Citizens and George Pierson's dog return from Califonia

PIERSON, WOLF, DAVID, SALES, PRUGH, STANTON, KNOX, LIFFLER, COTTLE, SUTTON, STURGIS

Posted By: Leslie W. Saint (email)
Date: 12/12/2013 at 04:24:01

Burlington Hawk Eye Jan. 2, 1851

Returned Californian Extraordinary.

We have heard of large numbers of Californians arriving safely, gladdening the ears of their wives in view of their not being widows, and making the eyes both of wives and children glisten at the sight of the "pocket full of rocks" as it was emptied before them. Then too, came the tale of almost indestructible suffering across the desert--the hair-breadth escapes from drowning in fording streams-the suffocating dust on the road--the perilous ascent of the Sierra Nevada,--the safe arrival at Sacramento,--and finally, the toil and hardships incident to gathering the precious dust. All these, with the particulars of the homeward voyage, elicit the wonder and admiration of the whole family, as they father is again and again solicited to repeat his adventures.

Not so with our returned Californian. He has no wife or children whose ears will be made glad on his return. He has no "pocket full of rocks" to bespeak his welcome. His long Journey was not made for gold, and he has brought none back with him. In fact gold has no charms for him.--He has no story to tell of his adventures, or if he has, he does not tell it. His trails will forever locked up in his own bosom. If ever he does his, his "tail unfold" it will only be to express his gratification at being once more in his Own, his native land.

Reader, do you wish to know who this returned California can be? It is no less the personage than "Geo Pearson's" (ed.--Pierson's) well-known dog, WOLF. He returned to this place one day last week entirely alone. Unaccompanied as he was by his master, fears were at first entertained that some mischief had befallen the latter; upon hearing that Mr. George Pierson had come over in one of the last steamers. It is supposed that the dog lost track of him, and took the most direct route home, where he may be see, at the corner of Court and Third streets. The sagacity of this dog is commendable. We like to dwell upon it. We fear no misrepresentation of our motives, for other dogs are too sensible, to become envious and quarrelsome at the well-earned praise we have thus lavished on one of their fellows. Would that we could say the same of all bipeds.

Burlington Hawk Eye, Mar. 20, 1851

Among many other who have recently returned from California to this place may be mentioned Col John S. David, Col. D. J. Sales, mess rs. John Prugh, Stanton Knox, George Pierson, Jacob Leffler, Oliver Cottle, Joseph Sutton and Andrew and Bascom Sturgis.