The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-19
INTERES TING INTELLIGENCE
PROM THE
CALIFORNIA PLAcHRS.
Advirts from Merchant and a Gold Digger
&c. &c.

60. 60. sc.
ACCOUNT PROM GOLD DIGGER.
CARSON CREEK, IN THE PLACERs,
May ~, 1872
arrival at San Framcisco- The Route TO the Pacers
Operations in the Mimes-Amo~nt of Gold OBJ
tanned by each Indip,dual- Murder, and TRAIT y
Ivy-Ntw Mines Discovered, &c, &c.
am happy to have the pleasure of letting you
know my whereabouts. Our voyage from New
York was more like pleasure excursion than the
reality OF men em'grating to new country, for
the "root Of all evil" viz. gold. Some amongst
us did not relish either the discomfort they were
forced to submit to, or the delay incurred by the
various modes Of travelling but the younger and
more energetic, regarding every trial with an air of
confidence, consequently suffered but little from
the many Inconvenience natural to such an expe.
diuon. February %, about 10 o'clock, we made
the port of San Francisco, amid the loud huzzas of
the citizens, and sautes from the man-of-war
OHIO, &c. in the evening an Illumination came
of in honor of the arrival of the first steamer up
this portion of the Pacific coast. Next day we left
the ship, and encamped some distance below
town, on hill side. The night proved stormy I;
In the morning the ground was covered with snow,
but our canvass tent proved comfortable to us
as the more durable building at home.
From San francisco there are two different routes
Of proceeding to the mines; the one by way of the
Sacramento river, The other up the San Joaquin TO
Stockton, your ultimate destination being the
"Steinis h Loue River" situated some two hun
dred miles from San Francisco. The latter we
took, after reaching Stockton, some one hundred
and sixty miles from the Bay. Ii is small place,
consisting OF two frame houses, and some half de-
zen tents From thus point II IS sixty miles 10 the
nearest "placers;" The modes Of conveyance
are by wagons and horses freight Is extremely
Uh or N emf
pound. For this reason many walk, with nothing
but sufiiciency tor their present use, did and
the others forming the company to which, belong
In travelling along, we spread our tents upon the
ground, and slept in the open air, each man having
his firearms at moments command, in case OF
need; but this appeared almost foOllshness, for we
met with nothing more formidable than common
hare.
Alter three days walking, we reached this point,
from which l now write you, VIZ: "Carson's
Creek"-named after the person who discovered it
last fall We Immediately commenced operations,
from which time we have averaged nine ounces
apiece, per week; others have done better than
the, while the mass have done much worse. The
quality of this gold is supposed to be pure any
10 pieces of three pounds weight. containing no
dross W hatever. The methods Of obtaining gold
are by the common tin pan or bowl, and by ma
chimes, as much resembling the principles Of a
hopper, through which the dirt passes, is a common
box, with tin bottom perforated with holes. In
working, the quick motion given to the machine,
together with the water which is constantly poured
on, separates the dirt from the gold, both falling to
the bottom OF the machine, where the dirt washes
away, and the gold is restrained by wooden cleats
at the bottom, from an inch to an inch and half
high.
Il requires from three to six in company, and
no more. The large companies, which hear are
now forming in the United States, will not remain
united after reaching the mines, as We have quite
number of instances already, proving the fact.
hill ot,hia han h. 49,
word upon the "best man for the mines" Ii is
the hard working, industrious, and persevering
man, who is best calculated to make money in the
placers OF California. Too many have come with
upon the mountains. This class are already sick
and tired Of the phantom. Many have returned to
San Francisco; some to their homes, where, can
assure you, they are much better off No doubt Of
there being an abundance of the precious metal in
this country but II requires, at the time hard
and constant labor 10 obtain it. Here there can be
no idle time lavished, for a man must work if he
would live. Provisions are very tigh-for in
stance flour sells at 20 cents per pound pork, 81 Is
per pound jerk beef 81 per pound; Sugar, 10 cts;
coffee, as cents; and tea, So This Is the ordinary
fare Of the miner. Fresh beet is sometimes tasted,
but seldom; worth 10 cents per pound, when for
sale. All other things are very high-such as
clothing, &c: Nothing more than the coarsest
woollen clothing Is requlred; and he is the wise
man who brings but lille Of that.
Rather a melancholy circumstance happened
here on the 18th Of April, by which Lieut. X. M
Morrison, OF the New York regiment Of volunteers
lost his life. ID am not mistaken, his father is
an eminent mt mber Of the New York bar. The
circumstances were these Lieut.. Morrison had
been visiting some of his friends that day, and
towards evening met a German by the name of
Friends, when some words passed between them,
but they were separated. Each was on horseback,
and armed-Lleut Morrison with bowie knife,
and Friends with a revolver. Some more words
passed, when Friends passed to go away, and Nor
rison's horse turned to follow the other, when
Friends, supposlng the other TO be following him,
TUNED and fired, the ball entering Morrson's right
groin, which proved fatal in about six hours. The
other was immediately arrested. Next day, Lieut.
Mouison's body Was sewed in blanket, and buried
under a large oak tree. We Immediately. elected
(n less than an hour Judge, assistant Judge, and
fberih. The following day, Friends was tried,
under neighborIDg tree, and in sight of the grave
OF his victim. The jury returned verdict that
Friends leave The mines within thirty days; If not,
he forfeiis his life.
Another instance man by the name Of Ryan
cut his own throat with razor, three miles from
this place also, man by the name OF Tom Carnes
lost hs lite while bathing among the tuare' OF the
San Joaquin.
| have been south as far as the Marsade River,
SEINE eighty miles from this point There IL gold
IN abundance there, but difficult to procure &C
count Of water.
TIE Indians are perfectly wild, and have but
little knowledge Of the value Of gold.
Auih,nncstS accounts Of gold being found on
Kings River, some fifty miles south Of the Mar
SADIE, have been received. THIS is some two hun
bred and more miles from the original discovery,
making tremendous belt OF the purest and richest
mineral in the world.
Another instance state, more from the fact that
il is well deserved. than that II will yield you plea
sure -Msny Of the old miners are former resi-
dents OF your city. On Cur ARRIVAL, they clustered
around US like bees, every one inquiring for the
He'0S. such was the demand, that five dollars
was offered for one, without success. Believe me,
will ever We acceptable TO all who have ever read
Its interesting columns at all, and more especially
20 your humble correspondent.
Your obedient servant, JAMES GRANT.
ACCOUNT PROM MERCHANT.
BARK WBIToS, SACRAMENTO CRY,
UJ0 miles from San Francisco)
June %, 1919
Tiir Of a Merchant 10 the Gold fredericksburg
Doun at Sacramento CITY 7Sade-!Saics of 1fcr-
ohandise-7hs Prices Pad IN Ne,c York aud
Obfaiued m California 7rods on The Rip,r-