Life and adventures of Col. L.A. Norton

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 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 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, 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; 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

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 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 Connecticut 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 Canada, 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 principally 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 surrender 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 afterward to Connecticut, where m\- father was born.

After the close o( the War of the Rexolution, howe\er, he renuned back to Lower Canada, and again settled 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

Elizabeth Burhart, who was of German extraction, havinq,- 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 remained 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 concentrated 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 prisoners, 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 Canada 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 Perkins, 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 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 circumstances 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 generally 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 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. Lawrence 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 structure, upon one side of \\ hich I saw a large bonnet pictured. 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 evening 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 removed 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 bonnet 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 examination 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;

so I placed my boots at the head of the bed as my only weapons. My bed consisted of a straw tick, two blankets, 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 extinguished. This continued to burn until eleven or twelve o'clock, when it was extingin'shed. That circumstance 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, thinking that I heard light footfalls in different directions. Kn(^wing that all my senses were wrought to th:^ highest 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 business suit, and had nothing of the villainous appearance 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 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 disturbed. 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 heretofore 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 describe 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 deso 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 assuredly 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 fastened. 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 going"; 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 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 baggageroom.

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 ferryman 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 remainder, 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 ransacking 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.

There were two " fresh water " sailors on board, who soon gave up and went below, and no threats or persuasions 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."