Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/409

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD PIONEER. and from this symbol of Christianity I knew it was the grave of a Catholic. I never learned anything of the his- tory of the decease^. He was, most probably, some ob- scure and humble person. He had died and was buried before ray arrival. "But the sound of the church-going bell These valleys and rocks never heard ; Or sighed at the sound of a knell, Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared." Another death occurred in camp, and while I was there. It was that of David Ray. He was about thirty-five years of age, and his wife about thirty. They had five children, the eldest a daughter about twelve. They started from the State of Indiana. in the spring of 184.S, intending to locate in some of the agricultural valleys of California, not then knowing that gold had been discovered. But when they arrived they determined to stop at the mines for a time, and thus came to Long's Bar, on the Yuba River. Mr. Ray's business partner, Mr. Wright, was about the same age, unmarried, and sober, honest, industrious, and generous. He assisted Ray to build the only log cabin in the camp, for his wife and children without charge. This house was a rude structure of one room, about sixteen feet square, with a clapboard roof, wooden chimney, and dirt floor. Yet it was the palace of the camp, and was the only place where one could enjoy a cheerful fire without being annoyed by the smoke. At all the cloth shanties and tents we had to make our fires in the open air. About two weeks after my arrival Mr. Ray was attacked with fever, and died within a week. Neither he nor his widow had any relatives in California, and all the people of the camp were late acquaintances, except Mr. Wright. Our tent was near Mr. Ray's house and we soon became acquainted. He and his wife were devoted Methodists.