Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-21

AN INTERESTING LETrER.-Capt. oprlng
of ship Huntress from San Francisco, writes,
September 2lst, TO the owners in New York,
as follows -
"On my arrival at San Francisco found
such state of things axisiiDg rs is no, easy to
describe. The town (if such il may be caled)
found entirely deserted. There were no, ten
men, and about twice the number of women,
left In the place. This was in consequence of
the discovery Of extensive gold mines on the
bank Of the river Sacramento, about twenty
four hours run up the river where an now
living Almost before ] had heard o the news
myself, my crew had go, hold Of it., and six of
them were off.
Nominally, the price Of day labor is So a
80, but no men are to be obtained other than
Indians or miserable worn out men who can
not go, or else nave been to the mines and re-
turned sick. Fifty dollars per month are paid
for men 10 60 very short distances about on the
coast, with the bargain (if the vessel has any
yards) that they shall not go aloft. They are
for the most part dsbanded soldiers, and more
miserable set cannot be found elsewhere, in
hospital. M men can be obtained at any
price, to work out the usual hours. The more
they are paid the less willing are they to
work Twenty-Five cents glass for grog,
and dollar per meal, are the prices paid here.
Gold being plenty, every description Of goods
is consequently high $50 $50 per pair for
blankets such as cost 81 in New York $5 a
pair for shoes and every thing pro rata.
The charter Of small craft formerly a
long boa) decked, is $50 per day. The
launch of the Peacock, lost on the bar Of the
Columbia some years since, arrived here yes
terday, and was sold before night for S2,250
in good clean dust, 90 carats fine, at SIG per
ounce. Another which came in from the riv.
or the same day, about year old, of l3 tons,
was sold for $4,000. They ask me So, so per
dozen for washing II could only supply the
place of my clothes by the purchase OF new a,
New York prices. would throw overheard
instead Of having them washed.
| left the ship Isaac Walton, only two years
old, at Monterey, without man on board
No ono of our men-of-waI dare anchor in any
Of these waters, as they would lose their crews
if they did So At present, common property
is safe enough, lying anywhere unmatched il
is too small game to be taken notice Of
There is now some danger in returning
from the mines, as there are those who prefer
to take the gold already washed TO their hands,
than dig and wash for themselves. The mos,
extravagant stories are told of the quantities of
gold found, and the ease with which ii is OBJ
tanned. l have myself seen pieces weighing
one, two and three ounces, ,and in one instance,
a lump perfectly pure, weighing more than
ten ounces avoirdupois. 1t is said (my inform
ant is Governor Mason, who has been on the
ground,) that parties are digging many miles
apart with equal success, and that for hun
dreds and hundreds of miles all The precious
metals are found in great abundance. When
ask him how much might ibeliere of the
many (apparently) exaggerated stories that
are told respecting the mines, he replied, you
may credit almost anything you hear.
Gold is sold here now at $40 the ounce
generally it has been selling at So. Indeed
have seen great deal purchased from thu
common people at the latter price. Can yo,
wonder that the common sailor overlooks hi
obligations under such circumstances
am told from good authority that the Gus
tom of those who sell liquor at the mines b,
the glass, is, TO take from the little bag whcl
the customer holds open, pinch (as of snuff
Tor one glass of bad watered whiskey.
tried the experiment, and found could easil
take up 81 worth Of dust, at the rate OF s IL
ounce Those who have large thumb, an,
understand the business, can easily take up 81!
or eight dollars In the same way.
A day or two since, gentleman will
whom | am very well acquainted from th'
trunk from the beach to his lodgings and see
ing an idle half clad negro, apparently run
away from some vessel he asked him II h
would like Job. Tne fellow cas-, on him al
indignant glance, and turned away from hin
without deigning reply but after he hat
gone about FIVE steps, he turned round and ap
preached US, drawing from his bosom smal
bag Of dust, and said, "do you think III lug
trunks when Ill get that much in one day =
lie had more than 500.
Since | commenced this, have seen an in
telligent gentleman from Hartford Conn, VIII,
has just come down from the mines. lie ha
been absent from this place two months, anc
although a man of delicate constitution, (ht
came out for his healthy the net proceeds o
his expedition amounted to $4,000. III,
gives me vivid picture of the existing stat,
of affairs up in the gold region. lie thinks
more than 1900, ,0CO of dollars worth of golt
has been collected there this season, and tha
it may be safely said, the mines arc nexhaust
ible.
As you would suppose, vice Of every kind
and in the most horrible forms, prevails here
The runaway sailors work while and coec
quantity of dust, which they spend with tn,
came recklessness that they do SO much silve
at home. They pay or dollars bottle fo
? liquor, have "spree" from which they com,
out destitute, and then begin work again
A great deal Of sickness prevails, and as on,
after another dies, he is thrown aside with tn,
utmost indifference, without even a covering
Of earth. There has not, as far as can learn
been any quarrelng among the diggers.-
There is so much room for all to operate, tha
there seems no necessity for any disturbance
What will be the result of all this, canno
have any idea | shall improve every oppor
tunty to inform you how | am getting along
have seen the last man on board an Engsl
brig lying near me, hoist his chest OIL, alone
I'd scul 70 the shore, abandoning the craft I,
ter fate-the Captain and Mates end all th'
others having gone bC'o,e.
ILP We find in that excellent periodical
Chambers Journal an interesting account Of
.ity which exists in the north Of Afghanston
apparently far more ancient, and Of greater ca
tent than the famous city Of Petra, in Arabia
which has been the theme Of admiration an,