Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-06-30

has just returned from San Francisco, Califor-
MIA, whittier he went some months since on
commercial business, from which We make the
following interesting extracts:
The number OF forei@pers, chiefly from Peru.
Chill, Mexico, and the Sandwich Islands, who
are pouring into California, is almost Incredible
Seventy or eighty vessels were lying IN the haF-
Dor, completely deserted by officers we'll az
. by men, lett with one 10 take care Of them
and rapidly falling to pieces al the wharyes.
The Peruvian government has sent portion Of
its navy to san Francisco 10 bring away the
Peruvian merchant vessels lyIng there, and 1t IS
only by similar action the part of our gov
eruiaent that any portion Of the American yes-
sGls now there can be saved from entire destruc-
ton From 5000 to 1000 foreigners, chiefly
from South American ports, are supposed TO
arrive in California every week The procla-
nation Of Gen. Persifer +. Smith, forbidding
them to come, excites no attention whatever,
and is not regarded in the least.
On the 18th Of April, news reached San Fran
/ cisco that an attack had been made upon the
Americans at the mines by the Indians. Il
Z proved that such an attack had been made, and
that frs Americans had been killed. II Is sup
! posed that the Indians were set on by the Mex
( leans. The miners Immediately formed strong
/ party and started in pursuit. They soon over
took the Indians, attacked them, aud BILLED If
/ teen the spot They also took tUentt-fy pTi-
.
/ cording to the usual forms of proceeding, steps
were Immediately taken to give them an er tenl-
/ pore trial, which would Of course, have been
! followed by summary punishment. The In
/ dian prisoners made an attempt to escape the
! first night after they were brought in. They
were detected however, and twenty four Of
/ them were killed on the spot.
Judge Lynch is the only magistrate known
! throughout the mining region, and his de-
crees pronounced with all proper judicial
forms, and executed with relentless severity.
( There is no law, of course, for the district eX-
I cept such as is created by the emergency Of the
case.
I As to the extent and wealth of the gold re-
gIons, Captain Loring says the truth cannot well
/ be exaggerated the only deceptions practised
are in regard TO the ease with which 1t is often
represented that it may be gathered He saw
several old miners who had crossed the Rocky
! Mountains and settled in Oregon but on the
first report Of the discoveries of gold they had
left that country and gone to California They
state that, judging from the volcanic formation
OF the country and the appearances that every
where meet the eye, they have no doubt what
ever that gold will be found TO be equally abun-
dant on both sides of the Rocky Mountain chain
for a very great extent. New mines were dis
covered within thirty miles of San Francisco,
few days before Mr.. Loring left. He brought
with him some beautiful specimens Of the gold
found IN the dry dlggings" Some Of them
weighed five or SIX ounces, aud had the appear
ance Of having been melted in an open ire--be-
ing irregular In form, and slightly disColored by
/ ashes or dust These dggings are mainly be-
tween the North and South Forks, upon ele-
waited ridges in the mountains. The earth is
very hard clay-requiring strong blows with
pick-aXe to break It. The miners 20 into this
section and strike at random. If there is gold
there, it viii soon be evident by the appearance
. Of pieces, large or small, mixed III with the
clay.
On seeing these they immediately fill their
Tags with the dirt and carry it, either on mules
or on their shoulders ten or twelve miles 10
the nearest streams, where it Is washed and
the gold separated from the dirt. Even with
this tedious and hard process three ounces a
day Is talr average for strong and hearty
man. Frequently, however, from lack of
proper tools, men dig with their hands-after
q hole has once been made: and their fingers
soon become 50 sore that they are forced to
/ give up.
The great increase in the number of miners
was diminishing, OF course, the returns to in
/ dIyiduas: and II was believed that fIom ha If
/ an ounce to one ounce wond be fair average
during the season. About 10000 persons
have been digging during the past season, but
more than twice that number are expected to
arrive before the next season opens. Just now
I
10 the stormy and unhealthy weather Chilis
and fever were very prevalent, and the district
( would not be considered healthy for digging
until September. The miners live mostly in
/ tents. The lilte town Of Stockton, near the
/ mining region, Is composed entirely of ottents-
! The miners generally bury their ore until they
/ can take It into San Francisco and exchange ii
( tor goods or ship il for home.
/ All accounts agree that the Mexlcans man.
I ltest anything but friendly feeling towards the
Americans. 1t IS stated that great numbers
/ OF MeXlcans, many OF them in organized CON-
/ panies. and well armed, are leaving Mexico
ior California, ana the writer noticing the Ill
feeling which manltestly prevails, expresses
the opinion that war VIII be renewd within
/ short time between the two countries
/ Mr.. loring says that Col. weller, who was
appointed by our Government, Commissioner
I 10 ald IN running the boundary line according to
the late treaty, was to meet the Mexican Com
/ missioner on fixed day at Los Angeles at the
day appointed; and 1t was very generally an
/ uclpated that the MeXicans would take advan-
tagc OF the failure, to disregard the treaty, and
attempt 10 regain possession otther former ter
Itory. This, of course, was mere conjecture,
! but II was thought to be rendered probable. by
what was known Of the state of FEELING ammo
! The MeNlcans 1t has been suggested. moreo-
yer, that foreign governments would not be
unwilling TO see the war renewed, and that
'hey would aid the Mexicans in rege ming pos
/ session OF the Western Pacific Coast, since the
! Americans threaten 10 deprive the English al
most entirely Of the extensive and profitable
commerce which they have hitherto enpyed.
OREGON.