The Great Diamond Hoax and Other Stirring Incidents in the Life of Asbury Harpending

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book The Great Diamond Hoax and Other Stirring Incidents in the Life of Asbury Harpending by Asbury Harpending, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Asbury Harpending ISBN: 9781465610997
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Asbury Harpending
ISBN: 9781465610997
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
My father was one of the largest landed proprietors of Kentucky, in the southwestern section of the State. That was still on the frontier of the Far West. Beyond stretched the land of enchantment and adventure—the plains, the mountains, the unbroken solitudes, the wild Indians, the buffaloes and the Golden State on the shore of the Pacific. Youngsters whose minds are occupied today with baseball and tennis and who still retain a lingering love for taffy, sixty years ago on the frontier were dreaming of wild adventures that were nearly always realized to some extent. We lived on the border line, where the onward wave of emigration broke and scattered over the vast vacancies of the West, and it is hardly saying too much to assert that fully seven boys in ten were caught and carried forward with the flood before they had gone very far in their teens. For myself, I simply gave up to the spirit of the times. At the age of fifteen I ran away from college to join an aggregation of young gentlemen but little older than myself, who enlisted under the banner of General Walker, the filibuster. The objective was the conquest of Nicaragua. The Walker expedition sailed to its destination and what followed is a matter of well known history. But for my companions and myself, numbering 120 in all, it ended in a humiliating disaster. For, as we sailed down the Mississippi River the long arm of Uncle Sam reached out and caught us, like a bunch of truant kids. I managed to elude my captors, and after various wanderings and strange experience made my way to the paternal home in a condition that made the Prodigal Son look like 30 cents. That didn’t abate the wandering fever in the slightest and in order that I might not commit myself to another Walker expedition, my father consented that I should try my luck in California and I started with his blessing and what seemed to me a liberal grub stake. I had just turned sixteen.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
My father was one of the largest landed proprietors of Kentucky, in the southwestern section of the State. That was still on the frontier of the Far West. Beyond stretched the land of enchantment and adventure—the plains, the mountains, the unbroken solitudes, the wild Indians, the buffaloes and the Golden State on the shore of the Pacific. Youngsters whose minds are occupied today with baseball and tennis and who still retain a lingering love for taffy, sixty years ago on the frontier were dreaming of wild adventures that were nearly always realized to some extent. We lived on the border line, where the onward wave of emigration broke and scattered over the vast vacancies of the West, and it is hardly saying too much to assert that fully seven boys in ten were caught and carried forward with the flood before they had gone very far in their teens. For myself, I simply gave up to the spirit of the times. At the age of fifteen I ran away from college to join an aggregation of young gentlemen but little older than myself, who enlisted under the banner of General Walker, the filibuster. The objective was the conquest of Nicaragua. The Walker expedition sailed to its destination and what followed is a matter of well known history. But for my companions and myself, numbering 120 in all, it ended in a humiliating disaster. For, as we sailed down the Mississippi River the long arm of Uncle Sam reached out and caught us, like a bunch of truant kids. I managed to elude my captors, and after various wanderings and strange experience made my way to the paternal home in a condition that made the Prodigal Son look like 30 cents. That didn’t abate the wandering fever in the slightest and in order that I might not commit myself to another Walker expedition, my father consented that I should try my luck in California and I started with his blessing and what seemed to me a liberal grub stake. I had just turned sixteen.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book The Story of Assisi by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book A Mating in the Wilds by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book The Kiss and its History by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Quiet Talks on Following The Christ by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book On Molecular and Microscopic Science (Complete) by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Caesar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Lords of The North by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Oklahoma Narratives by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book The Legal Position of the Clergy by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book The Crime of the Century; or, The Assassination of Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book The Pocahontas-John Smith Story by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide: A Guide to the Study of the Seaweeds and the Lower Animal Life Found Between Tide-marks by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; Also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book Captain Mugford: Our Salt and Fresh Water Tutors by Asbury Harpending
Cover of the book King Spruce: A Novel by Asbury Harpending
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy