The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-11-17
Ff0m the ". Tribune.
Terrible Sufferings OF Gold seekers
Death from Exhaustion.

Death from Exhaustion.
THE following letter, written by a gentleman
long resident of this City, but in California,
may be relied upon as being truthful statement
as the writer is we'll and favorably known to large
portion of our most thorough-going business men.
Wood Mines, about 800 miles from
San Francisco, July 80, ls49.
am at last in the gold region and will attempt a
description of my tedious journey here. We ar
rived at Stockton after fair passage, renamed
there few daysan started for this place In COM
ing here we eros sed an arid plain of 30 miles-no
vegetation, no shade, no water, except what we
carried with us, and of the hottest days / ever
experienced; after taking on each of our backs
so or 20 pounds, and filing little keg with water,
some / 5 of us started in company. The first day
we made about miles, and then laid down to rest
our exhausted frames on the ground, with but a
single blanket each for covering. The second day
we travelled but 5 miles in the morning and or
in the evening. This day man by the name of
Hunt, from Massachusetts, gave out and could 90
no further. As he out of water, l let him
wet his lips with mine, and some others did the
same; but all we could do to revive him proved
unavailing. He was determined to die, and we,
to save our own lives, were obliged to leave him,
as our water was getting very short We had
some II or I5 miles to travel before we came TO a
river. I never shall forget the scene of leaving
that poor to die on the barren plain; but that
was nothing to what followed. The next day our
water was reduced to few drops AT IL O'Clock
the sun was pouring down with unheard-of in
tensitv, and not breath of air stirring when an
other very fine young man from New Hamshire,
whom / had formed quite an attachment for on our
short acquaintance, and when we where within
or miles of the river, as near as we could Judge
wilted right down under the sun and could 90 no
further All was done that could be done to arouse
him to action, but without effect; gave the
poor fellow few drops of water and such a
scene as presented ITSELF when we were about to
leave him. | hope never to witness again. He
drew me down to the ground and kissing me, said
Oh! God can you leave me here to die alone? ?"
told him to keep up courage, that we would go
to the river where there tent and that we
would rig up something to carry him on, and would
be back as soon as possible; so we bid him good by
and started. Before we reached the river, | felt
myself as if Unjust surely fall but knew if gave
up at all, it was to die, and when such thoughts
as halting came over me- | would arouse as from
sound sleep. I never experienced such feelings
1 think death from heat or exhaustion would be
easy one. Before we got to the river two
more dropped but the survivors could do nothing
for them but were obliged to press forward toward
the river, in order to save their own lives. We at
last come in sight of the long-looked for the riv-
will not attempt to portray 'S p
After replenishing a little, we procured three
mules and went back for friends. was in hopes
to find the one who dropped first alive, but when
[ arrived and jumped off the mule, found a hand
kerchief over his face raised it; he lay though
asleep with his hands crossed his breast; but he
was quite dead. We put him on a mule, and one
of the other two was SO weak that he could not
sit alone, and so we trudged back to the tent,
found an Indian blanket, sewed him up in it and
buried him. staid at the river two days to re-
cruitthen came to this place, There is one other
route to cross this plain, where there Is water in
one place, but we got the wrong road -
We arrived here on Thursday evening, and look
ing about among the miners, and making all the
inquiries could found this place had been pretty
well used up; it has been very rich, but now every
crevice is dug to the bottom. In the evening,
fell in with a Mr.. Van Benschoter, from n York
who has store here. He said that his partner
had been out two or three days prospecting, and if
he bro't favorable news he would let me know; so
while waiting for him concluded, with two, from
county, to 60 to work. went down
into the creek, picked out place, off coat and went
to work. When we had dug about three feet down
a man came along offered ounce for our
place We took it and looked for another. We
worked until last night, then weighed earnings
and found we had $5,04 after working a day ane
half Digging does not pay here. There ard
about 1000 Chiiians and Mexicans in this place,
who are satisfied with from three to five dollors
day, and spend it all gambling at night. They are
the only men making money here. Tomorrow
we go to another digging, where this Mr.. Bens-
choter goes with his store
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