The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-30 00:00:00

LATEST FROM THE FRAZER RIVER

GOLD MINES.

Fron't, tile Correspondent of the San Francisco Bulletin

of Tune 21.)

PORT TOWNSEND, W. T., JIINII 13, 1858:

On the 27th May, the Governor, accompanied
by Mr. Dallas, one of the four Directors of the
Hudson's Bay Company, and Captain Prevost of
the Satellite, left the Fort for a trip up the river
to Fort Yale. The Governor and party were
received by the miners on the river with salutes
and cheers, and at Hill's Bar dined iu one of the
log cabins of the boatmen's party, and, as I hear,
the affair, if not as recheiche as if given at the
" St. Nicholas," passed off as pleasantly as could
be desired: The Governor was highly delighted
with the warm reception he met with, and it
certainly evinces the feeling existing towards him
from the miners, who, so far, have experienced
in many instances his kindness towards them.
lie appointed custom-house officers at Fort Yale,
and magistrates on the main bars—the latter from
amongst the miners themselves.
Some forty canoes arrived while I was at Fort
Langley, averaging six persons in each. But few
of them had obtained clearances at Victoria, and,
on the Governor's return from up the river, he
gave notice that ho should hereafter stop all
canoes from ascending or entering the river, as
the time stated in his Proclamation had expired
already some time. He, however, gave clearances
to all then there—some one hundred in number.
The next day he left, in the Company's steamer
Otter, for Victoria. Since then no canoes have
been allowed to pass Fort Langley, not having
cleared at Victoria ; and since my arrival here I
learn that the Satellite, now in Esquimault Har-
bour, will return to her anchor off the month of
the river, and provelit any vessels whatever from
entering the river, without having cleared at Vic-
toria. The canoes are all numbered and regis-
tered, and any found not so will be seized and
forfeited. The Satellite's launch will be stationed
at the outlet of the Lake, on the river, twenty
miles above Fort Langley, where the trail from
Bellingham Bay reaches the river, and will
effectually prevent any from " dodging the ques-
tion" by that way.
Three canoes, with about 15 men, came down
to Fort Langley whilst I was there, from some 30
miles above the Forks. They were without pro-
visions, and came down from that cause. I was
acquainted with several of them, and they showed
me their dust. They had averaged from an ounce
to three ounces, all the time they had been on
the diggings—some five weeks. The river had
risen over seven feet above the "Canons" and
was then still rising. There was no such thing
as going up the river again until the water fell.
They were bound for the Sound.
Mr. Furness came down from Hill's Bar, with
over 750 dols. in gold dust, the product of four
weeks' work—besides having sold his claim at a
good price. He told me the river had risen over
two feet there, and the miners were working in
the bank, making good wages even there.
I left Fort Langley on June 5, in a canoe, and
at night camped about 20 miles up the river.
There were four other canoes in company with us.
After supper and a smoke, watches being se'sled,
dsc., we got under the blankets and were talking,
when one of the party exclaimed that he heard
the sound of paddle-wheels. In an instant we
were on our feet and listening. There was no
doubting it. As the steamer neared us with her
lights shining out in the darkness, our camp was
in about as excited a state as could be imagined.
Along she came until abreast our fire, when the
anchor dropped and in two minutes I was aboard
the Surprise, whilst the party ashore were saluting
her with guns and revolvers. It certainly was an
event calculated to excite us, as we had not the
slightest idea of there being any such steamer in
the river. I left the canoe, as you can imagine,
and took passage on her, being obliged to take out
a mining license on going aboard, the boat not
being allowed to take any miner up the river
without it.
She had left Fort Langley, at 7 p.m., and bad
Ll.ltYkit, 4,1 - 1-- -- -2
about six knots against her. The next morning,
the Gth, at 32 a.m., she went ahead, and at 2

p.m. arrived at Fort "lope. This was an average
of 4s knots. She could have gone at greater
speed, but it was not desired. Mr. tale at Fort
Langley had sent an Indian aboard, who piloted
her up and down, and who evidently knew every
eddy and shoal on the river.
The Indians on the river evidently did not know
what to make of the "Surprise ;" and as to the
different camps and canoes we passed of white men,
they all but stood on their heads for astonishment
at seeing her going along in the centre of the cur-
rent, showing what those infernal Yankees could do
when necessary. She worked well, steered like a
pilot boat, and though caught in some tight place,
went ahead through all. At one or two places,
they " opened her out," and away she went around
a sharp
.bend, or through a narrow pass, with a
ten-knot current against her, as' if she was aware
what was expected of her, and the renown that
would attach to her if she went through. Having
gone up as light as possible—not knowing how
shoal it might be in some places—there was but
little coal left, and it was concluded not to go up
to Fort Yale then. She remained at Fort Hope
two days.
Thera were some 120 men camped at Fort Hope,
bound up. The same afternoon about sundown, a
difficulty occurred two and a half miles below Fort
Hope, between a party of white men who were in
two canoes, and the Indians—in which an Indian
chief of the Harrison river tribe was shot with a
revolver. The Indians in return shot one of the
party, who fell overboard ; but whose body was
found an hour or two afterwards on the beach,
stripped and already mutilated by crows. It
appears that the boats stopped at a bar where a
number of Indians were mining, and in getting out
one of the party stepped on the gunwale of a canoe,
splitting it. The Indian to whom it belonged de-
manded payment for it, and took a shovel out of
the white's canoe, as being more desirable than the
money. Thereupon he was struck with a paddle.
He returned the blow with the shovel across the
face of the man who struck him, who instantly
shot him through the body. As soon as he fell,
the whites pushed off. The Indians fired into
them and shot a man, as I have above stated—but
who was not the one that struck the Indian or had
anything to do with it. The Indians down the
river, as soon as they received the news of this
affair, stopped all canoes from ascending above
Harrison river, but harmed none, I v ent on up
to Fort Yaie in the Moaning, and found a great
commotion. The Indians were running down
the river in great numbers ; but through Mr.
Alan', the Hudson's Bay Company's agent at Fort
Yele, they were partly pP.cified, and when I came
down the men were again at work on the bars.
The water was high, but still almost all were at
work. At Fort Yale they were making from 5
doh. to 6 dols., right in the bank. At Hill's Bar
all reported gcoi dirt. Mr. Joseikh Morgan, whose
claim was on the lower end of the bar, was averag-
ing from 8 dols. to 10 dols. per day. The claims
above his were paying better—up to 30 dols.
Mr. Hill came down with me, on his way to
Olympia. He had been four weeks at work on the
bar, which is known by his name; and had aver-
! aged 50 dole. per day for that time. He intends
returning as soon as the water commences filling,
trt;')ing down meanwhile to settle up some business
affairs.

A party of five who were mining some 35 miles
above the Forks, and who came down in the Sur-
prise for provisions, averaged from 20 (I°l3. t ) 2;
doh. 1)t l'
tiny.being impossible to get anyibing
up the river until the water falls, they Lad to come
down.

There are no men now working on Thompson
river, the Indians there not permitting any one to
go up. The gold on Thompson river is known t)
be coarser than that on Frazer above the Forks.
On the 9th June, at 4.30 a.m., the Surprise left
Fort Hope, and swung out into the current. We
flew past the trees, rocks and points at raihoad
speed ; but all went right, though the thought, I
suppose, intruded on all on board, " What a plea-
sant ending it would be for her bow to come in Q9n.