The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-01
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
FRIDAY MoRNING, JUNE /, 1919.
FOUR DAYsLATER FROM SAN FRAN
CISCO.

sSilpkr and IluichSHftF MINES l'tdHOHuS ana
Emeralds tOttHd-Lieuttnant Bedis's Journey
Nine men Lost on the Ola.
The steamship SOmheraer, which arrived
at this port yesterday from Charleston,
brought as passengers Lieut.. Edward Beale,
U, s. n, and William Parrott, Esq, Y S.
Consul at Mazatlan, the former Of whom
reached Panama in the steamship Oregon on
the 9th inst and brings us news from San
Francisco to the 18th Of April, four days
later than previous advices
We had the pleasure Of conversing with
Lieutenant Beale yesterday, and obtaining
from him number of new and interesting
particulars from the Gold Region He
states that the steamship Oregon reached
dately on her arrival, the crew was put on
board the U. S. ship Ohio, and there kept
in irons until the evening before she started
on the return voyage. The Oregon reach
ed San Bias on the 22d Of April, remained
there five days (coalng) left 9th, and ar
rived at Panama on the 9th May, at 9 P .
M after touching at Acapulco for water.
As Lieutenant Beale was leaving Panama
on the morning of the 9Th, the California,
which sailed from San Francisco, FIVE days
after the Oregon, was coming into the har-
Dor. The running time OF the Oregon to
Panama was IA days, three of which were
made with sails. The amount of gold
brought by the two vessels is not known
with certainty, but is estimated at $500, 900
about $4,000 Of which is consigned to
Mr. Parrot. A much greater amount
would have been forwarded but for the fact
that bills of lading were not given farther
than Panama, where the gold is obliged to
. be carried across the lthmus at some risk,
and new bill obtained at Chagres. The
number Of passengers on board the Oregon
was small. Among them was Rev. Wal
ter Cotton, Ex-Alcalde of Monterey, whom
Lieutenant B. left at Chagres The crews
on the steamers are paid 500 per month
each, and the cooks $3.50. The Oregon
on her arrival furnished the California with
an engineer, probably the same one whom
correspondent Of The Tribune, writing
from San Bias, mentions as having been ia
ken on board at that place and furnished
with a free passage.
The Y 5. transport ships, lo,ca, Gene
raj Taylor and Rome, have arrived at Mon
terey, with troops, Gen Riley, who went
out in charge OF them was at that place
when Lieutenant B. left There were
about 70 vessels lying in the Bay of San
Francisco, and others were arriving every
day, With very few exceptions their crews
desert immedately on their arrival, and they
are unable to leave The town is crowded
with people, aud about two thirds Of the in
habitants are living in camp. The houses
are all filled TO overlooking, and the small
est rooms rent for 50 a-day; good board at
the hotels is $40 a-day. Gen, Smith is
living for the present in the old house Of the
Hudson's Bay Company One Of the vol
nnteers Of Stevenson's Regiment, who made
enough at the diggings to purchase frame
house in the place, offered to rent il to him,
but cooliy demanded $4,000 year, Civ
ing Gen. S. one day to decide on the offer.
The snow was melting very fast, and the
pncers were almost entirely clear Compa-
MES were leaving San Francisco daily for
the diggings and miners constantly arriving
with the products Of their labors the fare
to Suffers Fort varied from S2j to 500,
according to the style OF conveyance There
was a great deal Of drinking and gambling
going on in San Francisco. Many Of the
gamblers who followed the American army
through Mexico have gone on to California,
and by means Of monte, roulette, and faro
tables, fleece the natives very extensively
Lieutenant Beale speaks iii high terms Of
the order maintained by the population on
the placers as well as in the more settled
parts. There are few disturbances Of any
kind, and owing to the strict administration
of kind Of extempore justice, crimes have
become less frequent. The only punishment
is hanging. When person commits any
theft or outage, he is brought before a inry
Of twelve men selected for the purpose, who
60 through the regular forms Of trial, and Il
convicted he is at once executed Three
men have lately been hung at the diggings
one OF them for stealing a horse
The last heard from Col Fremont, he
was on the CHA with his company The
report Of his arrival in California, Tor which
some Of the papers give credit to Lienten-
ant Beals, IS incorrect Mrs, Fremont
vas at Panama, and would leave IN the first
steamer for San Francisco
Lieutenant Beale leit st. Louis on his
way out, on the lst Of November last He
was the bearer Of dispatches, and had
body Of 25 men under his command Az
ter reaching Santa Fe he took the ella
route, and on this part Of the Journey I'M
derwent the most terrible sOferings. The
party was visited BY the winter storm among
the mountains, which proved fatal to SO ma
nv Of Fremont's men, and nine soldiers per-
ished with cold and exposure They were
several times attacked by Indians and some
Of the troops were severely wounded
Lieutenant Beale's appearance bears tokens
Of the hardshps he has undergone,
He brings with him lump of pure gold,
weighing eighty ounces, and consequently
worth Yearly 81 500 1t was found at the
dry diggings by man named Weaver.
We had sight Of this precious piece yes
terday. 1t was exhibited for short time