Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-22
Late News from California.


Robert Anterior, Esq. a merchant of San
Francisco, where he has resided two years, and
ten years on the Pacific, arrived at New York
on Sunday from San Francisco, which place he
left on the 10th OF December. He has conmu
ncated to the New York Tribune some state
ments relative to the gold regions, which are not
quite so 1aterlng as some previous accounts
He says:-
The business of mining has nothing that Is
agreeable, except the gold that it sometimes
not always--produces. In short, it requires the
hardest kind of labor, such as only strong con
slutions and muscles indurated by tot! can I'M
deriake with prospect of success Young men
deicatelv brought up, and more familiar with
the drawing room, counting room, or lawyers
office, than with the plough or sledge hammer,
had better keep their imaginations free from all
visions OF pidcers, rivers of gold dust, and big
Jumps of the real stuff to be had for the picking
up. Gold is not to be procured in that way, even
in California, but yields itself only 10 strength
and skill. Even these are not always successful
Mr.. Ather,on knew one company which went out
from San Francisco with all The proper tools,
machines and accessories, and whose members,
after digging some time with better zeal than
fortune, came back each with a flea in his ear,
and not jot of gold in his pocket.
However, man Of the right sort in respect
to health strength and skill, may, with fair luck
and hard and steady work, obtain three ounces
of gold on an average per day 1t is not often
found in Jumps. Still Mr.. A,herton has seen
one mass weighing seven pounds and a friend
of his had seen another weighing twenty-one
pounds. The rumber of persons who had been
TO the mines when he left is estimated at 900
but there had not been more ihan $500 digging
at any one time. One man of his Acquaintance,
a blacksmith, had got ten thousand dollars worth
in three weeks. A good many Indians bad been
employed as !aborers by the miners, but they are
poor assistants. They do not work steadily, and
never eau be kept at it above month at u time,
when they leave for Sln Francisco to spend their
earnings in dissipation.
Mr.. Atherton came to New York 10 purchase
goods, but ending that immense quantities have
already gone forward, will probably not make
very extensive purchases
Merchandise of every kind sold tor hith phi.
ces. "A pair OF boots cost twenty dollars, of
which, however there was but a snail stock on
hand when Mr.. Atheron left common blanket
coats are worth forty dollars and fine irock coats
fetched hundred dollars readily. Mr. Ather-
ton himself sold coat which he had worn at
intervals, for two years, at eighty dollars. Ii.
quors sold at twenty-five cents per glass and
champagne was worth four dollars 9er bottle in
San Francisco Real estate, too, was selling at
enormous prices-lots in San Francisco contain.
ing % yards square, selling for ten thousand
dollars. Provisions were very plenty ut San
Francisco and the diggings. Flour poured in N
large quantities, from Chill and Oregon, aud came
down IN price, from twenty five dollars per bar
rel to sixteen at San Francisco. The probabll-
ty Is, that that article has fallen still further
perhaps to ten dollars per barrel. Board in San
Francisco was $40 per week.
About two thousand cmlgrants had arrived in
California from Oregon, the Sandwich lslands,
and different parts of South America aud Mcxl.
Co. In fact the gold fever RACES as ferccly in
Mexico as il does in the United States and there
rs well as here, expeditions are being formed to
proceed to Ell Dorado Mr.. Anterior says that
i, is no, advisable for large armed paltes to take
the overland route through Mexico, as the au-
thorties will be likely to interfere with them
and prevent their passage. Small companies
can go with impunity and with security.
Mr.. Anterior brought files of San Francisco
papers, from which the following Intelligence is
derived. The San Francisco Star of the 18th
OF November says:
"One man, we are informed by sufficient au.
thority, aboring in the mines, took, single-hand.
ed, with common pick and spade, IN the space of
twenty days, nearly thirty pounds of gold, from
a piece Of ground not measuring four feet
square"
Another murder has been committed at the
Placers, by the Indians, and several other dis.
turOhnccs nave occurred, OF which the CalIlor.
MIA Star of Nov. Ia, has full PARTICULARS.
Similar outrageS, It Is stated, may be constant
y apprehended. The Indian perpetrators of
this deed are of a numerous tribe, highly inccn.
sed against tho whites, particularly against the
emigranls late from Oregon, having received in
jurle5 from the latter not long since, it is sud-
The Star of Nov. lS says" The vicinity Of
Fort Sacramento affords the next field for re-
viewal of the passions displayed, rather 10 the
de,riment of all attempts to maintain good order
when unosssted by proper authority.
Two men qnarreed IL one of those bounte
Gus dispensers Of blessings, muliclousy termed
'grog shops and the alteration resulted in a
dangerous wound ret eivcd by one inflicted by a
knife in tho hands of the other. Not long after.
n pistol was fired in the same den, and the bal.
intended for the head OF a coortd persoa, enter.
ed the shoulder Of young man standing near,
severely, though not dangerously woundln,, him.
Both OF the injured men were under sklllful
medical treatment, doing well.
A party of men passed our office Yesterday,
but that moment arrived from the mines. Die.
ging, where continued, holds good, though tie
customary labor appears to have been pretty
generally suspended, and those purposing stay
upon The ground during the winter, are actively
employed in providing the camp with provis ions
and other necessarics for the approaching season.
Travelling, during the rains that will shortly set
in upon the mountains, will be quite impractical.
bic. Some heavy work has been done this sea
son; quite as heavy will be accomplished next
spring. Should the winter be as severe as that
OF last year. little advantage can be gained by
remaining in the mines, save choice OF grounl
Tor spring operations. The tide setting from this
point to the placer has reached its height, and is
beginning to ebb, slowly though steadily Eve.
ny launch brings its number OF the many that ef
not long since, strong In the determination 10
stand the tug of an Indictment season.
The cool air and water of the North has IN
some measure tranquilized their FESTIVE and f,
verish minds, aud persuaded for the time beino
the sordld spirit from its exciting pursuit. They
Will probably find no cause TO regret having Weld.
ed 10 the calm teachings OF "sober second
thought"
We published an account few weeks since
received by the way Of tho Sandwich Islands
that Mr.. John r. Won Pfster, an American zen.
lleman, recently from the Sandwich Islands was
brutality murdered at Suffers mill, by man ma.
med Raymond, in October last. The murderer
was arrested and confined in Suffers Fort. A,
the last accounts it was not known what wonld
be .done with the murderer, rs they are without
law in California.
The California Star announces the arrival n,
San francisco of Col. Mason, Governor of Col.
itornia, on the 18th of November 1t also states
that one man unaided with pickaxe and spade.
gathered about thirty pounds of gold, in twenty
days, from piece of ground not quite fuur ies,