CALIFORNIA: LETTER FROM JOHN HILL

(For the Welland Tribune)

Ontario, California, Feb. 25, 1895

[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1895]

Mr. Editor-I saw in your issue of the 15^th inst, that myself and my son, Wm. Hill, were going to return home at once to Canada, which was a mistake, as we do not, so far as we know at present, expect to return until about the last of April or the first of May, and perhaps not then.

We came here expecting to spend the winter in a fine, warm and healthy climate, but have been greatly mistaken. We arrived in the city of Los Angeles on the first day of December last-remained there the greater part of December and January, and I never put in two months of more disagreeable and unhealthy weather in Canada. Although not freezing, it was cold, damp and rainy the greater part of that time, and quite unfit for any person to go out of the house without the protection of gloves, overcoat, overshoes and an umbrella, and the streets were as muddy as I ever saw in the town of Welland; and no stranger has any business there without a full purse, for which he is likely to be held up on the street at any time and his little boodle taken from him, although we have had no such misfortune. We came to Ontario, California, the 9^th inst., where we are now. It is a most delightful place. It rained for the first four days, but as soon as the weather cleared up the roads and streets were dry. The streets are well shaded with trees, beautiful hedges surround every plot of land for miles around, and at an elevation of over 1200 feet above sea level. Now, with respect to friend Ward, whom we have not seen for the last two weeks, I hear he is still on the upper shelf. He has now got the reputation of being one of the greatest Nimrods (self excepted) of any dead shot in Southern California. I assure you it was very amusing to me, while on our hunting expeditions, and passing over our hunting grounds to see him going along with his gun at his shoulder and a dead bead drawn on the game before he could see it, and through the swiftness of his intended victims they are clearly out of harm’s way before he sends his deadly lead after them, but not into them, as he intended to do.

It was quite true, as previously reported in his letter, he downed some game, but he failed to say it had been previously crippled by some other sportsman; it is also true he did bring to the ground a great bird which, upon investigation, proved to be a turkey buzzard. These great birds are protected by imposing a fine of $50 upon any person who kills one of them. The object in protecting them is that they devour great quantities of all kinds of animals that die on the plains and roadsides, of which we have seen hundreds. We saw great flocks of these large birds hovering over animals not yet dead, ready to devour them- and when some distance from Friend Ward I saw a great flock following after him, I suppose counting on a good square meal; I at once saw the danger he was in and hastened to assist him. He also saw his only chance of escape was to shoot the leader, which he did; it was a clear case of self defence to save his own life and he was acquitted. I am enjoying myself at present-not fishing in the Welland  river, but by by hunting and bringing to grief all game that crosses my path, such as rabbits, badgers, gophers, coyotes, deer, squirrels, and grizzlies, but more squirrels than bears. We have been pleased by meeting our friend, Mr. George Hansler, who is great hustler in a hoss deal and other business. We have also met friend Alex. McGlashan, who is also a great hustler at taking it easy.

John Hill