I think in 1872, I made arrange
ments with Cole Brothers, of Pawtucket2 Rhode Island,
to sell the steam fire engines manufactured by them.
This was a double-piston machine built after the plan
of the celebrated Amoskeag fire engine. It was a lighter
machine, and I thought, therefore, preferable for use in
the west, where the streets were not generally so well
paved then, as they are now. I sold nine of these Cole
Brothers fire engines the next year after I took the
agency. The capital of the firm was limited and I
agreed to pay a certain price for each machine ordered,
and take my chances in collecting my pay from the towns
where I sold the machines. The firm agreed to deliver
the engine at the point where I should sell it, and to
give a satisfactory exhibition of its workings. I fixed
a price on the machines that would allow me a profit of
$500 per engine.

In selling these engines I learned a good deal about
the inside workings of municipal politics. My principal
competitor in the business was the Silsby Company of
Lockport, New York, though I had several other
machines to compete with, the Amoskeag, Clapp &
Jones, etc. I was a very successful salesman and it waa

FEOM NORTH TO SOUTH 121

seldom that I lost a sale of either flour mill supplies,
mill machinery, hose, belting or fire engines. The
only sale of a fire engine that I lost was in my own
city, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In each city where it was
decided to buy a fire engine the people would resolve
themselves into two factions; one favoring a rotary,
and the other a piston machine. In almost every
instance I was opposed by the rotary people. For the
same class of machine they asked $1,000 more than
I did, which one thousand dollars they often used
for bribing aldermen or others to help them make a
sale. I resolved from the start that I would use no
bribery methods, and during all the time that I was
selling fire engines I never offered or paid any city
official or other person a consideration for the buying
of my machine. I fought the rotary people "in the
open," and usually the fight was a very strenuous one.
If there happened to be machinists among the alder
men I sought them out and explained to them the
good points of my machine, and also pointed out the
defects in the rotary engine.

I remember having a hard fight with the Silsby people
at Oskaloosa, Iowa. I either saw in a newspaper or
received a letter that they were going to buy a fire
engine, and I immediately took a train for that city.
I had been interviewing the aldermen, explaining the
good qualities of my engine for about twenty-four hours,
when as usual a Silsby Company agent appeared. There
was a man in the city council who had a machine shop,
and it was easy to convince him of the superiority of
my machine, but another man in the council who was a
politician, and mixed up in state politics, was a
smooth, slick, plausible fellow. At first he was quite

122 EEMINISCENCES

favorable to my engine, but when the Silsby man arrived
I knew I should have him to fight, judging by my past
experience with city fathers. It was evident to me in a
very short time that this alderman was "on the make.'7
When I was convinced of this I let the other agent have
him.

At a meeting of the council the Silsby agent and my
self both appeared to represent our respective machines.
There was one alderman, I think they called him
"judge," who suggested that there was no difference in
the intrinsic value of the two machines, so far as he
could see. I told the council they could have my engine
for $4,500, but no less. "The Judge" finally made a
motion for adjournment till the next night, and then
buy the engine which they could get for the least money.
My friends told me the next day that Silsby's agent had
agreed to underbid me, and I was pretty well convinced
that he would sell his engine to the city. My friends
wanted me to enter into competition with him, and
after considerable persuasion I told my supporters in
the council that I would bid against the Silsby agent
with the distinct understanding that I was not to be
bound by any bid I made. This was agreed to by
them, and I went to the council meeting the next even
ing with that understanding. The "judge" arose and
remarked that the council had come to the conclusion
that it would buy the machine that could be obtained
for the least money, and turning to me he inquired at
what price I would sell to the city a second-class fire
engine. I replied "$4,500." He then turned to the
Silsby agent and asked at what price he would sell his
machine, to which the reply was "$4,400." We kept
falling in price until my competitor struck $2,500,

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH 123

when I refused to go any lower. The council then
entered into a contract with him at that figure, and also
contracted with me for two thousand feet of carbolized
hose. When we had finished I turned to the council
and said: "I congratulate you upon having purchased
a fire engine at its true value. That is the price at
which the Silsby Manufacturing Company will sell
their machines when they cannot get any more for them.
I could not sell one of my machines for less than
$4,500." One of the members of the council wished to
know what I would have done if the council had
accepted one of my bids. I replied that I had an under
standing with my friends in the council that no bid of
mine, less than $4,500 would be accepted, and that it
was with that understanding I had entered into compe
tition with the Silsby representative, for the purpose
of enabling the city to get a Silsby engine at the lowest
possible price. I then turned to the Silsby agent and
said: "You establish a price with this sale which will
be a precedent ; I will see that you sell no more machines
at over $2,500."

I had had a very strenuous conflict. A local news
paper had suddenly become very much interested in the
Silsby machine; what influenced it I could only sur
mise. The next day it contained a bitter attack upon
myself. During this contest I had not slept for six con
secutive days ; when it was all over I went back to Osh-
kosh. After about two weeks I received a letter from a
friend in Oskaloosa saying that he thought if I would
visit the town at once I could sell it my fire engine; I
took the next train for that city. On arrival I learned
that the Silsby Company had repudiated the contract
their agent had made with the city, stating that he had

124 REMINISCENCES

exceeded his authority and that $4,000 was their lowest
price. My friends were indignant, and took the posi
tion that they would not have the Silsby machine at any
price. A meeting of the council was called for the night
of my arrival, and I signed a contract with the city for
a Cole Brothers fire engine at a price of $4,500. The
machine was delivered in due time, and found satis
factory.

In the spring of 1874 the city of Oshkosh decided
to buy an additional fire engine. I interviewed the chair
man of the fire committee in regard to the Coles Brothers
machine; he asked me to have one made for that city
and to bring it to Oshkosh, saying that if it proved a
good machine the city would buy it. This man I had
known ever since I came to Oshkosh in 1855, and I
considered him, something more than an acquaintance.
During the time I had known him, he had migrated to
Colorado, become interested in some mines, which he
had sold immediately after the civil war to New York
parties, and was reported to have a good deal of money.
He had afterwards returned to Oshkosh, built a fine
residence, also a saw mill, had bought pine lands, be
coming a prominent lumberman, and was one of the
city fathers. I had the engine built and brought to
Oshkosh, gave an exhibition with it, and stored it in
the engine house on the south side.

"Jack" Hasbrouck, the fire marshal of the city, took
out my engine during a conflagration among some lum
ber piles one night, and used it to fight the flames. The
fire department, and citizens generally, were pleased
with the good conduct of the machine, and praised it
highly. I thought this would decide its purchase, but
no action was taken by the council. I was satisfied that

FROM NOIiTH TO SOUTH

the delay was caused by the action of the gentleman
above alluded to, Mr. Doe, who stated that the Silsby
Company were building a machine to bring into compe
tition with mine. I told him that I would not enter
into competition with the Silsby engine; that they
would build a first-class engine of greater weight and
capacity than mine, and I would of course be beaten in
a contest with it. My machine stayed in the Brook
lyn engine-house awaiting developments. Not long
after I was in my own home in Oshkosh on a visit to
my family, in May, 1874, when my father-in-law came
to me and asked me to ride with him to the city. On
the way he told me about a project he was considering.
It seemed that some parties had appeared in Oshkosh
having for sale some seventy-five thousand acres of
railroad pine lands in Florida and some local persons
lacking the capital necessary for the purchase, had
asked Mr. Hubbard to join them. He said that these
men had been down and examined the lands, that the
young man who was book-keeper at the Wakefield flour-
mill had gone with them to learn what he could, pledg
ing to give Mr. Hubbard a correct account of things in
Florida as he should find them ; that he had returned
and made his report. To insure the full interest of this
young man, my father-in-law had told him that if he
saw any good bargains in that state, that he would join
him in their purchase. The book-keeper brought the re
port that he had secured a saw-mill plant and six thou
sand acres of land for $26,000, paying $1,000 down and
agreeing to pay $10,000 more in thirty days. Then my
father-in-law went on to say that he was getting to be
an old man, was troubled with rheumatism, that he
wished to go to a milder climate, that he wished to put

126 REMINISCENCES

his nephew into a business which would give him some
thing to do, and that he also thought it might suit me to
go to Florida and engage in the lumber business so he
thought he would invest. I replied, "Mr. Hubbard, I
have been influenced in the past by the advice of others,
but in the future I mean to act only upon my own
judgment in matters of business. I cannot tell what I
would like to do, until I have examined this proposition
myself and formed my own conclusions." He replied
that he wished I would go and see the property and tell
him what I thought about it I suggested that this
would cost considerable in both time and money. He
appeared to be quite anxious for me to go, however, and
said, if I should see fit to enter the project that he
would furnish the money to run the business in good
shape. We interviewed Mr. Johnson, the book-keeper
referred to, and he was very optimistic about the affair,
saying that there was: "Thousands in it."

It was consequently arranged that in ten days' time
I should meet Mr. Johnson in Chicago and that we
would proceed to Pensacola and together examine the
property for which he had bargained.

I had some sales of fire engine-hose in the western
part of Wisconsin also in St. Paul and Minneapolis
that I wished to close up and I had some collections to
make in the same territory. After completing these
affairs, I met Mr. Johnson in Chicago as planned. He
brought me from Mr. Hubbard $10,000 in Xew York
Exchange payable to my order, with instructions that
if, in my opinion the property was worth the sum
agreed upon, that I should buy it. We left the north in
May, for the "Land of flowers."

I had some relatives living in Florida who had been

FBOM NORTH TO SOUTH 127

there since abefo 'de wah." The husband of a cousin
was in the lumber business at a place called Bagdad,
Florida, Scon after arriving in Pensacola I learned
that a steamer was going to this place with a party of
people who were to attend an entertainment for the
benefit of a local church. I was invited to join the
excursion, and did so. We arrived after dark. I had
not seen my cousin for twenty years, but was invited
to her home and was hospitably received. Their house
was a fine old mansion surrounded by live oaks and
other handsome trees. It was a very pleasing home.

Every one had a good time, and after the entertain
ment, which had been held in the church, the steamer
returned to Pensacola with its passengers.

In deciding about the business venture, my chief
desire was of course, to see the pine lands. I knew that
a sawmill was valueless without saw-logs, and I wished
to learn if the forests would yield a supply of logs for
a good many years. The agent of the railroad offering
this land for sale, was a Mr. Peter Knowles, a long time
resident of Florida, in fact since before the "late
unpleasantness." He was a very genial gentleman,
liked good things to eat and drink and a good time
generally. He procured a two-seated covered wagon,
for our journey, in which he placed provisions for our
comfort. This was propelled by a pair of mules and a
negro driver. We crossed the river at Ferry Pass, an
arm of Escainbia Bay, and landed on terra firma at
Florida Town, where we struck the pine lands which I
wished to see. We rode from Florida Town nearly
northward, traversing the highest land.

These pine woods were different from any forests I
had ever seen. The ground was covered with a fine

128 REMINISCENCES

green grass which looked like a gentleman's lawn. The
trees were very stately and handsome, most of them
forty or fifty feet to the limbs, the tops covered with
green pine needles which grew in clusters. There was
no underbrush and no obstruction except where some
tree had been burned or blown down, and lay with its
long trunk on the ground. One could drive in any
direction in these woods. All that was necessary to
know was the points of the compass. It seemed like
sacrilege for man to come and cut down these magnifi
cent trees. I wished often, in the years to come, that I
need not do this.

We traveled that day about twenty-five miles through
this beautiful forest. In later years it was my fortune
to own most of these lands and at one time I could ride
thirty miles in a northerly direction and be upon my
own land all the time.

Every few miles through these woods could be found
a "squatter." These men would cut down a few trees,
build a log house, clear up a few acres upon which to
raise cotton, corn and sweet potatoes. His pigs, sheep
and cattle would find their own living in the woods,
and all the squatter had to do, to secure the ownership,
was to brand them while they were young. The names
of these settlers would indicate that the majority of
them were of Scotch extraction. These were the origi
nal Florida "crackers." There were no schools among
them, during the days of slavery ; and a great many of
them were unable to read or write their own names.
They prided themselves that a white man would not
steal. This fact in their estimation raised them far
above the negroes, for whom they had great contempt;
per contra; the negroes entertained a very low opinion

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH 129

of the poor whites, while they cherished a deep vene
ration for their own masters. We stayed all night with
a squatter who entertained us hospitably at his house
not far from the Alabama line. I certainly enjoyed
those woods and my admiration for them has never
lessened.

In the morning we started on our return, but by an
other road, so we traveled through new forests all the
time. At night we arrived at a sawmill not far from
the Escambia River, and were hospitably entertained
by the owner, Mr. R. D. Byrne who invited us to spend
the night at his house. I recollect that we passed the
evening around the fireplace, although it was in the
month of June, and that the fire felt very comfortable.
We conversed about the country's possibilities, and of
the forests, meanwhile smoking our cigars. The next
day we returned to Florida Town, and visited the mill
that was involved in the purchase. This, I think, was
naturally one of the most beautiful spots I have ever
seen in Florida. The mill was situated on Escambia
Bay at a point where it was about two miles wide, and
directly under a bluff that towered about eighty feet
above the water, and which gradually sloped to the
water's edge. This incline was covered with a thick
forest, consisting mostly of live oak trees, from whose
limbs hung festoons of grey Florida moss, reminding
one of Santa Glaus with his grey hair and whiskers.
On the top of this bluff was the residence of the mill
owner, in a clearing of ten acres. The house was
surrounded with crepe myrtles twenty-five feet high,
and now in full bloom. In the front yard were two
gigantic live oaks, quite shapely and beautiful. On
each side of the front porch were two fine Japanese

130 EEMINISCENCES

plum trees, the largest that I have ever seen of this
variety. In the rear of the house were two very large
magnolias, and other trees; sycamore, mulberry and
black oak. In the yard were several large arbors of
scuppernong grapes. In the garden were peach trees
in full bearing. It seemed as if a man with a con
tented mind might find here: "Paradise regained."

From the mill we returned to Pensacola and stopped
at what was called the Santa Rosa Hotel. Whether this
was built before or since the war I am unable to tell.
It was three stories in height while most of the build
ings of the town were but one.

A Mrs. Hickey was boarding at this hotel and she had
a mocking bird which she had educated as a songster.
In the morning we were awakened by the most raptur
ous singing to which I had ever listened. The bird
appeared to be in a very ecstacy of excitement and it
made so much noise that it was impossible for one to
go to sleep again. I had never before heard a mocking
bird, and was charmed as I listened, so much so that
I obtained a young one and took it with me to Oshkosh.
I imagine however, that it needed the training of other
birds. After a lingering and uneventful existence it
died.

At this time there were two private banking houses
in Pensacola: Hyer Brothers and C. L. Le Baron. In
making out the papers for the purchase, I had the mill
and lands deeded to Mr. Hubbard, rather than have
them deeded to the new firm and they give a mortgage
to him. I knew this would make Mr. Hubbard safe,
regardless of what might happen to the rest of us. I
also agreed to take the stock of goods in the store at
a fair valuation. After this business was finished, I

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH 131

returned to Oshkosh, leaving Mr. Johnson to inventory
the stock and have the care and custody of the property.
When I arrived at Oshkosh, Mr. Hubbard refused to
give a note to secure the balance due on the property,
but was willing to give a mortgage on it to secure the
note of the new firm. To this the sellers consented, and
the purchase of the property was consummated in that
way.

The cost of the mill and lands was $26,000. The
inventory of the goods in the store, as made by Mr.
Johnson, showed a value of $3,000. While the forego
ing settlement was in progress, Mr. Hubbard one morn
ing called me into his room and said: "Mr. Skinner,
I am sick of that investment of yours in Florida; 1
want you to go to Pensacola and get what you can of
that $10,000 and let the trade go." I replied, "Mr.
Hubbard, I do not see how I can do this. If the
parties thought we were sick of the trade they would
not return any of the money; if I went down there and
made a settlement of the trade which involved a loss
to you, you would always blame me, unless I made
good the loss to you, so I am not willing to do as you
request. I believe the property is a bargain at the
price which we paid for it." After this interview, my
father-in-law never referred to the subject again.

Sometime in the summer following my return from
Florida, the new Silsby fire engine appeared in Osh
kosh. Mr. Doe sent me a challenge asking a trial of
capacity between it and my engine, but I flatly refused
to make any test of the kind. In consequence I was
bullied incessantly by Mr. Doe and the supporters of
the Silsby engine. Jack Hasbrouck the chief of the
fire department, was very confident that my machine

132 REMINISCENCES

would be victorious, as were numerous other adherents
of the piston engine, and after much worry, in a weak
moment I consented to make the test. The engineer
for the Cole Brothers machine had returned to Paw-
tucket before I made my trip to Florida ; while Silsby's
expert engineer was on hand to run his machine. The
excitement in Oshkosh over the two engines was intense ;
I have never seen a political contest engender so much
feeling as existed then between the supporters of the
two fire engines. The day of the trial proved a beauti
ful one, and there were as many spectators present as
would have been called out by a well advertised circus.
The result of the trial was — in the parlance of the
initiated — that the Cole Brothers machine was
"washed." Mr. Doe influenced the city to buy the
Silsby engine and it was named the "Doe" after him.

The agent of the Silsby engine also contracted with
the city to furnish it two thousand feet of carbolized
hose, but in a short time the city was notified that it
could not get carbolized hose, unless they procured it
of me. Doe was furious and said that the city should
not buy any from me. So Mr. Sam Hay was instructed
by the city council to purchase two thousand feet of
carbolized hose for the city. He also found that he
could purchase only through me, and so reported to
Mr. Doe. I then offered to supply Mr. Hay and divide
the commissions with him, which he was willing to do
provided the council would sanction the deal. A meet
ing was called to consider the matter and this I at
tended. After the usual preliminaries the matter of the
hose was taken up. Mr. Doe stated the situation as re
ported by Mr. Hay, to the fire committee and then
said that an agent of the manufacturer of the carbolized

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH 133

hose had attempted to tribe him by offering a large
amount of belting for his saw mill, if he would give his
consent to the buying of the carbolized hose for the city.
I was sitting on a back seat provided for
spectators and when Mr. Doe sat down I arose
and said to the council that Mr. Doe's state
ment that he had been offered a bribe by
an authorized agent of the manufacturers was un
qualifiedly false; that such business they left to the
Silsby Company. The mayor who was presiding at
the meeting, informed me that no person was allowed
to address the council without first obtaining consent.

The meeting soon adjourned and Mr. Doe walked
into the lobby. He was a large man, with a loud voice,
and had the reputation of having been in his younger
days something of a sport. He was threatening to
knock somebody's head off his shoulders. I cut short
the conversation I was having with a member of the
council and stepping into the lobby, met the gentleman,
to whom I said: "Mr. Doe, why do you make such a
fool of yourself? You would not strike me and you
know it."

Mr. Doe made some farther efforts to obtain the hose
from some other source but failed and after a little
delay the city gave me the order for the carbolized hose.
But I still had my fire engine on hand and sought a
city to which I might sell it. I had sold a third-class
fire engine to the city of Houghton, Michigan, and
thought that I might perhaps sell this one to the city
of Hancock, just across the lake from Houghton. I
had little difficulty in making the sale. I delivered the
machine and it proved very satisfactory to the pur
chasers.

CHAPTEK XL

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST.

I was informed by Mr. Johnson, who was still at
Escambia, that yellow-fever was epidemic in Pensacola
and that it would not be safe for me to come down there
with my family until after a frost.

It was therefore in early November, 1874, that with
my wife, my son and my partner Ebenezer II. Hub-
bard, I started for Florida. I do not recall the incidents
of that journey until we reached Decatur, Alabama.
At that time the road between Louisville and Pensacola,
now known as the Louisville and Nashville, was com
posed of short, independent lines. I think the road
from Decatur to Montgomery was known as the Ala
bama Southern; from Montgomery to Mobile as the
Montgomery and Mobile, and from Flomaton to Pensa
cola as the Pensacola and Louisville Railroad.

We missed connections at Decatur and stopped at
the Polk House for about twelve hours. Our train
did not arrive until about 12 o'clock at night, and we
sat up in the parlor of the hotel waiting for it, the
daughter of the landlord meanwhile amusing us by
entertaining her beau. At this time there were no Pull
man cars on this route; the coaches were very plain,
and usually dirty, but we had to content ourselves as
best we could with the accommodations at hand.

The next day about dark we arrived at Oakfield six
miles north of Pensacola, and were informed that it

134

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 135

was not safe to go any farther. Several colored people
were awaiting our arrival to take us to Escambia. I
was suffering with a terrible headache, and so my wife
and I stopped at a large house where a number of
refugees from Pensacola had made their home during
the prevalence of yellow fever. These were seeking in
various ways to amuse themselves and drive dull care
away. Ill as I was I found much to divert me in the
stories of a certain gentleman; they were impossible
and humorous; one of the stories I recall even now.
It was of a dog, born without any forelegs and the
owner to mitigate somewhat this misfortune had a
couple of wheels made and placed where the dog's fore-
legs should have been. The dog after that propelled
himself with his hind legs, would chase chickens and
pigs with great zeal, and also guard his master's front
gate against intruders.

The next morning our teams came for us and we went
to Escambia, about six miles across the country. On
arriving there we examined the house and found that it
had eleven outside doors, each fastened with only a
button; that the openings where the windows should
have been, were filled by solid wooden blinds ; one room
had four small glass windows which had evidently
been appropriated from some schooner. I do not recol
lect how we provided ourselves with board and lodg
ings until my household goods arrived from Wisconsin.

I found the mill sawing out a cargo of Rio deals
for South America. We bought our logs from people
who lived back in the country, who put them in cribs of
about twenty logs each, by pinning a pole across each
end of the logs. In this manner we secured all we could
saw until about the year 1879. I then learned that

136 REMINISCENCES

there had been in 1873 a great depression in the lum
ber and timber business at Pensacola; that the shippers
had met with great losses that year and that some of
them had become bankrupt

It was the custom in the port of Pensacola, at that
time for the merchants to buy timber and lumber from
the producers and ship it to ports all over the world,
where they could find a market. The merchants
usually sold cargoes of lumber or timber, delivered at
destination ; the buyer would name about the amount of
cargo wanted, the merchant would charter a suit
able vessel, load the cargo and ship to its
destination. In selling these cargoes there were
three items which the merchant had to take
into consideration; these were cost, insurance and
freight. What he was paid above these items was
his profit It was necessary that he be a man of con
siderable means, as there were no banks of large capac
ity in Pensacola at that time, the bank of Hyer Bros,
being in process of liquidation. These sellers assumed
the roles both of shippers and bankers. These three
items — cost, insurance and freight, were matters of
much variability. The merchant, after selling his
cargo, had to buy it of some mill ; if hewn timber he had
to contract with some timber getter to deliver it within
a certain time, at a certain price. The matter of in
surance was a variable quantity, which depended upon
the rating of the vessel, and the month of the year in
which it sailed. The freight also was an unknown
quantity, governed by the scarcity of vessels seeking
freight or the abundance of vessels unchartered. So you
will perceive that the seller took chances which might

A BEAUTIFUL FOBEST 137

cause him great loss, but he usually took these risks
with the nerve of a gambler.

The conditions of this trade were such that it neces
sarily partook of the nature of gambling. The buyers
in Europe were kept well posted as to the conditions of
the local market, having parties here who were their em
ployees or were interested with them in the business.
About this time and after I came here, the brokers in
England who made the sales to buyers in Great Britain
and on the continent, assumed the right to make sales
whenever in their opinion it was advantageous to them
selves to do so. I remember the case of a mill company
which came here from Chicago and had bought some
thing like one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land
in the state of Alabama at the nominal figure of a few
cents per acre. The men were wealthy Chicago lumber
men and they understood the lumber business in Chi
cago. They came to Pensacola and built an immense
mill capable of sawing two or three hundred thousand
feet of Michigan white pine per day. They sent a mer
chant to England to make sales for them, paying him
a commission on such sales as he might make. He went
there and sold a good many thousand feet of lumber and
chartered between twenty and thirty vessels. After
making these large sales he came home and informed
t^e mill men of his success and they were happy to
think that they had such a prosperous season before
them. In the early winter the vessels began to drop in
on them. In the sawing of the pine it is necessary that
the lumber should have a chance to dry out, for if the sap
were wet the lumber would stain blue in the vessel and
damage its value on delivery, for which the buyer would
demand reclamation from the shipper. In such cases as

138 REMINISCENCES

these the broker selects an arbitrator and the buyer does
the same; these two select a third and the three decide
the amount the shipper must allow the buyer as dam
ages, either on account of the cargo being injured in
shipping, or not being as specified in the contract. The
award of such arbitrators is usually liberal to the buyer.

At one time I believe these mill men had twenty ves
sels in port for cargo. A vessel, when chartered for a
cargo is usually ready as soon as she has her ballast out ;
then she is allowed so many days for loading. When
such days have expired the vessel is on demurrage, the
amount of this depending upon the tonnage, or size.
This demurrage is a part of, and collectible with the
freight from the cargo, amounting usually to from one
to two hundred dollars per day, and upwards. The lum
ber shipped in a vessel must be of the character, size and
quantity sold ; if it is not it may be rejected in toto, or a
new price agreed upon that the buyer may choose to
make, or damages may be claimed for non-delivery of
goods bought. The result of the experience of these
men the first year, selling their lumber in such ill-ad
vised manner, put them in such financial straits that
they were compelled to close down and eventually to sell
out their plant at a price that put them out of business.

I recall another instance similar to the one mentioned,
in which a partner, a reckless character who should have
known better and done better, one fall chartered all the
vessels he could find in Europe, probably getting a com
mission on the vessels' charters. The ships arrived at
Pensacola, until I think the firm had thirty vessels in
port at one time, and though quite wealthy, they were
reduced to bankruptcy by the bad conduct of this part
ner.

A BEAUTIFUL FOEEST 139

I have mentioned these two instances of bad manage
ment, in order to show that a vessel when engaged must
be loaded as prescribed in the charter-party. Still
greater losses have been made by ambitious merchants
attempting to corner the market in the supply of sawn
timber. The loss of a dollar on a stick of timber
amounts to a large sum of money in the purchase of two
or three hundred thousand. In the height of business
at this port, one firm, if I remember correctly, loaded
and dispatched as many as one hundred and forty vessels
in one year, and the cargo of each would average a mil
lion feet of lumber.

The law governing these transactions is very complex
and intricate. The merchant should know the kind of
lumber required in every port to which he ships lum
ber, for scarcely any two countries require the same di
mensions or quaKty. Lumber for shipment abroad is
usually sold by St. Petersburg standard, which is nine
teen hundred and eighty superficial feet and the price
is usually specified to be in English sterling pounds,
shillings and pence. Freight and insurance are also
generally payable in English money. Timber, both
sawed and hewn, is sold by the load — being sixty cubic
feet. Drafts for the payment of cargoes are paid in
English sterling as stated above, and are usually drawn
in sets of three and on time. Sometimes, however,
buyers wish to pay in the currency of their own country.
During the time that I was engaged in this trade, the
buyers so disliked to lose anything on a cargo, that
they would use any means to place the loss on the
seller, just or unjust.

The pine belt that at one time existed on the gulf
coast and lower Atlantic, at the close of the civil war,

140 BEMINISCENCES

was a forest of great extent. Its area was practically
level and streams were found in almost all its parts.
Where the timber was not in easy haul of the streams, it
was an inexpensive thing to build railroads to the
timber. The pine at this writing (1907) in comparison
with 1865, is practically exhausted. Of course there is a
great deal of it still left ; enough to give employment to
lumber men for several decades ; but the end is in sight.
It seems incredible that these millions of acres of pine
should have been cut off, transferred through the chan
nels of commerce to other climes, and so few people
have been enriched by the process. I have lived in Pen-
sacola thirty-two years and more; I have seen a great
many people with small means engage in this lumber
business, the manufacturing lumber from these pine
woods, and this port of Pensacola for a great portion of
that time has shipped on an average three hundred mil
lion feet of lumber and timber per year, but out of the
men engaged in denuding these forests, I cannot at pres
ent writing recall more than fifteen who have accumu
lated over $100,000 in the business. A great many en
gaged in the business have not only become bankrupt,
but have lost large sums of money which they had bor
rowed from merchants, still others lacked practical
knowledge of lumbering or ability to learn it. I men
tion these principal items of risk, for the purpose of
showing the hazards encountered by a stranger in en
tering this region and business, without any prior know
ledge of the conditions which surround it. Almost
every person coming here from the north who had been
a successful lumberman in the white pine districts of
Wisconsin or Michigan and had amassed a fortune
there, greater or less, would naturally have a good deal

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 14:1

of confidence in his own judgment and experience, as I
discovered upon meeting them, and it would usually cost
such a person about a hundred thousand dollars to learn
how to do business in the south. I remember a gentle
man from Michigan who had bought mills and a large
tract of pine, and whom I casually met on the street in
Pensacola. He asked me to meet him at Millview and
instruct him as to the proper method of manufacturing
his lumber. I expressed a willingness to do so, as I
did not like to have men come down from the north and
lose money. He said: "I will write you when I get
ready, and ask you to come over. I wish first to get a
million feet of lumber piled in the yard." I replied:
"You have then a million feet of lumber sold?" He
rejoined, "I have no lumber sold, but a yard looks so
much better with lumber piled in it." I said to him:
"My dear sir, it is right there you are making a mis
take. In the north you may safely manufacture any
amount of lumber of certain dimensions, and it is al
ways salable and in demand in that market ; as much so
as a barrel of flour or a barrel of pork, but in this
country it is different ; you should sell your lumber
first, and then manufacture it. You may have a mil
lion feet of lumber in your yard, and you probably
would not get a chance to sell it in a year, and in the
meantime the lumber would decrease in value one-half,
from the effects of sun and rain." This idea was so
different from his experience in the north that evidently
it did not impress him much. He continued doing busi
ness in an unsatisfactory manner for about a year, when
he sold out for a lump sum to a syndicate in England.
The buyers told me that the lumber he sawed (a mil
lion feet) was still in the yard unsold, and that they

142 BEMINISCENCES

would be glad to get $6 per thousand feet for it. The
former owner had paid that price to a contractor to
cut the logs off his own land and deliver them to his
mill. It was customary then for log contractors to re
quire of the mill owners sufficient money or supplies
to enable them to hire men to cut, teams to haul and
men to drive the logs, before they would go to work.
Perhaps they did with these supplies or money as they
promised, or possibly they did something else with it,
which would never be known. These log contractors
were good talkers and good promisers; many of them
were playing a game they were familiar with, but which
the "tenderfoot" does not know.

The "cracker" population as a rule were irrespon
sible in a financial transaction. In the seventies, soon
after the war, it was a sentiment prevalent among the
crackers, owing to their prejudice against the colored
people, to hob-nob with the more educated and culti
vated class of whites, who thought it no harm, if not
indeed a praiseworthy and loyal act, to cheat and bank
rupt the man from the north who came here to get rich
out of them, as they thought, and whom they called
yankee, as a term of reproach. When I was asked if I
was a yankee I always replied : "That I was a born
and bred yankee." Of course at the present time, after
thirty years of experience and enlightenment, that
prejudice exists only to a limited extent, and that prin
cipally among the women. I found then that this preju
dice existed against myself to a considerable degree, but
when a man tried to do an unfriendly thing, I at
tempted to convince him that it was a game that two
could play, and that he would gain little by so doing. I
think I did not suffer from this sectional prejudice for

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 143

more than six years after my arrival ; it died out very
soon after the white population got political possession
of the state. The people had suffered so severely
through negro legislation, dominated by carpet bag in
fluence, that the irritation was natural ; when the source
of the injury was removed the irritation vanished. Dur
ing the first few years of my residence at Escambia I
found difficulty in getting many of the best logmen to
cut for my firm. In 1876 I think it was, the lumber
market was very much depressed and it was almost im
possible to sell lumber at a profit. Two or three men
who bought logs on the Escambia River closed down
their mills and refused to take any more from their log
gers, refusing even those they had contracted for. These
men came to me in their trouble, to sell their logs,
though they had formerly refused to sell to me. I said
to them : "All right, I will take your logs as long as I
have money to pay for them, but when my money gives
out I shall have to stop buying."

In those early years of living at Escambia it was my
custom to go north when the hot weather came. During
the time we spent away traveling, we closed down the
mill. This year I told my bookkeeper when I left, to
buy logs as long as he had any money in the bank, then
stop buying. When I returned in the fall I found that
he had paid out what money I had, and also had over
drawn my account at the bank about $10,000; but I
had a fine stock of logs on hand. I found that the mar
ket was much better than when I had left in the spring.
I formed a shipping partnership with a Mr. Hooten,
of Pensacola, who had had a long experience in ship
ping lumber for himself or in the employment of
others. This partner had sold several cargoes to be

144 BEMINISCENCES

shipped abroad, and had contracted for the lumber to be
furnished by other mill owners. The price advanced
on lumber from $1 to $2 per thousand feet The mill
owners had neglected to buy logs and could not get
them at the old price, when the vessels arrived for their
cargoes, they told my partner that I had bought all the
logs in the market, knowing what was going to hap
pen, and that I had the logs and could saw the lumber
myself, while they could not furnish it. I had thought
this state of affairs would come about and had gone to
work preparing the lumber, and had it on hand. I did
not let my partner know this fact, but kept him in "hot
water" by asking him what he was going to do. He
finally acknowledged his helplessness, that he could not
buy the lumber anywhere. I said: "You represent
your company; I represent Skinner, Hubbard & Co.
I will sell you the lumber at $2 per thousand advance
on the price you were to pay the other parties for it"
He replied: "I accept your offer." I loaded the ves
sels all in good time. Then I said to him : "Mr. Hoo-
ten, you send those parties a bill for the difference in
price between the contract price for the lumber and
that which you had to pay for it ; if they refuse to pay
the difference, sue them." They did refuse; we sued
them, got judgment and they paid the judgment.

When I came to Escambia we had no postoffice there.
I arranged with the postmaster at Pensacola to give my
mail to the mail carrier who carried the mail between
Pensacola and Milton and I would send a messenger to
Pritchard Field and get my mail as the carrier passed
that point. C. L. Le Baron had a private telegraph line
from Pensacola to Milton and I put a private line from
Escambia to Ferry Pass. I hired several boy operators,

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 145

but had much trouble with them and more with those
employed by Le Baron. After continuing it for about
a year I came to the conclusion that the line was more
of a vexation than a convenience, and I gave it up. In
1878 my partner, having been accustomed to city life,
with nothing to attend to, went home to his uncle and
refused to come back.

I heard of the wonderful telephone (the telephone is
as wonderful to me today as it was then), I received a
letter from a cousin of my wife who was operating one,
giving it unstinted praise. I had never seen a telephone
myself; there were none in Florida so far as I knew.
In 1880 I put up a line from Escambia to Pensacola,
placing the Pensacola end of the wire in the office of
my friend, Col. Geo. E. Wentworth. It Worked very
satisfactorily, and was a great curiosity, being the first
telephone in that part of Florida, if not in the state.

I needed a light-draught tugboat to tow lumber and
logs; one that I could run through the narrows in the
sound up to Choctawhatchie Bay, as well as operate in
Escambia Bay and River. I concluded to go to Oshkosh
and buy a tug; one of those used at that place for tow
ing logs and lumber. I bought a nearly new boat ; one
of the best, if not the best in those waters. My partner,
Eben. Hubbard, went up to Oshkosh to take passage
on the boat and come down with it, and he had quite
an interesting trip. The tug went up the Fox River
and through the canal which connected that river with
the Wisconsin River, down the Wisconsin to the Mis
sissippi, down the latter to the jetties and into the
Gulf of Mexico. She then had to work her way north
ward among the Chandelier Islands into Mississippi
Sound and through that to Mobile Bay, and from Mo-

146 REMINISCENCES

bile Bay to Pensacola Bay through the Gulf. This tug
was built for use in fresh waters, and had no condenser,
her trip through salt water caused her boiler to foam,
which interfered with her steaming. When the boat
reached Escambia the men were very much pleased
that the trip was ended ; the voyage having been made
for them through unknown waters. To have made such
a trip without accident and nearly on the schedule time
(made previous to leaving Oshkosh) was very grati
fying-

At that time it was customary for men employed on
the inland waters of Pensacola Bay to amuse themselves
by telling frightful stories of sickness and death to
tenderfeet just from the north. Capt. Colburn, of the
tug Hercules, was very susceptible to these fairy tales,
and his fear being noticeable made him a shining mark
for the story teller. I kept him busy towing logs from
Choctawhatchie Bay to the mill. A few months after
his arrival at the port he was taken sick while at Free-
port and was very badly frightened, and notwithstand
ing he was to be part owner of the boat and captain
of it, he made up his mind to get out of the country
while his life remained, and return to Oshkosh.

At the time of my arrival there was a great deal of
malarial and break-bone fever. Considering the way
the natives lived, the mystery to me was that they did
not all die, and not that many of them were taken ill. Dr.
John Brosnaham moved to Gull Point, about three
miles down the bay, the year after I came to Escambia,
and was a great help to me in keeping my family and
employees well. He made calomel pills with which he
always kept me supplied. He had several grades of
these pills, of different strength; the mildest pills he
called "little cusses," next were the "royal Bengal ti-

A BEAUTIFUL FOKEST 14:7

gers," the most powerful were "little hell." Either
kind could be administered to the patient, as his condi
tion might require. It was remarkable the uniformity
with which these pills relieved the patient.

The principal diet of the crackers at this time was
hog and hominy, intermixed with greens when the lat
ter could be had. The hoecake was made by mixing
cornmeal and water, with a little salt, putting it on a
shovel and baking it over a coal fire; the bacon was
fried in a skillet. In the fall they would make some
cane syrup, and when in funds some wheat flour, which
they would mix and bake as hoecake. This was at times
the principal food of the negroes and poor crackers, and
sometimes the "little hell" pills were required to pro
duce any effect.

Until 1878 I had kept myself in fairly good health
with the contents of numerous bottles of Simmons' liver
regulator. I went north that summer to New York,
where I spent several days with a Mr. Colquett who was
a buyer and shipper of pitch pine lumber from the
Atlantic coast ports. I was anxious to learn how they
inspected lumber in New York when it arrived in cargo
lots. He had several vessels which were unloading in
New York harbor, and he wished me to see a cargo
which was unloading in Brooklyn. He did not seem
to be very- well posted as to localities in that city, nor
as to car lines. We boarded a car which he thought
would take us to the vessel, but it did not. He con
sidered, however, that by walking cross-lots we would
soon reach the vessel. It was a very hot, clear day and
the sun's rays were scorching. The distance proved to
be more than a mile. I have never had a sunstroke,
but think I came pretty near it then.

148 REMINISCENCES

The next day I went up to New Haven, Conn.,
where I had a cargo of timber and lumber unloading,
which I had sold to the New Haven Sawmill Co. When
I arrived at New Haven I went directly to the vessel,
but the heat of the day before I think had stimulated
the malaria in me and I began to feel sick. I asked
Mr. Booth, the agent of the buyers, to take me to a good
hotel, which he did. When I reached the hotel I went
to bed and asked the landlord to send for a good doctor.
The physician came and looked me over. I do not
know what his diagnosis was, but he put some "No. 1"
in a glass of water and some "No. 2" into another glass
of water and told me to take a teaspoonful of "No. 1"
and in half an hour a teaspoonful of "No. 2," repeating
till I got well, or died. The girl who waited on my
room told the housekeeper that she believed the man in
No. 22 was crazy ; "Just think, this hot day he has kept
calling for blankets till I have put six on his bed." Dur
ing my life I have suffered terribly with headaches, first
and last, but I never had such a painful headache as I
had that night. My reason appeared to be all right,
but the pain was intense. I feared that before morning
I would be out of my head if the pain continued. About
twelve o'clock I touched the bell button for the night
clerk to come to my room and in vigorous language I
told him my condition. I directed him to bring me
some crushed ice, put it in a washbowl, pour in some
water, set it at the head of my bed and furnish me a
towel. I then wet it in the ice water and put it on my
head. When the towel would get warm I would take it
off my head and put it in the ice water ; then wring it
out and put it back. By three o'clock in the morning
the headache had ceased, and later I went to sleep.

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 149

About 9 o'clock the doctor came to see me again. I told
him that I did not want any more "No. 1 and No. 2,"
but that if he would give me something that would not
make my head ache I should be glad. He remarked:
"You appear to know better what to do than I. I rec
kon you better doctor yourself." I told him that I
thought so too, and bade him good day. I then called
the landlord in and asked if he could recommend a
good allopathic physician. He was careful to express
no opinion as to the merits of any physician, but fin
ally mentioned a Dr. Hubbard. I said: uSend for him;
I never knew a Hubbard who was a fool." He came
and put me under a treatment of calomel and quinine.
In ten or twelve days I thought I was all right and
insisted upon going into the dining room to get my
meals. This led to a relapse and I was quite ill again.
After about two weeks more I felt that I had recovered
and I made up my mind that I would go to my wife
in Chicago; I was very impatient at the confinement
and delay. Dr. Hubbard told me that if I took the
journey then to Chicago it would kill me, but I paid
my bills; settled with Mr. Booth as he dictated for the
cargo of lumber, ordered a carriage and went to the
railroad station. As I sat in the depot awaiting the
arrival of the train for New York, I felt very ill and
concluded that I would have to return to the hotel. I
started to get a carriage to take me there, none was in
sight, but the train rolled into the station and I got
aboard. I kept getting stronger all the way to New
York City, and then for some reason I crossed to Jersey
City and took the Pennsylvania train for Chicago. I
met my wife in the latter place, and accompanied her
two or three days in the hot sun on a shopping tour,

150 EEMINISCENCES

then we went to Oshkosh. My wife was an invalid and
a local physician was treating her; he also prescribed
for me, as I had not yet recovered from my late illness.
About a week later I went to Ripon in order to place
my son in school. While at the house of the president
of the college, waiting for the return train, I was taken
quite sick again, but I arose, in spite of the pain, and
took the train to Oshkosh. My partner, Mr. Eben
Hubbard, met me at the station and took me to the
house of my wife's father. The next day I was taken
with a terrible fit of vomiting. My mother-in-law came
to me and said: "Don't you think we had better send
for Dr. Osborne ?" This doctor had been our physician
before we went south. I replied that I would like to
have him. He was sent for and came in the morning;
talked with me awhile and went out of the room. In a
short time Mrs. Hubbard came to me and said: "Mr.
Skinner, may I tell you what Dr. Osborne told me?"
I replied, "Certainly." "He says you are all used up,
that he can't do much for you ; whether you live or not
will depend upon good nursing ; that in any event you
Will not get out in six weeks." I had never suffered
much sickness. I took no stock in the doctor's prognos
tications in my case, but following events proved him
correct. Mrs. Hubbard was one of the dearest old
ladies I ever knew, as well as the best friend I ever
had. She nursed me faithfully, but it was six weeks
before I became convalescent. I fully believe she saved
my life. Dr. Osborne remarked that it would be some
time before I would have another fever, and I have had
none, although I have lived twenty-seven years in Flor
ida. The experience of that malarial fever has demon
strated to me that a person, convalescing from it, should

A BEAUTIFUL FOREST 151

be very careful in resuming the customary avocations
of life, and I have used that knowledge much to the
advantage of my family and the health of my employees.
As soon as I had fully recovered I returned to Escam-
bia.

My experience in 1878 in buying logs led me to buy
the log landings along the shores of the bay and river,
where logs could be handled by teams and rolled into
the water ; then these landings could not be used without
my consent while I owned them. Up to this time and
for several years later, timber lands in Florida were
valued at only fifty cents per acre, which price, of
course, was ridiculously low. I was aware of that fact,
but I think it was the general impression of the natives
that these lands never would be worth more. They
could secure government land by locating it under the
United States Homstead law, but most of them failed
to do so, because it cost fifteen or twenty dollars to lo
cate the claim.

Most of the natives possessed a migratory disposition.
They would see locations often which they thought su
perior to the one they occupied. It did not involve much
labor to cut poles, notch them and build a log house ;
they could cut down a cypress, juniper or pine tree for
shingles. Most of them had a little ox-cart or one-
horse, four-wheeled wagon in which to move their wives,
children and household goods,, and they could drive
their pigs and cattle to the new home. The man would
girdle a few acres of trees and start a new plantation,
perhaps a little richer and better than the former worn-
out garden spot At one time I think as many as a
hundred of these "squatters" were living on my land.

In the fall of 1880 my former partner, E. H. Hub-

152 REMINISCENCES

bard, returned to Escambia and spent the winter with
me. His eldest daughter, Mary, was born at my house.
I had an option on some thirty-five thousand acres of
pine land at seventy cents per acre. This land lay on,
and tributary to the Canuch River, and was covered
with very large pine trees. Mr. Hubbard had two
brothers in New Mexico raising sheep, and about this
time they sold out ; their names were John Q. and How
ard Hubbard. The mill property at Escambia still be
longed to my father-in-law and I urged them very
strongly to look at this pine land and buy it. If they
preferred I would let them have the mill at Escambia
and I would go somewhere else, but the three brothers
decided to go to Mobile and embark in the lumber busi
ness there. Later this land was sold to a syndicate of
Wisconsin men — a Mr. Wharton and others. After
wards Mr. Wharton offered the land to me at $2 per
acre, and he finally sold it to a Mr. Peters, who made
a fortune out of it, and then sold it to Mr. F. C. Brent
and others, who have also made a great deal of money
from it.

CHAPTER XII.

POLITICAL VENTUBES.

In 1882 an incident occurred at the City Hotel in
Pensacola which I think had considerable to do with
my entering into politics. At that time my wife was in
Newton, Mass., boarding, and my son was attending
Yale college. I therefore found it rather lonesome at
Escambia, and would frequently come into Pensacola
on Saturday nights and stay over Sunday. One Satur
day night I was standing by the counter in the office of
the City Hotel. It was a little after the time the train
arrived from the north, and there was an unusual num
ber of people in the office at the time. I heard a tall,
six-footer who was standing by me inquire of the clerk
if Mr. Skinner was in town. The clerk replied : "That
is Mr. Skinner standing by you." It occurred to me
that very likely the man wished to buy a cargo of lum
ber. He turned to me and said: "Mr. Skinner, my
name is Mr. Knowles." I rejoined: "Mr. Knowles, I
am glad to meet you." He then said: "Did you send
such-and-such a message to me at the depot?" I re
plied, "I sent such a message to a man there who re
fused to deliver my freight to my drayman." He said,
"I am that person, and I consider your message a direct
insult." I remarked, "A man who does not wish to be
insulted should not offer insults," and turned around,
as much as to say that that ended the conversation.
Suddenly I felt my hat knocked off my head ; then in a

153

154: REMINISCENCES

flash I struck the stranger in the face. Probably the
blow dazed him a little. I watched him for a few min
utes to see what he would do next. I stood there with
my thumbs in the arm-holes of my vest, awaiting the
next act on the programme. My antagonist worked
himself through the crowd to the farther corner of the
room, leaving me in the center, between him and the
door, when he drew a revolver from his pocket, and
pointing the weapon at me, said: "Get down on your
knees and apologize to me, or I will shoot you." I fully
believed he would. I was taken entirely by surprise.
The crowd sought safety through the doors of the office.
I think what I did was without forethought. Walking
directly towards him I grabbed the pistol, at the same
time Byron Dunwiddy seized him and took his pistol
away, then letting him go. The man hurried out of
sight as fast as possible. I was unarmed and up to this
time was not angry and I did not know where Knowles
had gone. I tried to borrow a revolver, but it appeared
all were without, or would not lend one to me, and the
stores which sold firearms were all closed. By this time
I became very angry ; probably if I had secured a wea
pon and met Knowles I would have done something for
which I ever afterwards would have been sorry. I re
mained in town Sunday and Monday looking for
Knowles, but saw nothing of that gentleman. When I
had last seen him the blood was running down his face.
I have since heard that he kept out of sight till his face
healed.

Monday a stranger met me in the office of the hotel
and said : "Mr. Skinner, I saw that attack on you Satur
day night, and I think you are the bravest man I ever
saw." I replied, "I was pretty badly scared, but I did

POLITICAL VENTUBES 155

not know what else to do." Mr. S. S. Harvey met me
that day and said : "Nobody will ever attack you in this
country again." It is my own opinion that when a man
is in danger of being killed by another man he can't
tell what his legs will do with him, whether they will
carry him away from the danger, or carry him towards
it. I learned later that Mr. Knowles, knowing my habit
of coming into town Saturday nights, had invited his

acquaintances to the hotel to see him "make the d d

yankee run." The man who told me of his being in
vited to see the show, said that he told Knowles he
might be making a mistake, saying, "You can't tell
sometimes what those yankees will do when you get
them in a tight place."

Soon after this I was approached by some of the lead
ing republicans of Pensacola and asked to run for con
gress. I told them I did not think there was any chance
to elect a republican, but they finally convinced me that
there was a good one. It seems there was a majority
of whites and negroes at that time in the First Congres
sional District of Florida who voted the republican
ticket. We had heard that there was a move in what
was known as the "black belt" of Florida to run one
Daniel McKinnon as an independent The democratic
candidate was a Mr. Davidson, who was known in Flor
ida as "the funeral member" of congress. He was a
pleasant gentleman without much force of character,
who was invariably appointed by the speaker of the
house, as one of the committee to escort the body of a
deceased member of congress to his former home.

The first congressional district of Florida comprised
all the counties bordering on the gulf from Perdido
River on the west to Key West on the south, together

156 REMINISCENCES

with some of the inland counties. It was over six hun
dred miles long. A republican convention was to be
held at Quincy, Fla., August 24th to nominate a can
didate. The county convention to elect delegates to the
congressional convention was held some two weeks pre
vious to that date. About the 12th or 13th of that
month I was in Pensacola to spend Sunday, as usual,
when Dr. White, the quarantine physician, said to me :
"After dinner we are going up to examine that case in
the hospital on East Hill, to find out whether the party
has yellow fever, or not." I said : "Let me know when
you get back." About three o'clock I met the doctor
in the office of the City Hotel and asked him: "What
did you decide about that case?" He replied: "It is
yellow fever ; we are going to put up the yellow flag for
Pensacola tomorrow." At that date yellow fever was
supposed to be infectious. I said to Dr. White : "Have
you changed your clothes since you went there?" He
answered: "No; no one pays me to do that." I said
"Good day," and went home to Escambia. At that time
there was no railroad from Pensacola to Tallahassee,
though the Pensacola & Atlantic R. R. was building.
The usual route was to Montgomery, then the Georgia
Central to Columbus, Ga., and from there via Way cross
and Jacksonville. When our delegation arrived at
Montgomery the authorities notified us that Montgomery
had quarantined against Pensacola and they would not
permit our delegation to get off the cars there. They put
us in a passenger car and ran us through the town to a
place where they kept us, till the train for Atlanta
should arrive. We left that train at Eufala, and went
from there to Macon, and from Macon to Jacksonville.
The cars were very hot and dusty. We were very tired

POLITICAL VENTURES 157

when we reached the city and went to the hotel, con
gratulating ourselves that we had beaten the yellow
fever scare. I had been in my room about long enough
to take a bath when I heard a knock at the door. I
opened it and a gentleman stood there who announced
himself as the quarantine doctor of Jacksonville. He
asked me if I did not know that Jacksonville had quar
antined against Pensacola. I replied that I did not
live in that city; he asked me why I registered from
there and I rejoined that I lived near that place, in a
small village not much known abroad, and when far
from home I usually registered as from Pensacola.
He asked, "Where is Col. Tarble ? He is mayor of that
city, is he not?" I said, "Yes," and showed him the
colonel's room. The latter gentleman tried to argue
with him. He said there was no fever in Pensacola,
that but one case had been developed. After combating
the officiaPs arguments for a considerable time we con
vinced him that we were not very dangerous. He
wanted to know where we were going, to which we re-
plied that we were going to Quincy on the 4 p. m. train
that afternoon. He said, "I think you are all right, but
I will order you to leave on the four o'clock train this
afternoon."

This quarantine business along the gulf coast against
yellow fever is the most foolish, senseless and tyrannical
exercise of one-man power that it has ever been my per
sonal experience to suffer. It is a most senseless ex
hibition of fear, a most tyrannical interference with the
liberty of the individual, causing him great trouble,
annoyance and expense. We took the train that even
ing for Quincy. Fearing our party might have diffi
culty in finding hotel accommodations at Quincy, CoL

158 REMINISCENCES

Tarble and I stopped off and stayed over night at Talla
hassee. The next morning the colonel and I went to
that place. It was considered politic for our party not
to announce my candidacy for the nomination, and I
had little or nothing to do with arranging for the con
vention the next day, but Col. Tarble and the rest of
the delegation were kept very busy. They satisfied
themselves that we could control the convention.

I had never witnessed a political convention com
posed largely of negroes, but had presumed they would
behave very much like white folks under similar cir
cumstances. When the convention organized the next
day the negroes displayed racial characteristics, which
I had not suspected them to possess. It appeared that
nearly every negro in the convention wished to speak at
the same time. Some of them were quite good orators,
using fair arguments and good logic. Most of the talk
ing was done by those who supported the independent
candidate, McKinnon. This man had served a number
of terms in the Florida legislature, was a rabid democrat,
and had caused to be placed on the statute book of the
state several laws showing unkindly feelings towards
the negroes. I thought for a time they would all be
mixed up in a promiscuous fight I was not aware at
that time that the negro did so much talking before
fighting. The greater part of the negroes in this con
vention were preachers, who made politics and religion
their principal occupation; one of them would talk
himself tired and then another would take the platform
and howl with all the eloquence he could command,
then sit down exhausted, giving the floor to a third ora
tor, and so on until their energy had been expended.

George Washington Witherspoon was a fine orator, a

POLITICAL, VENTURES 159

preacher and the last congressional candidate on the re
publican ticket in the district. He had consumed much
of the time of the convention in explaining his conduct
for the last two years and soliciting a renomination,
but becoming convinced that he could not succeed, he
came to Col. Tarble and wished to know whom West
Florida was supporting, promising that he would give
the colonel what influence he had and support his can
didate. When informed, he asked to be introduced to
me, and then said that he had hoped to be nominated
himself, but was convinced that it was impossible, so if
I would agree to it, he would make a speech to the con
vention nominating me. I gave my consent and he
arose and spoke for nearly half an hour very eloquently,
extolling my qualifications for the honor and announced
my name. This was the first intimation the McKin-
nonites had as to who was the dark horse. They had
confidence that they could nominate their own man, so
they consented to an immediate ballot and it was taken.
The result showed that I had two-thirds of the conven
tion, and was declared the nominee. Then there was
pandemonium in the convention hall ; all the McKinnon
delegates wanted to express their indignation and dis
appointment; they had evidently over-estimated their
strength. One big, fat negro from Tallahassee lay
down at full length on the secretary's table and called
for some one to stick a knife in him. This negro was
postmaster at Tallahassee, and was afterwards proven
a defaulter to the postoffice department The McKin
non supporters openly made the charge that I had
bought the convention. Col. Tarble, John Eagan and
others returned to Tallahassee, where we organized a
campaign committee. Ex-U. S. Senator Conover, who

160 REMINISCENCES

had been a prominent republican politician in the state
of Florida, was at the convention and became my active
supporter, as did numerous other politicians.

I had arranged to go north in a few weeks to visit
my wife and son, which I did as soon as the preliminary
arrangements for the campaign were made. I was ad
vised to get a good rousing speaker from the north to
help me stump the district. I was also advised to leave
a couple of thousand dollars with the treasurer of the
congressional committee, to be used in lubricating the
republican congressional machinery.

At the Quincy convention the McKinnon negro dele
gates had appeared to have an enmity against Mr. Cono-
ver. When he attempted to speak they made an attack
on him and drove him from the hall. The day before
the convention Col. Tarble was talking with McKinnon.
The colonel was a conspicuous-looking man who would
be noticed in any crowd. Half a dozen negroes came
up to him and asked if he was collector of the Port of
Pensacola and he replied that he was. They said that
they were delegates to the convention and had not had
anything to eat that day. The colonel said : "You prob
ably are McKinnon delegates; he will give you money
to get something to eat." McKinnon told them that he
had no money to give away and that he would not give
them anything. Tarble told them to wait a minute
while he stepped into a grocery and got a twenty dollar
gold piece changed into silver dollars. When he re
turned he threw each of them a dollar and told them
to go and get something to eat" He added that he did
not give them the money to buy their votes, but that he
did not like to see men go hungry ; that when they got
hungry again to come and see him. He knew they

POLITICAL, VENTURES 161

would be hungry before the opening of the convention
the next day, and sure enough they presented themselves
for a hand-out the next morning, and informed the
colonel that they would vote as he did ; that they liked
his kind of politics.

John Eagan was elected chairman of the convention.
He was a good presiding officer and understood his
business; he was also from Pensacola and was one of
my supporters. At one time the convention did not
like his rulings and half a dozen negroes rose to ex
postulate. A one-armed negro from Tallahassee picked
up a heavy chair in his right hand and made as though
he would knock Eagan over the head with it. Col. Tar-
ble jumped up and swung a big, heavy cane which he
always carried, shouting "sit down." The negroes sat
down as though they had been shot.

When Col. Tarble with his delegates from Pensacola
arrived at Quincy from Jacksonville, ex-governor
Stearns, who lived in Quincy, caused a meeting of the
board of health to be called, to have those delegates ex
cluded from the village. Col. Tarble attended the meet
ing of the board of health and told the gentlemen that
there was only one case of sickness in Pensacola when
they left, and that none of the delegates with him had
been exposed to yellow fever. Turning to Stearns, he
said : "You can drive us out of town into the woods if
you want to, but I shall take the convention to the
woods with me if I go there." He then said : "Gentle
men, you know what the governor of North Carolina
said to the governor of South Carolina!" The mem
bers of the board admitted that they did not know*
"Well, he said, 'Gentlemen, it is time to go and take a

162 REMINISCENCES

drink/ " The colonel furnished several drinks, and
heard nothing further about leaving town.

After getting all the campaign machinery in order I
went directly to Portland, Me., where my wife and son
had preceded me. While in Portland I made the ac
quaintance of Mr. Neal Dow, son of his father, the
great temperance reformer in Maine before the civil
war — he was afterward appointed a general in the fed
eral army, and was at one time in command of federal
forces at Pensacola. The son was an expert in politics
and told me how they did things in Maine. He gave
me a good deal of information in regard to running a
campaign. In answer to my inquiry he recommended
to me, an orator who would fill my requirements, a
young man by the name of Loony. This gentleman
was an Irish Catholic, and from the accounts given me
must have "kissed the blarney stone" before leaving the
emerald isle. I went to see Loony and found him a
pleasant fellow. He told me he was twenty-eight years
old, that he had never uttered an oath, nor used tobacco,
nor tasted liquor, nor ever gambled. I said to him,
"Mr. Loony, you are certainly a very remarkable young
man, but let me tell you that during the last ten years
you have lost a heap of fun."

I wrote to Senator Sawyer of Wisconsin, informing
him that I was the republican candidate for congress
in my district, and asking him to send me letters of
introduction to the secretary of the congressional com
mittee and such other persons in Washington as in his
opinion would assist me, which he kindly did. He
sent me letters of introduction to the secretary of the
treasury and the secretary of the post office department ;
also to the secretary of the congressional committee.

POLITICAL VENTURES 163

It is customary every two years when a new congress
is elected for the republican members of the expiring
congress to appoint a committee to help the election
of republican candidates in close districts. George C.
Grorham was secretary of this committee, and its exec
utive officer. Senator Sawyer's letters were very cor
dial and endorsed me in unstinted terms.

On my return to Tallahassee I stopped in Washing
ton to see parties to whom I had letters of introduction.
Calling on Mr. Gorham I gave him my name. At first
I did not present my letter. He said that he had heard
about me, and that some charges had been made against
me. I talked a little while to him then presented Sena
tor Sawyer's letter. After reading this he said: "Mr.
Skinner, you are all right ; this letter of introduction is
as good as if it had come from Gen. Grant." He then
pulled open a drawer in his desk and took from it a long
letter written by a negro named Fortune, who lived in
New York City and imagined himself a great leader
of his race. The letter was full of ridiculous state
ments, proving that neither the writer nor his informer
knew anything about me. In fact up to that time I
had no particular political record, not having meddled
in the politics of Florida at all, but had devoted myself
since coming to the state exclusively to the lumber busi
ness. I had tried to build up a good trade and to make
some money.

I had arranged with Mr. Loony that if I should want
him to come and stump the state with me, I was to
write him and he would come. When I returned to
Tallahassee I did not find things in a satisfactory con
dition. I could see but little hope for my election, with
such division. We could succeed only with a united

164 REMINISCENCES

party. I found McKinnon running as an independent
candidate, supported by Stearns and his influence. It
had become a belief, with many of the republicans of
the state, that they could be more successful in electing
a candidate who was an out-and-out democrat and who
would run as an independent. This scheme was tried
several times, both in state and congressional campaigns,
but in every instance proved a complete failure. Stearns
had been captain in the federal army, was left in Flor
ida at the close of the war, and then engaged in "carpet
bag77 politics. He was elected lieutenant governor of
the state on the republican ticket; the governor died
and he succeeded to that position. He was then nom
inated to succeed himself, the year that Tilden and
Hayes ran for the presidency. In the scuffle to secure
sufficient electoral votes to give Hayes a majority over
Tilden in the electoral college, the state government was
given to the democrats and the electoral votes to the
republicans. Then Stearns joined a man by the name
of Martin and settled down in a general store in Quin-
cy. They controlled every negro vote in G-adsden coun
ty, and had great influence with the negroes in Leon,
Jefferson and Jackson counties. I thought I would go
and interview Stearns, and see what was the trouble
with him. I soon found out. He told me if I would
promise him a consulship he would support me with all
his influence. I replied that I had no consulship to
give anyone; that I could not promise him something
that I did not have the right to give ; that I was not a
politician, nor did I understand how to play the game
of politics ; that I should not place myself under obliga
tions to anyone, which would not leave me free to act

POLITICAL VENTURES 165

rightly. We failed to come to an understanding. I had
no idea how many votes he controlled.

Yellow fever had become very severe in Pensacola,
and this fact hampered me greatly in canvassing the
District. It looked as though the coming congress would
be republican without doubt. The democrats in certain
sections would resort to their old tactics of intimidation,
stuffing ballot boxes and cheating in the count The
probabilities were that the contest between Davidson
and myself would be close, that the certificate of elec
tion might be given to him, and that I might have to
contest the seat in the house; that a republican con
gress would unseat him, giving it to me.

It was never my disposition to enter a contest and
give it up without a thorough trial, so I told the "boys"
that, having accepted the nomination, I would see the
thing through. It appeared that there was no way of
estimating the number of votes McKinnon could get
from the negroes; we all felt certain that he would
get no democratic votes. I found that the two thousand
dollars which I had left with the treasurer of the con
gressional district committee had disappeared, and that
he could give no lucid explanation of what he had done
with it. I concluded that thereafter I would disburse
my own cash; which I did. Of course under the cir
cumstances I had no great hope of success. We had
meetings in the counties mentioned, the audiences being
composed mostly of negroes. In Leon county we had
many political meetings after dark, in the rural dis
tricts, as most of the negroes worked on the plantations,
and their masters objected to their leaving their work
to attend political meetings. I had a good chance now
to study the negro in politics.

166 BEMINISCENCES

When I came back from Washington, a meeting of
the congressional committee was held, and I was in
formed that it would be impossible for me to use With-
erspoon in stumping the district, as he had been charged
in the public prints in Washington with getting two
hundred dollars from the negro postmaster at Talla
hassee, which he claimed to have paid to Fred Douglas
and Lynch of Mississippi. When I asked Witherspoon,
who was present, how this was, he said that the man
wanted to be appointed postmaster; that he had gone
to Douglas and Lynch, who were the foremost men of
their race in Washington, and they told him that they
must each have one hundred dollars before they would
agree to help him. He then wrote the postmaster ex
plaining the situation and that the latter took two hun
dred dollars of the post office funds and sent the same
to him, which amount was paid over to Douglas and
Lynch, one hundred dollars each. When later it was
discovered that the postmaster was short in his accounts,
he told the detective that he had sent the money to
Witherspoon. It seems that Douglas and Lynch had
published a card in a Washington paper denying that
they had ever received any money from Witherspoon,
stating further that they did not know him. Wither
spoon, turning to me, said: "Do you suppose that I
would go to Washington and spend a year and a half
there, striving to get a seat in congress to which I had
been elected, but cheated out of by the democrats, and
not make the acquaintance of Douglas and Lynch, who
both lived there?" I replied that it did not seem to
me probable. J. S. Curry, a treasury agent and an in
spector of customs, who was in the room, listening to
the conversation, here interjected the remark: "The

POLITICAL VENTURES 167

last time I was in Washington I saw you and Fred
Douglas riding together in the same carriage." I then
said: "The card of Douglas and Lynch will have no
effect in prejudicing me against you, their statements
are evidently false."

I found Mr. Witherspoon to be an eloquent speaker,
and very intelligent for a negro. He was capable of
arousing his race to great enthusiasm. He traveled
with me while we were stumping the district and we
usually spoke to the same audiences. I remember that
at one time we went on a trip to Carabelle and Apala-
chicola, where we had rousing meetings. Returning
on the steamer he sat down to eat with the white pas
sengers, and quite a scene was created by the boat's
crew making him leave the table and go to the lower
deck. He was very dignified and peaceable about it,
and the affair passed off without further trouble.

Mr. McKinnon held a meeting in Tallahassee, but
there were not many to hear him, or much enthusiasm.
In the western end of the state — Escambia county in
particular, Col. Tarble attended to the canvass. He
stayed manfully, however, to the office he held, mayor
of Pensacola, and U. S. collector of the port.

Yellow fever was the worst that year in Pensacola
that it had ever been, or has ever been since. The col
onel's son died of it ; he had refused to leave his father ;
was a promising young man of about eighteen years,
and was mourned and regretted by the whole popula
tion of Pensacola. The colonel managed the canvass
so well in Escambia county that I received six hundred
majority there over Davidson, McKinnon receiving no
votes. In Gadsden county, in which Stearns lived, I
received seven votes. McKinnon received about one-

168 EEMINISCENCES

third of the negro vote in Leon and Jefferson counties,
and one-quarter of the votes in Jackson county; he re
ceived a little over three thousand votes in all. It was
the opinion of every man with whom I conversed, that
McKinnon received no democratic votes whatever; he
polled no votes except negro votes, which but for his can
didacy would have been cast for me. McKinnon' s vote
and mine were a majority of those cast The democrats
resorted to fraud in only a few counties.

Davidson said he had had a hard task to beat two
men, but with his opponents, votes were not strength,
because they were so divided. About the only satisfac
tion that I had out of this canvass was the complimen
tary vote I received where I was known. I had then
lived in Escambia about eight years, and in the precinct
of Ferry Pass where I lived I received nearly the whole
vote ; some fifteen or eighteen refugees from yellow fe
ver in Pensacola illegally voted in the precinct against
me, by swearing in their votes.

I had expended about five thousand dollars as costs
of that canvass, and there was little satisfaction in the
way it had been expended. I published a newspaper
at Tallahassee, but I learned that most of the copies
which circulated through the mails, were destroyed by
a couple of postal-route agents. I had the satisfaction,
later, of having those agents removed. I wis asked to
do many favors in the post office department, by getting
postmasters and postal agents appointed. This annoyed
me considerably, yet I was foolish enough to go on the
bonds of several negro postmasters.

I carried the campaign no farther south than Cedar
Keys. Undoubtedly if I had gone through the southern
counties I could have increased my vote considerably,

POLITICAL VENTURES 169

but I realized that my whole hope of election depended
upon pacifying and uniting the republican vote in the
black counties before mentioned. Stearns was resolved
to control me politically or defeat me ; he succeeded in
doing the latter.

CHAPTEK XIII.

M'DAVID BROTHERS AS PARTNERS.

In the summer of 1882, I had considerable logging
done on the Choctawhatchee River. I had about ten
thousand logs in my boom at the mouth of that river,
when a tidal wave occurred in the Choctawhatchee Bay.
It entered the river and forced the current so far that
it carried the logs up several miles. When the wave
receded, it made so strong a current down the river
that the logs piled up against the boom, broke it, and
they went out into the bay. I sent men and a tug to
pick up the logs and secure them; they succeeded in
getting about half of them in a bayou opening into the
river below Freeport. I employed another tug to go to
Choctawhatchee to do my towing. It was commanded
by a Captain Leonard. The year before I had unfor
tunately incurred his enmity, and he did much to my
injury. A Dr. McLane had chartered this boat to
transport the machinery for a sawmill from Pensacola
to Point Washington at the head of Choctawhatchee
Bay. It was an old side wheel river steamer. We
started out some time in the afternoon, the doctor and
his wife being aboard when I took passage. We had
a most enjoyable trip until late in the evening, when
we all went to bed. It was after sunrise when I arose,
and I found the boat aground in the narrows, every
one of the crew being drunk and asleep except the en
gineer. I was unable to arouse the cook, who was in a

170

M'DAVID BROTHERS AS PARTNERS 171

drunken stupor in the galley. Along towards noon the
Captain awoke and went to get another drink to straight
en himself out; he found no whiskey left in the two
gallon jug. I had poured it out. He asked me if I
had taken it and I told him that he and his men drank
it all themselves. He said if he knew that I had taken
it he would put me ashore on that island. His "hair
pulled" badly all the rest of the day so that the doctor,
his wife and I had rather a lonesome time. A little
after noon the cook awoke and brought us something to
eat, after which we felt happier. We arrived at Point
Washington that night and the second day the "Iberia"
started back with a tow of logs for me. I went with
them and the journey was without incident until we had
reached the wide part of Santa Rosa sound. The wind
which had been fresh all day, was dead ahead and in
creased to a gale by evening. Our boat was nearly
powerless against it. The Captain put out the big an
chor and hung to it, working the engines at the same
time to keep from dragging it. The Captain was in
such a rage at the weather, he would go to the bow of
the boat, where the wind would blow the water in his
face, shake his fist at the gale and swear like a pirate,
cursing everybody and everything. He gave the most
picturesque exhibition of profanity to which I had ever
listened. This man was six feet tall, over forty years
of age, with blue eyes, light hair and possessed of a
wiry frame; he had a daring and reckless temperament.
During the civil war, he had been employed by the
federals in Mobile Bay as a pilot, and had been cap
tured by the confederates just before Admiral Farragut
entered the harbor. Tried by a court martial as a spy,

172 BEMINISCENCES

he was sentenced to be hung the next day, but was re
captured by the federals just in time to save his neck.

The next trip Leonard made to Choctawhatchee my
man at the boom gave him another tow of logs to bring
to my mill. Instead of delivering them as directed, he
delivered them to George Wright. This was a sample
of the many things Captain Leonard did to injure me.
I found such a bad set of rascals at Choctawhatchee that
I gave up logging in that locality, and turned my atten
tion to Escambia River.

That fall I became acquainted with John McDavid,
who with his brothers owned about fifteen thousand
acres of land in Santa Rosa county. He offered to sell
me their lands at fifty cents an acre. I do not know
why I did not buy them but I think it was because I
disliked running in debt. I had always been very care
ful not to place myself in a position where some other
man could make me do what I did not want to. After
some negotiations we agreed to enter into a partnership.
There were six of the McDavids. We agreed to buy
Mr. Hubbard's interest in the mill. The combined Mc
Davids were to own one-half and I the other half inter
est in the company. They were to put in their lands,
and I was to put in what lands I had. At that time
I could have closed out my business and netted fifty
thousand dollars as a result of ten years' business and
labor in Florida,

I considered it necessary to go to Oshkosh in order
to see Mr. Hubbard and make a trade for the mill. I
made him a proposition to pay him the purchase price
of the property, but he did not seem to wish to sell it.
I told him I would as soon go somewhere else and build
another mill, but I wanted to see him get back the

M'DAVID BROTHERS AS PABTNEBS 173

money which he had put into the property. After about
a week's delay he informed me that he would do as I
wished, and he deeded the mill, with the pine lands be
longing to it, to the new firm. Our lands were located
mostly along the river, some so far from it as to make
the hauling of the logs by oxen too expensive to be
profitable.

About this time there was a good deal of experiment
ing in Florida seeking to find a cheaper and better way
for transporting logs a long distance to water. One
of the means tried had been a tramway, but the wooden
rails soon wore out. Another had been, to build a pole
road, laying small trees on the ground, using concave
wheels that would straddle the pole, but such roads
lasted only a short time.

I concluded I would go to Michigan and see what they
were doing there in the way of hauling logs. I went to
Grand Rapids and there made the acquaintance of a
Mr. Belknap who was engaged in manufacturing sup
plies for the logging business. While I was talking to
him one time, a man came in and Mr. B. introduced
us. We soon began discussing the subject in question.
I spoke of the tramway and the pole road; also other
methods used in our section, but he replied : "We have
been through all these experiments up here and I tell
you there is but one way to haul logs economically, and
that is on a railroad." After some further talk I prom
ised to come up to Lake Cadillac and look at some nar
row-gauge railroads in that locality, used for hauling
logs. I did so and the sight was convincing. As a re
sult I bought in Chicago six miles of steel rail of S. D.
Kimbark, contracted to have a locomotive made by
the Lima Machine works, and engaged George Randall

174: REMINISCENCES

to survey the road and superintend its construction.
Randall I had known in Geddesburg, Michigan, when
he was a boy, at the time I was working there on a paper
mill. Later he came to Oshkosh and was engineer of
the Green Bay & Lake Pepin R. R. He was also en
gineer 011 the Fox River canal.

Under our articles of copartnership John McDavid
was to give his time and service to the company; later
he wished to give his time to the McMillan Mill Com
pany, and suggested that I secure anyone I wished to
take his place and he would pay his salary. I sent for
my brother, La Fayette, who was then living in Ne-
waygo, Mich., and we began the construction of the
road at the river, on the west side of Bonal Island,
which is an island in Escambia River. That fall and
winter we built five miles of road in a north-easterly di
rection. After being on the line three or four months
Randall became homesick and despondent, and wished
to go home. We consented to his doing so. My brother
had charge of the business at Chumuckla, this being
the name I had given to the terminus of the road.

CHAPTER XIV.

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY.

In the Spring of 1884 I started from Pensacola to
my home in Escambia, when stepping into my buggy
at the station, I saw a tall, athletic looking young man
walking ahead of me; I took him to be a Scotchman,
more from the color of his hair than anything else.
Overtaking him I asked him where he was going, and
he replied : "To Ferry Pass, to learn how hewn timber
is inspected." I informed him that he would find no
place there to remain overnight and invited him to stop
at my house. I also said that I had several rafts of
hewn timber being inspected at Ferry Pass, that I was
going there in the morning with my tug, and that I
would take him along and drop him on the rafts as I
went by, on the way to my log booms. He accepted
my invitation, and during the evening entertained us
very much by relating his experiences since coming to
America, which were some of them quite amusing. It
seems that when he landed in New York he was en
tirely ignorant of the English language. A relative
of his living in New York put him on board a train
coming to Chicago, but he could only make his wants
known to someone who understood German. He was
afraid to leave the car, lest he should be left, so he
went through to Milwaukee without anything to eat,
only getting out of the car at Chicago. Reaching his
destination, he secured employment with a German

175

176 REMINISCENCES

store-keeper, and there he learned a smattering of Eng
lish. Then he went to Moss Point, Mississippi, in order
to learn how to inspect lumber, and was then returning
to his home in Germany.

The next morning I took the young gentleman, whose
name was Schreyer, to Ferry Pass, introduced him to
the inspector, left him on the raft while I went on
my way. After a couple of hours' absence I returned,
took him aboard and went back to the mill, where I
bade him goodbye, not expecting to see him again. In
perhaps an hour I was surprised at his re-entering my
office. He said: "Mr. Skinner, I have been down on
your wharf looking at your lumber. I like it very
much and I should like to sell for you in Germany
if you would let me." I replied : "But, Mr. Schreyer,
I don't know anything about you; I should have to
know you pretty well before I could let you do that."
After some farther consideration I invited him to spend
another night with me and talk the matter over. Dur
ing the evening he told me that his father, brother and
himself were in the lumber business in Hildesheim,
Germany, having a lumber yard there, which handled
Baltic woods, and that they wished to handle pitch pine
also. He invited me to come to Germany and visit
them, and learn about their standing. He left the fol
lowing morning, saying that he would write me when
he got home. When this trip to Germany was men
tioned my wife became very much interested, and asked
many questions of Mr. Schreyer. I did not place much
importance to the talk, but some three weeks later I
received a letter from Mr. Schreyer urging me to visit
him, see his father and brother; also stating again his
wish to sell our lumber; he suggested, too the line of

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY 177

steamers I would find it advisable to take. After this
my wife asked occasionally when I was going to Ger
many but finally I said I was not going. She then
went to Oshkosh and I went to Boston. While there I
went into the office of the North German Lloyd Steam
ship Company, and found that one of the best state
rooms of the steamer "Werra" was not taken. I en
gaged it and telegraphed my wife at Oshkosh, that if
she wanted to go to Germany she must be in New
York the following Monday.

We sailed Tuesday and had as pleasant a trip across
the ocean as one can make. The sea was smooth as a
lake all the way over. We were landed at Bremen
Haven in the rain at night, and immediately took the
train for Bremen. We went to the hotel which we had
selected, and met all the manners due royalty, never
theless, "they were very sorry, but they were full."
We found accommodations, however, at another hotel.
The next morning Mr. Schreyer called and we went
with him to Hildesheim. We spent about a week at
this place and found it very quaint and interesting.
At one time it had been a walled city. The walls,
however, had been torn down and the ground once oc
cupied by them had been made into a park. Some of
the houses of the old town were five or six stories high,
each story projecting into the street farther than the
one below it. I remember seeing while at this place,
a woman and a dog hitched together to a cart, haul
ing a load of some kind. I also recollect going to a
church claimed to have been built by Charlemagne;
beside it grew a rosebush as old as the church itself.
There were exhibited to us the vestments of the priests
of the cathedral, ornamented with gold, very rich and

178 REMINISCENCES

handsome. We were also taken through the wine cel
lar, where we walked long distances between casks of
wine, and were asked to sample as many kinds as we
would like. At the time of our visit this wine cellar
belonged to private parties who used it to store wines,
but in olden times it had belonged to the cathedral and
used for storing wines for the priests. There was
an entrance to the cellar from the rear of the pulpit,
through which the priests could retire to refresh them
selves, after the arduous duties of their profession.

Mr. Schreyer was visiting us one evening, after we
had been a week in Hildesheim, when Mrs. Skinner re
marked that she would like to take a trip through Ger
many. I said I would not travel where I could
not make my wants known and understood. Mr.
Schreyer asked Mrs. Skinner where she would like to
go; she named the points she wished to visit, and he
replied that he also wished to see these places, and if
his father would give him permission that he would
make the journey with us. I told him if he would go
with us, that I would pay his expenses, but he re
sponded: "If I go I pay my own expenses and you
pay yours." I mention this incident to show the dif
ference between the customs of Germany and of the
United States. The German pays his own way and
thinks it belittles him to accept a treat,

I had by this time agreed with Mr. Schreyer to let
him act as my agent in selling lumber and timber, all
sales to be subject to my approval before closing.

The German country was new to me; I had never
seen agricultural districts where the landscape appeared
so finished. The country around Hildesheim and north
of there is a fine locality for raising the sugar beet, and

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY 179

sugar beet factories were a common sight. On the
outside of the old wall is built the modern part of
the city, which contains many fine residences. The
Hartz Mountains are in view from the city.

We journeyed from Hildesheim to Nuremburg, which
still retains all of its fortified walls. Inside the
walls the buildings look very much as they did
five hundred years ago. It is the quaintest and
most ancient city that I had ever visited. This journey,
of which I am writing, was made some twenty-one
years ago, and I made no effort at that time to jot
down my impressions. I recollect there was quite a
large stream of water flowing through the city and pass
ing under a stone arch in the city wall, both at its
entrance and its exit. This wall was built of stone,
was perhaps thirty to forty feet thick being thirty to
thirty-five across on top, and I should think, thirty
feet high.

One feature that interested me very much was a castle
built in the corner of this wall. It was occupied often
by the King of Bavaria, but it served principally as
a museum for exhibiting the instruments of torture
used in ancient times in the strife between Protestant
ism and Catholicism. These instruments of torture
were used by the Roman Catholics to compel Protes
tants to recant their belief, or in case they would not,
to put these victims of their religious intolerance to
death. I remember one styled "the holy virgin," which
was built of wood in the form of a woman ; it had
hinges on one side and opened on the other. The inside,
when open, was the shape and space for a human
form. On the front half of this were placed iron spikes,
that, when the door was closed, would pierce the eyes

180 REMINISCENCES

and mouth of the victim. The instrument was shut
by means of a long pole. Another feature in this castle
was a well, said to be three hundred feet deep, which
was designed to supply water to the inmates of the castle
during a siege. I amused myself by dropping pebbles
into the well and noting the time required for them to
reach water and the sound to return to my ears.
It gave one a realization of the depth. There was a
subterranean passage from the castle to the outside of
the wall. I found the study of this ancient fortress ex
tremely interesting.

We went to the home of Albert Durer and saw many
of his art works; also visited a museum filled with
antique articles of virtue; paintings, furniture, old
china, jewels, etc. Nuremberg is the center of the
toy manufacturing of Germany; it is also notable for
its wood carving. We also visited the extensive works
of the Faber Pencil Company, and were escorted
through the manufactory by Johan Faber himself. He
ordered some pencils made in our presence, and then
presented them to us. Adjacent to the town he had
planted a red cedar forest, This tree grows very
rapidly in this section.

We left Nuremberg and went to Munich, the great
art center of Bavaria. We visited the principal art
galleries: the Pinecothek, filled with the paintings of
the old masters, and which contains a large number of
madonnas, Christs, saints, sinners and subjects chiefly
religious. I presume these pictures represent high art,
but I did not admire them greatly, either in subject
or technique. The building called the New Pinecothek
is devoted to works of modern painters and I admire
these much more than I did those in the former gal-

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY 181

lery ; but the works of art which pleased me most were
in another building called the Glypothek which is used
for general art exhibitions. The paintings here were
up to date and according to my mind far superior to
the old. Our stay at Munich was to be so short that
we were able to give but a cursory view to the pic
tures. One of the most noticeable objects in Munich is
the colossal statue of Bavaria, one hundred and seventy
feet high. I remember this great bronze most distinctly,
but I think it was the size rather than its merits as a
work of art which impressed me.

One Sunday we attended The King's Opera House
and heard "Lohengrin" given by his majesty's own
opera troupe. The old ladies who sat in the galleries
were knitting and they were all bonnetless.

It is in this same Bavaria where the celebrated beer
of this name is manufactured. Our stay in this place
was far too brief. One could stay a month or more
in this city as it is certainly very attractive.

From Munich we went to Freiburg, via Augsburg,
Lake Constance and Basle, on the borders of Switzer
land. We did not stop at Lake Constance, but we could
see the lake and the steamboats plying its waters. The
south coast of the lake is very bold ; it is this lake which
is the source of the Rhine. I do not remember that we
stopped at Basle, but I recall a view of the falls in the
river and an iron suspension bridge above them. We
stopped at Freiburg over night, my object being to
visit a Mr. Eivers. A son of this gentleman was em
ployed in my store in Escambia and the young man
had proved so worthy that I looked upon him with
much favor. I had promised him that when in Grer-
many I would intercede with his estranged father in

182 REMINISCENCES

his behalf. The son it seemed had incurred his father's
serious displeasure, but now sought a reconciliation.
Mr. Rivers I found to be absent from town and we met
only the wife and daughters.

There was not much to interest us in Freiburg, ex
cept the cathedral, so the following morning we took
the train for Heidelberg, the next afternoon we took
a carriage to the castle ; arriving at the end of the drive
we were obliged to walk some distance. Seeing a gen
tleman coming down the roadway towards us I re
marked: "I believe that is Mr. Rivers." When he
approached I asked the gentleman if his name were
not Rivers, and he replied that it was. I informed him
that his son was in my employ in America, but he
seemed to have little interest in him. I learned, how
ever, that he was stopping at the same hotel that we
were, so I arranged for an interview with him that
evening. We then left him and continued our way to
the castle. I have seen nothing before or since which
interested me as much as did that old castle. Such a
gigantic, beautiful old ruin! I cannot blame the Ger
mans for hating the French who came into the country
and destroyed this relic of ancient glory. A large por
tion of the castle was ruined by the invaders, but some
of it was in a fair state of preservation.

Heidelberg is situated on the Necker River (a branch
of the Rhine) some twenty miles from its mouth. The
castle is situated on the side of the mountain, and over
looks the town and the river. There had once been a
forest east of the castle but it had been made into a
beautiful park. Inside the castle, one large hall was
used as a museum, and in it were stored many articles
of historic value. From the parapet which was about

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY 183

two hundred feet long and fifty wide, one had a beau
tiful view of the Necker River. In one corner of the
parapet was a circular room, having a roof like an
umbrella ; on a bench within this room we saw a young
lady reading, she looked very romantic amid such sur
roundings. Mr. Schreyer spoke to her in German. She
had recognized us as Americans and said to Mr. S.
that it was not necessary to speak to her in German as
she was from Buffalo, N. Y. She also explained that
she was not feeling very well and so had remained at
the castle while her companions went about Our view
of this old ruin was far too short; I hope sometime to
be able to give it a more satisfactory visit. This castle
is to other castles what the Chicago exposition was to
other fairs. It excelled them all.

The next morning we took the train for Mannheim,
where we were to take the steamer down that most pic
turesque river in the world : the Rhine. Castles to the
right of you, castles to the left of you; history and
legend written on every point of rock, on every moun
tain and forest that we passed.

Landing at Rudesheim, we stayed over night, putting
up at a very pretty little hotel, which was covered with
vines and flowers, and where there were vine em
bowered arbors in which to drink wine. I do not recall
that any other visitors were stopping there at this time.
Above the hotel on the mountain side was situated the
celebrated Niederwald monument of bronze. There was
a cog railroad running from the hotel to the monument.
The hillside about was terraced and planted with grape
vines, for it is here that the celebrated Rudesheimer
wine is made. The railroad also runs through fine
vineyards as it ascends.

184: EEMINISCENCES

As to the monument : The superstructure was about
twenty feet square, upon the top of this was repre
sented a large arm chair, before which stood the gigan
tic but elegant figure of "Germania." One arm was
raised and the hand pointed across the Rhine towards
France. On each side of the superstructure were bas-
reliefs, representing noted Germans, from King Wil
liam down, famous for their connection with the
Franco-Prussian war. All the figures were moulded
from life. On one side is shown the young soldier
leaving his father, mother and sweetheart, for the war,
while on the other side is represented his victorious re
turn. The monument is placed on a narrow flat piece
of ground, situated about half-way up the mountain.
We returned to the hotel for the night ; everything there
was very quiet and pleasant. The moon shone bril
liantly, the wine was delicious. One could sit in the
moonlight enjoying the inspiration of a good cigar and
dream of the golden legends which seemed floating in
the air.

A little farther down was Bingen — "Fair Bingen on
the Rhine." I believe that I never enjoyed a journey
so much as this delightful trip down the river. I doubt
if there is another locality in the world, possessing so
much of legend, romance and history as the borders of
the Rhine above Cologne.

We visited the fortress of Ehrenberestein, which is
regarded as the Gibraltar of the Rhine. It is garri
soned by many thousand soldiers and provisioned for
many years. It looked to me to be wholly impreg
nable.

At Cologne the most important feature was the cathe
dral, the spires of which, towering to the great height

OUR TKIP TO GEBMANY 185

of five hundred and twelve feet, one sees before reach
ing the city. It is the most stupendous Gothic struc
ture in the world, and required over six hundred years
to build. It was planned and building commenced two
hundred and fifty years before Columbus sailed to
America. This beautiful specimen of architecture is
the glory of Cologne. As we entered the mammoth
structure, some sort of religious service was taking
place. We remained some time admiring the grandeur
and beauty of the vast interior.

The next day we took the train for Dusseldorf, this
city being another art center of Germany. While there
I witnessed the unloading of several regiments of sol
diers from the cars. I saw these men march later
through the streets. I was impressed by their quick,
springy step, and felt that anything in their way would
have to step aside or be run over. We visited the art
school and also witnessed the entrance into the city
of the Crown Prince Frederick and his son, Prince
Henry. We were in an open carriage and as the prince
and his retinue drove by, Mr. Schreyer startled me by
rising to his feet and uttering a horrible howl. For a
moment I thought he had lost his senses, but no, it was
intended to be a good American cheer given in Ger
man.

The river below Dusseldorf runs through a flat
country which is not so interesting, so we took the train
for Amsterdam, arriving there after dark. We decided
to stop at the hotel Amsdel. While walking from the
station, carrying my luggage, a man came up and took
hold of my satchel ; I told him in good vigorous Amer
ican to let go, but he hung on. I drew my right hand
back and planted a blow between his eyes ; then he let

186 REMINISCENCES

go. Schreyer was much alarmed lest the police run me
in, but I heard no more of the incident.

When we arrived at the hotel we could procure no
rooms below the fourth floor; my wife protested that
she could not climb so many stairs, but when she found
it was absolutely necessary she did it. The hotel had
no lift. When the servant came to announce supper
my wife ordered it brought to our room, the servant
said : that if the madame could walk down that the sup
per would be so much better — and she walked.

Amsterdam is a typical Holland city, with streets
for the most part canals. By these, passengers and
freight are transported from one part of the city to
another. There are narrow streets on each side of the
canal, but the liquid avenue is the center. This city
is built on the west arm of the Zuyder Zee. Our stay
was so short that we saw but little of the place, as the
next day we took the train for Delft, passing through
Haarlem and Leyden. I remember that we visited a
church, which was celebrated, though I have forgotten
its historical connection as well as the name. We also
visited the house wherein the Prince of Orange was
assassinated, a mark on the floor showing where the
prince had stood when the assassin presented him with
the pretended petition and then plunged the dagger into
his breast. The house would today be considered of
very mean architecture ; the stairway by which he de
scended from his dressing room to meet his death, was
very narrow, showing how simple was the life of this
great warrior and statesman.

From Delft we took a carriage and drove to Queen
Emma's palace, in the woods, where we greatly admired
the beautiful Linden trees. From there we went to

OUR TRIP TO GERMANY 187

Rotterdam and Dordrecht, the two principal seaports
of the Netherlands. These places are very quaint and
interesting, and to me noticeable because of their wind
sawmills. Each mill had three gang saw frames which
would saw three pieces of timber at once; each was
hung on one-third of the circle and all were propelled
by a huge windmill.

We went from Dordrecht to Antwerp. I remember
visiting the bourse at this place, also seeing the spire
of the cathedral. Two spires had evidently been planned,
but only one completed. I thought it the most beautiful
spire I had ever seen. Antwerp is a great shipping port
and does a large trade in lumber. I afterwards shipped
a great deal of lumber to this place.

Mr. Schreyer left us at this point, returning to Hildes-
heim. After his departure I felt like a child lost
among strangers. We took the train at Antwerp for
Calais; all went well until we arrived at the French
border. I had understood that we could go through
Calais without change of cars, but when we arrived at
the French frontier every one in the cars alighted. I
did not know what to make of it. The guard came to
us several times and said something which we did not
understand, then a lady came and spoke in what my
wife recognized as French, and we at last comprehended
that they wished us to go out of the car, go through the
custom house, and enter a train for Calais. I noted that
the country through which we traveled after this, was
very flat and low ; that the French soldiers were of short
stature and were gaudily dressed. When we arrived at
the boat landing on the pier we found people who could
talk American with a bad brogue which they called

188 KEMINISCENCES

English. We had rather an unpleasant trip across the
channel from Calais to Dover.

We went by rail to London and stopped at the Gros-
venor Hotel, adjoining the Victoria railroad station.
We visited the Kensington museum, where I was highly
entertained. The paintings were largely from the early
English masters; Lely, Benjamin West, Turner and
others ; but what interested me most was the machinery
department which I did not discover until late in the
evening. Stored therein was the first locomotive made
in England ; also a model of the first steamboat built in
that country. I remained in this section until they
began closing for the night. I enjoyed greatly the many
interesting subjects. When we came out i't was raining
a little, I called a hansom and when the cabby closed
the door he asked "Where to?" I replied: "To the
Gross- venor." Cabby said again: "Where?" and I re
peated: "The Gross-venor." Then he called a police
man, who was standing by and asked him: "Can you
tell me where this man wants to go ?" I said once more :
"To the Gross-venor." My wife began to "catch on"
that my pronunciation was at fault, and said to me
"Grove — nor." Then everything was plain to th^ cab
man and he took us to our hotel.

CHAPTER XV.

ENGLISH BROTHERS AND ENGLAND.

I will now go back to the year 1878. I had sold
two cargoes of lumber to be shipped to Sutton Bridge,
in England. In due time a ship appeared to take one
of the cargoes, a fine elderly man by the name of Ingra-
ham was the Captain. I invited him to take dinner
with me Christmas, and he proved to be a genial and
kind hearted gentleman. When he had his cargo aboard
and was ready to sail, he asked me if I would do busi
ness direct with the firm he represented, without the
intervention of commission merchants. He stated that
his employers were very wealthy, that they did an ex
tensive business in lumber; that they had four vessels
of their own; that they received cargoes at Sutton
Bridge and East Lynn on the east coast of England;
and that they had large sawmills and planing mills at
Peterborough, which place was reached by rail from
both ports. I told him I would be glad to do so. Cap
tain Ingraham came after lumber for two or three years
and I very much enjoyed knowing him.

I think about the year 1882, one of their vessels came
and received a cargo from me, which, upon being landed,
did not give satisfaction. The style of the firm name
was English Brothers, and consisted of an old gentle
man and his sons. I knew that the cargo when I shipped
it was all right and was what I had sold them, and of
course I refused to allow their reclamation. I wrote

189

190 REMINISCENCES

them many sarcastic and caustic letters and our business
relations became quite strained. Captain Ingraham was
at that time after a cargo of wood in the Baltic Sea.
When he returned to Sutton Bridge he told his firm that
he knew I had never sent such a shipment. He waited
until the captain, who had shipped the cargo, returned,
for, knowing the tricks of the trade, as well as this skip
per, pretty well, he had formed his opinion as to how
the cargo got aboard the vessel. He asked the captain
if there had been any rough weather while he lay in port
at Pensacola, to which the skipper replied that there had
been, and that he had lost all his timber while loading,
but that he had sent out his sailors to pick up as many
pieces as they had lost, which they did and he had put
these into the cargo in place of those lost ; he had been
careful, however, to keep this information from the own
ers. Captain Ingraham, feeling friendly toward me,
explained to English Brothers how the rotten, worm-
eaten timber got into the ship, and convinced the firm
that it was the captain of the vessel who was the rascal
and not I. English Bros, dropped their suit for recla
mation, but did not make the amende honorable which
I thought my due. However, they knew then that I was
not to blame and the next fall they sent two vessels to
me for cargoes, which were duly loaded, shipped and
paid for.

In March, I received a cablegram from them, asking
me to buy a cargo for their account for immediate ship
ment. There was a vessel in port, loaded by L. M. Mer-
ritt, of tonnage suitable for the port of Sutton Bridge,
which I bought of him for them. I think that the cargo
came to about £1,000, or $5,000. Of this cargo I had
furnished about 100,000 feet, and I was satisfied that

ENGLISH BROTHERS 191

the whole cargo was of good quality. As usual, I attached
the specifications of the cargo, the charter-party of the
vessel, and drew on them for the value of the cargo, and
billed it to them for exactly what I had paid for it, and
felt that my draft would be cheerfully paid when it
should be presented. I turned the papers over to my
bank, as was the custom, and the bank gave me credit
for the amount of the draft. In due course of time the
bank was informed by cable that payment had been re
fused. I was entirely in the dark as to the reason, until
I received a letter from English Bros., saying that the
cargo was not what they wanted, that it contained too
many 3x9-inch deals. I wrote them that I did not know
what they wanted, only by the specifications mentioned
in the telegram ; that was "3x9 and up," which I bought
for them as instructed. They replied that I should have
known that they wanted what they had usually bought
from me. I wrote in reply that I had no telepathic com
munication with them, telling me what they wanted,
that it would have been an easy matter for them to stipu
late in their cable that cargo should be as usual, if they
wished such, instead of wiring, "3x9 and up." The cor
respondence became rather acrimonious. After a while
I received account of sale, "For Whom It May Con
cern," with a long account of commissions and storage,
and a draft in my favor to cover the balance, which
amounted to about three-fifths of what I had paid for
the cargo ; so when I was in London the last of Septem
ber I thought I would go to Sutton Bridge and see the
gentlemen, as I was about $2,000 short on the accommo
dation, and from any course of reasoning that I could
pursue, I could not find myself blamable in the affair.
I felt the fault to be wholly on their side. So I con-

192 REMINISCENCES

eluded to go to Button Bridge and visit Captain Ingra
ham, my wife accompanying me.

We took the cars for Peterborough, where we changed
cars for Wisbech, at which place several of the sons of
Mr. English lived and maintained a lumber yard. Sut-
ton Bridge was a few miles beyond Wisbech, and before
going there I went into the office of English Bros, to
inquire about Mr. Ingraham. While making my queries
at the desk I heard one man say to another in an adjoin
ing room that he believed that the stranger at the desk
was Mr. Skinner of Florida.

We took the train for Sutton Bridge, which we found
to be a town of minor importance, being a small shipping
port. It had a hotel of meager accommodations, at
which we stopped. I learned at Wisbech that Captain
Ingraham had given up sea-faring life, that Mr. English
had placed him in charge of some docks which he had
built at Sutton Bridge, and that he was engaged there
at the present time, in discharging a cargo of lumber.
After locating at the hotel, I went to the docks and
looked him up. I found him to be little changed since
I last met him ; at that time he was between sixty and
sixty-five years of age. I was very much interested in
this man, he was so like my own father when he was of
his age. Mr. Ingraham was very much surprised and
pleased to see me. My attention was much drawn to
their methods of moving lumber, so different was it from
ours. The ship delivered the lumber on the wharf ; then
each workman took a deal on his back, it being all he
could lift, and carrying it to a pile two hundred feet dis
tant, where two men took it from him and he returned
for another load, two men placing another deal on his
back. With us we rarely lifted those weighty deals, but

ENGLISH BROTHERS 193

instead put them on rollers or two- wheeled carts. Here
in England a "growler" of beer was kept where the man
could take a drink whenever he wished one. I did not
fancy this method of soul-carting lumber, or rather of
not carting it — as it transformed men into beasts of bur
den ; but it has been a custom here from time immemo
rial, and so of course was considered right.

Captain Ingraham was desirous that we go home with
him, and accordingly the next day we did so. He and
his wife lived alone except when some of their children
were visiting them. At that time a daughter was at
home. She was, I think, employed in a ladies' furnish
ing house in London. She appeared an honest^ comely
girl, much like her father and mother. Captain Ingra
ham and wife made it very pleasant. I appreciated espe
cially the character of this man, with his practical good
sense and his kindly spirit.

While at this place English Bros, sent a request that
I come to Wisbech, which I did. When they learned
that my wife was with me, they sent to Sutton Bridge
for her. One of the sons of Mr. English took us to his
home. They treated us very kindly and showed us much
attention. While we were visiting them a political meet
ing occurred about six miles distant, within the grounds
of some gentleman's manor. It was a meeting of the
supporters of the Conservative party of England. The
admission to the grounds was by card, this was required,
in order to keep out persons who might make a disturb
ance or oppose the sentiments expressed by the speakers.
These were to be the Earl of Cardigan and a Mr. Law
rence, M. P., the latter gentleman being a cousin of
Mrs. Alfred English. I was invited by one of the

194 REMINISCENCES

brothers to attend this meeting and I cordially ac
cepted.

After luncheon, four of us mounted what was called
a "trap" and went to hear the speaking. The grounds
in which the meeting was held were very beautiful, and
I was very much interested in hearing the politics of
this country expounded. The audience stood while hear
ing the speakers and before I was aware I became
separated from my companions by the crowd, and I did
not find them again that afternoon.

The Earl was a very gentlemanly looking man. He
wore a frock coat and kept both hands in its pockets.
He spoke in a conversational tone, without gestures, was
very candid and argumentative, and made a favorable
impression upon me. There did not appear to be much
enthusiasm in the crowd, and there was no cheering at
the good points made by the speakers. Every thing
was very decorous until it came to the last speaker, who
was a sturdy red-faced Englishman who attacked his
subject with a vim. He spoke in a loud voice, pawed
the air with his hands, and reminded me of the political
wind-jammers at home. After the meeting broke up, I
was unable to find either my escorts or the trap, so I
started with the crowd and walked back to the city.
When I inquired for my wife, and was informed that
the ladies finding the men all gone to the meeting, con
cluded that they would walk there themselves, and that
they had not yet returned. English women thought
nothing of walking that distance. I concluded that
my wife would come back a ruin, but I sat down and
awaited developments. Soon the ladies returned, and
were in high spirits, they had had a very good time,
had enjoyed themselves and my wife had walked twelve

ENGLISH BROTHERS 195

miles. About two was her limit in America. How a
person can walk such a distance in England without
exhaustion, has ever since been a wonder to me.

During this visit Mr. Arthur English took me to see
his country place, which proved to be very handsome.
I do not remember where it was located. His wife
was absent at the time, she was the daughter of an
Irish clergyman. Arthur English was the oldest son,
and was managing head of English Bros., lumber dealers
and ship owners. It was said that he was very anxious
to be knighted by the queen; to be elevated from the
non-aristocratic status of a lumber dealer to the dignity
of knighthood. Whether his ambitions have ever been
realized I do not know, but for his sake I trust they
were as he was certainly a pleasing gentleman. The
sons were very desirous that I should visit their father,
who was living in the country near Peterborough. He
had been a very enterprising man, was now somewhat
advanced in years, being about seventy at this time.
I went to see him and was entertained at dinner; his
wife, himself and two of his sons were there. I was
a little uneasy not knowing whether he had seen or read
my letter, in which was a severe allusion to him in
connection with the reclamation on the cargo of timber
before mentioned. Mr. English was a wealthy man
and a large land owner for this part of the world, hav
ing some three hundred acres which he farmed. His
wife was somewhat dictatorial and opinionated. Once
during a conversation at dinner she remarked that she
wished that we would keep our wheat at home, and not
send it over to England. I was informed that Mr.
English raised wheat largely and that American wheat

196 REMINISCENCES

kept the price of that commodity down, so that he did
not realize as much for it as he wished.

While here I also visited a country fair giving a fine
exhibition of cattle and horses, which I found very at
tractive. While strolling through the fair with one of
the English brothers, he called my attention to a robust
looking man as Lord So-and-So ; I remarked that I was
not as much interested in lords as I was in cattle. My
host asked me if I did not reverence the English no
bleman. I replied "no, unless there is something to raise
him above other men; that the fact alone of his title
would have no weight with me." He asked if the
Americans did not reverence the Queen of England. I
replied that Americans respected and admired the Queen
because they believed her to be a good woman ; that we
honored our good women very highly and that all such
women were practically queens in America. He evi
dently was under the impression that we did not know
a good thing when we saw it.

During this visit I had interviewed a couple of at-
torneys-at-law who had been recommended to me as the
best of their kind in Wisbech, and had laid before
them my demands for the disputed cargo. They were
not enthusiastic as to my chances of collecting the claim ;
said that the English Bros, were very influential in that
locality, and that it would be up-hill business to win a
suit against them. I had talked to the different mem
bers of the firm in regard to a settlement, but they were
very insistent that I should have known what they
wanted, and that I was very obtuse not to have had
telepathic knowledge of their wants. The matter was
left in that state.

On my way back to London my wife wished to stop

ENGLISH BEOTHEES 197

at Peterborough and see the cathedral which was being
repaired. Some historic graves are here, among them
that of Catherine of Aragon. Two ladies were being
escorted about the cathedral at the same time we were.
They proved to be the daughters of the poet Long
fellow. Miss Alice afterwards became dean of Rad-
cliffe college, and Anna married Joseph Thorpe, brother
of Ole Bull's wife.

While waiting at the station for the train from the
north, I took occasion to look at the locomotive which
was to take us to London, covering the distance of
seventy miles in one hour. It was of the usual English
type, the connection rods and cylinders being between
the driving wheels. It had no cow-catcher. What I
noticed most, was the enormous diameter of the driving
wheels; it had but two, one on each side of the boiler,
they were eight feet in diameter. The road was double-
tracked and there were no grade crossings, all being
either under the track or over it on bridges; so the
road was nearly free of obstructions and was nearly
level all the way to London.

We stopped at the same hotel as before as it con
veniently adjoins the Victoria station. A day or two
after arriving, I received a cable from home telling
me that my mill had burned. We had intended to make
a tour of England and Scotland, but this information
cut short our trip. I engaged passage by the first
German Lloyd steamer leaving Southampton for New
York City. It happened to be the "Werra," the same
vessel on which we had come over.

While waiting in London for the steamer I thought I
would go to Wisbech and make another effort to settle
my claim against English Bros. I met Mr. Arthur

198 REMINISCENCES

English, told him of my loss, and offered to take $1,000
for settlement of the claim, which he freely paid. I
never did any more business with them. On the ar
rival of the steamer we sailed for home. Our return
trip was quite different from the one going over, it had
then been as smooth as a mill pond all the way, but com
ing back the wind blew a gale, the waves rolling very
high. I arose the first morning, and after taking my
promenade on deck, returned to our stateroom, when I
was greeted with this exclamation, from my wife : "Oh
Emory, I am so sick. I shall die — but I don't care,
I've had such a good time !"

CHAPTER XVI.

GOVERNMENT DEALINGS IN LOGS AND POLITICS.

On the journey home I spent much time studying
how I should construct the mill which I had resolved
to build. I satisfied my mind on all points but one, and
that was how I would get the logs into the mill. The
old mill was on a brick foundation, which was too
narrow for placing the machinery as I wished and still
have room for the log-haul.

As soon as we landed in New York my wife went to
visit her parents in Wisconsin, and I took the first train
home. On arriving at Flomaton I met by chance a
Mr. Neacy, of Filer & Stowell Co., Milwaukee, saw
mill machinery builders. I told him I wanted him to
go home with me ; which he did. We set up a drafting
board in the hall of my house, and went to work draw
ing plans for a new mill; these we completed within
a week. I secured a schedule of the machinery re
quired, and of the timber needed for the frame, which
I bought at Ferry Pass. I then engaged three mill
wrights who had been recommended to me as thoroughly
competent, and in ten days after arriving home I
started north to buy machinery. In after years I think
Mr. Neacy sold as many as a score of mills, modeled
after the plan of this one.

On the way back to Escambia my wife accompanied
me and we reached home after dark. In the morning
I arose and before breakfast went down to the mill site
to see how everything was going. Timber was spread

199

200 REMINISCENCES

all over the mill yard, being framed. I had stepped
over no more than two or three pieces of timber before
I began to swear. I saw that my head man had made
serious mistakes in framing and did not understand his
business; that I must take charge of matters myself,
and so I informed him. After a few days' observation of
his work I discharged him altogether. I took the scratch-
awl and square into my own hands and laid out the
frame. My son took a gang of men and raised the
mill frame into position. Some two or three weeks after
I had discharged my boss millwright he appeared at
the mill and told me that a mistake had been made in
his settlement. I told him to go to the office and that
any mistake would be corrected; he replied that they
would not correct it there. He said that he had for
gotten to charge me with three days' time in coming
down from Michigan. He added: "If you don't pay
me for that I will sue you." I rejoined : "If this is all
the business you have here, get out quick." He got,
and I never saw the man again.

I built the mill with only one competent millwright
to assist me. About the last of March I had the ma
chinery all placed and expected to start it inside of a
week, when I received a telegram from Oshkosh an
nouncing the death of Mr. Hubbard, my father-in-law.
This made it necessary that my wife, my son, and
myself should go north immediately to attend the
funeral, therefore I was unable to see the starting of
the mill. I had always prided myself that when I
built a mill, the machinery would start off the first
day without a hitch or a change in it. When I re
turned, this mill had been in operation for several
days, and it was kept running almost constantly for

GOVEBNMENT DEALINGS 201

twenty years, until I sold it with my timber lands in
Florida.

I have before described the co-partnership I entered
into with John McDavid and five of his brothers, in the
fall of 1883, they bringing into the company about
fifteen thousand acres of pine land. We had bought
five thousand acres of land from Mr. Hubbard, with
the mill. During the winter of 1883-4 we began build
ing our logging railroad; during the summer of 1884
we completed six miles of the road, which was a three-
foot gauge, with twenty-five pound steel rails. These
rails were little worn when I sold out in 1904. Up to
that time I had bought twenty-six miles of rail and had
built that number of miles of road. In the summer of
1884 we bought our logs from different cutters, who
ran their logs down the river in rafts. We did not
supply the mill with logs cut from our own lands.
The business of building the railroad as well as the
work in the woods was under the supervision of my
brother, LaFayette Skinner. His wife became discon
tented with living in the woods, and just before I
started for Europe, he resigned his position and re
turned to Newaygo, Michigan. This left the work in
the care of the McDavid brothers.

After the mill burned we contracted with Brent Bros,
to supply them with logs, that we might not be obliged
to shut down the railroad, and that we might furnish
employment to the men in the woods. We built booms
at Ferry Pass which would hold fifty thousand logs at
a time. I bought six miles of railroad iron in 1884
and six miles more in 1885. We had a store at Chu-
muckla on the railroad five miles from the landing,
where we did a trade of about $3,000 per month. I

202 REMINISCENCES

named this place after the springs of that name, about
three miles away, which were noted for their curative
qualities, and I now believe them to be of value in
that line. I also built a railroad repair shop at this
point creating an embryo village.

I was very busy in 1885-6 sawing lumber and ship
ping to Mr. Schreyer in Europe, so busy that I could
give little attention to the logging department which,
was left mostly to the management of the McDavid
brothers, five of whom were in the employ of the firm.
I attended to the running of the mill, to supplying
the stores at Escambia and Chumuckla, to the charter
ing of the vessels and their loading, that season there
being twenty-five in number. I also attended to the
management of the tug, which towed the logs from
boom to mill, and to the lighters, which took the lumber
from the mill to the vessels. I had to keep a close
oversight of Mr. Schreyer in Europe, controlling the
price of lumber and timber and the amount of these
products which I could permit him to sell. As he
worked on commission, he was inclined to sell more
than I could allow him, his profits being thus propor
tionately larger. I managed all these affairs myself and
kept no extra help in the office. I remember that in
my younger days I had wished for all the business to
which I could attend. During this period and the years
to follow my wish in this respect was fully gratified.

My health was not good at this time. I was troubled
with insomnia, also with indigestion and headaches,
which condition continued for ten years or more. The
headaches were very painful, usually lasting for two
days or more, and on recovering I would feel as if I
had hrd ,1 long fit of sickness. At the present time,

GOVEKNMENT DEALINGS 203

with added knowledge, I attribute these disorders to
indiscretion and over-indulgence in eating. In our
youthful days we are taught almost everything that may
be useful to us in after years, except the one most im
portant thing of all; how we may have good health.
This means to partake of proper food and eat only
what our bodies require. If we are sick our friends
urge us to eat, when our ills have been caused by over
eating, and our stomachs are protesting against the ex
cess of food. I remember reading when a boy a book
by a Dr. Hall in which he gave this truism : Most men
make angels of themselves through their stomachs. At
the time of reading I did not catch on to the full mean
ing of this. We eat until we are full and then eat more.
We do not have the consideration for our stomachs
which the ancient Roman gourmand showed, who re
lieved it after a repast by an emetic. We take too
little exercise, physically, to make our digestion good,
so we suffer the consequences.

In 1886 one of the McDavids had a quarrel with an
employee, and the latter in revenge reported our firm
to the U. S. government as cutting timber on govern
ment lands. I looked into the matter and found that
it was true, so I insisted that this be stopped at once.
Not long afterwards the government sent a land agent
to investigate the trespass. There was considerable gov
ernment land on the line of our road that had been
trespassed upon for many years before we built the
railroad. The agent ran the line separating our lands
from the others, and attributed all the trespasses visi
ble, to our firm. He began suit against us for a large
sum of money, and when the U. S. court convened the
grand jury indicted several of the McDavids. I was in-

204 REMINISCENCES

formed that I too, had been indicted. I supposed that
this was true until some three years later when I was
told bj the foreman of the grand jury, corroborated
by another member, that this was not so ; that my name
had not been mentioned before the grand jury. I
realized myself to be entirely innocent, knowing that
I had always been careful to infringe on no man's
rights, yet there stood filed in the office of the clerk of
the court an indictment against my name, with the sig
nature of the foreman of the grand jury on the back of
it. I could only conclude that this had been ao-
complished by the district attorney who desired to in
jure me politically. Mr. S. C. Cobb, the foreman of the
jury, assured me most positively that he had never seen
the indictment against me and that he had never en
dorsed such. I can only account for this document
being in existence by the fact of the district attorney's
knowledge that I was a member of the firm of Skinner
& McDavid and expecting to indict all the members of
that firm he had prepared an indictment to be ready
when needed. After finding that there was no evidence
incriminating me, he failed to destroy the paper, but
kept it among documents of a similar character, and
probably Mr. Cobb, as foreman of the grand jury, had
endorsed the paper, not knowing what it contained.
When the cases at that term of court were called, the
district attorney announced that he had no evidence to
support the charge against me, the judge instructed
the jury which had been impaneled in my case, to find
for the defendant without leaving their seats; which
they did. This ended the criminal suit. The district
attorney brought action against Skinner & McDavid,
which remained on the docket of the court for some

GOVERNMENT DEALINGS 205

four years; the outcome of which will be referred to
later.

In 1884 I was notified of a meeting of Republican
politicians to be held at the office of the collector of
the port of Pensacola. I attended the meeting, wish
ing to learn what was to be discussed, and found that
it was called with the purpose of inducing me to again
run for Congress. I informed those present that I did
not aspire to another nomination, that I was un
willing to make the canvass again; that I was no hog,
so knew when I had had enough. My response seemed
to amuse those present, ,and I was asked if there was
anything else in the political line, which I would ac
cept; to this I replied that if the sentiments of the
meeting were unanimous in favor of sending me as a
delegate at large to the forthcoming Republican conven
tion at Chicago, it was an honor that I would appreci
ate and most willingly accept. I stated farther that
I would enter into no contest for the privilege, if any
one present wished to be that delegate, I would step
aside. Apparently all were enthusiastic that I should
be accorded this honor.

The state convention for the election of delegates to
the Chicago convention was to be held at St. Augustine ;
there were to be elected four delegates for the state at
large, and two for each of the two Congressional dis
tricts of the state. A few weeks before the state con
vention was to be held, the county convention was to
occur at Pensacola, and would elect some thirteen dele
gates to be sent to the state convention. An Irish
lawyer, by the name of Eagan, appeared on the scene
at this time. He had been trained in Republican poli
tics in the eastern part of the state; he was pretty

206 REMINISCENCES

well acquainted with Republican politicians through
out the state and enjoyed their confidence. I had been
instrumental, sometime before, in his appointment as
postmaster at Pensacola, but he had been removed by
President Cleveland shortly after the election of the
latter. Eagan had then taken up the practice of law,
but now held under his brother, a deputyship as internal
revenue collector. Meeting Eagan one day, he informed
me that Col. Tarble was ambitious to go himself as
delegate to the convention. I could hardly credit this
after what had occurred in this gentleman's presence
and that he had cordially approved my name. I went
to his office and said to him: "Eagan says you wish
to go yourself to the Chicago convention." He replied
that there was no truth in this statement. I assured
the colonel that if he wanted to go that I would will
ingly withdraw and give him an open field. He con
vinced me that he wished me to go, but the friction
between the Eagan faction and the Tarble faction, most
unaccountably to me, was kept up. About half the
delegates to the Pensacola convention seceded and
formed another, each electing delegates to the state con
vention at St. Augustine; I was included in both. I
went to St. Augustine with the Tarble delegation,
although Eagan persistently asserted that Tarble wished
to become delegate to Chicago. On our way to St.
Augustine we stopped over a day at Jacksonville. While
there an old acquaintance in whom I had thorough
confidence approached me and asked whom we were to
send to Chicago from our part of the state; I being
modest replied that I did not know. He said that Tarble
wanted to go ; I said that I thought not. "Yes he does,"
said he, and added, "I met him a little while ago and

GOVERNMENT DEALINGS 207

he tried to make a combination with me to send him
there." This convinced me of Col. Tarble's double-
dealing. I think now that Eagan sent this man to me
to convince me of Tarble's treachery. I told Tarble
that I would not go to Chicago as a delegate and that
he could not. The colonel denied the charge ; my violent
speech irritated him and we became political enemies ; a
condition which lasted for several years. I prevented
his being appointed collector of the port of Pensacola.
He went into the livery business in Chicago, just before
the Columbian exposition. I have become convinced
since that time, that the trouble between Tarble and
myself was caused by Eagan, who hoped to add to his
own political strength by an alliance with me.

When the St. Augustine convention was organized,
through the contrivance of Eagan, his delegation was
seated instead of that of Col. Tarble's, which was the
straight and legal one. The day before, when I had
become convinced of Col. Tarble's double-dealing, I
met Jim Coombs, a man who is now President Eoose-
velt's "dictator" in Florida politics, and asked him if
he would like to go as a delegate to Chicago, to which
he answered, "I would like it the best of anything in the
world." I replied: "Then I will see that you are
elected." Later I notified Eagan that he was not to
present my name to the convention, saying that I would
not be a candidate. He expostulated with me but find
ing my decision was final he said that if I would not
go myself, that I must select someone to represent my
name and influence in the State. When Eagan's dele
gation was seated in the convention he came again and
tried to persuade me, but I told him I had promised
Coombs that he should go, and that I would not go back

208 REMINISCENCES

on my word. So, much against the wishes of Eagan,
Coombs was elected.

This convention was composed of about two-thirds
negroes ; it was noisy, tempestuous and disagreeable. I
could see no good reason why a respectable white man
should associate with darkies in such a bear garden as
this convention proved, and I resolved then and there to
have nothing more to do with politics in which the
negro was the dominant factor.

CHAPTER XVII.

ME. SCHREYER AND OTHER TRIBULATIONS.

My business with Julius Schreyer, for the first two
years, had been very satisfactory and profitable. Our
lumber had been acceptable and was sold at good prices.
Schreyer had shown some impatience at my restricting
him in the amount he might sell, so I found it necessary
to get another inspector for the lumber which I bought
for him at other mills. I selected a young man in my
employ whom I believed to be both competent and
honest. My first inspector prophesied that he would
prove incompetent, but I thought him prejudiced by
rivalry over a girl in the neighborhood. The young
man inspected half a dozen cargoes that I bought at
other mills, but were all bought from one firm. Their
total valuation exceeded $50,000. As reported by Mr.
Schreyer, lumber below grade was put in every vessel.
I sent my son to Germany to investigate, as I could not
believe that this inspector had proved as negligent or
criminal as the reports showed, but he corroborated the
statements made by Mr. Schreyer. I called the young
man into the office and asked him why he had been so
careless in inspecting the cargoes, and he had the
audacity to tell me that my son had told him to do this.
I knew the assertion was unqualifiedly false and I told
him that he was a liar; I discharged him then and
there. One cargo of decking which he had shipped,
being the worst of the lot according to the account of

209

210 EEMINISCENCES

the stevedore who loaded it, was entirely lost as the
vessel foundered at sea. I have never been able to
understand what caused this inspector to play the part
of scoundrel; whether he was simply too negligent and
lazy to attend to his business, or was bribed by the mill
manager from whom I bought the lumber. I was in
formed that this manager put him onto piles containing
two hundred thousand feet, which Boyer had rejected
the year before from prime shipments, and that this in
spector shipped them as prime in these cargoes.

Early in the spring Mr. Schreyer came to see me, and
said he had been obliged to settle the claims of the
buyers, or else go out of the business of selling lumber
in Germany. I reimbursed him for all the reclama
tions he had paid, amounting to some $8,000. The
inspector, who had been responsible for this loss, was
not long after killed by a negro who struck him on the
head with a scantling, during a quarrel.

I made a new contract wth Mr. Schreyer, agreeing
that Mr. Boyer should inspect all the lumber shipped
and he agreeing to settle all reclamations on the cargoes
at his own cost.

The affair which occupied my attention after this,
was another venture into the political field. In the
summer of 1888 I was solicited by Republican politi
cians to run for the state senate, but I had seen so
much of the jealousy existing between the different fac
tions of the party that I refused to accept the nomina
tion unless the convention was unanimous in my sup
port. As a result I received every vote in the con
vention. There was a majority of Republicans in the
county and I felt confident that several hundred Demo
crats of this county would also vote for me. I therefore

ME. SCHKEYEB 211

entered upon the campaign with every prospect of win
ning. It was the duty of the County Commissioners
to revise the list of voters just before election, and the
commissioners, who were appointed by the governor
were in this instance all Democrats. In the revision
which they made at this time they erased from the list
names of one thousand Republican voters. They re
fused to meet again and replace the names wrongfully
thrown out, so all these voters were disqualified. Al
though the election was a national as well as state
election, yet there was no method, so far as we knew
by which we could obtain justice. At the time of the
election, even worse means were resorted to; such as
violating the ballot-box, etc. In one precinct in Pen-
sacola after the voting had closed, a Democrat entered
the polling place wearing a large overcoat. He opened
the ballot-box, filled one of the big pockets with the
contents, and replaced these with Democratic votes from
the other pocket.

Notwithstanding all this, and even worse, it seems
that I was elected by three hundred majority, and yet
they gave the certificate of election to my Democratic
competitor. I learned this fact from the chairman of
the county commissioners several years later when with
him in Mexico. I think this political outrage would not
have been perpetrated against me, but that some other
candidates were voted for on the same ballot, who were
very obnoxious to the majority of the citizens of the
county, especially the Republican candidate who ran
for sheriff. All of the newspapers printed in the county
were Democratic, and I had no means of reaching the
ears of the voters, except by public speaking and issuing
of bulletins and circulating them through the mails. The

212 EEMINISCENCES

United States district attorney in Florida was a Demo
crat ; I consulted the U. S. district attorney for Louisi
ana at New Orleans. He of course, denounced the abuse,
but gave it as his judgment that nothing could be done,
so long as a jury must be selected from the white
voters, even if the matter were carried to the U. S.
court.

Owing to certain reasons which I will not detail, there
had been no resident United States judge, in the
northern judicial district of Florida, for nearly ten
years. Many of my friends solicited me to stand as a
candidate for the judgeship. I had received a legal
education which I believe well fitted me for the office,
but I was afraid to make the attempt, knowing I would
be attacked by the records of the court over which I
would be expected to preside. Senator Sawyer, who
had been a good friend to me all the years I had been
in Florida, and who had been familiar with my career
ever since I had arrived in Oshkosh, Wis., in 1855,
said he thought he could have me appointed, but I
feared the attack which would be made upon me when
the senate should be asked to confirm my appointment.
At that time I supposed that I had been indicted in
that court for cutting timber on government lands, and
I knew that a suit was then pending against my firm
for trespass on government lands, which could not truth
fully be denied, although I knew myself to be inno
cent and blameless. I felt that the office of judge was
the most honorable position with which a citizen could
be invested, and it was the one which I would prize
above all others. The matter dragged along until the
next year, when I happened to be in Washington on
some business and by chance met ex-Senator Conover,

MR. SCHREYER 213

who had been my political assistant in the canvass for
Congress in 1882. The filling of this judgeship had
been a familiar topic among politicians and lawyers in
Florida for a long time. Mr. Conover informed me that
he had a man whom he would like to have appointed
district judge, and asked if I would go with him and
call upon Attorney General Miller and try to have him
appoint this man. I consented to do as he wished after
his assurances that the man was a suitable candidate
for the position. In the afternoon we went and saw
Mr. Miller and had an interview lasting some three
hours. He questioned us very thoroughly as to the
political conditions in Florida, and we explained as we
understood the situation. One point which we made
especially strong was that the violators of the ballot-box
should be punished. I recall very distinctly a question
which the attorney general asked Mr. Conover, which
was: "Does the man look like a judge? I want a
man to look a judge as well as to be one." Mr. Conover
satisfied him on this point. When we arose to leave,
the attorney general said: "Gentlemen, I will appoint
your man; you will see this confirmed in tomorrow
morning's paper." The announcement appeared as he
said it would. The history of this man as judge is not
a part of my memoirs ; I shall allude to him only as his
career affected mine.

Returning to my affairs in the lumber business. I
met farther difficulty with Mr. Schreyer. Notwithstand
ing my contract with this gentleman that I should not
be held responsible for any reclamations of lumber in
spected by Mr. Boyer, a heavy reclamation was de
manded on a cargo shipped to Italy. Mr. Schreyer was
himself responsible for the difficulty as he sent a ship

214 REMINISCENCES

for the lumber without giving it time to dry ; some of it
had also been rained on, when being loaded and as
southern pine will do when shipped wet, I presume the
sap on the lumber turned dark and mouldy. I did not
consider myself responsible in the matter, and refused
to pay any reclamation. In the spring of 1889 I had
a ship offered me of the capacity of a cargo which I
had sold to Schreyer, and I chartered the vessel on his
account and with his consent. Not long after I received
a charter party for a vessel which, unknown to me,
he had chartered for this same cargo, he having failed
to notify me as he should have done. I wrote him that
I could not furnish the lumber in sufficient quantities
to make the second consignment unless he would take
two hundred thousand feet of kiln dried saps, which I
would furnish at the price of $10 per thousand feet.
I think at that date no kiln dried saps had been
shipped to the continent. He accepted the offer and I
loaded the vessel, which proved to be the last I ever
loaded for him. The other part of the cargo consisted
of two orders. He had sold one of prime lumber, an
other of heart-faced flooring. For the order of kiln
dried saps he had stipulated that I should draw upon
him at ninety days. When the vessel was loaded I went
to the bank with the documents. The cashier requested
me to place the drafts upon the bills of lading for
which they were drawn. I did so and left the papers
with him.

I went north with my wife after this as it was our
custom to pass the heated term there and obtain rest and
recreation. I had been north but a short time when I
received a telegram from my son saying that Schreyer
had refused to pay the draft. I wired the bank for

ME. SCHREYER 215

information and they wrote that they had received no
such notification. I therefore rested easy for a few days
until my son sent me Mr. Schreyer's letter in which
he said: "You have made a mistake, you placed a
$4,000 draft on the kiln dried sajfe and a $2,000 draft
on the two orders of prime flooring; you pay my claim
for reclamation or I do not correct your mistake." He
refused to pay the $4,000 draft, but paid the $2,000
draft cash and secured possession of the $4,000 worth
of lumber. I presume that the cashier let the drafts
fall out in handling them, because they were not pinned
to the bills of lading as they should have been. I wrote
the bank that I should hold them responsible as the
fault was theirs I having performed my duty in the
matter. They ordered suit to be begun against Mr.
Schreyer in Bremen, and thus the matter stood until I
returned to Florida. After studying the situation, I
concluded that I would go to Germany and assist the
bank in getting their money from Mr. Schreyer.

CHAPTER XVIII.

*

A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE.

I took the steamer from New York to Southampton
and from there went to London. My object in coining
to the metropolis was to find another agent to sell my
lumber. After a little while I selected Messrs. Shad-
bolt & Sons, of London. I then decided to go over to
Germany and see Mr. Schreyer. I took steamer to
Rotterdam and went from there to Bremen by rail. I
found Mr. Schreyer very contrary and entirely shame
less as to his conduct. He appeared destitute of any
moral honor. I interviewed the lawyer employed by
Pensacola bank, and concluded that he was attorney for
the Bremen Bank and probably for Mr. Schreyer also.
I left matters about as I found them and went back to
London.

On my trip crossing the ocean I had made the ac
quaintance of a man by the name of Pratt. He was at
the head of an advertising agency in Chicago. It seems
that this firm advertised English productions in the
United States for so much per year, making their own
contracts with the papers, and to prove performance of
his part of the bargain, Mr. Pratt brought copies of the
issue of each paper to the advertisers in London.

I wanted to see something of Scotland and England in
a sight seeing trip. Mr. Pratt was somewhat posted and
we planned to take the trip together, going up through
the trossachs of Scotland, coming back on the west coast

216

A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE 217

to Liverpool, and from there to London through the lake
country of England.

Our trip from London to Edinburgh was very interest
ing and I learned for the first time in my life what
"Bonnie Scotland" meant in English, for it was surely
most beautiful. The first night we stopped at Melrose
on the bank of the Tweed, stopping at a friendly hotel,
where we met several American guests. In the morning
we went to see the ruins of the abbey; in fact it was
pretty much all a ruin, but the carving of the windows
and the doors was artistic and fine. We went down to the
bridge and crossel the Tweed. We took a carriage and
drove to Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott. This
place was in a good state of preservation. There were dis
played here many fine art exhibits which the author had
accumulated in his life, and his fine library was intact.
We were shown several groves on the hill side, the trees
of which were said to have been planted by Sir Walter
to represent the positions of the English, French and
German armies at the battle of Waterloo. We found the
rest of the country also very interesting and replete with
the historic conflicts between the English and the Scotch.

We took the train from Melrose to Edinburgh, where
we put up at the Princess Hotel. We visited Holyrood
and Edinburgh Castle where we were shown the little
room, in which it is claimed that Mary, Queen of Scots
was imprisoned. In the middle ages this castle must
have been very difficult for the attacking party to storm,
with the means of warfare then known. Three sides of
the fortress were protected by almost perpendicular rock,
the other side had formidable stone defenses, as well as
being very steep. We drove in a carriage to the entrance
of the castle, and then walked through the fortifications.

218 REMINISCENCES

Later we crossed the great bridge that spans the river
Forth. It had several piers which I should think were
a succession of cantilever bridges joined together. Be
cause Mr. Pratt was in haste, being more devoted to
business than to jaunting about the country sight seeing,
we did not take our proposed trip through the trossachs.
We went from Edinburgh to Glasgow where I wished to
see a Mrs. Bruce who was mother of my bookkeeper at
Escambia, I had promised him to call upon her if I
went to Scotland. We remained in Glasgow over Sun
day, and Monday I went to Greenock to visit a brother
of Mr. Bruce. He was manager of the Clydesdale Bank.
I remained with him all night He took me through a
shipyard and showed me an iron ship then building.
After an interesting stop at Greenock we went to Liver
pool. It rained most of the time we were there, so we
did not see much of the city. I cannot remember the
name of the hotel at which we stopped but I do recall
that it was finished in southern pine which looked very
beautiful.

We took the train for Leamington, in historical Eng
land. I saw so much during the two or three days we
spent there that my memory presents a picture like a
bird's eye view. In the hall of the hotel where we stayed
was a wainscoting of tile which represented scenes and
characters in Shakespeare's plays. I thought them very
fine and artistic. The city was a summer resort, and
some medical springs were found in the vicinity. The
next day we took a carriage and visited the ruins of
Kenilworth Castle, where Amy Robsart was secreted by
the Earl of Leicester and where Queen Elizabeth acci
dentally met the heroine of Sir Walter Scott's novel

A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE 219

"Kenilworth" while being entertained by the Earl at
this castle.

We did not go to Stratford on Avon for some reason.
We visited the cliff in which an old hermit had dug out
of the solid rock a den where he lived and died. We
visited the residence of another of the nobility of Eng
land. The grounds of this place were very beautiful.
The house was elegantly furnished, and on the walls
hung the portraits of many of the ancestors of the
family.

We also spent a day in viewing the Castle of War
wick. I have heard it stated that it was the finest resi
dence in England. The family were away but we
obtained permission to enter and were shown through
the castle by the custodian. We gave this man a good
tip and he pointed out to us all there was of interest
A heavy stone wall surrounds the castle enclosing as I
remember two or three acres, surmounted in several
places by towers for defense. In the center of the space
encircled by the wall stands the castle. As we passed
through the heavy iron gateway, a keeper took my com
panion's kodak away from him saying that he could
not enter with one. On each side of this gateway were
lofty towers, with battlements on the top, where defend
ers could protect the entrance. These towers were en
tered from within the walls and were very strong. In
the picture gallery were many portraits of the earls of
Warwick and their families. The different rooms con
tained much elaborate furniture, works of art, etc., but
the banquet hall interested me more than any thing else.
I recall its immense fireplace and the great dimensions
of the room. The old earl of Warwick was reputed to be
a "king-maker" and I should judge that he might have

220 BEMINISCENCES

feasted a regiment of his retainers in this hall at one
time. I also noticed one thing which I think might
escape most observers: the ceiling of the room was of
southern pine and not of English oak, as it probably had
been in medieval times. I expressed surprise at this
and was informed that the ancient wall had been injured
by fire, and that the oak had been replaced by southern
pine, which was in natural color and oiled. In the vil
lage near the castle was a building in which Shakes
peare had been in some way identified.

The lake district in England is very beautiful and I
think is known as the Heart of England. I believe the
Thames river rises in this region. On our way to Lon
don the train passes through Oxford and we obtained a
bird's eye view of some of the College buildings. I re
turned to London very much pleased with my trip, but
greatly regretting that I did not have more time for sight
seeing, there being so much of interest.

Arriving at London I went to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
on High Holborn Street. On the trip across the Atlantic,
I had made steamer acquaintance with two gentlemen,
one of them named Cushman, the name of the other
I do not recall. Mr. Cushman was the inventor of
the tubular railroad car frame. About that time and
later, I saw in the United States a similar freight car,
the frame of which was made of different sizes of gas
pipe ; the frame was supported on car wheels and on top
of this was placed a box car. This was claimed to be
much lighter than a frame made of wood. The second
gentleman, whose name I have forgotten was at the head
of a large stock company making these freight cars for
the purpose of renting or selling them to the railroads.
The purpose of these gentlemen in going to England was

A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE 221

to introduce the use of these ears upon the English rail
ways. They had acquired a mass of valuable informa
tion to be used in their arguments in favor of their
introduction. As nearly as I can recollect, their car
only weighed ten tons and would carry thirty tons of
freight. It cost more to carry a bushel of wheat from
Liverpool to London, in an English car than it would to
carry it from Chicago to Liverpool. This great differ
ence in the expense of shipping they attributed to the
weight of the English car, and the small amount of
freight it would carry. The English car frame was built
of 10x10 inch square southern pine timbers, from twelve
to twenty feet long, with a little box on top of it not over
four feet high, uncovered except by canvass. The pro
moters claimed that this car would weigh more than the
freight; that with their car a locomotive hauling four
tons would be hauling three of freight, whereas with
the English car the freight would be less than two tons.
They said that they had shipped six flat cars by steamer
to London, and on their arrival they would set them up
and give the English railway officials a demonstration
of the superiority of their cars over those in use. When
we reached our destination these gentlemen went to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel and I to the Lincoln's Inn Hotel.
I spent a couple of weeks in London corresponding with
Mr. Schreyer, and busied myself during that time in
becoming acquainted with London and its environments.
One Sunday morning I visited St. Paul's Cathedral
which was not far from my hotel. While admiring the
structure I observed an omnibus labeled Hampton Court,
and thinking of nothing better to do I climbed aboard.
I entered into conversation with my neighbor on the
seat. He told me that he was from South Carolina, that

222 REMINISCENCES

his father had kept a hotel on Jeckel Island, and that he
himself was interested in some theatrical troupe. I
judged from what he said that he had become stranded
in London, but at all events he proved an agreeable com
panion. I found Hampton Court and vicinity quite an
interesting spot to visit. As I recollect, it was built by
Cardinal Wolsey and presented by him to Henry VIII.
I believe it is in possession of the crown of England, and
is used chiefly as an art gallery. In it are to be seen
portraits of most of those famous in the history of that
country. I should judge that in size it would equal
the Field Museum in Chicago. In some rooms around
the court resided many proteges of the Queen, it being
her privilege to domicile a certain number of ladies who
happened to possess her favor, but were in impecunious
circumstances. Hampton Court is a place of great
resort for people coming from London by bus, boat or
train. Adjacent to the Court is a maze of shrubbery
which few can enter and find their way out, without
aid from the guide. I did not try my skill. In the
yard is a grapevine which is more than a foot in diame
ter, when measured at the ground. It is said to raise
grapes in sufficient abundance to supply the proteges of
the Court ensconced there.

I visited Hampton Court later, but being without
agreeable companionship I found the charm of the castle
less potent.

I spent three weeks of this visit in the seeing of
sights in London. Among the notable buildings which
I visited was the Tower of London. I think no one
museum which I saw, presents so much of England's
history as does this tower, and every American visiting
London should spend a day in its study.

A BUSINESS TKIP TO EUROPE 223

Mr. Cushman invited me to go down with them and
witness the test of the tubular car. Three Englishmen
had been selected by the railroads to give the cars a trial
and make a report. One of these judges was a member
of parliament, another was President of the Board of
Trade, and the third represented the combined railroads
of England. The trial was to be held on the Mill-wall
docks of London. The docks were traversed by rails,
the tracks being full of short curves and switches, which
would give the cars a severe test as to their ability to
keep the track.

Our party took the train at London for the Docks,
which were located some distance down the Thames. On
arriving we had to wait some time for the distinguished
experts. I asked Mr. Cushman not to introduce me to
these gentlemen, as I wished to view the exhibition from
the standpoint of an on-looker. The cars were flat
bottomed railway cars with plank sides and ends about
two feet high. A locomotive was coupled to the cars and
we got aboard, all standing. As we were hauled over
the rails and through the curves and switches I heard one
Englishman remark to the others "These bloody cars do
stick to the track; I was sure they wouldn't take the
curves." After a sufficient trial of this test the engineer
was told to shunt the cars off the track. The locomotive
shoved us pretty hard and I heard one Britisher say to
another, "They tell me these bogies are an English inven
tion." "Well" was the reply, "that is one thing in their
favor." (Bogie is an English word for an American
Railroad Truck. ) The Englishmen became satisfied
that they could not get the cars off the track when they
were empty so they told the exhibitors that they wanted
the cars heavily loaded. By this time it was twelve

224 REMINISCENCES

o'clock, and as no dock laborer would work for love or
money until the customary time to return, a delay in the
proceedings occurred. The Americans agreed to have
the cars loaded with railroad iron and be ready for a
further exhibition at three in the afternoon. I was
assured in my own mind that the cars would not leave
the track, therefore after going back to London I did not
return for the exhibition of the afternoon. In England
a railroad did not then receive freight in a warehouse,
load it into a freight car and deliver it at its destination
into another warehouse as is done in this country. The
shipper in England was furnished a car at the point of
shipment, which he loaded, and when it arrived at its
destination the receiver unloaded it. Mr. Cushman told
me that he had offered a certain railroad in England
fifteen cars if they would take them and use them; the
man representing the railroads had replied that if they
should adopt the American car it would make all the
rolling stock of the United Kingdom worthless; I for
get the immense value it would wipe out.

On my return from the trip to Scotland I stopped at
the same hotel as my American acquaintances. They
informed me that a certain Mr. Spencer, M. P., had
invited them to take luncheon with him at the Parlia
ment Houses, and to view a sitting of Parliament from
a gallery of the house. They said they would be allowed
to include me in their invitation, if I would like to go,
I gladly accepted as I thought it a matter of much in
terest to see the House of Commons in session. We
reached the buildings about four P. M. and spent some
time in viewing various halls. Some of the gentlemen
of the nobility were pointed out to me. We went to a
gallery in the House which overlooked the Thames, and

A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE 225

were served with refreshments passing a most pleasant
hour in conversation and viewing the river scenes below.
When the hour arrived for the opening of the session,
Mr. Spencer escorted us to the Stranger's gallery, where
we could sit and watch the proceedings as long as de
sired.

The chamber in which the House of Commons con
venes is a long room with a long table in the center ; from
this several rows of seats extended to the wall, rising one
above the other like those in a theater. In these the
members sat keeping their hats on their heads; a cus
tom which appeared strange to me. When a member
desires to address the house he comes down from his seat
and stands by the table. At the opposite end of the hall
from where we were, the chairman was seated on a
raised platform; he wore the typical, long wig of the
English judge, one could see nothing of him but his face.
Lord Palmerston at that time was Speaker; he was son
of the premier of that name. The subject before the
house that night was the licensing of the saloons in the
kingdom. The Ladies' Gallery was directly in the rear
of the Speaker, there was a screen before it so we could
not see the occupants. I was informed that they could
see the house plainly, but could not signal to the mem
bers of the house. When a division took place, the mem
bers voting "aye" passed by the Speaker to a room in the
rear and were counted as they went out. When these
returned to the hall, the ones voting "no" would file
past the speaker and be counted. As I remember, it was
eight or nine o'clock before the session began. We sat
in the gallery during the proceedings until the "wee
sma' hours" of the morning. At length becoming tired

226 REMINISCENCES

we returned to our hotel, before the house had adjourned
its session.

We visited the Westminister Abbey, where are en
tombed so many of the kings and queens of England,
and many of its notable men, who have been chief actors
in her history. The marble statuary contained in this
edifice is very fine. We Americans should remember
that this abbey holds a part of the history of the United
States as well as of England.

CHAPTER XIX.

FEOM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA.

Concluding that I could help little in the settlement
of the bank's claim against Mr. Sehreyer, I returned to
Escambia. A few months later the bank notified me
that they had received an offer from him towards set
tling the claim, and inquired what I would do about it,
I asked Mr. Brent if he wished to settle and he said that
he did ; I then offered to stand one-half the loss. A year
later, when I was in Los Angeles, Gal., I received a tele
gram from Mr. Sehreyer saying that if I would resume
business with him he would come out there to see me.
I wrote him in reply that when I found a man dis
honest I did not care to do any farther business with
him. That to render business satisfactory and successful
it was necessary that there should be confidence and
honor on both sides, and I added that I did not wish to
take any farther risk with him.

Some time prior to this I had made a personal effort
to organize the interests of the lumbermen so that they
need not be at the mercy and misrepresentation of the
commission men, who largely handle the lumber product
of the south. Knowing that our system of inspecting
lumber was defective in many respects, I succeeded in
perfecting the organization of the lumber manufac
turers. We came to conclusions as to the specifications
of grades, and adopted a form of charter by which we
all agreed to be bound. Of this organization I was
elected president.

227

228 REMINISCENCES

In the fall of 1887 the contracting stevedores in Pen-
sacola some sixty in number, conceived the plan of
organizing themselves into a combination or association
by which they would control the loading of all vessels
which came into the harbor for lumber cargoes. In a
measure it was the purpose of the stevedore organiza
tion to nullify the benefits of our new charter-party.
The contest between the two organizations became quite
bitter in Pensacola. Many of the stevedores were not
actual residents of Pensacola, but lived in Quebec, where
they plied their trade in summer and came to Pensacola
to follow it in winter. Our new charter-party gave the
right of appointing the stevedore to the charterer of the
vessel, as had formerly been the custom. Many evils
had befallen the trade through the disuse of this cus
tom, from which the shipper was often the sufferer.

Through the efforts of State Senator Mallory several
laws had been enacted by the legislature, which looked
as if they had been passed with the express purpose of
enabling the stevedores to control the loading of vessels
in the harbor of Pensacola. One was that no person
should ply that trade without a license, and placing the
licensing of stevedores in the hands of three men, called
harbor commissioners, who were appointed by the gover
nor. These commissioners assumed a great deal of
authority which was not sanctioned by law, and they
were inclined to favor the interest of the stevedores. I
had to contend against this organization with even some
of the members of our own association, who were dis
loyal to our interests and were trying to make political
capital by working in favor of the stevedores. This
contention lasted several months, then, owing to my
tenacious fighting qualities we won the victory over the

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 229

other organization and they gave up their efforts to
control the loading of vessels.

The Southern Lumber Manufacturers' Association
was organized in the winter of 1890 at New Orleans. I
attended this convention and was made chairman of the
committee on organization, and wrote the constitution
and hy-laws. This association was composed of lumber
men from all the southern states. At this writing (1906)
the association had been in existence sixteen years and it
has been of much benefit to the lumbermen of that sec
tion. I remained a member of it for several years, but
finally I thought it too timid in protecting the rights oi
its members; it did not do as it should have done, so I
dropped out of the association. In after years they fol
lowed the methods which I had so long urged.

After the Lumbermen's convention had adjourned a
large excursion boat was loaded with members and we
were taken down the river to Governor Warmouth's
plantation. We were to see the method of raising sugar
cane and making it into sugar. This was all new to me
and I found it both instructive and interesting.

After the adjournment of the convention my wife and
I decided that we would make a pleasure trip to Mexico.
We went by way of San Antonio and Laredo to Mon
terey. The hotel accommodations at the latter place were
quite inferior to those in the United States, but the
town was novel and we enjoyed the sight seeing very
much. We went to the baths of Topo Chico while there.
The waters of these baths affected my wife badly, as
they produced an inflamation in a sore on one of her feet
caused by her shoe. We were unable to purchase a shoe
that was suitably easy, which made it very uncomfort
able for her. We therefore completed our visit to Mon-

230 REMINISCENCES

terey and went to Saltillo, and remained over night.
This place was but a short distance from Buena Vista,
the battle field where General Taylor won his famous
victory over General Santa Ana. This is a pleasant
Mexican town.

From here we went through a desert country to San
Luis Potosi, where we met a party of tourists from Iowa
who were traveling in a private car. The governor of
San Luis Potosi gave a reception which we all attended.
That night I was taken with a very severe toothache,
from which I suffered great misery. It was a very un
fortunate occurrence at that time. I was in a strange
country, knew nothing of the language, had no remedies,
and did not know how to procure any. In the morning
as we started with the Iowa party for the City of Mexico
one of the ladies noticing my affliction, gave me a small
bottle of tequila and told me to hold some of it in my
mouth. I did this and it stopped the pain almost in
stantly. For ten years after this I kept constantly on
hand a bottle of this remedy. I used it also as a panacea
for headaches.

We arrived at the City of Mexico and stopped at the
Jardin Hotel. This building had formerly been a con
vent but it had been converted into a resort for tourists.
To it belonged a very fine garden, from which it took
its name. There is no suitable sanitation of this city,
nevertheless we found it a pleasant place to visit, there
is so much of novelty to interest the sight-seer. Our
party made the acquaintance of Colonel Foster, who was
an ex-confederate soldier, having gone to Mexico at the
close of the civil war. He had been commissioned a
colonel by President Diaz and was evidently well re*

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 231

garded by him, having been intrusted with many duties
involving confidence, skill and discretion.

This gentleman procured admission for our party to
witness the reception by President Diaz and his cabinet,
of Baron Ketteler, newly appointed German Ambassa
dor to Mexico, which was to be held in the Ambassadors'
Hall of the president's palace. At one end of the hall
which was about a hundred feet in length, there was a
raised platform, occupied by Diaz and his associates.
We were also given positions here.

The baron entered the hall at the end opposite the
dais; he was of good stature and of commanding phy
sique and he appeared in the most gorgeous uniform I
had ever seen. The president wore a handsome suit,
the front of his coat being ornamented with numerous
decorations which had been conferred upon him. He
sat among the members of his cabinet who formed a
semi-circle on the dais. Two lines composed of colonels
of the Mexican army, stood facing each other, and ex
tended from the dais to the door through which the baron
entered. He advanced four steps, took off his military
hat and made a low bow; then he put on his hat, ad
vanced four steps more, and went through the same
ceremony. When he had accomplished half of the dis
tance President Diaz arose from his chair and advanced
to the steps. As the baron reached the platform, the
president leaned over and gave him his hand to assist
him to the dais. A little speech in Spanish was responded
to by the president, and later he introduced the ambassa
dor to several members of his cabinet, and invited him to
a seat near him. After a few moments7 conversation the
entire party retired to the president's rooms, adjoining
the reception hall. These we had visited the day before ;

232 BEMINISCENCES

they had been furnished and decorated by order of
Emperor Maximilian, and included the most gorgeous
draperies and fittings which I had ever seen. Baron
Ketteler was afterwards killed in Pekin when the em
bassies of foreign nations were besieged by the "boxers."

That afternoon our party was received by President
Diaz, an appointment having been procured by Colonel
Foster. At the request of our party I consented to act
as spokesman, Colonel Foster officiating as interpreter.
This gentleman said he was a cousin of Honorable John
Foster, who had succeeded James G. Elaine as Secre
tary of State under President Harrison.

I have met Americans who claimed that President
Diaz could speak and understand the English language,
but the gentleman himself assured me of his inability
to do so. The parlor where we were received was very
richly and beautifully furnished. I recollect a table of
solid silver which had been presented to the president,
and I remember his telling me that General Grant had
sent him word that he would come to his aid with one
hundred thousand men, if he needed to drive Maxi
milian out of Mexico.

President Diaz I consider to be one of the greatest
men of modern times. He was born, raised and edu
cated in Oaxaca. He studied law and at one time was
appointed Chief Justice of the republic of Mexico, but
he became involved in a revolutionary movement and
had to flee the country. During his absence he was
tried by court martial and sentenced to be shot.

After the interview I was conscious that President
Diaz must have observed how very ignorant I was re
garding the history of his country and himself. He
recommended his native state, Oaxaca, if I contem-

FKOM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 233

plated investments in Mexico, saying that he considered
it the richest of the states in gold and silver, and that
coal was also found there in large quantities. He in
formed me that his government had granted a large
concession of coal lands to an English company, in the
state of Oaxaca, and that they were under contract to
furnish coal in the City of Mexico at the price of $11
per ton (Mexican money).

Later, when I was in the city of San Francisco, I
bought a copy of the Overland Monthly which gave an
account of General Diaz' return to Mexico. I re
gretted very much that I did not know of this story
at the time I was able to interview him. It seems that
although under sentence of death he resolved to return
to his native land and lead another revolution. He
sailed from New York to Havana, where he took passage
on an American steamer for Vera Cruz under the name
Dr. Blank. He had but just recovered from an attack
of malarial fever, and was very weak when he entered
the vessel. As soon as the steamer was well under way
he took the purser into his confidence, and implored him
to hide him so that he would not be recognized by any
of the passengers. The purser, who was an Irish- Amer
ican, secreted him in a little closet where he could not
lie down, but supplied him with food which he had car
ried to his stateroom, ostensibly for his own use. It
seems that the vessel touched at some point in Mexico
before landing at Vera Cruz and a company of soldiers
were put aboard at that place. This added to the
anxiety of both the purser and of Diaz, and when the
steamer arrived at Vera Cruz he determined to jump
overboard and swim to shore. Attempting this he was
discovered and a boat sent out from the vessel, which

234 REMINISCENCES

picked him up very weak and exhausted. When they
were bringing him up the gang plank a lady saw and
recognized him, and knowing the peril he would be in
if he were seen by any of the Mexican soldiers, with
quick wit she threw her cloak over him. The purser
immediately returned him to his stateroom where he
remained until another scheme could be concocted to
get him to shore. A lot of flour in barrels was being
unloaded from the steamer on to barges, and these
were unloaded at the dock. Diaz managed to com
municate with some of his trusted friends in the city
and inform them of his precarious position. The
purser procured some laborer's clothes, which Diaz put
on and so disguised himself that his own wife would
not have recognized him, and going down to the lower
deck among the stevedores, he went to work as one of
them, rolling flour on to the barge. When it was loaded
he remained on the barge while it crossed to the dock,
from where he managed with the aid of his friends to
escape to his native city Oaxaca, he and associates then
starting an insurrection against the existing government.
The president at this time was, I think, named Gon
zalez; he had succeeded to the office on the death of
Benito Juarez, known as the George Washington of
Mexico.

At the time of Diaz' return, the misnamed republic
was in a state of anarchy. For some fifty years revo
lution after revolution had reduced the country to a
chaotic condition, where the citizens engaged in peace
ful pursuits, such as farming and mining, were obliged
to maintain forts and keep armed retainers, to protect
themselves from the outlaws. Elections were of course
a farce, and always have been there. Communication

FBOM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 235

between the different states of the republic, owing to
the bad roads, was difficult and expensive. The gov
ernor of a distant state who was ambitious to become
president would start a revolution in his own state,
against the national government and march with his
army to the capital, overpower the authorities and pro
claim himself president, then busy himself with any
form of intrigue which might keep his position secure.
Sooner or later would appear another ambitious pre
tender who would start a similar insurrection and the
government would again be changed.

To prevent this easy recourse to revolution, Diaz
subsidized railroads and telegraph lines which were
built into insurgent districts thus affording necessary
information, when incipient revolts were forming, and
he was thus able to send troops to quell the uprisings
before plans could be matured by the enemy. Before
his time, without means of securing information and
the difficulty of marching troops and transporting sup
plies through a mountainous district without roads,
had left the chances of success with the revolutionists.

Diaz also sent for the leaders of the banditti, in
quired of them their approximate monthly income from
the hazardous life they were leading; he asked if they
would not prefer a safe life for the same pay, and
offered to make them "rurales," a sort of rural mounted
police. By this diplomatic means he changed a dan
gerous element into a body of efficient police, inasmuch
as they were posted as to all the fastnesses which any
other robbers might use, they were able to keep the
country well cleaned of desperadoes, and Mexico be
came one of the safest places in the world for the trav
eler.

236 BEMINISCENCES

What will come to this great country after the death
of this wise ruler, is a serious problem. Will she be
torn by instability and revolt as in times past, or will
some other capable man succeed this strong and effi
cient head ? No one can tell.

From the roof of our hotel, we could obtain some
excellent views of Popocatepetl and the White Lady.
Our party arranged to go to Vera Cruz by the National
Railway, a road which had been built by English capi
tal and engineers. We left in the morning and rode
through the beautiful valley of Mexico and over the
range of mountains to the east of it, to the city of
Pueblo. We found this a very interesting city, near
which lies the battleground where the French troops
fought the Mexicans on the "cinco Mayo." We stopped
at a hotel of modern architecture. It was nearly quad
rangular in form and three stories in height. One side
of our room looked out on a street and the other opened
upon a patio or court The rooms were entered from a
gallery or hall, which ran around the patio. I was very
much pleased with this hotel and we stopped here for
three or four days.

One day I went to a bull fight, the first I had ever
witnessed. As a bull fight it was the best I have seen,
although I have witnessed several since. The bulls
were black; fine, courageous creatures. I must own
that my sympathies were with the bulls, which always
met death, but unfortunately none of the matadors.
One bull jumped over the fence, which was fully five
feet high, and which encircled the arena. I did not
enjoy the sight of the bulls goring the poor blindfolded
horses. When a bull was killed a team of horses would
be driven in, hitched to the hind legs of the dead beast

FKOM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 237

and it was drawn from the arena. Then another bull
bounded in to meet its fate.

Another day we went to the Pyramid of Cholula,
which is nine miles distant from the city of Pueblo.
This pyramid is of quadrangular form, six or eight
hundred feet on each side of the base. It is a subject
of great conjecture, as no knowledge exists as to its
builders or mode of construction. It suggests the period
of the Egyptian pyramids although this is formed of
dirt. It is about three hundred feet high and on its
top is built a church bearing the usual Eoman Catholic
emblems. Around this pyramid there flourished quite
a large Indian village.

It is fifteen miles from Cholula to Popocatepetl, the
extinct volcano, if I remember correctly. After spend
ing the day viewing the pyramid and surrounding vil
lage we returned to Pueblo. Near this city are the quar
ries of the beautiful Mexican onyx. There was a large
and fine cathedral at this place, the interior of which
was ornamented with much of this semi-transparent
quartz. The dome of the cathedral was beautifully
frescoed, and in the center of the dome was a cross
studded with diamonds, which were easily and plainly
seen from the floor.

From the main line of the National Railroad, lead
ing from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, a branch
some thirty miles long runs to Pueblo ; on this road are
situated extensive mills which make serapes and
blankets of brilliant colors, and are offered for sale by
peddlers at attractive prices. At a town where the
branch diverts, quite an industry was carried on in
the manufacture of walking canes made from native
woods and horn engraved by local artists.

238 REMINISCENCES

We were now in the state of Tlaxcala, where in
ancient times lived the tribe of Indians whom the
Aztecs were never able to conquer.

We met the train going to Vera Cruz at this point
and proceeded on our way to that city. We crossed
vast plains which appeared to be very rich, and well
cultivated, from a Mexican point of view. During the
day I became afflicted with one of the terrible head
aches to which I was subject at that period. It was so
severe that my wife and I left the train at Orizaba and
remained overnight at a hotel, the rest of our party
going on to Cordova and spending the night there. The
next morning I was partly recovered from my indis
position, so we took a drive among the orange groves
and coffee plantations which flourish in this section.

We boarded the train that day for the City of Mexico.
There are some heavy grades on this road between
Orizaba and the plains of Tlaxcala. The locomotives
used are of English make and of a style called double-
enders. It is a peculiarity of this road that the govern
ment furnishes a company of soldiers to ride upon each
train to protect it from banditti. I found our old ac
quaintance, Colonel Foster, in command of the company
on this train. Another requirement made of the rail
road is that they shall run a trainload of pulque into
the City of Mexico each day, this being a main article
of diet for the Mexicans. We arrived at the City of
Mexico that evening.

Through the kindness of Colonel Foster we were
permitted to visit the castle of Chapultepec ("Grass
hopper Hill"). This castle had been fitted up regard
less of expense by the Emperor Maximilian as a sum
mer residence for himself and the Empress Charlotte.

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 239

Through some mistake, Colonel Foster who was to ea-
cort us through the palace was not present when our
carriages arrived at the main entrance. We drove on
over the picturesque road leading up the hill passed
the soldiers in charge without challenge, and alighted at
the doorway. There being no one to receive us, we
walked in and rambled through the castle for some three
hours. We went everywhere we chose and I suppose
saw more of the castle than is the fortune of most tour
ists. There are, I believe no finer fittings in any royal
palace in Europe. I remember one stairway where
the railings and banisters were of solid silver. In
Charlotte's private hall, leading to her oriel room the
walls and stairways were of onyx, and the railings and
banisters were said to be of solid gold. The dreams of
grandeur and greatness that filled the mind of the
empress were to be ruthlessly dispelled by the capture
and death of her beloved consort

Near the center of the palace was a well which was
said to reach the bottom of Chapultepec HilL I pre
sume that a tunnel connects it there with the outside
world. In the basement of the palace we saw stables
cut out of the solid rock, extensive enough I should
judge to accommodate a hundred horses, though none
were kept there at that time. The stables themselves
were very elegant as were the carriage rooms. There
was a bewildering number of beautiful apartments in the
palace which I am not able to describe. I remember
that the roof garden was filled with a variety of magnifi
cent tropical flowers. We spent a most agreeable after
noon at the palace, free as we were to go where we
wished and no one to say, "You cannot enter here."

At the national museum in the City of Mexico is the

240 REMINISCENCES

state chariot of the Emperor Maximilian and his din
ner plate of solid silver. My recollection is that the
outside of the carriage is also of silver. In this museum
was the Aztec Calendar Stone and the stone upon which
the ancient Aztec priests made their human sacrifices.
There was a gallery of pictures in the City of Mexico
said to excel any other on the American continent. The
mineral exhibition there was the finest I have ever seen.
The cathedral holds many paintings usual to such re
ligious edifices. Altogether the trip to Mexico proved
very interesting and instructive to me. All that I saw
was new to my eyes and very different from what I had
ever seen.

I renewed my acquaintance with Mr. Richard Guen-
ther who was at this time Consul general for the United
States to the Republic of Mexico. During the short
time he had resided in this country he had acquired
sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language, to be able
to deliver an oration in that tongue which he had given
at the unveiling of a monument to the memory of Benito
Juarez. It was a most beautiful monument in Italian
marble, representing the dead patriot in a reclining
position.

The Paseo Avenue from the Alameda Park to the
Castle of Chapultepec, built by Maximilian for the
empress, is a most beautiful drive extending from the
city to the summer palace.

Knowing that I was interested in the lumber busi
ness, Mr. Guenther told me that he had an option on
some four hundred thousand acres of pine land within
fifteen miles of the city of Durango; that it was repre
sented to him that it would cut fifteen thousand feet of
lumber to the acre, and that a railroad was practical

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 241

from the land to the city. I told him I was willing to
go there and see if the representations were true or
false, and if they were anywhere near the truth that I
would take an interest in their purchase. Mr. Guen-
ther said he had a partner living at Valardena engaged
with him in mining, who was very familar with the
country around Durango, and spoke Spanish with
fluency. He agreed to have him accompany me to these
forests. I therefore arranged to have my wife go
through to Los Angeles with the acquaintances from
Iowa with whom we had been traveling. Mr. Guenther
and his partner Mr. Godfrey were extensively engaged
in mining, and it was arranged that a mining engineer
in their employ should meet me at Picardias with a
team and take me to Valardena, The railroad from
the Torreon station to Durango was not yet built and
it was necessary to travel about a hundred and fifty
miles by stage. This line passed through Cuencame
about fifteen miles south of Valardena. We arrived
about an hour after the stage had passed. It would be
two or three days before another would pass on its
way to Durango, Mr. Godfrey therefore hired a Mexi
can to take us to that city and we started the next morn
ing, traveled at a moderate pace and when night came
stopped at a miserable, poverty stricken town and spent
the night in very primitive and inhospitable quarters.
The next morning our driver refused to go any farther,
but insisted on returning to Cuencame. We "hustled
around" and found another Mexican and engaged him
to take us to Durango. The roads were very bad, the
country and the people very poor, so the second night
proved a repetition of the first The next morning this

24:2 REMINISCENCES

driver also refused to go farther and we were obliged to
hire still another team to get us to Durango.

On arriving at this place we found a passable hotel
and were enabled to take a bath, which we certainly
needed after the two days' ride through such dust and
dirt. We spent as much as two or three days' time try
ing to learn from the parties to whom we were referred,
the exact location of the lands for which we were look
ing. The governor of the state of Durango tendered us
a couple of rurales, and we hired a cook. Thus it was
that one morning five of us started to find the forests
for which we were searching. The first ten or twelve
miles traveling towards the west, crossed plains which
extended from the city to the Sierra Madre Mountains.
We then began to climb the mountains which appeared
to be of solid rock without soil or vegetation ; there was
a perceptible trail and that was all we had to guide
us on our way. We had carried a little water with us,
which enabled us to take an afternoon lunch, but none
of the party so far as I could learn, knew the country
ahead of us. After dark we arrived at a canyon said
to be three thousand feet deep. I thought it was all
of that before I got to the bottom. Our horses followed
the trail down the canyon side in Indian file. It was
so dark we could see but little of the dangers and we
allowed our horses to pick their way as carefully as
they chose. About eleven o'clock we reached the bot
tom. After following down the canyon about a mile we
saw a light which proved to issue from a camp of lum
ber carriers, who were transporting boards from a saw
mill to Durango. One of their cavalcades had stopped
at this place over night. The freighting was done by
burros. To each side of these beasts of burden was

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 24:3

lashed four boards, one end of which, dragged on the
ground. These boards were about five-eighths of an inch
in thickness, twelve inches wide and about twelve feet
long, and were whip sawed. The donkeys were driven
along Indian file, and when I saw the quality of the
lumber displayed in this line, I was given a poor opinion
of the timber in this district; also the transporting
facilities looked very discouraging.

Our party when arriving at this camp were thoroughly
exhausted. It was estimated that we had traveled over
sixty miles from Durango since morning. I appeared
to be the only one of the party who insisted on having
something to eat before lying down. The other members
of our party were so tired that they desired rest more
than food. I had our provisions unloaded, a fire built
and some bacon fried on the coals. We then ate heartily
of our supplies, lay down on the grass of the canyon,
under the canopy of stars, and slept the sleep of fatigue
until late in the morning. When I awoke I could find
nothing of more interest to do, so I began shooting at a
mark with my revolver.

We ate a hearty breakfast and then the matter as to
whether we should go farther was seriously debated. I
told Mr. Godfrey that no timber in that God forsaken
locality would interest me commercially and so it was
agreed that we should return. We saddled our horses,
mounted and rode out of the canyon. That day we made
our way out of the mountains to a village; I have for
gotten its name. A primitive iron foundry had been
established here, the only one in that part of Mexico,
although there is, within a few miles of Durango, a
mountain of iron ore, which Humboldt in his day pro-

244: REMINISCENCES

nounced the largest visible iron ore deposit in the
world.

The next day we traversed the valley to Durango
where we arranged to take the stage back to C'ueneame.
The coach was to leave at five o'clock in the morning:
We paid for our passage and the stage company agreed
to have us called early, so that we would not be left,
and to make double assurance we engaged a man at the
hotel to wake us at the proper time. In the deep sleep
of early morning we heard this garcon pounding at our
door saying that the stage was leaving. I arose and
donned my clothes quicker than Godfrey and with my
valise in hand I started out just as the stagecoach made
its appearance in the street in front of the hotel. It
appeared to be loaded with women. There was no use
in my trying to talk, as no one would understand me so
I found a place on the back seat and listened to the
jargon of voices. As the stage was about to leave God
frey put in an appearance and then the speech was
fast and furious. I afterwards learned from Godfrey
that the man accompanied by enough women to fill the
coach had made his application after we had procured
our seats and that they had sold him the seats, our
own included, counting on getting away before we ap
peared, thus making us pay again the next day and
claiming that it was our own fault that we had lost
our places. The fare was some $25 (Mexican) each.

These Mexican stages were built in imitation of the
old Concord coach. They were drawn by one pair of
mules on the pole and three horses abreast in the lead.
The driver had conveniently placed near his feet about
a peck of small cobble stones which he threw at the
leaders as occasion required. As the morning broke

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 245

and the sun arose Godfrey and the passenger came to
better terms. When we left Durango it had looked as
if there might be a shooting match, but during the day
all parties became quite friendly. About noon on the
second day we arrived at Cuencame, where we procured
horses to ride to Valardena. I stayed at this place some
two or three days to inspect some mining operations
being carried on by Oshkosh capitalists. Mr. Godfrey
and a mining engineer by the name of A. C. Payne,
having charge of the enterprise.

The country between Picardias and Durango was
very sparsely settled; there were a number of little
towns, that were very poor, dirty and unattractive.
The International Railroad from Durango to Torreon
was not built, but grading was being done. I saw
nothing here to interest me in the way of mining and
so I left Mexico to join my wife in California where
she was waiting for me. I stopped but a short time
in Los Angeles, but while there I visited Sierra Madre
and also Santa Anita, the ranch belonging to "Lucky"
Baldwin. While at the latter place I attempted with
two others to drink a bottle of wine made in this district,
thinking that three of us could manage that quantity
without deleterious effect, but after a limited trial I
concluded that the safest way to carry the contents of
that bottle would be in the bottom of the carriage.

During this trip we also visited Riverside and saw
the noted groves of that place. In February of that
year there had been a hard freeze for that section, which
had caused the oranges to drop from the trees in great
numbers. On Magnolia Avenue, a drive some ten miles
long, which is bordered with orange groves on either
side, the ground was literally covered with oranges

246 BEMINISCENCES

which had fallen from the trees, owing to the extreme
cold weather. This gave me an unfavorable impression
as to the profits to be made from orange growing in
Southern California,

Before leaving California we visited San Francisco,
where I found little to remind me of my former sojourn
there in 1863-5. From San Francisco we went to the
city of the Later Day Saints; there I discovered an
old acquaintance with whom I had roomed in 1864
when in Austin, Nevada. He had established a fine
livery business in Salt Lake City and was well ac
quainted with many leading Mormons. He showed us
about ; taking us to the "Bee Hive," the Mormon Church
and we were also escorted through the new temple,
which was then building. Salt Lake City, with its
broad streets bordered by flowing streams of water, its
fine hotels and evidences of prosperity on every hand,
impressed me very favorably. It appeared to me to
be a city of great commercial importance.

It occurred to me to visit the station agent in Salt
Lake City and make inquiries of him as to which train
we should take in order to see the fine scenery I had
heard lay between Salt Lake and Denver on the Denver
& Rio Grande Railroad. The agent told me that I
should take the train leaving the city in the morning
and stop over night at Grande Junction and then take
the train again the following morning. I replied that
I had been told that there was not much to see between
Salt Lake and the Junction. He answered : "You asked
me a straight question and I have given you a straight
answer. If you think I don't know, take which ever
train you please." I followed his directions and have
always felt that it was owing to this advice that I had

FBOM MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA 247

the pleasure of viewing the scenery, the most magnifi
cent to me of any in America, if not the grandest I
have ever seen.

When our visit was ended we went to take the early
morning train for the east. In the passenger room at
the depot we met a Mr. Dunstan, wife and children.
These were pleasant acquaintances of my wife, she
having become quite friendly with them while she was
in Los Angeles, and I was still on my trip to the Sierra
Madre Mountains west of Durango in Mexico. They
were very agreeable people and we traveled in their
company until we left Denver for New Orleans. We
passed through fertile fields of the Great Salt Lake
Valley which were irrigated by the melting snows from
the Rocky Mountains, until we began to ascend the
range of mountains lying to the east of the valley.
Scenic effects of sublime grandeur came gradually
into view. The country appeared to be studded with
ruined castles built of brightly colored rocks of the most
fantastic architecture. I remember one canyon which
looked as though great stone doors, hinged to the moun
tain's side had been swung open to let us pass through.
We crossed the valleys of the Colorado and the Green
Rivers, I believe, before we arrived at Grand Junction,
some time after dark. At this town we obtained some
what primitive accommodations at a new hotel some
distance from the depot, where we spent the night.
After breakfast the next morning we took the train
for the east. I had a good impression of the country
around Grand Junction, as the soil appeared to be very
rich. I saw a large number of fruit trees and so judged
that the valley would be a fine fruit district; this proved

248 BEMINISCENCES

to be correct as it is now recognized as a superior sec
tion for raising fruit.

At Glenwood Springs our train divided, one section
taking the southern route over Marshall Pass, which is
some eleven thousand feet in elevation, and the other
division, on which we traveled, taking the Northern
route by the way of Leadville, where Mr. Dunstan
wished to meet some acquaintances. In crossing the
mountains we saw several inches of snow. We stopped at
Leadville for a day. The hotel appeared to be closed
for the season, but at one we were able to secure rooms ;
for our meals, however, we had to seek a restaurant.
The altitude was quite trying to some of our party.
I, myself did not take exercise for the fun of it. After
leaving Leadville we passed through some fine scenery,
our trip being through the Koyal Gorge, where flows a
mountain stream, closed within high walls which were
nearly perpendicular, the gorge in some places being
quite narrow. The railroad crosses the river on a
bridge, one end of which is supported by rods fastened
to rocks above.

We arrived at Colorado Springs, and not being able
to get accommodations at the Antler's Hotel, we went
to the Alta Vista, which is near it. We took several
excursions while in Colorado Springs. One to a can
yon where we hoped to see some beautiful falls, but
were disappointed. We went to Manitou Springs and
to the Garden of the Gods, in a three seated surrey
drawn by four horses, and we very much enjoyed the
ride. The scenery in the "garden" is very grand and
well worth a visit. I learned too late, that my old tutor
and district judge of our moot court had a fine residence
here. We also went to a cave whose formation was

FROM MEXICO TO CALIFOBNIA 249

very unusual as well as attractive. The party entering
the cave was under charge of a guide who pointed out
the wonderful things to be seen.

From Colorado Springs we went to Denver, where
I was surprised to find a town of such elegance. The
buildings looked as though they might have been trans
ported from Boston. We went from here, for a one
day's excursion to Georgetown and Silver Plume. The
railroad, building into this canyon held the greatest
attraction for ma At one point there was a loop, the
road above being brought in a curve back over the road
below. At that time, this was considered a great novelty
and a fine piece of engineering skill, covering the diffi
culty of too steep a grade.

In leaving Denver we separated from our traveling
companions who had added so much to our pleasure of
the journey. The Dunstans went east to Chicago and
Michigan. Mr. Dunstan was later elected lieutenant
governor of his state. They lived at Hancock on the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

We went to New Orleans by the way of Colorado
Springs, Pueblo and the Pan Handle of Texas. In
my early school days, the geography showed this pan
handle as the "staked plain" or Great American Desert,
I was surprised therefore to ride through a beautiful
farming country with a rich black alluvial soil, as fine
as that of Illinois or Indiana. Our route was through
Fort Worth and Houston, where we struck the Southern
Pacific Railroad for New Orleans and Pensacola.

CHAPTER XX.

AVENO MINE.

This visit to Mexico and my making the acquaint
ance of Mr. Godfrey led to some transactions which
caused me great annoyance and considerable pecuniary
loss. Godfrey was a pushing sort of man; and he
boasted much of his knowledge of mines and also of his
honesty. While I was with him at Valardena, he
offered me a third interest in a mine on which he was
then working, as a present. I thanked him abundantly
but told him that I did not wish an interest in a jack-
knife blade mine ; that I had seen too many of them in
my early days in Nevada. The mine in question
appeared to be a well-developed fissure vein but it was
only six inches to a foot in thickness and required
a great deal of work to extract the ore. Godfrey elaimed
that it would yield a hundred dollars to the ton in gold,
besides the silver. When I refused to meet his offer,
he asked me what kind of a mine I would consider,
and I told him that when he found a good fissure vein
ten feet thick, that would yield $25 to the ton in silver,
he might write me and I would come and see it. He
wrote some time later, hoping to interest me in the
building of a smelter at Torreon, but that sort of in
vestment did not attract me. Matters ran along until
the spring of 1893, when he wrote me that he had found
a mine much better than the hypothetical one I had
described to him two years before, and he wished that

250

AVENO MINE 251

I would come and see it. I went to Mexico, met Mr.
Godfrey and saw the mine, which was situated twelve
miles from the city of Durango. Two brothers by the
name of Diaz were working it under a lease. A little
town of two thousand inhabitants was situated at the
mine. It was claimed that the mine had been worked
for over two hundred years and that a depth of four
hundred feet had been reached; that the foot-wall hav
ing never yet been found, the width of the vein could
not be estimated, although in one place it had been de
veloped fifty feet in width; and the ore it was asserted
would clean up $25 per ton of silver. We interviewed
the station agent where Mr. Diaz made his shipments
of silver, and he stated that the shipment amounted to
about $18,000 per month in silver, the product of this
mine.

Mr. Diaz acting for the owner offered to sell me the
mine for $100,000 (Mexican) with an option running
sixty days for $5,000 (Mexican). The option money
was to count in the purchase price if I bought the mine2
if not it was to be forfeited. The price included the
reduction works, which were of the old fashioned kind
primitive in character and common in Mexico at that
time.

I returned to Pensacola much elated over the prospect
of a fortune. On my arrival I told a banker of that
place where I had been, what I had seen and that I
proposed to go to New York to try and place the mine
there. He said: "Why not place it here?" I replied
that I did not believe men could be found in Pensacola
who would invest the amount necessary. He thought
differently, and mentioned the names of half a dozen
men who would invest $10,000 each. He offered to

252 BEMLNISCENCES

pay one-half of the option money and to place the mine
with Pensacola capitalists. I accepted his proposition
and forwarded the amount necessary to secure the
option. About two weeks later a party of seven promi
nent men of our city and myself started to visit the
mine.

While on the trip, somewhere after leaving Eagle
Pass, Mexico, in the smoking room of the Pullman car
I made the acquaintance of a mining engineer named
Ayer, from Chicago. He was traveling in Mexico in
the interest of one of the largest manufacturers of min
ing machinery, in Chicago. I introduced him later to
the members of our party, and we talked with him
considerably during the evening of matters pertaining
to mining. Seeing that he was well posted in the busi
ness, the parties from Pensacola eventually concluded
to employ him to go and see the mine and give his
opinion as to its value and prospects independent of
the report furnished by Mr. Godfrey in the first in
stance and of A. C. Payne, made after he had visited
the mine at my personal request

The next morning we left Torreon for Durango, tak
ing on Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Payne at Pedrisena. On
arriving at Durango the party decided to stop there a
day before visiting the mine, and give Godfrey time to
procure teams to take us out to the mines. The Pensa-
colians enjoyed the city of Durango very much, finding
it novel and beautiful We left the city on the second
morning after our arrival on our way to see Aveno
Mine. Arriving at the station about eight miles dis
tant, some of the party chose to ride horseback while
others preferred the carriage. Reaching Aveno, the
entire party was lodged in a large, two story adobe

AVENO MINE 253

building belonging to the mine and occupied by Mr.
Diaz as a residence.

A young lawyer of Pensacola, from the time we en
tered the Republic of Mexico had been troubled with
some malady, and he resorted to all the patent medi
cines which he could find; each member of the party
seemed to have brought some kind of medicine for his
own particular ailments and these were freely contrib
uted to the stricken individual; I judge that by the
time we arrived at the Aveno mine he must have swal
lowed at least a gallon of patent medicines recommended
for about every disease to which this flesh is heir. By
bedtime our party held a consultation as to what we
could do for the sick man, and some additional drugs
were obtained from the commissary. Between one and
two o'clock the combined medicines began to take effect
and the sick man was relieved but I observed that the
patient had not lost a single meal since leaving
Pensacola.

Godfrey and Payne amused us greatly telling min
ing anecdotes, a couple of which I had occasion to
remember later on. One told by Godfrey was to the
effect that a promoter trying to impress upon the mind
of an expected purchaser that he was getting his inter
est in the mine at first cost, said : "I am letting you in
on the ground floor." The possible buyer queried:
"But how about the fellow in the basement?" The
story that Payne gave was the charge of an English
judge to a jury that had been listening to the evidence
in a mining case which was being tried before them.
"Gentlemen of the jury," said his honor, "you have
listened to a great deal of conflicting testimony in this
case. You alone are to decide the case from the evi-

254 EEMINISCENCES

dence, but I wish to call jour attention to the fact that
there are three kinds of liars: the common liar, the
damned liars, and the mining engineer/'

We spent the next day in examining the mine and
the reduction works, which were quite extensive, also
in acquiring knowledge of the past, present and future
prospects of the mine. Mr. Ayer was employed by the
Pensacola parties to extract half a ton of ore from the
mine, of its average grade, pulverize it and take it to
St. Louis for reduction. A most favorable impression
was made on all as to the value of this mine.

That night we returned to Durango and spent the
next day in viewing it ; the following morning our whole
party started for the City of Mexico. The country and
people were new to most of the party and therefore
more interesting. When we arrived at the city, the
entire party put up at the Iturbide Hotel. One even
ing while there all met in my rooms and agreed to the
price, division and purchase of the mine and a con
tract was drawn up and signed by all interested. After
a day or two spent in sight seeing we left for home
over the National Railway. At one station where there
was a brewery our young lawyer of patent medi
cine fame got out to procure some beer. A big revolver
protruded from his pocket, and was deftly extracted by
another member of our party, who handed it to me for
safe keeping. When the train was again in motion the
lawyer was apprised of his loss; it was the opinion of
all that some Mexican must have taken the pistol while
the lawyer was hunting for beer. After bracing his
mind with legal reflections, he announced his intention
to sue the railroad company for the value of the lost
weapon. As he himself and his belongings were in the

AVENO MINE 255

custody of the railway company it must be responsible
to him for the robbery. All the party agreed with him
as to the liability of the company, and he decided to
bring suit as soon as he should reach Texas, where Eng
lish was spoken.

Arriving at San Antonio, I stopped to visit my sis
ter-in-law and her daughter, who were temporarily in
that city, while the other members of our party kept
on to Florida. Soon after when I reached Pensacola
I was notified in writing by Mr. Brent that he would
withdraw from his agreement to purchase the Aveno
Mine, and in quick succession I was notified to the
same effect by all, I think, of the other men who had
signed the agreement to buy the mine. I felt very
much disappointed, but was satisfied that it would be
of no use to make any fuss about it, and I let the mat
ter drop.

It seems that while we were in Mexico two banks in
Chicago had failed, owing to bad management I think,
and that this had brought about a panic in money mat
ters affecting the whole country and resulting in serious
loss. During our absence in Mexico, the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad had withdrawn its deposits from the
bank of which Mr. Brent was president, this deposit
amounting to some $30,000, the State of Florida had
also withdrawn its deposit amounting to $40,000. The
general impression prevailed that all banks would issue
certified checks and not honor individual checks. The
bank was also involved in the liabilities of Mr. Baars
for the purchase of timber, amounting to some two
hundred thousand dollars, all these causes combined to
put the bank in serious straits. During the summer it
resorted to certified checks and refused payment of the

256 REMINISCENCES

checks of individual depositors in most instances. The
money in payment of the mine, some $60,000 would
have to be drawn out of this bank, had we gone on with
the purchase of the Aveno Mine. I made some effort in
Chicago to preserve the option, and thought I might be
able to accomplish the purchase of the mine, but B. R.
Pitt, who had during his visit to Mexico become con
vinced of the value of the mine, at the last moment
failed to respond and I had to give up the purchase,
although having paid $500 additional to have the
option extended thirty days.

During the spring I was appointed by the Southern
Lumber Manufacturing Company in connection with a
Mr. Burton, to erect an exhibit of southern lumber in
the Forestry Building of the Columbian Exposition in
Chicago. I selected from my lumber at Escambia some
very handsome varieties of curly pine, cypress and other
woods, which I sent up to Chicago. I entered into con
tract with a firm at Meridian, Mississippi, to erect this
exhibit, the design for which was made by an architect
of that place, and adopted by the Southern Lumber
Manufacturing Company. The exhibit was to be
erected at the front entrance of the building, opening
towards Lake Michigan. The space appropriated to us
was forty-five feet square, and forty-five feet high and
it should have made a very creditable appearance, but
the work was so shabbily done by the contractors that
I refused to accept it as a compliance with the contract.
I had paid the contractors about half of the stipulated
price before I saw the exhibit, then I refused to pay
any farther sum except under instructions of the execu
tive officers of the Association. On referring the mat
ter to the company they sustained my position and re-

AVENO MINE 257

fused to order me to pay anything farther on the con
tract. I received a season's pass to the exposition, and as
I spent the summer in Chicago I had abundant oppor
tunity to visit the fair; one or two hours at a time
would however make me so tired that I gave up fre
quent visits.

This Columbian Exposition was the finest effort of
the kind I have ever seen, or ever expect to see, so since
that time I have taken little interest in visiting others.
There may be something in the future that will excel it,
but I do not think that such can occur in this genera
tion. Certainly I do not expect to live to see it. The
Court of Honor at night, with electric lights in full
effulgence, and the fountains playing, was I think the
most brilliant scene that my eyes ever beheld or can
ever behold, unless it be my good fortune to gaze upon
the golden streets of the New Jerusalem of which I
have heard so much from people who could in the very
nature of things know nothing about it.

CHAPTER XXI.

OUK NEW CORPOEATION.

In the fall of the year 1893 I returned to Escambia.
I learned through a Mr. Cyrus Orr that my partners,
the McDavids, had offered their interests in the hold
ings of Skinner & McDavid to the father-in-law of
Mr. Orr, Colonel Milner, of Birmingham, Alabama,
on a basis of $107,000 for their half interest in the
property. Previous to this I had notified them that I
would not continue the partnership that I had with
them, for a term longer than that mentioned in the
articles of co-partnership ; the term expiring in Novem
ber of that year. I had informed them that I would
organize the business as a corporation, if they would
consent to do so. Upon receiving this information from
Mr. Orr I immediately wrote Mr. John McDavid that
I had been informed of the offer by himself and his
brothers to Colonel Milner, and that if they wished to
sell their interest in the firm, I would pay them the
price they asked if we could arrange the payments
satisfactorily. They replied that they would sell their
interest at the price stated. I proposed that they take
about twelve thousand acres of land which the partner
ship owned at Choctawhatchee, and that I pay them
$10,000 cash, assume the debts of the firm, and pay
them $10,000 a year until the whole amount should
be paid ; that I would organize the property into a cor
poration with three hundred thousand dollars capital,

258

OUR NEW CORPORATION 259

that I would place one half of the stock of the said
corporation in the custody of the First National Bank
of Pensacola, as collateral to secure the notes for $60,-

000 dollars, such notes to be payable, $10,000 a year,
with interest at six per cent, per annum. In consider
ation of this action on my part they were to deed to
the corporation their interest in the lands belonging
to Skinner & McDavid and give a bill of sale to said
corporation of all the personal property of whatever
kind or wherever found, belonging to said partnership.
This transaction was effected and each of the several
notes paid as they fell due. At the end of six years the
bank returned to me the stock deposited with it, to se
cure the payments of the notes.

In the new corporation there were as stockholders
only three persons, my wife, my son, and myself; so
our business was practically a close corporation. The
change from partnership to corporation made no dif
ference in our business nor in the management of it.

1 attended to most of the business in the woods, and to
furnishing logs for the mill. The profits in the manu
facture of lumber during these years were small;
apparently there was an over production of southern
pine lumber and it was sold at very small margin.
The cost to us for logs cut upon our lands was about
$2 per thousand feet, less than the price of logs bought
on the market ; this of course left us a small margin in
competition with those concerns which had no timber
lands of their own. But this was very unsatisfactory
to me, for I felt sure that in the immediate future the
stumpage of pine lands would greatly increase in value.
I made strenuous efforts to get the lumber manufacturers
of the gulf coast to consolidate their interests in prac-

260 REMINISCENCES

tically a trust company. I induced about sixty-six per
cent, of the manufacturers to enter into such a combi
nation, but the jealousy and distrust among each other,
and variable necessities of individuals rendered the
plan inadequate to carrying the trust to a successful
issue, so after spending some three years in efforts to
solve the problem of over production and prevent under
selling I gave up the attempt in disgust.

There prevailed in the south an idea that a man who
had failed in some other business could make a success
in running a sawmill; there were constant instances
where lumber merchants, that is the men who bought
lumber from the mills and shipped it abroad to dealers
in Europe and elsewhere, would secure money from
their correspondents and with it would assist one of
these impecunious and impractical men, who were
always ready but without means of their own to start
a one horse saw mill business, and this beginning meant
a steady down grade to bankruptcy. Hundreds of
these futile attempts have I seen; efforts to get rich
without capital and without experience in the manu
facture of lumber ; while the fact is that to successfully
operate a sawmill requires the highest order of admin
istrative and executive ability and the man who is com
petent to construct, operate and make money in a saw
mill, has the ability to enter upon and manage any
other business successfully, of which he has the neces
sary training.

CHAPTER XXII.

SECURING GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS FOR FRIENDS.

My wife and I went to a session of the Chautauqua
Society at De Funiak Springs, Florida, to find some
relief from the monotonous life at Escambia. While
there I chanced to make the acquaintance of the Kev.
Geo. Collier, who had served in the Civil War as chap
lain in the regiment of which William McKinley
was major. This gentleman was very desirous that
Mr. McKinley should be nominated the next year for
the presidency, and he tried hard to inject into me
some of his enthusiasm on the subject. I told him that
I had had my last experience in politics and that I
should attend no more negro conventions. The next
year he came to my house in company with his wife
and said that Major McKinley wished him to visit me
and induce me to work for his nomination. He showed
me a letter in which McKinley stated that he desired the
acquaintance of an honest, influential man upon whom
he could rely, should he be elected, for advice as to
appointments to office in Florida, and he therefore
wished him to visit me, so there would be no mistake,
and if he should find me the man he needed, to urge
me to go as a delegate to the St. Louis convention in
his behalf.

I told Mr. Collier as in my previous talks with him
that I would not again become a member of a negro
convention, but after great persuasion on the part of

261

262 REMINISCENCES

my guest, listening to his statements regarding the fine
character of McKinley and the intimate relations that
he held with him, that my help would place me first in
the esteem of the future president among the citizens
of Florida, all this added to the personal entreaties of
Mr. Collier made me reverse my judgment and I prom
ised to make an effort to secure a delegation from our
state which would vote for McKinley's nomination at
St. Louis. I had been in touch with the republican
politics of Escambia County for several years. When I
sought out the republican leaders and told them what
I would like to do, I was informed by them that they
did not believe that a McKinley delegation could be
had from the state. It had been impressed upon me by
Mr. Collier that as Florida held the first convention to
elect delegates that if a delegation favorable to Mc
Kinley could be secured here it would serve to influence
those states which would hold conventions later.

I was told on the other side that ex-vice president
Morton had sent twenty thousand dollars into Florida
to be distributed among politicians "where it would
do most good," towards obtaining a delegation in his be
half ; that an emissary had been all through the western
part of the state, distributing a good part of that fund,
and it was the opinion that every republican negro
politician had been "fixed." It was considered useless
to hope to change the trend of politics as they then
stood. I informed these pessimists that I was inclined
to assist Mr. McKinley and that if they would help me
that we would send a delegation to St. Louis pledged
to nominate our candidate; I agreed to pay suitable
persons their expenses if they would go into the dif
ferent counties west of the Apalachicola River to stim-

GOVEBNMENT APPOINTMENTS 263

ulate efforts in electing delegates to the republican con
vention to be held at Tallahassee, in the month of
April. These state delegates would in their turn elect
the delegates to be sent to the National Convention to
be held by the republicans in St. Louis that year.

It was decided that it would be best to hold the coun
ty convention at Escambia, where I lived, on the suppo
sition that the leaders of the different factions of ne
groes could be more easily controlled there than in the
city of Pensacola where free access could be had to
numerous saloons. A passenger train was chartered on
the railroad to bring the delegates and others to the
convention. I asked the trustees of the colored church
for the use of their building, which was granted after
my becoming personally responsible for any damage
done to their property.

The negro is very shrewd and unscrupulous in poli
tics. When the certificates of the delegates were handed
in from the different precincts, it was discovered that
the call for the meeting to be held in one precinct of the
city of Pensacola stated that the meeting would be
held at 1 o'clock on a certain day of the month, without
stating whether it would be 1 A. M. or 1 P. M. of that
date, so that precinct had two sets of delegates to repre
sent it in the convention. One meeting had been held
at 1 A. M. and the other at 1 P. M.

After the expenditure of a large amount of oratory
the convention was finally organized and its officers
elected. On one occasion in the meeting, a lawless negro
threw a missile of some kind which struck the side of
the room near my head. I arose and walked over to the
vicinity of the presiding officer and told the convention
that the building belonged to me, that I had given the

264 REMINISCENCES

convention the use of it, but that I would permit no
lawless or turbulent conduct in the room. Quiet was
restored for a time but it became evident later that
four or five burly, hot headed negroes were bent on
breaking up the meeting in a row. At last one of them
seized the table in front of the presiding officer and
broke a leg from it. I arose and ordered the whole
convention to leave the room, which order was obeyed. I
then informed the disturbing element that I should go
to the office and have all these rowdies arrested. I
went to my office, but I was unable to get the sheriff
by telephone as he was absent, so after spending a few
moments in trying I returned to the convention hall,
to find that the troublesome negroes had disappeared,
and then I invited the delegates back into the hall, so
the convention was reorganized with the disturbing
element absent. After this I stood by the presiding
officer and dictated his mode of procedure. A full
quota of delegates was elected to the Tallahassee con
vention. John Eagan and some of the other republi
can leaders among the white men disappeared from the
convention when I went to call the sheriff, and did not
reappear to take part in the farther proceedings. In
this manner thirteen delegates were secured from the
county of Escambia to the state convention to be held
at Tallahassee. It was undoubtedly the intention of
the unruly element to break up the convention in a
row and hold another of its own, but my vigorous inter
vention foiled their plans.

The McKinley forces, as I remember, were equally
successful in all the counties west of the Apalachicola
River. The outcome of the Escambia convention gave
me some reputation as a ruler of negro conventions.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 265

The state of Florida west of the Apalachicola River sent
to the Tallahassee convention a solid McKinley delega
tion numbering about forty. The total number of dele
gates in that convention was about one hundred and
twenty. The delegates east of the river were about
equally divided between McKinley and Morton, leaving
the delegates in the state standing about eighty for
McKinley and forty for Morton. Upon my arrival at
Tallahassee to attend the convention I was taken with
another attack of sick headache, which lasted about
twenty-four hours. When I was able to attend the con
vention it had been organized. The turbulent negroes
of the Morton faction were exhibiting their chagrin in
powerful oratory. There was no way to stop this dis
play of forensic eloquence except by driving them from
the room or allowing them to talk until they were ex
hausted. This flow of oratory was kept up till after
midnight, when the Morton faction under the lead of
"Jim" Coombs seceded from the convention, leaving
to those remaining in the room, the duty of electing
delegates and performing the other services that were
customary. John G. Long, Dennis Eagan, myself and
a negro were elected delegates for the state at large.

When the delegates from the counties of the first
congressional district were assembled it was found that
the chairman of that district was among the seceders,
and when sent for he refused to attend the district con
vention. Another delegate from the district was nomi
nated and elected to act in his stead, and two congres
sional delegates were duly elected. The seceders from
the convention belonging to the first congressional dis
trict held a meeting and elected two delegates also to
the convention ; I think these two were "Jim" Coombs

266 REMINISCENCES

and a negro from Pensacola named Mark White. The
second district elected McKinley delegates. The state
of Florida went to the St. Louis convention with eight
delegates pledged to his support, and the two contesting
delegates whom I have mentioned as supporting Mor
ton. This made a contest at St. Louis and much to the
surprise of everyone that had anything to do with it,
the two Morton delegates were admitted to seats in the
convention to the exclusion of the two delegates regu
larly elected; on the ground that the seceding conven
tion was the regular one because it was called to order
by the chairman of the congressional committee, who
had refused to perform that duty for the regular con
gressional convention.

When I attended the St. Louis convention my wife
accompanied me. We had engaged accommodations in
a private hotel free from the great crowd that was in
the city at that time, and we had very pleasant quarters
there.

The convention met in a large hall erected for the
purpose. I found that a few men ran the whole busi
ness and that the other members of the convention had
very little to do with the planning of the resolutions,
the work being done by a few men in committee. The
most vital resolution was one concerning the money
question. A large number of delegates, especially from
some of the western states and mining territories, were
in favor of the free coinage of silver. I think that this
craze which affected a large part of the population of
the United States was composed principally of the same
men who had at the preceding presidential campaign
favored the issuing of greenbacks in unlimited quan
tities, so as to supply all the need of money to the coun-

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 267

try and the individuals. I was uncompromisingly
opposed to both schemes; I believed that gold was the
only metal that represented real money among the
commercial nations of the world; that any substitute
for gold in the way of coining silver and printing paper
should be used only to represent gold in possession.

The debate on this money question occupied more
of the convention's time than any other subject. The
views of McKinley had never been fully expressed on
this question, though he was generally believed to be
in favor of placing the country on a gold basis. The
leaders among the delegates advocating free coinage of
silver, occupied the attention of the convention nearly
one whole day under the determined lead of Senator
Teller of Colorado, Cannon of Utah and some others.
These finally concluded to secede from the republican
party, to take their followers over to the democrats.
Apparently not much effort was made to combat their
arguments but they were allowed the floor and the
chance to talk until like the negroes in a southern con
vention, they should talk themselves into physical ex
haustion ; then the vote on the resolution in favor of gold
as the basis of the country's coinage was carried by a
large majority.

The advocates of silver coinage, with Senator Teller
in the lead took their defeat most seriously. As they
sat with tears running down their cheeks, they remind
ed me of scenes I had witnessed in my younger days,
of emotional persons at Methodist revival meetings.
They arose finally in a very spectacular manner and
announced that they seceded from the republican party,
that they could not stay with it and be particeps
criminis in the ruin of the business of the country which

268 REMINISCENCES

would be sure to follow. Their departure reminded me
of the seceders from the Tallahassee convention as they
had marched out of the hall a few months before. The
seats of the Florida delegates were on the right side of
the main aisle, and as the seceders passed me I called
to them: "WHEN YOU GET OUT STAY OUT.
DON'T COME BACK." I was so disgusted with
what I believed to bo their insincere talk. They be
lieved that the industries of their sparsely settled ter
ritories would be injured by want of a market for the
silver bullion that was being extracted from their mines,
and they would sacrifice the best interests of the coun
try at large for the petty interests of their own particu
lar section. They were undoubtedly doing what
they thought they were compelled to do in order to
retain their seats in the United States senate, whatever
might be their honest convictions upon the question
at issue.

After this historic episode, the nominations for the
presidential candidate were in order. A number of
the delegates who prided themselves upon their orator
ical ability arose to second the nomination. Morton
also received a nomination. When the voting took
place each state delegation was called upon to announce
through its spokesman the vote of that state, the states
being called in alphabetical order. When the state of
Florida was called I told the negro who was spokesman
for our delegation to answer "eight votes for Mc-
Kinley," which he did. Then Jim Coombs arose
and asked that the delegates from Florida be polled.
Each delegate arose as his name was called and
announced for whom he voted. The corrected vote
showed that Florida cast six votes for McKinley and

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 269.

two votes for Morton, these two were Coombs and
White.

The announcement of the vote of the convention
showed that McKinley had a large majority, and but
one ballot was necessary to secure his nomination. One
ballot was also necessary to nominate the vice-president,
the choice of the convention being Mr. Hobart of New
Jersey. This practically concluded the duties of the
convention.

John G. Long was very anxious to be a member of
the national republican committee. He practically con
trolled the four negroes in our delegation, and would
dictate the membership from our states on the different
committees. I had no farther ambitions in a political
way in Florida, and did not choose to oppose any of his
designs. If I had anticipated his course later I would
have made strenuous efforts to block his game, and with
such efforts on my part, I believe that a different result
would have been accomplished in our committee. I
desired to be on the committee to notify McKinley of
his nomination, but such did not appear to be Mr.
Long's pleasure and I was too proud to ask any favors.
It seems that the chairman of the state delegations from
states that had no republican congressmen or senators,
had met together and agreed among themselves that
they would control the political patronage of those
states. This I was informed had been agreed upon,
though I had no evidence of it except as circumstances
developed in the state of Florida after the inauguration
of McKinley.

At the Tallahassee convention Dennis Eagan, who
had been the chairman of the state republican committee
for a great many years, and had remarkable control over

270 REMINISCENCES

the negro politicians of the state, declined a re-election
and he offered the name of John E. Stillman as his suc
cessor, in a speech in which he complimented Mr. Still
man as one worthy of every confidence and esteem. Still
man was unanimously elected, due I think to Mr.
Eagan's recommendation. While he was favorably
known in the eastern part of the state, up to that time
he was almost unknown in the western part. Mr. Long,
in his efforts to control the politics and federal appoint
ments in the state, conceived that it would be necessary
to have a state committee which would obey his orders,
and his first move was to promote harmony in the party.
He suggested that a certain number of the committee,
there being one member from each county, I think some
forty-five in all, should resign and that Morton men,
or seceders should be appointed in their places. This
would give each faction twenty two votes, and the chair
man would have the casting vote. This proposition was
argued by Long until it was agreed to. Finding that
he could not control Stillman, he felt it was necessary
to get him out of the way. He therefore persuaded
John Eagan to resign as member from Escambia
County, and have a Morton man appointed in his place ;
which was done. When a state committee meeting was
called and Stillman was deposed from the chairman
ship a tool of Long's was elected in his stead. John
Eagan had just enough Irish treachery in his make
up to betray his brother and the many friends who had
trusted him to carry out their plans, nor did he let me
know of his intended treachery. When the conditions
had thus been arranged to Mr. Long's liking he thought
he would be the exclusive dispenser of national patron
age in Florida. On the pretext that republican politics

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 271

in the state required it, a meeting of the state committee
was called; the real purpose of this being to remove
Stillman from the chairmanship and to elect a Morton
man to the place; which was promptly done. Mr.
Stillman was too honest and independent to lend him
self to Mr. Long's purpose and he in consequence waa
ejected from the machine. Until this time I had no
realizing sense of the power of "the machine." I
found it was very difficult to have McKinley make an
appointment which it opposed; however Dennis Eagan
was appointed postmaster at Jacksonville, and Still
man was appointed collector of customs at Pensacola
and both of these appointments were very satisfactory
to me.

When the Morton men seceded from the convention
at Tallahassee Mr. Sheppard was sitting at my side, and
"Jim" Coombs was sitting directly back of us. When
the stampede occurred Coombs called to Sheppard,
"Come on, let's go," while I said : "Don't you go ; stay
here with us and I'll take care of you." So Sheppard
refused to go with Coombs and this made the latter
very angry.

It was some time in June after McKinley was in
augurated that Sheppard wrote urging me to help him
to an appointment as United States district attorney,
but a short time after this I learned that Coombs and
Sheppard had made up with each other and that the lat
ter had accepted the appointment of collector of customs
at Apalachicola. About the same time John Eagan
asked me to recommend him for United States district
attorney for northern Florida. I told him I would do so
provided Sheppard had accepted the appointment of
collector of customs at Apalachicola. I wrote Sheppard

272 REMINISCENCES

and found that the report was true. At the death of
John Eagan, Sheppard was appointed United States
district attorney and later upon the demise of Judge
Swain he was made United States district judge for
the northern district of Florida, by President Roosevelt.

Up to this time I had never met Mr. McKinley and
concluded that I would go to Washington and see him.
Senator Mallery took me to the White House and in
troduced me to the president, who was very gracious;
and informed me that Mr. Collier, who had been in
strumental in securing my services for the campaign,
was one of his dearest friends. I told him that my
object in coming to Washington was to ask him to ap
point John Eagan United States district attorney; he
asked who Mr. Eagan was and his qualifications for the
place, and I informed him that he was a brother of
Dennis Eagan, was a bright lawyer who had been most
active in republican politics, and had helped me secure
a Florida delegation for him. Then the president took
a card from a pigeon hole of the desk at which he sat,
filled it out with the necessary information, and told me
that he would have Mr. Eagan' s appointment sent to the
senate in the morning; this was done and the appoint
ment confirmed on the same day, which was a very
unusual occurrence. My success with the president in
this instance led me to believe that he would recognize
the obligation he was under, and that he would favor
me whenever I made a strong effort to secure the ap
pointment of a friend.

At the application of several aspirants for political
office I gave them my written endorsement and made
no personal application to the president until it came
to the appointment of United States marshal. T. F.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 273

McGourin desired that office, he had been of great serv
ice to the party and had made strenuous efforts in be
half of McKinley. I had assured him at the Talla
hassee convention that he should have this position. He
had antagonized Long by his independence and refusal
to be dominated by him ; I believed him to be a straight
forward, honest man; he was however of a nervous
temperament and became quite insistent that his claims
should be presented ; this was done, in time and his en
dorsement filed. At his urgent solicitation I decided
that I would go and see the president about it, though
the commission of the present democratic incumbent
would not expire for some six weeks. I went to Chicago
with my wife and from there to Washington, via San-
dusky, Ohio, where Mr. Collier lived. The latter gave
me a letter to the president in which he recited his
having visited me at his (the president's) request, and
the latter's promise that if I would work for him he
would recognize me in federal appointments in Florida.

When I arrived in Washington I was admitted to
the president without the intervention of any senator.
After some pleasant conversation I told the president
the object of my visit at that time, and handed him the
letter from the Rev. Collier; this latter gentleman was
also a firm friend of Mr. McGourin. The president
took the letter and wrote on the back of it, signed his
name to what he had written, put it in an envelope,
sealed it, handed it to me and said : "Take this letter
to Mr. Griggs, the attorney general."

During our talk the president had said that the
democrats were coming so manfully to his support in
the matter of the Cuban war, that he did not like to
remove a democrat from office; he said also that the

274 EEMINISCENCES

present marshal's commission would expire in about a
month, and when that happened he would feel at liberty
to appoint a republican.

Believing that the endorsement of the president on
Mr. Collier's letter was a direction to the attorney gen
eral to appoint McGourin when the present incumbent's
term should expire, I took the letter, thanked the presi
dent very warmly for granting my request, and carried
the letter to the attorney .general. I endeavored to
learn from the latter whether the endorsement was a
direction for the appointment of McGourin, but he
evaded a direct answer; he said however that my man
should have the appointment. I returned home, as
confident that McGourin would get the appointment as
if I had brought it with me. I told that gentleman
that the place would be his when the term of the pres
ent incumbent should expire, but when that time had
elapsed he was not appointed, and he became very much
worried and excited about it. Finally I persuaded
John E. Stillman to go to Washington and see what
the trouble was. It turned out that Long had been de
termined that McGourin should not be appointed to
the office, as he had a candidate of his own for the
place; it was apparently a test case and the president
appeared unwilling to act I gave Mr. Stillman a letter
to the president, detailing McGourin's claims to the
appointment, but he still refused to act. Stillman then
went to Mark Hanna, who was a friend of his. Mr.
Hanna did not like Long, and he went to the president
and secured McGourin's appointment, apparently
against the president's inclination. The latter was
evidently more concerned in preparing for his renomi-
nation for the presidency than in keeping his word.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS 275

There is no doubt in my mind that when I went to see
the president and gave him Mr. Collier's letter, that he
intended me to believe that he would appoint Mr. Mc-
Gourin as I had requested, and that he was acting a
falsehood. This incident destroyed all my confidence
in McKinley's honesty or integrity, but he was too much
of a politician to keep faith with those whom he had
used to obtain his high position.

Not very long after this incident the postmaster at
Pensacola died, creating a vacancy and the necessity
for a presidential appointment. I decided that a young
man in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Rail
road freight office would make a good postmaster, and I
suggested that I would recommend him for the place.
He appeared pleased with the idea, but after a few
days declined to make the fight for the office. I then
selected Mr. Rix Robinson for the position, when I
learned that the man whom I had first chosen had
entered the lists for the appointment supported by the
influence of Long. This made the fight very interest
ing to me. I persuaded Mr. Stillman, the collector of
the port of Pensacola, to go to Washington and help me
secure the position for my candidate. We called upon
the president and he assured us that he had just made
an appointment but could not remember the name of
the party. By this time I did not believe all that Mc-
Kinley told me. He stated that the postmaster general
had just left with the appointment; so we proceeded to
hunt up Mr. Smith, and found him in the general post-
office building. We sent our cards to him and were
promptly admitted; he informed us that no one had
been appointed and that Mr. Robinson's name was well
recommended. We saw that the postmaster general

276 REMINISCENCES

did not know of the intrigue of John G. Long, and
when we informed him of the situation he invited us
to call on him the next afternoon, and said that in the
meantime he would endeavor to have the appointment of
Mr. Robinson made. The next day we called upon him
as per agreement and he informed us that the appoint
ment had been made as we wanted it This was the
last occasion I had to ask President McKinley for any
political favors.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE NEGRO QUESTION.

Among the interesting characters in Pensacola was
Colonel Tarble. He came to this town in the spring
of 1874, the same year I did, and opened a ship chan
dlery store with a man by the name of Hickey. I think
they drank up the profits of the store and some of the
principal. After their failure the colonel opened a
livery business. He had a keen knowledge of horses;
he knew more of a horse after looking him over ten
minutes than I would after using him a year. After
that he went into politics and was elected mayor of
Pensacola, and about 1880 was appointed collector of
customs for the port Later he lost his official positions
and went to the city of Chicago, just prior to the Colum
bian Exposition, and opened a very fine livery stable on
the north side; but this like many other promising
ventures made at that time in Chicago, proved a failure.

The colonel fell in with some real estate sharps of
Chicago who thought an honest dollar could be turned
in trading Florida lands to people from Wisconsin and
Michigan who wished to move to a warmer climate and
own an orange grove. I met the colonel one day when
I was temporarily in Chicago and he requested me to
come and visit him at his office on Dearborn Street,
which invitation I accepted, and we talked over old
times in Pensacola. He told me that some parties in
Lansing, Michigan, wished to trade six or eight houses

277

278 REMINISCENCES

in that city which they claimed had cost them $8,000
each, and a farm of six hundred and forty acres, for a
Florida cattle ranch. He said that Colonel Ohipley
would sell ten thousand acres of railroad lands on the
Perdido River for seventy-five cents per acre, and that
if I could buy the land that he would do the rest. After
I had become "wise" to the colonel's game I told him
that I could not afford to go into any such transaction
and therefore declined the proposition. Later the colo
nel moved back to Pensacola, and in talking with him
just after that event, in 1905, I happened to remember
that scheme, and I asked him how his trade with the
Michigan parties turned out. He replied: "I did not
trade with them." I asked, "How did that happen ?"
"Well," he said : "I went to Lansing and saw the houses
and the farm, and they were good. I then obtained an
option on the land from Colonel W. D. Chipley, land
commissioner for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad
and also transportation to bring them down and take
them back. I brought the parties to Pensacola to see
the proposed ranch, which was adjacent to the Perdido
River. I quartered them at the Escambia Hotel, made
them somewhat acquainted with the town, its shipping
and its bay, from all of which they received a favorable
impression. After they were rested from their trip
I hired the best team and surrey available and took
them out to view the land. That also made a favorable
impression upon the gentlemen. I had fixed the price
of the land at $10 per acre, which I assured them I
considered very cheap considering the fertility of the
soil. The parties began to 'warm' up and develop their
scheme for raising cattle ; the number of head the land
would support; the buildings they would need to erect

THE NEGRO QUESTION 279

for their protection. I began to consider the deal as
consummated, and was puzzling myself as to what 1
should do with the fine houses in Lansing. One of the
investigating gentlemen said it would be necessary to
have a house built on the ranch, for the man who should
take charge. Just as they were leaving the land they
saw a clearing with a comfortable farm house on it,
and they suggested that they would like to stop there
and get a drink of water. The suggestion was com
plied with. One of the gentleman visitors concluded
that this particular house would be a desirable one for
their ranchman, and asked the owner how long he had
lived there and how much land he owned. The man
replied that he had homesteaded his farm, which
comprised one hundred and sixty acres, and that he
had lived there five years. The gentleman next asked
him what he would sell it for, and received from the
farmer the reply that he wanted to sell mighty bad and
go to Choctawhatchee where his wife's people lived and
where he had been offered a good chance to work. 'What
will you take for your place?' asked the newcomer.
'Well/ said the rancher, 'it's a good ways up there, and
if you'll buy me out — ' 'What have you?' was the
question. 'Well, I have five cows, forty sheep, one
hundred bushels of corn in the crib, and that horse
which you see there tied to the fence (Colonel Tarble
told me it was worth a good hundred dollars) and the
furniture in the house, all except my wife's feather bed,
which she wants to take with her — I'll sell you the
whole thing as it stands for $400.' Silence took posses
sion of the party concluded Colonel Tarble, until
I suggested that we return to town. Little conversation
occurred on the ride back. Arriving at the hotel, I

280 EEMINISCENCES

asked the parties if they wished to return to Chicago
that night, and received the reply that the sooner they
got out of the town the better for them. There's many a
slip between the cup and the lip," mused the colonel.

After a residence of some thirty-three years in
Florida I am convinced that it possesses one of the
pleasantest climates in the United States. I think it
would be approximately correct to say that out of the
three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, that
three hundred may be counted upon for pleasant
weather, and the remaining sixty-five days would not
be all uncomfortable ; for cold and disagreeable weather
when it does come, is of short duration, seldom exceed
ing three days at one time.

This mild climate may in a measure be the reason
why matters move a little slow in Florida, The rail
roads are usually behind time with their trains, the
helper is always a little late, and things don't happen
at the time calculated, but a little later. It is no un
common thing for local trains to halt almost anywhere
to accommodate its patrons. On a certain occasion
our train waited a considerable time before the gate
of a pretentious farm house. It was supposed that some
person of importance was the cause, and when a large
and impressive woman came down the walk followed
by an obsequious retinue of darkies, the passengers con
sidered that the delay was justifiable. When the lady
in the case was seated, she informed some of her ac
quaintances on board that she was on her way to town
with several dozen eggs; that she lacked but one to
complete the number she was to deliver ; she was aware
that one of the hens was on a nest and she simply had to
keep the train waiting until she could secure that egg.

THE NEGKO QUESTION 281

Another time an obliging conductor hearing a young
lady passenger exclaim in delight over the masses of
purple flag which bordered the swamp, stopped the train
and secured a generous supply of the iris, which cer
tainly pleased the girl, and none of the passengers was
heard to find fault,

In this part of the country, when one gives his serv
ant orders to be on hand at a certain hour he finds that
he will be behind time even if he does not fail to put
in an appearance altogether. When I first went to
Florida there was many an old "mammy" and many
an old "uncle," relics of the time "befor' de wah," and
these were the most delightful servants that I have ever
known.

The domestic servants at my home had quarters and
kitchens about two hundred feet from the kouse, and it
is one of the pictures clear in my memory of sitting at
the breakfast table and looking out of the window at
the file of darkies bringing in the breakfast. A stout
middle-aged negress would head the line bearing the
chief dish, and behind her in order of size followed the
others, down to the little pickaninnies who came for an
open eyed stare into the room where the quality were
waiting. But such servants are gone; now most of
them sleep the long sleep with their old masters, their
progeny, however, live without care or responsibility.
The young negro of today comes and goes where he
listeth; he is useless to his employer and to himself;
he simply vegetates. What the future may have in
store for these thoughtless creatures time alone can
disclose. When attending college at Mt Pleasant, Iowa,
the Literary and Debating Club connected with our
law class, had a long struggle over the subject "Ke-

282 EEMINISCENCES

solved that the whole human race did not originate from
one pair." I have detailed this in a preceding chapter
but the arguments apply to the negro question. I
chose the affirmative and was a leading disputant on
that side. This was in 1858, when the whole country
was racked by the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. I gave the
subject all the research possible in that literary center,
and the question was argued by the most brilliant men
in that city, including Senator Harlan, Henry Clay
Dean and numerous lawyers and divines. I became
thoroughly convinced that the balance of authority and
evidence was in favor of the contention. I believe that
the mulatto is a hybrid, being a cross which degener
ates and devitalizes, and that the mixture of the races
has the effect to lessen the capacities of the Caucasian
and does not advance the negro race.

In his natural state the negro is invested with singu
lar temperamental endowments, which are very different
from those of the Caucasian. For one thing he appears
to be devoid of all regard or estimation of truth, a
virtue highly esteemed by the white race. I never knew
a negro who would not lie, even when unnecessary.
I have known among them, however, many who were
magnetic and brilliant orators, though the majority use
a few high sounding phrases and play upon popular
ideas. When control over the negro is removed he is
a most vain and insolent animal and I feel sure that his
future in the United States will be one of bloodshed,
crime and sacrifice of life. That the negro will live
peaceably and enjoy even equality with the whites, I
do not believe. I do not adopt this view through any
pessimistic fear that the white race will ever treat the
negro unfairly, but I do not believe that the black man

THE NEGRO QUESTION

will ever be content to live simply in political equality
with the whites. His over-weening egotism will not
allow him to do so. I am not possessed of a dislike for
the negro on account of his color, but my estimate of him
is due to his character and habits, therefore I fear for
the future. The people of the south may keep him
under control for a limited number of years, but his
innate egotism will eventually break all control, and
then will come the issue. How it will come, when it
will come, none can tell, nor what the end will be.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SUCCESSION OF ROOSEVELT.

After the assassination of President McKinley we
read a great deal in the newspapers as to what Roose
velt would then do, whether he would act as substitute
to the dead president, and do those things which Mc
Kinley would have done had he lived, or follow plans
of his own.

The republican machine in Florida, by John Eagan's
treachery, had been turned over to the friends of
Morton, and upon the death of John G. Long, J. N.
Coombs of Apalachicola had been elected to the chair
manship of the state republican committee and it was
understood that he was very solid with Roosevelt. The
republican office holders in this part of the state had
been reappointed by Roosevelt with the exception of
Mr. McGourin; he obtained recommendations from all
local republicans, including myself, and requests for
his reappointment to his present office; then he went to
Washington to present these to Roosevelt and solicit a
reappointment. I was aware however that he did not
have the support of the state republican machine. After
a few days in Washington, he telegraphed me to meet
him there. Upon my arrival I found that W. H.
Northrup had been appointed to the office of United
States marshal by the president, and that his name had
been sent to the senate for confirmation, but that the
secretary of the treasury, Mr. Shaw, had prevailed

'284

THE SUCCESSION OF EOOSEVELT 285

upon the president to hold up the nomination for one
week in order to give me time to arrive and present
Mr. McGourin' s claims to the office. Upon my reaching
Washington, McGourin took me over to see the secre
tary. After a short chat, I saw that he was anxious
for McGourin's appointment, and I learned that it was
through his influence that the nomination of Northrup
had been held up in the senate. After we left the
secretary's room McGourin asked me to go back and
urge the secretary to make an application to the presi
dent to extend the time for which he had deferred
action on Northrup's appointment. I returned to the
office and repeated the request to the secretary, but Mr.
Shaw feared he would not be successful, saying that the
last time he had talked with the president, he thought
"the hoss's eyes were sot" and that if he interfered
again in the matter that he might get kicked. The next
day McGourin and I went over to see the president. The
equipment of the rooms had been entirely changed since
the time of McKinley. Instead of fat, sleek negro
attendants there were men from the "wild and woolly
west" with the legs of their trousers tucked into their
boots, and the free and easy manners of "rough riders"
substituted in their places. We sent in our cards and
after waiting for some time were informed that the
president would see me but no one else. I was ushered
into his office and informed that the president was then
busy. After another wait of perhaps a quarter of an
hour a gentleman entered the room with rapid strides,
took me by the hand and called me by name. He com
menced to talk about Florida matters, and Mr. Coombs
in particular. He asked me if that gentleman was not
a wealthy lumberman, if he was not the president of

286 REMINISCENCES

a bank at Apalachicola, a prominent and sound repub
lican, etc. I saw that the president had rather inflated
ideas of Mr. Coombs' importance, and that it would be
necessary for me to be very careful what I said. He
inquired if Coombs was not at one time a candidate for
governor of Florida. I then recollected that while Mc-
Kinley was president, John G. Long had interviewed
me once when I was in Jacksonville, and had asked me
to take the republican nomination for governor of
Florida; that I had looked at him to see whether he
took me to be a fool, or was making fun of me ; but he
convinced me that he was in earnest and endeavored to
persuade me that a republican might be elected gover
nor of the state. Of course I knew that there was no
chance of that, and told Mr. Long so. When the presi
dent mentioned that Coombs was the republican candi
date for governor, I remembered that he had accepted
the nomination and had made the contest, had received
a few votes, and I now became aware that he had been
posing before Roosevelt as a defeated republican candi
date for that office.

After a little preliminary talk Mr. McGourin's case
was introduced as a subject of conversation. The presi
dent admitted that he had a clean record and was a
good officer. I then suggested that I did not think he
could afford to appoint so disreputable a man as North-
rup to so important a position. The president appeared
to get excited in a moment ; he assured me that he could
do anything he chose; that I had no right to call
Northrup disreputable, and asked of what crimes he
had been convicted. I replied that the fact of his
being disreputable did not imply that he had been con
victed of any crime. "Yes it does," said the president.

THE SUCCESSION OF ROOSEVELT 287

I told him that I did not so understand the word and
referred him to Webster's dictionary to settle the ques
tion. I saw that the conversation was becoming some
what acrimonious, and fearing it might not be to the
advantage of McGourin I thought it better not to ex
tend it. The president asked me to make specific charges
against Northrup and he would investigate them thor
oughly. I said I would do so, but after leaving the
president concluded that from the temper he was in it
would be useless; and furthermore I had no desire to
injure JSTorthrup, but only to help Mr. McGourin.

We concluded that as a last resort we would go
and see Senator Hanna. This gentleman appeared to
be interested in the case; said he was invited to dine
with the president that evening, and would carefully
introduce the subject. The next day we again saw
Senator Hanna, who gave us some details of his con
versation with the president the night before. He
said the president was angry with me, and that I could
do nothing with him to help McGourin. He advised me
to go home, and said he would attend to the case and get
McGourin appointed if possible, which he did in a
day or two.

This was my last effort in soliciting the appointment
of others to federal offices. I had never asked any
thing for myself, though I think I could have had
almost any federal office in the state, and sometimes
when successful for others I received few thanks from
the beneficiaries.

From my experience among northern republicans I
had gained the impression that all the republicans in
the south were looked upon alike ; that we were thought
to belong to that party only for the purpose of securing

288 REMINISCENCES

office, and that, very few, if any, were thought to be
republicans from principle. They apparently knew
little of the ostracism endured by the white republicans
in the south. I remember one day in the eighties that
Mr. Brent who was the leading banker in Pensacola,
said to me : "Mr. Skinner, if you will become a demo
crat, we will send you to congress." I was made to
feel in a groat many ways what it cost me to hold to
the republican party; and I also presume that when I
was associating witk northern republicans I was thought
by them to bo a "carpet-bagger."

CHAPTER XXV.

MT. MORGAN MINE.

After the world's fair in Chicago I received a letter
from Mr. Godfrey saying that he had discovered a
very rich gold mine near Zacatecas, Mexico, and asked
if I would join him in buying it. I sent him $2,500
to pay for my half, but later I had word from him
that some parties in the City of Mexico had bought the
mine away from us. After waiting a while I wrote him
to return the money I had sent him, but he replied that
he had bought another mine with the money and asked
me to sanction the purchase. This was called the Mt.
Morgan Mine. I concluded that I would go to Zaca-
tecas and see it for myself. I found it to be a well
developed fissure vein averaging about two and a half
feet in thickness, having been explored by Mexicans
for about two hundred feet in length and about sixty
feet in depth. Mr. Godfrey assured me that the
average quartz in the vein carried from two to three
ounces of gold per ton. I liked this mine better than
the one he had first selected. I learned that a party
by the name of Ayton, a mining engineer in charge of
the celebrated Bote mine of Zacatecas, had sold the Mt.
Morgan Mine to Godfrey, retaining five of the twenty-
four shares into which the Mexican government divided
a mine. I was not pleased with this situation of affairs,
and told Mr. Godfrey that I thought that he should buy
Mr. Ayton out. I returned home with the understand-

290 REMINISCENCES

ing that the mine was to be sunk deeper on the vein
and kept working. I received a report from him that
richer ore was found as they went down, and that
Ayton had agreed to sell his shares to us for $8,000.
Godfrey stated that if I was willing to pay half of the
$8,000 that he would pay the other half, and I was to
place $4,000 to his credit in New York City to con
summate the deal. I did this and was notified by Mr.
Godfrey that he had received the deed of the five shares
from Mr. Ayton. I entered into an agreement with Mr.
Godfrey that I would furnish $100 per month for the
purpose of sinking a working shaft on the center of the
mine, and Godfrey agreed to furnish an equal amount
for the same purpose. I received monthly reports from
him showing the depth the mine was sunk during the
month, the size of the vein, the amount of gold the ore
carried ; all of which for a while was very satisfactory.

I think it was in the winter of 1894-5 that my wife
and myself went down to the city of Mexico, stopping
on our way at the city of Zacatecas. At this time the
reports of Godfrey showed that the ore ran from three
to four ounces of gold per ton. I visited the mine,
and found that Godfrey had erected an adobe house
for the workmen to live in, also that there was quite a
lot of ore lying on the dump; some of it according to
Godfrey's report was very rich ; all of the ore he claimed
would run two ounces of gold per ton, and some smaller
piles would run a great deal more.

When we started for the mine, Mr. Godfrey took
along a mortar, pestle and a horn spoon. He requested
me to select any piece I wished from the piles each
containing from a half ton to a ton of ore. The pile of
small pieces, contained none which weighed more than

MT. MOEGAN MINE 291

a pound. The ore I selected he put into the mortar and
had the workman pulverize it with the pestle; then
turned this into the horn spoon, poured on water and
washed off the dirt, and the bottom of the spoon was
covered with what he assured me were grains of gold.
I picked out several pieces of ore which were tested in
the same way, which proved them all to be very rich.
I left the mine thinking we had a valuable piece of
property, and I went on my way to the City of Mexico
with my wife, where we spent a very pleasant time
sight-seeing.

After staying in the city as long as we wished we
started on our return, leaving the train to remain over
night at Silao. In the morning we went to Guadalajara,
which is situated on a branch of the main line of the
Mexican Central Railroad. We passed Lake Chapala,
and through a very fine region of agricultural land. We
found Guadalajara which is in the state of Jalisco to
be a very interesting city, it is I believe second in size
in the republic, and has a population of over one hun
dred thousand. It is a beautiful place, has many shade
trees, and some fine public buildings, the finest of
which is the cathedral. We spent an afternoon in view
ing this edifice, and by means of a liberal tip induced
one of the priests to show us the riches of the church ;
among other treasures being costly cloth of gold for
vestments, finer than any we had seen in Europe. We
took a carriage ride on the paseo, a fashionable drive
running along the river San Juan, and heard a good
band playing in the park. The city has excellent schools
and it is said that west of Guadalajara is the richest
agricultural district and grazing land in the republic.
Colima, the only active volcano in North America is

292 BEMINISCENCES

situated here. In Guadalajara there is a branch of the
Battle Creek (Michigan) Sanitarium, which is said to
be quite prosperous.

On our return we stopped where once had been the
Falls of Juanacatlan, but a power plant furnishing
electricity for the lighting of Guadalajara, and for other
purposes, used the water which had formerly made the
falls. We stopped on our return trip at Aguas Calientes
over night, took a bath at the celebrated hot springs, and
telegraphed in the morning to Godfrey at Zacatecas
to meet our train on its arrival at that place, which he
did and went with us as far as Calera ; from there he
returned to Zacatecas. We stopped at Calera over night
and in the morning took the train for home by way of
Torreon and Eagle Pass.

After this visit and seeing the ore I supposed taken
from the mine, I wrote Mr. Godfrey that I thought the
mine could and should pay its own way. I advised
him to ship and sell a carload of ore and use the money
to develop it farther. I had induced my nephew Bost-
wick Knapp of Chicago to study Spanish so that he
could talk and write it a little, telling him that some
time I would take him to the land of the Aztecs with
me. I also wrote Mr. Godfrey that I was not willing
to operate the mine longer as a partnership.

In the spring I went to Chicago. I had obtained
Godfrey's consent to incorporate the mine, and I had
proceeded to have it done under the laws of the state
of Illinois. It was necessary to have three stockholders
and three directors. I gave my wife a part of my stock,
so as to qualify her to be a director. When I sent the
papers to Godfrey for his signature he refused to sign
them claiming that I wished to get control of the mine

MT. MORGAN MINE 293

into my own hands. I proposed that he give Mr. Guen-
ther a share of his stock and make him a director, but
nothing I could suggest met his approval. He insisted
upon selling me a part of his stock for $10,000. When I
suggested to him that he sell a carload of ore and get
money, he wrote me that he was ailing, something was
the matter with his kidneys, that he would have to
leave Zacatecas and go to the City of Mexico for treat
ment, that he did not know as he should ever be able to
work again. The five shares bought from Ayton were
still in Godf rey's name. I had become convinced of the
great value of the mine after seeing the large quantities
of ore piled up on the dump, and I proposed to my
nephew that we go to Zacatecas and see what we could
learn. The insurance company by which my nephew
was employed, gave him each year a two weeks' vaca
tion, and he concluded to extend this into a three weeks'
trip to Mexico. We were to visit the mine at Zacatecas
and see Mr. Godfrey in the City of Mexico, and try
and learn what we could about both.

We left Chicago about the middle of July. I had
the papers with me for the incorporation of the mine.
We bought the tickets via Louisville & Nashville Rail
road to New Orleans, to San Antonio via the Southern
Pacific, from there to the City of Mexico over the Mexi
can National and to return from that city by way of
the Mexican Central Railway to Torreon, thence by the
International Railroad to Eagle Pass. From the latter
point we would return as we went, via San Antonio,
New Orleans and Nashville to Chicago. Our journey
down was uneventful, but it was in the heat of a tropi
cal summer. It was very rainy while passing through
western Louisiana and eastern Texas. In going over

294: EEMINISCENCES

the mountains in Mexico we saw a remarkable appear
ance in the sky, resembling electric lights. On the
fringe of large clouds covering the mountains as we
passed along was an exhibition apparently of electricity
such as I had never seen before in any country. It was
simply gorgeous in appearance and the grandest and
most brilliant display of lightning that it was ever my
good fortune to witness.

I had written Mr. Godfrey when I should arrive and
I expected that he would be at the depot to meet me on
my arrival in the city ; but he did not appear. We went
to the Iturbide Hotel. I expected to find Mr. Godfrey
in a bad state of health, as he had written me to that
effect, but when I found him he appeared in excellent
health, and apparently had not been ill. It had taken
me a couple of days to locate him. He was in a very
irritable state of mind, and was very indignant with me
for trying to get control of the mine, and he would do
nothing towards incorporating it, insisting that he must
sell me his half of the stock for $10,000 cash. I was
not disposed to put any more money into the mine by
the purchase of his interest, so refused to meet this
proposition. I requested him to deed me one-half of
the five shares he had bought of Ay ton, on joint account
and he did so. I wished him to go to Zacatecas with us
on our return, but he declined. After this we visited
the principal points of interest in the City of Mexico.
We stopped at the Iturbide Hotel, once the residence
of Iturbide the first and last native born emperor of
Mexico, who occupied this palace for the one brief year
of his supremacy, from March, 1822 to March, 1823,
during which time he was proclaimed Emperor under
the title of Augustin I. He was afterwards banished

MT. MOEGAN MOE 295

through the influence of General Santa Ana, but he
returned, was arrested and shot July 19, 1824.

We visited Chapultepee on its hills of porphyry, a
combination "White House" and "West Point." From
the hill we could look down on four battle fields of the
Mexican- American war: Contreras, Churubusco,
Molino del Key and Chapultepec. There were about
three hundred cadets quartered in the north end of the
palace. South and east of Chapultepec Hill is a fine
grove of cypress trees. They are the only large trees I
have ever seen in the Republic. One of them is said to
have a circumference of forty feet

We visited Tacubaya, a city with a fascinating mix
ture of ancient and modern civilization. We saw the
floating gardens, or Islands on the Viga Canal, each
of which is about two hundred feet in length and per
haps fifteen in width. They are very fertile and are
watered in a curious manner. The laborer beats the
water with an oar and splashes it over the soil.

After visiting the principal points of interest in the
City of Mexico we started on our homeward journey.
We stopped at Silao and concluded to make a visit to
Guanajuato, situated in a narrow canyon about seven
thousand feet above the sea. Most of the streets are
too narrow for wheeled vehicles. The Mexican Central
Railway has a branch running between the city and
Silao, which is about twenty miles in length. From
there we were transferred to a street car, drawn by
mules, which took us to Guanajuato. It is a city of
many handsome buildings, public and private, includ
ing a new theater, just completed at the time we were
there; it was said to have cost a million dollars. We
were unable to view the interior as the building was

296 EEMINISCENCES

closed. The mines of Guanajuato are the richest in the
republic, one of which in forty years having yielded an
annual profit of three million dollars.

We heard of a burial place while there which was
entirely different from anything I had ever seen. It
was three miles from the city, so we secured burros and
rode out there. The cemetery was situated on top of
a " round hill and consisted of a building which en
closed four sides of perhaps an acre or more. In the
walls of this building are vaults of sufficient size to
introduce a coffin; these spaces run in tiers, one above
another. When the space is filled, the opening will
be sealed. These vaults are rented for a certain number
of years, and when the term has expired, if the lease is
not renewed, the body is removed from the vault and
stored in the crypt below; the empty vault can then be
leased for another corpse. The entire mountain upon
which Guanajuato is built is of solid rock, and it re
quired a great deal of work to dig a grave, hence the
necessity for the kind of burial which I have described.
I do not know of a similar method being used anywhere
else.

When we had completed our sight-seeing in this
vicinity, we continued on our journey to Zacatecas. On
reaching the hotel there, I called for a particular room,
and was informed that it had been reserved for Mr.
Godfrey, that he had written the landlord to keep it
for him, and therefore his arrival had been expected for
many days. This surprised me as he had refused my
invitation to accompany us here.

The next morning we procured some horses and rode
out to the mine. I found that the entrance to it harl
been closed, having been filled with broken stone, and

MT. MOBGAN MINE 297,

the windlass had been removed. We were practically
barred from any examination of it; therefore we came
on home, the trip having proved wholly futile. Mr.
Godfrey did not appear at Zacatecas while we were
there.

The next year I learned that Arthur C. Payne, a
mining engineer whom I had met on a previous trip,
was in the employ of a sash and door firm at Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, and I wrote him of the trouble I had had in
regard to the Mount Morgan Mine, and asked him if
he would meet me in Chicago. He complied and came
to my residence and I explained the situation to him.
By this time I wanted some other opinion than Mr.
Godfrey's as to the value of the mine and I believed
Mr. Payne to be an honest man, and thoroughly com
petent, because he had had large experience in Mexico.
I asked him what he would charge to go to Zacatecas,
examine the Mount Morgan Mine, determine what the
vein carried in gold and silver, and report officially.
He replied that he should want $1,000. This was more
than I felt like paying, and so the matter ended, for the
time. It was in the winter of 1896, however, that
I received a letter from him stating that he was going
to Valardena to take charge of some mines bought by
parties in Oshkosh and that he would examine and re
port on the Mount Morgan Mine for $300, the sum
which I had previously offered him. I wrote to Mr.
Payne that I wished him to determine how much gold
and silver per ton, the vein contained. He went as
agreed and examined the mine, then wrote me to the
following effect: That he did not like Mr. Godfrey
and that he would give no statement which would be
of benefit to that gentleman, but if the examination was

298 REMINISCENCES

to be for my individual benefit, that he would gladly
make it. I assured him that the matter was solely for
my interest ; then he made a very flattering report. He
corroborated all the statements which Godfrey had
made, and this made me very anxious to get the mine
into more satisfactory working condition. I asked Mr.
Payne to learn from Godfrey what he would take for
h-L share of the mine. He succeeded in getting a con
tract from Mr. Godfrey by which I should pay down
$1,000 and $11,000 more in three months, and $40,-

000 additional as soon as the net profits of his half
should equal that sum. Mr. Payne insisted that he
be allowed to buy one share for the sum of $1,000, to
which I consented. The Mexican mining laws divide
a mine into twenty-four shares; Godfrey owned twelve
and I twelve shares. My option for buying his half,
would expire on the first of December, 1897. On the
strength of the report of Mr. Payne I now believed the
mine of great value.

I immediately went to Chicago, hoping to find some
of my friends who would buy Mr. Godfrey's interest.

1 found that most of them had bought into gold mines,
and that their faith in such investments was at a low
ebb, in consequence of these experiences. I then went
to Boston, but found only one man who would invest.
I returned to Escambia, thinking the deal hopeless, but
not long after, I went one day into the law office of
Blount & Blount in Pensacola and talked of this
matter to Clem Blount, to whom I showed Mr. Payne's
report. He became interested at once saying that he
knew Mr. Payne and had confidence in him. Mr.
Blount had been one of the party that I had taken to
the Aveno mine. In conclusion lie said : "I will take

MT. MORGAN MINE 299

one share at $1,000." I thanked him and told him I
would see what could be done in Pensacola. I next
showed Mr. Payne's report to John Eagan and he
asked me to leave it with him, saying he would see what
he could do. He expressed a willingness to take a share
himself, and stated that he believed a sufficient number
of persons in Pensacola would subscribe to complete the
amount required to buy Godfrey's interest. I stood
ready to take two and a half shares myself. The full
amount necessary was soon raised. I gave each one in
terested a written statement of the money I had re
ceived from him, how and for what purpose it was to
be invested, then I started for Mexico in order to close
the deal with Godfrey.

I telegraphed Mr. Payne, who was at Valardena,
to meet me at Torreon and accompany me to Zacatecas.
Upon our arrival at that place we found Mr. Godfrey
awaiting us, and the bargain was soon closed, accord
ing to the Spanish method, which was as follows: We
went to a notary public's office, and that official took
all the papers for Mr. Godfrey's interest in the mine.
I gave the notary exchange on New York for the amount
due from me, and Mr. Payne handed a check to the
clerk which I did not read, but Mr. Payne said it was
a check on a Chicago bank for $1,000; this Godfrey
accepted and told the notary it was all right ; then the
papers were signed by both of us as is the Mexican
custom. I was then handed the papers relating to the
title, with a copy of the record of sale.

After getting a transfer of the title I procured some
horses and Mr. Payne and I rode out to the mine. I
was very much surprised to find the working shaft,
which was ninety feet deep, and 5x8 feet in size,

300 REMINISCENCES

filled with broken stone, up to within forty feet of the
surface, and all the entrances to the mine closed with
rocks. We therefore could not examine the mine, so
I returned home.

I have been thus careful in detailing the circum
stances of Godfrey's actions because of what occurred
later.

When I arrived at Pensacola we proceeded to incor
porate the mine under the laws of the state of Florida,
as stipulated in my agreement with the persons who
contributed towards the purchase. The stock was issued
and I was elected president of the company. It was
also agreed that Mr. Payne should be employed as
superintendent of the mine but he notified us that he
could not give it his entire attention on account of his
employment by other parties, but that if it would be
satisfactory to us he would engage a man to do the
work under his direction, and he himself would visit
the mine at stated periods. All of this was agreed to by
the company.

The first effort of the new manager was directed to
cleaning out the shaft. I then insisted that he should
give me a further test as to the value of the ore. After
some delay he sent me an analysis showing that the
vein carried a value of less than $8 per ton, instead
$62 as he had certified in his previous report. I asked
him to explain how he had made such a mistake as to
send me his former glowing account of the richness
of the mine, when I had sent him to examine it before
buying. He replied that the mine must have been
salted. I asked him how it was possible to salt a mine
two hundred feet in length and one hundred feet in
depth, so as to deceive an experienced man like him-

MT. MORGAN MINE 301

self; to this he gave no sensible reply. Mr. Payne's
conduct convinced me that he had deliberately deceived
me and had lied about the mine. He had proved him
self a villain and had joined Godfrey in a plan to
swindle me. From the time I went to the City of
Mexico to see Godfrey, I had had no confidence in the
man, but I did not believe him to be such a scoundrel
as later events proved. As to Mr. Payne, up to this
time I had had the utmost confidence in his ability
and his integrity, and of all mining engineers that I
knew, I would have selected him to report the truth in
regard to a mining proposition. His infinitely false
report on the Mount Morgan mine caused me a loss
of at least $15,000. So from my personal experience
I have come to believe that the mining engineer will
betray his best friend when it comes to reporting on a
mine. The events which followed the purchase of the
mine were very annoying and subjected me to much
unjust censure, but I will relate the particulars of
this later.

For several years I pursued my usual duties in the
manufacture of lumber, and its selling as best I could,
but the prices were low and the profits small. I could
see the forests rapidly diminishing and the product
sold close to the cost incurred. I had wasted much
time in an effort to combine producers of southern pine
lumber in an agreement to hold together for a higher
price for their goods, but all my efforts in this direction
had proved unavailing. I could but feel, however, that
in the near future prices were certain to increase.

I had by this time accumulated over one hundred
thousand acres of land situated in Escambia and Santa
Rosa counties, Florida. The fixed charges upon these

302 REMINISCENCES

and upon the mill and business amounted to quite a
sum which had to be paid whether the mill were run
ning or not. liather than see my bank account dimin
ish, I kept on manufacturing lumber at barely $1 per
thousand feet, profit.

In the year 1898 the stockholders of the Mount Mor
gan mine sent Mr. Blount and myself to visit the mine
at Zacatecas. On our way there we went to Durango
and saw Mr. Payna He agreed to meet us the next
day at Zacatecas, but failed to keep the appointment.
We made the acquaintance of a mining engineer by
the name of Whipple in charge of a mine not far from
ours, and we made arrangements with him to equip
our mine so that we could examine it ; then he went with
Mr. Blount into it and they selected samples where
they thought they could find an average ore. We did
not let these out of our sight, but took them ourselves
and saw the assayer test them. We satisfied ourselves
that it was not possible for any further fraud to be
perpetuated upon us. The result showed the value of
the ore to be less than $8 per ton. After a trip to the
City of Mexico we returned to Pensacola and reported
the result of our visit to the company, giving it as our
opinion that it was not advisable to invest any more
money in the mine.

Sometime in the year 1900 I happened to be in
John Eagan's office in Pensacola, and he told me that
some of the parties who had contributed to the buying
of the Mount Morgan Mine, had received the opinion
of a lawyer that he could recover for them the money
which they had given me to invest. Up to this time
none of the men had ever suggested that I reimburse
him for the loss he had sustained. It was soon after

MT. MORGAN MINE 303

this that I was served with a summons in each of three
or four suits begun against me to recover the money paid
by the plaintiffs for the stock. I could see no equity or
justice in my being held responsible for money they
had invested in a speculation regarding which they had
the same chances for information that I had had my
self, and to whom I had imparted accurately all the
information I possessed. I presume it was done at the
suggestion of the lawyer before alluded to, and that
he received a good fee from each of the eight persona
who entered suit against me. If I had paid the money
back, it would have been an acknowledgment of guilt
on my part. I think it was two years before the suits
were noticed for trial; and when finally brought I
did not appear. The plaintiffs produced such testimony
as they could, and the presiding judge ordered the jury
to bring in a verdict for the defendant The lawyer
for the plaintiffs appealed from the verdict to the
supreme court of the state of Florida with the result
that the decision of the lower court was sustained.
My lawyer took all the evidence, put it in a tin box
and placed it in the custody of the clerk of the court
of Escambia county ; he then put the key of the box in
his pocket and I presume the evidence of those unjust
suits will repose in that box until something shall
happen to destroy it.

I have always believed that John Eagan had much
to do with the bringing of these suits; it would have
been his manner of showing gratitude for the many
favors I had done him. Thus ended the numerous
suits which had hurt my feelings very much. I never
have believed that any of the plaintiffs thought I had
done anything wrong in the matter, but on the contrary

304: BEMJNISCENCES

they were satisfied that I, like themselves, had been
deceived by Payne; but they were not "game" to meet
a loss of $1,000 each, in a manly way when an un
principled lawyer told them they could recover the
amount of their losses from me.

OHAPTEK XXVI.

A CHANGE OF BASE.

In the fall of 1903 I came home from Chicago and
found that affairs had been working badly all summer
at Chumuckla in our logging matters. I had placed a
nephew in charge of the business at that place, but lie
was of a passionate disposition and antagonized many
of the employees, among others a B,. R. engineer by the
name of Lewis, whom I had always found to be very
competent and obliging. Lewis had quit work and an
inexperienced man had been given charge of the loco
motive who was proving both unsatisfactory and ex
pensive. About the middle of September I determined
to go to Chumuckla, and decided that my nephew
must patch up his quarrel with Lewis, if he retain
his own place. Lewis was living on a homestead which
he had taken up, about half way between Chumuckla
and Florida Town, in Santa Rosa county. I drove
there from my place in an open buggy and the weather
being warm I rode in my shirt sleeves. I sat in the
buggy for two or three hours until my nephew and
Lewis had settled their differences. In the meantime
I had become quite chilly and realized that I had made
a mistake in leaving the house without my coat. How
ever I rode back to Chumuckla with a constant sense
of chilliness, and that night I did not sleep well as my
feet were cold. The next day I resolved to return to
Escambia, my mind much relieved that Lewis was
going back to work feeling good humored.

305

306 BEMINISCENCES

After dinner that day I left to go to Molino to take
the train for Escambia. In the evening I went down
town and was shaved. Coming out of the barber shop I
met Mr. Hyer on the street, who after greeting me said :
"Skinner, you don't look a day older than you did the
first time I saw you" — this had been thirty years be
fore. I returned to the hotel and went to bed, but the
bed was poor and my feet were cold. The train was to
leave in the morning at seven o'clock, for Escambia.
At a quarter to six I arose and went to the office of the
hotel. It had been my custom for a long time to exer
cise my legs by doing a cake walk each morning, and as
I had time to spare I took my usual exercise. The
clerk remarked to me "Mr. Skinner, you appear to feel
mighty well this morning." I replied: "I never felt
better." After finishing my cake-walk I felt a sting
ing sensation in my right arm between the shoulder and
the elbow; more like a mosquito bite than any thing
else I can liken it to. Not long after that I felt a
similar sensation in the thigh of my right leg. At train
time I took my satchel and walked to the depot, not
realizing that anything was the matter with me. When
I arrived at Escambia station I was not expected and so
there was no carriage to meet me. I gave my valise to
the mail carrier and walked to my office about a mile
away. Arriving there I busied myself in examining
the mail which had come in my absence, and found that
three bank checks had been sent back for signature.
I signed two of them without experiencing any difficulty
but in signing the last one the muscles of my hand and
fingers refused to respond to .my mind. This surprised
me and calling to my son asked him what he supposed
was the reason; he said: "Father it looks like paral-

A CHANGE OF BASE 307

ysis." Even then I was not alarmed. At dinner time
I walked up the hill from the office to my house ; arriv
ing there, I found that the clock had run down, and I
went into the kitchen to get a wooden chair that I
could stand on, to reach the clock and wind it. Pass
ing through the dining room I saw the little cup
board where I kept some liquors and stopped and took
a drink of whiskey.

I went to my son's house to eat my dinner ; as nearly
as I can recollect, I ate a hearty dinner and felt the
effects of the liquor more than commonly. After din
ner we left the dining room for the sitting room and
my son remarked: "Father, if I were you, I would
go up stairs and lie down." I replied: "I guess I
will." In going up stairs my right foot hit the step
and I stumbled forward. I righted myself, however,
and went on up the stairs and lay down on the bed;
I do not now recall whether I went to sleep or not. My
son telephoned to Pensacola for a doctor, and by the
time he arrived, about half past four, I was pretty
well paralyzed on my right side; my arm was entirely
useless and I had to take my left hand to move it;
the physical condition in which I found myself was so
unknown to me that I was astonished. In a day or
two I was able to be up, and by holding to something
with my left hand I was able to walk to the next room.
I was entirely ignorant as to the cause of, or the cure
of my malady. Since my first attack I think that I
have gradually improved; but I realize more and more
that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I have
lived in hopes that I would eventually recover from
my infirmity, but perhaps I never shall. I have been
very fortunate in having to suffer no pain, nor in being

308 REMINISCENCES

under much physical annoyance. I do not think that
the stroke affected me mentally, as I appear to have
my faculties in about the same condition that they
were when I was first afflicted.

Just a week from the time I was paralyzed, my
nephew who was at Chumuckla went on the train from
that place to the log landing at Delany River. The
men unloading the logging train got a log through the
skids, and while they were rolling it into the river he
stepped onto the rollway in front of the car on which
two logs still remained, in order to direct the man who
was trying to get the logs into the water. It seems
that a log projecting from a car in the rear of the
one with which they were working, blocked the two
logs on the car in front; this was at last loosened and
the freed logs rolled towards the water. They came
quicker than was expected, and my nephew, to escape
them, jumped through the skidding onto the sand be
neath; then he suddenly began to call for help. When
the men reached him they found that he could not stir
a muscle of his limbs; he was paralyzed in his motor
muscles, though his speech was apparently not at all
affected. As soon as I learned of these facts I sent the
tugboat to the Delany River landing to bring the sick
man to the Pensacola Hospital, where the physicians
could not find a bruise or contusion on him, nor any
ostensible cause for the paralysis. Possibly it was
caused by the fright or the concussion of striking the
packed sand. In time he recovered the use of the mus
cles, but he never regained his strength. He became
despondent over his condition, and died a little more
than a year later of a fever which developed while he
was in Quincy, Florida.

A CHANGE OF BASE 309

The mystery as to the cause of the paralysis of
both my nephew and myself has much aroused my
curiosity. I have concluded that the interruption of
the telephonic system, carried on between the brain
and the muscles, which is so apparent to one thus af
flicted, is due to ruptured brain cells, and that the
paralysis itself is a result and not a cause.

It will be five years next September (1908) since
this stroke occurred, and some of the time when I have
been under treatment I have fancied myself improv
ing ; but on the whole there hap been very little change.
I notice that the weather affects my condition; a very
warm period weakening me ; also the effect on one's
mind of realizing that he may be a cripple for the re
mainder of his life is physically depressing.

By January, 1905, I had sold my holdings in Flor
ida, My paralysis made it difficult for me to get
around, so I found it a little dull at Escambia, there
fore my wife and I took a notion to go to east Florida,
and if that section had sufficient attractions, to make
our home there. I decided that I would take no nurse
with me, as our freedom would be that much more
hampered. We went to Jacksonville, where a great
fire had recently occurred. We stopped at the Wind
sor Hotel, which had escaped injury. From there we
went to St. Augustine, spent one night at the Ponce
de Leon, and then proceeded on our way down the
coast to Daytona. We had heard that place very much
admired and praised. We stopped a week at the Clar
endon, at Seabreeze. All the accommodations of this
hotel had been engaged for the automobile races, and
I could only secure rooms up to that time. In those
days I was not much of an automobile enthusiast,

310 REMINISCENCES

having acquired the craze then which I took later when
I had a machine of my own, but I could well appre
ciate the beautiful beach at this place, and the fine
course which it afforded. We went from Seabreeze di
rect to Miami. We rode around that city considerably
and I was quite favorably impressed with the locality.
The soil appeared to be of coral formation. If one had
to dig post-holes it was necessary to dig right into this
coral rock, but it could be pulverized so as to make
clean dirt. Great industry was shown here in the mat
ter of building wagon roads, as this rock made an ex
cellent roadbed. Orange trees, however, grow lux
uriantly in it, and I saw many grape fruit fields. The
pineapple culture seemed to be a great success, also,
and the indications showed a fine future for the local
ity in the raising of the latter fruit.

After staying here two or three days we concluded
to take the boat for Nassau, which at that time was the
terminus of the Flagler route. We stopped at the
Colonial hotel while there and during our stay took
many pleasant drives around the island. Our accom
modations at the hotel being very satisfactory; and
among other pleasant features there an excellent band
furnished music every evening to entertain the guests.
In leaving this place we crossed the channel between
New Providence and the island east of it, and visited
a place of resort where they fed their guests with
oranges; these were pared and a stick run through
them, and in that manner one could partake of his fill.
There was a large bath house and the finest bathing
beach one could desire, but after the novelty of these
attractions had worn away the life here appeared to be
a dull one. East of the hotel, in the channel between

A CHANGE OF BASE 311

the two islands, the water was of different shades of
blue and green, the colors being very intense. This
was caused, I suppose, by the growth underneath. Down
the channel at some distance south of the hotel, glass-
bottomed boats were towed by tugs over the subma
rine gardens between the islands, in the channel. One
day we concluded to take this trip and we were greatly
pleased by what we saw ; fantastic and gorgeous shrubs
appeared to be growing out of the coral bottom of the
stream. Among this growth many beautiful fish of
brilliant colors were to be seen.

After stopping at this hotel a little more than a
week, we concluded to return to Miami, where I had
looked at some property with the idea of purchasing
it. I was considerably surprised at the change that
had occurred during our absence. I had supposed that
this part of Florida was below the frost line, but I
found the leaves of the orange trees frost-bitten, and
the pineapple fields, of which I had seen before many
luxuriant specimens, were blackened with the cold. I
had thought that there might be a great future indus
try established in Florida in the growing of this fruit,
but the appearances now deterred me from making any
purchase. So we pursued our return journey to Palm
Beach, where we stopped at Hotel Breakers. This was
a very pleasant, home-like place, situated directly on
the ocean beach. There was a horse car line that con
veyed guests from this hotel to the Royal Poinciana.
We took advantage of this and occasionally visited the
latter hotel for the purpose of seeing the style and fash
ion displayed by the guests and to observe the pomp of
the service. Of the two hotels, I preferred the Break
ers. After stopping at this place of fashion as long as

312 BEMINISCENCES

it was interesting, we continued our journey to St.
Augustine, where we stopped at the Alcazar. I had
become attached to this hotel during a former stay, so
enjoyed coming back. While at this place we bought
coral beads for our grandchildren, and numerous other
articles for their edification.

From St. Augustine we went to Jacksonville, where
we remained at the Windsor until we started for our
home at Escambia* Our trip had covered about six
weeks; we had had a very pleasant time, and nothing
disagreeable had occurred, but I decided that I would
travel farther before selecting a home. We remained
at Escambia until April, when we went to Chicago and
bought round-trip tickets to Los Angeles, California,
returning by the way of the Northern Pacific Rail
road.

We concluded to take a trained nurse with us; this
time a woman, on account of my helpless condition.
We left Chicago on the evening of April 14th. We
saw little of interest during the first of our trip, except
the Standard Oil pipe lines which were being laid be
side this road. The farms of Kansas also were attrac
tive. We decided to stop at Las Vegas, a locality of
which we had heard much, as the hotel and hot springs
had been largely advertised as a health resort. We
found the hotel closed, so we stopped at Harvey Hotel
for a couple of days, when we decided to go to Albu
querque, where I had a nephew living in the vicinity,
and to whom I had written of our coming. He was a
few years younger than myself and I had not seen
him since I left home in my youth for Washington,
D. C. This man was the eldest son of my brother,
Dan Barnes. I found him much afflicted, having

A CHANGE OF BASE 313

cataracts on both eyes. To meet him again after so
long and to talk with him of the events of our lives for
the preceding fifty, or more, years, was very interest
ing. Albuquerque proved to be a promising place, with
good future prospects. I saw here a large sawmill, re
cently built, with a capacity of three hundred thousand
feet per day. The logs for the supply of this mill
were brought by rail from Arizona and were cut from
forests more than one hundred and fifty miles distant.
They were unloaded from the cars into an artificial
pond, from which they were drawn into the mill as
needed. The altitude of Albuquerque is about four
thousand feet.

At the conclusion of our visit in this city, we de
cided to go and see the Grand C'anyon of the Colo
rado. We took a Pullman car and arrived at our des
tination in the forenoon and stopped at the Hotel El
Tovar, which occupies a site seven thousand feet above
sea level and is close to the rim of the canyon. It is
built of pine slabs and stone and is from three to four
stories high. It is very attractive in appearance and
has the accommodations usual with a first class hotel.
In nearby buildings were displayed many curious ar
ticles made by the Navajo Indians. A few rods from
the hotel was a cliff where one might look thirteen miles
across the canyon to the other side, and also look down
to where the river flowed, a mile below. The chasm
is stupendous; how or when Nature formed it, haa
never been satisfactorily explained; but the magni
tude of it impresses the onlooker with a sense of the
wonderful power of Nature.

After gratifying our curiosity with the various
views of the canyon, we concluded that we would visit

314 EEMINISCENCES

the city of Phoenix and the Salt River Valley. I had
always wished to visit this territory since ex-Governor
Bashford of Wisconsin — the first territorial governor
of Arizona, appointed by President Lincoln — had in
vited me to accompany him here. I was more pleased
with the city of Phoenix than I expected to be; there
were many fine buildings and the spirit of the place
was full of enterprise and push. I accidentally dis
covered that the grandson of Governor Bashford had
come to this city from Prescott, was then living here
and was cashier of the bank on which I had a letter
of credit.

The valley in which Phoenix is situated is one of
great fertility; a number of irrigating ditches car
ries the water to the cultivated lands, and the great
Roosevelt dam being built on the headwaters of Salt
River will hold water sufficient to irrigate two hundred
and fifty thousand acres.

We met, casually, some persons here whom we had
known in Chicago; among others a Mr. Giles, who
owned considerable land in the valley. In Chicago
he had been a jeweler, when I lived there in the six
ties. The drawback to this section is the extreme heat.
Later we retraced our journey to Ash Fork and from
there proceeded on our way to California. Our trip
from Chicago to the coast having occupied more than
three weeks.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND HIS SCHEMES.

When I was paralyzed it took but a short time for
me to realize that my strength was unequal to con
ducting my business in a profitable manner, and I saw
that I must withdraw from active affairs. In the fall
of 1903 a Mr. Bell, who for some time had been try
ing to negotiate a sale of my lands, came to my house
in Escambia with a number of gentlemen whom he
presented as capitalists from Indianapolis. He stated
that they were prepared to buy my property if they
could make a satisfactory contract. After consider
able negotiation I sent to Milton for my lawyer, Ear
nest Amos, who drew up a contract which I submit
ted to them. One of the party of gentlemen, a Mr.
E. E. Douville, appeared to take the most prominent
part in the negotiations. He requested that the con
tract be made out to himself alone, for reasons which
he did not state. I therefore had the contract altered
to suit his wishes. This also proved unsatisfactory to
him, and he drew up a contract written by himself,
which he offered me. After two or three days of dis
cussion and alterations, we attached our signatures to
this. A certain sum had been agreed upon as the pur
chase price of the pine lands, mills and railroad;
$5,000 was to be paid when the contract was signed,
$5,000 more on January 1st of the next year, and a
$100,000 to be paid on the following April 1st, less

315

316 REMINISCENCES

the two payments already provided for. There was a
provision that by the payment of $5,000 a ninety-day
extension of the April payment could be had.

The deal was consummated according to these terms
and the payments met as stipulated, until the follow
ing April; then Douville made the payment of $5,000
to postpone for ninety days the payment due April 1st.

Soon after tho contract had been signed, my wife
and I went to Mudlavia, Indiana, to see if the mud
baths there would benefit my paralysis and her rheuma
tism. I had suffered for years from eczema, and I
found that the mud baths produced an irritation which
became almost unbearable, so after taking some twelve
or thirteen baths I had to discontinue them.

We returned to Escambia, and spent the winter. The
next spring, in May, I think, my wife and I went to
Battle Creek, Michigan, to see what the Sanitarium
there could do for our conditions. I did not receive
any particular benefit from the treatment that I could
perceive, but we found the accommodations and treat
ments very pleasant. While there I employed a pri
vate nurse, for my exclusive benefit; he also did my
writing for me. Up to this time my wife had acted
as my amanuensis.

I did not hear from Mr. Douville while I was at
Battle Creek until after the middle of June. I then
learned that there was some doubt as to whether the
purchasers would make the payments due on the 29th
of the month. If not, they would forfeit the $15,000
which they had already paid on the contract. Our
efforts in the lumber business had been very light since
entering into this contract with Douville. Expecting
to surrender the property, I did not feel like making

THE BEAL ESTATE AGENT 317

improvements which I would otherwise have done,
thinking I should hand over the affairs to the pur
chasers so soon.

The sums of money he had paid me would but
make good what we had lost from our inability to make
contracts, and from the suspended conditions of oper
ating the mill. Douville applied to me for terms to
farther extend the time and I offered to give him thirty
days, for $5,000, but stipulated that this sum should
be paid before the time of the contract had expired.
This was not done, so I notified Mr. Douville that his
rights under the agreement had lapsed, and that he had
forfeited the payments he had already made. I was
sitting in the rotunda of the Sanitarium one forenoon,
when I saw Douville enter. Evidently he did not see
me. He registered, I think, and went away. Not long
afterwards I saw Mr. Bell enter the rotunda. I do
not believe that he saw me, either. I presumed that
they had come to pay me the $5,000 and get an exten
sion of the contract. In the afternoon Mr. Douville
sent me his card, with a request for an interview. I
went out and met him in the hall on the third floor. I
conducted him to a parlor, inviting him to take a seat ;
sat down myself and waited for him to explain his er
rand. He then stated that he had found a party in
Michigan, whom I had known when at Pentwater, who
stood ready to buy a half interest in my property and
pay cash. That he himself would take a quarter in
terest, and that another man, living at Pentwater, or
Manistee, would take the remaining quarter, he was
sure, when he returned from Canada, where he had
gone on a business trip, to be absent two or three weeks.
With this prospect in view Douville asked me to give

318 REMINISCENCES

him authority to consummate this deal. If I did this I
considered it would be necessary to put the permission
in writing. I told him that I knew no lawyer in Bat
tle Creek whom I would trust to draw up such an agree
ment, but he was so urgent that he be allowed to close
the deal, as he had outlined it, that I received an im
pression that there might be some truth in his state
ments. I did not feel equal to the task of drawing up
the contract with him, so after thinking the matter over
told him that I would extend the contract I already
had with him for thirty days, to enable him to close
the deal he had in hand.

Douville asked me if I would allow him one and
one-half per cent commissions if he made the sale, and
also stated that he had put $5,000 of his own money
into the transaction, and he asked if I would return
him this amount. I consented to both of these terms.
Then he wished me to put this agreement in writing.
I did not feel able to do more at the time, so I told
him I would write him a letter, that evening or the
next day, covering these points. This appeared to sat
isfy him and he departed. Then I returned to my
room.

When I was sufficiently rested, I had my nurse write
a letter to Mr. Douville for me, stating that I would
extend the time of the present contract with him for a
period of thirty days. In the usual time I received a
reply to this, saying that my letter was all right, as
far as it went, but that it said nothing about his com
missions or the $5,000. It did not seem to me that I
had forgotten to mention these conditions in my let
ter, but I wrote him that he was to have a commission

THE REAL ESTATE AGENT 319

of one and one-half per cent and $5,000 in case he
complied with the contract.

About a week after this I received another letter
from Mr. Douville, making no allusions to the Michi
gan people, to whom he had expected to sell the prop
erty, but stating that he felt sure of finding a customer
in a short time. This letter surprised me. I did not
know what to make of it. I at once wrote Douville
that I had given him no option on the property, and
asked him to send me a copy of my letter, as I had
failed to keep one. I received from him a letter en
closing what he asserted was a copy of the one I
had sent him. After this I put out of mind that I
would have any further business relations with Mr.
Douville, as I had come to the conclusion that no con
fidence could be placed in him.

About the 2d of August I left Battle Creek and
went to Chicago and took rooms with my nurse on
33d Place, adjacent to a branch of the Battle
Creek Sanitarium, where I continued to take the treat
ments followed by that institution. I think it was some
time in September when I received a letter from Mr.
Douville saying that he would like to see me. I sent
a reply that he could see me if he came where I was.
Not long after that he called at my place and said he
came to get my sanction to his selling my property in
Florida ; but my son and I had come to the conclusion
to have nothing further to do with him, so I refused
to give him any authority to sell the property.

I returned to Escambia soon after this, taking my
nurse, Mr. Grantham, with me. We arrived in the
morning and found that there was to be a circus in
Pensacola that day, and most of the workmen had gone

320 REMINISCENCES

to see it. The mill was practically shut down, ex
cept the dry kilns.

While we were eating dinner that day, in the mid
dle of the meal my son rose suddenly from the table,
passed from the dining room and went out of the front
door. I wondered what was the matter, but did not
leave my seat. In a little while I heard the fire alarm
whistle from the kilns and realized the cause of my
son's hasty exit. I arose and hobbled down to the mill
as fast as I could go. When I was near the office
I saw that the roof of the building was on fire. There
were several men there who had come from the woods
to get provisions. One man was struggling to drag
the hose from the hydrant in front of the mill up the
elevated walk that went into the office. He needed
help and I hastened to assist him, but before I could
reach him he had dropped the hose. There appeared
to be nothing efficient done which would put out the
fire. The building was a large one, and as I saw that
it was likely to burn down I hurried into the store
below to direct getting out the goods. It appears that
I forgot more important things which were in the
office. Mr. Thompson, the bookkeeper, had gone to
Pensacola that day and he had locked the two safes,
but all of my letters and bills for the last thirty years
were burned. We have sadly missed these, as all of
our correspondence with Douville was burned except
two or three letters which I happened to have in my
valise. The building, which was about 110x30 feet
in size and two and a half stories high, I saw burned
to the ground. The two safes fell into the basement,
but the contents of both were fairly well preserved; a
copy book of letters was also preserved, and our ae-

THE REAL ESTATE AGENT 321

count books, which contained the accounts of the Skin
ner Manufacturing Company since the days of 1893.,
were practically in good condition.

Being now without a store or office, we took as a
substitute an empty house which stood on the bluff.
In one part of it we put a stock of goods to supply the
needs of the mill hands and their families, and the
remaining part of the building was used as an office.
Our business moved along as usual without any serious
interference on account of the fire.

The next affair of interest came from the negotia
tions of my son with a Mr. J. R. Saunders for the sale
of the property, but specific terms and the conclusion
of the matter were left to my decision. My son had
included considerable property in his offer to Mr.
Saunders that had not been included in the contract
with Douville. I named the price definitely for which
I would sell the whole, but he wished to divide the
pine lands from the cypress lands, so I gave him a
price upon the pine lands only, stating that I would
keep the cypress lands myself. He then made me an
offer $25,000 less than my price, which I promptly
declined. A short time afterwards I called on him to
get some maps which I had loaned him, and he re
newed the subject of buying the lands. After satisfy
ing himself that I would make no reduction in the price
named to him he said that he would take the property
at my figure. We then began making out the papers
for an option; these were completed and signed No
vember 1st, 1904, and $10,000 paid; this to be for
feited if the sale was not concluded. Final papers
were made out November 25th.

Not long afterwards I was surprised at receiving a

322 REMINISCENCES

letter from Douville claiming a commission for selling
the property. He had had nothing whatever to do with
selling the property. Since his contract had expired
and I had given him no further authority to dispose of
it, I therefore looked upon his claim as a manifesta
tion of brazen cheek and bluff. I paid no attention
to the matter; did not even reply to his letter. After
the lapse of a few weeks I received another letter from
him making a similar claim for commission, and in
quiring if I had received his former letter. I paid no
attention to this letter either. The next year I was
served with a summons from the United States court
in the case of E. E. Douville vs. The Skinner Manu
facturing Company. I called on Attorney W. A.
Blount and engaged him to defend the suit He told
me that Douville had consulted him in the matter, and
he had told him that from his own story he had no
claim for commission. It seemed that after my inter
view with Mr. Blount, Douville had called on him and
objected to his appearing for the defense, and Mr.
Blount notified me that he preferred not to defend the
case; but said that suit had not been properly brought
and he would knock Mr. Douville out in that court —
which he did. Douville then brought action in the state
court of Florida for the sum of $7,500, and we had to
find another lawyer to defend us against the suit. My
son suggested Judge Maxwell, so I told him to engage
him if he preferred. When court convened Mr. Dou
ville did not appear; his lawyer, however, asked for a
continuance, and said that if we took judgment by de
fault he was instructed to begin another suit; there
fore we consented to an adjournment.

Soon after this I went to California to live. At

THE REAL ESTATE AGENT 323

the next term of court it was not convenient for me
to come east to attend the trial, so I asked my son to
request Douville to put it over the term. To this he
consented provided we would agree to postpone it for
one year. This was satisfactory to me, as I did not
want to go to Florida in the winter time. I therefore
came to Pensacola but a short time before the trial, and
then hacl a consultation with our attorneys. I told
them that I did not believe the suit would ever come
to trial — that I thought it was all bluff. The only
thing I saw in the suit to alarm me was the fact that
Douville had employed a lawyer in Pensacola who had
an unenviable reputation for "fixing" juries. I told
my lawyers to be very careful and get all the infor
mation they could about the prospective jurymen, and
they promised to do so. My son could not well be
present at this trial, on account of ill health of his
wife, and I did not consider it necessary that he should
be there.

CHAPTER XXVIIL

WESTERN WONDERLANDS.

After I was paralyzed I thought I would seek a
more congenial clime in which to spend the remainder
of my life, if such I could find. I had hearc^much of
the glorious climate of Southern California and once
had visited that section. I decided that I would go to
Los Angeles and make a systematic investigation, with
the idea of making my home there. I wished, in the
first place, to obtain a satisfactory dwelling. I visited
a great many places offered for sale in both Los An
geles and Pasadena. In the last named place I saw
a very attractive home on Orange Grove Avenue, which
I thought of buying. The furniture which was in the
house was very rich, attractive, and appropriate to the
setting and style of architecture, and I desired to pur
chase it if I took the place, but I did not wish to make
a decision until I had seen more of the western coast
cities of our states. I went to San Diego and was
much pleased with that city; it had many attrac
tions, but I was not favorably impressed with the pos
sibilities of fruit growing, or agriculture in that vicin
ity. There appeared to be a lack of water, of railroads
and of shipping facilities; to me it did not promise to
be a great business center on the coast. For this rea
son I went back to Los Angeles and from there north.
I saw many excellent localities between Los Angeles
and San Francisco, but I gathered the impression that
they were too quiet and would be dull places in which

324

WESTERN WONDERLANDS 325

to live, so I went on farther north. I was prejudiced
against San Francisco owing to the fact that it was
controlled by a corrupt labor element.

Journeying through northern California, we had a
beautiful view of Mount Shasta, and our train stop
ped at Shasta Springs, where an aerated spring of soda
water fell over rocks of a wooded bank, which termi
nates near the railroad. From what I could see of it,
in the evening light, I thought it a charming place,
which I mean sometime to visit. The train wound
slowly up the river, the grade becoming more difficult
as we proceeded. We continually saw evidences of
mining, but this had few attractions for me now.

As we approached Salem, the capital of the state of
Oregon, the country showed more evidence of culti
vation, and we saw some handsome farms. The scen
ery from Salem down the Willamette River was charm
ing. When we arrived at the city of Portland we went
to Hotel Portland, which was a house of much ele
gance and well filled with guests. The world's fair
being held here at this time to celebrate the discovery
of this country by an expedition sent out by President
Jefferson under the command of Clarke and Lewis, ac
counted for the crowded condition of the hotels. I was
much pleased with the city, which is very beautiful,
and has many fine business buildings and elegant res
idences. The greatest charm of Portland is its Hill
Park, being a portion of the city on a high hill crest
overlooking a beautiful view. A trolley line ascends
this mountain on one side, passing through this park
and descends on the other side. The Falls of the Wil
lamette are on the south side of the town. On the
river just above the falls were several sawmills. Be-

326 REMINISCENCES

low the falls the river runs through the city, and here
are located the steamboat docks for the boats which
navigate the Columbia river from the ocean to The
Dalles.

The exposition was a very creditable affair, the ex
hibits being mostly of the productions of the North
west. The United States had its Philippine display
there. The lumber exhibits of the state were also
good. We went to The Dalles by train and returned
in the same way. The scenery was occasionally very
fine, but I did not see any of the fine forests which are
said to exist in the state of Oregon.

We next went to Tacoma, Washington. We had
some fine views of Mount Hood and Mount Tacoma ;
there was so much rain and fog that it was only oc
casionally that we could get good views of them, but
their white summits looked very grand when they could
be seen. Tacoma appeared to have more life and bustle
than Portland. It seems to be built on the top of a
high hill, from which a good view can be had of that
part of Puget Sound which curves by the city. Many
sawmills line the shore of the sound. I visited that
district to get a view of the large logs that abound in
the state of Washington. I saw some that were eight
or ten feet in diameter; I think these were the largest
that I had ever seen. I have heard of the great red
wood logs of California, but have never seen them.

I stayed about a week here and then went north to
Seattle. During much of the time spent in that city
it rained, and the weather was foggy and cloudy. The
activity, bustle and vim of the town struck me very
favorably; if I had been younger and an able-bodied
man I would have selected Seattle as the place to

WESTERN WONDERLANDS 327

make my Lome, but as I am now situated, I value pleas
ant weather, a congenial climate and less range
of temperature. I had now seen the whole west coast,
from Mexico to British Columbia, and I selected Los
Angeles as the place in which to spend most of the
days left me of life.

We returned east over the Northern Pacific rail
road. Before leaving Seattle I bought tickets for the
tour of the Yellowstone Park, though I had some
doubts as to whether I would be able to stand the jour
ney. On the train we made the acquaintance of a
gentleman and his wife from Akron, Ohio. He was
very obliging to me and looked out for my comfort all
the way around the Park. What I saw in Yellowstone
Park made plain many things about geysers and other
features there of which I had read but hardly under
stood. A great deal of the Park is denuded, having
been burned over by forest fires. It appears to have
been covered at one time with tall, slim timber, which
fell after being burned, and the trunks nearly cover the
ground. Excellent wagon roads had been built by
the United States government; a company of United
States soldiers policed the grounds and maintained
strict order and observance of regulations. On the
arrival of the train at the Park the surreys and two,
four and six-horse coaches met the passengers and took
them to the Mammoth Hotel, about six miles distant
from the terminus of the railroad. We stayed over
night here and had very comfortable rooms.

The next morning the stages commenced to load up
with passengers to the number of about three hundred.
We traveled until noon, when we stopped at the Nor-
ris lunch station. There was a great crowd here, but

328 REMINISCENCES

after an hour's wait we were able to get something
to eat. Afterwards we proceeded on our trip, each
passenger taking the same seat in the coach that he
occupied when he left Mammoth Hot Springs in the
morning. As we rode on we saw some deer in the
woods, and once a bear, walking at his leisure, caused
considerable excitement among the passengers. Through
the action of the government, park roads have been
built and have reached a high state of perfection. We
arrived at Old Faithful Inn in time for supper, and
remained there over night. This Inn is built from
slabs of the trees growing in that vicinity, and from
stone quarried in the neighborhood. This building is
very picturesque in architecture and we found it very
comfortable to spend the night here. Some forty rods
distant from the Inn is the Old Faithful geyser, which
spouts, I think, every hour and six minutes. It throws
up steaming hot water to a height of some one hun
dred and fifty feet. The round opening where the
water leaves the earth is about eighteen inches in
diameter. All through the Park we saw many hot
springs, some in varied colors; also a large number of
geysers.

After our enjoyable night at Old Faithful Inn we
started in the usual order the next morning. We took
lunch that day at the Thumb lunch station, which was
a stand-up counter, and then proceeded to the Lake
Hotel, the passengers being allowed their choice of
steamboat or stage. We spent a very enjoyable night
on the shore of the lake, in this hotel.

The next morning we proceeded north on the river
to Canyon Hotel, where we remained over night. We
saw a number of wild animals during this day's trip,

WESTERN WONDERLANDS 329

consisting of deer, elk and other species. At this
hotel they have a custom of feeding the bear after sup
per, and the guests go out to watch them if they wish.
All the waste food from the hotel is taken out and
scattered on the ground. The bears will walk down the
hill, singly or together, eat their lunch apparently un
concerned at the crowd of people standing about. Two
soldiers were present with their rifles to protect the
onlookers should occasion arise. A short distance be
low the hotel the government has built an arched bridge
of cement across the river to the government road on
the other side of the chasm.

The next morning we rode down to the river, where
we obtained a fine view of the falls and the rushing
torrent which sweeps below. The scenery was
grand, such as we do not often see, and it impresses
upon man the mystery of Nature. After some more
sight seeing in the neighborhood we continued our
journey to Norris lunch station and from there pro
ceeded on our homeward way to Mammoth Hot
Springs, from where we were taken to Gardiner. Later
we took the train and went to bed in our sleeper.

In the morning we found ourselves at Livingston
and our coach attached to the train for Minneapolis,
traveling through the interesting grain country of
North Dakota and Minnesota. We visited a niece liv
ing in Minneapolis, and from there took the train on
the Wisconsin Central railroad for Oshkosh.

We had not visited this city for some ten years. We
spent several weeks there and went to Chicago, and
about the last of October started for Pensacola. We
went as far as Nashville, where we remained until the
yellow fever scare abated, then continued on our way

330 REMINISCENCES

south, to Pensacola. We stopped with our son at that
place until February of the next year, when my wife,
my son and myself went by the way of the Southern
Pacific railroad to southern California, once more to
try and select a permanent home.

Arriving at Los Angeles I learned that the house on
Orange Grove Avenue, Pasadena, had been sold. We
went to Hollywood to board, at the Hollywood Hotel,
which was a very admirable hostelry. We looked at a
number of places with a view of buying there, but my
son preferred a home in Los Angeles, although the
transportation by trolley between the two places was
quick and easy.

We spent many days looking at different places in
Los Angeles, but we finally saw one which pleased my
wife and son very much; they expressed their admira
tion of the place and said they would be delighted to
have it for a home. My son was anxious to return to
his family in Pensacola, so departed soon for Florida.
I then began negotiations for the property, which I
soon brought to a conclusion. The owner and builder
of the place had died just as the house neared comple
tion, since which time it had been in possession of a
care-taker. It was beautifully furnished and I desired
to buy the furniture with the house, but the heirs re
fused to part with it.

The house is about 75 feet long and 35 feet wide,
and consists of two stories and a basement. The lat
ter contains the heating furnace, a large billiard room,
two bed rooms, a bath room, and one very large room,
50 feet long by 25 feet wide, which has a cement floor.
The front portion of the main floor is so connected
that it is practically one room. The end of this space

WESTERN WONDERLANDS 331

towards the north is the parlor, the opposite end being
the living room, and between these two is a reception
hall 20 feet square. Beside the parlor is the dining
room, while opening from the living room is the li
brary, flower room and den. Facing the entrance in
the hall is the stairway, which is of oak, having a spa
cious landing half way between the floors. There is
a great deal of fine wood carving in the construction
of this stairway. Much of the lower floor is finished
in English oak, and the wainscoting is paneled; the
dining room, parlor, hall and living room are beam-
ceiled. The flower room, library and den are finished
in mahogany. In the dining room is a fireplace with
china cabinet above. On one side of the room is the
butler's pantry, beyond this is the kitchen, and other
work rooms with a stairway to the basement. From
the reception hall, passing under the stairs leading to
the second floor, is the staircase leading to the bil
liard room and the other rooms in the basement. At
the end of the living room is a very beautiful fireplace
of marble said to have been quarried in California.

On the second floor a long hall opens into numerous
bedrooms, closets and bathrooms. These rooms are
all finished in white enamel and several of them are
very large and fine. On the staircase landing is a fine
window of leaded and stained glass, presenting in beau
tiful colors the graceful figures of a youth and maiden.
The rich lights thrown upon the hall from this win
dow is one of the many attractions of the house. In the
library the cases are built in the walls, the face being
of leaded glass doors, curvilinear in shape.

In its exterior view the house is of the Mission style
of architecture. The ground upon which it is built

332 REMINISCENCES

approaches the crest of a hill, affording a most beau
tiful view over nearby lawns and gardens, then over
the rolling expanse lying between Los Angeles and the
sea. The slope of the ground is such that the house
stands two stories at the front and three in the rear.

Since purchasing the place I have cemented a road
way past one side, built a garage of the same style of
architecture as the house, and by means of a retain
ing wall, levelling the ground between by filling, and
cementing the surface, an excellent court is afforded
between the house and the garage. The rest of the
yard I have terraced, set out to trees, roses and other
flowers, and have built a play house and arbor for the
children — not only my own six grandchildren, but it
is a favorite resort for the little folk of the neighbor
hood on pleasant evenings. The house, garage and
playhouse are brilliantly lighted by electricity.

This house with its pleasant surroundings is located
in a most beautiful climate. I intend to retain it as
a home for myself and wife, and for my descendants
as long as they may wish to occupy it.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MINING ROMANCES.

There are some detached incidents which occurred
during my stay in Nevada, which I wish to relate. I
resided in Austin, Nevada, from September, 1863, to
November, 1865, and while there I corresponded for
the Milwaukee Sentinel. I was therefore wide-awake
to any incident which I felt would be of interest to the
readers of that paper.

I made the acquaintance of a Mr. French while here.
He had been a miner during the early days of placer
mining in California. He related an incident to me
in which he had been a participant and which on ac
count of its dramatic interest made a lasting impression
on me. At the time I made no memorandum of the ac
count, and though I have thought many times to put it
in writing, it has waited until the present tima

Mr. French was placer mining on the Sacramento
River. Each man of the camp had pre-empted a small
piece of ground for mining, and the little log cabins
placed on higher ground for protection against the
water, usually held two occupants who cabined together
and did their own cooking. They worked day times on
their respective mining claims with pan and shovel. If
a miner had a suitable claim he washed the gold out of
the gravel with a sluice. This was constructed by mak
ing a long box from boards and nailing across the bot
tom of this cleats of wood, to catch and hold the gold as

333

334 REMINISCENCES

it was washed from the gravel. Sometimes quicksilver
was placed behind these cleats, which would retain the
fine gold lost in case of a too liberal supply of water.
The miners, when too busy, would let the deposit of
gold accumulate in the trough for several days until the
latter needed cleaning out, as the time was lost to the
working of the claim while cleaning out the sluices.
Capital punishment was administered in those days to
anyone who robbed the sluices. A miner s gold savings
were sacred and it was death to the thief who stole
them. Judge Lynch tried the criminal and executed him
on the spot wherever such a crime had been committed.
One morning it was discovered in the camp where
Mr. French was located, that the sluice containing the
savings of two or three days had been robbed the pre
ceding night. This announcement electrified the miners
and a meeting of the inhabitants of the camp was
called at once. Suspicion fell upon a miner living in
that district and a committee was sent to arrest him.
Judge Lynch was elected to hold court; a jury was
impaneled and sworn and the trial commenced. The
evidence was all circumstantial, the judge charged the
jury, and the jury without leaving their seats under
the oak where the trial was held, began to deliberate on
their verdict. The defendant had urgently declared his
innocence, but several of the jurymen announced their
opinion that the defendant was guilty. When it came
to Mr. French's turn to express his opinion, he declared
his belief in the defendant's innocence, or, at least, that
he saw no evidence to prove that the accused had com
mitted the crime. He made a vigorous speech to support
his opinion, when a bystander made an insulting re
mark impugning his own honesty; to this Mr. French

MINING ROMANCES 335

replied that he would hold him responsible when
his present duties were over. This meant war to the
knife and the knife to the hilt The jury finally dis
agreed, there being about eight for conviction and four
for acquittal. The execution of the prisoner was thus
prevented — but a robbery had been committed and the
mob demanded a victim, so it was decided that the
accused should be whipped and banished from the camp.
Mr. French pleaded with the crowd not to do so griev
ous a wrong. The prisoner defied his persecutors and
threatened to hold any man responsible who applied a
whip to his back, but in spite of his protests, he was
tied to the oak tree and three men volunteered to apply
the lash. The punishment administered was very se
vere, but the prisoner never uttered a groan; and later
he was driven out of camp.

The excitement of the affair died away and some
thing like a year expired, when one morning a man
appeared at the door of Mr. French's cabin whom he
recognized as the man accused of the theft. The fu
gitive said he was very hungry, that he had had noth
ing to eat for several days and was nearly famished, and
asked Mr. French if he would give him something to
eat, and not betray him. Mr. French expressed his
sympathy for the man and his willingness to befriend
him. He cooked and set before him the best breakfast
that his cabin afforded. The outcast said to Mr. French
that he had a wife and family living in the states, that
he had the strongest love and affection for his wife, that
he did not feel that he could write and tell her of the
circumstances under which he was burdened, and he
asked Mr. French if he was willing to write a letter to
her and sign it, expressing a belief in his innocence ; he

336 BEMINISCENCES

said that if he could get such a letter written by Mr.
French, he would then feel like writing to her himself
and asking her to come to California and live with
him. He said that he had been quite lucky in a distant
mining camp and had the prospect of making a com
fortable home for her.

Mr. French wrote the letter as desired, expressing
the utmost confidence in the man and his belief in his
innocence as to the crime charged. He handed the man
the letter; the latter expressed his heartfelt thanks for
all the kindness he had received, and departed. Mr.
French told him that if he ever came that way again,
to come into his cabin and help himself if he were
hungry and the cabin unoccupied at the time.

Some time afterwards, one of the three men who had
flogged the prisoner was found dead in the woods. Six
months later another of the three men was found shot
to death in the same way. The third man was in terror
of the fate awaiting him and fled from the country. Mr.
French said that several years later he was stopping in
San Francisco, when one day on the ferry boat he
chanced to meet the suspected man. He appeared to be
very much pleased to see his benefactor and asked him
to go home with him and see his wife. Mr. French was
introduced to a very charming woman and a fine family
of children. The man at that time was engaged in busi
ness in San Francisco. Mr. French gave me the man's
name, which I remember very distinctly. I frequently
eaw the name in the San Francisco papers, but whether
it was the man who was the hero of this story or not I
do not know. It may have been the name of one of his
children, or of a member of another family. Whether

MINING ROMANCES 337

he had taken retributive justice on his tormentors is a
matter entirely of imagination.

While living in Nevada I heard many stories of the
argonauts of early times. I recollect one told of a party
of immigrants who were induced to take the southern
trail to California, owing to the tales they had heard
of the Mountain Meadow massacre, which had been the
work of the "Avenging Angels" of the Mormon Church ;
these tales caused them to take a more southern route
to avoid a like fate. After crossing the Colorado River
in South Utah they passed north of the Grand Canon
into the Territory of Nevada. They escaped the Mor
mons, but met an equally tragic fate in Death's Valley,
where they suffered terrible hardships from heat and
lack of water. All but three met death there. Often
these despairing travelers would see lakes of water ahead
of them, which would revive their despondent spirits
until the deception of Nature was disclosed by their
finding that what they had supposed to be a lake was
but an alkali flat. In southern Nevada they discovered
some very rich mines of gold, but they could not take
advantage of such a fortune, owing to their meagre
supply of food for themselves and their teams. It was
necessary to move on as fast as possible in order to
reach some place where they could get supplies before
their food was exhausted ; then they counted on return
ing to the rich mines which they had discovered. The
country east of California was practically unknown.
The travelers pushed on until they entered Death's Val
ley, where there was no water and it did not rain. This
valley is said to be three hundred feet below the sea
level.

This immigrant train was well equipped, well manned

338 REMINISCENCES

and well supplied. It consisted of about twenty-five
human beings when they entered the valley, but their
scant supply of water was soon exhausted, their stock
soon drooped and died, and their bones were left to
bleach in the torrid sun. The men after a day or two
began to fall in the same way ; three of the party, after
enduring indescribable sufferings, finally reached an
inhabited locality in California, where they told of the
sufferings and tragic deaths of their companions, and of
the riches they had discovered in Nevada.

Some hopeful prospectors engaged two of these men
to guide them to the mines, but the latter had lost their
reckoning and could find nothing which they remem
bered to guide them to the locality of the lost mines.
Only the remnants of the outfit and the bones of the
immigrants and the stock were found bleaching on the
trail. It had become an incident forgotten by nearly
all except the adventurous gold seeker who chanced this
way. When I was in Austin the story of this immi
grant party was revived ; the third survivor of the trag
edy had told his tale to some hopeful prospectors and
under his lead a party started for southern Nevada to
rediscover the lost mines. I was invited to join this
party and had some thoughts of going. By most people
the mines were regarded as a myth, formed in the brains
of the survivors' fevered fancies, and caused by their
terrible sufferings. The mining party returned with
no more success than the former attempts.

The remembrance of this story had almost passed
from my mind, but after I went to Los Angeles to live
I read of the discovery of gold at Bullfrog, Goldfield
and other points in southern Nevada, and concluded
these might have been the mines which were first found

MINING ROMANCES 339

under such unhappy circumstances by the unfortunate
immigrants.

When I went to Austin in 1863 it was stated that
there were five thousand inhabitants in and about the
town. The town was built in a canon on the west side of
the Toyiabe mountains. The overland stages crossed
through this canon, the course of the mountains being
north and south. West of the range was a large valley
covered with sage bush, which was known as Reese
River Valley. Through this, about six miles
from Austin flowed the river toward the north. It was
an insignificant stream which disappeared after flowing
some distance. About ten months of the year it did not
rain in the vicinity of Austin ; in December and Janu
ary we had some slight showers and occasionally some
falls of "beautiful snow." The bottom of the canon
rose quite rapidly as you ascended it toward the sum
mit, making the appearance of the habitations pictur
esque in the extreme.

There was not much available material in this vicin
ity for house building, except stones and rock and the
small pinon pines which grew on the mountains and
from which poles and posts could be obtained. Prob
ably one-half the people lived in tents. Cotton cloth was
the principal material used for roofing. The soil was
largely adobe, from which were made sun dried bricks
for the walls of the houses ; these walls were very sub
stantial, and on them were laid poles for rafters on
which was spread cotton cloth for the roof; cotton cloth
was also used for ceilings. The soil packed hard made a
floor about as clean as if made of wood.

I lived in a little house of this kind, perhaps 18 feet
by 30 feet, for more than a year. We put up three

340 REMINISCENCES

bunks to accommodate the three occupants of the place,
in the end of the house opposite the fireplace. These
occupants were John P. Kelly, a nephew of the then
governor of Kentucky, a civil engineer; John Doyle, a
miner who said he was a Welshman, but whose name
always struck me as being Irish, and the author of these
Reminiscences. Each had his duties to perform. I
believe we had but two meals a day ; I cooked the break
fast, of fried bacon, boiled potatoes and bread. Kelly
washed the dishes and Jack Doyle got supper. We spent
many of our evenings playing chess or reading by candle
light, as we had to rely upon tallow dips for our evening
light. We three were about equally skillful in a game
of chess ; of course only two could play at a time, and
the third member was of necessity an onlooker of the
game. Very often he could see chances of attack or
defense which would escape the players, and he would
sometimes make remarks which would annoy or vex one
of the players, and perhaps the game would end with a
little ill-feeling; this, however, soon subsided.

The chief hotel of the town was called the Interna
tional ; it was a two-story building of adobe and lumber
hauled by ox teams from the Sierras, 250 miles distant
and costing $400 per thousand feet; it was used for
joist, floors and rafters. The principal attraction of
the place was called the Stone Saloon. It was a one-
story building with walls of stone, dimensions about
twenty-five feet wide by one hundred (or more) feet in
length. The entrance was on the principal street and
not far from the hotel. As one entered, upon the left
was a large, gaudy bar, disbursing liquors. On the right
was a cigar counter, this luxury selling fifteen cents
each or two for a quarter of a dollar, and drinks were

MINING ROMANCES 341

sold at about the same rate. Passing the bar the rest
of the room was lined with tables for the playing of
games of chance, and these were occupied by the players
and surrounded by sight-seers. In about the center of
the room (or hall) was erected a platform upon which
a band of musicians generally played. About every half
hour a female opera singer who had seen her best days
would come out and sing a selection, during which time
most of the games would be suspended. Some of the
tables were presided over by comely females who acted
as dealers for the bank. These attracted the average
miner, for he could lose his money with a better grace
to such a banker than to a man. It is wonderful the
attraction that a female possessed over these miners who
perhaps had not seen a woman for years. There were a
great many games here for driving dull care away. This
part of my life, however, is so long ago that I have
forgotten most of the games, the more so, as I never
gambled myself ; I might remember better had I been a
player. I have never seen similar orgies since I left
Austin.

On the foothills of the mountain range there grew
every spring a very excellent forage plant called bunch-
grass, which sustained large herds of cattle pastured in
the valley ; it made good "feed" for summer and winter.
It grew in the spring and dried on the bunch in summer,
but retained all of its nutritive value.

The usual modes of travel were foot and horseback.
Occasionally a light wagon would find its way to the
town, but most journeys were made on horseback. I
found here some of the easiest riding horses that I ever
bestrode, and I became very fond of the saddle.

I have many times thought I would revisit the place

34:2 REMINISCENCES

and see how it looked now, but I presume that is un
likely. The class of people I met there were very intelli
gent; a great many of them were college bred. The
young man who wished to make a fortune quickly ; the
man who had lost his fortune in the East and wished to
make another; the politician who had lost his hold on
the public, came west to grow up with the country. I
never was lonesome while I lived there, and I often
resolved to bring my family here to live; but it is the
lot of man to make plans for the future which are over
ruled by circumstances, as they were in my case. The
kind of life I led there had great attractions for me. It
was a free and easy, devil-may-care sort of existence,
perhaps the most natural life one can enjoy. The only
thing that gave me a feeling of unrest was the absence
of my wife and boy, they being still in the States,

CHAPTER XXX.

RECAPITULATION.

My business experience led me to adopt certain rules
by which to be governed. One was never to put money
where I could not control it myself; another was not
to give accommodation endorsements to others. When
I feel it is right, and wish to help someone, I prefer to
loan him the money, take his note, and, if necessary,
put my own notes in the bank. I believe that no note
which I have given has ever been protested; all have
been paid when due or extended by mutual consent
My observation is that few men, companies or corpo
rations escape the necessity of borrowing money for use
in their business; some require credit occasionally,
others all the time. I learned also that in order to
make money a man must take chances, otherwise he
will fail to make a fortune. I have always found that
it paid to be truthful in all business transactions. I
have lost much through the failure of others, and I
have usually found that the men who have deceived me
are men who boast of their honor and integrity and
made a cloak of religion. I prefer to give such peo
ple a wide berth and allow them no opportunity to
cheat or defraud. I have found it very hard to for
get or forgive a person who has deliberately insulted
or defrauded me; my disposition in this respect has
often resulted in loss financially. I was brought up
to be economical, and this has been one of my leading

343

344: REMINISCENCES

characteristics. When a person has once gained my
confidence, I am very loyal to him until I have posi
tive evidence of his treachery, but when I have once
reposed trust in a person and he betrays it, it is im
possible for me to trust him again. The first time a
person deceives me it is his fault, the second time it is
my fault. I cannot say that my judgment in likes and
dislikes is always correct, but I am careful never to
betray a friend or do an act which I think dishon
orable.

During my boyhood days I was under an influence
intensely religious. I have no doubt that my mother
believed that if she prayed to God that He listened and
would answer the petition. I was taught that I was
under the constant surveillance of the Deity. The anec
dote I have told before, of the Sunday when I went
bathing and cut my foot on an old axe in the water,
and how I managed to walk home, though the injury
was a serious one and the comfort I had received was
the assurance that the punishment was inflicted on me
because "I was breaking the Sabbath." This is a sam
ple of the religious conviction under which I was
trained.

All the boys in our neighborhood were kept steadily
employed week days, and Sunday was about the only
day in which we could play. Indeed, I was so con
fined that I had scarcely an opportunity to take ad
vantage of that day even. Occasionally I would pro
vide myself with a gun and go hunting, but game was
scarce and there was not much pleasure in the sport.
The most of my boyhood pleasures were obtained by
visiting neighboring children after dark; as we had,
however, no neighbors who lived less than half a mile

BECAPITULATION 345

from our house, my social intercourse was quite lim
ited.

My father was a dignified, austere man ; he believed
that to spare the rod was to spoil the child. I have
no recollections of his taking me on his knee or play
ing with me; yet he was a very kind and honorable
man. He was known in the neighborhood where he
lived as Uncle Alfred. My earliest recollection of my
father was when he was about sixty years old. He was
a strong, sturdy man of about 180 pounds weight. The
top of his head was bald with a fringe of white hair
beneath. He wore, if I remember correctly, a No.
7 1-2 hat. When dressed for church the hat was a tall
one. He wore a stock about his neck, and a blue
swallow-tailed coat with brass buttons. He was a fine
appearing man.

The following story will illustrate my father's high
sense of honor. I sold a colt to a neighbor for $100 and
the man came for the horse, as agreed. My father met
him at the gate and said: "Mr. Low, Emory tells me
that he has sold the colt to you for $100." Mr. Low re
plied that it was so. "I do not think the colt worth as
much as that, and you may have it for $80," said my
father. I protested that I would not sell it for that
price, and Mr. Low paid the $100 and took the colt.
I, perhaps, had a better knowledge of what the animal
was worth than my father had, although I was but six
teen years old at the time. But this incident serves to
illustrate the honorable character of my father. It was
his custom every morning to read a chapter in the
Bible and have family prayers. He always repeated
the same prayer. When I was a lad I tried hard to
learn that prayer, but some way was never able to com-

346 REMINISCENCES

mit it to memory. At the beginning of each meal he
also asked a blessing, and it was worded the same, but
that blessing I was never able to repeat. In spite of
this custom of praying it seemed to me that the re
ligious convictions of my father did not run very deep.
I think that his father — my grandfather — Stephen
Skinner, of whom I have but a faint recollection, as
he died when I was about nine years old, was an Epis
copalian, and that my father was brought up in that
faith, but became a Methodist after his marriage to
my mother. She had become converted after her mar
riage and became very religious. She was somewhat
noted in the neighborhood for her ability to make an
eloquent prayer. My father told me that she was a
very handsome girl when he married her. As I re
member her, she was quite stout, weighing perhaps 160
pounds. She did not exceed 5 feet 6 inches in height.
She had long, coal black hair, which retained its color
up to the time of her death, and it was her custom to
wear a lace cap over it. She had sharp, black eyes,
long eyebrows, a strong nose, high cheeked bones and a
brunette complexion. She was but fifteen years old
when married, my father being six years older. This
was in 1802. She was the mother of fifteen children,
of which I was the youngest. My parents both lived
to be over ninety years of age. They would have cele-
ebrated their diamond wedding anniversary had my
father lived a year longer. Considering the number of
children my mother had to care for, she was very kind
to us all. She had a failing of bursting into tears at
the slightest censure.

I have seen nothing in recent educational methods
that seems equal to the country schools (of our local-

RECAPITULATION 34:7

ity) in my youth. They seldom taught anything ex
cept the common branches of education, but the chil
dren were taught very thoroughly in reading, writing,
arithmetic and geography. A child, if he tried, could
get a good practical education in these schools, and for
those who desired higher, there was the academy, then
a feature of nearly every village.

In my own school work the study in which I ex
celled was geography, and it has only been in later years
that I would fail if any part of the earth were men
tioned to tell where it was located.

When I was a little chap I spent much of the time
in the house with my mother, her daughters having all
married and left home. My mother and the "hired
girl" did not tease me as did my older brothers. I
remember many things which my mother told me about
her own father in those days ; she had great respect and
admiration for his memory. He was born in Francis-
town, N. H., in 1765. According to American Ar
chives, Vol. 6, p. 1120, he enlisted from that place May
7th, 1782, in Captain Isaac Frye's Company of the
First New Hampshire Regiment, commanded by Lieu
tenant-Colonel Henry Dearborn. At Newburgh, N.
Y., June 16, 1783, he was transferred to the Comman-
der-in-Chief s Guard, assigned the special duty of
guarding the person of General Washington and his
personal baggage and papers. On September 5th, 1783,
Lieutenant Bezaleel Howe was detached from the New
Hampshire Battalion and assigned to the command of
the Commander-in-Chief's Guard. In November of
that year Washington issued the following letter of in
structions to Captain Howe with respect to the delivery
of his papers and baggage at his home at Mount Yer-

348 REMINISCENCES

non, Virginia, "to deliver the baggage at nay house, ten
miles below Alexandria. As you know, they contain
all of my papers, which are of immense value to me.
I am sure it is unnecessary to request your particular
attention to them, but as you will have several ferries
to pass, some of them wide, particularly the Susque-
hanna and Potomac, I must caution you against
crossing these if the wind should be high or there is,
in your opinion or in the judgment of others, the least
danger. The waggons should never be without a sen
tinel over them, always locked, and the keys in your
possession." Corporal Holt was assigned to the posi
tion of wagon-master to his excellency's baggage. The
guard was composed of twelve mounted infantrymen,
of which my grandfather, Ebenezer C'oston, then only
eighteen years of age, was one. After the return of
this expedition he was honorably discharged at West
Point, K Y., December 20th, 1783. He died at Ly-
sander, K Y., February 17th, 1814. These facts
about my grandfather's military career are taken from
Dr. Godfrey's History of the Commander-in-Chief's
Guard, published by Stevenson-Smith Company, Wash
ington, D. C., in 1904.

My mother was born at Greenfield, N. H., June 26,
1786. My grandfather removed to Litchfield, Oneida
county, !N". Y., some time before 1800 — I am unable to
give the exact date — and became captain of a militia
company located in the neighborhood.

The Commander-in-Chief's Guard was drilled by
Baron Steuben of Revolutionary fame. He was said
to have been a very strict drill-master, a martinet, who
had received his military education under the rough
and rugged discipline of Frederick the Great, of

RECAPITULATION 34:9

Prussia. I have heard my mother say that the mem
bers of his company upon drilling days would come
to the house before light and fire of? their guns to
warn him of the impending muster. He would then
set out for them a jug of whiskey with which to keep
themselves warm until time to drill.

It was the custom when I was a lad for militia to
have training days during the summer months, and
in the fall of the year to have a general training, com
posed of the regiment. Two of my brothers, Sidney
Mills and Dan Barnes, were captains of militia com
panies. These military days gradually became occa
sions of drunken rioting, of the humorous sort, until
they were finally abolished by the legislature, some
ten years or more before the civil war. The officers of
the companies were unable to control their men, and
training day was nothing more than a time of drunken
carousal. It was the custom in those days to have
wrestling matches. My brother, Barnes, was quite an
athlete and had a reputation as a wrestler. He was
nearly six feet in height, of athletic build, with very
piercing black eyes and straight black hair, and my
mother said that he looked very much like her father;
I think he was a favorite with her on account of that
resemblance. My mother frequently told me that
Goffe, the regicide, was my ancestor, which I believed,
until perhaps twenty years ago. In reading of the
three regicides who fled to New England, I found that
Goffe never brought his family to America ; so if there
is any of GofiVs blood in my veins it comes through
the blood of some dusky aborigine. The story is told
that during an attack of the Indians on the meeting
house while church service was being held, that GofTe

350 REMINISCENCES

appeared and took command of the defense, repulsed
the Indians and immediately afterwards disappeared.
The emisaries of Charles the Second searched for
him for many years, that he might be carried back to
England and beheaded,

CHAPTER XXXI.

IN CONCLUSION.

For certain reasons I desire to express my opinion on
religious subjects, in order that I may not be misquoted
or misunderstood in the future. With this object in
view I introduce the subjects herein presented.

Every man creates a God of his own, or has some
one create a God for him, and the characteristics of his
God will be the characteristics of his own nature. The
superstitions of man incline him to believe in some
kind of deity. It is natural for every one to accept
the fact of a Higher Power which has "created the
heavens and the earth and all that in them is." If
we knew more about this Being it might be better for
us; however, if the Creator thought it well for us to
know more than we do, it was within His power to have
enlightened us. Man by his intellect has discovered
many natural laws, the recognition of which has made
apparent many things which in his previous ignorance
and superstition he had believed to be unnatural and
attributable to supernatural causes. « ncroft Library

In the early days of the world, monarchs obtained
their right to rule over their brothers by "divine right,"
by what was regarded as the sanction of God, delivered
by human hands. People suffered great wrongs and
injustice under cruel and inhuman rulers, and believed
that they had no right to resist. Human slavery was
upheld by religion. Probably most of the evils which

351

352 REMINISCENCES

have seriously affected mankind have resulted from
the teachings of some religion which rendered the per
son believing it impervious to reason or argument.
Gathered from the ancient Jewish writings of law
givers and prophets is a compilation known as the
Bible. In this is given a circumstantial account of the
creation of the world. I recollect in my boyhood days
learning a piece of doggerel which ran as follows:

"The world was made in six days, and finished on the

seventh ;
According to the contract it should have been the

'leventh.
The carpenters got drunk, and the masons wouldn't

work,
And the quickest way to finish it was to fill it up with

dirt."

This account of the creation is as circumstantial,
reliable and truthful as the one given in Genesis. There
are certain books in the Bible giving an account of the
lives and wanderings of the descendants of Abraham.
The Jews claim to be the beloved of God in preference
to any other tribes or races of men. They have gen
erally been a very unpopular people, though many of
them have been talented, wise and of remarkable abil-
ity.

During the first four centuries of the Christian era
many histories were written concerning Jesus Christ,
who claimed to be the Son of God. From these nu
merous writings were selected those which form the
books of the New Testament, and these added to the
ancient religious and historical writings of the Jews
form the modern Bible. This book is the foundation

IN CONCLUSION 353

of most of the religions taught in civilized countries
today, and the followers believe it to be — without in
vestigation or proof — inspired by God Himself.

Jesus Christ taught His disciples and mankind gen
erally to "love one another/' and to "do unto others as
ye would have others do to you," yet the priests of this
new religion of Jesus Christ raised themselves, step by
step, in earthly power and attempted to dominate the
world. They became careless of His precepts and
sought for pomp and glory, and employed all the ad
vantages of their high places to gain power and con
trol over their fellow men. Eighteen centuries have
followed of cruelty and crime, done in the name of
Christianity, and claimed to be in accordance with the
teachings of Jesus Christ. The masses of the believers
in the Christian religion were ignorant and unlearned,
while the learned among them grew more domineering
and crafty in order that they might enjoy supreme
earthly power.

One purpose of most religions has been to invent a
scheme by which a few could live in luxury at the ex
pense of the many. It has been the object and pur
pose of most sects to force great numbers of persons
into their belief and control them by injustice and
cruelty. Great wrongs have been inflicted in the name
of religion, and the severest tortures have been en
dured by many who refuse to believe in some particu
lar creed. What the nature of God is no man knows.
We do know, however, that the more humane and in
telligent a nation is, the better it is for its people. The
honest beliefs of an individual, if he does not attempt
to force them upon others, and if he advocates only
what is virtuous, honest and merciful, can do no

354 REMINISCENCES

serious injury and must tend to the betterment of man
kind. What the future has in store for us, where we
are to go, what we are to do or be, is entirely unknown
to us. Shakespeare speaks of death as :

"That undiscovered country, from whose bourne
No traveler returns."

So far it has been idle to attempt to penetrate the
veil. We know that the heavens are full of worlds
and planets, that they are of area so vast that all who
have dwelt on the earth from its dawn to the present
time might live upon them. The suggestive mind of
man can easily imagine what might be our future, but
that we can have any real knowledge upon this point
is not at all probable. The intense curiosity of man
leads him to conjecture and resolve schemes of exist
ence which he tries to foist upon mankind as being the
will and purpose of the Creator Himself.

I remember when I was a boy, I was told that God
kept constant care over me, that He even counted the
hairs of my head, and that He kept a diary in which
were recorded all my good and bad acts; all my good
and bad thoughts; and at that time I was not very
well able to distinguish the good from the bad.

Faith is the ability to believe a lie, there being no
evidence to prove its truth. Somehow I appear to
lack that faculty. I always desire some substantial
evidence of the truth of anything. I am not easily
convinced of the truth of things which I cannot see,
hear, or prove by some sort of reasoning, especially if
the things themselves appear to be against reason.
Many possess the faculty of faith, but believing a
thing does not make it true, for believing is simply a

IN CONCLUSION 355

confession of ignorance. We may believe a thing is
so and not know it is so. Knowledge is very different
from belief; one must have evidence to substantiate
knowledge, but belief is simply an opinion. Belief 18
something like seeing an alkali flat in a desert and
thinking that it is a lake.

Religious beliefs are usually more prevalent among
the unlearned than among the educated classes of hu
manity. Every creed which is not founded on the dog
mas which teach immortality of the soul and everlast
ing rewards and punishments, is unsuccessful. Such
dogmas were unknown to the Jews, therefore Judaism^
far from being supported by Providence, was an un
successful doctrine. It is necessary for a religion to
take hold on the minds of the followers so they will
have a hope of reward and a fear of punishment con
stantly before their mental vision.

I recollect, when a boy, of living a short time with a
family in which there was an aged and infirm gentle
man, who made agonizing prayers and appeals, twice
daily, to his Presbyterian God. He impressed me as
one having an intense fear of death. He would ac
cuse himself of being a terrible sinner, unworthy of
any consideration by his Maker, and would implore in
a most pathetic manner, forgiveness for wrongdoing.
In my youthful imagination I used to wonder what the
terrible crimes might have been of which he had been
guilty. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church,
a polite and lovable man, respected by everyone who
knew him, yet the fear with which he regarded death,
was appalling.

The child's faith in the fiction told it by grown-up
people, of the rabbits which lay painted eggs, for which

356 REMINISCENCES

they search Easter morning, is about equal to the faith
of their elders in the dogmas of their religion, which
has no more foundation for its assumption than the
other.

The clergy has a great influence on the mind of the
public, and it is not always exercised with wisdom. It
was the excitable sentiments uttered from the pulpits
of the north against the south, and in the southern
churches against the north which engendered an ani
mosity, culminating in one of the most terrible and
bloody wars of modern times. I do not believe that the
result of this fearful cost will be of benefit to those for
whom it was fought. The negro of today is a different
creature from the slave of 1860. At that time he was
generally a docile and kind-hearted attendant to his
master. After the close of the war the clergy again led
northern public sentiment into the foolish step of de
manding franchise for the slave class, holding that polit
ical equality with the whites would serve as a protec
tion for the weaker. This was granted and served as
a menace to one-third of our country ever since, and
with all the loss to our own people it did not help or
satisfy the negroes, whose master ambition is for social
equality rather than political, or commercial. But the
white can not concede this if he would, as necessarily it
means the lowering of the white to the level of the
negro, who is disqualified from meeting the higher
conditions.

It is quite probable that the next part of the country
to suffer from this folly and egotism of the negro will
be the north ; the freedom and latitude given the blacks
will eventually meet a rebuff in some form of bitter
war of the races. Again the clergy, as leaders of public

IN CONCLUSION « 357

sentiment, will be heavily responsible, and it is likely
that the curses will come home to roost which have been
uttered against the south, whose experience of three
centuries with the negro makes it better fitted to meet
the problem, than any other.

The motives of the clergy in all of these mistakes may
be of the purest kind, but their pursuits and occupations
disqualify them from understanding such drastic meas
ures as are required in certain extremes of business and
politics.

When at times I realize some of the ignorance ex
pressing itself everywhere about us, I am impressed
with the thought of what a terrible state of ignorance
there must have been in the period following the crea
tion. The first thunder storm, or earthquake; the first
sight of birth or death, without the knowledge that it
must be borne by millions of others ; not even to know
the reason why the sun rose or set! As man becomes
more intelligent, his ignorance in a measure disappears.
It may be for the benefit of the human being that
theories are constructed with regard to future existence,
of which he can know nothing, but in my opinion it is
a doubtful exercise of the imagination.

I believe the Deity to be the concentration of All-
Knowledge. He is the acme of all mechanism. The
construction, organization and individuality of the hu
man structure is so marvelous that the mind is para
lyzed in its efforts to comprehend it; and the mortal
mind approaches the Creator the nearest when it excels
in the construction, invention and operation of applied
mechanics. I have never been so happy in any pursuit
as when I was building a mill, and contriving to make
all the parts work together.

358 BEMINISCENCES

I believe that God is omniscient but not necessarily
omnipresent In the construction of a mechanical in
vention, its highest perfection would be proved by its
ability to work on without supervision.

It is self evident that the Deity has given us no
knowledge of Himself or of His purposes, only such as
we are able to read from the laws of Nature, but we
see that the human body partakes of food, in that
manner supplying its own materials to maintain exist
ence until the organism wears out through an over stren
uous life or from the decay of old age.

Man comes into the world against his wish, and he
departs from it in the same way. Today he is and to
morrow he is not. Why he comes and why he goes, are
equal mysteries; however, death has no sting, but such
as we give it