Cornwall

1906 · ref. 7392 — San Francisco: A.M. Robertson 1906. Hardcover. Fine. First edition. Very scarce. 87pp. Portraits from early photographs. Original three-quarter brown leather marbled boards gilt-lettered spine. Spine ends slightly rubbed a hint of scattered foxing free endpapers with offsetting from binders glue. Overall a fine copy. By Bruce Cornwall his son. This work was issued in a very small edition printed for private distribution. An important narrative of Cornwall's expedition across the plains to California. Cornwall in company with his brother and Tom Fallon the famous trapper and scout who acted as guide left St. Joe early in April of 1848 just prior to the Gold Rush. The narrative records the encounter with the Mormons 4000 strong under Brigham Young at Council Bluffs; the capture of Cornwall and his companions by the Indians; their final escape and arrival at Fort Laramie; the journey across the Rockies to Fort Bridger and Fort Hall; killing of the guide Fallon by the Hill Indians; the attempt to cross the Humboldt Sink and Desert with a copy of Frémont's Route Map as their sole dependence; final arrival in California eight thousand dollars in debt; acquirement of half a million within the year; the Squatter War Cornwall's active part therein and defense of Sutter; and more. Cornwall became a member of the State Legislature; built the first house in Sacramento; was President of the Society of California Pioneers; and assumed a position in the affairs of the state which gives to these memoirs an authority possessed by very few other records of the sort. Cowan: p.143; Graff: 880; Howes I: C-780; Howes II: C-786. A.M. Robertson hardcover books