o^f^-^^ 
 
L I P^ E 
 
 AND 
 
 A D V E N TU RES 
 
 COL. L. A. NORTON 
 
 WRITTEN BV HIiVlSEI.K. 
 
 OAKLAND, CAL., 
 
 PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING HOUSK 
 
 1887. 
 

 Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1887, 
 
 ({((g By L. a. NORTON, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 6 d 
 
 THE PACIFIC PRESS, 
 Printers, Electrotypers, and Binders 
 Oakland and San Francisco. 
 f _.„ ? 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE 
 
 ) J ^^N unveiling my life to the public gaze, I am not actuated 
 KOJ^k by any eulogistic or mercenary motives. Nor do I 
 WiTnt think that the life of any man in the ordinary walks 
 of life is going to electrify the world, or even be extensively 
 circulated or generally read, in this day and age when so many 
 are rushing into print. And as evidence that this sentiment 
 is honest, the small edition of one thousand copies is sufficient. 
 Notwithstanding this declaration, I imagine I have a history, 
 and in many respects a remarkable one; and that it is fraught 
 with interest which will repay the reader for his labor, and more 
 especially the young American who is so unfortunate as to be 
 turned out on the world without a penny or influential friends 
 to aid him. It will at least show him what one waif, cast out 
 upon the stormy billows of life, has accomplished; or, in other 
 words, what a determined spirit, possessed of energy and per- 
 severance, may accomplish. But my principal object in writ- 
 ing these sketches is to leave my record with my children and 
 friends. And I will further say that I have long hesitated be- 
 fore publishing, and it is now with a feeling of great diffidence 
 that I permit the work to go to press. Not that I fear that 
 it does not possess interest sufficient to warriint its reading, 
 but from the extent and strangeness of many incidents that 
 it contains. 
 
Author's Preface. 
 
 But facts are stranger than fiction, and there are so many 
 living witnesses to the most remarkable scenes and events here 
 narrated that I take courage, although I have omitted many 
 things that have occurred, and sights which I have seen, be- 
 cause I felt that they would not be credited. For instance, in 
 writing up my memoirs, in one place I had stated that, at the 
 ancient city of Pueblo Viejo, Lieutenant Conkling and myself 
 lay beneath the shade of a castor-bean tree which was more than 
 thirty feet in height, and more than eighteen inches at the butt, 
 and which was undoubtedly more than thirty years old. A 
 friend at my elbow said, "Norton, strike it out; I know that 
 your statement is true, but you cannot make the Northern 
 world believe it." I struck it out, and yet when any of my 
 readers go to Los Angeles, if they will go down in the old 
 Spanish portion of the town they will find a castor-bean root 
 with four branches coming from it, either of which is over six 
 inches through; and any one who will go to Anaheim, Los 
 Angeles County, and travel a mile northeast from that place, 
 can credit my cactus story. 
 
 But enough of this; no man should apologize for telling the 
 truth; for ''he who most investigates will most believe." 
 Read my whole volume, skeptic, then reply. I have often 
 heard it remarked that the preface to a book is seldom read, 
 iience I refer the reader to the contents of the work. 
 
 L. A. Norton. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 — -j^i^- — 
 
 Page. 
 
 CHAPTER I —History of the Norton Family— Parentage and 
 Birth of the Subject of This Vohime -Leaving Home at the 
 
 Age of Eleven Years— Journey to Upper Canada . . 9 
 
 CHAPTER n —Life Affected by Circumstances in Youth— A Night 
 
 of Fearful Suspense in a Strange Hotel-A Lucky Escape. ... H 
 CHAPTER HL— A Perilous Voyage— Working Passage towaid 
 
 Home on a Lake Ontario Schooner— Arrival Home. 21 
 
 (TlAl'TER IV —A Terrible Storm at Buffalo— Recovermg a 
 
 Longabsent Brother-A Terrible Night in a Canadian Forest.. 25 
 CHAPTER V.-The Canadian Rebellion of 1837-38-Enlistment 
 in the Spartan Rangers-The First Skirmish-The Force De- 
 
 serted by the Commander— Attempt to Reach Home .?i 
 
 CHAPTER VL— A Prisoner of War— Assisting Others to Escape— 
 
 Held without Bail, on Various Charges 30 
 
 CHAPTER VH.— Thrilling Incidents of Prison Life— Hard Fare 
 
 —A Postal Arrangement— A Free Fight 42 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.— Fruitless Efforts to Escape- Bribing a Sentinel 
 -A Female Spy-The Populace of London Frightened by 
 
 Harmless Indians ' * ' 
 
 CHAPTER IX — From Prison to Hospital— The Uevil Cheated— 
 
 Final Release on a Sentence of "Voluntary Banishment - ^^ 
 
 A Ninety-mile Tramp • • • 
 
 CHAPTER X.-Experiences in Michigan and Illinois-Medicinal 
 Discovery— Attempt to Inaugurate an Invasion ol Canada 
 Frustrated by the U. S. Marshal- Narrow Escape trom a ^^ 
 
 Flood— Marriage 
 
 CHAPTER XL— Memoirs of the Mexican War— Raising a Com- 
 
 ' pany in Kane County, Illinois-Arrival at Carlton, Louisiana 
 
 -Down with the Measles-Arrival at Tamptco, Mexico-The 
 
 - Green Sucker " Who Called at the British Consulate for Beer 
 
 — " Pat's " First Duty on Guard— The Girl Recruit. . /» 
 
 CHAPTER XIL— The Mexican War, Continued— The Denizens of 
 
 the Chaparral-Expedition up the Panuco and Tamosee Livers S9 
 CHAPTER XIII. —The Mexican War, Continued— A Daring Ex- 
 ploit at RanchoRatonus-PuebloViejo-A Great Festival... 104 
 
vi Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV.— The Mexican War, Continued— An Exciting 
 Cock-fight — Trial of an Irish Soldier for Killing a Mexican — 
 Disobedience of Orders — Expedition to the Sierra MadrtJ 
 Country — Ruins of an Ancient City 117 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— The Mexican War, Continued— The Story of a 
 
 Tiger — A Weary Tramp on Top of the Chaparral 138 
 
 CHAPTER XVI.— The Mexican War, Continued -Winter Quarters 
 — sf^xpedition to Tampico el Alto — Capturing the Town with 
 Twenty Men — Reprimanded by General Gates 144 
 
 CHAPTER XVII.— The Mexican War, Continued— Colonel Walker, 
 the Texan Ranger — Eall uf the National Bridge— -Battle of 
 Cerro Gordo — Perote Mountain 153 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII.— The Mexican War, Continued — From Hua- 
 mantla to the City of Mexico — Observations in the City — Con- 
 vent of San Domingo — Hand-to-hand Conflict with a Lancer 
 Chief 172 
 
 Chapter XIX. — The Mexican War, Continued — A Mysterious 
 Lady — Removal to Puebla — Return to Mexico — Narrow Escape 
 on the Battle-field of Contreras — Avenging an Outrage l)y 
 Guerrillas 180 
 
 CHAPTER XX.— The Mexican War, Continued— The City of Puebla 
 — Riding Out for Adventure — The Mexican Rheumatism — The 
 City of Cholula — Unexpectedly Meeting a Brother . 191 
 
 CH A1*TER XXI. — The Mexican War, Continued — Senor Queretaro's 
 
 Family — Another Interesting Female 202 
 
 CHAPTER XXII.— The Mexican War, Continued — Another Visit 
 to Cholula and Its Great Pyramid — Frustrating a Criminal Plot 
 among U. S. Officers 207 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII.— The Mexican War, Continued— Capturing a 
 Guerrilla Rendezvous — Preparations to Evacuate Mexican Ter- 
 ritory — Threefold Duties and Their Perplexities 216 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. — The Mexican War, Continued — Superseding 
 the Quartermastei-Cieneral — Arrival at New Orleans — General 
 Jollification--Sharpers "Bucked and Gagged" — Voyage up 
 the Mississippi and Trouble with the Steamboat Captain — Re- 
 ception at Home — Letter from Colonel Hicks 227 
 
 CHAPTER XXV.— Subduing a Noted " Bully. " 237 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. — The Restoration of a Stolen Corpse — Studying 
 
 Law— Dispelling a Mob ... 242 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. — Departure for California — Fruitless Attempts 
 
 at Detention 248 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIIL— The Journey as Far as Carson Valley— Ad- 
 venture at the Missouri River — The Indians on the Plains De- 
 mand Toll 2 152 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX— Relief Train from California^Military Men and 
 the Regulation Ration — A Fright While on Guard — Crossing 
 the Mountains 257 
 
Contents. vii 
 
 CIIAPTKR XXX. — Initiated as a Mountaineer A Lonely Journey 
 
 Across the Sierras 263 
 
 CHAPTKR XXX I. -Another Trip from Carson to Placerville— 
 
 Forcing a Toll-bridge 270 
 
 CIIAPTER XXXII. --Exper ence as a Miner — Supporting a Sick 
 Crowd through the Winter — A Muscular Contest Over a Claim 
 — Resuming the Law 274 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. —Lawyer and Merchant— " Uncle Pilly's" 
 
 Larceny 279 
 
 CFLAPTER XXXIV. — An Exciting Horse-stealing Case — Some Pe- 
 culiarities of " Early Days " Practice 285 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. — Opposition to I>ynch Law — Formation of So- 
 ciety — Outgeneraling a Mob — The End of the " Hangtown 
 Oak." 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI.— A Mysterious Rol)l)ery, and the Robber's Con- 
 fession 294 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. — Placerville (uiards— The County Seat (Ques- 
 tion . . ; 303 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. —A Trip to Monterey County— San Luis 
 
 Rancho — Shaved by a Blacksmith 312 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. — District Attorney in Western Utah — In Camp 
 with the Mormons — Cheating the Fleas — Letters from VAdci 
 Orson Hyde 321 
 
 CHAPTER XL. --Fire in Placerville — Removal to Ilcaldsburg — The 
 
 Sciuatter War ^}^ 
 
 CHAPTER XLL — The Squatter War, Continued 342 
 
 C HAPTER XLIL— The Squatter War, Continued. : 350 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. — Election as Colonel of an Illinois Regiment — 
 
 A Steamboat Wheel 357 
 
 CTIAl'TER XLIV. A Visit to the East— The Departure— "Two 
 Ladies Leff" — Arrival at St. Charles, Illint)is — Not Recog- 
 nized by Old Accjuaintances — Chicago — Detroit On to Lon- 
 don, Canada 361 
 
 CHAPTER XLV.— Visit to the East, Continued —Old-time Haunts 
 in Canada — Only One Norton Left — On to Ogdensburg, New 
 York — To Norton Creek, in Lower Canada — Childliood's 
 Landmarks all Obliterated 369 
 
 ITIAPTER XLV I.— Visit to the East, Continued— Montreal — Notre 
 
 Dame — Victoria Bridge 380 
 
 C HAPTER XLVIL— Visit to the East, Continued— Vermont and 
 
 New Hampshire — I'oston — Albany — The Hudson..., 383 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIIL— Visit to the East, Continued- New York- 
 Invulnerable to the Arts of New York Sharpers — Various 
 Attractions 39c 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX.- Visit to the East, Continued— Philadelphia^ 
 
 Baltimore — Washington — Mount Vernon 400 
 
viii Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER L. — Visit to the East, Continued — " On to Richmond " 
 — The City'? Prospects — Evidences of the Civil War Obliter 
 ated, but Relics of the Revolution Carefully Preserved — Con- 
 dition of the Negroes 411 
 
 CHAPTER LI. — Visit to the East, Continued— Homeward Bound 
 —Three Winters in One Year — The Californian's Pride in 
 Presenting His State to Fellow-passengers 418 
 
 CHAPTER LH. — My California Home— The Attractions in and 
 
 around Healdsburg 423 
 
 CHAPTER LHI.— Return to Business— Over a Thirty-foot Preci- 
 pice with a Team and Three Fellow-passengers — A Desperate 
 Attempt at Assa'^sination — Death of Mrs. Norton, and Sub- 
 sequent Marriage 428 
 
 CHAPTER LIV.— Political— Letter to Hon. John Bush, of Placer- 
 
 ville 434 
 
 CHAPTER LV. — Complimentary — Letter from Gen. R. Patterson, 
 
 U. S. A 439 
 
 CHAPTER LVL— A Sea Voyage to Santa Barbara— An Enchant- 
 ing Sunset — A Tour around the Valley, and Description of 
 Prominent Places 442 
 
 To Miss Minnie Molloy, Santa Rosa, Cal 449 
 
 To My Wife 45° 
 
 To Mary 450 
 
 Respectfully Addressed to One of the American Officers in Mexico. . 452 
 
 To My Truest and Best Friend 454 
 
 To A. C. Barry, Esq 454 
 
 Black Eyes 455 
 
 To the One for Whom It Was Intended 456 
 
 Lines to Mrs. Elizabeth Hall 457 
 
 Midnight and the Grave 459 
 
 Lines Regarding a Flower Kept Ten Years 459 
 
 The Sylphide 462 
 
 Ode to the Rt. Rev. J K. Barry 463 
 
 Montega's Adieu to the Fox 464 
 
 Lines 465 
 
 On Slander 466 
 
 Lines Respectfully Addressed to 467 
 
 The Will of Leonatus 469 
 
 Written on the Summit of Fitch Mountain, While Silting on an Ant- 
 hill 470 
 
 A Dream » 47 1 
 
 A Dialogue between the Head and Heart, as to Which Had the 
 
 Stronger Claim upon the Soul 476 
 
 Lines 48 1 
 
 ' The Rio Grande Shore 482 
 
 The Patriot's Dream 484 
 
The Life and Adventures of 
 
 Coiv. L. A. Norton 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE NORTON FAMILY. 
 
 THE history of the Nortons, of which I am about to 
 write, antedates the Revolutionary War, how lon^^, 
 I do not know, but the traditions of our branch of the 
 family commence with a sea captain, an Englishman, who 
 owned and sailed his ship. This man had two sons, both 
 of whom he settled in America, one in what is now the 
 State of Connecticut, and one in Virginia. As to the 
 Virginia stock, I know nothing about it; as to the Con- 
 necticut settler, tradition follows back six generations, 
 commencing with Eleazer, and passing down successively 
 with John, Mirum, Daniel, Lewis, and Lewis Adelbert — 
 the subject of this sketch. 
 
 Daniel Norton, my grandfather, at an early day moved 
 from some of the Eastern States back into Lower Can- 
 ada, near the line of New York State, in the town shire 
 of Hemmingford, upon a stream called Norton Creek, 
 named after him. The country was very heavily timbered 
 and sparsely settled. At the time of which I write, he 
 had made considerable improvements in clearing, fenc- 
 
10 \Ai'E AND Adventures of 
 
 Jul; laiui. etc. The American Revolutionary War was 
 then rai;ing-. I\Ty grandfather's neii;hbors were princi- 
 pally Tories, while his sympathies were with the Whigs, 
 althoLiL^h up to this time he had taken no part in the 
 struo'i^le. He was buildin,!:^- a barn, and was on the roof 
 shingiini; when a lot of men passed (eii;ht in number, I 
 believe) wlu^ had been to a K\L;-L;ino- bee, and some of them 
 were a little the worse for licjuor. One of them said, 
 " Let us drive that old Whi^- off from the barn," and 
 the\^ ordered him {o come d(.n\n. lie paid no attention 
 to them, whereupon the\' commenced throwing- stones at 
 him. rresentl)' one oi' the stones struck him, hurting him 
 prett\- b;ull\-. Being a \er\' j>assionate man. he rushed 
 down from the barn roof, with his hammer in his hand, 
 when he was met b\' the crowd. Their leader attempted 
 to strike m\' grantlfather, who dodged the blow and 
 struck his antagonist on the head with his hammer, and, 
 unfortunatel}', killed him, having b\' chance hit him on 
 the temple. 0( course he was then compelled to surren- 
 der himself to the authorities, who, after an examination, 
 discharged him from cusIolI)'. lUit he could not continue 
 to resitle among the Tories after that, so he removed 
 across the line and settlcil in New 1 lampshire, and after- 
 ward to Connecticut, where m\- father was born. 
 
 After the close o( the War of the Rexolution, how- 
 e\er, he renuned back to Lower Canada, and again set- 
 tled on his oKl farm in 1 lemmingford, and remained there 
 until i8o8or 1809, when he emigrated to Upper Canada 
 and located, with the younger portion of his family, in 
 London, a district town o\ Westminster. At this place 
 he remained up to his death. 
 
 In the meantime ni}- father, Lewis Norton, had married 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 11 
 
 Elizabeth Burhart, who was of German extraction, hav- 
 inq,- been born and raised in' Pennsylvania. On their 
 marriage they settled in the State of New York, near 
 Chautauqua, close to the Canada line, where they re- 
 mained until the war of 1812. When the British had 
 massacred the inhabitants of Black Rock and Buffalo, the 
 New York militia was called out, my father among others. 
 At this time he removed his wife and three children to 
 the village of Batavia, Genesee County, New York. 
 He was engaged in the affiiir of the destruction of Black 
 Rock, and also at the burning of Buffalo. When the 
 enemy's forces were at last driven out, they were con- 
 centrated against the garrison of Fort Erie, which was on 
 the Canadian side of the Niagara River and occupied by 
 the Americans. A call was now issued to the New 
 York militia for recruits to join the regular force for the 
 defense of Fort lu-ie. My father volunteered, and in 
 the three days' fight before Fort Erie, at a sortie, 
 he, and about three hundred others were made prison- 
 ers, having been cut o{{ from the main force. My father, 
 when taken, had Thos. C. Love on his back, wounded. 
 Love at this time was a young lawyer. Being wounded, 
 he was exchanged. He afterwards rose to eminence, 
 and was for many years on the bench as judge. He 
 died some years since, at or near Williamsville, New 
 York. My father was sent to Halifax, where he was 
 kept a prisoner till the close of the war. 
 
 Soon after the war, m}' grandfather gave mv father 
 the old homestead in Hemmingford, the buildings and 
 other improvements having been destroyed during the 
 war. My father returned to Chautauqua, Franklin 
 County, New York, in 1818, where he resided at my 
 
12 Ltfj<: and Advkntures of 
 
 birth, in 1819, after which he returned to Canada, and 
 settled ai^ain on Norton Creek, about twelve miles below 
 the old homestead, on what was called the Domain, 
 where he resided till I was eight years old. I was the 
 fifth child of a family of nine. This being- a cold, rocky, 
 and barren region, my parents moved back to FrankHn 
 County, New York, where I remained till I was eleven 
 years old. 
 
 As my parents were poor ixud had a large family, 1 was 
 determined to look out for myself. Karly on the second 
 day of May, 1839, I tied my worldly possessions in a 
 pocket handkerchief, strung it over my shoulder, and, like 
 a young cpj.ail with a shell on its back, I left the nest 
 with twenty-five cents in my pocket, and "dug out" on 
 foot. The second day I arrived at the Read Mill, St. 
 Lawrence County, New York, where I hired to a man by 
 the name of Tibbits, at four dollars per month, and I 
 worked four months. At the end of that time I again 
 shouldered my pack, with my sixteen dollars, and went 
 to Ogdensburg, where I crossed the St. Lawrence River 
 and took a Canadian steamer to Queenstown, en route 
 to Upper Canada, now known as Canada West, where I 
 had uncles residing. I then walked to Niagara Falls,and, 
 after visiting the Falls, went up the Niagara River and 
 crossed to Black Rock, thence to l^>uffalo, and, after a 
 couple of days at Buffalo, 1 f(.)und a schooner going up 
 Lake Erie and soon made arrangements to work my 
 passage on board of it up the lake. 
 
 It was claimed that the vessel was loaded with brick; I 
 have since been of the opinion that it was a smuggler. 
 On our way up we encountered a heavy gale, but at 
 length we landed in the woods at an anchorage they 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. IS 
 
 called Nanticokc. 1 went on shore in the schooner's boat, 
 and a<^ain, with my pack on my back, I threaded the Can- 
 ada shore of Lake Erie for several miles throuf^h the 
 woods before I came to any settlement; but at len<;th> 
 after a day's hard travelinij, I reached Long Point, 
 where the farmers were not yet through their harvest. 
 Hands were scarce, and I soon contracted for fifty cents 
 per day (half a man's wages), I worked twenty days 
 and got ten dollars, and again pursued my journey. 
 
 I had been told that I would have to go by the way 
 of Cettle Creek, and when I had journeyed about half a 
 day, I commenced making inquiries for Pot Creek; but 
 I was made all right on that point by a party informing 
 me that it was Cettle, not Pot, Creek that I wanted. 
 In due time I reached my uncles in Westminster, and 
 found them to be close-fisted, thriving farmers. I was 
 well received and went to work for one of my uncles; no 
 wages was named. I worked for him four months, for 
 which he gave me a pair of shcep's-gray pants and 
 made all square by so doing. 
 
 I will here take occasion to say that, during all my 
 perambulations, I never lost an opportunity to learn 
 to read and write. On leaving my uncle's I went to 
 I>ondon Gove, where I made arrangements with an old 
 Dutchman to do chores night and morning and go to 
 school. Here I got three months' schooling, and, being 
 quick to learn and having a retentive memory, I advanced 
 with my reading, writing, and spelling very fast. As 
 spring approached I hired to a man by the name of Per- 
 kins, for six months at six dollars per month. P>om 
 him I got only a small portion of my wages, and that in 
 store pay. I continued to work that summer and the 
 
14 Life and Adventures of 
 
 winter following. Having clothed myself and having 
 some money in my pocket to pay expenses, I went to 
 Oxford Center, where I expected to meet my brother; 
 but not finding him, I hired out to one John Falin, a 
 h )tel keeper, for ten dollars for a month's work, when I 
 fully resolved to return to Chautauqua and try to induce 
 the family to move to Upper Canada. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 LIFE AFFECTED BV CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUTH. 
 
 1HAVE come to the conclusion that there are circum- 
 stances in early life which color our future existence 
 and stick to us like the shirt of Nessus until the day of 
 our death. About the year 1832, when a mere youth, I 
 found myself, after eighteen months' rambling over the 
 wilds of Canada, some seven or eight hundred miles from 
 home. The country, at that time, was sparsely settled. 
 Travel was almost entirely local, farmers traversing the 
 country with ox-carts or wagons, from their homes to 
 the small market towns. Mails, in most instances, were 
 carried on horseback, with once in 'awhile, on the mcr : 
 frequented thoroughfares, a stage-coach. But if a man 
 wished to make a journey of any distance, it was gener- 
 ally performed on foot. 
 
 For the year past I had been working by the month, 
 at eight dollars per month, and at the end of that time 
 found myself in possession of what then seemed to me 
 to be all the wealth I needed. I accordingly resolved 
 to visit my home in Lower Canada, near Montreal. I 
 therefore invested about twenty dollars in a nice suit of 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 15 
 
 moleskin, pocketed my wealth, and about the eighth day 
 of June, 1834, with my httle bundle (change of clothes), 
 left John Falin's hotel, town of Oxford, London District, 
 Canada West, for Hamilton, where I expected to take 
 water conveyance, going down the lakes and St. Law- 
 rence River. Of course I was on foot. At nightfall I 
 arrived at the town of Paris, on the Grand River. 
 
 Paris was then a small town, on the west bank of that 
 stream. The town was mostly composed of wooden 
 buildings, but as I entered the place, somewhat remote 
 from other buildings, I noticed quite a large stone struct- 
 ure, upon one side of \\ hich I saw a large bonnet pict- 
 ured. In fact it was the picture of the bonnet that 
 particularly attracted my attention to the house. I 
 passed it and continued my tramp down a slope to near 
 the river, where I found a hotel, the '■' Travelers' Home." 
 I entered the house, and deposited the bundle with the 
 landlady, who seemed to be the "man of the house." 
 She was, I should suppose from her appearance, about 
 forty years old, short and florid, with a light complexion, 
 and an immense amount of carrot-coloreJ hair, that 
 looked as though it and a comb had been strangers for 
 months. I judged her complexion more from the color 
 of her hair than from the color of her face, as that was 
 extremely streaked. 
 
 In receiving my pay from F'alin, I had got a London 
 one-pound note, and, boy like, rather to make a show 
 than through fear that the bank would break before 
 morning, I called for a glass of beer and got my note 
 changed into silver, when I soon noticed that this action 
 caused the garrulous woman to commence plying me 
 with questions regarding my trip, and where I was going. 
 
10 Like and Adventures of 
 
 Lower Caticula was a long distance — over seven hundred 
 miles. "You must," said she, "have plenty of money 
 to take you that distance; where do you get your money 
 to travel with ? " etc. To all of which I replied that I 
 supposed I had sufficient money for my journey; that 
 I worked for some of it, and some my father gave 
 me to travel with. During supper-time and all the even- 
 ing the burden of her theme was on my money, which 
 made me feel rather uncomfortable. I gave her but 
 little further satisfaction on that point, but finally told 
 her that I was tired and would like to go to bed. 
 
 She called on a couple of men, I think she called them 
 James and John, and told them to "take that boy to bed." 
 It struck me as strange. I took a glance at the two 
 worthies and found them, in appearance, a couple of as 
 well-defined cut-throats as it was ever my misfortune to 
 have seen (in fact they were all foreigners, Irish or Scotch, 
 I should think). The men lit a lantern and told me to 
 come with them. I began to be frightened and rather 
 hesitated; but one of them casually observed that they 
 had lately moved there and their beds were not yet re- 
 moved to that house, when I reluctantly followQd them- 
 We proceeded along the road by which I had entered 
 the town, to the large stone structure with the big bon- 
 net p linted on the outer wall, heretofore mentioned, 
 which we entered. 
 
 The first room seemed to have been used as a bar- 
 room, although at the time it was wholly divested of 
 furniture. We crossed the room to a landing. ,A door 
 opened to the left of the landing, which revealed a large 
 room which seemed to have been used as a dining-room; 
 that was also unfurnished. We stepped upon the land- 
 
CoLoNKL t.. A. Norton. 17 
 
 ing and commenced ascending" spiral stairs, passed two 
 landings, and ascended to the third story of the building; 
 all the lower part of the house seemed unoccupied. 
 After making our final landing we passed through a 
 hall, at the end of which they showed me my room. 
 A half dozen times I was on the point of turning back, 
 telling them I would go no farther, but diffidence and 
 shame prevented me. Well, I entered my bedroom, 
 which was on the south side of the building. They 
 gave me a piece of candle which they made stand up by 
 melting some tallow on the window-sill, and sticking the 
 unlit end of the candle into it; then left me alone in my 
 glory. 
 
 The two worthies retired to an adjoining room, which 
 had a board partition between them and myself I 
 pulled off my boots, took up the candle, and first 
 examined the door to see if it could be fastened, but 
 found nothing but a common latch on it. Having heard 
 of dead-falls and trap-doors, I next commenced an ex- 
 amination of the room, but found nothing unusual in 
 the floor. I next investigated my bed, to see if it stood on 
 a trap, but nothing suspicious presented itself. I then 
 took a peep from my lofty roost out of the window, but 
 it was far down to the hard street, and a leap from there 
 would be attended with sure death. I then returned to 
 my bed and examined it to see if the bedstead contained 
 a cord. I found it did. Then my next thought was to 
 take it out and place the bedstead by the window, and 
 tie the cord to it to aid my flight, if necessary; but 
 pride and shame again carried the sway, and I resolved 
 to go to bed and await results. 
 
 I had not so much as a penknife in case of necessity; 
 
18 Life and Adventures of 
 
 so I placed my boots at the head of the bed as my only 
 weapons. My bed consisted of a straw tick, two blan- 
 kets, and two pillows. I divested myself of coat and 
 vest and turned in with pants and socks on. I put b:)th 
 pillows under my head, so I should be able to careful fy 
 watch every movement. - There was a full moon shining 
 obliquely through my window, so when the candle was 
 extinguished it was not dark in the room; and there was 
 a small crack in the board partition separating me from 
 the room where the two roughs were sleeping, and through 
 that I could discover that their light had not been ex- 
 tinguished. This continued to burn until eleven or 
 twelve o'clock, when it was extingin'shed. That circum- 
 stance allayed my fears a little, but yet I dared not go to 
 sleep. I had a vague feeling of danger, for everything 
 to me seemed suspicious. Many limes I started, think- 
 ing that I heard light footfalls in different directions. 
 Kn(^wing that all my senses were wrought to th:^ high- 
 est pitch, I would attribute it to imagination, which was 
 probably correct. 
 
 So time passed on until nearly two o'clock, when I 
 heard some person ascending the stairs. The step came 
 up — up — up. I lay intently listening, most devoutly 
 hoping that it would stop short of my room; but such 
 was not the case. On came the light tread, until my 
 door was quietly pushed open and a man entered the 
 room with a bull's-eye lantern in his hand. He was a 
 man of about thirty years of age, well dressed in a busi- 
 ness suit, and had nothing of the villainous appear- 
 ance of the other two He stopped at the door and 
 turned his lantern until he threw the light full uporf me. 
 He stood and looked steadily at me for a time that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 19 
 
 seemed to me ten minutes, but it was probably not 
 more than two, during which time I had laid perfectly 
 still, with my eyes apparently closed in sleep; but, in 
 fact, the lids were sufficiently open to allow me to wat^h 
 him closely. I came to the conclusion that it would not 
 do to feign sleep; consequently, all of a sudden, I arose 
 to a sitting position, thrust my right hand beneath the 
 pillows, and, with all the firmness that I could command, 
 by voice, look, and gesture, I demanded: " What do you 
 want, sir?" The party replied: "Oh, nothing. I did 
 not know how you were resting, and I thought I would 
 step in and see. Shall I not come and fix your pillows 
 under your head ? " I replied that my head was all 
 right; that I was very tired and wished not to be dis- 
 turbed. He replied: "I shall not disturb you," and 
 turned and left my room. 
 
 But I could tell, first by the step and then by the light 
 that penetrated to my room through the crevices hereto- 
 fore mentioned, that he had entered the room of my two 
 first-named companions. He remained there some little 
 time, when I heard him descending the stairs, but could 
 see that a light had been left burning in their room, 
 which to me, in my affrighted state, was no g od omen. 
 While I lay considering what to do, the downward step 
 seemed to stop at the second landing, and apparently 
 entered a room; and presently, from the same direction, 
 I heard a kind of ticking sound which I could not de- 
 scribe until many years after, when I heard it repeated 
 by water dropping on an uncarpeted floor from a table. 
 
 I now formed a resolution to attempt my escape from 
 the den. I think the light 1 :ft burning in the room 
 where the two men were had much to do with my de- 
 
so Life and Adventurers of" 
 
 termination. I stepped quietly out of bed, put on my 
 coat, vest, and hat, took my boots in my hand and moved 
 towards the door, the room being quite light, as the full 
 moon shone straight into the window. And here was 
 something that I have never been able to account for. 
 As I approached the door I noticed it was ajar, in fact, 
 open about four inches. I carefully pushed it open and 
 saw something black beyond, coming clear unto the 
 threshold. I put out my foot and found it was a hole in 
 the floor! The thought flashed across me that I assur- 
 edly came through a hall before coming into the room. 
 But I seated myself on the door-sill and felt around with 
 my feet for the stairs; but there were none, and this fact 
 further incr-eased my terror. I thought I was fastened 
 in; but, to my relief, on further examination, I found the 
 door through which I had entered, shutting on the same 
 jamb, and swinging the other way, closed, but not fast- 
 ened. I left the room, passed noiselessly through the 
 hall and down the stairs through the old bar-room. I 
 found the outer door locked, but the key was in the door. 
 I soon passed out, slamming the door behind me. Then 
 I did some good, lively running for about a block, when 
 I sat down, pulled on my boots, and made for the hotel.' 
 No one can tell the joy I felt at my escape. I went and 
 rapped at the hotel door. The landlord, whom I had 
 not seen before, got up, let me in, and asked me what I 
 wanted. I told him I wanted to pay my bill and be go- 
 ing"; that I heard the blacksmiths at work and thought 
 it was time forme to be traveling. He remarked that it 
 was only between two and three o'clock, and that the 
 ferryman would not be out for some time, and that I had 
 better take a rug and lie down by the fire, and he would 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 21 
 
 call me when it was time to go. I did so, and was soon 
 asleep. He aroused me all too soon, and informed me 
 that I would find my bundle in the store, or baggage- 
 room. 
 
 I found my bundle, as per directions, apparently all 
 right, excepting that a woman's stocking was protruding 
 from it. I pulled it out, threw it on the floor, and bade 
 good-by to the "Travelers' Home." I asked the ferry- 
 man what kind of a house they kept at the "Travelers' 
 Home," and he said it had a bad reputation. I then 
 told him my story. He simply remarked that he 
 thought me in luck to get away as well as I did. I gave 
 him the facts just as they occurred, without comment. 
 Whether any reasonable explanation could be given to 
 the appearance of things and the conduct of the parties, 
 I do not know; but there is one thing I do know, and 
 that is, that from the effects of that night's scare, no 
 person can enter my room, even in his stocking feet, 
 without awaking me. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A PERILOUS VOYAGE AND ARRIVAL HOME. 
 
 ON leaving the ferry. I trudged along until I arrived 
 at Hamilton, where I soon made arrangements with 
 the captain of a schooner to work my passage (as cook) 
 down to Prescott. I went down in the forecastle, where 
 the mate was shaking with the ague, and pulling off my 
 coat (which contained my money in a side pocket) some 
 change rolled out as I threw it upon a coil of ropes. I 
 replaced it and went to work, helping about loading the 
 
22 Life ano Adventures of 
 
 vessel, when in the course of two or three hours the 
 mate asked the captain's permission to go up town and 
 get some medicine for his ague. The captain remarked 
 that he had better send the little cook, as he could not be 
 of so much use on the vessel. I saw that he seemed loth 
 to let n^ego, but after a little hesitation he handed me my 
 directions, with the money. I at once recognized the 
 stamped fifty-cent piece as being of my money, and as 
 soon as I got away from the vessel I looked for the re- 
 mainder, but not one cent was left. I got the medicine 
 and returned with it, and in the presence of the mate 
 went to the coil of rope and commenced looking for my 
 money (knowing well that it was not there), when the 
 mate, in a savage manner wanted to know what I was 
 doing there. I told him that I was looking for my 
 money. He cursed me, and told me that if I went ran- 
 sacking around there he would break my little neck. I 
 picked up ten cents that had escaped the fate of the 
 rest, and went to the captain with my complaint. He 
 said he could do nothing, and asked me good-naturedly 
 if I did not know that all sailors would steal. We left 
 the little bay at Hamilton on May 12, 1832. The wind 
 was blowing very hard and the captain was advised not 
 to venture from the harbor, but he was an old "salty," 
 very headstrong, and sometimes reckless withal, and 
 when we got fairly out on Lake Ontario it was blowing 
 a terrific gale, which constantly increased. As soon as 
 we got fairly out they began to shorten sail; but the 
 wind continued to blow at a fearful rate. Some of 
 the halyards got foul (I think that was what they called 
 it), and before they could relieve the foremast she went 
 by the board, and that smashed the bulwark. Cutting 
 the lines and shrouds, they let the mast go. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 23 
 
 There were two " fresh water " sailors on board, who 
 soon gave up and went below, and no threats or persua- 
 sions could get them upon deck. Night came on and 
 we were running under the bare poles without a rag of 
 canvas. Every man ha 1 a line around his middle and 
 fastened to the mainmast. The sea was constantly 
 breaking over. We had a deck load of flour, but the 
 waves had carried away our bulwark 'midship, together 
 with the deck loading; also my galley and stove. At 
 about ten o'clock at night I went to my berth, my hands 
 having been all blistered and the blisters worn off to the 
 bare meat. I could not sleep, and it was with difficulty 
 that I could keep myself in the berth; the wind had not 
 abated its fury in the least. The captain was swearing 
 because he had not sea-room. He and the mate and 
 one sailor did all that men could dare and suffer; but 
 about noon the second day the wind howled so that we 
 could neither hear nor see anything save snow and sleet 
 everywhere. • Ropes and shrouds were covered with ice, 
 and the captain exclaimed, " D — n her, she will go to 
 the bottom." 
 
 I had attempted to set tlie table once, but it was no 
 go; the cloth would slide from the table, and about this 
 time the blind light in the s^.ern was burst in, and the 
 lockers were all drenched, the water being knee deep in 
 the cabin. They got planks and spikes and temporarily 
 stopped the water from coming in behind; but there was 
 one thing that they protected, that was one jug of spirits. 
 They had that lashed to a berth and made frequent 
 visits to it. When the captain said the vessel would go 
 to the bottom, they put her square before the wind and 
 let hjr take iicr cliances. They dare not attempt to 
 
24 Life and Adventures of 
 
 make any port, but just at dark that night we reached 
 the St. Lawrence River and got protection of the Thou- 
 sand Islands. That storm the 12th, 13th, and 14th of 
 May, 1832, will long be remembered. The corn was 
 well up and some of the grain was headed out. The 
 extreme cold froze the corn, injured the oats and barley, 
 killed the leaves on the beech trees, and in some portions 
 of the State of New York the snow fell to the depth of 
 eight inches, which must still be remembered by the old 
 men of that day. 
 
 We dropped down the St. Lawrence, and the next 
 morning we lay off Prescott. They hitched lines to the 
 anchor, and we were compelled to pull the schooner 
 asfiore by the line (they called it working it in). When 
 we had landed I got my breakfast — some " hard-tack" — 
 on board, and invested my ten cents in a passage to 
 Ogdensburg, and from there I soon made my way down 
 to Tibbits' place, six miles. They were delighted to see 
 me, and at once gave me work. I worked there until I 
 had earned sufficient money to take me home, when I con- 
 tinued my journey on foot to Norton Creek, where the 
 family had removed. When I joined them, and as soo-n 
 as we could make preparations so to do, we all returned to 
 Upper Canada. For the next three years I worked by 
 the month for the most of the time, doing a man's work 
 and receiving from thirteen to fifteen dollars per month, 
 after which I engaged with my oldest brother in a fishery 
 business. On what is known as Catfish Creek, or rather 
 its mouth where it empties into Lake Erie, we- ran one 
 season and made several hundred dollars each. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A TERRIBLE STORM, AND A NIGHT IN A FOREST. 
 
 I HAD one brother who had left home at an early age, 
 and from whom we had not heard for six or seven years. 
 At length we received a letter from a lady in Buffalo, 
 stating that my brother was seriously afflicted with the 
 hip complaint and in indigent circumstances; that she 
 had interested herself on his behalf until she could 
 hear from his friends. The next day after receiving the 
 letter, I was on my way to find my brother. That 
 was in the latter part of October, 1837. I went to 
 Buffalo, where I soon found him, and after compensating 
 the lady for her trouble, I had him removed to a hotel 
 until I could find some way of transporting him up the 
 lake. Fin-ding a schooner that was going part way, and 
 would land near the mouth of the Grand River, I de- 
 termined to get my brother on board and take chances of 
 getting him from there by land. His condition was such 
 that he could only be moved on a bed or stretcher. 
 Well, I got him on board in the forenoon, and we were to 
 sail the next day. The schooner lay at the wharf in Buf- 
 falo Creek; the weather for the time of year was calm 
 and pleasant, a breeze being scarcely perceptible. The 
 sky was clear, the sun shone brightly, and everything 
 looked fair for a prosperous trip. But about two o'clock 
 P. M. the water commenced rising in the creek, and a 
 mighty tide seemed pouring in from Lake Erie; it soon 
 crept up on Lighthouse Point, nearly covering the sea- 
 wall, which at that time was but partially constructed, 
 and the water in the creek raised until it was nearly up 
 3 
 
26 Life and Adventures of 
 
 to the top of the wharf. From the northwest the fleecy 
 clouds could be seen coming up and skurrying along high 
 in the heavens with the speed of a war-horse, accom- 
 panied by a low, roaring, or moaning sound in the air. 
 
 We had an experienced captain on our little craft, 
 who seemed to comprehend what the signs of the times 
 predicted. He ordered the moorings to be made more 
 secure by stanchions, and as the water continued to rise 
 he had several spars run down perpendicularly between 
 the schooner and the wharf, and firmly lashed to the 
 vessel above, so as, in case of emergency, to prevent 'its 
 passing over the wharf; and this foresight saved us. 
 Presently the wind came on in fitful gusts constantly 
 increasing in frequency and violence; and ere the sun 
 was below the horizon a thick gloom and darkness per- 
 vaded everything, while a regular tornado was raging 
 with such force that it was almost impossible for one to 
 keep his feet even when supported by the stays of the 
 vessel. The waves seemed to be lifted by the fury of 
 the wind from the surface of the boiling flood and dashed 
 in spray upon surrounding objects, while on the land, 
 church towers and building roofs were whirled through the 
 air like feathers. Ere darkness had closed in upon the 
 •scene, Buffalo Point had entirely disappeared beneath the 
 flood, and the waves of Lake Erie rushed in upon the city. 
 The storm increased until midnight, carrying a general 
 wreck and ruin with it, a perfect devastation marking its 
 track. From Buffalo Point there were eleven residences 
 washed out, and as the water commence^ receding, 
 floated out of Buffalo Creek and down the Niagara Falls. 
 In these houses alone it was estimated that over sixty 
 persons perished. Eight or ten canal boats broke from 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 27 
 
 their moorings and went out into the Niagara River, 
 and thence over the falls. The next morning almost 
 the entire shipping that lay in the creek at the com- 
 mencement of the storm lay high and dry in the lower 
 part of the city. One brig lay with its bowsprit sticking 
 through an upper window of a two-story house — the bow 
 resting against the house while the stern was on the 
 ground. The entire lower part of the city was strewn 
 with boxes, barrels, bales of goods, and furniture of 
 every description; nuts and fruits were spread out in 
 abundance, the water during the night having been 
 from twelve to fifteen feet above its ordinary level. 
 Tlianks to the foresight of our captain, the spars that 
 were placed on our boat kept us on the right side of the 
 wharf, and the next morning found us in deep water and 
 all right. 
 
 The storm began to lull about midnight and by morn- 
 ing had entirely abated, and at noon the lake had rocked 
 itself to sleep. There was just sufficient breeze to leave 
 a smile on its silver lips. Nor woulci you have supposed 
 that such a passion as had raged in its breast during the 
 night could ever have so distorted its placid brow. But 
 'tis ever thus. Deception is found everywhere, in nature 
 as well as in art. And frequently that which we most 
 admire is the first to wound. We loosed from our moor- 
 ings, and, with a light breeze, made the best of our way 
 for Port Dover, on the Canada shore, which place we 
 reached the second day in the evening. 
 
 I tried to hire a conveyance to take my brother home, 
 a distance of about fifty miles by the lake shore, but 
 over seventy- five miles by the main road. The roads 
 were next to impassable for a team; the mud had frozen 
 
28 Life and Adventures of 
 
 but not sufficien \y hard to form a firm crust. The 
 horses would break through and cut their legs, and in 
 places the wagon wheels would also break through. 
 No one could be induced to turn out, for love or money. 
 The consequence was I was compelled to go home, 
 where friendship would insure what money could not 
 buy. To follow the wagon road I would be compelled 
 to go north to .Talbot Street, which would be at least 
 twenty-five miles farther than to follow up the lake shore. 
 Consequently I resolved to take it on foot up the lake 
 shore, and, getting my brother settled, I "struck out." 
 
 I got started about ten o'clock in the forenoon, travel- 
 ing some of the way by trail and sometimes by wagon 
 road, through a new and sparsely settled country of dense 
 forests and small clearings: Along in the afternoon I 
 fell in with an old pioneer of the country, who told me 
 that I would arrive about night-fall at a certain small log- 
 house, and that I must stay all night there, as that would 
 be the last house and clearing for fourteen mJles, and 
 that there was no road but a very faint trail, as during 
 the summer there was a beach upon which all the travel 
 was turned, but which, during the fall, was washed away. 
 "But," I said, "perhaps he will not keep rqe." His 
 reply was, " He must keep you, for you could not make 
 it in the night. You would break your neck over a prec- 
 ipice, if nothing else." I parted with the old man and 
 continued my tramp, arriving at the log-hut, in a small 
 clearing, just as the sun was setting. 
 
 It was clear, cold, and frosty. I stepped to the door 
 and asked the man for lodging for the night. He re- 
 plied that he could not keep me. At that age I was 
 very diffident. I was about turning from the door when 
 
CoT.ONET. L. A. Norton. 29 
 
 my situation rushed vividly upon me, and I asked, 
 "Could you not allow me to sleep on your floor?" 
 He replied, " No, I have potatoes on the floor." I said, 
 " I am told that it is fourteen miles through the forest, 
 and no road, and such a cold night as this I may perish 
 in the woods." He replied that he could not be ac- 
 countable for that, but that he thought I could get 
 through. I then asked him if he could not let me have 
 a few matches. His reply was that he had no matches. 
 So I turned into the woods on a dim trail; but as soon 
 as I had got into the thick forest, and darkness set in, I 
 lost the trail, and could only keep my direction by skirt- 
 ing the lake shore when I could see openings through 
 the trees. However, I soon found myself in windfalls, 
 brush, and briers, the small brush constantly coming in 
 contact with my face and eyes. My flesh and clothes 
 were torn by brambles while clambering over logs, or 
 feeling my way up and down precipitous gulches, aiding 
 myself by clinging to brush and roots. 
 
 As I had no means of making a fire, I dared not lie 
 down to wait for morning, but pursued my toilsome 
 march. Exhausted by fatigue and chilled by frost, I 
 still traveled on until I came upon a stream about a 
 hundred feet wide. This brought me to a stand. It was 
 now, as near as I could judge, about midnight. I crept 
 along up the stream in hopes of finding it narrow, and 
 perchance a log upon which I could cross. But I could 
 find nothing of the kind, and discovered that I must 
 either wade or swim across. I got hold of a strong 
 pole, and feeling the bottom with it, waded in. Fort- 
 unately I did not have to swim, but found it in the deep- 
 est place a little more than waist deep. 
 
30 T.IKE AND Am'KNTURlvS OK 
 
 After reaching the opposite shore I cHmbed a pre- 
 cipitous bank and continued my journey. I found the 
 woods a little more open, and consequently fewer ob- 
 structions. But now the wolves set up such a howl, as 
 though ten thousand devils had broken loose. They 
 seemed to be but a little distance from me. (These 
 wolves are of the large gray kind, but they seldom 
 attack a man, unless in depth of winter, when the snow 
 is deep and they are nearly starved.) I continued to 
 make my way as fast as the rough condition of the coun- 
 try and my exhausted strength would permit, for about 
 two hours, when I came to another stream similar to the 
 one already described. I crossed it as before. There 
 was a small open flat on the west side of the stream, 
 and looking down towards the lake I saw a light. Oh, 
 blessed sight! 
 
 I made my way down to the lake, where I found that 
 there was a narrow beach and some men fishing. They 
 stared at me at first as though 1 were some apparition 
 or goblin from the forest. Their conduct was so strange 
 that I was really afraid of them. I merely asked them 
 about what time of the night it was, and how far before 
 I would come to a house. They informed me that it 
 was about two miles to a house, and about two o'clock 
 at night. I asked them if they would let me have a 
 brand of fire, which they did. I went on about half a 
 mile, kindled a fire, upon which I piled a lot of -drift- 
 wood, and stretched myself alongside of it in the sand, 
 and was soon asleep. I awoke about sunrise. My fire 
 had burned down, and I found myself very cold. My 
 clothes next to the fire were dry, but on the opposite 
 side were frozen stiff I replenished my fire, thawed 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 31 
 
 myself out, and pursued my journey; called at a farm- 
 house, where I got some breakfast, and reached home 
 before I slept. We started a team out the next morn- 
 ing, and within four days my brother arrived home. 
 For the first few weeks he seemed to improve, but his 
 disease was of such a character that there was no chance 
 for a recovery, and he lived but a few weeks. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1(S37. 
 
 BEFORE leaving home in search of my brother Clark, 
 I had enrolled myself as a minute-man, to turn out 
 with the Patriot forces; or, in other words, in the rebellion 
 against the British Government. The arrest of Lount 
 and Mathews at Toronto had forced the rebellion, and 
 on the twelfth day of November, 1837, we were called 
 out to form a company under Joshua Done, to be known 
 as the " Spartan Rangers." We assembled at the village 
 of Sparta, in the town of Yarmouth, where we organized, 
 choosing Joshua Done as our captain, and at once com- 
 menced our march for Otter Creek (a village of Rich- 
 mond). Here we encamped for the night, and stationed 
 our sentinels. Of course we were but crudely armed, 
 our arms consisting of rifles, shot guns, old muskets and 
 pistols, knives, swords, and dirks. We had no drill or 
 discipline. We were perfectly raw, and I do not believe 
 that there was a man in the entire company who even 
 understood the manual of arms. Yet we were informed 
 ^hat we were marching out to meet an enemy drilled 
 
32 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and disciplined. And 1 never shall forget what I suf- 
 fered in mind, for twenty-four hours after my enlistment, 
 for fear that I would be a coward, and would not be able 
 to keep my legs from running away with me at the first 
 fire, s 
 
 News came in during the night that the enemy had 
 rallied quite a force and were tearing up the bridge on 
 Otter Creek, and intended to meet us there in the morn- 
 ing. W'e sent out some scouts, however, and a guard to 
 protect the bridge. The next morning we commenced 
 our march, crossing the bridge without opposition, anci 
 had marched a couple of miles beyond it when we were 
 fired upon from ambush. A ball pretty well spent 
 struck me in the muscles of the back, just grazing the 
 spine. The enem\' had waited until wc had passed, be- 
 fore firing. I forgot my wound, and, with the others, 
 rushed into the woods pell-mell, firing at the twenty-five 
 or thirt}' fellows who had ambushed us. 
 
 When the skirmish was over 1 was the most delighted 
 fellow you ever saw — m>' legs had not run away with 
 me. Mv wound pro\ed not to be serious, and I con- 
 tinued m}- march the entire da}-. At night we arrived 
 at Norwich, where we met Doctor Duncombe and his 
 forces, who informed us that they were retreating before 
 a superior enemy, led by Sir Allen McNabe; that we 
 would move on to Dorchester Pines, and would there 
 make a stand, where the enem\- could not pla\' upon us 
 with their artillery. We got some food, rested for an 
 hour, and again took up our line of march. We went 
 through the pines, and encamped for the balance ot the 
 night at a little place called Sodom. 
 
 The next morninij, when I awoke, our command had 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 33 
 
 disappeared, and I found n\yseir comparatively alone. 
 I saw some notices posted, which were to the effect that 
 a superior force was upon us, too formidable for us to 
 attempt to cope with, and advisinij every man to look- 
 out for himself. There was a youni^- man by the name 
 of IkMijamin T. Smith who was a great conn-ade o( 
 mine. We met and consulted as to what was best to 
 do. My wound had become swollen and (juite painful, 
 as nothing- had been done by way of extracting the 
 bullet from my back. But after moving around for a 
 time the pain became somewhat allayed. At length 
 Smith and I made up our minds to retain our arms and 
 boldly make for home. After Duncombe's cowardly act 
 of disbanding his forces the Tories of the country took 
 heart and were making arrests right and left. 
 
 The snow was about eight inches deep, hence it was 
 desirable to take the road, and we accordingly took up 
 our line of march for Durham Forge. We had ad- 
 vanced but about three miles, when I saw the glitter of 
 arms in advance of us, moving in our direction. Evi- 
 dently we had not been discovered, so we stepped out- 
 side of the road into the brush, and presently an armed 
 squad passed by. When they had passed out of sight, 
 we again pursued our journey, and had made some ten 
 or twelve miles when we arrived at Squire Dobie's. 
 The house stood close to the road, and as we passed 
 the door out sprang three men, all with arms in hand, 
 and exclaimed, '* We know you, you are some of Dun- 
 combe's rebels. Surrender or we will blow the tops of 
 your heads off! " In an instant both our rifles covered 
 them. I said, " But raise a muzzle and you are dead 
 men." They re[)lied, "We will have you before you 
 iio a mile!" 
 
34 Life and Adventures of 
 
 We pushed on and had advanced through alternate 
 woods and fields for about three miles, when I heard a 
 great clatter of hoofs behind us. I turned and saw a 
 squad of horsemen rapidly advancing upon us. We 
 immediately left the road, and as we were mounting the 
 fence to take to the woods, they fired a volley at us, one 
 of the bullets coming in very close contact with my skull, 
 having just grazed my head and passed through my 
 cap. We discharged our pieces at them and took to 
 the woods, I minus my cap, which had fallen on the 
 wrong side of the fence. Ben loaned me his handker- 
 chief, which answered the double purpose of staunching 
 the blood and making a covering for my head. We 
 found it would no longer answer to keep the road, so we 
 steered through the forest for Otter Creek. 
 
 In the middle of the day the snow had thawed on 
 the top, but when the sun went down, it had frozen 
 such a crust that at each step it would break under foot 
 and crack like the report of a pistol. We took our 
 course by the stars and continued our tramp until late 
 in the night, when we came to a house which we en- 
 tered, weapons in hand. We aroused the family, whom 
 we discovered to be loyalists, and demanded something 
 to eat. We got a cold lunch and warmed ourselves by 
 a log fire. The man exhibited the Queen's proclama- 
 tion offering a free pardon to all who had been engaged 
 in this " unnatural rebellion," and had not been guilty 
 of arson or murder, if they would lay down their arms 
 and return peaceably to their homes. I took the procla- 
 mation, and we continued our journey, following a road 
 which they said led to Richmond. 
 
 But we soon discovered that the road was patrolled, 
 
Colonel T.. A. Norton. 85 
 
 and we once more took to the woods, and after a time 
 we came to another' clearing. The moon was shining 
 brightly, and, on a distant rise of ground, we could see 
 a village, and men moving about very actively. There 
 was a stream before us, a saw-mill and a mill-pond, with 
 saw-logs frozen in the ice. We managed to cross the 
 stream on the logs, and on the side to which we crossed 
 there was a band of colts. In order to shield ourselves 
 from observation we drove them ahead of us until we 
 reached a little grove of small pines, which we entered 
 for consultation. 
 
 Now we were satisfied that the place we savv above 
 was on Talbot Street (a Government road running 
 through the province), but what was the town ? If Rich- 
 mond, we wanted to cross above it; if it was Troy or 
 Aimer, we wanted to cross below it. At any rate we 
 wanted to cross Talbot Street, as it runs east and 
 west, and we were making south; and if we could get 
 across the road and into the Quaker settlement, we 
 would be safe. Ben and I disagreed as to where we 
 were. While thus consulting, there was a general rush 
 and clattering through the snow's crust and in a min- 
 ute's time our grove was surrounded by a band of 
 armed men far too numerous for us to cope with. We 
 saw at once that we would of necessity be compelled to 
 surrender, so we immediately hid our arms and walked 
 out. 
 
36 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTRR VI. 
 
 A PRISON I'. U Ol' WAR. 
 
 1 FOUND that 1 was ac(iiiaintccl with the nu'htia ca[")- 
 tain whowas in cDininaiul, and on arriving at the hotel 
 1 fouml old John Hurwcll, a cowartlly, pompous old 
 Tor)' niaL;istratc. lie ravetl, ranted, and charged, de- 
 claring that he never would lay down his sword until 
 ever)' radical was exterminated. I was suffering very 
 much, and succeeded in getting a bed, w hen I went to 
 sleep and la\' until a.bout 9 o'clock in the morning. I 
 now found my wounds very much inflamed, and I was 
 also tired out and hardl)^able to get up. lUit Smith got 
 some hot water and soap antl io the best o( his ability 
 tiressed nu' wt)unds. That upon ni)^ heatl was a mere 
 scratch, the bullet little more than cutting through the 
 skin. 
 
 When ni)^ wounds were dressed T came dmvn-stairs, 
 where I found alnu^st ouv entire command prisoners, 
 liaving been picked up in attempting to make their way 
 {o their homes; and in fact many were arrested who had 
 not turned out at all. Among others were David Stur- 
 gws. a merchant, and William llerrington, a tailor. 
 C^ne had kicketl oUl John Hurwell, and the other had 
 cowhidetl him. But now it was Hurwell's turn, for, as a 
 cruel magistrate, and captain oi' the militia, he almost 
 held the power oi' life and death in his hantls so far as 
 these men were concerned. 
 
 I got m\-self somewhat strengthened up. had procured 
 a hat, and had impro\ed m\- personal ai^pearance b)' a 
 wash. WluMi thus n-freshcd I took the (Jueen's proc- 
 
CoT.oNi'.T. 1.. A. Norton. 37 
 
 hiination frcjin iny [)()cket, read its prcjvisions, and de- 
 manded my liberty. J^ut after much shufflinij;-, backint^, 
 and pullin^^ in the matter, they came out and b(jldly de- 
 clared the proclamation to be a fcjr^^ery, as they said, to 
 catch rebels with. The U[)shot of the matter was, that 
 at two o'clock in the afternoon of that day, we were all 
 marched off as [)risoners to Simcoe jail. The next day, 
 after we were all lodged in jail, orders were received to 
 not allow any bail in the case of Sturgcs or lierrington. 
 Of course, to them, it was a warning blast. 
 
 Simcoe jail was a new building, in fact the scaffolding 
 was still up, and guards were stationed on the inside. 
 They gave me the name of Davey Crockett, and insisted 
 that Tory bullets wtnild not penetrate my hide. Al- 
 though a prisoner, and very young (having just entered 
 my seventeenth year), from some cause, I know not what, 
 these proscribed men seemed inclined to place confidence 
 in me. They came to me and explained everything; 
 said their lives were worth nothing unless they could 
 escape, and that they could not esca[)e without assist- 
 ance. Jn return, 1 told them that they could depend 
 upon me; that 1 would look around and sec if any 
 opportunity offered for their escape. 
 
 Now the room in which we were (quartered was the 
 court room, and from that, in the shape of an L, was a 
 small room to be used as a jury room. There was a low 
 trestle-work, covered with boards, where we slept — 
 some sleeping below on the floor, while others slept up 
 on the boards, stretched out like a long table. In look- 
 ing out of the window I noticed that the scaffolding ])oles 
 were still standing, with the planks forming the scaffold 
 all intact. But I found that the windows were solidly 
 
;i8 Tjfe and Adventures or 
 
 fastened in, and that the sashes were immovable. I also 
 noticed that the window-panes were about ioxi6, and 
 the idea struck me of passing the two men through the 
 sash out onto the scaffolding. I communicated rriy plan 
 to StuKges and Herrington, but told them that I would 
 be compelled to take old man Blake into our confidence. 
 Blake was a character. Notwithstanding the fact that he 
 must have been about seventy years of age, he seemed 
 active as a boy. He would sing songs, dance, and create 
 a world of amusement. I approached him, and found 
 that he was ready to aid me. 
 
 I now notified Herrington and Sturges of my plan, 
 which was as follows: Blake was to get up a regular 
 entertainment to attract the attention of the prisoners 
 and guard while I went into the jury room to break the 
 window, and prepare for their exit. All worked like a 
 charm, with one exception; there was a young fellow a 
 little older than myself lying in the jury room, and I 
 could not get rid of him; hence I had to make a confi- 
 dent of him. Sturges was a large man and I was com- 
 pelled to cut the munnion of the window to let him have 
 the space of two lights. So I got the young man to 
 pound with his heels on the boards, while I broke 
 the glass and cut the munnion. When all was accom- 
 plished, in the midst of old man Blake's dancing, I gave 
 them the wink, and in ten minutes they were safe out 
 on the staging and slipping down the staging poles. 
 
 They went to the stable and stole their own horses 
 and saddles, and rode them until they could go no 
 farther, and then pressed others, on the plea that they 
 were riding Queen's Express. All that was necessary 
 to prove their loyalty was to tic some red ribbon or red 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. ' 39 
 
 flannel around their arms and luits. There was no tele- 
 graph in those days, and they rode Queen's Express 
 triumphantly out of the country. 
 
 Wl^en the fugitives left the jail, and while yet on the 
 scaffolding, they advised " Davey Crockett " to accom- 
 pany them. I declined, thinking that as I was but a 
 boy they would turn me out in a few days. Delusive 
 hope 1 the Tory magistrates called all the boys before 
 them for examination in regard to the escape of their 
 leaders. I was examined among the others, and the 
 most important query among the many was, Who aided 
 Herrington and Sturges to escape? It was evident from 
 all the circumstances that they must have had inside 
 aid, and unfortunately for little " Davey Crockett," the 
 young man who pounded with his heels while " Davey " 
 broke the glass, peached. 
 
 My friends had been mourning me as dead, as my 
 cap had been shown to persons who knew it well, the 
 parties who exhibited the bullet hole in the cap stating 
 that a company had attempted to arrest me, but I had 
 resisted to the last, and was shot through the head. So 
 when my friends received a letter from me, and learned 
 that I was still alive, they came immediately and tendered 
 bail for my release. But it was no use; bail in my case 
 was refused. The charges sto(xl thus: I had, by force 
 of arms, resisted arrest at Squire Dobie's; had again 
 resisted in the pine woods; had fired upon the squad sent 
 out to arrest me, and had aided and abetted the escape 
 of David Sturges and William Herrington. While all 
 under the age of twenty-one years were to be discharged, 
 the boy of sixteen was held a prisoner without bail. 
 
 This made a kind of hero of ine in the eyes of my 
 
40 Life and Adventures of 
 
 fellow-prisoners, aiul one week from that time it gave 
 me sufficient influence among them, when we were about 
 being removed from Simcoe jail to London prison, to re- 
 sist the attempt to shackle us. We insisted that every 
 man was deemed innocent until proved guilty, and that 
 we would go anywhere with them without resisting if 
 our limbs were left free, but not one step otherwise; that 
 we would die with our limbs free, but would not live 
 with them shackled. This resolve of ours created a dis- 
 cussion between the guards and officers, but at last it 
 was settled by their taking our parole, and we went un- 
 bound. Erelong I discovered by their maneuvering that 
 they wanted nothing better than for us to make an 
 attempt to escape, that they might have an excuse for 
 a wholesale slaughter. This was evident by their ap- 
 parent carelessness in guard duty, and, in some instarxes 
 insinuating that we were fools in not making a general 
 rush for our freedom. But no attempt was made to 
 escape, and at last we reached our destination. 
 
 My condition was not different from evil-doers gener- 
 ally. My reputation followed me and I was sent to the 
 cells; and now a word regarding our treatment. While 
 cooped up in Simcoe jail we had a large-sized sheet-iron 
 stove (a common heater) in our apartment for our sixty 
 prisoners to cook their own rations upon, and one thin 
 blanket at night, and this in the midst of a Canadian 
 winter. But this was comfortable when compared with 
 our condition in the cells of London prison. When I 
 say the cells, of course I don't mean the cells proper. 
 Each cell was filled, but that was scarcely a beginning, 
 as there were over six hundred prisoners in the castle. 
 Every hall was crowded full, and there were no blankets 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 41 
 
 or other covering save what the prisoners had on. As 
 to the floors, they were filled with lar<:^e-headed spikes, 
 the heads sticking up about three-fourths of an inch 
 above the floor. And to augment our misery, there was 
 an aperture about four feet vvide and longitudinally the 
 length of the building, and extending to and thrcaii^h 
 the to;:) of the structure, as an air passage to ventilate 
 the building. In this cond tion we were kept for more 
 than a month, when we received a supply of Llankets; 
 that is to say, each man received a blanket, and our con- 
 dition was further improved by many of the men in the 
 cells being removed. Some were released on bail, while 
 others were removed to upper and n1ore comfortable 
 rooms. This so reduced our number that we who re- 
 mained in the cells were enabled to crowd into the cells 
 proper, where we could enjo)' bunks and yet have the 
 privilege of the hall. 
 
 About this time occurred a circumstance that nuich 
 added to my comfort. One year before I had resided a 
 short time in London, where I made the acquaintance of 
 three ladies, sisters, one single and two married. I made 
 the" acquaintance of the two elder sisters through the 
 younger, as she and I had become acquainted and were 
 on terms of mutual friendship. They were all estimable 
 ladies. The eldest married a merchant named O'Brien, 
 and the next one also married a merchant, by the name of 
 Olvero Ladd, and my little friend had in the meantime 
 married Samuel Parks, the jailer. The Tories had also 
 imprisoned Olvero Ladd, on suspicion of treason, and 
 thus Mrs. Parks' attention was drawn to me. She still 
 proved to be a good and true friend, and as long as I 
 could get the privilege of the hall I was all right, as 
 4 
 
42 Life and Adventures of 
 
 there was a diamond hole through to the kitchen, through 
 which I\Irs. Parks was in the habit o( shpping pro- 
 visions and dehcacies, as also candles, matches, and 
 Yankee newspapers, with man\* a caution not to let the 
 turnkeys catch me. This went on until my friends at 
 home came to visit me, when they made such strong 
 appeals in my behalf that I was removed to the room 
 above, which, however, did not agree with my taste. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 THRILLING INCIDENTS OF PRISON LIFE. 
 
 THE authorities had now organized a Board of Ex:- 
 aminers (we called it the " pecking machine "), which 
 consisted of four magistrates and the lawyers, who sat 
 every day and had prisoners brought before them for ex- 
 amination. For nearly two weeks I was brought before 
 the Board daily. At first I attempted to play the fool, 
 and would answer their questions just as it happened, 
 or as thoughts would strike me, without rh>'me or reason. 
 I continued this course for three or four days, when at 
 last one of the commissioners spoke up and said, " Look 
 here, young man, we have \'our history, and it is useless 
 for you to assume to be a fool. Your former operations 
 p-ive that the lie." 
 
 They continued to recall and dismiss me from day to 
 day, but at length they changed their tactics, and pat- 
 ronizingly said to me: " You are very young, and have 
 doubtless been led into this by men that are now enjoy- 
 ing their liberty, while you are here l\Mng in prison. 
 Now all we ask of )ou is to disclose the names o\' your 
 
Colon K I. L. A. Norton. 43 
 
 leaders and you will be released. Do you not know 
 Jake Beamer, or Finly IMaleohn ? " and many others that 
 they named. 
 
 At last I got out o( patience, and turned upon them 
 and said: " Yes, I am very nouul;-, perhaps too young-; for 
 I have not lived long enough to learn to turn traitor to 
 my friends. And what I know, will never benefit you, 
 for before I woultl betray one of my unfortunate c(Mn- 
 panions, to use the language of another, '' 1 would lie 
 here until the vermin should carry me through the key- 
 hole." Upon this retort, one of the Board exclaimed, 
 '* Let that fellow go back where he came from." 1 said, 
 "Thank you, gentlemen; then I shall soon be in the 
 State of New York." '' No," he exclaimed, " we mean 
 to your room, and give us no more of your insolence, 
 sir, or you will go to the cells." I quietly asked, *' Can 
 you get me any lower than the cells ? " The reply was, 
 ** Remember this, your life de[)ends upon your future 
 conduct." I said, *' 1 have one consolation, however: 
 you are mean understrappers, and can neither- take my 
 life nor save it ! " They little knew what a hoan they 
 were conferring when they sent me to the cells, where I 
 could get something fit to eat, from Mrs. Park's kitchen. 
 
 But the next time my friends came there was another 
 tearful petition went before the commissioners to release 
 me from the cells. Their petition prevailed and I was 
 again sent to my room. By this time my wound hatl 
 healed, and I was as lively and active as a cat — a tall, 
 slender boy, height nearly six feet, and weight one 
 hundred and thirty pounds. 
 
 We used to indulge in all kinds of athletic sports for 
 exercise. We had a regular caravan; each had the name 
 
44 Life and Adventures of 
 
 of scMiie animal. I was the great anaconda, because, 
 they said, I could tie myself in a knot. At this time I 
 had been a prisoner about three months, and prison life 
 had no terrors for me. And here I would say, by way 
 of parenthesis, that after one month a man will be as 
 content in jail as anywhere, and jail life has no further 
 terrors for him. After becoming thoroughly accustomed 
 to it myself, it used to amuse me hugely to see new 
 prisoners come in. They would rant and tear around, 
 kick the door, curse the turnkeys, and raise a general 
 rump IS for the first two weeks of their prison life, when 
 they would invariably have a sick spell. Recovering 
 from that, they would strengthen up and lapse into a 
 passive state. 
 
 Thus things ran along. The prison became less 
 crowded, many having been tried, and either convicted 
 and banished to the penal colonies, hung, or acquitted. 
 Our food^was so meager that had it not been for aid froni 
 friends, and the privilege of purchasing what we got by 
 way of notions, it would scarcely have sustained life. 
 Each man was entitled to ei<^ht ounces of meat per day, 
 and one pound of bread. But contractors were as rascally 
 then as now, and the meat was saved up for outsiders, 
 while enormous bones were weighed out to the prisoners. 
 And as for bread, the stuff furnished us was a burlesque 
 upon the name of bread. All the wheat in Upper Can- 
 ada in the fall of 1836, owing to the long-continued rains 
 about harvest-time, had sprouted in the fields, not « nly 
 that which was in stack, but also wheat standing in the 
 fields. Some of the sprouts were from one to two inches 
 long. After the rains were over, this grain was dried 
 and threshed, generally for feed; but it was deemed 
 
CoLONFX L. A. Norton. 45 
 
 good enough to grind and make bread of lor rebels. 
 We could break a loaf of our bread in two, and one man 
 take one-half of it and another take the other half and 
 walk apart, anc^ it would make a rope twenty feet in 
 length. 
 
 I remember on one occasion that we took a loaf of 
 bread, broke it open and elongated it for about ten feet; 
 then we tied a lot of bones together, decked them out 
 with red flannel strings as evidence of their loyalty, and 
 hung them from the window fronting a public square, 
 where all might see them. Among the more humane 
 citizens, even of the Tory party, they created quite a 
 sensation. We claimed that it was unhealthful, and it 
 was submitted to a Board of Physicians, who decided 
 that the bread was perfectly healthful, but not fit to eat; 
 that it might do for hogs to masticate, but not for men. 
 The effect was that we were served with a little better 
 quality of bread. Those who were able to, purchase 
 supplies did so, and those who had neither money nor 
 friends were helped to a more bountiful sup[)ly by tak- 
 ing the rations of those who could purchase food. 
 
 And food was not the only thing that was purchased; 
 they were in the habit of paying the turnkeys to smug- 
 gle in liquor, the effect of which finally resulted in a disas- 
 trous row. One afternoon some of the prisoners sent out 
 and had a twelve-quart pail full of whisky brought in in- 
 stead of water, and before night some of them got pretty 
 "mellow." We had a violin in the room, and a very good 
 violinist. The music was started up, and dancing com- 
 menced, and everything was jubilant. The dancing was 
 continued until after nine o'clock at night, when they 
 were notified to stop, but this they declined doing. The 
 
46 Life and Adventures of 
 
 musician refused to nlay longer for fear they would take 
 his violin from him. Stephen Bronger, a young English- 
 man, who felt pretty merry, handed the violinist his 
 watch to indemnify him in case his fiddle' should be 
 taken fiom him. Then " the ball " went on again. 
 
 In a short time the janitor came up with a ser- 
 geant's guard, with guns and bayonets. The prisoners 
 instantly formed in front of the music, each man seizing 
 a billet of wood. The guns and bayonets were unwieldy 
 in the room, so they were ordered out and in a few min- 
 utes the guards returned with their bayonets in their 
 hands, in charge of a captain. The prisoners again took 
 their position, and the soldiers also formed in line, and 
 the skirmish began. Alexander Nealy, one of the pris- 
 oners, happened to be fronting the little EngHsh 
 captain; he had an iron fire poker, which the captain 
 ordered him to lay dow^n. Nealy refused and placed 
 himself in an attitude of defense, when the captain 
 made apasswMth his sword and gave Nealy a very severe 
 scalp wound. Before the captain could recover his 
 guard, Nealy dealt him a terrific blow on the head with 
 the poker, which felled him like a beef Nealy sprang 
 upon the captain like a tiger, and would have dispatched 
 him had I not sprang in and interfered. I had not 
 drank any liquor, hence I was sober and did not take 
 any hand in the row until my interference was necessary 
 to save life. The boys had driven the soldiers back to 
 the prison entrance, but Sam Parks, the jailei;, had got 
 through the ranks and was making for the violin, when 
 Bronger discovered his object. They were both talh 
 powerful men; Parks prided himself on being the best 
 man in the country, but he found his full match in 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 47 
 
 Bronger. They both seized the fiddle about the same 
 time, and a more Hvely rough-and-tumble I have seldom 
 witnessed. They finally broke the fiddle in two; Sam 
 had the drum, and Bronger had the neck, strings, and 
 bow. 
 
 Hostilities ceased as by common consent. They 
 picked up the captain and helped him out, and when all 
 was settled down they returned and arrested Bronger 
 with his half of the fiddle (which he still retained), and 
 a few others whom they recognized, in:luding myself, 
 although I was only acting to stop the row, as before 
 stated; yet in the excitement I was mistaken for one of 
 the active participants. We were all shoved down into 
 the cells, the most of us, in our shirt sleeves, left in 
 the hall without bed or bedding, or clothes to keep us 
 warm. So the only thing we could do was; to make night 
 hideous, which we did to perfection, by hoots, yells, and 
 howls. Bronger fastened the fiddle strings to the finger- 
 board, stuck a jack-knife under them for a bridge, and 
 with the bow made such a horrid noise that no one could 
 sleep in the lower part of the prison. 
 
 In this situation we spent the night; but the next 
 morning we were marched back to our room, without 
 any attempt at further punishment. I am of the opin- 
 ion that they had come to the conclusion that they had 
 exceeded their duty in thus assaulting the prisoners 
 when there was no attempt to escape, and were there- 
 fore quite willing to let the matter rest. 
 
 When the prisoners were first incarcerated at London, 
 the guards were all raw militia, and were not at all 
 acquainted with fire-arms, and through their awkward- 
 ness several guns had been discharged in the prison. 
 
48 Life and Adventures of 
 
 One gun had been discharged in the room in vvhicii I 
 w.>s confined, and the ball had passed directly up through 
 the ceiling, or floor of the room above; and the contents 
 of another piece had passed through a partition connect- 
 ing two rooms occupied by prisoners. While we had 
 nothing better to do, with our knives we had, from time 
 to time, cut and bored the door to our entrance until we 
 got a little peek-hole through, from one-half to three- 
 quarters of an iiich in diameter. The turnkeys grum- 
 bled about it, but that was all the good it did them. 
 
 Every little while there would be new prisoners brought 
 in, and we were always very anxious to hear from the 
 outside world. One day the turnkey of our room had 
 informed us that several wounded prisoners were brought 
 in from " Point O'Play," where there had been a severe 
 battle on the ice (^in which the British got the worst of 
 the fight). We were all anxious to communicate with 
 them, but how? At last some one suggested the bullet- 
 hole through the plaster and floor. I think our room 
 was about twelve feet from floor to ceiling. We had 
 several pieces of four-foot lath brought from the upper 
 part or garret of the building. We sharpened one end 
 of a lath, split the small end, and inserted a paper on 
 which was written the words, "Ream out the hole;" 
 then, by means of a high bench, we were enabled to 
 stick the point of lath containing the paper through the 
 jagged hole in the ceiling and upper floor. 
 
 The prisoners above readily took the hint, and with a 
 knife enlarged the hole to the size of an ounce ball, 
 which enabled us to roll a half sheet of paper around 
 the stick and slip it up to them, which they could answer 
 by running a dispatch back in the same manner. This 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 49 
 
 easy communication was established between the rooms, 
 and once having the idea of communication suggested, 
 a reaming out of holes became the order of the day. 
 The bullet-hole in the room east of us was also reamed 
 out, so that dispatches were sent back and forth. Then 
 up-stairs, in the '* House of Lords," as we called it, there 
 was a hall or large passage between that and a room 
 east of them, with doors opposite, which did not swing 
 close down to the sills. Two laths would reach from 
 one room to the other, and by attaching them together, 
 and a paper to one end, communication between the 
 rooms was effected by sliding the laths back and 
 forth. So we soon had a perfect postal system estab- 
 lished between all the rooms. We were taken out about 
 once a week, on top of the castle, for exercise, and on 
 our return to our rooms we would occasionally pick up 
 a lath and walk off with it without comment. In this 
 way we had no lack of laths. 
 
 But that was not the full extent of our communica- 
 tion. I suppose it will be understood that the turnkeys 
 were stationed outside of our rooms, and when our 
 friends would come to see us we would be called for by 
 name (that is when a permit was granted, which was 
 not always the case), and an officer would stand by to 
 hear all that was said and see all that was done. So it 
 was but very seldom that anything could be slipped 
 from one to the other. But one time when my sister 
 visited me, on bidding her adieu on her departure, I got 
 her back turned towards the officer in charge, gave her 
 a knowing look, and, as I took her hand, I slipped a lit- 
 tle paper into it telling her that she could come and talk 
 at any time through the little hole that we had drilled 
 
50 Life and Adventures of 
 
 through tlie door; and by standing close to the hole her 
 body would cover it, and papers rolled up small could 
 be easily and softly exchanged. This she communi- 
 cated to the friends of various prisoners, and one can 
 hardly -imagine the fidelity with which all these secrets 
 were kept. 
 
 After that we would hear much that was occurring 
 outside, and our friends could know all from the inside. 
 A dispatcii received at the door would be immediately 
 forwarded to the proper room and address, and an answer 
 returned to the messenger. For instance, John Doe, 
 " House of Lords," East Room; Richard Roe, " House of 
 Lords," or " House of Commons." Ours, being below, 
 was called the " House of Commons;" that above, the 
 " House of Lords." 
 
 Where I was located, in the " House of Commons," 
 the room was about eighty feet long and about sixteen 
 feet wide, with several windows about eighteen inches 
 wide, with one single two-inch bar running up and 
 down through the center. In hours of idleness men 
 must be thinking, and seeking some employment or 
 amusement. So, among other things, our boys made 
 investigations in regard to moving the caps from off 
 the window-sills. We soon discovered that the lower 
 ends of the bars were split in the center about six 
 inches and then turned at right angles, forming a T 
 reversed, the upper end being passed through the caps 
 above and spiked down in the brickwork below with 
 six-inch spikes, holes having been punched into the 
 split ends of the irons for that purpose. Then a notch 
 having been sawed out of the window caps the size of 
 the bolt, the cap was slipped back and nailed down, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 51 
 
 holding the lower end of the bar. This had been 
 temporary work, and hurriedly done for the accommo-" 
 dation of the rebel prisoners. Having discovered how 
 they were arranged, we -went to work and cut around 
 the nail heads (the cap being of soft white pine), which 
 was but a small task, when we could take the caps right 
 up. Then to hide our work we chewed up some of our 
 sticky bread and put it about the nail heads, forming a 
 kind of putty that matched very well the dirty white 
 paint. 
 
 In the room where I was quartered, there were two 
 small fire-places, in which were wrought-iron fire-dogs, 
 the ends of which had been burned ofi~ One day when 
 we had one of the bars exposed by having the cap off, 
 I took an andiron, placed the end of it in the notch of 
 the bar, and getting a lever purchase, without difficulty 
 raised the bar, the spike being quite easily drawn down 
 from the brickwork. When "I moved the bar up a little 
 they swung it into the room and it came right out. 
 Then we put it back just as it was before, and con- 
 cealed our work; and in less than a week every bar in 
 the room was loosened and left for some future occasion, 
 but with very little prospect of ever being . available to 
 us for any purpose. We were some twenty-five feet 
 from the ground, and the walls being white would show 
 every object that came in contact with them; besides, 
 there was a sentinel at every angle of the building, and 
 there being fifty angles, we were very well guarded. 
 
 But I must not forget to notice a little incident which 
 occurred during my stay in the " House of Lords." The 
 British officers were in the habit of punishing the 
 soldiers very severely for drunkenness, and of course 
 
62 Life and Adventures of 
 
 when they found themselves the worse for liquor they 
 would hide away and sleep it off One of them, on get- 
 ting pretty full, attempted to hide himself in the garret, 
 or rather under the roof of the castle. Now the " House 
 of Lords" was the upper rooms of the castle, above 
 which was the garret, and this fellow was attempting to 
 creep under the roof immediately above one of the 
 rooms, when he made a misstep and came down on the 
 lathing instead of the joist, and one leg protruded 
 through the ceiling. A regular shower of plaster came 
 down into our room, and as we saw the leg hanging 
 there, some of the boys caught hold of it and pulled 
 the man down. The fellow was terribly frightened, and 
 could not for a moment conceive what had happened to 
 him.. When informed that we had taken him into a 
 rebel camp, he seemed to have the impression that he 
 was to be dispatched at once; but he was soon disabused 
 of that idea, and finding us inclined to be friendly, he 
 was soon very much at home with us. I took him 
 under my wing, and in an hour we were fast friends. 
 We played cards a great deal, and my new protege 
 taug^ht me a trick with cards which he assured me no 
 man in America could solve, at the same time pledging 
 me not to reveal it. And I never have found a man 
 who understood the trick. In the course of the after- 
 noon I made an arrangement with the turnkey to let the 
 fellow out and say nothing about the affair, he having 
 become perfectly sober. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 53 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 FRUITLESS EFFORTS TO ESCAPE. 
 
 AS time passed on the number of prisoners became so 
 reduced by bail, death, trial, transportation, and re- 
 movals to other prisons, that at last there were but nine 
 left in our room. We were known as the " old stock." 
 We had a guard who had been attending on us for a 
 long time, and with some of its members we had struck 
 up quite an acquaintance. As on petition we were now 
 permitted to have our outside door chained open nine 
 inches for fresh air, we had an opportunity to converse 
 freely. I had become quite familiar with one of the 
 guards, and in the course of conversation, on his inquiry, 
 I told him my story. He said it was a shame, and had 
 he lived in the country he doubtless would be where I 
 then was. He was an Irishman and a Catholic, and the 
 most of that class sympathized with us, He remarked 
 that if he could he would willingly leave the door open 
 and let us walk out. I caught at it. 
 
 It was a dark, cloudy day, with a drizzling rain fall- 
 ing. I said, "You will be outside to-night on guard; it 
 doubtless will be rainy and the sentries will be in their 
 boxes; now, sir, here is a new English lever watch worth 
 at least sixty dollars; you say you come on at midnight 
 under our northeast window. If you will besnuglystowed 
 away in your sentry-box at one o'clock in the morning, 
 and not discover us nor make an outcry, the watch is 
 yours." He readily acceded to the proposition. I gave 
 him the watch; we agreed upon everything, and I in- 
 formed him that we would tear up blankets to make a 
 
54 Life and Aj)ventures of 
 
 rope, and descend from the window. We were occupied 
 all the afternoon making arrangements for our flight. 
 We were not disappointed regarding the character of 
 the night. It was intensely dark and our arrangements 
 were made to cross the south branch of the Thames 
 River, enter a narrow neck of woods, follow by a path 
 well know n to me to Westminster Street, and then south 
 to near the second concession, where there was a wood- 
 chopper's hut in a bushy by-place on my uncle's land; 
 here we would be safe until the search was over. 
 
 At length the hour came I mounted on a jury table 
 and stuck the blanket rope out of the window and com- 
 menced letting the end run down the white wall, when 
 bang! went an old musket from below, the ball passing 
 my breast and striking the face of the window-jamb, 
 knocking off a lot of brick and mortar, which fell to the 
 ground with a thud. The cry then came, " Is he dead ?" 
 The reply was, " Yes, the poor fellow is dead;" but they 
 soon discovered that the falling body was but brick and 
 mortar. The whole command, apparently, came rush- 
 ing up-stairs like a band of sheep, but after a little the^ 
 excitement subsided, and the authorities entered our 
 room to finely us all lying under the jury tables " fast 
 asleep." But the tell-tale bar and blanket-rope lay on 
 the top of the table. 
 
 The officers began cursing us for rebels and ordered 
 us out. We crept forth, rubbing our eyes. They hastily 
 counted us, but could make out but eight. Where was 
 the other? The officer in command ordered' the men 
 to fire up the chimney, but the mouth of the chimney 
 was so low, and the throat so small, that it was impossi- 
 ble to insert a gun at the required angle; but the\' unfixed 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 55 
 
 bayonets and ran them up the chimneys. In fact, the 
 throats of the chimneys were but four inches wide, and 
 would not have admitted a baby, much less a man. I 
 remarked that I thought if they would count us more, 
 carefully they would find us all there. We were im- 
 mediately marched to the cells, the officers saying that 
 they had a mind to " skiver " us. 
 
 They kept us a few days in the cells, when we were 
 taken out and promoted to the " House of Lords," which 
 by this time was almost deserted, and the few tenants 
 already there, with our force, did not at all crowd the 
 room. 
 
 There had been several attempts to rescue the prison- 
 ers, on the part of a lot of braggarts that ranged up and 
 down the St. Clair River, boasting what they were going 
 to do. The Tories were really frightened, and were re- 
 solved that we should not be released. So they excavated 
 below the building in which we were confined, and de- 
 posited many barrels of powder, I do not know how 
 many, but enough to send us to glory anyhow. They 
 covered a train to the barracks and gave public notice 
 that if an attempt should be made to rescue us, they 
 would fire the train and blow us all up. 
 
 I must say for a few days after this I was not anxious 
 to be released; but as time rolled on, the news reached us 
 that a large force had crossed into Canada and was ad- 
 vancing on London. Scouts were sent out, but were afraid 
 to go out of sight of the city. They would retire to some 
 secluded place and ride their horses until they would get 
 them in a perfect foam; then come rushing in and 
 report the rebels surrounding all sides of the town. 
 Another would come in and report them nearer. At 
 
56 LIFE AND Adventures of 
 
 last they got them within three miles of the town, when 
 Hughey, the turnkey, came rushing into our room and 
 exclaimed, " 1 would give a hundred dollars for an ax 
 to cut down the bridge ! " The rebels, he said, had 
 taken v\\ the axes and hid them. People were hastily 
 packing up and leaving the city. The Tory magistrates 
 had left, and the report had gone out that the invaders 
 had proclaimed that if the prisoners were blown up that 
 no quarter would be shown to man, woman, or child; 
 and a deputation of citizens was appointed to call on 
 the commanditig (jfficer to revoke any order for blowing 
 up the castle. 
 
 During the excitement, Mrs. O'Brien came rushing 
 into our room, and the moment the door was closed be- 
 hind her, she commenced jumping up and down, clapped 
 her hands and exclaimed, "They are coming! They are 
 coming ! They are coming ! and they dare not blow you 
 up; I've heard them say so." The truth of the matter 
 was, that an unusual number of Indians had collected 
 at Maldon, and the word went out that they were rebels, 
 and as the report traveled, the number increased until it 
 swelled to a prodigious army. Mrs. O'Brien said to me, 
 " I had a terrible time to reach you; I went to Sam Parks 
 [he was her brother-in-law and the jailer], and he said 
 that he dare not let me in, that I must go to the sheriff. 
 Colonel Hamilton. He said that times were so trouble- 
 some that I must go to the commanding officer. Colonel 
 Maitland; and he would not give his consent. I then 
 went back to Sam Parks, and told him that unless he 
 let me in to see those poor prisoners I would make 
 O'Brien commence a foreclosure suit against him in less 
 time than twenty-four hours. I did not like to do this," 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 
 
 ^( 
 
 she said, "but I found that nothing less than thethunnb- 
 screws would do any good, and he knows very well that 
 I have kept O'Brien from suing him for the last year." 
 "Well," I said, "what then?" "Che hustled me up 
 the back way and through the east room, and here I am." 
 
 Well, the imaginary army did not appear, and as there 
 were no signs of the approach of the enemy, and a 
 teamster having arrived with his team direct from Maldon, 
 everybody commenced plying him with questions as to 
 the position, number, and equipment of the rebel army. 
 The poor fellow was taken aback, and could not for a 
 moment imagine what the people were after. The 
 " rebel army ! " he had seen none. There was no unusual 
 excitement more than that a large number of Indians 
 and squaws were holding one of their annual festivals 
 near Maldon. 
 
 Thus the bubble had bursted, and an investigation 
 proved that the whole story had originated in the gath- 
 ering of the Indians for the green-corn festival, and some 
 shrewd, patriotic parties had spread the story of the in- 
 vasion, until the people had been so scared that a hand- 
 ful of brave spirits, properly led, could have taken 
 London. 
 
 About this time there was a great deal of nervousness 
 and unrest in the country, owing to the excitement and 
 rumors of invasion from the Patriot sympathizers on 
 the American side of the line; and the Patriots were 
 ready to make another move whenever a rallying point 
 should be indicated. The Scotch were all rebels, as we 
 were called. I had two uncles living .on Westminster 
 Street, six miles from London, and there were many 
 staunch Patriots in the neighborhood; and, besides, my 
 5 
 
58 Life and Adventures of 
 
 uncles were at tlic head of the Scotch, of w horn there 
 were over two hundred, all well armed wn'th rifles, who 
 could at any time be called together by the blast of an 
 enormous tin horn. In fact, my uncle David had a large, 
 dry cqllar beneath one of his barns, filled with arms and 
 munitions of war; and the organization was so perfect 
 that in two hours' time a force of from three to four hun- 
 dred men could be called together. 
 
 In this connection I will introduce a vcr\^ remarkable 
 character, Mrs. Anna Burch. She was m\' father's sis- 
 ter, and was, of course, m\' aunt. At the time of the 
 rebellion she was between thirty-five and forty years of 
 age, but would not have been taken for more than thirty. 
 She was of a very fair complexion, with auburn hair, and 
 coal-black eyes, and I thought her the prettiest woman 
 I ever saw. Her weight was probably about one hun- 
 dred and twenty pounds; she was as agile as a cat, brave 
 as a lion, and one of the finest female equestrians that I 
 ever met. She was, to all intents and purposes, a rebel 
 spy. She assumed the character of a doctress, rode 
 from one end of Upper Canada to the other, had a very 
 good idea of the use of herbs and simple medicines, 
 and with an unusual amount of shrewdness and daring 
 she mingled with all classes and complexions of political 
 creeds. Thus she managed to be in possession of much 
 valuable information from both sides. And what was 
 more singular than all, she managed for several months 
 to avoid suspicion. She notified many a Patriot who 
 was to be arrested, in time to allow him to escape, and 
 in her labors in the cause she seemed to be almost ubiq- 
 uitous, and always to be found when most needed. 
 
 One day, just before our attempt to escape, my aunt 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 59 
 
 visited me, and while talking with me, when the guard's 
 attention was drawn for a moment, she turned her back 
 to the door where it was chained open nine inches, and 
 I grasped a letter. To account for her back being turned 
 to the door and her face to the sentinel, she addressed 
 him and said, '' Did you speak to me ? " At last they 
 began to suspect her, but w^ere unable to fasten anything 
 upon her, and at the close of the rebellion she lapsed 
 into a state of quiet, and finally spent her days and died 
 at a ripe old age. 
 
 On reading the letter which she had passed to me at 
 the door, it notified me that on a certain day (I do not 
 now remember the exact time), at three o'clock in the 
 afternoon, Colonel Maitland, commanding the Thirty- 
 second Regiment, who was then guarding London, would 
 start on a march down the river to Delaware, and an- 
 other c(vmmand, with a large supply of' military stores 
 for London, would, by a night's forced march, reach 
 London about six o'clock the next morning. When 
 Colonel Maitland should evacuate the town there would 
 be but thirty raw recruits to guard the town from three 
 o'clock in the afternoon unlil six o'clock the next morn- 
 ing; and if my uncle could be encouraged to sound his 
 trumpet, assemble the Scotch and the little band of Pa- 
 triots on Westminster Street, they could make a night 
 attack, capture London, and release the prisoners. 
 
 It was a bold conception for the woman, but another 
 plan struck me. Oh ! how I wished for my liberty, if 
 but for twelve hours. At this time the road leading 
 from the east to London ran through what was known 
 as Dorchester, or Buckwheat Pines. The road the sol- 
 diers would have to travel passed through this pinery for 
 
60 Life and Adventures of 
 
 seven miles, and they would enter the forest about twelve 
 o'clock at night, and get through about two o'clock in 
 the morning. At about three in the afternoon of the 
 d.iy that the troops were to leave, I asked permission to 
 go out. , There were guards stationed all around, and 
 being so well acquainted with Parks and the turnkeys, I 
 was permitted to wander about at will, sometimes for 
 an hour or two. Consequently I walked boldly out, and 
 sauntered up-stairs and out on the top of the building, 
 where I could see all over the city. 
 
 I noticed when I went up that the guards were 
 changed, and that the militia had taken the place of the 
 regulars. It was not long until I saw the baggage 
 wagons drive in. The command was formed with the 
 artillery in advance and marched out of town. Oh, could 
 I only escape, what might I not do for my adopted 
 country ! I knew that in one hour or thereabouts the 
 guaid would be relieved. The last sentinel was close to 
 the trap that admitted us to the roof, and in my soft 
 listing slippers I could walk close to the hole undiscov- 
 ered, and might catch the countersign. I resolved to 
 make the attempt, and waited until I heard the relief 
 coming long the hall, when I crept close to the hole 
 and caught the countersign without the least trouble. It 
 was quite loudly and distinctly given. 
 
 One point was gained. I had the countersign; now no 
 time was to be lost in trying to use it to my advantage. 
 I waited till it was dark, when I walked boldly down the 
 corridor and down the stairs until within twenty feet of the 
 front door. I could not see any sentinel. I watched 
 for about fifteen minutes, when I advanced towards the 
 door, and when within six or eight feet of the door the 
 
CoLONKr, L. A. Norton. 61 
 
 sentinel stepped out from bcliind a column, and walking 
 up to me said, "Well, boy, is it not about time you were in 
 your room?" I was taken all aback, but in a moment 
 after he spoke I reco<,mized him as one of our old turn- 
 keys. 1 lau^hin<,dy remarked, "Well, you would not 
 lose much if you were to let me go." He said it would 
 be poor policy, when they had got me fast enough to 
 hang, to turn me loose. After a short time in light con- 
 versation of that nature, 1 turned around and walked up- 
 stairs. But, boy as I was, if he had had no assistance 
 at hand, I would not have stopped; I felt that 1 could 
 disarm him in a minute, but in that case I should risk 
 having the whole pack onto me before I could get any 
 further. I went into my den, but there was no sleep for 
 me that night. 
 
 Had I succeeded in my efforts to escape, I would to- 
 day have been able to tell a more brilliant story, or else 
 I would not be in existence at all. And this was my 
 plan: As before stated, my uncles were at the head of 
 some four hundred brave men. All that was necessary 
 to call them forth was* a leader and a reasonable hope of 
 success. I should have made my way to my uncles' as 
 fast as my legs could carry me; aroused the Scotch, 
 took about fifty ax-men to the Buckwheat Pines and 
 felled trees across the road, to make a barrier in front of 
 the soldiers. The road was cut out four rods wide, and 
 the trees were very thick. Then I would have cut trees 
 on bcjth sides of the road ready to fall, with drivers back 
 to force them across the road. Then I should have cut 
 a barrier ready to fall in the rear to hem in the whole 
 command; and when they should have been hemmed in 
 by the barricades, the ax-men could have hurled the 
 
62 Life and Adventures of 
 
 trees onto them. Thus massed as they would have been, 
 there could be no escape, and the riflemen could pour 
 their volleys into them. 
 
 We must have inevitably won an easy victory. We 
 could have marched into London the next' morning, 
 and taken it without firing a gun. i\nd such a vic- 
 tory as we could have won there, with the ammu- 
 nition and supplies, would have given us the principal 
 city, with vast military stores, and would have enabled 
 us, with the forces we could command, to follow up 
 Maitland and capture him and his army before they 
 could reach Delaware, and before they would be aware 
 of any force in their rear. And I could not bring my- 
 self to believe but what some bold spirit would see and 
 take advantage of the opportunity, until the next morn- 
 ing when I saw the troops come gallantly marching 
 into London. Poor aunt Anna had exerted her ener- 
 gies in vain, and I could not escape to reward her efforts. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FROiM PRISON TO HOSPITAL. — FINAL RELEASE. 
 
 ABOUT this time I was taken down with a fever that 
 prevailed in the city, and which had at last reached 
 the prison. The physicians pronounced it bilious, in- 
 clined to t3q3hus. The last thing I remembered, for 
 some time, was holding onto a broom handle, and the 
 physician bleeding me; and the next thing I remembered 
 was seeing my fellow-prisoner.s, with my mother and 
 sister, around me crying. 1 thought to m\self, I must 
 be very sick, and will probably die, but I will be out of 
 
Colonel L A. Norton. 63 
 
 the hands of the Tories; and again I recollected that I 
 was being moved from the prison on a mattress. Com- 
 ing in contact with the fresh air temporarily restored me 
 to consciousness. 
 
 Being acquainted in London, I tried to make out 
 what part of town they were taking me to. Then all 
 was again a blank, until one day I saw Doctor Moor 
 by my side, with a snuff-box in his hand, as usual. He 
 said, " Well, young man, you have cheated the devil this 
 time." I had previously been acquainted with him. A 
 year or more before this, while he was courting Prie t 
 Cronin's daughter, and they were engaged to b^ mar- 
 ried, on one of his calls she attempted to talk French 
 to him, and made a terrible blunder, which caus -d an 
 estrangement between them for some months. The 
 matter was finally explained to his satisfaction, a recon- 
 ciliation ensued, and they were married. I had heard 
 the joke, and when he told me that' I had "cheated the 
 devil this time," I thrust his wife's Fretich at him. He 
 appeared startled, stepped back, and exclaimed, " Who 
 the devil are you?" , My mother and sister seemed 
 frightened at the recognition, but the joke passed off, 
 and after the doctor had left his directions and departed, 
 I again sank away. My sister told me that an hour 
 after the doctor had gone, I commenced shaking so 
 violently that she could hardly hold me on the bed. 
 
 I have neglected to mention that on removal from 
 the prison I was taken to the hospital, where I was con- 
 fined. The doctor, on leaving, promised to return in an 
 hour, and when he did so, he found me in the condition 
 referred to. He said that was the turning point in my 
 disease. When the shaking had subsided, I recovered, 
 
()4 LiKK AND Adventures of 
 
 and retained my senses, yet I had no more mind than a 
 child; as an instance of this, I was constantly imporlun- 
 ini^- nn^ mother and sister to let me get up and go 
 a-hshing. I remembered a trout stream where I used to 
 fish, and I was determined to go and catch a mess of 
 trout. .Thcv told mc I was tcx:) weak to go, and sootiied 
 me as best they could, but I was resolved to get the 
 doctor's consent and go. Consequently when the doc- 
 tor came in 1 said, " Doctor, can I go fishing ? " He 
 replied, " Yes, of course you can, ;ind it will do you good." 
 1 exultingly whispered to my attendants, " I knew the 
 doctor would lot mc go;" and I was going to get right 
 up, but as I tried to raise my arm I found that I could 
 not do so any more than if it had weighed a ton. 
 Then 1 understood wh\' the doctor so readily gave his 
 consent. Still I could not give up the notion of fishing, 
 and commenced teasing m\^ friends to get Mr. Com- 
 stock to make me a pair o( crutches so that 1 could -go. 
 I was improxing \ er\' fast, and had a good appetite. 
 I would cry for food, and my sister would cry because 
 she dare not let me have it. I drew my rations of 
 beef, and as I could not eat it, it was hung up near the 
 fire-place to dr)-; and while my attendants were in 
 another room. 1 raised m\'self up, took hold of the bed- 
 stead, and tried to pull nn'self up so 1 could reach the 
 beef. But as I got partiall)- straightened up, I lost my. 
 balance and down I came, measuring my length on the 
 hard, uncarpeted floor. As I was but a mere skeleton, 
 the skin was peeled from my bones in several places. 
 My mother and sister rushed out, gathered me up, and 
 put me to bed again, where I lay for several days pretty 
 quietlw until I got oxer m\- bruises, and had from time 
 to time been helped up to a chair by the fire. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. G5 
 
 But one morning they left ine sittini^ in a chair while 
 they ate breakfast in another room. 'I'he meat that still 
 luinL;- above my head was too temptiiii^' for nit^ and [ 
 stuck my fmi^ers throu<4h a knot-hole in tin; lath where 
 the i)laster was off and pulled myself up. i>ul not yet 
 bcin;^" stroni^ enout^h to steady myself, 1 lost niy balance 
 and away I went. There were no banisters around the 
 welbhole of the stairway, and in my efforts to recover 
 my lost balance I got so near the opening that when I 
 fell, I went thumping and bumping to the bottom. 
 The Irish sentinel exclaimed, "And what are ye doin' 
 there?" 1 answered, "Trying to break jail ! " J^y that 
 time my alt( ndants were at the head of the stairs nearly 
 frightened out of their wits. The sentinel helped them 
 carry me to bed, and I was not trusted alone again for a 
 long time. 
 
 When I had sufficiently recovered to walk about and 
 l.)egin to think, 1 discovered that my nnnd was almost a 
 blank, and things came back to me ([uite tardily. I 
 was also left with a severe cough. Jn fict, the doctor 
 told my sister, who was still with me, that though J liad 
 weathered that attack, i could not live a year — that I 
 would die of consumption. But I got so much better 
 that the authorities began talking of sending me back 
 to prison. I did not want to go back, and commenced 
 thinking once more of escape, this time, by dressing 
 up in my mother's clothes and i)assing out before the 
 sentry in the evening. Now my mother was called a 
 tall w^oman, but when I got on one of her tlresses 
 my long s[)indle-shanks stuck through a foot, and I 
 soon discovered that the plan would not work, and I 
 was forced to abandon it. 1 had been indicted for high 
 
(iO Life .vnd Adventures ok 
 
 treason several months before, but could not be con- 
 victed, as I owed no allegiance to Great Britain, and as 
 yet they had not determined what to do with me. As 
 soon as .1 was able to do without a nurse, I was sent 
 back to prison. But it was no longer the immortal nine; 
 there wei^e but eight left. James Watson had died of 
 the fever that had prostrated me for so long a time. . 
 
 It was not more than a month, however, after my re- 
 turn from the hospital until we received our sentence. 
 It was rather a peculiar sentence, too, being a decree of 
 voluntary banishment. This was judgment and sentence 
 without a trial; but it was a kind of sentence by agree- 
 ment, as each prisoner was asked the question, " Do you 
 accept the sentence?" When it came to me, and the 
 question was asked with all solemnity, I answered, 
 '' Would a man refuse to be banished from hell to 
 heaven?" Our final sentence was that if caught in Her 
 Majesty's dominion after the expiration of three days 
 we were to be taken as felons and suffer death. The doors 
 were then opened, and we were permitted to pass out 
 without a guard. 
 
 I had about two dollars in my pocket, and my friends 
 lived in the opposite direction from which to go to get 
 out of the country. Mrs. Parks was present, and I bade 
 her good-by. Mrs. O'Brien insisted that I should go 
 home with her, which was but a short distance, and get a 
 good meal before starting on my journey, and I readily 
 complied. She gave me a good dinner, with all the 
 port wine I dared drink, and offered to give me money, but 
 I was too proud to take it. I thanked her kindly, and 
 in taking leave of her she said, " Lewis, something tells 
 me that you will one day return in trium})h; and if )'Ou 
 
Colonel L. A. Nortcjn. 07 
 
 do, remember your friends." I joined my companions, 
 who were ready for a start, and as I headed for my 
 native country, I found from my extreme weakness that 
 a common road was scarcely wide enough for me to walk 
 in, but I was naturally a good walker. 
 
 We had ninety miles to make on foot to get out of 
 the country, and I think that the Tories devoutly hoped 
 we would fail. I fell behind, and at dusk of evening 1 
 could just discern my companions in the dim distance. 
 They had found a hotel, and I came up, dragging my 
 limbs after me. I got some refreshment and stretched 
 myself on the soft side of a long bench, where I spent the 
 night. I awoke the next morning a little sore, but on 
 the whole much, refreshed. We got some breakfast and 
 about seven o'clock we again started on our journey. 
 That day I kept up with my companions, walking over 
 thirty miles. We passed the second night at a kind of 
 wayside hotel, having about thirty miles to go the next 
 day to reach the St. Clair River. The exercise, bracing 
 air, and good food, had temporarily revived me, and the 
 third day I was one of the leaders in the march, and 
 when we reached the river bank our companions were 
 just coming in sight, trudging along, almost tired out. 
 The last day we had suffered terribly for want of water, 
 and at one time I was nearly blind from thirst. But 
 near the road, in a swale where a tree had been uprooted, 
 there was a muddy pool filled with midges, tadpoles, 
 and lots )f little red bugs; from this po )1 I took a re- 
 freshing drink, and was thankful for my good fortune in 
 finding it. As soon as all the company had arrived on 
 the bank of the river, a boat was secured, we exhibited our 
 pas.ses, and in an hour we were at Black River in Mich- 
 igan, 1 having borrowed eight cents to pay my passage. 
 
68 - Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 EXPERIENCES IN MICHIGAN AND ILLINOIS. 
 
 THERE was a good deal of sympathy expressed for 
 the^ poor Patriots, who had been released from a 
 Canadian prison, and who had been banished from .the 
 Canadas, and their property confiscated. There were 
 constant arrivals, from Black River to Grand Rapids, of 
 persons seeking employment on the railroad, but there was 
 an offer of work to our boys in preference to all others. 
 As for me, I looked like the wandering " ghost of 
 Colitus," and a single glance would have convinced the 
 most casual observer that I could not go into the forest 
 and wield the ax or the pick and shovel. But the con- 
 tractor was very kind, and gave me employment as boss 
 of a job of grubbing and clearing for the laying of the 
 track through the Black River Swamp. My condition at 
 this time was such that I could not sleep lying down, 
 but had to assume a half-reclining and half-sitting po- 
 sition, coughing all night. The people where my wash- 
 ing was done remarked that the poor fellow would not 
 come for his washing many times more. 
 
 There was a garrison of United States troops close 
 by, and there was considerable talk of war with En- 
 gland on account of the burning of the steamer Caro- 
 line; and I thought if I could only enlist, and live until 
 we could attack the British forces, I would sell my life 
 as dearly as possible, and die content. I tried to enlist, 
 but the examining physician told mc that I had better 
 seek a hospital rather than the barracks. As they 
 would not receive me, I returned to our camp and re- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 69 
 
 suined my duties, hoping against hope for a continuance 
 of my Hfe. 
 
 One day shortly after this occurrence, the men cut a 
 large pine tree, at the heart of which there appeared a 
 kind of acid. It bubbled up out of the center of the 
 stump as clear as spring water, and as sharp as the 
 strongest vinegar. Among others, I tasted it, and it 
 seemed to ,go right to the affected part, throwing me 
 into the most violent paroxysms of coughing. With 
 me it was anything that would kill or cure, and I had 
 the boys scallop out the stump so as to hold the liquid* 
 which I continued to use as a constant drink. And 
 about the same time I commenced chewing spikenard 
 root, which grew there in abundance. I also collected 
 hemlock gum and made plasters, which I applied exter- 
 nally to the region of the pains. 
 
 I continued this treatment about two weeks, and felt 
 the beneficial effects very sensibly. When we struck 
 another pine producing a like acid, I continued to drink 
 it, still using the spikenard root, and applying the hem- 
 lock plasters. At the end of a month I was, so to speak, 
 a new man. I had had a little property at Jamestown, 
 in Canada, which was confiscated, and I was solely de- 
 pendent on my wages for a living. But as soon as my 
 family heard of my whereabouts, they disposed of their 
 property and left the country, emigrating to Illinois. 
 My brother called for me where I was at work, and I 
 joined them, and we all reached Chicago, Illinois, late 
 in the fall of 1838. 
 
 The Michigan canal was then in course of construc- 
 tion from Chicago to La Salle, where we all found em- 
 ployment; but as my health improved, my military 
 
70 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ardor increased, and I commenced p.annin^ an expedi- 
 tion to invade the Canadas. There was plenty of ma- 
 terial around me' — daring, reckless spirits, who were filled 
 with enthusiasm. Many impromptu meetings were 
 held, and in thirty days after the thing was started, I 
 had over six hundred men enlisted for the expedition. 
 But it was impossible to conduct the proceedings with 
 that degree of secrecy that would insure success. They 
 would hoot and cheer, and carry me around on their 
 shoulders, with boastin js and demonstrations that I could 
 not control. Consequently I hurried my arrangements. 
 Chicago at that time did not contain over fifteen hun- 
 dred inhabitants; in fact, it was but a village. There 
 was an arsenal with a few hundred small armrs and two 
 six-pound brass cannons, with some fixed ammunition, 
 but not enough to carry out my plans, which were as 
 follows: I would first arm and equip the men compris- 
 ing the expedition, and also provide a supply with which 
 to arm others after landing in Canada. I intended to 
 lease a good large steamer, ship my command, and land 
 them at Maldon, on the Canada shore; then commence 
 a rapid march to the interior, sweeping through the set- 
 tled parts of the country, compel every able-bodied man 
 to join our standard, forage on the country for supplies, 
 and leave nothing in our rear to oppose us. My march 
 was to be so rapid as to give no time for plotting treason 
 in the ranks, and but little time to array forces in front. 
 Expecting by the time 1 reached London, Canada 
 West, that I would have at least ten thousand ment I 
 intended to garrison all captured towns with them and 
 men loyal to our cause; for I was confident that at least 
 two-thirds of the inhabitants of the -entire country would 
 be in sympathy with the move. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 71 
 
 But it is useless to give the plans of an exploded ex- 
 pedition in detail ; suffice it to say it was my intention to 
 sweep the Canadas, manufacturing my broom from their 
 own timber. But while corresponding with parties at 
 Detroit regarding arms and munitions of war at that 
 place, the United States Marshal, one morning, tapped 
 me on the shoulder and said, "Young man, several of the 
 contractors on the canal have been making complaints 
 against you, charging you with the intention of invad- 
 ing Canada. These men are acting from interested 
 motives, as in case you carried out your scheme it would 
 leave their jobs without hands. I am frank to admit 
 that I sympathize with your cause, but unless you dis- 
 band and abandon the expedition I -shall be compelled 
 to arrest you; so you had better take warning in time to 
 avoid trouble." I remonstrated with him, and asked 
 him if he could not take a journey, or volunteer and go 
 with us; but he declined all overtures, saying, "I will do 
 better than that, I will keep you all from getting your 
 throats cut." 
 
 Through the vigilance of the contractors and the 
 marshal, our expedition came to an end. I worked 
 that fall and winter on the canal, and the next spring 
 drifted up to Warrenville, Du Page County, Illinois, 
 where I remained some time with Harvey T. Wilson, 
 who was very kind to me, and put me on track of some 
 vacant Government land, of which I located one hun- 
 dred and sixty acres. I gave my brother-in-law an 
 equal interest in the land, and, being a good sawyer, my 
 services were soon called into requisition at Carey's saw- 
 mill, at thirty dollars a month. 
 
 I worked there several months, during which time I 
 
72 Life and AdviiXtures of 
 
 learned that one of my old Patriot friends, Caleb Kip, 
 was residing on the west side of Fox River. We were 
 ver\' intimate friends, and I made up nn' mind t.) visit 
 him. So one day I set out, mounted on a favorite marc, 
 which I prized very highly, on my contemplated visit. 
 On coming to the river, I found it so swollen by the 
 spring freshet as to carry off all the bridges, and there 
 was no crossing short of Elgin. I was informed, how- 
 ever, of a ford that could be crossed in ordinary stages 
 of water, and I resolved to tr\' the ford. Arriving at 
 the designated crossing, I found the stream running 
 high and wild, and in the middle the current was very 
 swift. Rut, nothing daunted. I plunged in. 
 
 At first my mare found good footing, the water only 
 coming half wa}- up her sides, and 1 was congratulati. g 
 myself that it was not much of a feat, notwithstanding 
 all the cautions 1 had received. But suddenly the 
 noble animal dropped into the boiling current and went 
 under, head and ears; however, she soon came to the sur- 
 face, and eallantlv stemmed the ^ood with her ears an^l 
 eyes out of water. The rushing current carried us rapidl\- 
 down stream, but she continued to swim for the opposite 
 shore; \'et I could see that she was beginning to fail, 
 that the effort was too much for her, and 1 was seriousl\- 
 thinking of throwing myself off from her back when 
 she struck bottom. About this tinie 1 saw an old gen- 
 tleman by the name oi' Hill running down to the river 
 for his boat. The mare continued to wade toward the 
 shore, which was )-et at a cc>nsiderable distance; but hav- 
 ing eonc some fort\- or fiU\- \ards, down she went 
 again and had to swim for dear life. 1 now saw that 
 there was but one show for her or me, so 1 slid ot'f 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 73 
 
 behind, seizin- her by the tail, and thus rcHeved she 
 brought me to shore. The old gentleman met us at the 
 point of landing and assisted me to the house, for I was 
 so chilled and benumbed that I could scarcely stand. 
 He built a big fire, and while I was warming myself and 
 drying my clothes, he took care of my horse. He gave 
 me a big horn of whisky, and presently some dinner, 
 and in an hour and a half I was on my way a<^ain 
 arriving safely at my friend's house without further 
 adventure. 
 
 The next afternoon I went back home, but not by 
 the same road; I went by way of Elgin. I resumed 
 my work at Garey's; the thaw continued, the ice was 
 broken, and we expected, with the force of the ice and 
 the immense flood of water rushing upon the mill-dam, 
 that the dam must give way, although we were making 
 almost superhuman efforts to save it. Several of the 
 hands, myself among them, had been all day on the 
 lookout, and wherever a hole was discovered we would 
 stuff in straw and dirt. 
 
 Night came on and I remained with a lantern to 
 watch for. breaks in the dam. Next to the mill there 
 was a large bulkhead, and fifty feet from that, out 
 near the middle of the dam, was a second bulkliead, 
 and between the two there was a low place, about four 
 feet lower than the rest of the dam, which was called the 
 " roll-way." Over this roll-way, where the surplus water 
 escaped over the dam, was extended a small log, about 
 eighteen inches at the butt, running to about six inches 
 at the top. We used to walk this timber to get from 
 the mill to the middle of the dam, which was the highest 
 part and was above water, making a little island; and as 
 6 
 
74 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the water kept washing it away, it became very small. 
 Time had passed, the water was rushing and moanine^ on 
 every side of me; it had become evident that the mill 
 and dam and everything must soon go before the force 
 of the flood. I must escape from there or be drowned. 
 Still I femained on the little island in the middle of 
 the dam. On one side was a swinging pole or timber 
 that swayed to and fro with my weight, and passing over 
 the roll-way was a boiling, seething flood, resistless in its 
 force, and terrible in its fury. It is true that in day- 
 light, and when the water was at its normal stage, I had 
 often walked the log; but now, over the raging flood, 
 with a roaring cataract all around me, by the uncertain 
 light of a lantern, and the log slippery with water, could 
 I succeed in the undertaking ? and would it not be 
 courting death to make the attempt ? To fall and go 
 over the dam would be just as fatal as to go over Niag- 
 ara Falls; but what was to be done? I would have 
 to take to the water like a spaniel — no, not like a 
 spaniel, for he could not have survived two minutes. 
 The dam on that side was made by spiking two-inch 
 plank onto a timber foundation at an angle of about 
 forty degrees, leaving nothing but the edge of the plank 
 as a footing or top of the dam; and over this the water 
 was pouring waist deep for a distance of three hundred 
 feet. 
 
 All on shore had been aware of my danger for hours. 
 I could not hear anything that was said on the shore, 
 but they were gesticulating violently and beckoning with 
 lights for me to cross the log. But I felt that it was im- 
 possible for me to accomplish the feat. But I must do 
 something, and that seeming to be the only chance, I 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 75 
 
 must try. I took the lantern and made the effort. The 
 small end was next to me, and I started out, the water 
 running below my feet with lightning speed, as seen by 
 the dim, uncertain light of the lantern. My head began 
 to swim and I was losing my balance; I was falling, 
 but I could not turn. I was about twelve feet out on 
 the log. As a last hope I threw myself backwards, 
 making a desperate leap. My feet, legs, and lower part 
 of my body struck in the water, but one arm had struck 
 over the timbers of the waste-gate. I was at least tem- 
 porarily saved and dripping. Again I took the position 
 but a minute before abandoned. 
 
 My little island in the middle of the dam was con- 
 stantly growing less as the flood arose. But there was 
 one hope still left, and I lost no time in trying to take 
 advantage of it. The water was waist deep where it 
 was pouring over the dam on the west side. I took a 
 long pole and ran it down in the water on the upper side 
 of the dam, and commenced wading and feeling with 
 my feet for the edge of the plank, steadying myself 
 with the pole, and in this way I waded some fifteen rods 
 to the west shore, where I arrived without a dry thread 
 on me, and chilling from the icy coldness of the water. 
 I was safe from the perils of the flood, but there was no 
 house or habitation on that side of the stream within two 
 miles. 
 
 What was to be done? I dare not attempt to reach 
 a house on that side, and I concluded to try to cross the 
 stream. There was a bridge below the mill, but covered 
 at this time with three or four feet of water. I took my 
 pole and wading in to the approach of the bridge, found 
 that the planking had been all floated off, but the abut- 
 
70 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ments being yet firm in the earth, the stringers had not 
 gone. . So I felt my way over, steadying myself with the 
 pole, and safely reached the other shore, where I was 
 soon made comfortable. 
 
 The next spring, that of 1839, I went over to St. 
 Charles, on Fox River, on a fishing excursion, and there 
 met an old gentleman by the name of Calvin Ward. 
 He wanted to hire a man to work as a common laborer, 
 offering fair wages. I soon struck up a bargain and went 
 to work for him, continuing about three months, when 
 the old gentleman wanted me to cut prairie hay for him 
 and in payment he would sell me town lots. I made 
 another agreement with him and commenced cutting 
 hayi At this I made about five dollars a day, and soon 
 found myself the owner of thirteen town lots in St. 
 Charles. It was a growing little town, and in one year 
 m}' lots had quadrupled in value. 
 
 In the meantime I had made the acquaintance of a 
 young lady by the name of Fisk, and married her in the 
 fall of 1840. Fisk was a native of Massachusetts, and 
 had come out to the West for the purpose of locating in 
 the country, and Christianizing the heathen, as well as 
 improving his worldly condition; and, to use his own 
 language, he thought he " would find the people poor, 
 ignorant, and honest." He said he " found them poor 
 enough, and ignorant enough, but could not boast of 
 their honesty." He brought five thousand dollars out 
 with him, and the poor, ignorant, and honest inhabitants 
 of the West had got it all from him, and all that he ha4 
 to show for it was a settler's claim to a beautiful piece of 
 prairie land about two miles east of St. Charles. How- 
 ever, his father was a wealthy man and he was heir 
 expectant. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 77 
 
 We soon arranged matters; I was to go onto the 
 farm, extinguish a small lien upon it, and, when the land 
 came into market, pay the Government and then we 
 would own the place in equal shires. I took possession 
 of the farm, and Deacon Fisk went back East to visit 
 his parents. I cleared the indebtedness from the farm 
 and deeded it, and at the end of a year the deacon 
 returned, but not wishing to farm it he settled in Ge- 
 neva, selling me his interest in the place. 
 
 At this time money was very scarce in Illinois, and 
 nearly all business transaction was in trade. It happened 
 that I turned out to be a pretty good trader, and at the 
 end of the year I owned my prairie farm and about eighty 
 acres of timber land situated on a small creek, when I 
 took it into my head to erect a saw-mill on the creek, 
 to the infinite mirth of my neighbors generally. And 
 many of my sympathizing friends remonstrated against 
 my folly, telling me that it was a pity that I should 
 squander my property, for which I had struggled so hard, 
 on so foolish a 'project. Notwithstanding the many 
 cautions, I struggled on, completed my mill, and made 
 it a paying institution; and instead of its ruining me, I 
 paid for it in the first four months run. 
 
 My wife was a little, fragile woman, and sick much of 
 the time. She was an only child, and her mother in- 
 sisted on her remaining with her most of the time, which 
 broke me up very much — so much that in fact I was in 
 a worse condition than I would have been if I had had 
 no wife at all. I was leading a miserable existence, 
 when circumstances occurred which for a time changed 
 my whole course of life. 
 
78 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR. 
 
 ALL will remember, on the declaration of war by 
 the United States against Mexico, how nobly the 
 State of Illinois responded to that call. Thousands of 
 her citizens left their various occupations and offered 
 their services to maintain the honor of their country; 
 and this outburst of patriotism was not confined to class 
 or creed; the artisan, mechanic, laborer, and professional 
 man alike, rushed to the field to swell the ranks of our 
 citizen soldiery; and at very short notice six regiments 
 marched to the seat of war, from that State. Kane 
 County soon furnished her company, which was fortu- 
 nate enough to be received as Company I, Twenty-second 
 Illinois Volunteers; term of enlistment, during the war. 
 I say fortunate, for many companies were too late to 
 be permitted to join in that struggle. I raised the com- 
 pany referred to, and having been promised the position 
 of quartermaster, I refused to be elected captain, from 
 which a suspicion arose among my men that I did not 
 intend to accompany them to Mexico. I assured them 
 that I would go if they had to carry me on a litter. 
 
 We took steamer at St. Louis for New Orleans, 
 and en route I was taken down with the measles. A 
 person could not well imagine a more uncomfortable 
 spot to encounter such an enemy, crowded as we were 
 betwe n the decks of a Mississippi steamer, in the month 
 of July, in that climate; and when we reached Carlton, 
 seven miles above New Orleans, w^here we were to await 
 a ship for our transportation, the measles had broken out 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 79 
 
 and I was in a burning fever. I took a carriage for the 
 hotel, leaving my servant to take charge of my baggage. 
 On reaching the hotel the landlord remarked to me: 
 "Young man, you seem to be ill?" I answered in the 
 affirmative, and told him that I wanted the best accom- 
 modations he could give. To my surprise and mortifica- 
 tion, he informed me that he was very sorry, but he could 
 not take me into his house, as by so doing his boarders 
 and customers would all leave him; that the yellow fever 
 had broken out in New Orleans, and that every sick 
 person would be suspected of having that disease. 
 
 I remonstrated, but in vain; he was inexorable, and I 
 ordered the driver to take me to the next, and only 
 other hotel in the place. There, after informing the 
 landlord of my true condition, I was taken in, and after 
 being seated in my room I rang for a pitcher of ice water, 
 when, not the ice water, but the landlord put in an ap- 
 pearance and informed me that it would be impossible 
 for him to keep me in his house, for if he should do so 
 his guests would all leave him; this information, sick as 
 I was, very much irritated me. I asked the landlord if 
 there was any military hospital in the place. He replied 
 in the negative. I then asked him if there was any 
 officer of the quartermaster department there. He in- 
 formed me that he believed there was a quartermaster- 
 sergeant there. I requested that he be sent to me. He 
 soon called. I related to him the condition of things, 
 and asked if there were any arrangements made by the 
 quartermaster department for the accommodation of 
 the sick. He told me that a building had been rented 
 for that purpose, and a few cots provided — nothing more. 
 I informed him that I was acting quartermaster of our 
 
80 Life and Adventures of 
 
 command, and ordered him to place furniture in the 
 buildinc^, and make it as comfortable as possible; then 
 directing my servant to have my baggage brought to the 
 hospital, I took ni}' satchel in my hand and accompanied 
 the sergeant to the place, traveling more than a mile in 
 my condition, through the broiling sun at midda\'. 
 
 When we arrived at the place I threw myself down 
 on a cot, and that was the last I remembered for about 
 eight days. On my returning to consciousness I was 
 informed that a lady living near the place had been my 
 nurse, and gave me all the attention that could have been 
 bestowed on me at my own home. With careful nurs- 
 ing and the attention of our surgeon, Wm. B. W^hitesides, 
 and aided by youth and an excellent constitution, I was 
 enabled to weather the blast. WHien very weak and 
 scarcely able to stand alone, I was informed that a ship 
 had arrived to transport us to the seat of war, and that our 
 place of destination was Tampico; but to my chagrin, I 
 learned that the doctor had declared that it would be 
 wholly impossible for me to stand the sea voyage, and 
 that the colonel had ordered me to remain in the hospi- 
 tal until I had recovered my health sufficiently to stand 
 the trip. " 
 
 When I was informed of that fact I was very much 
 disheartened, and resolved to go at all risk. I accord- 
 ingly sent for my colonel and the surgeon, and begged 
 of the colonel to countermand his order. He said 
 he had acted with a view to my good, but if I in- 
 sisted on going he had no objections. The doctor (I 
 suppose for my consolation) informed me that if I 
 made the attempt they would have to bury me at sea. 
 I could not see it in that light, but told the doctor that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 81 
 
 I was going, and if I died on the passage I wanted them 
 to bury me on the Mexican'shore, and not at sea, for I 
 had started for Mexico, and to Mexico I was going ! I 
 gave my servant twenty dollars for the woman who had 
 nursed me, and told the boys to prepare the litter, for I 
 intended to keep my promise with them; but instead of 
 the litter they mounted me on the colonel's horse, with a 
 man walking each side to steady me, and in that way 
 transported me to the ship. 
 
 We had a pleasant voyage, in due time arriving at 
 Tampico, which lies on the north side of the Tampico 
 River, about six miles from its mouth, in the State of 
 Tamaulipas. This has the reputation of being the most 
 sickly place in the world. Yellow fever and black vomito 
 sweep off its hundreds yearly. The place is almost sur- 
 rounded by stagnant pools and lagunas. On our arrival 
 I was not only alive, but was able to walk the decks of 
 the vessel. We had no fighting at this place. Captain 
 Chase was the American consul, and on the first arrival 
 of the American ships of war, Mrs. Chase hoisted the 
 stars and stripes at their residence, and Tampico sur- 
 rendered at discretion. I was soon domiciled at the St. 
 Charles Hotel, kept by Mexicans, of course. They spoke 
 no English, and I could not speak a word of Spanish; 
 the consequence was that I would call for one thing and 
 they would bring me another; but we managed to get 
 along for three or four days, while my quartermaster- 
 sergeant, under the supervision of Dr. Whitesides, was 
 perfecting our hospital arrangements. 
 
 About this time the doctor called in to see me, and 
 announced the fact that they had so far progressed as to 
 get a building; had supplied the more urgent necessities 
 
82 Life and Adventures of 
 
 of the sick, and had made a couple of rooms ready for 
 myself and attendants. All that was now lacking to 
 make me comfortable was a supply of water, which, by 
 the way, was hard to be obtained there, as I afterwards 
 learned; all that was used, except what was saved from 
 the winter rains in cisterns, had to be brought down 
 the river from above tide water, in casks. I was much 
 elated with the idea of again getting among my com- 
 mand, for they all looked upon me as their captain. As 
 Lieut W. G. Conkling used to say, Captain Harvey never 
 drilled his company in his life, which was literally true, 
 and when I was engaged in my staff duties Conkling 
 generally commanded the company. 
 
 The morning after my interview, Mr. Chase, hospital 
 steward, came down to the hotel to see me; I requested 
 him to allow me to lean on his arm and I would attempt 
 to go with him to the hospital. He consented, and when 
 arriving there I did not feel exhausted, and asked him 
 to walk along with me and we would try and procure a 
 glass of strong beer or ale, as I felt somewhat thirsty. 
 We had not advanced far before I noticed, sitting in 
 well-furnished apartments, an elderly man of rather light 
 complexion, who, as I thought from his appearance, was 
 not a Mexican, and perhaps could speak our language. 
 Being on the sick list I was attired in citizen clothes, and 
 looking in sharply at the old gentleman, he arose and in 
 good English asked what I wanted. At that I turned 
 in towards his door and informed him that I would pre- 
 fer a glass of strong beer or ale to anything else at that 
 time. He remarked, " Pretty well, that a British consul' 
 should be called on so early Sunday morning for beer." 
 I quietly informed him that if he had not got it, I should 
 
CoLOx\KL L. A. Norton. <S8 
 
 propose ^ettin^ it in Tampico, as the J^2ngli.sh were all 
 lovers of ^ood ale. It being a national joke, the old 
 man burst into a hoarse lau^^h. 1 turned on my heel 
 and informed him that I probably enjoyed the joke as 
 well as himself 
 
 Time rolled on; I had recovered my health, and as my 
 quartermaster duties were light and many of our officers 
 were then sick, I volunteered to do duty in the lines; 
 and as 1 was riding my rounds as officer of the day near 
 the western defense of Tampico, one evening, 1 fell in 
 with the British consul. He .seemed very affable, and 
 among other things asked to what command I belonged. 
 I informed him that I belonged to the Illinois regiment, 
 when he observed, " I have a good joke to tell you of 
 one of those green ' suckers.' " He then proceeded to 
 narrate the beer story, stating that he thought to awe 
 the man by informing him who he was, but observed 
 that the cool answer of the fellow amused him. I asked 
 him if he would know that green ' sucker ' were he to 
 meet h'm again. He said, "No; how should I know 
 him when there are so many calling on me every day 
 for something ? " 1 raised my cap and said, " i^ehold 
 in y(jur humble servant the green ' sucker ' that called on 
 you for the beer." He seemed somewhat surprised, and 
 then added, " Why didn't you tell me who you were ? 
 I had no beer, but I possessed some very nice wine and 
 good old brandy;" and at his earnest solicitation I was 
 induced to accompany him home to take the proof of 
 his assertion, when we made a night of it. 
 
 I thought no more of the matter until the next Satur- 
 day, when a paragraph appeared in the Tampico Sentinel 
 giving the anecdote of the green "sucker " calling on 
 
84 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the British consul for beer, and hinting that the green 
 "sucker" turned out to be an officer in the army. The 
 story was copied in most of the Eastern papers, and 
 again made its appearance in Tampico, when it became 
 a question as to who was the green "sucker." Major. 
 Jerolt had come down from Altamira with most of his 
 command, and we were having a good time at the office 
 saloon in Tampico, when the question was again asked, 
 "Who was the green ' sucker'?" I called the crowd to 
 the bar, and after filling, I told them that I could not 
 keep a good joke, although it might be at my own ex- 
 pense. I " acknowledged the corn," and was ever after 
 known as the veritable " green sucker." 
 
 Colonel Gates, with brevet rank of brigadier-general, 
 was military governor at Tampico, and commander of 
 the forces stationed at that place, being about two thou- 
 sand five hundred in all; and by his orders our regiment, 
 or rather battalion (as one battalion of our regiment was 
 ordered to join General Scott), was stationed on the north 
 side of the city, when we first began to enjoy the beau- 
 ties of camp life. We were quartered in our tents, and 
 compelled by orders of the commander to maintain a 
 guard around our encampment, making a regular detail 
 of about thirty men. Owing to the great nimiber sick, 
 and the small numerical force, together with the extreme 
 heat, the duties were very exhausting and laborious, and 
 our colonel had made several efforts to obtain an order 
 reducing or entirely abolishing the guard, but without 
 success. After things had continued in this state from 
 four to six weeks, an occurrence took place which entirely 
 relieved us of this guard duty; it happened thus: We 
 had enlisted a man bv the name of Tubs, who was of 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 85 
 
 fine intellect, and had been the recipient of a liberal 
 education; but spirituous liquors were his curse, and Tubs 
 was but little more than a common drunkard, and in 
 fact would never be sober when he could get liquor on 
 which to get drunk. This man was on guard one night, 
 and happened to be stationed on our line where it com- 
 manded the Altamira road, and it appears that Gates, 
 the commander, had in the evening gone out in the 
 western portion of the town, purposes unknown, and 
 about eleven o'clock at night came riding in and advanced 
 on Tubs, the sentinel. Tubs challenged him. 
 
 The general replied, -'A friend." Tubs said, "Ad- 
 vance and give the countersign ! " The general replied, 
 " I am General Gates, commander of this post." Tubs 
 again ordered him to stand. The general was furious, 
 and made a move as though he would force the guard, 
 and again reiterated, " I tell you, I am General Gates, 
 commander of this post!" When click, click, went the 
 old musket, and Tubs said, " Advance a step, and I will 
 blow your head off! I don't know General Gates, com- 
 mander of this post, but I know I am commander here." 
 The general was compelled to stand; trembling with 
 rage, he said, " Call the sergeant of the guard ! " Tubs 
 replied, " I don't want the sergeant of the guard, and do 
 you remain where you are until the relief comes; and if 
 you make any attempt at escape I will shoot you ! " He 
 then kept the old general frothing and swearing an hour 
 and a half until the relief came, when Tubs remarked to 
 the sergoi^t, "I have a prisoner there who could not 
 give the countersign; he says he is General Gates, com- 
 mander of this post, but any man could say that." The 
 sergeant advanced to the general, saluting him. The 
 
86 Life and Adventures of 
 
 general demanded : " Where is your colonel ? call him ! " 
 The sergeant went to the colonel's marquee, called him 
 up, and told him who awaited him. On the colonel's 
 approach, the general bellowed out, " What fool have you 
 got there for sentinel ? He has kept me standing here 
 a prisoner for two hours !" 
 
 The colonel apologized and said it was impossible for 
 the sentry to know him. The general swore vengeance 
 against poor Tubs, and declared he would have him se- 
 verely punished. He then turned to Colonel Hicks and 
 said, " Remove this guard; it is of no earthly benefit, and 
 is becoming a nuisance." The order was promptly 
 obeyed; Tubs was never punished, but was drunk as a 
 lord the next three days, the boys furnishing all the 
 liquor he could drink. His dissolute course atlast proved 
 too much for his organization, and in about two months 
 after the occurrence referred to, the bo}'s fired a farewell 
 shot over his grave, and we left him to take his final 
 sleep in the lowlands of Mexico. 
 
 Things began to assume shape; we had .strengthened 
 the western defenses of the city by erecting strong field 
 batteries commanding the Altamira road on the north 
 and the Panuco River, above Tampico, on the south side, 
 the two principal points from which an attack could be 
 made from the interior. On the north side of the river 
 and to protect us from attack from Pueblo \"iejo or 
 Tampico el Alto, we had erected heav\' batteries below or 
 east of the city in such a manner as to protect the east 
 and south. This measure was deemed highly essentic^l 
 as we were informed that there was a heav}' force of 
 Mexicans and Indians stationed at Tampico el Alto med- 
 itating a descent upon Tampico. This information pro- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 87 
 
 duced such an effect upon our commanding general that 
 he had a strong guard placed all around the city, as well 
 as patrols in different directions; and this was a very 
 necessary precaution, for at the time we had not pene- 
 trated the enemy's country more than fifteen miles in 
 any one direction, and consequently were ignorant of 
 their resources or forces, or at what time or point we 
 might be attacked by superior numbers, hence all was 
 under vigorous military discipline, and our volunteers, 
 as a general thing, had assumed the appearance of 
 veterans. 
 
 But all commands have their exceptions; we had our 
 awkward squad, and some had been sick ever since land- 
 ing in the country, having had no opportunity to im- 
 prove as soldiers. I found a laughable case in our com- 
 mand; he was an Irishman belonging to Company A. 
 Pat had been in the hospital most of the time since our 
 arrival in Mexico, but had recovered and was reported 
 for duty. The first' time he mounted guard, being 
 wholly ignorant of the duties or responsibilities of his 
 position, or the penalties attached thereto, he comfort- 
 ably seated himself beneath a shade and went to sleep. 
 The relief, it appears, found him in that condition, stole 
 his gun, awakened him, and placed him under arrest; 
 but finding him so wholly ignorant of the consequences 
 of his act, the officers of our command concluded not to 
 prefer charges against him. His captain gave him a 
 severe reprimand, and assured him that if he was ever 
 again found asleep at his post, or even allowed any one 
 to get possession of his gun, he would certainly be shot. 
 
 One night, not long after Pat received his reprimand, 
 I was on duty as officer of the day, and Lieutenant 
 
88 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Poleon was officer of the guard; as we were riding our 
 grand rounds and came up to old Fort Ann, at the 
 western defenses of the city, I saw a sentinel walking 
 his post as large as life, without a gun. I said to him, 
 "Where is your gun, sir?" Pat replied, ''And that's 
 what }'ed be findin' out now ! " I said peremptorily, 
 ♦' Where is your gun ? " Said Pat with a knowing grin, 
 "'Tis not the likes o' ye I'd be tellin' that same now." 
 I called the sergeant of the guard, and ordered the fel- 
 low under arrest, when Pat exclaimed: " Ah ! bad luck 
 to the day I iver intered the army; and shure the captain 
 tould me if iver I lit them get me gun again they'd shute 
 me like a dog, and now here I'm bein' arristed for not 
 lettin' him get it." He turned his head and seeing Po- 
 leon, exclaimed: " Shure and this is me own leftenant; 
 tell me, mon, fwhat shall I do ? " Poleon rode up to the 
 fellow and quietly asked him what he had done with his 
 gun. Pat said, " Will they not shute me if I let the 
 spalpeens git me gun ? " Poleon explained to the Irish- 
 man the nature of his duty, and after a while he began 
 to understand the condition of things. At Poleon's re- 
 quest I had him released, when Pat beckoned us to 
 follow; he marched to the other end of his beat to a 
 heavy piece of ordnance in battery, and running his 
 arm down the bore of the cannon, drew forth his musket; 
 he had it safely hid there to keep the " spalpeens " from 
 finding it. Pat was an odd stick, but turned out to be 
 a good soldier, and a brave man, and evinced much dar- 
 ing at Agua Cotta. 
 
 While speaking of different characters, perhaps it 
 would not be out of place to give a passing notice to our 
 New Orleans recruit. At Carlton, a quite boyish and 
 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 89 
 
 good-looking fellow made application to enlist; was 
 examined by the mustering officer, received and mustered 
 into service. When we had been in Tampico about two 
 months, one morning a good-looking young woman 
 stepped into Colonel Hicks' quarters and said, " Good 
 morning, Colonel Hicks, I have become tired of soldier- 
 ing, and would like my discharge." The colonel looked 
 at her with surprise, and remarked, " You have the ad- 
 vantage of me; I fail to recognize you." She laughingly 
 answered, " Don't you know your New Orleans recruit ?" 
 The colonel seemed rather taken aback at first, but, 
 rallying, said, "You have your discharge, but whether 
 it is honorable or not, depends on yourself" Though 
 she had her election, I fear it was not a very honorable 
 one; as I ofttimes thereafter saw her at fandangoes and 
 other public places, sometimes in male and sometimes 
 in female attire. She followed the army to the city of 
 Mexico, where I lost track of her. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 IN writing this memoir it is not my intention to repro- 
 duce the written history of the war between the 
 United States and the Republic of Mexico, nor any part 
 of it; but merely to refer to scenes in which I was the 
 principal actor, or which came under my immediate 
 notice. Being so intimately connected with self, it pre- 
 sents an appearance of egotism that I most keenly feel, 
 but cannot avoid; hence I hope those who may think it 
 worth their while to trace me through our campaign 
 
90 Life and Adventures of 
 
 will discard the idea of any intent on my part to lionize 
 myself. With this half apology I shall dismiss that part 
 of the subject. 
 
 In a previous chapter I referred to Tampico as being 
 the most sickly place in the world; but that is not all I 
 have to complain of There is scarcely anything that 
 can afflict humanity but what is found there. In the 
 first place there are alligators of enormous size; they 
 line the banks of every stream and bayou; land crabs 
 are on every side and around you; lizards and swifts run 
 before you in armies of thousands, and when you are 
 seated they are running over you in all directions. They 
 run over your food, your bed, and every other place; in 
 fact, they are literally your bosom companions; while the 
 mosquitoes and gnats are inhaled at every respiration; 
 wood-ticks of several different kinds will attach themselves 
 to your person, and serve you very badly; the jigger is a 
 perfect bore, of which I ofttimes had the most painful 
 evidence; and centipedes were our frequent bed-fellows, 
 but they were small and their bite not fatal, though very 
 painful; the tarantulas are there, not numerous, but very 
 deadly in their sting; these and the scorpions are, of 
 all the poisonous insects, the most dreaded by the natives. 
 To protect us against the mosquitoes. Government issued 
 single mosquito-bars to the men; each was furnished 
 with four pins, one at each corner; the pins were stuck 
 into the ground and sufficiently raised to allow a man 
 to lie under it, and the flaps on both sides would lie on 
 the ground; this did very well for mosquitoes, land crabs, 
 and lizards, but it was no protection against gnats. 
 
 After we had been stationed at Tampico about two 
 months, I became very bilious, and was attacked with 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 91 
 
 yellow jaundice. My doctor advised me to ride on 
 horseback, and in compliance with these directions, I 
 had been riding all around the outskirts of the city; but 
 this was too limited, and it would not do to take the 
 Altamira road, as several men had already been picked 
 off by venturing too far from camp. On the north and 
 east side of the city there was a dense chaparral; indeed, 
 it was so thick that a bird or rabbit could scarcely pene- 
 trate it, and ranged in height from three to fifty feet. 
 Every bush was provided with sharp thorns; in fact, 
 all the rank grass of that country has thorns on the end. 
 In riding along the edge of the chaparral one day. I 
 noticed a roadway or tunnel penetrating it. I ventured 
 in, and rode for some time in a regular straight tunnel, 
 cleared through the jungle; the work had the appearance 
 of having been completed for a long time, as there were 
 no stumps or roots below, nor any dry and withered 
 branches above; once in a while I could see where a 
 bush had lopped down sufficiently to obstruct the pas- 
 sage, and had been cut away, but no other evidence of 
 recent work was visible; but riding along, once in about 
 every quarter of a mile I could see where there had been 
 a narrow trail cleared out. which looked like a rabbit or 
 coon trail, leading from the main artery. 
 
 The first day I rode along the avenue in a most lovely 
 soft twilight, entirely shut out from the sun, in one 
 unbroken mass of chaparral or jungle, I should suppose 
 about five miles; then I returned to camp and related 
 my adventures, and we all speculated over the strange 
 tunnel through the dense vegetable mass; but I had as 
 yet formed no conception of its use, and my curiosity 
 \yas at flood tide. I was resolved to further prospect 
 
92 Life and Adventures of 
 
 my haunt the next day, for as yet I had met with no 
 adventure, not having seen a Hving being on the route. 
 Accordingly the next morning I started out; it was 
 about five or six miles from the city to where I entered 
 the chaparral, having to make a circuitous route around 
 a small lake, or laguna, and wind my way through 
 patches of chaparral and open ground, before I came to 
 the dense mass. Thus the entrance to the hollow pass 
 was concealed from the lake shore, and only discovered 
 by chance in the first place; but having a good horse 
 under me, I was soon at the entrance of the passage. I 
 was not afraid of wild animals, although jaguars and 
 Afnerican' tigers, very formidable animals, abounded in 
 that region, especially the latter; but the brush was too 
 thick to have any serious apprehensions of that, and m\' 
 only fear was warlike men. I was satisfied that the 
 slieht trails that I had seen the day before were made 
 by men, as the beasts could never have cleared them 
 out. I cautiously continued my ride that day, I should 
 think about eight miles, when I came to where a sim- 
 ilar road crossed the one I was in, at right angles. 
 
 Not having seen anything larger than a lizard in all 
 my ride, I turned my horse's head once more towards 
 the camp. I had retraced my steps about four or five 
 miles, when I came to one of those little paths closed by 
 a dry bush, which nearly concealed it. I made up my 
 mind to venture on an exploration of its mystery. Ac- 
 cordingly I hitched my horse and removed the obstacle. 
 Following the little trail, I had advanced about one hun- 
 dred yards, when all of a sudden I emerged into an open 
 space or clearing, and was surprised to see before me an 
 adobe house, out-sheds, etc., and a field of about two 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 93 
 
 acres under a high state of cultivation. There were 
 nice corn, sweet, potatoes, beans, melons, etc. A large 
 blood-hound was in sight, but he was chained; he barked, 
 growled, and made a de'sperate effort to get at me; his 
 noisy demonstrations brought a man out of the house, 
 who was, as near as I could guess, about fifty years of 
 age, and to all appearances much more intellectual and 
 fairer than the general race of Mexicans. He was un- 
 armed and seemed friendly; I asked him by motions 
 and imperfect Spanish for a drink of water; he got a 
 gourd, and, stepping to a well, drew the water with an 
 earthen bucket, having a hole on each side, in which a 
 rope was fixed as a bail. I noticed that fhe well was 
 about twelve feet deep, and the water seemed purer than 
 that which we generally got at Tampico. He main- 
 tained a gentlemanly but dignified demeanor, and I 
 could see that his astonishment was equal to my own. 
 I returned to my horse and made my way home to 
 camp, and again reported. 
 
 After this I daily prosecuted my chaparral rides alone, 
 as before, as none seemed to care for such adventures. 
 I not only went over my old grounds, but followed up 
 the newly discovered tunnel in an easterly direction until 
 I came out into open ground at Altamira, fourteen 
 miles from Tampico, and afterwards followed the other 
 branch in an easterly direction until I came out at the 
 pilot station at the mouth of the Tampico River, on the 
 Gulf of Mexico; but it was much farther than to reach 
 the same point by the regular Tampico road; however, 
 it was so much cooler and pleasanter than riding in the 
 hot sun that it became almost my daily resort while rid- 
 ing for my health. I now began to prospect my foot- 
 
94 Life and Adventures of 
 
 paths more thoroughly, and I found quite a numerous 
 settlement a short distance back in the chaparral froir 
 the main tunnel or road; but after prosecuting this 
 source of amusement for some, time, I had occasion to 
 cut it short. I had from time to time penetrated the 
 small fqat-paths, and visited the strange people who 
 seemed buried from the outer world. They seldom went 
 beyond their small domains; this idea was strengthened 
 by the fact that I never met one in the main tunnel, or 
 hollow pass; each place had its rocks and fixtures for 
 grinding up corn for tortillas, and all that a Mexican in 
 his simple mode of life would covet, including oranges, 
 bananas, and plantains. 
 
 But, as I said, I had occasion to cut short my visits to 
 these strange hermitages; it happened that one day I 
 followed one of the little paths to an inclosure, and 
 found the occupant with a long cane knife, the blade of 
 which was about the length of an ordinary sword blade. 
 He seemed to be hacking away at some chaparral that 
 was invading his domain; and he had two ferocious 
 blood-hounds with him. As he saw me approaching, he 
 seemed much excited, and at a word from him the two 
 dogs came bounding at me with their big red mouths 
 open. I dared not retreat further than where the trail 
 opened into the clearing, as they were too near upon 
 me to allow of escape to my horse; I accordingly placed 
 myself in the entrance ot- the trail, facing the enemy. 
 I drew my revolver, and as the foremost one advanced 
 to within about fifteen feet of me, I shot him. He fell 
 and began yelping, turning round and round upon the 
 ground; at this the other retreated a few paces. When 
 the Mexican saw that I had fired, seeming to think 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 95 
 
 that my piece was empty, he rushed at me with the big 
 cane knife; and, encouraged by the manner of his master, 
 the other dog came to the attack. I again fired, but 
 missed. I cocked and fired the third shot, and wounded 
 the second dog. The Mexican seemed surprised to see 
 me keep shooting, apparently having no idea of my 
 weapon. He halted, and I leveled my revolver on him, 
 motioning him back with the other hand. He evidently 
 had come to the conclusion that I could shoot as often 
 as I pleased, and he beat a retreat, leaving his two com- 
 rades slaughtered on the field of battle. 
 
 Very willing to leave him master of the field, I 
 mounted my horse at the main alley, and soon reached 
 quarters at Tampico. I related my adventure of the 
 day, and curiosity regarding these strange people ran so 
 high that we made inquiries of the people of Tampico 
 as to who or what they were, but they seemed ignorant 
 of their very existence. About this time Capt. C. L. 
 Wight, of Company A, concluded to accompany me on 
 my chaparral ride; he said he would go out with me in 
 the morning, as he had an appointment at the pilot sta- 
 tion at two o'clock P. M. of that day, and that he must 
 return in time to keep it. We started out and he pene- 
 trated the chaparral with me for about six miles, when he 
 drew rein and said, " Norton, this is wonderful, but for 
 God's sake let us return! I don't believe that white 
 man's horse's hoofs ever pressed this soil before; and you 
 recollect my appointment at the pilot station." I begged 
 him to give me just one-half hour more of his company, 
 assuring him that he should be at the station in time, 
 as the day was yet young. He consented, and before 
 the half hour had elapsed I brought him out to the 
 
96 ' Life and Adventures of 
 
 pilot station on one branch of my tunnel. You may 
 imagine his surprise at this, as he expected that we 
 would have to return to Tampico, where he would take 
 the road to the station. The captain told the officers at 
 the station of all the explorations I had made on my 
 chaparral rides, with his own peculiar embellishments, 
 until he quite lionized me and made me ashamed of 
 myself. I am not unmindful of the fact that this recital 
 savors strongly of fiction; but I have given the simple 
 facts as they occurred, and am satisfied that this will 
 meet the eyes of some who can vouch for its correctness. 
 
 Information reached Tampico one evening that a 
 noted guerrilla chief with his band had made a descent 
 upon Tankesneca,a small trading-post some sixty or sev- 
 enty miles in the interior, and were robbing the inhab- 
 itants of that place. Our commander was resolved to / 
 send out a detachment to quell them, and Company I 
 was so fortunate as to be selected for that duty. All 
 was hurry and bustle in our camp, as we were preparing 
 to leave in the morning. The expedition was a leap in 
 the dark, for all we knew. We had to ascend the Panuco 
 River in large dug-outs, to the mouth of the Tamosee 
 (by our geography called the River Lemon), and then 
 follow up that stream. A lofty butte stood far in the 
 west — a spire-like peak. I had often looked upon it in 
 the blue distance as it reflected the last rays of the set- 
 ting sun. It was pointed out as the terminus of our 
 trip; we were, however, provided with a guide. I say 
 we, for I left my quartermaster duties with my quarter- 
 master-sergeant, and on a four-day leave of absence, as 
 a volunteer, made one of the number. 
 
 The officers consisted of Capt. A. Harvey, Lieut. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 97 
 
 S. G. Conkling (now Major Conkling-), Lieut. Hugh 
 Fullerton, and myself; although two or three other 
 officers accompanied us, they took no command. 
 Though Capt. A, Harvey was nominally in command, 
 I don't believe. he was much counted on. as I received 
 instructions to closely observe the route, and to make 
 careful measurement of depth of water, calculation of 
 distance, topography of country, and report on my return. 
 Captain Harvey and Fullerton constituted one officers' 
 mess, and Conkling and myself constituted another. We 
 took rations for four days, believing we could make the 
 trip in that time, and my leave of absence extended no 
 longer." Conkling and myself took along one bottle of 
 brandy, and Harvey and Fullerton supplied themselves 
 with twelve bottles; and I may as well admit here that 
 from some misunderstanding there wasn't the very best 
 of feeling between the parties; we went in pairs. All 
 was ready, and we were soon on board and sailing up 
 the Panuco River, our propelling force being awkward 
 Mexican paddles and setting poles. 
 
 We ran up the Panuco to the mouth of the Tamosee 
 in about three hours. The country on both sides of the 
 river for two or three miles was low valley land, and 
 extremely fertile, occupied by a mixed race of Mexi- 
 cans and Indians. A great portion of the land was 
 cultivated in sugar-cane. I was told they planted about 
 once in seven years, and as fast as the cane was cut it 
 sprouted up from the root and produced another crop. 
 But, like Tampico and neighboring towns, it was very 
 sickly. The alligators were lying all along the shores, 
 basking in fehe sun. looking like so many old gray logs; 
 rolling into the water with a splash at our approach, they 
 
98 Life and Adventures of 
 
 would disappear, leaving but a whirling, bubbling eddy 
 behind. The shores seemed to be entirely composed of 
 vast deposits of mussel shells. On reaching the Tam- 
 osee we foiyid a bar of these shells across the mouth of 
 the river, having but about two and a half feet of water 
 over it. 
 
 The stream was running like a mill-race; it ran with 
 such rapidity that we consumed the balance of the day 
 in getting our canoes over the bar and into the deep 
 water above. The shells were so yielding that we dis- 
 placed many tons of them with our paddles in propell- 
 ing the canoes up the swift current over the bar. I saw 
 that the wheels of a steamboat constantly worked would 
 soon, together with the action of the water, remove the 
 obstruction to navigation, and so reported on my return; 
 upon which report the authorities at Tampico acted, and 
 the Red Wing, one of our steamboats, proved the cor- 
 rectness of my views, and in about three weeks after- 
 ward ran to Tankesneca. 
 
 After all were safely over the bar, we made prepara- 
 tions for camping, Conkling and myself occupying a 
 small wall tent. While Captain Harvey and FuUerton, 
 and their convivial crowd, camped at a short distance 
 above us. They had a regular spree, and made the 
 night hideous by their jubilant hurrahs and laughter. 
 Next morning Captain Harvey's orderly came to our 
 tent and wanted to know if we had any liquor; that the 
 captain was very sick and wanted some. Conkling 
 replied, "Tell Captain Harvey that he cannot get a drop 
 here." 
 
 Our hasty meal over, we were soon aboard and under- 
 way. The stream was smooth, deep, and sluggish, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 99 
 
 although the water was sweet and generally pretty clear. 
 There was on either side of the stream a wide and fer- 
 tile valley, as on the Panuco. Back of the bottom-land 
 the country became undulating; and with a gradual 
 rise became hilly, and finally in the distance rose into 
 lofty mountains. This is the Sierra Madre country, and 
 close to the water it makes a picture that would baffle 
 all description. No pen or pencil could portray its 
 native beauty — one must see it to appreciate it. 
 
 But I must attempt to give the reader some faint idea 
 of what I saw. Along each shore there was a species 
 of reed, the stocks from one to four inches through, 
 some of them perhaps more, and growing to the height 
 of seventy or eighty feet. Up these reeds ran flowering 
 vines of all kinds and descriptions, to their very tops; 
 and over these hung long festoons, the heft of which 
 bent the tops of the reeds toward the stream. These 
 vines were perennial, were clad in flowers of every color 
 and hue, and appeared as though planted by art; once 
 in every sixteen or twenty feet a squash vine could be 
 seen running to the top, mingling with the other vines, 
 and forming the festoons spoken of; about a foot 
 apart were hanging little yellow squashes, some four 
 inches in diameter, looking like so many golden bells, 
 and wherever there happened to be a small space in the 
 reeds, there would be almost lovely and picturesque bower, 
 the recess being completely covered with vines. This 
 canopy wholly sheltered us from the sun, and continued 
 for many miles. 
 
 Emerging from the scene just described, the face of 
 the country considerably changed; the inhabitants were 
 very few, the valley was narrow, and the wooded country 
 
100 Life and Adventures of 
 
 came clear down to the stream. On the right bank was 
 a dense forest of banyan trees, with trunks tied together; 
 a limb would project twenty or thirty feet from the 
 trunk, from the under side of which were pendants reach- 
 ing down, all the way of a size until they reached the 
 ground/ when they would catch the earth, take root, and. 
 in their turn form trunks, throw out limbs, and then 
 their pendants as before. And thus the forest was so 
 completely tied together that the ax-men could only 
 fell a tree by cutting it off at the base and then climbing 
 up and cutting ligatures until it was severed from its sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 The forest on both sides of the river seemed alive with 
 game; the armadillos sw-armed upon the shore, looking 
 like pigs with shells on their backs; parrots of several 
 kinds, and paroquets without number made the woods 
 resound with their incessant chattering. Monkeys 
 of three or four species could be seen capering in the 
 trees and cutting all the antics peculiar to their nature; 
 wild turkeys were in great abundance, to which our boys 
 helped themselves without stint; wild hogs abounded, 
 and were next in ferocity to the jaguar or tiger. 
 
 There being no current along that portion of the 
 river, the boys made a good run until about two o'clock 
 in the afternoon, when we were informed that it was 
 much farther by water than by land —the river making 
 a large bend. It was therefore concluded that we 
 would march across the country, and leave a sufficient 
 guard to protect the canoes. On the trip around by 
 water, Lieutenant Conkling took charge of the canoes, 
 while I marched across the country w^ith the men. Har- 
 vey got a horse and found himself able to ride. I took 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 101 
 
 charge of the men, and commanded the march across 
 the arid plain, with the sun pouring down its scorching 
 rays upon us. I had been led to believe that a three 
 hours' march would bring us to Tankesneca; but our 
 men had not had any exercise on foot for four or five 
 months, and some of them having been in the hospital 
 and not having fully recovered their strength, this, with 
 the intense heat, before an hour's march caused many 
 of them to lag, the weaker falling to the rear. I then 
 .changed the order and marched the rear in front, keep- 
 ing the stronger back; but their canteens began to 
 give out, and then came suffering from thirst, and no 
 water on the plains. Finally, I found it impossible to 
 push the men, and the last hour before sunset we did 
 not make to exceed one mile; all the weaker men were 
 exhausted to that degree that I was compelled to camp 
 on the open plain without food or water. 
 
 The next morning at day-break we renewed the march, 
 and arrived at Tankesneca about seven o'clock, taking 
 the people by surprise, and the guerrilla chief prisoner, 
 together with some of his men; but I soon let the 
 men go and held on to their leader. The canoes ran 
 most of the night, and arrived soon after us. Captain 
 Keneday, who was also of the quartermaster depart- 
 ment, and a volunteer in the expedition, walked with 
 me to the river, and while looking across at a great dis- 
 tance I saw an animal; I called his attention to it, and 
 remarked that it was a deer. He laughed at me and 
 said it was a calf. I knew better; I could see that wild 
 motion of the head, differing from all tame animals. He 
 had his carbine in his hand, and I asked him to take a 
 shot at it any way, but he declined to do so. I then 
 
102 Life and Adventures of 
 
 asked the loan of his gun, and cocking, drew 'a sight 
 about two feet above the animal's shoulders, and fired ; it 
 disappeared, and I declared that I had killed it. Call- 
 ing a couple of the men, I got a canoe, crossed the 
 river, and made as straight to. the place as I could. 
 After a short search, we found the animal — a fine, large 
 buck — lying dead. I had made a chance shot, shooting 
 him through the heart; and he had dropped in his tracks. 
 We brought the deer in, dressed and cooked it, and the 
 fresh meat was very acceptable. 
 
 While the men were resting I had an opportunity of 
 looking about me, and formed some idea of the place. 
 My first discovery was that the Tamosee had entirely 
 changed its character at that place. From a deep, slug- 
 gish stream it was transformed into a rapid mountain 
 torrent; a ledge of rocks was entirely across it, making 
 a natural dam about six feet high, forming a splendid 
 water-power. Around us was a large and fertile valley, 
 and about two miles distant, like a vast tower, stood the 
 butte, the famous landmark toward which we had been 
 traveling for so long a time. There was a green, grassy 
 slope all around it for about half a mile from the pin- 
 nacle of rock. The slope where it joined the base of 
 the column was probably five hundred feet above the 
 level of the plain. Then the mighty giant rose so per- 
 pendicularly that no one could ascend it; in fact, it was 
 the most remarkable formation of the kind that I ever 
 saw — similar in form to the granite columns at Slippery 
 Ford, in the Sierra Nevada, only much higher and with 
 greater uniformity of shape. 
 
 Tankesneca was a collection of rude huts, occupied 
 by a half-civilized mixed breed of Mexicans and In- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 103 
 
 dians, surrounding the trading-post of Darky & Co., of 
 Tampico. The Indians were engaged in bringing down 
 logwood, black ebony, and other valuable timber from 
 the mountains. They would clear the sap from the 
 sticks, and pack them on their backs to the river at this 
 point, and from here they were transported in large 
 dug-outs down the river to Tampico, the market. I also 
 learned that the mountains abounded in Mexican cedar, 
 and also contained some silver mines. The climate 
 seemed delightful; it was just sufficiently elevated to be 
 above the sand-flies, mosquitoes, and all other vermin 
 that infested the low country. Neither yellow fever nor 
 black vomito ever reached there, and all in all I think, 
 by nature, it was the most delightful place I have ever 
 visited. In fact I was so taken with the place, that I 
 fully intended that in case I lived to see the war ended 
 Tankesneca should be my home. I learned that Darky & 
 Co. had a grant of seven leagues, including the best and 
 greater portion of the valley, and the site of Tankesneca. 
 I was further informed that the grant could be purchased 
 for ten thousand dollars. I attempted, on my return to 
 Illinois, at the close of the war, to get up a colony to 
 settle at Tankesneca. But from the sparse settlements 
 of the West and the great inducements there offered to 
 settlers, I found my project a failure; and I dared not 
 return alone. As near as I can remember the points of 
 the compass now, it lies a little north of west of Tam- 
 pico, and the butte referred to can always be seen from 
 the latter place in fair weather. It is in the State of 
 Tamaulipas, and near the Potosi line. 
 
104 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAX WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 AFTER having straii^htened matters at Tankesneca 
 as well as was possible in the time we were permitted 
 to remain there, we took to our dug-out at about two o'clock 
 p. M. of the fourth day from Tampico, and commenced 
 our descent of the river. A severe catastrophe now 
 befell us: we had run out of rations, and the country 
 was so sparsely settled along the river in that part that 
 it was difficult foraging; but at night-fall we tied up at 
 the bank of the river where there were a couple of small 
 ranches, made friends with the inhabitants, and set the 
 women to work making tortillas; with the scanty sup- 
 ply they furnished by working all night, the next morn- 
 ing we were enabled to advance on our homeward trip. 
 No incident of note occurred the next day, and about 
 an hour before sundown we again tied up for the night 
 at a small ranch. This was the fifth day out from Tam- 
 pico, and the next day at two o'clock r. M. Captain 
 Keneday and m}'self were to receive five hundred wild 
 mules, at Tampico, for the United States Government, 
 and receipt for the same. No one there was authorized 
 to do it. What was to be done ? We did not expect to 
 be absent more than four days, and that w^as the extent 
 of our leave of absence; it was impossible to reach Tam- 
 pico in less than two days by the river. General Gates 
 was of the regular army, a harsh, strict disciplinarian, 
 and did not like the volunteers. On our part there was 
 no love lost; we had asked no odds and expected no 
 favors, and if we had we would have been disappointed. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 105 
 
 as it seemed to give him infinite pleasure to make us 
 toe the mark. A failure to comply with the duties 
 before us would subject us to court-martial, and I had 
 come to the conclusion to be in Tampico at two o'clock 
 p. M. the next day or die in the attempt. I made this 
 determination known to Captain Keneday; and told him 
 I intended to procure a guide and horse and attempt to 
 make the trip cross the country. Learning from the 
 Mexicans where we landed that it was eighty miles by 
 land to Tampico, Keneday remarked that I shouldn't go 
 alone; that our liabilities were equal, and our dangers 
 should be shared, I remonstrated against his risking 
 his life on my wild venture, but he was firm in his pur- 
 pose to go with me, and our arrangements were soon 
 made. We provided ourselves with two revolvers each, 
 with a carbine and a heavy service saber, and thus 
 loaded with iron we jumped into a small Indian canoe, 
 with a half-breed in each end, who in consideration of a 
 fee agreed to land us at the next point, where we could 
 procure horses and a guide. 
 
 The canoe was a little toppling thing, and didn't seem 
 capable of carrying over two persons, but our guides 
 kept the balance, and a little after dark we arrived at 
 what they called the Point. But we were doomed to a 
 disappointment here, for there was nothing at the Point 
 but squalid young ones and cross dogs. The children 
 informed us that the folks had gone to the Rancho 
 Ratonus, to a fandango. We inquired of our guides 
 how large a place Ratonus was; they informed us that it 
 was but small. We then directed them to lead on 
 to Rancho Ratonus, which they said was two leagues. 
 We told them that any attempt to betray us would cost 
 
106 LiP^E AND Adventures of 
 
 them their lives, and they set forward on a dog-trot, 
 through an open wood at first, then merging into a chap- 
 arral route, similar to that discovered at Tampico. We 
 continued our double-quick for nearly two hours over a 
 level country, uninhabited and interspersed with open 
 wood and chaparral alternately. We made a sudden 
 turn to the right, and the Rancho Ratonus lay before 
 us, with a fandango in full blast. There were from 
 eighty to a hundred Mexicans and as many women 
 whirling in the maze of the waltz. 
 
 Our guides suddenly disappeared in the crowd, and 
 without their pay. A great confusion ensued — a hurry- 
 ing and screaming of the women, and men going and 
 coming; the music ceased and in fifteen minutes there 
 was not a woman there. It was " presto change;" 
 instead of the jolly dance and music that greeted our 
 first appearance on the scene, there was now only 
 armed men, with dark brows and glaring eyes, and gest- 
 ures that would indicate that our dooms were sealed, 
 at least in the estimation of that crowd; and I began 
 most seriously to concur in that opinion myself, for in 
 every face I could read that of my executioner. We 
 were now completely surrounded by nearly a hundred 
 of as well-appointed, dark-visaged cut-throats as I ever 
 saw, and all armed; some with escopets, some with 
 swords, and others with long cane knives. Their declara- 
 tion of war on us was so unequivocal that we made no 
 secret of our intentions, each- drawing and cocking a 
 revolver and facing in opposite directions — we were 
 determined to sell our lives for the greatest possible 
 number of dead Mexicans. The most superficial glance 
 at the faces of the demons that surrounded us showed 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 107 
 
 that no quarter could be looked for. The crowd was so 
 thick around us that they could not shoot without kill- 
 ing some of their own men. Should a rush be made 
 upon us of course we would be overpowered. To pre- 
 vent this we told them to keep back, and each with a 
 cocked revolver in one hand and a carbine in the other, 
 admonished them that the first who advanced would be 
 likely to get hurt, let the issue be what it might. 
 
 We remained in this unenviable position for fifteen 
 or twenty minutes, when an idea crossed my brain 
 which I must ever believe saved our lives. I said, Have 
 you an alcalde here? They replied in the affirmative. 
 I told them I wanted to speak with him. A little fat, 
 greasy old Mexican came forward and announced him- 
 self that functionary. I informed him that we were 
 American officers; that our command had encamped 
 at that river, and were to be at that place at ten o'clock 
 in the morning, and that he would be held responsible 
 for our safety; if any harm befell us there, that the 
 entire place would be massacred; that we wanted horses 
 and saddles and a guide to conduct us to Tampico, for 
 which we would liberally pay. He retired into the 
 crowd, and after a few moments I noticed that those 
 human devils increased the distance between us by fall- 
 ing back a little, which seemed to be a favorable omen. 
 
 In a little time the alcalde again made his appear- 
 ance (and no doubt he had been consulting our treach- 
 erous guides as to the truth of my statements about 
 the troops); he said they had the horses, but he did not 
 think he could get the saddles. I replied that it was rather 
 singular as large a place as Ratonus could not furnish 
 three saddles. He said he would try and procure them, 
 
108 LiFK AND Adventures of 
 
 and again left us. In something more than an hour the 
 guide appeared with the alcalde. They brought a 
 mustang for Keneda}*, an active, spirited, nervous beast; 
 and for me, a very fine-appearing mule, large for a 
 Mexican and very sleek and fat. As soon as I iiiounted. 
 I saw that he was a slow, lazy animal, and I remarked 
 to Keneday that we must look out, that there was more 
 treachery to be feared. " They intend to separate us, 
 and this last hour that they have kept us waiting is not 
 for nothing." I then drew my saber, encased in the old 
 steel-ringed scabbard, brought the flat of my weapon a 
 few times across the rump of my mule and waked him 
 up. We rode from Ratonus, and I kept repeating the 
 operation with the mule until he was fairl}- aroused. 
 Every time the scabbard would rino, the mule would 
 jump for dear life. 
 
 After we were fairly out of Ratonus we came to a 
 halt and examined our guide; he was a young fellow, 
 not more than twent}' )'ears of age, and, like many others 
 of the inhabitants of those parts, a mixture of Mexican 
 and Indian. We told him that any movement on his 
 part engendering a suspicion that he intended to betray 
 us. or any attempt to desert us, would most assuredly 
 cost him his life; but if he took us through to Altamira 
 all safe, we would give him five dollars extra. Through 
 fear of punishment on the one hand and hope oi" gain 
 on the other, the fellow seemed to identify himself with 
 our cause. He then told us that the mule on which I 
 was riding was very old, and he did not think it could 
 stand it to go to Altamira in the wa}' that we expected 
 to ride. W^e now understood our situation so far as our 
 guide was concerned, but I could not divest my mind of 
 
Colon KL L. A. Norton. 109 
 
 the suspicion that there was some treachery to be appre- 
 hended; and I had the thinp;- put up in my own mind 
 in this way: that the story of the men coming- tliere in 
 the morning was fully believed by them, as they had 
 undoubtedly consulted with our treacherous guide, who 
 knew that the force of which I spoke was on the river 
 bank encamped, and as to their further intentions of 
 course these fellows were ignorant; hence they expected 
 them there at ten o'clock the next morning, and it would 
 not do to murder us in the little town, for fear of the 
 punishment threatened. And to avoid this, and still 
 accomplish their purposes, I believed that the last hour 
 they kept us waiting for our horses was employed in 
 preparing an ambuscade somewhere on our road. We 
 hurried on, these thoughts occupying my mind, when 
 the report of a gun was heard far in the rear; of course 
 it was too far off to have been fired at us, and I at once 
 made up my mind that it was fired as a signal, and 
 remarked so to Keneday. We must then have been 
 four or five miles on our journey from Ratonus, and we 
 had advanced about a quarter of a mile after the report 
 of the gun when Keneday remarked to me: — 
 
 " Do you see that fellow ? " 
 
 I replied that I saw something. Keneday said he had 
 just rode behind a clump of brush to the left of the road. 
 The old scabbard rang, and sword in hand I charged 
 around the brush, and sure enough there was a man. 
 As I came up to him he took off his hat, and in the 
 cringing manner peculiar to his race, said, " Senor." I 
 asked him in my best Mexican (which, no doubt, was 
 bad enough) what he was doing there. He said he was 
 hunting his horses. I remarked that twelve o'clock at 
 
110 Life and Adventures of 
 
 night was a singular time to be hunting horses, and 
 directed him to dismount, which he did. On examining 
 him I found no arms excepting his sheath knife, and a 
 very long lariat on his horse. I then examined his ani- 
 mal as well as I could and came to the conclusion that 
 it was a very good one, consequently I made a trade, 
 and got the long lariat to boot. I mounted the horse 
 and directed the prisoner to mount the mule; marched 
 him out in the road, and directed the guide to ride ahead. 
 Keneday rode next the guide, my prisoner next, and I 
 brought up the rear. 
 
 We rode in this order about half a mile, where 
 a grove of small trees appeared on our left, when all 
 of a sudden there was a general rush, rattling of arms, 
 and excitement, close to wKere we were passing. The 
 old scabbard rang, and my horse sprang forward; I gave 
 the old mule a whack, as I came up to him ; he sprangaside, 
 and away we went, but we presently got a volley by way 
 of salute from the rear, followed by the clatter of horses' 
 hoofs. We put our horses to the top of their speed for 
 the next hour, having discharged our carbines in the 
 rear at the first sound of hoofs behind us. We now 
 reached a deep, sluggish stream, the ferryman, house, 
 and boat all on the opposite bank. We hallooed and 
 awoke the ferryman, who soon took us across in a dug- 
 out, swimming our horses. When once across, we 
 seized the canoe and, making the ferryman and guide 
 assist, drew it out of the water, and up the bank so far 
 from the water that a single man could not get it back 
 in an hour. We then thought of tying the ferryman, 
 but time was precious with us, and we concluded on the 
 whole that it would do very well as it was. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. Ill 
 
 We continued our trip for about two hours unmolested, 
 when we came to another stream (or perhaps the same) 
 with a ferry like the first. As in the first instance, we 
 got across and secured the boat. We now rode on feel- 
 ing very safe. There were no towns and but few 
 inhabitants along the route we were pursuing, and 
 presently the wolves began to howl as though they 
 would howl a man off his horse. I knew then there 
 were no Mexicans around, and those brindle devils, for 
 once, made music to my ears. 
 
 It was now about three o'clock in the morning, and at 
 eight we reached Altamira without further incident 
 worthy of note. We met our friend Major Jerolt just 
 in time to take a nice breakfast with him. The major 
 wanted to know where we had dropped from. We told 
 him we had come from Rancho Ratonus, relating the 
 whole adventure. The major exclaimed, " The Rancho 
 Ratonus! Well, the devil surely protects his own! 
 Why, that Rancho Ratonus is the worst guerrilla hole 
 in all Mexico! It is not two weeks since I was forced 
 to send out two companies of cavalry to quiet that same 
 Rancho Ratonus. They were robbing and murdering 
 their own inhabitants, and how you ever escaped with 
 your lives is a miracle." Refreshed with a good break- 
 fast and a cigar, we were again prepared for action. We 
 discharged our guide, and paid him off with the five 
 dollar bonus promised him. Major Jerolt furnished us 
 a couple of fresh horses and we arrived at Tampico at 
 one o'clock P. M., received and receipted for the mules, 
 and thus ended one of the most dangerous adventures 
 ever undertaken by me in Mexico. 
 
 On my return from the exciting expedition narrated 
 
112 Life and Adventures of 
 
 previously, I found that there were extensive prepara- 
 tions going on for the great annual festival, or fandango, 
 which was to be held at Tampico Viejo (or Pueblo Viejo). 
 Crowds gathered from all parts of the States of Ta- 
 maulipas and Vera Cruz at that once famous but now 
 ruined city. Accordingly when the day came for the cele- 
 bration, some forty or fifty of the officers of our command 
 stationed at Tampico visited the scene of the festivities. 
 This ancient town is situated about eight miles from 
 Tampico, at the foot of Lake Tampico, and is reached 
 from Tampico by boats or small crafts, up the outlet 
 of the lake into the Tamaulipas (or Tampico) River. It 
 is said, but I don't know with how much truth, that 
 when Pueblo Viejo was a flourishing city large crafts 
 could easily reach its docks. The story is at least proba- 
 ble, for the only obstruction at the present day is a vast 
 bar of the mussel shells which abound in that country. 
 But at the present day there is a swift current running 
 from the lake into the river, a distance of about four 
 miles. The lake must lie ten or fifteen feet higher 
 than the river, and the same distance above the Gulf of 
 Mexico. 
 
 The town of Pueblo Viejo is situated upon a narrow 
 neck of land running between the gulf and Tampico 
 Lake, with a large level country lying to the north, 
 interspersed with lakes, rivers, and chaparral; while to 
 the south and east it is protected from the coast by a 
 point of land, rising several hundred feet above the level 
 of the sea. The site of the town is from ten to fifty feet 
 above the lake, commencing near the water and sloping 
 back to the hills; but the acclivity is so gentle that it 
 would hardly be noticed, and the whole town is situated in 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 113 
 
 a cove resembling that of Cincinnati, only on a much 
 larger scale; for everything there indicates that some 
 day far back in the dim past, Pueblo Viejo was the great 
 emporium of an intelligent and highly civilized people 
 On every side lie the evidences of that civilization; 
 ancient ruins of what at some day had been noble edi- 
 fices, but the only evidence of the time when they 
 flourished was the mass of trees and shrubbery that 
 covered the ground where they once stood. I remember 
 in one place a large oak stood with its massive trunk on 
 one side of a wall that was its only rest; its roots ran 
 through and descended on the other side some four or 
 five feet to meet the ground — the tree was two and a 
 half to three feet through. Next to the hill lies a 
 massive pile, with heavy stone columns lying in every 
 direction; I had no means of ascertaining the extent of 
 the superstructure, but it was immense. I cannot pre- 
 tend to describe the magnitude of this ruined city, as I 
 never had sufficient time for investigation; and I do not 
 presume to say that, like Pompeii, it was either swallowed 
 up by an earthquake or entirely covered by the hand 
 of time. Out of the ruins of that once famous city the 
 present inhabitants have erected themselves dwellings; 
 and Pueblo Viejo now contains about three thousand 
 inhabitants, who wander over its evidences of former 
 magnificence with about as much thought or inquiry as 
 that other portion of the animal race which, with long ears 
 and docile mien, crops the grass that springs up between 
 the disjointed rocks strewn over the ground. 
 
 There is one relic of the ancient greatness of Pueblo 
 Viejo that seems to bid defiance to decay — that is the 
 extensive baths; a stream of pure water is brought from 
 
114 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the hills and emptied into a series of stone vats, twelve 
 to fifteen feet wide and about thirty long. They num- 
 ber about forty, and each is situated a little lower than 
 the other, say six inches, and as the water fills the upper 
 one, the masonry being a little the lowest next to the 
 adjoining reservoir, or vat, with the two outer walls 
 higher, it flows to the next, and so on till they are all 
 filled, being six or seven feet deep. There is a rock 
 terrace, or pavement, about twenty feet wide, running the 
 whole length of these reservoirs and below the top of 
 the water wall about three feet. Standing on this ter- 
 race, or pavement, were frequently hundreds of Mexican 
 women and girls, some washing their linen, but the 
 major portion engaged with large brown earthenware 
 vessels, holding from five to seven gallons, smaller at the 
 base than at the center, bulging outward, then contract- 
 ing to about eight inches across the top. These contained 
 corn, soaked in alkali to start the hulls. They fill the 
 vessel with water, set it on the pavement, and, putting 
 both feet into the small opening, perform a regular tread- 
 mill operation; they stamp away until the hulls are 
 loosed from the corn, then set the vessel on the massive 
 stone wall, about two and a half feet thick, making a 
 solid base of operations, where they wash the corn; it is 
 rubbed and put through a great number of washings, 
 until it is cleansed and all hulls removed; then it is deemed 
 ready to be manufactured into tortillas. This practice 
 has continued upon the wall for such a length of time that 
 there are holes worn into the solid granite rocks several 
 inches deep, presenting the appearance of mortars. But 
 I have indulged in describing the mouldering ruins of 
 what was once a great city beyond my first intention, 
 and I will now abandon them and come back to life. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 115 
 
 I started in to tell of the great fandango, or festival, 
 to come off at Pueblo Viejo. First, imagine a very 
 large and smooth plaza, with two rows of booths around 
 the outer edges, presenting everything in the shape of 
 edibles and drinkables in the Mexican market, and the 
 balance of the plaza covered by awnings of palmetto 
 leaves, so as to shelter it from the sun by day and shield 
 the lamps from the wind at night. Next, the music- 
 stands were arranged at suitable distances, so to accom- 
 modate the whole grounds, with the gambling tables. 
 The music generally consisted of violins, guitars, and 
 some other stringed instruments, but what they lacked in 
 variety they made up in quantity. On this occasion I 
 suppose there were not less than seven or eight thousand 
 and perhaps more, men, women and children of all ages 
 mingling together, seeming to have but one object in 
 view, and that enjoyment. It was a pleasing spectacle 
 to see thousands at once in the giddy whirl of the waltz, 
 and such waltzing I never saw before. The Mexicans, 
 both men and women, excel in the grace of that art. 
 Some were dancing, some eating, some drinking, and 
 some gaming; in the latter amusement, the padres took 
 a prominent part. Monte cards and dice were the 
 principal agents used; but there were dozens of differ- 
 ent games that I never observed before nor since. Little 
 bo\'s, five, six, and seven years old, would be seated on 
 mats with the regular games of monte, playing where 
 the stakes were stubs of cigars or some trifling trinket, 
 while among the more aristocratic the old don would be 
 risking several ounces on the turn of a card. But I 
 have noticed that in all the playing ^hat I ever saw at 
 monte, the "cabala" is the favorite card with the Mexi- 
 
116 Life anp AmKNrrRKs ok 
 
 can. and lie seems to risk his money with more confi- 
 dence on it than on an\- other card. 
 
 The pohce regulations are conducted with a great deal 
 of propriety and vigor. During this fandango, a noted 
 robber chief found his wa\' into the crowd, but was rec- 
 ognized by the pohce. I saw quite a rush and excite- 
 ment of parties running to a certain point. Curiosity 
 prompted me to follow, as well as several other officers. 
 On arriving at the place I disco\-ered a regular sword 
 combat between two expert swordsmen; they seemed to 
 be about equal in strength and skill, and each evidently 
 meant death to his antagonist. There did not seem to 
 be any one inclined to interfere, and the contest was long 
 and desperate; both had received several slight wounds; 
 finally one made a desperate lunge at his opponent, 
 which was skillfully parried by the other, and before the 
 thrusting part)' could fairly recover, the other ran him 
 through the bod\'. and in fact shoved the hilt of his 
 sword ncarl)' to the breast of his foe, who fell, the blood 
 spurting from his mouth and nostrils, and expired with- 
 out uttering a word or even a moan. I then for the first 
 time got an opportunit\' to take a fair look at the suc- 
 cessful gladiator, and to my astonishment there stood 
 before us as fine a native of Erin's green isle as ever 
 crossed the briny ocean. Light bluee\'es, a rather florid 
 complexion, light chestnut hair, sandy whiskers, with full 
 red lips, and a certain undefiable air that is impossible to 
 mistake in a regular Irish countenance. Some o\' our 
 ofificers addressed him in English, of which he did not 
 seem to understand a single word; but through an inter- 
 preter we learned that he claimed to be a Mexican, was 
 born in the countr\-, and looked upon his ancestors as 
 
CoLoxhi. L. A. Norton. 117 
 
 Mcxfcans, without any knowledge of their ever havinr^ 
 cinii^ratcd from any other country. Tie stood very hi^h 
 in the police force, ati'l sec-ined to be very ])roud of his 
 last achievement; from what we could ^atlier from the 
 alcalde and other leadin;^ men of the place, they had 
 lonf.( been tryinr^ to cajjlure the- slain man, he be-inr^^ one 
 of the most des[jerate characters that had for a lon^ 
 time visited the neighborhood. The fandan^^o closed in 
 ei^ht days, and witii it 1 will close my description of 
 J'ueblo Viejo; notwithstanding I know friend Conklin^^ 
 could he see me, would ask why 1 neglected to tell about 
 tlic castor-bean .stalk, or rather tree, beneath whose shade 
 we lay; but my answer is, that we then agreed that it 
 would not do to tell, and hence I leave it out among 
 many other things that would be treated as absurdities 
 fjy tlio->c- iniacquainled with that climate. 
 
 CH A PTIiR XIV 
 
 MKMOIRS ()\- 'iin-: .\TK>^ICAX WAR — CO.X'l 1 .\ i; J-.U. 
 
 W\\ had all returned from Pueblo Viejrj. each one 
 having his private adventures of the fandango 
 treasured up to communicate to some of his favorite 
 ccjmpanions-in-arms, which was calculated to swell the 
 buflget of camp news, when it was announced that a 
 great cock-fight was to come off the next evening, 
 and that Colonel Derusa of the Louisiana regiment, and 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Marks, who were both sporting men, 
 had each procured a very fjne fowl, and that the birds 
 were to be pitted against each other on that occasion. 
 ] walked into the cockpit in company with Captain 
 
lis I. IKK AN'P Am 1:N IKKKS ov 
 
 Marvo)', and saw that the twt-) cocks rofcnctl to had been 
 fittcil out with sharp stocl i^at'ts, aiul wore ah-ead\' far 
 adxaiued in their ^leadly combat wlien we entered. I 
 noticed that I'olonel DcMusa's bird was the hui^iM, and 
 to all appearance tVesh conip<ned with tlu^ i>ther. anvl 
 would undoubtedly Ih^ the \ictor in the t'udU; e\ ei\- 
 time the\- came toi^ether and made .i p.iss at e.ich 
 other, C\^lonel Marks' bird wouKl drop to the earth as 
 thoui^h he were dead, and wouKl come to time badl\- anil 
 drop ai;ain as thouL^h entirel\' exhausted. Captain 
 1 lar\e\', who hatl been imluli^ini^- prett\- tVeel\', insistctl 
 on bettiui;' mo a dollar on the result of" the flight. 1 
 thouL^ht it winild be almost like stt^dini; his mc»ne\- to 
 bet. as 1 lookctl upon Marks' bird as beiui; "a dead cock 
 in the pit;" \et he insisted, auti as I had ne\er won a bet 
 in m\- lite, I just thought 1 would w in one, ^o 1 told him 
 1 would bet on Colonel Derusa's rooster. The flight 
 went on (ov about fifteen minutes, Marks" bird tailing; 
 and Ix'iui;" apparentl\' exhausted, waiting;" for the men 
 haxinL^- charge o( him to set him on his pins before he 
 w as ruled out oi' time. After man\- passes oi' this kind 
 the\- came tOL;ether, aiui Marks' bird drove both his 
 L^af'ts throui;h the head o\ his opponent, killing;- him on 
 tlie spot. So I lost m\- small bet, aiul learned the lesson 
 that it will not always do to bet aj^ainst dead thini^s. 
 
 .\s I have commenced this chapter with an anecdote. 
 I believe I will continue it b\- relating;- one or two that I 
 have heretofore not noticed. When we had been in 
 Tampic*-* about six weeks, an Irishman, a private in 
 Compan\- A, _i;ot into a row with a ^lexican; an alterca- 
 tion ensued, and the Irishman killetl the Mexican; was 
 arrested, and imprisoned to await trial. Our judiciary 
 
Colonel L. A. NoktOxN. lll> 
 
 was organized by adopting the laws of Louisiana; and it 
 was farther determined that neither Mexican nor private 
 soldier could sit on the jury for the trial of the Irishman, 
 who had been indicted ffjr murder; hence commissioned 
 officers of the army were the r)nly eligible jurors. The 
 jury was impaneled and sworn, and the case proceeded, 
 the judj^e-advocate for the people, anrl (jA. S. f/. flicks 
 for the defendant. Witncs.ses were jjroduced for the 
 [jeople, provinj:^ the killin;^^, and amon^ other testimr^ny, 
 a Mexican swore that the jjrisoner s[>oke p^ood S[janish. 
 The defense offered evicience tendin^^ to shfjw that the 
 killing was in self-defense. 
 
 After the testiinr^ny was in, the attorneys rriadf: tlujir 
 arguments; and when Colonel Hicks came to the part of 
 the Mexican's testimony where he testified that the pris- 
 oner spoke good Spanish, Hick's remarked: "And they 
 swear that he spoke good Spanish; I suppose that he 
 talked Spanish about as well as one of my cavalrymen 
 did who was out with me last year; the fellow's horse 
 had escaped; .seeing a Mexican sawing woofl on the side 
 of the street, he exclaimed: 'Halloo! kombre, did you 
 see a bobtailed cahello vamosing do^NW the street, without 
 any sarJdle on him?' * No intende' M do not unrler- 
 stand;, was the response. The soldier indignantly re- 
 plied: 'Confound you, can't you understand your own 
 language ? ' — forgetting that he had used but three words 
 of Spanish in the whole lingo." He then went on to 
 show that the soldier came from Ireland about three 
 years before, and had worked in the Galena lead mines 
 until he volunteered to come to Mexico; that he was 
 an uneducated man, and probably never saw a Mex- 
 ican in his life before landing in Tampico, and at the 
 
120 Life and Adventures of 
 
 date of the killino- had been in Mexico about six 
 weeks. After deliberation, we came to the conclusion 
 that the Mexican got killed in a drunken row, and as the 
 United States Government was paying the soldier seven 
 dollars a month to kill Mexicans, it would not be quite 
 the right thing to hang the fellow for killing one of them, 
 even in a drunken row, hence we returned a verdict of 
 " not guilty." On the jury I made the acquaintance of 
 a gentleman named Tracy; he was adjutant-general, at- 
 tached to General Gates' staff; in fact we became very 
 intimate, and of him I shall have more to say presently. 
 I have heretofore remarked that General Gates was of 
 the regular army, a great stickler for military discipline, 
 and most cordially hated the volunteer service; conse- 
 (|uently we did not entertain a great amount of love for 
 him. As for myself, I procured a copy of the Regulations 
 of the United States Army, and made myself thoroughly 
 acquainted with my rights and obligations under them, 
 fully intending to discharge every duty enjoined by them, 
 and as fully determined to submit to no impositions on 
 the part of others. While these feelings were yet being 
 nursed by me, a favorable opportunity occurred to beard 
 the old lion and show him that I wasn't the tamest of 
 beasts myself. I was sitting in my quarters one day, 
 when a detail was served on me; I did not" read it, sup- 
 posing it was to act as officer of the day. I dressed 
 myself to obey the detail, and walked down to meet the 
 relief On my arrival I found Lieutenant Sampson — a 
 second lieutenant — there to take his position as officer 
 of the day. I turned to the adjutant, and asked him 
 what it meant; he replied, "You are detailed as officer 
 of the guard ! " I consigned both him and his detail to 
 
Colon KL L. A. Norton. 121 
 
 the shades, turned upon my heel and returned to my 
 quarters and wrote a note to Colonel Hicks that I had 
 disobeyed his orders, but would be found at my quarters. 
 They did not keep me long in suspense, for in about an 
 hour an order was brought me by an orderly to appear 
 before General Gates at four o'clock J'. M., to answer a 
 charge of disol^cdicnce to a superior officer, and to con- 
 sider myself under arrest until the matter was disposed 
 of. I immediately divested myself of my sword, and 
 attired in a common soldier's uniform, without any insig- 
 nia of rank, prom[)tly at four o'clock was at the general's 
 quarters; but none too prompt, as I found the general 
 and my accusers all present and ready to proceed. The 
 old general called out, "Where is the prisoner?" I 
 stepped forward and saluted. He said, " Why do you 
 appear in that garb? Where are your uniform and in- 
 signia of rank?" 1 replied that I was under arrest on 
 charges which, if sustained, would reduce me to this uni- 
 form and rank. 
 
 Ga'IKS — "What is yoin" present rank, sir?" 
 " First lieutenant in the line, captain by virtue of quar- 
 termaster's appointment." 
 
 Gates — "Now, sir, what were your reasons for diso- 
 beying the orders of your colonel ?" 
 
 " If permitted I will give my reasons, sir." 
 Gates (peremptorily) — " I want your reason, sir." 
 I again replied that I would give my reasons if per- 
 mitted. I had noticed that my friend Tracy .seemed 
 very nervous and affrighted on my account, fidgeting in 
 his seat and giving other demonstrations of uneasiness, 
 and seeing the old general getting in a passion, remarked 
 to him that perhaps I might have more than one reasorn. 
 9 
 
122 Lii'K AND Adventures of 
 
 Thereupon the old general growled, "Then give me 
 your reasons, sir." 
 
 I replied I was acting quartermaster of the command, 
 and could not be compelled to do field duty. 
 
 GknM'.ral — "How is this, Colonel Hicks?" The 
 colonel replied that it was true, but that during the sickly 
 season 1 had volunteered to do duty in J:he line. 
 
 General (turning to me)—" That is no excuse, sir; so 
 long as you volunteered to do line duty, you cannot escape 
 it by throwing yourself behind the shield of a disbursing 
 officer." 
 
 At this point Tracy looked so badly scared that I 
 really felt worse on his account than for m>' own fate, 
 for I knew my defense and he did not. 
 
 The general again growled out, " Have you an\' other 
 defense ? " " Yes, sir. . I am in command of a company, 
 and on no occasion has a company commander been 
 called on to act as officer of the guard, and this detail is 
 without precedent." 
 
 Again he turned to Colonel Hicks and asked him as 
 to the fact claimed by me. The colonel admitted that 
 the present case was the only one, and that it was inad- 
 vertently done. The old general was like an enraged 
 tiger, and exclaimed, "Young man, this is no excuse; 
 don't talk oi' precedents; your colonel has the right to 
 make precedents." 
 
 Tracy was more uneasy than ever, and absolutely 
 looked like a condemned criminal awaiting execution. 
 
 The old general roared out again, " Have you anything 
 further to offer in defense ? " 
 
 I quietly replied that I had, but had hoped the two 
 reasons already given would have been satisfactory; that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 123 
 
 I had a perfect and complete defense for my conduct, 
 and for the credit of our command I hoped that Colonel 
 Hicks would withdraw the charge and let the matter 
 drop where it was. 
 
 At this the old general was more furious than ever, 
 and said that it was not for Colonel Hicks to withdraw 
 the charges; that he sat as a court of inrjuiry, that the 
 whole matter was in his hands, and unless I clearly 
 purged myself of the charge, I would be cashiered and 
 reduced to the ranks. 
 
 By this time f had become perfectly arou.sed, and re- 
 torted by saying I was aware that I was standing before 
 a tribunal that would only be too willing to convict, but 
 I thanked God that there was some things that that 
 court could not do with impunity; and I therefore offered 
 as my last and perfect defense, that "I was detailed to 
 act as officer of the guard while an officer inferior in 
 rank was detailed Uj act as officer of the day." 
 
 The old general turned full around upon (Jolonel 
 Hicks, and exclaimed, " How is this, Colonel Hicks?" 
 
 The colonel admitted the truth of the statement. 
 
 "Oh, tut-tut! Colonel Hicks, that will never do, that 
 will never do !" 
 
 At the last defense I saw Tracy brighten up, and when 
 the old general turned to me again, it was with a very 
 different air. I fe said, " Young man, you are discharged; 
 but you have run a fearful risk; it is very unsafe, sir, to 
 take the law into your own hands. Vou had far better 
 suffered the indignity than to have taken the chances 
 that you have taken;" and then turning to Colonel Hicks 
 he said, " I hope, colonel, that neither you nor I will 
 ever be subjected to a like temptation." And 1 have 
 
124 Life and Adventures of 
 
 reason to believe that I lost nothing in the estimation of 
 the general on account of the course I pursued. 
 
 The forces stationed at Tampico were the only ones 
 on the part of the United States to hold in check the 
 Mexicans in the Sierra Madre country. And now 
 rumors began to be circulated that the Mexicans were 
 beginning to organize at or near the ancient city of 
 Panuco. Accordingly it was determined to send a scout- 
 ing party through the country, up the Panuco River, 
 to that point, and Company A, of our -regiment, was 
 selected for that service. The company was commanded 
 by Capt. C. L. Wight, who, though young, was a brave 
 and discreet officer. I volunteered as quartermaster and 
 assistant commissary of the command, and we com- 
 menced our march without any camp or garrison equi- 
 page or commissary stores further than what the knap- 
 sacks and haversacks of the men furnished, trusting to 
 the country to furnish rations; when the people were 
 friendly we would pay for them, of course; when they 
 were hostile, we would borrow from them, or pay in 
 powder and bullets, as the necessity of the case de- 
 manded. Twelve miles from Tampico, up the Panuco 
 River, was what is known as the Lafler place. I think 
 Lafler was an American; he had a very fine tract of 
 land, large in dimensions and extraordinarily fertile. 
 Upon this he had a very large coffee plantation. I think 
 he had from six hundred to seven hundred acres in 
 coffee — the first that I ever saw growing; it grows upon 
 a shrub or bush ranging from eight to fifteen feet high; 
 the leaves are dark green and the coffee grains grow two 
 too-ether, and are covered with a hull or skin that is red, 
 presenting the appearance of red berries. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 125 
 
 We encamped at Lafler's that night. During the night 
 a tiger attacked and killed an ox on the opposite side of 
 the river, and his d^ep growls seemed to jar the earth 
 where we were; it was unlike anything I ever heard be- 
 fore; the next day we continued our march, passing 
 for several miles through an unbroken forest of lime 
 trees, the yellow limes lying so thick all over the ground 
 that you could scrape them up by the bushel, and the 
 forest extending in every direction as far as you could 
 see. There were but very few inhabitants on this route, 
 although there were plenty of evidences that at some 
 former day the whole country had been well populated, 
 for mouldering ruins and broken potteryware were to be 
 seen on all sides. The water was very bad, being 
 strongly impregnated with alkali, and was only rendered 
 drinkable by squeezing lime juice into it. 
 
 About an hour before sunset we arrived at the old city 
 of Panuco. I was somewhat disappointed with the ap- 
 pearance of the place, as I had heard and read of it as 
 presenting so many evidences of former greatness. A 
 brief examination showed me that the ruins in and 
 about Panuco could not be compared with those of 
 Pueblo Viejo, notwithstanding I had not heard any com- 
 ment in regard to the latter. The ruins of Panuco 
 seemed to be of more recent date than those of Pueblo 
 Viejo; less extensive, and less architectural beauty dis- 
 played in the construction of the buildings, less of heavy 
 masonry and more of the adobe buildings. On our ap- 
 proach we saw a few armed Mexicans, who kept at a 
 respectful distance. We crossed the river to the main 
 portion of the town, where we took possession of a pub- 
 lic building that furnished us with ample and complete 
 
126 Life and Adventures of 
 
 quarters. The alcalde was not long in putting in an 
 appearance, and after demand, formally surrendered the 
 town; which to the best of my recollection contained 
 about three thousand inhabitants. 
 
 We had now been long enough in Mexico to learn 
 that we had to watch the treacherous Mexicans, as sev- 
 eral of our men had been poisoned by provisions 
 obtained from the markets in Tampico (though none of 
 them fatally). So I bargained for a live beef and had 
 it slaughtered by our own men; then set a lot of Mexi- 
 can women to manufacturing tortillas y frijolcs Colorado 
 negro, all of which was very acceptable and satisfactory 
 to the command. Finding that there was no concentrated 
 force, and nothing but roaming bands of robbers, as 
 much to be dreaded by the Mexicans as by the Ameri- 
 cans, we began to think of our return . But many of 
 the men, and some of the officers, indeed, com laining 
 that their feet were so sore that they could not march, 
 we finally concluded to press into service a sufficient 
 number of dug-outs to transport the force down the 
 river. There was no lack of these at Panuco; accord- 
 ingly we were soon floating down the river, all pleased 
 at the change. 
 
 As soldiers are not overly scrupulous, especially when 
 in an enem\''s country, there was no lack of provisions. 
 About one o'clock in the afternoon we tied up under the 
 bank and sought a shade to take a lunch, but 1 soon saw 
 that the bo3's were hunting wood, building fires, etc., and 
 in about one hour there were added to the tortillas y 
 frijolcs several roast fowls, in the disposition of which 
 the officers were cordially invited to participate. When 
 interrogated as to how they came into possession of them, 
 
CoLONKL L. A. Norton. 127 
 
 they insinuated that the fowls made a night attack upon 
 them, and it was not until after a long and deadly strug- 
 gle that the enemy surrendered; and to the victors 
 belonged the spoils. Of course the explanation was 
 satisfactory, notwithstanding I could not help thinking 
 there had been some "fowl" play. But all seemed in- 
 clined to punish the enemy, and the consequence was, 
 we left their bones to bleach on the shore of the Panuco. 
 When the repast was over, we took to our boats and 
 pulled leisurely down the river. 
 
 Rounding a bend, below us something over a mile, in 
 the center of the stream, like a dolphin resting upon the 
 water, lay a beautiful schooner. Captain Wight had a 
 small field-glass, and readily discovered that the vessel 
 was an armed craft, as the glass showed the brass pieces 
 on the side. This was something for which we had not 
 bargained, but we kept steadily pulling towards her. 
 Presently we could, with the naked eye, see great activ- 
 ity on board of her, and before we had fully made up 
 our minds what to do, we saw a puff of smoke, and a 
 round shot came skipping over the water some distance 
 on one side of us. At that moment up went the flag; 
 a glance was sufficient to show us that it was our own 
 stars and stripes. As it happened we had a little com- 
 pany flag with us, which we waved in return, and pulled 
 to the schooner. Wg all went aboard and received a 
 hearty welcome. Everything about her was as neat as 
 a pin. Her decks were as clean as a good housewife's 
 table, and her guns shone like mirrors. 
 
 After we were on board, and had exchanged greetings 
 with the officers, came the explanation. We having 
 been sent across the country, and not knowing what we 
 
1-2(S Life and Adventures of 
 
 might encounter, it was thought advisable to send this 
 vessel up to be on the lookout for us. We knew nothing 
 of the vessel being sent out, and the captain of the craft 
 was not expecting to see us on the river; hence the 
 mutual surprise. We soon bade good-by to the schooner 
 and pursired our way down the river; the vessel was 
 whoU}^ becalmed, as there was not a breath of wind to 
 fill or flap a sail. The sun slowly sank behind the Sierra 
 Madrc Mountains, that rose in the background to the 
 height of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, not abruptly, but with 
 a long slope of fine agricultural and grazing land be- 
 tween their summits and the river; in fact, the whole 
 range of the Sierra Madr6 on its eastern slope is well 
 timbered, and upon its gradual incline one may find 
 almost any variety of climate that he chooses; and did 
 that territory belong to the United States, it would soon 
 develop into one of the most delightful countries in the 
 world, for nature has done a good part by it. 
 
 We continued to descend the river, notwithstanding 
 night was upon us; but it became necessary that we 
 should reach some place that could feed us, as our dinner 
 had exhausted our supplies. Thus we continued our 
 voyage until about ten o'clock at night, when we reached 
 the little town of Agua Cotta. 
 
 This was a small town on the south bank of the 
 Panuco River, I think about twenty-five miles from 
 Tampico. There had not been the least caution used 
 in landing, and no danger anticipated; the canoes were 
 run into the bank just as it happened, and the men, ex- 
 cepting a very few who were left in charge of the boats, 
 had straggled up town in pursuit of supper — doubtless 
 something to drink, also. However, I had made arrange- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 129 
 
 ments for supper, and the parties had ^one to work in 
 ^ood earnest to accommfKJatc the coirunand. It was 
 progressing finely, when all at once 1 lif-anl a sjiot, then 
 another and another; then a yell, and i)r(.tty ra])i(l firing 
 in different [)arts of the town. 
 
 I'hcre were fifteen or twenty of the boys near me 
 awaiting supper, and several (jf the officers. Captain 
 Wight cried out: " Jioys, defend the boats! " We made 
 a grand rush for the boats; and none too soon, (or we 
 were in rear of about fifty Mexicans, rushing on to the 
 guards; the latter instantly formed and delivered a fire 
 upon the advancing enemy. The volley was returned 
 by them, with coiisidc-rable s])irit, althouf^h with littk; 
 apparent effect on either side. It was night, though not 
 very dark, and we could recognize their relative positions. 
 As the foe was between us and our guard at the boats 
 we could not fire without endangering cjur own men. 
 We were compelled to make a ra[)id oblique march to 
 the right, and then we delivered a volley in their Hank, 
 for which they weie not ijr(.'])ared. We then ruslied on 
 them with fixed bayonets and compelled them to retreat 
 in disorder. Our boats now being safe we turned our 
 attention to the desultory firing up town. We left the 
 guard strengthened, and with about twenty men rushed 
 back to relieve the stragglers, who seemed to have 
 rather a hot time of it. 
 
 As we advanced, the men continued to fall into posi- 
 tion and we soon had our little command reduced to 
 sr;mc-thing like order, and in possession of the eastern 
 portion of the village. 'J he Mexicans continued a brisk 
 fire, .secreted behind buildings and fences, but their 
 weapons were the old clumsy escopet.s, from which there 
 
130 Life and Adventures of 
 
 was but little danger unless by a chance shot. But they 
 must be dislodged; there was no alternative but to sweep 
 the streets; accordingly with fixed bayonets, we rushed 
 up the streets, running them from their hiding-places, 
 which compelled them to mass before us. On the west 
 side of the town there was a considerable stream empty- 
 ing into the Panuco. We charged them to the edge of 
 this stream, where many of them threw down their arms, 
 jumped into the water, and made for the opposite 
 shore. We did not venture to follow them, but returned 
 to our boats, abandoning our supper, and began to make 
 preparations to leave. 
 
 Our men were drawn up on the bank for roll-call, to 
 ascertain the amount of damage and loss to our com- 
 mand, when two men came scuffling down to the bank, 
 or rather one of them was dragging the other after him. 
 We were soon enlightened as to the cause. It was our 
 green Irishman; the one who stuck his gun down the 
 bore of the field-piece, in Tampico, to " keep the spal- 
 peens from getting it." He had captured a prisoner, 
 and was bringing him along to the boats. He explained 
 that as he was trying to get a drink, the Mexican rushed 
 on him with a big knife; and as he was about running 
 the fellow through with his bayonet, he was interfered 
 with by the priest; and to use Pat's own language, as 
 nearly as possible, " his riverence rushed up and sthuck 
 the crosh in my viry face; when instead of killing him, I 
 took the spalpeen by the neck, and jist brought him wid 
 me." He was directed to let the fellow go. 
 
 On examination we found that we had not lost a man. 
 Two were seriously wounded, and several slightly; we 
 had captured thirty or forty stands of arms, several 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 131 
 
 swords and other weapons. The arms, exceptinj^ the 
 swords, were useless, hence we threw the guns into the 
 river, put the swords on board, re-embarked our men, 
 and were soon silently floating down the river. We 
 dropped down some three or four miles, and seeing a 
 small rancho of some half a dozen houses, tied up for the 
 night, it then being about one o'clock. The men were 
 exhausted, and after placing out a guard to prevent sur- 
 prise, the camp was soon silent, save the deep breathing 
 of the tired soldiers. The excitement of the evening 
 had been such with me that, even at that late (or rather 
 early) hour, I had no inclination to sleep. I fell in with 
 a Mexican, who seemed to be a good-natured fellow, and 
 was keeping his watch on the part of his countrymen, 
 and who also seemed to possess more than the ordinary 
 intelligence of his class. He informed me that there 
 was a man living there who spoke my language, and 
 that he owned a rancho close by the place. After de- 
 termining in my own mind to see and converse with 
 the individual referred to, I laid down and was soon in 
 dreamland, far from the banks of the Panuc(5 and its 
 wild surroundings. 
 
 I was awakened the next morning by Capt. C. L. 
 Wight. I found the morning sun shining full in my 
 face. The captain informed me that he had taken the 
 liberty of interfering with my duties as A. C. S., and had 
 made such arrangements as be^t he could for breakfast 
 for the men; for which I returned him my thanks, and as 
 that duty was off my mind, I had resolved to visit the 
 man who could speak our language; not so much for the 
 gratification of meeting the man, as to obtain some in- 
 formation reo-ardino- ancient ruins that, from "Norman's 
 
132 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Travels," I knew must be in that immediate vicinity. I 
 strolled across the fields, and soon made the acquaintance 
 of the owner of the rancho, whose' name I learned to be 
 Kier. He was a German; had a nice place, and though 
 he informed me that he was a poor sailor boy when he 
 came tliere, he was now quite wealthy. It was about 
 breakfast time, and he cordially invited me to breakfast 
 with him, which was quite to my notion, as the last time 
 I had broken my fast was the day before at noon. 
 
 After breakfast I returned to the command, and ob- 
 tained permission from Captain Wight to retain a canoe 
 and four men, and lay over at this point until the next 
 day, as I had learned the ruins I was so anxious to visit 
 were but a short distance down the river from us. Kier 
 had agreed to accompan}- us as a guide. 
 
 In the meantime the command had got under way 
 for Tampico, and about ten o'clock in the forenoon we 
 embarked in the canoe, and being provided with edibles 
 by our kind host and guide, we descended the river for 
 about two miles, to where there was another considerable 
 river ei^pt\'ing its clear waters into the Panuco; here 
 we landed. Mine host had brought with him two Mexi- 
 can servants, and an immenseh' large amount o\ provis- 
 ions for a single day. On my expressing surprise, he 
 informed me that a da\-'s sport there would give me but 
 a faint idea o( the place; and that he, presuming that 
 m}' stay was only limited by my inclination, had pro- 
 vided for our immediate necessities by bringing along 
 such things as he thought we might need during our 
 stay among the ruins. 
 
 On my way down to the landing I gained something 
 of my companion's early history. He was a German by 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 133 
 
 birth; came to New York when very young; at sixteen 
 commenced h'fe before the mast, as a common sailor. 
 Left his ship at Vera Cruz; worked around the docks for 
 some time, learned to speak Mexican, and at twenty 
 years of age he landed at Tampico. He finally became 
 acquainted with an old don, went up the Panuco, where 
 I found him, and in due course of time married the old 
 don's daughter, by whose death he got a living. He 
 further informed me that upon commencing business for 
 himself he had a great disgust for the Mexican mode of 
 farming; he said they used a wooden shovel plow, which 
 would merely root up the earth, without any pretense of 
 turning a furrow; and the rest of the labor was performed 
 with heavy, awkward, Mexican hoes. But he went East, 
 procured steel plows and the most improved implements 
 for working the soil; such as harrows, cultivators, etc., 
 and was determined to show the " greasers " how to farm 
 it. His plows did excellent work, turning up the virgin 
 soil from depths that no Mexican system had ever 
 reached, and his improved harrows were a source of 
 amazement to the Mexicans. His cultivators had super- 
 seded the clumsy hoe, and he could show such a corn- 
 field as had never before been seen on the shores of the 
 Panuco. " But," said he, ''what do you think; my corn 
 became like young trees, from twenty to twenty-five feet 
 high, and without any ears whatever, and my experi- 
 ment cost me my entire crop." "Well," I said, "what 
 did you do ? did you throw away your late improve- 
 ments and return to the Mexican system?" "Oh, no!" 
 he said, "the next season I did not plow the ground at 
 all. I planted, after harrowing the field, using the cul- 
 tivator to keep the weeds down, and took off a good 
 
134 Life and Adventures of 
 
 crop; and I have continued to use the imported imple- 
 ments ever since, using the precaution not to produce 
 an overgrowth by turning the ground too deep. And 
 in fact," said he, '* I have now used the ground so long 
 by constant cropping that there is but little danger of 
 too heavy-growth, and even manuring has been benefi- 
 cial in some places." 
 
 As stated, we had landed and were at the base of our 
 operations. It was a pleasant day, and along the im- 
 mediate shore, at the upper portion of the grounds we 
 were to explore, there were a few acres of open ground 
 studded with large mesquite trees, which made a very 
 nice shade ; and the water of the nameless river was pure, 
 sweet, and fitted for ordinary domestic uses. Hence 
 we determined to make our camp at this point, and my 
 four men in connection with the two Mexicans soon 
 constructed a temporary encampment. Really, it was 
 an attractive spot; the ground raised gently from the 
 shore of the Panuco and sloped back to the south, where 
 far in the background, terrace mounting upon terrace, 
 rose the Sierra Madre Mountains to the probable height 
 of two thousand feet; while to the north lay the flat and 
 fertile valley between the Panuco and Tamosee Rivers. 
 We took a hasty meal in our new quarters, as it was now 
 past midday, and commenced our march inland and up 
 the nameless stream. 
 
 We had landed right among the mouldering ruins, 
 which approached the very bank of the river. Here were 
 piles of adobe walls yet maintaining their identity, and 
 there broken columns of granite rock giving unmistakable 
 evidence of the labors of men upon their surface, by the 
 yet visible marks of the artisan's chisel, undefaced by 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 135 
 
 the ravages of time, distinct outlines of what, at some 
 distant day, had been magnificent statues, that might 
 even command the admiration of the present period. 
 
 We proceeded about four miles up the stream, covered 
 here by a heavy mesquite forest and there by patches of 
 chaparral, interspersed with open ground, carpeted with 
 a heavy and uncropped growth of grass. This place 
 seemed to be a favorite retreat for the feather tribes; 
 parrots and paroquets swarmed in the trees. Several 
 black pheasants sprang up before us, one of which Kier 
 brought down with his fowling-piece; while snipe and 
 beautiful plumaged cranes lined the shore and pools 
 along the stream. There were a few monkeys chatter- 
 ing in the trees, but they had ceased to be a novelty. 
 We found the stream to be the outlet to a lake that lay 
 between the Panuco River and the mountains. It was 
 a lovely sheet of water, with a pebbly shore, shallow at 
 the edge and gradually deepening until its blue waves 
 entirely hid the bottom of the immense depth. The 
 ruins extended all the way from the Panuco to the lake. 
 The width of the lake at this point, as I observed, was 
 about six miles, but I could not see its eastern extremity; 
 and the question arose in my mind whether or not this 
 was not an arm of Lake Tampico — which problem I 
 never had an opportunity of solving. 
 
 Everywhere covering the ground and mingling with 
 the ruins were large masses of broken pottery ware; stat- 
 uary of men, quadrupeds, and fowls, all broken and 
 ruined, yet giving evidences of the skill and taste of the 
 race who had some day peopled that lovely place. The 
 statuary and figures seemed to have been attached to the 
 buildings, standing out in bold relief, sustaining cornices 
 
136 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and projections; although this is n(jt universal, as in some 
 instances the rock has been chiseled away, leaving human 
 and other forms in bass-relief upon columns that some 
 day had undoubtedly sustained magnificent structures. 
 But what was more remarkable, the countenances of the 
 faces on. the columns and statuary were wholly unlike 
 the present race inhabiting Mexico, or the Indian tribes 
 of that country, but were rather of a Grecian type. 
 
 It was difficult to say whether the ruined city was 
 confined to the river as a port, or whether its commercial 
 advantages also connected it with the lake; there was 
 one thing very evident, that there had been many mass- 
 ive and elegant buildings on the lake shore, and I think 
 they compared favorably with the ruins on the river. 
 
 Night was now closing in on us, and we returned to 
 the river, where we had established our base of operations. 
 After supper, I seated myself on a fallen column of gran- 
 ite and sank into profound meditation, It was hard to 
 realize that, where I sat at the time, more than a thou- 
 sand years ago a mighty city, which now lay in ruins at 
 my feet, had teemed with commerce, life, and action; its 
 busy streets had one day swarmed with thousands of 
 human beings, whose impulses and feelings probably 
 differed but little from our own. There, had mingled 
 the man of business, the devotee, the pleasure-seeker, 
 the layman and the clergy; men of wealth and station, 
 with rank and power; and vice and squalid misery had 
 alike swarmed in the thoroughfares of this once mighty 
 emporium. But who were they? where did they come 
 from, and whither did they go? What great devastating 
 power or destructive calamity had overtaken them ? 
 Were these the works of the Toltecas nation, who in- 
 
Colon EI. T.. A. Norton. 137 
 
 vadcd Mexico, coming- from the Rocky Mountains in 
 648 ? or were they the conquerors of this city, and in 
 their turn exterminated by the Chickemecas, four hundred 
 years afterwards, I would have c^iven much could I, 
 that night, have called forth the i^host of one of those 
 unknown departed, that I might have interviewed him 
 upon the character and fate of the now dead city. 1 low 
 singular is the human disposition! We Americans, with 
 the nations of Europe, flock to the old world, and there 
 exhaust the brightest intellects and spend untold mill- 
 ions of dollars in hunting for the last records and hidden 
 treasures of a Tyre and a Troy; to relocate the lost site 
 of a Babylon; to hunt for hidden manuscripts in the cata- 
 combs, and excavate the lava-covered plains for a buried 
 Pompeii or llerculaneum, or hunt hieroglyphics among 
 the pyramids of l^gypt; when upon our own continent lies, 
 unexplored and unnoticed, the richest fields in the world 
 for the antiquarian. But I must not dwell longer upon 
 my reflections or midnight speculations. I turned in 
 and was soon lost to all external objects. 
 
 The next morning we took a trail through a patch of 
 chaparral ; all the way the path was rendered uneven 
 and rough by leading over mounds, formed by fallen 
 walls, and blocks of stone of various shapes and sizes, 
 until we reached that part of the ruins particularly 
 referred to by ". Normin's Travels and l^'.x[)lorati(;ns in 
 Mexico," where we found the large tortoise mentioned by 
 him. It rests upon a pedestal, and is about four feet 
 across the base. It is still perfect, excepting the nose, 
 which is partly broken off It is a well-wrought piece 
 of sculpture, and is a perfect tortoise, shell, legs, and tail, 
 but the head that protrudes from the shell is that of a 
 man. 10 
 
138 Life and Adventures of 
 
 My attention was called to a place where there had 
 been an excavation; and about two feet below the sur- 
 face of the ground there was, beyond any doubt, a paved 
 street, as regularly flagged as the streets are at the pres- 
 ent day. With the short time that I had to spend, and 
 the limited means for prosecuting, my researches, I, of 
 course, formed but a vague idea of the interests that 
 labor must develop to the scientific world. Ikit what 
 struck me with more force than all the rest was the ex- 
 tent of territory covered with buildings, and the archi- 
 tectural skill used in beautifying them. It was here 
 Captain Chase, American Minister to Tampico, procured 
 the statue of a man about which there was so much 
 speculation and comment by the press in 1847. It was 
 the statue of a man, apparently cut from solid rock, as 
 no evidence whatever appeared indicating that it was 
 composite. It was so ingeniously finished and arranged 
 that water poured into the mouth would escape at the 
 extremities. 
 
 After spending a couple of days among the ruins, I 
 bade farewell to my friend and guide, and in a few hours 
 after reported myself safe and sound in tampico. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 IT had long been re[)orted that there was a ravenous 
 tiger wliich had his lair on the peninsula between 
 Lake Tampico and the Gulf of Mexico, ending on the 
 Tampico River, and that he was in the habit of making 
 nocturnal descents upon the stock of the ranchers located 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 139 
 
 oil the borders of the lake. He had become a terror to 
 the inhabitants of that community, and for want of some- 
 thing better to do I concluded that a tiger hunt would 
 be a pleasant adventure. I got six adventurous spirits 
 to join me in the expedition, and we asked and obtained 
 leave of Colonel Hicks to make a descent upon this 
 renowned denizen of the chaparral. I was the only 
 officer, and was dressed like the rest, in the uniform of 
 a private. We provided ourselves with canteens, haver- 
 sacks, short Roman swords, muskets, and bayonets? 
 r^ach took a lunch in his haversack, and water in his 
 canteen. All were ready for a start at about eight 
 o'clock in the morning, and we crossed the river and 
 traveled on to where the land commenced to rise abruptly 
 to a plateau, say two hundred feet above the level of the 
 plain. At the base of this rise we found a nice cold 
 spring, from which we replenished our canteens. Then 
 ascending the plateau, we proceeded in an easterly 
 direction, across an open country, and .soon came to a 
 ruined hacienda, an orange orchard long neglected, and 
 a forest of cactus. The latter was the most extraordinary 
 I ever saw, covering an area of some ten acres; the trees 
 were some thirty to forty feet in height, and as dense as 
 a hay-stack. (I would not dare tell this in a cold climate!) 
 We made our way around it (an army of ten thousand 
 men would have had to do the same), and passed through 
 alternate patches of open ground and chaparral, with 
 here and there a few me.squitc trees, making our way 
 towards the coast. lUit the further we went, the more 
 chaparral and less open ground, until in many places we 
 had to pass over the tops of large masses of chaparral, 
 it being so dense that we could sustain ourselves, though 
 
140 Life and Adventures of 
 
 with difficulty, upon the top; the loftiest branches we 
 would lop with our swords. But our progress was very 
 slow, the heat becoming intense, and there was consider- 
 able grumbling by some of the men, although I took the 
 lead, and consequently the brunt of the battle. We had 
 now got so far that we could not suppose it would be so 
 bad to go through to the gulf as to return. But it proved 
 to be a great misfortune to us that we could not compre- 
 hend the future as well as the past. 
 
 As I could see the tops of some mesquite trees in 
 advance of us, I called out, to encourage the boys, that 
 there was open ground ahead. We continued our toil- 
 some march, ever and anon losing our footing and fall- 
 ing down among the thorny mass eight or ten feet, the 
 thorns tearing our flesh and clothes; but we would again 
 scramble up and push ahead for the timber. At last we 
 reached it, and finding open ground, congratulated our- 
 selves on having at last overcome the principal obstacles 
 in the way, and hoped to soon reach the coast, as we 
 could hear the surf beating on the shore very distinctly. 
 We were all perfectly exhausted and suffering with thirst, 
 and sat for a few minutes in the shade while we ate a 
 little lunch; it was but little, as we were all too thirsty 
 to eat much. At three o'clock in the afternoon we 
 again commenced our march for the gulf; but we had 
 not proceeded more than half a mile before we discov- 
 ered that the open ground was but an island in a dense 
 sea of chaparral, and nothing but death or the most des- 
 perate exertion was before us, as we must reach water 
 or die. 
 
 My feelings were anything but pleasant. Not so 
 much for myself did I care, as for the poor fellows that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 14i 
 
 I had induced to engage in this hair-brained adventure; 
 nothing was left for me but to clamber to the top of the 
 chaparral that surrounded us, and encourage the men as 
 best I could, although probably suffering more than any 
 of them, as I had taken the lead and lopped the brush 
 all day. We again commenced our novel tramp, and 
 traveled and continued to travel, the men begging to be 
 allowed to tlirow away their muskets and bayonets; to 
 this I positively objected on two grounds: first, that' we 
 could not tell what use we might have for them before 
 again reaching camp; and secondly, when we slipped 
 and fell into the chaparral, the muskets, by holding them 
 in a horizontal position, would catch and hold us up. 
 When my remonstrances were about to fail, and the last 
 hope seemed to vanish, we struck wavesof sand beneath 
 us, where the shore of the gulf some day had been, but 
 had receded. From this all took courage, and we 
 persevered. Although we were marching on the top of 
 the chaparral, so many of the branches ran above our 
 heads that we could not see more than fourteen or fifteen 
 rods ahead of us, unless the object was higher than we 
 were; hence we could only judge by the sound of swells 
 breaking upon the shore how near we were to the water. 
 Thus we toiled until the sun was down, and until twilight 
 was fast fading. 
 
 At last the shore burst upon our view. More dead 
 than alive, we threw ourselves down upon the beach, and 
 dug holes in the sand, hoping to get water that would to 
 some extent alleviate the thirst that was consuming us. 
 But this was to no purpose; the briny wave of the Gulf 
 of Mexico was a poor substitute for water. In that con- 
 dition we lay for about one hour. The damp atmos- 
 
142 Life and Adventures of 
 
 phere and cool of night had by that time somewhat 
 revived us, and we started down to the beach to reach 
 the pilot station at the mouth of Tampico River. We 
 came to a little hamlet of Mexicans on the opposite 
 side of the Tampico River between ten and eleven 
 o'clock at night, and at once called for water. The 
 scoundrels asserted at first that they had none, and sec- 
 ondly, that they did not have the keys of the house 
 where it was kept. I just seized upon the person of 
 their principal liar, and told him to show us the door 
 that led to the water or I would cut his lying tongue 
 from his head. He then soon found his way to the 
 place; it was locked, but the boys soon made the door 
 ring with repeated blows with the breeches of their 
 muskets, which induced the waterman to put in his ap- 
 pearance with the keys, and we all drank without stint- 
 Then we wanted them to take us over to the pilot sta- 
 tion ; this they absolutely refused to do, not even for 
 money. I told them that we would then take their 
 boats forcibly, there being two canoes, when they rushed 
 to defend them. I ordered the men to fix bayonets; 
 I threw them in line, and charging upon the largest 
 canoe, took possession and was preparing to break the 
 lock or chain, when they signified a willingness to take 
 us over for one dollar each. I paid the seven dollars, 
 and we were all safely landed at the pilot station. 
 
 I noticed on arriving at the station that our coming 
 was an enigma to the parties occupying it, and that 
 there was something wrong generally at that place. 
 There were four Americans at the station, while all their 
 assistants, servants, etc., were Mexicans. This was at a 
 time when many rumors were afloat, and it was generally 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 143 
 
 believed that the Mexicans had made some successful 
 fights, and claimed important victories over the Ameri- 
 cans. The consequence was that it emboldened the 
 Mexican guerrillas and robbers in that section to make 
 some few attacks for purposes of plunder, and I soon 
 discovered from the quiet conversation at the station, 
 and preparations for defense, that they were expecting 
 an attack that night. I further came to the conclusion 
 that while the men were glad to see us come into the 
 station at that opportune moment, they thought that 
 there was no head to the affair; that we were but a 
 straggling squad, unofficered, and, consequently, did not 
 confide the condition of things for fear we might leave 
 them to their fate. In a few moments I comprehended 
 all this, and more; they had several blood-hounds that 
 kept rushing towards the edge of the chaparral, and 
 growling and barking in such a way that it left no ques- 
 tion in my mind but that our arrival for the protection 
 of the station was very opportune. I maintained all 
 the reticence on my part that was evinced by those in 
 charge of the station; but I ordered our men to stack 
 arms in the center of the floor, and placed a guard over 
 them, while the men lay all around in such a manner 
 that they could seize them at a moment's notice. Those 
 in charge of the station sat up all night. I laid down, 
 but could sleep very little. 
 
 The next morning I remarked to Captain (I for- 
 get his name), who was in charge, that they had had 
 quite a night of suspense. He remarked that they had, 
 and a night of danger, too; but for our timely arrival 
 they might all have had their throats cut; but as there 
 was no officer with us they did not tell us of the danger, 
 
144 Life and Adventures of 
 
 for fear \vc mi<^ht leave tlieiii to fii^ht their own battle. 
 I then disclosed my rank, and told our adventure; they 
 blamed me for not letting them know I was an officer, 
 but I assured them that by my comprehending the diffi- 
 culty as I did, and the arrangements made, they w^ould 
 have had all the assistance that they could have ex- 
 pected from seven men. In due time they got us up a 
 good breakfast, and as this was but seven miles from 
 Tampico, with a good road, we were in camp before 
 noon, not once having thought of the tiger, from the 
 time we commenced scaling the chaparral until after we 
 had reached camp. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR— CONTINUED. 
 
 IT was now advancing toward the rainy season, and it 
 became necessary, for the protection of the troops, 
 that we should furnish better shelter than our canvas 
 tents, from the storms that were likely to ensue. 
 Accordingly it devolved upon me, as quartermaster of 
 the command, to provide quarters suitable for the rainy 
 season. After consultation and advice, I erected sheds 
 covered with palm leaves, under which we could pitch 
 our tents, and be dry and comparatively comfortable. 
 This kept me employed for some time, but rumors 
 began to reach us that there was a large force organizing 
 at Tampico el Alto, numbering five thousand or more, and 
 meditating a descent on Tampico. Our effective force 
 being now reduced to less than two thousand men, an 
 express messenger was dispatched to Washington to 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 145 
 
 report the condition of affairs at Tampico, and to solicit 
 reinforcements for that place. Every day brought fresh 
 rumors of the forces gathering at Tampico el Alto, until 
 it was determined by the commanding officer at Tam- 
 pico, as a precaution against danger and surprise, to 
 send out a detachment in the direction of Tampico el 
 Alto to watch the movements of the enemy. For the 
 purpose of carrying out this plan Company I, of our 
 regiment, was detailed, and ordered to repair to Pueblo 
 Viejo, to watch the movements of the Mexicans. We 
 were ordered to make our headquarters at Pueblo Viejo 
 and send out a scout in the direction of Tampico el Alto 
 to prevent our being surprised and captured. 
 
 This was in the fall of 1847; the murky clouds were 
 gathering, and for the first time since landing in Tampico, 
 in July, the sun was obscured. Company I broke camp, 
 and we all embarked on board of such small boats and 
 crafts as were at our command, and commenced our 
 expedition. In three or four hours we landed at Pueblo 
 Viejo, found quarters for the men, and made such neces- 
 sary arrangements for the comfort of the command as 
 was thought advisable for the short sojourn we were to 
 make at that place. Captain Harvey was nominally in 
 command of the company, but as soon as we had landed 
 he called upon the alcalde, was a willing recipient of his 
 bounties, and engaged in imbibing copious libations of 
 mil seal ^.nd agnardienta; owing to his immense capacity, 
 he was carrying the load of two ordinary men, and the 
 command devolved first upon myself and second upon 
 Lieutenant Conkling. 
 
 Night was approaching; there had been a smart 
 shower of rain in the afternoon, making the ground 
 
146 Life and Adventures of 
 
 quite wet and the streets slippery. Conklinf^ and my- 
 self had made our arrangements thus: We were to 
 establish a local guard in the town, I was to take com- 
 mand of a small scouting party, and under cover of 
 night, advance on the road to Tampico el Alto, while 
 Conkliog held command of the balance of the com- 
 pany. The local guard was stationed; among them was 
 a boy by the name of Spalding Lewis; he was a tall lad 
 of sixteen, and was determined to go to Mexico with 
 us from St. Charles. His mother was a widow, and I 
 think Conkling, as well as myself, promised the mother 
 that we would, as far as possible, protect and guard her 
 son from all harm. Well, when Spalding was placed 
 on guard, I directed him to challenge all who approached 
 him, and stop them. But, said he, if they will not stop, 
 what then? I replied, you know your duty, stop them. 
 
 The guard had been stationed half an hour. I had 
 my scouting party all in line, when I heard the report of 
 a musket. I ordered the scouting party on a double- 
 quick, and we soon reached the spot from whence the 
 report proceeded. There I saw Lewis deliberately ram- 
 ming home his cartridge. I said, " Spal., what are you 
 shooting at?" He quietly pointed down the street, 
 remarking, " That fellow came up; I challenged twice, 
 when he started to run, and I slapped it to him." I 
 looked in the direction, and saw a Mexican lying on his 
 face, making some feeble attempts to raise himself I 
 approached him, and found that he was shot through 
 the heart, and in less than two minutes he was quite 
 dead. I handed him over to the alcalde, assuring him 
 that unless he took more pains and kept his men within 
 their proper limits, more of them would share a like 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 147 
 
 fate. The victim was soon recognized by the poHce, and 
 the alcalde said it was no loss, as the fellow was a noto- 
 rious thief and cut-throat. 
 
 On our return to camp, I found Captain Harvey, who 
 immediately assumed command of the company, and 
 wanted to know what I was going to do with so many 
 men. I informed him that I was about complying with 
 the orders of General Gates, by throwing a scouting 
 party out on the road to Tampico el Alto. I had intended 
 to take thirty men, but he blustered around, and said he 
 could not spare so many men from the command, as it 
 wouH endanger its safety. But the gallant captain had 
 forgotten that I was placing myself between him and 
 all danger. After considerable wrangling, it was agreed 
 that I might take twenty, and I was to select my men. 
 (But my young blood was up, and I cursed him, and 
 called him a drunken coward.) 
 
 I selected Sergeant Efner to take charge of the men, 
 and took Lesser Lebenstein, my interpreter; the alcalde 
 furnished me with what he claimed to be a trusty guide. 
 The information we had received regarding the enemy 
 was that they numbered about five thousand, and were 
 comprised of Mexicans and Indians. But whether the 
 force was reduced to anything like discipline or not we 
 had no means of knowing. I had supposed them to be 
 a kind of wild and roving band, assembled for maraud- 
 ing purposes, rather than an organized force to be 
 dreaded by a well drilled and disciplined command. 
 
 Night had set in, and it was intensely dark, owing to 
 the cloudy and misty weather; and about half-past eight 
 we took up our line of march, following the main road, 
 leading up the mountains toward Tampico el Alto. Not 
 
148 Life and Adventures of 
 
 a sound was to be heard, save the tramp of the men 
 and an occasional low curse or growl at the steep and 
 slippery condition of the roads. In this way we had 
 continued an unbroken march for about an hour and a 
 half, when I called a halt to allow the men a short rest. 
 They had scarcely come to a stand, when I heard an 
 unusually heavy peal of a bell in the distance, that told 
 the hour of ten. It then, for the first time, crossed my 
 brain thatTampico el Alto might be something more than 
 a collection of huts. I called the guide, and through 
 my interpreter, interrogated him as to the size of the 
 town of Tampico el Alto. He informed me that it was a 
 large place; and when asked how many inhabitants it 
 contained, he replied, over four thousand. The thought 
 flashed through my mind that there was a chance for 
 me either to distinguish or extinguish myself and the 
 twenty brave companions that were with me. But I 
 hesitated. My life was my own, and if I saw fit to 
 barter it for that bubble called fame, the trade was mine, 
 and none could complain. But the other twenty; had I 
 aright to hazard them on a desperate venture? that was 
 the question. My order was to throw out a scout in the 
 direction of Tampico el Alto, to prevent our little com- 
 mand being surprised. Surely my orders would not 
 justify the rash scheme that I was contemplating, to wit, 
 the assault upon, and capture of Tampico el Alto, under 
 cover of this dense darkness, with my little force of 
 twenty men. I gave my orders for a forward march 
 and began maturing a mode of attack on the place, and 
 calculating my chances of success. It ran something 
 like this: The soldiers are probably camped out of the 
 town, and are controlled by the civil authorities of the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 149 
 
 place. Now, could I succeed in catching the principal 
 officers of the place, or get possession of the stronghold 
 during any temporary panic that would be created by a 
 sudden dash upon the town, I might hold the place until 
 remforced, or hold their leading men as hostages for our 
 safe return, and if successful we could solve the great 
 mystery, Had the Sie^-ra Madre country anythincr to 
 fear from the long-talked-of force gathering at Tampico 
 el Alto? While these plans were being revolved in my 
 mmd, we reach the apex of the hill, and Tampico el Alto 
 with a long string of lights, burst upon our vision. 
 
 On the southern slope of the mountains, and within 
 one mile of us, lay the information wanted; and for one 
 I thought the bait too tempting to be denied. I ordered 
 a halt, called the command around me, and told them 
 there was a great mystery hanging over the command 
 at Tampico as to whether or not there was an organized 
 enemy at Tampico el Alto, and if so, as to their real num- 
 bers and probability of an attack upon our forces- what 
 should we do? Before us lay the long lines of liglit 
 showing to a certain extent the size of the town" I 
 asked the men what their feelings were on the subject' 
 should we make the attempt to dispel the mystery? 
 when with one accord they said, '' Lead on, and we will 
 follow wherever you think best to go ! " I then called my 
 guide, and from him I learned that there were two 
 alcaldes and many priests in town. I directed him to 
 lead me to the principal alcalde, and we commenced a 
 rapid march for the city. As we entered the suburbs I 
 ordered a double-quick, and we went thundering down 
 the rough-paved streets like a command of cavalry. 
 After marching for some distance down the street 
 
150 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the guide pointed out a large building as the residence 
 of the principal alcalde. As we were rapidly approach- 
 ing it, I saw something white flit across the street 
 before us, and, on approaching the house, we were 
 informed, on inquiring, that his highness had just 
 stepped out. Thinking he had slipped through our fin- 
 gers, I directed the guide to lead us to the principal 
 priest. He at first resisted, but I admonished him of 
 danger more near than priest's curses, when he led off. 
 We caught his holiness just as he was retiring, and 
 informed him that he was wanted — that we were Ameri- 
 cans. He seemed to be very much affrighted at the 
 name Americanos. I informed him that we wanted 
 quarters for the night, and must have possession of the 
 strongest buildings at his command. If he hesitated or 
 declined, we would worship with him at his own church 
 altar. In his terror he was ready to do anything; he 
 seized a large bundle of keys, and I directed Efner to 
 bring up the men. (He had drawn them up alongside 
 of a high wall, and in the darkness of the night it was 
 impossible to judge of their numbers.) 
 
 I trudged along with tho priest up to the public square 
 or plaza, where there was a large building, inclosed by 
 double walls. We entered the gates, and in a short time 
 his holiness had opened rooms sufficient to quarter at 
 least five hundred soldiers. When I informed him that 
 the room already at our command was sufficient for our 
 troops, and seeing that we had a position where we could, 
 for a time, resist Santa Anna and all his forces, I 
 released the padre, and threw myself down to attempt 
 to get a little rest. Before retiring, however, sentinels 
 had been placed at both outer and inner gates, thus 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 151 
 
 guarding ourselves from danger by assault; and knowing 
 that they could not have the least idea of my numbers, 
 they would naturally wish for a parley, and that would 
 enable me to ascertain what I wished to find out, to wit, 
 the amount of the enemy's force, if any, stationed there; 
 for as yet wc had not seen even a sentinel. 
 
 In less than an hour there was a challenge at the outer 
 gate; I hastened to ascertain the cause, and found a 
 delegation from the alcaldes, saying that they wished to 
 see the commandant. I well knew that it was no time 
 to show the white feather. I thrust a revolver in my 
 pocket, buckled on my sword, and taking Lebenstien, 
 my interpreter, followed the delegation across the plaza 
 to what seemed to be a large council hall. Here I 
 found assembled the two alcaldes, the priest we recently 
 had under arrest, and about twenty of the principal 
 officers of the town. On our entrance, the ordinary salu- 
 tations being over, some remark was made by the prin- 
 cipal alcalde to Lebenstien, to which he replied, evi- 
 dently in not the purest Spanish. 1 he alcalde, then, in 
 good King's luiglish, asked him if he spoke English. 
 I then advanced and told him if he spoke that language, 
 I could answer for myself; if not as fluently as Paul did 
 before Festus and Agrippa, at least sufficiently so to 
 make myself understood. Upon this, he remarked that 
 I must be aware that the entering of their town by an 
 armed force required some explanation. I promptly an- 
 swered that my mission was, if they offered no resistance, 
 to protect; but if hostile, to reduce their city. He said, 
 "By what authority?" I answered, "By the authority of 
 the American Republic, and a force of one hundred men, 
 sufficient to reduce any city in Mexico." A smile crossed 
 
152 Life and Adventures of 
 
 his face, and he turned and addressed something to those 
 around him. I added, " I learn that there is a large force 
 assembled at this place, meditating a hostile descent 
 upon Tampico." He turned to me and said: " You 
 have the positive assurance of our pacific intention, by 
 permitting you to take possession of the stronghold of 
 our town; and so far as the force is concerned, of which 
 you speak, there were about five thousand assembled, 
 but not for the purpose you suppose. It was a land 
 difficulty, and the descent meditated was not against the 
 American forces, but upon Pueblo Viejo, to redress 
 aggrievances; but they have given up the expedition, 
 and disbanded eight days since, not having received the 
 assistance calculated on by our citizens. If a formal 
 surrender of the town is demanded, as your language 
 would imply, the proper authority is present for that 
 purpose." I informed him that while we demanded the 
 surrender of the town, it was not my intention in the 
 least to interfere with their local government, or police 
 regulations, an J that he would continue to conduct them 
 the same as usual; but they must from henceforth con- 
 sider themselves an American town, under the conquest 
 of General Gates, of Tampico. 
 
 The principal priest then filled a large foot glass, the 
 largest I had ever seen, with wine (and as I thought, 
 resembling the '* cup of Hercules"), and presented it to 
 me to drink. I gave them to understand they must first 
 try their own poison, which the alcalde readily under- 
 stood; and after drinking to our commander, passed it, 
 in which I pledged the alcalde and officers of Tampico 
 el Alto. The alcalde then asked if they could be of any 
 service to our command; I told him if he would furnish 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 153 
 
 a couple of buckets, and allow two of his men to 
 accompany two of mine to fill them with water, I would 
 trespass no farther. This he readily assented to, after 
 which the alcalde gave me a cordial invitation to accom- 
 pany him home; to this I consented, spending a couple 
 of hours very agreeably with him. I learned from him 
 that he had been educated in New York, and had trav- 
 eled much in the United States. 
 
 I took my leave of him about one o'clock, and assured 
 him that I should return with my force early the next 
 morning as quietly as I had entered the place. This I 
 did, and at eight o'clock in the morning was with Com- 
 pany I at Pueblo Viejo. The same afternoon I reported 
 myself to General Gates, together with the facts heretofore 
 stated. I was severely reprimanded, and threatened to 
 be cashiered, for disobedience of orders. 
 
 Perhaps it served me right for bursting the bubble, as 
 General Gates' report showed that Tampico el Alto had 
 fallen into the hands of the Americans, and there being 
 now nothing to threaten Tampico, so large a force was 
 no longer needed; consequently we soon received orders 
 to join General Scott before Vera Cruz. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. ' 
 
 AMONG the troops concentrated and designed to 
 march upon the Mexican capital, was the regiment 
 under Walker. The command was known as the Texas 
 Rangers. I had often heard Walker spoken of as a 
 daring officer, and one who had long been imprisoned by 
 II 
 
J 54 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the Mexicans, having been captured by them in the 
 struggle between Mexico and Texas. I had imagined 
 the appearance of my youthful hero, and I had pictured 
 him as a large, stalwart, dark man, whose very look 
 would cause an enemy to quail before him; but, on meet- 
 ing him "for the first time, my idol was shattered and 
 fell to the ground; for in the real Walker I found a man, 
 to the best of my judgment about five feet ten inches 
 high, thin and wiry, of light complexion, with' pale blue 
 eyes, and of a fine nervous temperament. Out of a thou- 
 sand men, he would be the last that you would take for 
 a fighter. 
 
 I find that history has said but little in regard to him, 
 and I cannot throw much light on the subject further than 
 this: I know that he led the advance in the line, captured 
 San Juan, routed a small band of guerrillas at the Rob- 
 ber's Bridge, sacked and partly demolished Santa Anna's 
 hacienda at that place, met and dispersed a lot of lan- 
 ceros at Agua Cotta, made a brilliant dash and took the 
 castle of Perote and put the most of the garrison to the 
 sword, remembering the fate of his brother at that place; 
 and thereby hangs a tale. 
 
 During the war between Texas and Mexico, Walker 
 and his brother were attached to a command who were 
 captured and made prisoners by the Mexicans, and after 
 a long and harassing march and untold privations> 
 reached the castle of Perote, where they suffered a long 
 and solitary imprisonment, until at length the prisoners 
 became a burden to the powers that were, and they 
 finally came to the determination to rid themselves of 
 the burden. There being no exchanges to be made of 
 prisoners, with that wanton cruelty and hatred at that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 155 
 
 time towards everything that was American, they 
 resolved to dispose of the prisoners there confined, 
 about three hundred in number. They prepared a sack 
 and placed therein a number of beans, corresponding to 
 the number of prisoners. Two-thirds of these beans 
 were black, while the other third was white. The pris- 
 oners were then each blindfolded, as they were led out, 
 and compelled to draw a bean from the sack. He who 
 drew a black bean was posted at the side of a wall 
 and shot immediately. Colonel Walker drew a white 
 bean and was liberated, while his brother drew a black 
 bean, and with other unfortunates was immediately shot. 
 I afterwards saw the place and took several of the bat- 
 tered bullets from the wall in front of which they were 
 placed and shot. 
 
 Walker, before leaving the castle at the dead hour of. 
 night, deposited a ten-cent piece beneath the foot of the 
 main flag-staff of the castle, and, with uncovered head, 
 upon his bended knees, in the presence of his God and 
 the stars that twinkled above him as solemn, silent wit- 
 nesses, there he registered his vow that, should his life be 
 spared, at some future day he would come in triumph or 
 die in the attempt. The war between the United States 
 and Mexico had offered him the opportunity to make 
 an attempt to carry out his pledge, an opportunity he 
 was not slow to embrace. After the castle was tak^n 
 and after blood and carnage were stayed, our hero again, 
 with reverential awe and uncovered head, devotedly 
 knelt at the foot of that flag-staff and removed his talis- 
 man of evil (to the Mexicans) amid the congratulations 
 and cheers of his companions-in-arms, as the stars and 
 stripes, the emblem of America's great nation, com- 
 
156 Life and Adventures of 
 
 menced slowly creeping up the same staff, meeting the 
 Mexican flag descending. As it went aloft, its folds 
 unfurling to the gentle breeze, it created surprise and 
 consternation among the gaping throng of Mexicans 
 who had hastened from the city of Perote. All was done 
 with such celerity that it seemed rather as some feverish 
 dream than a reality to the denizens of the place. I am 
 devoting the most of this chapter to one heroic man, 
 u^ho evidently did not have influential friends at horae 
 to give one blast on their horn to sound his praise, or to 
 record the deeds of the brave heart and strong hand 
 whose remains lie mouldering near Huamantla; but I 
 will follow him to the end, and return to our march. 
 
 To the right of the road leading to Puebla, about 
 twelve miles distant, lies the important town of Hua- 
 mantla, where was garrisoned quite a force of Mexicans, 
 and it was thought proper to reduce the place. Colonel 
 Walker, with his rangers, was ordered to advance upon 
 the tovvn, throw out a skirmish line and contrive to 
 occupy the Mexican force until the infantry and artillery 
 should arrive; but contrary to orders and caution against 
 recklessness. Walker, in approaching the city, charged, 
 sword in hand, when a sharp conflict ensued. The 
 Mexicans were routed, and Walker took possession o^ 
 the place. But at this juncture Santa Anna, with eight- 
 een hundred black horse cavalry, made his appearance 
 over the hill from the north side of the town and made 
 a desperate attack upon Walker's command. But 
 Walker was not found napping. He met the charges 
 in battle shock, and in a few minutes a large number of 
 the Mexicans was placed hors dii combat, while the 
 balance left the field in the utmost confusion and with 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 157 
 
 more expedition than they had entered it. Walker, 
 undoubtedly supposing that they would rally and return 
 to the charge, had directed and was superintending the 
 erection of a barricade across a prominent street, vv^ith 
 his right resting upon a church, and placing a piece of 
 ordnance to sweep the street (at this time the place had 
 entirely surrendered and white flags were flying from 
 most of the windows), when a shot was fired from one 
 of the windows of a house from, which floated a white 
 flag. Walker was shot dead, and fell into the arms of 
 his black body servant; and thus in glory ended the brill- 
 iant career of one of our most devoted, brave-hearted, 
 and distinguished officers. Of this man I know nothing 
 more than that I do not find his name inscribed 
 high on the escutcheon of fame, and hence I presume, 
 as I before remarked, that he left none behind him that 
 had the ability or disposition to pay to the dead hero 
 the tribute that his valor demanded. 
 
 Now, having gone forward to dispose of poor Walker, 
 I will return to the main thread of my story. The little 
 town of San Juan was situated on a small creek twenty- 
 one miles from Vera Cruz, on the road leading by the 
 way of the National Bridge. On our arrival at San Juan 
 we found nothing but blackened embers where the town 
 had once stood. Walker was in advance. It was a 
 very good camping-place and we were camped there for 
 several days. It was at this place that our regiment lost 
 its first man after landing at Vera Cruz. Up the creek 
 about a mile and a half, in a beautiful wooded country 
 was situated one of Santa Anna's many haciendas^ 
 with gardens, fruits, and flowers, and an extensive orange 
 grove. 
 
158 Life and Adventures of 
 
 The buildings had become the head-quarters of a 
 band of guerrillas, numbering about one hundred and 
 fifty, who came down and made a sudden descent upon 
 us at break of day. The pickets were driven in, the 
 camp was astir, and the long roll was sounded; soon all 
 were under arms and ready for fight, but no enemy was 
 to be found. The menace was harmless, as no one was 
 hurt. One company of our regiment was camped a 
 little below us, towards the creek. There was a grove 
 justout of musket range of this company. This company 
 had been recruited in the southern part of the State of Illi- 
 nois. The captain was sixty-five years of age (I have 
 forgotten his name), and his company looked upon him 
 as a kind of father to them, rather than as a command- 
 ing officer. About four o'clock the next afternoon this 
 band of hmceros filed out from the grove and made a 
 sudden dash on the old man's company, and, forming a 
 line, by a skillful maneuver, nearly half the command 
 poured a shower of escopet balls into the camp. The 
 casualty was small, one man being shot through the 
 head, while some three or four were slightly wounded. 
 The company was not, as you might suppose, thrown 
 into confusion, but delivered into the ranks of the run- 
 ning enemy a well-directed fire, which sent some five or 
 six horses away riderless, while one horse did not get 
 off the ground. 
 
 As soon as the enemy had made good their retreat, 
 the old captain came rushing into the main camp, his. 
 eyes almost starting from their sockets, his nostrils 
 expanded, his face flushed, and great drops of perspira- 
 tion rolling down his cheeks, exclaiming, " Now some- 
 thing must be done; they have killed John; they have 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 150 
 
 shot him through the head, and the varlets must be 
 extin^Tuished." The captain claimed the right to take 
 his company and go out, hke the Israeh'tcs of old, and 
 chastise the enemy, but he was at last convinced that it 
 would be very imprudent for a single company or, in fact, 
 any other force at that time, to go in pursuit, as the 
 enemy was well acquainted with the country, and, being 
 mounted, they could ambush or avoid us as they thought 
 proper. 
 
 On consultation it was thought most advisable to 
 send out spies, and, if 'possible, find their rendezvous, 
 which was accordingly done, when we ascertained that 
 they had possessed themselves of the Jiacienda before 
 referred to. Accordingly two companies were detailed 
 for a night expedition. Companies I and G were 
 detailed for the service, and as soon as night had fairly 
 set in, the command was on the march. We had pro- 
 cured a plan of the grounds and the situation of the 
 stables, as well as their relation to the hacienda. The 
 command was to be divided. One company was to go 
 on the east side of the mansion and slip in between the 
 shrubbery and the house, and the other company was to 
 come up on the south side and make a bold attack, the 
 force on the east side to prevent them from reaching 
 their horses. ]^ut, by some mistake, the company that 
 was to attack from the south side, got clear around on 
 the west side, and from some cause, I know not whether 
 from a sentinel or by accident, the alarm was given. 
 The guerrillas, as might have been supposed, rushed for 
 their horses, while our men, on the cast, attempted to 
 cut them off from their stables. The affair was of 
 short duration. The party which was to have kept 
 
IGO Life and Adventures of 
 
 them from their horses was a Httle slow, and the most of 
 them had reached the stables, but not before the com- 
 pany on the west had fired into their ranks. The party 
 on the east side mistaking the fire of our own men upon 
 the lanceros, returned it, which, had it not been for one 
 of those^club cactus fences, would have been disastrous 
 to our own men; as it was, but two men were wounded, 
 and those not dangerously. 
 
 The building was then entered and proved to be well 
 filled with beautiful and very valuable furniture, con- 
 taining French mirrors, glass more than a half inch in 
 thickness, inclosed in beautiful mahogany and black 
 ebony frames, fine rosewood and mahogany chairs, sofas, 
 ottomans, etc. The building was a rather rumbling 
 structure and apparently fitted up in haste, and seemed 
 to be a favorite resort of the one-legged veteran. But 
 we made short work of things there. We gathered 
 together the most combustible portion of the furniture, 
 piled it in a large room and then applied a match to it. 
 We also burned the barn and out-houses, leaving no 
 shelter for guerrillas. From the light made by the burn- 
 ing, we picked up six dead and dying Mexicans. We 
 returned to camp well satisfied with the first lesson of 
 our guerrilla hunting on the route to Mexico. 
 
 In a few days we broke up camp and moved on to 
 the Robber's Bridge, when the Mexicans showed them- 
 selves in considerable force. But a few shot and shell 
 completely dislodged them. We continued our march 
 until within a short distance of the National Bridge, 
 when we were opened upon by a strong fort just above 
 the bridge, on the river and on the opposite side from 
 us. Their position was a very strong one, and com- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 161 
 
 manded the road for a great distance. We also opened 
 upon the fortifications with shot and shell, but to little 
 purpose, as their position seemed inapregnable. But 
 Yankee ingenuity and the consummate skill of our Scott 
 was not long in finding a solution to the problem. A 
 force of cavalry was thrown across the stream at a 
 remote point, undiscovered by the Mexicans, gaining the 
 rear and coming up behind on a sloping hog's back, and 
 ere the Mexicans were aware of it, plunged into their 
 works, sword in hand, cutting the gunners down at their 
 posts and making prisoners of the remaining officers* and 
 men, and, ere the day closed, the batteries commanding 
 the bridge were silenced, and the National Bridge, pro- 
 tected by a well-equipped Mexican force, with all its 
 natural strength, which heretofore had been thought to 
 be impregnable, fell into our hands. I have hardly ever 
 seen a point better calculated for defensive operations or 
 better entitled to be deemed impregnable than the Na- 
 tional Bridge. In fact, it seemed the master-key to lock 
 us out from the Mexican capital. Having full possession 
 of the National Bridge, the next door that we were to 
 force was the strong natural defense of Piano del Rio, 
 or "river of the plains," and the pass of Cerro Gordo. 
 
 As we advanced on the Piano del Rio, the Mexicans 
 blew up the bridge and we were compelled to dig a road 
 down a steep hill, or rather mountain, in order to cross 
 the stream. However, General Hardy made the Mexi- 
 cans perform the principal labor. We crossed the stream 
 and encamped on the opposite side, in a small valley 
 that extended up and down the river at the base of the 
 Cerro Gordo Mountains. The country hereabout is 
 very rough and rugged, interspersed with deep and dark 
 
162 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ravines, fantastic caves, rolling hills, and lofty mountains, 
 and through this picturesque country runs the Piano del 
 Rio, a rapid mountain torrent of cold and pure water. 
 The bridge, which was blown up at our approach, was of 
 solid masonry, built long ago, of water-washed cobble- 
 stones and cement, and the rock and cement had become 
 so inseparably united that when the bridge was blown to 
 pieces the rifts were straight, breaking the cobble-stones 
 and cement alike. 
 
 Our principal forces were concentrated at this point, 
 meditating a descent on Santa Anna in his favorite 
 stronghold. In speaking of our operations here, it is 
 not my intention to reproduce a history of the many 
 hard-fought fields or glorious victories achieved by our 
 soldiery in the war with Mexico; but these are portions 
 of the history of that war that have never been written. 
 And perhaps I might go much furtjpsr, and with a 
 great degree of justice, and say that the history of the 
 Mexican war never was written. Though the historian 
 has dwelt upon the achievements of our forces on many 
 a bloody field; has eulogized the acts of those whom 
 fame has proclaimed immortal, other important events 
 of that history are wholly omitted. The deeds of dar- 
 ing- of those who had influential friends at home to raise 
 their standards for them, have had their colors flying to 
 the breeze and their names emblazoned upon the pages 
 of history; but who shall chronicle the record of the 
 friendless captain, lieutenant, non-commissioned officer 
 or private, who there offered up his life as a sacrifice 
 upon the altar of his country? Nor is this the only 
 unwritten history. 
 
 I presume there are many who will remember our 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 163 
 
 encampment at Piano del Rio, near the foot of the Cerro 
 Gordo, as heretofore stated; that Scott's head-quarters 
 were still at the National Bridge, and that General Pat- 
 terson, being next in rank, was in command at Piano 
 del Rio, and that Patterson was confined to his tent by- 
 sickness, and among the general officers present were 
 Generals Twiggs, Worth, and Pillow. Worth being 
 temporarily in command, and very ambitious (and what 
 officer of rank is not?) ordered an attack on Cerro 
 Gordo. The attack was to be made at four o'clock the 
 next morning, when we. were to charge upon the Mexi- 
 can works at the base of the hill, and march directly up 
 the road to Jalapa. Men who carry the knapsack fre- 
 quently have as good an idea of the practicability of an 
 attack as their officers in command. That night you 
 might have traversed the encampment and heard men 
 making their non-cupative wills on every side. John 
 would say to Jim, "Now, Jim, if I am killed to-morrow, 
 and you escape, I have five dollars in my pocket and 
 Dan Jones owes me two and a half; collect that and 
 send my blankets and knapsack to Sally, etc." But 
 the attack was not destined to be made. General Patter- 
 son arose from his sick bed, resumed his position and 
 countermanded the order for an attack and sent a 
 courier to inform General Scott of his condition, begging 
 him to hasten forward and take command of the army, 
 as he was too sick to hold it, and if he surrendered it 
 to Worth, that officer would sacrifice it to his ambition. 
 Scott hastened on and assumed command and con- 
 tinued the countermand until he matured his plans of 
 attack, and with the consummate skill for which he is so 
 justly renowned, he soon discovered that the mountain 
 
164? Life and Adventures of 
 
 peak about half a mile south of Cerro Gordo com- 
 manded the summit of the latter mountain. Upon the 
 top of Cerro Gordo Santa Anna had his head-quarters, 
 at the point known as Telegraph Station. With infinite 
 labor Scott secretly got several heavy pieces of field ord- 
 nance 4)laced in battery, then sent out sappers and 
 miners to clear out the hollow pass at the right of Cerro 
 Gordo Mountain, and gave each command its position 
 and signal for attack. It will be well remembered, 
 doubtless, that charges were preferred against General 
 Scott, and the subsequent court of inquiry, and that he 
 was ordered home for trial. The countermand of the 
 order for attack on Cerro Gordo, sustained by Scott's 
 order continuing the countermand, I believe to have 
 been the foundation of those ridiculous charges, of 
 which Worth and Pillow were the active agents. In 
 saying this much, I am giving you but a faint hint of 
 some portions of the unwritten history of the Mexican 
 War. 
 
 But before passing entirely from Cerro Gordo, I can- 
 not help mentioning one fact connected with Scott's order 
 for the battle fought at that place, and the way it was 
 carried out. Of course it was published and reached 
 the House of Lords in England. When the Duke of 
 Wellington read it, he uncovered his head and arose in 
 his place in the House and said: " England in her more 
 prosperous days has achieved victories; France, under 
 Napoleon, was the pride of the world; but Winfield 
 Scott, of the United States Army^ is the first man who 
 has ever reduced war to a science." 
 
 That general order was not the only thing that should 
 have called forth the admiration of the whole civilized 
 
C()l/)NK]. L. A. NOk'jr^N. lOo 
 
 world. Here was a spectacle heretofore unheard of: 
 A mere handful of men, enterinr^ with hostile intentions 
 a nation ()[ th(; magnitude of the Mexican Kejjublic; 
 they, a nation trained to arms from their infancy, boast- 
 ing of their military [jrowess and achievements in by- 
 gone days; we, leavin^^ a Conr^ress behind us debatinr^ 
 whether they would furnish us the means of subsistence 
 or whether we should be left to our fate, and some of 
 that Congress wishing that we might be " welcomed by 
 blf>ody hands to inhospitable graves;" yet we pushed on, 
 with a force never exceeding eleven or twelve thousand 
 men, first capturing their metropolis, then penetrating to 
 the heart of their country. 
 
 They not only placed obstructions to prevent our ad- 
 vance, but literally blocked up the roads behind us; in 
 fact, this practice was carried on to such a state of per- 
 fection by the Mexicans, that when we compelled them 
 to open the road to admit our trains, it was easier in 
 many places to construct a new road than to clear out 
 the old one. It was the uniform boast that not one of 
 us should live to tell the story; yet still we pressed on 
 until victory, rm many a hard-contested field, at last 
 enabled us to make ourselves masters of their capital, 
 where our flag prr^udly waved over the halls of the Mon- 
 tczumas, and " these northern barbarians," as they 
 termer! us, dictated terms of peace, and settled our 
 troubles with the erring sister republic with honor to our 
 nation and a laudable pride to the actors in the scene. 
 
 Under General .Scott's general order, Cerro Gordo was 
 fought, and one of the most brilliant victories obtained 
 over a largely superior force, over one-half of the army of 
 the enemy on the field being captured. It was Scott's 
 
166 Life and Adventures of 
 
 intention to gain their rear and cut off their retreat to 
 Jalapa. This plan failed in part, but the Mexican army 
 was cut in two,and Santa Anna only escaped capture by 
 cutting his lead mule out of the harness, mounting upon 
 his back, and beating a hasty retreat, — leaving his car- 
 riage and wooden leg as trophies to our Illinois volun- 
 teers, while his money-bags and treasures were left. 
 Our boys as they passed would take their knives and 
 cut the money-bags without breaking ranks, pocket a 
 handful of Mexican dollars, and continue the cl.arge 
 upon the flying foe. Santa Anna's wooden leg was 
 brought home to Springfield, and deposited in our State 
 capitol, as a relic of the great victory. 
 
 At Cerro Gordo and near the telegraph station, 
 for more than a month after the great battle, the 
 boys might be seen exploring the dust in quest of 
 Mexican dollars, with which they replenished their 
 purses. Santa Anna fell back upon Jalapa with a rem- 
 nant of his defeated and demoralized army, reporting a 
 great victory over the enemy, and making a forced loan 
 of the Mexican merchants at that place, to entirely an- 
 nihilate the Yankee army. But he was not permitted to 
 remain long with his shattered forces at that point, but 
 was compelled to make a hasty retreat along the road 
 leading to the city of Mexico, while the victorious Scott 
 occupied Jalapa. Here our regiment was left to guard 
 and hold the post for some time, while the main army 
 was encamped outside the town. 
 
 In this connection, I would remark that there is a 
 most lovely mountain stream flowing to the west of the 
 city, upon which an English company had erected a 
 large woolen factory, employing a great number of 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 167 
 
 hands. I do not know the altitude of Jalapa, but it 
 must be some 8,ooo or 9,000 feet above the level of the 
 sea; in fact, it might be considered a mountain town. 
 And, while lying there, we experienced several quite 
 heavy frosts; yet in the rear of the city, in the month of 
 November, I picked some very fine blackberries, found 
 coffee maturing and oranges in all conditions, from the 
 blossom up to the ripe fruit, the frost seeming not to 
 affect vegetation. I have many a time stood on the 
 hills back of the city and seen the clouds rolling far below 
 me over the valley. 
 
 After leaving this point, we pursued our march en 
 route for the city of Mexico. Through a deep gorge at 
 first, then descending quite a high range of mountains, 
 we at length reached the famous pass of Tahoya, or 
 Black Pass.. Here the Mexicans rallied and attempted 
 to make a stand. That point is well calculated to op- 
 pose any advancing enemy, as the pass seems to be 
 through the exhausted crater of a volcano, and the whole 
 country for miles around is covered by a sharp pedregal, 
 while the road was blockaded by immense walls of the 
 same material, over which it w^as almost as difficult to 
 travel as over broken glass. But Yankee ingenuity soon 
 overcame all obstacles, and the road was opened and the 
 Mexicans flying before a salute of grape and canister. 
 After crossing this mountain, we reached an elevated 
 plain, with the Perote Mountain to our left, and upon 
 this same plain, at the foot of the mountain, is situated 
 the city and castle of Perote. 
 
 The Perote Mountain exhibits one of the most peculiar 
 freaks of nature that I ever saw. At one point it forms 
 a cone-like peak, upon the top of which is an immense 
 
168 Life and Adventures of 
 
 rock crown which projects on every side like the top of 
 a center-table over the pedestal. It resembles a large 
 box or chest, and hence it is called the Cofre de Perote. 
 Upon its lofty summit stands the coffer, with its huge 
 proportions resting upon a much smaller base containing 
 its immense imaginary treasure. To that lofty summit 
 each morning, the eyes of the don, the seiiora, and peon are 
 alike turned up, with an inquiring look, to note whether 
 their treasures are still safe in the strong rock-box on 
 the summit of old Perote. There has been some gold 
 discovered at the foot of the mountain, and from that 
 fact, undoubtedly, arose the name and also the legend 
 that the coffer contains untold treasures of gold, and at 
 some time the coffer will, with its immense treasure, come 
 rolling down the mountain. 
 
 This place is remarkable for sudden changes. of weather 
 and is consequently very sickly. The sun may be shin- 
 ing brightly and in fifteen minutes afterwards the rain 
 may be pouring in torrents, and again clearing up as if 
 by magic. These changes frequently occur a dozen 
 times daily. The city of Perote contains several thou- 
 sand inhabitants, yet it presents but a squalid appear- 
 ance, being built principally of adobe, and the houses 
 generally but one story, rough and hovel-like in their 
 structure. The castle is about a quarter of a mile from 
 the city and upon a level with it. The whole works are 
 situated upon a level plain. Around the castle is a deep 
 moat, which in times of peace is dry, but which is so 
 arranged as to be filled with water at very short notice 
 in case of necessity. All around inside of the outer 
 wall are immense lions' heads, with their huge mouths 
 open, and at a given signal they vomit forth immense 
 volumes of water to fill the moat. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. u;9 
 
 The country around, as before stated, being one vast 
 level plain, up to the base of the mountain, and the 
 mountain being beyond range of artillery, there is noth- 
 ing to command it, and, therefore, in the hands of a 
 careful garrison, it would be a place of great strength, 
 but of no possible strategic value. The town is of no 
 importance, and both town and castle, from the nature of 
 the country, are easily turned, and there are passes in 
 advance that would be easily fortified, avoiding the dan- 
 ger of guerrilla access or leaving an enemy in your rear; 
 in fact, I could not see what was to support so large a 
 town in that place. It is too much elevated to produce 
 tropical fruits, and I saw but little cultivation of the soil. 
 In fact, the plain looked to me to be rather sterile and 
 to be adapted to grazing purposes only. For aught I 
 know, it may be supported, in part, by mines in the 
 Perote Mountains, but I had no evidence of this. 
 
 F'rom Perote, many miles west of us, to the right of 
 our road, lay Mount Santa Cruz, or Mount of the Sacred 
 Cross. This landmark, as it rises from the level of the 
 plain to a height of some three thousand feet, may be 
 seen for many leagues around, and we tramped a long 
 and tiresome day's march to reach it, finally encamping 
 about three miles to the south of its base, which .seemed 
 to be scarcely half a mile distant. Upon its lofty peak 
 which shot up into the heavens like a spire, had been 
 erected a cross, when the country was invaded by Cortez. 
 It looked from the plain like two straws placed at right 
 angles, and as we were marching along during the day, 
 a discussion arose among the officers as to how long it 
 would take a man to ascend to the top and bring down 
 a piece of the holy cross. Some thought two weeks to 
 
170 Life and Adventures of 
 
 go and come, while I became the butt of ridicule for the 
 crowd by asserting that I could go to the summit and 
 bring down a piece of the cross in twenty-four hours. 
 
 We closed our day's march and camped at a Mexican 
 village of about two thousand inhabitants, called Tepeaca. 
 When I had finished my supper the sun was almost an 
 hour high. I went to one Henry Stickler, a member and 
 private of my company, and asked him if he would 
 like a little adventure, stating to him at the same 
 time that I proposed that night to climb the Santa 
 Cruz, and to bring down a piece of the holy cross before 
 morning. Henry was a well-knit, daring man of about 
 twenty-three years of age, and always ready for an ad- 
 venture; consequently our arrangements were soon made 
 and we took up our line of march for the base of the 
 mountain, which we expected to reach in about twenty 
 minutes; but as we proceeded the mountain seemed to 
 recede, and night had fairly set in before we really com- 
 menced our ascent. But while there was the least 
 streaking of twilight in the west we shot up the steep 
 ascent like two young eagles. The full moon was up, 
 but it gave us little light, and as we were on the west 
 side of the mountain, the moon being in the east, it 
 brought the mountain between us and the light. 
 
 Still we held our course for the lofty summit, clamber- 
 ing over the immense rocks and bowlders which time 
 had reft from the mountain-side, not knowing but we 
 might start them from their long-used bed and precipi- 
 tate them and ourselves from their airy station to the 
 plain below. About two hours' labor brought us to a 
 shoulder of the mountain where we stopped to take a 
 rest, and, with that rest, a general view of our position. 
 Before us lay the shadows of the mountain stretching 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 171 
 
 for more than a mile west of us along- the level plain, 
 like the picture of Cleopatra's Needle, with its sharp 
 point pictured on the bosom of the valley. The mount- 
 ain seemed almost split asunder by an immense crater, 
 whose escape was to the west. Consequently we kept 
 around to the east side. Now, being aided by the 
 moon's rays, we again commenced our tortuous ascent, 
 and about two o'clock in the morning, we reached the 
 extreme summit, where had been planted the Cross of 
 Vera Cruz, by the early Spanish invaders. It was com- 
 posed of Mexican cedar. The timber was about twenty 
 inches square, the upright being about twenty feet high, 
 the cross-piece about ten feet long and about fifteen feet 
 from the ground. With the aid of some rocks, and some 
 boosting on the part of Henry, I was enabled to reach 
 the cross-piece, and as I sat upon it, I chopped off two 
 good-sized pieces, one for each of us. 
 
 But that was not all that we did. Our command was 
 escorting what was known as the big train, and the 
 Mexicans swore in their wrath that it should never go 
 through. They had made several raids, but were always 
 defeated, and we knew that guerrillas were hanging 
 on each flank. As I stood on the summit of Mount 
 Vera Cruz, apparently right at my feet burned our camp- 
 fires. To the left and over low ranges of hills, burned 
 the enemy's camp-fires; and yet, from appearances, their 
 camps were larger than ours. We commenced our de- 
 scent from the mountain, and at half-past four o'clock in 
 the morning we passed through our lines and reported 
 ourselves in camp, bringing the evidence that the cross 
 could be reached in less than twenty-four hours, as well 
 as the important discovery that the Mexican forces were 
 hovering on either flank of our command. 
 
172 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 AS I am writing my own memoirs, and not the history 
 of the Mexican War, I pass on in our advance march 
 by Agua Caliente Huamantla, to the right twelve miles 
 (this is where Walker was killed), and taking Puebla, 
 San Martine, and other villages on the west, from Puebla 
 to the City of Mexico, and at length arrive at a stream 
 high up in the mountains called Rio Frio, or Cold River. 
 I have seen snow on its banks in the summer. There 
 is quite a valley in the gorge of the mountains, and, in 
 fact, from the immense height of the Popocatepetl 
 Range, it is comparatively a very low pass that we cross 
 to reach the City of Mexico. The altitude from the 
 summit to the base I never knew; but it is about that 
 of perpetual snow in that climate. There is quite a 
 village at Rio Frio, and we stationed our troops there dur- 
 ing the war. The aspect of the place is cold and rather 
 forbidding. Among other troops stationed there were 
 the Texas Rangers under Col. Jack Hays. After 
 Walker's death they were of but little importance to the 
 service. They were not uniformed and but little drilled, 
 but they were rather dreaded by non-combatants of all 
 classes. Colonel Irwin's right and Captain Little's com- 
 pany of cavalry were also stationed at this place for a 
 long time after the fall of Mexico. 
 
 When we had crossed the mountains at this point, we 
 descended into the valley in which is situated the City of 
 Mexico. I cannot recollect the distance from the base 
 of the mountain to the City of Mexico; but I remember 
 distinctly that there was no town of any note on the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 173 
 
 main road to the city, between the base of the mountains 
 and the city; but, in order to reach the city, we had to 
 cross a morass, or what iji by-gone ages and what in 
 winter is still a shallow lake, upon a causeway about 
 eight miles in length. At the eastern end of the cause- 
 way on the south side of the road, arises a small but 
 abrupt mountain, called Pinon. This point Santa Anna 
 had made impregnable by three tiers of fortifications, one 
 above the other, which commanded the plain along which 
 the road approached it, and the entire causeway to the city. 
 Scott's keen perceptions convinced him that it was 
 useless to attempt to enter the city in that way; hence 
 he kept up a feint before Piiion, and marched the com- 
 mand around to the south, at the base of the mountains, 
 a distance of sixty miles, when Santa Anna awoke to a 
 realizing sense that he and the fortifications at Pinon 
 were " left out in the cold," and that the " northern bar- 
 barians" had whipped their forces at Contreras, and were 
 likely to enter the capital on the west, instead of on the 
 east side. And after taking San Angelo and whipping 
 them at Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec, 
 we did absolutely enter the city from the west, in the 
 face of a large square battery, hastily erected to give us 
 a suitable reception. And they did make it so warm 
 for us that we were compelled to order up sharp-shooters 
 to run from the pier of the aqueduct until they had the 
 parties within easy range and picked them down from 
 their guns. As the Mexicans marched out on one side 
 of the city, we marched in from the other, and from the 
 evidence of joy at meeting us, I could not help thinking 
 that they thought we must have been there before. 
 White flags were waving from every window, and every 
 
174 Life and Adventures of 
 
 balcony was crowded with ladies, all welcoming us and 
 waving their white handkerchiefs at us. 
 
 After quiet was restored in the city, I quartered my 
 regiment in the convent of San Domingo, with many 
 others, establishing my office as acting quartermaster 
 and acting assistant commissary at the custom house. 
 True, the women were all lovely and kind, but many of 
 the men were jealous and hostile, though it was soon 
 discovered that there were a great many Mexican men 
 who got badly pricked with the side-arms of officers, and 
 that called forth an order forbidding officers off duty to 
 wear their swords, which order was strictly enforced; yet 
 there was a fine lot of 5x8 steel bars in the city, and 
 when polished and pointed and ingeniously fixed into a 
 hilt, they made a very fair defense against toads, and 
 each of us soon had a toad-stabber. 
 
 The city is built on a square, with streets generally 01 
 a respectable width, and also contains several public 
 squares or plazas, which is one of the prettiest features 
 of Mexican towns of any note. The drainage of the 
 city is below and along the center of each street, and 
 discharges the contents into the moat that surrounds the 
 city. The present State house, or palace, is a very im- 
 posing structure, and is situated on the east side of the 
 main plaza, and almost adjoining this is the museum in 
 which is deposited many robes of fine texture and furs 
 of every description, bows, arrows, javelins, and other 
 weapons, they being arms and clothing claimed to have 
 been preserved from the days of the Aztec race; but 
 what struck me as the most curious of all the relics, was 
 an immense copper man and horse, standing on a ped- 
 estal of colossal size, the whole weight of which must be 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 175 
 
 from thirty to forty tons, judging from appearances. 
 This marvel of art I was informed was a present from 
 some king of Austria, or some one of the German States, 
 and had been transported by the way of Vera Cruz over 
 the mountains to the City of Mexico. Opposite the hall 
 or palace, across the plaza and on the west side thereof, 
 stands the famous Bella Union, a hotel and the principal 
 gambling hall in the City of Mexico, where it is said a 
 million of dollars changes hands in a single night. It is 
 a building of immense proportions, four stories in height. 
 You enter through a hall into a covered court inside, 
 which is lighted from above by a glass dome. The lower 
 or ground floor of this vast court is circular in form, and 
 the entire walls are covered with large mirrors. The 
 floor is composed of marble blocks, each about twelve 
 inches square, alternately black and white. 
 
 There is a series of galleries from the bottom to the 
 top, the rooms all fronting inwards on this immense court; 
 around which verandas are built, as before stated. The 
 rooms run through to the outer walls, through which 
 many of them are lighted by windows. The inner 
 porches or verandas, as well as many of the rear rooms, 
 are filled with gaming tables, which as a general thing 
 are filled each night with players. I have often witnessed 
 the old don marching ahead of his servant, who followed 
 with his small iron trunk loaded with its golden freight 
 of doubloons. On one occasion I watched the betting of 
 one who came in thus provided for, at a monte table, and 
 remained a quiet observer from nine o'clock in the even- 
 ing till two in the morning. The old fellow was out of 
 luck, and I saw his sack of doubloons gradually melt 
 away. I saw him stake seventy-two doubloons on the 
 
176 Life and Adventures of 
 
 turn of a single card, and lose. He took the thing with 
 the utmost composure, smoking his cigarette all the 
 while. They were still playing when I left, but I learned 
 the next day that the bank had broken him. 
 
 The south side of the plaza was principally occupied 
 by stores, while on the north side was situated the fa- 
 mous cathedral of Mexico. I never made myself thor- 
 oughly acquainted with the outside of the city. There 
 were three things which prevented it: First, though the 
 city was in the hands of the Americans, it was all that 
 a man's life was worth to ramble off in the outskirts alone; 
 secondly, I was very busy while there; and thirdly, my 
 right arm was in a sling, and I was not very well able 
 to defend myself in case of trouble. And hereby hangs 
 a tale which I thought I would leave untold, or rather 
 leave it for others to tell; but as I am writing of my own 
 personal adventures, perhaps it would not be right for 
 me to omit it. 
 
 There was no one better acquainted with the fact than 
 the Mexicans, that commissary and quartermaster stores 
 were hard to get by an American army invading Mexico, 
 and, consequently, they were ever on the alert to cut 
 them off. I was acting quartermaster, and, following up 
 our brilliant successes with our supply train, with a 
 mounted guard of two hundred men en route from Con- 
 treras to Churubusco, when at a short distance from San 
 Angelo, I saw a command of from five hundred to six 
 hundred lancers coming up on a brisk trot and their 
 leader bravely riding in advance of the column. In fact, 
 he was so far in advance that I thought he wanted a 
 parley. I rode out towards him, when he immediately 
 drew and charged out to meet me. I drew my saber 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 177 
 
 and we met about midway between our commands, and, 
 as we advanced, I suppose that we were each measuring 
 our man. At least I was measuring mine. He was a 
 compactly built man of less length of limb, but rather 
 higher than myself. He was mounted on a splendid 
 (and speaking comparatively) large mustang. I was 
 mounted on an active American horse. We met. I at 
 once discovered that our horses were about equally 
 trained, but, with all my boasted skill (having been 
 trained in cavalry saber exercise by Lesser Lebenstein, 
 the Pole), my antagonist was the better swordsman of 
 the two. 
 
 His first attempt was to cut my rein. Finding that I 
 was no novice in the art, and I, about the same time, 
 discovering that I had more in my man than I had bar- 
 gained for, business commenced in earnest. We both 
 held ourselves close on our guard, while we rapidly plied 
 our cuts and parried with all our skill. I pinked him a 
 little in the ri^^ht side by an interpoint that he had not 
 fully parried, when he rose in his stirrups, dealt me an 
 over-hand cut, which I had not found laid down in our 
 tactics (hence I claimed it out). I tried to parry, but 
 his blade followed mine down to the hilt, severing my 
 guards like straws, and buried his blade deep in my 
 wrist and palm, severing the cords and pulsating arteries 
 of the palm, and being heated by my exertions in the 
 fight the blood spurted for many feet, and full in the 
 face of my adversary; but, unfortunately for him, he had 
 buried his blade so deep in my guards that he could not 
 immediately withdraw it, and by suddenly turning my 
 arm and by a rapid motion of my left hand, retaining 
 my rein, I seized my revolver and opened fire. When 
 
178 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I had discharged four shots in rapid succession, such had 
 been his exertions that he had withdrawn his blade to 
 within six inches of the point. During this contest, there 
 had been no advance, nor was one shot fired by either 
 command; but when they saw his saddle empty a most 
 deafeni.ng shout went up from my men. I wheeled my 
 horse, ordered an advance, and rode through the lines to 
 the rear. The first volley from our carbineers was at 
 point blank range. Still advancing and drawing their 
 holster pistols, they literally fired into the enemies' 
 faces, while they were blazing away with their old esco- 
 pets with but slight damage to my command, and by 
 the time we came to the saber, the foe was in rapid but 
 demoralized retreat. My boys would have pursued their 
 advantage further but I did not allow them to do so, 
 as my duty only extended to the protection of my train. 
 As it was, I never saw as many men hors dii combat for 
 the length of time and numbers engaged, the whole 
 affair after their leader fell, not occupying more than ten 
 minutes; but I could no longer keep my saddle, and was 
 borne to the rear, when it was discovered, from the great 
 loss of blood, that they could not take up the arteries, 
 and the surgeon was compelled to give me alcohol to 
 raise a pulse so as to enable him to take them up. It 
 was found on examination that twenty-seven of the 
 enemy were dead on the field, beside fifty-two wounded 
 prisoners. And thus ended the hottest little time I ever 
 experienced in Mexico. And though I never have been 
 able to boast of much good luck, I congratulated myself 
 here as having made a very lucky escape with the com- 
 parative loss of the use of my right hand. It is true that 
 it was unfortunate for me, and equally so for those who 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 179 
 
 have to decipher the hieroglyphics made by the same 
 hand. From this digression, I will return again to the 
 city. 
 
 Our command was stationed in the convent of San 
 Domingo, near the custom house. This is one of the 
 most perfect labyrinths that I ever saw. . A regiment of 
 men could be lost in it. I made it a point never to 
 occupy more space than was needed to quarter my men ; 
 and this fact was always appreciated by the padres. 
 Consequently, they and myself were on the best of terms. 
 I always guarded as much as possible against that spirit 
 of vandalism that pervaded the army. The building 
 covers two blocks, having been arched over a street 
 which runs under a portion of the vast structure. In 
 discussing the magnitude of the building, I heard a 
 wager offered and refused that a man could not step 
 into and write his name in each room, in twelve hours. 
 
 One of my friends, a principal among the padres, 
 kindly offered to take me through and show me the 
 chapels. The day was appointed, and we commenced 
 our tour of inspection. I went through nine different 
 chapels in the building, but I was so much indisposed 
 that I was forced to quit my promenade for that day, 
 and I never afterwards had an opportunity to finish up 
 the exploration. The chapels which I visited were 
 ornamented with great taste and the appointments with- 
 out regard to cost. There were many of the most beau- 
 tiful chandeliers that I ever saw, with many other cut- 
 glass ornaments, which I was assured were all the handi- 
 work of the padres. There was also a great number of 
 exquisite paintings adorning the walls, which were also 
 the work of the padres and the nuns. While passing 
 
180 Life and Adventures of 
 
 through these gorgeous apartments, I felt as though I 
 were treading the halls of Monte Cristo palace, rather 
 than a place for the worship of God. The priests and 
 nuns only know the extent of this edifice, and I presume 
 there are many who have been immured within its walls 
 for years who know less of its extent than myself. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 IN the City of Mexico I was filling three important 
 offices, to wit, acting quartermaster, acting assistant 
 commissary of subsistence, and ordnance officer, yet I 
 had much of my time to myself while in camp or garri- 
 son. The condition upon which I accepted the appoint- 
 ments was that I should have the privilege of going into 
 the command and selecting therefrom just such assistance 
 as I needed; accordingly I had selected three clerks, one 
 for the quartermaster department, onefor the commissary, 
 and one for the ordnance department, and they were all 
 men much more competent in a practical business sense 
 than myself Consequently I had but little more to do 
 than to sign vouchers and make my reports to Wash- 
 ington. We had not been in the city more than a month, 
 when, during my leisure, I had visited the cathedral, the 
 halls of the Montezumas, Chapultepec, the aqueduct, and 
 other prominent places in and about the city, with vari- 
 ous other adventures unimportant to my narrative. But 
 at last I stumbled upon one which I think is worthy of 
 relating, and consequently 1 give it a place. 
 
 Near the center of the city is a magnificent plaza, or 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 181 
 
 public square, ornamented with low shrubbery, water 
 fountains, flagged walks, low palms, and rustic seats; 
 and outside of these is a nice flagged walk for pedes- 
 trians; then, outside of that, a small border of grass, 
 about four feet wide, with low curbing, some four to 
 six inches above the level; and again, outside of all, 
 is a lovely carriage drive, where myriads of fine car- 
 riages are, through the day and until late in the even- 
 ing, constantly driving. One pleasant afternoon I was 
 strolling leisurely around this plaza, when I noticed a 
 magnificent carriage drive past quite close to where I 
 was walking, and I also noticed that, as it approached 
 me, the horses (two beautiful blacks) slackened their 
 pace and kept along on a walk for some time. But as 
 I was lounging and stopping every few steps, admiring 
 shrubbery, etc., I paid but little attention further than to 
 notice that the carriage mended its pace as soon as it 
 passed me. I thought no more of it, and had com- 
 menced retracing my steps, when again I was attracted 
 by the splendid equipage, and, as before, when it 
 approached the spot where I was, again the pace was 
 slackened. I then noticed that there were but two per- 
 sons connected with the vehicle — the driver outside, and 
 a female dressed in black, and shrouded in a thick black 
 veil. As before, after they passed me, the carriage 
 increased its pace. By this time my curiosity was thor- 
 oughly aroused. I continued for some time in the place 
 where they passed me, when I slowly continued my 
 walk, and, for the third time, I noticed the carriage 
 approaching, and again slackening its pace. This time, 
 when it came opposite to me, the lady passed her white 
 handkerchief before her face, and quite naturally dropped 
 
182 Life and Adventures of 
 
 it out of the carriage. I sprang forward, picked up the 
 handkerchief, and presented it to the lady, who acknowl- 
 edged the compliment by an inclination of the head, 
 at the same time passing me a card, and away went lady 
 carriage, and driver. The card contained some writing 
 in a lady's hand, but in Spanish, which I could not read. 
 
 I made my way to head-quarters, called my man 
 Lebenstein, my interpreter, and the card proved to be a 
 request to call at a certain street and number that even- 
 ing. Lebenstein insisted that I must not go, as there 
 was treachery at the bottom of the matter. I pretended 
 to coincide with his views, although secretly determining 
 to investigate the matter. Accordingly, the first thing 
 I did was to find the street and number, and discovered 
 that it was in the most fashionable part of the town, and 
 but a short distance from my quarters. My next move 
 was to confide the matter to two trusty friends, Sergeant 
 Efner and Henry Stickler, and, after some deliberation, 
 it was arranged that they were to patrol in front of the 
 building, ready to catch the first alarm in case of 
 treachery. 
 
 At nine o'clock sharp, we all went on the ground; 
 I rang the bell at the outer gate, and was promptly 
 admitted by a female servant, who conducted me through 
 an arched passage to an inner court. I was not long in 
 discovering that I was entering the premises of wealth 
 and luxury. The court was large and commodious, 
 with a beautiful jetting fountain in the center, statuary 
 stationed at intervals, and two or three orange trees, 
 which are quite common in that c<juntry. All around 
 this court were projecting balconies, covered over by the 
 upper roof, with hanging lamps that lighted up the 
 whole place. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 183 
 
 I followed the servant up a flight of stairs to the first 
 floor, where I was ushered into a most magnificent 
 drawing-room, when the girl informed me that her mis- 
 tress would be in presently. She withdrew, and in less 
 than a minute the object of my adventure made her 
 appearance, and, O ye gods! what an appearance! I 
 had seen women in dreams, in story, and in reality; but 
 nothing in point of beauty and loveline ss equal to the 
 being that now stood before me. Remember that I was 
 young and impressible, and internally exclaimed, "A 
 goddess! " She moved toward me with all the grace of 
 a sylph, with embarrassment upon her countenance 
 offering an apology for her seeming boldness in inviting 
 a stranger to call on her at that hour, and assured me 
 that secresy in the matter could only secure her protec- 
 tion. I stammered out something, I know not what, in 
 reply. But she soon made me understand that business 
 also had dictated her course, and when seated, she 
 attempted to enter upon a more elaborate explanation, 
 stating that her business was of such a nature that, in 
 those troublesome times, she could not entrust it to the 
 Mexican authorities, and that she had no friend among 
 the Mexicans to whom she could confide her troubles; 
 that being near my quarters she had often seen me, and 
 had made up her mind that if I would befriend her, she 
 would confide in me. 
 
 I assured her of my willingness to do all in my power 
 to aid and protect her against wrong and intrigues; but 
 as she spoke no English, and I but little Spanish, it 
 was impossible for me to learn the true condition of 
 things, except through an interpreter. She had already 
 informed me that she had been a wife; that her husband 
 
184 Life and Advkntures of 
 
 had been a general in the Mexican army, and had fallen 
 at Cerro Gordo; that he was wealthy; that she was his 
 sole heir, but that some of his relatives were attempting 
 to cheat her out of her property. After considerable 
 conversation on her part, I not understanding a quarter 
 she said, I asked her if she had any person about her 
 estate who could talk English. She informed me that 
 she had not; that she kept but three trusty servants, — 
 a man and wife, and coachman, none of whom could 
 talk English. It was at length arranged that I was to 
 entrust Lebenstein, my interpreter, as I thought him 
 safe, and I was to renew my visit the next night, at the 
 same hour, and bring my interpreter, when the subject 
 was dropped for the evening. She rang and ordered 
 refreshments, among which were champagne and Madeira 
 wines, nuts, candies, bananas, oranges, etc. 
 
 At eleven o'clock I took leave of my goddess, with 
 many kind assurances, and met my companions at the 
 street gate, who scolded me for keeping them on guard 
 so long. To satisfy the boys, we repaired to an oyster 
 saloon, took a stew, and then went to quarters, where 
 an adjutant from General Butler bore marching orders 
 for our regiment, the next morning at five o'clock. I 
 shall not attempt here to analyze my feelings. I first 
 rushed to Colonel Hick's headquarters and begged him 
 to let me remain on leave for two days, when I would 
 follow. But, as I expected, my efforts were unavailing; 
 for as acting quartermaster the regiment could not move 
 until I had put it in motion. I then flew back to the 
 house of my angelic one, rang the bell several times, but 
 could get no response, and was compelled to give the 
 matter up at least for that time, trusting to the chapter 
 of accidents to make it right. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 185 
 
 Our destination was the city of Puebla, where we 
 arrived on the sixth day, and it took me about one week 
 to get the regiment fairly quartered. At the end of 
 that time I applied to Colonel Childs, military governor 
 at Puebla at that time, for permission to return to the 
 City of Mexico on an eight-day furlough. He refused 
 to let me return to the city, saying that I could have 
 my business done through the department at the city. 
 I then forwarded a like request to General Scott (who 
 had always been my friend). He gave me leave of 
 absence for eight days. I joined a party of officers, and 
 in three days thereafter I was in the City of Mexico. I 
 waited until nightfall and then repaired to the residence 
 of my lovely unknown. I rang the bell, but to no pur- 
 pose; and after a long investigation and thoroughexplora- 
 tion of the surroundings, I b came fully satisfied that I 
 was the only person about the premises, and that the 
 house was closed. The three weeks that I had been 
 unavoidably detained, I found had separated me from 
 my fair one forever. Of her fate and fortune I have 
 never learned a word; but such beauty as hers, her 
 pleasing manner and address, would be sure to command 
 friends everywhere. 
 
 I was determined, while on this trip, to revisit the 
 battle-field of Contreras. In accordance with that 
 notion, I tried to raise a small party of officers to 
 accompany i;ie from the city. The distance, as well as 
 I can now remember, was about nine miles. After con- 
 siderable effort I failed to get anyone to venture out; 
 consequently, I thought I would venture as far as San' 
 Angelo, that being our outpost, and trust to luck to get 
 company from there. I therefore mounted my horse 
 13 
 
186 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and rode to that point, where I again tried to get a 
 party to go out with me to the battle-field, which was 
 three miles distant from that place. But I was assured 
 that it would be unsafe for me to go out there with a 
 small party, as the whole country thereabouts was 
 swarming with guerrillas. 
 
 But I had made up my mind to go, and go I did, 
 against the remonstrances of all. I rode out there with- 
 out adventure, and when I reached the field, I dis- 
 mounted and unbuckled my sword and fastened my 
 sword-belt around the horn of my saddle, and was lead- 
 ing my horse over the field on the east side of the sod 
 embankments, looking for some memorial to take from 
 the battle-field. As I stooped to pick up some brooches 
 from a Mexican cap, two shots were fired in rapid suc- 
 cession. My horse sprang, reared, and pulled away from 
 me, and ran like a frightened deer towards San Angelo, 
 which, by the way I passed in coming to Contreras, 
 caused him to perform quite a circuit in following the 
 road around the hill, while I ran straight down the hill 
 and attempted to intercept him. When about half-way 
 to San Angelo, I met a non-commissioned officer with 
 twelve men, who had been sent out to look for my body. 
 They were leading my horse, but expected that if they 
 found me, they would find me dead. The sh ts were 
 fired from quite a distance, and I thought no more of 
 the matter. The horse in running had thrown out one 
 of my holster pistols, which, of course, was lost. With 
 that exception, all was right. 
 
 When I reached San Angelo I treated the boys at the 
 post and took my departure for the city by the way of 
 Tacuba, which place I had passed about one mile, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 187 
 
 when I met two infantry officers — a major and captain. 
 They were going towards Tacuba, and soon afterward 
 I discovered six lanceros, who came riding at a break- 
 neck speed. I at once drew my revolver in one hand, and 
 my remaining holster pistol in the other. I put my 
 horse at the top of his speed and charged through. 
 They opened to the right and left to let me go. I 
 adopted this plan because I did not know whether they 
 were friends or foes, as we had many Mexican lanceros 
 in our service. I reached the city, put up my horse, and 
 entered the Bella Union Hotel; had taken a wash, and 
 walked up to a mirror to comb my hair, when I noticed 
 an apparent tear or jagged hole in the breast of my new 
 uniform, with white cotton padding protruding, and, as 
 I was turning from the glass, still looking at my uni- 
 form, I discovered another white place still, down under 
 my arm, when the truth flashed through my mind that 
 one of the two bullets fired while I was stooping to pick 
 up the brooches, had passed between my arm and body, 
 penetrating my uniform, and my horse jumping and 
 pulling away from me at the same time, prevented me 
 from noticing the concussion or jar from the bullet. 
 
 I exhibited the rent to some brother officers, and told 
 them of the occurrence, when one of them asked me if 
 my horse was not struck, causing him to jump and run 
 away from me as he did. I said I had not examined 
 him. We went to the stable, and upon examination we 
 found that a bullet had passed across his rump, cutting 
 about half the thickness of the ball, making an ugly 
 wound about four inches long. While we were yet con- 
 versing, a courier arrived from Tacuba, stating that a 
 band of guerrillas had murdered a major and captain, 
 
188 Life and Adventures of 
 
 who were returning from the city, having just been paid 
 off. I then congratulated myself upon the precaution I 
 had adopted when charging through their ranks a few 
 minutes before the murder. 
 
 Major Young and a party of officers being about to 
 return te Puebla, I joined the party, making six of us, 
 all told. We set out on a return trip, and about six 
 o'clock in the evening we arrived at a little wayside inn 
 or half-way place, in the foot-hills of the Popocatepetl, 
 at or near the entrance of the pass across the mountains 
 by way of Rio Frio. At this place we found a small 
 number of Frians and others in a state of great excite- 
 ment. On inquiry, we learned the following facts: Lieu- 
 tenant Marsden and wife, with an escort of three 
 mounted men, while on their way to the City of Mexico, 
 and within half a mile of that place, were assaulted; 
 the lieutenant was lassoed, pulled from his horse, and 
 dragged to death, and at the time of the lassoing a volley 
 was fired from the brush, wounding one of the soldiers 
 in the side and breaking one horse's leg, while the assail- 
 ants rushed in, seized the lady's horse by the bridle, and 
 soon disappeared in the hills, with the lady a prisoner. 
 The other soldiers, with their wounded companion, 
 reached the station, and the party returned and found 
 the body of the lieutenant partly stripped and rifled of 
 all valuables. The body was bruised and mutilated, and 
 in a horrible condition. 
 
 We soon determined to pursue the villains, and rescue 
 the lady if possible. From what we could learn, there 
 were not more than a dozen of them at most. Our 
 little party numbered six, and the two troopers swelled 
 our efficient force to eight. There was one old peon, who 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 189 
 
 informed us that he knew the location of one guerrilla 
 rendezvous; that it was at an old hacienda among some 
 spurs of the m.ountains about seven miles distant; and 
 he offered his services as guide. By half-past seven we 
 were all in the saddle, and commenced a rapid ride over 
 broken ground, where spurs of the mountains were pro- 
 jecting into the valley, sometimes riding through an 
 open pine wood, sometimes over open ground, until our 
 guide informed us that we were close to the place, when 
 we dismounted and left our horses in charge of one of 
 our party. The rest of us commenced a stealthy march 
 upon the old adobe, which stood upon the bank of a 
 small mountain stream. 
 
 We gained the rear of the building and discovered a 
 large orange orchard at our left. Coming up close to 
 the house, there was light proceeding from a broken 
 window. We ventured a short distance from the win- 
 dow, and after a hasty consultation, we cocked our car- 
 bines, and five of us were to approach the window, that 
 being as many as could do execution through the nar- 
 row casement, and that only by firing over each other's 
 shoulders, while two gained the front, where we expected 
 them to fly to make their escape. When all was ready, 
 the signal was given, and we simultaneously discharged 
 our five carbines in their midst. At that instant a ter- 
 rific scream was heard inside. It was by a woman. As 
 we had anticipated, there was a rush for the front door, 
 where we heard two • more shots in rapid succession. 
 We sprang to the front, saber in hand; but the guerrillas 
 were tearing through the orchard like frightened deer. 
 Upon entering the house, our passage was obstructed by 
 a dead " greaser " in the doorway. On entering, we 
 
190 Life and Adventures of 
 
 found three on the floor, two in the last agonies of death, 
 and the other wounded in the chest, undoubtedly fatally. 
 We next looked for the woman, whom we found in an 
 adjoining room, seated upon a stool and tied hand and 
 foot. We released her, and, on searching, found her 
 horse, where there were several other horses. We sad- 
 dled her horse and also one for the prisoner, and were 
 soon ready for our return march. Some suggested that 
 we should burn the house; but this I opposed, as the 
 probable owner of it was doubtless not a party to the 
 transaction or had any knowledge of its perpetration. 
 We left the three dead Mexicans where they were lying, 
 mounted our horses, and were soon on the trail home- 
 ward. We had ridden about a mile on our homeward 
 route, when a shot was fired in the rear of our little 
 command. The two troopers who had charge of the 
 wounded Mexican came riding up, and said the prisoner 
 had escaped. We readily understood how the escape 
 was made, and that probably a bullet through his brain 
 had aided him on his way. 
 
 The next morning, after giving the remains of Mars- 
 den as decent a burial as the condition of things would 
 admit, we took our departure and were again on our 
 way to Puebla. After consultation with Mrs. Marsden, 
 we took her under our charge, and with us she returned 
 to Rio Frio, where she had some acquaintances in the 
 command stationed at that place. We saw her safely 
 in charge of her friends, when we again pursued our 
 journey without further adventure, till within a few miles 
 of Puebla. 
 
 It was dark and we were hastening on to reach the 
 city that night, when, in the distance, we heard what we 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 191 
 
 thought to be the rattle of musketry in the city. We 
 could hear it clearly and distinctly. We hurried up, 
 believing that there was a general engagement, and each 
 was cudgeling his brain to know how he should find his 
 respective command; and more than once I had ex- 
 claimed, in my anxiety, " What the d — 1 has become 
 of the artillery ? " We dashed along at a rapid rate, 
 and entered the city. The firing seeming to be at the 
 lower end of the city, near the plaza; we rode as near as 
 we dared, and then commenced a reconnoisance to learn 
 which were the American forces and which the Mexi- 
 can, when, in a short time, to our entire disgust, we 
 learned that the men had secured a great quantity of 
 those large Mexican fire-crackers, the report of which 
 was about equal to that of a musket, and two regiments 
 had pitched into each other in good earnest with the fire- 
 crackers; " this, and nothing more." 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 OUR command had now their regular station at 
 Puebla, placed there as a portion of the defense of 
 that city. This is a most lovely place, situated as it is 
 upon the high table-lands about six thousand feet above 
 the level of the ocean, in the midst of a vast plain, with 
 brooks and rivulets of pure water rimning through it, and 
 surrounded by snow-capped mountains. To the west is 
 Mount Popocatepetl and the White Lady, on the same 
 range. To the southeast is the Orizaba, with its spire- 
 peak, already mentioned. In this same valley are situated 
 
102 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the ancient city and pyramids of Cholula. There are 
 also beautiful mineral springs bet^veen the city and that 
 place, sending a flood of sulphur and other mineral 
 waters through the valley, a portion of which is brought 
 to Puebla, by way of aqueducts and canals, where it is 
 used fori)^thing purposes. 
 
 I have seen, in the city of Puebla, a most beautiful 
 picture of the founding of that town by the angels, some 
 with their tape-lines measuring off the ground, and 
 showing a lovely stream running through its site, while 
 four other angels are descending from heaven and bear- 
 ing to earth the cathedral of Puebla, one at each corner 
 of the immense edifice. It is firmly believed by the 
 ignorant Mexicans that the cathedral was erected in a 
 single night by the angels, and a contradiction on that 
 subject renders them very hostile, notwithstanding the 
 fact that it took more than fifty years to complete the 
 structure, while the " northern barbarians " would have 
 completed the work in five or six years. I was told by 
 parties who pretended to know, that the entire cost of 
 the edifice was something over sixteen million dollars. 
 
 There were, at the time I sojourned there, about 80,- 
 000 inhabitants in the city, and a prettier, cleaner city I 
 never saw, containing every evidence of wealth and 
 luxury. The buikiings and architecture compared 
 favorably with those of the City of Mexico; but not- 
 withstanding its wealth and beauty, over two-thirds of 
 the whole wealth in buildings and lands is owned by 
 the churches, of which, I believe, there were eighty-seven; 
 in fact, it is the great city of churches. I do not believe 
 there was ever three minutes, day or night, in which you 
 could not hear the rinuin^r of bells. In Puebla the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 193 
 
 churches are not confined to a single bell; but the most 
 of them are furnished with from three to a dozen, and 
 the cathedral contains twenty-four, the largest of which 
 is over twelve feet across the chime, and can only be 
 rung by means of a windlass attached to the clapper. 
 But among the bells, there was one that was more effi- 
 cient than all the rest, that would knock every Mexican 
 flat to the earth, as far as its sound could be heard; this 
 was the bishop's bell. I have seen some of the more 
 devout drop upon the street and absolutely lick the 
 pavement. Puebla, next to Cholula, is the cradle of the 
 church. Our command was quartered in the convent of 
 St. Augustus, and I here, as at the City of Mexico, be- 
 came quite a favorite with the padres by reason of my 
 moderation, demanding no more room for the men than 
 was necessary. There were a great many nuns and a 
 great many children in this institution. The children 
 were foundlings, of course. 
 
 We had been stationed but a short time in this con- 
 vent, when one day I felt a severe pain in my throat, 
 the glands about my neck becoming very much in- 
 flamed, and I made complaint to our surgeon, Dr. W. B. 
 Whitesides, who was my bosom friend and who had 
 saved me once at Tampico. I told him I was suffering 
 very much, and if it was popular to die of sore throat, I 
 believed that it would kill me. The doctor did not 
 seem to know anything about the disease. My throat 
 continued to swell until it and my chin were even, and I 
 kept scolding about it and rubbing it with opodeldoc 
 and other powerful liniments that I found among the 
 doctor's medicines. At length it became so swollen 
 that I could scarcely breathe at all. Night came on and 
 
194 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I got a big hop poultice and wrapped it around my 
 throat and went to my cot. I gradually became easier 
 and dropped off into a sleep, and when I awoke the 
 next morning I was much better. But before the next 
 morning there were three dead officers laid out in my 
 quarters from the same disease. 
 
 There were few attractions in the city for wild, advent- 
 urous spirits; but there was one never-failing source of 
 enjoyment, and that was the Passo, or species of plaza. 
 There were beautiful walks, choice shrubbery, fragrant 
 flowers, and bright, sparkling fountains. One evening, 
 as Lieutenant Poleon and myself were walking in the 
 Passo, we discovered two men in what appeared to be a 
 deadly combat, one being armed with a saber, the other 
 with a heavy knife, resembling, in breadth and weight, 
 a butcher's cleaver. We stepped up each behind one of 
 the combatants and pulled them asunder, and arrested 
 both of them. They yielded to the arrest and we 
 marched them into quarters and placed them under 
 guard. The one with the saber turned out to be a 
 member of the Mexican police force; the other a noted 
 cut-throat. The policeman died at the end of two days, 
 and I had the satisfaction of seeing the other hanged. 
 
 The monotony of the city finally became unendurable, 
 and one fine morning in the month of April, I rode out 
 of town, resolved upon an adventure of some kind. I 
 went out of the city on a well-traveled road, not know- 
 ing to what point it led. In fact I never thought of 
 making an inquiry; but it led through a lovely plain, 
 well-settled, with large and handsome houses and well- 
 cultivated fields, bearing orange groves, bananas, plant- 
 ains, alfalfa, and waving grain, while here and there 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 195 
 
 were bright, sparkling brooks, wending their way over a 
 pebbly bed to the river in the distance. In a word, it 
 presented a prospect that the lover of the beautiful 
 would treasure in mind. 
 
 I continued my ride to a distance of at least sixteen 
 or eighteen miles, seeing nothing but peons and laborers 
 of different grades; but presently, in the distance, and 
 at the edge of a grove, I noticed what first seemed to be 
 a low grove of small bushes, with a most singular foliage; 
 I continued to ride in that direction, and the nearer I 
 approached, the more singular the appearance. But in 
 a few minutes the mystery was solved; it was a group of 
 lances stuck in the ground with their streamers waving 
 in the breeze; and I had no sooner discovered the char- 
 acter of the object of my curiosity than the lanceros had 
 discovered and made me out. While I sat on my horse 
 watching them, the group of lances were hurriedly pulled 
 up from the earth and in the hands of Mexican warriors; 
 and, each mounting a mustang, disclos d the fact that a 
 regiment of lanceros had been luxuriating in the shade 
 of the grove, their horses secreted in the grove, and all 
 taking a rest. As soon as they were mounted, they 
 made a furious dash across the field for the highway, 
 where I sat upon my horse looking at them as they 
 advanced. I would have told them, if I had had an 
 opportunity, that they need not hurry so on my account. 
 They must have held me in high respect; for when I 
 drew my saber and waved them a salute, they returned 
 it by the discharge of a hundred escopets. I did not 
 wait for further compliments, but concluded I would go 
 back home. I was mounted on my favorite horse, 
 which was fleet as the wind; and although they were 
 
196 Life and Adventures of 
 
 traveling after me at a rapid rate, old Selim soon in- 
 creased the distance between them and me. 
 
 As soon as I was entirely safe from their careless 
 shooting, on coming to a little eminence, I wheeled my 
 horse and again waved my saber at them, when they 
 made another vigorous dash for me, when I retreated 
 again in good order. I thus amused myself beckoning 
 them on to follow me for several miles, until passing a 
 hacienda, where I saw two men rushing out, each having 
 an escopet in hand to cut off my retreat, when I put 
 my horse on a dead run, dropped my rein upon his 
 neck, and as I passed them discharged my two pistols 
 at them, while at the same moment they fired at me; 
 but as far as I could see, this new danger rather accel- 
 erated my speed. I soon increased the distance between 
 us, and continued to hold it until within about three 
 miles of the city, when they gave up the chase. I then 
 rode back a short distance toward them and beckoned 
 them on, but could not induce them to follow me further, 
 when I rode slowly into town, feeling well satisfied with 
 my day's adventure. 
 
 About this time Lieutenant Conkling and myself were 
 taken down with Mexican rheumatism. It is one of 
 those diseases that seems to be peculiar to the highlands 
 and table-lands of Mexico, and it is one of the most 
 terrible and painful diseases that ever afflicted humanity. 
 There are hundreds of men in Puebla whose limbs are 
 drawn into all conceivable shapes. I have seen some 
 poor creatures stalking through the streets with their 
 shoulders drawn down at right angles with their legs; 
 others crawling along the streets upon all fours. I suf- 
 fered in every limb and joint the most excruciating 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 197 
 
 agony; and this continued, day and night, for several 
 weeks. The doctors could give me no relief. It was 
 entirely new to our surgeons, and beyond their control. 
 Conkling would lie in his hammock and exclaim, '* Oh 
 God! Norton; what shall I do?" I, on the other side, 
 ''Oh God! Conkling; what shall I do?" At last we 
 called in the padres to our aid, as they professed medi- 
 cal skill. They prepared a strong ointment and anointed 
 us from head to foot. I don't know what effect it may 
 have had on our souls, but this I do know, it did 
 not help our bodies in the least. 
 
 We became cross, irritable, and reckless. I recollect 
 that it was a little cool, and I sent my servant out to get 
 a pottery charcoal furnace to warm the room. My man 
 got it up, kindled and ready for a warming process; but 
 it did not work to suit friend Conkling. He picked it 
 up, walked to the balcony and threw it down on the 
 sidewalk, to the infinite amusement of a crowd of beg- 
 garly peons, and sent his servant out for another. He 
 brought it in, and started the fire, when I deliberately 
 picked it up and dashed it from the balcony to the street 
 and immediately sent for another, which was brought, 
 but shared the same fate as the first and second. We 
 amused ourselves and the street Arabs in this way for 
 a couple of hours, until we had smashed up some twelve 
 or fifteen, when that sport became monotonous (the fur- 
 naces only cost about eight cents apiece) and we com- 
 menced throwing them clacos (copper cents) to see them 
 rush and pile up to get them, until we began to think 
 the street Arabs were getting more fun out of it than 
 we were. The crowd increased until it became a perfect 
 throng, men, women, and children all piling into one 
 heap, when a general scramble would ensue. 
 
198 Life and Adventures of 
 
 We next began to heat the clacos. We would make 
 them red hot, and then throw them to the sidewalk, 
 and it was rare sport to see them grab them and then 
 drop them, until at length they hit upon an expedient- 
 They would pick them up with the corners of their blan- 
 kets in their hands, this preventing them from burning 
 themselves. We ran this for some time, until it began 
 to be stale, when we got another crotchet in our heads. 
 We heated a shovelful of clacos, and dropped them 
 down from the balcony, and when the general rush was 
 made, we emptied a pailful of flour over them. By 
 this time the street was blockaded for several rods by all 
 classes of the community, all seeming to enjoy the joke. 
 They would look up at us and call out ''mas clacos^ 
 We proceeded to heat another shovelful and prepared a 
 pail of flour and a pail of water; and first we threw the 
 clacos, secondly the flour, and closely following it a pail 
 of water, and when we got through I think they were 
 the worst-looking set of devils I ever saw. Our suffer- 
 ings did not in the least diminish, and we racked our 
 brains for new diversion to kill time and drown pain. 
 
 One afternoon I was suffering outrageously, and I felt 
 discouraged and desperate. I dressed myself in full 
 uniform, ordered my horse (old Selim), and rode out of 
 the city alone (I never did take my servant, as I would 
 not subject any one else to the risks I ran in those wild 
 rides). I took the road forCholula, without any definite 
 idea how far I would ride, or where I would eventually 
 bring up. When some five or six miles from the city, 
 I began to meet peons, packing large sacks of wood on 
 their backs, going to Puebla. They viewed me with 
 perfect amazement, and one of them exclaimed, '' Do7ide 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 199 
 
 va V. Sefior? " I replied, '* Almost anywhere." They in- 
 formed me in their lingo that there were many cut-throats 
 and robbers, and that unless I returned, I would be killed. 
 But, as I saw nothing alarming, I continued on my 
 course, passing en route ma.ny ranches and haciendas, un- 
 til the pyramid of Cholula broke upon my vision. As I 
 neared the place, it loomed up like some small mountain, 
 and anything but the pyramid of Cholula pictured in my 
 old school geography. But the nearer I approached it, 
 the more regular seemed the formation, and what I at 
 first took to be cavities and an irregular surface, proved 
 to be the spiral drive that winds to the top. The road 
 leading from Puebla to the ancient city of Cholula 
 passes to the north of the pyramid, and, as it were, 
 through a small gap in a ridge that runs north from it, 
 which it was evident to me had some day been a por- 
 tion of the pyramid, and that- it had fallen and stretched 
 its length on the plain. But more of this in the future. 
 I cou'ld not with any safety dismount; consequently I 
 did not try to examine the pyramid, but rode straight 
 on to the city, which, like Puebla, is situated on a vast 
 plain; in fact, the country is one immense plain from the 
 base of the Popocatepetl Mountains to the foot-hills of 
 the Orizaba Mountains. I rode straight down the main 
 street of the dilapidated city until I reached the plaza, 
 which lay on the north side of the street. When at 
 that point, I drew rein on my favorite and took a survey 
 of the place. The sun was just sinking behind the crest 
 of the Popocatepetl Mountains at the time. The Mex- 
 icans who watched my advent into the town seemed 
 staring more in the direction I had come than at me, 
 when a series of howls and whistles reached me from 
 the populace I soon discovered what it meant. They 
 
200 Life and Adventures of 
 
 at first were looking to see where my companions or 
 escorts were; and seeing none, then for the rush and 
 capture, or the death of me. I quietly watched the ex- 
 citement for a few moments, when I drew my saber, 
 whirled it a few times over my head, in the last rays of 
 the setting sun, released old Selim, and in a few minutes 
 the city and its excitement were far in the distance, and 
 in less than two hours 1 was safely in my quarters, with- 
 out further adventure. 
 
 When I asserted that I had visited the city of Cholula 
 alone, my statement was far from being credited by my 
 fellow-officers who had visited it in company with a 
 strong expedition organized for that purpose. But I soon 
 convinced them of the truth of my statement by mi- 
 nutely describing the road by streams, hills, and bridges, 
 the location of the pyramid, and more than all, the plaza 
 and some burned buildings on the north side of it, when 
 they with one accord said, " He must have been there." 
 Conkling, who lay upon his cot groaning, exclaimed, 
 " Yes, if he says he has been there, you may depend 
 upon it, as the d — d fool goes everywhere safely, when 
 one of us would get his throat cut." 
 
 A surprise met me on my arrival at quarters, that was 
 very pleasant in some respects and mortifying in others. 
 The officer said that a young man had called to see me 
 who seemed to have some important business with me, 
 and said that he would be back in a short time. I was 
 not kept in suspense long, for the visitor was presently 
 announced, and to my astonishment my youngest 
 brother, John, whom I had left at home in charge of 
 affairs, seized me by the hand, the tears rushing to his 
 eyes as he did so. The story was soon told. The old 
 abolition party, who opposed the war, and threw all pos- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 201 
 
 sible obstacles in the way to prevent parties from volun- 
 teering and to oppress those who had volunteered, had 
 got up a scheme against me that frightened my people 
 at home, and John had set out at once to seek me and 
 communicate the facts. I knew that the whole thing 
 amounted to nothing, and cast it at once from my mind: 
 But my brother had been hired by the Government as a 
 teamster to go through to the City of Mexico, and was 
 under charge of the quartermaster, conducting the train. 
 They were to continue their march the next morning, 
 and poor brother John thought that he was to be sepa- 
 rated from me imm-ediately. I accompanied him to their 
 camp, sought out the quartermaster, and told him that I 
 wanted that teamster and would furnish him another to 
 drive in his place. The exchange was made, and I took 
 my brother under my immediate charge and kept him 
 with me to the close of the war. 
 
 Our Mexican rheumatism still continued to afflict us. 
 But there was residing in Puebla an artisan who worked 
 gilt ornaments, and whom I had served by filling a 
 commission entrusted to me on my trip to the City of 
 Mexico, and who had through me become acquainted 
 with several of our officers, after which he often visited 
 our quarters. On being informed of our condition, he 
 called on me and said if I would furnish the cost of the 
 medicine he would provide a remedy that would cure us. 
 I did not have much confidence in it, but in our extrem- 
 ity we were prepared to try almost anything. He 
 bought the medicine; it was a transparent liquid and 
 very penetrating, and was almost strong enough to blis- 
 ter. In this we both bathed our limbs, and the result 
 was that in less than ten days we were entirely cured of 
 the dreadful scourge. 
 H 
 
202 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 N Mexico, the ideas of family residences are unlike 
 our own notions. We prefer living on the ground 
 floor of our residences; they like to live as high up 
 as they can get. My quarters in Puebla were in the 
 third story of an extensive building, with stairs lead- 
 ing to the roof. I could not utilize one-half of the vast 
 structure, so I assigned quite a large portion of it to 
 officers of our regiment. There are, as a general thing, 
 ornamental balconies at each story of the buildings; and 
 that was the case with our quarters. Immediately 
 across the street from us lived an aristocratic Castilian, 
 whose name I learned was Oueretaro. He was Pres- 
 ident of the Mexican Senate, and was absent on his 
 official business. We formed a kind of eye acquaintance 
 with the family from the opposite balconies, and in a 
 short time I was honored with a visit by a boy about 
 fourteen years old. He informed me that his name was 
 Edwardo Queretaro, and the son of the gentleman who 
 lived across the way. He had picked up a very few 
 wprds of English, and with my few words of Spanish, 
 we managed to understand each other very well. He 
 was delighted with our military trappings, such as sabers, 
 sashes, epaulets, and many other things which were new 
 and strange to him; and, in return, I was much pleased 
 with young Edwardo. He was very expert with the 
 lasso, and we amused ourselves hours at a time by his 
 throwing the lasso and my attempting to guard against 
 it with my saber; but I must say I found it impossible 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 203 
 
 to parry and protect myself against his skill. He would 
 sometimes catch me around my neck, and if I happened 
 to step, perhaps he would catch me by the foot; and, 
 when all other parts were guarded, he would frequently 
 catch me by the sword arm. 
 
 Things continued in this way about three weeks, only 
 Edwardo became so attached to me that he was with me 
 two-thirds of the time. At length he became very solic- 
 itous that I should visit him. I assured him that I 
 could not on his invitation, as I was an entire stranger 
 to his family; but before this time he had told me the 
 family at home was compo.sed of his mother, a sister 
 nine years old, and his Aunt Amelia, who was twenty 
 years old. In three or four days after this, Edwardo 
 told me his aunt wished me to visit them. I told him 
 if I visited their house the invitation must come from 
 his mother. The next day he informed me that his 
 mother wished me to visit them. Consequently I re- 
 solved to do so, as I could not doubt that they were 
 ladies and moved in the best society. I took my inter- 
 preter and went over, and was introduced by the boy to 
 his mother and aunt, as his friend. I remained an hour 
 and was delighted with the ladies; but it was hard to tell 
 who were the most disgusted with my interpreter, the 
 ladies or myself. He all the time indulged in a twad- 
 dle about himself, and failed to interpret one-half of 
 what we wished to say to each other. When the time 
 came for leave-taking, they warmly insisted on my com- 
 ing again, and in these words, that the house was mine. 
 In return, I assured them that I would avail myself of 
 their kind invitation, and that I should bring no inter- 
 preter, but that they should all act as my interpreter. 
 
204 Life and Adventures of 
 
 In the first interview they asked me if I was married, 
 and I assured them that I was. But the next day Ed- 
 wardo asked the same question of Lieutenant Conkh'ng, 
 and of other officers; they; supposing that they were 
 playing into my hand, assured him that I was not mar- 
 ried, and was only joking with them when I pretended 
 to be married. So when I called again, several days 
 afterwards, I was warmly received by the whole family, 
 and more especially so by Miss Amelia, who took upon 
 herself the task of teaching me to speak their language, 
 and no one ever had a more zealous teacher. I would 
 frequently get off some Mexican phrases, when she 
 would check me and say, " Este no Imssna; este lingua 
 loti'os induy Time rolled on, and somehow when not 
 on duty I found myself with my friends most of the 
 time. I was not slow to learn that my little Amelia was 
 becoming very fond of me, and, in fact, too fond for her 
 own peace of mind. I often said to her, "You must 
 not be too fond of me, for I have a wife at home." She 
 only laughed at me, and said that she had caught me at 
 my trick; that I was not married; for all the officers said 
 so; that I was only fooling her. I found it impossible 
 to convince the poor girl against her will; therefore things 
 went along in their own way. 
 
 Amelia was very pretty. She was of medium height, 
 well formed, with a light and elastic step. In complex- 
 ion she was a blonde, with a full, deep, blue eye, and as 
 fair as a lily; but I do not pretend to dwell on her per- 
 fection, further than to distinguish her from the ''greaser " 
 horde. I had introduced her to a few superior officers, 
 and it was amusing to me to hear Amelia's perfections 
 set forth by them. The Spanish are a very jealous 
 
 I 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 205 
 
 race, and she seemed to think I would be of the same 
 organization; for she would pass the open window or 
 step to the blinds every minute during their call, for fear 
 I might be jealous of her. During our acquaintance I 
 fell ill. When they heard the fact they sent Edwardo 
 over to my quarters and insisted that I should come to 
 their house, where I could have better attention than I 
 could at my own quarters. I finally complied with their 
 wishes, and was with them for over three week.s, and 
 though Amelia was waited upon by her own servants, 
 she would not allow a seryant to wait upon me. Every- 
 thing that I needed came from her own hand. 
 
 As I convalesced, one morning I took a walk in the 
 Passo, and had a little chat with an early walker who, as 
 well as myself, was out to take the air. She was a young 
 Mexican girl of the better class. She arranged a button- 
 hole bouquet and pinned it on the breast of my uniform. 
 On my return I met Amelia, and as soon as she saw the 
 flowers her eyes flashed with fury. She sprang to my 
 breast like a tigress, seized the flowers, dashed them on 
 the floor, stamped them, beneath her little feet, and ex- 
 claimed in her own language, " You have no love for 
 me." She seized her diamond-handled stiletto, passed 
 it to me, and exclaimed, " Here; kill me; I have nothing 
 to live for." I finally got her quieted down, and asked 
 her what she meant; that I was not conscious of having 
 done anything to offend her or any injustice to her. 
 She said that a woman had placed those flowers on my 
 breast. I admitted it, but assured her that I gave the 
 matter no consideration, and did not know that it meant 
 anything more than a little coquetry. But I then, for 
 the first time, learned that the Spanish language of 
 flowers is more read and better understood than ours. 
 
206 Life and Adventures of 
 
 After I had quite recovered my health, and was about 
 to return to my own quarters, I told her that they had 
 been at a large outlay for me, and I wished to compen- 
 sate them for my trouble and expense while there. 
 Amelia treated my offer with contempt and scorn at 
 first, but ^oon changed to a flood of tears and assured 
 me that money was the least of her care; that she had 
 plenty of money; she threw me her keys, saying, " Here 
 are the keys of my coffer, if you want money, help 
 yourself; I do not want yours; I did not take care of 
 you for money." She was an heiress; she and her 
 brother owned three large haciendas, and one fine day 
 she asked me to visit one of them with her. I entered 
 one of their clumsy carriages, and we drove out there. 
 I was amused and yet perplexed at her, for all that was 
 to be seen or enjoyed was us and ours. The place was 
 a lovely one; the buildings were magnificent, situated 
 upon a lovely plateau of about one thousand acres. 
 They were of adobe, containing an inner court with plats 
 of grass and fountains inside. The whole was inclosed 
 with a high adobe wall, with broken glass cemented in 
 the top, which all the way around inclosed the premises. 
 This was for protection against the assaults of lad rones 
 and guerrillas. It was just the place where a man, with 
 that beautiful creature, might content himself to while 
 away a life-time. She wished me to visit her other two 
 haciendas; but I never went out to see them. The whole 
 family were good and kind people to me, and at the 
 close of the war, when the order came for us to take up 
 our line of march, I hardly knew how t'o break the news 
 to Amelia; for the four months of our acquaintance 
 seemed to her, so she told me, to be as one bright vision. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 207 
 
 But alas ! the parting had to come. I left my Amelia 
 in her sister-in-law's arms, in a swoon, and have never 
 seen nor heard of her from that day to this. But think 
 not that I left her without a pang of remorse, not for any 
 perfidy on my part, for I never deceived her, but my 
 principal regret was that she loved me so fondly. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 memoirs of the MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 DURING the time I was stationed at Puebla we had 
 had little active service more than scouting and 
 keeping that place and the surrounding country in sub- 
 jection. Many of the officers who had never visited the 
 pyramids of Cholula were anxious to do so, and at length 
 we raised a company of commissioned and non-com- 
 missioned officers, amounting to about seventy-five or 
 eighty, and one fine morning set out to visit the pyra- 
 mid and city of Cholula. We swept over the level plains, 
 and two hours and a half brought us to the city, where 
 I was, on my second visit, in a condition to take notes 
 of the place and surroundings, and soon learned what I 
 had failed to discover on my first visit, that Cholula was 
 the head-quarters of the Catholic clergy. As we all rode 
 up to the plaza, I noticed a large number of boys, about 
 one hundred and sixty, all swinging censers, and, at the 
 head, two mitred priests. They were in two files and 
 presented quite an imposing sight. It must have been 
 some holiday with them. There was a ditch between us 
 and them; I clapped spurs to old Selim, we scaled the 
 ditch, and in less time than I am writing it, were at the 
 
208 Life and Adventures of 
 
 head of the procession. The priests left their flocks in 
 great consternation. I drew my saber and bade the 
 youngsters (who ranged from fourteen to eighteen years) 
 forward march. They were headed for a large cathe- 
 dral. I marched them along to the side of the building, 
 when I gave the order, " File left; march." When they 
 reached the door, I again ordered them, " Single file; 
 march." They entered the building, and I sat upon my 
 horse until the last one had disappeared, when I sheathed 
 my sword, released my horse, and joined my companions. 
 Some of them wanted to know what I meant. I told 
 them that I just wanted to see how it would seem to 
 command Mexicans. 
 
 We then made a general circuit of the town; but could 
 see but small evidence of that grandeur we read of at 
 the time of the Spanish conquest. There were no moss- 
 covered pilesor mound walls to impress the minds of the 
 traveler that it had ever been the seat of a mighty 
 empire or the home of kings, outside of the vast ruins 
 of its pyramids; and to this I never gave my attention. 
 I obtained through my interpreter, from an aged Mexi- 
 can, this tradition: When the pyramid was intact, it was 
 very high; and long ago the city of Cholula was destroyed 
 by a vast flow of lava from the crater of the Popocate- 
 petl, situated some thirty-six miles west of the city; that 
 Cholula was afterwards rebuilt, and, as there was no hill 
 to escape to, the people built the pyramid to have a 
 retreat in case of another inundation from the fiery flood ; 
 that after it had stood for many years, there came a 
 great earthquake and shook it down; that before the 
 earthquake the Popocatepetl was in an active state of 
 eruption, with the lava streams flowing to the valley, and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 209 
 
 thousands had already taken possession of the pyramid 
 as a protection against the burning flood that was ap- 
 proaching the valley; and that at the time of the earth- 
 quake they were buried beneath the huge pile or crushed 
 by its fall. 
 
 I am aware that some historians speak of a second 
 and smaller pyramid at Cholula; but as for myself I 
 saw but one, and what their imagination has pictured to 
 be a small pyramid, I am fully satisfied is but a portion 
 of the great and only one. On a close examination, I 
 am convinced that the pyramid of Cholula was once at 
 least three times as high as it is now, and that it has fallen 
 to the north and left quite a long mound, which, if solid, 
 would be a cone with its base to the standing part of the 
 pyramid. I was more fully convinced on examining the 
 corresponding parts of the pyramid and comparing them 
 with the fallen portion. It is asserted by most writers 
 on the subject that the pyramid is built of unburned 
 brick; as to the truth or falsity of this allegation, I can- 
 not say, as I could at no point discover any shape 
 of adobe or brick; but the principal ingredient forming 
 this immense^ pile is a hard clay, resenibling in texture 
 the adobe used by the Mexicans in constructing their 
 houses; but it is no harder than the uncultivated earth of 
 the valley in summer; but there is one thing that I think 
 is not noticed by any writer, and that is that mingled 
 with the general mass composing the pyramid are thou- 
 sands and probably millions of small images of every- 
 thing that walks, hops, creeps, swims, and flies, that is 
 known to that country. I commenced digging with a 
 short sword, and in an hour's time I had dug out of the 
 standing pyramid and debris of the fallen portion, at 
 
210 Life and Adventures of 
 
 least fifty images. They were composed of pottery 
 were well burned and in a perfect state of preservation. 
 There were deer, bears, wolves, coons, foxes, fish, croco- 
 diles, serpents, lizards, monkeys, parrots, ducks, geese, 
 swan, chickens, elks, and innumerable types of the 
 human family, giving additional proof that the fallen 
 remains were but a part and parcel of the original 
 pyramid; the images were alike mingled in the compo- 
 nent parts of both. I carefully preserved the images that 
 I had taken out, and brought them home with me to 
 Illinois. Among the balance of my curiosities, over 
 thirty years' absence has scattered them to the winds 
 and robbed me of my relics, at least so far as I know. 
 
 The location of the town of Cholula was well chosen, 
 the soil in the vicinity is fertile and productive, with 
 brooks of clean, fresh water wending through the valley; 
 and while I say that the town was never of the magni- 
 tude that writers claim for it, yet there are evidences to 
 show that it has been much larger and more flourishing 
 than it is at the present time. After having spent the 
 day in investigating the town and pyramid of Cholula, 
 our company returned to Puebla without accident or 
 adventure further than related. 
 
 At the entry of the Americans into Puebla, or the 
 " city of churches," the immense wealth of the clergy 
 has been hastily considered, the wealth consisting of 
 gold and silver plate, ornaments, and jewels, which 
 amounted in value to many millions of dollars. This 
 wealth found hiding-places inside and outside of the 
 city limits at the time of the capitulation of the city to 
 the Americans. The bishop had a palatial mansion 
 about three miles south of the city, where it was con- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 211 
 
 fidently asserted, and doubtless with truth, that great 
 masses of the church wealth was deposited, and probably 
 a more fitting place could not have been selected. I 
 had ofttimcs listened to the tales told me regarding the 
 beauty of the grounds and magnificent buildings, and 
 curiosity prompted me, on one of my wild rambles, to 
 visit the place. It was a pleasant summer day and the 
 gates of the grounds were open. I first met a menial 
 who told me in their language " to leave." I assured 
 him that I would do no harm; that I merely wished to 
 see the grounds. He was inexorable, and seized my 
 horse by the bit and attempted to turn him about. At 
 this, I drew my saber and told him to let go my rein or 
 I would cut his arm off He accordingly released his 
 hold on my bridle. 
 
 At this juncture a padre came up, who said "that the 
 grounds were private and strangers were not admitted." 
 I apologized and said I was attracted to the spot by the 
 beauty of the grounds and had no idea of interfering 
 with private property, and it was sufficient for me to 
 know that the public were excluded. Whereupon the 
 padre very courteously invited me to dismount, and 
 ordered the peon to take charge of my horse. We 
 walked together over the most artistically arranged 
 grounds that I had ever visited since my arrival on Mex- 
 ican soil. There was a beautiful grove of orange trees 
 loaded with ripe, yellow oranges, interspersed with green 
 fruit and blossoms. On the other side of the walk was 
 a large grove of lemon and lime trees; and further along 
 the walk was on one side a grove of olives, while upon 
 the other side were bananas and other fruits. At the end 
 of the walk we came to the baths, which were supplied 
 
212 Life and Adventures of 
 
 by a large sulphur spring-, and, on invitation of the padre, 
 I treated myself to a refreshing bath. The cautious 
 padre continued to walk in the shrubbery while I took 
 my bath, when he again joined me; but I observed an 
 equal precaution by keeping my sword and side arms 
 close by me. When fully dressed, we again sauntered 
 around the grounds, keeping in the shade, where I spent 
 over two hours in a state of perfect bliss, and while there 
 I could not help noticing the great strength of the gates 
 and towers. On approaching the building, I recollected 
 the stories regarding the great church wealth therein 
 deposited. I returned to quarters, where I freely con- 
 versed with my fellow-officers about the place of my 
 adventure, when the matter was dropped and almost 
 forgotten by me. 
 
 Probably about four weeks after the adventure last 
 narrated, one night about nine o'clock the colonel's 
 orderly came to my quarters with a note requesting me 
 to call at the colonel's quarters forthwith, on a matter of 
 importance. I complied with the request. On my 
 arrival there I found about twenty-five commissioned 
 officers in attendance, who I soon learned had been 
 called together for a business meeting, which had been 
 for some little time in session; and when introduced, I 
 was requested to pledge myself upon the honor of an 
 American officer that, in case I should not be in sympathy 
 with the move about being inaugurated, I would not ex- 
 pose the scheme, or the name of any individual connected 
 with it. To this I gave a qualified consent, stating that 
 unless there was something treasonable in it, or involv- 
 ing my honor as a man, I would remain silent and 
 ignorant of everything that occurred there that evening. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 213 
 
 Upon this promise I was let into the secret o( the 
 meeting, or rather organization, which I found to be as 
 follows: They had learned, by information entirely 
 reliable, that the diamonds and most valuable portion of 
 the church wealth at Puebla had been collected together 
 and deposited at the bishop's Jiacienda; that some time 
 before, the padre had been corrupted by some of the 
 officers, and at their instigation had wound himself into 
 the good graces of the bishop and the attaches of his 
 Jiacienda, and now was resident there; that he, for a 
 stipulated fee, was to give the parties in the plot access 
 to the inside as well as outside, and that it was, in 
 reality, a kind of second Gibraltar; that there was an 
 abundance of arms and ammunition, and about twenty 
 resolute men to use them; that the plan, as far as devel- 
 oped, was that every one there was to make one of a party 
 to attack and rob the bishop's hacienda; that each one 
 was to take a sobdier's uniform to be worn on the occasion; 
 and that no one was to wear any insignia of rank that 
 could expose them in case of disaster or accident; that 
 each was to arm himself with a musket and bayonet, 
 with forty rounds of mixed ammunition in his cartridge 
 box; that the expedition should be conducted on foot; 
 that the parties should leave the city at the hour of. 
 eleven o'clock at night, in squads not to exceed three or 
 four at most, and were to meet at a well-known point, 
 outside the city, about one mile distant. 
 
 All this was minutely detailed to me, showing that 
 their plans had been well matured, and they further 
 assured me that in case success crowned our efforts we 
 should all be millionaires; that there had been several 
 meetings, and the thing had been fully discussed; that 
 
214 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the attempt was to be made at a time when the bishop 
 was sure to be at home, of which we would be informed 
 by the venial old priest; and when once in possession of 
 the bishop, the rest would be easy. " But," said I, 
 ''about the old priest; supposing he betrays you?" 
 That they did not fear, as the arrangement was made 
 that he was to meet them outside the gate, and accom- 
 pany them, and that he had been admonished that the 
 first signs of treachery on his part would decide his fate; 
 that they had held several meetings, and thus far had 
 their plans matured, and that their only trouble would 
 be to make their way to the underground vaults, where 
 they were informed that the treasure was deposited. 
 " But," said they, " we have come to the conclusion that 
 if we could catch the old bishop, by the threat of cold 
 steel, we might easily persuade him to draw the bolts 
 that conceal the hidden treasures." I was further 
 informed they had been discussing the question as to 
 who should lead the expedition, and that they had 
 unanimously chosen me in case I would join them in 
 the enterprise. 
 
 I was perfectly astounded at the idea of the thing, 
 and the cool atrocity contemplated, as well as the propo- 
 sition that I should become the leader of a band of 
 thieves; for I could not bring myself to look upon it in 
 any other light. I told them that under any other cir- 
 cumstances I should be very thankful to them for the 
 honor that such an appointment would confer, but that 
 I could not thank them for such an offer of preference, 
 and that, under no circumstances, could I be induced to 
 take any part in the matter; that I held a commission 
 under one of the proudest Governments in the world, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 215 
 
 and that full faith and confidence were reposed in me 
 by my country; and that I would faithfully discharge 
 my duty as a soldier of the great American republic, 
 and would never bring a stain upon the grand escutcheon 
 of our nation; that I thought the whole thing was ill- 
 advised, and that upon serious reflection I did not believe 
 that one of them would for a moment think of carrying 
 the plot into execution. If I had been astonished at 
 the narration of the scheme in which they were engaged, 
 I was more astonished at the result of my remarks. I 
 saw that I had awakened them to the enormity of the 
 offense they were about to commit. I assured them the 
 secret was safe as far as I was concerned; that if they 
 persisted in carrying out their plan, I should feel myself 
 bound by my promise; but I begged them, for sake of 
 their own self-respect and for the sake of the reputation 
 of the army and our country, to abandon the enterprise 
 and forget it; but, if remembered at all, to be only as a 
 fevered dream. 
 
 I took leave of the party, returned to my quarters, 
 and that was the last of the expedition; but since that 
 time and since the close of the war, I have ofttimes been 
 thanked by my companions for the stand I took on that 
 occasion. 
 
216 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 ABOUT the latter part of April, 1848, as the war was 
 dravVing to a close, there was a considerable force 
 of Mexican and American deserters assembled in a large 
 hacienda, on the east side of the Orizaba Mountains, 
 and were making constant incursions into the surround- 
 ing settlements, robbing Mexicans and small detach- 
 ments of troops, and we came to the conclusion that it 
 was necessary to dislodge them. For this purpose a 
 small volunteer force from the command stationed at 
 Puebla determined to perform that service. The volun- 
 teer command consisted of about two companies of the 
 Sixth Illinois Infantry, which, under Colonel Collins, 
 composed the expedition. We were to be guided by a 
 woman and her son, who claimed to know the country 
 and the exact location of the robbers' den, which was 
 said to be some forty miles from Puebla. Accordingly 
 the command took up its line of march about daylight, 
 under the guidance of the woman and her son. Lieu- 
 tenant Toleon and myself were to be of the expedition, 
 but were detained in settling up some matters in con- 
 nection with a court-martial held on the previous day, 
 until about nine o'clock in the morning. But, having 
 learned that the command would pass 01 route through 
 Tepeaca, about twenty-five miles distant, we mounted 
 our horses and followed after the command; and, after 
 a ride of about fifteen miles, we began to overtake a few 
 stragglers in the rear. 
 . The first whom we overtook were Lebenstein and a 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 217 
 
 wild Irishman, whom we called the " flying dispatch." 
 A Mexican was pleadinp^ with the Irishman to give him 
 his sei-ape (a blanket with a hole in the center to go over 
 the head). I said to him, " Have you got the Mexican's 
 blanket } " seeing he had a Mexican serape hanging over 
 his arm. He replied, *' No; shure, I have not." I asked, 
 "Where did you get that blanket?" "And is it the 
 blanket you mane? Shure, I bought it of Captain 
 Wight, and gave him two dollars and a quarther for it." 
 About this time another "greaser" crawled out of the 
 brush, and, " Si Sefior, la serape es el otros hombres.'' I 
 turned to Lebenstein and asked him if that was the 
 Mexican's blanket. He answered by an inclination of 
 the head. I turned to the " flying dispatch," and advised 
 him to give the Mexican his blanket. Whereupon he 
 threw it at the Mexican, and exclaimed, " Take it, ye 
 murdersome thafe, and bad luck to the day I iver came 
 to Mexico, to be robbed by a graser." We ordered them 
 to close up on the rear, and riding on soon gained the 
 front, and arrived at Tepeaca about three o'clock in the 
 afternoon, where we encamped for the night. 
 
 We were within the walls of a town of considerable 
 size, all of whose inhabitants were hostile to us, and 
 before we were settled in our quarters, news was brought 
 in from the rear that one man had been picked off and 
 killed by the Mexican marauders. Some eight or ten 
 of us remounted our horses, and rode back to where 
 we found the man shot and his skull crushed in by a 
 rock. Continuing our ride to the rear, we immediately 
 gave chase, but took no prisoners. Captain Armstrong 
 (not of our command), one of the party, was slightly 
 wounded in the leg by an escopet ball. We returned to 
 15 
 
218 LiFK AND Adventures of 
 
 the town, where before midnight there was an alarm, 
 and our sentinels were driven in and a general assault 
 made upon our camp; but we soon repulsed them with 
 but slight loss on either side, one of our men being shot 
 in the shoulder, and three of the Mexicans killed. 
 
 The next morning we resumed our march for our 
 destination. We marched all day until night, when we 
 began to suspect our guides. The woman and young 
 man were called to a counsel, when they declared they 
 were lost. We placed them under guard and continued 
 our march, soon coming to a Mexican hamlet, where 
 we found that we were within two leagues of the place 
 we were seeking. We pressed a Mexican into our 
 service as guide, and continued our march, which had 
 become very laborious; the roads were rocky and we 
 were winding up through ravines and continuously up 
 the spurs of the Orizaba, and ere we were aware, our 
 last guide had deserted us; but we continued to follow 
 the road, when about two A. M. we came in front of a 
 large hacienda, where we halted to make further in- 
 quiries. I had dismounted and thrown myself upon the 
 ground near the walls of the place, holding my horse by 
 the bits, when all of a sudden I heard the report of a 
 gun above me, and a bullet struck the ground about 
 three feet from' me. My horse sprang back and jerked 
 me to my feet, and about this time the bullets from the 
 hacienda were rattling around like hail, and it did not 
 take us long to learn two things: First, that we had 
 found the place we were looking for; second, that they 
 had been notified that we were coming. 
 
 It was useless for us to return their fire, as they were 
 wholly protected by the walls. The officers held a hasty 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 219 
 
 consultation, and we resolved to force the gate. Colonel 
 Collins took no command, but placed Capt. C. L. Wight 
 first, and myself second, in command. Wight ordered 
 the squad to seize a large bowlder and batter the gate. 
 They did so for half a minute, when they found they 
 would have to get something heavier, and had stepped 
 from the front of the gate when a perfect blaze of fire 
 came through the third paneling of the gate, between 
 the heavy framework. I ordered up a platoon and 
 delivered a volley back at them, and ordered the rear to 
 reload; then ordered the second platoon up and deliv- 
 ered the second volley through the gate. By this time 
 Captain Wight had found a large square timber to use 
 as a battering ram, and as all those before the gate were 
 stooping to raise the timber, the Mexicans delivered 
 another volley through the gate, just high enough to go 
 over their backs, one of the bullets striking a man in 
 the rank beyond. I ordered the men up by platoons 
 and gave them two more volleys through the panels, 
 which effectually silenced them. Captain Wight then 
 plied the battering ram so vigorously that the gate 
 yielded, and we rushed into the hall and through into 
 the court yard, where the last of the Mexicans were 
 scaling the rear walls. Their leader was a fat Mexican, 
 who slipped and fell back; a dozen muskets were leveled 
 on him in an instant, but Captain Wight and myself 
 threw ourselves between the Mexican and our men, and. 
 that saved his life. We made him and several others 
 prisoners, and were soon in complete possession of their 
 stronghold. 
 
 I forgot to state that during the first firing our surgeon 
 came rushing up to me and said, " My horse has broken 
 
220 LiKK AND Adventures of 
 
 from me, and run in that direction," indicating by point- 
 ing his finger. I charged off in the direction indicated, 
 and had not ridden more than one hundred yards when 
 a gun cracked beneath a bush, a bullet came whizzing 
 past my ear, and a Mexican started to run! L charged 
 after him and dehvered my holster fire. He evidently 
 was a guerrilla chief, as he wore a very rich pancho. I 
 had it for many years; it was stolen from me in Placer- 
 ville in 1863. I did not find the surgeon's horse. We 
 erected a temporary barricade at the front entrance 
 where we had broken down the gate, placed our senti- 
 nels, and quartered for the balance of the night. The 
 Mexicans and deserters kept up a desultory firing all 
 night from the brush and outer walls; we could easily 
 distinguish the Mexican shots from the whiz of the 
 American cartridge in possession of the deserters. The 
 old don that we had captured, after finding that he was 
 in no immediate danger, became quite cheerful and 
 communicative, informing us that his name was Pedro 
 Sanchez; that a scout had been sent from Tepeaca 
 informing him that a band of Americans was en route 
 to attack and sack his hacienda, and that he had made 
 such hasty preparations for its defense as he could in 
 the short time allotted to him. 
 
 Thus we learned to a certainty that we had been 
 betrayed by our guides. The old man denied that he was 
 a robber or that he had harbored any deserters, but that 
 there was a band of Americans about four miles from 
 their encampment in the mountains. The truth may as 
 well be told here; we had expected to capture a booty 
 of at least forty thousand dollars at this hacienda, of 
 which the inhabitants had been robbed. The premises 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 221 
 
 were searched, but no strong box or money was to be 
 found. With the notice they had of course that was 
 taken care of. The next morning they restored the 
 doctor's horse and surgical instruments, and we took 
 the old don to Puebla for examination, turning him 
 over to the Mexican authorities, the news having reached 
 us that a peace had been concluded at Queretaro. 
 
 I found a very remarkable picture hanging on the wall. 
 It was in a heavy black ebony frame with French glass 
 in front of it. I mashed the glass and took the picture. 
 It was worked on silk, and was a marvel of artistic 
 needle-work. I made inquiries of the old don regard- 
 ing the picture, telling him at the same time that I had 
 robbed his establishment of that alone, as I did not 
 believe that either he or his kind had mucK use for the 
 Holy Virgin. He said the picture was quite famous for 
 its antiquity; that it had been wrought by the nun.? of the 
 convent of San Domingo in 1675, ^^^ ^^^ taken by his 
 father in a raid on the City of Mexico, about thirty years 
 before. I have ever since cherished the picture as a choice 
 gem of antiquity, and have preserved it in all my wander- 
 ings, and it is now hanging in my parlor. The silk upon 
 which it is wrought is cracking and giving way under 
 the destroying hand of time. 
 
 But I soon had something of more importance to 
 attract my attention than Mexican works of art, or pretty 
 sefioras. It soon became a fixed fact and known to all, 
 that the great war which had been raging between the 
 republic of Mexico and the United States of America 
 had come to a close, and preparations had to be made 
 for evacuating the Mexican territory. 
 
 About the last of May, 1848, as quartermaster, I re- 
 
222 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ceived orders to prepare my supply train for the march; 
 to turn over all my camp and garrison equipages, not 
 imperatively necessary for the march, to the quartermas- 
 ter-general, that they might be destroyed; to prepare a 
 supply wagon for each company, and one for officers' 
 baggage 6f each company; also,, as acting assistant com- 
 missary of subsistence, to accumulate such provision as 
 was necessary for supply on the route; and as ordnance 
 officer, to turn over all arms to the general department and 
 take receipts therefor. I had about forty-eight hours to 
 accomplish this pretty little duty, which would have em- 
 ployed a Hercules for a week; but I was young, active, and 
 energetic, hardly knowing what fatigue was, and I never 
 
 slept from the time I received the order until we were on 
 the march. ' But a little incident occurred, just as we 
 were ready to take up our line of march, which I ought 
 not to omit. I was in my saddle (and so were most of 
 the infantry officers, many of them having purchased 
 Mexican horses) when I discovered that the baggage 
 wagon of Company K, Second Illinois Volunteers, had 
 disappeared. I rode up to the captain of that company 
 and rather authoritatively demanded what had become 
 of the wagon. He replied that he had ordered it to 
 drive on. I addressed a coarse remark to him, and de- 
 manded what right he had to order the wagons to drive 
 on. He reph'ed with a taunt. Our sabers sprang from 
 their scabbards the same instant and we made a rush at 
 each other. We had just crossed swords, when Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Hicks threw his blade between ours, and 
 ordered -us both under arrest, and took our swords. 
 Here everything came to a standstill, as I was the mov- 
 ing spirit of the command, and could not be immediately 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 223 
 
 replaced. The consequence was, the captain was re- 
 turned to the rear. The Heutenant-colonel returned my 
 sword to me, remarking at the same time that I had 
 very much to vex me and he could hardly blame me. 
 The captain was kept under arrest for several days, and 
 then discharged. The truth of the matter is, he was 
 wrong, and I was insolent, and both of us deserved pun- 
 ishment. 
 
 At this time I was discharging the threefold duties of 
 acting quartermaster, acting a.ssistant commissary of 
 subsistence, and ordnance officer of my regiment and 
 six attached companies; and I now took charge of Col. 
 Charles Bruff 's brigade, he having been breveted brig- 
 adier-general, and we were all of General Patterson's di- 
 vision, of which Colonel Wyncoop was the acting officer. 
 Bruff 's brigade took the advance, and I soon discovered 
 that many of the men who had been taken from the hospi- 
 tals, and others from having lain long in camp, were giving 
 out on the march, and it was necessary that we have more 
 transportation. Consequently, I started for the rear, to 
 make arrangements for the wagons. I then made a ride 
 which I deemed a somewhat famous one, making one hun- 
 dred and thirty miles, and only out of the saddle long 
 enough to change horses. I had left the quartermaster's 
 arrangements in the hands of my quartermaster-sergeant, 
 so far as the Illinois Volunteers regiment was concerned. 
 On my return late at night, I found my quartermaster- 
 sergeant under arrest, by order of Col. James Collins. 
 On inquiry I found that a lieutenant had attempted to 
 force himself into one of the sick wagons. The quar- 
 termaster-sergeant had resisted his effort. The sergeant 
 drew his pistol on him, and on complaint of the lieuten- 
 
224 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ant, Collins had ordered the arrest. Having heard the 
 whole facts of the case, I went directly to the colonel 
 and requested him to release the sergeant, as his services 
 were indispensable to me on the march, and that Ser- 
 geant Norris was only carrying out my orders; that before 
 leaving I ria;d directed him to keep all persons out of the 
 wagons excepting those who already occupied them, they 
 then being crowded. In reply he very pompously in- 
 quired what authority I had to issue orders. I retorted 
 that I had my appointment as brigade quartermaster. 
 He said, " I will let you know that I command this 
 regiment, and the wagons, and will say who shall ride 
 or who shall not ride." I again retorted, " Yes; and with 
 all due respect, you may also drive them, but I shall hold 
 you responsible for all damages that occur to the service 
 through your interference with my duties." 
 
 The next morning I was out as usual, at three o'clock, 
 waking all the wagon masters excepting those of Collin's 
 regiment, and directing them to wake the teamsters to 
 feed and harness. All was ready at half-past five o'clock, 
 when we took up our line of march, leaving Colonel 
 Collins and regiment in camp, who began to stir about 
 the time the rest of the command was starting. I in- 
 formed Colonel Bruff as to what I had done, and the 
 reason for my action. He said I was right; that if 
 Colonel Collins saw fit to take the responsibility of inter- 
 fering with my department, the safe way for me was to 
 let him alone. I replied to Bruff that Colonel Collins 
 had a right to interfere in my business, as he was my 
 superior officer, but he was responsible to the Gove n- 
 ment for any injury accruing to the service from such 
 interference, and that I intended to report him in case 
 any damage accrued. It was not long after this conver- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 225 
 
 sation when an orderly rode up to me with a note from 
 Colonel Collins, requesting me to return and take charge 
 of the regiment, and bring it up to the rest of the com- 
 mand. I handed Bruff the note, and said, "General, if 
 you order me to go, I will go; otherwise Colonel Collins 
 must come in person and make the request." He laugh- 
 ingly remarked, ''Do as you please, it is not my quarrel." 
 I then penned a note to Colonel Collins, to the effect 
 that if he would come to the front, we would negotiate. 
 In the course of a couple of hours, the old colonel put 
 in an appearance. It was soon arranged that he was to 
 release Norris, my quartermaster-sergeant, and I again 
 took charge of the regiment. I found two wagons 
 broken down, and the balance of the wagons that I had 
 procured the day before were filled with soldiers .who 
 thought that poor riding was better than the best walk- 
 ing. I ordered them out, and placed some timber under 
 the hind axles of the broken wagons, and loaded them 
 with hard beef and other light articles, and managed to 
 get through \.\\^ pedregal 2X the pass of Alahoya, where we 
 camped for the night, and where I made arrangements 
 for the balance of the trip, leaving the broken wagons, 
 and reported them broken down and rendered useless 
 by the interference of Colonel Collins in the quartermas- 
 ter's department. For which the colonel never forgave 
 me to the day of his death. 
 
 Nothing further occurred of importance until our 
 arrival in* Vera Cruz, when one of my wagon masters 
 came riding up to me, bare-headed, with a deep sword 
 cut in his forehead, the blood running down his face and 
 neck. He saluted, and said, " This, captain, is what I got 
 for obeying your orders." I asked him to explain, when 
 he said that he was taking his train of wagons to the 
 
226 Life and Adventures of 
 
 custom house for distribution, according to my orders, 
 when Capt. Harvey Lee rode up and ordered the 
 driver of his company wagon to break the line and drive 
 immediately to his quarters, and when the wagon master 
 resisted his order, he drew his sword and gave him the 
 wound (which was a very serious one). On hearing this 
 recital, I put spurs to my horse and rode off in pursuit 
 of Lee. I soon found him, and at once denounced him ^ 
 as a dastard and a coward. We both drew and would 
 have settled the matter right there, but for the interfer- 
 ence of a number of officers present. I then rode off, 
 and preferred charges against Lee. But the yellow fever 
 had just broken out in Vera Cruz, and the army was 
 ready and anxious to embark for home, and the charges 
 would necessarily involve a trial which would detain us 
 and other officers for several days, and at the earnest 
 solicitation of the officers I withdrew the charges and 
 allowed Lee to be discharged from arrest; which was 
 done with great reluctance on my part, as it was a das- 
 tardly act on the part of the captain. I have never since 
 heard of the poor wounded wagon master, but if he is still 
 alive, and this should by chance meet his eye, he will see 
 that, though from the condition of things I could not 
 avenge his wrongs, at least I have not forgotten them. 
 And as to Capt. Harvey Lee, I never saw him again until 
 I had been several years in California, practicing my 
 profession as attorney, w^hen to my surprise I found that 
 he and myself were employed on the opposite sides of a 
 case. I learned from him that he had been practicing 
 law in Benicia; and in justice to the dead, I will here 
 say that when I called him a coward, I did not believe it 
 myself. I think he was a brave man, but with much of 
 the tyrant in his composition. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 227 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 WE arrived in Vera Cruz about the I2th of June, 
 1848. Now all was hubbub and confusion. On 
 the breaking up of the army of occupation of Mexico, 
 a commissioner had been sent from Washington to assign 
 ships for the transportation of the various commands to 
 New Orleans, and, as acting commissary of subsistence, 
 there was assigned to me the charge of a ship. Accord- 
 ingly I reported myself to the commissioner for that 
 purpose. The commissioner asked for the date of my 
 appointment. On examining it he said, "Yours is the 
 senior appointment of all who have applied, and hence 
 you will have the choice of ships." Now Captain 
 Blanding was the acting commissary-general of the 
 command, and had gone aboard of the MassacJmsetts 
 the flag-ship, with General Patterson, without reporting 
 himself to the commissioner. A brilliant idea struck me. 
 I replied, " I will take charge of the Massachusetts, the 
 flag-ship." Without a word, the invoice of supplies of 
 that ship was made out to me and I receipted for the 
 same. 
 
 With my receipts in my pocket, and sailing orders for 
 the ship, I repaired to the wharf, where Captain Daniels, 
 quartermaster-general, was superintending the embar- 
 kation. After warmly thanking me for the efficient serv- 
 ice 1 had rendered him, he remarked to me, " I believe 
 you are also commissary of subsistence." I replied in 
 the affirmative, when he asked me what ship I took 
 charge of I replied, '" The MassacJmsetts .'' He said. 
 
228 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ** I guess you must be mistaken; Captain Blanding, as 
 commissary-general, will take charge of that" I cor- 
 rected him by saying that his was the mistake and not 
 mine; that I had receipted for the stores and held the 
 nvoice. I further explained the circumstances to him. 
 The capta^in laughed heartily, and seemed to think it one 
 of the best jokes of the campaign. 
 
 In this connection I may be permitted to say that to 
 Captain Daniels' efforts the army was more indebted 
 for the safe-conduct of the camp and baggage equip- 
 ments of the army, from the City of Mexico to Vera 
 Cruz, than to any other one officer. He was active, en- 
 ergetic, and untiring in his line of duty. And, by the 
 way, I met Captain Daniels in San Francisco about two 
 years ago, and I could hardly bring myself to realize in 
 the old, decrepit, and hoary veteran before me, the active, 
 untiring Captain Daniels of the army in Mexico, in 1848. 
 But the hand of time rests heavily on all of us, and the 
 probabilities are that he discovered as great a change in 
 me as I did in him. 
 
 But to return to my narrative. The captain said, " I 
 will send you aboard with flying colors, in my best cut- 
 ter. But I want you, if possible, to report yourself to 
 the captain of the ship MassacJmsetts, and when we meet 
 in New Orleans, tell me how Blanding took the matter.'' 
 I gave him my promise, shook his hand, threw a last 
 look back upon Vera Cruz, entered the boat, and was 
 soon skimming over the bright water to the ship, which 
 lay anchored in the roadstead. When I came on board 
 the ship, I saw General Patterson, Captain Blanding, and 
 a person whom I supposed to be the captain of the 
 Massachusetts, all in conversation upon the quarter-deck 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 229 
 
 I approached the trio, and, after saluting the general and 
 Captain Blanding, I turned to the captain of the ship, 
 and said, " Have I the honor of addressing the captain 
 of this ship?" He replied, "I am the captain." The 
 general then stepped forward and formally introduced 
 me. I then said to the captain, '* I have the honor of 
 reporting myself as commissary of this ship." When 
 Blanding stepped forward and said, " Not quite so fast, 
 Captain Norton. I am commissary here." I saluted, 
 and replied, "I believe not, Captain Blanding." He 
 changed color, and said with some asperity, " What the 
 devil do you mean, Norton?" I again repeated that 1 
 thought I was commissary of the ship; adding, that at 
 least I had receipted for the stores on board, and held 
 the invoice of them, at the same time producing my 
 papers, which, of course, ended the controversy. At 
 which the general burst into a hearty laugh, and said, 
 *' Well, Ca[)tain Islanding, this is a good joke on you." 
 Captain Blanding replied, " Well, general, give him full 
 command, and we will go below and play chess during 
 the voyage." I was at once installed in my new position, 
 every order being sustained by the general. 
 
 We had a pleasant trip across the Gulf of Mexico, 
 and up the river to New Orleans. After we had landed, 
 the officers generally took up their quarters at the St. 
 Charles Hotel. There I met General Taylor, Stephen 
 A. Douglas, and many other notables. We had a jolly 
 time. Some one of the officers referred to the joke of 
 the " green sucker " as applied to myself — and heretofore 
 explained — when Stephen A. Douglas remarked that 
 "a few years ago, the 'green suckers' would come float- 
 ing down the Mississippi with their flat-boats loaded 
 
230 Life and Adventures of 
 
 with corn and potatoes, and when the question was 
 asked, ' Where did you come from ? ' the timid reply- 
 was, dropping the head, ' I come from Eelanois.' But 
 now you ask one of those 'suckers,' ' Where do you come 
 from ? ' and he will throw back his head, look you square 
 in the eye, and exclaim, 'I hail from Illinois, sir.'" 
 And, after the achievements of the Illinois troops at 
 Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, and the City of Mexico, no 
 man need to be ashamed that he hailed from the 
 " Sucker State." 
 
 Our command w is sent up the river a short distance, 
 and formed an encampment until they were discharged 
 and paid off And the first thing we knew, there came 
 a gang of sharpers from the city, waylaying by their 
 runners every soldier who had received his pay and dis- 
 charge, inveigling him into some low groggery or den, 
 where they would get him drunk and for a few dollars 
 get him to sign away his discharge, with an agreement 
 and power of attorney to collect back pay, and bounty, 
 and all rights and interests that the soldier had in ex- 
 pectancy on account of services rendered the Govern- 
 ment. This was reported at head-quarters, and we 
 received an order to arrest them and turn them over to 
 the civil authorities, as swindlers. General Taylor re- 
 marked, " I think that as they, just at this time, seem 
 anxious to dabble in military affairs, we will give them 
 a small experience, just to initiate them; see that they 
 are ' bucked and gagged ' for four hours each." And in 
 less than two hours there were nine of them rolled up, 
 each chewing a bayonet. This caused quite a sensation 
 among the civilians; but they were soon pacified on 
 Taylor's informing them that, vfithout warrant of law, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 231 
 
 he would protect the soldiers, and that sooner than see 
 them robbed in that way, in defiance of civil law, he 
 would declare the city under martial law, and thus pro- 
 tect them from a band of thieves. After this I heard 
 no complaint of the militia punishment, neither was 
 there any occasion for further arrest. 
 
 During our stay in New Orleans, Uncle Sam must 
 have footed up some pretty good bills; for about a week 
 all was mirth and hilarity in the city. Parties were 
 given by the aristocracy of New Orleans c very night, 
 and the military officers were all welcome guests; and 
 all of the wealthiest inhabitants seemed to vie with each 
 other in showing the returned soldiers that they were 
 welcome home. But their glorification came to an end 
 and vanished like a bright elysian dream, for then came 
 the fraternal hand-shaking and heart-burning of separa- 
 ~tion. The different commands were each sent home on 
 their proper lines of travel, arid in many instances the 
 parting was like that of the nearest and dearest of kin, 
 to say nothing of the hearts that were left and brought 
 away from New Ocleans through love's pa.ssion during 
 our short .stay there. There was a general order left in 
 New Orleans that no expense be spared in transporting 
 men and officers to their homes. Accordingly there was 
 an agreement entered into with Captain Taylor, of the 
 steamer Illinois, to take our regiment up the river to 
 Alton The captain agreed to transport us to that point 
 and give us en route the best the market afforded ; for 
 the men, twenty dollars each, and officers, thirty-six dol- 
 lars each, wines and liquors included. We spent a 
 glorious Fourth in New Orleans; on the 5th we were all 
 aboard and assigned our state-rooms, and on the 6th we 
 stemmed the tide up the river for St. Louis and Alton. 
 
232 Life and Adventures of 
 
 We steamed up the Mississippi for two days without 
 an incident worth mentioning. The third day a circum- 
 stance occurred that marred the hilarity and harmony 
 of the remainder of the trip. The command was under 
 the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Hicks, a small, wiry 
 man, weighing about one hundred and thirty pounds, 
 while Captain Taylor was a man that stood something 
 over six feet, and weighing about two hundred and 
 twenty pounds. Hicks had boxed up some specimens 
 of earthenware and other novelties that could be easily 
 broken; and it appeared he had given the captain especial 
 caution regarding them, and the captain had promised 
 to see that they were carefully handled. I was in the 
 cabin playing a game of cards, when I heard a great noise 
 and excitement on the lower or boiler deck, and the word 
 was passed up that Colonel Hicks and the captain were 
 fighting. I dropped my cards, sprang to my feet, and 
 rushed out to the forward deck, when I saw Hicks com- 
 ing up the stairs, looking somewhat pale, followed by 
 the captain. 
 
 I said, " Colonel, what is the matter ? " " Well," he 
 replied, "when I put my boxes on board, I told the 
 captain that I wanted them handled carefully, which he 
 promised me should be done, but when below I saw the 
 men on the lower deck knocking them about in such a 
 manner as to break everything in them. I called the 
 captain's attention to it, and reminded him of his promise 
 to me. He indignantly asserted that I had told him 
 nothing of the kind, and I called him a liar." At this 
 the captain sprang forward and exclaimed, "And why 
 did you call me a liar ? " Upon which the colonel re- 
 torted, ''Because you are one." The words had scarcely 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 233 
 
 escaped his lips, before the two men were together again. 
 I shoved the captain back, saying, '' If you are spoiling 
 for a fight, select a man of your own size." At this, the 
 captain with a bound literally sprang over our heads, 
 exclaiming, " I will let you know that I am one of the 
 red-heads ! " 
 
 I now discovered that the colonel had an ugly cut on 
 his forehead. He then called out, " Norton, where are 
 your pistols ? " I ran and got my holster pistols and 
 placed myself in the gang-way, the captain having run 
 to the stern of the boat, as I supposed to arm himself. 
 At this time the mate and other officers of the boat came 
 up to me and said, " For God's sake, help us to stop 
 this." I replied, "Take care of your captain; I will 
 vouch for the colonel." I continued, " The captain has 
 doubtless gone to arm himself, and as soon as he returns, 
 I shall shoot him." The mate rushed off to the stern of 
 the boat, but presently returned and informed me that 
 the captain would not again interfere with the colonel; 
 and, further, that he was then washing himself. 
 
 Thus ended what bade fair to be a most bloody fight, 
 as there was a large crew of hands on the boat. But on 
 our side there were over three hundred soldiers, well 
 armed. The colonel and the captain could not meet 
 after this, except as strangers, and it became necessary 
 for the management of affairs that each should be rep- 
 resented. The result was, I took command, at the 
 request of the colonel, and the mate represented the 
 captain, and everything went along as usual. In due 
 time we arrived at St. Louis. I made arrangements for 
 the boat to stop at St. Louis for half an hour, as it be- 
 came necessary for me to report to Captain Lyon, after- 
 i6 
 
234 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ward General Lyon, then quartermaster of that post. 
 On returning to the levee, I noticed a first-class steamer 
 backing out -into the stream. - I bawled out, " What are 
 you doing ? Who will debark those men if I am left ? " 
 The wheels were reversed, and the boat stood in the 
 stream. T said, " Send a boat ashore and fetch me on 
 board." In a few minutes I was on her deck. Looking 
 about I discovered that the decks were strewed with pigs 
 of lead, and at a glance I saw that it was not our boat. 
 I rushed to the captain and informed him of my mistake. 
 The boat was headed up stream. I said, " Never mind, 
 you can land me at Alton. The captain exclaimed, 
 "The devil! I am going to New Orleans." I said, 
 " Then put me ashore." They again chopped about, and 
 landed me. On looking about, I saw our boat, and the 
 officers and men laughing, having discovered my mis- 
 take. I was soon on board, and before nightfall the 
 whole command was safely landed at Alton, where, in 
 a few days, all were discharged and I returned to St. 
 Charles, where I met my family, and the congratulations 
 of my fellow-citizens, when I laid aside my sword and 
 returned to private life. 
 
 On my arrival at Geneva, in Kane County, Illinois, 
 I heard the cannon boom at St. Charles — a distance of 
 two miles — and in a very short time a carriage arrived 
 for myself and wife (whom I had met at Geneva), with 
 a large delegation of my fellow-citizens, who escorted 
 me home to St! Charles. On arriving at the west end 
 of the bridge across Fox River, there was a densely 
 packed crowd, and I thought I had never found the 
 bridge so long, as we were two hours in crossing it, a 
 distance of about four hundred feet. And I had by this 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 235 
 
 time learned that gilt buttons and epaulets were at a 
 premium in St. Charles. Bonfires blazed in the evening 
 and impromptu speeches were made, with a grand ball 
 at night. In a word, it was a most gratifying reunion, 
 for the most of my company had returned before myself, 
 as I had to remain in Alton some weeks before I could 
 get my official reports made out and forwarded to Wash- 
 ington. I was warmly grasped by the hand by fathers 
 and mothers of young men who went out with me, say- 
 ing, " When you took my son away, he was wild and 
 wayward; but you have returned him a perfect gentle- 
 man." With teai^s in their eyes, they thanked me for their 
 improvement. And I found that many letters had pre- 
 ceded me from the sick and wounded soldiers, even 
 exaggerating the kindness they claimed to have received 
 at my hands. But as for that, I will let the subjoined 
 letter from Colonel Hicks, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, speak 
 for me: — 
 
 Mt. Vernon, 111., April 24, 1856. 
 Mj/ zvorthy and ever to be remenibered and respected 
 old friend, Capt. L. A. Norton: It was with pleasure, 
 indeed, that I, yesterday, read your kind letter of the 
 13th of August. When I looked at the superscription, 
 I was somewhat surprised. I knew the handwriting, 
 but seeing it was sent from California, was a thing I was 
 not looking for. On the receipt of your letter, how 
 vividly my mind was carried back to that long and 
 tedious campaign that we made together. And how 
 many reminiscences presented themselves to my mind. 
 How fresh it brought to my mind the many sufferings we 
 had to witness and endure. When you spoke of the couch 
 of the sick soldier, tears involuntarily rose in my eyes. 
 
236 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Poor fellows! how many of them have reached out their 
 hands to me, when I could feel the wet, clammy sweat 
 on them and know it was the last, but would try to en- 
 courage them in the hour of death. In fancy 1 see them 
 now, as we did then, on their beds of straw or blankets, 
 laid on a stone or brick floor. We, however, have the 
 proud gratification of knowing that they were never 
 deserted or neglected by us for a single moment, when 
 it was in our power to render them assistance. Our per- 
 sonal attention was always at their command; and it 
 affords me pleasure to be able to say of a truth, that I 
 received more aid from you than from any other one 
 officer of my command in ministering to the wants of 
 the poor fellows; and those who survive fully appreciate 
 it, and the friends and relatives of those who did not 
 return, often refer to our kindness bestowed upon them 
 when living. In fact, their friends treat me with more 
 kindness than I actually deserve. I am treated more 
 like a father than a stranger, by them. You ask, then, 
 if my thirst for military honor and glory ceased with the 
 close of that war. It did, to a certain extent; but, should 
 I ask you the same question, with your constitution, 
 energy, and dash, I well know what the answer would 
 be. . . . 
 
 I want you to let me hear from you often; for it does 
 my heart good to keep up a correspondence with you. 
 Let us keep it up. After wishing you health, wealth, 
 and happiness, I subscribe myself, your old and sincere 
 friend and companion-in-arms, S. G. HiCKS. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. ' 237 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 SUBDUING A NOTORIOUS "BULLY." 
 
 ON my return from Mexico I found my little wife 
 much improved in health. I met her in Geneva, 
 the county seat of Kane County, Illinois, at the residence 
 of her parents, where I remained several days with her 
 before taking her home to St. Charles. About two 
 days after my arrival home, an incident happened that 
 made me quite notorious in the northern portion of the 
 State, and although it may make me appear as a brag- 
 gart and boaster, yet this history would be incomplete 
 without the story. 
 
 I must preface it by saying that on my arrival in Du 
 Page County, Illinois, I made the acquaintance of a 
 young fellow by the name of Frederick Lord, a son of 
 Dr. Lord; I think I was about one year his senior. It 
 was the custom of that country every Saturday after- 
 noon to meet on the common and wrestle, and all who 
 ever knew me in my younger days can testify that I was 
 an expert wrestler; in fact, I threw all the young men in 
 that vicinity. I was light, but tall and very active. On 
 the other hand Fred Lord was a powerfully built young 
 fellow, but with my skill and action I could always 
 handle him. Our acquaintance extended over a period 
 of more than ten years. When Fred had matured he 
 was a perfect giant, standing six feet six inches and 
 weighing two hundred and sixty pounds; and for about 
 four or five years before the Mexican War he had been 
 leading a very dissolute life, horse-racing, gambling, and 
 bullying his way through the world to that extent that 
 he had become the terror of several counties. 
 
238 Life and Adventures of 
 
 After I had taken my departure for the seat of war, 
 Fred volunteered and went out as a private; and owing 
 to his natural insubordination, he had been frequently 
 punished, and had imbibed such a hatred to army officers 
 that when he returned home he declared that he had 
 whipped every officer of the army in Mexico that he had 
 met after the disbanding of the troops, and he intended 
 to whip Norton and Conkling (one of my lieutenants 
 who lived in St. Charles), and then he would be satisfied; 
 Fred and I had always been friendly, and there was no 
 cause for the threat. But when it was reported to me, 
 I sent him word that he had better commence on me, 
 as I was the smaller of the two, and perhaps when he 
 had whipped me he might not want to attack the other. 
 
 It was Monday morning, and the Circuit Court of Kane 
 County was to commence its session that day. The 
 Geneva Hotel was packed with people, and about eight 
 o'clock I walked over to the hotel to get my morning 
 "cocktail." I met J. Y. Scammonds (author of " Scam- 
 mond's Reports") and an eminent attorney from Chicago 
 by the name of Brown. After some conversation, Scam- 
 monds asked me if I made the acquaintance of General 
 Taylor (the men were canvassing for Taylor). I in- 
 formed them that I had. They asked me when I had 
 last seen him. I replied that I left Taylor at the St. 
 Charles Hotel in New Orleans, on the 29th of June last. 
 Just as I made the reply, Fred Lord stepped out of the 
 parlor, where he had been carrying on a flirtation with 
 some girls, and said, " Where do you say you saw Gen- 
 eral Taylor last? " I repeated, " In New Orleans, on the 
 29th of June last." He said, "General Taylor was not 
 in New Orleans on the 29th of June last." I replied, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 239 
 
 " Permit me to tell you, you are a liar, sir ! " At this he 
 sprang upon me and struck at me. 
 
 I attempted to fend the blow, and at the same time 
 threw my. foot back to kick him; but his arm was so 
 heavy and the blow so powerful that I did not entirely 
 escape. He struck the upper part of my forehead, my 
 head striking some one in the crowd. Bringing my foot 
 back to kick him threw me from my balance and made 
 it a very pretty knockdown. But it was of such a 
 nature that it did not in the least stun me. He knew 
 that if he whipped me he must work lively, and at once 
 bent over me, and, thrusting his hand in my face, at- 
 tempted to gouge my eye out. His thumb nail missed 
 my eye but cut my eyebrow. At this I grabbed his 
 neck-tie with my left hand, took a twist and sprang up, 
 raising him with me, and when we struck the floor again 
 it was fourteen feet (by measurement) distant through 
 the crowd. 
 
 I retained my grip on his throat, coming on top of 
 him; but he had thrown his immense legs tight about my 
 loins and had clutched both hands tight in my hair, 
 where he held me as in a vise, while my right hand was 
 at liberty until it was all stove up. (I remember they 
 applied oil of wormwood after the fight, to take the 
 swelling out.) Finally I thought to myself, I can't get to 
 strike your face to spoil that, but I will mark you anyway. 
 So I reached up and clawed down his face a couple of 
 times. It looked very badly for a while. At this stage 
 of the game I found his hands getting very loose in my 
 hair, and some one in the crowd said, " Take Norton off; 
 see how black Fred is in the face, " when a man by the 
 name of McMear caught a fire-poker and declared that 
 
240 Life and Adventures of 
 
 he would kill the first man who interfered; that Norton 
 could whale Fred the best day he ever saw. (Fred had 
 once pounded McMear very badly.) I continued to 
 choke him; his hands and legs had become quite loose, 
 and I was about to spring from him and stamp him to 
 ■pieces, when old Uncle Jimmie Brown, the landlord 
 (whom no one would strike), exclaimed, " Take him off, 
 he is killing the man." 
 
 At this the crowd concluded to release Fred, They 
 caught hold of me and in attempting to pull me off 
 they pulled Fred up to a sitting posture, but could not 
 get my hand free from his neck-tie; so they procured a 
 knife and cut the tie, and after throwing a few pails of 
 water over him, he came to, and evinced himself satis- 
 fied. Though a powerful man myself, I look upon my 
 victory as a mere accident, as I could not compare with 
 him in physical powers. But the accident had its effect. 
 I have many times been in a crowd and have heard men 
 say, " That is the man who whipped Fred Lord." 
 
 In this connection I may add that, after a time, Fred 
 made his way out to the Missouri River and, at Traders' 
 Point, married a French lady who was possessed of 
 quite a fortune; but he soon went through with that, 
 and when I was on my way to California I stopped a 
 few days with my brother, who lived but a short distance 
 from Traders' Point, and he and Fred were very good 
 friends. My brother told me that PVed was at the Point, 
 and was in company with a big half-breed Indian burn- 
 ing lime; that he had often expressed a desire to see me, 
 saying that I had served him right, for he had no cause 
 of quarrel with me. So I finally decided to go down to 
 the Point with my brother and call on Fred. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 241 
 
 When we arrived at the Point and inquired for him, 
 some of his crowd said he had been gambling the night 
 before and was across the street taking a sleep. I went 
 over, the crowd following me. (I suppose my brother had 
 told them about the affair.) I found him fast asleep, 
 and as I walked up to him, he looked like a great giant. 
 He was dressed in buckskin, in regular frontiersman 
 style, with a revolver and knife in his belt. I shook him 
 and called out, " Fred." He awoke, looked me full in 
 the face and exclaimed, "Lew Norton, by G — d!" He 
 sprang to his feet, took me by the hand and said, '' Here, 
 boys, is the only man that ever whaled me; and no man 
 ever deserved it more than I did; let's go and take a 
 drink." 
 
 I pursued my journey to California, but not more 
 than three weeks after the occurrence above narrated, 
 Fred got into a quarrel with and whipped his half-breed 
 partner. The next day afterward, as he was hauling 
 limestone to the kiln, the half-breed secreted himself in 
 the brush near the road, with an old-fashioned Yager, 
 and when Fred had got past him he fired, tearing an 
 enormous hole through the vitals of his victim. Fred 
 turned his head and exclaimed, ''D — n you, I would 
 make you pay for that if I could live an hour." He 
 then fell over on his load and expired in a few minutes. 
 
242 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE RESTORATION OF A STOLEN CORPSE. 
 
 WHEN I returned from the Mexican War I had 
 lar^e unsettled accounts with the United States 
 Government, and pending the settlement I entered the 
 law office of W. D. Barry, Esq., at St. Charles, and com- 
 menced the study of law. During my absence in the 
 service, Dr. Richards had established his medical insti- 
 tut ^ at St. Charles, and, by the way, from that establish- 
 ment were turned out some of the most eminent practi- 
 tioners of our day, among whom are Dr. Boice, of Santa 
 Rosa, Dr. Obed Harvey, and others. 
 
 I had heard many complaints in regard to resurrection- 
 ists and body-snatching throughout the adjoining coun- 
 try, and one day I was awakened from my studies by a 
 party rushing in and informing me that Professor Rich- 
 ards and John Rood, one of the students, had been shot 
 by a mob, or company of riflemen from De Kalb County, 
 numbering about eighty. I dropped my book and, on 
 inquiry, learned that a young married woman, the 
 daughter of a respected farmer by the name of 
 Churchill, had suddenly died in full flesh, and that the 
 body had been stolen, the effect of which was to craze 
 the mother and so exasperate the father and his neigh- 
 bors that, in their wrath, they had armed themselves and, 
 in a perfectly organized state, had marched upon the in- 
 stitute and demanded from Richards the remains of 
 their dead. Richards and the students indignantly de- 
 nied having the remains, or knowing aught of them. 
 This denial was anything but satisfactory to them, al- 
 
Colonel L. A. Nokton. 243 
 
 thoLi'^h I have reasons (ov believin<^ that Richards did 
 not know much about the affair at the time, the whole 
 matter havin^^ been a Uttle private enterprise of George 
 Richards, son of the professor, and one John Rood, a 
 student. 
 
 The crowd, however, persisted in the demand, and be- 
 came very clamorous, while Richards and Rood, who 
 stood with their guns in their hands in the door, became 
 v^ery insolent, Richards telling the father of the deceased 
 that if tlicy did not leave he would have a better subject. 
 At this, several shots were fired almost simultaneou?>ly 
 b>' both parties. Richards was struck by a rifl - ball in 
 the right hand, while his shot-gun was still raised, the 
 bullet i)assing through just below the knuckles, out at 
 the wrist, and then penetrating his right shoulder, close 
 to the chest. Rood was also struck by a rifle ball on 
 the right side, the ball following a rib round to the back, 
 not entering the chest. Rood survived five or six days 
 only, the concussion having caused such internal injuries 
 that mortification ended the chapter of his life. 
 
 On my arrival upon the ground, I found the sheriff of 
 the county and several prominent citizens attempting 
 to quiet the then exasperated rioters, who were deter- 
 mined to demolish the buildings, and amid the howl and 
 fury it was next to impossible to be heard. Several at- 
 tempts having been made by the sheriff and others to 
 calm them, 1 saw the condition of things at a glance, 
 sprang upon a horse-block and, after several efforts, 
 succeeded in making myself heard. I told them that, 
 as citizens, we deeply felt and acknowledged the outrage 
 that had been committed, and that they had our fullest 
 sympathy; that we were ready and willing, in every 
 
244 Life and Adventures of 
 
 legitimate manner, to aid them in prosecuting the search 
 for the body; but we could not, and would not, suffer 
 them to go into the destruction of property to gratify 
 revenge. I then said, " I have this proposition to make 
 you: select from your body a committee of five to search 
 the premises, and every bolt and bar shall yield to your 
 touch, and if the body is here you surely can find it." 
 From the crowd there was a universal acclaim that the 
 proposition was fair. They selected their committee. I 
 called Professor Hall, son-in-law of Richards, to bring 
 the keys of the establishment. The sheriff. Hall, and 
 myself went through the whole establishment, prosecut- 
 ing the most vigilant search, not neglecting out-build- 
 ings, barns, and stables, but nothing was to be found. 
 The day was now far advanced. The search was aban- 
 doned and the crowd retired. The institution was broken 
 up and Richards was removed to Chicago; but this did 
 not end the excitement. The public press was full of 
 reports and comments and dire vengeance was threatened 
 to all who were suspected of having a hand in the out- 
 rage. On the other hand, Richards had at once com- 
 menced suit for damages, and retained W. D. Barry, my 
 preceptor, as counsel. All this had occurred in less 
 than a week from the time of the outrage, when one day 
 Judge Barry came into the office, evidently with some- 
 thing on his mind. He walked the floor for a few min- 
 utes, when he suddenly turned to me and said, "Norton, 
 I know your sympathy is with those people. Now I will 
 give you a chance to show it. You have been to the 
 wars and have seen many men killed and have had much 
 to do with dead folks. I want to restore that body, but I 
 have not the nerve to do it. You are a clerk in the office 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 245 
 
 and they cannot put you upon the stand as a witness. 
 I have made every preparation; will you do it?" 
 
 I unhesitatingly agreed to do anything that I could 
 to, restore the body. He then gave me these instruc- 
 tions. -'At twelve o'clock to-night, go to a certain point 
 [describing it] in town, and you will find a span of 
 horses and a spring-wagon, with a shovel in the wagon. 
 Take the horses and first drive to Geneva [this was a 
 town two miles below, on Fox River]; go to Danforth's 
 shop, where two men will bring you a coffin. You need 
 not speak. Then drive to Cedar Bluff [describing the 
 point], where you will hitch the horses. On examin - 
 tion, you will see the white bones of a horse's head at 
 the commencement of a path, and strewn along the 
 path, you will find white bones until it leads you through 
 the woods, to the head of a ravine, near Otto Perkins' 
 fence; thence follow down the ravine about three-fourths 
 of a mile, where you will find the tops of the bushes all 
 broken in toward each other. There dig." 
 
 At midnight I was at the point, found the horses 
 hitched, untied them, drove to Geneva, and to Danforth's 
 shop. Two men emerged from the shop, carrying a 
 coffin. They placed it in the wagon without a word. I 
 p-lanced at it and saw that the lid was screwed down, 
 when I remarked, " Bring a screw-driver." One of 
 them soon returned and placed a screw-driver in the 
 wagon, when, without another word, I drove back to 
 Cedar Bluff, where I hitched the horses, and soon found 
 the horse's skull, with other marks indicating my path 
 through the woods. I followed it with the shovel on my 
 back. I do not remember whether I whistled to keep 
 up my courage or not; but as I am a poor whistler and 
 
246 Life and Adventures of 
 
 a worse singer, I probably kept silent. I found the 
 white bones, as Barry had told me, which I followed until 
 I reached the head of a dark gulch, the one referred to in 
 my instructions; thence down through the tangled brush 
 and underwood until I came to the spot indicated, 
 where the, bushes were all broken in towards each other. 
 There was no moon, but a starlight night. Owing to 
 the thick woods and heavy foliage overhead, it was very 
 dark. When I commenced digging, I found the bed of 
 the gulch very wet and muddy. I had not prosecuted 
 my labors very long, until my shovel struck something- 
 yielding. I cleaned the dirt away as well as I could, 
 put my hand down an i got hold of a sack. I pulled it 
 out, found that it contained the body, shut up like a 
 jack-knife, having the limbs from the hips bent forward 
 so that the face and feet were together. 1 took the 
 body from the sack and found that the oozy mud had 
 settled all over it. I wiped it off as best I could, shoul- 
 dered it, and made my way back to Cedar Bluff. 
 There was a small creek of pure water, and I washed 
 the body clean I found that they had cut through the 
 skin and flesh on the forehead and skinned it down till 
 it fell like a flap over the eyes. I placed it back as 
 smoothly as I could, preparatory to putting it into the 
 coffin; but here was a dilemma! No one had thought 
 of a .shroud, and I could not think of placing the body 
 in the coffin in a nude state. While revolving the mat- 
 ter in my mind, I happened to think of my duter shirt. 
 I at once pulled it off and put it on the corpse. I then 
 gathered some moss, placed it in the coffin for a pillow, 
 placed the body in the coffin, screwed down the lid, and 
 drove the wagon back where I found it, according to 
 directions. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 247 
 
 Now, I do not believe that I am more cowardly than 
 most of the human family, and probably as far removed 
 from superstition as any one; but when 1 found myself 
 away in the woods, in the depth of night, with all its 
 surrounding gloom, trudging along with a cold, clammy 
 corpse on my back, I plead guilty to having felt a kind 
 of involuntary shudder pass over me, an undefined 
 something — not fear, but a species of desolation and awe 
 wholly indescribable. 
 
 As I started in to give a simple recital of facts, I 
 have wandered a little; but please excuse the digression- 
 After hitching the horses where I found them, I pushed 
 on toward home, but could not repress my curiosity to 
 dodge around a corner and watch to see what would be- 
 come of the wagon. I saw a man unhitch the horses 
 and drive through Fox River at the ford, making his 
 way we'st in the direction of the home of the dis- 
 tressed parents and friends of the deceased. I re- 
 turned home and thought I would slip into bed and that 
 my wife would not discover the missing shirt; but not 
 so. She threw her arm over me and exclaimed, " Oh! 
 my God, Lewis; what has become of your shirt! " I was 
 compelled to deceive her and pretend that I had been 
 out fishing; that it had caught fire and 1 had to tear it 
 off. 
 
 Two days elapsed, when news came from De Kalb 
 County that the missing body had been restored; that it 
 was found in a coffin, sitting on the father's porch, and 
 that there was great rejoicing. But there was one feat- 
 ure they could not understand — the body had a man's 
 shirt on, for a shroud! The friends proposed to remove 
 it, and put a different shroud on the corpse before the 
 
248 Life and Adventures of 
 
 interment; but the mother interposed and exclaimed, 
 " No! no! the hand that placed it there was a friendly 
 hand, and it will be a charm that will protect my child." 
 When my wife heard the story, she remarked to me, 
 "That, my dear, was your shirt; and had they removed 
 it, they would have found your name on the bottom of 
 it." There are many living, doubtless, even in this 
 State, who knew of the occurrence and have often heard 
 the query, "Who restored the body?" and, as it is no 
 longer a secret, and after the lapse of a third of a cent- 
 ury, I give the world the facts. 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 DEPARTURE FOR CALIFORNIA. 
 
 1 CONTINUED reading law and was admitted to the 
 Bar of the Superior Court of Illinois, before Trum- 
 ble. Treat, and John Dean Caton. At this time my wife's 
 health was so poor that she remained with her mother 
 constantly. A household counsel was called, and it was 
 finally arranged that I should let her remain with her 
 mother. I divided my property with her, paid for a di- 
 vorce, and prepared to leave for California. (This was 
 my second trip, the first being uneventful.) 
 
 Before leaving for Mexico my wife's uncle came to me 
 and, with tears in his eyes, said, " I have to ask a favor 
 of you, and I hate to do it, as I know how much you 
 have lost by assisting your friends; but I was sued in 
 the circuit court, have there lost my case, and want to 
 appeal to the Supreme Court. I have a meritorious de- 
 fense to the action, and am assured by my attorney that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 249 
 
 I can beat the case, and you shall never lose a dollar by 
 me if I have to sell the last thing I have to pay up. I 
 went on his bonds and paid no attention to the case 
 after. 
 
 Now I had paid every cent that I was indebted, had 
 started my teams a week before, and had told every- 
 body that I should start myself the next Thursday, when 
 I was brought upstanding by an officer serving me with 
 a summons — suit brought upon the appeal bond. I 
 went immediately to Howard and asked him what it 
 meant, reminding him of his promise. He assured me 
 that he meant all that he had promised, and in order to 
 protect his bondsmen had turned over all his property 
 exempt from forced sale to Dearborn, the sheriff, to 
 pay judgment and costs of suit. 
 
 At this time there was a Democratic Convention at 
 Springfield, the State capital, about eighty miles distant, 
 and the sheriff, county judge, and in fact nearly all the 
 county officers, were in attendance as delegates. Howard 
 claimed to feel very badly over the matter, while Farns- 
 worth, the opposing attorney, gave me to understand that 
 unkss I settled the matter before leaving, a State's war- 
 rant would be issued against me for leaving the State 
 without paying my debts. The county judge being 
 absent, they wi^uld of course hold me a prisoner until 
 he returned, which would be about ten days, when I 
 could be released by showing that I was leaving an 
 abundance of property to pay any judgment which they 
 might obtain against me. I refused to pay the debt of 
 Howard, and they swore out a bench warrant. Howard 
 went to Farnsworth and stated his arrangement with 
 the sheriff, and asked him not to proceed against me. 
 17 
 
250 Life and Adventures of 
 
 His reply was that I had the money, and he intended 
 to make me pay it before I left. Howard reported to 
 me what Farnsworth said, and I told him to pay no 
 further attention to the matter; that I should leave 
 Thursday at noon, and that, unfortunately for Mr. Farns- 
 worth, there were not men enough in St. Charles to 
 arrest me. I sent a similar notice to Farnsworth. 
 
 The affair was generally talked of, and I had the sym- 
 pathy of the community. I then went to Randal, the 
 under-sheriff, and said, " Randal, I have lived among 
 you for twelve years and have tried to be a good citizen ; 
 a child could at any time have arrested me. Now you 
 hold papers for my arrest, but this is such a bare- faced 
 imposition that I will never submit to an arrest on the 
 warrant you hold while I have life to resist, so do not 
 attempt it." He replied, " Captain, if that is your reso- 
 lution, I am sick." Farnsworth then went to Geneva, 
 the county seat, and got two deputy sheriffs to come up 
 to arrest me. They called on Randal for the papers, 
 but, after some conversation with him, they were taken 
 suddenly ill and did not make the attempt. 
 
 Time passed on until Thursday noon, when I mounted 
 my horse, in full uniform, my sword by my side and my 
 pistols in the holsters, and rode around town, taking 
 leave of my friends. I then turned my horse's head to 
 the west, rode across Fox River, and ascended the hill 
 on the west side. As I passed Mr. Farnsworth's office 
 (now General Farnsworth) he was standing in the door. 
 I raised my cap and said, "Good-by, Farnsworth; I told 
 you I should leave to-day at twelve o'clock," He said, 
 " Then you are really going? Good-by, and God bless 
 you!" When on top of the hill, which commanded a 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 251 
 
 fine view of the town, I sat upon my horse and waved 
 my handkerchief to my friends who stood watching me 
 from street corners and balconies, and then pursued my 
 journey. 
 
 I had rode less than a mile when I noticed a couple 
 of men on horseback, loitering along the road ahead of 
 me. I immediately recognized them; they were two 
 constables — one, Orange Bayard, whom I had rendered 
 many essential services; the other's name I do not re- 
 member. I readily comprehended their business. I 
 spurred up my horse and rode up between them, and as 
 I approached them I said, "How are you, gentlemen? 
 Well, Orange, which way are you bound to-day?" He 
 replied, " We are going out into the Bur settlement." 
 I said, ''Are you not afraid to ride unprotected in this 
 murderous country?" to which they returned rather a 
 cynical laugh. 
 
 Now my road, in a short distance from where we were, 
 turned to the right and theirs to the left. I said, "As 
 you are friends of mine I will ride over to the Bur set- 
 tlement with you, and protecl: you; but I wish you to 
 keep a little in advance. So I rode with them five or 
 six miles to the Bur settlement to where there was a by- 
 road which led across the country and joined my road, 
 some distance ahead. I said, " Now, gentlemen, I think 
 you are safe, but you ride on and I will wait here a few 
 minutes and watch to see that no harm befalls you, when 
 I shall go my own way, as I am bound for California." 
 I waited until they had rode beyond all danger to me, 
 when I sped swiftly along on my own route, and in a 
 couple of hours joined my company. 
 
252 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE JOURNEY AS FAR AS CARSON VALLEY. 
 
 I HAD two four-horse wagons, and our party organ - 
 ized,^calling ourselves the ''Rough and Ready Com- 
 pany," of which I was unanimously elected captain. We 
 pushed along all right to the Missouri River without any 
 serious difficulty. But on arriving at Traders' Point, 
 where we were to cross the river, we found an immense 
 crowd waiting transportation across the stream. There 
 was but one small scow, which would only convey a sin- 
 gle wagon at a time, and at that rate it would take about 
 six weeks to ferry the crowd across tiie river. But the 
 man (Stokes by name) who owned the boat entered into 
 an agreement with us that he would, with our aid, build 
 another boat, and my company was to be crossed first. 
 There was also a large Missourian company with ox- 
 teams waiting, and I noticed that they were also work- 
 ing on a new boat; and at length it leaked out that 
 Stokes was playing us falsely, and had made the same 
 promise to the Missourians that he had to us. Ours 
 was but a small company, thirteen wagons, and we said 
 nothing, but kept to work. The boat was completed 
 and launched, and before it was through its oscillations 
 I sprang into the stern and seized the rudder. My men, 
 who understood the situation, sprang into the boat with 
 their poles, and I gave the order to shove down to a 
 second landing (only a few yards) where one of our 
 wagons was ready to come aboard. All was so well 
 arranged that before the other party was aware, our first 
 wacron was on the boat, and we ran across the river and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 253 
 
 landed it. Returning, we ran up to the landing to 
 receive another wagon, when to my surprise there was a 
 big Missouri wagon, with a crowd of men ready to run 
 it aboard. They had driven our men and wagon aside 
 intending to put their company across ahead of ours. 
 The wagon contained sixty hundred weight of corn, for 
 feed on the plains, and as it came rushing down the 
 bank, I exclaimed, " Push off, boys ! " They did so, and 
 as the boat moved out of the way, the wagon plunged 
 into the river. 
 
 I called to our boys on the bank to bring a wagon to 
 the other landing. They did so; but before we got it 
 on the boat a crowd from the Missouri company came 
 to take possession of the boat, and a powerful-looking 
 young man, who claimed that I, as commissary, had 
 issued him rations in Mexico, was at the head. I took 
 my position near the bow of the boat, and told the par- 
 ties to keep off; that we had an arrangement with Stokes 
 that we should be the first to cross on the new boat, 
 when Red-shirt gave me the lie. Somehow his foot 
 slipped and he fell on the side of the boat. The next 
 moment I felt some one buckling a belt around me, and 
 I discovered a revolver in one side and a knife in the 
 other. I raised the revolver, and fully persuaded the 
 crowd to stand back until the boys could run the wagon 
 on the boat. 
 
 As my red-shirted friend stepped overboard, I looked 
 around to see if I was alone in the muss, when I saw 
 Sponable and J. L. Mack, who were both powerful men. 
 As I looked around, they exclaimed, " Give them h — 1, 
 Cap., we are here." I stood to the helm all that night, and 
 the next day until ten o'clock, when our wagons were all 
 
254 Life and Adventures of 
 
 landed. I then restored the boat to Stokes, and paid 
 him a dollar apiece for ferriage of the wagons, which I 
 should not have done, as his duplicity got us all into 
 trouble. 
 
 Now all went well with us until, far out on the plains, 
 they began to find fault with me as captain of the train. 
 And it was not long until there was not a man, woman, 
 or child but what knew more about encamping and camp- 
 life generally than I did. There was constant quarrel- 
 ing and bickering among them, with innumerable lies, 
 which prejudiced them one against another until the 
 best of friends were ready to fight. At length we over- 
 took some Dutchmen, v/ith several head of cattle, and 
 the Indians were hanging on their flank-. These men, 
 for some cause, had been separated from their company; 
 I have forgotten how it happened, but I saw that the 
 Indians intended to rob and probably murder them. I 
 told them that I would regulate our travel to their pace 
 until they could fall in with some other company, or to 
 a place where it was safe for them to encamp until they, 
 should be overtaken by ox-teams. 
 
 This proposition met with a most stubborn opposition 
 by my company. Some asserted that I was crazy, to 
 take those Dutchmen on my back, and others proposed 
 to depose me and elect a man by the name of White, 
 who had crossed the plains before. I was indignant to 
 think that my company wanted to leave the unprotected 
 men to their fate, and told them to go on, if they were 
 disposed to do so, but I would remain with the Dutch- 
 men and share their fate. 
 
 We continued our journey for two days, when I think 
 they had decided to elect White that night, and the next 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 255 
 
 day to push on and leave me and the Dutchmen. But 
 about noon we came to Shell Creek, where we found 
 about three hundred Indians gathered on the bank of 
 the Platte River. We had to cross Shell Creek near its 
 junction with the river, where there was quite a grove of 
 cotton woods along the banks of the creek. The prin- 
 cipal band of Indians was on the west side of the creek, 
 between where we had to cross and the river, while the 
 squaws were further along on the bank of the river. 
 About seventy or eighty Indians had swung to the rear 
 of our company, thus corripletely hemming us in. I 
 saw that they meant mischief, as their bows were all 
 strung and the wipers were out of their rifles. 
 
 White's team was in advance, and some of the chiefs 
 stopped him, and said they wanted toll for going 
 through their country. White gave them five or six 
 dollars and they let him go on, which he did, and kept 
 going. The next one was Fred Parker. The Indian 
 said, " Me chief; me want money." Parker replied, 
 pointing to me, '' That is our chief; go to him if you 
 want money." I was dressed in uniform as a United 
 States officer, and rode with my sword on, and my pistols 
 in the holsters. I did this at the request of the com- 
 pany, as the Indians had great respect for army 
 officers. The chief started to make his demands 
 on me, when I drew my sword and charging to the 
 rear ordered the Indians, who were closing in upon us. 
 to leave the road and take to the river bank, when 
 their spokesman, in fair English, told me that they had 
 as good a right to travel the road as I had. 
 
 At this I called to the company in advance to seize 
 their rifles, and form in line. At the same time I 
 whipped out a pistol, rode right up to the Indians, and 
 
256 Life and Adventures of 
 
 told them to leave the road or I would fire. They 
 reluctantly moved off to the river. I then charged back 
 to the front and met the chief, who handed me a paper 
 (extorted, doubtless, from some one) stating that he was 
 a good chief. I threw his paper on the ground, told 
 him we ha,d given them corn in payment for the right 
 to go through their country (which was true), and that 
 they were forked-tongued, bad Indians, and then ordered 
 him to the rear of our wagons. He refused to go, upon 
 which I welted him across the shoulders with the flat of 
 my sword, which made Mr. Indian move as directed. 
 When I had started him I rode right in among the band, 
 and, with the flat of my sword, drove them like a flock 
 of sheep to the rear. All this time I had thirty men in 
 line with cocked rifles. I expected to be killed, but I 
 knew it was the only chance to save the company. 
 When I had driven them across Shell Creek, I ordered 
 the wagons to advance, keeping a rear guard to protect 
 us until we got out of the way of the Shell Creek 
 Indians. Late in the afternoon we overtook White, and 
 that night we encamped in a short loop of the Platte, 
 where I could defend our position, with our wagons 
 drawn up in front as breastworks. There was no talk 
 of an election of a new captain that night, nor did 1 
 ever hear the subject mentioned afterwards. But our 
 valiant would-be captain, White, became the butt of the 
 company. 
 
 We continued our weary march across the plains with 
 the usual experiences that have been written and re- 
 written, and in the course of time we reached Carson 
 Valley, poor and jaded — that is to say, those of us wh > 
 were not left on the desert to feed the wolves and buz- 
 zards. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 257 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 RELIEF TRAIN— A FRIGHT— CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 WE had passed the sink of the Carson River and 
 were proceeding up that stream, when we came to 
 an encampment in a very pleasant valley, and on inquiry 
 learned that it was a relief train sent out from California 
 to aid the immigration. We encamped but a short dis- 
 tance from the relief train, and I walked over to the 
 camp to make some inquiries regarding their object and 
 the nature of their supplies. I was soon introduced to 
 Gen. James Estel, who I learned was first in command. 
 I found him very affable, and apparently ready and will- 
 ing to do all in his power to aid immigrants. The sup- 
 plies, he informed me, were intended for those who had 
 no money to purchase what they needed. 
 
 He then introduced me to Gen. J. W. Denver, General 
 Price, and some others holding subordinate positions. 
 I then informed him that we could not claim to be with- 
 out funds, yet we needed some articles for the use of 
 some of our party who were sick, for which I was ready 
 and willing to pay. General Estel said, " We cannot 
 take pay, but that is all right; make out your requisition." 
 I said, "General, shall I make my requisition in bulk or 
 by ration ? " He replied, " Oh, make it out in detail." I 
 went to camp and made a regular requisition in accord- 
 ance with the regulations of the United States army, as 
 follows: Twenty men, ten days' tea, 200; twenty men, 
 ten days' coffee, 200; twenty men, ten days' sugar, 200— 
 and so on until the requisition was filled. I cho.se Will- 
 iam Brophey, a .shrewd fellow, and told him to take a 
 
258 Life and Adventures of 
 
 team and go down to the supply camp and give my requi- 
 sition to General Estel and mark what occurred. In 
 about two hours Brophey returned, and made his report 
 as follows: — 
 
 " I presented your requisition to General Estel as you 
 directed. He took it and commenced reading, 'Twenty 
 men, ten days' tea, total two hundred pounds; coffee, 
 twenty men, ten days, total two hundred pounds;' and 
 so on through the requisition, reading all pounds. Fi- 
 nally the old general said, *I don't understand this; take 
 it to General Denver.' I handed it to General Denver, 
 who it seems was issuing commissary, and he read it the 
 same as General Estel, — instead of number of rations, 
 as carried out, he read it all pounds. But they were 
 puzzled to know why you had put all two hundred pounds 
 — tea, coffee, pickles, and potatoes. They called in 
 General Price; he read it the same. They finally said to 
 me, Ts your captain a military man ? ' I informed them 
 he was; that he had served almost fourteen months in 
 Mexico, and then added, ' I think the captain intends 
 the two hundred at the right hand as the total number 
 of rations, and not pounds.' General Estel said, *Ah! 
 yes, yes, I understand it; twenty men, ten days, two 
 hundred rations; yes, yes, that's all right; General Denver^ 
 issue the rations.' " 
 
 General Denver did issue the rations, and in addition, 
 I received a very polite note from General Estel, saying 
 that they had issued on my requisition, but they were 
 sorry that, owing to their limited means, they were not 
 able to fill it. And now the cream of the joke was, they 
 had issued at least four times what my requisition called 
 for; thus proving to my satisfaction that the military 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 259 
 
 lights of California, whatever they might be in other 
 respects, did not know the vakie of a regulation ration. 
 In after time I had lots of fun with Estel regarding the 
 commissary department of his expedition for the relief 
 of immigrants on the plains, in 1852. But the next 
 year, in Sacramento City, we compromised the ration 
 business.. I was never to tell the story on him, and he 
 was to treat whenever we met. 
 
 We rested a few days where we met the relief train, 
 and continued our journey. Nothing of importance 
 occurred until we reached the lower end of Carson 
 Valley, I thinkit wasthe first dayoutfrom Mormon Gulch, 
 when I got about the greatest fright of my life. We 
 found several camps in the valley where there were 
 wounded men, whose wounds had been inflicted by In- 
 dians in their attacks on immigrants. From them we 
 learned that the Indians were very hostile in the valley, 
 and also learned that the attacks had been made from 
 the willows and timber growing along the banks of the 
 river. 
 
 Now the only grass for our stock was in the valley 
 lying along the river, and the stock must have feed; we 
 were compelled to let our teams graze there or they 
 would starve. We turned them out about sunset to 
 graze for the night. But when I called for volunteers 
 to guard the stock next to the river, I could not find a 
 man who was willing to take that dangerous position. 
 1 finally told the men that I would take that post myself. 
 Accordingly I repaired to the spot, and continued to 
 march between the stock and the brush, with my holster 
 pistols. The animals were scattered along the valley for 
 about half a mile, and I concluded to march up and 
 down between them and the brush until midnight. 
 
260 Life and Adventures of 
 
 In making my beat I returned to the lower end, where 
 I found that some of the horses were close to the edge 
 of the brush. I went around to start them back, when 
 all of a sudden I saw the willows commence shaking 
 and bending right in front of me. My first thought, of 
 course, was Indians. I cocked my pistols, presented 
 them at the point of commotion, and commenced run- 
 ning backwards, expecting momentarily to feel the point 
 of an arrow. Presently I struck my heel against a little 
 hillock and keeled over on the ground. I did not attempt 
 to rise, but kept my eyes steadily fixed on the brush. 
 But the shaking of the brush soon stopped, and I saw 
 one of my horses walking out onto the open ground. 
 In an instant I recognized the cause of my fright. To 
 the horse was attached a long lariat, which had got 
 caught in the willows, causing the commotion. I got up, 
 and after thinking over my ludicrous position, I had to 
 laugh over the farce, but thought I would keep it to my- 
 self The next morning I was congratulated by my men 
 on having my scalp-lock preserved: but the joke was too 
 good to keep, and in a few days I related my adventure, 
 which caused great merriment in camp. 
 • We continued our journey to the upper end of the 
 valley, where there were some settlers. Here I found 
 Captains Bolch and Parker, with a drove of cattle which 
 they had brought across the plains; and they had en- 
 camped to rest the stock. I made an arrangement with 
 them to leave my teams and wagons in their care, and 
 took my riding-horse and joined a company of horse- 
 men to cross the mountains to California by way of old 
 Emigrant Canon, where hundreds of wagons had passed. 
 And such a road! Many places the wagons had to be 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 261 
 
 lifted over big bowlders, three or four feet high. After 
 getting through the canon proper, we reached a lovely 
 valley, through which a beautiful mountain stream 
 flowed, one of the sources of Carson River. The valley 
 was a regular amphitheater, the mountain walls reaching 
 nearly three-fourths of th-j way around it. All was 
 green and beautiful in the valley, while the lofty range 
 that surrounds it was capped in perpetual snow. 
 
 I wandered up a small stream at the east end of the 
 valley, where I discovered immense deposits of marble. 
 The marble bowlders in the head of the stream had been 
 washed for ages by the water as it had been poured 
 upon them by the rushing mountain torrent, until they 
 had received a polish that could not be surpassed by the 
 most ingenious workman, bringing to view all their 
 inherent beauties. Whether the quarry has since been 
 utilized or not, I have never learned. 
 
 From this place we wended our way up a steep mount- 
 ain until we reached the summit of the Sierras. We had 
 passed the summit but a short distance when we came 
 into an immense field of small red flowers, many of them 
 just peeping upthrough the snow. I mention this because 
 these hardy little plants were the only things, save the 
 mountain forests, that gave any evidence of vegetable 
 life to relieve the eye in this desolate waste. 
 
 We now commenced descending the mountain by an 
 easy grade towards the Pacific, and that night reached 
 Leak Springs, where we encamped with a large crowd of 
 immigrants, all bound for the valleys in California. 
 This was the point I had reached in 1850, when I was 
 compelled to return, owing to a family of friends having 
 lost a husband and father by death. I have omitted 
 reference to that trip in this history, as there were but 
 
262 Life and Adventures of 
 
 few events worth noting, and I have designed to 
 record only the most remarkable events in my life. 
 
 As already stated, at Leak Springs we encamped for 
 the night, with many other immigrants. There was a 
 station at this place, a mere booth of brush and shakes. 
 Under tl:l€ counter and about one foot from the top was 
 a shelf, upon which was a large cheese and many other 
 things, and under this was the proprietor's sleeping bunk, 
 or, rather, a nest. Now at that time the western slope of 
 the mountains was filled with grizzly bears; and during 
 the night a large grizzly came into the place, ate up the 
 big cheese, and made off, without awaking the propri- 
 etor. This is rather a hard story, but I know it to be a 
 fact. I saw the mess he had made by scattering crumbs, 
 and also the print of his immense feet in the soft earth, 
 as well as the nest where the man slept. A lucky thing 
 it was for the store-keeper that he did not awake while 
 old bruin was taking his meal. 
 
 This may strike the eye of some one who was present 
 at the time, as many beside myself had ocular demon- 
 stration of the fact. It occurred about the first of Sep- 
 tember, 1852. 
 
 Nothing further worthy of note occurred, and I 
 arrived safely in old " Hangtown " (now Placerville). 
 Of course at that day I thought of nothing but money, 
 and I firmly expected, with my superior genius, that I 
 would make the rivers and gulches yield up their treas- 
 ures in untold thousands. But there was something to 
 be done. My teams were yet in Carson Valley, and I 
 must get them over the mountains, and dispose of them 
 before finally settling down. Accordingly, after selling 
 my ** alkalied " horse, and purchasing what I saapposed 
 to be a fresh one, I prepared to resume my travels. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 INITIATED AS A MOUNTAINEER. 
 
 IN a previous chapter, the reader will remember that 
 I incidentally mentioned having met Gen. J. W. 
 Denver in Carson Valley. After my arrival in Placer- 
 ville, I became more intimately acquainted with him. 
 He was at that time smarting under the effect of the 
 duel between himself and young Nelson, editor of the 
 Alta California, which resulted in the death of the latter 
 gentleman. 
 
 When I spoke of having to return to Carson Valley, 
 he also expressed an anxiety to make a trip across the 
 mountains; and it was finally agreed that he should 
 return to San Francisco to enlist a party of friends who 
 he thought would like to go along, and among them was 
 a young lawyer, whose name, I think, was Snyder. He 
 was a man of great promise, but was fast going to a 
 drunkard's grave, and the excursion was as much to get 
 him sobered up as for any other purpose. We had set 
 the fourth day of July as the time for leaving Placerville. 
 
 We were going to cross by the Johnson Cut-off, a mere 
 bridle train across the mountains, where even the fallen 
 timber was not cut from the trail. The entire route was 
 an unbroken wild, inhabited only by grizzly bears, Cali- 
 fornia lions, and wild Indians. 
 
 Well, the day arrived for starting, but the night before 
 I had received a line from Denver saying that his party 
 could not get ready for some time to come. But I had 
 made full preparations for the trip, purchased what I 
 supposed to be a fresh pony, got my blankets, and a 
 
264 Life and Adventures of 
 
 little sack of provisions, revolvers, and some hooks and 
 lines. Thus equipped, I could not wait, as my horse 
 would soon "eat his head off" in those days; and, 
 besides, I was anxious for my teams. Consequently, I 
 set out on my journey alone. At about twelve o'clock 
 I crossed the American River (south fork^, at Bartlett's 
 Bridge, that being the last trading-post on the route. 
 
 I commenced ascending the mountain on the opposite 
 side and had nearly reached the summit, when I met a 
 lot of my acquaintances who had crossed the plains 
 with me to Carson Valley, and were footing it over the 
 mountains. Their provisions had given out, and they 
 were nearly starved. Well. I opened my provision kit, 
 and before their appetites were satisfied, they and myself 
 had exhausted my slender store. I then took leave 
 of them, and started on my lonely trail, with nearly one 
 hundred miles of unbroken forest before me, without an 
 ounce of provisions, my revolver and hooks and lines 
 being my only dependence wherewith to gain a suste- 
 nance. I jogged along on my pony, as I supposed all 
 right, when all of a sudden he gave out. Although he 
 was fat and apparently in good condition, he refused to 
 carry me further, and would have lain down had I not 
 dismounted. I soon discovered that he had been 
 recently alkalied, and hence the deceptive appearance. 
 I let him rest a little, then drove him before me, with 
 nothing on him but my blankets 'and saddle, and we 
 made a few miles only before the sun went down and 
 darkness came creeping over us. We were threading 
 our way through a dense forest of lofty pines, redwood, 
 and mountain cedar, whose tops reached some three 
 hundred feet into the air, and in the gray light giving 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 265 
 
 a dense gloom to all surroundings; but at length I 
 thought I saw an opening through the trees to the left 
 of the trail. I led my horse in that direction, and soon 
 came to a creek with several acres of open ground, and 
 found an abundance of food for my used-up horse. I 
 removed the blankets and saddle, and tied him where 
 he could get all he wanted of food and water. 
 
 I now began to look about for a place to sleep. I 
 found a fallen tree about five feet in diameter, with large 
 slabs of bark that had fallen from the log. I also found 
 some dry poles and placed them one end on the ground, 
 with the other leaning against the log; then I laid the 
 bark on the poles, thus making for myself a shelter. I 
 had plenty of matches, and could have built a fire; but 
 then came the question, was it policy to do that? It 
 was true it would keep off wild beasts; but, on the other 
 hand, it would attract the attention of Indians if they 
 were about, and I chose to risk savage beasts rather 
 than savage men. So, with my saddle for a pillow, I 
 crept into my frail shelter, and placing my revolver 
 under my head, was soon in a sound sleep, from which I 
 was awakened about ten or eleven o'clock by the crack- 
 ing of brush. I grasped my pistols and listened; it 
 seemed to be approaching me. I sat up, watching 
 further developments, when, all of a sudden, something 
 larger than a dog sprang upon the log about forty feet 
 from me. I leveled my pistol and fired, when the beast 
 did some good running. I did not then know, but 
 afterwards ascertained that it was a California lion. But 
 that shot rang through the little valley and far into the 
 mountains, and if there were any Indians about they 
 would be sure to hear the report, and perhaps see the 
 i8 
 
266 Life and Adventures of 
 
 flash. Hence, it was necessary to change my quarters, 
 which I did by crawling under the lee of another fallen 
 tree, not so good a place as the first, where I spent the 
 rest of the night in peace. 
 
 Next morning I was up with the sun, saddled my 
 pony, which had had a good feed, tied my blankets to 
 the saddle, and once more finding the trail, prosecuted 
 my journey. I could travel only at apace of about two 
 miles an hour, on account of the horse (which I wished 
 to save), but I trudged on until about nine o'clock, when 
 I felt very hungry, having had no supper and no break- 
 fastas yet. In anopeningamong the pines, where thesun's 
 rays penetrated, I found some grasshoppers, which I pock- 
 eted and went my way. About noon I came upon the 
 bank of the south fork of the American River, at what 
 is now known as Strawberry Valley, where I got out my 
 fishing tackle and grasshoppers, and soon caught trout 
 enough for a good meal. I built a fire, and roasted and 
 ate trout until I felt like a new man. They were excel- 
 lent, although I had no salt for them. 
 
 Between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, I 
 again resumed my journey, the trail following up the 
 river; but, as 'before, my progress was very slow, some- 
 times leading and sometimes driving my horse before me. 
 About an hour before sundown, finding good grass for 
 my horse, and a chasm in the rocks for my own nest, I 
 concluded to camp for the night. So I cut a fishing 
 pole, went down to the stream and took out enough trout 
 for my supper, which I roasted as before. By this time 
 it had grown quite dark. My den was between a rift in 
 the rocks, about three feet in width, and some ten or 
 twelve feet long, the bottom being a natural receptacle 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 267 
 
 for leaves and small twigs, which had accumulated to 
 such a depth as to make me a nice, soft bed. I now 
 commenced to roll in a quantity of loose rocks to fill the 
 chasm at my head, which was about five feet deep, and 
 then to cover the top with green brush, which I cut with 
 my Bowie-knife. When my nest was completed it was 
 quite dark, and I seated myself upon a rock to survey 
 the scene, which was the most gloomy (yet in some re- 
 spects sublime) that I ever gazed upon. The eye could 
 not reach the lofty heads of the monarchs of the forest 
 that surrounded me; in front of me, not fifty yards dis- 
 tant, were three pyramids, to which Cleopatra's Needle 
 would be as a cambric needle to a crow-bar, rising 
 abruptly from the valley to a height of seven or eight 
 hunclred feet, while every brush and old stump of a tree 
 was transformed into an Indian, and every rock that rose 
 above the surface wore the garb of a grizzly bear or a 
 crouching panther, and the sense of loneliness that crept 
 over me called to mind Cowper's verse: — 
 
 " Oh, solitude ! where are the charms 
 That sages have found in thy face ? 
 Better live in the midst of alarms 
 Than reign in this horrible place." 
 
 Nevertheless, I got a good night's sleep, and was out 
 early in the morning with my rod and line, pulling out 
 the finny denizens of the strea.n until I had plenty of 
 provisions for my onward trip. I got my breakfast, and 
 about nine o'clock went back to my grotto to get my 
 blankets and prepare for my journey. But on my ap- 
 proach I discovered that my possession was disputed and 
 my claim had been jumped, for within three feet of the 
 entrance lay, coiled in the sun, a huge rattlesnake, which 
 warned me on my approach. Here was an enemy I had 
 
268 Life and Adventures of 
 
 not even thought of; but since that time, in traversing 
 those same mountains, I found them plenty, large, and 
 vicious. I attacked my enemy with a club; the contest 
 was short, and I was soon in peaceable possession of my 
 den. The snake was something over four feet long 
 (which is a good size, even for the mountains). 
 
 Again I was under way, and about noon I crossed the 
 river at what is now known as Slippery Ford, and fol- 
 lowed the trail along the north bank of a small creek 
 (which empties into the river) for several miles. As I 
 was leading my horse along I saw ahead of me some 
 small animal coming in the path directly toward me. I 
 halted, drew my revolver, and when it got within about 
 thirty feet of me I fired, shooting it through the head. 
 It fell in the path; I hastened forward and discovered it 
 to be a large groundhog. It would weigh, when dressed, 
 ten or twelve pounds. I soon removed the entrails, let- 
 ting the skin remain on to keep the meat from getting 
 dirty, and hung him on the saddle to balance my string 
 of fish; then who was happier than I? 
 
 But it soon become camping-time again. There was 
 plenty of grass on the banks of the creek, and in looking 
 around I soon found a long, hollow tree, which at some 
 time had been burned out at the roots, leaving a doorway 
 into which I could crawl. Here I resolved to pass the 
 night. As the night closed in it became very cold, 
 as I was. then high up the mountains, in fact, upon the 
 summit of the Sierras; and in order to keep warm, was 
 compelled to build a fire in front of my hole in the tree, 
 in defiance of the savages. But I very properly rea- 
 soned that they would not be likely to camp where it 
 was so cold. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 269 
 
 I found my scalp all right in the morning, and my 
 horse where I had left him; and, after breakfast, I again 
 pushed forward. But before noon, I met some packers 
 and purchased a piece of salt, half as large as a hen's 
 Ggg"> foi" fift}' cents. Then I was fixed ! A couple of 
 miles farther brought me to where I commenced my 
 descent from the mountains; and before sundown I was 
 in Lake Valley and across the first summit. Here I met 
 a lot of immigrants packing through. They had plenty- 
 of crackers, but no meat. Hence a bargain was soon 
 struck; my groundhog was put in the camp-kettle and 
 stewing in short order, and we all had a feast that night. 
 They cooked the most of my trout for breakfast, I re- 
 serving a few for an emergency and taking my pockets 
 full of crackers. 
 
 I camped the next night at the lower end of Lake 
 Valley, and the day after reached Mormon Station, 7'ia 
 Dyit's Ravine, in Carson Valley, where I joined a band 
 of old mountaineers, who extended to me the right hand 
 of fellowship and considered me duly initiated. Since 
 that time I have scoured those mountains most effectually, 
 and when Green Yarnell and myself wanted to start a 
 grizzly bear from his lair, we always went to North 
 Peavine for him; and when I have shown my first night's 
 habitation alongside of the old log to the boys, they 
 always declared that I must have been hunting grizzlies, 
 as it was the worst place in the mountains for grizzly 
 bears. 
 
270 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 ANOTHER TRIP FROM CARSON TO PLACERVILLE. 
 
 ON arriving in Carson Valley, I again met my old 
 friends Bolch and Parker; found that my teams had 
 sufficiently improved to be able to cross the mountains, 
 and had arranged to start in a few days on the return 
 to Placerville, with my wagons. One day as Captain 
 Parker and myself were talking with one of the men 
 who owned the toll-bridge across the south branch of 
 Carson River, away up near Emigrant Caiion, some im- 
 migrant wagons came up where we were conversing. 
 The bridgeman stepped up to one of the immigrants 
 and said, *' I am one of the owners of the toll-bridge 
 about five miles ahead, and I want you to pay your toll 
 here." The man hesitated a little and then, while taking 
 out his purse, asked the tollman how he should know 
 but that he might find a man again at the gate who 
 would demand toll. The fellow assured him that he 
 would find no one at the bridge, as the Indians were 
 troublesome in that vicinity, and the owners had left and 
 come to the valley. There being two travelers together, 
 the other man asked, " Have you a charter for your 
 bridge?" The bridgeman replied in the affirmative, when 
 the immigrant paid his toll and went on. 
 
 As they left, the tollman addressed himself to Parker, 
 saying, "If those fellows had asked me to show my 
 charter [clapping his hand on his revolver, suggestively] 
 I would have shown it to them." Presently the fellow 
 went away, when I remarked to Parker, " When I start 
 across the mountains with my teams, I will make that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 271 
 
 gentleman show his charter, or else I will not pay to 
 cross his bridge." In a few days I was ready to start, 
 leaving Eolch and Parker with their stock in the valley, 
 to follow in a short time. 
 
 Joseph Stone drove one of my teams and a young 
 man, whose name I do not remember, drove the others. 
 We went on until we reached the aforesaid bridge, or 
 rather two of them close together, when my boastful 
 toll-taker came out and demanded his toll. I said, "* Sir, 
 have you a charter authorizing you to receive toll for the 
 crossing of these bridges ? " He hesitated a moment, and 
 then said, "No, I have not." "Then," said I, "I will 
 not pay to cross." At this his partner stepped out of 
 the toll-house. The first one pulled out a long spring 
 dirk-knife and commenced whittling as he talked, lean- 
 ing up agiinst a long pole that laid in two crotches, 
 making a barrier to prevent driving across the bridge. 
 He said he had no charter; that the bridge was not in 
 California, as the lines had not been run. I asked, 
 "Why, then, did you not get a charter from Brigham 
 Young? I have been recognizing his charters ever since 
 we reached Utah." I then peremptorily demanded, 
 " Get away from there and take down that pole, so I 
 can cross, or I will pitch it into the river." He replied, 
 "You must not touch that pole, and you cannot cross 
 this bridge unless you pay your toll, as this is our prop- 
 erty; you shall not interfere with it, and we will defend 
 it." I retorted, " Look below your bridge; do you not 
 see that it is placed exactly over the immigrant ford? 
 I want you to remove your nuisance at once, or I shall 
 drive over it." He again replied that I could not cross 
 the Bridge without paying toll. 
 
272 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I then stepped forward and pitched the pole into the 
 stream and called out, " Drive on, boys." I remained 
 with our two heroes, one of whom said that if they knew 
 my name they would prosecute me; that I had taken 
 the advantage of them and forced the bridge by supe- 
 rior numbers. In reply I said, " I do not think I have 
 much the advantage of you, there are two of you and 
 but one of me, as my teamsters are entirely beyond my 
 reach for aid. So I do not see where the advantage 
 comes in. But," said I, " listen to me; in this matter 
 I have not acted without an object. So far as my name 
 is concerned, you shall have that." I handed him my 
 card, saying, " I shall be found in Placerville whenever 
 you want me, and now for my reasons." I then referred 
 to the boast of some days before to Parker, about 
 showing their charter, and also told them what I had 
 said to Parker regarding their charter; and clapping my 
 hand on my pistol, I said, " I always carry a pass for all 
 such charters as yours, and wish you to learn this les- 
 son: it is the easiest thing in the world for a man to be 
 mistaken. You undoubtedly can boast of being 'old 
 forty-niners,' and imagine that all the immigrants are a 
 set of submissive cowards; but to rectify that mistake, I 
 want you to distinctly recollect that I am an immigrant ! " 
 
 During our controversy, a couple of packers came 
 along and crossed the bridge, going to Carson Valley; 
 of course they met the immigrant trains and told them 
 that the bridge had been forced, and after that no one 
 would pay toll. The next day the fellows burned their 
 bridge and left, and I never saw them afterward. But, 
 by the way, when I came up to the wagons, which were 
 awaiting me about two hundred yards distant, I found 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 273 
 
 my friend Joe Stone with my old rifle cocked and a 
 bead drawn on the bridgemen. When I asked for an 
 explanation, he said, " I did not know but they would 
 shoot you as you walked away from them, and I did not 
 intend to allow that." 
 
 We proceeded on our journey, and in time, without 
 further adventure, we reached Placerville, which, outside 
 of San Francisco, was then the town of the State. The 
 streets were crowded with people of all classes, and all 
 nationalities, and all professions. Men of industrious 
 habits were generally in the mines, and those who lived 
 by their wits were looking for a chance to make money 
 by adapting themselves to anything that might be 
 learned easy. Lawyers found a very fair field for their 
 wits in defending mining suits, under the district mining 
 laws, and physicians were generally employed in their 
 legitimate profession. But the preachers; ah! there 
 came the rub; what should they do? There were no 
 churches; at that day the body was to be cared for, but 
 the soul was seldom thought of. Hence, like black 
 Othello, they had to own their occupation gone. And 
 I have seen many a divine change the pulpit for the 
 monte table or the faro bank, while another would get 
 up and air his eloquence in a gambling hell, warning the 
 occupants of their wicked ways, and if he happened to 
 take with the crowd, he would reap a rich harvest for 
 the labor thus bestowed. I was intimate with one of 
 that class, who often remarked to me that preaching was 
 easier than handling the pick and shovel. 
 
274 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 MV EXl'ERIENCE AS A MINER. 
 
 AFTER disposing of my teams, Joe Stone and my- 
 self went down on the south fork of the American 
 River, where we purchased a claim and went to work 
 mining. The sun was very hot and the shade was cool 
 and pleasant, and Joe was a good hand to tell stories; 
 consequently sometimes the claim did not pay very well, 
 and we came to the conclusion that the thing would not 
 pay anyhow\ So I bought Joe out, and he sought other^ 
 fields of labor. I soon sold the claim and took up other 
 claims, all of which I sold to " forty-niners." I would not 
 sell an i mm grant a claim. 
 
 After making a few thousand dollars by the sale of 
 claims, I finally located what was known as Prospect 
 Flat, or rather that was what I named it. I had erected 
 a cabin and struck moderate pay. Doctor Morse, P. F. 
 Adams, and several others were with me. They had no- 
 where else to go. Winter came on — the terrible winter 
 of 1852-53. The whole crowd was sick, save '* Doc." and 
 myself, and he and I worked our mine to feed the sick 
 ones. It paid tolerably well, and when we cleared up for 
 the night the only question was. Have we made enough 
 to-day to purchase grub for the crowd? when we would 
 shoulder our picks and make for the cabin, through the 
 slush of snow and mud, all dripping wet. 
 
 Thus we worked the whole winter to supply our com- 
 rades with necessary food ; and we were doing well at 
 that, as all that winter flour was a dollar a pound ; bacon, 
 a dollar and a half a poimd; potatoes, one dollar, and 
 
Colon i*:!. L. A. Norton. 275 
 
 cverythiiiij^ in proportion. These hii^h prices were 
 caused, not by any scarcity or sudden rise in provisions 
 in San b^rancisco or the valleys, but ovvin<^ to the im- 
 passable condition of the roads. To transport b)' wagons 
 was impossible, and pack animals would in many in- 
 stances mire down; hence much of the provision was 
 broui^ht in on nien's backs, many men fmdinij that mak- 
 int^ pack animals of themselves paid better than minings, 
 llowever, tiie winter wore away and spring-, with all its 
 poetry of birds and flowers, once more dawned upon us, 
 and with it the usual prices for provisions. The sick boys, 
 having regained their health once more, resumed their 
 [)icks and shovels. 
 
 lUit about this time an incident occurred which 
 caused me to change my occupation. 1 had organized a 
 [nining district known as Prospect J^lat Mining District, 
 and had taken up a claim in a gulch; but there were 
 three men working a claim below mine, and I could not 
 get fall enough to work my claim until they had worked 
 theirs (Hit; so I put just the recjuired amount of work 
 on my claim to hold it under the district laws. lUit 
 when the men below me hatl worked up the gulch to 
 the boundary of my claim, they did not respect it, but 
 continued to work right along. 1 remonstrated with 
 them, but they would not listen to anything I said. 1 
 then notified them tliat 1 should call a miners' meeting 
 to decide who the claim belonged to. They said they 
 did not care for me nor the miners' meeting. '1 hey 
 declared that they would not attend the meeting, and 
 that they would work the claim or die over it; that they 
 came from "Old Kentuclc by (j — d." I told tluMii that 
 1 didn't come from " Old Kentuck," and that, like all 
 
27G Life and Adventures of 
 
 my race, I was a coward; but they had better be more 
 careful, as an inva^sion of my rights might make a h"on 
 of me. 
 
 On Saturday night I attended the miners' meeting, 
 and introduced my evidence showing that I had done 
 the requisite amount of labor to hold the claim, when 
 the miners decided the case in my favor and offered to 
 send a committee to place me in possession of my claim 
 on Monday morning. I told them that in case I wanted 
 a committee to place me in possession I would call upon 
 them; but I would ask the president of the meeting to 
 let the secretary go with me, and read the proceedings 
 of the meeting to the adverse party. 
 
 Accordingly on Monday morning I was on the ground, 
 with my pick, shovel, and long-tom, at work uncovering 
 a space to gettothe wash dirt. Charley Barney, a friend, 
 accompanied the secretary and myself; and in about 
 half an hour my antagonists put in an appearance. 
 They came right upon the ground and commenced work 
 with me. I quietly notified them that I should not pay 
 them for their labor, and they returned the compliment, 
 telling me that they would not pay me for mine. I told 
 them that unless the Government paid me I should not 
 expect any pay. 
 
 After thus working for a time, the secretary having in 
 the meantime read the decision of the meeting giving 
 me the ground, I said to Charley Barney, "Charley, 
 will you help me to set my tom ? " We took the tom 
 and jumped down into the trench where they had 
 worked to, which was about four feet deep, with a straight 
 face up to where they had quit work. As we jumped 
 down and took the tom with us, one of the contestants, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 277 
 
 the leader of the three, a well-made man and six feet 
 high, sprang upon the rocks above us with a bright new 
 pick in his hand, and it was difficult to say whether his 
 black and flashing eyes or the pick shone the brightest. 
 He raised the pick and exclaimed, " D — n you, come 
 out of there or I will pin you to the rock." Charley 
 was down in the ditch; I glanced up and saw a small 
 projecting point about half-way up the face of the rock; 
 I caught fire and said, " Yes, I will come out." I sprang, 
 placed my toe on the projection, and before he was 
 aware of my intention, I was at his side, and my head 
 was above the point of his pick. He attempted to 
 raise it to strike, when, like a flash, I threw my left arm 
 around him, seized his pick with my right hand, and 
 tearing it from its grasp, threw it down into the ditch. 
 And as he attempted to slip his hand into his pocket, I 
 momentarily relaxed my hold of his waist and again 
 threw my arm around him, pinioning his arm at his 
 side. I felt that the man was as a child in my grasp. 
 
 At this moment one of his partners rushed up and 
 with one of the long-handled mining shovels struck at 
 me a terrific blow. As quick as thought I threw the 
 man I was holding right under the descending shovel, 
 which must have split his head open had not Dr. Morse, 
 the secretary, caught another shovel and raised it so as 
 to receive the blow in time to save my man's life. 
 When the fellow saw what he would have done, he 
 turned deathly pale and sank down upon the grass, 
 making no further effort to aid his friend. But an over- 
 grown fellow that would have weighed over two hun- 
 dred pounds, the third partner, stepped up with a spade 
 in his hand and said, " Release that man or I will split 
 your head open." 
 
278 Life and Adventures of 
 
 But by this time I was ready for almost anythinor, 
 and the shovels did not seem to me to be more than so 
 many straws whirled about my head; and as he advanced 
 on me, I exclaimed, " You coward, you dare not strike 
 any one," and dealt him a kick that wilted him at my 
 feet. Then my " companion-in-arms " be^^an to come 
 to his reason and asked me to let him go, as the claim 
 was not worth fighting for. I told him that he should 
 have thought of that sooner ! " But," I said, " you have 
 a plaything in your side-pocket that I want for a min- 
 ute." He, without further resistance, permitted me to 
 put my hand into his pocket and take out his revolver. 
 I removed the caps, threw it out onto the bank, and told 
 them all to get out of there. They helped out the man 
 I had kicked, and all marched off, leaving their tools, for 
 which they returned in three or four days. 
 
 As for myself, in jerking the pick away from the fel- 
 low (whose name I afterwards learned was Hendricks), 
 I had so strained my right wrist that I could no longer 
 use it. Hence I quit mining and went to San Francisco 
 to purchase a law library. I called on my friend E. D. 
 Baker, who was then practicing law with Judge Crock- 
 ett, and they kindly assisted me in selecting my books, 
 when I returned to Placerville, stuck out my shingle, 
 and commenced the practice of law. But it was many 
 months before my arm got well, as the^ muscles were 
 badly strained. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 279 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 LAWYER AND MERCHANT— UNCLE IJILLV'S LARCENY. 
 
 AFTER practicing- a while, I was compelled to take a 
 stock of goods, on which I had advanced money, 
 and for some time I ran an auction and commission 
 business, in connection with my legal profession. But 
 after trying to conduct both for a time, I came to the 
 conclusion that I had too many irons in the fire, and 
 disposed of my goods. 
 
 But while I was still trying to conduct a mercantile 
 business in connection with the legal profession, a happy- 
 faced old gentleman came into my store one day and 
 wished to know if my name was Norton. I informed 
 him that it was. "Well," said the old gentleman, "I 
 have got into a little trouble and John Frink told me to 
 come and employ you and you would get me out of it." 
 I replied that I thanked my friend Frink for his confi- 
 dence in my ability. I then asked him his name. He 
 said his name was Billy Sutton, but they all called him 
 Uncle Billy. "Well," I said, "Uncle Billy, what is the 
 nature of your case?" He replied, "They have arrested 
 me for stealing Aunty Crowley's turkey." I said, " Well, 
 Uncle Billy, did you steal Aunty Crowley's turkey?" 
 He said, "Yes." "Well," said I, "can they prove it?" 
 "Yes," said he, "there was a man with me when I took 
 it, and they have got him for a witness." "Well," said 
 I, "how do you expect me to clear you when they have 
 an eye-witness to your guilt?" He said, "I don't know, 
 only Frink told me to employ you and you would get 
 me out of it." I then interrogated him further and 
 
280 Life and Adventures of 
 
 found that he had been to Placerville and got "pretty 
 full," and in returning to his cabin he saw the turkey 
 on the fence antl conchided, "just for a lark," to take 
 the turkey, and himself and friends would have a "bit 
 of a feast," never thinking that the turkey was worth 
 five dollars. He told the young man who was with 
 him to wait and he would get the turkey. He said it 
 was all done by moonlight. He got the turkey and 
 they made their way home; but the turkey being a good 
 fat one, it was rather he^ivy and he got his friend to 
 help him carry it. 
 
 The turkey was taken home and cooked, the boys 
 undoubtedly enjoying the feast. But after a time the 
 young fellow "leaked," and x^unty Crowley, learning what 
 had been the fate of her turkey, made complaint and 
 had Uncle Billy arrested for stealing it; and he was 
 then under an arrest and permitted to come and 
 get counsel, the boys having bailed him; for, as I after- 
 wards learned, they all liked Uncle Billy, and he was 
 anything but a thief 
 
 I soon found that they had the young man who was 
 with Uncle Billy under summons as a witness and were 
 keeping a close lookout for him. The justice who issued 
 the warrant of arrest was Esquire Vernon, of upper 
 Placerville. He was an old hard-shell Baptist deacon, 
 and was very much down on any infraction of the crim- 
 inal code. I accompanied my man, Uncle Billy, up to 
 the room where I found the court, Johnson, prosecut- 
 ing attorney, Cock-eyed Jack Johnson, an assistant (being 
 a good friend of Aunty Crowley), and the constable (L. 
 B. Hopkins, I believe), Hopkins or Charley Tureman; 
 but I am satisfied it was Hopkins. (Novv, friend Hop- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 281 
 
 kins, if this meets your eye, please excuse me, for you 
 know it is every word true.) 
 
 Well, Johnson (^the prosecutor), who was one of those 
 well-bred, pompous men, with a f^^reat corporosity, sat 
 back in his chair, with his thumbs in the sides of his vest, 
 believing that he had the case dead; but for once he was 
 destined to learn that "dead things sometimes crawl." 
 
 I walked up to the justice, to whom I was an entire 
 stranger, and asked to see the papers in the case. He 
 passed them over to me, I examined them, saw that they 
 were all in form, that the charge was petit larceny for 
 feloniously taking, stealing, and carrying away one tur- 
 key, being the property of Mary Ann Crowley, of the 
 price and value of five dollars, all of which was, etc. 
 
 I asked that the prisoner be arraigned, and he pleaded 
 not guilty. I had before this time had Uncle Billy point 
 out to me the witness, who sat on a bench not far from 
 the door. I said, "Your honor, we will take a jury in 
 this case." A venire was issued and Hopkins went out 
 to summon the jury. As soon as he was gone, I stepped 
 along to where the witness sat, gave him a tip and walked 
 downstairs. He was not long in following. When we 
 got to the bottom of the stairs, I remarked, " Well, you 
 are the witness who is going to swear against Uncle 
 Billy to send him to jail." He began to half whimper 
 and said, " I did not want to, but they made me do it." 
 I now remarked that it was unfortunate, as I understood 
 from Uncle Billy that he had carried the turkey part of 
 the way. He said, " Yes, I carried it a piece." 
 "Well," said I, " if you send Uncle J^illy below for steal- 
 ing the turkey, 1 shall have to send you along to keep 
 him company; for, if he is guilty, you d,x^ particeps crim- 
 19 
 
2(S2 Life and Adventures of 
 
 i?iis.'' He said, " What is that?" I answered, "A party 
 to the guilt." " Well," he said, " what can I do ? " I 
 remarked that, as a witness, I could have nothing to say 
 to him; but were he to employ me as his counsel, I could 
 tell him what to do. He said, '' Then I employ you as 
 my counsel." 
 
 There was a round hill less than half a mile distant, 
 and on the other side was what was known as Long 
 Canon, that led off in a westerly direction, very brushy 
 and rough. I said to him, "All right; 1 will act as your 
 counsel. Do you see the top of that hill, yonder?" 
 '' Yes," said he. " Then let that portion of the flour- 
 sack on the opposite side to your face disappear behind 
 that hill as soon as your legs and God will let it be done.". 
 He said, "They will see me." I replied that the coast 
 was clear, and bade him go. And it was one of the 
 prettiest against time (uphill at that) that I ever saw. 
 
 1 immediately walked upstairs. Cock-eye Johnson 
 (or Jack Johnson) saw me return alone, when he ex- 
 claimed, " Where is the witness ? I will bet a hundred 
 dollars that cuss has run him off." At this he looked 
 through the window, through which I was watching the 
 progress of my friend, when he exclaimed, " Yes; by G — d, 
 there he goes ! " Hopkins had just stepped into the 
 room, when he and Jack Johnson took after him; but 
 my young racer soon distanced them and they returned 
 panting. (Don't think that L. B. was then the venera- 
 ble, white-whiskered Hopkins of to-day, in San Francisco; 
 oh ! no; he was spry as a cat and lively as an eel.) 
 
 Then the prosecuting attorney arose in dignity and 
 addressed the court, asking for a continuance of the case, 
 as 1 liad undoubtedly tampered with the witness and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 283 
 
 run him off, and if he could prove it on me, he would dis- 
 bar me, and I would never appear again in court as an 
 attorney. When he was done, I arose to oppose the 
 motion for a continuance, and ur^ed the court to dis- 
 charge the prisoner for want of prosecution. I further 
 remarked that " the gentleman prosecuting the case 
 pompously tells you, if he could only prove that I ran 
 young Whitman off, he would disbar me and that I would 
 never appear again as an attorney in court. Now, your 
 honor, I ran him off — I did ! but mark ye, not as a wit- 
 ness, but advising him as an attorney to a client. I 
 found that if any one had stolen Aunty Crowley's turkey 
 it was young Whitman who was guilty; and as his attor- 
 ney, I advised him to run, and I am happy to say he 
 took my advice to the letter and carried out my instruc- 
 tions admirably. Now, let the gentleman disbar me if 
 he can." The court was indignant and gave a continu- 
 ance for two days (that being the extent of one continu- 
 ance, and not more than six days in all). 
 
 The same day of the race, in the evening, I received a 
 note from my runaway client, then at Coloma (ten miles 
 distant), asking me when he could come back; he was 
 afraid some one would jump his claim. I wrote to him 
 to stay there, as he valued his liberty, until I told him 
 to come, and that I would look out for his claim (which 
 I did). 
 
 The two days elapsed and no witness ! I again 
 moved to discharge the prisoner. Johnson asked for 
 another continuance of two days, which was granted. 
 At the end of the two days, I demanded trial; but the 
 court granted continuance till the statute of rights was 
 exhausted, and no witness being heard of, I forced them 
 
284 Life and Adventures of 
 
 to trial. They introduced Aunty Crowley, who swore to 
 the loss of the turkey, ownership and value. They 
 introduced several witnesses whose testimony was unim- 
 portant (mostly hearsay), and when the prosecution was 
 through with the examination, I would ask the witness 
 if he knew anything about Aunty Crowley's stealing 
 Uncle Billy's turkey, etc. Thus the case went to the 
 jury, who acquitted Uncle Billy without leaving the 
 jury box, to the great chagrin of the justice and prose- 
 cuting attorney. I then directed Uncle Billy to go and 
 pay Aunty Crowley for her turkey and make his most 
 humble apology for the outrage ; all of which he did, and 
 with such good effect that the old lady afterwards declared 
 that she did not believe Uncle Billy ever intended 
 to steal her turkey; that he was one of the most pleas- 
 ant gentlemen that she had ever met; and had she but 
 known him then as she did now, she would never have 
 mentioned it, for it was nothing but a little freak, and that 
 when it was over he would have come and paid for the 
 turkey; that was what Mr. Sutton would have done. 
 
 Well, Uncle Billy was one of the fortunate miners. 
 His claim turned out to be one of the richest in that 
 section of the country, and, as Uncle Billy often renewed 
 his visit to the widow's, some of the miners were 
 wicked enough to assert that one of two things was 
 certain: that Uncle Billy either was paying for the tur- 
 key in installments, or else he was hanging around 
 to steal another. But it turned out different from what 
 they expected; for at the end of six months Uncle 
 Billy stole the widow, turkeys and all; and true to her 
 opinion of Uncle Billy's honesty, she brought no action 
 for the last larceny. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 285 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 AN EXCITING HORSE-STEALING CASE. 
 
 A BOUT the time of the occurrence mentioned in the 
 l\ preceding chapter, a party by the name of Higgins 
 came to me and wanted to retain me to defend him and 
 three associates, charged with steahng eight head of 
 mules and horses. The parties had been arrested in 
 Placerville, but the offense was charged to have been 
 committed in Sacramento County; hence, under the 
 statute, the prisoners would have to be tried in that 
 county, and be examined for committal before the near- 
 est and most accessible justice. I allowed myself to be 
 retained for their defense, and the whole city was very 
 indi2:nant to think that I would defend them — even 
 threatening to hang the prisoners and their attorney 
 with them. Threats were freely exchanged, and finally 
 the officers in charge of the prisoners, in their zeal, 
 boasted that they would take the prisoners before N. 
 Greene Curtis, who was then recorder of Sacramento 
 City, where they would be prosecuted by James Hardy, 
 the "bull-dog" prosecuting attorney, and Norton would 
 get into deep water, where he could neither wade nor 
 swim. 
 
 I came to the conclusion that I would block their little 
 game, if possible, and get an examination before the first 
 justice that we came to in Sacramento County. The 
 officers were going to take the prisoners down by stage, 
 at five o'clock in the morning. I went to the livery 
 stables to procure a team to go to Salmon Falls, but to 
 my surprise I could not get a team or horse, for love or 
 
286 Life and Adventures of 
 
 money. So I determined to take it on foot, beinj^ in the 
 full vigor of manhood and very active, and at two 
 o'clock in the morning I started out. Now Salmon 
 Falls did not lie on the Sacramento road, but on the 
 American River, some three or four miles north of 
 the road. ' My plan was to get to the Falls in time to 
 get out a warrant against the officers for kidnapping, 
 before the stage should pass that point. I continued my 
 journey at a rapid pace for about twelve miles, when I 
 became very sick, as a consequence of want of rest, 
 having been up two nights before, studying up the case. 
 I was compelled to abandon my scheme and stop at 
 a hotel, at a stage station, and go to bed, requesting the 
 landlord to call me on the arrival of the stage. 
 
 When the stage arrived I got aboard, and found my 
 four prisoners, with their hands bound behind them, 
 in charge of two officers. I had subsequently learned that 
 the next hotel was kept by a justice of the peace of 
 Sacramento County, and finding an opportunity to 
 whisper to one of the prisoners, whose name was Wil- 
 son, I told him to tell the rest of the boys, when he 
 came to the hotel, to insist on getting out to get a 
 drink. Accordingly, on arriving at the house, they all 
 claimed to be very thirsty and were permitted to get out 
 of the stage and go into the house for a drink. T folknved 
 the officers with their prisoners into the bar room, and 
 asked the landlord, "Are you a justice of the peace 
 of Sacramento County ? " He answered. " Yes." I asked, 
 "Are you duly elected and qualified?" He replied, 
 "I am." I further inquired, "Are you ready to take 
 jurisdiction of this case?" He answered, "Yes." 
 
 I then turned to the officers and prisoners and said, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 287 
 
 "This is the nearest and most accessible justice in Sac- 
 ramento County;" and to the prisoners, "You have a 
 rip^ht to your examination here, and if you go any far- 
 ther you are fools; you have a right to resist, and if these 
 men take you any farther by force they are no longer 
 officers but kidnappers." Upon this the officers ordered 
 the prisoners into the stage; but they refused to go. 
 One of the officers, named Murphy, drew his revolver, 
 swearing that he would shoot them down if they did 
 not get aboard. But before he could make a further 
 demonstration, I covered him with a cocked revolver, 
 and told him to put up that iron, as he should not draw 
 a pistol on a bound man. He then put up his pistol, 
 when both officers swore -that they had started to take 
 the prisoners to Sacramento, and to Sacramento they 
 were going to take them. The prisoners were all young, 
 athletic fellows, and tliere ensued one of the most lively 
 strufTorles I had ever seen. The officers took them one 
 at a time and bound their feet, and by main force i)iled 
 them into the coach, when we continued our journey. 
 
 On our arrival at Sacramento the prisoners were taken 
 before Judge Curtis, recorder of the city, whereupon I 
 moved to dismiss the prisoners, as the court had no 
 jurisdiction of the case, and the court sustained my 
 motion. Hardy, the prosecuting attorney, asked the 
 police to guard the prisoners until he could make a new 
 complaint; but in the hurry of writing his complaint, he 
 omitted to state the venue, and I again moved that 
 the case be dismissed, as the prisoners might have stolen 
 the horses in South America, where that court would 
 have no jurisdiction. 
 
 The prisoners were again discharged, and were again 
 
288 Life and Adventures of 
 
 guarded by the officers until Hardy drew another com- 
 plaint, and they were once more arrested. Not hav- 
 ing the name of the prosecutor before him, he omitted 
 to insert his name in the complaint, and I took it up 
 and read, " Blank paper being duly sworn, deposes and 
 says" — an4 added, " I suppose your honor cares to hear 
 no more of this. I move that the prisoners be dis- 
 charged." The order was made, dismissing the prison- 
 ers, whereupon Hardy swore roundly, and dashed off 
 another complaint; this I examined, as before, and found 
 that he had omitted to attach any value to the stolen 
 property. I read the complaint to the court, and re- 
 marked that in order to maintain larceny the thing 
 taken must be of some valuer if petit larceny, it must 
 be under the value of fifty dollars, and if grand larceny, 
 it must be over the value of fifty dollars; but as no 
 value was stated, the court must presume that the ani- 
 mals alleged to have been stolen were ferce naturce. 
 Hence, no offense having been alleged, I asked that the 
 prisoners be discharged. 
 
 By this time Hardy had become perfectly cool, and 
 now said, " Gentlemen, I propose to draw up a com- 
 plaint; " and he did. This time the document was in 
 every way sufficient, and I demanded an examina- 
 tion. The prosecution asked for a continuance. The 
 court, after argument, and on the showing of the 
 prosecution that there were four others engaged in the 
 larceny, that the officers were after them, and that there 
 was information that they had been arrested, decided 
 that the examination might go on, but should it appear 
 that there was evidence in the case which could not then 
 be obtained, then he would grant a continuance, giving 
 opportunity to produce it. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 289 
 
 The examination was then opened, and the prosecu- 
 tion called Murphy, the constable, who was present at 
 the arrest, to the stand. He swore that he was present 
 and assisted in the arrest of the prisoners; that the 
 horses and mules were not found in their possession, but 
 that Higi^ins had confessed to the officers and parties 
 connected with the arrest that they, the four pris- 
 oners, were implicated in the stealinc^, and that the ani- 
 mals were in possession of the other four partners in the 
 matter. In cross-examining the witness I asked him if 
 Higgins, on his first interrogation, had admitted the tak- 
 ing of the animals. He replied, "No; at first he denied it." 
 I then asked him how he had come to admit it afterward. 
 He said that they had put a rope around his neck, drew 
 him up on a limb, and let him hang for a while, then let 
 him down and asked him if he was ready to confess the 
 crime. The accused again told them in reply that they 
 had not taken the horses. Then the party proceeded 
 again with the hanging, and continued the process until 
 the third time, when a full confession was made, as here- 
 tofore sworn to. Upon this statc^ment, I moved to 
 strike out the entire testimony of the witness, as the con- 
 fession had been .extorted by duress. The motion was 
 sustained. The witness also swore that the other four 
 prisoners were in possession of the animals, and that 
 they were expected to be in the next day ; whereupon 
 the court continued the case, and sent the prisoners to 
 the prison-brig to await the arrival of the other parties. 
 
 I made my way to the brig, and directed the prisoners 
 that when their associates arrived they must be entire 
 strangers to them, and leave the rest to me. I watched 
 the arrival of the other prisoners, and found an oppor- 
 
290 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tunity to do a little whispering to one of them; told 
 him that their companions were on the prison-brig, and 
 that the only hope of all of them or any of them to 
 escape was in being entire strangers to each other, and 
 to tell his companions what I said. 
 
 My insLructions were strictly carried out. The last lot 
 employed Abe Ward to defend them. He was, I think 
 the most eloquent man I ever knew. I was also retained 
 to assist him in their defense. I asked to sever in the 
 examination, and to arraign the four men for whom I 
 had first been employed as counsel, and continue their 
 examination. There was no opposition and the exami- 
 nation proceeded. The prosecution immediately called 
 the four parties last arrested; each one as he took the 
 stand was asked if he knew the prisoners, and each 
 answered that he had never seen them until they met 
 them on the prison-brig, and knew nothing of them nor 
 their antecedents. I again asked that the prisoners be 
 discharged, and asked the court to furnish an escort 
 of police to guard them out of the city, as they were 
 threatened by a mob. The court granted the motion, I 
 bade the poor devils good-by, and they departed. 
 
 But it was not thus with the other four; the property 
 was found in their possession, and there was no means 
 by which we could account for that possession; and Abe 
 and myself, after fighting the thing lor three days, had 
 the satisfaction of seeing them held for trial, a result 
 which I did not expect. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 opposition to lynch law. 
 
 IN the spring of 1853, society commenced forming^ 
 and as permanent settlements were made in and 
 about the mines, the civil law began to be appealed to in 
 the settlement of difficulties between the inhabitants of 
 the country, and during that summer many of us con- 
 cluded that the " Hangtown Oak " needed no further 
 ornamenting with human bodies dangling from its limbs; 
 accordingly we organized, some eighty in number, in the 
 interest of law and order, and determined that promiscu- 
 ous hanging should be stopped, and that the laws of the 
 country should be enforced in all cases, criminal as well 
 as civil. 
 
 A short time after this organization was consummated 
 one Hughes, living on Hangtown Hill, near Coon Hol- 
 low, in a fit of jealousy, killed a man with an ax, both 
 of the parties being drunk. The murderer was arrested 
 and brought over to Placerville by the civil authorities, 
 and lodged in Squire Doyle's office for examination. 
 He had been there but a short time when the miners 
 from Coon Hollow and the surrounding country gath- 
 ered in and demanded the prison er, which of course was 
 refused. The parties to our organization were scattered 
 through the crowd, and in an unorganized state. The 
 justice's office was in a two-story building, on the second 
 floor, with a balcony in front. The sheriff and myself 
 were quietly left to guard the stairs, while several of our 
 organization went out to hunt up the rest and organize. 
 We stood upon the stairs while an infuriated mob, con- 
 
292 Life and Adventures of 
 
 sisting of several thousand, were hooting and howling 
 and demanding the prisoner. The sheriff and myself 
 firmly held our position, while the more desperate part 
 of the mob was thronging the lower part of the stairs, 
 and crowding upon us with threats of violence unless 
 we permitted them to pass. 
 
 * A big butcher from Coon Hollow, who was in advance, 
 attempted to wrest my arm from the banister where I 
 had stretched it out to prevent their coming up, when I 
 presented my pistol and told him that I would kill him 
 unless he desisted. In this manner we held them back 
 for about half an hour, when our boys were fully organ- 
 ized and made their way through the crowd. A portion 
 of them took possession of the stairs to keep the crowd 
 back, and the others stationed themselves in the court 
 room to insure order, while the prisoner was having his 
 preliminary examination. 
 
 Suddenly there was a bed-cord, with a noose, thrown 
 over the prisoner's head, and the other end quickly 
 thrown from the balcony down among the excited crowd. 
 The prisoner was dragged up to the banisters of the 
 balcony and in an instant more would have been over 
 the balcony and down amongst the crowd, when R. M. 
 Anderson (afterward lieutenant-governor of the State) 
 jerked a I^owie-knife from his boot and cut the rope. 
 We then hustled the prisoner into a small back room 
 and thence up a back stairway, where he was disguised 
 in a different suit of clothes, which had been smuggled 
 in for the purpose. 
 
 We had in the meantime procured ten saddle-horses, 
 which ten of our organization mounted and rode up in 
 front of the justice's office. One man, of course, did not 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 293 
 
 intend to ride any farther. After fully disguising the 
 prisoner, he was slipped down the back way and through 
 the store below into the street and amongst the crowd, 
 which had entirely surrounded our horsemen; one rider 
 slid from his horse and" Hughes, the prisoner, was thrown 
 into the saddle. At this he was recognized, and the cry 
 from the mob rang out, " There he is ! there he is ! " 
 
 There was now at least ten thousand men in the crowd, 
 which literally packed the plaza, and as they rushed 
 forward every one qf us on horseback drew our revolvers 
 and presented them, when the crowd began to surge 
 backwards; and the throng was so dense and the press 
 so sudden that men were pushed with great violence 
 through the store windows on the opposite side of the 
 plaza, causing a fearful crash. We then, with the pris- 
 oner, taking advantage of the confusion, charged through 
 the crowd and dashed off for CoTo"ma, the county seat. 
 We arrived safely, with our prisoner, and I do not think 
 that any man was ever more anxious to get out of prison 
 than he was to get safely in. To conclude this sketch, 
 Hughes was tried, convicted, and hanged at the same 
 time that Logan was hanged at Coloma, we having had 
 a somewhat similar experience with Logan. 
 
 There was no more lynching in El Dorado County. 
 The old Hangtown Oak was cut down and principally 
 manufactured into canes, which are carefully kept in 
 remembrance of the days of gold excitement, riot, and 
 blood-shed. 
 
294 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY, AND THE ROBBER'S CONFESSION. 
 
 AT the time referred to in the preceding chapter, I 
 was a widower, and had erected a nice dwelh'ng- 
 house in the center of Placerville. Before erecting the 
 building I had boarded at the Eagle Hotel, kept by Mis. 
 E. W. McKinstry, and, by the way, she had a history. 
 She had a fine education and commanding appearance, 
 was a lady in demeanor, and at the time of her marriage 
 with McKinstry was the widow of Professor Webb, of 
 Indianapolis, Indiana. She came to California in 1850, 
 with her husband, who soon sickened and died. She 
 was rather a devotee of the church. Being left with but 
 little means, she was compelled to do something for the 
 maintenance of herself and little child, and engaged in 
 baking pies. Having the sympathy of the community 
 generally, she was extensively patronized, and at the 
 end of two years had accumulated about nine thousand 
 dollars in gold-dust, when a man by the name of Mc- 
 Kinstry, rather pleasing in appearance, having the repu- 
 tation of being wealthy, was introduced to her by the 
 clergyman of her church as being a good and pious 
 man. He was represented as one that would make her 
 happy and be a father to her child, and his suit was so 
 insidiously pressed that she was at length induced to 
 marry him. 
 
 The marriage proved to be an unfortunate and un- 
 happy one for her. It. came to light that the preacher 
 was an unscrupulous villain, and that McKinstry, in order 
 to induce him to further his interests, had paid him five 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 295 
 
 hundred dollars. This was the common report, and it 
 reached her after the marriage. She also discovered 
 that the Eagle Hotel, which McKinstry was erecting 
 and which was then about completed, was mortgaged 
 for nearly all that it was worth; and in fact, when his 
 debts were paid, he was not worth a dollar. Being a 
 woman of more than ordinary intellect, and McKinstry 
 being a weak but unscrupulous man, she resolved to 
 make the best of a bad matter, paid off the incumbrances 
 upon the house with her own money, took a deed to the 
 property in her own name, and managed it herself. 
 
 She conducted the h-otel about two years, when, from 
 excitement and excessive labor, she had very much 
 wrecked her constitution and nerves, and she and her 
 husband had lived a "cat and dog life." At length she 
 found an opportunity to rent the hotel, and sought 
 another n sidence. McKinstry came to me and pro- 
 posed that if I would let them go into my house, which 
 was well furnished, I should have my room and board 
 with them as rent, to which I readily consented. 
 
 They had remained several months in my house, when 
 the Kern River gold excitement arose, and McKinstry 
 decided to go to the new mines. He asked me if it 
 would be agreeable to have his family remain in my 
 house while he was absent, about four months. 1 at first 
 objected to the arrangement, but on his insisting I finally 
 acceded to his wishes, and his wife and her little son, 
 some twelve years of age, continued to reside in the 
 house. 
 
 When McKinstry had been absent some two months, 
 two or three letters arrived from his mother and other 
 friends, who resided in the East. Woman-like, his wife 
 
296 Life and Adventures of 
 
 opened the letters, and discovered that he had been 
 writing defamatory and scurrilous letters in regard to 
 her, at times when they had been having their quarrels. 
 These letters were of the most infamous character, as 
 evidenced by tfie replies. She came to me crying and 
 showed nie the letters, and declared she would never live 
 another day with a man who would write such letters 
 about his wife. 
 
 Time rolled on, and McKinstry did not return until 
 the expiration of eight months. During this time my 
 sister and her husband, one Dr. Alexander, a man whom 
 she had married at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and who was 
 keeping a large drug store there at the time, visited me 
 at Placerville. They had been there some two weeks, 
 when I thought it would be a good opportunity, they 
 remaining in the house with Mrs. McKinstry, for me to 
 go and visit a ranch for which I had traded property in 
 Placerville. It was situated in Monterey County, and 
 the trip occupied about ten days. 
 
 On my return home I found Mrs. McKinstry almost 
 crazy, from the fact that she had been robbed, the night 
 before, of all her gold-dust, amounting to about seven 
 thousand dollars, including a lot of fine specimens and 
 some valuable jewelry. Her gold-dust was stored in 
 bottles, while the specimens and jewelry were in a small 
 tin box, and as at that day there were no safes or places 
 of deposit, when McKinstry left she requested me to 
 secrete her gold-dust and jewelry. She had made this 
 request because of an attempted robbery a few nights 
 after her husband had left home. It was between nine 
 and ten o'clock, just before I had retired to bed, Mrs. 
 McKinstry having gone to bed. She and Livey, her 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 297 
 
 son, slept on the first floor, and the boy came running 
 up to my room half dressed, a»d said they heard some 
 noise at their bedroom window. 
 
 I quietly slipped out around the house, and as I turned 
 the corner I received a blow from a slung- shot, or some 
 other missile, that made me " see stars." The blow did 
 not knock me down, but staggered me. I turned and 
 ran into the house for my rifle, and rushed out again, but 
 could see no one. However, on examination, I found a 
 wash-tub turned bottom side up beneath their window, 
 with a bar lying across it. So the next day Mrs. Mc- 
 Kinstry requested me to secrete her dust, specimens, and 
 jewelry. I took the gold-dust in the bottles, ripped off 
 a portion of the lining in the kitchen and slipped the 
 bottles in between the wash-board and the studding, and 
 carefully put back the lining as before. It was a story- 
 anJ-a-half house, with box cornice. I took the box of 
 jewelry and specimens to my room and slipped them in 
 between the plate and the rafters, down into the box 
 cornice. 
 
 On the night of the robbery, Dr. Alexander had in- 
 vited my sister and Mrs. McKinstry and son to go to the 
 theater. They had gone from the house some little 
 distance, when Dr. Alexander remarked that he had 
 forgotten his purse, having left it in the pocket of another 
 pair of pants, and he returned to the house to get it. 
 He was gone but a few minutes when he joined the party 
 again and they together proceeded to the theater. On 
 their return home, on entering the house the first thing 
 noticed was that the lining in the kitchen was slit, and 
 next the gold missing. Mrs. McKinstry went into 
 her bedroom to take off her wraps, and there found 
 20 
 
298 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the lining slit in every direction, as in the kitchen 
 where the dust had been, and she exclaimed, " Oh, 
 my God ! 1 wonder if they have got my specimens 
 and jewelry too ! " Telling the doctor where they had 
 been secreted, he made search and soon reported that 
 they were all gone. 
 
 These were the circumstances attending the robbery, 
 and the woman was almost frantic over her losses. I 
 did not know what to think about it, but had a vague 
 idea that no stranger could have committed the robbery, 
 as she did not believe she had confided to any person 
 where the money was hid. But as fate would have it, 
 McKinstry had arrived the same evening that I did. It 
 struck me as possible that he might have come to town 
 the night before, and in their absence had perpetrated 
 the robbery. And yet I could not conceive how it was 
 possible ^for him to have any idea where the treasure was 
 hid. His wife refused to have anything to say to him 
 when he returned further than to inform him of the 
 infamous letters she had received. 
 
 My suspicions were divided between Alexander and 
 McKinstry. However, I said nothing to any person as to 
 my ideas of the matter, but went quietly, after dark, and 
 scattered ashes upon the paths leading to and from the 
 house, so that in case anybody should go in or out they 
 would leave the impress oftheir feet upon the paths. I be- 
 lieved that if any person about the premises had taken the 
 money it would have been secreted at no great distance 
 from the house. The next morning I examined my 
 traps of ashes and discovered that no person had entered 
 or left the house by any of the regular avenues. On the 
 following morning I commenced a close search of the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 299 
 
 yard, which was of ample dimensions. In this search I 
 was joined by the doctor, my sister, Mrs. McKinstry, 
 and her little boy. After prosecuting the search about 
 two hours, I took quite a long pole and went to a shallow 
 well in the lot, which was about eight feet in depth, con- 
 taining nearly two feet of water. 
 
 There had been an old wash-tub sunk in the well, by 
 placing some stones in it, to keep it from falling to pieces 
 by the drought. I commenced punching info the well 
 and also into the tub with the pole, to see whether I 
 could feel anything in the bottom, when the doctor, some 
 distance off, exclaimed, "I have found it! I have found 
 it ! " I immediately left the well and went over to where 
 he was, and found that he had turned over a flat stone 
 beneath which were two big toads. He commenced 
 laughing, and turned it off as a capital joke. I did not 
 return to the well, and we soon abandoned our search in 
 the yard. 
 
 Time passed by, and when it became known that the 
 money was stolen, speculation became rife as to who 
 were the guilty parties. In a short time Dr. Alexander 
 and his wife moved to Santa Clara County, and there 
 established themselves in a hotel. When they left and 
 had got as far as Stockton I procured a warrant of arrest 
 and had them and everything about them thoroughly 
 searched; but there were no traces giving any evidence 
 to hold them. 
 
 When the affair had been thoroughly discussed by the 
 community at . large, and all the circumstances of the 
 robbery were known, it was generally believed that I had 
 been at the bottom of the robbery; that I had got Alex- 
 ander and his wife there, had disclosed to them the loca- 
 
300 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tion of the money, and had gone away on purpose while 
 they should perpetrate the 'eed, and that I was to share 
 in the b^oty. The circumstances were so suspicious 
 that I became completely under the ban, and knew no 
 way to extricate myself. Mrs. McKinstry was urged 
 to have me arrested; but she would as soon think that 
 she had stolen the money herself as that I had committed 
 the theft, or had any hand in it. 
 
 McKinstry continued to come around, and he and his 
 wife were in a perpetual quarrel, she utterly refusing to 
 live with him. Finally Mrs. McKinstry requested me 
 to institute suit for a bill of divorce on the ground of 
 extreme cruelty, he having struck her and choked her 
 on several occasions. This I declined to do, on account 
 of my having been mixed up in her affairs, but I advised 
 her to get a good lawyer and proceed to obtain a bill if 
 she so wished. She took my advice, employed W. H. 
 Brumfield, and procured a bill. But before proceeding 
 she left my house and occupied a room in her hotel. 
 There were several parties, including some of the first 
 •men of the town, who proposed to marry her; but their 
 proposals being rejected, and finding that she thought a 
 great deal of me, and considering previous circumstances, 
 I proposed, was accepted, and married her. 
 
 We had lived together about a year, when I received 
 a letter from my sister, Mrs. Alexander, stating that 
 Alexander was the robber; that he had confessed the 
 whole thing to her. He said that on one occasion the 
 cat had attempted to get through the lining of the house 
 where a small hole had been gnawed by a mouse, which 
 caused Mrs. McKinstry to become quite excited and 
 rush for the cat to drive it away. And knowing that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 301 
 
 she had the gold-dust stored away, it struck him at once 
 that this was the place where it was secreted; so one day 
 when his wife and Mrs. McKinstry were absent, he ripped 
 off the lining and discovered the gold. He replaced the 
 lining, and the night they went to the theater, when he 
 returned on the plea of forgetting his purse, he cut the 
 lining, then ran into her room and cut the lining there. 
 He then took the bottles and set them out under a tree 
 near the house, and again joined them and went to the 
 theater. On their return to the house, when Mrs. Mc- 
 Kinstry discovered that her dust was gone, and spoke 
 of her specimens and jewelry, telling him where they 
 were, he concealed the box in his coat pocket and re- 
 ported them gone. He then immediately went out to 
 *' hunt for the robbers," taking the occasion to pour the 
 gold-dust into a handkerchief, tie it up and throw it into 
 the well. 
 
 He further stated that I had come very near finding 
 it, and had he not attracted my attention by unearthing 
 the toads, I would have found the treasure; and as it 
 was, I punched several holes in the handkerchief. But 
 a few days afterward, when all were absent, he ventured 
 to take the dust out of the well and put it and the speci- 
 mens all into a buckskin sack together, hiding the jew- 
 elry under some of the top stones of the well. In case 
 of accident the dust and specimens could not then be so 
 readily identified. He therefore hid the buckskin sack 
 outside the yard. But a few nights afterward, when the 
 women thought he was down town, he took the dust and 
 carried it to Prospect Flat, about four miles from Plac- 
 erville, and buried it in the bank of the South Fork Canal, 
 under the end of the bridge where the road crossed. 
 
 My sister then went on to say that she told her hus- 
 
302 Life and Adventures of 
 
 band that unless he immediately restored the stolen 
 property, she would leave him, as she could not live with 
 a thief; and that she would notify me at once. But he 
 begged of her not to write to me; that he would go and 
 get the gold and place it where I could get it. He 
 wanted to go to San Francisco and get supplies for the 
 hotel, and while on that business he said he would go up 
 and make the restoration. He left home to get the sup- 
 plies, but never returned. 
 
 After his wife discovered that he was not coming back, 
 she wrote to me, giving me the foregoing information, 
 that we might go and find the gold. The first thing I 
 did was to go to the old well. I lifted a few stones, and 
 soon found the jewelry. I then took the old tub out of 
 the well and there found the truth of Alexander's asser- 
 tion that I had punched holes in his handkerchief, as 
 there was about seventy-three dollars' worth of the gold- 
 dust left in the tub. I then got my brother William to 
 accompany me, and went in the night to the South Fork 
 Canal, to the place described, and made a vigorous search 
 for the money; but we found nothing. We then went 
 into the ditch and into the water in hopes of finding the 
 prize, supposing that it might have slid down from the 
 bank into the ditch, but were again unsuccessful. We 
 then made arrangements with the ditch-tender at Negro 
 Hill to shut off the water at night and give us an oppor- 
 tunity to hunt. Ikit, to make a long story short, we 
 never found the dust, and the only conclusion we could 
 arrive at was that Alexander had carried it off. Subse- 
 quently my wife lost her little boy, when she became 
 nearl)' broken-hearted; and, having been for some years 
 afflicted with tape-worm, she sank by degrees and died 
 at the end of four years after our marriage. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 303 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIL 
 
 PLACERVILLE GUARDS — COUNTY SEAT CONTEST. 
 
 THERE had been considerable difficult3;,on the plains 
 from the frequent attacks of Indians upon the immi- 
 grant trains; and it was thought proper at Placerville to 
 raise a military company to be ready in case their assist- 
 ance should be demanded. Consequently, under the or- 
 der of Governor Bigler, I proceeded to raise and organize 
 a company, known as the " Placerville Guards," and was 
 commissioned captain. It being the third military 
 company raised in the State, we were attached to no 
 other command. We were uniformed and armed by the 
 State, were well drilled, and maintained our organization 
 about two years, having been called out on many occa- 
 sions to preserve order in times of excitement. Amongst 
 other special duties, we were called out to act as guard 
 at the execution (jf Mickey Free and Crane. We also 
 received orders to proceed to San Francisco, on behalf 
 of the State government, in the vigilance committee 
 affair; but some opponents of the move stole our arms, 
 and thereby stopped the expedition, after which I re- 
 signed my command, but not until the trouble was 
 over and the arms had been restored. 
 
 Placerville at this day was one of the leading cities 
 of the State, and there was a great contest between it 
 and Coloma, Placerville claiming that the county seat 
 should be located there instead of at Coloma. There was 
 no doubt that a large portion of the voting population 
 was in favor of Placerville, but the county officers were 
 nearly all located at Coloma, most of them being com- 
 
304 Life and Adventures of 
 
 pelled to reside there by statute regulation, and having 
 their property there, they were very much opposed to 
 having the county seat removed. John Conness and 
 other leading citizens of Georgetown were in full sym- 
 pathy with Coloma, while the western part of the county 
 was rather inclined to be neutral. 
 
 We were in the habit each year of circulating peti- 
 tions to present to the legislature, asking an act of that 
 body removing the county seat from Coloma to Placer- 
 ville, and each year I was called upon to canvass the 
 northern part of the county. My beat included George- 
 town, and I knew that the leading men of that place 
 were opposed to the removal. So, upon the occasion to 
 which I now refer, I went to every tunnel and canon* 
 around the place, where the miners did not care a 
 cent whether the county seat was at Placerville or 
 Coloma, or whether or not we had any county seat at 
 all. Soliciting in this way, I obtained a large list of 
 names, and about the third day entered the town, where 
 I obtained but very few signatures. 
 
 In the evening I went to the hotel and put up for the 
 night, and between eight and nine o'clock I was 
 called upon by a deputation from Mr. Conness and 
 others, requesting me to call upon them, as they were 
 holding an impromptu meeting. I walked over to the 
 hall where they were assembled, and there found Con- 
 ness and several other leading magnates of the town, 
 about fifty in all. When I inquired their pleasure, Mr. 
 Conness informed me that I had been reported as a spy 
 in camp, and as I was a military man I probably knew 
 the fate of spies in general, when taken, and, though 
 they did not intend to inflict the extreme penalty on me, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 305 
 
 they wished to know my business there. 1 replied, " By 
 Heaven, they lie who say I come as a secret spy;" and 
 continued, " I am here, gentlemen, circulating a petition 
 asking our legislature to pass a law removing the county 
 seat of El Dorado County from Coloma to Placerville, 
 and I hope, gentlemen, you will all sign it." He replied, 
 " Oh, no, we can't do that, but I will tell you what we 
 will do; if you will submit a bill for the division of the 
 county, and for one county seat to be located at George- 
 town, and the other at Placerville, we will all sign your 
 petition." 
 
 I saw their trap, and knowing that the people of El 
 Dorado County were bitterly opposed to a division of 
 the county, I replied, " Mr. Conness, I am not blessed 
 with such pleasing powers; I haven't even the honor of 
 belonging to the county seat committee; but if you will 
 kindly put your proposition in writing, under the signa- 
 tures of your committee here, I will submit it to our 
 county seat committee for their action. Then they **put 
 their foot in it," and drew up and signed their proposi- 
 tion. 
 
 I returned to the hotel at once, paid my bill, mounted 
 my hor.se and was off. I arrived at Placerville about 
 midnight, immediately called up Dr. Obed Harvey, and 
 the committee soon assembled. I then produced the 
 proposition of the Georgetown committee for their 
 action. They said, " Well, what do you want to do 
 about it ? What do you wish us to do.?" I said, "Give 
 it an emphatic refusal, by resolution." They could not 
 see what object there was in it. I told them that the 
 fate of our petition in the western townships of the 
 county depended upon prompt action. They finally 
 
306 Life and Adventures of 
 
 appointed me as one of the county seat committee, and 
 then appointed me as a committee of one to reply to the 
 proposition. 
 
 I drew up a resolution refusing to comply with the re- 
 quest of theGeorgetowncommittee, rushed totheprinting 
 office, and had a thousand extras struck off; and at half- 
 past four in the morning was in my saddle, and with 
 about half a dozen of our most enterprising citizens, rode 
 through Diamond Springs distributing the extras con- 
 taining the proposition of Georgetown and the refusal 
 of the county seat committee at Placerville. When we 
 arrived at Mud Springs we met Mr. Conness, who, with 
 his crowd from Georgetown, was assiduously distribut- 
 ing the news that the Placerville county seat committee 
 were going in for a division of the county. When we 
 came up they positively denied having ever made such 
 a proposition, and that the extras were all a lie; where- 
 upon I pulled out Mr. Conness' proposition, in his own 
 handwriting, and showed the truth of pur statements. 
 Mr. Conness and his crowd sneaked back to George- 
 town, and the result was that we got the signatures of 
 three-fourths of all the voters of the southern and west- 
 ern parts of the county. 
 
 The legislature was soon afterward convened, Conness 
 being a member, and the petitions were presented. 
 Now the rule in presenting petitions was that each 
 party should verify under oath the genuineness of the 
 signatures; so when Mr. Conness, who was opposed 
 to the movement, was reported to have said that the 
 petition from Georgetown was a libel and a forgery, and 
 that he had said it to John O'Connell, of course all 
 eyes were turned upon me to know what I would say 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 307 
 
 or do. I wrote a very few lines, of which the following 
 is a substantial copy: — 
 
 "To the Honorable John Conness, Legislative Hall, 
 Sacramento City: — I have been informed that you stated 
 on the floor of the legislature that the petition pur- 
 porting to come from the people of Georgetown was a 
 libel and a forgery. I hope that the Honorable John 
 Conness did not so say. If he did, I say that John 
 Conness is a liar, a paltroon, and a coward, and if he 
 takes exceptions to this I refer him to my friend Dr. 
 Keene, of the Senate." 
 
 I passed the note to the county seat committee, with 
 instructions to do with it as they pleased. Everybody 
 was crying out, " A duel ! " and I expected myself that I 
 should have to stand up to the rack; but, to my sur- 
 prise, at the end of two days I received a note from Mr- 
 Conness, in which he denied having used the language, 
 but stated, " What I did say was that I did not see the 
 names of any of the prominent citizens of Georgetown 
 on the petition, and I thought there must be some 
 mistake about its being a petition from the citizens of 
 Georgetown; and this I did not say on the floor of the 
 legislature, but I said it to an intimate friend, John 
 O'Connell, and did not expect him to tell it." 
 
 The next day I received another letter from Conness, 
 stating, among other things, that when I came to know 
 him better, perhaps I would not think him as big a liar as 
 I then did. The petitions were presented to the legisla- 
 ture and the best that the friends of Placerville could do 
 was to get a bill passed submitting the location of the 
 county seat to a vote of the people of the county at a 
 special election, the day being fixed by the legislature. 
 
308 Life and Adventures of 
 
 During the interim both parties were electioneering 
 their best. The night before the election I was in Clarks- 
 villeat the western boundary of the county, when a cou- 
 rier brought me a note, saying, "Hasten to White Oak 
 Township; Constantine Hicks is preparing to practice 
 a mammoth fraud upon the ballots of that precinct." 
 I accordingly lost no time in getting upon the ground. 
 Now there was a valley about one mile wide, through 
 which the road ran, crossing the valley at right angles. 
 Hicks kept a hotel on the hill on the east side of the 
 valley, and there was another hotel on the hill on the 
 west side of the valley, the two houses being one mile 
 apart. The note I had received informed me that the 
 committee had sent a man over from Placerville to 
 assist me in guarding the polls. I came in on the west 
 side and stopped at that hotel to observe how things 
 were going. I there met Gage, who was drunk as 
 a fool. He staggered up to me and, with a drunken 
 hiccough, said, "We have got Hicks; he is all right." 
 I looked at him and replied, "I guess Hicks has 
 got you." I then charged him not to touch another 
 drop of liquor until the polls closed the next day. He 
 promised that he would not. The sun had set before 
 my arrival; I saw by the notices of election that the 
 place of holding the polls was fixed at Hicks', but 
 written underneath was, " Changed to this place, by 
 order of the board of supervisors." But no one had 
 signed the writing to show authority for the change. I 
 then directed Gage to return to Hicks' and stay all night, 
 which he did. 
 
 The next morning I was up in good time, and believ- 
 ing that there was no danger excepting where Hicks 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 309 
 
 was, I walked over to his place, where I found Hick and 
 Gag-e together. I engaged Hicks in conversation for 
 some time, when he remarked, "It is eight o'clock and 
 time the polls were open." Wc walked together to the 
 other hotel, where he got a cigar-box, cut a hole in it and 
 made a ballot-box of it, and placed it upon the table. 
 I suggested that the board be formed, as I wished to 
 vote. After fiicks and some others present had held a 
 whispered consultation, Hicks remarked to me that they 
 had no statute there; that he had sent a man down to 
 Red Canon to a justice of the peace to get a statute. 
 
 Presently a big, rough, blustering fellow came in and 
 personally addressing me, said, " What the h — 1 are you 
 doing here? We miners generally do as we please; 
 we don't want any of your kind sneaking about here." 
 I replied, " I can't help what you want, I shall sneak 
 around as long as I please." He retorted, " I'll be d — d 
 if you do," and commenced drawing his six-shooter. I 
 immediately covered him with a cocked revolver and 
 told him to " put that thing back." He proceeded to 
 do so, when another one, pretending to be drunk, 
 staggered up to the table where the ballot-box stood, 
 brought down his fist and smashed it to pieces, saying, 
 "D — n the ballot-box ! who wants an election ? " 
 
 During the confusion I had lost track of Hicks, and 
 rushing to the door, I looked down the road and there I 
 saw Hicks on his little black mare, going at the top of 
 her speed, being near his own place. I started right awa}- 
 after him as fast as I could travel; but when I got 
 there I found the polls open and parties proceeding 
 with the voting. I hurried to the polls and tendered my 
 vote, and counting the votes said, " Gentlemen, my vote 
 
310 Life and Adventures of 
 
 stands number fifteen, and recollect it is now just half- 
 past eight o'clock; and farther, the statute requires that 
 you number your votes." A man by the name of 
 Dr. Rexford, and who was Hicks' father-in-law, was 
 one of the two tallying clerks. He immediately com- 
 menced at one, and numbered the votes up to mine, 
 which was fifteen. At this moment Hicks and Gage 
 walked up to the polls (Hicks had been showing Gage 
 some of his fine stock), when Hicks, seeing what the old 
 man had just done, gave him a withering look. The old 
 man instantly drew his coat-sleeve across the figures he 
 had just made, blotting them, and declined number- 
 ing any more votes. Names were recorded on a 
 large number of sheets of paper, that lay underneath the 
 paper on which they were keeping tally. Hicks gave 
 me a nudge to walk with him, and when we were beyond 
 earshot of the others, he laughingly said, " Norton, 
 d — n you, you have caught me; I can't outgeneral you 
 but I have the numerical force, and I shall keep my 
 contract with Coloma. I agreed to give them a thou- 
 smd votes from this precinct, for which they are to pay 
 me one thousand dollars. I don't give a d — n for them 
 after I. have got my money; so you may as well keep 
 quiet and let me have the money." 
 
 We returned to the house; I sauntered around and 
 went into an unoccupied room where there was a table 
 and several benches, with papers scattered over the floor. 
 It looked as though there had been some caucasing done 
 there. I examined the j)apcrs on the floor and discov- 
 ered some long slips of passenger lists cut from news- 
 papers. I quietly gathered them up and put them in my 
 pocket, and again mingled with the crowd around the 
 polls. 
 
Colonel L. A. Nor ion. 311 
 
 Now the White Oak precinct would lep^itimately poll 
 from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eii^hty 
 votes. I stepped to the table where they were votin^^, 
 stuck my finders beneath the sheets where the legitimate; 
 votes were recorded and raised them up, showing sheet 
 after sheet with long lists of names. 1 said to the board. 
 " Are you going to count these out on me to-night?' 
 They hung their heads, but made no rc])ly. 
 
 At the proper time the polls were closed, and they 
 commenced counting the votes, turning back to the 
 commencement of the spurious list. I then remarked 
 to them again, "Gentlemen, before 1 would be guilty of 
 such an action as this, I would suffer my right aim to be 
 cut off at the shoulder." They made no reply, but went 
 on with their count. Hicks gave to Coloma his one thou- 
 sand votes, and something over. During the progress 
 of the count I noticed several names which I had on the 
 steamboat list in my pocket. 
 
 Placerville was beaten, when charges of fraud were 
 brought before the grand jury against Constantine 
 Hicks and the election board of White Oak Township. 
 I was summoned before the grand jury and made my 
 statement. I told the jurors that if they would e.vamine 
 the returns (one co])y of which had to be fi]ci\, and as the 
 old doctor's was the only one that was legible, it had 
 been forwardedj, at about number 850 on the j)oll- 
 list, they would find where they commenced numbering 
 from one to fifteen votes, and that the figures would be 
 blurred ui)on the pa[)er by something having been rubbed 
 over them while they were yet wet; and at this point the 
 legitimate voting had commenced. The grand jury sent 
 for the list and upon examination found it just as I had 
 
312 Life and Adventures of 
 
 stated. I then produced the steamboat list, which I had 
 carefully saved, and which gave the grand jury infinite 
 amusement in following up the long list of names on the 
 steamboat list and finding them all recorded as voters of 
 White Oak Township. 
 
 It is netdless to say that the grand jury found a true 
 bill against Hicks and his associates, but the case never 
 came to a trial. The county judge and the district 
 attorney were residents of Coloma, with their interests 
 all centered in that place, and when the case was called 
 for trial, the district attorney moved to enter a nolle pros, 
 which the court sustained. Thus ended the Hicks 
 swindle. 
 
 The next year Placerville was again before the legisla- 
 ture with sufficient influence to get another bill passed 
 submitting the county seat question to a vote of the 
 people of the county, when from some strange influence 
 Hicks had become converted from the errors of his way, 
 and White Oak Township cast a very large vote for 
 Placerville, which, having a majority of the votes cast, 
 was declared to be, and still is, the county seat of El 
 Dorado County. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 A TRIP TO MONTEREY COUNTY. 
 
 IN a previous chapter I have incidentally mentioned a 
 business tour to Monterey County, and I will now 
 devote a short chapter to some incidents of the trip. 
 It was in the summer of 1853, while I was living at 
 Placerville, that a man came in from South San Juan, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 313 
 
 Monterey County, and proposed trading me a ranch 
 near South San Juan, for some property interest at 
 Placerville. I got some information that satisfied me 
 as to the character of the ranch. The trade was made, 
 and in the course of time I was desirous of visiting my 
 investment. Accordingly, I proceeded to make my 
 arrangements for the trip, extensive of course, and con- 
 sisting of my horse, saddle, bridle, and a heavy double 
 blanket. To this outfit 1 added a small amount of 
 dried beef and crackers, to be used in certain emer- 
 gencies, which emergencies were not likely to arise 
 while skirting the foot-hills through the mining country 
 which I would pass going to Stockton. My horse was 
 my favorite and pet. No better companion was needed, 
 as I think Billy knew more than one-half of the human 
 family. I never had to carry a lariat to tie him with. 
 I would always turn him loose when I wanted him to 
 feed, and should he get scared, night or day, he would 
 " make a bee-line " for me. I remember on one occa- 
 sion, vvhile on this trip, I turned him out to grass and 
 had lain down under the shade of a cotton-wood tree 
 and gone to sleep. When I awoke, Billy, having fin- 
 ished his repast, was standing with his head over me, 
 dreaming. 
 
 But as I did not start in to write the history of my 
 horse, I will proceed with my story. I had passed 
 Stockton, and in making inquiries as to the route was 
 informed that I had better, probably, cross at Fire- 
 baugh's Ferry and go down to and through the 
 San Juan Valley. But there was a shorter, though 
 dangerous route; I could cross by a ferry higher 
 up the San Joaquin, i)ass up the southerly bank of that 
 
 21 
 
314 Life and Adventures of 
 
 stream about thirty miles, and then strike across the 
 valley to the San Luis Rancho, and go through the 
 Pacheco or Robber's Pass to South San Juan. Feeling 
 a little the spirit of adventure, and having Billy under 
 me and a good revolver at my side, making three of 
 us, J thought we were quite equal to any dangers that I 
 was likely to encounter; hence I was resolved to take 
 the shortest cut. I came to the river, at what was 
 called, I believe, the Woods Ferry, where there was a 
 crazy old scow with a line across the river by which to 
 pull the boat across the stream. Myself, Billy, and the 
 ferryman all aboard, we started across; but when in the 
 midst of the stream, the line parted and down the 
 stream we went; but we hung to the shore line, which, 
 with the current, swung us towards the bank, upon the 
 side from which we started. But presently we came in 
 contact with some flood-wood lodged in the top of a 
 prostrate tree which had fallen into the stream, the roots 
 of which were still fast in the bank. The current was 
 strong, the stream being narrow at this point, and, as the 
 boat struck the current, the upper side was drawn under, 
 precipitating Billy into the stream; but he soon made 
 the same shore whence we had come, while the ferryman 
 and myself scrambled upon the flood-wood and brubh, 
 thence to the fallen tree, and walked to the shore, the 
 only catastrophe to me thus far being the slight wetting 
 of my blanket. 
 
 The ferryman had a small skiff in which he said he 
 could get me across; but how about the horse? I in- 
 formed him that Billy would take care of himself I 
 removed the saddle, bridle, and blankets, put them into 
 the skiff, and we were soon on the opposite shore. As 
 
COLONEL L. A. Norton. 315 
 
 soon as we were landed, I called to Billy, who was un- 
 concernedly grazing. As soon as he heard my voice he 
 looked up, and seeing me on the opposite shore, he 
 plunged in and soon joined us. I followed up the stream 
 for several miles without seeing a house or habitation of 
 any kind; but at length I came to two quite large wooden 
 structures, and I believe there was a post-office there. I 
 am sure of one thing, at least, I broke my fast at that 
 place. 
 
 I continued up the stream for a long distance, in 
 search of a certain unoccupied house, where I was to 
 leave the river and strike across the plain to the San 
 Luis Rancho. After many miles of travel, I concluded 1 
 must soon reach a habitation, as I saw far in the distance 
 a large flock of sheep, as I supposed; but, on a nearer 
 approach, I discovered that they were not sheep, but 
 antelope; in^fact, it was the largest band of antelope I 
 ever saw. But in course of time, without further advent- 
 ure, I came to the old house and there found a trail 
 leading across the valley, said to be twenty-one miles, to 
 the San Luis Rancho. 1 had not rode far until I saw a 
 vast band of wild horses that came running directly 
 towards me. They came to within twenty or thirty rods 
 of me, with heads and tails in the air, snorting and play- 
 ing. Then they commenced running around me and 
 fairly encircled me, but always keeping at a respectful 
 distance. This op^jration they kept up for an hour or 
 more, when they beat a hasty retreat towards the San 
 Luis Rancho, at which place I arrived just before sunset. 
 There I found a boy about twelve years of age, who 
 spoke very good English. I asked him if I could turn 
 my horse out to feed and stay all night at the ranch. He 
 
316 Life and Adventures of 
 
 informed me that I could, and showed me where to 
 turn my horse out. I noticed that there was a very nice 
 house on the place, and another quite large but rough 
 structure. He took me to the latter place and told me 
 that was the men's quarter, and that I could get my 
 supper there. When he left me I walked round the 
 premises, and noticed some very long poles, or small- 
 sized trees, with the bark peeled off, placed in crotches 
 set in the ground. Each of these poles was from sixty 
 to seventy feet long, lying in the crotches horizontally 
 and parallel with each other. I could not imagine what 
 they were for; but presently up rode a Mexican, armed 
 with revolver and knife. Dismounting he took off the 
 saidle and put it on one of these smooth poles; then 
 came aliother and another until the poles were filled' 
 with saddles, and before the night fairly closed in, there 
 were swarming around tho yard fifty or sixty as positive 
 specimens of .Mexican bandits as one ever saw, all 
 armed like the first. I was astonished and scared. In 
 fact, I did not know what to do. The boy came 
 around, and I asked him who owned the place. He 
 informed me that his father owned it. I asked his fath- 
 er's name. He told me that it was Joaquin Balara. 
 That was sufficient. Joaquin Murietta had just been 
 killed and a part of his band captured, and the name 
 Joaquin was all I sought to know. But what was I to 
 do ? The " Robber's Pass " lay before me through the 
 mountains. Escape would be impossible. At last I 
 concluded that the only thing that I could do was to take 
 my chances among them. I had in my life wormed out 
 of many a tight spot, and perhaps I might, by hook or 
 crook, get out of that. But one thing I had resolved 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 817 
 
 upon, and that was, if attacked, I would sell my life as 
 dearly as possible. 
 
 In a short time there were immense kettles of bacon 
 and beans produced, with tin plates to eat from, and tin 
 cups for coffee, and bread but no butter. I joined in and 
 made a very satisfactory meal. The crowd soon com- 
 menced singing, and seemed tO' heartily enjoy them- 
 selves. I could understand much of their conversation, 
 but when they addressed me, I pretended not to under- 
 stand one word. The evening wore on, and I began to 
 look for a place to roost. I noticed that there was a 
 space under the stairs about seven feet long, where my 
 head would be close to one wall, my feet to the stairs, 
 and a wall back of me, leaving only the front for an at- 
 tack. Between nine and ten o'clock all had retired, the 
 greater number going up-stairs. I was very tired from 
 the day's exertions, and about ten or eleven o'clock I 
 forgot myself, and was disappointed to awake in the 
 morning without having my throat cut. 
 
 I got up and started out, and in a short time the boy 
 of the previous evening came around. I then for the 
 first time made inquiry as to those men. Before this I 
 had not deemed an inquiry necessary. I thought I 
 understood what they were. But the young fellow soon 
 enlightened me. He said they were his father's ranch- 
 eros; that his father had about io,000 head of sheep and 
 10,000 head of cattle, and about 8,000 horses; that the 
 reason the men were so heavily armed was to protect 
 the sheep and calves from the wild beasts. He then 
 showed me the skins of wolves, panthers, California lions, 
 and two grizzly bears. This showed me the necessity 
 of arming the men, and that I had been " badly .sold," 
 
318 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and had my fright all for nothing. The boy said that he 
 had been going to school in San Francisco, where he 
 learned English; that he was going to be a lawyer. I 
 informed him that I was a lawyer. He left me, but in 
 a short time he returned and invited me to go to the 
 house; his father wanted to see me. I accompanied him 
 and he introduced me to his father, who apologized for 
 not inviting me to the house the night before, saying he 
 had come home late in the evening. Joaquin Balara 
 was a fine-looking man of about forty years, a Castilian. 
 He invited me to breakfast. He had two or three 
 other guests, and the boy, acting as my interpreter, told 
 his father where I was going. He informed me that it 
 would be very unsafe for me to go through the pass 
 alone, as several men had been killed in that pass, which 
 gave it the name of the "Robber's Pass." In fact, but 
 a few days before, a man was found hanging to a tree. 
 But as one of his guests was to go through that morn- 
 ing, and he was going to furnish him an escort, I could 
 accompany them in safety; an offer of which I very 
 willingly availed myself 
 
 We had a very pleasant trip. My companion gave 
 me the benefit of what little English he possessed; while, 
 in exchange, I gave him mv best Spanish. After we 
 reached the valley lying between the foot-hills and San 
 Juan, we struck a forest of mustard in which a man on 
 horseback could have easily got lost had it not been for 
 the trail. I was on a fair-sized horsp, but the mustard 
 was several feet above my head and very thick on the 
 ground. After passing through that, we reached the 
 wild-oats country, and the oats were so rank in many 
 places that they had fallen down. From the appear- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 319 
 
 ance of the country, there must have been several thou- 
 sand acres that would have produced, when harvested, 
 forty or fifty bushels to the acre. 
 
 From this valley I crossed a rolling country for a 
 short distance, when I brought up at San Juan, which 
 then consisted of a hotel, store, and blacksmith shop. 
 I put up my horse, and, as I had a four or five days' 
 beard on my face, my next inquiry was for a barber. 
 The landlord informed me that there was no barber in 
 town, but the blacksmith would shave me. I walked 
 over to the shop and asked him if he shaved. He was 
 a Frenchman, and answered, "Ohyas, I shaves some- 
 times." And when he had drawn his hot iron on the 
 anvil, he threw down his hammer and tongs and di- 
 rected me to sit down on the little bench used for sharp- 
 ening horseshoe nails, when he took from the jamb of 
 his forge a huge razor. It looked more like a cleaver 
 than a razor, and I never knew whether the blacksmith 
 forged it out or whether it was Vulcan's first attempt 
 at edge tools before the siege of Troy. At least, it 
 was a hard-looking specimen. He gave it a few rakes 
 over a strop nailed to the wall, daubed some lather on 
 m}' face, and commenced operations. The first . rake 
 over my face brought the beard out by the roots, with 
 my tears, which had the effect to make me jump about a 
 foot from my seat; then another and another in rapid 
 succession, when I exclaimed in no very gentle voice, 
 "For God's sake, hold on!" and he said, "Vat ish de 
 matter — he bool?" "Pull," roared I, "pull is no name 
 for it!" "Oh veil I trish another." He then took 
 down its twin brother, went through the same whetting 
 process as before, and again commenced work, when I 
 
320 Life and Adventures of 
 
 again brought him to a parley by asking him if he was 
 tired. He repHed, " Oh no, me not tired." I then asked 
 him if he was sure the handle would not break; for, if it 
 did, we would be in a bad fix. He assured me that it 
 was strong, and that there was no danger, and proceeded. 
 In time, what he had not cut off he had pulled out by 
 the roots, or so tangled down as to hide its bushy ap- 
 pearance, and concluded his labors, leaving me sitting on 
 the bench. After demanding and receiving his two bits, 
 he proceeded with his blacksmithing, as calmly as though 
 he had not tried to commit murder. " Well," I said, 
 "what about washing this lather from my face?" After 
 some instructions as to locality, I found an old tin 
 wash-dish outside of the shop, with comb and towel to 
 match the rest of the operations. When I had washed 
 and snagged out my hair, I gathered up a club and re- 
 turned to the hotel, went for the landlord and threatened 
 him Vv^ith annihilation. He readily comprehended the 
 joke, and said I was not the only one who had threat- 
 ened his life for the same offense. 
 
 I took a run over the rancho, placed it in the hands of 
 an agent, and returned to Placerville by the same route 
 that I came, having a narrow escape from a set of cut- 
 throats on returning through the Pacheco Pass. 
 
 I will here take occasion to sav that, in 1883, on a 
 journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco, as we came 
 flying along on a Southern Pacific Railroad train, 1 could 
 but wonder at the change in the San Joaquin Valley. 
 Now, as we approached, it opened out before us in all 
 its beauty and grandeur — with its snug and cozy farm- 
 houses, and cities, towns, and villages on every side. 
 Yes, thirty years have changed the face of the entire 
 valley. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 321 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN WESTERN UTAH. 
 
 IN 1855, the Mormons came into Carson Valley 
 in force to make a settlement, claiming it to be 
 a portion of Utah. They organized and established 
 themselves in Carson County. Elder Orson Hyde was 
 sent out as the leading spirit of the enterprise, and, by 
 the way, they could not have sent a better man for the 
 posi-tion. The third judicial district of Utah was organ- 
 ized, and W. W. Drummond was appointed judge of the 
 United States district court. Orson Hyde was elected 
 probate judge, but they had no district attorney, and 
 Hyde came to Placerville and insisted upon my taking 
 the appointment. I consented and accompanied him to 
 Carson Valley. 
 
 Genoa was a little center, where Col. John Reese re- 
 sided; there was a store, a saw and grist-mill, and the 
 place was dignified with the title of the village of Genoa. 
 On our arrival I found some two hundred Mormons 
 camped, with tents, covered wagons, and shanties. I 
 soon found myself surrounded with Mormons, and my 
 blankets, saddle-bags, overcoat, and traps generally were 
 stripped from my horse and thrown down in a large tent 
 which, from the appearance of things, seemed to be the 
 tent of Hyde; and all seemed ready to perform the duties 
 of body-guard generally to Hyde. They rushed around 
 and soon had a substantial meal prepared, to which the 
 elder and myself did ample justice. 
 
 After dinner I went back to the big tent (which, by 
 the way, was subdivided), and commenced looking for 
 
322 Life and Adventures of 
 
 my baggage, as I wanted a cigar from my saddle-bags. 
 But imagine my surprise and chagrin, for on examina- 
 tion there was not a vestige of my plunder where I had 
 left it, or in sight. I did not know what to do. I did 
 not feel like coming out and getting into a row with the 
 Mormons the first thing on my arrival, and Hyde had 
 gone out among his people to attend to some of his many 
 duties. Well, I was perplexed, but concluded on the 
 whole to forego my cigar and await the return of Hyde. 
 On his return I rather shamefacedly told the elder that 
 my things had all disappeared and I could not imagine 
 what had become of them. I noticed a broad grin over- 
 spread the old man's face, when he remarked that we 
 would go and see if we could find them. On entering 
 the tent he addressed one of the lackeys and asked 
 him what was done with the gentleman's things. He 
 immediately led the way to a small room partitioned 
 off with canvas. Upon one side of the room was a long 
 pole on two crotches set in the ground, and there, neatly 
 brushed, hung all my clothes, saddle-bags, and fixtures; 
 and I soon discovered that I was not a subject to be 
 robbed by the Mormons, but rather to be treated as a 
 favoreJ guest. 
 
 This was in the latter part of August, 1855. The 
 weather was warm, and the old elder, or rather the pro- 
 bate judge of Carson County, and myself stowed our- 
 selves away in the tent, rolled in our blankets for the 
 night. We had not lain long before we had a realizing 
 sense that there were about as many fleas as there were 
 grains of sand under us, and that we were surrounded 
 and covered with them to that extent that we were com- 
 pelled to beat a hasty retreat and seek other quarters. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 323 
 
 There was a small hay-stack near by, of which we took 
 possession. We shook our clothing and blankets and 
 again turned in; but it was no go. The old judge could 
 not stand the assault as well as I could; he had a buffalo 
 roDe, and he finally got up, divested himself of every 
 stitch of clothing, and rolled himself in his robe, the flesh 
 side next to his body, and then curled down on the hay 
 and was soon asleep. But as for myself, I had no alter- 
 native but to surrender at discretion and submit to the 
 torture until morning. How the Mormons stood it I do 
 not know. 
 
 Now there was a beautiful cold mountain stream flow- 
 ing through the place, running and sparkling over its 
 sandy bed, and a large bowlder had parted the stream a 
 short distance above our quarters, and left a little island 
 of sand about ten feet wide and twenty feet long, with a 
 nice flow of water each side of it. I told the judge that 
 I thought we might yet get the best of the fleas; that we 
 could put a couple of armfuls of hay in the stream long 
 enough to get the fleas out of it, then take it out onto 
 the little islet, spread it out in the sun and let it dry; 
 then soak our blankets for an hour, wring them out and 
 let them dry; then put some poles and brush on the sand 
 and put our hay onto that, and thus fortify against the 
 fleas. 
 
 The idea struck the old judge favorably, and before 
 night his slaves had carried the whole thing out to per- 
 fection, and it proved a success. And before the week 
 had elapsed there were at least a dozen little islands 
 with similar sleeping arrangements in the stream, made 
 by throwing in rocks above and sand below. It worked 
 
324 Life and Adventures of 
 
 well, but it was one of the inventions for which I never 
 applied for a patent. 
 
 After a time our court was fairly organized, and when 
 the business of the term was concluded, Orson Hyde 
 and myself had become fast friends. I found that the 
 old man possessed a fine intellect, and a kind and genial 
 disposition, all backed up by a liberal education. He 
 had a versatile mind, and was possessed of great energy 
 of character. This was about the time when there was 
 quite a dispute regarding the location of the line between 
 California and Utah. The old man and myself took 
 observations by the north star, not through a goo.se-quill. 
 but an instrument about as simple. I say ive took 
 observations; well, he took the observations and I looked 
 on. We lay by the same camp-fire and slept under the 
 same blankets, and Mormon elder as he was, I learned 
 to love the old man. In fact I have heard him preach 
 ofttimes; his text was always from the Bible, and was 
 always of that instructive character that would interest 
 intelligent hearers. And during all the time I was with 
 him I never heard him preach one of their doctrinal 
 sermons. In fact, I got the statement from the Mor- 
 mons that he had such differences with the church that 
 he had withdrawn on two or three different occasions, 
 but each time the leaders had pursued him until the 
 matter had been fixed up between them. The following 
 extracts of letters will show something of the feelings he 
 entertained towards me: — 
 
 Capt. L. a. Norton — My Dear Sir: ... To 
 illustrate the present state of political affairs, allow me 
 here to relate an anecdote. Several years ago, a young 
 lawyer in the little town of K , in Ohio, by the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 325 
 
 name of N. M., got very drunk, and cast anchor under 
 the lee of a worm fence by the roadside, to snooze off 
 the great quantity of steam which the fire of alcohol 
 had raised or caused to generate in his boiler. After 
 enjoying this repose for a time, he was abruptly dis- 
 turbed in his spirit dreams by the rough " hallo " of a pass- 
 ing stranger. "Get up here," said the stranger, " who are 
 you?" The inebriate answered (rubbing his eyes and 
 scratching his head, with an occasional yawn), "When 
 I lay down here, I was N. M., the young lawyer; but 
 now I don't know whether I'm Joe Smith, the prophet, 
 or Sidney Rigdon, his spokesman." The old political 
 landmarks are broken down, and the lines of distinction 
 cannot be traced. A general melee ensues, in which 
 every participant " goes it on his own hook," hardly know- 
 ing who he is or what he is. Who or what will come out 
 best, time must determine. Meanwhile, for one, I will be 
 only a lojker-on, and take items — watch the signs of the 
 times and of the weather, which, by the by, has gener- 
 ally been very cold and dry here, though for the last 
 week we have had a little rain and considerable snow. 
 Our citizens bitterly complain about paying one-half 
 per cent county tax upon a very low assessment, and one- 
 fourth per cent territorial tax even after our legislature has 
 appropriated the territorial tax to the use and benefit 
 of this new county. The citizens here are rather gen- 
 erous and public-spirited ! You may expect to see Car- 
 son County "excelsior" sunder this order of things. 
 They still claim, that is, some of them, that they are in 
 California, though the line has been correctly established, 
 I believe. At the Lawson diggings, manifestly in Cali- 
 fornia, they claim that they are in Utah, for the sole pur- 
 
326 Life and Adventures of 
 
 pose of dodging taxation. In my late trip to that region, 
 I took observations every night from the north star, not 
 exactly "through a goose-quill," but with instruments 
 nearly as simple, and am confident they are in California. 
 The truth of the matter is this: the eastern range of the 
 Sierra Nevada Mountains is the natural boundary and 
 ought to be adopted. Then the expen.se and trouble of 
 a survey would be avoided. Indeed, it is already the 
 legal boundary for a long distance. But the trouble is, 
 we do not intend to pay taxes, if we can possibly dodge 
 that bowlder. Anyway, between wind and water, be- 
 tween California and Utah, you must not touch our 
 purse. We are lords of the soil. 
 
 I am a conscientious Mormon. I live and practice 
 that religion, expect to live and die in that faith, because 
 I believe it to be true; and whatever faults its professors 
 may have, however exaggerated, shakes my faith no 
 more than the murders, thefts, robberies, and the vast 
 catalogue of crimes that come in every week's papers 
 from the Golden State, shakes yours in the political 
 economy or code of California enactments. I believe 
 that the only crime (if crime it is) that the good peo- 
 ple of this county can lay to my charge is, that I am a 
 Mormon. Some, however, care nothing about it. Oth- 
 ers think it a damning sin to be suffered in the midst of 
 their profanity, general gambling, and horse-racing on 
 the Sabbath and other days. Still, the people are kind 
 and neighborly. But I hav^ been very careful not to 
 dishonor any of these entertainments, by being a par- 
 ticipant, or even to be present; and I never intend to 
 dishonor any such amusements, here or elsewhere, by 
 my presence, when I can reasonably avoid it. If mine 
 
Colon KL L. A. Norton. :^Q7 
 
 is the only house of prayer in all western Utah, it may 
 be a dis^ression from the practice worthy to be an excep- 
 tion. 
 
 But 1 must stop talking to you so freely about things 
 directly and indirectly connected with my religion, lest 
 some may think, from the liberty I take with you in 
 writing, that you also are a little tinctured with Mor- 
 monism. But the freedom that I have indidged in with 
 you arises from that natural friendship which I feci 
 towards every frank and generous-minded man who, if 
 he prefer to eat his goose, is equally willing that 1 should 
 eat my turkey. On this principle alone have Trea- 
 son to claim a reciprocal affinity. 
 
 If, however, any man can take the good old-fashioned 
 Bible, which all Christendom extols (but not too highly), 
 and point out tome my error, philosophically and script- 
 urally, he will bring me under an obligation which 1 
 should be happy to discharge by a renunciativ)n of that 
 error. . . Respectfully, your obedient servant. 
 
 Orson IIvdk. 
 
 Genoa, February 28, 1856. 
 Capt. L. A. Norton — My Dear Sir: . . . Hav- 
 ing been confined since last Christmas-day with frozen 
 (or rather thawed) feet, I may be thought a little child- 
 ish. Well, if any poor fellow has a right to be childish, 
 I can assert my claim with many painful reasons, for 
 thawed feet are far more severe and tedious than frozen 
 ones; so your generosity, I am sure, will make all neces- 
 sary allowance, and indulge me while I c^uote a Mormon 
 poem illustrative of some of the foregoing — especially 
 as the poetic organ stands prominently developed in the 
 cap-stone of your own superstructure: — 
 
328 Life and Adventures of 
 
 " O my Father, thou that dwellest 
 In the high and glorious place! 
 When shall I regain thy presence, 
 
 And again behold thy face? 
 In thy holy habitation 
 
 Did my spirit once reside? 
 In my first primeval chilahood 
 V • Was I nurtured near thy side? 
 
 "For a wise and glorious purpose 
 
 Thou hast placed me hereon earth, 
 And withheld the recollection 
 
 Of my former friends and birth; 
 Vet ofttimes a secret something 
 
 Whispered, Vou're a stranger here; 
 And I felt that I had wandered 
 
 From a more exalted sphere. 
 
 *' I had learned to call thee, Father, 
 
 Through thy Spirit froin on high; 
 But until the key of knowledge 
 
 W^as restored, I knew not why. 
 In the heavens are parents single ? 
 
 No! the thought makes reason stare; 
 Truth is reason; truth eternal 
 
 Tells me I've a mother there. 
 
 " When I leave this frail existence, 
 
 When I lay this mortal by, "* 
 
 Father, mother, may I meet you 
 
 In your royal court on high? 
 Tnen, at length, when I've completed 
 
 All you sent me forth to do. 
 With your mutual approbation, 
 
 Let me come and dwell with you." 
 
 When the number of spirits destined from the begin- 
 ning to emigrate to this world, ere the morning stars 
 sang together or the sons of God shouted for joy, shall 
 have obtained earthly tabernacles, or bodies of flesh and 
 blood (and God grant that the purity, integrity, and de- 
 votion of thy conjugal atmosphere may be such as to 
 invite a liberal number of the higher orders or grades of 
 those spirits to seek an earthly home with you), then 
 will be completed the great revolution of nations and 
 kingdoms, and the kingdom of our God cover the earth 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 329 
 
 as the waters cover the vast deep! To this crowning 
 cHmax is the present disturbed poHtical state of affairs 
 throughout the world, as a faithful index, now pointing. 
 
 The tide of immigration to this lower world has not 
 been (mathematically speaking) in a ratio equal to the 
 square of the distance from the creation (counting time 
 for distance), in consequence of, perhaps, the know-noth- 
 ings of California, who, I believe, are opposed to the 
 influx of foreigners, preferring a life of " single blessed- 
 ness," through the strange desire for gold, and who 
 thereby check the tide of immigration by practically carry- 
 ing out their principles. Add to this the great drawback 
 by premature deaths in wars, etc. Yet wisdom, justified 
 by her children, may have disclosed a partial remedy. 
 But why should I trouble you with that which may gen- 
 erally be considered a delusive fancy? I will not tres- 
 pass further with this subject. Forgive the foregoing ! 
 
 The last mail brought us the long-looked-for message 
 of President Pierce. I consider it a good one — plain, 
 pertinent, reasonable, dignified, and true. On the sub- 
 ject of our foreign relations, his reasoning is unostenta- 
 tious, clear, generous, firm, and conclusive. His remarks 
 touching home affairs are highly conciliatory and just — 
 even such as we might expect from a father who felt a 
 deep solicitude for the welfare of every part of his 
 family. In short, it is just such a message as the condi- 
 tion of the country, both at home and abroad, requires. 
 In many sections. President Pierce has not had credit 
 for his talent, ability, and statesmanship, to which the 
 evidences in his late message justly entitle him. 
 
 But that the interests and honor of the American 
 people should be so ingloriously tampered with at the 
 
 22 
 
330 . Life and Adventures of 
 
 present critical state of affairs, by the political factions 
 now in Washington, to whom that interest and honor 
 have been generously and sacredly confided, is humiliat- 
 ing and mortifying in the extreme! Quite too many 
 are eager to carve out of the Constitution portions which 
 their own selfish and disordered appetites may direct 
 them to appropriate to personal aggrandizement or sec- 
 tional party interests, while the great Magna Charta^ 
 the broad shield of American liberty, the entire Consti- 
 tution, is picked, mangled, perforated, and preyed upon 
 until it becomes a scarecrow to the infatuated, a bur- 
 lesque in the eyes of strangers, a deep wound to the 
 spirits of its departed framers, and a cause of mourning 
 in every American heart. 
 
 There appears to be no lack of courage to defend 
 party politics and interests; but who, and how many 
 among them all, possess courage enough to yield a point, 
 and "stoop a little to conquer"? There is one striking 
 instance on record clearly demonstrating that by yield- 
 ing a most essential point both honor and the desired, 
 object were obtained. In the days of Solomon, the 
 wise king of Israel, two women claimed an infant child 
 as its mother. Of course only one of the women could 
 be its mother. Hence a serious dispute arose, the final 
 adjustment of which was referred to the king. He called 
 for a sword to divide the child, with a proposition to give 
 half to each claimant, as it was so very difficult to de- 
 termine to which of the women it really did belong. 
 She who was not the mother would not yield, but con- 
 sented to take half the child inasmuch as she could not 
 have it all. She sanctioned the proposal of Solomon! 
 But the other, with all the tender sympathies that swell 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 331 
 
 a mother's heart, said, I yield my claim ! Let not the 
 king divide the child, but give it all to the other woman! 
 God bless the real mother! Did she not get her child 
 by yielding all her claim? And did she not gratefully 
 and fondly bear it away amid the gratulations of an ad- 
 miring crowd ? I " reckon " she did. 
 
 If our political men at Washington had really drawn 
 from the breast of the Constitution the pure milk of 
 sound policy, and had been raised to political manhood 
 by its kindly nourishing properties, could they be so 
 tardy in organizing the House? Why profess friend- 
 ship for the Constitution and deny the rights which it 
 secures ? 
 
 I was born and raised in the free States of the North, 
 and have no personal predilection in favor of slavery. 
 Yet the terms of the original compact, to which the 
 North and the South voluntarily subscribed, ought not 
 to lose their binding force upon either party, only by the 
 voluntary consent of both. Through all the extension 
 of territory subsequently acquired by the mutual exer- 
 tions and enterprise of the northern and southern States, 
 the rights of the South should run parallel with those of 
 the North. Take it up on one side and down on the 
 other, and I can see no injustice or inequality in allow- 
 ing the citizens of each new State to determine, by vote, 
 whether it shall be a free or a slave State. Any other 
 course would savor too strongly of foreign legislation. 
 The Yankees of the North are about as quick to take 
 up the line of march towards a new territory as the 
 slave-holders of the South. If they are not, it is their 
 own fault. 
 
 It is agreed that liberty is national, and slavery sec- 
 
332 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tional. Hence slavery should not exist. I believe that 
 corn and wheat raising is national; but cotton and rice 
 growing, I think, is sectional. Must we, therefore, be 
 deprived of our rice puddings — our shins, hose, pants^ 
 and a hundred and one other articles of common use 
 manufactured from cotton? It may be asked if it is 
 not lawful and right, in this age of progress, to reform 
 abuses by remodeling the internal policy of the Govern- 
 ment. It certainly is when there exists a reasonable 
 prospect of bettering the condition of the country. But 
 when certain ruin is likely to attend the enterprise, it 
 can be with no very benevolent or charitable design that 
 :it is sjt on foot. If I had a sou who was born with a 
 ■hair lip, it would be criminal rashness to cut off his head 
 to reform his personal appearance. To effect a reform 
 against the decree of Providence and our own plighted 
 faith, to say the best of it, is the investment of an ill- 
 grounded political piety in a sinking fund. Fair play and 
 <equal rights are the principles of high-minded and libera^ 
 men. When these fail to stand in the ascendant, it may 
 be regarded as a painful proof of the downward tend- 
 ency of everything that can shed a glory on the 
 American name. 
 
 But for years I have marked the tide of events, and 
 carefully noted the progress of affairs; and have beheld, 
 in the foreground, with painful anxiety, the crisis that 
 must be met. I have also contemplated in sorrow and 
 regret some of the causes that have indirectly and prov- 
 identially led to the present political embarrassments 
 that now threaten to afflict the country — causes which, 
 though on record, are measurably lost sight of and for- 
 gotten by the nation ; and yet, if fresh in the memory 
 of all, they probably would not be believed. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. Sf-iS 
 
 I am no politician; still I can hardly avoid entertain- 
 ing some views upon every subject that commends itself 
 to my attention. If you shall consider them to contain 
 anything curious, amusing, or beneficial, you are at lib- 
 erty to use them as you may deem proper. 
 
 It becomes every man to act well his part, in these as 
 well as in all other times, in the sphere in which he is des- 
 tined to move — praying that an overruling Providence 
 may guide our destiny in mercy, and crown the efforts of 
 the just with glorious victory! 
 
 Till I see ypu, believe me as ever your friend and 
 obedient servant, Orson Hydk. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 REMOVAL TO HEALDSBURG — THE SQUATTER WAR. 
 
 1HAD built up quite a practice in the valley, and one 
 day as I was on the floor addressing a jury in the 
 United States district court, a friend stepped up to me 
 and said, ** Give them h — 1, Norton, you are gone in at 
 home." When I had finished my argument, I asked 
 my friend what he meant. He replied, " Placerville is 
 entirely wiped out by fire; nothing has been saved." I 
 returned home, and learned that a fire had broken out 
 near the Carey House, at the foot of Main Street, at the 
 west end of the city, and as the town was in a canon 
 running nearly east and west, and there being a strong 
 west wind, and everything very dry, the flames would 
 leap forty and fifty feet from building to building, firing 
 the roofs, and in less than thirty minutes the town was 
 all in flames. It was Sunday, and my wife was in 
 
334 Life and Adventures of 
 
 church, not far from my office. She rushed to the office, 
 and with the assistance of a few friends had secured the 
 most of my Hbrary, conveying the books to the rear of 
 the building into a mining tunnel. My house was situ- 
 ated on a Kill outside of the town, and was safe. But 
 my entire block of buildings on Main Street, that I had 
 just finished at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars, was 
 entirely destroyed, and I was left with my library and 
 one thousand dollars (my fee in the case I was trying) 
 and with three thousand dollars owing me from T, B. 
 Andrian & Co., mill men, to be paid in lumber There 
 was no insurance in those days in Placerville. 
 
 This fire occurred on the 5th of July, 1856. In the 
 course of a couple of months I had filled the burned 
 space in my tract with a block of cheap buildings, and 
 again continued my business till the summer of 1857, 
 when I found that many of the mines were exhausted, 
 and that Placerville had seen its best days. And I had 
 further become satisfied that every blow struck in a 
 mining county was exhausting the native wealth of the 
 county, while each blow struck in an agricultural county 
 was increasing its wealth. Hence I was resolved to 
 seek a location in an agricultural region, and having 
 favorable reports from Sonoma County, I made up my 
 mind to visit that quarter with a view to finding a loca- 
 tion. Having relatives living in Green Valley, Sonoma 
 County, I mounted my horse and set out for that point. 
 I had paid them a flying visit in 1855, but saw very 
 little of the country. On my second visit I spent a 
 short time with my friends and in the coast country, 
 when A. J. Steele, my brother-in-law, suggested that we 
 visit the Geysers, which we accordingly did. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 835 
 
 Returning from this tour, I became favorably impressed 
 with the then small hamlet of Healdsburg, and the 
 broad acres of Dry Creek and Russian River bottom- 
 land lying on each side of the town site, while the little 
 town itself was embowered in and overshadowed by a 
 luxuriant shade of native oaks, with its varied and 
 picturesque scenery, with water as pure as ever flowed 
 from a crystal fountain, a healthful clitnatc, without 
 sand-flics, gnats, or mosquitoes to afflict humanity. I 
 resolved to settle in Ilealdsburg, and take my chances 
 to make a living at my profession. Among the first to 
 renew an acquaintance at this place was "old man" 
 Forsee, with whom I had been acquainted in El Dorado 
 County. The old man informed me that there was a 
 fine opening in Sonoma County, but that I must not go 
 in with the land-grabbers. This was all new to me, and 
 I was led to make inquiries as to what he meant by 
 land-grabbers, when he proceeded to inform me that the 
 country was covered with spurious grants, purporting to 
 be Mexican grants, but which were all fraudulent; and 
 that he (1^'orsce) had united himself with the settlers to 
 resist the claimants under Mexican title, both legally 
 and forcibly. 
 
 Judge Forsee also said that the Fitch or Sotoyome 
 Rancho was a fraud, that the patent issued therefor was 
 a fraud, that on two sides there were no boundaries, etc., 
 etc. I visited Santa Rosa for the purpose of learning 
 the facts from the records, when, instead of finding the 
 grant without boundaries, I found the entire estate de- 
 fined by the most substantial lines, and that the United 
 States patent had been on record for more than five 
 years. I returned to Healdsburg and opened an office, 
 
336 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and soon found that all legal proceedings at this place 
 amounted to a grand " comedy of errors," — deeds 
 embracing sales of both real and personal property, one- 
 half of them without a seal, many without acknowledg- 
 ments, etc. 
 
 The first*' case in which I was engaged was, The People 
 of the State of California vs. Charles P. McPherson,, 
 charged with an assault with a deadly weapon. I was 
 employed on the defense, and one James Reynolds (now 
 dead) was prosecutor. The justice, instead of sitting as 
 a committing magistrate, took jurisdiction of the case to 
 try it. I did not demur to the jurisdiction of the court. 
 The evidence disclosed the fact that my client had, in 
 the town of Geyserville, struck the complaining witness 
 with a small stick, about one inch in diameter; but, un- 
 fortunately, there was a large-sized splitting chisel at one 
 end of it, used for splitting iron in a blacksmith shop. 
 I convinced the jury that it was not among the deadly 
 weapons described in the statute, and my man was ac- 
 quitted on that charge, but, under the advice of his 
 counsel, McPherson pleaded guilty to an assault and 
 battery. Receipts of first month's practice, thirty dol- 
 lars. 
 
 About this time a gentleman stepped into the office 
 and introduced himself as Egbert Judson, of San Fran- 
 cisco, and sa'd: " I am part owner and agent of the new 
 Sotoyc me Rancho. The ranch is covered with redwood 
 timber, and is only valuable for the timber, and I am 
 being robbed by more than a hundred trespassers, who 
 are cutting down and carrying away my timber in lum- 
 ber, pickets, shakes, rails, and for other uses. The 
 entire valley has been and is being fenced from my 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 337 
 
 land. I started up here to see if I could do anything to 
 save it. I stated my object to Col. S. H. Fitch, on 
 the boat coming up, and told him that I was going to 
 see if I could employ some attorney in Santa Rosa who 
 would try and save my property. He replied that the 
 man I wanted was in Healdsburg, that he knew you 
 well, having served through the Mexican War with you, 
 and if you undertook it you would accomplish it or die 
 trying. He at the .same time remiarked that the squatters 
 were a set of desperate men, and that he expected they 
 would kill any one who should attempt to stop their 
 trespassing. I told him that his assurances were truly 
 refreshing, nevertheless, for a reasonable consideration, I 
 would undertake it. After having fixed on a compensa- 
 tion, I said: "Go back to San Francisco; you are afraid 
 of these men, and within two weeks you will find your 
 worst fears realized, or I will be in possession of your 
 land." 
 
 Judson returned to San Francisco, and I was in some- 
 what of a quandary how to commence my task, being 
 fully alive to the magnitude of the undertaking; I was 
 aware that about a month before my arrival in Healds- 
 burg, a mob had taken and destroyed the field notes of 
 Surveyor-General Tracy, gave him four hours to leave 
 or hang, and that a like mob had chased Dr. L. C. 
 Frisbie, he only escaping by being mounted on a fleet 
 horse, and from the known character of some with 
 whom I had to deal, I could scarcely hope to come out 
 of the contest alive. First I thought I had better com- 
 mence in the district court and call to my aid a sheriffs 
 /)osse coinitatus, and again I feared that that course would 
 induce the trespas.sers to think that I was personally 
 
338 Life and Adventures of 
 
 afraid of them ; but a notice from them two days after 
 my appointment, decided my course of action. 
 
 The notice which I received informed me that, if I 
 dared to show myself in the redwoods, 1 would be 
 hanged to the first tree. Accordingly the next day I 
 loaded myself down with iron and steel, got a horse, 
 and started for the redwoods alone, having previously 
 learned that their leader was a six-foot-and-a-half 
 Irishman, a perfect giant, by the name of McCabe, who 
 would sally forth from his mountain hiding-place, come 
 to Healdsburg, get half drunk, whip out the town, and 
 return to the redwoods, where he had his family. On 
 my approach to the redwoods I inquired for McCabe's 
 shanty, and on reaching it I found him seated on his 
 shaving-horse making shingles. I dismounted, hitched 
 my horse, advanced toward him and said, '* Is your 
 name McCabe ? " He replied in the affirmative. I 
 added, " Fighting McCabe ? " " They call me so some- 
 times." I then said, " Well, sir, I am that detested 
 Judson's agent that you propose to hang to the nearest 
 limb, and have come to surrender myself for execution ; 
 my name is Norton." He dallied a moment with his 
 drawing-knife and then said, " Suppose we carry our 
 threat into execution ? " I made answer that no doubt 
 they had force enough in the woods to do it, but there 
 would be some of them that would not be worth hang- 
 ing by the time it was done. He then queried, "Well, 
 Norton, what do you propose to do with us ? " I replied, 
 " Mack, I intend to put every devil of you out of the 
 woods, unless you carry your threat into execution." 
 He was silent for a minute, then said: " Well, you look 
 and act as if you meant all you say." I answered, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 339 
 
 '* I mean every word of it." " Well," said he, " in case I 
 leave, how long will you give a fellow to get off with his 
 stealings ?" I said, " How long do you want, Mack?" 
 He replied, " A week or ten days." I asked, " Is two 
 weeks sufficient?" He replied, "It is." "Will you 
 leave at that time?" "I will." I said, "That is enough 
 between gentlemen." Mack left according to agreement. 
 
 I then went out into the woods where the axes were 
 cracking on every side, some chopping, some splitting 
 rails, others sawing bolts; in fact, it was a busy place. 
 W^hen I approached them I asked what they thought 
 they were doing there, if they did not know they were 
 trespassers? They wanted to know who I was and 
 what business I had there. I answered, " I am the 
 agent of Egbert Judson, the owner of this land and tim- 
 ber, and I forbid you to cut another stick, and intend to 
 make you pay for the trespass already committed. They 
 commenced to gather around me, using the most in- 
 sulting language; one of them, pointing to a large limb 
 on a spreading oak, said, " We will give you just two 
 minutes to get out of this, and, unless you are gone by 
 that time, we will string you up to that limb." I drew 
 a revolver and cocked it, and told them to keep their 
 distance, that I would kill the first one that attempted 
 to advance. I then asked them to give me their names, 
 as I intended to prosecute them, each and every devil. 
 They gave me a laughable list, which I will not attempt 
 to copy here. After informing them that they were a 
 set of cowardly scoundrels and not a gentleman in the 
 crowd, I left them and returned to Healdsburg. 
 
 Johnson Ireland was the justice of the peace, and a 
 firm, positive, honest man; and being satisfied that I 
 
340 Life and Adventures of 
 
 could trust him, I brought about a hundred suits, using 
 all the aliases I could think of, placed the papers in the 
 hands of an officer, with instructions to serve on all he 
 could find in the woods, except my Irish giant, and to 
 obtain their real names if possible. The actions were for 
 trespass upon personal property, for taking and carrying 
 away posts, rails, pickets, etc. I think the officer got serv- 
 ice on sixty-two persons. The cases were set forbearing 
 at twelve o'clock noon. The parties did not arrive in 
 time, and I took a default against the crowd; but at two 
 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, as I was 
 seated in my office (which was on the second floor over 
 a store on West Street) conversing with a friend, I heard 
 some one hallooing on the street. I walked to the bal- 
 cony and saw that the street was crowded with men. 
 Their spokesman called out, "Well, old fellow, there is 
 a friend of mine up in the redwoods who wants to compro- 
 mise with you." I inquired his friend's name. He re- 
 plied: "D — n you, if you want his name find it out 
 the way you found ours." I said, " It is very unkind in 
 you not to give your friend's name, but as the business 
 of the day is over with me, I will attend to it; I think, 
 however, you are mistaken in your man. It is not 
 Norton you are hunting; it is Surveyor-General Tracy, 
 or Dr. Frisbie that you are after; but as you will not 
 give your frienj's name, I will accompany you to see 
 him. I will go with one of you, two of you, or three 
 of you, or I will go with your crowd; or I will be 
 fairer still, I will agree to come down there and whale 
 any one of you so blind .that your wife will not know 
 you when you get home again. I know your kind bet- 
 ter than you know yourselves." Instead of rushing for 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 341 
 
 me, as my friend had anticipated, they commenced Cath- 
 erine,^ in knots, and at the end of an hour there was not 
 one of them on the street. Thus ended their first and 
 last attempt to mob me. 
 
 My next adventure was in removing squatters from 
 the east side of Russian River. Judson had sent a man 
 by the name of A. J. Soulcs with a flock of sheep on 
 his own land on the Sotoyome Rancho, to pasture. 
 The squatters (numbering sixteen famiUcs) went- and 
 removed Soules and the sheep from the grant, admon- 
 ishing him that it would not be safe to return. Judg- 
 ment in ejectment was obtained against those men in 
 the federal court at San Francisco, but no one had 
 dared to attempt to enforce it. Having been success- 
 ful in driving the trespassers from the redwoods, Judson 
 came to the conclusion that perhaps I might gain pos- 
 session of his other land. After consultation, I directed 
 him to send me a deputy from the United States mar- 
 shal's office, with the writs of ejectment, which he did. 
 We went over to the field of our new labors about five 
 o'clock in the evening, having previously sent them 
 notice of my intention to remove them unless they 
 would enter into a lease, and recognize our title. We 
 found them all at the house where we proposed to com- 
 mence, all armed with knives or pistols. Over an hour 
 was consumed in trying to get the party to sign a lease, 
 but to no purpose. The evening was chilly, and I could 
 not think oi^ throwing a woman and small children out at 
 that time of the evening. Accordingly, I told them that 
 I would be there at eight o'clock the following morning 
 to put them out. At the appointed hour we were on 
 hand, and found them all there. I again tendered the 
 
342 Life and Adventures of 
 
 lease, which was refused. I cocked my revolver, took 
 my position in the gateway, and directed the marshal to 
 throw the goods out of the house, which he proceeded 
 to do. They made a demonstration as though they 
 intended to make a rush. I warned them to keep back. 
 The marshal got all out but the woman. He came to 
 the door and said, " I cannot get this woman out." I 
 told him to take my revolver and keep the men back, 
 and I would attend to her. I walked in, found her 
 seated in the middle of the floor, and said, *' Madame, it 
 becomes my unpleasant duty to remove you," at the 
 same time stepping quickly to her back, bending over 
 and putting my hands beneath her so as to carry her out. 
 She sprang to her feet, exclaiming, '' I guess I can go 
 out myself." After the woman had surrendered the 
 citadel, the man (whose name, I believe, was Weber) 
 remarked that, if it were not too late, he would sign the 
 lease. I replied that it was never tod late for me to 
 ameliorate the condition of my fellow-man, and handed 
 him the lease, which he signed. We then went from 
 house to house and all the occupants signed leases. 
 Thus Judson was restored to his land on the old Soto- 
 yome Rancho. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 THE SQUATTER WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 THE Russian River and Dry Creek valleys at this time 
 were nearly all in the hands of the squatters, which 
 territory was covered with Mexican grants, as follows: 
 Sotoyome or Fitch Grant, eight leagues; New Soto- 
 yome, three leagues; the Tzabaco Grant, containing 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 343 
 
 something over four leagues. The titles were all con- 
 firmed, and patents issued and on record. Notwith- 
 standing all this, the squatters in possession had their 
 secret leagues all over the county, and forcibly resisted 
 all efforts to dispossess them, and the law seemed to 
 be entirely a dead letter; actions in ejectment were pros- 
 ecuted to judgment; writs of restriction were issued and 
 placed in the hands of officers, but resistance was made 
 by armed force; the military was called out — a requisi- 
 tion for the militia on one side, and Captain Forsee 
 mustering two thousand squatters on the other side. 
 Parties would be evicted one day, and the next morn- 
 ing would find them in possession of the same premises 
 they had been ejected from the day before. Two thou- 
 sand men had met and confronted each other in blood- 
 less combat; both parties marched and countermarched 
 until the farce was played out. By express command 
 of the sheriff, I was excluded from these wars, and the 
 affair was finally left where it commenced. Though 
 the fairest domain on which the sun ever shone, yet 
 people shunned it, as there was no title or undisputed 
 possession. 
 
 Things were in this condition when Dr. L. C. Frisbie 
 of Vallejo, employed me to look after his interests in the 
 Sotoyome Rancho. I took his business in hand, and 
 succeeded in making some sales and getting along pretty 
 smoothly for a few months; but it became necessary to 
 bring several suits in ejectment, which I prosecuted to 
 judgment. One of them was against Riland Arbuckle, 
 on a portion of the Sotoyome Rancho, and as he was a 
 boastful, blowing fellow, I thought I would go for him 
 first. The sheriff dispossessed the party, and levied upon 
 
344 Life and Adventures of 
 
 a quantity of sacked barley, which we removed to the 
 house for safety. The squatters said they would not 
 resist the officer, but that Arbuckle should be placed in 
 possession again before morning, and that old Norton 
 had better leave with the sheriff if he knew what was 
 good for him. I, however, thought differently. My 
 client was not there, and I had determined to try strength 
 of nerve with them, and had secured the services of seven 
 young men to aid me. We were all supplied with double- 
 barreled shot-guns and plenty of ammunition. The 
 sheriff had retired, and about a dozen of the squatters 
 lingered for a time. I had gone out to reconnoiter the 
 premises, when they commenced talking very rough to 
 the boys, telling them that they had better leave, as 
 every one of them would be killed before morning, etc. 
 The boys were telling them that they were not there to 
 fight, but merely to hold possession under the law. In 
 the early part of the conversation I had slipped up be- 
 hind a large oak tree where I could hear every word that 
 passed, and at this juncture I sprang from my conceal- 
 ment and exclaimed, "Youarea bombasticset of cowards; 
 you have dared me to hold these premises; now go home 
 and rally your forces for your night attack; you will find 
 *old Norton ' at his post." My boys all bustled up and 
 told them to go or they would boot them, and finally 
 bluffed the fellows from the ground; but on riding off 
 they called back that we would see them again before 
 morning. 
 
 We then made breast-works of the sacks of barley in 
 the house, with loop-holes through the thin siding, and 
 before it was quite dark I placed patrols up and down 
 the road with instructions, if they should see the enemy 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 34^ 
 
 approach in force, to retreat to our fortification and 
 notify us; but if the enemy advanced too fast, they 
 were to fire a revolver as a signal and make good their 
 retreat. About eleven o'clock I heard the discharge of 
 a revolver, and the two outposts came rushing in and 
 said there was a large company of horsemen rapidly 
 approaching. I formed the command outside of the 
 house, under a large laurel tree, where it was quite dark. 
 I ordered them to drop down upon their faces on the 
 ground. On came the horsemen, from eighty to one 
 hundred strong. When they got opposite to us and 
 about four rods distant, I ordered, "Ready!" AH the 
 locks clicked audibly. I said, "Reserve your fire till 
 they attempt to cross the fence." The horsemen wav- 
 ered for a moment, then with a right-about-face made 
 equally as good time in getting away as they did in 
 coming. I was satisfied that we had not seen the last 
 of them, and in consequence of this impression I kept a 
 vigilant watch. About two o'clock in the morning one 
 of my sentinels came running in and said there was a 
 large crowd creeping along the fence. I ordered my 
 force to keep perfectly quiet. 1 took my old rifle that I 
 had had in camp, and skulked along the fence to within 
 about a hundred yards of the foremost of the approach- 
 ing party, when I slipped out and fired a shot about ten 
 feet over their heads. At this there was another general 
 stampede, and we were again in peaceable possession of 
 the Arbuckle place. 
 
 I continued to eject the squatters from Frisbie's tracts, 
 
 with greater or less resistance, until I had reduced the 
 
 whole to possession. It now seemed to be the general 
 
 opinion that I was the only one who could successfully 
 
 23 
 
340 Life and Adventures of 
 
 cope with squatters, and John N. Bailhache, as one of 
 the Fitch heirs, or rather tenant by courtesy, having 
 married Miss Josephine Fitch, had a large tract of land 
 covered by squatters, and had made many futile attempts 
 to expel them. They had become so well organized, 
 and so confident of their ability to forcibly hold the 
 premises, that they actually paraded the streets of Healds- 
 bur"-, both men and women, with music and banners 
 waving, and seemed to think that if they could only get 
 rid of Bailhache they would be secure in their homes. 
 In accordance with this idea, they made a raid on him 
 and forced him to secrete himself in the Raney HoteL 
 Seeing his danger, I marched out with a cocked revolver 
 in each hand, meeting the mob, and persuaded them 
 that I was the man they wanted, and not Bailhache; but 
 they came to the conclusion that they did not want either 
 of us, and retired, still holding forcible possession of his 
 lands. Mr. Bailhache about this time discovered that 
 he had business at Fort Yuma; so he moved his family 
 to Santa Rosa and departed. 
 
 A few months afterward I received a letter and power 
 of attorney from Mr. Bailhache at Fort Yuma, giving 
 me full authority to enter upon any and all his lands 
 in Sonoma County, and expel squatters, etc. I com- 
 menced operations under this power, but not until after 
 I had convinced the sheriff that his was not much of an 
 office anyhow, and he had agreed to turn it over to his 
 under-sheriff in case he could furnish the necessary bonds, 
 which I believe were about thirty thousand dollars; and I 
 asfreed to furnish ten thousand, in consideration of hav- 
 ing the privilege of selecting my own deputy for Healds- 
 burg. This was carried out, and I chose J. D. Bins, and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 347 
 
 adopted a new system of warfare. I put in teams and 
 went to work hauling off the fencing from the farms on 
 the west side of Dry Creek, thus rendering the land use- 
 less to the holders. This drove them to desperation. 
 The teams had been hauling all day, and at evening 
 when they were coming in with the last load for the 
 day, as they were approaching Dry Creek, my team be- 
 ing in the rear with five or six men upon the wagon, my 
 brother among the number, two shots from rifles were 
 discharged in rapid succession, and a bullet from one of 
 them struck a Mr. Ferguson just above the knee, and 
 running down the leg shattered the bones in a terrible 
 manner; it was a death shot. My brother drove him to 
 town as fast as possible, but he never rallied from the 
 nervous shock, and died the next day. 
 
 Until this murderous attack I had not been thoroughly 
 aroused, but after the death and burial of young Ferguson 
 I took di posse of ten men, all thoroughly armed, and went 
 with them in person. Stationing a few outposts to pre- 
 vent any further shooting from the brush, I commenced 
 throwing out goods from the houses and burning the 
 buildings to the ground. In this way I went from house 
 to house, until I burned down all the dwellings on the Bail- 
 hache premises occupied by squatters. They followed us 
 up en masse, and at length one of them said, " I would 
 like to know who sets those buildings on fire; I would 
 make them smart legally." I replied, " What, you ap- 
 peal to the law, who have so long trampled law and jus- 
 tice beneath your feet! You shall be gratified!" I said, 
 "Jim Brown, fire that house." The house was soon in 
 flames. I then said to the squatters, " Now take your 
 legal remedy." Brown (a brother of Mayor Brown, of 
 
348 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Santa Rosa) was indicte , but a noL pros, was entered in 
 the case, as the house was mine, and I having authorized 
 the act; there being no property of others in it, nor no 
 living being, under our statute the act was legal. Some 
 of the houses were gooi two-story buildings, ' but I 
 treated them as I would have done a lot of rats' nests; 
 under the circumstances there was no alternative. 
 
 Although I had reduced the dwellings to smouldering 
 ruins, the squatters continued to hang around, like the 
 French soldiers around a burning Moscow, until the ele- 
 ments drove them away to the hills, where some of them 
 put up temporary abodes on the adjacent Government 
 land. In our attempt to keep the raiders from the dif- 
 ferent places, we had only been successful in gaining 
 possession of a small portion, and in order to perpetuate 
 my possession, I commenced repairing the fences, and 
 on two or three occasions in the night they fired them. 
 But I was ever on the alert, and discovered the fire in 
 time to prevent much damage. 
 
 My next effort was to find some one who would dare 
 take possession of some one of the places. At last I 
 found a man by the name of Peacock, a powerful, reso- 
 lute fellow, who proposed to purchase a piece of the 
 land which a man by the name of Clark had been claim- 
 ing, and whose house had been burned down. He con- 
 tracted and -entered into possession, and guarded a fine 
 lot of hay, a volunteer crop growing on the place. The 
 hay had matured and he had cut and cocked it, but in 
 the meantime, contrary to my counsel, he had made 
 great friends with and confidents of the squatters who 
 had been evicted, and among other things told them 
 that he was going to see my brother the next day, to 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 34^ 
 
 get his team to bale hay, and should be absent that 
 night. I strongly opposed it, while he assured me that 
 everything would be safe, but did not convince me. I 
 was on the watch, and about two o'clock in the morn- 
 ing I discovered a bright light arising from the neighbor- 
 hood of* Peacock's hay. I rushed around, awakened 
 Bailhache, Ransom Powell, and two or three others, 
 and started for the scene of the fire. We succeeded in 
 saving about one-third of the hay. 
 
 On Peacock's return it was impossible to convince 
 him that the Prouses had any hand in this, or that they 
 knew anything of it. He continued his former relations 
 with them for about a month after this time, having 
 gone to board with them. One day a dispute arose at 
 the dinner table, and the two Prouse brothers set upon 
 him, one of them armed with something that the evi- 
 dence afterwards disclosed as being somewhat like a 
 butcher's cleaver. They cut and hacked Peacock up in 
 a terrible manner, so that for a long time his life was 
 despaired of. For this offense I had Daniel Prouse sent 
 to the penitentiary, and we continued to hold possession. 
 The land being desirable farming land, others, see- 
 ing that our title could be maintained, commenced pur- 
 chasing; and thus Bailhache was restored to his pos- 
 session, which put an end to the squatter difficulty on 
 the Sotoyome Rancho. 
 
350 LiP^E AND Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 THE SQUATTER WAR — CONTINUED. 
 
 ABOUT this time I was requested to take charge of the 
 Tzabaco Rancho, by John B. Frisbie and W. H. Pat- 
 terson, of San Francisco, sending the request by James 
 Clark, then sheriff of Sonoma County, who held writs 
 of ejectment against all the settlers on the Russian 
 River side of the grant. I had been acting for them 
 for more than two years as their agent, selling and leas- 
 ing the Dry Creek portion, where they met with but 
 little opposition to their title. But before stating my 
 action on the Russian River Valley, I must state one 
 incident that occurred on the Dry Creek portion. I had 
 been up Dry Creek serving some notices on parties who 
 had not paid up, and was returning, mounted on a gen- 
 tle little mare; and while jogging along, right opposite 
 the widow Bell's old place, where there was an old 
 watering trough and spring at a large redwood stump, 
 surrounded by a dense growth of redwood sprouts, a 
 shot was fired. I felt a concussion, and at the same 
 instant my mare made a jump sideways, nearly throwing 
 me from my saddle. I recovered myself and dismounted. 
 I saw the brush wiggle and shake, and made for the 
 point. The party took to his heels, running through 
 the thick brush and up a very steep hill, and I only got 
 a sight of his back. He wore a bluish-gray coat and a 
 low black hat, and was rather a short man, and that was 
 all I could tell of my would-be assassin. I was unarmed 
 and had no way of stopping him. On examination, I 
 discovered that the bullet had passed through both sides 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 351 
 
 ■of my vest, having entered the right side high in the 
 breast, passing through my outer shirt, in front, and out 
 at the left side. This was at a time when stran^rers 
 thought us a set of desperadoes here, and there was but 
 little said about it, as I did not wish to add to our repu- 
 tation in that line. When I came in I showed it to Bail- 
 hache, D. F. Spurr, and, may be, two or three more. I 
 still have the vest, and if this reaches the eye of the 
 perpetrator of the deed he may congratulate himself on 
 the fact that I could not recognize him. 
 
 And now to the squatters on the Russian River side 
 of the grant, hostile almost to a man. When the sheriff 
 informed me that he was under my instructions, I told 
 him to go home and if I needed him I would let him 
 know. I then wrote to Frisbie and Patterson, and told 
 them that in case I entered upon the hazard of attempt- 
 ing to manage the squatters, they must give me an un- 
 conditional power to survey, segregate, and sell all the 
 lands upon such terms and time as I should deem proper, 
 being accountable to no one for my actions in its dispo-* 
 sition. They immediately sent me the power, which 
 was communicated to the settlers in a very exaggerated 
 manner, they being led to believe that I would eject them 
 from their homes without an opportunity of purchasing 
 at any price. Whereupon their secret organization met, 
 I having two trusty friends in that organization, who 
 hastened to me and communicated to me so much of 
 the proceedings as in their judgment was necessary to 
 preserve my life. I was told by them that it was deter- 
 mined in counsel that my death was essential in order 
 to defeat the measures about to be carried into effect; 
 and they had adopted a resolution that if I ever showed 
 
852 Life and Adventures of 
 
 myself upon the Tzabaco Rancho I was to be killed like 
 a snake by whqever discovered me; and in addition to 
 this, they balloted to see whose duty it was to be my 
 special executioner and hunt me out and kill me. These 
 men begged of me, under the circumstances, not to come 
 onto the grant. I fully comprehended the fact that the 
 settlers were in a state of desperation, as we held one 
 judgment over them in the sum of ten thousand dollars, 
 for use and occupation of the premises, and another 
 judgment of ten thousand dollars obtained on injunction 
 bond, making a total of twenty thousand dollars; to- 
 gether with writs of ejectment against every one of 
 them. 
 
 After due reflection, I resolved to " beard the lion in 
 his den," and to fight the devil with fire, and when I was 
 all. ready, I hitched my pony to the buggy, and started 
 for the Tzabaco Rancho. After placing a quart bottle 
 of old Bourbon under the buggy seat, and arming my- 
 self in case of trouble, I drove to the ranch, which is 
 *about six miles from Healdsburg, following the Geyser- 
 ville road, and adjoining the Sotoyome Rancho on the 
 west. I drove up opposite the house of one Captain 
 Vessor, then living close to the line, and saw the old 
 captain in his yard hewing out a plow-beam. I stopped 
 my horse, and called out, " Captain Vessor, will you step 
 this way?" He dropped his ax, and came to the road; 
 when about five or six feet from the buggy he raised his 
 spectacles, and recognizing me, he instantly became as 
 black as a thunder-cloud. I jumped out of the buggy,, 
 and confronting him, said, " I am informed that you men 
 have in solemn conclave determined to shoot and scalp- 
 me if I ever came on this grant, and as shooting is a 
 
Colon Ki. L. A. Norton. 353 
 
 I 
 
 [,^'imc that two may play at, I will commence now," at 
 the same time runninjr my hand under the bu^'^^y seat. 
 The old cai)tain threw up both hands and comtnenced 
 running backwards, exclaimin^^ "Don't, don't." "I'll 
 be han^^ed, if I don't !" said I, at the same time brin^rjn^r 
 the whisky bottle to bear Uj^on him. A pleasurable 
 sensation, after the most abject fear, wrr^u^ht another 
 change in the captain, when he lauf^hin^ly exclaimed: 
 " Oh, God ! you mi^^ht have shot me with that lon^ ago." 
 I then ^rave the r;ld man a "shot in the neck," and bade 
 him '^ct into the buggy; but I frankly told him that I was 
 through joking and meant business; that for the present 
 he was my j;risr;ner, anrl must go with me. lU: very 
 reluctantly complied and I drove to Geyserville, only 
 holding him hostage to insure my rnvn safety. 
 
 At this place I met Dr. K\y, who I had good reason 
 to believe was the brains and managing man of the 
 squatters, he being a man <>[ intellect, and a f^iir-minded, 
 reasonable man upon all subjects exce[)ting the one at 
 issue. I dismissed Vessor, "shot" ICly, anrl took him in 
 . the buggy,and continued my journeythroughthe Tzabaco 
 Kancho. I informed the doctor that I came up to sell 
 them their lanrls, and that I proposerl to give every man 
 a reasonable chance of paying for the f^irm I sold him. 
 I was aware that the lands had been held too high; that 
 the owners were honest in their cfjnvictions of the value 
 of the land, but were mistaken; and for that reason 
 T had refused to take the agency until they gave me 
 ia?^^e blanche to dispose of them according to my own 
 judgment. " J^ut," he said, with ajij^arent surprise, " you 
 do not propose to .sell me my place ? " " Why not ? " I 
 a.sked. He replied, " I have always heard that you said 
 
354 Life and Adventures of 
 
 you would not sell my place, but had selected it for 
 yourself." " That," said I, " is just as true as many other 
 things you have heard about me. I am a Western man, 
 and am anxious to see every man have his home, and 
 will sell to you just the same as to the rest." " But," 
 said he, " if disposed to purchase, how can we ? We are 
 bankrupts; with the twenty thousand dollars judgments 
 hanging over us, we can do nothing." I told him that 
 it was not necessary to tell me that they were bankrupts, 
 for I knew it; and continued, "It is not necessary to tell 
 me that you are a set of ruined and desperate men; I 
 know it. It is not necessary for you to say, in case I 
 attempt to execute the writs of ejectment which I hold 
 against you, that these fair domains will be left black- 
 ened ruins, and that the inhabitants will retire to their 
 mountain fastnesses and wage war against human nature 
 at large, for I already know it, and in my present action 
 have given due heed to it all; yet I am going to sell 
 every man of you your farms, and as fast as you pur- 
 chase I shall wipe the judgment out against the pur- 
 chaser and again place you in the position of freemen." 
 The doctor frankly admitted that if that was my in- 
 tention, then I had been greatly misrepresented to them. 
 I told him that, having unlimited power, I intended to 
 b3 a benefactor and not an oppressor of the people. 
 The doctor took me at my word, rode through the set- 
 tlement with me, and advised the settlers to purchase 
 their homes, which seemed to them unusual advice. I 
 notified them that, on the following Thursday, I would 
 be at Captain Vessor's for the purpose of going with 
 them over every man's place, and fixing a price upon it 
 per acre. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 355 
 
 I was there at the time appointed, and met the entire 
 settlement, and went over every place, fixing my price 
 upon the land as I passed over, and to my surprise and 
 satisfaction every one of them thought that I had put a 
 fair price upon his neighbor's land, but had got his a 
 little too high. The result was that every man purchased 
 his farm within the ensuing six weeks, paying one-fourth 
 down and getting three years to pay the balance, at one 
 per cent per month interest. And what was still more 
 satisfactory, by the enlargement of time of payment, all 
 succeeded in paying for their farms, and thus ended the 
 squatter war that had been kept up for over seven years 
 in the northern portion of this county. 
 
 But before dismissing the subject I must say, in justi- 
 fication of these men, that the most of them, in my 
 ■judgment, were honest in their convictions that the 
 claimants either had no title to the lands, or if they had 
 a title it was fraudulent; and that many of them to-day 
 are among our most respected and prominent citizens. 
 Our old feuds are now looked upon as a feverish and 
 disturbing dream, or treated as a subject of mirth, and 
 as for myself, the most of the men who once wanted to 
 see my throat cut are among my warmest friends. 1 
 will here append a set of resolutions, expressing their 
 feelings toward me after our fight was over: — 
 
 "At a meeting of the citizens of Washington Township, 
 and on the 'Tzabaco Grant,' held this day, without 
 distinction of party, the following preamble and resolu- 
 tions were unanimously adopted: — 
 
 "Whereas, It having become known to us that statements are being 
 publicly made to the effect that Capt L. A. Norton, of Healdsburg, is re- 
 garded with unfriendly feelings by the citizens and settlers of this town- 
 ship, and knowing such statements to be wholly untrue and unjust to Cap- 
 tain Norton, it is hereby 
 
356 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ^'■Resolved, That we recognize in Capt. L. A. Norton, a gentleman of 
 great firmness of purpose, and energy in the discharge of duty; entirely 
 impartial as agent between grant holders and settlers — and that his cour- 
 tesy and friendship as evinced toward all who wished to secure their homes, 
 demand and receive our hearty approbation and respect, and that we en- 
 tertain for him none but the kindliest feelings. 
 
 ''Resolved, That all statements and assertions made in relation to Capt. 
 L. A. Norto.n in connection with ourselves, which are not in accordance 
 with the above, are untrue, and very unjust to both Captain Norton and 
 ourselves. 
 
 ''Resolved, That the Secretary forward a copy of the proceedings of this 
 meeting to the Sonoma Democrat, and one to the Russian River Flag, re- 
 questing them to publish the same. 
 
 "(Signed) DOWNING Lamb, President. 
 
 "Elisha Ely, Secretary'' 
 
 I can now look back with surprise at many of my 
 foolhardy adventures while engaged as Egbert Judson's 
 agent on the Sotoyome Rancho. I had occasion to 
 cross Russian River to look after his interests and went 
 over in the morning, crossing the ferry then owned by a 
 man by the name of Kibbe. It was lowering weather 
 when I went over, and as the day advanced it set in a 
 drizzling rain. I was absent the whole day, and as I 
 came back at night to the river it was getting a little 
 dusky. The ferry-boat was kept on the opposite side of 
 the river. I commenced hallooing for the boat, but no 
 one paid any attention to me. I know they must have 
 heard me, for I could hear them talking on the oppo- 
 site side; could hear the chopping of wood at the house- 
 Well I hallooed and bawled at them until I got tired' 
 and began to consider what I was to do. There was 
 no house nearer than the Fitches, and they were entire 
 strangers to me. 
 
 The river was much swollen by recent rains and the 
 flood-wood was coming down the stream pretty freely. 
 I was somewhat wet by the falling rain, and at last made 
 up my mind to attempt to ford the stream. I hunted 
 
Colonel L.*A. Norton. 357 
 
 out a long pole to brace myself from the lower side and 
 waded into the swift current, I continued to wade, 
 bracing myself with the pole, and in that manner I made 
 my w^ay across. In the middle of the stream the water 
 came up to the points of my shoulders; it was late in the 
 season, the water was very cold, and I got badly chilled. 
 I vyas a strict temperance man, but one druggist insisted 
 on fixing me up a dose, which I took. I thought for 
 awhile there was a small-sized volcano inside of me, and 
 for a time I felt pretty boozy. The next morning I 
 drew up a complaint against Kibbe and was about pro- 
 ceeding against him for damages, when he came into my 
 office, in company with Mr. Hugh Patton, and wanted 
 me to hold on and not prosecute my action. He said 
 the river was so high that it was dangerous to run the 
 ferry-boat owing to the flood-wood. I told him that 
 I thought his defense would be a poor one, when it was 
 shown that I had waded the stream. Mr. Patton 
 informed me that he was about buying the ferry, and if 
 I would stop my action no one should ever again be put 
 to a similar annoyance, and it should never cost me a 
 cent to cross while he owned it. I didn't accept his 
 last offer, but I stayed the action. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 CLIPPINGS. 
 [From the "History of Sonoma County."] 
 
 IN 1 86 1 or '62 there was a regiment of volunteers or- 
 ganized in Kane County, Illinois. They met in 
 companies at Batavia to perfect the organization; they 
 first proceeded to elect their major; second, their lieu- 
 
358 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tenant-colonel, when, on motion, a recess of fifteen min- 
 utes was taken, when it was proposed that the health of 
 Captain Norton be drank standing, which was informally 
 carried out. When the meeting resumed business it 
 was moved and carried that Capt. L. A. Norton be 
 elected colonel of the regiment by acclamation, which 
 motion was put and carried unanimously. Whereupon 
 Capt. P. J. Burchell moved that a copy of the proceed- 
 ings of this meeting be forwarded to Colonel Norton, by 
 its secretary, with the request that he come home and 
 take charge of his regiment, which his situation in this 
 county forbade him doing, for at that time the captain 
 (or more legitimately the colonel) had his hands full at 
 home. We are informed by reliable persons that the 
 northern part of Sonoma County is much indebted to 
 the firmness and energy of the colonel in keeping down 
 an outbreak, as that portion of the county boasted a 
 strong secession element, and when it was asserted that 
 no recruits to join the Federal army would ever live to 
 cross Russian River, he organized and secretly drilled 
 the Union forces, and was at all times ready to meet the 
 threatened outbreak. And when it was said that no 
 Union flag should ever float in Healdsburg, he went 
 immediately to Petaluma, purchased one, placed it on 
 the top of his carriage, carried it through the country 
 to Healdsburg, and nailed it to his balcony, where it 
 continued to wave. When it was reported that a rebel 
 flag was floating from the top of a high tree, between 
 Santa Rosa and Sonoma, Norton made it his business 
 to go down there, in open day, climb the tree and remove 
 the flag. And we are informed that it is now in the 
 possession of Mrs. Molloy, of San Francisco, the colonel 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 359 
 
 having presented the same to Dr. E. B. Molloy, now 
 deceased. The colonel still practices his profession in 
 Healdsburg, and we believe he possesses the confidence 
 of the whole community, as a careful, honest, and able 
 member of the bar. 
 
 [From the San Francisco Alia California.] 
 
 " Healdsburg, November 12, 1861. 
 
 "Editors AltA: On yesterday the citizens of our 
 town were called to the banks of Russian River to wit- 
 ness the launching of a small boat, built by Mr. Johnson, 
 for the trial of Capt. L. A. Norton's newly invented 
 wheel. 
 
 "The boat is nineteen feet long with four feet beam; 
 the wheels are four feet in diameter, with eight buckets 
 each. Each bucket is composed of five paddles, which 
 are perpendicular to the shaft, worked by simple ma- 
 chinery, so that each bucket is a full, solid bucket, by 
 the folding together of the paddles when it strikes the 
 water; and on leaving the water it is again thrown open, 
 lifting no dead water, nor offering any resistance to the 
 air until it is ready to perform labor again. 
 
 " When a large crowd had convened at the place, the 
 craft was named by Mr. Norton after W. W. Stow of 
 San Francisco, who was present, and made a few brief 
 remarks. The IV. IV. Stow was then launched upon 
 the water, and propelled by two men,- at a crank on the 
 shaft. She moved off gracefully, amid the cheers of the 
 crowd, and the thrilling music of the Russian River Brass 
 Band, which attended to enliven the .^occasion. After 
 she had run up and down the river for several hours, ex- 
 hibiting great speed and beauty and regularity of mo- 
 
360 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tion, the crowd dispersed, satisfied that the new wheel 
 must undoubtedly prove a success, and that it is the 
 very thing for which the world has been experimenting 
 for the last thirty years. W. A. M." 
 
 Subseq-iiently the annexed notice appeared in the 
 *' City Items " department of the same journal:^ 
 
 " Novel Exhibition — Another California In- 
 vention. — Quite a number of persons on Steuart Street 
 wharf, yesterday afternoon, were surprised at seeing a 
 Whitehall boat shoot from under the pier propelled by 
 muscle brought to bear on a pair of novel paddle- 
 wheels. It appears that a Mr. Norton, of Sonoma 
 County, has for some years past been endeavoring to 
 improve upon the present paddle-wheels. He believes 
 that his invention is calculated to effect the needed im- 
 provements in these respects, viz., that whilst the speed 
 of the ordinary paddle-wheel is limited, this is limitless, 
 and that to any extent the power can be applied, in like 
 proportion will additional speed be obtained. Further- 
 more, he contends that his wheel avoids not only the lift, 
 but drag of back water. The wheel is composed of a series 
 of paddles forming a bucket, the paddles being hung 
 upon pivots, and opened and closed by a shackle- 
 bar, which has a friction roller on each end, fastened to 
 the bucket by knees. 
 
 "The wheel, whilst undergoing the rotary motion 
 brings the friction roller in contact with cams, which 
 open and close the bucket. The moment the latter has 
 performed its labor, the paddles make the open revo- 
 lution until they again touch the water. The inventor 
 contends that in navigating the ocean in a heavy sea, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 361 
 
 the dead force which the ordinary steamship wheel has 
 to encounter is completely avoided, as the vessel will 
 sit on an even keel, and never submerge one wheel so as 
 to retard its speed. 
 
 "The experiment tried yesterday seemed successful 
 so far as the working of the wheels and speed are con- 
 cerned. The two men at the crank propelled the craft 
 quite as fast as two oarsmen another boat, with which a 
 trial of speed was had. 
 
 " The inventor has filed his caveat, and formally ap- 
 plied for a patent. A model is now being constructed 
 in this city." 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 A VISIT TO THE EAST. 
 
 SINCE the events recorded in the foregoing chapters, 
 I made, in 1874, a lengthy tour to the East, visiting 
 the scenes of my early life and adventures in Canada, 
 and also many of the States of the Union. I kept a 
 diary of my travels, and the prominent occurrences of 
 the journey, from which I take the facts herein set forth. 
 I started out of San Francisco on " All Fools' Day " on 
 an eastern-bound train. Among the passengers was a 
 Mrs. G. and her little son, aged about eight years. Her 
 husband, who was an official of Alameda County, sought 
 an introduction, and placed his wife and son under my 
 care. We were soon settled in one of the commodious 
 palace cars, and all within the car soon became 
 acquainted and, in fact, constituted a little social com- 
 munity. In reading, talking, playing cards, and look- 
 ing from the windows at the various external objects 
 24 
 
362 Life and Adventures of 
 
 that caught the fancy, the time passed pleasantly as we 
 rolled slowly along; for, here let me say, I was very 
 much disappointed as to the speed in crossing the con- 
 tinent by rail. I don't think they averaged twenty miles 
 an hour. We had crossed the American Alps, had 
 doubled Cape Horn, and on the second day were steam- 
 ing up the Humboldt River, without a remarkable inci- 
 dent on our trip. 
 
 When we arrived at the county seat of Humboldt 
 County, and when the cars stopped at the depot, the 
 conductor walked through the cars and announced that 
 we had twenty minutes to exercise our limbs. I asked 
 Mrs. G. if she would like to walk out, and she replied 
 in the affirmative. I looked at my watch, and we 
 walked to the court house, less than a five minutes' 
 walk, exchanged a few words with the clerk, and started 
 back, when the whistle blew, the bell rang, and away 
 went the cars. The woman was perfectly frantic, and 
 screamed, "My child! my child!" I consoled her as 
 well as possible, telling her that I would telegraph to the 
 next station and have the boy and baggage left. In 
 the meantime the cars had gone out of sight and hear- 
 ing. I had restored the lady to quiet, and was meditat- 
 ing a suit against the company for damage, when to my 
 surprise the cars hove in sight, and some one on the 
 back step was waving a handkerchief most furiously. 
 We rushed on and were soon on board again. 
 
 Then came the secret: The first day out, a small 
 specimen of California's best production passed from 
 my possession to that of the negro steward, with the 
 understanding that he was to consult my best interests 
 while it should be my good fortune to travel in his 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 363 
 
 society; and when it was announced that I was left, he 
 made a furious dash at the bell-rope, pulling it in two 
 the first effort. He then rushed through the cars, 
 reached the engine, and yelled to the engineer, " Yoit 
 inns' go back! two ladies leff, and tivo stickin' babies on 
 boards Such an appeal couldn't be resisted, and the 
 train backed up. I shall never regret what I invested in 
 that nigger. 
 
 I will not attempt to describe a route that has already 
 been described a hundred times, but will content myself 
 with a truthful detail of what came under my observa- 
 tion as a traveler, that has not been chronicled by more 
 able pens. The journey was without accident or further 
 mishap until we reached Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, 
 where I left the train to visit -my old home at St. Charles, 
 on Fox River. I returned to St. Charles after an ab- 
 sence of twenty-two years, almost to a day. I entered 
 the town an entire stranger, knowing no face that I met 
 and none knowing me. I had an intimate friend, one 
 Colonel Burchell, who, at the time of my leaving St. 
 Charles, was a merchant, and hnd rendered me many 
 favors. I left him an active business man in manhood's 
 prime. I was informed that he now kept the St. Charles 
 Hotel. Accordingly I put up at that house, and found 
 my friend of other days a decrepit old man, whom I 
 could not recognize as being my old friend of twenty-two 
 years before. I engaged him in conversation; ate sup- 
 per with him and a half dozen former friends, but none 
 knew me. Presently the conversation turned on Califor- 
 nia, and " Captain Norton " vvas the first one inquired for. 
 I told Burchell that I knew him very well; that he lived 
 in my town, and, after answering many inquiries regard- 
 
364 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ing him, I remarked that I didn't suppose they could 
 recognize Norton now, if they were to meet him. But 
 they all declared that they would know him the minute 
 they put their eyes on him. After amusing myself for 
 some time in this way, I presented my card to Burchell, 
 and, to the astonishment of the crowd, declared that I 
 was the veritable Norton that they were all going to 
 recognize. 
 
 I next went to the office where I had read law and 
 met my old preceptor, Judge Barry. He also had grown 
 very old. He asked me to be seated. I told him that 
 I had a little matter of business that I wished to call 
 his personal att ntion to, and handed him my card. 
 The old man looked at the card, and then at me. In a 
 moment he dropped the card, sprang forward, seized 
 me by both hands, and exclaimed, " Great God, Norton, 
 is this you!" He then commenced rubbing my head 
 and running around me like a child. The news soon 
 spread that I had returned, and then dozens of acquaint- 
 ances of former years came rushing in, calling me by 
 name, whose faces were as strange to me as though I 
 had never seen them before. There was but one among 
 all of them that I could have recognized; that was my 
 old friend, W. G. Conkling, who served as lieutenant 
 with me through the Mexican War (now Major Conk- 
 ling;. We were as brothers through that long and try- 
 ing campaign, and our relations were so intimate that 
 time and change could not deface that recollection. I 
 spent three days, among the happiest of my life, with 
 old friends at St. Charles, making at least twenty prom- 
 ises to dine, visit, or lodge with my old friends. I abso- 
 lutely had to run away to prosecute my journey. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 365 
 
 Leaving St. Charles, Illinois, I descended Fox River, 
 one of the most lovely streams in the world, to its con- 
 fluence with the Illinois, passing the cities of Aurora 
 and Oswego and many other lovely towns on its banks. 
 Then, going through Ottawa and crossing the Illinois 
 and Vermilion Rivers, I visited the great coal-fields of 
 the West at Streater, La Salle County, Illinois. This 
 place is but about four years old, and contains from six 
 thousand to seven thousand inhabitants. It very much 
 reminds the California traveler of a mining town in 
 1852. It is principally a wooden town, sprung up as by 
 magic, and bright new shanties meet the eye in all direc- 
 tions. They seem to have a well organized city gov- 
 ernment and all is one wild rush and bustle. There are 
 now five railroads centering in the town, with coal-cars 
 leaving in all directions, while the various hoisting 
 works, propelled by steam, are tugging and puffing on 
 all sides. There are three distinct strata of coal, lying 
 from eighty to four hundred feet below the surface. 
 
 From this region I retraced my steps to Aurora, and 
 went thence to Chicago. I will give but little space to 
 a description of this great mart of the West, as, espe- 
 cially since its recent disaster, it has so often been de- 
 scribed that all who read know what Chicago was before 
 and at the tiine of the great fire. All that it is necessary 
 to say here is that it has arisen from its ashes more beau- 
 tiful than before, and all the evidences that are left of its 
 calamity are here and there a scar that looks as though 
 there had been a local fire. Chicago is the shining light 
 of the West. It owes its present existence to the East, 
 to whom it is mortgaged. There are two places that the 
 
 traveler should be sure to visit — the tunnel under the 
 
 t 
 
 Chicago River and the Lake Water Works. 
 
366 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I cannot leave the great West without speaking gen- 
 erally of the improvements of the great Mississippi 
 Basia I visited Chicago in the fall of 1837 for the fii-st 
 time, when but a boy. It was but a small village then- 
 The frame of the old United States House had just been 
 raised atsthe west end of Randolph Bridge. Colonel 
 Bobion liv^ed near the old fort on the lake shore, in his 
 log-cabin lined inside with birch bark, and Lake Street 
 was a first-class mud-hole Now (1874) the city boasts 
 about a quarter million inhabitants. At the time to 
 which I refer, the whole country lying between the great 
 lakes and the base of the Rocky Mountains was com- 
 paratively an unbroken wild, with only here and there 
 the rudely-built shelter of the early pioneer or hunter, 
 and the onlv guides from the settlements to their new 
 homes were the trails left by General Scott's troops and 
 the brands of their camp-fires while marching to chas- 
 tise the hostile tribes of the West. But what a change ! 
 The human mind can hardly comprehend it. In the 
 short space of thirty-seven years this might)' empire 
 of the West has sprung into existence. And what a 
 change even from twenty years ago, where the little 
 '' balloon frame " or log-cabin, with a hovel for stock, 
 covered with straw or prairie grass, where the fierce 
 winds of our Western winters would penetrate every 
 pore as they howled over the vast prairies, without a tree 
 or bush to check them ! Now, where stood the lowly 
 cabin, you may see a noble building two or three stories 
 in height with a beautiful observatory covering its top; 
 and where stood the straw-thatched hovel, you may see 
 clustered splendid granaries and stock barns, all well 
 sheltered and protected with a fine, thrifty grove of 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 367 
 
 timber. Add to that a thick hedge of Osage orange 
 or thorn surrounding the whole premises, and you have 
 the present appearance of the home of the thrifty West- 
 ern farmer. One of the most memorable changes that 
 meets the eye of the traveler who has not visited the 
 West for many years, is the great increase of timber. 
 The farmers, who in many parts of the West have im- 
 poverished their farms by constant cropping, have been 
 compelled to change their tactics, and are now grazing 
 them with dairy cows. The consequence is that at a 
 distance of every eight or ten miles, there is a steam 
 cheese and butter factory. By the change referred to, 
 the farmer is restoring the land to its former richness, 
 and I was informed that it pays better than grain rais- 
 ing. While the war has had the effect in the East of 
 making the rich richer, and the poor poorer, the West 
 has felt a general impetus that has reached all classes. 
 
 I continued my journey eastward by the Michigan 
 Central road, April ii. It was exceedingly cold in 
 Chicago when I left. It seemed as though the north 
 wind from Lake Michigan would cut a Californian in 
 two, and, in fact, I had not been out of sight o( snow 
 from the time I reached the summit of the Sierra. I 
 reached Detroit about two o'clock Sunday morning, 
 April 12. Detroit is a splendid city. It is beauti- 
 fully located on the St. Clair River, and is among the 
 oldest towns of America, settled by the French. This 
 is the town that was surrendered to the British by Gen- 
 eral Hull, in the war of 1812, at the time of "Hull's 
 Surrender." There is a very fine depot there, and the 
 city contains many beautiful public buildings, hand- 
 somely flagged sidewalks, and many ornamental trees. 
 
368 Life and Adventures of 
 
 The city contains about one hundred thousand inhabit- 
 ants, but the old French stock is pretty well worked 
 out. 
 
 On the morning of the 13th I crossed the St. Clair 
 River into Upper Canada, taking the Grand Trunk road, 
 and arrived in London about four o'clock in the after- 
 noon. Again in London ! After an absence of thirty- 
 seven years I was again visiting the spot where I had 
 been a prisoner for nine months, indicted for high trea- 
 son, and banished from her Britannic majesty's domin- 
 ions during my natural life. I left, a boy in my seven- 
 teenth year; I returned, a gray-headed man ! At my 
 banishment I had left many warm friends in London. 
 " Where are they now ? " was the first question that 
 came to my mind on my return, for among those friends 
 were some who had watched over the sick couch of the 
 young rebel and to whose kind care perhaps I owed my 
 life. I asked an old settler of London, " Where is 
 O'Brien, the merchant?" He replied, "He is dead!'' 
 "And Mrs. O'Brien?" "Also dead!" "Where is 
 Sam Parks, the former keeper of the London prison ? " 
 "Dead!" "And his wife?" "She is also dead'" 
 None who had lifted a hand or voice in my defense were 
 left. It was one universal reply, " Dead, all dead ! " 
 
 But there was one thing to console me: times had so 
 changed in the Dominion that the old Tory party of 
 1836-37 was at a discount, and the reform party was 
 in power, the British Government having granted a gen- 
 eral amnesty, and conceded every reform asked by that 
 party. I next visited the old prison where I had lain so 
 long, but there the hand of time had made no change. 
 I found everything in the rooms where I had been in- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 369 
 
 carcerated just as it was the day I left them. There was 
 the old bullet-hole through the floor that we had reamed 
 out to enable us to send our dispatches to the upper 
 rooms, which were also filled with prisoners. I showed 
 the officials who visited the rooms with me that the 
 window sills were all cut out below, around the heads of 
 the spikes; that the gratings of our windows were loos- 
 ened (with the apertures closed with chewed bread to 
 hide our work) in such a manner that the bars could be 
 removed in fifteen minutes; that nothing but the senti- 
 nels around the walls had prevented our escape, and many 
 other things that excited the mirth of the officials of the 
 present time. When it was generally known who I was, 
 the prominent citizens seemed to take an interest in 
 me, and made my visit of a week in London a very 
 pleasant one. London is a flourishing city, supported 
 by oil refineries, manufacturing the crude oils obtained 
 in the western district, together with a large agricultural 
 country around the place. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 VISIT TO THE EAST — OLD-TIME HAUNTS. 
 
 BEFORE my final departure from London (Canada), 
 I went up to Westminster, where I had left four 
 uncles and about thirty cousins. In fact, Westminster 
 Street was settled by Nortons and their descendants; 
 but among all the kin that I had left, only one remained 
 to tell the fate and whereabouts of the rest. This was 
 Frank D. Norton. He was wealthy and a prince among 
 good fellows, and spared no pains to make me enjoy 
 
370 Life and Adventures of 
 
 my visit with him. We rode around the country and 
 visited old haunts of my youth, but I could see very lit- 
 tle to remind me of that long ago; for then the clear- 
 ings were small and the forests immense; the fields were 
 stumpy and the hay and grain crops had to be cut with 
 the old-fashioned sickle, scythe, and cradle. Now, 
 scarcely a stump is to be seen, and those vast primeval 
 forests have almost wholly disappeared before the stroke 
 of the axman. Those who never experienced it cannot 
 for a moment appreciate or imagine the change. Where 
 I had ofttimes looked from a small eminence for the 
 cows, where the range of vision was less than half a mile, 
 I could now stand and look away north to the shores of 
 Lake Huron, forty or fifty miles distant, the forests that 
 once obscured the view having been almost entirely 
 swept away. The only timber now standing, where 
 every acre of land was once covered by a heavy forest 
 growth, is the sugar maple, rail timber, and occasionally a 
 small wood lot for fuel, which is now valuable — in fact, 
 more valuable than agricultural land. 
 
 This general clearing up of the country has given it 
 an entirely new face. Those who have seen the emi- 
 grant who crossed the plains from '49 to '60, before go- 
 ing to the barber shop and after his return from it, may, 
 from that metamorphosis, form some faint idea of the 
 change in the face of a timber country by being shorn 
 of its forests. The climate of Upper Canada has also 
 greatly changed since cutting off the timber. There 
 used to be but little wind before the country was cleared 
 up, and now it is swept by heavy and frequent winds 
 from the northern lakes. The land in Canada West, 
 like that of the Western States, is much worn, and the 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 371 
 
 farmers are resuscitating the soil by going into the dairy- 
 business. The Canadas are now shipping to England 
 thousands of tons of cheese yearly. The soil is natu- 
 rally good in Canada West, taking it as a whole, and 
 were it not for the long, cold winters, it would be a 
 desirable country to live in, for at the present time they 
 have a very liberal system of Government — no inflation, 
 everything reasonable, and their paper commands coin 
 everywhere. Among other good things at my cousin's, 
 I found them at the height of sugar-making, which per- 
 mitted me to enjoy some of the sweets of other days. 
 The sugar was as sweet as ever, but the girls — well, an 
 old man of family cannot, and ought not, expect to find 
 them as sweet as when he was a young beau. 
 
 Taking leave of my "coz.," I took a side train, con- 
 necting with the Grand Trunk at St. Mary's, and after 
 a few hours' ride brought up at Toronto. We made no 
 stay at this place, farther than the usual halt for meals, 
 but even this enabled me to discover that Toronto had 
 grown much since I last saw it. Indeed, it is now a 
 very pretty city, the site sloping to the south with a 
 gentle descent to the lake shore. From Toronto our 
 trip to Prescott was performed in the night. Passing 
 Kingston and other noted points, we arrived at Prescott 
 at the break of day, at which place we changed cars for 
 Ottawa, the seat of the Dominion Government. Ottawa 
 is situated on the Grand Ottawa River, some ninety 
 miles above the confluence of that river with the St. 
 Lawrence. The city is divided into the upper and lower 
 towns by the Rideau Canal, which gives an internal com- 
 munication between Kingston and Lake Ontario and 
 the Ottawa River. This town has been selected by the 
 
372 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Home (British) Government for the permanent seat of 
 the Canadian Legislature. " The scenery is not surpassed 
 by any in America, unless by that of California. Pres- 
 cott and Ottawa are also connected by the Ottawa and 
 Prescott Railroad, which taps the Grand Trunk at Pres- 
 cott. There is also a daily line of steamers up and 
 down the river during the summer months. 
 
 The Russell House is a fine hotel, situated in the 
 center of the town in juxtaposition with the Sappers' 
 Bridge, the Rideau Canal, Parliament House, etc. A 
 few minutes take the traveler to the suspension bridge, 
 from which a fine view of the city can be obtained, as 
 well as of the celebrated Chaudier Falls, which are 
 almost a second Niagara. The Government timber 
 slide. Table Rock, suspension bridge, etc., are well worthy 
 of note by the tourist. 
 
 Returning by way of Prescott, I crossed the St. Law- 
 rence River to Ogdensburg, New York. This is a city 
 of considerable trade. It is an old town founded by 
 Colonel Ogden, an Englishman of great wealth. There 
 is an amusing anecdote connected with the early settle- 
 ment of the place, calculated in some degree to illustrate 
 the different ideas of the English and Americans as to 
 the relations of master and servant. After Ogden had 
 founded his town and was yet largely engaged in build- 
 ing, business called him back to England and he left an 
 Englishman in charge of his works, who held the com- 
 mon English ideas of the servile condition of the com- 
 mon laborer. The hands were principally brought from 
 England, but through sickness or. some other cause, it 
 became necessary to hire a few native Americans. 
 Among them was a little American to mix mortar. He 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 373 
 
 didn't exactly satisfy the old John Bull boss, who 
 expressed his disapprobation in rather forcible terms, to 
 which little Yank sharply replied, when the boss, with 
 great indignation exclaimed, *' Give me none of your 
 impudence, sir, or I will cane you ! " " You attempt to 
 cane me," said the man, " and I will stamp you into 
 this mortar bed." The Englishman struck him with 
 his cane, and the man kept his word. The old boss 
 crawled out of the mortar, made his way to an attorney 
 and wanted to know his remedy. " Who struck first ? " 
 inquired the lawyer. "Is that the question you ask 
 me? Why, sir, he gave me some insolence and I caned 
 him." " That being the case," said the attorney, "you 
 committed the first assault, and if he will drop it you had 
 better let it rest. If not, you had better give him some- 
 thing to settle it." Johnny Bull was indignantly leaving 
 the office when he was informed that he owed a fee of 
 five dollars. He paid the charge, and when he went 
 back to where the mortarman was, the latter asked, 
 " Have you a warrant for me?" Being answered in the 
 negative, " Then," said the man, " I will have one for 
 you." "Ah, never mind, here is a sovereign to treat 
 your friends with." 
 
 In time Ogden returned and was riding out with the 
 old boss in his coach, when they met a Yankee teamster 
 who gave one-half of the road. " How different," said 
 Colonel Ogden, " in England a teamster would give the 
 whole road and takeoff his hat to a gentleman." "Ah," 
 replied the boss, " but in this country he will pull off his 
 coat instead of his hat." The mortarman had taught 
 him something. 
 
 We left Ogdensburg at one o'clock in the afternoon 
 
374 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and arrived at Malone the same evening, passing Pots- 
 dam and other small places on the way. I had now 
 arrived at the base of my communications, and heard 
 from home for the first time since leaving London. On 
 leaving home I had directed all my correspondence to be 
 sent to^Wm. P. Cantwell, Esq., of Malone, New York. 
 He and I were little children together at Norton Creek, 
 Lower Canada. Thomas Cantwell, his father, was 
 among the earliest settlers at " The Creek." He was 
 our merchant and, in fact, the main man of the place. 
 He was noted for his integrity, and commanded the 
 respect of all who knew him, and prospered as such men 
 should. Where even the advantages of a common 
 school education were denied to many, Mr. Cantwell's 
 children were sent abroad to school and received liberal 
 education. My friend, Wm. P., chose the profession of 
 law and is now a successful lawyer, standing at the 
 head of his profession in Malone, and, like his father, 
 noted for his integrity as well as his ability. He is 
 blessed with an amiable wife and family, with all the 
 home comforts and endearing associations that make 
 home happy. Though my visit with them was a very 
 short one, it was of that pleasing character that will 
 ever keep its remembrance fresh in my mind. Mr. 
 Cantwell's family could tell me more about my old 
 home than all others combined, but I hastened forward 
 that I might see for myself I was then about forty 
 miles from my old home at Norton Creek, in Lower 
 Canada. I took the cars for the Summit, and from 
 that place I hired a buggy to take me across the line 
 into Canada, to the little town of Franklin, where I 
 remained a couple of days to visit friends and get 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 375- 
 
 shelter from a snow-storm that was then raging. This 
 was about the twentieth of April, and while others 
 thought the weather reasonably mild, I was compelled 
 to hunt the hot side of the stove to keep warm. 
 
 At Franklin I chartered a buggy to take me to Nor- 
 ton Creek. And now I was to visit a place, after an 
 absence of forty years, the most cherished to me of all 
 spots on earth. It was there I had spent my childhood's 
 hours, and there centered all that was pleasant to reflect 
 upon; it was my thoughts by day and dreams by night. 
 Every play-ground was vivid in my memory and the 
 enthusiasm which I felt upon the subject I cannot better 
 express than in the words of Norton the poet: — 
 
 Canada's wilds my early home, 
 I think of thee where'er I roam! 
 The lonely crag to me endeared, 
 Its mossy brow my childhood cheered; 
 The rising hill, the creek, the dell. 
 The ancient tree, the pond, the well — 
 All these endeared that land to me. 
 Home of my youth and infancy! 
 
 But what a disappointment was in wait for me ! 
 When I came into the range of my childhood's acquaint- 
 ance the first place I recognized was the Proper farm, 
 where I requested my driver to wait until I made a 
 reconnoissance of the premises. My rap at the door 
 was answered by a French woman who couldn't speak a 
 word of English, but she called her son, who spoke 
 English. I asked him who lived there. He informed 
 me that it was the widow St. John. I then asked him 
 where the folks had gone who lived there before them- 
 He didn't know; he was born on the place, raised there 
 to manhood, and never heard of any other person hav- 
 ing owned it but his father. 
 
376 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I then determined to go to Mr. Seivers', two miles 
 further on, and make that my head-quarters while I 
 remained in the vicinity, remembering that forty years 
 ago they kept a very respectable hotel and but one 
 mile distant from my father's farm — my early home. 
 We trudged along through a slushy mixture of snow and 
 mud until we reached the Seivers place, but here I was 
 again disappointed. The old sign was gone and the 
 house much smaller than when I left that country. I 
 entered the house and inquired for Mr. Seivers. Quite 
 an old lady answered me that her son would be in in a 
 minute. I asked, '' Is this Mrs. Seivers ? " She answered 
 in the affirmative. I then asked her if they kept a hotel, 
 and she replied that they did not. I told her that I was a 
 stranger wishing to spend a few days in that neighbor- 
 hood, and would like to stay with them. She said they 
 were not prepared to keep travelers. I insisted upon 
 staying, and told her that any accommodations would 
 answer me. In the meantime her son came in, and I 
 saw that I was likely to fail in my efforts, when I made 
 the fact known that I was a son of Lewis Norton. I 
 needed no further passport, and a nice, clean room was 
 assigned me. On inquiry, I found that the former 
 house had been burned down and replaced by the pres- 
 ent smaller one; that old man Seivers and wife had both 
 been dead for many years, and that the old lady before 
 me was the wife of John Seivers, who was a young 
 married man when I left Lower Canada; that he also 
 was dead, after having raised a large family of children, 
 who were all married off and now had families of half- 
 grown Canadians in their turn. Our school-house was 
 near by and on the Seivers farm. I noticed that the 
 
■ Colonel L. A. Norton. 377 
 
 building looked smaller than when I went to school 
 there, and they informed me that it also had been 
 burned, and replaced by a smaller one. I may as well 
 say here, that the whole country for many miles has 
 been filled up by French people, the former inhabitants 
 having died or removed to some other parts; and that 
 everything is on the retrograde, it being a cold, rocky, 
 desolate clime. 
 
 After becoming domiciled in my temporary home, I 
 set out on foo.t to visit the old homestead. I well knew 
 every foot of the ground, and a fifteen minutes' walk 
 brought me to the corner of our old field; but to my 
 amazement I found the field a forest! It was covered 
 with a thick growth of cedars, six and eight inches in 
 diameter and from forty to fifty feet in height. I took 
 the second look at the old rock monument at the corner, 
 and satisfied myself that I was not mistaken as to local- 
 ity. The next search was for my father's cooper shop, 
 which used to stand close by. All traces of it were 
 gone, except a few foundation stones that marked the 
 spot where it had stood. I next pushed my way 
 through the cedar forest for the old house; but alas! the 
 house had not only disappeared, but all evidences that a 
 human habitation had ever been there. A stone quarry 
 had been opened precisely where the house had stood. 
 When a child I had set out an orchard of apples, which, 
 when we left, had grown to be quite respectable little 
 trees. I had since always thought I would like to revisit 
 the old orchard to see how it flourished, and my longings 
 were now to be gratified. But when I reached the lot, 
 not an apple tree was there, nor the slightest evidence 
 that there ever had been one planted on the ground. I 
 25 
 
378 Life and Adventures of 
 
 then went in search of the old spring, to get a drink 
 from the old fountain. But alas! no spring was to be 
 found. I knew its location, within a rod or two, but the 
 winter was breaking, and every little hole and hollow 
 being filled with water, it was impossible to distinguish 
 the spring from the pools of rain-water. 
 
 While I was meditating upon the general change, 
 mortified, sick, and dispirited to see all of my high hopes 
 and bright dreams of a pleasant visit to my old home 
 dashed to the earth, a stern-visaged, hard-faced old 
 woman made her appearance upon the scene, looking for 
 her sheep. She seemed to look upon me with surprise 
 and distrust. I stepped up to her and said, '' My good 
 woman, can you tell me who owns these premises?" 
 " 'Tis meself, shure, but me husband is over the hill 
 at the house beyont. I'll show you." I followed the 
 crone and found that the portion of the farm which 
 was a forest when I left was now cleared up, cultivated 
 and contained the residence of the family. At dark 
 I returned to my friend Seivers', with years of romance 
 and bright dreams dashed to the earth by an experience 
 of a couple of hours. 
 
 I wandered in the neighborhood of Norton Creek a 
 week before it was generally known who I was, and I 
 learned that all kinds of surmises and supicions had 
 been entertained as to who and what I was. I found 
 once in a while an old citizen who remembered our 
 family, but everything, on the face of nature was so 
 radically changed that I could not have recognized the 
 place had I been set down there without explanations. 
 The stream had been dammed below, entirely changing 
 its features; the big marsh — my old fishing ground 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 379 
 
 further up the stream — had been drained and was at this 
 time cultivated farms. And even the white sandstone 
 rocks had seemed to allow their faces to grow dark and 
 dirty. The whortleberry bushes had disappeared from 
 their seams, and the wintergreen was no longer to be 
 found. At the end of the week — the last of April — 
 we had a heavy snow-storm. I took a sleigh-ride of sev- 
 eral miles, with bells, robes, cold toes and fingers; with 
 ears tied up to keep them warm — in short, enjoyed all 
 the pleasures of a sleigh-ride in a Northern winter. 
 
 Coming to the conclusion that I had had enough of 
 my old Canada home, I began to think about emigrat- 
 ing again. I was told that I could take the stage and 
 go to St. Rama, whence I could go by rail to Montreal. 
 The stage passed Mr. Seivers' at about five o'clock in 
 the morning. I was accordingly up, dressed and ready 
 for the trip. The, "stage" came! I found that it con- 
 sisted of a one-horse buggy, with a lantern lashed on 
 the dash-board and a little French pony in the fills. As 
 it happened, it wasn't loaded; that is to say, the only 
 seat for a passenger was vacant, but the driver insisted 
 that he couldn't take me, owing to the condition of the 
 roads. I paid but little attention to his remonstrances, 
 piled in my valise and lunch-basket and directed him to 
 drive on. In course of time I reached St. Rama without 
 accident, took the cars and safely arrived at Montreal to 
 await the final breaking up of winter. 
 
380 Life and Adventures of 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 VISIT TO THE EAST — MONTREAL. 
 
 WELL, here I am in Montreal, one of the prettiest 
 cities in North America; and how Httle we 
 Americans know of it! It is the largest and most popu- 
 lous city, in fact the commercial metropolis, of British 
 North America. Situated upon an island at the base of 
 Mt. Royal, it occupies a very commanding position. 
 The island is from twenty-five to thirty miles long, by 
 ten or twelve broad. Montreal possesses all the advan- 
 tages both of an inland and a commercial city. It is 
 accessible to steamships and other vessels of three 
 thousand tons burden, and, commanding the trade of 
 the canals and lakes, its position with reference to Que- 
 bec, Ontario, the Great West, New York, Boston, Port- 
 land, Albany, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince 
 Edward Island, and many minor points, makes it, by 
 water and railroad communication, a great center and 
 commercial emporium. They have gone largely into 
 manufacturing in Montreal. The city was founded in 
 1642 and for many years bore the name of Ville Marie, 
 having been originally settled by the French, and for 
 a long time it was the head-quarters of the French 
 forces in Canada, but was surrendered to the English 
 in 1763. 
 
 I have not started out to write up the history of 
 Montreal, but cannot in justice dismiss the subject until 
 I have partially described two of the most magnificent 
 works of art upon the American continent, viz., Notre 
 Dame, and Victoria Bridge. Notre Dame, the parish 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 381 
 
 church, was commenced in 1823, and was fifteen years 
 in course of construction. The ground structure is 300 
 by 1 50 feet and is 260 feet from basement to the top of 
 the towers, which is reached by 356 steps. The struct- 
 ure is stone and its walls are of massive proportions. It 
 contains a bell, the third in size that was ever cast, 
 weighing 24,780 pounds and costing $25,000. The 
 church contains 1,500 pews. The building was con- 
 structed by one O'Donald, as architect and builder, at a 
 cost of $1,500,000. O'Donald was a Protestant, but in 
 after life embraced the Catholic faith. His remains now 
 lie under his structure in the church vault. From the 
 top of the towers of this church you have a magnificent 
 view of all the lower part of the city and the shores of 
 the St. Lawrence for miles. 
 
 The Victoria Bridge spans the St. Lawrence at 
 Montreal. The cost of this bridge was $6,250,000. It 
 contains 25,000 tons of stone and 7,500 tons of iron. 
 The iron superstructure is supported on twenty-four 
 piers and two abutments. The center span is 330 feet, and 
 there are twelve spans each side of the center, 242 feet 
 each; extreme length, including the abutments, 7,000 
 feet; height of the bridge above low water, sixty feet 
 in the center, descending towards each end at the rate 
 of one inch in 130 feet. The contents of the masonry 
 are 3,000,000 cubic feet; weight of iron in the tubes, 
 8,000 tons. The tubes through which the railroad trains 
 pass, are at the middle span twenty-two feet high and 
 sixteen feet wide, and at the extreme ends nineteen feet 
 high and sixteen feet wide. The total length from the 
 river banks is 10,284 feet, or a little less than two miles. 
 
 I shall not attempt to describe the public buildings, 
 
382 Life and Adventures of 
 
 many of which are perfect models of architectural 
 beauty, but will content myself by saying that there is 
 in Montreal a greater display of Italian marble, Scotch 
 granite, and Ohio sandstone than in any city I visited on 
 my trip. Montreal is a city of boundless wealth and 
 squalid misery; of rich clergy and poor laity; of silver- 
 mounted hacks and ragged beggars. No place in the 
 city is exempt from beggars. 
 
 Leaving Montreal by cars, we crossed Victoria Bridge 
 and took the railroad for St. John's, that being the point 
 where I expected to connect with the Vermont Central 
 road, on which my fare was paid to Boston, Massachu- 
 setts. I presented my ticket and the conductor refused 
 to recognize it, owing to the fact that it was but a branch 
 road of the Vermont Central and leased to outside 
 parties. I refused to pay and the conductor said he 
 would have to put me off I told him that was all right, 
 but that he must forcibly expel me from the cars; that 
 I shouldn't resist, but wished to reserve my legal rights. 
 He treated me very gentlemanly, but said that under 
 the rules he would have to put me off at the next station. 
 In the meantime he conversed with the Hon. M. Mower, 
 of the Canadian Parliament, in regard to the matter. 
 Mr. Mower admitted that the conductor's instructions 
 would require him to put me off, but he thought the 
 company would finally be compelled to transport me 
 over their road, and perhaps be mulcted in damages 
 for their refusal to take me through, and for expelling 
 me from the cars. Mr. Mower informed me that he was 
 personally acquainted with the conductor and knew him 
 to be an honorable man, etc. He also said that the 
 managing agent of the road was at the next regular 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 383 
 
 station, some twenty miles distant; that he also was 
 a fair-minded man, and that if I would pay my fare 
 under protest he would insure me a favorable considera- 
 tion of my case before the managing agent of the road; 
 so through his influence, I was prevailed upon to pay my 
 fare, under protest, to the main line of the road. On 
 our arrival I exhibited my through ticket to Boston and 
 a fair statement of the case was made, when the agent 
 directed the conductor to refund my money, as my 
 ticket called for my transportation over any part of the 
 road to the point of destination. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 VISIT TO THE EAST — BOSTON — THE HUDSON. 
 
 1HAD now crossed the Vermont line. We passed 
 along the foot of Lake Champlain, up Onion and 
 White Rivers, crossed the Green Mountains to the east 
 of the Camel's Back, crossed New Hampshire, passing 
 through Concord, Lowell, and many other places of note, 
 and reached Boston about eleven o'clock at night. As to 
 the country embraced in the trip from Montreal to Bos- 
 ton, it appeared that the inhabitants had first tried 
 agriculture, then grazing and stock-raising, and finally, 
 in many places, they were abandoning the soil to a second 
 growth of timber, and gathering themselves up into 
 manufacturing villages and cities, resorting to the 
 mechanical arts and manufacturing almost exclusively 
 for a living. They seemed to have come to the conclu- 
 sion that they could not compete with the more favored 
 portions of the United States in agricultural pursuits. 
 
384 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Hence we must not judge too harshly of the land of 
 basswood hams and wooden nutmegs. 
 
 My arrival at so late an hour in the night was the 
 most unfortunate of all the incidents attending my 
 advent in Boston. The next morning I sallied forth to 
 reconnoiter the city. Coming in so late I had not 
 observed any landmarks, but with a bold spirit of 
 adventure I pushed along through the labyrinth of build- 
 ings, without a blazed tree, chart, or compass, with the 
 intention of finding the docks, that I might get a view 
 of Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor, where there 
 was a great tea party about a century since. -A smart 
 walk of half an hour brought me — not to the docks, 
 but to the place from where I started. 
 
 Having procured fresh directions, I again started out 
 on my search. This time, after an hour's ramble, I 
 found myself at West End, instead of at the docks. 
 Here I made more inquiries, and among them I asked 
 whether there was any street or road that led out of 
 Boston except the railroad by which I entered the city. 
 I was told to go to Bowdoin Square, where I could gain 
 the information. I took the direction pointed out for 
 Bowdoin Square and followed the devious streets for 
 another half hour, but finding nothing that looked to 
 me like a square, and meeting a street-car, I jumped 
 aboard and asked the conductor where that car was 
 going. He informed me that it was going to Bowdoin 
 Square. This I thought was a point gained; but after 
 several twists and turns I came to the conclusion that I 
 was again duped, and that the car was returning- by 
 another route to the point where I had got on. I was 
 about leaving it for the purpose of throwing myself under 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 385 
 
 the protection of the police, when a gentleman on board 
 to whom I had disclosed my troubles (who, by the by, 
 was a Californian) told me to keep my seat, as the car 
 was really going to Bowdoin Square, and that we were 
 on one of the straightest streets in Boston. 
 
 In a short time we arrived at what I should call five 
 points, where all alighted from the car. I asked my 
 friend if this was what they called Bowdoin Square, and 
 he said it was. I was somewhat surprised, as I had 
 brought up at the same place three or four times in the 
 course of my ramble, but never would have taken it to 
 be a sgitare. In this strait I came to the conclusion 
 that money was no object, and asked my new California 
 acquaintance if he couldn't be induced for a compensa- 
 tion to act as my guide to aid me in getting out of the 
 city. In hopes of reaching his sympathy I told him 
 that I was a married man, had left a wife and several 
 small children in California, that I was their sole depend- 
 ence for a living, and if he left me I was satisfied that 
 I never again would clasp them to my bosom, but would 
 perish on the cow-paths of Boston in vain endeavors 
 to find my way once,more to the borders of civilization. 
 He being a true Californian, his sympathies were aroused 
 and he kindly offered me such assistance as he could 
 give; but he doubted his ability to act as a guide, for 
 want of experience, as he had been but two years in 
 Boston acting as delivery agent of an express company. 
 However, between my guide's experience and the street 
 railroads, I got along pretty well. We found Boston 
 Harbor, and in order to get a good view, ascended Bunker 
 Hill Monument, from which the harbor, bay, navy yard, 
 and much of the city are seen to a good advantage. 
 
386 Life and Adventures of 
 
 I don't propose to describe the monument, as every 
 school-child not only knows all about Bunker Hill Mon- 
 ument (which is not on Bunker Hill at all, by the way), 
 but everything else in and about Boston, and much that 
 never was there, for the innumerable presses of Boston, 
 continually harping upon its beauties, have made it 
 rather an ideal than a real city. They have told the 
 world not what it was in fact, but what their imaginations 
 picture it. In claiming that the picture of Boston is 
 generally overdrawn, do not understand me to say that 
 Boston is not a great city, and that there are not many 
 things in it worthy of admiration. But to return to 
 Bunker Hill Monument. It costs the visitor twenty 
 cents for admittance, and ten cents for a little "guide" 
 of two leaves about one and one-half by two inches, not 
 costing one-fourth of a cent each, making a charge of 
 thirty cents to enable an Englishman to see the place 
 where his ancestors were slain, or the American to see 
 the place where the immortal Warren and his com- 
 patriots fell. This fee must produce a revenue of more 
 than two hundred dollars per day. By what authority 
 is this toll demanded ? and to what fund do the proceeds 
 belong? If I mistake not, the ground was a gift to the 
 public, for the purpose to which it has been appropriated, 
 by tke Masonic fraternity, and the building fund, or the 
 larger portion thereof, was raised by public subscrip- 
 tion, the residue having been obtained through the in- 
 fluence of the ladies by subscription and other ways. 
 If I am mistaken in the above statement, I beg pardon; 
 if not, I reiterate the question. Who has a right to de- 
 mand a fee from the visitor, further than enough to pro- 
 vide a fund for keeping the monument and grounds in 
 proper repair? 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 387 
 
 From what I had read of Boston I had been led to 
 beHeve that I should find a city of granite, marble, and 
 brick, but, on the contrary, I found more common 
 wooden structures than in any city of its population 
 through which I passed on my journey. Boston Com- 
 mon is a very pretty place, though much smaller than I 
 had expected to find it. It was pretty in its natural 
 state and has been much beautified by art. Connected 
 as it is with the National Gardens, it makes a very fine 
 pleasure-ground; but were I the manager of the premises, 
 I should either remove the tombs which it contains or 
 make a cemetery of the whole. 
 
 But there is one thing for which I give the Bostonians 
 credit: instead of paying men to cut down, dig up, and 
 destroy the old forest trees on the public grounds (as our 
 wise men of Healdsburg did), they have carefully pro- 
 tected, cultivated, hooped, and canvased the old mon- 
 archs of the forest, preserving them as landmarks of 
 early days. Faneuil Hall still stands, well preserved. 
 As unpretending as its appearance may seem, it was the 
 nest where was hatched the bird that wrested a people's 
 rights from the grip of the British Lion. The State 
 House stands fronting the Common, and is a fine struct- 
 ure. The legislature was in session, and the Rotunda 
 was closed to visitors, but by the kindness of the ser- 
 geant-at-arms I was permitted to visit it. He also fur- 
 nished me a guide. From the top of this building I 
 had a fine view of the city and its surroundings, and my 
 guide pointed out many objects of interest. 
 
 From Boston I went west by the way of Springfield 
 to Albany, New York. Along that route I found, as a 
 general thing, that agriculture, as in New Hampshire 
 
388 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and parts of Vermont, was being neglected, while me- 
 chanical arts and manufactures were carried on with 
 great spirit and seeming success. I took this route for a 
 threefold purpose, viz., to see the famous Hoosac Tun- 
 nel, visit my old friends, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Dickenson, 
 and to descend the Hudson by a day boat to enjoy the 
 beauties of its far-famed scenery. The two former ob- 
 jects were abandoned, owing to the incompleted state of 
 the tunnel. I arrived at Albany about one o'clock in 
 the morning, paid a hackman a dollar to take me half 
 a square to a hotel, and awoke the next morning to find 
 myself on the shore of the Hudson for the first time in 
 my life. 
 
 Albany, the capital of New York State, is a flourish- 
 ing city at the head of navigation on the Hudson River. 
 It is the oldest city in the United States. The first 
 white man who ever visited the spot where Albany now 
 stands was Hendricke Chrystance, who was sent up 
 the river to explore by Henry Hudson, in 1610. Be- 
 tween the Indians and the Dutch the place boasted a 
 multitude of names, but in the year 1664, it was named 
 Albany, in honor of James, Duke of York and Albany, 
 who afterwards ascended the English throne as James 
 II. The town v/as incorporated as a city in 1686, under 
 Governor Dougan's administration. A portion of the 
 town is situated upon the flat running to the water's 
 edge and a portion on the bank, which rises about one 
 hundred and fifty feet above the water. 
 
 The present capitol is situated at the head of State 
 Street, on a fine elevation overlooking the whole of the 
 lower portion of the city. This building was erected 
 about 1835, and is now (1874^ being eclipsed by a more 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. . 889 
 
 imposing structure, which is well advanced towards com- 
 pletion — the " new capitol." At this place the Hudson 
 is spanned by two fine bridges, with draws to allow water 
 craft to pass, although Albany may really be considered 
 at the head of navigation of the Hudson. I had some 
 difficulty in finding a steamer running through to New 
 York, as the summer boats were not yet making their 
 regular trips; but perseverance at length crowned my 
 efforts with success, and I .was soon floating down that 
 lovely river. 
 
 A Hogg, a Scott, a Burns, and others, in their brill- 
 iant productions with pen and pencil, have made classic 
 each tiny stream, every heath-clad hill and shady glen 
 of Scotland, while farther south the early poets have sung 
 the praises of the Po, the Rhine, Tiber, and Danube, 
 until they have become as familiar to the present gen- 
 eration as household words; but on visiting those scenes 
 the traveler frequently finds that the genius of the poet 
 has overdone his subject. But here the case is completely 
 reversed; nature has seemed to mock the genius of man; 
 for no human pencil can paint, nor the pen of mortal 
 describe, the beauties of the Hudson. And where an 
 Irving, a Willis, a Clark, and a Drake have failed, with 
 their descriptive powers, to paint this lovely panorama 
 of nature, I should not attempt it. Lovers of the beau- 
 tiful seek the banks of the Hudson that their senses 
 may drink in their beauties, but the tongue can never 
 express them. We passed the magnificent residences of 
 Church, the great artist, Longfellow, Washington Irving, 
 and many others whose fame is world-wide. 
 
 The banks of the Hudson are completely lined with 
 cities, villages, and lovely country seats. Prominent 
 
390 Life and Adventures of 
 
 among the former are Hudson, Catskill, Poughkeepsie, 
 and Newport. It is hard to say which is to be most 
 admired, the lovely green slopes and elevated banks 
 above the highlands or the wild mountain scenery that 
 the highlands present. We also passed West Point, the 
 seat of our National Military School, which is on a 
 beautiful site. It had been my determination on leaving 
 home to visit my old friend, Josiah Hasbrouck, at New 
 Paltz, but I had become so bewildered and lost in the 
 many objects of interest that, before I was aware of the 
 fact, I had passed the landing many miles, and was con- 
 sequently denied a visit from which I had anticipated 
 much pleasure. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 VISIT TO THE EAST — NEW YORK. 
 
 ON the second day after leaving Albany we landed on 
 Manhattan Island, which contains the great store- 
 house of the world, and I was soon lost in the swaying 
 and jostling masses on Broadway. I put up at the St. 
 Nicholas, and was not long in finding out that in New 
 York style costs as much as living. 
 
 The next morning after breakfast I thought I would 
 take a "promenade down Broadway" and call upon my 
 banker. I had not proceeded on my walk more than 
 two blocks when I was accosted by a gentleman who 
 evinced great pleasure in meeting me. He rushed up 
 furiously, seized me by the hand and exclaimed, " How 
 are you, Mr. Jones," or some other name which I do not 
 now remember. I remarked to him that he had proba- 
 bly mistaken his man; that that was not my name, and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 391 
 
 further, that I didn't recognize him. " Is it possible that 
 I am mistaken," he exclaimed; "is not your name so 
 and so, and do you not live in Cincinnati? " I assured 
 him that he hadn't guessed my name, and that I didn't 
 live in Cincinnati. He begged my pardon, but remarked 
 that I must be some near kin to his friend, as he never 
 saw two men look so much alike. "My name is Jonas 
 Collins," he added; " what may be your name? " I told 
 him that was the " old thing," and that he'd better be off. 
 He mingled with the crowd and was soon lost to my 
 
 gaze. 
 
 I pursued my way, chuckling to myself on his dis- 
 comfiture, as I had from my infancy heard of New 
 York sharps, and longed for the day when they would 
 have an opportunity to try their skill on me, believing 
 that there was one man at least that was invulnerable to 
 their arts. I walked along in a very happy frame of 
 mind, exulting over my victory, when a young man of 
 prepossessing appearance and manner rushed from the 
 throng of pedestrians and exclaimed, " Captain Norton, 
 how do you do ! when did you leave San Francisco ? " 
 I took his extended hand, but told him that he had the 
 advantage of me; that I failed to remember him- 
 "Why," said he, "don't you know David, of the West- 
 ern Union Telegraph Company, of San Francisco?" 
 I replied that I didn't remember him; that there were 
 about a dozen of the boys and I should fail to recognize 
 any one of them. He said he knew me very well, hav- 
 ing met me often in San Francisco. 1 told him that I was 
 pleased to meet him, or, in fact, anyone from California. 
 He said that he had just got in the night before; was 
 putting up at the Astor House, and asked me where I 
 
392 Life and Adventures of 
 
 was going. I told him I was going down to the First 
 National Bank to draw some money. He then informed 
 me that he had come on to New York for the purpose 
 of settling a little matter; that his grandmother had died 
 and left him a small annuity; that he had bought" a 
 ticketNn a lottery and was informed that he had drawn 
 a prize; that he was hunting the place to draw his money; 
 that it was somewhere near where we then were (he 
 thought it was just around the corner), and if I would 
 accompany him he would go to the bank with me afier 
 he had got his money. I consented to do so, and we 
 soon found the number. 
 
 We were admitted by a negro usher into the presence 
 of the lottery man^ who was seated behind a long table. 
 He arose and David presented his ticket. The man 
 remarked, " I suppose you think you have drawn a fort- 
 une." The young man replied that he didn't know how 
 much he had drawn. The lottery man said, " You have 
 drawn $401," and handed the young man eight fifty-dollar 
 greenbacks and a ticket, saying, as he did so, " This 
 dollar ticket is all the percentage that the company has 
 in this matter, and that ticket will be drawn at the large 
 hall on Tuesday next." " I shall not be here on Tues- 
 day," said David, " I am going right back to California." 
 I said, "What do you care about the dollar ticket?" and 
 he answered that he would like to know whether it drew 
 anything or not. The lottery man suggested, " Perhaps 
 your friend will be here." David turned to me and asked 
 if I would be in the city on Tuesday. I replied that I 
 should, and would see if his ticket drew anything, and 
 report on my return to San Francisco. 
 
 But the lottery man remarked that he had the scheme 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 393 
 
 of the draW*in^ and that if David preferred, he could 
 have a private drawing then and there; that they did so 
 sometimes where men were going to leave the city. 
 After an exhibition of his scheme, it was agreed that 
 David should avail himself of the private drawing. 
 Among other things it was explained that where the 
 party throwing the dice threw any number other than a 
 prize number, it was called a " star," and the party 
 neither won nor lost, but would be compelled to repre- 
 sent the ticket by putting up a dollar first, and then 
 doubling the sum as often as he threw "stars," and that 
 the money so put up was not forfeited, but at the end of 
 seven throws the party putting up took all of his money 
 so put up, together with hfs prize in case the ticket won. 
 David threw a "star" and ''antied" his dollar; the sec- 
 ond throw was the same and he put up two dollars; the 
 third throw was another " star," and he put up four dol- 
 lars. Each time that David put up the engineer of the 
 game gave him a ticket. After the third throw David 
 remarked that he seemed to be out of luck and asked 
 me to throw for him. I did so and won eight dollars. 
 He seemed pleased and requested me to throw again, he 
 putting up eight dollars to " represent." I threw again, 
 and won four hundred dollars. The money was paid, 
 two hundred dollars on each ticket, to abide the issue of 
 the throwing; but we were informed that we must come 
 up twenty dollars apiece. I was inclined to draw out, 
 but David offered to put up for me, assuring me that he 
 " saw into it," and that under any contingency we were 
 to take down the money that we " represented " with. I 
 told him that I couldn't permit him to put up for me, so 
 I put up the twenty dollars. I threw and it was a " star." 
 26 
 
39+ Life and Adventures of 
 
 I -then proposed to the lottery man to let him keep the 
 two hundred which he claimed I had won and I would 
 take down the twenty dollars and quit. To this he 
 wouldn't agree, and said that in case I quit I forfeited 
 the twenty dollars. I then thought I began to "see 
 into it" myself, so I put up twenty dollars more and 
 again threw a " star." It then required eighty dollars. 
 I laid down a one hundred dollar greenback and threw 
 — still another " star." The lottery man said that it now 
 required five hundred dollars to " represent," and went 
 on to explain. I told him it was unnecessary, as I un- 
 derstood it; that I had the change. I took up the one 
 hundred dollar bill and carefully laid it in my pocket- 
 book, where I had laid the tWo twenties before it, and 
 put my hand in my hip pocket for the "change." 
 Drawing out a six-shooter, I cocked it and covered the 
 two worthies, informing them that if they moved a 
 muscle I would blow the top of their heads off. The 
 lottery sharp cried out, '* Let me explain I " but I told 
 him that it was my turn to explain; that they had 
 simply mistaken their man ; that they had got me 
 into their den to rob me, but hawks as they were 
 their claws were too short to get away with a California 
 chicken. Again admonishing them to keep their seats, 
 for if they moved it would make me very nervous and 
 I couldn't be responsible for what might happen, I kept 
 them covered, backed to the door, bade them good- 
 morning and left, having learned that I was not so much 
 smarter than the rest of the human family as I had 
 thought myself, and that I, too, could be taken in by a 
 Broadway confidence man. 
 
 It was sometime before I could really realize that I 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 395 
 
 was treading the streets of a city of a million inhabitants, 
 the pride of our Repubh'c and the admiration of the 
 world. In 1656, New York (then New Amsterdam) 
 contained but 1,000 inhabitants; in 1750 it contained 
 10,000, and the entire colonies but 1,000,000; in 1800 
 the city contained 60,489; in 1840, 312,706, and now (in 
 1874), it is estimated that it contains over one million. 
 The island upon which New York is situated has an 
 area of but 21 J^ square miles, or 13,600 acres. As pre- 
 viously stated, this city is little less than a mammoth 
 store-house, the people locking up at night and leaving 
 for their residences in the surrounding country, some 
 nearly thirty miles distant, and returning to business in 
 the- morning. It is utterly impossible for any one to 
 appreciate the extent of the New York trade without 
 seeing it, and then the mind can scarcely comprehend it. 
 Through the kindness of the manager of that mam- 
 moth establishment, I was shown through Stewart's 
 wholesale house, from basement to uppermost room. I 
 think it is six stories high, with a large elevator to hoist 
 up and let down customers. The retail store covers an 
 entire block, and I believe the wholesale house does also 
 — at any rate' it is very large. One floor is filled with 
 domestics, another with prints, another with woolen 
 fabrics, carpets, etc., another with silks, fancy goods, etc. 
 Mr. Stewart consumes the entire product of fourteen 
 large factories of cotton fabrics. When I was there the 
 store contained between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000 
 worth of goods; so I was informed by the foreman. I 
 next visited the retail store, which is six stories high, 
 exclusive of the basement, and has street entrances on 
 all- four sides. I do not know how to make one under- 
 
S96 Life and Adventures of 
 
 stand its magnitude better than by saying that the pay- 
 roll shows over 2,000 clerks in the one store, and I think, 
 at a reasonable estimate, there were at least 8,000 people 
 in the store when I was there. 
 
 I next visited the gold rooms on Wall Street, to see 
 the "bulls" and "bears" fight, and to me it was a very 
 crreat curiosity. In fact, after having visited as many 
 lunatic asylums as I have, had I been set down in the 
 gallery blindfolded, and had the bandage removed from 
 miy eyes, I should have taken them for a set of maniacs, 
 ;and should have fully expected to see them pitch into 
 one another and fight to the death. Such shouting, 
 screaming, shaking of fists and fingers, jostling and 
 pushing, I never before saw without its ending in a fight. 
 I was asked by a friend who sat at my side, what I 
 thought of it. I told him if they were in California a 
 commission of lunacy would be issued against the whole 
 -crowd and they would be landed in the Stockton asylum 
 in less than twenty-four hours. Nevertheless there w^as 
 method in their madness, for they seemed to understand 
 eone another perfectly. 
 
 Jn my first day's exploration of New York, I owed 
 •much to Mr. Steinhart, of the firm of Dinkelspiel, 
 Bloom & Co. I had expected to meet my old friend, 
 Joseph Bloom, in New York, but in this I was disap- 
 pointed, as he had left for California two days before my 
 arrival; but Mr. Steinhart was master of the situation, 
 and rendered me all the assistance that I could have 
 asked of my friend, for which I felt very grateful. 
 Among the public grounds which I visited in New York 
 — all of which are very beautiful — were Central Park, 
 Union Square, Madison Square, Steuben Square, and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. SQT 
 
 Castle Garden. I spent the most of two days in Cen- 
 tral Park. It is not only extensive in its dimensions^ 
 but it is lovely in the extreme. Art has made it what 
 it is, for to divest it of the twelve million dollars ex- 
 pended on it, it would be rather a sorry place. But the 
 New Yorkers seemed to go on the principle that the 
 more crooked the stick the finer the cane, and in Central 
 Park they have verified the saying. Where the lake is 
 (inside the park) was once a low marsh, covered with 
 such a thick growth of brambles, rank grass, and weeds 
 as to be an almost impenetrable jungle, a secure hiding- 
 place for wild beasts and bad men. At the northeast 
 end of the lake is the cave. This is a small concern, 
 but I was informed by J. H. Parsell, a native of New 
 York, that before the ground was purchased by the cit>r 
 it was the rendezvous of a desperate gang of robbers 
 who infested the city and completely baffled the police. 
 Long and fruitless were the searches for the hiding-place 
 of the outlaws and their plunder; but when the city 
 cleared off the ground, they found the cave, which turned 
 out to be the robbers' den, as many evidences were left 
 of the fact in the way of remnants of stolen goods, etc. 
 Croton River has been a God-send to New York City. 
 I do not know what they would have done without it. 
 That stream has been brought into New York by canals 
 and aqueducts, and is now emptied into what is known 
 as the old and new Croton Lakes, both of which are 
 artificial excavations. I could not learn the area of 
 either, but they are both large ponds of water and are 
 indispensable to the comfort and beauty of the city. 1 
 shall attempt no description of buildings, further than to 
 say that the new post-office is of most ample proportions^ 
 
398 Life and Adventures of 
 
 and overtops all its surroundings. Its dome may be 
 seen from all surrounding elevations. The two abut- 
 ments, or towers, of the East River bridge look like the 
 Colossus of Rhodes broken in two near his hipSj'and his 
 legs left standing, one on Manhattan and the other on 
 Long Island. 
 
 Among the curiosities that I visited in New York (for 
 I can only mention some of the most prominent) was 
 Barnum's hippodrome, which was the wonder of the day- 
 It had been open but three weeks and I was informed 
 by good authority that it had taken in over sixty thou- 
 sand dollars. It had the effect of closing the theaters 
 and other places of amusement. California's favorite? 
 McCullough, was then in New York, performing with- 
 scarcely a corporal's guard attending. The hippodrome 
 is an immense institution; it is to ordinary circuses and 
 theaters what a steam locomotive would be to a hand- 
 cart. 
 
 At the end of four days I had visited various points 
 of interest in New York, from Castle Garden to Sixt}^- 
 fifth Street, north and south, and from North to East 
 Rivers, east and west; had made the discovery that 
 Manhattan Island was divided up into one hundred and 
 for^y-one thousand, four hundred and eighty-six lots, and 
 that of that number, about sixty-two thousand contained 
 buildings of some kind. I then turned my attention to 
 the surroundings of New York. Sunday morning, in- 
 stead of going to Brooklyn to hear Beecher explain the 
 m st approved mode of " nest hiding," I took the boat 
 for Staten Island. I had no acquaintance on the boat, 
 and having met with so many rebuffs from men of whom 
 I had made inquiries, by their going down into their 
 
I 
 
 Colonel L. A. Norton. 399 
 
 shells like so many clams, it was with a good deal of 
 diffidence that I approached a gentleman and made 
 some inquiries in regard to Governor's Island and the 
 fortifications in the bay. To my grateful surprise I not 
 only got a civil answer,but found the gentleman ready and 
 even anxious to give me all the information in his power 
 (and, by the way, he was well informed). He pointed- 
 out every object of interest on our route to Staten Island 
 — the numerous store-houses, wharves, fortifications, and 
 public buildings. 
 
 On further inquiry I found that my new friend (for 
 such he proved himself), was John H. Parsell, of the 
 New York City Post-office. From this urbane gentle- 
 man I obtained more valuable information in regard to 
 New York and its surroundings than from any other 
 source. On our return he accompanied me into the city, 
 pointed out many relics of Revolutionary days, in- 
 structed me in my future researches, and gracefully 
 extended me all those delicate attentions that can only 
 be found in a heart of refinement and a mind of enlarged 
 views. He even followed me with his kindness, 
 promptly forwarding all my letters after I had left New 
 York. 
 
 I visited in detail, Jersey City, Hoboken, Williams- 
 burg, Hell Gate, Blackwell's Island, Governor's Island, 
 and Brooklyn. The last named is one of New York's 
 lodging-houses. Brooklyn is a large city, containing 
 about five hundred thousand inhabitants, and is famous 
 for its fine avenues, public grounds, and the far-famed 
 Greenwood Cemetery. The highest point of Greenwood 
 commands a pretty view of Governor's Island and the 
 southern portion of New York. I had heard so much 
 
400 Life and Adventures of 
 
 about the beauties of Greenwood Cemetery that I had 
 supposed it must be a pretty place by nature and exten- 
 sively beautified by art; but on visiting it I found that 
 naturally it was one of the roughest places imaginable, 
 but I honor the judgment of the parties in selecting it as 
 a cemetery, as it never could have been made worth a 
 cent for anything else. So far as art goes, she has at- 
 tempted to make up for the defects of nature by expend- 
 ing many millions of dollars — not to tell what departed 
 friends were, but what they ought to have been. 
 
 Prospect Park is a lovely place from its natural beau- 
 ties, and its elevated position gives a perfect view of the 
 eastern slope of Long Lsland, Coney Island, and the 
 surrounding country. The Brooklyn people are firmly 
 in the faith that in a few years it will eclipse Central 
 Park. Taking New York and its surroundings as a 
 whole, the American people may justly be proud of the 
 great metropolis. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 VISIT TO THE EAST — PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE. 
 
 AFTER having spent eight days in New York, and 
 familiarized myself with the city, and having visited 
 both Barnum's great hippodrome and the old Bowery 
 theater, besides various works of art and many other 
 places of interest, I resumed my journey, passing through 
 New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, my 
 objective point being Washington. The route lay 
 through an undulating country, showing great thrift in 
 an agricultural point of view. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 401 
 
 We rushed on "o'er river, plain, and hill," until we 
 reached Philadelphia — the "Quaker City." It is situated 
 on the Delaware River, a short distance above the bay 
 of the same name. The selection of the town site gives 
 evidence of good taste, as it is located in the midst of a 
 rich agricultural district and commands superior advan- 
 tages as a seaport. There are many historic memories 
 that cling to the old town, and I regretted that I had no 
 more time to spend there. I was much disappointed in 
 not finding my old friend, General Patterson, who was 
 out of town. The city extends along the Delaware 
 River from five to six miles and extends west to and 
 beyond the Schuylkill River. It is the second city in 
 population in the United States, containing some seven 
 hundred thousand inhabitants. Though it is about 
 ninety-six miles from the ocean, by the river, the tide 
 flows some distance above the city. The soil in and 
 about the city is generally of a gravelly character, yet 
 there are some bold rocks in the immediate vicinity. 
 The old State House (now Independence Hall) is still 
 standing and well preserved. The old bell that first 
 rang out the joyful notes of the birth of the American 
 Republic still has a tongue to speak. It was in this hall 
 that the Declaration of Independence was signed, and it 
 was also the nation's capitol, with a slight intermission, 
 up to 1 800, when the capital was removed to Washington. 
 The old capitol stands near the center of the city, and 
 Philadelphia may justly be proud of her relic of conti- 
 nental days. 
 
 At Philadelphia the water off the pier-heads is from 
 forty to fifty feet deep, and the shoatest place on the bar 
 below the city is nineteen feet at low tide, which allows 
 
402 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ships of the largest tonnage to safely approach their 
 docks, giving the city both a domestic and foreign trade. 
 The streets are all of reasonable width, and some of 
 them are very wide and beautiful. Broad Street, I be- 
 lieve, is one hundred and thirteen feet in width. The 
 original idea of William Penn was carried out and the 
 streets of the additions, like those of the first survey, 
 cross each other at right angles. The Schuylkill Mount- 
 ains (we would call them foot-hills here) approach very 
 near to the c-ity. Among other things, Philadelphia can 
 boast no less than seven squares or parks, ranging from 
 thirty-five acres downwards; and many of them are very 
 beautifully ornamented. I learned for the first time that 
 Philadelphia was the last resting-place of Benjamin 
 Franklin, America's great statesman and philosopher. 
 His grave is in the cemetery at Christ's Church, and is 
 quite unpretending when compared with many in Green- 
 wood Cemetery whose inmates are only known by the 
 amount of money expended over their remains. 
 
 Girard College is a grand institution, and some of its 
 regulations coincide with my notions. One is that when 
 the student leaves college he must be bound out to learn 
 some useful trade or profession. The structure is of 
 enormous proportions. The building alone was erected 
 at a cost of over two million dollars, together with an 
 immense outlay of money on the surroundings and fixt- 
 ures, with a large fund to run the institution. All tui- 
 tion there is free. 
 
 Another great beauty of Philadelphia is its fine 
 water works. Though it has no Croton River, or 
 stream that can be "brought on a sufficient elevation to 
 water the city, yet I have hardly found a city better sup- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 403 
 
 plied with water; and this is all accomplished by steam 
 power. The largest among the water works is the 
 Farmington works. The water is elevated ninety-two 
 feet, into a large reservoir, or basin, fr.m whence it is 
 conducted through pipes into every part of the city. 
 Penn, after receiving his grant from Charles II. and 
 sending a colony ahead, came to America in 1682, and 
 no reflective mind can visit Philadelphia without coming 
 to the conclusion that the man who could enter a new 
 and wilderness country and use the judgment that he 
 did in founding and laying out a city, was competent to 
 rule an empire. The old Dutch stock is yet to be found 
 in Pennsylvania, and many Quakers in Philadelphia, 
 although they seem to have outlived their early preju- 
 dices, and morj closely adapt themselves to present cus- 
 toms. 
 
 The whole route from Philadelphia to Baltimore 
 presents to the traveler a bright and lively picture. The 
 soil seems to be generally productive and the whole line 
 of road is studded with fine buildings, orchards, lawns, 
 parks, and all the conveniences that should surround 
 happy homes. On arriving at the depot I could under- 
 stand what to me before was a mystery; that is, how 
 it was possible for the Baltimoreans to so seriously annoy 
 the Massachusetts Regiment in the cars while passing 
 through that city at the commencement of the Rebellion. 
 I found that the locomotive was detached and a large 
 number of horses hitched to the cars to draw them up 
 a steep incline, about a mile and a half, to the second 
 depot. Hence the opportunity for the prolonged attacks 
 with paving-stones and brickbats. This route is still 
 adhered to by the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. Al- 
 
404 Life and Adventures of 
 
 though the grade seems steep, I think it might be trav- 
 eled by steam power, but a city ordinance, I understand^ 
 forbids it. The Baltimore and Ohio road passes through 
 a tunnel under the city. 
 
 Baltimore claims to be the third city in point of 
 population in the United States. Such zvas undoubtedly 
 the case, but I do not think the claim well founded at 
 the present time, as the whole population cannot exceed 
 four hundred and fifty thousand. The location of the 
 city is a pleasant one. It is situated upon an arm of the 
 Patapsco River on sloping ground, gently rising from the 
 water to an elevation, at the highest point, of perhaps 
 one hundred feet. It is on tide water and, like Philadel- 
 phia, has a large shipping trade. There is considerable 
 manufacturing at Baltimore, and the shell-fish trade is 
 conducted with greater vigor and success than in any 
 city of the Union. There are piles of oyster shells in 
 various parts of the city that in height and extent would 
 rival the famous Pyramid of Cholula. The city is one 
 vast pile of brick and mortar. Here are the finest pressed 
 brick I ever saw. 
 
 I can say but little of the public buildings, as T could 
 not afford the time to make a general survey of the city, 
 although there were two structures that came particu- 
 larly under my notice. One was Washington's Monu- 
 ment and the other the Vernon Church. They are both 
 situated on a commanding eminence, and from the top 
 of the monument you have a beautiful view of both the 
 city and harbor. The monument is round, one hundred 
 and eighty feet in height, built of granite with a colossal 
 statue of Washington on top. The Vernon Church 
 (Episcopal) is the prettiest thing of the kind I ever saw. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 405 
 
 It is built in the Gothic style, small and compact; its 
 colorings are lively and tastefully arranged, and every- 
 thing about it presents an unusually pleasing aspect; so 
 much so that no person of ordinary observation could 
 pass it without being attracted by its beauties. The city 
 hall is a noble building of white marble; but I did not 
 enter it, and consequently had to judge from exterior 
 appearances. My time was up, the whistle blew, and I 
 was soon on board the cars and rapidly moving over the 
 country that divides Baltimore and Washington, arriving 
 at the latter place about six o'clock in the evening. 
 
 In penning this I am not unmindful that it must meet 
 the eye of many who have visited our national capital, 
 among whom may be some who hold different views of 
 Washington City from mine; but I always exercise the 
 right of seeing with my own eyes, and I give my own 
 estimates of men and manners. When I arrived at my 
 hotel (Willard's) I was soon surrounded by darkey por- 
 ters who vied with each other to see who should get my 
 luggage and quarter. My experience had been, during 
 the whole trip, that if a man didn't make up his mind 
 to bleed freely, he had better dodge first-class hotels. 
 The one who takes your valise expects his quarter; the 
 one who brushes your dusty back counts on a "piece;" 
 the one who takes your soiled linen to the laundry looks 
 for his fee, and the one who retui ns it expects you to 
 "see" him; you ring for a pitcher of ice-water and it 
 costs you some fractional currency; the hand that man- 
 ages the elevator becomes very sore unless it receives a 
 "shin plaster;" the waiter at table cannot hear or under- 
 stand your order unless you open his understanding by 
 opening your purse — in a word, you must subsidize 
 
406 Life and Adventures of 
 
 every lackey that comes in contact with you, or you are 
 looked upon as a cipher. But I could not learn whether 
 subsidies were first introduced into Washington by 
 negro servants or Government officials. 
 
 Montreal, New York, and Washington are, in my 
 estimation, the three prettiest cities that I visited. They 
 show more taste and architectural beauty, with wide 
 streets and white walls, less filth and more life, without 
 that somber appearance that characterizes many cities 
 of our Union. I had often heard Baltimore praised for 
 its pretty women, but I saw none there. At the time I 
 could not account for it, but on arriving at Washington 
 the mystery was solved; for when I saw the array of 
 beauty there I came to the conclusion that the pretty 
 women had all moved to Washington during the ses- 
 sion of Congress. 
 
 After dinner I ventured out into the strange city. It 
 was a clear, pleasant night, with brilliant moon, which 
 made it nearly as light as day. I looked up the long 
 avenue to Capitol Hill, and there before me, like a spec- 
 ter in white, stood the national capitol, with its lofty 
 dome extending its dark shadow along the background, 
 resembling a stern warrior posted as a sentinel, with his 
 plume unstirred by a single breeze, keeping his night 
 watch over that lovely city lying below, which was lit 
 up by thousands of gas jets, and mirth and pleasure 
 held their revels. Government officials, clerks, and em- 
 ployes have completed their labors for the day and are 
 now out in force. Gray-headed statesmen, pleasure 
 seekers, and gallants are now to be seen threading their 
 way through the beautiful grounds and parks, escorting 
 the softer sex of all ages and conditions, ranging from 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 407 
 
 the most transcendent beauty down to mere bundles of 
 paint and powder. Some are seated in retired nooks 
 beneath lovely green shades, where the moonbeams 
 never stray. Near a babbling fountain, where the voice 
 is almost drowned by the sound of many waters, may 
 be seen sighing lovers pouring their plaints into ears of 
 willing listeners. In these public grounds there are 
 lovely walks for the pedestrian, drives for those who 
 cannot afford to walk, seats for those who cannot 'stand, 
 shade for the retiring, and lights for the student. 
 
 "For oh! if there be an Elysium on earth, 
 It is this, it is this." 
 
 The public buildings in Washington are all white. 
 The capitol, post-office department, and some others 
 are at the east end of the city, while the President's 
 mansion and the remainder of the public buildings are 
 at the west end, near the Potomac River. Millions 
 upon millions of public money have been expended to 
 make Washington what it is; but this is as it should' be; 
 we have a national reputation to sustain, and how could 
 it better be done than by beautifying our capital and 
 grounds. 
 
 I cannot convince myself that the site for the Wash- 
 ington monument was wisely chosen. It is situated 
 upon a point (once an island) commanding an exten- 
 sive view of the Potomac River and western shore ; but 
 the ground where the monument stands is so much 
 lower than the capitol grounds and those of the other 
 public buildings that the monument, from a land view, 
 is entirely dwarfed when compared with its surround- 
 ings. The monument is an imposing structure. Wash- 
 
408 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ington City would be admired in any country for 
 its beautiful streets and avenues, had it no other attrac- 
 tions. There is a large negro population, though from 
 their servile position they attract but little notice. 
 
 The next morning I called on my friends J. K. Lut- 
 trell and Frank Page, both faithful representatives of 
 our State in Congress. I was much annoyed to learn 
 that they were not friends, not even on speaking terms, 
 and that the subject of their disagreement was such 
 that I could offer no mediation ; and this was rendered 
 still more vexatious to me, as I found them both ap- 
 parently laboring faithfully (but each in his own way) 
 for the interests of their constituency. Mr. Page was 
 domiciled at Washington, had his family with him, his 
 own house, carriage and complete outfit for driving and 
 entertaining friends and guests. In calling at his house 
 I was made to feel as though I was once more among 
 friends. As to the quarters of Luttrell, they seemed 
 unpretending and looked more like the workshop of 
 the laborious student and statesman than a hall of 
 pleasure ; and I was not long in finding out that he was 
 a general favorite in Congress, and that the defeat of 
 many of his prominent measures for California was nei- 
 ther owing to his want of perseverance or popularity, 
 but was rather owing to a combination in the East 
 against the entire delegation from the Pacific slope. 
 Luttrell seemed to know everybody and perfectly con- 
 fused me with introductions to notable characters whom 
 I could not describe were I disposed to make the 
 attempt. 
 
 I had long had a desire to see Gen. Ben Butler, 
 and it was now gratified. He was quietly listening to 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 409 
 
 the debate, and looked as placid and innocent as a 
 child. I was told by those who know him that he is 
 one of the most affable and gentlemanly members of 
 our national legislature. I had never supposed that 
 there were a great many listeners to Congressional 
 speeches, unless upon great occasions, though I had 
 never thought that there was such a scanty auditory as 
 I found, nor that men would talk for hours to reporters 
 and bare walls. Upon expressing my surprise, I was 
 informed by an old Congressman that those speeches 
 were not made for members, but for the constituents at 
 home. 
 
 I saw the negro orator, Fred Douglass. I should 
 suppose from his complexion, that he probably is a 
 quadroon and that he owes his intelligence to white an- 
 cestors; at least, he has more ability than full-blooded 
 negroes ever fall heir to. His head is as white as a 
 'sheet, and age seems to be telling upon him. I also 
 met Gen. J. W. Denver, an old Californian, who told 
 me that he was practicing law in Ohio. Senator Cole 
 was also at the capitol, looking as though he was very 
 much at home in its halls. But enough of this, for I 
 met no one in Washington unknown to fame — even 
 Grant is known throughout the land — and they are all 
 "written up" by more able pens than mine, and as this 
 is a simple story of a traveler I leave biography to 
 others. 
 
 From the time I left home it had been my intention 
 to visit Mount Vernon. I accordingly took passage on 
 a steamer that made daily trips to that sacred place. 
 I believe we started about seven o'clock in the morning 
 and returned at four in the afternoon, and that the dis- 
 27 
 
410 Life and Adventures of 
 
 tance is about twenty-five or thirty miles from Wash- 
 ington. It was a lovely morning as we steamed down 
 that wide and beautiful river. There was not a ripple 
 on the water and it reflected objects from its smooth 
 surface with all the truthfulness of a mirror. We swept 
 down past Alexandria and numerous fortifications on 
 either shore, and in due time landed at Mount Vernon. 
 A beautiful custom here strikes the visitor. Every 
 steamer that passes down the river commences tolling 
 its bell before reaching Washington's burial place, and 
 continues the solemn tolling until the vessel has passed 
 the spot. Mount Vernon is on the west bank of the 
 Potomac, on a high commanding point. The river,, 
 whose general course is north and south, then makes a 
 bend to the west, which gives a grand view up and 
 down the stream. The close observer will soon learn 
 on landing at Mount Vernon that, though he is stand- 
 ing, as it were, on holy ground, though pressing the soil 
 so often trod by the "father of his country," yet there 
 is but little there that Washington could recognize, 
 were he permitted to pay it a visit; for the evidences of 
 former neglect and recent repairs are too apparent at 
 every glance to admit of doubt or contradiction. The 
 late improvements have been made by the Ladies' 
 Mount Vernon Association. Washington's tomb is 
 between the house and river. It is large, but un- 
 pretending, and is composed of brick-work with iron 
 gratings in front. It contains the remains of others of 
 the family, besides several graves and monuments near 
 by, of other noted persons. The residence is a com- 
 mon two-story building, with porches above and below. 
 Some books and paintings of the Washington family 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 411 
 
 still remain in the house. The grounds have been well 
 laid out and cultivated ; the trees are numerous, and 
 many of them native forest productions; but the great 
 attraction is the fact of its being the last residence and 
 final resting-place of the great American hero and 
 father of a nation. We spent a pleasant day and re- 
 turned to Washington City in the evening, virithout ac- 
 cident or remarkable incident outside of the objects of 
 our visit. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 A VLSIT TO THE EAST — "ON TO RICHMOND!" 
 
 AFTER having taken the principal cities of the 
 Union by storm (for up to this time there had been 
 but little fair weather), and wishing to emulate the 
 heroes of other days, I was determined to push my 
 conquests south. Accordingly on the 24th of May, 
 1874, after arming myself with a box of cigars, a flask 
 of old Bourbon and a box of Brandreth's pills, I opened 
 the campaign by chartering a steamer (or at least two 
 dollars and a half's worth of one) and steamed boldly 
 down the Potomac, passing Alexandria and other 
 places of less note. In about two hours and a half we 
 landed at Quantico, where we took the cars for Rich- 
 mond. Whether from our approach or some other 
 cause, I found the country pretty generally deserted, 
 excepting by a few contrabands who attacked the train, 
 but by bestowing quarters they were easily captured. 
 The country through which we passed at some time 
 had been cultivated and very well improved, but the 
 
412 Life and Adventures of 
 
 land seemed to have been worn out and the farms neg- 
 lected. The soil had never been of a very good quality, 
 being generally a gravelly ridge covered with yellow 
 pine timber. In many places the yellow pine had 
 sprung up on lands that had once been cultivated, and 
 had attained a growth of from eight to ten inches in 
 diameter. In some instances they were clearing off the 
 second forest, preparatory to cultivation. 
 
 In due time we reached Fredericksburg, a small town 
 pleasantly located on the south bank of the Rappahan- 
 nock. It was at this point that Joe Hooker made his 
 big fight, and where Stonewall Jackson and many other 
 brave men fell; but not a sign is left to tell of that san- 
 guinary struggle ; not a fortification, trench, or earthwork 
 is now to be seen. I took the town entirely by sur- 
 prise, as there was not a soul in the place aware of my 
 approach. There were but two shots fired, and those 
 were fired by me. I shot Mr. Barbour, an old citizen of 
 Fredericksburg, and his companion. Both shots took 
 effect in the neck, and the enemy surrendered at discre- 
 tion. After the capture we were soon on board the 
 cars and arrived at Richmond about four o'clock in the 
 afternoon, where, a short struggle ensued, but I was 
 again victorious. The city surrendered and I estab- 
 lished my head-quarters in the Ballard and Exchange, 
 having accomplished in one day what cost the United 
 States two years of bloody war and untold millions of 
 treasure to do, and that "without the loss of a man on 
 our side." I wonder if history will do me justice. 
 
 Richmond is a beautiful city. On entering it, the 
 cars ran out to the bridge spanning the James River, 
 and before me, spread out for nearly half a mile in 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 413 
 
 width, lay that lovely stream, rushing', bounding, and 
 dashing- its spray upon the monster granite bowlders 
 that impeded its course. Here is one of the first water 
 powers in the world. It is practically unlimited, both 
 in fall and volume of water. The banks are of that 
 character that the water may be raised to any necessary 
 height Richmond has been noted for its superior flour. 
 There were originally four large flouring mills, of which 
 two remain. One was destroyed by fire during the 
 rebellion and the remains of another were still smoking; 
 when I was there. But not one-thousandth part of the 
 water-power has ever been employed. The city is sit- 
 uated on the north bank of the river, right at the foot 
 of the rapids, to which point steamers of a large class- 
 run up. The country around Richmond is fertile, espe- 
 cially the James River bottom below and south of the 
 city. It is something like two hundred feet from the 
 bed of the river to the top of the bank, which then 
 spreads out into a level plain. The water to supply the 
 city is taken from the river, two miles above. Its abun- 
 dance permits the people to enjoy many miniature lakes 
 and playing fountains. Evergreens, beautiful shade 
 trees, green velvet lawns, and sparkling fountains make 
 the large and fine grounds around the State House 
 seem a perfect paradise. 
 
 During my visit to Richmond I tried to trace some 
 evidences of the great struggle, but in vain. There is 
 scarcely a mark or a scar left to give evidence of the 
 sanguinary conflicts that raged in and about the city. 
 My first and greatest curiosity was to visit the old Libby 
 prison, which is situated between Gary Street and the 
 river. I found it now, as it was before the war, an enor- 
 
414 Life and Adventures of 
 
 mous tobacco factory, everything intact and doing a 
 flourishing business; the only change in it was a few new- 
 posts, Eastern visitors having carried the original posts 
 off, piece-meal, by way of relics. I next visited Castle 
 Thunder, and found a well-built machine shop — "this 
 and nothing more." Washington's residence stands on 
 the main street of the city, carefully protected, and held 
 intact as a relic of continental days. I noticed at this 
 place, as in other parts of the South, that every evidence 
 of the rebellion, so far as it was possible, had been ob- 
 literated. The visitor may take the line of the great 
 seven days' fight and follow it clear down to Malvern 
 Hill, and he will see nothing to evidence it excepting the 
 graves of those who fell in that long and bloody action. 
 There is one monument erected to the memory of the 
 Confederate dead. It is obelisk-shaped, built of rough 
 stone, and I should think about sixty feet high, without 
 mortar or cement. Evergreen vines are being trained 
 around it. 
 
 While all reasonable efforts have been made to oblit- 
 erate the recollections of our late civil strife, it is pleas- 
 ing to see how carefully everything has been preserved 
 that relates to the great Revolution of our forefathers. 
 Not only the residence of Washington is faithfully pre- 
 served, but s^anding on Libby Hill is the venerable 
 St. John's Church, in which Patrick Henry delivered his 
 philippics against the English Government, and where 
 with matchless eloquence he urged our patriotic sires to 
 take up arms in defense of infant liberty. It is true 
 the church is somewhat like the boy's jackknife which 
 had been rehandled and rebladed, yet it was the knife 
 his grandsire gave him. St. John's Church, though 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 415 
 
 sided, floored, and roofed several times, no doubt (as it 
 is a wooden building), is yet preserved and exhibited 
 with great pride by the Richmondites as the sacred 
 place that gave out inspiration to the heroes who threw 
 off King George's yoke. 
 
 In the State House grounds stands the finest eques- 
 trian statue of Washington that I saw on my journey, 
 and, it is said, the finest in the world. Around on the 
 projecting pedestal, stands, in life size, Virginia's states- 
 men and heroes. Among them are Patrick Henry, 
 Thomas Jefferson, Crawford, Mason, and several others. 
 But it would take a large pedestal to contain the statues 
 of all the great men Virginia has produced. Inside the 
 State House there are many things that to the lovers of 
 early American history are worthy of observation. 
 There is a great mass of documents relating to revolu- 
 tionary days which reach back even to the first settle- 
 ment of America, for be it remembered that the city 
 of Richmond is one of the oldest cities of America. 
 Among other things in the State House, I found the 
 parole of honor of Lord Cornwallis, upon which he was 
 released for exchange. It was dated October 28, 1781, 
 and permitted Cornwallis to return to England either 
 by way of New York or Baltimore, and he pledged his 
 honor to report himself for exchange any place dictated 
 by His Excellency, George Washington, commander-in- 
 chief of the United States forces. I also saw, preserved 
 under glass, the original draft of the Declaration of 
 Rights, by Mason. There are also many ancient books 
 there preserved, and some of them are great curiosities. 
 One was published over five hundred years ago — of 
 ■course before the art of printing, but I am certain that 
 
416 Life and Adventures of 
 
 with all our improvements, nothing at this day would 
 be better executed, and it was hard for me to realize 
 that it was possible^ to execute a work with such uni- 
 formity of letter and neatness of execution. The Vir- 
 ginians will exhibit to you with equal pride the rock, 
 about seven miles below the city, on which John Smith's 
 head was laid for execution when rescued by Poca- 
 hontas. 
 
 But, by the way, speaking of water puts a man in 
 mind of fishing. I have a fine production of the art 
 and genius of this same John Smith. It is nothing less 
 than a correct and well-executed engraved map of the 
 survey of the State of Virginia, made by him. The 
 survey was made while in the colony and the map was 
 engraved at London, England. Smith did not live to 
 enjoy the fruits of his labor or to even exhibit to the 
 people of England his map of the new world ; but a 
 traveler discovered the plate among some old rubbish 
 that was being exposed for sale at auction, and bought 
 it. The copy in my possession was kindly presented 
 me by the superintendent of public printing in Virginia 
 -Mr. Walker. 
 
 The mass of the inhabitants of Richmond are negroes, 
 or more or less mixed with negro blood. I found them 
 employed as barbers, mechanics of different kinds, 
 house servants and common laborers, but I never in 
 one instance saw one of them in a store, either as clerk 
 or principal; and the matter struck me as being so 
 strange that I gave it my particular attention. Not- 
 withstanding the great negro majority in Richmond, 
 the city officers are all Democrats, many of the negroes 
 esteeming the carpet-baggers worse than do the whites; 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 417 
 
 and many of the negroes, if their declarations are to be 
 taken a§ true, regret the change from slavery to freedom. 
 They told me that when they could get work it was all 
 very nice, but when they got out of employment, or 
 were sick, they had no home and were driven to do 
 things which they did not like to do. On the other 
 hand, when they were with their masters they always 
 had a home and no care. I almost universally heard 
 them speaking of their old masters with pride and rev- 
 erence, and showing a warm attachment for them, just 
 as the whites boast of the name of their ancestors. I 
 would frequently ask them why they did not return to 
 their old masters and live with them, and the reply 
 nearly always was, "Massa is dead," or, " Massa is poor 
 now." I further learned that where the former master 
 is living, there is generally a good feeling between him 
 and his former slave, and in many instances where the 
 negro is out of a home he falls back on his old master 
 until he can do better. But what is most refreshing is 
 to see the plug-hatted colored politician strut and swell, 
 and to see with what contempt they look down upon 
 " de po' foolish nigga." I was informed by the business 
 men of Richmond that the city has not been in as pros- 
 perous a condition for many years as it is at the present 
 time. 
 
 I had intended going farther south, but was dissuaded 
 from my purpose by the Richmond people, who assured 
 me that my trip would be anything but pleasant or in- 
 structive. The seasons are just about as early in Rich- 
 mond as they are in this part of California. Richmond, 
 with her boundless water-power, her advantages as a 
 shipping point, together with a fertile country surround- 
 
418 Life and Adventures of 
 
 ing it, has a future surpassed by few cities in the United 
 States; and I think, if from any cause I should be com- 
 pelled to run away from this country, the officers of the 
 law might look for me in Richmond with a good pros- 
 pect of finding me. 
 
 On Sunday morning I ascended the hill and took a 
 last look at the city of Richmond, packed my traps, 
 bade good-by to the Ballard and Exchange Hotel, and 
 at half-past one o'clock took the cars on .my back track, 
 arriving in Washington about six in the evening. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 A VISIT TO THE EAST — HOMEWARD BOUND. 
 
 1HAD now become very anxious (I do not like to say 
 homesick) about home, and took my way through 
 Harrisburg, Pittsburg, Columbus, and " all intermediate 
 points" tor Cincinnati. I would like to tell you some- 
 thing about the city of Pittsburg, but the smoke was so 
 dense that it was absolutely impossible to see enough to 
 form any opinion further than to say that coal, smoke, 
 and iron were the principal things with which I came in 
 contact. As to Columbus, it is only remarkable from the 
 fact that it is the capital of Ohio. We landed from the 
 cars at Cincinnati in the night, and I probably never 
 shall know just how I did get in, as we went a great dis- 
 tance around the city before the hackmen assailed us; 
 but at last I brought up at the Burnett House, where I 
 got good accommodations at four and a half dollars per 
 day. I remained but one day, although I regretted that 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 419 
 
 I could not get my own consent to stay longer. The 
 city is built in a bend, between the river and the bluffs. 
 The bench, or valley, is a complete amphitheater, and I 
 do not know whether the ground was formed for the 
 . city or the city for the ground; but one thing is certain, 
 the city just fills the space and is a good fit. 
 
 I went to see the inclined plane that is constructed to 
 ascend the bluff overlooking the city. It is so arranged 
 that when one car runs up the steep incline another runs 
 down, operating like a couple of well buckets, one at 
 each end of the rope. The rope is made of wire and is 
 about an inch and a half thick. The motive power is a 
 large steam engine on the hill. The enterprise is still 
 young, although they have a large pavilion, restaurant, 
 saloons, etc., and the place is intended to be to Cincin- 
 nati what Woodward's Garden is to San Francisco, with 
 some exceptions. From this elevated position you have 
 a magnificent view of the city which lies at your feet, 
 and a long stretch of the Kentucky shore. Standing on 
 this commanding position, it is difficult to realize that 
 three hundred thousand inhabitants are at once beneath 
 the vision's range. Cincinnati is a great horse market, 
 and many hundreds of fine horses are sold there daily. 
 Real estate was very low while I was there, magnificent 
 brown stone fronts being sold at auction. The city has 
 a very fine park, several public squares, and many hand- 
 some public buildings. 
 
 As I am homeward bound, my route lies through the 
 southern part of Indiana after leaving Ohio. This por- 
 tion of Indiana has been heavily timbered, and the soil 
 does not compare very favorably vvith the middle, or 
 prairie, portion of the State. We passed Vincennes, 
 
420 Life and Adventures of 
 
 crossed the Wabash River, ran through Illinois, crossing 
 the Kaskaskia River at Carlisle, and arrived at St. Louis 
 about six o'clock in the evening. The next morning I 
 was not long in discovering that the St. Louis of 1848 
 was completely lost in the St. Louis of 1874; and I, too, 
 was lost vVhere I was once well acquainted. Everything 
 had so changed in appearance that the Planters' House 
 did not seem to stand on the same ground that it did 
 twenty-six years ago. The grand steel bridge spanning 
 the Mississippi River is a magnificent work of art, and 
 the descriptions that have been published are not exag- 
 gerated. Being a traveler I was permitted to go onto 
 the bridge the day before it was opened to the public, 
 and I had a fine opportunity to examine the beautiful 
 structure. The Mississippi steamers pass under its im- 
 mense arches, but the noblest of them are compelled to 
 make their obeisance as they pass under the spans, by 
 lowering a part of their smoke-stacks, which is done by 
 ingenious hinge arrangements and cable chains attached 
 to the top of the pipe. The lowering and raising are 
 done by steam power. On the St. Louis side the bridge 
 extends up to Third Street, and over it passes all busses, 
 street-cars, teams, and foot passengers; while the railroad 
 trains come under the city by way of a tunnel and enter 
 the bridge below, or, if you please, on the first story. 
 St. Louis has very respectable parks and public gardens. 
 The largest, as well as I remember, contains about thirty- 
 eight acres, and is very well ornamented by way of shade 
 trees and works of art. 
 
 Leaving Str Louis we traveled across Missouri, visiting 
 Kansas City on our route, but in reaching that point we 
 passed through a level, fertile, and what looked like a 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 421 
 
 very sickly country, as green pools and ponds of water 
 were standing all along the route. Kansas City is located 
 on the Kansas frontier, in Jackson County, Missouri, on 
 the south bank of the Missouri River, just below the 
 mouth of the Kansas River, and is about fourteen miles 
 from Independence. It is on elevated ground, and I 
 should think it a healthy location. It is well laid out, 
 the streets being wide, and the most of the buildings 
 are of brick. There are churches representing almost 
 every Christian creed. 
 
 From this point I made a night trip to Omaha, arriv- 
 ing there about ten o'clock in the morning, after some 
 delays on the east side of the Missouri River. About 
 eleven we were on our way for California, having been 
 fortunate enough to secure a good lower section in the 
 palace sleeping-car. We rolled along over every variety 
 of country of which the mind could conceive, but the 
 general topography was barren and uninteresting after 
 leaving the Platte River. 
 
 When I left home for my Eastern visit, I left behind 
 na.e green fields and buds and blossoms of spring; but on 
 nearing the Sierra I merged from spring into winter, and 
 continued to encounter winter weather through Nevada, 
 Utah, and, in fact, through all the Western States, Upper 
 and Lower Canada, Vermont, New Hampshire, and 
 Massachusetts. I found spring again in New York City, 
 and it continued until I reached Richmond, where I 
 found summer, which held on until I reached Omaha, 
 when I again came into the season of spring. This 
 lasted until I came to the Sierra Nevada on my home- 
 ward journey, and there I found my third winter in one 
 year. But on commencing the descent of the western 
 
422 Life and Adventures of 
 
 slope of the Sierra, what a change ! and with what pride 
 the old Californian would exclaim to those who were visit- 
 ing this State for the first time, "This is our country! " 
 
 As far as the eye could extend, we could see spreading 
 out before us the ripe, waving fields of grain, gently un- 
 dulating in one of California's soft and delicious breezes, 
 reflecting back its rich golden hue in the brilliant rays of 
 a California summer sun. The passengers were perfectly 
 delighted, each calling the attention of fellow travelers 
 to the opposite side of the cars, and each believing 
 that he or she had discovered a prospect surpassing in 
 loveliness all others. To those who had never witnessed 
 it before the sight was equaled only by that of Balboa 
 on discovering the Pacific. Presently we came in full 
 view of the Sacramento River. From our elevated 
 position it looked like a silver thread winding its way 
 through bright green pastures until it lost itself in 
 the distant windings among the foot-hills of Mount 
 Diablo, which are kissed by the ever restless waves of 
 San Pablo Bay. In this instance Campbell is wrong. 
 "Distance" does not "lend enchantment to the view," 
 for as we approached Sacramento the scene became more 
 lovely still. Broad, spreading vineyards, well-cultivated 
 gardens, orchards loaded with fruit, long and shady 
 avenues, and palatial residences were constantly passing 
 before us in this beautiful panorama. All on board 
 seemed not only happy, but jubilant. 
 
 We arrived at Sacramento, the capital of California, 
 and, after twenty minutes for lunch, were off again on 
 the southern route for San Francisco. This route gave 
 us an excellent view of California's capitol, and as I 
 viewed that massive pile, with its ample and lofty dome 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 423 
 
 I could say with honest pride that, after a travel of over 
 eight thousand miles, it was the finest public structure I 
 had seen, the national capitol alone excepted. Passing 
 through the city of Stockton, and other towns, we ar- 
 rived in San Francisco at seven o'clock in the evening. 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 MY CALIFORNIA HOME. 
 
 ** Breathes there a man with soul so dead 
 Who never to himself has said, 
 
 This is my own, my native land ! 
 Whose heart has ne'er within him burned, 
 As home his footsteps he has turned 
 From wandering on a foreign strand ! " 
 
 HAVING led my California friends through a long 
 journey over several States, and through the prin- 
 cipal cities of the Union, I will now, as a closing scene, 
 devote a short chapter to a description of my California 
 home and its surroundings, for the benefit of my East- 
 ern friends, to whom I hope it may not be entirely un- 
 interesting. The last chapter closed with my arrival at 
 San Francisco. That city I shall not attempt to describe. 
 Though but twenty-five years old, it is the Hercules of 
 the Pacific. In 1849 it was Yerba Buena. The pueblo 
 of Yerba Buena contained the Mission Dolores and lit- 
 tle more. Now, in 1874, it is the great mart of the 
 Pacific, and boasts a population of two hundred thousand 
 inhabitants. It would take a respectable volume instead 
 of a single chapter to describe that flourishing city and 
 its surroundings. 
 
424 Life and Adventures of 
 
 At San Francisco I met my family, and, after remain- 
 ing a short time to enable them to finish up their visit, 
 one bright day in June we took passage in the steamer 
 Antelope and crossed the bay en route for Healdsburg 
 There was not a breeze to ruffle the placid waters, and 
 we steamed along past Red Rock and the Two Brothers, 
 and in about two hours and a half arrived at Donahue, 
 where we took the cars for Healdsburg. On landing at 
 Donahue I was once more in old Sonoma County, with 
 familiar scenes surrounding me. About twelve miles 
 north and east lay the city of Sonoma, one of the oldest 
 towns in California; in fact, it was a place of some im- 
 portance when San Francisco was the Yerba Buena of 
 Mexico, with little else than drifting sand-hills and an 
 occasional rocky cliff. At the time of the conquest of 
 California, during the Mexican War, Sonoma was a point 
 of considerable importance to the Americans, and it 
 was at this place that the famous Bear Flag was hoisted. 
 
 A ride of sixteen miles from Petaluma, through a very 
 pleasant valley, brings us to Santa Rosa. This fine little 
 city is situated near the center of the lovely valley of 
 that name. The surrounding country is generally fertile, 
 producing wheat, barley, oats, and all the family of root 
 vegetables in great abundance, but it is most remarkable 
 for its immense yields of hay. The valley lying between 
 Santa Rosa and Petaluma is very rich in soil, but rather 
 low, and it has received but little at the hands of art to 
 develop or to beautify its natural resources. The valley 
 was, unfortunately, a Mexican grant, and has never been 
 divided up into farms, but the whole constitutes an im- 
 mense stock ranch. Santa Rosa is the county seat of 
 Sonoma County, and for the last two years has made a 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 425 
 
 rapid growth. It boasts a city government and is in a 
 flourishing condition. It is sustained by its colleges and 
 the agricultural pursuits of the neighborhood. 
 
 Fifteen miles in a northeasterly direction lies the town 
 of Healdsburg, my home. Healdsburg is situated on 
 the bank of Russian River, between that stream and 
 Dry Creek. The land upon which the town is built is 
 dry and gravelly, with the Russian River Valley on the 
 east and the famous Dry Creek Valley west and north 
 of the city. The town is also about two miles above the 
 confluence of the two streams. No more lovely spot 
 was ever selected for a town site. The soil in the valleys 
 surrounding Healdsburg is probably the finest in the 
 world, the banks of the Nile not excepted. And the 
 best feature in the case is the fact that artificial fertiliza- 
 tion is not needed, as nature has provided a fertilizer in 
 the flood that visits us in our winter season. Sometimes 
 it is much greater than it is at others, owing to the canon 
 some twelve miles below Healdsburg, which in a very 
 heavy flood backs the water over our valleys to a depth 
 of from three to four feet. There is then but little cur- 
 rent and the rich vegetable deposits washed from the 
 surrounding hills are allowed to settle on the surface 
 of the ground. These floods run off very soon and 
 never overflow the land more than from twenty-four to 
 thirty-six hours, and, though the grain crops may be 
 sowed, and all green, they are not injured, but frequently 
 improved by their inundation. 
 
 Sonoma County is the garden of California, and Rus- 
 sian River and Dry Creek Valleys are the garden spots 
 of Sonoma County. One remarkable feature is that 
 since the county's earliest settlement we have never lost 
 28 
 
426 Life and Adventures of 
 
 a crop. Where we have sown we have always reaped a 
 rich harvest, and in some instances we have harvested 
 from sixty-five to seventy bushels of wheat to the acre, 
 while the crops of Indian corn compare favorably with 
 those raised on the American bottoms. Adjoining our 
 valleys on the west is a fine forest of redwood, firs, and 
 other valuable timber, which affords an abundant supply 
 for fuel, fencing, lumber, and all other purposes. The 
 water here is peculiarly good. It is pure, cold, and soft. 
 There are gushing springs flowing from almost every 
 hill, and throughout the valleys, water of the same 
 quality may be obtained at the depth of from twelve to 
 twenty feet. For washing purposes it is equally as good 
 and pure as rain-water; hence no cisterns or saving of 
 rain-water are ever indulged in here. Flowing from our 
 hills and mountains are numerous spring brooks, full of 
 speckled trout, where the angler finds fine sport, while in 
 our mountains, bear of several varieties, deer, grouse, 
 squirrels, and quail abound. 
 
 Healdsburg is within seventeen miles of the great 
 Geyser Springs, over one -of the finest mountain roads in 
 the world. The view of the valley and streams below 
 from this road beggars all description. Skaggs Springs 
 are situated fourteen miles up one of the loveliest drives 
 in the world. Lytton's Soda and Seltzer Springs are 
 distant three miles from here. A large hotel is being 
 built at these springs, and next year it will be opened to 
 the public. This will at once become one of the most 
 popular watering places in the State. Sulphur Flat 
 Sulphur Spring is within two miles, P^itch Mountain 
 Sulphur Spring within one mile and a half, and many 
 others of less note arc within a short distance of this 
 place. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 427 
 
 Our climate cannot be surpassed in the world. We 
 have some hot days during the summer, but they are 
 very few and easily endured when we take into consider- 
 ation the fact that such a thing as a hot night is unknown 
 with us. We can always sleep under a couple of blan- 
 kets during the warmest summer nights; and we are 
 never troubled with mosquitoes or gnats. The fogs and 
 cold winds from the ocean hive but little effect here, as 
 the winds in crossing the Coast Range for about forty 
 miles become so modified and softened as to be only 
 cool and pleasant. During my long residence in this 
 town, I have never known a case of chills and fever, or 
 fever and ague, or any other malarious disease, unless 
 brought here from some other part, and then it would 
 soon disappear. 
 
 Our scenery is the admiration of all visitors. It is, in 
 fact, one extensive valley from the bay to and far be- 
 yond Healdsburg. As the town is approached it seems 
 an amphitheater surrounded in the background by lofty 
 hills and mountains. At the east, just raising its 
 high head and prominent nose above Fitch Mountain, 
 may be seen Mount St. Helena, some fifteen miles dis- 
 tant. To the northeast is Pine Mountain, crowned with 
 a dense forest, while north is Sulphur Peak, raising its 
 bald head high above the surrounding hills. Fitch 
 Mountain, within a mile of the city, is a prominent 
 landmark by which we can for many miles around locate 
 the exact position of Healdsburg. At the west the hills 
 gradually rise until, far in the distance, between us and 
 the ocean, they assume the magnitude of mountains and 
 present to the eye one of the loveliest pictures imacrina- 
 ble. The first belt of hills, ranging from three to four 
 
428 Life and Adventures of 
 
 miles distant, is studded with lofty fir and redwood trees, 
 stationed on the summit equidistant from each other, 
 looking like so many giant sentinels on those lofty watch- 
 towers of nature to guard the valley below; and when 
 the departing sun casts it^ golden light upon the elevated 
 crests, throwing the lengthening shadows down the vale, 
 no more lovely sight ever met human gaze. 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 RETURN TO BUSINESS — MORE THRILLING INCIDENTS. 
 
 ON my return from the East, I once more settled 
 down to my profession. As to my family relations, 
 on the first day of September, 1865, 1 had married Miss 
 Minnie MoUoy, daughter ( f Dr. E. B. Molloy, and she 
 proved a most kind and affectionate wife, wholly domestic 
 in her nature, and, thanks to her parents, had been the 
 recipient of a first-class education. Her affections were 
 of that warm and engaging nature that she looked upon 
 the happiness of her husband and children as her only 
 aim in life. She bore three children, the eldest a girl. 
 However, I held her but for the .short space of six years, 
 and her death left me with an infant boy eight months 
 old. In the early months of our marriage an accident 
 happened to me, which I will here record. 
 
 I was engaged on part of the plaintiff in the case of 
 Bennet z's. Bennet, for divorce, having made an applica- 
 tion for the custody of the children. The case w^as tried 
 in Mendocino County, and it was necessary for four of 
 us, the plaintiff, her two witnesses, and myself to go 
 from Healdsburg to Ukiah, and that necessitated a two- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 429 
 
 seated conveyance. On application at the livery stable 
 I was informed that I could either have a thorough- 
 brace or a light two-seated carriage. I told them that 
 I would take the carriage, but I wanted a true, steady 
 team, as there was no brake on the carriage. Well, we 
 went to Ukiah, made our showing, and got an order of 
 court for the children, and were jubilant over our success. 
 As we were returning over the old toll-road on the west 
 side of Russian River, the high hills on our right and a 
 perpendicular precipice of thirty feet on the left, and a 
 roa 1-bed of about fifteen feet, winding up the mountain, 
 on turning a bend, we suddenly met a team. The bank 
 side was ours by right of way, but the other parties 
 took it, throwing us on the side next the precipice. 
 They halted to let me pass (I was driving), but as I 
 attempted to drive on I discovered the limb of an oak 
 tree projecting over the road, that came so far out as to 
 fence me off, so that I could not swing in behind them. 
 Coming to a halt, I told them to drive ahead; but before 
 they could understand what I wanted, my horses com- 
 menced backing, and the wagon pulled on them, inclin- 
 ing to run down the grade. I readily comprehended 
 the situation and urged my horses to advance, striking 
 them with the whip; but the more I urged them, the 
 faster they backed. At this place there was a bend in 
 the bank, forming a horseshoe, the toe running to tlie 
 precipice. I saw that we were destined to go over the 
 precipice back foremost. As the grade got steeper 
 in our downward descent, I whirled my horses, facing 
 the precipice, and noticed a jack-oak growing below the 
 precipice, whose branching, feathery top came up even 
 with the top of the bank. It was now so steep that the 
 
430 Life and Adventures of 
 
 horses could not hold the wagon, and I plunged them 
 into the top of the tree (^which was about eight inches 
 in diameter at the butt), and down we went, head fore- 
 most—horses, carriage, tree and all. The tree bent 
 down \\ ith the weight, but as soon as the horses, car- 
 riage, and passengers struck the bed of the creek below, 
 the three passengers pitched out, and t e horses being 
 on the ground, the tree, thus released, sprung back, 
 throwing the carriage clear and pitching me some fifteen 
 feet, head foremost, among the rocks. The next thing 
 I knew the parties from the other wagon had hold of 
 me, attempting to carry me out. I gained my feet, and, 
 with their assistance, climbed to the road, where they 
 got me into their wagon and drove me, with the rest, to 
 MacDonald's Hotel, on the road, I believe about two 
 miles. MacDonald got a mattress and spread it on a 
 sidewalk running along the front of the hotel, where it 
 was cool, and I was laid on it. 
 
 I had been there but a few minutes when I heard 
 some one say that Rennet, the defendant in our case, 
 had run off with the children, and it was supposed that 
 he was taking them to Oregon. When 1 heard this I 
 asked MacDonald if he had any brandy. He ans\\ered 
 in the affirmative, when I asked for a glass. After drink- 
 ing it, I dictated dispatches to Chief Burke, of San 
 Francisco, and to the Sacramento police, and all was a 
 blank for some time. The next thing that I realized 
 was that Dr. Pike was present (the local physician). 
 Word was sent to Healdsburg for Dr. O. S. Alien, my 
 family physician, and Dr. Molloy, my father-in-law. 
 On the way down the man reported the accident in 
 Cloverdale, and Dr. Weaver, from the State of Nevada, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 431 
 
 a former partner of Dr. Allen, happened to he there; 
 he said, " If one of Allen's patients is hurt, I must go 
 and see him." The resident physician of Cloverdale 
 hitched up his team, and they came up, and two hours 
 later Drs. Allen and MoUoy arrived, making five doctors 
 in all. (Some will say that was enough to kill any man.) 
 They went to work in good earnest, gave me a thor- 
 ough examination, found that two ribs had been stove 
 in near the backbone, that the point of the left shoulder 
 was broken, that my head was badly cut in several 
 places and full of gravel-stones, and that the nervous 
 system was badly shaken. My neck and all around the 
 top of my shoulders assumed an inky blackness, but I 
 had become entirely conscious. Night was coming on, 
 and they were desirous of getting me into the house. 
 They attempted to move me on the mattress, and carry 
 me in, but the instant they commenced raising me on 
 the mattress the breath would leave me. and I would 
 faint, the pain was so excruciating. They had to leave 
 me where I was, and I was compelled to remain there 
 with an awning over me for three days, when I called 
 MacDonald to me and asked him if he had any wide 
 boards about the place, from sixteen to eighteen inches 
 wide. He said that he had, when I asked him to cut off 
 a piece seven feet long and bring it there. Some 
 thought I was losing my mind, but he complied with 
 my request. •' Now," said I, " nail a bracket on one end, 
 four inches high." He again complied. " Now," said I 
 to Dr. Allen, "carefully shove that board under my 
 mattress, and let the bracket come up to my feet." This 
 was done. " Now," I continued, "go to my head and 
 raise the board." I found that my plan was a success; 
 
432 Life and Adventures of 
 
 that lying on the stiff board I could be moved without 
 any rack or pain. I lay at MacDonald's a week, when 
 I was moved, with the aid of my board, to my home in 
 Healdsburg, where I lay for nearly three months. 
 
 The doctors unanimously agreed that I would never 
 get entirely over the injuries, but would be able to get 
 around, and might survive for several years. But they 
 were mistaken, as I have had occasion to try my man- 
 hood several times since, and could not see that I had 
 lost much of my former elasticity. 
 
 Subsequent to the foregoing event, there was a des- 
 perate attempt made upon my life; I was seated in a 
 chair, when the would-be assassin drew a cocked revolver, 
 clapped it to my ear and fired. I saw the pressure 
 of his fingers upon the trigger of the revolver, and throw- 
 ing my head back and my hand up, the bullet crashed 
 diagonally through the hand. I sprang to my feet and 
 with my other hand reached for my revolver; but it was 
 in the scabbard, buttoned down. My assailant had a 
 long navy revolver, and continued his fire at close range, 
 the muzzle of his pistol never four feet from me during 
 the fire. He continued to fire in the most excited man- 
 ner until he had emptied his weapon, when I had suc- 
 ceeded in getting my revolver with my one hand. He 
 then started to run, when I hastily fired as he was about 
 to escape through a door. I fired a little too quick, and 
 just barked his neck with my bullet. I then sprang 
 forward and drew a bead 'on his back as he was running; 
 but from some cause the hammer of my revolver came 
 down between the tubes. I cocked again, and w(;uld 
 have got him before he escaped from the building, !.ad 
 it not been that a pretended friend sprang forward and 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 433 
 
 between us, exclaiming, " Here, Cap., take my pistol." 
 I subsequently learned that he too was in the plot to kill 
 me. He merely took that position to save his companion 
 in guilt. My assailant had attempted to get up a row 
 with me in the morning, on some trivial matter, and on 
 walking from me said significantly, " I will see you 
 again." These words put me so far on my guard as to 
 buckle on my revolver. I was afterwards told that the 
 squatters had agreed that, if he would kill me, he should 
 have five hundred dollars. Well, I followed him up, he 
 running and I pursuing, until I got two more shots, but 
 at long range, when I became so weak from loss of blood 
 that I could not follow further. He escaped from the 
 country, and was absent for something over a year. 
 
 This last occurrence left me in rather a bad situation, 
 having comparatively lost the use of my right hand by 
 a saber cut in the Mexican War, and now my left shat- 
 tered by an assassin's bullet, left me crippled in both 
 hands. And this combination of circumstances has 
 clearly demonstrated to me that the old adage, " Truth 
 is stranger than fiction," has been verified. But this was 
 no secret; the whole town of Healdsburg well knew of 
 the affair, which occurred in the very place where this 
 is written; and there were over twenty persons in the 
 room when the would-be murderer commenced shooting. 
 I lay for three months with my hand-wound, and some 
 portion of the time in a critical condition; but at last it 
 healed, and I again continued my practice. 
 
 About a year after the death of my wife, I found it 
 necessary to again marry, as raising a family of small 
 children alone was anything but pleasant. Hence, on 
 the 14th of January, 1872, I married the daughter of 
 
434 Life and Adventures of 
 
 J. E. Turner, of Sacramento, who has proved an excel- 
 lent mother to my children, which is the kindest thing 
 that can be said of a step-mother. We have lived 
 together for fifteen years, and hope to live together 
 many more. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 POLITICAL. 
 
 AS I have, in this volume, made no reference to my 
 political creed, and as such a work would be incom- 
 plete without some allusion to that feature of my career, 
 I here reproduce a short letter which has heretofore 
 been published. This letter will not only explain itself, 
 but will suffice to indicate my political predilections in 
 a general way. 
 
 Healdsburg, Cal., June 27, 1868. 
 
 Hon. John Bush, Placerville, Cal. — Dear Sir: When 
 last in Placerville I promised to give you a letter ex- 
 plaining what you saw fit to denominate my "unreason- 
 able course, politically," and in so doing I shall endeavor 
 to be as brief as possible, and after a perusal of the 
 statement of facts you will please inform me who has 
 changed ? 
 
 To begin: As an American I am proud of my country, 
 and love its many glorious institutions; and hope that 
 my highest ambition always shall be, as it always has 
 been, to add to rather than diminish her honor and glory. 
 
 At the Presidential election in i860, as a Democrat, 
 I supported that party. At the Charleston convention 
 a portion split off from the party and organized what 
 was known as the Baltimore convention. The Charles- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 435 
 
 ton convention nominated Stephen A. Douglas, who 
 was a national man and a patriot ; the Baltimore con- 
 vention nominated a sectional ticket, and the Republi- 
 cans did the same, and, as a national Democrat, I sup- 
 ported the regular nominee of the Democratic party. 
 You know the result. Rebellion ensued, and I was found 
 sustaining my country's flag—JListifying any course that 
 was found most expedient to crush treason and restore 
 peace to the country. Of such a struggle as we passed 
 through, the annals of history give no parallel ; but like 
 all other earthly things, it came to a close. During its 
 existence the friends of the States in rebellion, as well 
 as the rebels in arms, constantly proclaimed that they 
 were "out of the Union," and all that they wanted was 
 "to be let alone;" while on the other hand, Union men 
 held that the rebellious States were not out of the Union, 
 neither could they get out— that the federal compact 
 could not be dissolved. This doctrine was advocated 
 alike by the chief magistrate, Congress, statesmen, 
 judges, clergy, and down to the soldier in arms. The 
 muMered Lincoln, through Secretary Seward, in reply 
 to the French Emperor, when the French proposed 
 intervention, used this language: "No intervention is nec- 
 essary ; a portion of the States of this Union is in a state 
 of rebellion against the legally constituted Government, 
 and all that is necessary to a peace is for them to lay 
 down their arms and return their delegations to Con- 
 gress, when this war will cease of itself" 
 
 On the 8th of November, 1863, President Lincoln is- 
 sued his proclamation, offering to send any seceded State 
 a provisional governor when that State would make the 
 request known by one-tenth of the votes, taking the 
 
486 Life and Adventures of 
 
 vote of 1 86 1 as a basis. This Congress tacitly or posi- 
 tively recognized — continuing from time to time to 
 ratify the acts of Lincoln — and while this proclamation 
 was in full force, and supported by the 4th Article of 
 the Constitution of the United States, on an applica- 
 tion of North Carolina, she having complied with the 
 requisitions of the proclamation, Wm. Holden was 
 appointed provisional governor of that State. W. L. 
 Sharky was appointed provisional governor of Missis- 
 sippi; June 17th, James Johnson was appointed gov- 
 ernor of Georgia; June i/Lh, Andrew J. Hamilton 
 was appointed governor of Texas; June 21st, Lewis E. 
 Parsons was appointed for Alabama; June 30th, Benj. 
 F. Perry was appointed for South Carolina; and July 
 1 3th of the same year, Wm. Marvin was appointed provis- 
 ional governor of Florida. In all those States there 
 was a thorough organization, in every instance compli- 
 ance with the letter of the proclamation by declaring 
 void the ordinance of secession, repudiating the Confed- 
 erate debt, and adopting the constitutional amendment 
 declaring slavery and involuntary servitude forever abol- 
 ished, unless for crimes of which the party shall have 
 been duly convicted. This mode of reconstruction was 
 offered and accepted, and acted upon in good faith. 
 
 The South at this time was disarmed and powerless, 
 while the conquerors possessed all the vast aimament 
 of the great American nation ; hence no fear of treachery 
 could reasonably be suspected, and hence the country 
 had a right to rejoice in the happy termination of the 
 fratricidal war, and a restoration of peace ctnd tranquillity 
 to our bleeding nation. Under this new organization 
 the representatives of these reconstructed State gov- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 437 
 
 ernments were sent to Congress, but failed to gain 
 admittance to seats in that body. TTie first excuse was 
 "disloyalty;" soon, however, that was wiped out by the 
 election of men who bore the scars of many a well-con- 
 tested field against the rebels, but to the surprise of all 
 fair-thinking men they, too, were rejected; and when 
 our Congress was pressed for a reason, they proclaimed 
 that these States, formerly in rebellion, were all out of 
 the Union, and consequently not entitled to representa- 
 tion. Thus they gave the lie to our former declarations 
 "that the South was not out of the Union, and could 
 not get out,' thereby stultifying themselves, and asking 
 every Union man to turn a political somersault At 
 this juncture, people less cool than Americans would 
 have hurled such men from the high positions which 
 they were daily disgracing, when a still worse state of 
 anarchy would have ensued. 
 
 But, thank God, the people still forbore, and the 
 horrid impositions of that body calling itself a Congress 
 of the United States have continued. They have reck- 
 lessly trampled the constitution under their feet at every 
 turn. They have sent the bayonet in times of peace 
 into the Southern States — overturned State governments 
 in violation of the constitution (and these the govern- 
 ments they themselves had once recognized by the votes 
 on the amendment to the constitution of the United 
 States, and the only means by which that amendment 
 carried), and have, for political purposes alone, disfran- 
 chised a large portion of the white, law-abiding voters, and 
 enfranchised an ignorant, savage and lawless herd of 
 blacks. By the aid of the Freedmen's Bureau they have 
 placed thousands of emissaries in these ill-fated States to 
 
438 . Life and Adventures of 
 
 encourage the blacks in the most diaboUcal deeds of rapine 
 and murder. This'same Conoress, to aid them without 
 resistance to carry out their fraudulent and damnable 
 designs, has attempted to cripple and control by uncon- 
 stitutional acts and threats the co-ordinate departments 
 of Gover'nment. They have threatened to impeach the 
 Supreme Court for daring to act in its judicial capacity 
 in declaring unconstitutional some of their measures. 
 They attempted to impeach the President for no other 
 offense than a firm opposition to their reckless and law- 
 less course, — for being firm in his defense of constitu- 
 tional government. They have legislated upon the 
 local matters of sovereign States, in d rect violation of 
 the constitution. So reckless are they of former usages 
 and the constitution adopted by our fathers, that they 
 have absolutely attempted to abolish the office of Presi- 
 dent. In a word, they have in the most enlarged sense 
 proved themselves traitors to our present institutions, 
 and enemies to a republican form of government. 
 
 Now, my dear friend, you will do me the justice to 
 admit that I denounced Jefferson Davis and his horde as 
 rebels, and \\ ished them punished as traitors for rebell- 
 ing against the laws of the United States, though this 
 rebellion was conducted by open enemies and brave men; 
 then why should you think it inconsistent that I should 
 oppose rebels and traitors to the institutions of our 
 fathers, wh > have not manhood enough to decide their 
 fate by the wager of battle, but who are fast accom- 
 plishing by fraud and evil legislation, what the former 
 rebels failed to do by force of arms. 
 
 I can readily understand why you think me inconsistent; 
 it is owing to your standpoint, and the reflection of a 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 439 
 
 local glass. But when you change your position, and 
 climb to the dome of the Temple of Freedom, take 
 your stand between the goddess of liberty and justice, 
 and then look through the national telescope of truth 
 by the light of reason, aided by the reflection of the 
 constitution, I believe you will not only discern that you 
 are the one that is unreasonable, but will break your local 
 glass and hasten to join me in preserving our country 
 against a reign of tyranny and misrule, and that we may 
 be permitted for many years to present our offerings 
 together on the altar of constitutional liberty, with no 
 broken fragments, but the whole United States of 
 America. Till then, I have the honor to be 
 
 Your sincere friend, and obedient servant, 
 
 L. A. Norton. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 COMPLIMENTARY. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., 1200 Locust Street, July 26, 1880. 
 
 L, A. Norton, Esq. — Dear Sir: Your favor of the 26th ult. is duly- 
 received. I regret that among our losses by fire were your letters and 
 many others. I very well remember our meeting at Vera Cruz, and our 
 first meeting at the hacienda of Santa Anna at En Cerro. Your conduct 
 at that time and your subsequent actions met my entire approval. And 
 if I were going to the battle-field to-morrow I would be glad to have the 
 Illinois volunteers under me, and you as commanding ofiicer. 
 
 I am, dear sir, with great respect, sincerely yours, 
 
 R. Patterson. 
 
 THE above brief letter would be incomplete without 
 some explanation. Our command, several thou- 
 sand strong, was encamped on the bank of a lovely little 
 stream which takes its rise in the Orizaba Mountains, 
 rushing from the mountains in a tumbling and tumult- 
 
440 Life and Adventures of 
 
 uous torrent, then flowing placidly through the valley for 
 several miles, when it comes to an abrupt depression in 
 the valley and takes a perpendicular leap of one hun- 
 dred and fifty feet. Our camp was some two or three 
 miles above this fall. We were a portion of General 
 Patterson's division, and his head-quarters were at Santa 
 Anna's hacienda, about a mile from our camp. The 
 imagination cannot picture a more lovely place. We 
 were waiting for the rest of the command to come up, 
 of which Colonel Winecoop, of Pennsylvania, was in 
 charge. Our extra stock was placed about twelve miles 
 down the river, on a rich bottom, for grazing, with a 
 small detachment (I believe about seventy-five in 
 number) to guard them. It being well known that the 
 treaty of peace had been signed and ratified, it was 
 thought there was little or no danger from the Mexicans. 
 Now it so happened that we needed some commissary 
 supplies, much of which had to be procured from the 
 country through which we passed, and in many instances 
 by forced purchase. That is, we would take what we 
 wanted and leave the owners a fair compensation in 
 coin. I had detailed a force of about one hundred and 
 fifty men and quite a wagon train, to go down the river 
 in quest of rations. I had proceeded about eight miles, 
 having left the direct line of the river and main valley, 
 and was some two miles east of it, aniong some low, 
 rolling hills and small valleys, when my advance 
 reported horsemen and lancers in our front. My force 
 were all mounted men. I halted immediately and sent 
 out a small scouting party, under cover of a brushy 
 hill. As the enemy evidently had not yet discovered 
 us, we had but little difficulty in getting their course- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 441 
 
 They were traveling at right angles to us, down a narrow 
 valley, and' directly towards our stock encampment. 
 
 My scouts reported the party to be a battalion of 
 lancers, from two hundred and fifty to three hundred 
 strong. Their object was quite evident to me, and if I 
 was to save our men and stock I must act promptly. 
 I left ten men to guard the wagons and put the rest of 
 the command in rapid motion, keeping behind the low 
 hills; and when we broke upon the Mexicans over the 
 brow of the hill, we were not five hundred feet from 
 them. We charged for the center, dashed through, and, 
 wheeling to the right and left, rolled their two flanks up 
 like a scroll. They stood the shock for a moment, and 
 ordered their fire with more coolness than I had expected; 
 but they could not stand our carbine and holster fire, 
 and broke and scattered in all directions. They left 
 twenty-three upon the ground, seven dead and sixteen 
 badly wounded — seven fatally. We had three killed 
 and seven wounded, most of them slightly, and I lost 
 my favorite horse. After the fight I ordered up the 
 wasfons, we loaded our dead and wounded, and the 
 wounded Mexicans, into them, returned to camp, and 
 reported to Colonel Collins (who was no friend of mine). 
 
 The affair caused a great commotion in camp. Colonel 
 Collins ordered me under arrest for acts of war in time 
 of peace, and I demanded to be taken before the com- 
 manding-general (Patterson). On inquiry, among the 
 wounded Mexicans was found a lieutenant, who ac- 
 knowledged that they had arranged to attack the camp 
 and capture the stock. After a full hearing, the general 
 dismissed the charge, highly complimented me, and said 
 he wished they had more like me. And this is what 
 29 
 
442 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the old general meant when he said in the foregoing- 
 letter, " Your conduct at that time and your subsequent 
 actions met my entire approval." 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 A SEA VOYAGE TO SANTA BARBARA. 
 
 IN a previous chapter I have incidentally referred to a 
 homeward trip from Los Angeles, through the San 
 Joaquin Valley, by rail. In this I will give a short 
 sketch of my journey thither, down the coast. 
 
 I left Alameda, November 25, 1883, and took passage 
 on the steamer y^^^r(9;/, which sailed at nine o'clock in the 
 morning, with a sharp wind from the northwest. Con- 
 trary to our expectations, as we passed through the 
 Golden Gate the water was without a ripple, but when 
 fairly at sea, the wind being N. N. W., the vessel was 
 thrown into the trough of a long and heavy swell. Ere- 
 long I saw the most vivacious and happy faces blanch, 
 while a general movement on deck led me to conclude 
 that all the passengers excepting myself had near and 
 dear acquaintances on board; for I saw ladies and gen- 
 tlemen rushing into each other's arms. Still I noticed 
 that the embraces bestowed had nothing of tenderness 
 or affection, since they generally fled from the embrace 
 of the first to the next they met. I noticed, too, that 
 youth and age embraced each other alike as lovers, 
 while I remained a melancholy spectator of the scene, 
 burning tears fast running down my face because no 
 one addressed me. On reflection, I was consoled by 
 the discovery that I was on the windward side; hence 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 443 
 
 no one could conveniently rush to my arms, and those 
 burning tears were caused by the spray that struck 
 the side of the ship, giving me a liberal contribution. 
 My first thought was to avoid this contribution by 
 passing to the lee; but I soon discovered that on that 
 side there was great business activity; men, women, and 
 children were "casting up their accounts." While all 
 seemed anxious for a settlement, they did not seem to 
 succeed, as I saw them return to their state-rooms, singly 
 and in pairs, with infinite disgust depicted on their coun- 
 tenances. It was remarkable that their efforts seemed to 
 destroy their appetite for dinner, the representatives at ta- 
 ble being few in number. The captain, a young and good- 
 looking fellow, seeming very wise and independent, sat 
 at the head of the table, with his roast beef, carving- 
 knife and fork, the dispenser of culinary blessing, but, 
 withal, somewhat disconsolate, since all his " pullets " 
 had "gone to roost," and only us poor devils, who were 
 " placed before the mast," to serve. Of course I pitied 
 him, and I would not have waited for a second invitation 
 to take a seat next to him; but, unfortunately for him, I 
 did not get a first 
 
 The night was rough, but the morning was smooth 
 and fair. The wind and waves had subsided and as 
 general settlements seemed to have been obtained, all 
 went " merry as a marriage bell." Of course we kept 
 near the coast, which was rough and generally precip- 
 itous, while the valleys along the coast lay back of a 
 bluff range, with small outlets to the shore. I found my 
 notions of the bay and town of Monterey far from cor- 
 rect. The bay makes a deep, horseshoe-like indenta- 
 tion into the land. The town, instead of being at the 
 
444 LiP^E AND Adventures of 
 
 toe of the shoe, is at the heel; and, to take the coast 
 ^^oing down, it is three times as far by land as it is to 
 sail across by water, from one heel of the shoe to the 
 other. 
 
 From San Francisco to point Concepcion, our course 
 is nearly south; at that point we turn directly east, and 
 on that course we reach Santa Barbara, at which place 
 we found ourselves on the second day out at eight o'clock 
 in the evening. Before speaking of this place, I must 
 refer to a very strange phenomenon which occurred at 
 sunset, before our arrival. As thousands have hereto- 
 fore written of the lovely sunsets at sea, the subject 
 having been handled by wit, genius, and ability, in colors 
 more than the sun itself ever presented, I shall not, at 
 this late day, enter the arena and compete for the prize. 
 And though it is of a sunset at sea that I speak, it is 
 not the bare sight of seeing it lave its brilliant disk in 
 the briny wave. 
 
 I heard an exclamation from one of the passengers: 
 " Oh ! look at the sun." I turned my eyes to the west, 
 where a huge, bright golden block presented itself. It 
 was perfectly square, and seemed to be about three feet 
 across, and not more than ten minutes above the water. 
 As I was w^atching and marveling at the strange appear- 
 ance of the scene, the base of the perpendicular seemed 
 stationary, while the upper portion commenced sinking 
 until it presented the appearance of a large cheese, with 
 the edge towards us. The lower portion or base then 
 began to sink, while the upper portion appeared station- 
 ary till it formed the most perfect picture of a mam- 
 moth wash-bowl, with its broad top and graceful curving 
 in and usual swell of the bowl, while there was the usual 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 445 
 
 and perfect flange around the bottom of the bowl, 
 which seemed to sit upon the water. It now commenced 
 elongating until it set in a long and fiery glow upon the 
 water. But this was not the last of it; for as the dark- 
 ness gathered in the east, and in that direction all was 
 somber night, a soft pink tinge illuminated the western 
 sky, casting a soft, delicate light upon the shimmering 
 ripple of the ocean, which changed and flashed as if 
 beneath the rays of a noonday sun. In fact, the west 
 was so lit up that you could look in that direction until 
 the sea and sky united in the distance. The phenome- 
 non of the western light continued after our arrival at 
 Santa Barbara, throwing a lovely light purple glow 
 over the mountains surrounding the town. 
 
 As before stated, the coast at Santa Barbara runs 
 nearly cast and west. The town is situated upon a 
 channel which separates the mainland from the four 
 islands that lie immediately north of the place some 
 twenty miles distant. These islands seem to form 
 almost a continuous belt, running nearly parallel with 
 the mainland, thus breaking, in a great degree, the fury 
 of southern storms. The town spreads out over the 
 mouth of the valley, where it reaches the ocean, extend- 
 ing up the valley about two miles. I should think the 
 ground rises, from the ocean to the upper end of the 
 town, about one hundred feet. The town is a good deal 
 scattered, covering an area usually occupied by a city 
 of 10,000 inhabitants, while it had at that time less than 
 5,000. What is peculiar is that the valley is not sit- 
 uated on any stream emptying into the ocean, and the 
 town is watered from Mission Canon, the only water 
 upon which the inhabitants rely for fire or domestic uses; 
 
446 Life and Adventures of 
 
 but the supply seems plentiful. With the gradual rise 
 from and slope to the ocean, and bathed by the first 
 rays of the rising sun as he comes forth from his watery 
 bed, and in close proximity, are the sloping foot-hills, 
 with their grazing herds; and then, abruptly rising, is the 
 rough and rugged Coast Range, giving a great variety 
 of scenery. Here the millionaire may smoke his cigar 
 on the veranda of the Arlington and drink in with 
 pleasure the grand and varying prospect, while the poor 
 invalid, who can illy spare the means to try the experi- 
 ment of life or death, can first turn his eyes upon the 
 ocean and cast forth his anchor of hope; or, if despair 
 seizes upon him, he can from his chamber turn his eyes 
 toward the old cathedral, with its Moorish towers, which 
 seem to invite him to a comfortable last resting-place. 
 
 Yes, Santa Barbara is a pretty place; but she is a 
 parasite, not living upon any innate resources of her 
 own, but upon foreign substance. It will ever be the 
 stopping-place of the invalid and the temporary home 
 of the pleasure-seeker, while the denizens of the town 
 will take good care that sojourners pay for all they get. 
 But, on the whole, I think that in case one wants a holi- 
 day, there is no lovelier place to take it than in Santa 
 Barbara. As to the inhabitants, they are about one- 
 third native Californians, wholly strangers to energy or 
 progress, still living as their fathers lived sixty years 
 ago. The Arlington Hotel is the finest and, in my 
 opinion, the best kept of any on the coast. 
 
 The valley in which Santa Barbara is situated is small, 
 not more than eighteen miles long, with an average 
 breadth of from two to two and one-fourth miles. I drove 
 out to the place of my old friend Sherman Stowe, tak- 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 447 
 
 ing- lunch with him; then to Colonel Hollister's, and 
 then through the Cooper Ranch, thus taking in the entire 
 length of the valley. Stowe, Hollister, Cooper, and 
 Moore own the principal portion of the valley, and they 
 all have lovely places, mostly fruit farms. Mr. Cooper's 
 place is the most extensive. I believe he has 15,000 
 almond, 15,000 walnut, and 5,000 olive trees in full bear- 
 ing, all protected by gum-tree wind-breaks. It is said 
 that he makes the finest and purest olive oil in the world, 
 and he puts it all in labeled bottles to avoid imposition. 
 This is really a fruit valley. They can raise small grain 
 and corn, in a word, all cereals; but the fruit interest 
 largely predominates, and the great misfortune of the 
 valhy is that the land holdings are entirely too large for 
 the area of country capable of culture. 
 
 I remained in Santa Barbara four days, leaving on 
 December ist for Santa Monica, and thence by rail to 
 Los Angeles, returning home by the Southern Pacific 
 Railroad route. 
 
POKMS 
 
 BY COLONEL L. A. NORTON. 
 
 TO MISS MINNIE MOLLOY, SANTA ROSA. 
 
 1AM thinking of thee, dear Minnie, 
 I am thinking of thee now, 
 While thou art gently sleeping, 
 
 With a calm and cloudless brow; 
 For 'tis noon of night, dear Minnie, 
 
 And the fleecy clouds do fly, 
 Shown by the moon's uncertain light. 
 
 Like some giant of the sky. 
 With just enough of borrowed light 
 
 Sweetly resting on the plain, 
 To change each shadow to a sprite 
 
 To people this earth again. 
 Among these sylphs I seem to see 
 
 Little Minnie, bright and fair, 
 With her large and lustrous eyes, 
 
 And her light-brown braids of hair. 
 Full well I know 'tis fancy all, 
 
 Yet is it not sweet to feel 
 That fancy can somewhat supply 
 
 What we so much wish was real ? 
 So sleep, dear Minnie, gently sleep. 
 
 With no shade upon thy brow. 
 There is one sentinel on his beat 
 Who is thinking of thee now. 
 
450 Life and Adventures of 
 
 to my wife. 
 
 I AM thinking of thee, dear Emma, 
 
 Alone thinking of thee; 
 While you in your home are waiting, 
 
 And are watching for me. 
 
 You will claim it was a weakness, 
 That I should never know; 
 
 But, my dear, it is a weakness 
 I am proud to have you show. 
 
 You are never demonstrative, 
 Or at least so you would seem, 
 
 But all through your seeming coldness, 
 I see affections gleam. 
 
 So now, down life's path together, 
 We hand in hand will roam, 
 
 Until time and age shall call us 
 To dark oblivion's home. 
 
 But until we rest together, 
 We'll make the best of life, 
 
 Though I make a rough old husband, 
 You are a loving wife. 
 
 TO MARY. 
 
 Mary, I am now alone; 
 The midnight hour has long since flown, 
 Yet visions haunt my sleepless mind, 
 In search of what I cannot find. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 451 
 
 Oh, vain the search; the efforts vain; 
 
 The prize I seek, I cannot, gain; 
 
 For that I've sacrificed my rest, 
 
 And ch'mbed the rugged mountain's breast. 
 
 I've stemmed the stream where torrents roll, 
 A terror to the bravest soul; 
 Panuca's course I've traced alone, 
 Where cities were long since o'ergrown 
 
 With a dense growth of chaparral. 
 Without a tongue their fate to tell; 
 Where panthers crouch and tigers growl ; 
 Where leopards hide and lions howl; 
 
 Tarantulas, whose fatal sting 
 On man and beast destruction bring — 
 I've faced death in a thousand forms, 
 Mid battle's glare and frightful storms. 
 
 I've floated on the ocean's wave 
 When every surge my breast would lave; 
 From strLnded ship I've sought the land 
 Where earthquakes shook the very sand. 
 
 rom battle-field I bear the scars 
 Those dealt me by the sons of Mars, 
 And all for what? Why did I roam ? 
 To trace each clime, why leave my home ? 
 
 For happiness! but ah; to me 
 How transient must that name e'er be; 
 While hopeless here I journey on, 
 I feel, I know, I am alone. 
 
452 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Who see me smile can never know 
 The yet unfathomed depths of woe, 
 The anguish of this bitter strife 
 That rends my soul and poisons life. 
 
 For happier lots that have been cast, 
 They cannot feel the withering- blast 
 That breaks my heart, that kills my frame, 
 And makes me loathe my very name! 
 
 But would to God my heart were steel, 
 To oppose the bitter pangs I feel, 
 And check the sigh that e'en would start 
 The very cords that bind my heart. 
 
 To one on earth the power is given 
 To make this hell eternal heaven; 
 If she would now but smile on me. 
 And bid me henceforth happy be! 
 
 RESPECTFULLY ADDRESSED TO ONE OF THE AMERI- 
 CAN OFFICERS IN MEXICO. 
 
 "This Northern girl, I fear her not, 
 Though brave and fair thou art; 
 My shadow stands 'as sentinel 
 To my loved captain's heart. 
 
 "That guarded palace m^cks thy siege. 
 Its gates thou canst not win; 
 Go sighing round his home at night. 
 But dare not enter in ! 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 453 
 
 "He told me you were beautiful, 
 But I am well content; 
 My form alone has charms for him, — 
 He swore it when he went. 
 
 "Let welcome, in its softest tones. 
 Its dearest secret tell, 
 Such welcome e'en cannot efface 
 The sound of my farewell." 
 
 Thus spoke Amelia, sitting lone 
 
 On Mexico's wild shore; 
 The foaming waves of that wide gulf 
 
 Her dark eye traveled o'er. 
 
 She spoke it with a steadfast trust — 
 
 Oh ! trust that vain must prove; 
 She spoke it with the curling lip 
 
 Of proud, triumphant love. 
 
 Poor girl ! at that same sunset hour, 
 
 In the distant Northern land. 
 The captain knelt and pressed his lips 
 
 On a white, bejeweled hand. 
 
 Then clasped the lady in his arms — 
 
 His vows of yore forgot; 
 His heart withdrew itself from hers. 
 
 But Amelia knew it not. 
 
454 Life and Adventures of 
 
 to my truest and best friend. 
 
 How sweet it is for us to know 
 
 That there are hearts that burn 
 With love for us, where'er we go, 
 
 And sigh for our return. 
 Then, though the world is cold and drear, 
 
 And gives the bosom pain, 
 We've but to turn to scenes more dear, 
 
 And all is bright again. 
 
 But sad must be the home of those 
 
 Condemned to live alone, 
 With none to cheer amid life's woes, 
 
 And none to call their own. 
 No season sweet of joy doth come 
 
 To shed its fragrance there; 
 No sunshine to disperse the gloom 
 
 That broods a dark despair. 
 
 The heart can ne'er be truly blest 
 
 Unless it can recline 
 On some congenial, faithful breast, 
 
 Where love's sweet tendrils twine. 
 Then we can brook life's many ills. 
 
 Its sorrow and its woe, 
 For love its soothing balm distils 
 
 To cheer us while below. 
 
 TO A. C. BARRY, ESQ. 
 
 Adieu, dearest friend! I must bid you adieu. 
 I cannot, I will not, ask you longer to stay. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 455 
 
 Remember there's one friend that ever is true, 
 And his heart is with you, wherever you stray. 
 
 With steps fast receding, when thy native shore, 
 
 Like some longed-for haven, shall burst on thy view, 
 
 When thy heart it shall throb like the cataract's roar, 
 To again greet thy friends that are constant and true, 
 
 Where beauty will smile and where maidens will love. 
 Where a fond mother will greet her wandering boy, 
 
 Where sounds that are soft as the coo-cooing dove 
 Will start tears of regret that will dampen the joy, 
 
 Thy heart will then heave for a friend that's not there, 
 With a pang that no vulgar affection can feel*; 
 
 A friend that thy weal or thy woe would fain share. 
 And a friend that loves thee with woman-like zeal. 
 
 Though barren and cold is the world without thee, 
 I can ask thee, in justice, no longer to stay. 
 
 But with thee, my friend, my heart ever shall be. 
 To blend with thy visions by night or by day. 
 
 May blessings of Deity rest on thy head. 
 
 To shield thee from sickness,harm, death, and the grave. 
 May Heaven combine to strengthen life's thread, 
 
 To shield thee, dear friend, from the merciless wave. 
 
 BLACK EYES. 
 
 Some worship a brow that is ever serene, 
 
 Like the lifeless sky of a painted scene, 
 
 Where the sunshine sleeps and the clouds are still, 
 
 Just as calmly as gushes the mountain rill. 
 
456 Life and Adventures of 
 
 There are hearts that can worship the soft, pale dye, 
 
 And passionless hue of a tame, blue eye; 
 
 But such eyes to me are too patient, too true; 
 
 I love not their sleepy, inanimate hue. 
 
 But give me the glance with the soul in its rays, 
 
 An eye that can flash, and a brow that can blaze. 
 
 For one, my dear girl, is the still, smooth lake, 
 
 That no winds can ruffle and no storms can shake; 
 
 The other, the foam of the cataract's dash, 
 
 The darker the water, the brighter the flash. 
 
 TQ THE ONE FOR WHOM IT WAS INTENDED. 
 
 Some are charmed with the view and passionate hue 
 
 Of a dark and rolling eye, 
 But mine is the charm, without fear or alarm, . 
 
 Where all is calm as a summer sky. 
 
 As deep as the sea, let that eye be to me, 
 
 Then I know the affection is true; 
 I can read in that face, displeasure or grace. 
 
 When lit up by an eye of blue. 
 
 If you wish to disclose your sorrows or woes 
 
 To friends that are constant and true, 
 Take the clear open brow, requesting no vow, 
 
 That's lit up with an eye of blue. 
 
 And if sympathy's tear should ever appear, 
 You'll then take my statement as true; 
 
 Nines times out of ten, be it ladies or men, 
 'Twill be found in an eye of blue. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 457 
 
 Yet 'tis not the eye that can whimper or cry, 
 
 When danger approaches in view, 
 But as firm as the arch, sustaining time's march. 
 
 The eye of unfaltering blue. 
 
 An eye that is blue, a heart that is true. 
 Shall hence be the drift of my dream; 
 
 And a lady most fair with lightish brown hair. 
 In song shall henceforth be my theme. 
 
 LINES TO MRS. ELIZABETH HALE. 
 
 This rose to me is passing fair, 
 Fresh from the donor's hand; 
 
 Its fragrance floats as rich and rare 
 As any in the land. 
 
 Upon the plain, the rose we hail, 
 The daisies on the mount, 
 
 We pluck the lily from the vale, 
 The cresses from the fount. 
 
 The glory of the morning fair, 
 . First hails us when we wake, 
 We're greeted by the violets rare, 
 As morning walks we take. 
 
 And thus we find our path is spread 
 With sweetness and perfume, 
 
 And odors of the flowerets shed 
 Throughout the month of June. 
 30 
 
458 Life and Adventures of 
 
 But when they fade, the withered stalk 
 
 Is shaken by each blast, 
 Each time enfeebled by the shock, 
 
 In winter sinks at last. 
 
 An emblem this of man's sad fate, 
 
 A floweret here below; 
 In spring he blooms with joy elate, 
 
 And sinks in winter's snow. 
 
 The rose that blooms upon his cheek 
 
 Will wither and decay, 
 When the fond pleasures that we seek 
 
 By magic fade away. 
 
 It bends the stalk in silent gloom, 
 All withered by the blast, 
 
 And, like the flower, cut down at noon, 
 At evening's shade 'tis passed. 
 
 Unlike the rose, there's some below 
 When earthly beauties fade, 
 
 Sweeter perfumes around them throw, 
 Approaching evening shade. 
 
 And when the stalk is bleak and bare, 
 
 Shook by winter of age, 
 A bright halo will hover there, 
 
 That mocks to us the sage. 
 
 The word, with magic in its charms, 
 That bids the soul aspire. 
 
 Snatches a brand from nature's arms, 
 To light the poet's fire. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 459 
 
 MIDNIGHT AND THE GRAVE. 
 
 The lover's lute is hushed and still, 
 The moon has sought the western hill, 
 The breeze now holds its balmy breath, 
 All silent as the cells of death. 
 The nightingale, whose ceaseless note 
 Would seem to rend his tiny throat, 
 Now for a moment's hushed and still; 
 You scarce can hear the murmuring rill. 
 The dewdrop on the violet's brow 
 Would seem devoutly waiting now, 
 As if its fall upon the ground 
 Might break the silence thus profound; 
 Where midnight, with dark pinions spread 
 Her gloom o'er living and o'er dead — 
 A gloom that all erelong must feel. 
 Humanity's eternal seal; 
 Where innocence in silence sleeps, 
 Where guilt no more its vigils keeps, 
 Where toil and strife will be at rest. 
 Where peace will calm the troubled breast. 
 And where the high and low shall be 
 Forever on equality. 
 
 There glitt'ring wealth and boasted fame 
 Shall, cank'ring, lose their worthless name, 
 By mouldering time beneath the sod. 
 And all true merit go to God. 
 
 On my return from Mexico at the close of the war, 
 our command was mustered out of service at Alton, 
 Illinois; but I was compelled to remain there a few days 
 
460 Life and Adventures of 
 
 to settle up some commissary and quartermaster claims. 
 One day I was riding out with some ladies, when Miss 
 Jane Young Harrison threw a rose of Sharon at me. I 
 picked up the flower and jestingly said, " I will return 
 this at the end of ten years," at the same time deposit- 
 ing the rose in my bosom, and thinking no more of it 
 at the time; but when retiring at night, on divesting my- 
 self of my vest, the rose dropped to the floor. I picked 
 it up and threw it between the leaves of one of my 
 quartermaster account books, again forgetting all about 
 it for seven months, when one day, in turning over 
 the book, I discovered the flower pressed between the 
 leaves. I then concluded to keep my promise, and in- 
 closed one little petal with the following lines: — 
 
 One single leaf I send to thee, 
 
 Of what in jest you threw at me. 
 
 But when ten years have passed and flown, 
 
 I'll then return to thee thy own. 
 
 My life for the ensuing ten years was adventurous and 
 somewhat roving; but I retained the flower, and the 
 expiration of the time found me in California, whence I 
 returned it with the following lines: — 
 
 Here is thy flower, though rudely pressed 
 'Tis as I clasped it to my breast. 
 And, like some sentinel at his post, 
 For ten long years I've guarded close 
 This little talisman of thine. 
 That I would fain have claimed as mine. 
 But would not Vantage by my wrongs — 
 To thee and thine the pledge belongs; 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 461 
 
 And when I raised it from the dust, 
 I only held the flow'r in trust. 
 
 But oh ! how faded is the flower, 
 Compared with what it was that hour 
 When I received it at thy hand, 
 And bore it to this distant land. 
 Yet not more faded than the one 
 That bore it from its native home; 
 For each the burning deserts passed, 
 And each has felt the mountain's blast; 
 Together bound and ever one, 
 We both have felt a tropic sun; 
 Together we have sallied forth 
 To frozen regions of the North; 
 Together in the forest wild, 
 Where civil life had never smiled. 
 We've rested from our toil and care — 
 Our sentinel the grizzly bear. 
 
 Thus, guarding it as my own life, 
 I've borne it through this world of strife 
 Until, at last, the hour has come 
 To send the little traveler home. 
 And when its pallid form you view, 
 Remember that my words were true. 
 Although the pledge in jest was given 
 Its place of register was Heaven, 
 
 And now one boon I ask alone, 
 
 That this you'll guard as I have done; 
 
 And when you view its petals fair, 
 
 For its poor guardian breathe one prayer. 
 
 This from your friend and servant true. 
 
 So, lady fair, a long adieu. 
 
462 Life and Adventures of 
 
 the sylphide. 
 
 All hail to thee, sylphide, fair queen of the mountain; 
 
 Let angels thy dew-gleaming footsteps sustain, 
 Whose impress a shadow ne'er made on the fountain, 
 
 Whose footfall no imprint e'er left on the plain. 
 
 Seraphic in form, and surpassing in beauty. 
 Her sex are all pigmies in honor and worth, 
 
 So constant in love, in affection and duty. 
 
 Earth never before to such graces gave birth. 
 
 But why so dejected, my day-star of glory? 
 
 Oh! why art thou doomed thus to sigh when alone. 
 While pensively gazing on mountain-tops hoary, 
 
 Or lulled to repose by the rill's mellow tone? 
 
 Have the hopes of thy youth all like angels departed 
 And left thee to mourn the deep blight on thy soul? 
 
 Has fortune thy fond expectations deserted. 
 
 O'er which now nor beauty nor charms hold control? 
 
 Or by destiny doomed to still deeper dejection. 
 By stern, unrelenting fate's crushing decree. 
 
 That places a barrier between thy affection 
 And the one of all others the dearest to thee? 
 
 If so, I can sympathize with thy condition. 
 
 Although my poor heart has long since ceased to love; 
 
 To soothe the afflicted of earth is my mission — 
 A delegate sent from the high court above. 
 
 So look upon me as a friend and a brother; 
 
 Believe me that such I shall ever remain. 
 In truth, you may say we have not the same mother, 
 
 Yet friendship's kind impulse is warming each vein. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 463 
 
 ODE TO THE RT. REV. J. K. BARRY. 
 
 Waft, ye winds, some fitting strain 
 From mountain crest, from hill or plain, 
 His praise to sing who here has come, 
 And left his family and home, 
 
 And crossed the deep where billows roar, 
 
 Then sought the California shore. 
 
 Were it for gold he crossed the main 
 
 I should not write this feeble strain. 
 
 But how delightful 'tis to feel 
 That one from love and Christian zeal 
 Should cross the deep where billows roll, 
 His only gain, the immortal soul. 
 
 Now in the halls that long have rung 
 To Bacchanalian's thickened tongue. 
 By him, that sacred truth is taught, 
 That souls by Jesus' blood were bought. 
 
 He labors hard, he's labored long, 
 
 And in the cause is waxing strong; 
 
 But where are Zion's sons to aid? 
 
 Have they not down the cold stream strayed ? 
 Has not that filthy lucre, gold, 
 Made many a Christian heart grow cold ? 
 But bid them listen to thy call. 
 And sound the trump from Zion's wall. 
 
 And when thy limbs enfeebled grow. 
 From godly labors here below. 
 May peace and quiet close thy eyes. 
 And angels bear thee to the skies, 
 
464 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Where brighter gold than mortals coin 
 Shall in thy crown of glory shine ! 
 A passport, in the halls above, 
 To the eternal throne of love. 
 
 montega's adieu to the fox. 
 
 Adieu to this valley — the sweetest on earth, 
 
 Adieu to the ashes that first gave me birth, 
 
 Adieu to the Fox, with her green shaded shore, 
 
 For thy crystal waves I shall visit no more. 
 
 Adieu to the islands that dot thy bright strand, 
 
 Adieu to thy scenery so varied and grand. 
 
 Though the white man may dot the country around, 
 
 And cities may rise on my old hunting-ground. 
 
 Where the red man sported in innocent glee, 
 
 The breeze of the morning ne'er floated more free. 
 
 Their day-dreams were happy, their visions were bright, 
 
 And in their rude shelter their slumbers w'ere light; 
 
 But where's now the odor of wild rose perfume. 
 
 That swept o'er the plain in the bright month of June? 
 
 Now adieu to that council hearth ruined and cold. 
 
 Where burned the war-fire of the Fox chieftain bold. 
 
 Adieu to the graves of our fathers who've fled, — 
 
 We would not recall them again from the dead, 
 
 To witness the sorrows of those that are left; 
 
 Our kindred, our country, of all we're bereft. 
 
 Who pities the red man ? — his rights are unknown, 
 
 He wanders dejected — no kindred nor home. 
 
 The white man knows naught of his sorrows nor pain. 
 
 And the son of the forest scorns to complain; 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. ' 465 
 
 For soon I will pass o'er that river so bright, 
 That I have surveyed in the visions of night, 
 Where pale-faces' knives are no longer than mine. 
 To fight the great battle all red men combine; 
 Montega will join them, with quiver and bow, 
 To the land of the spirits I'm anxious to go. 
 
 LINES. 
 
 Oh ! list, ye nymphs of grace divine 
 
 Not to an idle tale, 
 But list ye to this lay of mine, 
 
 As borne thee on the gale. 
 
 I speak to thee of beauties rare. 
 
 Not faded yet by time. 
 And beauties that you cannot share, 
 
 Or I'd be claiming mine. 
 
 Another claims that lovely cheek. 
 Where richest crimsons flow, 
 
 And eyes that kindness doth bespeak, 
 A bosom white as snow. 
 
 Of gentle mien, of graceful form, 
 And manners much refined, 
 
 To grace the fate for which you're born, 
 So, Mary, be resigned. 
 
 The day it came, the die was cast, 
 
 Thy fortune it was made; 
 So, mourn you not for scenes now past, 
 
 Nor fortune yet upbraid. 
 
466 Life and Adventures of 
 
 It was yourself that played the game, 
 And sealed it with a smack, 
 
 And, as you did not like your name, 
 You changed it into Mack. 
 
 So, Mary, now be kind and true 
 Unto the choice you've made. 
 
 And when these lines you come to view, 
 Just think on what I've said. 
 
 Whilst passing down life's eventide. 
 We'll see the heads of flax, 
 
 And, asking what we have espied, 
 You'll say. They're little Macks. 
 
 ON SLANDER. 
 
 I'm seated by the babbling brook 
 To read a page from nature's book, 
 And trace each evil from its birth. 
 That can afflict this mortal earth; 
 And in their various stages trace 
 Which most affects the human race. 
 First in my catalogue I'll bring 
 What mankind deems the greatest sin — 
 He who has slain his fellow-man — 
 Inhuman brute! him let us scan. 
 He's taken that which God has given. 
 And robb'd earth of a gift from Heav'n. 
 But one received the fatal thrust ; 
 But one heart mingled with the dust. 
 This crime is known as mal in se, 
 So mal in factum let it be. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 467 
 
 Next jealousy, with eye of green, 
 Within my catalogue is seen; 
 It binds the sense, makes man a slave, 
 And is more cruel than the grave. 
 A family circle feels the sting, 
 And yields to that despotic king. 
 
 But last of all, and worse I claim, 
 
 Is slander. Oh, that cruel name; 
 
 Its poisonous breath pervades the land. 
 
 It chills the heart, benumbs the hand ; 
 
 Its fatal fang and poisonous breath 
 
 Are to be dreaded more than death. 
 
 It will its horrid form intrude 
 
 'Mid circles gay or solitude. 
 
 The maiden's fame lost in a day, 
 
 Nor will it spare the matron gray; 
 
 For which they must a by-word lay, 
 
 From youth till resurrection day. 
 
 The hand that would donate most free 
 
 Is struck down by this calumny. 
 
 I ask you one and all to tell 
 
 Which crime is most deserving hell ? 
 
 Leonatus. 
 
 LINES RESPECTFULLY ADDRESSED TO 
 
 I WISH the world to understand 
 My creed is here laid down, 
 
 And they who raise opposing hand 
 Shall meet my lasting frown. 
 
468 Life and Adventures of 
 
 A friend that is not my friend's friend, 
 
 He scarcely can be mine, 
 And he who would my friend offend, 
 
 Our friendship can't combine. 
 
 Some wish to choose for me my friends, 
 
 Say who are fit and true; 
 But this will never suit my ends, 
 
 No; this will never do. 
 
 Because I will not sell a friend, 
 
 Let him be high or low; 
 To whom I shall my hand extend, 
 
 Lam the one to know. 
 
 Perhaps a friend of worth to me 
 May be of different grade, 
 
 By other friends may seem to be 
 A dead weight on me laid, 
 
 Although that friend may still be true. 
 With heart as pure as snow : 
 
 Shall I discard him to please you ? 
 I proudly answer, No. 
 
 But when I see a want of worth, 
 
 My confidence betrayed, 
 I then rebuke the erring earth, 
 
 Withdraw all pledges made. 
 
 For if my dog should chance to be 
 By all my friends despised, 
 
 My dog my only friend should be— 
 The rest all sacrificed. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 469 
 
 THE WILL OF LEONATUS. 
 
 I DIP my quill to write my will, 
 
 As slander has me slain. 
 Let this attest my last bequest 
 
 Is made with feeble frame. 
 By wish inclined, and strong in mind, 
 
 My will I thus have planned: 
 Bequeath and give to those that live 
 
 Within this Western land. 
 Good-will to all, both great and small, 
 
 For this they surely need; 
 And love I'll add — they want it bad — 
 
 So now let me proceed. 
 A patent plan I'll give to man 
 
 For saving of his lungs — 
 When scandal rolls, let honest souls 
 
 Just halter-break their tongues. 
 
 And here's a sword that e'er will guard 
 
 All those who choose to wield, — 
 'Tis for the youth, its name is Truth. 
 
 To fend, you need no shield. 
 For it will slay or so dismay 
 
 Each falsehood, as it flies. 
 That ere you know you've dealt a blow- 
 
 The foe before you lies. 
 A measure small I'll give to all, 
 
 A little balance scale, 
 Ju.stice its name, from whence it came, 
 
 To tell you I shall fail. 
 
470 Life and Adventures of 
 
 To be sincere, I hold it dear, 
 
 And make a small reserve, 
 But feel inclined to ease my mind 
 
 By giving who deserve. 
 
 There's one gem more I hold in store. 
 
 It is so rich and rare 
 I do intend to recommend 
 
 That ladies take a share. 
 You wait to see what it can be — 
 
 Charity is the name. 
 If each will share the gem to wear, 
 
 You'll save each other's fame. 
 If this small store is rightly wore 
 
 Within the human breast, 
 This bitter strife would lose its life. 
 
 And man would find a rest. 
 In witness here that I'm sincere. 
 
 My name is written thus, 
 My usual hand I still command, 
 
 L. A. Leonatus. 
 
 WRITTEN ON THE SUMMIT OF FITCH MOUNTAIN WHILE 
 SITTING ON AN ANT-HILL. 
 
 Little ant, come, tell me why 
 Thou hast built thy home so high; 
 These high cliffs why didst thou scale 
 And leave the warm and pleasant vale.^ 
 
 Has the same God that gave thee breath 
 Inspired in thee the thoughts of death, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 471 
 
 Like man, creation's lord while here, 
 And fitted for another sphere? 
 
 Like his, doth thy ambition rise, 
 To endless life beyond the skies? 
 And is this mound, on which Lve trod, 
 A temple of the living God? 
 
 And didst thou choose this mountain high 
 To bring thy worship near the sky? 
 And didst thou tread, as Moses trod, 
 With priestly step, the mount of God? 
 
 Methinks I hear the answer, '' Yes; 
 As creatures we could do no less 
 Than offer from this lofty shrine 
 To our Creator praise divine." 
 
 If so, I'll heed thy warm appeal; 
 I reverence and respect thy zeal. 
 And peaceful leave thy busy home 
 Wiser than ere I hence had come. 
 
 In knowing that beneath my feet 
 Worshiping congregations meet. 
 Serving with thought sublime, as we. 
 In their own way, the Deity. 
 
 A DREAM. 
 
 My drooping lids o'erhung by care, 
 I fell asleep whilst in my chair. 
 I dreamed as man has seldom dreamed. 
 Was omnipresent, as it seemed. 
 
472 Life and Adventures of 
 
 And backward rolled the wheels of time 
 To early Asia's sunny clime. 
 I stood by Moses, side by side, 
 And saw the visions he espied. 
 
 Infancy then I saw the stroke 
 That in his wrath the tablets broke; 
 Though vexed was he, it made me laugh 
 To see poor Aaron's golden calf. 
 
 I stood upon the Red Sea coast, 
 There saw the tide sweep Egypt's host. 
 I saw Alexander's archer train 
 Take the rock Ardes of the plain. 
 
 I next saw the immortal birth 
 Of the Messiah come to earth ; 
 I saw him, when a babe, indeed, 
 He seemed the nurse's aid to need. 
 
 Whilst in his youth I passed that way, 
 Saw parchments there before him lay; 
 I saw China's Confucius' name 
 Inscribed upon the parchments plain. 
 
 I read in those the source and fount 
 Of Christ's great sermon on the mount; 
 A doctrine taught in days of yore 
 By Chinese prince long years before. 
 
 I traced him through this lower clay, 
 And watched each mesmeric display; 
 I saw him manlike meet his doom, 
 And godlike rise from Joseph's tomb. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 473 
 
 I knew that I was not deceived; 
 Unlike the Jews, I then believed. 
 I saw his doctrines then advance 
 From bloody Rome to skeptic France. 
 
 With Bible doctrine it was hurled 
 To every nation of the world, 
 Where men prepar'd all to receive, 
 Need only hear it to believe. 
 
 Soon I beheld another scene, 
 That changed the aspect of my dream; 
 From Ishmael there sprung a light 
 That even pierced Arabia's night. 
 
 I saw a caravan depart, 
 Journey'd with it to Smyrna's mart; 
 I saw one sit beneath a yew 
 That by the way for ages grew. 
 
 But the old tree had quite decayed, 
 Refused to man or beast its shade; 
 But when great Allah sat him there, 
 The tree spread forth with foliage fair. 
 
 The prophet then the desert bless'd, 
 As many Arabs will attest, 
 And a hardened wretch was I 
 Not*to believe in great Allah. 
 
 But when I saw him raise his brand, 
 
 Defeat his foes by blowing sand; 
 
 As well as illustrations given 
 
 Of midnight trips to seventh heaven; 
 
 31 
 
474 Life and Adventures of 
 
 And when I saw the murderous snare, 
 And saw the holy prophet share 
 The poisoned meat, that harmed him not, 
 Though others to the grave it brought, 
 
 A convert to his faith was I, 
 And shouted for the great Allah. 
 I saw him bend each tot'ring shrine, 
 I saw him march to Palestine. 
 
 Against the Turks he took the field, 
 I saw Constantinople yield, — 
 Where'er Mahomet stretched his hand, 
 The nations fell at his command, 
 
 And scepters they were worthless then, 
 For all became good Musselmen, 
 And when his frame by death was bound, 
 He could not rest upon the ground. 
 
 His coffin sought the ceiling high. 
 And would have flown into the sky. 
 But no attraction called it forth 
 To leave behind its native earth. 
 
 Content with man, his power to show, 
 Mahomet wisely stayed below, 
 And left with us his mighty shade, 
 His friends to soothe and doctrines aid. 
 
 'Twas then I saw a star arise 
 Beyond the sea in western skies; 
 I asked permission then to go 
 See what that satellite would show. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 475 
 
 The land I saw was far away; 
 
 I read its name — America — 
 
 And when I reached the distant ground, 
 
 I heard a low, unearthly sound. 
 
 In accents soft, but very clear, 
 It came unto my startled ear, 
 "The book of Mormon has been found, 
 And excavated from the ground. 
 
 " Great Joseph Smith, it is decreed, 
 The only man the book shall read." 
 And Joseph to his task then went, 
 A prophet he, in pity sent. 
 
 Joseph the words of Mormon told, 
 From hieroglyphics wrought in gold ; 
 But, oh! the wicked heart of man, 
 They scoffed at Mormon and his plan. 
 
 Joseph his sword, like Allah, drew. 
 And mustered all the Mormon crew. 
 Rushed forth to combat, sword in hand — 
 Alas, they lacked Arabia's sand. 
 
 And these brave, warlike Mormon sons 
 Were driven out by Missourians; 
 Then Illinois, that bloody State, 
 To Mormon's prophet owed a hate. 
 
 And it was in these wicked lands 
 
 That Joseph healed with righteous hands. 
 
 Or so his twelve apostles said — 
 
 I, by their word, was convert made. 
 
476 Life and Adventures of 
 
 But soon these wicked men conspired, 
 Their minds with indignation fired, 
 When they in secret laid their plan, 
 Went forth and slew this holy man. 
 
 By his death groans I was awoke; 
 My very frame in terror shook ; 
 I thought upon the vision past; . 
 I conn'd it o'er from first to last. 
 
 I scann'd at length our Christian views, 
 I turned me back to skeptic Jews, 
 I traced Mahomet from his birth, 
 Throughout his wild career on earth. 
 
 On Mormon's book I some time thought, 
 And viewed the changes it had wrought, 
 And asked myself, as well as you, 
 Which of these creeds, if any's true. 
 
 As they will show to men of sense. 
 Their proof's internal evidence; 
 That all are right, these proofs will show. 
 If all are right, why differ so? 
 
 A. DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HEAD AND HEART, AS TO 
 
 WHICH HAD THE STRONGER CLAIMS 
 
 UPON THE SOUL. 
 
 A STRANGE dispute arose one day, 
 Or so I've heard old people say; 
 Between the heart and head the strife, 
 •The fount of reason and of life, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 477 
 
 As to which had the strongest claim 
 Upon the soul, the heart or brain. 
 The heart now vindicates his cause, 
 By logic backed, and nature's laws. 
 
 HEART. 
 
 I claim the soul of man is thought, 
 And that is by pulsation wrought; 
 The blood is oxidized by me, 
 And 'genders thought, as you may see. 
 And in addition to this plea, 
 All sacred history doth agree; 
 That the heart is good or evil. 
 Works for God, or for the devil. 
 
 HEAD. 
 
 To your first position I'll concede, 
 In acquiescence to your creed, 
 That the immortal mind's the soul, 
 That governs and that guides the whole. 
 I further grant what you maintain, 
 To wit, the blood assists the brain ; 
 But when you claim the heart alone 
 Doth set King Reason on his throne, 
 I will take issue with you there, 
 And try to shew by reason fair. 
 That blood is but a single spring. 
 That doth the brain to action bring; 
 And, by its convolutions wrought. 
 The brain itself engenders thought. 
 And to maintain the grounds I take, 
 A small experiment I'll make: 
 
478 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Detach intellect from the brain, 
 And let the animal remain; 
 Then let the blood as usual rush, 
 With warm and animating gush, 
 Through all the chambers of the brain. 
 When back it will return again; 
 And when it has its functions wrought, 
 I ask. Will it engender thought? 
 Decide that point before I go. 
 The answer's now resounding. No ! 
 Then in this argument you'll find 
 That blood cannot engender mind. 
 Regarding what the Scriptures state, 
 Those records of more ancient date. 
 And also wrote on the best plan 
 That could reveal the truth to man; 
 The heart being the seat of life, 
 Man thought it, too, the seat of strife; 
 And that mankind might but believe, 
 Their teachers would not undeceive; 
 But led them on as linguists would, 
 By language that they understood. 
 
 HEART. 
 
 Your reasons are so wisely chose, 
 I hardly know how to oppose; 
 And I'll admit what you maintain. 
 That the blood works upon the brain, 
 As farmers work the sterile soil, 
 That yields its fruit but with his toil; 
 And, as experiments you've brought 
 To prove that brain produces thought. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 479 
 
 I'll offer one that will suffice 
 To show where that great lever lies. 
 I'll stay the blood in the left lung, 
 And let the venous current run, 
 Unoxidized, upon the brain, 
 And there behold the creature's pain; 
 Witness, yourself, his dying groan, 
 And see Reason's deserted throne ! 
 As in this dying state he lies, 
 The blood again I'll oxidize; 
 Now Reason to his seat is brought. 
 And Reason only lives by thought ! 
 
 HEAD. 
 
 Indulging in such wanton strife, 
 
 I'll own you might destroy life. 
 
 By pouring a destructive flood 
 
 Of grosser matter with the blood 
 
 Upon the unresisting brain, 
 
 It must create disorder, pain, 
 
 And drive Thought from his dwelling-place, 
 
 To seek a rest in open space. 
 
 But by your power to inundate. 
 
 That will not prove you can create; 
 
 For the tornado sweeps the plain 
 
 Without power to restore again. 
 
 When the infuriated blast 
 
 Assails the ship and springs the mast, 
 
 It sinks upon the Ocean's breast, 
 
 Its fury spent, and it must rest 
 
 Without the power or strength to aid 
 
 To destined port the wreck it made. 
 
480 Life and Adventures of 
 
 But I'm not competent, I find, 
 
 To argue causes for the mind; 
 
 I'll own myself a blundering elf, 
 
 And leave the cause with Thought himself. 
 
 THOUGHT. 
 
 I've listened to your pleas at length, 
 
 Their ingenuity and strength; 
 
 And I must say I feel some pride 
 
 In being called on to decide. 
 
 And I shall thus decide the strife, — 
 
 The Heart's the sire, the Head's the wife. 
 
 For me, 'tis plain you both have toiled; 
 
 I own myself to be your child; 
 
 And I am much inclined to see 
 
 You both unite in harmony. 
 
 But you're mistaken in your creed — 
 
 A point on which you both agreed — 
 
 You grant me superhuman power, 
 
 That I can only claim as dozver. 
 
 I feel myself but mortal earth, 
 
 And can't inherit by my birth. 
 
 I, by your combined power was made, 
 
 And can't exist without your aid; 
 
 I'm not the soul, as you have said, 
 
 Though to the soul, perchance, I'm wed. 
 
 This seems to be quite strange to you, 
 
 But 'tis no stranger than 'tis true. 
 
 Pray do not seem to be thus riled, 
 
 For parents oft mistake their child; 
 
 So let me introduce my guest. 
 
 Judge Reason, for he knows the best. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 481 
 
 REASON. 
 
 With Thought for many years I've been, 
 
 I'll say, e'er since the world began. 
 
 Her power the earth will e'er control, 
 
 But still I think she's not the soul. 
 
 The truth it is quite plain to all, 
 
 Souls e'er exist, or not at all; 
 
 And if we argue on that plan, 
 
 All brutes have souls as well as man; 
 
 For where's the brute to action wrought, 
 
 Unless it is by force of thought? 
 
 Has not the beast that stores his grain. 
 
 Some thought of winter's snow or rain ? 
 
 Does not the bee that sips his sweet 
 
 Lay up in store his winter's meat? 
 
 If mind's the soul, the little bee 
 
 Has future claims on Deity. 
 
 But now all ask me in one breath, 
 
 What is the soul that lives in death. 
 
 That flies from earth to hell or Heaven, 
 
 To meet its doom in justice given ? " 
 
 My answer is, " 'Twill ne'er be known 
 
 Whilst earth's encircled by a zone." 
 
 LINES. 
 
 [Written on seeing Capt. C. L. Wight, of the Second Regiment of 
 Illinois volunteers, sleeping on the brick floor of the Guard House, 
 Tampico, Mexico, after having spent the night with him as officer of the 
 day.] 
 
 Sleep on, youthful hero, in quiet reposing, 
 Thy sleep it is sweet and refreshing to thee. 
 
 Each quick beating pulse to thy watcher disclosing 
 His heart that's as buoyant — his spirit as free — 
 
482 Life and Adventures of 
 
 As the first morning zephyr that sweeps o'er the main, 
 Or thy country's flag that is floating on high, 
 
 Or the swift bounding deer that skips over the plain 
 That ghdes from pursuit when danger is nigh. 
 
 Yes, calm thy repose — that heart seems at rest. 
 With naught but a damp, cold tile for thy pillow; 
 
 But the fond tint of hope, it has softly impressed 
 A glow on that cheek, pale though not sallow. 
 
 Yes, he sleeps, and that in an enemy's land. 
 Where many a hero has slept in his gore; 
 
 Gallant young warrior, though born to command, 
 Thou soon mayst sleep to awaken no more; 
 
 Where no ties of affection nor angelic charms 
 Shall hasten the brave, youthful hero to greet; 
 
 No battle's loud roar, nor display of arms. 
 
 Shall stay his advance, or shall prompt his retreat. 
 
 Their mem'ry alone to his friends could portray 
 That heart sympathetic, both gen'rous and great, 
 
 That by war and disease had sunk to decay. 
 
 Where courage and manhood both yielded to fate. 
 
 THE RIO GRANDE SHORE. 
 
 The war-cry is sounding once more in our land, 
 Each brave heart is bounding to make a bold stand; 
 The youth of our country in armor shine bright, 
 Determined on victory, they haste to the fight. 
 The cannons roar louder, each brave heart seems prouder. 
 And loud shouts of vict'ry burst forth from the plain, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 483 
 
 The Mexicans wheeling, their broken ranks reeling, 
 
 Though vain is the effort to rally again. 
 
 Now some eyes are weeping, and some hearts are leap- 
 
 Palo Alto's red field is now covered with gore, 
 
 Where many brave heroes lie silently sleeping, 
 
 To awake to the call of their country no more, 
 
 Whilst the foemen now stand on the broad Rio Grande 
 
 Their boats not sufficient to ferry them o'er; 
 
 Their terror increasing, equipage releasing, 
 
 They have plunged and are lost in the torrent's loud roar. 
 
 The cry, " They are drowning," through the camp is 
 
 now sounding; 
 But our boats were removed ere the battle was o'er. 
 And with faces dejected, our heroes collected 
 To witness the scene from the Rio Grande shore. 
 Taylor victorious, no^name more glorious 
 Could cheer the brave hearts of Columbia's sons. 
 Our victory complete, to our foes a defeat, 
 Come, now shout it aloud with a trumpet's strong tones. 
 Adieu to those heroes who sank to repose. 
 Who fought their last battle, and conquered their foes, 
 Who bravely in action, with the saber in hand. 
 Sank to rest with the foes near the Del Norte strand. 
 And to you that survive, who fought sword in hand. 
 Who obeyed the first call of Columbia's land; 
 Who fought for your country where the cannons loud 
 
 roar. 
 Amid sabers' bright flash on the Rio Grande shore. 
 Your fame is untarnished, your honor as fair 
 As the maiden's first blush, or the bright morning-star. 
 On earth to reward you no power is given. 
 Immortal of birth, its reward is in Heaven. 
 
484 Life and Adventures of 
 
 THE patriot's DREAM. 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Souls of the brave, who, passed and gone 
 
 Beyond the praise of mortal tongue, 
 
 No longer lead your legions on, 
 
 Like the immortal Washington! 
 
 No thrilling shout to freedom's son, 
 
 To gird his glittering armor on; 
 
 No victory now is lost or won, 
 
 Nor battle stayed at setting sun; 
 
 Nor no terrific cannons roar, 
 
 To rouse the dreadful god of war. 
 
 But would to God the trump could sound, 
 For those now in oppression bound, 
 And let them pass the watchword round. 
 To Ca^iadas remotest bound; 
 That freedom's sons might catch the tone 
 All Tory faction to put down; 
 While rushing on to liberty, 
 Their only watchword — victory. 
 
 The patriot then did heave a sigh, 
 That's wafted by the breeze on high; 
 Likewise the spirits of the slain, 
 " Revenge ! " they one and all proclaim. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 485 
 
 Arrayed before their God, they stand, 
 And retribution there demand. 
 
 And now, methinks, I do behold 
 
 Bright swords of steel, and crowns of gold, 
 
 Descending near with a proud crest. 
 
 The haughty tyrants to arrest. 
 
 I saw them, marshaled one by one, 
 
 In single file come marching down; 
 
 I saw their gallant leader mount, 
 
 And well I knew the murdered LOUNT. 
 
 Then next to him, in this bright train, 
 
 Behold the bleeding MATHEWS came. 
 
 5 
 
 The next I saw was freedom's Son, 
 A warlike, bold Kentuckian; 
 With rifle long and steel all bared, 
 For deadly conflict then prepared; 
 And on his breast he wore a star. 
 That marked him as a man of war; 
 His step was measured, firm, and slow — 
 In him I recognized MORROW ! 
 
 And then the next I did descry 
 Was William Putnam's eagle eye. 
 I saw his form erect and fair, 
 His dauntless look and manly air; 
 I saw him marching to the field, 
 With vengeance written on his shield. 
 
486 Life and Adventures of 
 
 Van Schoults next came to grace the band,- 
 
 An exiled son of Poland's land; 
 
 Well trained to arms in days of yore — 
 
 A military air he bore! 
 
 And as I stood there, quite amazed, 
 
 Upon the motley crowd I gazed; 
 
 But soon I turned my eye again 
 
 From the bright legions of the plain — 
 
 When at my side and all alone, 
 
 In armor bright, stood captain DONE. 
 
 He waved a banner in his hand, 
 
 An emblem of the Spartan band^ 
 
 Who yielded not to Britain's power — 
 
 Who scorned to flee in danger's hour. 
 
 And then I turned to look again 
 
 On the bright legions of the plain; 
 
 I heard a bugle's distant peal, 
 
 I heard the clang of hoof and steel ! 
 
 I saw the warlike hosts did kneel; 
 
 And their bent forms did then reveal 
 
 Fair freedom's noblest, bravest son — 
 
 The great, immortal Washington! 
 
 He made a signal with his hand — 
 
 Each chief arose at his command; 
 
 Loud shouts burst from the sceptered crowd, 
 
 The echo came both long and loud; 
 
 Again the hero waved his hand, 
 
 Again the crowd obeyed command. 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 487 
 
 His dress was as in days of yore; 
 A uniform of blue he wore, 
 A plume of white his cap it bore, 
 That high above the rest did soar.* 
 His face was pale, though calm his eye- 
 He looked around, then heaved a sigh; 
 Bowed to the crowd with a caress. 
 And thus commenced his last address. 
 
 Washington. 
 
 " Chieftains of war, in battle tried — 
 Your country's care, your nation's pride! 
 Who fought not for an empty name, 
 Nor shed your blood for gold or fame; 
 But from the rise to set of sun 
 Stood as your country's champion; 
 Who deepest hewed where despots stood, 
 On plains Canadian shed their blood; 
 Ye noble shades of earthly dust. 
 Well might your country in ye trust! 
 And ye have passed death's stormy waves, 
 Your bodies rest in earthly graves; 
 But there they will no longer feel 
 Oppression's hand nor traitor's steel, 
 
 II 
 
 " Our country's bound in servile chains, 
 And pampered despots hold the reins; 
 
488 Life and Adventures of 
 
 With bitter cries our country groans — 
 
 Her fairest daughters make their moans; 
 
 Her noblest sons have exiles fled, 
 
 Or rest with the forgotten dead, 
 
 Or groan within some prison cell, 
 
 Or in some secret cavern dwell, 
 
 Or in a menial, servile way, 
 
 For clemency to despots pray; 
 
 Or start forth with a stalwart hand, 
 
 Strike down some leader of their band. 
 
 And then, unaided, he must fly, 
 
 Or like a felon he must die. 
 
 12 
 
 "But haste! ye heroes of the past, 
 At God's command, shout forth the blast; 
 Call forth the dead, in battle slain, 
 And let them all return again, 
 To meet in field their country's foe. 
 And deal to them a deathly blow, 
 And hurl Great Britain from the land 
 Where freedom's flag has made a stand. 
 
 13 
 ' But unto me no power is given. 
 From the great Judge or court of Heaven, 
 Now to descend to earth again, 
 On battle-fields to witness pain — 
 Else with the sword I once did wield, 
 Fd march with you into the field; 
 And then in conflict dread to see. 
 Strike for a nation's Liberty I 
 But at the bar of God Fll stand 
 And plead for that devoted band." 
 
CoLONYL L. A. Norton. 489 
 
 H 
 
 The heavens rang, so loud they cheered; 
 I looked again, be'd disappeared; 
 The bugle sounds its lofty strains, 
 One living sea now spreads the plains; 
 All in bright armor now arrayed, 
 Marshaled for war and on parade. 
 I saw their glittering armor flash, 
 I saw their noble chargers dash; 
 I watched them long with startling eyes, 
 As fast to earth the legion flies. 
 
 When I azuoke I was alone, 
 My seat was a moss-covered stone; 
 The leaves in listless silence hung. 
 The night insects around me sung ; 
 The sun had sought the western hill, 
 Throwing its last rays on the rill, 
 That murmured on in music sweet, 
 And played in gambols at my feet — 
 Then hurrying on in swift retreat, 
 Some other listening ear to greet; 
 Or the broad Foxs stream to meet. 
 And roll on with that crystal sheet — 
 But still my mind will oft revert 
 To scenes the nearest to my heart. 
 
 i6 
 
 Canadian wilds! my early home, 
 I think of thee whene'er alone; 
 
 32 
 
490 Life and Adventures of 
 
 An exile now compelled to roam 
 In a strange land, to all unknown; 
 None to extend a genial hand — 
 A pilgrim in a stranger land. 
 
 17 
 
 The lonely crag to me endeared — 
 Its mossy brown my childhood cheered. 
 The rising hill, the creek, the dell, 
 The ancient tree, the pond, and well, 
 The field my youthful hand did till, 
 The plowman's song, the clattering mill 
 All these endeared this land lo me — 
 , Home of my youth and infancy. 
 Thy stumpy fields I fain would sow, 
 The growing thistle up I'd hoe; 
 Protect my corn against the crow. 
 And in the depths of winter go 
 To hunt the deer 'mid four feet snow. 
 With all those hardships I'd comply. 
 And labor until called to die, 
 If but one boon could granted be. 
 My country's rights, — her liberty. 
 
 18 
 
 But oh ! how could I longer stand, 
 And see a ruthless Tory band, 
 Without an order or command. 
 Wide ravaging my native land. 
 
 Age was then no guard 'gainst wrong, 
 Weakness protected not the young; 
 For them did beauty have no charms, 
 
Colonel L. A. Norton. 491 
 
 Save while within the ruffian's arms: 
 To justice bHnd, in manners base — 
 A curse unto the human race! 
 In parlors grand their horses eat; 
 Behold their inmates in the street; 
 Behold that mother far and near 
 Seeks shelter for her offspring dear, 
 And when successful, she at last 
 Can shield them from the winter's blast; 
 But driven from affluenc\'. 
 To most degrading misery. 
 
 20 
 
 While the sire, flying from his home, 
 
 Now in a foreign land to roam, 
 
 With a sad and troubled mind. 
 
 To leave his dearest ones behind: 
 
 And rude the shelter they would find . 
 
 'Mid tyrants who, to justice blind, 
 
 Had robbed him of that much-loved home, 
 
 And then compelled him far to roam. 
 
 21 
 
 But hark! again they come — they come, 
 The bugle sounds, the rattling drum — 
 Now, Spartans bold, defend your home! 
 But ah, behold in prison den. 
 Where lies her noblest, bravest men. 
 With galling chains their limbs are bounei, 
 And, closely pinioned to the ground, 
 In vain for justice there they cry. 
 Without a trial doomed to die. 
 
492 Life and Adventures of 
 
 22 
 
 While you rule with mighty sway, 
 
 Now, Britain, list to what I say: 
 
 You.'ll think of it some coming day, 
 
 When colonies are swept away; 
 
 And when your empire, proud and vast, 
 
 Is blotted from the light of day. 
 
 Some passing traveler will say, 
 
 Here was an empire of renown, 
 
 That ruled and wore Britannia's crown; 
 
 But she, like other nations past. 
 
 Is crushed by her own guilt at last." 
 
 23 
 
 But she sinks not to oblivion shade, 
 Where fated Rome and Greece are laid ; 
 But rises from her fallen state, 
 With sister nations to be great. 
 With tyranny no longer wed — 
 No longer bow to crowned head; 
 But freedom's living light now shed, 
 Where tyranny in darkness fled. 
 Now peace and plenty kindly smile 
 Where want and misery frowned erewhile. 
 How cheerful is each village clan, 
 The boon from God bestowed to man; 
 How happy then old England's shore, 
 When despots rule her courts no more ! 
 
 31^77-2