Every evening the boy took from that crevice about three dollars worth of dust. Whisky was sold over the counter at twentyfive cents, or, in the absence of coin, a pinch of gold dust per dram. In larger transactions the golddust and grains with which payment was made were weighed in a pair of scales standing on the counter; from these scales the dust fell which the officeboy secured in the manner just stated. While conducting his camp tavern, Mr. Kerr was elected as the first treasurer of Butte County, which was then large enough territorially to constitute a goodsized state. Failing in health, Kerr sold his inn on the Feather River and removed to San Francisco where he bought the City Hotel. The seabeach then skirted Montgomery Street, from which it is now nearly a mile distant, the dry land having since been extended that far seaward by filling. When the "great fire" took place in San Francisco, Mr. Kerr's establishment was destroyed, and all that he had invested in it was lost. He remained on the Pacific Coast until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the First California Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, mostly in New Mexico and Arizona. In 1865, he returned to Ohio, where he has since remained. Having lost his property in California, he found, upon his return, that most of his Columbus possessions, now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, had also passed beyond his reach. Broken in health, he was reduced to penury and has never since been able to retrieve his fortunes. He is now over seventy years of age. In his earlier life he was not only wealthy but prominent. His clothes, purchased annually in New York, were of the latest style and set the fashions of the town. A friend and ardent admirer of Henry Clay, he took an active part in the National campaign of 1840, and was accustomed to drive through the streets a pair of “claybank" mares, hitched tandem. He was a boon companion, generous to a fault, and enjoyed an extensive acquaintance. His life has been replete with strange adventures and vicissitudes, extending all the way from princely affluence to abject want. The author is indebted to him for the information contained in most of the remaining notes appended to this chapter.

Coulter returned to Columbus and died in a state of utter destitution.

2.

3.

J. H. Marple became one of the functionaries of Butte County, California.

case.

5. Brother to John Barr, recently deceased.

6. The same elsewhere mentioned in connection with the Jerry Finney kidnapping See Chapter XXXI.

8.. Was John M. Kerr's mining partner. Settled in California. Obtained a position in the United States Mint at San Francisco.

9. Obtained a position in the San Francisco Customhouse. Became a judge of one of the California courts.

10. The same whose letter is quoted in a later part of the chapter. Established a trading post on the Yuba River and became wealthy. Organized a banking institution at Marysville, California.

11. Afterwards a member of the Columbus City Council.

12. Obtained a position in the San Francisco Customhouse. 13. A comb manufacturer on South High Street.

14. Was connected with Neil, Moore & Co's Stageoffice.

15. From Ridgway's Foundry.

16. Connected with the stove and tinware establishment of Ellis. Ayers & Co., where the Neil house now stands.

17. Among other Columbus men who went to California during the gold excitement was John Bigler, of the Ohio Statesman. Mr. Bigler acquired a fortune on the Pacific Coast, entered political life and became Governor of the State. He was a brother to Governor Bigler, of Pennsylvania.

Charles H. Bryan, brother to John A. Bryan, Auditor of the State of Ohio, went to the Pacific Coast with the goldseekers and became one of the judges of the California Supreme Court.

Milton S. Latham, son of Bela Latham, one of the postmasters of Columbus, emigrated to Alabama, studied law in that state and went from thence to California during the goldseeking excitement. John Bigler, who knew him and who had become wealthy, established him in a lucrative law practice at Sacramento. Latham acquired a fortune and was elected Governor of the State under an alleged private arrangement whereby he received the support of John B. Weller, also from Ohio, on condition that Weller should be United States Senator. Immediately after his inauguration as governor, Latham sought and obtained the senatorship for himself. He is said to have been an instigator of the duel between Judge Terry and United States Senator David S. Broderick, in which the latter was killed. Latham, after this affair, became unpopular, lost his property and returned to the East, where he died.

18. Major W. F. Sanderson, previously of Columbus, had been ordered to establish a post on the California route near Fort Laramie, on the Upper Platte River. His command consisted of two companies of United States Mounted Riflemen, partly recruited at Columbus, and one company of the Sixth United States Infantry.

CHAPTER IV.

RECEPTION AND VISIT OF LOUIS KOSSUTH.

Freemen have a profound sympathy for freedom's cause throughout the civilized world. One of the most impressive illustrations of this which modern history has furnished was the reception given in this country to the Hungarian patriot Louis Kossuth.

During the summer of 1849 the efforts of Hungary, first to obtain an extension of natural rights under the Crown of Austria, and finally to establish an independent government, culminated in failure. They were overcome by the combined forces of Austria and Russia. Far outnumbered and in part betrayed, the armies of the revolt were vanquished, and Kossuth, the leader in the Hungarian cause, took refuge in Turkey. His extradition was demanded by the allied powers, but the Sultan, supported by France and England, refused to grant it. He was finally liberated and soon afterwards embarked on the steamship Mississippi, which was dispatched by resolution of the Senate, to convey him to the United States as a guest of the nation. On December 5, 1851, he arrived in New York, where his reception was in the nature of a triumph. The popular enthusiasm with which he was received is said to have surpassed even that with which Lafayette was welcomed in 1824. At Philadelphia he was received in Independence Hall, and at Baltimore was escorted to his hotel by a vast concourse of people. On December 30 he reached Washington, and was officially welcomed by Senators Seward, Cass and Shields. He was immediately visited by Daniel Webster, Secretary of State, and on the following day a levee in his honor was given at the Executive Mansion. On January 6, he dined with President Fillmore, and on the seventh visited the Capitol by the invitation of Congress. During the ensuing evening the members of the two Houses jointly honored him with a banquet, at which the Vice President of the United States, Hon. William R. King, presided. To the toast "Hungary," proposed by the Vice President, he responded in a strain of splendid eloquence.

From Washington Kossuth extended his journey through the South, West, and back again to the East. Cities, corporations and legislatures honored him with their attentions, and vast crowds of people everywhere rushed to give him welcome. To all these greetings he responded with the most fascinating and inspiring eloquence, such as modern oratory has rarely equaled. The inde

pendence of Hungary, and the intervention of the United States in her behalf, constituted the burden of his appeal. He failed, of course, to realize his wishes in this regard; however just his cause, our government could not, in its behalf, meddle in the politics of Europe; nevertheless the popular sympathy for him was everywhere unbounded.

In appearance Kossuth is described as a man slightly above medium stature, with broad forehead, large blue eyes, heavy mustache and a countenance indicating earnestness and refinement. Of the manner and matter of his speeches, of which he delivered a great many, the following has been written:

In speaking, nothing could be more incomparably dignified and graceful than Kossuth's manner; gestures more admirable and effective and a play of countenance more magnetic and winning could not be conceived. He always stood quite erect, instead of frequently bending forward, as is the case with some orators, to give emphasis to a sentence. His posture and appearance in repose indicated greatness by their essential grace and dignity, and impressed the beholder with a sense of marked individuality and power. This sense of reserved power in the man the certainty that he was not making an effort and doing his utmost, but that behind all this strength of fascination there were other treasures of ability not brought into notice and perhaps never made use of constituted one of the great charms of his oratory. He spoke as if with little preparation, and with that peculiar freshness which belongs to extemporaneous speaking; every movement. seemed perfectly easy, and he gesticulated a good deal, equally well with either The universal remark concerning him in this respect was that he was the greatest of living orators.

On December 15, 1851, a public meeting was held at the City Hall, in Columbus, to make arrangements for Kossuth's reception at the capital. Robert Thompson presided at this meeting, which is described as very large and very enthusiastic. It was addressed by S. S. Cox, R. P. Spalding, Samuel Galloway, George E. Pugh, William Dennison and John Woods. The meeting adjourned to reassemble December 18, when a reception committee of one hundred and a finance committee were appointed. Of the Finance Committee Peter Ambos was chairman, W. F. Wheeler secretary, and Luther Donaldson treasurer. In January, 1852, resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly, welcoming Kossuth to Ohio, and on the fifteenth of the same month a third meeting of citizens to arrange for his reception was held. At this meeting, which is described as very large and enthusiastic, Samuel Galloway presided, an executive committee. was appointed, and William Dennison, R. P. Spalding and L. V. Bierce were delegated to confer with the reception committees appointed by the General Assembly.

On the morning of February 4, 1852, Kossuth and his companions quitted Cleveland for Columbus. The party traveled on a special car, and was accompanied by the legislative committees. At Berea, Grafton, Lagrange, Wellington, New London, Shelby, Cardington and Ashley the Hungarian leader was greeted. by enthusiastic throngs of people, and was presented with their offerings to defray the expenses of a new effort to emancipate his country. Between Cleveland and Columbus he received for this purpose the total sum of $312.50. The contribution at Shelby, amounting to $57.50, was presented to him by Hon. Jacob Brinkerhoff. When he arrived at Delaware, he was met by an immense crowd

and was escorted to a church filled with people, including the Hungarian Association of the town and the students of the University. Formally welcomed at the church, first by Mayor Buck and then by Doctor Edward Thomson, President of the University, he replied in a brief address, said to have been one of the most charming of all he had delivered in the English language. Expressing his appreciation of the sympathy shown him, and hoping the people would be true to their friendship for Hungary, he said: "Then, indeed, it will be recorded in imperishable letters in the heart of my nation, that out of the Delaware Springs of American sympathy I have filled a tumbler of health for my people of Hungary." At the conclusion of his address, S. M. Little presented him $210.00 in behalf of the Hungarian Society, after which ceremony he was escorted to an omnibus by Governor Wood, and drove to his train amid defeating shouts.

At Columbus, the Hungarian party was met at the railway station by officers of State, members of the General Assembly, the military and fire companies and beneficial and industrial associations of the capital, and a vast throng of citizens, including many delegations from the country for fifty miles around. Crowds. began to assemble, both at the station and in front of the Neil House, long before the time for the arrival of the train, the approach of which was announced at six P. M., by the boom of cannon and the ringing of bells. Under the direction of General T. Stockton, an escorting procession was formed at the station, and moved up High Street to the Neil House, amid the enthusiastic shouts of the people. The buildings along the street, and throughout the city, were profusely decorated with flags, including those of Hungary and other nations. At the Neil House, into which Kossuth made his way with difficulty, owing to the density of the crowd, he shortly appeared on the portico, in front of the main entrance and was presented to the people by Hon. David A. Cox, of the State Senate, but gracefully excused himself with a very few sentences, as he expected to speak at length on the next day following. After the reception was over, the fire companies paraded the streets with torchlights and banners. In the course of the evening, Kossuth was serenaded by one of the German bands of the city, and responded briefly in the German language.

The Ohio Statesman of the next day said, enthusiastically: "The reception of Kossuth at this place on last night was one of the most splendid and enthusiastic outbursts of popular feeling ever witnessed in this part of creation." In the procession, the Columbus Artillery (German), Captain Buhl; Captain Snyder's Grenadiers, and the fire companies bore the colors of the United States and Hungary. The fire companies also bore the Turkish flag, and carried torches. The City Butchers' Association, on horseback, wore regalia in the Hungarian colors. Kossuth's carriage was drawn by four white horses. The only ladies in the Hungarian party were Madame Kossuth and Madame Pulszky. Kossuth's children. were in England.

On the evening of February 4 a meeting of workingmen was held at the City Hall to arrange for receiving an address from the Hungarian leader, and to aid him in the liberation of his country. Charles B. Flood was chairman, and Milton M. Powers secretary of this meeting, which packed the hall as full as it would