Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF COL. L. A. NORTON. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. OAKLAND, CAL., PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1887. ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1887, BY L. A. NORTON, IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON. THE PACIFIC PRESS, Printers, Electrotypers, and Binders, OAKLAND AND SAN FRANCISCO. Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 AUTHOR's PREFACE. IN unveiling my life to the public gaze, I am not actuated by any eulogistic or mercenary motives. Nor do I 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 perseverance, may accomplish. But my principal object in writing these sketches is to leave my record with my children and friends. And I will further say that I have long hesitated before 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 warrant its reading, but from the extent and strangeness of many incidents that it contains. iv 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, because 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; Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 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, hence I refer the reader to the contents of the work. L. A. Norton. CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER I.—History of the Norton Family—Parentage and Birth of the Subject of This Volume —Leaving Home at the Age of Eleven Years—Journey to Upper Canada 9 CHAPTER II.—Life Affected by Circumstances in Youth—A Night of Fearful Suspense in a Strange Hotel—A Lucky Escape 14 CHAPTER III.—A Perilous Voyage—Working Passage toward Home on a Lake Ontario Schooner —Arrival Home 21 CHAPTER IV.—A Terrible Storm at Buffalo—Recovering 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 Deserted by the Commander—Attempt to Reach Home 31 CHAPTER VI.—A Prisoner of War—Assisting Others to Escape—Held without Bail, on Various Charges 36 Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 CHAPTER VII.—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 53 CHAPTER IX.—From Prison to Hospital—The Devil Cheated—Final Release on a Sentence of “Voluntary Banishment”—A Ninety-mile Tramp 62 CHAPTER X.—Experiences in Michigan and Illinois—Medicinal Discovery—Attempt to Inaugurate an Invasion of Canada—Frustrated by the U.S. Marshal—Narrow Escape from a Flood —Marriage 68 CHAPTER XI.—Memoirs of the Mexican War—Raising a Company in Kane County, Illinois— Arrival at Carlton, Louisiana—Down with the Measles—Arrival at Tampico, Mexico—The “Green Sucker” Who Called at the British Consulate for Beer—“Pat's” First Duty on Guard—The Girl Recruit 78 CHAPTER XII.—The Mexican War, Continued—The Denizens of the Chaparral—Expedition up the Panuco and Tamosee Rivers 89 CHAPTER XIII.—The Mexican War, Continued—A Daring Exploit at Rancho Ratonus—Pueblo Viejo—A Great Festival 104 vi 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 Madrè 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 Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 CHAPTER XVI.—The Mexican War, continued—Winter Quarters—Expedition 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—Fall of the National Bridge—Battle of Cerro Gordo—Perote Mountain 153 CHAPTER XVIII.—The Mexican War, Continued—From Huamantla to the City of Mexico— Observations in the City—Convent 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 by 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 CHAPTER 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 Territory—Threefold Duties and Their Perplexities 216 CHAPTER XXIV.—The Mexican War, Continued—Superseding the Quartermaster-General— Arrival at New Orleans—General Jollification—Sharpers “Bucked and Gagged”—Voyage up the Mississippi and Trouble with the Steamboat Captain—Reception at Home—Letter from Colonel Hicks 227 Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 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 XXVIII.—The Journey as Far as Carson Valley—Adventure at the Missouri River— The Indians on the Plains Demand Toll 252 CHAPTER XXIX—Relief Train from California—Military Men and the Regulation Ration—A Fright While on Guard—Crossing the Mountains 257 vii CHAPTER XXX.—Initiated as a Mountaineer—A lonely Journey Across the Sierras 263 CHAPTER XXXI.—Another Trip from Carson to Placerville—Forcing a Toll-bridge 270 CHAPTER XXXII.—Experience 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 Billy's” Larceny 279 CHAPTER XXXIV.—An Exciting Horse-stealing Case—Some Peculiarities of “Early Days” Practice 285 CHAPTER XXXV.—Opposition to Lynch Law—Formation of Society—Outgeneraling a Mob— The End of the “Hangtown Oak.” 291 CHAPTER XXXVI.—A Mysterious Robbery, and the Robber's Confession 294 CHAPTER XXXVII.—Placerville Guards—The County Seat Question 303 Life and adventures of Col. L. A. Norton http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.189 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 Elder Orson Hyde 321 CHAPTER XL.—Fire in Placerville—Removal to Healdsburg—The Squatter War 333 CHAPTER XLI.—The Squatter War, Continued 342 CHAPTER XLII.—The Squatter War, Continued 350 CHAPTER XLIII.—Election as Colonel of an Illinois Regiment—A Steamboat Wheel 357 CHAPTER XLIV.—A Visit to the East—The Departure—“Two Ladies Leff”—Arrival at St. Charles, Illinois—Not Recognized by Old Acquaintances—Chicago—Detroit—On to London, 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—Childhood's Landmarks all Obliterated 369 CHAPTER XLVI.—Visit to the East, Continued—Montreal—Notre Dame—Victoria Bridge 380 CHAPTER XLVII.—Visit to the East, Continued—Vermont and New Hampshire—Boston— Albany—The Hudson 383 CHAPTER XLVIII.—Visit to the East, Continued—New York—Invulnerable to the Arts of New York Sharpers—Various Attractions 390 CHAPTER XLIX.—Visit to the East, Continued—Philadelphia—Baltimore—Washington—Mount Vernon 400 Life and adventures of Col.