STHRUCK IT.
“Say b’ys, jest come now an’ see phwat I hev found under this clay, be jabers!”
Upon going up to the claim, we saw on the ground a hard solid chunk of clay, about the size of a water-bucket, taken from the bed rock, and the under surface was one mass of gold. It was taken to the Express Office, pounded up and found to contain $1,500; but how much he got from his claim was unknown.
I have before explained that the chief and only machine used for the washing of pay dirt were the cradles, toms and sluices, although other kinds of machines were often brought into the mines for which it was claimed that they were of superior character, and warranted to save more gold than any other kind. They were, however, in nearly all cases, invented or constructed by persons who had little knowledge of gold mining, and were, therefore, ignorant of what was really needed, it being the general impression among them that gold existed among the dirt in great quantities, and that some superior process was necessary to separate it. All miners of any experience are well aware of the fact that the great difficulty or drawback to gold or placer mining, is not so much how to save the gold, but how or where to find the dirt or gravel that contains gold enough to pay for the working. That is the main question in mining, and the manner of washing or saving the gold is of course a secondary consideration. When the richest placers were worked out by the use of a pan and cradle, and it became necessary to wash a much greater amount of dirt, the “tom” came into use, and answered a good purpose for a time. But the time soon arrived when a tom was found to be inadequate for the emergency, for the reason that it was necessary to wash still larger quantities of dirt or gravel, and to accomplish this the sluices were used; they, in their turn to be superseded by the hydraulic pipe, by which large bodies of earth and gravel could be washed with good profit that could not be made to pay by the sluicing process, and which again in its turn will be superseded by some peculiar electric process, by which means whole mountains will be melted, and the liquid gold will flow out from the bottom of the huge furnace in pipes arranged for the purpose.
There are at present in California, as well as in Oregon, large bodies of black and common river sand containing gold in paying quantities, only awaiting the ingenuity of some mechanic or miner to invent a quick process for separating it, as no means or method is at present known whereby this can be accomplished with any profit.
Upon the Columbia River, for a distance of at least 150 miles, there are numerous sand bars that contain gold in paying quantities if any process can be devised for separating it. Many efforts have been made, and many ingenious mechanics have taxed their brains in the vain attempt to solve the problem. A company is now engaged upon one of the sand bars near the head waters of the Columbia in experimenting with electricity in the attempt to separate the fine float gold from the sand. If this proves to be a success, the sand bars upon the Columbia will be valuable mining properly.
The Indian War—A Change in the Social Conditions—The Desperado—The Sailors—The Mines Worked Out.
The Indian War—A Change in the Social Conditions—The Desperado—The Sailors—The Mines Worked Out.
IT was during this season that an event of the greatest importance to the State and to the mining interest occurred. I refer to the subjugation of the Digger tribe of Indians, a warlike and savage race, who seemed determined to exterminate, if possible, the American race of gold hunters; that is to say, in the opinion of the business portion of the community who had something to sell. These Indians were in many cases very badly treated and abused, and many had been killed for mere sport by the border-ruffian element from the East. The consequence, a very natural one, was that in a spirit of revenge they resented such outrages by taking the lives of a few of those who abused them. But this was deemed a sufficient cause for a war of extermination, and a demand was made upon the Government for assistance. No regulars were necessary, for the “Irregulars,” who were ever ready to volunteer when an Indian is to be butchered, were numerous.
A small army was soon formed, commanded by Col. William Rogers, and when all was ready, or nearly so, they marched for the front, if it could be found. A fine spot for the purpose was discovered near at hand, but a little out of range of the arrows. They went into camp and waited for something to turn up. If any attempt was made by the Indians to charge upon their works, reinforcements were sent for at once, and a change of base ordered immediately. Such was the nature of this ferocious, warlike regiment of Irregulars, however, that a change of conditions was absolutely necessary.
The Indians were hidden behind the rocks upon the opposite side of Brush Cañon, a few miles above the town, and, unconscious of danger, were with their families engaged in various amusements. The older members were seated around in groups discussing the current events of the day, and indulging in reminiscences of the happy springtide of youth when engaging in the pleasures of the chase after grasshoppers, when the Colonel of the Irregulars, from a high commanding position, the top of a stump, took a view of the situation with his field glass, leaped to the soil below and ordered a charge at once.
The poor Indians, taken by surprise, fought with valor, disputing the ground inch by inch; but, being overpowered by numbers, and it being also nearly lunch time, they very precipitately vamoosed the ranch, and the United States Government of America remained master of the field.
The ambulance train was ordered up, and the dead and wounded were carefully handled when found. But one Irregular, however, lost his life during the conflict, this unfortunate being Mr. W. McKinney, of Cold Springs.
The opinion among the troops, however, was general, to the effect that the Indian department suffered terribly, and that large numbers of them had passed over to the happy hunting ground, and were, probably, already engaged in chasing grasshoppers in the spirit land; but after the smoke of battle had been drifted through and the ground sluiced away, but one old squaw, with her papoose, were found in a ditch asleep.
The Grand Army of the Sierras captured all that was to be found in the deserted Indian camp, the spoils consisting of an old pack saddle, a jack knife with two blades, and one woolen shirt. These were taken into town, and, under orders from the Government, sold at auction to the highest bidder, the proceeds going into the Treasury and thrown in among the surplus.
This terrible and devastating uprising was thus squelched, and the Indians said they would do so no more, and they never did. The great conflict which was participated in and decided by the valor of undisciplined Irregulars, not only saved the entire country from utter destruction, but, in addition, demonstrated the fact to the interest of all concerned in mining, that the black sand which had heretofore been thrown aside as valueless was in reality worth $1 per pound, avoirdupois, in the following manner:
Powder for the grand army being scarce, an enterprising and shrewd storekeeper in the town, who furnished certain supplies, substituted kegs of the aforementioned sand in its place, and it wassaid that in consequence of the great similarity of appearance, neither the grand army, the Indians, nor Uncle Sam, ever knew the difference.
For further particulars and details please refer to the history of the great conflict, as I do not wish to trespass too much upon such incidents as are matters of historical record.
I desire, however, to mention a few facts in relation to this race of Indians, for, in my opinion and judging from appearances, they are very probably the ancestors of the great Mongolian race, and that the latter descended from them. Of course, this was some time ago, and it may be possible that it is just the other way, although it matters not which party made the descent first, or which did the degenerating part of the business. That the Indians have retained the old original dialect, however, is an evidence of a very close relationship, which the most skeptical must acknowledge.
Previous to the great battle which decided the destiny of the race and the safety of the country, and when the grand old eagle, with prophetic eye soared from aloft and, sailing majestically across the rocky cañon, flapped its wings with joy from the top of the great American banner suspended from a pile of sage brush, the Colonel in command had dispatched an officer, in full regimentals, to demand the immediate surrender of all goods and chattels which were contraband of war. This meant, of course, all squaws and papooses which were in arms. The reply told the tale of their descent at once.
“You Melican man heap allee samee fool. You no foolee me muchee. You sabe squaw? You no takee, you wantee. You come catche.”
The officer explained that his object was only to cover them with the old flag to protect them from the cold weather, as there was every indication of rain.
Quite a change in social conditions was now taking place. Balls and dances were more frequent, and the mining regions began to assume the appearance of civilized communities. To our Eastern friends it was of course a conundrum how women could live with safety here in the mines of California, in the midst of such a crowd of cow boys and frontier desperadoes. It did seem rather strange, but the reason why women could not only reside here in perfect safety, but could travel about the country free from insult and molestation as well, I will give an illustration of:
THE WOMEN MUST BE PROTECTED.
Soon after the arrival of the fall emigration of ’50, a very pretty young married woman, wife of a Mr. Herrick, the hotel-keeper, could frequently be seen riding a pony around among the hills. On one occasion she was met upon the road a few miles from town by one of this class of men who offered her an insult. She was not long in reaching town and reporting the fact, and almost as quickly as I have stated it he had a rope around his neck, while the other end was thrown over the limb of a tree, but upon promising faithfully that he would never do such a thing again, or never insult another woman in California, he was allowed to depart. An insult to a woman was by these rough miners considered a worse crime than robbery or murder, and punished accordingly, and for this reason a woman could travel alone and unattended anywhere among the mining regions in the early days.
The presence of woman not only illustrated the influence of changed social conditions, but also the effect upon civilization in general; for previous to her coming, as I have before mentioned, there was among all, or at least the greater portion, a total disregard for appearances, and a visit to the miner’s cabin would show that hismode of life and household arrangements were sadly in need of repair. Under woman’s influence, the old cabin was put into proper shape; a washboard and tub stand by the door; the dishes are regularly washed and arranged carefully upon the shelf, and the yard in front of the house has been cleared of old hats, boots and either rubbish—showing by the changed appearance of the old castle and its surroundings the effect of this magical influence, tending toward higher conditions of civilization.
You see yonder a large cabin; it has recently undergone a complete transformation. You observe that a new addition has been put on for the convenience of cooking arrangements; in front of the house, which was formerly littered with tin cans and piles of rubbish, all is now smooth and clean. A pretty fence now surrounds the house, and if you approach closer you will observe a sweet-pea vine and a morning-glory running up around the window, fastened with pieces of cotton twine, and in the corners of the yard, and along by the fence, you will also notice growing bushes of certain varieties of roses.
The door opens and thence comes the pilgrim chap. But he does not look like the same boy at all. Can it be he? That “biled shirt” and those store clothes and shining boots have changed him somewhat in appearance. But why this change? What is the matter with him, you ask. Walk with me towards the house. Do you hear that strange sound? ’Tis not the wail of a hyena or of a catamount from yonder mountain, but the wail of an infant in the direction of the house. That is what’s the matter. That rocking motion you hear is not made by a miner’s cradle, but the other kind, and in it is a very valuable nugget, a ten-pounder that the pilgrim has just struck, and 24 carets fine. And now don’t you think that it is the presence of woman that tends to elevate mankind, or you old forty-niners in particular, to higher conditions of civilization?
“I reckon,” say each and all of us.
The desperadoes and border ruffians from Texas and Missouri were now quite numerous. Many robberies were committed and some shooting participated in occasionally. There were also many of this class inclined to jump claims, when it was possible to do so without danger, and, as one of them expressed it who had jumped a claim belonging to a young man who had just gone to his cabin for
WOMAN’S INFLUENCE.
THE CLAIM JUMPER.
lunch, “All Hades couldn’t drive me off either.” He was dressed in a kind of masquerade costume, and a gambler by profession from some interior town in Missouri. He wore a white fur plug hat; blue swallow-tail coat with brass buttons, and around his waist a broad belt containing weapons enough for a whole regiment. But wait; a large, powerfully built man was walking very leisurely toward the claim, followed by the young man, its owner. The big fellow, C. Marple, who was from Philadelphia, in a very mild and persuasive tone of voice requested the U. S. arsenal to kindly leave the claim; but placing his hand upon the most convenient weapon the claim jumper refused. Mr. Marple, in a very polite manner, stepped towards him, and taking him by the collar kindly assisted him to leave, which he did without any further trouble; proving the well known fact that the greater the scoundrel, the greater the coward,
THE ART OF SELF-DEFENCE.
and requiring a great number of weapons, therefore, to convince others of his bravery.
A desperado by the name of Burns, the same who afterwards assisted in the capture of the noted bandit, Joaquin, came across the plains this season, and could be seen visiting and lounging around the various bar-rooms, carrying a miniature U. S. arsenal around his waist. Having one day a dispute with this same Mr. Marple in relation to some trifling matter, he grasped the handle of his favorite weapon, but the unfrightened Yank, shoving his clenched fist in close proximity to the desperado’s left eye, playfully remarked:
“Yes, draw your weapon, and I’ll bet drinks for the crowd that I knock you down before you can cock it.”
Burns eyed the huge fist, concluded that he would like its appearance better at a distance, put up his weapon, and treated the crowd. One of these brave frontier ruffians made his stopping place and home at a way station, or bar-room, located upon the emigrant road a few miles from Hangtown, and was very frequently in the habit of accosting miners and strangers who had occasion to stop at the place, in a very rough and barbarous manner. He would draw a weapon, and ask if they had said their prayers and were ready to die, getting, of course, his whiskey free as a compromise, upon condition of putting up his weapons. Upon one occasion, however, he struck a costumer, a regular old-fashioned, Jacksonian Democrat from Kentucky, who did not believe in compromising.
As the latter stood at the bar enjoying his beverage, the border ruffian approached him with an immense bowie knife raised above his head, and inquired if the stranger had said his prayers that morning, at the same time making a motion as if to strike. The old Kentuckian remarked that he had not, as he had done all his praying in his younger days, and enough, he reckoned, to last him the rest of his life, at the same time drawing his pistol from his belt, and sending a ball crashing through the brain of the desperado. No inquest, as the coroner did not think it was necessary.
This class of desperadoes was now becoming quite numerous in the mining regions, and caused much trouble and annoyance. But they must not be confounded with, nor be included in, what in more modern times are denominated as cow-boys; for the latter are a later invention, and as a rule of a higher order, although there may be many desperate characters among them. Yet the great majority
NO COMPROMISE.
of cow-boys are respectable as compared with the border ruffians of forty years ago. The term desperado, as I am informed, is derived from the Sanscrit, or some other tongue: desper signifying to “git” and ado being an abbreviation of the word adieu; in border dialect meaning “Farewell, I’m off.” The individual who made the application, even if it was many years ago, knew who he had reference to; for if ever there was a man who felt inclined to “git” and to tender an affectionate farewell, it is one of these old-style border ruffians or desperadoes, when, chancing to be alone, he meets some one with whom he is not on good speaking terms, the sight of whose clenched fist strikes terror into his soul.
A SIMILE.
They resemble the hyena very much, for when in numbers they are brave, ferocious and warlike, and will at such times attackanything that has legs, from an old milk-stool to a yearling calf, or anything that walks, from a congressman to the walking-beam of a steamboat; but when alone and he scents danger from afar, although encased in armor and with an arsenal suspended to his waist, yet at such a time he resembles very much the appearance of a little dog running up the road with a big tin kettle tied to his tail, while from a rear view all that can be seen is the hardware.
THE NEW COMER.
DISCOVERY OF THE RED HILL GOLD.
As the spring of ’51 approached, the opinion became general that the mines of California were very nearly worked out, or rather that portion of them which was thought to be worth working, and consequently many left the mining regions in the dry diggings and went up to the various rivers, north or south, others again returning to their Eastern homes. Owing to the great specific gravity of gold, and being ignorant, also, of the reasons why gold was almost invariably associated with running streams, for at this time quartz was unknown and hill gravel mining was not a possible conception, it was supposed that gold would always be found only in the lowest places. The time soon arrived, however, when all old miners, inthis mining region at least, were to learn something new in relation to mining, and discover that the richest deposits were not in the lowest places by any means, but in the hills above, in the beds of other, older rivers, and also among the quartz, which is called the mother of gold, since it is only in this rock that gold is found in its original state. To illustrate: Some miners were at work with their cradles in what is called Emigrant Ravine, and about two miles above town. It was a hot, sultry day, and a stranger, with his pick and pan for prospecting, inquired of them if there was a place where he could start in to work. One of the miners, for a joke, pointed towards an oak tree near the ravine upon a little rise of ground, and remarked:
THE TARS ON THE HILL.
“Yes, there by that tree is the finest place to work that I know of.”
The prospector took a view of the ground, and, believing the old miner to be in earnest, commenced to work. It was deep; the ground was dry and hard, but, by perseverance and hard work, in about two days he found the bed rock eight or ten feet below the surface, and from the bottom of this hole he cradled out more gold in a week than the company of astonished miners who had fooled him had obtained in their whole season’s work. In this manner it was soon fully demonstrated that gold was universally scattered all over, in spots, in no one place in particular, but wherever you could find it.
A short time subsequent to this a colored man, in walking along the trail at the foot of a steep hill, picked up a small piece of gold. Its edges were sharp, and from all appearances it had never been in running water; but the question was, where did this come from, and there lay the mystery. Not from the ravine, and certainly not from the steep side hill; but at any rate the colored man, from curiosity, dug a hole upon the steep side hill. He found no gravel, but saw that the soil upon the bed rock was a deep crimson color, and that, scattered around among this blood red earth was to be found coarse gold. This had never been in contact with water, but had been deposited by heat or chemical action, and was the first discovery in this section of the rich, red hill gold deposits.
It was in the spring of ’50 that four sailors, who had deserted from their ship in San Francisco, took a cruise up among the mines, as they remarked:
“Jest to see how the land lay.”
They cruised about for several days, hardly knowing what to do or even how to do it, and during one of their daily excursions they found themselves near the head of a small ravine, and a very steep one, which emptied down into the big cañon. It was a pleasant spot, and one of them remarked:
“Well now, me lads, let’s drop anchor here; pipe all hands, pass the grog, and make the blarsted dirt fly.”
So one of them volunteered to commence operations by measuring off a spot about the size of the forehatch, and then commenced work with his pick and shovel to break out the cargo, until he struck bottom, as he remarked. A number of miners at work inthe ravine below watched the operations of the Jack Tars, and were very much amused to see them sinking a hole away up at the top of a hill. The soil was not deep, and the tars, by taking a turn about at the helm, were soon down to the bed rock, upon which they found the dirt and gravel of a very pretty red color. Filling a pan they took it to the ravine below, where one of the old miners kindly offered to wash it for them, although he remarked that it was hardly necessary, for gold never could have got away up there at the top of the hill. But upon washing it, they found to their astonishment that there was gold “away up there on the hill,” and a considerable lot of it too, as the amount in the pan indicated, for it contained about $20. The jolly Tars procured cradles and the necessary tools, and started in to work, at which they continued some three months, during which time they extracted about $20,000, as was stated by Adams & Co.’s agent soon after they left. The ravine was afterwards known as the “Sailor Boy’s Ravine,” being about one and a half miles from Hangtown and near the trail to the American River.
DISCOVERY OF THE OLD RIVER BEDS.
It was late in the winter or fall of ’49, that the discovery by W. Salmon and his comrades that gold existed in the hills in the vicinityof Georgetown was made, and that many of them contained beds of gravel which were rich in gold, this fact being well demonstrated by the discovery in Forest Hill, a few months later.
UNCLE BEN ON GEOLOGY.
Upon the discovery of hill diggings, mining assumed another form, for instead of the mines being worked out, which was the general opinion, we were only beginning to learn where to find the precious metal. The first hill diggings in Eldorado County were discovered near Upper Hangtown, early in the spring of ’51, by the Aiken brothers, who worked a small ravine located on the side of Indian Hill. When working near the upper end of the ravine their pay dirt left them, and, instead of a slate bed rock, they now found that it had changed to what appeared to be of the nature of sandstone. This,however, proved to be, upon examination, cement, under which, upon working through it, they found a deposit of rich gravel resting upon a slate foundation, and pitching into the hill. Other hills in the vicinity were soon found to be similar in character, cement capped, containing ancient river beds rich in gold.
The discovery of these ancient river beds, among a portion of the miners created quite a discussion as to their origin and the period, in geological eras, when this ancient river system was destroyed, and by what forces. Many of the discussions between these veteran, self-taught, geological expounders were interesting, as well as instructive, each one, of course, having a theory of his own which must be the only reasonable interpretation. One of the most prominent of these students of nature was an old gentleman from the State of Wisconsin, Uncle Ben Coats, and to listen to one of his geological lectures, under the shade of an aged oak, surrounded by a crowd of miners who were all anxious to be informed as to the facts of the case, was decidedly instructive and interesting—a scene, too, reminding one of Socrates or Aristotle lecturing to his pupils in the shady groves of Athens. We, the miners, soon became proficient in the use of the words tertiary, pliocene, carboniferous, spirituous, and gaseous eras or epochs, retaining even to the present time a very vivid recollection of them, but more especially of the two latter epochs.
Mining Speculators—The Lost Brother—Gambling—A Generous Gambler—An Important Discovery—Beginning of Fruit Culture and Wine Manufacture in California—The First Church Organization in the Mining Regions—“Old Nick” and His Animals—“Old Syd.”
Mining Speculators—The Lost Brother—Gambling—A Generous Gambler—An Important Discovery—Beginning of Fruit Culture and Wine Manufacture in California—The First Church Organization in the Mining Regions—“Old Nick” and His Animals—“Old Syd.”
MANY persons were now continually ruining into the mines, and stupendous frauds were being perpetrated upon them in the sale of mining claims.
One very enterprising individual who had drifted into the low red hill or slide in the hope of finding a lead, being disappointed, loaded his shot-gun with gold dust, and discharged it into various places. Upon finding a newcomer who desired to purchase, he was requested to take a pan and prospect for himself, which the victim would often do with remarkable success. He, however, saw the joke after he had bought the mine, and procuring a shot-gun played the same game on some other chap; and I’m not sure, but I think that their descendants have inherited the same habit, and are yet shooting and selling old claims. One sale of a mining claim is worth mentioning. It was a rich piece of ground in the lower part of Hangtown, and located on a rich lead. A chap who had been hard at work for nearly ten days stripping the top dirt from his claim, about fifteen feet square and ten feet deep, prospecting a pan of dirt in one corner and finding nothing, concluded to sell it, if possible. Presently along came three or four young men who had just arrived, and he proposed to sell it to them, explaining that there was good pay a little deeper. They paid him his price—one hundred and fifty dollars—and early next morning started in to work. By 3P.M.they were down to bed rock in various places, and water being handy they washed a pan just for curiosity.
The seller of the claim, who lingered around to see how badly he had fooled them, was, when he saw them wash out pan after pan,
SHARP SHOOTERS.
containing from ten dollars to twenty dollars, fifty dollars, and one hundred dollars to a pan, the most disgusted man in California. He tried to buy it back, and offered five hundred dollars for it. They took out in about five days nearly $7,000, and this was their first mining venture.
The winter of ’50-51 as before stated was a very dry one, and there was hardly water enough to run a tom. Consequently the summer of ’51 was very dry, and the dry diggings throughout the country were almost entirely deserted. This season saw large amounts of gold dust taken from the river beds of the Yuba, Feather and Bear Rivers, as well as in the various forks of the American, and also in the streams in the central and lower portions of the State. Small towns were now being started in the various mining districts. School-houses and churches were conspicuous among all, and the country was now, more than ever, assuming the appearance of civilization, to the great disgust of the border-ruffian element, one of whom was heard to remark:
“That ef these Yanks didn’t stop with that ar’ nonsense of fooling away their time with school an’ prayin’ shebangs, the whole country would go to h—l.” But time has since proved that he lied.
The emigration of this fall was larger than that of the year previous and was that of a better class, consisting principally of families, many of whom were from States east of the Mississippi.
A bulletin board, or, rather, a book for registering the names of the newly-arrived emigrants in order that friends and acquaintances could learn of their destination and location, was put up. Many amusing incidents occurred in the search for those who had previously arrived. A young man, having just arrived, made inquiries among the various barrooms and hotels for his brother, who had, as he was informed by the bulletin board, come across the plains this season. The young man was from Ohio, and his older brother had left home some twelve or fifteen years previous. The new arrival, therefore, was very anxious to find his brother. The train with which the young man had just arrived was under the control of a man from New Orleans called the Colonel, his real name not being known by any one upon the train. In making inquiries in one of the barrooms, with the hope of finding some one who could give him the required information in regard to his brother, a gentleman from New Orleans, who was present, remarked:
THE DISGUSTED SPECULATOR.
“Why, the man you’re inquiring for, the Colonel, is here in town, and I saw him not ten minutes ago over there in that drug store.”
FOUND HIS BROTHER.
The young man went over and saw the Colonel, with whom he had crossed the plains, in the store, and of course mentioned the reasons for his coming in as directed.
“Well,” said the Colonel, “what was your brother’s name?”
“His name was William B. Richards.”
“Well,” rejoined the Colonel, “that is my name.”
Sure enough, this Colonel with whom he had crossed the plains was the long-lost brother!
It was the habit, or custom rather, in early days to give to each man a certain nickname by which he was usually known, his real name being, as a general rule, unknown, or even unasked for. “Whar air you from?” was the main question and the information most desired, and usually decided his nickname.
Here were “Old Pike,” “Big and Little Pike,” “Old Kentuck,” “Texas Jack,” “Texas Jim,” “Old Arkansas”; if Scotch, he was “Sandy,” or “Scotty”; if from the East, “Little or Big Yank,” and their mining locations would in some cases, also decide their names. There were “French Flat Pete,” “Sandy Hill Mike,” “Poverty Point Jim,”ad infinitum.
On one occasion, a young miner returned to his Eastern home for a visit, and one day, while visiting at some family acquaintances with his parents at a distance, upon looking over some daguerrotypes lying on the tables, he remarked that one of them resembled very much a young man with whom he had worked, and who was at present living in the same place, Mocklmne Hill, in a cabin near his. He could not tell the name, but he went by the name of Jack, and one day, being in his cabin, saw a book upon the table, and found upon looking at it, that it was the “Pilgrims Progress,” on the fly leaf of which was written the name of Elizabeth Andrews.
“Oh, Oh!” said a young lady present, “that is my brother, John Andrews, and we haven’t heard from him for nearly 15 years, and were afraid that some accident had happened to him somewhere.”
After the commencement of the rainy season, in the fall of ’51, the river miners flocked into the placer mining districts. Other arrivals from across the waters, soon swelled the population in all of the various mining camps. Gambling in all of its various forms became again the principal amusement. Barrooms and gambling-houses vied with each other in furnishing their patrons with the finest and loudest music, and bands could be heard playing in all of them during the greater portion of the evening, and until the wee sma’ hours of the morning. The professionals were as a general rule Southerners by birth, hailing from New Orleans, Louisville, Memphis, Richmond and St. Louis; whilst only occasionally would be found a sport claiming Boston or New York as his birthplace. Many of this class were men of good education and abilities, and many of them descendants of respectable families as well. They had been accustomed from childhood to associate with this classin their native cities, and therefore inherited or acquired the gambling trait of character. It is of course well understood that all men who gamble for money are necessarily very bad characters; but the professional gambler of early days formed, in many instances, an exception to this general rule, and should not be confounded with the lower ten-cent ante poker gambler found bumming and loafing around the gambling places of to-day. Among this former class were as many good, honest and square-dealing men as could generally be found among those engaged in any other business, and they were, as a rule, more charitable, being always ready to contribute their share, and a little more too, towards assisting those who were in distress.
A lady with two daughters arrived in the mines late in the autumn of ’49, her husband having died on the plains during the journey. They were in a very destitute condition and among strangers in a strange land, without a single acquaintance in the State, as far as they knew. Her great desire was to return to their Eastern home, and to enable them to do so newly-found friends used every effort, endeavoring, among the miners and business men of the town, to raise sufficient money for the purpose; but not enough money, however, could be collected. Some one mentioned the circumstance in one of the gambling houses, and one gambler, Lucky Bill, whose sad fate I have before mentioned, who was present, remarked:
“Well, if Mrs. S. wishes to return East again with her daughters, she shall go.”
Taking his hat around among the gamblers in the various houses, he raised in one hour about $1,500, which was sent to her, and in a few days the family went on its way rejoicing.
The winter of ’51-’52 was a very damp one, and mining throughout the entire region was carried on very extensively with toms, long and short, and towards spring sluices came into use, which enabled the miner to wash large quantities of dirt that would not pay by any other process. The greatest activity prevailed among all classes, and fortunes were realized by many. Among the arrivals during this year from the East, were many who had previously been in the mines and returned home; some to remain, while many had been to visit parents, wives and families as well, also in some few cases with the intention to return with a partner. Among the
THE GAMBLER’S CHARITY.
latter class was a young man from Philadelphia, who had been absent from his loved one nearly two years. During the first year after parting he had written to her by every steamer; but, for some reason, for several months previous to revisiting his home he had neglected to correspond, not dreaming of the effect which such neglect sometimes produces upon the female mind. Upon arriving in his native city he hastened at once to the home of his adored one, knocked upon the door, and the mother of his darling Maggie, answering the call, invite him in with the greatest pleasure. Maggie is called; she enters the room, and the negligent miner goes for her, but hold! with a wave of the hand, she exclaims:
“Joseph, away, away! I thought you were dead, and I’m a married woman now.”
Joe’s advice to all young men upon his return to California was: “Boys, write often! Write often!”
During the winter, many ditches had been dug, bringing water from the mountain streams into the various mining districts, thus enabling the miners to work ravines, slides and benches, which never before had been worked. This extended the area of mining ground, and from this time forth it was possible to work nearly all gold-bearing soil.
In the spring of ’52, many who had succeeded in accumulating a sufficient amount of gold turned their attention to the cultivation of land, and to stock-raising in other portions of the State; and throughout the summer, ranches were pre-empted and located in many of the lower counties, for the very important discovery had now been made that a portion of California, at least, contained land suitable for agriculture. Up to this time, however, but very few people came with the intention of remaining, the principal purpose being to acquire a sufficient amount of gold, and then to return as soon as possible to their Eastern homes. But to thousands this quick return home was a delusion and a snare; for just how to return, or how to acquire the necessary means for so doing, was a conundrum that they endeavored to solve, but in many instances were finally compelled to give up.
Many left wives and families in the East, expecting to meet them again in a short time; but from sickness, misfortune, and poor luck, as well as in consequence of bad habits, the years rolled on, and they became weaned from their loved ones at home, who
WRITE OFTEN, BOYS!
were finally forgotten. In one instance, a man from an Eastern State, leaving a wife and several daughters to care for themselves, arrived here in ’50. He soon forgot his family in the East, but after a few years, being very unsuccessful in his mining and business matters, and hearing that his daughters had made wealthy marriages, concluded to surprise them with a visit. As the result proved, he was himself the most surprised man in that section of the country, for none of them knew him and would not even recognize him, a daughter saying that as he had never written nor sent them one dollar to assist them, therefore he could not be their father, and they kindly bade him farewell. He returned to California a sadder, but a more single man.
THE SURPRISE.
Previous to the discovery of the old river channels in the hills, it was the almost universal opinion, I think, that the mines would in a very few years be entirely worked out, and all would be compelled to return to their Eastern homes; but by the discovery of the hill gravel mining, the time necessary to accomplish this in was of course extended to a later day, and taken in connection, also, with the fact of the other very important discoveries, that good land was found in some of the other counties, it looked very reasonable to suppose that it would be possible to live here, and establish permanent homes in California. It was not until about three years later that this opinion became prevalent, and hundreds of families throughout the mining regions came to the conclusion that this might prove to be a pretty good country to live in after all.
Steamers were now making regular trips, bringing letters from home and friends semi-monthly. Besides, ships were continually arriving laden with all the necessaries of life, as well as its conveniences, and ladies could appear in the streets of the small, inferior mining towns sporting the latest styles of dress, hats and crinoline attachments, similar to those in the streets of New York or Boston, and what more could they desire? Wages were high in all of the towns and cities; provisions and groceries were reasonable in price, and the whole country assumed the air of a continuation of conditions of general prosperity of a more permanent character. The discovery was further made that, although malaria and mosquitoes were prevalent in certain portions of the country near the river margins, and also in the vicinity of certain flats covered by stagnant waters, and that fleas in swarms infested its chief city, yet the country in general was a very healthy one, the fleas being confined to their native soil and not allowed to scatter around over the State much.
The diverting of the water from mountain streams by means of flumes and ditches for mining purposes, changed entirely the character and general appearance of the mining regions, for the eye was soon greeted with the appearance of gardens scattered around among the hills, as well as in various camps. Cabbages raised their shaggy heads in their beds, adjacent to the bed of violets and daisies. Radishes, turnips and horse-radish, etc., could be found profusely scattered here and there, surrounded with rose-bushes, dahlias and the high, lofty and aristocratic sunflower. Beautifulcottages, surrounded with blooming gardens, could be seen dotting the sides and gentle slopes of the hills in the environments of the various mining towns, all denoting the fact of changed conditions, and telling in plain language that now we have come to stay. These changed conditions were not, however, confined to any one particular section of the country, but to all of the mineral regions that at this time were being worked, which included the central counties of the State, as well also as the chief towns and cities. All received the impulse of the change, and moved forward in their course toward a higher improvement of conditions.
With these changes came, also, from the far East, many who had previously returned to their Eastern homes, under the impression when they left that a total collapse here of all mining and business interests generally was a question of but a few short years, and being formed of that material peculiar to the pioneer, too proud to beg their way, would, therefore, be compelled to remain and make their future dwelling places in company with the Indians, amid the ruins of the once thrifty but now deserted mining villages. Many of these men returned, bringing their families with them also, satisfied that they found at last a suitable spot upon the face of the earth for a home, safe from the freezing blizzard and the destructive cyclone; and a country, too, where at night, after the toil of the day is over and all have retired to rest, and sweet, refreshing sleep is desired, the mercury in the tube of the thermometer hanging by the door, which has been through the day pretty well up towards the nineties, does not reverse the natural order of things as it does in the East, and continue climbing up during the night, forgetting to fall. On the contrary, here it conforms with the natural law, and gently descends from its lofty elevation of the day, evidencing a more agreeable temperature, necessary to sweet and refreshing slumber.
These things, and many other facts of a similar nature, brought to our State emigrants not only from the East, but from all other countries of the globe, who desired to live under such favorable conditions, and in a short time there could be found in the mining regions, as well as in the chief towns and cities, representatives from almost every nation. But a very small proportion, however, of those who came into the mountains in the year ’53 engaged in the business of mining, for previous to this time the very important discovery had been made that, by the use of water for irrigation, the soilcould be rendered highly productive, and all kinds of fruits could be raised in the red and apparently barren soil. The German population commenced the cultivation of the grape vine, and from this point in the history of California can be dated the inception of the fruit and wine industries of the Pacific Slope, which in a few years swelled to immense proportions. The little valleys and level places, suitable for orchards and vineyards, were readily located, and everything indicated the fact that all had become convinced that this was the promised land, for which they had so long been searching.
It must not be supposed that the gold seekers from the Eastern side of the Continent, in their earnest desire to improve their financial condition, should entirely overlook their spiritual welfare; and that they did not forget their early training was evident from the fact that in the spring of ’51 a church was organized, and a suitable building erected near the mouth of Cedar Ravine, where services were held upon the Sabbath. The Rev. Mr. Owens was the first minister to officiate, and it was stated that this was the first church organization in the mining regions. The discovery was soon made, that although we had a church and a very respectable congregation, containing quite a number of ladies and a few children, yet there was something else wanting, something that had been associated in our minds from infancy in connection with a church, and this was a bell. The question therefore at once suggested itself as to how we could reasonably expect success in spiritual matters without a bell. Upon the supposition that this would be an impossibility, a committee was appointed, and money was raised for the purchase of one.
After much inquiry, the committee succeeded in purchasing in San Francisco an old ship’s bell. This upon its arrival was hailed with hearty cheers, and elevated in due time to its lofty perch upon the roof of the church. The sound of it could be heard for many miles around, reverberating among the ravines and cañons, telling to the miners far and near, in the plainest tones and in unmistakable language, that the holy Sabbath day had not only found its way across the barren desert and the mountain ranges, but had come to stay, and they must not forget it.
All persons are, perhaps, aware that the peculiar tone of a bell which we have often been accustomed to hear, and are therefore familiar with, can very easily be distinguished from the tones of another, even after the lapse of many years. Near the head of theBig Cañon, about two miles from the town, was a cabin occupied by three or four men who had followed the sea, and upon the first Sabbath morning when the bell was rung the sound of it reached the ears of the sailor boys; and one of them rushing from the cabin door exclaimed:
“Blast me eyes, shipmates, if thet aint ole Dick’s voice” (the name given to the bell on shipboard), “and I’ll jest bet a tar bucket agin an ole soldier, that the Capt’in of the ship has been on a spree, lost his bearin’s, and is a sailin’ up Hangtown Creek, and a comin’ to anchor off the town. We’ll scrub decks, trim sails, make all taut, me lads, and take a cruise down that way, and hev a talk with ole Dick.”