The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-25


We are indebted to friend, at present residing
at San Francisco, in California, for copy of the
" Polynesian," published at Honolulu, the capital
of the Sandwich Islands, which contains some in
teresng items respecting the gold mines OF Califor-
MIA. We copy from it the following account OF
trip to the mines made by one Of the seekers after
the golden treasures
From San Francisco, our road lay through the
valley of the Pueblo to San Jose, distance Of
about 60 miles. A lovelier country eye of mine
never gaZed on--the level praires completely mat
ted with flowers of every hue, traversed here and
there with streams, together with the cattle on
the thousand hills" presented beautiful picture.
All that was wanting in my mind TO heighten the
effect, and, indeed, without which thought It IN
complete, was number of snug New England
farm-houses scattered along the valley, and em-
bOsomed in the trees near the road the village
church p should pierce the clouds with its gsten-
ing spire instead of which short time in the
road brought us in sight of the dingy tle-covered
mission of Saint Clara. The road leads from this
TO San joaquin. which we forded and passed on to
Suffers Fort, through country of great richness,
and apparently capable of supporting an immense
population. But not human being was to De
| seen rancheros and all had been deserted, and
| Americans Caifornians, and Indians had all gone
to the " gold diggings." On arriving at Suffers,
| however. we found at the fort young Manches-
| ter, The blacksmith, the turner, the carpenter,
| and indeed mechanics of every trade, are actively
engaged at their various callings, and all aiming at
| one grand object, viz: the means of washing the
gold at the mines which are some forty miles above
! the fort.
After leaving the fort we passed along the banks
! of the american Fork as this branch of the
| Sacramento is called, and soon commenced ascend
inc the hills which stretch out from the base OF the
| great Sierra Nevada. About noon we stopped to
| prepare cup of coffee and partake Of lunch
and while the fire was being kindled, one OF oul
party dipped up tin cup full Of the sand from the
bed of the little brook which ran gurgling past
1 washed it, and at the bottom found some four OF
/ five pieces of gold. This was our first attempt a.
gold digging. About sunset we arrived at the saw
mills OF Capt Suffer, where the gold was first dis
covered, while digging the mill-race We hat
ridden over, silver, platina and iron mines soIns
twenty-five or thirty miles, and over road, too
where city cab could travel with ease andper
feet safety, and through country blooming il
flowers and sparkling with springs.
Should relate to you all that have been toll
bours) ] am fearful you would think the save
fshy. AS near as ] can ascertain, there are abou
one thousand white men engaged in gold diggin
| thus far The term Sc white man - is used in con
tradiction to Mormon" These last named ia
natics, with the sly Brannan at their head, ar
quite numerous, having laid claim to large pre-
portion of the gold region, demanding 81 per cen
of the ore from all persons digging thereon lh
fact win undoubtedly lead to trouble and perhaI
boodshed Those of the white men who hay
last arrived from the coast have stated tneIr ut
termination not to pay any per centage ana sWea
, that whatever has already been paid snail
choked out " Of Brannan. This disinIeresie
t man. when last at San Francisco, arranged all q
! affairs and passed receipts with every one WI
! whom he had business stating, with a very lengt
f ened phiz, that perhaps he should not survive
rasnrn as the miners had threatened to shoot hiT
but that duty urged him onward.
Thus far the gold has been obtained in the mo
primitive manner by washing the earth in Tin par
. pfvooden bowls, Indian baskets, etc. The averal
. am told has been SIG per day for each man e
gagged, and the deeper the soil is dug the richer
, becomes One man obtained over $50 in o
+ yashing-say fifteen minutes. ! was told by
i old miner that not more than one-half of the gold
E secured in the present rude, careless way Of woi
+ ing. With proper machine and the use Of quiz
[. silver, double the amount could be taken from
IS same soil The largest amount taken by one P
o son in one day was 500 The pieces are Of an
4 .saordinasY size, the largest weighing hall