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CALIFORNIA:
ITS GOLD AND ITS INHABITANTS.
BY THE AUTHOR
OF "SEVEN YEARS ON THE SLAVE COAST OF AFRICA,"
"PEREGRINE SCRAMBLE," &c.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
LONDON:
THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER,
30, WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE.
1856.
THE following pages have been prepared from a journal briefly written every evening during my residence in California, in 1852; the few statistics which appear, have been noted down as they from time to time came before me.
In speaking of the American, it must in California
, so far as respects the mass at that period; since, matters have in some degree improved.
JANUARY--SAN FRANCISCO.
A LOVELY day--the winter is by far the best time of the year; certainly when the rains begin they are heavy, but ten days and a fortnight often follow with a delightful sunshine, and temperature never under forty degrees during the day; the evenings and mornings may require a little fire in the grate, but no one attends to it through the day, so it goes out. The
This is a great day with our American friends here; every one calls upon every one, so the streets present a scene of incessant salutation in spite of mud; all the richer families have tables spread from noon till evening, with cakes, pies, jellies, ices, cold chicken, &c.; tea, coffee, liquors, champagne--eternal champagne, till one sickens at the sight of it; and how the men drink!
Then the several companies of firemen turn out and traverse the town in procession; they dress in helmets, red woollen frocks, and black trowsers--this is all well enough; but what strange enthusiasm makes them drag their engines, with all the appurtenances, about with
A general fusillade in the streets, kept up by boys throwing explosive crackers about; the day winds up by all the male creation perambulating the drinking and gambling saloons, and then people become somewhat "tight," as the Americans call it.
I dined at a boarding-house--a bad dinner, everything huddled together, and cigars afterwards--worse than all.
A cloudy morning. The steamer "Northerner" came in from Panama with European and Atlantic mails--what crowds of people rush to the post-office to get a standing-place near the delivery window; as each arrives he forms up
The Aqua Fria Company seem to be "going ahead," because they have capital. A quartz lode at Placerville is offered to me--fair terms--the owners or agents, however are Jews, rather they were not--propose going to examine it. The ore
There are in the harbour 512 vessels, united tonnage 112,466. There are at Benicia, Sacramento, and Stockton, combined, 100 more, chiefly barques, this is exclusive of steamers--majority of these vessels are lying directed, and are going to ruin; supposing these vessels to be worth but ten dollars per ton, the value of those in San Francesco alone would be 1,344,660 dollars. Two years ago, scarcely a fishing-boat was to be seen here; now all the European nations feel it necessary to have a consul here, to look after their trading interests. Gold has, indeed, a wonderful power.
The night is brilliant, with its clear starlight.
A fine day, cool northerly wind, bright
"In looking over the Atlantic papers we frequently notice announcements of the formation, in various parts of the older States, of companies for the purpose of bringing out machinery and apparatus to work gold-bearing quartz in this State. We look upon all such movements with the greatest interest. If proper care is taken in their organization, and practical machinists employed and
"In hopes that we may throw some light upon the subject, and aid those who may be about to embark in these projects in the Atlantic States, we submit a few
"Having secured competent men to take charge of it, and procured suitable machinery in all respects, the next most important matter in its transportation to the mines. Hitherto those companies appear to have acted upon the supposition that all that was required was a sufficient amount of money to get their men and machinery to San Francisco; and this has been the cause of failure in some instances. The cost of transportation of men and machinery to this place from the Atlantic is nothing, compared with the cost from here to the mines. A company, therefore, which sends out machinery, should have capital sufficient to set it in operation at the earliest practicable moment after its arrival. It may be said
"We do not wish to hold out dazzling inducements to capitalists to embark in the quartz speculation, nor would we desire to discourage them. We are glad to see that companies are being organized, and we throw out the above suggestions for the benefit of those engaged in them. We are satisfied that the inducements to invest capital in quartz machinery and quartz mining operations, are greater than those offering in any other line of business in California. It wants experience, however, added to ample means, so that those who may be entrusted with the management here, shall not be cramped in the outset. The same general principles are applicable to, and should govern the formation of companies in California as in the Atlantic States."
The English are making a great fuss with Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot; he
Sat with St--y some time; poor fellow! he is fast going from this world! Mr. P-- there, an American gentleman, a great admirer of Kossuth, as of course, all Americans must be.
A boarding-house dinner to-day--all sorts of people, from all nations.
The night calm, and very lovely.
Still lovely weather. Attended service at Dr. V--'s church, American Episcopal. The services taken from the Church of England Prayer-book, with some desirable revisions, tending to remove repetitions,
Saw poor St--y again--evidently sinking; to-day he was sitting up; Mr. and Mrs. H--, English people, called on him, and took me to dine with them.
Sunday in San Francisco does not look like Sunday; the people, after church, going either to the race-course, or to the bull and bear-fight--the first not worth seeing at any time here; and the last is at best a brutally cruel exhibition, but
"SERIOUS DIFFICULTY.--A difficulty occurred on the race-course yesterday evening, in which a man named Edward Graves was supposed to be wounded. One Kirk was betting at Monte, when a dispute arose, pistols were drawn, and
Cloudy at night.
A cloudy morning, after a rainy night. Went to see the machinery on the wharf at the north beach--the wharf appears in a very dilapidated state, scarcely fit to bear such heavy weights.
An Englishman just converted into an American enacts his new nationality awkwardly enough at first; one of these, wanting to sell me a steam-engine and boiler, declared it to be perfect without either safety-valve, or guage-cocks--but he had not brass enough to carry it out, and the attempt "caved in,"--Anglice, failed.
An invitation to dine with Captain F--m, United States army--a boarding house dinner, served French fashion: no
Judge H--m at dinner, a very pleasing man; he is presiding over his court, not by election of the people, but by the appointment of his Government: it makes all the difference imaginable--he cares only for the cause before him; the elected judge must look to what will please his electors.
The "Union" of the day gives a little insight into the habits of the Trinity society: from the quarrel to the blow,
"Mr. John Tracy has given us some facts in relation to the stabbing of Forsyth by Asahel Brown, now under arrest in this city, which greatly lessens the guilt, if it does not altogether justify the course pursued by the latter. Mr. T. overheard the difficulty, which originated from a dispute at cards. Forsyth first struck Brown, when the latter clinched him, and inflicted the wound which caused the death of the former. Brown is represented to us by Mr. T. as being by no means a quarrelsome man; and in the altercation which took place between the parties, he conversed in an ordinary tone of voice, and was apparently not disposed to become unnecessarily excited."
The following literal
summons was served upon an English gentleman, well
"BENJAMIN FROSBURN
versus
F--k M--tt.
"The people of the stat of California to the Sheriff or any Consiable of Solano county Greeting you are Her by commanded to summons F--k M--tt to be and appear befor the under signed one of the justis of the piece of Solano County on the sixteenth day of January 1852 A.D. at my office in the city of Vallys at ten o'clock of said day to answer the compaind of Benjamin Frosburn for the sum of five hundred dollars otherwise judgement will be rendered against you By defalt given under my hand this thirteenth day of January A.D. 1852.
H. Hook, J.P."
This is, as near as possible, a copy of Mr. Justice's signature; it is almost needless to observe that the whole thing was an attempt to cheat; the only part true was the fact of Mr. Hook being really a J.P.
A foggy morning, which soon changed to a lovely day. The winter of this country quite exceeds an English summer.
There is a practice here which the high house-rent has originated. A four or five-room house cannot be rented under 150 or 200 dollars per month unfurnished, so one person takes the house, and as many as can agree form a mess, and live together in it--this is generally the practice of the unmarried English gentlemen; we are now just breaking up such a mess, because the house is taken by others, so
Dined with Colonel and Mrs. W--k--m in "Pleasant Valley;" strangely named, being a small, sandy valley, between two sand-hills, which deprive the residents there of all view. Mrs. W. has a nicely laid-out garden--more comfort in this house than I have before met in any American residence. After dinner, the negro woman servant came in to ask, "what matter with the moon?" we all went out to see, for we had forgotten that it was a total eclipse that night.
Again a lovely day--I am only waiting here for money from the board of directors--what tiresome work, where men are making it in all directions!
Sat with St--y some time--very ill; he talks most affectionately of his two young daughters, as if he knew he should not see them again. A fine specimen of gold has been found. It is egg-shaped, rather flattened, and is intermixed with quartz, and from its appearance seems to be composed of about equal quantities of gold and quartz. It is perfectly smooth all over, caused undoubtedly by rolling in the river bed. It was found by the company on the bed of the river, and weighs seventy-three ounces and four pennyweights.
This company consisted of thirteen persons, who put in their flume this season, and in two weeks after its completion, took out 30,000 dollars, when they sold out for about 13,000.
Captain Cl--e asked me to stay with him at the North Beach--he is called the "John Bull American," having a jolly red face--at present he has charge of a
The Americans have a queer way of managing elections--the mass of the voters of the several parties meet, of course, separately; they then discuss the merits of the candidates, and by a majority decide which shall be brought forward--that one is then put in nomination on the day of election against one of the opposite party; no other candidate can therefore split the party vote. The people elect to every office, political, judicial, municipal, religious, &c., and often make a pretty mess of it.
A splendid day--here is a San Francisco winter; the hills are now perfectly green with the young grass springing up, the trees and shrubs in full bud.
The machinery must be moved, and brought from North Beach to the bonded warehouse on Cunningham's wharf--so orders are given: this expense comes of not sending it out to arrive before the rains set in--heavy machinery cannot then cross the plains to the mountains.
There is a great contest about the site of the Capitol--Benicia, Valleyo, San Jose, and Sacramento, all bid for it--the Governor is ready to take the highest offer; the Legislature has met, and is now sitting at Valleyo, but there is not sufficient accommodation, and seven or eight senators sleep in one room--they are paid sixteen dollars per diem, with travelling expenses, so the sessions are long. The shifting of the Capitol so often, gave rise to the following ballad, in which the old English style is not badly imitated:--
"Ytt was about a yeare ago,
Alle yn the south countree
A battle rose, alle where to knowe
The capitolle sholde bee.
The lordlye barons alle dyd meete,
A councyl for to holde;
The mudde yt dyd stycke out "a-feete,"
And bytter was the colde.
Eache bolde baron felte sore and sadde,
Yn fronte and reare and flanke,
For "nary" bedde was too bee hadde
Besydes the softe, softe planke.
The Earle of Greene reported brief,
Wyth woefulle, dolefulle wynke,
Thatt there was nothynge butt jerked beefe,
And noe goode wyne toe drinke.
A fearfulle shoute did thence upryse
Yn ymprecatynge hymns,
And somme dyd kurse theyre stuppide eyes,
The battelly rayged fulle mayne a daye, And stallwarte was the fyghte,Tille alle the knightes of San Jose´Were yn a pyteous plyghte.A fearfulle rowe was thate, I weene,Whych rayged yn thatte valleye;The myssion lorde dyd fyghte amaineAlle for his famillye.Thenne uppe there started Vallejo,And soughte the barons bolde;Sayde hee, "I've an broade landes, I trow,`Somme pummekyns' fulle of golde."Then dyd hee calle hys lyttle knyghte,The brave Sirre Younge Frysbe,"I'll gyve toe thee a dowrye bryghte,And noblye marrye thee."And uppe he further spoke and sayde--"So move the House, and, zounds!I'll gyve you broade--broade landes and breade;Three hundredd thousand crownes."
Thenne toe the barons of the lande, "I'll gyve some lottes toe ye,Yf you wyll promyse for toe standeAnd brayvelye fyghte for me."To manye an edittor, he toe,Of lande gayve bounteouslye,And lottes in block, "10,002,"Thatte brayve knyghte gayve toe "we."Syr Brodericke praysed that lyberal knyghte,And sayde a prynce was he;Syr Van declayred he with amyghtThatt moved the House sholde be.The representatives up stayrs--They dyd applaude hym soe,Thatt they welle nygh fell unawaresYntoe the roome belowe.Thenne uppe Syr Tyngleye and hys menne,And waxed all wrothe were theye,And sayde that theye wolde fyght amayneFor ever and a daye.
The menne of San Jose´ theye blaymed Those barons of the Stayte--Theyre Scryp theye sayed they would be d--Yf they'd negotyate.For San Jose´, a ladye gaye,A noble syght toe see,Shee boldlye myngled in the fraye,And foughte incessantlye.Sayde toe a baron stoute and owlde,"I have a valyante mindToe swappe youe for a donkeye bolde,Thenne cutte the donkey's wynde
."Brave Campbell sayd wyth knyghtlye mien, Thate yf theye there
abode,He'd gyve them houses, fields soe greene,And build a rayl--raylroad.A puissant knighte was Vallejo,And valiant dyd he fyght;The House was ordered for toe goeUntoe the Napa syte.
Yt was nygh toe the Mare Island The House atte lengthe dyd reste,Butte soone, alas! McDougal's handeHadde founde a mare's neste.The castle leaked amayne--heygh ho!--Thee workmenne theye dyd stoppe,And nobodye but VallejoWold ary redde typpe uppe.Thenne up McDougal spake, wyth nowse,"Mye barons bold thys daye,We'll packe oure trappes and shyfte the HouseAgayne to San Jose´."And thenne Syr Campbelle built hys road;And cryed out myght and mayne,"Thatt that's the Capitalle abode,And shalle nott moove agayne."MORAL.Nowe all ye merrye gentlemenne--An ye'd nor sighe nor weepe,Take warning by McDougal's menne,And look before you leape.
The steamer from St. Juan del Suo came in; this is the line which crosses Nicaragua from Grey Town, in opposition to the Panama route. A beautiful night.
Fine northerly breeze, and a bright, beautiful day. Saw St--y; his state is alarming; worried in his mercantile affairs, and sinking under his illness--he cannot last long.
By the "Independence" steamer, news has arrived from Nicaragua, that the British ship-of-war "Express" has fired at the American steamer "Prometheus," with passengers for California; it is alleged the latter would not pay the harbour-dues--very consistent. What does the Californian American ever pay till he is forced to do so? The papers here are very grand on the occasion, and look forward to a war in consequence as certain; and we
From parties who have just returned from a tour of exploration, we learn that gold has been found near Saddle mountain, which is plainly seen from almost any point near the mouth of the Columbia river, it being about fifty miles south-east of Astoria. These gentlemen report the quartz-rock to be abundant in that region, as well as the black sand, and other indications of gold. Several fine specimens were found, and brought to Astoria by Mr. Pease, the sheriff of Clatsop county, and other gentlemen. We learn also that gold has been found north of Puget's Sound, on the Coast Range, in several places, and that parties are now fitting out for mining operations in that region.
It is curious to see how these people cut through and carry away the enormous sand-hills surrounding the town, for the purpose of making some streets, and grading others; the sand so carried away is used to fill up within the piles which have been driven in to build upon, the limits of the city being yet far in the sea; in this manner the sea has already been bayed back upwards of five hundred yards, for a space of at least a mile and a half. All this has been built upon--there are five long wharves, extensive brick warehouses, theatres, &c., where, two years ago, the tide flowed unobstructedly. This is done on the chance of success; no matter if they fail!
The same fine weather. In the night the "Golden-gate" steamer came in from Panama, with European and Atlantic
The following has appeared in the papers; it must be understood that the "trial" was conducted by the mining-population of the district, who on such occasions assume judicial power--and also admitted that they generally discover a full sense of the equity of the case, but none of law:--
"ACQUITTAL OF JUDGE SMITH.--We are informed that Judge Smith, of Calaveras County, who shot Col. Collier a few days since, while engaged in a personal altercation, has since had a trial, and been honourably discharged. The jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide."
Some more of the "richest" mines in California offered to me; huge pieces of quartz exhibited, which are declared to be but a sample of the whole; the gold is seen, of course, all over these portions; this game, however, will not do now.
Dined to-day with an American family, at their own house--we had a roast duck and oyster-pie, to be eaten together; after that had been accomplished, I had put on my plate, at the same time, gooseberry-tart, cheese, and preserved ginger. How very strange this seems to us, who see no reason for being in a hurry about such matters.
The most lovely weather continues; the rains generally are heavy in November and December; January, and the early part of February, delightful; then more or less rain till April; afterwards,
The Governor of the State and Mr. Mac D--, editor of the "Piccayune" newspaper, fight a duel! Editor scratched in the finger, and they leave the ground. "Liberty and Equality" seem to render people holding high office very regardless of the dignity we attach to offices of such a character; a governor, or other high officer with us, would never insult those over whom he ruled, nor could he be insulted by them, if he conducted himself.
A letter from the Board, directed to draw for money, but no letter of credit sent! Who here knows anything about the--Company in England? Of course I can get no money on a bill so drawn, and am, therefore, no better off than before.
Mr. Moffat and Dr. W. Rutherford have a scheme for searching the river San Joachim for gold, by means of a diving-bell; it is known that the native Indians dive to its bottom, and bring up portions of black sand, which is rich in fine gold; the scheme is not unlikely to pay, if undertaken; but so much gold can be obtained without going under water for it, that I doubt the probability of their getting any one to engage with them.
TO SACRAMENTO.
WEATHER wonderfully fine--preparing to go up to Marysville--yesterday evening met my friend Cl--e, of the North Beach; he asked me if I would dine with a man who carried his ham home for dinner himself? I said, "No; but I will with the man who lets me help him carry it;" so I put my stick through the string at the end, Cl--e took one end, and I the other, in which manner we walked home. No one thinks anything of this; if you
Called to say farewell to poor St--y; he is sinking now very fast, and we shall, I fear, meet no more; he is a kind-hearted, hospitable, honourable man.
At four P.M. on board the "New World" steamer for Sacramento, en route to the mountains. A great crowd on board, smoking and spitting everywhere--one cannot walk in the saloon without kicking over "spittoons," as the receiver is called, the very sight of which invites a discharge from an American mouth. Supper on board--tea, coffee, cakes and bread; a steak at one end of the table, innumerable small dishes up and down
At Sacramento by two o'clock A.M., the distance being about one hundred and thirty miles. Slept at the "Orleans" hotel.
Still beautiful weather. This city, like almost all American cities, is laid out in long broad streets, at right angles. I like the plan very much; the streets here running East and West, are named from the letters of the Alphabet, those running North and South are numbered. I asked for a person's house, and was told that
The drinking and gambling saloons abound; the first holds its ascendancy, the latter are certainly retrograding. The hotels are extremely bad, the bed-rooms nearly all two beds in them; in many, a s
. 1 d
. sterling. There are some chapels here, which different persuasions have built; two iron founderies, one of them, Mr. Lambard's, does the work entrusted to him in a very faithful manner.
The situation of the town is so low,
Met my old acquaintances, G--t and Judge W--h, at the Orleans hotel, and went with them, at ten o'clock, in a spring waggon to see the quartz-crushing mills, put up by G--t and Mr. R--d, near Auburn; the mill is about thirty-five miles from Sacramento. A hard road, thanks to the long succession of dry weather; G--t drove, and being above common prejudices, he rattled over every rock and tree-stump he could find. We got there safely, and then learned from him, that he had never driven any horses before.
The mill is beautifully put up, but they fail to crush enough quartz in the day
It is a pleasure to go into R--y--d's house this morning, Sunday, January 18. At breakfast, it was difficult to say which was the whitest, the table, the cloth, or the floor of the room; the cause of this is to be found in his having a respectable English housekeeper to manage the interior, to whom he pays one hundred dollars per month wages, with board; this is lower than these "helps" generally ask and have.
The site of the establishment is attractive; scarcely off the plain, it is easy of access, the mountains rise loftily behind, at a few miles' distance; where they live the oak and pine are in abundance, together with a variety of flowering shrubs;
Drove back to Sacramento--found three young gentlemen here, whom I formerly knew in an English colony, where their fathers held high positions. They came to dig for gold, but soon found they were unequal to the labour; men who have been bred to handle pens, will not do much with the pick and shovel. One of them had hired himself to a gardener, the other two had engaged in one of the hotels, as waiters; they each got five dollars per day, with board, and mean to save money, and get home again; the master says, they are his most confidential "helps."
The Legislature has been moved here; the members could not stand seven and eight in a bed-room, at Valleys; I went
Dined with Mr. and Mrs. C--l by invitation--the dinner half in English fashion, half American; the Californian American "dessert" is a mixture of confectionery, fruit, cheese, and preserves. As soon as the dinner is over, you go away; you are asked to eat only; the
TO MARYSVILLE.
THE same lovely weather continues. Before I left Sacramento, I visited Mr. Trask, and saw his collection of Californian minerals; it forms a very curious assemblage, and is valuable as a beginning; Mr. Trask is indefatigable in his pursuit of this branch of inquiry, and so far he has succeeded well.
At seven A.M. on board the steamer "Urilda," and away to Marysville. This is one of a number of small steamers that
There is nothing striking in the scenery of either the Sacramento or Feather rivers; the first, after leaving Benicia, passes through some low, flat, marshy country, till it comes within about sixty miles of the city, then the banks are prettily covered with oak and maple trees, round which the wild grape-vine climbs, and this continues up the Feather river
Met my American friends, Mr. and Mrs. P--n, who propose going to the mountains to-morrow with me; he goes to show me a quartz-lode, he wishes me to work for him and his partners; it is called the Keystone.
Called on Dr. and Mrs. B--tt in the evening; and had tea with them; it is a relief to meet such society, desirable at all times, but infinitely so, after having been exposed for months to the boorish, though honest inhabitants of the wild, and what is worse, the pretensions of shopkeepers, who, by sudden circumstances, have arrived at a wealthy position; with the Dr. and Mrs. B--tt we are with an English gentleman, and an English lady,
This city, as well as Sacramento, has a mayor and corporation; the population exceeds five thousand; it has an ironfoundry, theatre, jail, and sundry places of worship, according to the persuasions settled here; there are also two banks, to which the miners bring their gold to be exchanged for coin; the daily receipt of one of these banks varied from thirteen thousand to seventeen thousand dollars--I have known it take forty thousand in one day; the gold of the mines, or "diggings," sells for seventeen dollars thirty cents per ounce, to the Californian buyer of it.
Marysville is situated at the junction of the rivers Feather and Yuba, both large streams, merging their united waters in the Sacramento, about forty miles
The steamers derive a very profitable traffic between Sacramento and Marysville, the freight being from place to place twenty dollars per ton, though from San Francisco to Sacramento, double the distance, the freight is but
There are "stages," as covered waggons are called, traversing the country for more than a hundred miles into the mountains; they are, however, most comfortless conveyances; when I have travelled by one, I will mention it more particularly.
TO THE KEYSTONE.
CONTINUATION of fine weather. Loading a waggon for the Keystone--all manner of things in it, from a gridiron to a four-post bedstead and its furniture.
Numbers of Indians prowl about Marysville--they are a very low grade of the human species; their object in sauntering about the streets is to pick up any old thrown-away clothing, of which there is a strange quantity lying about; it arises
At noon left Marysville with Mr. and Mrs. P--n, and reached Hickman's ranche (the general name now for a house of accommodation for travellers) at dusk. Sat in the kitchen to warm ourselves--two of the ugliest women in "all creation here, I guess"--the supper ready, stewed tripe and pork chops; nothing else but bread and, thank Heaven! some good fresh butter. Tripe and pork! what a combination of nauseous horrors!--Went to bed; one long room held about
I had some linen washed in Sacramento, and wanting a change, looked at it here. I found about half of it to be mine, the other half belonged to anybody--it had done hard service to whomsoever it belonged. If you complain, the "lady" or "gentleman" who washed for you, "guesses" the "fixings" have gone somewhere else, but you have got your number; you pay five dollars per dozen for washing.
There is an isolated range of mountains seven or eight miles from Marysville, called the "Buttes;" the word is pronounced "Bute," meaning a steep, or high bluff, separating from, or abruptly ending other mountains. I have seen
Two days ago, Mr. and Mrs. P--n and myself rose at daylight at Hickman's ranche--he and I made our toilet on a bench outside the door, where there was a tin wash-hand basin, which was in general demand--we came about the tenth and eleventh on the roaster. A bit of soap about the size of a shilling was all we could in that way get, no towel, so we used our handkerchiefs--a piece of a looking-glass lingered in an old frame, which, with a veteran hair-brush, hung at the bar of the ranche, inside--the
We started our horses about seven o'clock; a rather raw, foggy morning, "came near" raining--it was about eleven o'clock when we reached almost the summit of the range in which the Keystone lode is; the fog suddenly cleared off, and the sun brilliantly broke forth; our elevation was about three thousand feet, and we had the whole mountain range
At three P.M. we arrived at the Keystone; found my companion M--e all well, and
The ride is tiresome from Hickman's ranche, about twenty-two miles, ascending the whole way; the mountains are covered, but not very densely, with oak first, and as you gain a higher elevation, the pine and redwood, a species of cedar are frequent; these make admirable planks. The oak is very dry and brittle, chiefly fit for fuel; made a large fire in an English-shaped fire-place with large oak logs--had some tea, and went to bed rather ready for it.
A lovely morning succeeded; M--e and myself had no servant, because our exchequer was too low to afford one, though we were expected to begin mining
After breakfast we cut an oak tree down for fuel--tough work, for the axe was blunt; then we brought a spring from the hill-side to our door, next we arranged the interior of our house, and
Still fine weather--the engineer is just well enough to show the way he wants the space dug out for the engine foundation--crushed up a few pounds of the quartz; it yielded well, the gold is beautifully bright, and extremely fine.
M--e and myself then arranged, or as the Americans say, "fixed up" our room--I chose a corner for an iron bedstead--he preferred a Spanish hammock which occupied one side of the place. We had a rickety table, on which at night an oil lamp, taken from a lanthorn, was elevated upon a basin turned up, two very bad stools, the four legs of which
The four or five shantys which had been raised, were by acclamation of the population, numbering at least seven, proclaimed to be "Carrysville," in honour of Mrs. P--n, whose name was Caroline.
Mr. M--t--d came from Forbes town to see us--he slept on a canvas tent, folded up, before some blazing logs.
The next morning the engineer was at
TO PLACERVILLE.
RAIN all night; then fine again. At daylight I mounted a horse, which P--n lent me to ride as far as Marysville, on my way to Placerville. In the earlier period of the gold fever of California, which only broke violently out in 1849, this town bore the inviting name of Hangtown, from the fact of its being the first place in American California where Judge Lynch commenced his official duties, and hung a thief. Since that time,
The rain has rendered the road nearly impassable across the plain, and in coming to a swampy-looking spot, I reined up my horse for a minute, to consider the case. I gently urged the animal on--the poor creature obeyed, put his nose nearly to the ground, and his feet tenderly forward; we entered the water, knee-deep, there were, at least, twenty yards of it to cross; a little unevenness here and there; now close to the opposite edge--one step more, down went the horse to the girths, rolled over on one side, and lodged me in the mud and water--it was very soft, for putting one arm out to bear myself up, it sunk to the elbow; dusk had set in, and we were floundering hopelessly in the slough. I had just got myself clear of the horse, but
After this I got safely to Marysville, at half-past seven, and had a delightful evening with Dr. and Mrs. B-tt.
Heard of the death of my kind friend St--y; he will be long mourned. Found letters from my family waiting for me.
Thursday I went on to Sacramento to
They have a curious practice with the stages here; it takes as many as like to enter it, or as it can, from the hotel whence it starts; if full, it goes on its way; if not, it takes a cruise round the town, the driver exclaiming, at intervals, in his highest tone, "Here's your stage to Placerville in seven hours;" and in order to decide a lingerer, he looks archly at him, clasps the "lines," Anglice "reins," holds up his whip, and energetically screams out, "Only one seat, and all aboard for Placerville." When having caught his man, he makes his round for more, and having made you well acouainted with the streets, at last he really takes his departure.
The stage had to encounter some very soft places frequently, and two or three times "came near to miring." The last twenty miles are very mountainous, the road often so much on the incline, that the driver calls out, "Sit up to windward," and every one scrambles to the high side of the vehicle; I have seen a wheel actually off the ground, and brought to it again by "sitting to windward;" the driver lighting his cigar at the time.
On the road to Placerville, several very rich "placeres," or "diggings" are passed; they begin just as the road enters the mountains. Carson's ravine first presents its riches; then Mud, Diamond-springs, and Coon-hollow, an abbreviation of Racoon; at Carson's, the gold is coarse, and is caught by running the water and earth through a long trough,
At Mud and Diamond-springs the very surface-earth gives large quantities of gold; it is raked up in ridges, every man's claim being separated from his neighbour's by a narrow path, such as divides garden-beds of vegetables. When the rain comes, it is washed in rockers, toms, sluices, and every imaginable contrivance for saving the metal; a pan of this will yield ten and a half cents, or five-pence halfpenny; many hundred pans are washed by one rocker, and many more than that by each other contrivance in one day.
At Placerville by four P.M., my Hebrew
Then to see the lodes, one close to the town; a large lode, apparently very good; the quartz all yielded well, but not opened enough to decide upon its extent; very hard, much iron in it. The other lode is soft, delicate quartz, and yields a fair amount of very fine, bright gold. Neither lode is sufficiently opened to judge of the extent.
FEBRUARY.--PLACERVILLE.
A SHARP white frost, succeeded by a very warm day. Placerville is built entirely of wood; like all these towns, its existence depends altogether upon the continuance of the yield in the diggings near; the population amounts, including that of the surrounding miners, to upwards of three thousand, It boasts a dissolute, swearing community; and though the quartz appears to be good, that will scarcely compensate for these staring disqualifications.
The "special message" of the new Governor, Mr. B--r, appeared in the paper of to-day. A comprehensive, plausible paper enough; meaning, of course, nothing, like all such papers.
"Colonel" W--r elected "Senator for Congress;" he represents the democratic party, a party which one day will shiver the bonds that now hold together a magnificent republic.
The "Daily Alta California" of this
Went to see "'Coon-hollow." The amount of labour here is wonderful; the "hollow" much resembles in size and shape the "Devil's Punch-bowl" in Hampshire (England); the hollow itself is completely dug over to the depth of several feet, and the surrounding hills are perforated up and down their sides, giving them the appearance of large
Left Placerville by the stage for Sacramento by another road; it was bad enough, rattling over rocks, stumps, and every road obstruction which the enterprise of a Yankee driver, and physical endurance of his passengers could surmount. The cry of "Sit to windward," often was very proper, as the vehicle seemed ready to slide from the inclined plane into the ravine below; as we went along, the thing bumped over a ditch which brings the water from Weber-creek, a distance of fourteen miles. This water is brought to supply the wants of the miners, who otherwise could not wash the earth and get the gold from it; they each have a hose, or spout, to convey the water to their particular position, and pay so much an inch per diem for it; frequently
Invited by Mr. C--l to attend an
Every American is a politician. Here I find them mad about the affair of the British ship "Express" firing at the "Prometheus." I went to a hardware shop for some article, and the man no sooner recognised my nationality, than he said, "Woll, Mister, your Queen is bound to send that `Express' captain
Louis Napoleon has given great offence to the American people, by becoming an emperor; they are "riled" at France throwing off the rough coat of a Republic in exchange for the velvet of a Monarchy.
Another select party this evening; everything as before, excepting that one "gentleman" there had shot the husband of his present wife, deliberately, one day. Such people are well received in California!
Walked with Mr. B--e to see the farm he is fencing in, and then to the cholera country--that disease, for a short period, was a dreadful scourge here.
The river steamers again in opposition; this is done only to force the richer to buy off the poorer; but the cry is, "No monopoly, and low fares." Each party employs "runners," as they call the men who stand still, and mutually abuse each other's steamer; if they are to be believed, the "boilers are all bursting," the "vessels rotten," and the "beds full of vermin."
A brilliant morning, cold north wind.
At seven, on board a small steamer, the "Fashion," going to Marysville. A monstrous dirty and bad boat. When near Marysville, the steam escaped out of the
Two events have occurred this day, namely, the election of a judge, and the arrival of a huge church-bell from New York. The winning electors are celebrating their victory by marching after a drum and fife into every drinking saloon; and the reverend functionaries of the church to which the bell has been sent, are furiously ringing it in unison with the discharge of fire-arms around. Passed the evening with Dr. and Mrs. B--tt, a real pleasure.
From the San Francisco papers we learn that a man had seduced the daughter of a woman residing there. He came one day to call on the mother, by
I am at the Tremont hotel, in Marysville; the ninth of February, and the sun is so powerfully shining on the thick plank roof and walls, that I am obliged to sit with the door and window open.
The day, Sunday, has begun by a crowd of idle Americans, grown-up young men, amusing themselves by tying tin pots to the tails of several dogs, and then frightening them away, hooting after
In the evening, billiard rooms and gambling saloons in "full blast"--in the former, those not playing line the benches on each side the tables, and from thence completely saturate the floor with the tobacco-juice which they discharge upon it: they are shocking dirty citizens.
Passed the evening with Dr. and Mrs. B--tt, which compensated for the outside nuisances.
Still lovely weather--after breakfast got P--n's horse and left for the Keystone. Travelled by the road on the
Went on to Hansonville, to see the quartz mill erected there, by Colonel
The colonel's crushing mill is apparently tolerably well put together, but it is, I think, placed too near the stream of the Honeut, which rises high, and is very rapid in the wet season, as all these mountain streams are; I should fear the consequences of a flood; it is a water-mill, the wheel eighteen feet diameter, four feet in breadth, nine stamps, three hundred pounds each. The mill and quartz were for sale, and the latter, of course, was something superlatively good; everything is for sale when an American is the owner--he looks for a "trade" with every one.
Having dined with the "colonel," I proceeded on by the Indian trail to the Keystone. Upon the summit of a high mountain, I suddenly met a man travelling with English and American newspapers for sale; probably where never
Got to the Keystone at four in the afternoon. H--y had arrived, having resigned his situation, which he held under a market gardener near Sacramento; he had not received remittances which had been forwarded, and came "very near starving," for his employer did not pay him. I had known his family well in a British colony.
At the Keystone; a lovely morning. Neither M--e nor H--y being returned, I hunted up the commissariat stores, laid the breakfast things, tried to cut a
The engineer is putting up the small engine I bought, in hopes of doing some little during the period that must elapse before the other can arrive; at all events, we can test the Keystone lode. He says that he hopes the "trap" will start next week--that it can not, for many necessary things are not here yet; he is just come to me with an ague fit threatening--gave him some medicine for the night, and an enlarged dose of castor oil, because, on entering my room, he spat his tobacco on my clean boards. M--e and H--y came home.
The mornings begin to threaten rain again. M--e and H--y got the breakfast
Engineer at work again--complained of the castor oil, told him why he got such a dose. M--tt--d came from Forbes town, to show me a quartz lode--it is scarcely visible. He dined and went back again.
H--y cuts firewood for four dollars per load. P--n has an attack of erysipelas, a doctor says it will be slight. Two blue pills to the engineer--evening fine, but a cloudy, cold night--three oak logs blazing all night.
Rain all day, threatening. P--n's face very much swollen, no other bad symptom. The engineer has had no return of the ague; he is taking two grains of quinine every three hours during the day.
G--d--n walling in the boiler, and the rollers are in their places--we shall wait now for pipes.
H--y cutting firewood, M--e cooking, I carpentering, that is, I am turning the legs of the stools outwards, which M--e turned inwards--we called the stools his traps.
Heavy rain all night, but now very fine, with a cool north-west wind. P--n better; he will let his horse run loose, so this morning the creature cannot be found--heavy rain. The perseverance of the ant is anxiously shown here; they will insist upon travelling a great distance to run up a cedar close to the house; they have been repeatedly stopped by fire, and hot wood ashes, but on they come, undaunted.
The sixteenth, a fine cool day, after the rain of yesterday.
M--e to Marysville, to hurry up some things wanted by the engineer.
A Mr. N--ch--n, president of the "Smith O'Brien" Quartz-crushing Company, came to me about putting a water-mill on their lode. What a title for a company! quite enough for a man to bear it. I am to have a horse or mule sent for me, and then go to look at it.
Some quartz from a supposed lode was brought in by H--y; the first few ounces showed nothing, the next presented a fine show of gold. The want of some copper pipes will delay the engine in its start.
A heavy fog, terminating in rain,
At breakfast, Mr. N--ch--n and Mr. M--t--l, members of the "Smith O'Brien" company, came in, bringing with them a mule for me--a breakfast is quickly dispatched in mining life, because there are not many luxuries to linger over, and other things to look after. Got on the mule, and rode with the Smith O'Briens to see their lode, as well as one called the "Shakespeare." In going to these lodes, we descended so steep a mountain, that the mules we rode literally were on their haunches all the way down; this descent continues for at least a mile and a half.
The face of this portion of the country is strangely thrown together; masses seem to rise up against masses, only separated by a darkly-shaded abyss, across
Having accomplished the descent, I found myself upon the bank of the Feather river, which rushes in foaming haste over its bed of black slate rocks, whose sharp edges rise in ridges, obstructing its impetuous course. At the edge of the water there were four Indians groping for gold amongst the crevices of the uncovered rocks; one was picking it out with the point of a clasp-knife, the other used an old iron spoon, and with these implements they had already obtained at least a dollar's-worth of flake gold.
The "Smith O'Brien" lode I thought of no value, the "Shakespeare" appeared to be good--this lode was situated where it cropped out on a bold, rocky peninsula, round which the noble stream rushed in the grandest confusion,
On this side, the mountains are well-clothed with shrubs, oak, and pine, the soil red and gravelly; on the other, far as I could see, the face of the country is bare and sterile, the surface one forbidding mountainous expanse of a grey colour. The Indians on that side are said to be very untameable, and it has been
Rode back through Forbes town, a place considered more dissolute than any in the state; it has about fifteen hundred inhabitants, including the population of the surrounding diggings--these have proved extremely rich. Got home to a late dinner. H--y had a good beef-steak ready, with baked potatoes. A lovely night.
This morning H--y began to cut his wood--he won't make wages by his work; I was carpentering in the house.
The Yuba river Indians came to the Indian ranche near the Keystone, and drove the latter away, because they were
Went to look at the lode; found P--n and two others digging to strike the lode in another place; half their time is lost in searching for specimens amongst the quartz gravel which they throw up, and when they find any little stone, showing a pin's point of gold, they are in raptures, and leave work for the day.
A fine night, and no wind.
The engineer is still going on with the engine, but nothing can be done till the copper pipes come; in California, the tradesmen care very little whether they oblige the purchaser or not; if you say, "I shall get my work elsewhere," the cool reply is, "Well, I guess you can."
H--y crushed up a few small pieces
My carpentering talent has completed the kitchen dresser; the kitchen being one corner of the room near the fire-place; all the cooking and dish-washing now goes on in this corner, instead of being performed on our drawing-room table.
Some hail fell at noon.
P--n brought us some bread he made himself; there is a rivalry between him and M--e in the baking business.
"DIGGINGS ON THE MIDDLE FORK.--The miners at Grey Eagle city, Big Bar, and Spanish Bar, on the above river, are doing better than at any previous time this season. The gold found at the former place is coarse, and it is not unusual for hundreds of dollars to be washed from a single panful of dirt. Many of the claims at Murderer's Bar have been overflowed
This notice has appeared in one of the papers; the "digging" community here are in a high state of excitement in consequence, and very probably many will "vamose"--in other words, will leave.
I washed two shirts; made no bad work of it, but the rubbing on the knuckles is a little severe for the amateur hand. Altogether, our room has a decided Robinson Crusoe character, only we have no dog,
News has come that the American party who went out after the Yuba Indians, caught and hung two who confessed their criminality, and another who made no confession, but accused other Indians. A little absence of proof is not an obstacle to the execution of an Indian; one fact, however, is sure--namely, that the Indians cannot be at all trusted; and it is now ascertained that when they are closely charged with a
The engine and machinery are up, but waiting for steam pipes. The Americans are very jealous of their franchise; the following appeared to-day:--
"As to the rights of citizenship, and the qualifications to vote, the following general answers may be relied on as correct.
"A legal citizen must reside in the State six months before he can vote. If he is an emigrant, his citizenship commences from the day on which he left his domicile in any other State; and although there has been some dispute on this point, the opinion of the Attorney-General is considered decisive in its favour. He must reside in the county thirty days in order to vote for county officers.
"The inquiry whether the neglect of a citizen to pay his poll-tax disqualifies him
"A person can vote for State officers at any poll he may be at in the State; for county officers, at any poll in the county; and for precinct officers, at any poll in that township."
While out this afternoon examining a ravine, being desirous of ascertaining whether the quartz lode crossed it or not, I heard not far off, and approaching,
I never saw so unearthly a race; they were greatly excited, and possibly looked more demoniacal than usually they did; short in stature, but wiry and slight figures, they threaded their way through the bushes with extraordinary rapidity; no raiment encumbered their limbs, but they all had
Another opening has been made on the lode; the quartz, which is much decomposed, yields better than the first which was got out, so far as it has been tested.
On opening the door at daylight this morning, I saw two cayotas close to the house; they were off before I could get my rifle out.
The men working on the lode brought me some quartz which they thought wondrous rich, there being a good deal of the sulphate of iron about it; a little
Declined the "Shakespeare" and "Smith O'Brien" lodes; to put machinery there would be to leave it there for ever, whether the quartz was good or bad.
Another party of Indians came by, dressed up with feathers in their hair; I never encourage these savages; they come either to steal or beg, and are treacherous always.
What splendid weather! H--y and myself are sitting at dinner, the door open, and fire nearly out. H--y is not so good a cook as is M--e; P--n the best baker.
The mornings are cool, but the instant the sun appears above the trees on the ridge behind our house, the temperature is delightful.
Harassed by the non-arrival of the
How lovely the temperature and weather has been now for nearly seven weeks in the middle of winter; at this time the most fretful invalid could not find fault.
Walked to a neighbouring Indian ranche with H--y, looking for deer. En passant, he is far too lazy for California life; in these excursions he often is disposed to sit down and admire the view, which never attracts his notice when not under
An old, inoffensive, and industrious emigrant, who washed for gold in the week-days, and expounded Scripture, with, at least, a good intent, on Sundays, was found murdered not far from Forbes' Town; he was pierced with several arrows, and no other wound about him. The people have got two Indians on suspicion for trial; these are defended by an American, called "Colonel P--t--e," who, for some reasons, gives all the protection he possibly can to the Indians; if these two Indians are found guilty, it is not at all improbable that the colonel may be hung with them, for a mob in the diggings will act very summarily.
I have had a small lean-to built at the end of the house, so now I have a private
MARCH.
THE first of March comes in with snow, sleet, and rain, by turns. Just the weather to drive the deer, grisly bears, and such other animals to the lower mountain ranges; so, accompanied by D--k, I took my rifle, and off we went "hunting," Anglice`, shooting. We are tired of beef, and want venison; D--k had two shots, one a fair chance, but he missed both.
Very few of the Americans can shoot game when flying and running; indeed,
General Ross, who was killed before Baltimore in the last war with America,
Came in wet and tired, so I set about "fixing up" my new room--rather tedious work.
In the evening G--d--n came in. Our neighbours are good, kind-hearted men, uneducated, and without personal resources; so they come to us every now and then, when the weather prevents them from "hunting" or working.
G--d--n talked about genealogy very like a republican; but when I gave him a few instances of the manner in which, through genealogical records, vast
Having worked at lining the sides of my room with "muslin," in English, a rather coarse linen, and also upon a side-table, I reviewed my performances; the lining put on very badly--the table rather creditable for an amateur artificer. The rain makes a forest-mountain life rather uncomfortable, when we have to cut and bring in our own firewood--in fact, be our own servants; the logs of oak are so heavy, and the ground now so soft, that we are obliged to roll them down the hill to the house; if one happens to miss the place, it proceeds with precipitation into a ravine, and is lost for ever to us. It is well that the house has been built a foot off the ground, for a perfect flood is rushing under it, and has converted the land in front into a morass.
We are all waiting for the things which have been so long since sent for; but for this, the engine would have been at work. Small as it is, the quartz might, at least, have been tested.
I received a curious but kind letter from a Mr. S--th--ll; it appears that he is at the head of an association, whose object is the formation of a collection of the "ornate, innate, and animate" productions of California. He writes to me requesting to know if I think His Royal Highness the Prince Albert would consent to be the patron; but he informs me that he has also addressed the prince on the subject.
Mr. S--th-ll seems to be a very flighty, well-meaning man--by the bye, he proposes to send me a copy of the book he is now writing, as a king of accompaniment to the collection.
There has been almost continued heavy rain for some days.
The party who went out to take the Indians, whom it was supposed were sheltered by "Colonel" P--t--e, after having committed a murder, have returned, bringing with them the Indians accused, both of whom are to be tried to-night in Forbes Town--in other words, they are to be hung.
H--y gone to Forbes' Town for beef this morning; came home early with a quarter strapped on the saddle, he leading the horse. Then he began baking and cooking; but the rain came down the chimney, and nearly put the fire out; so in spite of the rain, we got some clapboards up, and created a sloping cover, which kept the rain out sufficiently to enable us to resume the culinary duties, the suspension of which threatened the loss of our dinner.
This weather "riles" our Yankee friends here very much; they want the excitement of work, hunting a deer, hanging an Indian, or lynching a Sydney convict; as it is, they come loafing about, to amuse themselves at any one's expense; one of ours here is an unmitigated bore, so this day I persuaded him that he was very ill, gave him some medicine, and told him not to get his feet wet by any means; so he went home. I thought I had got rid of him; ten minutes afterwards he re-entered, took his seat by the fire, and coolly said, "Well, I guess I like this best, so I got the Indian-rubbers to keep my feet kinder dry, and I thought I'd come again," and we had him for some hours.
The wind dislodged the chimney-top; the rain monstrous heavy at the same time, and the fire was quite put out, the
Our American in the Indian-rubbers, feeling our distress, rose, trotted away, and soon after returned with a quantity of dry pine and oak split up, with which we soon made a good fire again, and he left us for the night. Raining in torrents.
The eighth of March cold, cloudy, and sleet. Hearing that a waggon had come to the neighbouring ranche, P--n walked
Went out with P--n and D--k to look for a deer; after walking about the mountains for three hours, P--n shot a wild pigeon, a fine plump bird, about the size of a teal; saw nothing else.
At sunset, a gale from the southward; and at bed-time a hurricane, with a deluge of rain. It has been what ladies call a "fearful night"--a pine, two hundred feet high, fell with a tremendous crash, not more than twenty yards clear of the house; had the wind been but a point or two different, the tree would have smashed our mansion into a "cocked hat." Why a cocked-hat is to describe a shapeless
The day is so cold, wild, wet, and the weather threatening to remain so, that H--y and myself sallied out to bring in a large supply of wood, then we put an empty flour-barrel over the chimney-top, having cut holes all round it to let the smoke out--this invention answered the purpose well, and I beg to advertise its celebrity here.
After breakfast, more for amusement than anything else, I pounded up one pound of the Keystone quartz, put the
P--n sent us the pigeon he shot, split and grilled it for breakfast, and monstrous nice it was.
Snow fell heavily through the night, and we felt the inconvenience of being in a clapboard house; wind and snow came in very liberally. After breakfast H--y and myself brought in another large supply of firewood in order to keep up a dry stock of it.
Our barrel chimney top maintains its position very creditably. We hear that Marysville is flooded--nothing more likely for it stands on low ground,
Snow all day, and at bed-time, a comfortless night; thank Heaven we have dry beds, a good fire and shelter, the last, however, none of the best.
The snow fell all night, and is now falling (the eleventh).
Sitting at breakfast this morning a "holloa" was heard in the mountains opposite; what a desolating feeling attends an unanswered call of the wanderer in the forest! how instantly and mercilessly thrown upon his own
It was a beautiful creature; S--e had shot it through the head; it was not even disfigured by scarcely a blood-stain. We stood for some little time involuntarily giving the tribute of admiration to its symmetrical proportions; then we proceeded to contrive the easiest method of conveying it to our houses; to carry it was the first endeavour, so each took a limb and one the head: off we went up
Adopting this happy device, we soon triumphantly reached Carrysville, and the next operation was the division; this was very liberally carried out, and for three days our dinners were comparatively aldermanic.
Curiously enough, not an hour after our arrival had taken place, D--k, who also had gone upon a similar errand,
The snow suspends all work, and will certainly delay the arrival of the long-ordered things wanted for the engine.
Some cuyotas came last night, probably attracted by the smell of the freshly-killed deer, and finding nothing within their reach, but the skins which were laid out on some planks to dry, ate some, and tore what they left in pieces.
Snow falling heavily again. H--y has taken to singing and whistling, which will at least scare away the cuyotas and Indians.
A Dr. B--th--w has frequently brought me some quartz to test for him; doing so, has given me amusement during these long intervals of snow; he must not work those lodes--they will not pay, under the existing rate of wages.
From the summit of the mountain behind our location, the coast range can be distinctly seen towering above, and bounding the intervening plain; the lathe, now completely flooded, has the appearance of an immense inland sea; report says that hundreds of cattle have been drowned in consequence of these continued rains, and snow melting on the mountains, by which the rivers so suddenly overflow their banks.
The fourteenth, Sunday, rain falling in torrents. How wretchedly this day is
Bed-time; tremendous rain, but we have a glorious fire to look at.
News has just arived that the plains can only, and with great difficulty, be crossed on horseback.
P--n brought to me one pound ten ounces of the earth taken promiscuously from the lode. It produced exactly four grains of gold, which is something more than six cents and a half to the pound, or one hundred and thirty-five dollars to the ton. This earth very much resembles red ochre, and lies exactly in the
This afternoon, (the fifteenth) the weather began to clear up, and for the second time in fifteen days, the coast range of mountains were in sight; the wet weather in the mountains makes it tiresome, especially when unable to have a servant because people at home won't buy shares.
We hear that the "leve`e" or dyke at Sacramento has given way, and that the people were obliged to fly to their upper rooms, there being four feet water in the streets. Some good will come out of this; the place was swarming with rats, of which pest the great majority are now killed.
The rain seems to have left us; and considering what has fallen, I think there cannot be much more to come.
Got up early, and with D--k went to look for deer, or any game, for we are all tired of eating beef hardly fit for hounds. After traversing the hills for three hours without seeing anything more than the traces of deer, we both returned tired and hungry.
M--e went away before the bad weather set in, and we have not heard of him since; we are not quite comfortable about him.
M--tl--d came over from Forbes' Town, and brought me a large packet of letters from England. The California quartz rising in estimation; shares in demand; five thousand pounds I am to be empowered to draw for "on the directors;" this is something, but it will go a very
Wrote to P--n to say that I would bring up the engine now at San Francisco, the moment on his part the audit was run as agreed upon; they are to send me terms.
The nineteenth; a repetition of the former lovely weather appears to have set in. At last, a waggon came with some of the things wanted, but still the most essential are wanting.
The population washing for gold are
In consequence of the financial intimations which I received by the last mail, it became necessary to go to San Francisco to negotiate some bills, if indeed any one will cash bills drawn upon the directory of a company scarcely known, even upon the Stock Exchange of London.
Dr. B--d called with his waggon; as he goes this morning to Marysville, I go down with him. We left the Keystone at ten o'clock.
There is a place called the "Texas" ranche, about nine miles on the road, near which a water-course does the duty of a road for a space; it is full of large stones, over which the waggon jolted fearfully, and at last the body literally shifted from its place on the bed; one jolt more, and it would have been in the water.
Got to Huff's ranche, twelve miles from Marysville, at sun-set, too late to cross the plain in its present state. Found supper on the table, so we sat down to it. These meals are very sorry affairs both in the material and in the society; every labourer, miner, teamster, or other person who happens to be at the house, sits down together; certainly, each of them has washed, at the general basin, his hands, and brushed his hair with the general brush hanging on the wall of the supper-room; in every other respect each is as he came from his work, dirty enough. During the meal you must seize upon anything by you, without ceremony; and
Bed-time came; about twenty-four of us were turned into one long room, our beds laid out like those of an hospital; each took one, and generally the tenants did not undress. Almost every person on such occasions has a very considerable amount of gold about him, and it is curious to observe the several methods taken to secure it, together with the revolver, without which few move about.
This is carrying out the law of liberty and equality with a vengeance; for though you are willing to pay for more secluded accommodation, you cannot by any means
Up at sun-rise, the twentieth. The doctor having "hitched up" his team, we again started, and came to Marysville about noon, the people of which place were in great excitement. A thief had been captured: the mob would have Judge Lynch to try him; the recorder, had possession, and would not recognise that authority; all was uproar. I have seen a pack of hounds baying round the huntsman who holds up the fox, and so now did the mob round the recorder who held the thief: revolvers were cocked on both sides--but the recorder, was not to be bullied, so the prisoner was committed to jail; the offence, however, was a bailable one; the bail required was two thousand
Enjoyed a delightful evening with my friends, Dr. and Mrs. B--tt; I can tolerate mountain life, if I am sure of a few evenings with them afterwards.
Slept at the Tremont hotel--what places to call hotels! the entrance is a barroom, where every one drinks, the floor is slippery with discharged tobacco-juice; then there is the "parlour," in which each sofa is occupied by one person lying at length upon it, all smoking and spitting; the meat-room has been already drenched. The Tremont has two or three single bedrooms; I had one of these, thanks to the landlord, Mr. H--sk--n. In the next room to me, divided from mine only by a thin papered lining tacked to a frame, were two Americans; one of them revealed his views of the inhabitants of the British Isles.
The Scotchman was a sullen "crittur,"
The next morning, the twenty-second, I was on my way to San Francisco by the steamer. About eleven miles below Marysville the vessel stopped for half-an-hour, this was for the purpose of allowing sundry passengers to pay a visit to Captain Sutton, at his place, Hock Farm, en passant; his daughter had been married the evening before, and as appears to be the fashion here, the night is consecrated to revelry and feasting.
I went to see the captain, and found him sitting at a table amongst bottles half and quite empty, wine-glasses and
We then returned on board, and the steamer passed on her voyage again. At San Francisco by eleven o'clock--slept on board.
Next morning, domiciled at Mrs. G--m's. I found a letter here from a member of the directory, telling me by no means to draw for the five thousand pounds, for which I had the board's permission to draw for, a few days ago! How can any enterprise be carried on successfully upon such a system? However, if at first the board really intended me to draw for this money, I was already prevented from doing so by the form in
This morning, Mr. C--pt--n gave me a letter from Mr. M--cl--n, of Hong Kong, with also a box of delightful tea, which the latter has most kindly sent to me; and a great treat it is, for here nothing drank but green tea, and shocking stuff it is.
Two ships came in from China, bringing upwards of eight hundred celestials, who intend trying their fortunes in the diggings. The celestials have an eye to business sometimes; for instance:
"MARKED HIS CHICKENS.--A gentleman who lives on Rincon Point, complained of Ah Wow, a Chinaman, for
I went to see Dr. C--ll--r's newly-invented quartz-crusher and amalgamator; the crushing, or rather grinding process is very perfect. I took Count W--s to see the method of amalgamating; he does not approve of it; and as he has been in the Hungarian mines the most part of his life, his testimony is worth having.
News from Nevada. Two lawyers quarrelled about a decision in court: one of them shot the other; the friends of the wounded party being unable to catch the shooter, who had fled, instantly adjourned to his office, where, finding his partner,
A tragic accident occurred at S--ll--gs ranche, a few nights since; a number of people were sleeping, as before described, in one long room, all armed as usual, but the room being full, another, who arrived, went above, to sleep in a loft. Something in the night alarmed them; every man jumped up, and in the hurry to seize revolvers and rifles, one of the latter was fired; the alarm subsided, and all parties again laid down. When rising in the morning, many jokes were passed; but the host, looking for his pay, observed, "Where is the man in the loft?" and got on the ladder to see. He appeared to be asleep; but attempting to awaken him, he was found to be quite dead. On examination, it was discovered that the ball
A man gambling this day (Sunday), suddenly fell forward on the table, and instantly died. Also, says the Monday paper, Mr. R--k was brought up, charged with shooting Messrs. G--s and R--y yesterday, on the race-course. He was admitted to bail in the sum of one thousand dollars.
I have a horrible influenza cold, and there is a child in the house outrageously crying and swearing, the father and mother both threatening all manner of things to keep it quiet. Some one above me has contributed to my comforts while in bed, by upsetting his water-jug, and conferring an impromptu shower-bath on me; seizing my Indian-rubber coat, I evaded it in some degree; floors are not water-proof here.
Dined at Mrs.--, in Stockton. Went to meet Judge L--; imagine the learned authority dancing the polka, after dinner, with a young lady of the party.
A gun fired. Panama steamer in, probably.
The Stockton papers complain of an increase of "stabbing" cases, and of "disorderly" habits generally, in the vicinity of that city; for instance:
"Last Friday, three men were shot in the vicinity of Stockton; on Saturday evening, an attempt was made to shoot two men, without provocation; and the same night, a Mexican was most inhumanly butchered in a house in the out-skirts of the city; and on Sunday morning, an attempt was made to shoot a gentleman, for no earthly reason that he could conceive of. We do not know that we have mentioned all the cases yet; but
The journal says it does not wish to be rough, but this state of things should be looked into, and the authorities be called upon to stop it. Below are several items exhibiting the unruly nature of some of the citizens of Stockton.
This, at least, is temperate enough to please even a peaceable Quaker. I conversed this day with an engineer on the subject of putting up the engine now at San Francisco; this is a very small one, only a six-horse power, standing upon a bed-plate, to be screwed down to a six-inch plank, to cover a timber foundation; his estimate being put down as we proceeded, it amounted to two thousand five hundred pounds, or twelve thousand five hundred dollars. This did not include anything whatever but the mere carriage
Miseries of a San Francisco boarding-house--no servant calls you in the morning--if you want warm water, you had better keep a spirit-lamp nursery baby-kettle, matches, &c. in your room--if you wish for polished shoes, wear patent leather, or keep a blacking establishment in your room. A hideous gong calls you to meals, and if you miss the meal-hour, it is in vain that you ask for anything to eat at any other time; if you are ill, no one troubles himself to know what are your necessities, unless some friend will look to them; this I mention from experience, through my late influenza attack.
The good people of California may congratulate themselves upon the manner in which, by the following statements that
"STEAM-SHIP `NORTH AMERICA.'--We yesterday took a walk down to the wharf where the steam-ship `North America' was lying. In company with two friends we went on board, and were introduced to Captain B--n, her obliging and gentlemanly commander. The `North America' is a large and magnificent ship. Her accommodations are most ample, and her facilities for cleanliness and ventilation are as complete as in any ship we ever saw. She will be a popular boat, if her agents and owners will only be as liberal and obliging as her commander. Captain B--n is destined to take with Californians. He has already got the hang of our people, and their notions of men and things."
"THE `CALIFORNIA.'--This pioneer
"THE `ISTHMUS.'--This steamer has been handsomely refitted. She is commanded by Captain O--r, a most gallant and gentlemanly officer. He is warmly attached to California. He holds a high rank in the navy, both as an officer and a man, with all who know him; and should war ever break out, he will be found where duty leads."
The first of these has, unhappily, in some degree fallen short of the commendation, having been lately completely wrecked when coming from the southward, and in a manner that created much suspicion amongst the passengers. The "obliging and gentlemanly" commander had ordered a course to be steered close to the shore; the officer to whom the order had been given saw in a very short time that that course would run the ship on the beach, and steered more to seaward.
The night being calm, with bright moonlight, it could be distinctly seen; the "obliging and gentlemanly" commander came up, and observing that the course of the ship had been altered to seaward, instantly found fault, and as instantly altered it to that which he had at first given. The steamer neared the
The passengers remained on the beach, under a tropical sun, during the next day, under very severe privations, many ladies being amongst the number; mules were at length found to convey them to Acupulco, and from thence they were
The loss of this vessel, it being only her second trip, and having been built and fitted out in New York, purposely to run in opposition to the Pacific Mail Steam ship Company, created an extraordinary sensation in San Francisco. It was there openly said, that the vessel was intentionally stranded; that it was worth the while of the Pacific Mail Company to get rid of her; and sundry allegations of this complexion were abroad. One thing is very certain, if the commander of the ship was not blind, or deranged in intellect, when he altered the course from that to which the officer of the watch had turned the vessel's head; he must have seen the consequences that his obstinacy infallibly entailed.
But every captain of a steamer in
APRIL.
THIS month begins with a fine, but cold day, the wind coming from the northward, over the snowy ranges.
The "Panama" mail steamer in. By my letters, it appears that the company are about to send out an engine and crushing machinery of great power, capable, I am told, of crushing one hundred and fifty tons per diem. To put this engine up will cost, at least, seven thousand pounds, or thirty-five thousand
This is against advice; but directories seventeen thousand miles off, are always the best judges; and though excellent engines here, of forty-five American horse power, can be bought, as I wrote, for seven thousand five hundred dollars, or fifteen hundred pounds; yet the whole must be sent from England, at a higher cost, and on which thirty per cent. duty must be paid on landing it. I am told the weight of what is coming out will be eighty-five tons, so there will be two hundred and fifty pounds for storage, landing,
No engine or machinery should be sent from England to California: the New York workmanship will answer every required purpose; the things are much less time on the sea, and there is no duty payable upon them. Moreover, the agent sent out should have full powers to select such lodes as he may think most advisable, try them, or "prove" them, as Cornish miners say; and when satisfied on these points, then complete the negociation; begin to get out the quartz, wood, &c., prepare the necessary buildings, and get the engine and machinery up during the dry season. A twelve-month employed by the agent in looking about him will be found a great
The cold summer winds are now setting in; these winds blow during the months of June, July, and August, with great violence here; they are, however, in this month, May and September, modified, and very pleasant. In their strength they are always accompanied by a thick fog, by which the entrance to the port is quite obscured. During this period the sun is nearly concealed in the mist, the temperature low, a hurricane in the streets whirling volumes of dust about, and, altogether, making San Francisco intolerable. Should the sun force its rays through the dense atmosphere, the heat then becomes intense; and although an overcoat would have been worn an hour ago, now the lightest clothing would be desirable.
Suddenly, the wind springs up, the fog is renewed, and the cold with it.
This phenomenon arises from the country becoming so intensely heated by the sun, and a vacuum being constituted thereby, the sea-wind coming to fill it up, strikes the lofty coast range of mountains, follows their line, until broken by the narrow entrance into San Francisco bay; here, finding an opening, it rushes
Count W--s has again examined the crusher and amalgamator of Dr. C--ll--r, and adheres to his expressed opinions. The Count thinks the loss of quicksilver will be very great by this process.
This evening, for the first time, I went to the theatre; the play was "The Heir at Law;" after-piece, "The French Spy." An Englishman performed Zekiel tolerably well; but the Californians must not attempt genteel comedy--they do not at all understand the character to be represented. The after-piece, "The French Spy," was very badly acted.
I have made an arrangement with Mr. H--b--n, an agent for an English Mining
News has arrived of the retirement of Lord John Russell from office, having been beaten on the Militia Bill, by Lord Palmerston, whom Lord John himself has dismissed from the Foreign-office for something or other; of course, when Lord John will measure his strength with Lord Palmerston, the former must be beaten.
Mr. D--s has arrived; sent by the company to perform the duties of mining agent. A good Cornish mining captain
I showed Mr. D--s two pieces of quartz--neither piece showing any gold; they came from Placerville: he carefully examined them both, and exclaimed at once--"Miserably poor." I expressed dissent. He said again, "Miserably poor!" Mr. D--s had been bred a millwright, not a miner; in the first capacity, he had worked about a mining establishment in the Brazils, and there picked up a superficial knowledge of mining.
Called on Mrs. W--n; a wedding there yesterday; champagne and cake exhibited. By the bye, the "universal Yankee
"SPARKLING CATAWBA.--Mr. Longworth, manufacturer of the celebrated Catawba wine at Cincinnati, has written a letter to the New York Tribune regarding it. He says:--`I claim for it one superiority over imported champagne. It will be found to suit the stomach better, and be much healthier, It is the pure juice of our Catawba grape, with the addition of the best rock candy. The French champagne is made from a mixture of three or four different wines, which never can be healthy to the stomach. They say one kind is to give aroma and flavour; another, strength; another, effervescence. If true, our Catawba is superior, for it contains all these properties. Interest may have an influence even in France,
Mr. and Mrs. MacD--s--l arrived; he has a mining staff and machinery with him being employed by an English company. There are four of these about to work in California. We have now another English lady in San Francisco. He goes to Maripora this evening.
Sunday opens with the following notices in the paper; these performances take
"1st. The `Bandarillero' Vittoriano will perform on horseback, blindfolded.
"2nd. Sr. Nicolas, `il Matador,' will jump over a bull whilst furiously rushing at him.
"3rd. The Clown, whilst on the shoulders of one of the `Torreres,' will plant a pair of flags between the horns of a bull.
"4th. The Chief of the Ring will perform some extraordinary feats with the animals.
"5th. Bulls warranted of extraordinary fierceness.
"The fights to begin at three, P.M."
Went to Trinity church with Mrs. MacD--c--e. After all, I can't feel myself in a church here; people come in,
Influenza is prevailing in San Francisco, and I have an admirable sample of it. Met Captain H--d--n, commanding the United States ship "Vincennes;" the captain showed me some quartz that came from Queen Charlotte's Island, it was well speckled with gold, but it appears the lode is only visible at low water.
Left San Francisco by the steamer "Antelope," en route to the Keystone, there to join Mr. D--s, the newly-arrived mining agent. As a favour, I had a "Bridal state-room" given to me to sleep in; it is well fitted up; all the large
At Sacramento, met Mr. H--s, my Hebrew quartz friend--he produces now another lode only forty-five miles from Sacramento--he will, probably, find one in the town soon.
A long conversation with Mr. F--th--n on amalgamators; it seems certain that the less the surface of the quicksilver is broken, the better for the purposes of amalgamation.
Change of air seems the secret cure
This morning on board the "Camanche" steamer to Marysville. Dr. H--ch--k, of the United States army, with his lady and daughter, on board, both pleasing, intelligent companions, the daughter a child. There is no childhood in the American children, none of that playful, innocent, endearing manner, which is so attractive in children; here children are sententious, crude, and premature.
Stopped at Plumas city--it consists of one house; two of its fashionables came on board--then the boat went on to Captain Sutler's place, Hock farm, where
Between Sacramento there are no less than six cities--at least on paper. When the discovery of gold caused an enormous emigration to California in 1849, sundry people seized upon various large tracts of land, staked the ground out in "lots," streets and squares, giving attractive and popular titles to the two latter generally, which sounded oddly when contrasted with others, bearing only a number or letter of the alphabet.
Whenever this was so far completed, the most glowing representations of these cities were industriously spread through-out the state or territory, as it then was; the lots were sold to applicants who were
Marysville, from its position, naturally "whipped" all the others, and now enjoys a very considerable name among the trading cities of California; the wooden buildings are fast giving place to others substantially built of brick.
Bought a waggon and double harness for one hundred and sixty-five dollars, preparatory to going to the mountains. Met Captain Sutler; this gentleman
The captain had been an officer of the Swiss Guard of Charles the Tenth of France, at whose expulsion, the captain left also, and after travelling in America, came to California, and had made to him a very extensive grant of land, by the then Mexican Government; this he called New Helvetia; erected near to Sacramento "adobe" buildings, surrounded them with a similar wall, called the place Sutler Fort, and had from three to four hundred Indians lying about the place, and feeding upon his resources.
Hock Farm is another place built in "adobe" by Captain Sutler. This does not assume the character of a fortress in any manner; the house is commodious, and supplied with good stables, farm
He was sitting one extremely wet evening in his office, and on a sudden, a man named Marshall came in; Captain Sutler had employed him to put up a saw mill at Coloma, and Marshall was the last man expected to be seen then at Hock Farm; he looked wild and worn with exertion, the water streaming from his hat and coat. In a surprised tone, Captain Sutler enquired what had brought him to the farm?
Marshall remained silent, but looking wildly round, he saw a young man who kept the accounts at Hock Farm for the
The captain said, only the clerk was there. Marshall became angry, repeated that no one must know the cause of his visit, and earnestly called on Captain Sutler to come into the house with him, in order to be secure from intrusion.
They retired to the private room of Captain Sutler; though perfectly alone, still Marshall feared to divulge his secret; in the greatest excitation, he would start from his chair, rush to the door, rapidly throw it open, listen to ascertain that no one was near, then, taking his seat, begin again his story, only again to rush out of the room, declaring that spies were on them both.
Captain Sutler assured me nearly two
Captain Sutler did all he could to tranquillize the poor man's mind, anxiously wishing to be separated from, as he thought, a deranged man, not having the most remote idea of the cause of Marshall's conduct. Marshall became calm, and then told his story.
He had cut a channel to convey the water from the river running through Coloma to the wheel of the mill, and had turned the water in, to carry away rubbish and unevennesses; that having been accomplished, he stopped out the water again, and the channel soon became dry; the
The fatigue of a ride of seventy miles, combined with the visions of unbounded wealth so soon to be secured, certainly for a time disordered his mind, in which state he reached Captain Sutler.
Both returned to Coloma, but on their arrival the secret had transpired, and already some hundred men had collected
No man had ever so brilliant an opportunity of amassing enormous riches as then had Captain Sutler; his fort, near where now Sacramento city is, was the only place where cover could be obtained by the inhabitants of the universe rushing to Coloma, for all at first went there, not thinking that gold could be as plentifully
The men he sheltered, fed, and often clothed, are now living in California upon the riches they derive from property swindled from him in his convivial hours; in those hours these ravening fiends persuaded him to sign powers of attorney
I remained the night at Hock Farm; after the heat had subsided, I walked with him to see his arrangements, and the Indian ranche close by.
Near the house there is a garden well laid out with borders supplying vegetables to the family. Two extensive greenhouses, in which his sons are raising all manner of shrubs from cuttings, flowers
At the Indian rancherie I saw a priest performing religious duties. He was perched upon the top of one of their beehiveshaped houses, motionless, excepting that now and then he moved his head up and down. I could not see his lips move, his prayer was mental, if otherwise than merely formal; however, Captain Sutler told me that they did pray, and that the priest was now entreating the Great Spirit to
The residences of these Indians are primitive enough; they dig a circular hole in the ground, generally twelve or fifteen feet in diameter; over this hole, about three feet deep, they place a cover, shaped like a beehive, and made of branches of the small willow, which abounds on the
In the evening, I rode back to Marysville. At this time of the year the country is very charming--the oak trees cover the plain, on this part, just sufficiently to give it an appearance very much resembling the New Forest: they are in their first young leaf; the herbage is green and vigorous, flowers richly interspersed throughout.
The kindness of Dr. and Mrs. Bennett saved me from the horror of dining in a Marysville hotel--dirty companions,
Next morning I rode to the ranche, meaning, in this case, the farm of Captain P--x; it is situated about a mile and a half from Marysville, on the north bank of the Yuba. The locality of this farm is very beautiful, and rendered fertile by its proximity to the river. The captain is rapidly giving it an English aspect, and, in a short time, it will probably return a handsome revenue. At present, the agricultural operations in California are small enough; the American only encloses and improves land in order to sell it as soon as he possibly can.
On horseback for the mines. Riding along the road being about seventeen miles on my way, two buzzards took up
The creature took the road, and preferring the descending to the ascending line, commenced a retrograde movement towards the plain, from the edge of which we were about five miles. I never could get nearer than ten yards; the moment I at all lessened that distance, the beast trotted on some hundred yards, then halted to feed. Presently, one strap of my travelling portmanteau gave way; I
I offered money to my allies for doing what really was to me a great service; it was declined, with the good-nature that is usually found in the bonaˆ-fide American miner of this country.
Having thanked and wished them
On reaching the mine, I found the small engine which had been erected altogether too weak to be of any service; also the owners of the mine had not only not fulfilled any part of their engagements, but that they also had refused to let Mr. D--s have a ton of quartz to try its value; he and the owners consequently were at war. The latter difficulty was got over; but Mr. D--s was determined to revenge himself upon the proprietors, and declared that the quartz, though "perhaps tolerable," was nothing but a "landslip," and, therefore, would last no time. He having been sent out to report and advise with me on the question of quartzlodes, and having decided against the "Keystone," all farther intention to work it was abandoned. Nevertheless, I
The proprietors of this lode do not go the right way to get it purchased; there are four of them living close upon it, yet they will do nothing to disclose its merits; every test of its quartz has yielded gold; yet they prefer, American like, to range the neighbouring mountains with a rifle, in search of deer, rather than employ their days in tunnelling, to ascertain the limits of the lode.
M--tl--d and H--y seem to think they have a good quartz-lode close by this place--every one has such a thing wherever an English company locates. Mr. D--s professes to entertain the same view. I think very much the reverse of all three; but it shall be looked for, and I hope they "may get it"--so to-morrow Mr. D--s
At Forbes Town, about five miles distant, there is a large quartz-mill; it has been working some few weeks, but the return of gold is, by the secretary's account, "nil." The shareholders have met in an angry humour, and the question in debate has been, "Shall the secretary be hung?" In the meantime, the secretary "slopes;" this may be called illustrative of Californian life and death.
This morning has been passed in testing sundry pieces of quartz, which have been brought in from the lode professed to have been found by M--tl--d and H--y. No yield of a satisfactory nature as yet. Some of the Keystone, brought in by P--n, yields well; Mr. D--s perseveres in calling this lode a "slip." A salmon for dinner this day--a rarity for
The Keystone company had a meeting this day--they offer me the privilege of working "one-half" their lode for three or five years, on lease, giving one-third of the produce to them. These Americans seem to think all people babies but themselves.
A piece of pure white quartz, brought from Placerville, and described by Mr. D--s to be "miserably poor!" was pounded up; it weighted three pounds, three quarters of an ounce, and yielded two dollars, ninety-eight cents. Another piece of very hard quartz from the same place, one pound three ounces, yielded one dollar seven cents. No gold could be seen in
MAY.
HAIL fell in the night, and we sensibly felt the cold after so much mild weather; these changes are very frequent in the mountains.
Informed the proprietors of the Keystone lode that no machinery would be put up, if they adhered to the three or five years' lease; they have, I believe, a rich lode, but they are too lazy, and too poor, to work it themselves, as well as too exacting, to allow us to work it for
We rode about five miles to see a water mill, belonging to another company, at a place called Dicksburgh; this mill is, I believe, for sale, with several quartz lodes round it; perhaps worth considering, as the Keystone, it seems, cannot be had.
In the absence of means to do anything else, the days are passed in "prospecting" the adjacent country for quartz lodes, and testing any that may be brought in; where I have found an instance of no gold, I have found, uniformly, as many as seven or eight which produce a
The four proprietors of the Keystone, now leaving here, are amusing themselves by firing at a mark, swinging in a swing upon the branch of a tree, chasing each other about the hills, &c. The Americans, in maturity, are often more childish than even their children; and as for the latter, I have never seen one act like a child.
Mr. D--s, the mining-agent, has been prosecuting the search of a supposed lode for some days, and now he finds it a
Mr. C--y--m came from Dicksburgh to breakfast; he is well disposed to sell his mill and quartz-lodes; this, however, is characteristic only; the American would sell his skin if he could get it off. Mr. D--s, however, goes back with him to examine and report upon the whole property.
H--y returned from Marysville, bringing me letters from England; but although my letters of January have been acknowledged, yet nothing has been done towards giving me the power to draw for money in a negociable form; we are at a stand, consequently. How is it possible to expect success under such a system?
Mr. G--d--n brought me a letter from the Keystone Company, stating that my
I sent in an offer to work it, giving that company one-third of the net proceeds, reserving myself a lease of twenty-one years. This will be rejected, and I shall be rid of any more bother with the lode, till the proprietors wish to go to the United States again, and then they will sell shares for what they can fetch.
Mr. D--s returned from Dicksburgh. He has thoroughly examined the appearances of the quartz-lodes there, and reports them sure to yield from one to one and a half cents per pound; this will be from twenty to thirty dollars per ton--a large produce.
He has had some thirty-five years of experience in mining matters, he says;
Upon his recommendation, the property will probably be purchased or leased, as soon as the title is proved to be good; and this, when I have in hand scarcely more than two hundred dollars--thanks to the directory!
Americans here are under the delusion that they cannot at any moment be intrusive; so at six o'clock this morning, a man suddenly opened my door, while I was dressing, to inform me that the people were ready to begin the newly-surveyed line of road, and asked for my contingent. The fact of my being in the midst of towels and water was of no
In self-defence, I hurried on sufficient apparel to justify my appearance in public, by which means I could only lure him away from the place in which he had "squatted." There will be found nothing sufficiently persuasive to induce an American to "vamose" his "squat," unless it is the dollar, or business that may lead to it; in this instance, I got him away, and supplied my labour contingent.
Mr. C--y--n and a very ruffian-looking "gentleman," called "Mr. H--k--m," came from Dicksburgh, about my view of purchasing or leasing their mill and
Mr. H--k--m is a shockingly dissolute and used-up man, so far as appearance goes. Mr. C--y--n says, that it is attributable solely to his having lived all his life upon "corn-pone and 'possum-fat." I do not know the precise influence these ingredients may have upon a man's looks, but I should have thought, from the indications, that he had much indulged in far less innocent matters.
To-morrow I go to Marysville, en route to San Francisco, to see there a lawyer about the Dicksburgh property; his business will be to create all possible delay, so that time to get money will be gained; then, as Mr. D--s says, the quartz is so good, the property may be purchased.
On my way down I passed a light waggon; the driver of it appeared to me very unlike an American, and I thought I had somewhere been acquainted with him before. I could not decide the question, and was riding on slowly, when he nodded and said, "How are you?" The voice instantly proclaimed him to be my estimable companion and friend during a seven months' voyage in a ship previously, where we had many severe combats upon the chess-board, in which field he surpassed me in some degree.
I was delighted to meet him again, and we agreed to meet in Marysville, where we were both going. He had taken up the trade of a travelling fish-monger, and was then dispensing salmon at a considerable premium. Here was
At Marysville about five o'clock. No boat till two o'clock to-morrow, so in the morning early I go to Spring
How brutal the hotels are here! A bar room, behind the bar of which a man sells execrable spirits and wine to a congregation who do nothing all day but eat, drink, smoke, spit and blaspheme: it is no common swearing; the style is that of studied blasphemy. I defy the world to equal the dreadful language these Californian-Americans delight in, not when angry, more than when engaged in common conversation; it is insufferable; and I rejoiced at the arrival of the hour when I could fly from it for a time to the society of Dr. and Mrs. B--tt.
This morning, the eighth, at half-past five, I got into a buggy with Mr. T--c, to make a visit to Spring Valley, sixteen miles off. The road lies chiefly across the plain or prairie; a few of the first range of hills are surmounted before reaching the valley, which is a large space--a perfect morass in the winter, and baked clay in the dry season.
We found Mr. V--h--n located there, he being a partner in the quartz lodes of the valley: he is an Irish gentleman of conciliatory manners. He received us very kindly, and ushered us into his dwelling, which was formed by a square piece of canvas stretched from tree to tree like a ship's awning; this, at night, and during rain, he sloped. There was no division in the interior, so a survey
After sitting a short time, we inspected the quartz lode: it has every indication of being rich and continuous, but the want of water will prevent its being worked until the price of labour greatly falls: nevertheless these grasping poor people, struggling between labour and penury, will not listen to any but the most ridiculously extravagant terms, either in selling or working their lodes.
They think nothing of asking twenty-five thousand pounds for a lode of which little beyond a few yards of out-crop can be seen; they assert, and maintaining their assertion, though alone by words, soon believe that the lode they have found contains inconceivable riches.
Nothing can persuade them to the contrary, and consequently they demand a price, that as none of their own citizens can give, they hope to get through the well-known insidious means distinguishing persons of speculative habits in the English share markets.
We drove back over a flat country, nearly all of which is covered with small broken quartz, exhibiting very frequently particles of gold; it seems that at some period a quartz lode must
Leaving this flat, we came to "Browns" Valley, so called from the name of the first American settler in it. In this place there is apparently a vast quantity of quartz, and, if I may judge from what I saw, it must be very good; but "specimens" are now so often made use of for deceptive purposes, that I take nothing of the kind as proof.
There is a small mill here worked by some Americans, it is said remuneratively; it seems to me too slight to do much. The valley, however, is unquestionably worth looking after as a mining location, and I think it preferable to Dicksburgh.
About a mile and a half from this, there is a water mill working six stamps;
At this place there is a small inn very prettily situated, kept by a Scotchman named Mc Phail: everything is very clean and neat about it--just the reverse of the same kind of inns kept by the Americans.
I met with two really lovely little children here, whose early history has been eventful.
They had left the United States with their parents, both of whom had "concluded" to emigrate, and, if possible, better their conditions by going to California. The overland route was selected by them, at the time scarcely known, and full of hardships; the father and mother were
Unhappily these latter people had no mercy, and finding the poor children required attention from them, they did apparently all in their power short of violence to cause death.
It happened one day as they were ascending a mountain road, the snow falling, and already deep upon it, that it became necessary to lighten the waggons, and every one got out to walk; the two poor children, the eldest not seven years old, were thrust out also to make their way as best they might, through the snow, no one caring about them. In a very short time they were
At this juncture, providentially, Mc Phail, who with his uncle in a light spring waggon, was also travelling by the overland route, came up and found these poor children--the elder, a boy, holding his sister by the hand--both crying bitterly, their little feet bleeding, but endeavouring still to struggle through the snow.
It needed not the natural kind-heartedness of McPhail to dictate the course to pursue; to have abandoned helpless infants to such a death as threatened them before McPhail came to their rescue, could only have been the work of a mind bred from the cradle to sacrifice every feeling of humanity at the altar of the dollar.
He and his uncle each took one of the children up, asked them how they came there, gave them the best food at their immediate command, and wrapping them up in blankets, laid them in the waggon, where, forgetting their recent peril, the poor creatures soon fell asleep.
Having found from the children that the waggon they had left was not very far before, McPhail, thinking that they had got astray unobserved by their party, pushed on, and in the course of two hours overtook the others.
He told them that he had picked up the two children, and offered to give them up; the others, consisting of four men and three women, brutally answered him, and refused to take the children.
McPhail replied, taunting them with
This determined conduct decided the contest--cruelty and cowardice shrunk beneath the honest courage and compassionate hearts of McPhail and his uncle, who drove on in unmolested possession of the unconscious children, whom now I met considering him as their father.
McPhail had brought them up with as much care as he could possibly upon them consistently with his business.
The little things came confidently to me and began to tell me how their father (McPhail) washed for gold; so I took his pan and asked them to come to the river close by to show me. I scraped up some sand, and the boy began washing it, giving it to his sister when his little arms were tired.
In a short time they came to the end of the sand nearly, when, instead of gold-dust, to their surprize they found several small silver coins, which I had, of course unperceived, put amongst it; in great delight they ran to give them to McPhail, who solved the mystery easily enough.
I was really sorry to leave this house, then so unlike what elsewhere on the roads one always met; but I was obliged to hurry on to meet the steamer going to Sacramento, on board of which vessel I was at four in the evening.
AT SACRAMENTO.
HERE, while waiting for the steamer to San Francisco, I met my friend B--e--a; a long conversation with him on the subject of investing British capital in Californian security.
Of course this project will be scouted by the English capitalist who knows nothing of California beyond that which he sees in the daily papers; when he is told that he can get three and four per per month
for his money, he flies off, as if the hand of a pick-pocket was hovering over his well-filled purse. If, however, he would take the trouble to enquire, he would find security in California equally good with that elsewhere in the world--with this difference, that he generally elsewhere
gets an interest for the year
, paid when due
, which here
he gets for the month
, paid in advance
.
There would be no difficulty now in lending money here in large amounts at an interest of two and a-half and three per cent. per month. The security would be city lands, city lots, brick buildings, both dwelling houses, shops, and stores. The money lent is computed to be the value of half the whole property given as security; there is no difficulty in
I went over Lambard's Iron foundry here; it is ably conducted by Mr. Goss, and the workmanship undoubtedly good.
Madame Biscacianti is here, enchanting the population with her voice.
She has a concert this evening, and Mr. W--n, one of her most enthusiastic patrons, insists upon my accepting a ticket.
I do not much care about music in this way, and perhaps think with Dr.
At the hotel at which I am now, the Orleans, there is daily spread at one o'clock, a table professing to bear upon it a luncheon gratis; the eatables exhibited consist of the leavings of yesterday, which now reappear in some new shape or other. A number of people flock in at this time, and in ten minutes it is difficult to find a vacant place, so eager is the unpaying community to avail itself of this opportunity of dining gratis.
The proceedings of this great body
Strange as it may seem to Europeans, I have seen well-dressed people wedging their way to the table through a mass of draymen, labourers, &c.; and not unfrequently has the Governor of the State himself acquired a forward position there, exercising at the time, like a good republican democrat, more prowess than dignity.
At two P.M. on board the steamer for San Francisco; got there at ten, and soon found myself in the drawing-room of Mrs. S--m--ds, before a nice fire, and with English friends, who have formed a mess here. Mrs. S--m--ds being herself English, every thing here is clean and
May 12th. English mail in; letters from home, and from the Secretary. Nothing about drawing for money, so every thing remains as it was.
I am told all foreign miners are to be taxed; no harm in that, if the said foreign miners received any protection from the government, which they do not.
Went with the superintendent of the Aqua Fria works, to see the crusher and amalgamator, the invention of a Frenchman; it has stamps first, then two rollers, then a cone moving half round a circle
While standing in the street talking to F--r, a drayman turned aside rather than drive against us; too unusual an occurrence to allow of its being passed by without notice.
The society of San Francisco is changing at least, indeed improving. This evening I met a party of Californian-American ladies, each the wife of some business gentleman; they were riding, escorted by three or four of the latter; their horsemanship argued both ladies and gentlemen to be noviciates in the art.
A specimen of mountain habits is given in the papers to-day.
"A man named Clock shot his wife at French Creek, on the eleventh; upon enquiry it was found that both were at the time intoxicated. The jury said,
"'Tain't the gentleman's fault--'tis the liquor!'"
Saw Captain F--l--m, U.S. Army, and Mr. H--d, on the subject of introducing British capital into California. Both these gentlemen possess immense property about and in San Francisco, and are entitled to full confidence in all their dealings; their views are connected with an extensive building scheme, so that by using brick instead of wood the danger of fire would be greatly diminished. Of the honesty and wisdom of their plans there can be no question; but unfortunately the Mariposa and Aqua Fria affairs have thrown all Californian proposals of a pecuniary nature into such disgrace that on
The papers inform us that His Majesty the King of the Sandwich Islands has in person opened the Houses of Legislature of that group. This is the very essence of burlesque; there are three or four English and American individuals who monopolize the government of the Islands; these gentlemen fill the office of Secretaries of State, they originate and uniformly carry all bills; they very carefully secure to themselves the management of the revenue, in whatever shape it is raised, which considering that His Majesty often appears publicly in a state of intoxication so early as ten o'clock in the forenoon, may be
After all, it would be much better that these islands were an American State, or any state owning civilization, than remain as they are, ruled by a fool and drunkard, nominally, with no chance of benefit by the elevation of any native successor, and their resources chiefly appropriated to satisfy private cupidity.
Saw F--r to-day about the Dicksburgh purchases. It seems the legislature have passed two bills, one prohibiting leases of longer extent than eleven years; so a man may not
do what he likes with his own in this "free" country; the other taxing every foreign miner three dollars per month, and rendering him incompetent to appear in court upon mining questions unless it has been paid. There is nothing unfair in this; as for the first, it is evaded by giving a lease for ten years, with the right of holding the property at its expiration for ten years longer.
In the afternoon I embarked on board the "Bragdon" steamer for Sacramento. Nothing but a bed in the state-room, in which I had to sleep; at last, and with much entreaty, I got a tin pan for a basin, and a small jug of water--these comprised
To Marysville next day. Met the MacD--lls, and arranged to visit "Brown's Valley" with them and M--tl--d. We examined this place and Spring Valley more minutely. I am sure the quartz is superior; the want of a running stream is the objection. Called on Mr. V--g--n, whom we found at his country seat, otherwise a canvas tent under an oak tree; he says that deer, quails, hares and pigeons abound in his vicinity
Passed the night at the "Spring Valley Hotel;" a room given up to M--tl--d and myself.
In the morning went again to the tent, and was taken by Mr. V--g--n to see the springs. They are in the summer mere mudholes. Water in the valley no doubt could be got by forming a deep reservoir, but I scarcely think enough could be obtained for the continuous working of a steam engine, amalgamation, &c., during the dry season. Mr. V--g--n says it can--but he wants to sell the quartz here.
Started with Maitland early for the Keystone. Nothing was ever so
M--tl--d had an execrable horse; nothing could force or induce the animal to move beyond a slow, shuffling trot, diversified by frequent palpable trips, threatening a fall. This animal prolonged our sufferings amongst the sand-flies much; thanks to this brute, we only reached the Keystone long after darkness had set in.
Some tragic events have been perpetrated on the road we travelled. Very
Two other men were walking at the time, near the same place, on their way to the mountain "diggings;" they met the deserted waggon, observed its confused state, and noticing the track which had been made by the dragged body, followed it into a ravine to which it led. There they were attacked by the
The country had for some time been reduced into such order under the influence of "Judge Lynch," that people had thrown aside their pistols and rifles, making their journies, like these three murdered men, unarmed; the result of which was, the renewal of murders and robberies throughout California. Until this had happened, I never carried arms; but afterwards, whenever my saddle was put on the horse, the pistols were also in the holsters, capped and loaded. No less
Both M--tl--d and myself were well ready for our beds; his was made as before told, by spreading a canvas tent upon the floor, on which, after an impromptu supper, no great things by-the-bye, he laid down, and I upon my own bed.
This day was employed principally in examining the quartz brought from Spring and Brown's Valleys; it shows a highly-remunerative amount of gold.
H--y will go to England, to try if he can forward the loan views of
The proprietors of the Dicksburgh mill and quartz lodes came to me, bringing their papers, titles, &c. They think everything is now done, and are quite surprised at my expressing my intention to hand them over to a lawyer for inspection; if found to be all right, they are to receive twenty thousand, five hundred dollars for the whole property--a small sum, if Mr. D--s is correct in his opinions.
The twenty seventh of May--the heat is excessive; the mosquitoes innumerable. While I am writing Mr. D--s is flapping my head and face with a
Left the Keystone for San Francisco, in hopes of finding funds sent out by the Directory.
At Marysville by half-past six; Steamer Camanche going down. A waggon drove up to the Tremont hotel, where I was; a placard in front announced that it was for sale.
Any one can be an auctioneer in the United States, so the driver now assumed that office. In order that greater publicity might be acquired, he drove the waggon through every street in the city, exclaiming, in his loudest and apparently passionate tone--
"Seven hundred and seventy-five dollars only I am offered for this splendid
This appeal was to the general population.
Messrs. G--d--n and D--k, part proprietors of the Keystone lode, came down this morning; they had travelled thirty-seven miles, they told me, to see a man hung at Marysville, and were very "riled" because the execution had been deferred till July.
Arrived at Sacramento, I changed into the Antelope, a very good steamer, going to San Francisco.
On the voyage, something went wrong in the machinery: this is common in
"Has that man paid his passage?"
If he has, then--
"Go a-head! I did not put him over-board."
At San Francisco at eleven o'clock at night, two hours after time. Next morning shown some Queen Charlotte Island quartz at Messrs. Gray and Esterleys; it is, so far as I have seen, certainly very good.
This is a lovely day, terminating the month.
At a ball, given by the British Consul to celebrate the Queen's birthday,
"No sirra, I never promise a-head; first come, first served, is my ticket!"
JUNE.--TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN SYMONDS.
THE summer cold winds and sea fogs have begun in earnest to day. It is blowing a perfect gale: one side of the street intensely hot, when it happens to be sheltered from the wind; the other side cold in proportion, if sheltered from the sun.
I affix (extracted from the "New York Herald") a beautiful tribute, offered
The passengers and treasure arrived, and, but for Symonds, many of the first would have been killed, the latter plundered. His gallantry was fully appreciated by the Americans, who
"It will be recollected by our readers that during the difficulties which occurred at Chagres in October last, a small party of returning Californians were placed in great peril on the Spanish side of the river at that place, from which they were relieved by the aid of Captain William Symonds, then commanding the English steamer Medway.
Believing that they owed the lives of some, if not all of their number, to the friendly exertions of that gentleman, and desirous to express their grateful recollection of his kindness, they subscribed some five hundred dollars for the manufacture of a suitable piece of silver to commemorate the service, which they
It is elegant in form, and of great size, being seventeen inches in diameter and sixteen inches in height to the top of the cover.
The lower portion represents waves of the sea, the border surrounding it being a massive rope cable.
On one side of the body of the bowl is presented a fine view of Chagres, taken from a point exhibiting the town on both sides of the river, the old fort, and the English steamer in the distance; while in the foreground are seen the British boats with the national flag at their sterns, bearing the rescued passengers out of the river.
On the other side is an escutcheon, supported on one hand by the British
Over all, the flags of the two nations are thrown, bound together by wreaths of olives, while surrounding the whole, branches of oak and laurel, emblems of strength and victory, crown the ornament of the shield.
Upon the escutcheon is the following inscription:--
PRESENTED TO
CAPTAIN WILLIAM SYMONDS,
Commanding the Royal Mail steamer Medway, by the following citizens of the United States, in token of their grateful remembrance of his generous assistance in extricating them from a situation of great danger, at Chagres, in New
F. W. Macondray,
A. Austin,
R. S. Dorr,
H. Grimes,
J. C. Hackett,
A. G. Abell,
E. Gorham,
C. T. Foote,
A. S. Hallett,
G. B. Newell,
T. J. Haile.,
Aquatic plants of various kinds spring from the bottom of the bowl, filling all the vacant spaces with their leaves and stems.
The brim is surrounded with a heavy hawser.
Two sea monsters, with their scaly tails artistically intertwined, form each handle; and the cover, also heavily embellished with a surrounding wreath of oak and laurel, has for a handle a massive anchor, entwined with a chain cable.
It is a subject of sorrowful regret to those who ordered this beautiful testimonial, that the kind-hearted officer for whom it was destined did not live to receive it.
Captain Symonds commanded the illfated steamer Amazon, which was burned at sea some weeks ago, and there is little reason to doubt that he perished with the many other victims of that sad calamity; but owing to the kind interest manifested by Mr. Robert Bunch, H.B.M. Vice Consul-for this State, the donors
We subjoin a copy of a letter to Mrs. Symonds, which will accompany the testimonial:
New York, April 11, 1852.
"MY DEAR MADAM,
"In the month of October last, a few Americans (of whom I was one), returning from California, became greatly indebted at Chagres to Captain William
Desirous to testify our gratitude to him with something more enduring than mere words, upon our arrival in this city we directed the manufacture of the piece of silver which accompanies this letter, hoping that he would accept it in earnest of our thankful remembrance of his friendly services.
But Providence has willed that he should never know how gratefully we recollect his kindness.
Ere this testimonial was completed, and probably even before the letter above alluded to could reach him, a dread calamity had deprived you of a kind and
Believe me, madam, we have sympathized with you deeply in this heavy sorrow you have been called upon to bear.
Not one of us who did not feel the sincerest grief at learning the untimely end of our kind benefactor; and, though we well know how vain are all earthly consolations for such a loss, we hope that it may prove a source of some satisfaction to you, to know that a few strangers in a far-off land, who were perhaps indebted to him for the preservation of their lives, and restoration to those they loved, bear grateful testimony to his possession of those noble qualities which ever adorn the character of an English officer and gentleman.
Since an overruling Providence, in its inscrutable wisdom, has frustrated our intentions in regard to your husband, we beg that his wife will, for herself and her children, accept the accompanying testimonial of the sincerity of the sentiments above expressed.
I have the honour to be,
Madam, very respectfully,
Your obedient friend and servant,
ALEXANDER G. ABELL."
For himself and in behalf of--
F. W. Macondray,
Alexander Austin,
Hiram Grimes,
E. Gorham,
R. S. Dorr,
James C. Hackett,
T. J. Halle,
A. S. Hallett,
C. T. Foote,
I. B. Newell."
There is no use in saying anything more about the weather for four months; all that time will be sun, wind, dust, and fog all day. A fire in the evening often very comfortable, and extremely heavy dews.
Here I am, waiting till funds are sent out to enable me to begin getting to work upon Dicksburgh, if, indeed, Mr. D--s is right in saying that it is worth working. The time is rapidly flying away, and we are unwillingly idle; the day is passed in doing nothing; I am heartily tired of it.
Mr. D--s writes down to ask if sundry things shall be done? I write up in
MEETING AT COLUMBIA.
THE account of a meeting at Columbia has just reached me. The American labouring population desire to exclude the Chinese from the diggings, only because they will work for much less wages than themselves; the resolutions describe the feelings of the classes peculiarly indicated, most minutely; the sentiments of the meeting are cast in the most unqualified selfishness and anger. I believe
"At an adjourned mass meeting held at Columbia, May 8th, J. A. Palmer was chosen chairman, and Thadeus Hildreth, secretary. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, notwithstanding the failure of the infamous `Cooley Bill' to receive the sanction of the Senate of the Commonwealth, a disposition still exists among certain ship-owners, capitalists, and merchants, to flood the State with degraded Asiatics, and fasten, without the sanction of law, the system of peonage on our social organization; and whereas, it is useless to expect at present any
Resolved, That it is the duty of the miners to take the matter into their own hands, and apply such remedies as the exigencies of the case may seem to demand; to erect such barriers as shall be sufficient to check this Asiatic inundation that threatens to roll over the State, and turn back its waves on those who have set it in motion.
Resolved, That the capitalists, shipowners, merchants, and others, who are encouraging or engaged in the importation of these burlesques on humanity, would crowd their ships with the long-tailed, horned, and cloven-footed inhabitants of the infernal regions, and contend for their introduction into the mines
Resolved, That such men have no regard for California, or her true interests: They love her rocks and rills,
only in proportion to the amount of gold they can filch from the one, and the lumber they can obtain from the other.
Resolved, That no Asiatic, or South Sea Islander, shall be permitted to mine in this district, either for himself or for others, and that this resolution shall be part and parcel of our mining-laws.
Resolved, That a Committee of Vigilance, consisting of twenty, be appointed, whose business it shall be to see that the above resolution is carried out, and to correspond with the miners in the different districts of the southern mines, and endeavour to secure a thorough and efficient organization of the miners, for the purpose of protecting themselves from this influx of the degraded inhabitants of China and the islands of the Pacific.
Resolved, That we recommend the raising of a like committee in every mining district, and the appointment by them of county committees, who shall be empowered to take such steps as they may deem necessary, to secure unity and efficiency of action.
Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the `Sonore Herald,'
J. A. PALMER, President.
T. HILDRETH, Secretary."
Much talent is beginning to display itself in counterfeiting the gold "pepitas" found in the diggings. I was shown a piece of this manufacture to-day; it is an admirable imitation.
ARRIVALS OF EMIGRANTS.--TONNAGE OF VESSELS.--IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF BULLION.
SAN FRANCISCO has now been a city less than three years, and here is subjoined a statistical account of the arrivals of emigrants; tonnage employed; and bullion exported; during three months.
Report of arrivals of emigrants from foreign and domestic ports during the months of March, April, and May, together with the tonnage of vessels arrived
Arrivals during the months of March, April, and May
.
Tons.
Steamers,
Ships,
Ships,
Barks,
Barks,
Brigs,
Brigs,
Schooners,
Schooners,
Total
Recapitulation--Total amount of Tonnage
.
American
Foreign
Total
Arrival of Emigrants from Foreign Ports
.
Males
Females
Children
Total
Bullion
.
Dollars.
Import of bullion during the same period
Export of bullion as follows:
To Panama
To Nicaragua
To Valparaiso
To Mexico
To Honolulu
To Peru
To Calcutta
To China
Total
Although it must be remembered that this country suddenly became enabled to wield immense treasures, and therefore had the means of instantly obtaining all the inventions of modern times, together with the productions of every nation in the world, yet much is due to the energy of its present population, for the advanced state in which it now is. European capital has also been largely engaged here, and the principal mercantile firms are certainly those of the French and German empires.
THE CITY DEBT.--THE JENNY LIND PURCHASE.--ACCOUNTS FROM THE "DIGGINGS."
THERE is great discontent amongst the San Francisco people upon the subject of the city debt; as yet, every mayoralty has been very conspicuous for its activity in making contracts, purchases, &c., all of which, it is alleged, have had a direct tendency to enrich the city councillors. The question in debate at this time, is the purchase of the "Jenny Lind" theatre,
"THE JENNY LIND PURCHASE.
To the Editor of the Herald
.
The purchase of the Jenny Lind certainly is a project which benefits the few at the expense of the many mechanics, merchants, and labourers generally, of San Francisco; it is a tax of about
But this money put into the hands of a few men will make them rich. It would make one man very rich.
I certainly have no private interest at stake, and if the common council had taxed two millions of dollars, instead of two hundred thousand, upon the mechanics and labourers of San Francisco, it would not have affected me, because I have no property in the city to be taxed.
Nevertheless, in all my experience, I never knew a public body in any part of the United States to rush through a measure, in spite of their constituents, their petitions, public meetings, remonstrances, and unmistakeable wishes.
Public men in our government profess,
Now, for my part, I would as soon live under the tyranny of the "Hounds" as under this species of tyranny. Why banish Sydney men, while such hold the reins of government?
Mr. Editor, the citizens of California, and particularly of San Francisco, are the best-taxed people on the whole habitable globe.
The city government of San Francisco is enormously expensive already.
Debt-ridden England does not impose such monstrous taxes as the citizens and
In my day I have witnessed bad legislation; I have seen bad laws bankrupt the great states of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Alabama, &c.
I have seen Mississippi repudiate her public debt!
I have seen these States impose taxes, and send around to the farmer, merchant, and mechanic, the hateful tax-gatherer, to collect their hard earnings to pay for reckless legislation!
Now, while we see every steamer carry away some official, who has accumulated a large fortune, by some two years' speculation in office; and while we see the current of legislation directed to personal ends, at the expense of the State at large,
Who are our public servants or task-masters?
In many instances, they are composed of bankrupt demagogues and political hacks, run out in the old States, and flocking hither to live at the public expense, and to return home rich as soon as need be.
These men will manage elections, and fatten on us all, until the people shall throw party to the winds, and vote for no man who does not enjoy a fair reputation for honour and integrity.
Private honesty should be the test.
X. Y. Z."
"To the Editor of the Herald
.
I have observed in your paper many communications, lately, in regard to the action of the council on the city-hall ordinance; but none seem to propose any measures which would be at all likely to influence those `honourable men' to retract or re-consider their acts.
We all know that they are men who have no good principles, and not sense enough to direct their bad ones into a politic course.
It is useless to recapitulate these facts.
Your suggestion in to-day's paper meets the hearty approval of many citizens.
Let a meeting en masse be called at two o'clock, on Wednesday
Such, and such action only, will be felt.
LYNCH."
There are daily good accounts from the "diggings;" seventy thousand persons are supposed to be engaged there. In 1849, there were but two wretched
GALLONS.
On the Plaza
Corner of Montgomery and Washington
Corner of Montgomery and Commercial
Corner of Montgomery and California
Corner of Sacramento and Kearney
Corner of Jackson and Kearney
Kearney, facing Pine
Corner of Dupont and Sacramento
Corner of Dupont and Pacific
Corner of Stockton and Pacific
Corner of Bush and Montgomery
California Engine-house
Sacramento, above Stockton
346,000
There is also an extremely well-organized system in the fire-engine department, two hospitals, an orphan asylum, and sundry other useful institutions.
AN INDIAN EXECUTION.
THE account of an Indian execution appears in the next page; these trials take place by no other authority than that held by the sovereign citizens! A man is found murdered, an armed deputation visits the Indian ranche near, the culprits are demanded, the chief knows nothing of the murder, but he will make enquiry. A day or two elapses, and he
The only proof of the murder having been committed by an Indian, is the fact of Indian arrows having been found stuck in the body of the dead man.
It is now known that other murderers have so pierced the corpse, to lead the feeling against the Indian.
Indians Hung at Rough and Ready
.--Two Indians were hung on Tuesday, at Rough and Ready, for the murder of an American by the name of Emanuel Comstock. The murder was
On Tuesday morning, a judge and twelve jurymen were appointed from the people, and a trial commenced. Mr. Whiteside was attorney for the prosecution, and Mr. Lyons acted in behalf of the prisoners. A fair trial was given them, without the usual legal forms. The proof of their guilt was conclusive, and they had to suffer the penalty of death.
Comstock was from Mineral Point, Wis.
A place aptly called "Rich Bar" invites much notice.
"Rich Bar is about six miles from Neal's Ranche, on Butte Creek, and although not just discovered, still there is room for a great many to do well here.
Some of the miners are making as high as fifty to sixty dollars per day; and all that work, as far as I can learn, make from sixteen dollars to an ounce per day."
The steamer "Winfield Scott" came in, and reports the mail steamer from Panama near; so every American is in the greatest state of excitement, and
The inauguration, I suppose it may be called, of a fire-engine took place this day. It had very recently arrived from New York, and having been duly brushed up after its voyage, was now introduced to the city in which it was "bound" to operate.
A procession of the Fire Companies was formed; each company dragged its respective engine. The men were dressed in blue trowsers and red woollen frocks, and wore leather helmet-shaped hats; the engines were tastefully decked out with wreaths of flowers, such as could
The members of these Fire Companies receive no pay, but are in the enjoyment of some immunities relieving them from city duties of some kind, and they turn out most readily upon the first alarm of fire.
When working the engine, the captain stands on it, and is incessantly roaring out some exciting phrase, the origin of his own humour, through a trumpet, the effect of which is not lost upon the "citizens" each of which body cheers his fellow on. The uproar is beyond conception, and doubtless has caused the
The Atlantic mail has arrived. As this vessel approaches the wharf, a dense crowd collects there; even before she touches it, many of the more active leap on board. Presently she is made fast, one narrow plank is passed from the ship to the shore--from this moment all order and control ceases. The captain and officers "are nowhere," the crowd tries to rush into the ship, and the passengers try to force their him
. Happy is the passenger who can fall in behind a trunk making its transit from the ship; he of course assists and bears up the trunk carrier all he possibly can, for his own success depends upon that of the trunk. After about a quarter of an hour's pushing, swearing, and struggling, the trunk perhaps safely lands, and the passenger behind it, or in that time both may be in the water, or driven back.
As for the interference of a policeman to enforce some little and very desirable order, such a measure would be considered repugnant to the rights of a republican.
These rights, interpreted by an American, enable him to do just as much
This is one of the delights of the one-sided freedom of the "everlasting States."
PRESCRIPTION LAW.
THE following is the "prescription" law passed by the general legislature, for the State of California.
"1st. That any person who is the head of a family and a citizen of the United States, or any person who is the head of a family, and had become a citizen prior to the first day of January, 1852, as required by the
2nd. The person applying for the benefit of the act, to make an affidavit that he or she is the head of a family, and is not the owner of any estate in land at the time of such application, and has not disposed of any estate in land to obtain the benefit of the act.
3rd. Section refers to the duties of the Land Registrar.
4th. All lands acquired under the provision of the act, shall in no event
5th. If at any time after filing the affidavit required, and before the expiration of five years, it shall be proved that the person locating on such lands shall have changed his or her residence, or abandoned the said entry for more than six months at any one time, then the land to revert back to the Government, and be disposed of as other public lands are now by law.
6th. If any individual now a resident of any state or territory, and not a citizen of the United States; but at the time of making application for the benefit of the act, shall have filed a declaration of intention so to do, as required by the naturalization laws of the United
7th. No individual is permitted to make more than one entry under this act.
This law indisputably has operated to clear an immense amount of land in the United States in a very short period.
It induces emigration from other countries, because the emigrant feels that he can get an immediate means of locating, without fear of being disturbed, and consequently he can lay out any little capital he may possess upon that which is his own property.
It is in every way much preferable
The endeavour to colonize by granting these large tracts to such persons, who in scarcely any instance ever did more than visit them once in their lives, has been found to be the most productive of
The landlords employ necessarily agents; these demand the payment of the rent for which land is leased. The payments are then more frequently made in labour on the agent's own
land than in any other manner. He screws the tenant, apparently for the landlord's interest; the tenant, who is generally some very ignorant Irishman, or else an English or Scotch labourer, feels the weight of the lease system, and thinks it very hard that he cannot have a grant of fifty or an hundred acres, when some great noble or well-allied commoner holds a grant of some twenty thousand or more. Hence the discontent and disloyalty.
The United States prescription law, on the contrary, induces an attachment
STEAM-BOAT COMBINATION.
THERE is a combination amongst the steam-boats running between San Francisco and Sacramento.
The object is to force passengers to pay ten dollars for a passage to Sacramento, and five dollars for a state room; and in order to induce the smaller boats to lay up, the combination consents to pay one dollar a-head for each
The "state room" of an American steamer is a burlesque upon state.
It is a space of about six feet by seven, has three bed-places in it, and one wash-hand stand; through an opening, and during the night, the light is borrowed from a lamp, which can ill afford to lend it, that hangs up in the saloon.
For this "state" you have to pay five dollars, unless you do not object to one or two companions, in which case you pay proportionally less, and most likely when you awake at daylight find the feet of your companion located immediately over you, disgreeably disposed of with reference to yourself, and
TWO MEN SHOT IN COURT--A MEETING OF THE CITIZENS--ANOTHER HANGING SCRAPE ANTICIPATED--TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.
IN the correspondence of the "Herald," under the date of Sacramento, June 16, 1852, is the following:--
"Our city has been thrown into considerable excitement, in consequence of an unfortunate and disgraceful affray that
Judge Wilson, Associate Judge of the Court of Sessions, it appears, had said something to the disparagement of Mr. McKune, to which the latter took exceptions.
This morning, immediately after the adjournment of the Court, Mr. McKune demanded an explanation and retraction.
As Judge Wilson stepped from the bench, in the presence of the other Judges, Mr. McKune insisted upon an apology.
Judge Wilson declined apologising, and Mr. McKune, backed by a fellow by the name of Caulfield, and others, attacked the Judge in the Court House, and struck him over the head with a cane.
Judge Wilson, having a sword-cane in his hand, drew it, and thrust through the body of Mr. McKune.
Mr. McDonald, the keeper of the jail, rushed between the combatants, caught Judge Wilson, and prevented him from doing further injury.
McDonald was between Wilson and McKune.
Here it was supposed this disgraceful affair was ended; but not so.
While McDonald was holding Judge Wilson, Caulfield drew a revolver and fired it three several times at Wilson, the last shot taking effect.
The ball entered the body of McDonald.
The wound is not considered dangerous.
Fears are entertained that McKune will not survive.
A stong and bitter feeling is aroused against Caulfield, and there is a strong probability that he will be summarily dealt with.
These are the facts as related by persons in the room during the affray. I was not present, and can only give you this account.
At a few minutes before one o'clock P.M., a man went through our city, summoning the citizens to meet en masse
at the Orleans Hotel, to take into consideration, as the notice was worded, `the recent murders committed in our midst.'
At one o'clock, between eight hundred and a thousand persons assembled.
Judge Brown was called to the chair.
Loud cries were then heard for Dr.
A committee of fifteen was appointed to take charge of the prison brig, to prevent all escapes
A committee of three was also appointed to investigate the whole matter.
I write in haste, amidst the greatest excitement and confusion I have witnessed for years.
Twenty Minutes later
.--The crowd at the Orleans is increasing rapidly.
A rumour has reached us that McKune is dead.
A brother of McDonald has just informed the meeting that the wound has not been probed.
Caulfield is the leader of the squatters in this country, and desperate efforts
There is a strong feeling against him; and judging from the feeling manifested, he will be dead before night.
I will keep this open until the latest possible moment.
Half-past one
P.M.--The investigating Committee has not yet reported to the meeting.
The Committee of fifteen have taken possession of the prison brig.
It is feared the squatters will make an attempt to release Caulfield.
In haste,
D. W. G.
Quarter to Two
.--McKune is dead. McDonald is lying in a critical condition."
The weather is beginning to grow extremely hot, which possibly may contribute to explain the pleasanteries
of an American Court at Sacramento. It is "a great country!"
SAN MATHEO.
THIS morning Mr. H--d called for me in his buggy, and drove me to his residence called San Matheo, about thirty miles south of San Francisco.
The first ten miles of the road is dreary enough, a short wiry herbage struggling to thrive upon a thin strata of soil which covers the slopes of the mountains, upon which huge masses of rock, generally
The remaining twenty miles the road traverses the foot of some wooded mountains, fertile land, and a heavenly climate, so short a limit has the wind and fog just mentioned.
When we left San Francisco we were both wrapped in cloaks; in an hour's time our cloaks were thrown off, and we were enjoying nothing more than a breeze tempered by a delicious sunshine.
Mr. H--d has at San Matheo a residence very nicely situated just where the slope of the mountain terminates and the plain begins; it is pleasantly placed amongst evergreen oaks, and some magnificent bay trees, which here grow to the
So far, Nature has done her part, and indeed has added a splendid view of the upper part of the bay of San Francisco, Monte Diablo and its mountain range towering in grand elevation on the other side.
I wish I could say as much in praise of the interior, where Nature gives up her reign to man.
We arrived at four in the afternoon, and to my surprise I found San Matheo to be a boarding house as well as a gentleman's country retreat.
There were some three or four married parties boarding there, and at six we all sat down to what is here called "supper;" for me, it was dinner.
At this meal the farming people came in from their work, not very clean, and took their places at the table; everything was huddled on at the same time, and to roast beef an invitation was given to unite ham, chicken, fruit pie, pickles, &c.
Oh! this American table-d'hoˆte! I would rather live in a tent under a tree, than be exposed to its disgusting combinations.
The meal being hurried over as if every one had some vast object to attain, brandy and cigars are produced!--a climax very abhorrent in my opinion.
Withdrawing to go to bed under pretence of fatigue, a legion of fleas commence their operations upon your person, and the night is passed in severely rubbing oneself in hopes of inflicting death, as each new wound is felt, or as the insect makes its tour about you.
There is no retreat from these pests; they lurk in the folds of your linen, and wherever you are, every now and then you grasp a portion of your clothes, then heavily rub about the region where the tickling run of the flea is felt.
The next morning Mr. H--d and myself rode to examine some rocks reputed to bear gold, which they certainly do not, and then returned to San Francisco.
"Gentlemen," for there are no mere "men" here, are described as "Drunks" when in liquor, and brought up for judgment. An example is here extracted.
Drunks
.--Three persons, whose passion for liquor got the better of their judgment, were picked up in the streets on Sunday.
It is strange that a nation professing to repudiate distinctive titles should be the first to avail itself of every means in its power to use and bestow any which it can grasp most eagerly; so first we find the term "gentleman" applied to waiters, draymen, &c.
I asked one day the locality of a mercantile house, at which I had some business to execute. The reply was,
"Well, I don't know, but I guess that dark gentleman
will tell you," pointing to a negro who had a shoe-blacking establishment in the street.
So also, when you ask who is to plead a case in court, you are told Mayor or Colonel some one or another. A banker, a most gentlemanlike and upright man,
END OF VOL. I.
J. BILLING, PRINTER, WOKING, SURREY.
CALIFORNIA:
ITS GOLD AND ITS INHABITANTS.
BY THE AUTHOR
OF "SEVEN YEARS ON THE SLAVE COAST OF AFRICA,"
"PEREGRINE SCRAMBLE," &c.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
LONDON:
THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER,
30, WELBECKSTREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE.
1856.
CALIFORNIA;
ITS GOLD AND ITS INHABITANTS.
AMERICAN JUSTICE.
THE following account of an execution for theft, appeared in the "Union" today.
"The `Union' learns from a correspondent at Diamond Springs, in El Dorado county, that a man named William
About two weeks since, a horse and mule were stolen from Dr. Slaughter's, and the mule having a broken hoof, they were enabled to track the thief to Sly Park Creek.
The party followed the track in Carson Valley, where they found the horse in a corral belonging to Mr. Redding, and the man who brought him there in the house.
The party arrested him, and brought him before Dr. Slaughter, who is a magistrate, found him guilty, and sentenced him to be hung.
The choice was granted to him of being hung or shot; and he chose the latter.
He made a confession, acknowledging his guilt, and implicating others.
At the appointed hour for execution he was led out, took a drink, informed the crowd that he was of good family, and that this was his first offence.
He refused to have his eyes bandaged, and directed the six executioners to stand close and make sure work of it.
At the word he received three balls into his breast, and died instantly.
A physician claimed the head, as he had made a bargain with the man for it before he was shot, and quietly pulling out a bowie-knife, whacked off the head, and placing it in a sack, marched off with it.
A shallow grave was then dug, and the headless trunk tumbled into it.
The unfortunate man was from Illinois, where he leaves a wife and child."
How prominently conspicuous is the
More of the same revolting system is stated to have taken place at "Cache Creek," without one syllable of disapproval. I annex the extracts which appeared in the paper on the same day.
"Lynching at Cache Creek
.--A man by the name of Dunn was arrested on Thursday last, on Cache Creek, on suspicion of
He was hung three times, in the attempt to extort a confession, the third time nearly proving fatal.
No discovery was made, and he was discharged."
"Affray at Cache Creek
.--The peaceful settlement of Cache Creek was somewhat aroused, on Wednesday last, by a difficulty which nearly proved fatal to one of the parties.
A man by the name of Adams, and another by the name of Tuttle, had a difficulty about a settler's claim. Adams obtained judgment against the latter, who, however, persisted in remaining on the claim.
Adams then moved Tuttle's tent, when Tuttle moved back again.
Upon a second attempt on the part of Adams to put him off, Tuttle drew a pistol and fired at Adams, who immediately drew in his turn, and fired at Tuttle, who had fled behind Mr. Rosebeger, the ball passing through the flesh of Mr. Rosebeger's arm, and entering Tuttle's body. The latter still lives, although the wound is considered mortal."
As a set-off to the foregoing, the following notices are inserted; a step indisputably in the right path, both at San Francisco and at Marysville.
"The common council of Marysville have passed an ordinance closing stores on the Sabbath, and prohibiting theatrical entertainments or bull-fights."
"Dance Houses, &c
.--Messrs. De Witt and Harrison and other leading firms of
Going to San Francisco from Sacramento this day, a number of American and Mexican Ladies
(as women of any calling are termed by the Americans) were on board; the attention paid to these persons equalled any that I have seen offered to those whose moral lives demand and merit on all occasions. At the supper table they were placed to the right and left of the Captain of the steamer, who sat at the head of the table. It is
TO PLACERVILLE.
RETURNING from San Francisco, at Sacramento I took the stage to Placerville, a journey of about seventy miles.
Of all public conveyances I ever encountered, the stages here take the lead, in discomfort and vulgarity. The carriage is either a lumbering, old-fashioned thing, constantly reminding one of that in which Sir Walter Scott places Lady Margaret Bellenden, or otherwise it is
They all smoke, and unceremoniously discharge occasionally across you, and in every other respect are unusually dirty citizens; and, for some incomprehensible reason, when stages meet, the recognition of friends is announced by enormously swearing at each other, and in language that places blasphemy, if possible, as a light offence, comparatively.
The road to Placerville is the best I have travelled. About twenty-five miles lie across the plain, the remainder is a gradual ascent, each mountain increasing in magnitude, till, through the forest of straggling oaks and pines mingled together, the heights over Placerville are gained.
The road passes through several very rich "diggings," and even the surface-soil supplies a great amount of gold; this earth is thrown up like beds in a garden, a path is left between each, to mark the respective property, and so it is left till the winter provides the water for washing out the metal.
Placerville itself is extremely fertile in good quartz-lodes; but the want of water precludes their being worked but at too
The mining community have it all their own way in the mountains, and if there is reason to suppose that gold may be found in the soil of the streets, they are immediately dug up, and the travelling vehicles may find another road as best they may; the miners will even undermine the houses, sometimes they will prop them up, but generally that is left for the owner to do; this is "liberty!"
"A few days since, a party of miners took up claims in the streets of Weaverville.
Much excitement was caused by the
A number of holes have been dug, but we are not yet advised of any very rich results.
Many of the races with which the hills in the immediate vicinity of the town are worked, are no longer well supplied with water.
Miners are consequently going to the main streams, that are usually too well filled with water, to be worked with advantage.
In consequence of this movement among the miners, Weaverville does not wear as lively an appearance as it did a short time since."
Some very beautiful marble, of two descriptions, has been sent to the governor, who showed it to me; it is black and yellow, susceptible of a high polish. Some of it is to be sent to the States, to be used in the Washington monument.
I dined to-day with Mr., commonly called "Colonel" G--n. Salmon, mutton, pudding, and coffee, all crammed down one's throat together; then cigars and brandy, in a small close room. Made an excuse to get away, and walked about in the air, till the execrable smell of tobacco had left my clothes.
This morning Dr. R--th--d W--r
THE LAND OF FREEDOM!
MORE specimens of the highly-civilized state of the "great Republic," the seat of true freedom!
"A short time since, a white man, whose soubriquet was `Sheep Jack' (name not remembered), was murdered on that stream.
A party of some thirty men, from Salmon, then congregated at the trading-post, at Orleans bar, their object being to
Here a tragedy took place, that at once put an end to the expedition.
At the store, while conversing, drinking, &c., preliminary to an organization, a dispute arose (hard feelings having previously existed) between Martin Tony and a man whose soubriquet was `Woolly,' alias Thomas Hinton, from Kentucky.
Woolly, who had made himself notorious as a character to be dreaded, after a little quarrelling, shot Martin through the body; he lived only fifteen hours after!
At the instant, a cry of `Shoot him! shoot him!' resounded through the crowd,
Woolly, on finding himself pressed, turned, as he rounded a tree, when Atkins, drawing a horse-pistol, shivered his heart with its ball. He never moved.
This put an end to the expedition, and the brave and true men who, with a patriotic spirit, had visited the place with a view of wreaking vengeance on a band of murderers, placed their rifles on their shoulders and returned home. Not, however, without first holding court on Atkins. Verdict--`An honourable acquittal.'"
State Finances
.--During the month of June the sum of ninety-seven
It is to be hoped, that when the schools are in operation, freedom will be better understood and defined.
The Indians are frequently very troublesome, although all the murders by
Killed by Indians
.--A man named Fry was killed near Neal's ranche, in attempting to recover some cattle stolen by the Checo Indians.
He was shot through the neck with an arrow.
A miner was found dead near Shasta city, with an arrow sticking in his breast.
The Indian Difficulties
.--The quarter-master's train has just returned to Savage's farm, on the Fresno, for supplies. Their mules are entirely worn down, from fatiguing marches over the mountains.
They report the command lying by, for supplies.
Lieutenant Moore, with four privates, was out reconnoitering for a new road, and came across three Indians.
One of those Indians showed some hostility, in attempting to steal a pair of pistols from Lieutenant Moore--so they shot him.
As soon as the train joins the command with supplies, that body will proceed at once into Yeosemite Valley, where the hostile tribes are supposed to be assembled.
The post at Fort Miller is in charge of a sergeant and four privates, with a few sick. They are so effectually barricaded, as to keep out all hostile Indians.
A German, called Charley, left the Milk ranche for his usual place of work, Oregon Gulch, and in about two hours
Upon examination of his pistol, it was found that he had fired twice at his assailants, but without effect.
They did not rob his person of anything, as his pistol was found near him, and a purse containing four hundred and sixty dollars was found in his pocket.
A few nights previous to this, some thirty head of mules and horses were stolen by the Indians, from a ranche in the same neighbourhood.
We are informed, also, that two days prior to this murder, while the miners at this same Gulch were at work, the Indians went to their tents and houses, and stole all the pistols, guns, and knives that could be found.
An unfortunate affray occurred in the El Dorado, between a man named Fields and a Mexican, which terminated in the death of the latter.
Some words passed between them concerning the game at which the Mexican was betting.
It is said the Mexican drew a knife, and made demonstrations towards Fields, upon which Fields discharged his pistol three times, two balls taking effect.
The Mexican reeled, and fell a lifeless corpse.
Fields is in custody, awaiting his trial.
Horse Thieves--Two Mexicans Shot
.--A fatal affray occurred near Carnduff's ranche, in this county.
A number of Mexicans had stolen a mule and numerous other articles, the property of Mr. Carnduff, and a Mr. Roberts, a young man about twenty years of age, went out in pursuit of the scoundrels. He killed one, dangerously wounded another, and frightened the rest.
He behaved with great courage, and, at the same time, great prudence in the
Some more murders and summary executions are reported; the knife and pistol appear to be always ready in the hand of the American. Such deliberate murders, such unscrupulous executions, and such heartless descriptions of each, never distinguished any nation, excepting the "model Republic!"
JULY.--ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
THE fourth of July, of which the celebration annually and properly engages the mind of every American, was "put through" this day, the fifth, yesterday being Sunday.
The procession moved from Montgomery Street about ten o'clock,
The oration was well conceived and as well delivered: it was indisputably very creditable to the feeling and intellect of the judge; it was spirited and thankful, quite removed from bombast or boast, and its delivery occupied nearly two hours.
The procession itself was but a sorry affair. First of all came the gentlemen, who are here called the "pioneers," being the primary emigrants from the United States; following them were men decorated with light blue scarfs, and
The Marion Rifles consider themselves the e´lite of the volunteer military of the State: they are dressed in green, but wear gold epaulettes, thus counteracting the use of the green dress. This company of men has been organised by a German merchant of San Francisco, and is composed of a higher class of persons than the other corps of the place; but they are rather too fond of "playing at soldiers."
Some fire companies followed, dragging their engines, and then came Consuls, Army and Navy, Masons, and last of all a large number of Chinese, who transacted a procession after their own fashion, a fac-simile of which may be seen in pictures, and here and there on tea trays.
The oration having terminated, the procession rapidly dissolved. The City Lance guard were drawn up before a drinking saloon, when the Captain commanding it, in consideration of the arduous duties of the morning, exclaimed--
"Boys! any of you want to liquor?"
Of course all did; so they broke up to rush to the bar, leaving their horses to their own pursuits.
The Marion Rifles marched about, and performed some evolutions in Montgomery, much to the obstruction of the passengers, but to the great satisfaction of their own body. The scarf and sash men were independently galloping about the streets from two till four in the evening; the fire companies went home
A great deal has been said about the gold-bearing quartz of Queen Charlotte's Island, lying past the northward of Vancouver. I have seen some of it, and it has yielded well; but whether there is any sufficient quantity, is not known. A British frigate has been there to examine, but the reports of the officers are not favourable: these, however, must have been very superficial.
No newspapers issued this morning;
An unusual importation of Celestials by British ships has just taken placs.
"Heavy Arrivals of Chinese
.--During the past forty-eight hours, two thousand and sixtyseven Chinese have arrived in this harbour in seven vessels, as follows:--
`Akbar,' 377; `Viceroy,' 358; `Duke of Northumberland,' 338; `Augusta,' 164; `Gulnare,' 152; `Anna,' 178; `Cornwall,' 500.
This immigration during two days is quite unprecedented in our record of foreign passenger arrivals."
These Chinese adventures are the most quiet, inoffensive people that were ever maltreated by a stronger power; no sooner have they found out good diggings than they are dispossessed of them by the American miners, who, though an appeal to the law may eject the latter, yet then they so harass and annoy the timid Chinaman, that he is glad to remove, and content himself with some poorer location.
A duel came off this day (the eighth), revolvers the weapons, parties to fire
A Californian "loafer" has been rather roughly handled in Australia, for endeavouring to use a bowie knife against fists, the loafer having been the aggressor.
The United States are full of this kind of creature; it arises from the practice of the children being brought up without restraint; they are allowed to go where they please, do and say what they please. I have heard children of five or six years old swear equal to any
The clipper ship "Tornado" came in this day. She is one thousand eight hundred and seventy tons register, but carries two thousand four hundred tons of cargo.
The Americans claim the credit of having solved the problem, "Is a model formed for speed, capable of carrying a large cargo?"
Undoubtedly the problem has been
The builder of the "America" was Mr. George Steers, an Englishman, of Dartmouth, though he built the "America" at New York.
The fact is, our mechanics finding their avocation over-supplied at home, go abroad to make a living, and the United States is enabled to boast of their performances, as if they were those of native talent.
A fire broke out this morning in the "Oriental," an immense wooden hotel--the fire-engines were upon it with extraordinary celerity, and got it under with very little loss to the building. These Fire Companies are extremely well organized, and the men zealous.
ARRIVAL OF STEAMERS FROM PANAMA.
THE steamers "S. S. Louis" and "Tennesse" have recently arrived from Panama.
On board the first, during the passage of fourteen or fifteen days, forty deaths occurred, and on board the other, thirty-four.
This mortality originates in the climate
These vessels frequently carry a thousand passengers at a trip. The steerage passengers are packed together little better than negroes are on board slave ships; they lie on shelves one over the other; are often very ill fed, sometimes even water is stinted, although the passage is so short; and the ventilation is poorly provided for.
They have a person on board termed a surgeon, or rather, the doctor, who, as far as experience goes, I must say, is neither attentive nor capable. In point of fact, the only effort of the company owning these vessels, is, to gain the
The deaths on board these steamers cause the law officers of the State to institute a suit against them for having more passengers on board than by law they ought to have had.
It is well known that they each had some hundreds too many, but a jury acquitted both.
The trial was a mere mockery, but foreign ships having been seized for the same offence, it was deemed politic to make a show of impartiality.
After breakfast this day, I went with a party to see, first the model of San Francisco, in wood; it is extremely accurate; the wonder is, that since 1849, such a city could have sprung up to be modelled.
Then we went to see the Mint, conducted by Mr. Moffat; this is again a beautifully-arranged establishment, and will shortly pass into the Government of the State. Vast amounts of gold ingots were deposited in it, and at the time they were cutting long strips of gold in the shape of fifty dollar-pieces (octagonal), in preparation for coinage. We all felt grateful for the very kind and patient attention shown to us by the officers of the place.
After this, we went to have one of the
The accompanying advertisements appear frequently in the papers, varied only by the name of the "Doctor;" the name is not adopted by any but physicians from the United States, and seems to place them upon an equality with grocers, shoemakers, and other tradesmen.
Medical Notice
.--Doctors Aldrich
They will attend promptly to all professional calls in the city, or from any point in the State.
Office, No. 32, Merchant Street, San Francisco.
E. S. Aldrich, M.D.
Valentine Mott, Jr., M.D.
Of New York, and late Professor of Surgery in the Washington University at Baltimore, Md.
Dr. Thomas J. White
.--Office and residence in Merchant Street, next door to the corner of Kearny, and opposite the Union Hotel.
Dr. T. J. White (formerly of St.
Having devoted twenty-eight years to the practice of medicine in the East and South, and three in California, he hopes to enjoy the continued favour of the public.
A RIDING PARTY.
COMING down from the mountains to San Francisco, I arrived in time to engage in a riding party at seven o'clock this morning. There were two ladies and six gentlemen--all English, of course.
At the time appointed we assembled in Stockton Street, and went away, intending to pass to the sea by the way of the
At the Mission we left the road, and placing ourselves under the guidance of a gentleman named Wy--e, and whom we thought proper to elevate to the rank of a baronet, dashed in amongst the sand hills, and soon found ourselves without a road at all; but instead we charged across the country, and suddenly came upon a party of French charcoal-burners.
They received us with that natural good breeding so characteristic of their country. We asked the road to the sea beach; they put us into it, but said the sea was four or five miles distant.
A council was called, to determine the course to be adopted.
Gentlemen who were thinking of the rich breakfast awaiting them at Sans Souci, an inn near the Mission road, thought the distance too great for the ladies, and voted against prosecuting the original project.
The ladies, and especially Mrs. B--tt, whose spirit nothing could quell, wished for the sea beach.
Four gentlemen were of the hungry order--one wavered, and I took the ladies' view of the matter. The horses' heads of the majority were actually turned towards Sans Souci; an instant more the opportunity would have been lost. Sir W--k--n Wy--e, our newly-made Baronet, and myself re-echoed the exclamation of Mrs. B--tt, "To the beach--to the beach!" and giving our horses a touch of the spur, in an instant a revolution in opinion took
The scene there was worth the ride; the surf broke in great grandeur upon the sands; a massive and perpendicular rocky cliff rose some five hundred feet above our heads, at the base of which the surges detached themselves into myriads of frothy atoms, as they in succession rolled against it.
A hundred yards from the shore, some rugged, precipitous rocks rose fifty or sixty feet above the sea. On these we could plainly distinguish the sea-lions in great numbers, as they awkwardly rolled themselves from the ledges into the water, howling at the same time in a tone that reminded me of fox-hounds in full cry.
It is really difficult to resolve upon leaving scenery of grandeur, and we remained gazing upon the incessant wave as it was driven back by the huge cliff, or wasted its strength upon the sandy beach.
The appetite for grandeur had, however, been sated, and that for the San Souci breakfast had not.
Sentiment does not thrive when combined with hunger. So away we rode, retracing our course over sandhills and here and there some firmer ground, till we gained Sans Souci, where we had a capital breakfast, and returned to Stockton Street by noon.
I never enjoyed an excursion more, and only regretted its brevity.
ARRIVAL OF THE THETIS.
THE Thetis, an English frigate, arrived.
I went on board, and found the Captain to be a connexion of mine. The vessel is a perfect ship of war.
What a difference in vessels of war since I first entered the service; I then belonged to a frigate of thirty-six guns--her tonnage was eight hundred and seventy-five.
The Thetis mounts also thirty-six guns, but her tonnage almost one thousand six hundred. She throws nearly as heavy a broadside as did a ship of the line I belonged to in 1814.
The Thetis had been sent to Queen Charlotte's Island, in consequence of the reported discovery of gold there.
That gold has been discovered there, is certain; but it is only known to be in one spot, over which the tide flows at half flood.
This is a quartz lode, and Captain Kuper thinks the obstacles to working it are insuperable.
It would be very desirable to explore the eastern shore of the Island, which is stated to shelve towards the main land, and to be very accessible.
The summer winds are blowing with their usual severity. A gale every day from ten A.M. to five P.M., in the entrance of the harbour.
Vancouver's Island is suffering from the protection of the Hudson's Bay Company, as it was predicted it would when Lord Grey, then Secretary for the Colonies, gave it into the control of that body. A governor independent of the Company was appointed, but his advisers were all officers of the Company.
So, finding he could do nothing towards developing the capabilities of the Island, he resigned, and an officer of the
There is coal upon it, and some has been sent to San Francisco: the steamers to Panama and Nicaragua report rather favourably of it.
I have tried some of the quartz from Queen Charlotte's Island, and find it very poor. The little gold in it lies in a very thin strata of quartz, placed between a kind of slate of a very light blue colour; in this there is no gold, and the strata of quartz is not more than the eighth of an inch thick.
Many casual observers suppose, that because there is quartz in the rock, so the
THE JENNY LIND PURCHASE.
THE purchase of the "Jenny Lind" theatre by the Common Council, for the City Hall, continues to be stigmatised as a very base act, and subsequently the Grand Jury spoke their opinions upon the question in the following terms:--
"The result of the evidence taken in the Jeny Lind cases--
`That one party considered chiefly interested therein, declared that it cost him near fifty thousand dollars to get the business through the damned Council.
That several indirect pecuniary inducements were held out by one member of the Council, in his private capacity, to another civic functionary--the inducement in the Jenny Lind case less indirect than the others--that the contracts for repairs are considered fair and reasonable.
That one hundred thousand dollars city warrants have been drawn on account of purchase money, thirty thousand dollars of them paid out, and seventy thousand dollars retained as securtiy against claims.
That the party considered most
That he does not know the amount of claims that were due by him, not to whom due; did not know exactly who his attorney in the business was, nor the christian name nor residence of his own clerk, and that he knows very little about his own business generally.
That one hundred thousand dollars county warrants have been paid out to the order of Merril and McVickar, on account of the purchase money.
That the mode of drawing the warrants
The Grand Jury, although it does not find sufficient grounds to justify an indictment, is satisfied that the aforesaid purchase has been made in a manner derogatory to the character and dignity of the City Council, and contrary to the will of the people.
Important witnesses could not be found, and more may yet be elicited
The Grand Jury has inspected the Jenny Lind building, where they did not find even a watchman to give them any information.
They found the two Council chambers the only ones entirely completed, the roof in many places leaking badly, and repairs almost entirely suspended, though
E. W. Graham, Foreman."
That the Council was heavily bribed, no one can doubt. Judge L--e had issued an injunction preventing the purchase; but this injunction was quashed by the Supreme Court.
It is worthy of remark, that the
Some quartz from Placerville has been sent to me to try; like all the quartz from that locality, it gives excellent results.
Madame Biscacianti, who is much lauded here, volunteers her services in Grace church in aid of the funds of that church; the funds are at present very low, simply because the clergyman, who is a Belgian, will read and preach in
The prosecution of the steamer "S. S. Louis" has been spoken of in previous pages: the following is some of the not guilty
" of carrying more than her allowed number of passengers.
"On the part of the Government there was produced the testimony of the person who measured the vessel after her arrival, and also of several of the passengers who came up in her.
A portion only of the orlop deck was occupied by passengers, and on it were erected one hundred and twenty single berths, though the law allows for the superficial space within the apartment only about twenty-four passengers.
On the lower deck, the vessel is by the legal measurement entitledto carry in the steerage a fraction over one hundred and seventeen passengers. There were two hundred and twenty-two berths
This is a fair sample of what may be expected from Californian jurymen, and American steamers. Slaves could scarcely have been closer packed.
Captain Vt--g--z, of the U. S. Custom Service, has offered me a cruise for a few days; so as I am waiting for the ability to prosecute the objects of the company, and cannot hear for a fortnight, I have accepted; and at ten this night I embark with him on board his clipper schooner. The officers of the U. S. Custom Service have a great advantage over our own; they are men of a superior
General Scott nominated as the whig candidate for President. The men are firing muskets, and little boys letting off crackers in the streets to celebrate it!
There is vast enterprise shown in this country by diverting the large rivers from their courses by means of digging a huge trench sufficient to carry the summer stream; where the river takes a bend, this has been done with great success; often a channel is cut across the base of the half circle, and the river,
By this method a long range of the river bed is left dry; it is then completely turned upside down, and, to my know-ledge, in one instance, from a crevice in the bed rock thirteen feet long, eighteen inches
wide, and fifteen inches
deep, gold amounting to twenty-one thousand dollars was taken out.
Ditches are also cut high up in the rivers, and the water is then carried round the sides of the several mountains for twenty and even thirty miles.
The men digging for gold pay for this water at the rate upon an average of a dollar an inch per day, which they take from the ditch through a small sliding door, and then through troughs reaching
OUTRAGES.
I HAVE reserved the pages of July for the atrocities of the month, as related by the several newspapers of the State. The first is an outrage, which, it is alleged, was committed by "two Englishmen." The "yell" is, however, especially characteristic of the American, and the whole "outrage" so much in unison with the style of events which follow, that it may be fairly charged against that country.
"An Outrage
.--Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, two men were dashing about our streets on horseback, yelling, &c.
As they passed by officer Robinson, of the police, he turned his light on them to see who they were, when they insulted him most vulgarly, and one of them raised his pistol, aimed, and fired.
The ball struck within a foot or two of the officer.
We can scarce conceive of human beings committing such a cool and gross outrage as this.
They could not be found afterwards, but it was learned that they were two Englishmen. It is to be hoped that they will be brought to justice."
"Man Shot
.--We learn from Mr.
Darbin's pigs had encroached upon Fuller's premises; in consequence of which a quarrel ensued, and Fuller shot Darbin with a rifle."
"Tragedy on Bear River
.--We had the pleasure of an interview, yesterday, with Mr. Alfred Bowlby, from Hamilton county, Ohio, who has just arrived from the plains.
A most melancholy tragedy was enacted on Bear river, about the time Mr. Bowlby and party were passing that point.
Two men from Kentucky had a difficulty, in the course of which one shot the other.
The next morning a jury was summoned from the train, the man was tried, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be shot, or leave the train. Two mules, with arms, &c. were offered to him, and he was ordered to choose, to leave or be shot.
He replied, that he was a Kentuckian, and would rather die an honourable death than run.
He was accordingly taken out, and seven rifle-balls lodged in his breast--he giving the signal to his executioners to fire.
We regret exceedingly that the names of the parties are not remembered.
The man who was shot was quite an old gentleman, and the homicide was a young man.
Mr. Bowlby's party found the body of a murdered man on the Humboldt river. It was supposed he was murdered and robbed by his travelling companions."
"The `El Dorado News' gives an account of a horrible tragedy, which occurred recently on the plains, between two brothers-in-law, Beasley and Beal.
The parties agreed on a separation, and Beasley got the weaker team, and had a sick man in his waggon.
Immediately after the division, he hitched up his team and proceeded on his journey, leaving Beal at Green River.
In a few hours after, Beal started, and in the course of the day overtook Beasley, on a hill, where he had stopped to rest his mules.
The former turned out of the road, and
Upon Beal's answer being given in the affirmative, Beasley stepped in the front of his own waggon, drew out his rifle, and deliberately shot him down, killing him instantly.
A large train came up about this time, and stopped and buried the murdered man.
Beasley was tried, found guilty, and shot the next morning.
Both were from Kentucky."
"Horrible Murder--Two Men Killed
.--Mr. Colton, deputy sheriff of Siskiyou county, has informed us that a most horrible murder was committed on Sunday morning last, about thirty miles south
The circumstances of the murder are briefly these:
Mr. Rechter left Yreka on Saturday morning last, with ten mules, and was accompanied by two strangers, as passengers, and a Mexican servant.
This servant was observed to consult briefly with two of his countrymen, who made their appearance from the roadside.
At night all went to sleep, except the servant, who was left at work about the fire.
About one o'clock in the morning, Mr. Rechter awoke, and found his head badly cut, and bleeding profusely.
Within a few yards of his bed two men were heard struggling.
Mr. Rechter deemed it proper to go at once to Martin's ranche and procure assistance, and when he returned in a few hours, his mules could nowhere be found; and it appeared that one of the passengers had been killed on the instant, and the other had been so severely wounded by pistol and knife, that death resulted in a very short time.
The names of the two unfortunate men were not known."
"A Diabolical Murder
.--Mr. William Ravenhill, the keeper of the toll-bridge on San Francisquito Creek, between this and San Jose´, was found brutally murdered in his house yesterday morning.
The deceased was lying on the floor, three balls having entered his head, no doubt causing his immediate death.
All the trunks and chests in the house had been ransacked and broken open, with an idea, no doubt, of obtaining a large sum of money, which the deceased was supposed to have had on his premises.
At the time the body was discovered it was yet warm, and a tea-kettle, which had been placed on the fire, was still heated. It is evident that the deed was committed but a short time before his breakfast-hour.
The evening previous, a man who is known as `Dutch John,' and a vegetable vender, residing about eight miles distant, had stopped there all night, whilst on the way to this city.
This fact was known, and immediately Messrs. Allston and Berton started in pursuit.
They overtook Dutch John at the Mission Dolores, who, when first questioned, denied that he had remained at the bridge all night, and stated that he was at home.
There was some blood on his shirt, for which he did not account in a very satisfactory manner.
The sum of eighteen dollars fifty cents was found in his possession.
He was arrested by a police-officer, and confined to await an examination.
The deceased had been in this city but a day or two before, and probably had deposited all his ready money.
He was well known to many of our citizens, and was universally esteemed.
He was about fifty years of age, an Irishman by birth, and was recently from
This is one of the most foul and atrocious murders we have yet been called upon to record, and demands that the severest punishment known to the law should be inflicted upon the perpetrator."
"Grand Larceny
.--Joseph Sweet, formerly of Illinois, but late of `nowhere,' got himself into a sweet scrape yesterday.
Mr. Ibbidesher, on his way to this city, stopped at the Prairie-house, on the Hangtown-road, for dinner, and left one thousand six hundred dollars in his waggon. On returning to the waggon he missed the money, and immediately charged Sweet with having stolen it, which the latter stoutly denied.
Strong threats of being tried before Judge Lynch, however, soon made him `acknowledge the corn,' and he showed his captors where he had buried the money, in a piece of woods near the house, and delivered up all but about sixty dollars.
Last evening he was delivered over to the authorities in this city."
The "outrage" standing first, seems to me to be eclipsed by the native American feats which have distinguished this month.
THE COSUMNES TRAGEDY.
THE Sacramento "Union" contains a long report of the trial and execution of a Frenchman named Raymond, who was executed by the people of Big Bar, on the Cosumnes, for the deliberate murder of a Chinaman.
He was tried in due form by a jury of twelve men, who rendered a verdict
The following is the account given of his execution:--
"About eight o'clock P.M., the excitement was over, and the question was called whether the prisoner be delivered into the hands of the civil authorities, or whether he suffer the punishment inflicted by law for murder.
The house was then divided, and it was decided that the prisoner suffer death.
The question was then asked, `When shall the prisoner be executed?'
And it was answered unanimously, `Forthwith.'
The prisoner was then informed of his sentence, and if he had anything to say, he would be heard.
He stated that he had nothing to say, only that he wished to be granted one hour.
The request was granted, and he was informed that any persons that he wished to see, would be admitted into the guard room, but only two at a time.
He then requested a friend to state that he wished to be shot, instead of hung, in the following manner, viz.:
That ten men be placed ten paces in front of him with rifles, all loaded with balls, and that he personally should give the word to fire.
This request would have been granted him, if possible; but not a man could be found willing to execute it.
He then wished to have ten Chinamen; this was objected to.
He then asked for the rope, and soap to soap the rope.
When he had but fifteen minutes of time left him, he asked for another half hour, stating that it would not be lost time, that he would converse with any person as familiarly and pleasantly as ever he did.
An elderly gentleman present then asked him if he felt no concern for his soul, and if he was prepared to go into eternity and meet his God, to answer for his deeds done in this world.
He very coolly replied that he had his own religion, and that required no preparation, but wished to know if the half hour had been granted him; that they need not think it lost time, as he said before, for if it was agreeable he would
`Never mind, I will tell it when we get to the place of execution.'
The half hour was allowed him, which he vainly spent in endeavouring to draw those about him into conversation.
When the time had expired, he was taken to the place of execution on the banks of the river, where a large fire had been kindled.
`That is right, gentlemen; I like to see a good fire on the occasion; but you will allow me a little time to speak, before you pull me up.'
He was asked how much time he wished.
He said, `half an hour.'
He was allowed fifteen minutes.
He then stated that he came to California, across the Plains, in 1850--that he had worked in Drytown, and at Mcquelumne Hill, and at several other places--that he came to California to make his fortune, and he lost his life.
`Some of you,' said he, `may call this good diggings, but I hope some of you may not find the same kind of diggings I have.'
It was thought he would give some information of himself, as no person knew anything about him; but when asked to give his name, he answered that he had papers to show his name, when it was necessary to give it.
When first brought to trial, after much solicitation, he stated that he was known
He was known on the bar as Monsieur, or the Frenchman.
He inquired how much time was left him, and was answered nine minutes and a half.
`Well,' said he, `I have nine minutes and a half more, gentlemen.'
He then requested to have his arms untied, that he might himself adjust the rope, and tie the handkerchief over his face: but this was not permitted, as it was supposed he intended to plunge into the river, he having made one attempt to escape during the evening.
He said no more, but counted the time to the last half minute.
When the handkerchief was drawn over his face, he said--
`Allow me, gentlemen, a moment to say my prayers.'
Which was granted; when he said, `I am ready,' and was immediately drawn up.
A party was despatched to dig a grave, and after hanging forty minutes, he was taken down, examined, pronounced dead by a physician, and the body decently interred."
AUGUST.--EXECUTION OF TANNER.
AN execution took place yesterday, by the sentence of a legal court; this is rather a novelty, for Judge Lynch's court has generally presided over such affairs. The prisoner was from Sydney in Australia; he had been frequently apprehended for very daring and extensive robberies, and merited his fate.
The execution in itself was brutally conducted, amidst the jeers and laughter of the crowd; so little care appears to have been taken of him while in prison, that on the day of his execution some stupefying drug was conveyed to him, and when brought out he was altogether insensible, in which state he launched into eternity. Well might he "die without a struggle."
"Tanner, who was sentenced to be hung at this place yesterday, for stealing, expiated his crime on the scaffold, precisely at twelve o'clock.
The scaffolding had been erected under the superintendence of our worthy sheriff, M. Gray, Esq., a few hundred yards north of the jail, on the common, to which the poor culprit was conveyed in a carriage,
Arriving at the scaffolding, the prisoner had to be carried by the Sheriff's assistants from the carriage to the drop.
After the prisoner was placed upon the scaffold, the Sheriff read the death-warrant to him and the people, and asked whether he had anything to say.
To this question the prisoner made no reply, by word or sign.
A few moments afterwards, the rope was adjusted around his neck, and he was hurried into eternity.
Tanner made no confession of his crimes that we know of. He died without a struggle."
BODEGA BAY.
I AM at sea with Captain Ot--g--r in his beautiful schooner, and making the best of his way to Bodega Bay, where a large American merchantship has been wrecked.
Bodega Bay had formerly a Russian establishment in it, but the whole of the interest of that country has been sold by those who had the right to sell. A person
Captain Ot--g--r and myself landed, and found one house only in the bay. The owner of this had got about forty acres planted with potatoes, which appeared to be flourishing; and as these are highly prized at San Francisco, he probably will be well recompensed for his industry.
The bay is sheltered only from the north-west winds, though to the south a
From this place the small vessels of San Francisco go to bring down lumber, some fine pine forests affording large quantities of it. Saw-mills have been erected, and everything speaks of the "go-ahead" style.
After all, this boasted go-ahead system is little beyond hurry in putting up, and rapidity in breaking down, or "bursting up," as the Americans designate a bankrupt.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'S BAY.
FROM Bodega Bay the schooner ran to Sir Francis Drake's Bay.
This is formed by a precipitous headland called Point Keyes; from the lands falls away to the south-eastward for six or seven miles; the whole way an unapproachable, coast with steep and high cliffs.
Rounding the south-east point, the Bay
Captain Ot--g--r and myself landed, and walked over the ground for some hours.
The bay is joined to the main land by a very narrow neck of land, scarcely a mile across; from this narrow part, by drawing a line to Point Keyes, thence to the southeast point of the peninsula and back, a triangle would be formed, comprising some thousand acres of extremely fertile land,
There has been at some period a small cattle establishment here, but the shanty is now in ruins.
The ground is admirably calculated for sheep farming; the only fencing necessary would be across the narrow part, or isthmus, joining it to the main land.
A stream of water runs from the north through the length of the ground nearly; and though it was now the season when everything in California is burnt up, yet here the herbage was both luxuriant and green. This arises chiefly from the slope it takes from the heights of the sea cliffs
The distance from San Francisco is but twenty-five miles, so that sheep and cattle could easily be supplied from the Bay. I scarcely think wheat would ripen, or it would suffer from rust; but turnips, potatoes, beets, &c., would do extremely well.
This peninsula might be made a second Gibraltar, if any nation thought proper to take it in war from the Americans, and it would command the entrance to San Francisco, Point Keyes being the headland most frequently first made by ships first going there.
Coming out of the Bay, a fishing vessel sent a paper on board, which contained the death of Mr. Clay, the well-known American statesman. It also informed us of some duels, in which "General" Denner kills Mr. Gilbert, editor of the "Alta California," a newspaper; Mr. John Morrison kills Mr. Legget of Rich Bar; and W. S. Spear, "Esq.," encounters John Kelly at Marysville, fire three harmless rounds, then withdraw, and bury animosity in friendly "drinks."
"Fatal Duel
.--We learn through Wells, Fargo and Co.'s Express, that a duel took place on Tuesday last at Rich Bar, on the North Fork of Feather river, between a Mr. Wm. Legget and Mr. John Morrison.
The parties fought with Colt's pistols, at a distance of ten paces.
On the third interchange of shots, Mr. Legget fell mortally wounded, and immediately expired.
The cause of the difficulty is not known.
None of Mr. Legget's shots took effect."
"Another Duel
.--We understand that W. S. Spear, Esq., and John Kelly, two Downievilleans, met the other morning to settle their difficulties before breakfast. Three rounds--nobody hurt. Result--a shake of hands, and toddies for all."
At ten P.M. Captain Ot--g--r anchored his schooner at San Francisco, and I left him, feeling very grateful for a very pleasant cruize.
Returning to my quarters in Stockton Street, I found Dr. and Mrs. B--tt had come from Marysville, intending to make San Francisco their residence. I sincerely hope the change may be of service to Mrs. B--tt's health.
AMERICAN LIBERTY.
A SPECIMEN of American "liberty" occurred at Contra Costa this day.
A man named Hardy had bought a house of another, whom a Mr. Van Buren had placed in it to take care of it.
On application to Hardy to quit the premises, bought and sold fraudulently, he refused.
Van Buren commences a suit against Hardy, the court declares in his favour, he goes with the sheriff to be put in possession, whereupon Hardy shoots the sheriff immediately he approaches the door.
In due time Hardy is tried, and, as a matter of course, found "not guilty," after having declared to the sheriff that he would shoot him if he came.
So much for juries here.
The sheriff died on the spot.
A squad of Amateur Lancers are playing ludicrously enough at soldiers in the streets; they are practising to fall into procession to-morrow upon the
The public buildings, the several churches, institutions, hotels, and many shops, are hung with black, in respect to the memory of a great man, which is quite called for; but why go through the mockery of dragging a hearse and empty coffin round the city, with no corpse to bury? After all, this display of respect does not close one theatre, or any other place in the city.
The following execrable occurrence is reported in the Mariposa Journal, and most civilized nation
" and the " model Republic!
"
"Carrico, a young man from some of the Western States, was found guilty of robbing the house of Messrs. Moore and Company, of the sum of nine hundred dollars.
This robbery was committed on Sherlock's creek, seven or eight miles from
A few days thereafter, Mr. Carrico left the neighbourhood under rather suspicious circumstances, and being followed
A party have assembled in Stockton Street to witness the procession supposed to be following the funeral car of the late Mr. Clay.
There was the usual display of an amateur soldiery, officers of the government, army and customs; no ships of war in the harbour, so no naval officers; the
The hearse trimmed up to look as much as possible like a funeral car, with a coffin beneath the canopy, it took its course all round the city, and then halting in the Portsmouth Square, a good oration, descriptive of Mr. Clay's worth and talent, was delivered by one of the judges, I believe. This being finished amid the heavy report of minute guns, "drinks" became the next consideration.
Hardy, who murdered the sheriff at Contra Costa, has been acquitted.
This is quite in character--theft is held here in a far more criminal light than murder; by theft, all may lose dollars and cents, but if a man is murdered, that is only loss of life to him, and therefore is not much regarded. It certainly is the case, that murder is much more frequent than robbery.
A gentleman, Dr. Collyer, has projected an amalgamator and crusher in one. It is perhaps the most compact of any of the almost numberless contrivances for crushing quartz that I have seen.
There is a heavy roller, which makes but half a revolution, and runs back again; in this the crushing and grinding actions are combined. From this roller, the ore has to pass through some extremely fine wire gauze, so fine that the ore must be in powder to filter through it from this point of filtration; it must pass again beneath a succession of small rollers revolving in mercury, and leaving these, it goes over a mercury bath.
Possibly, from the casual view I had of the machine, I may not be quite right in my description, but I am not far wrong--I am quite satisfied that anything which will abolish the stamper, must be an improvement so far as rapidity and amalgamation is concerned. The
The "Alta California," a newspaper of San Francisco, has an article in it of deep importance to England. The Editor, with much feeling, tells how we can be as free as the United States of America.
I subjoin a sample of that freedom he would infuse among the English.
The San Joaquin "Republican" contains the following under date of August 17:--
"This evening the town is rife with the report that Major James D. Savage has been killed.
The particulars, so far as heard from, are as follow: Savage had left his camp on his way South to attend a grand feast given by some of the tribes, and stopped at Campbell's Ferry on King's River to take breakfast with Major Harvey and others.
During the meal, a dispute arose between them. Savage, making some remarks, was slapped in the face by one of the party.
He immediately jumped up from the table, and either caught his pistol against the table, or in attempting to draw it,
Judge Marvin, in attempting to assist him, was knocked down by a blow on the head from a pistol in the hands of one of the party.
How many of the above circumstances are true, cannot be said, but there does not appear to be a doubt as to the death of Major Savage.
G. D. BRUSH."
The above letter is sufficient to put all doubts to rest, as it has been confirmed by similar reports in other sections of the country.
A great deal has been said in the United States papers upon the subject of a method, said to be devised by Mr. Ericson, a Swede, of propelling ships by the expansion and contraction of air.
It is treated as original; this is an error, the plan was rejected many years ago at Glasgow; it was also offered some twenty years since to the British Government, tried, and there also rejected.
Mr. Ericson has, however, a right to claim one part as his own--this is the "regenerator," by which he makes some essential saving.
Should it answer, of course steam would be disused; but it is feared by those conversant with such matters, that he will not be able to gain a sufficient power.
For some time I have had a severe influenza attack--these are not at all unfrequent at San Francisco; the hot sun at this season is succeeded by cold evening fogs, which, indeed, are equal to small rain. I am under the hands of an English physician, who seems to understand it very well; but what with waiting for supplies from the directory at home, protracting the completion of quartz negotiations, and keeping accounts, I have a good deal to bother me.
There is a quartz-lode very much cried up, of which a person in Marysville, uniting in himself the title of colonel and occupation of shopkeeper, is endeavouring to sell to an English company; this day he, rather unwillingly, gave me six
Mr. D--s, mining-agent, sent out by the--Company, to advise me upon quartz matters, has sent in a high report of the quality of the Dicksburgh quartz-lodes, for which I am negotiating. I send it home, as this is his department; and though I cannot see the lodes in the same superior light, yet I must hesitate before I place my opinions, so little practised as I am, in opposition to his, a miner in Mexico, Brazil, and England, for forty years.
Mr. D--s, who is recruiting his health at Contra Costa, was leaning against the railings before his lodgings, enjoying the coolness of the evening, when suddenly a pistol was fired, and the shot struck close to his side. It was done by a man standing opposite, who was seized, but excused himself by saying he had mistaken his man!--a practice very consistent with civilized life!
"Value of Property in the Mines
.--The total value of property in the town of Ophir, Placer county, as recently assessed, amounts to the sum of one hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars. The assessor estimates the value of property in the Gold Hill precinct at one hundred thousand dollars.
Three years ago, these places were
ATROCITIES OF THE MONTH.
I SUBJOIN some of the murders, &c. for the month.
"Another Shooting Affair--One Man Dangerously Wounded
.--We are compelled to record still another affray, in which two men have been shot, one of whom has received a wound which may prove mortal.
Last evening, while a Chileno named Don Amiguel, who is the proprietor of a
The ball entered the left side of the Chileno, below the lung, and passing entirely through his body, struck another American standing near on the wrist, and lodged between the bones.
The wound of the former is pronounced serious; but as the lung seems not to be affected, there is a prospect of his recovery.
The ball which had done this double execution, was extracted from the wrist of the injured man, who is not severely hurt.
The American who fired the pistol had not, at a late hour last evening, been arrested."
"Murder
.--On Monday, the twenty-third instant, at daylight, an Indian by the name of Alverez was found dead in front of the Italian store, on the west side of Market-square, and the blood still running. His throat was literally cut from ear to ear, and two severe wounds had been inflicted with a knife in the region of the heart.
There being no clue as to the murderer, and a suspicion resting upon Francisco Costo, an Italian, and owner of the store, he was arrested, and taken before Justice Vermeule, and no evidence appearing against him up to the twenty-fourth, was discharged.
The witnesses recognized to appear are said to have given fictitious names, and never returned."
"Another Murder
.--On Sunday night last, at the Almaden mines, Jesus Rodriquez took the life of Dimas Cervantes (both Mexicans), by stabbing him with a knife, as we understand, while they were both under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Rodriquez was brought to this city, tried before Mayor White; J. Alexander Yoell, Esq., prosecuting, and F. S. Mc Kinney, Esq., defending; and, upon a hearing of the evidence, was committed."
"Another Man Killed
.--An Indian or Mexican was arrested on Monday last, in Santa Clara Mission, for the murder of another Indian or Mexican.
Particulars not known.
The murderer was committed for the Court of Sessions."
"Murder
.-- On Sunday morning last, a Mexican boy was whipped at Vallecito, by Dr. Wilson, for maltreating some American children.
Nothing more was thought of the matter until the next day, when the body of Captain McAlpin was found, stabbed in several places, lying in the Spanish part of the town.
One of the wounds penetrated the left breast to the heart.
When found, he had his pistol in hand, cocked, and his finger on the trigger.
He must have been killed upon the spot, as his pistol was not discharged.
Captain McAlpin resembled Dr. Wilson
Captain McAlpin was an old resident of California, and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
His murder has engendered the deepest feeling of hatred toward the Spanish-American population, and we may soon expect to hear of a bloody expulsion from that camp of this class of foreigners."
"Expulsion
.-- The destruction of Greasertown by the Spanish incendiaries, so incensed the miners living around Latimore's Ranche and Mr. Lake's store, on the Calaveras, that they formed themselves into a company, with the determination to drive away every Mexican or Chilean they could find.
Accordingly, on Monday they marched to that camp, as we are informed, and expelled, a´ la force
, several hundred of what had composed the population of a large portion of Greasertown.
Our informant states, that this place was the head-quarters of a desperate band of murderers and thieves, and that they here concocted many of the fiend-like schemes which, after having been consummated, have excited the horror and animosity of our whole community.
Several of these thieves who were recognized, were severely flogged.
The miners of Vallecito held a meeting, and passed resolutions to compel the Spanish American population to leave in twelve hours.
From appearances, it seems that the
It may occasion considerable bloodshed."
SEPTEMBER.
THE strong north west winds begin to lose their strength a little in this month; the weather manifestly changes for a more pleasant type.
After breakfast, I tried the quartz given to me by the "colonel" shopkeeper of Marysville; it proved, as I thought it would, almost valueless; the reputed lode is about twenty miles, northerly, of Marysville, close to a place called Hansonville.
The lode, whenever properly examined, will prove to be no lode at all, in my opinion.
Afterwards, I went to see a trial of extracting the gold from crushed ore, by means of a patented flux.
The patentee is a Mr. Longmaid, of London, we are told. If the gold could be separated in this manner, the process would be invaluable; but what an enormous amount of it would be necessary to separate the gold from fifty tons of crushed ore per diem--it would be almost a river; the trial, however, from some cause, proved a complete failure.
The "Herald" of this day contains an account of an execution, copied from
For a considerable time I have had
Dr. B--tt next morning; alteratives and quinine, so the ague and a fever are regularly attacked: I am to lay up for three or four days. Unhappily for the third day, a riding party similar to that mentioned previously, had been arranged, so I joined it. We were nearly the same party, and did pretty much the same things: these parties, so purely English, and attended as they were by English ladies, are as purely delightful.
Received a lecture on my return, and the infliction of another emetic threatened.
This day, the seventh, very unwell, all in consequence of the ride, says the doctor:--very probably, but then he
Another party made up to go to Contra Costa by water--all arranged. In comes Dr. B--tt, and forbids Mrs. B--tt, Captain P--x, and myself, all three being on his hands; so that party "caved in," as American parlance has it.
The "San Francisco Herald" has a specimen of what it calls "deliberate
Dr. B--tt is improving me rapidly, though the weather is intensely hot: thermometer ninety-seven degrees in the shade.
I am living in a boarding house, waiting for means to complete and carry on the purchase and mining works at Dicksburgh; the lodes, the mining agent sent
He has the experience of from thirty to forty years of mining in Mexico, Brazil, and England. I have but two years in California, so I yield to his opinions, but I doubt his judgment; one thing I know, that unless English Companies can send out money to enable their superintendents to go on with confidence, they had better not "go into quartz," as say the U. S. citizens.
The ague hovers about me, and the doctor says I must "rise earlier." Considering my Directors in England deprive me of the power of doing anything, I
Rise early in a San Francisco boarding house! and be jostled by the American "helps" in every room, or go out and take a morning walk knee-deep in sand, or dust! One cannot afford a ride at eight dollars per gallop, and even if it could be, the hacks here are so accustomed to the manners of the "Sovereign Citizens," that they do not at all understand quict and gentlemanlike riding. These said citizens verify to a great extent the well-known adage which describes the result of a pauper's ride; they have the strangest seat on horseback that I ever saw.
He forms a nearly straight line from the toe of his boot to the top of his hat;
A fire in Stockton Street last night; promised well at first, but not originating in account books, it was soon put out.
What a bother with the "helps!" they all resigned office early this morning, so we had to "help" ourselves, and fly to restaurants for breakfast. A new help-ministry was soon formed, but, after all, an American "help" is as much an obstruction: these boarding-houses are subject to all sorts of such changes, and are very comfortless.
A consultation with Mr. D--s on the
I gained no less than five "Phillipanas" this morning; two of the ladies paid me handsomely, two declared that I cheated, and one, a "Citizen" lady, wished she was in New York, as then she could get something to pay with!
Our society in this boarding-house is now very pleasingly composed. Two English ladies with their husbands, five
children, one American gentleman, and five or six
The Thetis, English frigate, came in from Vancouver's Island; in all respects a well-arranged ship of war.
A very ingenious piece of mechanism has been brought to San Francisco by a German, for the purpose of separating the gold from the iron pyrites by means of electro-magnetism. This it does effectually, but then there is the separation from the sand to be effected, and therefore the washing and amalgamation would be as
On board the Thetis with my American friend, Captain O--tt--r; he only wore an undress, and his rank not being known, the due attentions to it were not paid on his coming on board. The Captain of the Thetis was much amazed when I told him who O--tt--r was, and on going away things were rightly done, which O--tt--r observed to me, and rightly attributed the omission to his being in an undress uniform.
The wind was blowing hard and cold; we got "kinder" wet, and at night I had
I was relating something about the rich "diggings" of Australia this morning in an apothecary's shop; a drayman stood by; pushing himself forward, he said to me--
"Well, Colonel, whare
was that now?"
I am not a military man, but being addressed as one, I replied--
"I do not exactly know, General."
The drayman looked "ugly," not knowing whether to be angry or not, and
Met General Estill at dinner this day; by-the-bye, he is a real U.S. General, he informs me that he is engaged with others to bring the water from the south branch of the American river to the "diggings" about the Placerville district, but that they cannot supply water for a quartz mill from their canal; if they could, there is a lode worth working in that vicinity.
The dinner was an attempt at the French style; all the messing, but none of the delicacy. The American cook overwhelms everything with bad butter, or worse grease. More ear-ache after; so I was determined to take it out in my room, coddling all day, and I was in consequence treated with a visit of enquiry from the are
English ladies--rare birds in California, I admit.
Mr. D--s came down from the new quartz purchase; all settled and made over to me for the--Gold Mining Company; so now I am in possession of, Mr. D--s says, "a splendid property," and he might add, without money to work it.
The Directors seem to think that two or three thousand pounds will open a mine, put up machinery, and enable the said mine to be worked; that in a few months every shareholder will be a rich man.
Dined on board the Thetis, certainly thoroughly a ship of war.
On landing, a procession was met parading the streets, in celebration of "General" Peirce's election to the Presidency of the United States; he having "whipped" General Scott. The former General was assailed by a desire for military glory, threw down the attorney's pen, and rushed valiantly to the army then engaged in Mexico. When in an action there, it is alleged that he had lost his brigade, and was found looking for it with much zeal.
In that war of little affairs many private individuals became suddenly Colonels, Generals, &c., merely by leading a motley
The Thetis got her anchor up, and went to sea in good style.
A LOOK AT THE CALIFORNIA GOLD MINES, BY A RUSSIAN ENGINEER.
THE annexed paper on Californian Gold Mining in quartz lodes, is worthy of consideration.
"By examining the different processes of mining, and particularly those used for auriferous quartzose ore, at the first glance I observed the complete absence of
During my stay in the mines I met but very few persons able to ascertain the species of the quartz, its elements, the character of the soil, the announcements or assistants of gold, &c.
Most of them are entirely ignorant, and ground themselves on others' conjectures, more or less wrong.
With the simplest tool, and often with only an iron bar, the miners undertake boldly their task--they toil heartily, and begin to break and dig everywhere, persuaded that digging is all that is required to find gold.
After having digged a hole about one hundred feet deep, and found nothing, they go to do the same further up or down, or
Finding nothing yet, they abandon the spot and go on seeking for another--the signs more or less wrong.
So they expend a great deal of time, labouring under every kind of hardship and privation, that can only be experienced by people of a strong nature and energetic resolution.
Should all these men have known the first principles of science, the most common sign of the presence of gold; or should they, at least, have had the leaders to guide them in their course, at the two or three first strokes with the crowbar they could have foreseen the uselessness of their attempt which they pursued in
How great was my astonishment, during my exploration, to see the richest mines left intact, and the people densely crowded around places that science would have designated at a glance as unworthy of any attention.
That is the way in which the gold mines are commonly searched in California; though it is true, that on account of the gold being so abundant in this country, the miners happen casually to meet with rich mines.
But does that often happen? And do they avail themselves as they ought to of such a chance?
After having considered, with great care, the common method of extracting the ore from the earth, and particularly from the auriferous quartz, I regret to say that the said process is still in its infancy.
All the machines used for washing the earth, or crushing the quartz, are in contradiction with the common rules of metallurgy, and even with the mechanical art.
Moreover, they are constructed according to the method that was known in Europe twenty-five years ago, and which has been abandoned or improved.
That explains why, in the working of the auriferous quartz ores, they lose forty per cent; and in washing the earth by long-toms, or rockers, one-half of the gold is lost.
It is the fact, of which I am certain from repeated experiments, and which I am ready to prove.
Besides, I am sure I shall have on my side the opinion of every one who knows something about the mines.
Even the gold-searchers will not deny that the auriferous earth, after having once been washed, will still afford as much ore as those which never have been washed.
The second fault, of no less consideration, in all the quartz machines, is their enormous size, which is compatible neither with the locality of the quartz, nor with the position of the mines.
Most of the richest quartzose mines lie, as I am certain, on the tops of the hills, or near to the sources of rivers;
Near to the Yuba I have seen the richest mines, that had been discovered three years since, and which will remain unworked until the road be completed to transport there the quartz machines.
Another inconvenience that results from the said size of those machines, is the high price they come to; so that before beginning to work any quartzose mine, according to the process alluded to, an investment of twenty-five thousand or thirty thousand dollars is unavoidable only for the construction of
To invest such sums, it is necessary to ascertain that the mines are really rich, and the profit will be very great; and still, so large an amount of money cannot be obtained very easy, especially now, when it is difficult to form any company, and when most of the people, not knowing upon what ground to form their conjectures in regard to the richness of the mines, fear to be mistaken or deceived.
Thus many miners--after having discovered the mines, after many toils and every kind of privation--are obliged either to quit them, or sell for almost nothing, or to beg the permission to pound some tons of quartz at the price of thirty
And it often happens that the miners receive nothing, when the gold is connected with silver or iron. The machines described are entirely useless in such a case.
These are my observations respecting mining in California, which my desire to be useful to the enterprising and working population of this State induces me to publish, happy if I can be useful to the cause of improvement, so much wanted in that important and wealthy branch of industry.
Flattering myself that I am entitled to some credibility, after twelve years of practice in the Siberian mines, where I superintended all the works of
I hope that all these observations may suggest to those occupied in the interesting pursuit of mining, the idea and desire of improving the same, that it may be profitable to the community, and their speculations successful.
It is, therefore, indisputable, that every miner should know:
First--The best mode of extracting all the gold from auriferous sand, quartz, and
Second--All chemical means, agents, and processes, by which the gold can be obtained and separated from the foreign matters, as silver, sulphuret, pyrites, &c.
In conclusion, I ought to say that the iron oxyde, called `black sand,' that is generally thrown away without any attention, could give, at least, half the quantity of gold obtained from auriferous sand, from which that black sand is separated.
I call specially the attention of gold-searchers to that particular.
VICTOR PATCOOL."
With regard to the amount of gold
OCTOBER.
WE English are sadly troubled about tea here: the United States citizen cares little about such small "drink," and knows less about the social comfort of our evening tea-table, so very little good tea is imported.
A great quantity of very wretched stuff is imported, and sold to the country dealers, steam boats, restaurants, and in
I have only been able to get good tea through a gentleman connected with a house at Hong Kong, and by the kind recollection of a relation living there, who has sent me, on several occasions, great treats in this way.
Captain O--tt--r has asked me to take a cruize with him, for ten days or so' in his schooner, the "Frolic." I am to embark to-morrow.
We cannot get either boots or shoes here, fit to wear--the soles of the shoes are kept on with wooden pegs, so I am sending old shoes to England as a pattern for others to be made by.
CRUIZE WITH THE FROLIC.
ON board the Frolic with O--tt--r: a beautiful clipper schooner, commanded by an excellent friend, and an intelligent officer. He belongs to the Revenue service, the officers of which take rank with the officers of the United States navy, though they are not eligible to command ships of war, otherwise than a
There is also on board for a cruize a friend of O--tt--r's, Captain H--t--r, of the United States navy, and we are packed rather close in a very small portion of the schooner, called the Captain's cabin; in this place there are two sleeping berths, occupied respectively by O--tt--r and myself.
Captain H--t--r sleeps, or at least lies down in imitation of sleeping, on sundry bales of blue jackets, trowsers, woollen frocks, &c., and says he makes good weather of it.
The cabin may be about eight feet square, which space is almost filled up by a table; the height between the decks will not allow any of us to stand upright,
Curiously enough, Captains O--tt--r and H--t--r are both very sea-sick this morning.
It is blowing a stiff gale, and indeed the Frolic is frolicking with a vengeance; every conceivable motion is practised by the schooner, even though O--tt--r has put her under a close-reefed foresail, and
The gale very much interferes with O--tt--r's kitchen arrangements; he is himself somewhat to indifferent to the state of his larder, but the gale has rendered even the scanty fare exhibited in that region altogether unavailable, for the fire will not remain in; so we are reduced to biscuits and sardines.
O--tt--r clearly holds comforts in contempt; a most unfortunate disposition for a visitor at sea to encounter, for there eating forms a great periodical employment.
Cape Mendorino is in sight, about twelve miles dead to windward, so we shall not get round it to reach, as was intended, Humbolt.
The growling capabilities of Captain H--t--r are in the process of a large development--he "wonders how he could have been persuaded to come to sea in the darned schooner!"
Fortunately O--tt--r promised to bring us back by the tenth, and as his word is truth, so far as depends on him, he will do so; but H--t--r began to assail Ott--r with hints that it was time to turn back.
This morning, after the gale, a dead calm, and a thick fog. The cabin-stores, small in quantity at first, have painfully diminished--wood and water also perfectly on the wane.
H--t--r growls better than ever; a little appeased by the cabin-boy, Charlie,
A council was held, to decide upon the manner in which the fish was to appear at dinner. I urged boiling; outvoted by O--tt--r and H--t--r, who favoured "chowder,"--not a bad dish, but something messy.
Still a thick fog; we can hear the surf break heavily on the beach, so O--tt--r has anchored the schooner, for it still continues calm.
H--t--r and O--tt--r went towards the shore in the boat, to ascertain, if possible, our locality; they came back with the intelligence that they had seen the roocks, near Point Rayes, and, indeed,
On the evening of the thirteenth, a breeze from the north-west; up anchor, and all sail set for San Francisco, and anchored on the bar at night, in a calm and fog. H--t--r in good humour again, although we had scarcely anything to eat or drink.
Next day, in the harbour. Letters from the Board. Dicksburgh quartz-lodes to be purchased, and proper letters sent to enable the completion of the purchase. Also, I am informed that letters of credit
Met Judge L--, who is a candidate for the office of judge of one of the courts. One of his supporters, a drayman, was passing with a load; he jumped off on seeing Judge L--, ran up to him, slapped him on the back, and exclaimed, "Well, old hoss (horse), how does the election go?" and away he went to his dray again.
The system of electing the judges for the several courts is highly prejudicial; if any man can resist all bias in favour of his party, Judge L-- will do it; he bears, worthily, a very high reputation.
CONTRA COSTA.
TO Contra Costa this evening, the sixteenth, to confer with my legal adviser on the Dicksburgh purchase.
This is an assemblage of residences, scattered amongst oak-trees, on the low plain immediately beneath the Morte Diablo range; at present, it is very attractive, so far as the country is concerned, but rapidly sinking into the
The hotel I went to had the same long dirty-clothed table-d'hoˆte; the floor redolent of discharged tobacco-juice, cigar-ashes, and ends. Dinner to me, and supper to the American, at six o'clock; when some twenty or thirty workingmen, in working apparel, take their seats, having rubbed their hands and faces with a damp general towel at the outer door, and ran through their hair the general hair-brush, hanging on a peg in the wall of the dining-room!
Than these rooms, scarcely anything can be more disgusting; and the cookery is all grease and bad meat: liver and pork--the latter often from the groveller of the grave-yard, and always having the
After dinner, whist was proposed--Americans understand euka, poker, &. better than they do whist. The system of "liberty and equality" was well illustrated this evening. The hotel-keeper stretched himself at length upon a sofa in the general sitting-room, and while I was playing, a waiter, in his shirt-sleeves, leaned over the back of my chair to see my play, whistling all the time. To compensate for all this, I had a bed-room to myself, and, what is very unusual here, two towels--put together, they would scarcely have made one English towel: the amount of the American personal lavatory must be very limited, if we are to judge by the towels.
The next day was a most unfortunate day for me. After the business I had visited Contra Costa to execute had been finished, I mounted a horse with the intention of riding to Martriver, and from thence take the steamer to Sacramento, en route to the mountains. I was attended by two companions; my horse incessantly tripped; we were riding a very moderate canter, and I was so sure of the brute's disposition to fall, that I rode with constant attention. The road was like a gravel-walk, so even. I had just averted a well-pronounced trip, and remarked, "If this brute does stay on his feet all the journey, it will be a perfect miracle!" We had advanced hardly fifty yards, when down the beast came, his face actually on the ground; and, as
My companions contrived to put me on horseback again, and we turned back to Contra Costa. The hurt was very painful, and I rode in momentary expectation of another fall. Happily, we reached the inn safely; but I had to wait the next morning steamer to get over to San Francisco.
Next morning, up at six; a carriage to the steamer; the ancle enormously swollen, and a deep ragged cut in the hollow behind it; it seems a tolerable mess. Got to
The Doctor took charge of me, and I felt myself greatly favoured by being in the hands of a skilful English physician. B--tt examined the injury, felt it everywhere, and scrutinised the cut, or rather tear; when he came to the following conclusion:--
"Well, short of a fracture, you have made the best smash I have seen for a long time."
Then came bandages, washes, &c.; but the former were taken off, for they gave both trouble to him and pain to me. I am to be laid up ten or twelve weeks, I am told.
What misery, to be in an American boarding-house, and unable to do anything for yourself--no bell to ring, though if there were, no one probably would answer it when rung. No one cares a jot about you, saving any friend who may be boarding in the same house. A cup of cold tea, a little bread and butter, are brought by a "help," who, heaven knows, is misnamed, with the remark--
"Well, I guess you feel bad."
Or if you discover any impatience under the pressure of hunger, he will observe--
"Well, you look kinder ugly at me, and I sha'n't come up again."
How often I have wished the United States were as thickly populated as are the British Islands, for then these boors would
In their boarding-houses it is starvation to stay up-stairs, and retarding recovery to come down to eat; of two evils select the least, so I came down to dinner, limping along, and Mrs. B--tt came with an arm in a sling: both rebuked by the Doctor--but what was to be done?
Reading the papers, I find the annexed notice of the action of a Vigilant Committee in Virginia--it is a free country!
"The Vigilance Committee of Grayson Company, Virginia, arrested one of their own citizens for being abolitionist, and required him to renounce his abolition
The same committee are in pursuit of others."
A duel has been fought of a character so ridiculous, that even those involved in it skulk from notice of it.
The heroes of it are mentioned in the morning papers as follows:--
"According to the San Francisco papers, Mr. Gwin and Mr. McCorkle did have a hostile meeting on Wednesday, at San Mateo, thirty miles south of San Francisco.
They fought with rifles at thirty paces, to wheel and fire at the word.
Three rounds were fired without effect, when, in the language of a card signed by their six friends, `the friends of the respective parties having discovered that their principals were fighting under a misapprehension of facts, mutually explained to their respective principals in what the misapprehension consisted.'"
My accident brings me a leve´e; amongst other English gentlemen, Mr. S--k--p called, and knowing the misery of an American boarding-house, very kindly allowed me to make an arrangement with him, by which I am to remove to his own house; this is as considerate in him, as it
My ancle very painful; Dr. B--tt says it will be so, if I will move about.
A CHALLENGE.
A CERTAIN Mr. Lumsden, of Cincinnati, is very angry, because the "Times" has made some disparaging remarks upon the United States' contribution to the Exhibition at the Crystal Palace; so he challenges every on in England to produce any manufacture equal to that which can be made in the United States; and here follows his advertisement.
"The card below is from one of our respectable citizens, who has just returned from the `World's Fair.' He is able to make good the stake proposed. Let the John Bulls, official or unofficial, `face the music.'
CHALLENGE IN THE SUM OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
To the Editors of the `London Times'-- The Commissioners of the World's Fair, or others whom it may concern in Great Britain
.
As comparisons have been invidiously and insultingly made towards Americans and their contributions by the `London Times,' the organ of that factious clique who control the London Fair--
I hereby challenge the editors of the subject
--who can equal in superiority of style, delicacy of execution, and perfection of workmanship, articles which were exhibited at the Mechanics' Institution in Cincinnati, in 1842.
I will take these articles, with the dust of nine years upon them, and place them against British superiority and skill.
I seek to produce nothing new or particular for this occasion, and will expose to the world, without any further effort, the prejudice, stupidity, and folly of those who control the Fair--and I dare them to the trial.
These articles, which can be brought
The winner of the Ten Thousand Dollars must bind himself to appropriate the money to some benevolent institution or object in England or America.
Twelve judges to be appointed, who must be approved practical mechanics--six from Europe, and six from the United States. The decision of the majority to be final and binding.
If this challenge be accepted, I will name the articles; for the present, I merely state that they are ` out of the province of rugged utility
.'
If this challenge be not accepted before equal
Cincinnati manufacture.
SAMUEL LUMSDEN."
If you were to find fault with the thunder and lightning, wind or rain, of the United States, it would probably call forth a challenge to produce better.
Left W--n--pt's this morning. Called at Mrs. S--m--d's as I passed, to see Mrs. B--tt and Mrs. McD--g--l, English
At Mr. S--k--p's in the afternoon. Himself and his wife so kind--every possible wish anticipated. The house so like that of English people--clean and comfortable. I change dirty living, innumerable rats, running about my bed even, and six squalling, ill-bred children, for the cleanest me´nage, two very good babies, an adjoining fowl yard, and a yelping dog.
My ancle dreadfully painful--no sleep.
Passed the night in great pain--literally no sleep; no posture gives a moment's
Dr. B--tt and Dr. J--l--y both came; very solemn faces--caustic and charcoal applied, continual poultices, the accession of the bad symptoms attributed to moving about yesterday. Lectures upon the positive necessity of lying in bed till a change for the better takes place; so Mrs. S--k--p very kindly brought me books and papers. Tried to write, but the ancle was too painful to allow of that.
My companion in the Frolic, Captain H--t--r, called; he wants a quartz lode on Moquelumne Hill worked. Like every other lode here, it is "the best."
In order to add to my comfort, Mr. and Mrs. S--k--p have ordered their tea into my room, so the evening will be enlivened;
Mrs. W--k--n sent me some grapes, and a bouquet of flowers; Mrs. L--r a dozen fresh eggs--eggs sell for half a dollar each, and are paid for as "extras" at the hotels. It is worth while to sprain an ancle, when the consequence is such kindness.
"Appointment
.--We are happy to learn that our cotemporary, J. E. Lawrence, Esq., of the Times and Transcript, has been appointed Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency Governor Bigler, with the rank of Colonel of Cavalry. The Colonel is a handsome man, and a judge of music.
This is the manner by which the United States acquires so many Colonels; the Governor of each State can appoint himself four aides-de-camp; from the date of the appointment they rank with a "Colonel of Cavalry;" they are not selected from military life; the qualifications of the new Colonel editor are set forth in the notice; but I think the line should read, "place him where France least wants a soldier," if these are his only title to a soldier's name.
All manner of kind attentions are generously showered upon me in my helplessness, but nothing so considerate and so gratifying as a note from Mrs. B--tt, brought this morning by the Doctor, so thoroughly like an English lady in every syllable. B--tt says the ancle is better, but still distrusts my lying quiet; so he has compromised the matter by allowing me to lie on a sofa all day, with my foot elevated on a frame.
"Transit across the Isthmus
.--We understand that the treasure which goes to the Atlantic States by the New Orleans, will be accompanied across the Isthmus under charge of General Mosquera's guards."
This notice, from a Panama paper, appears, and, I should think, would render the transit of treasure more unsafe; "deliver me from my friends!" "Generals" on this side of the Atlantic are to thick upon the ground.
RESCUE OF A PRISONER--RECORDER'S COURT.
A " STABBING AFFAIR
" at Columbia, and subsequent proceedings, are detailed as follows in a San Francisco evening paper:--
"The stabbing affair of yesterday caused a great excitement to prevail amongst the large concourse of miners
When the officers brought out the prisoner for the purpose of conveying him to Sonora, people rushed upon them and carried off the object of their indignation, dragging him through the town to a tree, to a limb of which was already suspended the rope designed for his neck.
Without any preliminaries whatever, it was adjusted, and the next moment the prisoner was suspended in the air; but the limb broke, and it was then decided to give him a trial by jury.
While this was going on, the Sheriff of Sonora arrived, and attempted to rescue the prisoner from the hands of the populace, but was defeated.
Some five or six hours were occupied in the hearing the witnesses, &c.; at the expiration of which time, the Sheriff succeeded in obtaining the malefactor, and carried him to Sonora."
The Recorder's Court often affords much amusement to the idle vagabonds who are fortunate enough to avoid its jurisdiction. The following are specimens of cases before the "Honourable" the Recorder, who bears a title in spite of the republican repudiation of such things.
RECORDER'S COURT.
Honourable G. W. Baker, Recorder.
J. H. Burke, hard drinking, five dollars.
Thomas Donahue, drunk for a week, beat his wife, pulled her out of bed,
Sent to City Prison for sixty days.
Frank Weisic, D.D., City Prison two days.
Jerry McCarty, drunk again, beat his wife, broke the window and got nabbed by an officer.
Jerry said his wife got drunk and gave him no peace of his life, and he had to get drunk to keep even.
The Recorder evidently did not believe him, and he was sent down stairs for thirty days.
"Difference of Opinion
.--Three young men were accused by Officer Johnson with obstructing and annoying him in discharge of his duty.
The defendants denied all knowledge
"Helping Himself
.--An ancient rumhead, who gave his name as Edward Otis, was discovered by an officer yesterday morning, a short time before daylight, tapping a hogshead of brandy.
He had filled his demijohn half full when arrested.
Sent to the City Prison ninety days for vagrancy."
At the close of this month I am still confined to my room by the state of the sprain, the lacerated part very
NOVEMBER.
1ST. During the night the first rain for the season fell; it may now be expected to fall heavily for four or five weeks, then some fine weather in January; after that, heavy rain more or less till the end of March.
The surface miners and quartz crushers are all rejoicing in the prospect of getting a large amount of gold.
In Ohio they seem to do things in a summary way; for instance:--
"Great excitement has been produced in Cleveland by the alleged discovery of several dead human bodies on or near the premises of the Homœopathic College in that City, among which, it is said, a gentleman from Ohio City recognized the body of his daughter, who died a short time since.
The people in the neighbourhood became greatly excited, and the fire-bells were rung four or five times, until the College buildings were surrounded by an infuriated multitude, who commenced destroying the windows and everything contained in the building.
The crowd burst in, ransacked the rooms, and cast their contents from the windows.
A full-length skeleton was lashed to a barber's pole and carried about the streets.
The building was twice fired, but extinguished.
The Light Artillery and several companies were called out.
The mob continued throughout the day, and at our last telegraphic dispatch was not quelled."
More grapes, bouquets, and fresh eggs, sent to me by Mrs. W--k--n, an American lady living close by; her husband holds an office under the U.S. Government here; they have made round their house a lovely flower-garden
I have just finished "Dickens's American Notes;" before reading them, I had decided, in a very prejudiced manner, that these "Notes" had been written in an ungenerous spirit: having read them, I can find no trace of such a feeling. Every one knew that Dickens could write what he met with in the United States; and if by feˆtes the people hoped to blind him to their follies, they had to take the chance of the speculation being successful. He was not blinded; and now, because he wrote what he saw, and made people laugh at his stories, treats the boast of freedom as a farce while it upholds slavery, and condemns the savage duelling system of the Americans, they call him
FIRE AT SACRAMENTO.
IT has blown a heavy gale all night; the shipping have received great damage, and they in turn have done as much to the wharves.
News has just arrived that during the gale a fire broke out in Sacramento, in the quarter from whence the wind blew.
In a few hours the flames spread entirely over the town, the gale increased in strength, and there remained no possible means of arresting the fire in its horrible course.
With the exception of two or three brick buildings, the whole city was levelled in one black smoking mass before the sun rose, and fifteen thousand souls left houseless, many destitute.
No one can imagine the rapidity of the destruction of these towns who has not seen one on fire; the wood itself perfectly dry, and full of turpentine, aids power-fully the fire, and the flame is furious as clear.
Immediately the destruction of the city was evident, some speculators dispatched emissaries to Nevada, Marysville,
This was all fulfilled; the speculators bought up all the lumber everywhere, and as the winter had just begun, people in Sacramento must have houses, so they could only buy from those who held the lumber, which instantly rose to nearly two hundred and fifty dollars per thousand feet! Vultures hasten to the carrion!
The loss in Sacramento is estimated at one million sterling.
Large subscriptions in aid of the sufferers are advertised already, and the amount is rapidly increasing.
The demand from that place for every species of merchandise is so great as to double the prices.
This day, November sixth, the steamer from Panama came in; she brings the intelligence of the death of the Duke of Wellington, at Walmer Castle, in the eighty-fourth year of his age; all the English flags in the harbour lowered half-mast, and remained so during one week.
It is now nearly a month since I sprained my ancle, and I am as little able
A fire in the city at nine this night.
The New York papers say, "now that the Duke of Wellington is no more, it is obvious to the world, that General Winfield Scott is the greatest military Captain of the age." The "world" scarcely knows of the existence of this great chief!
The merchants who sold the lumber to
The fire of last night burned down all the houses between Clay and Merchant Streets; it was stopped by the Plaza to the west, and by Montgomery Street to the east.
Maconochie came from the mountains to see me. A long conference on the subject of the winter proceedings.
Dr. B--tt still using caustic on the
M--h--e very unwell, with a bad sore throat; he is a disciple of the Homœopathic school; but now finds it better to apply to Dr. B--tt, who fears an abscess will form.
I have leave to go out in a carriage, on condition that I keep my foot elevated; indeed, that I must do, for otherwise the pain is severe, and the wound bleeds afresh. B--tt came and applied the confounded caustic again. Drove with Mrs. B--tt to the Abbey-house; the country is beautifully green after the rain.
Dined at Mrs. S--y--d's, in Stockton Street; a farewell dinner to Mr. and Mrs. McD--g--ll, who are going to their
At breakfast, Mr. S--k--p told me the ship which has the engine for me has arrived. It is a heavy Cornish engine; altogether there are about ninety tons--it is contrived that this shall come just as the rains prevent my moving it up the country, and the storeage will be, at least, two dollars per ton per month--one way of dissipating a small capital, for the whole must be stored for six months.
At Neuada, it seems, the men are endeavouring to get rid of the women; two of the latter were mortally wounded by pistol-shots three days ago--the
"The United States' ship `Vandalia,' Commander William H. Gardner, arrived at New York on the sixth of October, from a cruise in the Pacific viaˆ Valparaiso, Rio de Janeiro, and Pernambuco.
The `Vandalia' sailed from Norfolk on the fifth of September, one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and was absent three years and one month, during which time she visited nearly all the ports of North and South America, upon the Pacific coast--some of them two and three times; besides being employed for a year on important duty at the Sandwich Islands.
A naval court-martial assembled on the eighteenth of October, at the navy-yard
This notice of the intended trial by a court-martial of the "crew" of the United States' ship-of-war "Vandalia," will give a tolerably good idea of the consequence of abolishing corporal punishment, as the American Government have; here is a captain calling for a court-martial upon the entire crew of his ship!
Being still unable to walk, and ordered to get out in the air, I am driven about in a carriage for some hours in the day.
I am generally accompanied by one or two English ladies, who have compassionated my helpless state.
There is but little variety, and the roads
From this house, which is an inn, the view of the sea is very grand, as it rolls its heavy waves in upon the beach.
The sea-breeze here is most exhilarating, and at this period of the year, the drive for some distance is over the green tender shoot of the grass, just beginning to recover from the long-continued heat of the past summer.
A decision of Judge M--r--y has given great offence.
It seems the city of San Francisco could not pay the claim of a certain Peter
The "Alta Californian" calls it swindling, and every one believes that the influence of the dollars decided the judgment.
"Difficulties in Grass Valley
.--A difficulty occurred this evening about a trifling matter, between a baker of this place, named Patrick Doyle, and a man named Andrew Byrne, which they finally made up, and drank together. Soon
He replied, he would not fight there, but would meet him in the morning if he wanted to fight, and then turned to go away. Doyle drew a pistol, and shot Byrne in the abdomen, inflicting, it is thought, a mortal wound.
An intense excitement was raised. Doyle was taken by a crowd to a butcher's shambles, for the purpose of being lynched; but a little delay occurring in getting a rope, objections were made to the proceedings by some of the by-standers, and it eventually ended by handing Doyle over to the officers of the law, and he was sent off to jail."
Such events as this now appended, are so frequent, as to preclude any
This day, the twenty-fifth, is set apart as a day of "General Thanksgiving for all Blessings and Mercies," &c.
The engagements of the day have filled the saloons rather than the churches; some very silly attempts at military display have contrasted with unmeaning processions, and exhibition of Fire Companies, dragging about their engines.
Drove out on the San Mateo road with Mrs. B--tt, who seemed to be benefitted by the sea-air; it was rather cold, but being well wrapped up, she seemed to enjoy it.
It is a great happiness to me, that I am able to show, in some trifling way, how truly I appreciate the kindness shown to me by Dr. and Mrs. B--tt; every day till I can walk without injury to my
A three-story brick, in California Street, "caved in," and fell with a monstrous crash. So much for building on sand!
It is now the last day of November, and here I have been scarcely able to move, on account of my sprained ancle, ever since the seventeenth of October.
I am anxious to go to the mining
THE JENNY LIND THEATRE--CATHERINE HAYES--AMERICAN CHARACTER.
THE grand jury have been examining into the circumstances attending the purchase, by the city, of the "Jenny Lind" theatre, which is to be converted into a court-house; it is well known that many thousand dollars have been given for this theatre more than a court-house could have been built for!
All the contracts sent in were far
However, the whole affair seems a very "smart" job, and it is tolerably well understood in what direction much of the purchase-money goes.
The worthy occupants of the new city-hall, or court-house, will, however, perform as good farces before the public as ever were exhibited here, only the payment for them will be a much more serious consideration.
Catherine Hayes is here, delighting the people with her vocal powers, which, if not of the highest order, are extremely attractive; besides which, she appears with the most unquestionable reputation--a character that is supported by her conduct and deportment here.
Miss Hayes is accompanied by her mother.
The first concert given by Miss Hayes takes place this evening (the thirtieth), and every one seems enthusiastic about it, although not one of the citizens has probably ever heard her sing, or seen her perform before.
This is quite in accordance with the American mind, which yields to an impulse, and rushes forward, like an avalanche, overwhelming everything in its course.
Nothing can arrest its progress short of the attainment of its object, so long as the means of "going ahead" are possessed; when attainment is sated, or when means fail, a prostration takes place, and as the same avalanche which it
DECEMBER.
THE month commenced with a drizzling morning, which cleared up "some" towards noon; the rain, however, has begun to show its powers this year, and at Sacramento the embankment, or "levee," is stated to be so much injured that it is feared the city will be flooded; if it gives way, this certainly will be the state
"Sale of Tickets to Miss Hayes' Concert--Choice Seat at one thousand, one hundred and twenty-five dollars
!--At twelve o'clock this morning, Messrs. Theodore Payne and Co. proceeded to sell, at the American Theatre, the tickets to choice seats to Miss Katherine Hayes' third musical concert.
A large crowd had collected, and the excitement was great.
The first ticket, after much competition, was knocked off to George W. Green, for the enormous sum of one thousand, one hundred and twenty-five dollars
!
Mr. Green is a butcher in the Pacific Market, on Central Wharf, and the worthy foreman of Empire Engine Company No. 1.
The ticket was put down in the name of that company, as the foreman felt a peculiar pride in seeing it placed number one in the choice of seats, as well as in the regular line of the Fire Department.
The remainder of choice seats sold at a premium of from five to twenty dollars."
Some idea may be formed, by reading
The practice of selling opera tickets by auction seems curious to Europeans, and would scarcely answer well, excepting amongst a community so excitable, and so ready to compete, as are the Americans of the United States.
Here, for instance, is a butcher, the foreman of a fire-engine company, who triumphantly delights in having possessed himself of a "choice" seat to hear the music at Miss Hayes' concert, for the enormous sum of two hundred and twenty-five pounds! This is precisely an instance of that impulsive mind before mentioned. For my part, I think
During the performance there were many bouquets thrown from the audience to the stage as Miss Hayes finished her songs, &c.
In many of these there was a fifty-dollar gold piece. One person in this manner presented a valuable diamond brooch; but a Patlander, enchanted by her strains beyond all personal control, yelled his applause, threw his hat upon the stage, exclaiming loudly, --
"By the powers! darlint, here's my hat for yer, and it's all I have got to give ye!"
The audience on these occasions
News of the election of Mr. Frankland Pierce to the Presidency of the United
I am preparing to go up to the works. I can make but a bad walk of it yet, nevertheless. The rivers have swollen enormously, and the plains are reported to be overflowed.
Marysville is flooded by the united streams of the Yuba and Feather rivers; however, the rains have ceased for a few days, perhaps.
To-day the "Marysville Herald" says the river is out of the bar-room of the Merchants' Hotel, and probably will be out of the cellars in a day or two, as the Yuba is falling at the rate of thirty inches an hour; so far, the prospect is hopeful for the community of the hotel.
EXECUTION OF A MEXICAN.
THIS morning, at an early hour, people were observed moving towards the summit of an elevated sand-hill at the back of the city, and overlooking it.
On enquiry, I was told that that conspicuous location had been fixed upon for the erection of a gallows, the period for the execution of a Mexican named Forni having arrived.
This man had murdered another Mexican in a very brutal manner, and well deserved his punishment.
As the day advanced, the summit and sides of the sand hill swarmed with human beings--they seemed clustered together like bees on a tree branch, and for the purpose of seeing a criminal convulsed and writhing in the agonies of a violent death!
This desire appeared to pervade all classes of the Americans in the city.
About eleven o'clock the prisoner was taken from the jail, attended by the sheriff, &c., and conveyed towards the place of his execution. On his arrival there, a delay suddenly took place; it was determined that the murderer should not be hung in so conspicuous a spot, because
Offend the feelings of a population of all classes and sexes, which had already competed for the possession of the places from which the dying struggles of a human being could be most minutely witnessed!
The removal of the gallows was carried into effect, and a spot selected on the west side of the hill, from which no part of the city could be seen.
While the gallows was in progress to this spot, the contention for proximity to it, in order to maintain a close position to it at the last moment of the existence of the wretched criminal, was eager beyond description; --savagely vying, like hounds, to taste the blood of the victim they had run to death.
To give importance to the work, the "Marion rifles," in full uniform, were marched to the ground; for what reason, except to show their uniforms, it would be impossible to conceive, for assuredly no vestige of an intention to rescue could be discerned. The civil power had already a whole populace to aid in completing the execution, if aid were wanting: however, out marched the Marion Rifles, as gaily as if proceeding to celebrate the fourth of July or the election of a foreman of a fire-engine company, the enthusiasm in either case being about equal.
It was not till nearly half past two, that the execution was completed; the wretched murderer was kept full three hours upon the ground to be jeered at, and baited by a populace, many of which
In a short time after the sheriff had performed his last duties, the crowd returned, the Marion Rifles leading the way attended by a band as at first, playing a lively air; this gallant corps then went through several evolutions on the Plaza, for the gratification of the citizens, little apparently remembering the solemn event, which it had attended but half-an-hour before.
I have no mercy for a murderer; but it does appear to me that when his execution is so indecorously conducted, the crime and punishment which should inspire horror and awe, are productive, instead, of curiosity and rejoicing.
For a detail of the execution, and the behaviour of the people, the "Alta California" newspaper may be referred to.
I go to the mountains this afternoon, taking the steamer to Marysville; the day has been very damp, a heavy mist, almost deserving to be called rain, frequently falling. Until the period of embarcation arrived, I had the great pleasure of sitting in Dr. B--tt's house, for I make a very bad hand of walking yet. Having had a lunch there, I took leave of himself and Mrs. B--tt. To Dr. B--tt's skill and attention, I am indebted for my recovery so far from the results of an
In the morning, at Sacramento. The city is rapidly rising from its ashes; the "Orleans" hotel, which six or eight weeks ago was utterly destroyed by fire, now again displays itself, built of brick. If everything corresponded with the buoyancy of the American mind under circumstances of disastrous consequences, the
Beds at a premium; but for the kindness of my friend B--e, I must have slept in the bar-room, I believe.
MARYSVILLE.--EFFECTS OF THE FLOOD.
TO Marysville this morning. As the boat passed up the stream, which now is more marked out by the tops of the trees than by the banks on which they are growing, the plains appeared one enormous lake; nothing gave the idea of the flood being temporary, but the fact of trees standing
Curious occurrences in relation to the buildings of Marysville, took place during this flood.
Many zinc houses were washed down, and, of course, remained where they fell. Not so the wooden buildings, which being badly, or perhaps not at all, secured to any foundation, as soon as the water became of sufficient depth to float some of these away, they went in the course of the stream.
One that was passed on its way down the river, had a sign up, stating that "rest for the weary, and dry storage for trunks," might be had in it.
Another, on a similar voyage, informed us, that there "hot coffee might be had at all hours;" but one exhibited a most determined adhesion on the part of its owner; it was true, this last still retained its place, but was flooded; it appeared to be the residence of a laundress, whom, as the water forced her from the ground floor, retired to the next with all the insignia of her avocation: from that she could only retreat to the roof, which was flat; here she secured all her tubs, &c., and defied the waters. A boat was sent to bring her off; but she declined, and only asked for food, which was sent to her. In a few
At Marysville, and a cold, blowing morning; the streets knee-deep nearly in mud, the consequence of the late floods. I am hobbling about, supported by a thick stick, my ancle much swollen by the recent unusual exertion, and suffering also under a well-expressed attack of lumbago.
Walking in the streets is out of the question for me, so I sent for my horse,
I was informed that during the winter, this river frequently leaves a coating of soil to the depth of two or three inches annually, and thus the soil of such lands becomes manured, and yields extraordinary crops at the appointed season. This year,
The courses of the rivers this year could scarcely be recognised; there was but a faint and broken line of the tops of oak trees to give the limit of their natural banks; the plain appeared to be one vast sea, moving to join the adjacent ocean.
These losses are very discouraging to any one who displays as much industry
HOTEL LIFE.
GOT home again at one o'clock, just in time to be assailed by the stunning gong calling the good citizens ensconced in the Merchants' Hotel to dinner.
It may seem curious to us this middle of the day dinner, but it is not very long since the richer men of England have denounced that hour for the later period of
A residence in these hotels is a severe method of doing penance, especially for
At seven o'clock the astounding gong makes its tour of all the passages; this is to warn the tenants of the several bedrooms that it is proper to rise and prepare for breakfast. At eight this horrible device for bringing people to that meal is again put in operation, and immediately a general delivery of ladies and gentlemen from the chambers are seen converging to one point at the stair head, then a long narrow line of the same material briskly advances to the breakfast tables, two of
The rapidity with which the American completes his repast is indescribable; this is effected by placing on one plate every thing he intends to eat; he anticipates the mixture, which other races perfect in a more leisurely manner, and without exhibiting collection.
It is really sickening to see these vis-a`-vis
. So habituated are the waiters to the practice, that while you are being engaged with roast beef, the natives having nearly gone through everything, will commonly bring you a piece of apple or peach pie, some plum pudding, &c.; and they do it as an attention.
Should you be indifferent to the inviting crash of the gong, and indulge an extra hour in bed, you get no breakfast in the hotel, and must resort to a restaurant, where people are allowed to be hungry at different hours; at the hotel, you must all be hungry together.
After breakfast the gentlemen go to business, the ladies to nothing; the
The dinner, and supper, or tea, are but a variation of the breakfast, excepting that at the former, many ladies think it right to appear at dinner rather decolte´e
for so early an hour of the day, a practice I observed to obtain at New York as well as at Marysville; only at New York, the dinner was two hours, at least, later.
Wine is but seldom seen upon the hotel tables of this country, but dinner being finished there is a general descent to the bar-room, where each gratifies his own taste with one of those "drinks," so ludicrously named by the American,
These hotels are bad schools for children; some now running wild, not more than six or seven years of age, are already very conversant with the cigar, and with the oaths so frequently used by the American in common parlance.
Two of these children came into the "gentlemen's parlour" last evening, late, each brining a glass of whiskey toddy, smoking each a cigar, and drawing their
Miss C. Hayes still continues to delight the San Franciscans, and they appear to have taken a hint from the Irishman who some little time ago, having nothing better to give in expression of his admiration, threw his hat to her in the theatre.
"Kate Hayes' Riding Hats
.--To the ladies. O. H. Boyd most respectfully solicits the ladies of San Francisco to call and examine the new style of Riding Hats.
The hat presented to Miss Hayes on Thursday evening, can be seen for one day only, at his establishment, 152 and 154, Commercial Street.
Ladies, please call early and leave your orders."
The tickets of admission to her concerts still command, or "rule," commercially speaking, at a high figure; Mr. Samuel Brannan, originally a Mormon leader, would naturally be a general admirer, and willing to pay high for the ticket.
"Sale of the Tickets for Miss Hayes' Concert
.--The most spirited bidding that has yet occurred at the sale of tickets, took place yesterday at the American Theatre.
At one o'clock the auction commenced, and the first seat was secured by Mr.
The second was purchased by Mr. George W. Green, for the Empire Co., for one hundred dollars.
Ex-Alderman Hyatt took the next six seats for fifty dollars, and Alderman Case the next six for twenty-five dollars.
The remainder sold at one to five dollars' premium.
The price paid for the first ticket of the seventh concert, exceeds, we believe, anything paid for the same ticket at the first concert of any singer in the Atlantic cities, and goes to prove that the interest felt in Miss Hayes' concert is still unabated.
The concert of to night, in benefit of the Firemen's Charitable Relief Fund, will
No more worthy or popular object could have been selected for the purpose."
HOTEL PARLOURS.
STILL unable to leave Marysville, the plains being under water, and this last night's rain has again filled the bar-room of the hotel, and what is much worse is, the fact of this inundation driving the bar-room society into what is called the "gentlemen's parlour;" this said parlour was always disagreable enough, but now has become very low indeed.
The evenings in these parlours of the hotels are passed by the Californian-American in winter, by sitting round a stove, upon which as many as can, rest their feet; the whole engage themselves in keeping up an independent discharge of the infusion of tobacco, which is largely, and with much industry, produced by nine hundred and ninety-nine Americans out of one thousand--this is not an exaggerated proportion: very little conversation goes on, and that which does, almost uniformly turns upon the illness under which the speaker last suffered. Notice of smoking being disallowed in the parlour is conspicuously exhibited near a glass, and of course, in a "free country," as conspicuously disregarded.
The "ladies' parlour" is somewhat more lively; in it there is almost always a pianoforte, and many of the ladies play with considerable execution and taste; I do not remember to have heard the notes of the higher classes of composition attempted by the occupants of this parlour, but the waltz, polka, and music of popular songs are certainly generally played. Scotch music, and the airs composed for the songs of Haynes Bayley (who is a much-favoured poet in America), are highly pleasing to these lady amateurs; I fear their voices are not in unison with their musical prowess.
Waltzing and dancing in its varieties distinguish the habits of the "ladies' parlour;" it is not etiquette to enter the precincts of this retreat unless acquainted
The water rapidly rising: it is within four feet of the balcony upon which the first floor opens; no one can leave the house but by means of a boat; many
Upon the rivers vast damage has been inflicted by these floods upon the miners; their "diggings" have been inundated, flumes and implements of all kinds carried off no one knows where; for a time, digging is suspended.
PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING MARYSVILLE.
THE weather seems clearing up, and, unless a deluge is intended, the sooner the better. It is "kinder" lower in the bar-room, but cannot altogether leave that locality for three or four days. No communication with the mountains yet.
News has arrived that the levee at
As I am only waiting the pleasure of the waters, with reference to my departure for the mountains, I made a reconnaissance of the plains this morning (the twenty-second), and find them passable, excepting where the "sloughs" intersect the route; these are winter rivers, and run with great force on their way to the main streams. There are three of these
The cold, wet weather does not at all agree with my swollen ancle--it is very stiff and painful; what a mess that falling horse has made of it for me.
Very gay, and noisy withal, in the "ladies' parlour" this evening, so I went to bed; to sleep, is a consummation to be implored, when imprisoned in these hotels--tobacco-smoke, tobacco-juice, drinks, and swearing all round.
Raining again! Nevertheless, I dispatched a waggon with stores of all kinds
It cleared up in the evening, and I called upon Captain P-- x, who continued to live in the house lately occupied by Dr. and Mrs. B--tt, where I had passed so many pleasant evenings.
What a sad aspect the building has
As I sat on the air-cushioned sofa, it seemed to breathe its last sigh. Upon a wooden peg in the wall, an old straw bonnet found a resting-place; the faded ribbons attached to it waved in melancholy obedience to the various draughts of wind that entered from sundry openings; and it was the only emblem left to argue that once the room had boasted attractions now lost to it for ever; for in spite of the ownership of the bonnet being repudiated by the former lady of the house, I have still some lingering suspicions on the question. Goats leapt from a pile of lumber, over which the captain presided, to the verandah roof near it,
DEPARTURE FROM MARYSVILLE.
THE twenty-fourth, left Marysville on horseback, about ten o'clock, en route for the mountains; but the travelling is so bad, and my ancle so stiff and "sorter" painful, that I shall scarcely do more than reach Sewell's, at the foot of the first hills.
The day is gloomy and cold; the road is a water-channel; sometimes the horse steps upon hard ground, at others he is
About half-way to Sewell's, I overtook two waggons "mired down"--Anglice`, stuck in the mud. Travellers here always assist brothers in distress; so both myself and a companion riding with me, got off our horses, hitched them on behind the waggon with those forming the teams, and dragged each waggon out stern foremost. We then made as good a "corduroy" road as we could out of the sticks and branches lying about, and putting the whole strength on, successfully accomplished the passage of the mud-hole; and we then parted to proceed upon our respective journeys.
At Sewell's, found P--k--d, who is staying there during the flood, and distinguishing himself in the destruction of the various kind of wild fowl which visit these parts in the winter. The teal, and a small duck found here, are excellent; but a species of bird, called here the "sand-hill crane," is superlatively delicious; the meat of this bird throughout is brown, about the colour of the hare-meat when dressed, and, I believe, the flesh is naturally tender, for I never yet tasted any that was otherwise, whether the bird had been a long or short time killed.
It is not difficult to live on these plains in the winter, if you can stand walking up to the ancles, and, by way of variety, sometimes up to the waist, in water. I
Sewell gave me up his own bed-room very kindly; everything very comfortable, and, for the first time in a Californian hotel, or ranche, I was offered hot water and a foot-tub, which is a great advance towards the bath; of course, it
After a good night's rest, I was quite ready to proceed on to the works of the Company, at Dicksburgh, excepting that my unhappy ancle was dreadfully stiff from riding yesterday: however, at nine o'clock I got on horseback, and on I went; the mountain-road in very fair condition, excepting here and there some mud-holes offer unpleasing obstacles to travelling.
At a small ranche about fourteen miles from Sewell's, I turned off the main road to go to Hansonville, a small mining town on the road to the works at Dicksburgh. I had to cross the stream called the Honcut; it is always a rapid stream in the winter, but after the rains that had already fallen, it was now furiously raging on over its wooded and rocky bed. Neither the horse nor myself liked the aspect of the stream apparently, for I gave the animal's side but a faint touch with the spur, to which but a corresponding effort replied. If we entered, it was a question whether the horse could stand up against the rushing waters, and there was not depth for it to swim. If we did not, I should have to retrace my steps, make a long detour, and infallibly arrive at the
Happily for me, as I sat on the horse ruminating on the choice of evils before me, a miner came down for a bucket of water. I appealed to him for advice.
"Wall, stranger," he began, "I guess the crossing ain't sorter good; there's holes all about where they been digging; if you finds one, you can stay there--that's a fact!" And he dipped his bucket in the srream, feeling that he had given me all the necessary information with reference to the crossing.
I was not, however, disposed to lose the Christmas dinner; and having noticed
Through a rich mining locality, the road passed onwards to "Jackass Flat," where were united in one pursuit not less than seven hundred men from every known nation almost; the Chinese here
The road itself was not respected--on the contrary, it was interrupted by pits five or six feet deep, and was turned as best suited the miner. At length I extricated myself from this labyrinth, and in a heavy storm of wind and sleet, I presented myself, wet, hungry, and lame, before the door of my friends in Hansonville.
In an instant my prospects were infinitely changed for the better; my valise was taken off the horse, and the animal shown into a very comfortable stable. On my part I was established in a very
I found my warm-hearted friends in high health, and full of kindness to me, and I was informed that the dinner would in half an hour be on the table, in which interval I looked round the room; of which and its appurtenances I give a short account, to show when we have, as my friends had, a contented and a methodical mind, how soon a hopeless "shanty" may be turned into a comfortable dwelling-place.
Hansonville, like all the mining villages is a mere collection of wood houses, run up to last as long as the riches of the district may attract a population about it.
In one of these houses was an Englishman, Dr. W--th--n, accompanied by his wife and their little daughter, just entering her thirteenth year. The Doctor had more house-room and less income than was necessary or agreeable; the arrival therefore of the McD--g--ls was a happy event for him, to whom, after a very little negociation, he had let half his house, agreeing to put up a canvas partition, as well as open another door, on his part; McD--g--l, on his, agreeing to take the said portion so divided off for six months, at a rent per month that in England would
There was a room, perhaps twenty feet square; off this were two smaller apartments used as bed-rooms, and in an appropriate corner, a curtain concealed wood, and sundry other things wanted through the day, and best placed when very near, supposing that we combine master and servant in our own persons, the position in which, at this period, all those gentlemen conducting the works of the English gold mining companies found themselves in California.
The first-mentioned room performed the duties of dining, drawing-room, and
As for the cuisine, that was established under the charge of an English woman who kept a boarding house close by; she was assisted by her husband, who kept the wild miners in order while she prepared their meals.
The dinner hour arrived; everything was as usual on dinner tables when the "fixing" is but a temporary matter; I observed soup plates, but could discern no soup tureen.
We sat down together with M--e and Mr. D--s, the former having very considerately brought a haunch of venison from the Keystone, a neighbouring town in embryo.
Mrs. McD--g--l asked me if I would take soup; I feared to say yes, though I did pronounce the word,
The dinner and cheerfulness of my good friends made me soon forget the storm which still raged, and the heavy rain, sometimes hail, which pelted against the sides of the wooden house.
Every thing was pleasing, and it being Christmas day we warmly drank to those
On the twenty-sixth I rode over to see the works at Dicksburgh. We have a small water mill, to which are fitted eight stumps. Mr. D--s, to whom the directors have confided the choice of quartz lodes, declares the quartz lodes will pay one and a half cents to the pound; if so, we shall realize thirty dollars to the ton. I doubt his judgment very
Returned in the evening to Hansonville, having left orders respecting the work to be done.
It has rained heavily since the twenty-sixth; but now, the noon of the thirtieth, a bright blue sky has succeeded to the heavy clouds which have so long poured their waters upon the country. The Honcut, which runs by Hansonville, has increased to the size of a river, and has greatly damaged two water mills here,
Rode with McD--g--l to see the quartz lode he was testing. I do not think it very promising, though his mining agent thinks the reverse.
The last day of the year seemed to be weeping its total demise--incessant heavy rain; nothing to do but to send off letters for England, play chess, and read. The meals are a relief at such times; the day necessarily passed heavily enough, and very unlike the last day of the year at home, when the new year is often danced in, as the old one is gaily danced out.
A party of McD--g--l's Cornish miners are keeping it up now at midnight nearly--one fine specimen of a miner is practical miner, and cares for no one:" the pronunciation of the word practical was altogether found by the worthy miner very impracticable.
THE END.