Richmond palladium., 1849-12-05

w iOoiia SACeteft 9I ass OH tnIS Ii'et
Corsan) and remained here till the 4ih;
ur mules all came over, but several Of q
lem were not fit 10 pack or ride. Moth I
g occurred worthy Of note till the 9th: {
Ding through Kanyan, the boys gather
j what they supposed to be wild currants
nd gave me 10 eat; we soon found out
hat we were poisoned----had but short
listance TO go 10 get to grass. ana stopped
We we're all sick but one-John and my
'elf were the worst | was deathly sick
Ill tina, afternoon and night-,hey gave US
obelia and we cast the berries up. SO that
hey did no, get lhro' our systems much;
we were however unable to travel the next
day. On the morning Of the 10Th. we
made another move. and, on the l4th,
reached the anxiously looked-for golden
''digyins.''
We looked a, them operating that eve
ming; next morning. an old man came to
our camp and told us we would find bet
ter diggings on Weaver creek. about SIX
miles from there-so we concluded 10 go
Went to mining that afternoon but without
success-next morning with the same re,
suit; when bro. Iraac became discouraged
threw down his pick and SAID he was
through and would not try any mofe-he
fixed up his things and started the next
morning for Suter's Fort 1t was hard to
part with friends NJ home. but worse mere.
iIc told me he would write TO me. but
have not received letter yet-said he did
not intend 10 90 home if he could make
SO day here. and understand they are
giving more than that IN San Francisco
for plasterers John T.. and Thomas X.
went TO Sacramento City. or Suffers Fort.
on the Cd, and Isaac had left the morning
they go: there. and. they understood. was
coinc sixty miles south. ! regret that they
did not get there before he left, 10 have
known what was his intention: but | think
YOU will! see him home next spring
On mo. 16th-I commenced this one
week ago. but there has been no oPportu-
nifty Of getting it TO the pos'oificc; young
man here from Philadelphia starts to-
morrow for San Francisco, 50 Will send
by him.
suppose you want to know something
about tic GoLp. and will tell you as near
the truth as know. The reports we had
in the States believe were true; but we
did not get the report OF the numbers that
were not successful. There are a great
manv here vino are not realizing more than
a livinp-we have done about ditto-have
been here one month last evening. and we
each have about + $50. We have made
from a-half to one and ounces per
day that we are mining; but so much OF
our time is taken up in what IS ietmed
"prospecting.' that is, in hunting up the
rich piacers Obtaining gold is very diff
Eerent from what expected: thought we
were to find il in small Jumps, that could
be picked out Of the ground or rocks;
whereas it is found in fine scales-some
much finer than others. The dry dig
gins" gold is much coarser and mines
much richer; but at this season OF the
wear the dirt has 10 be carried from one
to two miles to wa,er-we purpose going
there when the rainy season comes on.
believe the gold is over the whole country;
but many placers would not pay to work
them We remained on Weaver creek
ten DAYS, and proceeded thence to the
American, or South Fork. where we now
are. We find it very laborlous work
have to dig in among the rocks with a
pick and crow-it is similar to quarryInS
the stones out Of Whitewater hills. We
find the gold Just beneath the surface. to
tho dcpth Of three or four feet; after the
dirt is obtained it is taken to the bank Of
the river, and then run through machine
similar to a cradle, with riddle IN II: at
ter going thro' this machine, II Is taken
out in pans and washed clean.
- There are a number Of men here who
have made fortunes. One man. some
time since, struck rich vein. near by
where we now are at work. and made
500 day; but | have no idea that will
make a fortune hefe--for 1t IS only by IAck
tina, il is done, and never was lucky; but
I think by economy and industry, | can
realize more here than in the States IL the
same length Of time Boarding here is
Sol aweek, washing 8 a shirt. flour S25
per cwt.. smoked bacon 81 per h.. P. pork
Is cts. per lb. butter 81. so per ID. eggs
sle per dozen; vinegar IS and molasses
IS per gallon; liquor 50 cts. drink. po-
tatoes 81 a ID, saleratus 6 a lb.. and ev-
ery thing else in that proportion. In San
Francisco. tits said that provisions are as
low as in New ork City. We arc aoG;;.,
goo miles from there. and 80 miles from
Sacramento City. or Su;er's Fort We gel
flour there at So per cwt and P. pork al
% cts per b. | could write more. bu
think YOU will be tired of il: so Will tell
YOU all the particulars when get home
in the mean time will send you letters &c
apDrise YOU Of our wellfare:-none OF Us
have received letters from home yet. and
our anxiety is great TO hear from there
When YOU again write. direc, to "Sacra
mento City. California
Ienclose a sample of the gold dust; We
get abou, so cts. TO the peck OF sand a
this placer. tho in many placers II vii
not Weld half that. Ii is worth Si6 ar
ounce here--I suppose It ls worth nea
$50 per or. in the States
23rd-No opportunity Of sending yet
tho the steamer leaves the first OF the
mon,h-..it will be in time for the next mai
suppose. as D. B. Woods. Presby'erl
J an clergyman. starts tomorrow W.
have realized about the same this las
week as former weeks; but our ''diggin
l. xau: o,,t and some of the company hay.