WHAT’S UP.
By the afternoon of the second day out upon their charitable mission the young men had distributed their supplies among the suffering, and camped for the night at a spring near the road. Towards evening, as they were sitting by their camp fire, they observed away across on the opposite side of a steep cañon, an animal of some kind, but owing to the distance could not tell whether it was a horse, cow or bear. They fired several shots with their rifles in that direction, but without effect.
It was about daylight the next morning when they were aroused from a sound sleep by a terrible noise and stampede among their horses. Upon investigation was discovered, at a short distance through the darkness, the form of some animal which had very much the appearance of a huge bear, as they had often seen portrayed in their picture books when boys. They concluded not to investigate any further at present, but vied with each other to see who could climb up a tree the quickest. The grizzly, for such it proved to be, was the strange animal seen upon the flat across the cañon, and which they had been using for a target. Instigated by a similar feeling, presumably, and with an intense desire to see who the, to it, strange animals were upon the hill, it had traveled up around the head of the cañon, a distance of about twelve miles, to satisfy its curiosity and to see what was up, which it soon found, on looking up among the limbs of a big pine tree.
After devouring everything in sight that was eatable, as well, also, as many things which were not so much so, the grizzly cast its eyes up towards the boys, and with a knowing wink hoped they would come that way often to practice target shooting, and departed.
The third night out, and on their way home, they camped at what was then called “Leek Springs,” on the regular emigrant road. They picketed their horses as usual before retiring for the night, but found, to their astonishment in the morning, that the trusty steeds had been stolen. After tracking the animals for a few miles, they saw among the tall grass a large band of horses, well guarded by mounted Mexicans, which had been stolen from the emigrants for the two previous years.
Upon arriving in town the facts were reported and an expedition started immediately to capture the thieves, but too late, as the marauders were on their way to Lower California, led by the noted bandit Joaquin, it was supposed.
A two-wheeled, covered cart, drawn by a very diminutive yoke of oxen, which passed through the town at this time created much amusement. It was under the management of a stately Pike County dame. She was about fifty years of age, with long ringlets dangling from the sides of her head, and was dressed in the latest and most approved style of bloomer costume. As this stately dame marched with a dignified and majestic tread alongside of her team, carrying upon her shoulder the usual regulation Missouri ox gad, she presented a fine appearance, and as old Mike (a venerable Greek) remarked:
“Be jabers, thin, she reminds me of a Spartan mither with her chariot, do yez see, searching upon the faild of battle for the bodies of her brave b’ys!”
It was, however, a fair illustration of what it is even possible for a woman to accomplish when she takes a notion.
THE SPARTAN MOTHER.
The road across the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, over which the emigrants were obliged to travel, in order to pass through Hangtown, was called the old Tremont trail, and was a very rough road; crossing deep cañons and rocky points, but a man by the name of Jack Johnson who was accustomed to mountain travel and famous for opening new trails and “cut offs,” succeeded in the fall of ’49, or spring of ’50 rather, in finding a much better, as well as a shorter trail, which the emigration of following years took advantage of. It was used for many years, and universally known as the “Johnson Cut off,” and, by the way, it was supposed to save about thirty miles of travel.
Some eighteen or twenty years subsequent to the finding ofthis trail, Mr. Johnson had occasion to stop over night in Placerville, at the Cary House, and occupied a room in the second story. He was tired and restless, and awakening in the night, not knowing where he was, and seeing before him what he supposed was an open door, which was in fact a French window opening to the floor, he walked out of this window, falling to the ground below, and breaking an arm in the fall. An old timer who was present, the next day with a piece of chalk wrote upon a board, placing the latter against the building beneath the window:
But the old timer was many years behind the time for such a joke to be understood and appreciated; for nearly twenty years had passed, and the history of “Johnson’s Cut off” had long since been forgotten, or remembered only as a tradition; and all those who saw the sign, with a couple of exceptions, asked what it meant. Becoming conscious at length that even here, too, time was putting in its work, with a sad heart he removed the board from its position, remarking to another old timer near him:
“Dan! the time alas, is drawing near when the boy will inquire of his father:
“‘Pa, what is an old forty-niner, anyhow? The school-teacher gave the conundrum to-day, for us to guess.’”
“The father referring to Mark Twain; ‘Phœnix,’ the Argonauts of California,’ and numerous other ancient records will answer, that many long years ago, a few adventurers from the Eastern States hearing that here upon the Western Slope the discovery of the ancient site of Paradise had been made, and that remnants of the richly paved streets of the New Jerusalem had also been found scattered over the country, ventured forth in quest of this earthly Eden. They brought with them in their ships all the various tools, implements, and devices for collecting together the scattered remnants of the holy pavement, and tradition states also, as well as from the fact that amidst the debris and ruins of an old edifice of some description in San Francisco was found many years since a huge bear carved in stone, confirming the tradition that this was the site of an edifice erected by this race of people (the Forty-niners) and used as a place of resort for social gatherings, and as a means of keeping in remembrance those early days and perpetuating thenames of the most prominent of those who took a part. And the inquisitive boy would probably ask:
“‘Are the names of any of these yet remembered, Pa?’
THE ARGONAUT AND HIS MULE.
“‘Yes, but only one that I now remember of,’ the father would answer; for it was the tradition that at that early period of time, a mule was often seen wandering among the hills and cañons, going in various directions, but without any apparent desire on the part of the frank and energetic looking Argonaut upon its back to go anywhere in particular, only so he got there on time. ‘Tradition, my son, further tells us that this rider’s name was Pixley, and that he was probably hunting for some office.’”
“‘Well,’ the boy asks, ‘did he find it, Pa?’
“‘Tradition tells us that he did later—a printing office.’
“‘Well, Pa,’ the boy will again ask; ‘the name of the man who first found the gold was known, wasn’t it?’
THE CHIEF COOK.
“‘Yes, so it was supposed for many long years, and they even erected a monument in Colomo to perpetuate his memory; but alas for the uncertainty of all human knowledge, an eccentric and ingenious individual who made cyphers and oughts his study, made the discovery by a peculiar combination of them, that the first person who discovered gold here in California was not a man, but a woman, who was engaged as chief cook for one of the Indian chiefs, and that she found it in the dinner pot. While cooking for her royal master a Shanghai chicken, the old chief noticed that it had a very yellow, sickly appearance, and remarked:
“‘Not muchee bellie good, alle same sick.’
“‘And the cook, in searching for the cause, found a small fragment of pavement imbedded in its gizzard. Holding it aloft with a triumphant grin, she exclaimed to her royal lord and master:
“‘Oh! go way wid ye now, ye ould hathen. Do yez moind this now? For shure, and ’tis mesilf that’s the first one to place me oi squarely upon the likes of this; a bit of the howly pavement and pure vargin gould. It is now, do yez moind?’
“‘And this simple incident, my son, was the first foundation in the structure of this great and glorious empire, California, where it was your good fortune to first see the light of day.’
“‘Well, it was funny, wasn’t it, Pa? for the books tell us that one empire in the olden times was saved by a goose, and here is another one founded by a Shanghai rooster.’
“Daniel, let us enter in yonder open doorway, lean upon the bar, and weep.”
They immediately did forthwith enter therein; and leaning sadly upon the bar, did—smile.
Sickness in the Mines—Earthquakes—The Steamboat Men—A Miners’ Meeting—Lucky Bill—Kit Carson—The Financial Condition of the Miners—Australian Mike and His Tin Can—Portuguese Jo—The Divining-Rod.
MUCH sickness prevailed among the mining classes, caused, as was generally believed, by the very unhealthy climate; but which, in fact, can be better attributed to their habits, mode of life, and intemperance in eating as well as in drinking. Typhoid and bilious fevers were the usual complaints, from which many died. One fact was remarkable in relation to those who suffered from the various diseases at this time, which was that those among whom the sickness and mortality were greatest were, as a general rule, the most robust and able-bodied men. The explanation doubtless is that the healthy, strong and able-bodied men were more careless in their habits and mode of life; placed less restraint upon their appetites, and therefore suffered the consequences. Those, on the other hand, of a weaker physique were more careful of their habits, took better care of themselves, and therefore suffered but little from disease, proving the possibility that even the invalid, under proper conditions and in the use of his reasoning faculties, may be long-lived.
At this period, also, great numbers returned to their Eastern homes, believing this to be the most unhealthy climate of any portion of the continent, and one where no Northern or Eastern man could dwell in safety, in consequence of the duration of the long, dry seasons which in some years continued for a space of eight and ten months (as we were informed), when not a cloud obscured the sun or not a drop of rain fell. It was also feared that the necessaries of life could not be raised from the soil. For this reason it was thought that any interference with the communication by water between this and the East or other portions of the earth wouldcause great inconvenience and suffering among the residents of the mining regions. But one of the greatest dangers which, as we were informed, we would be compelled to encounter in this new and unsettled country, and from which there was no possible escape, was the destructive earthquake. The Indians told us that they were so frequent some years that the hills and mountains were in almost constant motion. The squaws, they asserted, took advantage of the fact by suspending their papooses from stakes driven into the ground, and the gentle swaying of the hills during the continuance of the earthquakes would rock the latter to sleep.
THE PAPOOSE LULLABY.
That diseases should prevail at this time seems paradoxical, for great additions had been made during the past few months to the medical fraternity, in this portion of the mining regions, at least, by the arrival of Drs. Ruddock, Chamberlain, Baker, Smith, Harvey, Cook, Keane, Burnham, Hall, Van Vleck, Marshal, Titus, Childs, Foster, Shober, and a few others whose names I have forgotten. These, in conjunction with those of an earlier date of arrival, constituted a formidable array of medical talent that was competent tobattle with and to resist the destructive effects of all diseases. They failed in many cases, however; but whether owing to the very unhealthy nature of the climate, or want of skill in the fraternity, would be perhaps difficult to decide.
A story is told in relation to one of these physicians, and is worth relating, from the fact that one of the principal actors is, at the present time, a resident of San Francisco, and can be seen occasionally around the wharves, or on board of one of the various steamers, although his occupation is gone and the Colonel has outlived his usefulness.
Dr. Ruddock had built a house upon Stony Point, and was about getting ready to move into it, when he found one evening, to his astonishment, that a company of emigrants, which had just arrived from St. Louis, had jumped his premises and refused to give up possession. They were five in number and were steamboat runners from St. Louis. Complaint was made to Mr. Wallace, the Justice, and Alex. Hunter, the Constable was ordered to eject them. Returning to the office again in a few minutes he reported that the parties who had jumped the Doctor’s house didn’t eject “worth a cuss.” He was then authorized to raise a posse for the purpose, which he did, but only to be laughed at by the house jumpers, and he was forced under the circumstances to make a similar report to headquarters, and furthermore that they positively declared that “there wasn’t Yanks enough in Hangtown to drive them out, either.” But it happened just at this crisis that Col. Rogers, our recently elected sheriff, rode into town, and was made acquainted with the trouble, and requested by the Judge to raise a posse and drive the intruders out. The Sheriff remarked that he would attend to the little affair at once, but that he considered himself posse enough for the business. Upon his arrival at the house he found the door fastened, and upon demanding admission he was ordered off, and he went off—about four feet—when he returned again with full force against the door which gave way with a crash, and he followed it into the room.
As he entered he saw standing near the door a number of rifles. Seizing one of these, he cocked it, and aiming it at the nearest man he demanded an instant evacuation of the premises, which followed immediately in the easiest and quickest manner possible, without regard to order, method or manner of going, their chief desire being
THE STEAMBOAT RUNNERS.
to get out. The windows in the rear being more convenient and easy of exit, the five steamboat runners, with the valiant Colonel in the rear, tumbled out in the quickest manner possible, under a full head of steam, with a velocity of about two miles per minute, and were not able to pull up until they had reached the next landing, a few miles below town.
I have before mentioned that there were very many hard characters who came into the mines at this season. Among them were the famous and notorious Pike County Missourians, many of whom, however, were men of good character. A greater portion of them, it is true, were just the reverse, a reputation which they enjoyed for many years; so that to charge a man with being from Pike County was an insult to be resented. Many of this class engaged in mining if they could by any means get possession of a good-paying claim without the necessity of hunting for it. The consequence was that a goodly number of them were occasionally injured through their taking possession of claims which they had no right to, and miners’ meetings were frequently called to drive these claim jumpers from misappropriated ground.
Two young men discovered a rich lead upon a low divide near the head of Big Cañon, a few miles from town, and upon going out to work one morning they found that four of these claim jumpers had taken possession of their ground and had removed their stakes, placing their own instead. The young men called a miners’ meeting, and the day following about fifty miners answered the call, and organized by electing a chairman. After due investigation it was decided that these young men owned the ground in dispute, and that the jumpers must pull up their stakes and vacate. The jumpers, however, made no defense, remarking only after the decision was rendered against them, that they would like to see the man who would pull up their stakes, at the same time drawing their weapons. There was a young man present as a spectator who had not taken any part in the meeting, although interested in the proceedings. This young man drew his gun, and stepping out from the crowd said to the jumpers:
“You would like to see the man who will pull up your stakes? Well, you can,” at the same time pulling them up and throwing them to one side, and placing the young men in possession of their claim.
This young man was Dave Buell, who was afterwards elected as the County Sheriff.
A MINER’S MEETING.
The Autumn rains commenced about the first of November, raining, however, but slightly during the fall and winter of ’50 and ’51, and being the most remarkable winter ever experienced either before or after, in that section. The only rain of any consequence fell in the month of April following. Miners, who had thrown up piles of dirt, were badly disappointed in not being able to wash it, and gold mining was voted a fraud. Nothing occurred during the winter to break the monotony of events, and Hangtown and vicinity were again nearly deserted. News from the North and South of the discovery of rich river mining, as well as new placer mining, continued to be received, showing that the mining region was gradually being extended to nearly the whole length of the State, although but a few miles in breadth. One other fact, also, was being well demonstrated, and that was that although millions of dollars were being washed from the river bars and dry diggings in the mining regions,yet the greater portion of it, through regular as well as irregular business channels, was being concentrated in the hands of the business men in San Francisco; the miners, as a class, retaining but a small proportion of their earnings, and in many cases barely sufficient to sustain life.
The gambling fraternity became now in the fall and winter of ’50 more numerous, and were in full blast in our heretofore rather quiet and orderly town.
Fighting was a pastime, and shooting, upon the slightest provocation, was one of the chief amusements.
The miners lost large amounts of gold dust at the gambling tables, and in the endeavor to get even still continued to lose. The noted thimble-rigger, “Lucky Bill,” and the three-card monte sharpers of St. Louis were on the top round of glory, robbing the honest miners who from curiosity put up their money to know how the thing was done, and they always found out.
This man, “Lucky Bill,” alias Wm. Thornton, was a gambler by profession, born and raised in the city of St. Louis. Although a man of very bad character, yet there is placed to his credit on the great register certain acts of a charitable nature that could hardly be expected from such an individual. He was always ready to assist the needy, and when money was required for the unfortunate had been known to contribute hundreds of dollars at a single time. He was hung by a vigilance committee in Carson Valley a few years later for being implicated in a murder and cattle stealing scrape.
In his address to the spectators around the place of his execution, he stated that he could blame no one for the course they had taken in condemning him to suffer death, for he well knew that he really deserved it, but, continued he:
“How could anything else be expected of a man who was raised and brought up by his parents among the criminal class found in the slums and back alleys of all large cities, or more particularly in St. Louis, where I was born. If I had been raised in a different manner I should, no doubt, have been a far better man.”
In conclusion, he advised his son, who was present, to avoid bad company, to keep away from saloons, and to live an honest and industrious life.
His address illustrates very aptly the force of habits acquired byassociation in early life, as well as such inherited conditions which are natural to the individual; they form a part of him, and, under ordinary circumstances, cannot be avoided or overcome.
Sunday was a general holiday for the miners, and early upon this day they could be seen, dressed in store clothes, when fortunate enough to have any, coming from the various gulches and ravines towards the town to see the sights and amusements to be found in the saloons and in the street.
The amusements upon the street consisted principally of horse racing, running, jumping, wrestling, an occasional fight, as well as shooting at targets with rifle and pistol. One of the best shots with the rifle was a descendant of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, who was remarkably expert. Kit Carson, who also had recently arrived, would display his dexterity with the pistol in shooting through the hub of a wagon wheel as it was being rolled across the street, a piece of paper having been pasted over the hub previously. Gambling was, of course, indulged in to a great extent by many miners, some of them losing the result of their whole week’s work, in some cases amounting to hundreds of dollars. The man who dealt the three-card French monte game was a great attraction, for his simple game looked or seemed “so innocent and aisy to bate, does yez see now,” said an Irish miner; but this was only apparent, as all those who attempted to beat the game became convinced, for it was soon found that the game was a regular swindling operation, being afterwards abolished entirely by the miners, and the dealer driven from town.
A miner on Sunday, for amusement bet on a certain card, throwing down his purse of gold, which contained about $800. Singularly enough he won; the dealer, however, discovering the mistake he had made, attempted to change the card. Failing to do so without detection, he flatly refused to pay the bet. A short consultation among the miners decided as to how he should be served. A rope was thrown around his neck, and fifteen minutes allowed him in which to “pungle down the dust.” He called upon his brother gamblers to come to his assistance, which they were inclined to do, but they were very politely informed by the miners, that after settling with the monte dealer, it was the intention to hang a few of them also, if they did not leave town within two hours. The monte dealer concluded that he had struck a hard crowd, paidthe bet and vanished. A few of the other gamblers departed also, but returned again, however, in a few days.
It is proper and but just that I should mention here the vast improvement in the make-up and general appearance of the great majority of the mining class since the arrival of the fall emigration of ’50. Sunday would find them dressed in their “biled shirts” and “store clothes,” with hair and whiskers well trimmed and faces shaved, and occasionally a stove-pipe hat would make its appearance. The appearance of the tile was seldom repeated, however, for the trouble of forcing it up over the face again where it had been jammed down by some vile scoundrel, “just for fun you know,” and of again putting it into proper shape, took away all pleasure in wearing it. The fact is, the miners who had been living for the past year away from those conditions which civilized society creates, had not as yet arrived at that point again, or to that advanced condition where the style of a plug hat would be appreciated; consequently, the man who was ignorant of this fact, and had the audacity to appear in the streets with such an absurd head gear, had to suffer the consequences.
It may at this point in the history of mining be of some interest to know the financial condition of those who had been engaged in the business for the past year. As before stated, many returned to their Eastern homes in the spring, a few of them with a considerable amount of gold dust, and some having as much as $10,000 and even $15,000, but in very many cases with barely sufficient to pay their way. A few, again, who had succeeded in securing a fair amount, would engage in business in some one of the mining camps, or in Sacramento City or San Francisco, whilst others would buy land in some portion of the State and engage in the stock business. But those miners who remained in this portion of the mining region were, as a general rule, those who had not acquired a sufficient amount to satisfy them, and therefore determined to remain until they did. Others again, desired very much to return to their families, but not having the means were compelled to remain.
There were a few persons here who had accumulated a large amount of dust, and one man by the name of Harper, who never was known to wear a hat, a Scotchman by birth, is said to have accumulated about $75,000. Another one from Australia, but an Irishman by birth, who arrived in the mines early in the spring of
ONLY TWO DAYS IN THE MINES.
’49, is said to have been a very lucky miner, as the saying goes, and had about $60,000 which he had put into empty oyster cans and hidden around in various places, to which fact hangs a tale.
Several instances had occurred where persons had come into the mines and by a streak of good fortune been successful, or in other words had “struck it rich,” and returned home again in a very short time. Among this number of very lucky ones, were two young men who had just arrived from their homes in the East. On the second day of their arrival in Hangtown, they were directed by an aquaintance to the big cañon a short distance north of town as being a good place to commence their operations, they dug a ditch down the side hill from the main ditch, in order to run the water into their sluices; and while at work a tin can was found in their sluices, which had been washed out from the loose soil above near the roots of an old oak tree, and had by the force of the water rolled down into the sluice. Upon examination, they found it full of gold dust and their work was done in California. They had found what they had come for, and the next morning were aboard the stage bound for San Francisco, with $15,000 worth of gold dust to divide between them. Australian Mike lived very near the spot, and the next day discovered his loss. An officer in pursuit of the young chaps arrived in San Francisco about two hours only, which however was enough, after the steamer had left the wharf for Panama, on which they had taken passage. Old Mike did’nt seem to care much for the loss, and all he said was: “Be jabers, thin, I hev a plinty more handy, do ye moind?”
People at the East often asked the question, and wondered why it was that so many returned again to their homes without having succeeded in making but very little in the gold mines, while others returned with fortunes. This seemed strange, and was often attributed to bad habits, intemperance or laziness, which, of course, was true in many cases but not in all, by any means. It is very true that the industrious man who worked early and late would, from the nature of things, be more successful than those who did the reverse or worked but seldom; and although this rule will apply to all human affairs in general, yet the mining industry in early days was, to some extent, at least, an exception to the accepted rule, for, as observation shows us, it was not the hardest-working man, or the most industrious, who succeeded best in striking the richest placers,
WHO ARE THE SUCCESSFUL PROSPECTORS.
but in very many instances fortune favored those who did the least work. In the ordinary affairs of life those only will prosper or succeed in the business in which they are engaged, who are well qualified, and who possess the qualities and habits necessary for its success—that is to say, possessing a reasonable amount of intelligence, economy, industry, and proper caution; but in mining, these qualities are, so far as the finding and extraction of the gold is concerned, of very little value, as was often illustrated in early mining days.
I do not include, however, in this class those who were too lazy to make an effort to find a paying mine, for the country was full of this class of men, and they could be seen tramping about among the numerous hills and gulches with their tools, hunting for some pleasant spot to work, and they would generally find it under the shade of a tree. It was this class of men who depended upon their more industrious friends for a living, and who were always ready to maintain that mining in early days was a mere question of luck.
Very often the most ignorant, idle and shiftless lout, would stumble by accident upon a very rich gold deposit. The colored individual, and the sailor too, who had run away from his ship, as well as many others of like ilk, had just as good an opportunity, and were as competent to find a valuable gold deposit, as the most highly educated college student or scientific geologist. In mining, but little judgment was required, and a little experience, which was soon acquired, brought all upon an equal footing. If gold had been scattered equally and uniformly throughout the land, then only those would be the most successful who were the most industrious; but this was not the case, however, for ’twas scattered all over only in spots, and it was the dropping upon these spots by accident that determined the success of the individual. It was often the case that persons were hard at work realizing daily but a few dollars, whilst a few feet away others were making perhaps hundreds of dollars per diem, and many again who to my knowledge were quite industrious barely made a living. That a few made large sums, whilst others again made but little, must therefore be attributed to their good fortune, or to their having, from chance conditions, located their claim and worked upon the right spot. In my opinion no other explanation can be given, or why a few were enabled to make large sums while others, equally industrious, realized but little.
THE LUCKY STAR.
For instance a sailor, who had just arrived from San Francisco, having deserted from his ship, strolled along up the creek one day where two miners were hard at work, and he stood silently watching them for a few minutes. Then transferring his cud of tobacco across from port to starboard, he remarked, in a coarse salt-water, tone of voice:
“Well shipmates, what’s the show for a fellow here, anyhow?”
They pointed out a vacant spot of ground a short distance above (near what is now called Cedar Ravine) and borrowing the necessary tools, Jack was soon at hard work.
Towards evening he returned again, and said that he didn’t know anything about the blasted bed rock, gold, or anything else, and wanted the shipmates to go and take a look at the blasted thing. They went to his claim and found it about five feet long and about three feet in width and four feet in depth. Near the center it was about six inches deeper, and in this depression, which was very rich, they washed out with their cradles for Jack in two hours about $3,500. He was only two days in the mines, for of course he returned to San Francisco immediately to enjoy himself.
Quite a number of similar instances might be given in elucidation of the fact as I have explained it, and if you wish for good luck in mining, always put in your time right where gold is, and nowhere else.
Another instance in illustration of the fact that Dame Fortune is impartial in the distribution of her favors was that of Portuguese Joe, a sailor who came up into the mines from San Francisco early in the spring of ’50. After working around for a few weeks in various localities with but poor success, he concluded to do a little prospecting in some less frequented locality. Purchasing a diminutive donkey, he packed the animal with all necessary tools and supplies and wandered forth. It was not long, however, before he returned to purchase further supplies, and it was surmised from the size and weight of his sack that he had struck it rich. But where? Not a word could be gotten from him, however. He was followed a number of times, but, suspecting it, would go miles out of his way upon his return to deceive them. But Yankee ingenuity could not be foiled by a Portuguese sailor; and one dark night, when he had started to his camp upon the donkey, two old miners followedhis trail. The donkey and its rider suspected this, and consequently traveled nearly all night around among the hills, through rocky ravines and dark cañons, but only to find to their great astonishment, when, as they slid down the side of a steep hill near the dawn of day and landed upon a small bar upon the South Fork of the American River, that closely following them and sliding down the deep descent in their rear, were the two old miners.
ON HIS TRAIL.
Well, Joe was a good-natured fellow, and was rather glad of their company, for the bar was very rich and large enough for all. They found, on investigation, upon the richest part of the bar the sand and gravel was only from six inches to a foot in depth, and that the gold was coarse and easily found in the crevices of the slate bed rock, and from this time forward it was called “Portuguese Joe’s Bar.” How much this Portuguese sailor took from his bar was never exactly known, although it was estimated to be about $60,000; nor of his ultimate end, for, alas, his was a sad ending, and of the incidents, being an eye-witness, I have at this late day a very vivid recollection.
During one of his frequent visits into Hangtown, astride of his diminutive donkey with his feet dangling upon the ground, for he was a very tall man, upon passing along through the noisy street, for it was Sunday, the affectionate animal, either from accident or fun, very suddenly elevated that portion of his anatomy abaft the saddle, and the rider was thrown forward upon the cold ground. Assisting him again to his feet, a bystander, in a very careless although innocent manner without the least design to injure or desire to harm anyone, remarked that Joe reminded him very much of Cæsar, since both had been placed under similar circumstances. Upon being asked why, in the hearing of Joe, he answered that they both fell by a brute ass (Brutus). Joe gazed sadly upon the thoughtless miscreant to see if he was in dead earnest or only intended it as a joke, and being satisfied that it was no joke, he strode sadly astride of his beast which he sat down upon, turned his head toward the setting sun and departed never to return again.
This vile attempt to destroy the peace and happiness of a fellow-being in the eyes of the miners was equivalent to manslaughter, and a jury being immediately formed the culprit was arraigned before the bar (in the nearest saloon), received his sentence, the fine being very heavy, as the jury was numerous and very dry.
But what became of Portuguese Joe was never known. It is said that away off in Europe, amidst the dense forest in the German Empire was occasionally seen by the superstitious peasants the phantom of a donkey, and riding on his back a tall, dark and sad-eyed rider, going in the direction of Rome; and they positively assert that after he had passed they could distinctly hear the gentle breeze, as it moved slightly among the trees, sadly murmur. Oh, Cæsar!Oh, Cæsar! This in all probability was Portuguese Joe from Hangtown, Eldorado County, California, who, not having previously heard of Cæsar’s accident, was doubtless on his way to see if the latter was much hurt by his fall.
The location of the right spot to dig is the great problem to solve in mining, and many devices were, adopted for the purpose, among them being the divining-rod, frequently used by our associates from the Faderland. One German had established an office, and in his prospectus agreed to furnish, for a consideration, the exact location where gold deposits could be found; but upon trial, to his vexation and astonishment, found that it was useless. A newcomer engaged his services, and the spot was located near the banks of a ravine near by. The bed rock was slate and very hard, but the German fakir stated that down under the rock was a great deposit of gold, and he only charged the verdant youth the sum of $25 for the valuable information. After spending much time and money, as well as a great deal of hard work, in penetrating the slate bed to the distance of about thirty feet, the project was abandoned, and the German, with his rod of divination, also abandoned the mines in disgust. These fabulous instruments, usually made of sticks cut from a witch-hazel bush in our own country, in Germany are made of whalebone, and to one which I saw was fastened a small vial containing quicksilver, in which was found a piece of paper upon which was written in some foreign language certain mythical words and signs, evidently from the Bible, meaning, I suppose, “excavate and ye shall find,” or an extract from Job, “Watch the pot and it will never bile,” or something similar.
Where the Rich Placers Were Found—Miners’ Superstition—The Blue Clay Deposit—Gold Machines.
IT might be of some interest to those who engage in mining, as well as for others, to know where were found the richest gold deposits by the first miners, or, rather, what were considered as the richest ravines or cañons, in the central portion of the mining regions or dry diggings, as they were called. Previous to the arrival of the emigration of ’49, those who happened to be in the country, as well as the Mormon element which rushed into the mines from Salt Lake upon hearing of the gold discovery, and those also who came from Oregon, made their way immediately to the vicinity of Coloma, where gold was first discovered. But little placer mining was found in this vicinity, and the gold seekers wandered off in various directions. In the vicinity of Georgetown and Kelsey, rich mines among the hills and ravines were found, the dry diggings around Hangtown being discovered about March 1 by parties from Oregon. The first discovery was made in Hangtown Creek, near the mouth of Cedar Ravine, the latter being the first ravine worked, and found to be very rich, yielding upwards of $1,000,000. The next discovery was in Bedford Avenue, at that time called “Log Cabin Ravine,” and a large amount of gold was taken from it by the two Winslow brothers, who first discovered it, and also by a Mr. Rider who took home with him about $25,000. From this ravine had been taken altogether, as near as can be determined, about $250,000. The richest portion of the creek was from a point below the mouth of Cedar Ravine down to a point near the foundry. Below this again but very little gold was found. In ascending the creek, good wages were made above Cedar Ravine, and a few very good deposits were found nearly up to the store of Dr. Price. From that point up, but little gold was ever found, although a few spots paid fair wages. The creek was worked in ’49 and upto the autumn of ’51 by the usual process of sinking of holes and cradling the gravel upon the bed rock. Spots in the creek, especially in the rear of the court house, were found to be very rich, and a piece of ground in the rear of Adam’s Hotel (afterwards the Mount Joy Hotel) was worked in ’49 and up to the spring of ’50 by Fish Brothers and Co., from which they realized, as they stated, about $20,000.
Just below Adams’ Hotel was a round tent used as a saloon and gambling house by Tom Ashton, in the winter of ’49. Immediately in the rear of this tent, a man by the name of Wiley, in the spring of ’50, from one pan of white clay washed out the sum of $1,400. A singular fact noticed and commented upon in ’49 was, that from about this point in the creek down, but very little gold was ever found. The cause of this was not discovered until near the spring of ’50, when it was found that the original creek which deposited the gold made a turn at this point, running down under the buildings and crossing the street about opposite the grocery store belonging to A. W. Bee, continued down through town on the opposite side of the street, being confined in its course to a narrow channel until reaching nearly to the Cary House. From this point, no regular channel was ever found; but the gold was found scattered over the flats below. This flat was worked principally during ’49 and the summer of ’50. The old channel running through and under the town has all been worked with pan and cradle, and found to be very rich in places; and would pay well with sluices, but not in my opinion half as well as many imagine, for there is no gold to speak of in the main street, except perhaps a very narrow spot on the Plaza, where the old creek crossed.
The amount of gold extracted from the creek altogether, including the flat below, as near as I was able to judge, was about $800,000. It was generally known how much miners were realizing from their claims, yet there were certain ones who kept it a secret, these generally being those who had the richest mines. Emigrant Ravine paid fair wages nearly up to the head of it, and a few smaller ravines emptying into it, also paid well. Going north from town across the Big Cañon to Poverty Point and its vicinity, many rich ravines were found; but the richest gold deposit was reserved for the miners of ’50. This was the celebrated Red Hill, of decomposed quartz deposit lead, found upon the apex of a slate ledgecrossing three different ravines, and running down towards the Big Cañon. This lead was about an eight of a mile in length, and in some places only about three inches in width; yet over $250,000 was taken from it. The very richest ravine that was discovered up to this time, the spring of ’51, around Hangtown, was the Oregon Ravine. This ravine was first discovered by two men from Oregon named Yocum. They first worked a narrow strip up through the ravine about three feet in width, and were at work at the time of our arrival in Hangtown, about the 1st of October. We had consequently an opportunity of forming some idea of its richness. Their method of working was of the most primitive kind. One would with pick and shovel remove the dirt from the surface to near the bed rock, which was about three feet in depth, and the other, with an old knife or a sharp stick in one hand, would stir up the dirt, and as the bright pieces of gold showed themselves, would pick them up and drop them into a tin cup, which he constantly carried in the other hand.
This was their slow method of working, and although they realized a fortune by this process, they did not glean as much as they should have done. How much these two men realized was never known, for they were very cautious; but it was supposed that they took home with them about $100,000 each.
Old man Harper, who also worked in this ravine, was said to have made out $60,000; several others also, have made large profits here. They all left for home in the fall of ’49.
Soon after my arrival, there were at least 200 men at work in this ravine, and all doing well, for the ravine was wide and paid richly from bank to bank. Dr. Ober was very successful, and as he passed along down at night among the miners who were at work below him, with a smiling countenance showed his tin cup in which he carried his gold. I found that about $150 was his average day’s work. In my opinion, Oregon Ravine yielded at least $1,000,000 if not more, and considering its size was the richest one in this portion of the country.
In Spanish Ravine also was found a rich lead which continued up for a short distance from its mouth, and which was worked out in the summer of ’49. As we go to the east a few very rich spots were round near Smith’s Flat, one small ravine in particular near the Emigrant Road, and only thirty yards in length, yielded about$13,000. At the small town of Newtown, which was located about six miles nearly due east of Placerville, and upon the eastern edge of the gold-bearing district, from a small ravine, during the winter of ’49, was taken by a company of four men the sum of $64,000.
Weaver Creek upon the south was also very rich in many places, all included, however, in a distance of about four miles. Many small ravines emptying into it were also found to be very rich. Of the many cañons in the County of Eldorado, which were prospected and worked in the winter of ’49-’50, there was but one which was noted for its mineral wealth. This was Georgetown Cañon, from which it was estimated that fully $2,000,000 were taken up to the spring of ’53. Whether this is a correct estimate or not I cannot say, although this was the estimate of a miner who worked there for about two years, and returned to the East in the autumn of ’52 with about $20,000 as his portion of it.
There were also numerous small ravines emptying into all of these larger ones and the cañon which contributed their quota to the general fund, besides numerous flats, slides and benches, which however, were worked at a later day. The Big Cañon, two miles north of town, was in some portions of it very rich, and a few places were worked in ’49; but the greater portion, or rather the richer portion of it, near the head, was worked with toms, in the spring and winter of ’50-’51. The cañons lying at the east of this were not very rich, although one portion of White Rock Cañon worked in the winter of ’49-’50 by O’Brien, Grayson, Stuart and Dayton, was very rich. The South Fork of the American River, as well as the numerous bars upon it, was not noted for its paying qualities, although some few rich deposits were found. Upon Kanaka Bar a rich lead was discovered, which yielded many thousands. One beautiful nugget was found upon this bar which was valued at $1,010; but by far the richest bar upon the whole river was that belonging to Portuguese Joe, from which he realized a fortune.
As we advance to the north we find that a few rich places were discovered around Coloma, at Kelsey’s, Spanish Flat, Greenwood Camp, and in the vicinity of Georgetown.
Early in ’49 the country and rivers as far north as the Yuba River was examined and prospected, a few of the bars upon the latter being worked and found to be very rich.
Fortunes were realized from Spanish, Murderers’, Big and Michigan Bars, where Ex-Governor Stanford had his little store in ’52, the germ from which sprang the Great Overland Railroad.
In one respect Eldorado County differed from nearly all other mining counties in the State, or even upon the Coast, as the gold was more evenly scattered and the mines, as a general rule, were more shallow and much more easily worked. For these reasons they paid better for the time expended in working them, though naturally worked out much quicker.
In consequence of the first discovery of gold having been made in Eldorado County the first mining was confined to this portion of the mining regions, and for this reason also the yield of gold during the first two years subsequent to its discovery was greater than from any part of the State, the amount realized from the county up to the spring of ’51 having been estimated at $20,000,000.
As we advance to the north we find that the gold deposits in the ravines and cañons are much deeper, and although gold upon the bed rock can be had in great quantities, being in some cases taken out by the pound, yet the net profits are very small, owing to the great expense in working. For instance, in Cœur d’Alene gold mining region the gravel upon some of the richest creek bottoms is from 20 to 30 feet in depth, while upon the bed rock there are rich deposits from which very coarse gold and nuggets have been taken by the pound. Yet the great disadvantage and expense of working many of these places in consequence of the amount of water to contend with, as well as the want of sufficient fall of same, make them unprofitable.
In the Caribou County, creeks were discovered of fabulous richness, yet such is the depth of gravel, in some cases upwards of 60 feet, that the expense of working in many instances exceeded the income.
We find, also, as we proceed to the north, that the ancient river beds are of greater extent and much richer, the mountains also being higher and more rugged. The placer mining, on the other hand, is confined to a smaller area, gold being found only in a few of the principal, or larger, creeks and ravines.
It is evident, therefore, from this fact, as well as from the general appearance of the hills, that those natural forces, such as volcanic and glacial action, which wore away the high mountain peaksto their present altitude, and which broke down the ancient river channels throughout the central portion of the mining regions, were of much greater force and of longer duration. And it is for this reason, also, that we find the washed gravel and particles of gold which they contained scattered over a larger area of country upon the surface.
It was the general opinion among the early miners that where placer mines existed would also be found rich quartz ledges, and where rich quartz ledges are found there must, for similar reasons, be good placer mining. This is true only of the central portion of the mining regions, where the quartz ledges have been thrown down and broken up, and is not true of other sections, for we find farther north, among the high cliffs and rugged peaks which have not been worn down by these natural forces, quartz ledges containing free gold, in many cases of great value. Yet no free gold, or at least but very little, can be found among the ravines or cañons below them.
It has been often said that the early miners were a very superstitious lot of men and firm believers in luck, even more so than any others; but this is a great mistake, for observation shows us that all grades and races of men are afflicted to a greater or less extent with this peculiar mania of belief in the efficacy of signs which give warning of coming dangers, as well as prognosticate good luck or a change in conditions. Those who are believers in this mysterious change in circumstances termed luck are close observers of such signs, and before commencing their operations or enterprises will first consult the oracle to see if the signs are favorable.
Among the mining classes in early days, the Germans were firm believers in the potency of signs, although many Americans and those of other nationalities were not far behind them, the main difference between them being that the former had no hesitation in acknowledging such a belief.
In early mining days it was generally believed that success in mining was entirely owing to luck, and this is the common belief at present among portions of the mining classes, as well as those engaged in other kinds of business. For this reason the so-called signs are intently observed, which will indicate what the future or result of any work or enterprise is to be. From the observation ofothers, as well as our own experiences in the operation of many of these omens, it is very conclusively shown that in many cases such circumstances do occur, or such effects result, as were previously suggested by the signs; but reason teaches us that there can be no possible connection between the mere fact of a dream, or of the occurrence of any certain events and any subsequent effects. As a consequence such future effects can have no other explanation than that of coincidence, although we must admit that the future events very often constitute a mysterious phenomenon. Many instances might be mentioned as an evidence of this, while again numerous cases of a similar nature could be brought forth as reliable evidence of exactly the reverse. Of this latter class of effects the believer in lucky signs takes no note, since they are of a negative character, and have, therefore, no value.
An acquaintance of mine was realizing from his ravine claim about $20 daily, and upon his way to his cabin one evening he picked up a horseshoe which he took to his quarters and hung upon a nail, with the remark that his claim in future was “just agoin’ to pungle”; and sure enough, for about two weeks following it did “pungle” at the average of $50 per diem.
A short time after another miner, a near neighbor, found, upon his way home from work, two horseshoes, which were hung up in his cabin for luck, and strange as it may seem, instead of his claim increasing in its daily pay, in a few days it ceased paying entirely. Of course, the only explanation for this phenomenon, as one of his friends told him, was that in finding two horseshoes he overdid the business, for one offset the other. Another acquaintance accounted for the catastrophe by saying that very probably one of the shoes was a mule shoe, and consequently all good luck was kicked out.
Another miner, upon commencing his work one morning, said that during the night previous he had dreams of finding a hen’s nest containing a number of eggs, and was told that such a dream was surely a sign of good luck. Singularly enough, for three or four days afterwards his claim gave down far better than it ever had done before.
A few mornings subsequent, another miner at work near by reported a similar dream, and he also received his reward by an increase in daily pay. But a short time afterwards another miner in the same ravine, who was making upon his claim an average dailyprofit of $14, reported one morning that he dreamt the night before of finding a hen’s nest from which he took nearly a peck of eggs. It is to be feared that he too overdid it, as the sign for him was an entire failure. He found at night that the lead upon which he had been at work had run out, and he could average but two dollars per day, and was consequently forced to abandon his claim. Many explanations were given for the sign having gone back on him, with a peck of eggs behind it, too, but were all unsatisfactory with one exception, this being the only reasonable one, that by the law of coincidences it could hardly be possible that such effects should occur three times in succession, notwithstanding the favorable nature of the signs.
Many cases could be mentioned of miners who had first discovered the new moon over the right shoulder, and, if future prospects and events were favorable, would always be sure to mention the fact of having seen the new moon in the proper manner, while others who saw the new moon in a similar manner were, for certain reasons, very careful to never mention the circumstance.
It was not expected, of course, that the most intelligent miners would acknowledge a belief in such signs, and they were always ready to ridicule any one who did. One of the old miners in particular, who ridiculed the superstitious notion, would always close his eyes when leaving his cabin, so his partner said, and not open them till he got into the road, and faced in the right direction in order to catch the moon in the proper position over his right shoulder.
A miner who had some trouble with another one about the right to use a certain stream of water, the case being then in court, stated to his acquaintances upon the day of the trial that he dreamt the night before of killing a large snake. A German acquaintance informed him that he would surely win his case, and he did.
Another miner subsequently had a similar dispute about the right to a certain claim, and, dreaming of killing a big snake a short time previous to the trial, success in winning his suit was assured him, and he did; but in working his claim it was found to be of no value.
Hundreds of similar instances might be cited to show that these so-called lucky strikes, as foretold by dreams or signs, are simply coincidences, and no other explanation, in my opinion, is possible.
It is, of course, well understood that gold mining in general has reference to the method or process of getting money, or of acquiring wealth in an easy as well as in a very rapid manner, without the necessity of toiling through a long series of years for the purpose, and it was this idea that brought many thousands into the mining regions of California. But coming here and finding, alas, that even to dig gold direct from the soil required labor, patience and perseverance, as well as an indefinite space of time, and even then with uncertain results, was the cause of hundreds returning immediately to their Eastern homes, or, at any rate, of leaving the mining regions in disgust upon making the unpleasant discovery that gold was not to be scraped from the surface of the ground, but that it was away down out of sight, badly mixed up with the dirt, mud and water. For these reasons, thousands who crossed the sandy plains, or who came by water to the gold mines, were sadly disappointed.
In order to find a gold deposit or lead which would pay for working, it was, of course, necessary to travel around with pick, pan and shovel among the ravines, flats and gulches; and when what seemed a favorable spot was found, a hole of suitable dimensions had to be dug, and the dirt upon the bed rock panned to determine the value of the claim, or whether it would pay to be worked.
After the central portions of these ravines had been worked in ’49 and ’50 it was then, of course, necessary to prospect in deeper ground, near the banks, or in the flats and gulches.
Of the great number who prospected subsequently to ’49 but a very small portion found claims that paid them for their trouble, while hundreds barely made a living. This was not, however, on account of the mines having become exhausted, but can be attributed to their manner of working, or prospecting. It was a common sight to see many tramping around among the hills, carrying their picks and shovels on their shoulders, in search of a suitable spot where they could strike it rich, but where the soil was not too deep, and this class of prospectors could very seldom find a claim worth working; for if they even ventured to sink a hole, it was generally of such a size that no idea could be formed of the nature of the bed rock or of what it contained.
As an illustration: Two miners on their way to work one morning encountered a tall, middle-aged man, sitting by the road-sidelamenting his sad fate. He said that he had left his family upon his little farm in the State of Illinois, and had come to try gold mining, but couldn’t find enough to enable him to live, and was very anxious to return home again. He said that he had dug and prospected in many places, but could find nothing. He led the way to a ravine near at hand that he had been at work in for quite a spell, he said, “but thar warn’t nuthin’ thar,” and we found that he had started to sink a number of holes. They were about four feet across upon the surface of the ground, but contracted as they approached the bed rock, coming to a point finally. He was asked if this was his method of working in his farming operations. “Wall, I reckon not, but thot it mought do here.”
Upon suggesting to him the necessity when sinking a hole of keeping its full size to the bed rock, especially in a ravine of that character, he concluded to act according to the advice, and sure enough he found that he had run across a very fair claim, from which he succeeded in getting gold enough to take him back again to his Eastern home.
Another man dug a hole in a shallow ravine, the ground being only about three feet in depth; he found that the bed rock was descending towards the center of the ravine. He dug another hole adjoining, and discovered that the bed rock inclined towards the first, the channel being between the two, and the place where gold would be found if there were any there. He did not, however make a connection between the two holes, as he ought to have done, as he was told by an old miner who passed that way; but left the wall about six inches in thickness between them. The consequence was that the aforesaid old miner who had given him the advice was passing the place a few days afterwards, and, finding that it had not been acted upon, commenced to investigate that six-inch wall, and discovered a very rich lead from which he took in a few days about $1,000.
It may be as well to explain here the general nature and character of the gold deposits found up to this time. These deposits consisted of such as were found among washed, or quartz gravel, and were confined to the hills or gravel claims; as well as in rivers, creeks and in such ravines where the gold was deposited by the action of water, there were what were termed benches also. These were formed by a breakdown from theoriginal river beds, and usually contained beds of gravel found upon the side of the hill below the level of the ancient beds, in slides which were formed by the sliding down of a portion of a hill. In all ravines, creeks and gulches also, the gold found was what is termed washed gold, showing evidence of having been at some time amongst the gravel of a running stream. Upon the various flats, the gold was of a similar character and found with quartz gravel, showing that these flats had at one time formed the bed of some creek or running stream. There were some peculiar gold deposits again that differed entirely in their nature, and had an altogether different origin. The former deposits alluded to as being in rivers, creeks, ravines, gulches, flats, slides and benches, were all supplied from the beds of ancient water courses, which had been in course of time broken up and thrown down, the gravel washed and scattered by the action of water to where it is now found. Among the red hills in the mining regions are found what are termed “red hill leads.” The gold in these is rough with sharp edges, and has never been in contact with gravel or running water. The leads are generally very narrow, in some cases being not more than an inch in width, and are found almost invariably in small, narrow and dry ravines; and upon the hills above and in the vicinity will be found quartz ledges which indicate their origin.
Among these leads, quartz in a partially decayed state will often be encountered with the appearance of having been at some time in contact with great heat. It is very evident therefore, that these streaks of gold, or leads, were deposited subsequent to the great convulsions which broke up the ancient river cañons, and still remain in their original position as when melted from the quartz ledges, which were broken up and distributed in this manner among the ravines. There are also found among the ravines large deposits of clay of various colors; but as a general thing, either blue, red or yellow. Very rich deposits are often discovered mixed with or beneath this clay.
The fact that rich gold deposits oftentimes existed beneath these beds of clay was discovered in the spring of ’50. Three or four young men, who had just arrived in the mines, prospected a piece of ground located at the junction of two ravines, in what is now known as Clay Ravine, just below the Pacific Quartz Mill, nearHangtown. They found, upon sinking a shaft about eight feet in depth, a bed of blue clay. It was dry and hard. Presuming, therefore, that it was bed rock, they abandoned the place. A young man residing near, named Williamson, and an Irishman, by the way, from curiosity concluded to sink down through this blue clay to see what was underneath. The miners who were at work in Oregon Ravine, a short distance below, heard him yelling out at the top of his voice: