Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-06

Inc following ieuer, says me New lurR II
buue, written by gentleman long resident O.
N. York, but now in California, may be relied
up.n as being a truthful statement as The wri er
IS we'll aud iayorabiy known 10 large portion
OF cur mes! 'horoush.aoing business man:
WOOD MINES, about 5000 miles from
San Francisco, July 30. l649.
| am al las! 10 The gold region, and will at
tempt description OF my tedious journey here.
We arrived al Stockton alter lair passage, re.
manned there few days. and The Starred for
this place. In coming here we crossed an arid
plain OF 80 miles-no vegetation, NO shade, no
wafer, except what We carried with US, and one
q The hottest days ever experienced. Alter
taking On each OF our backs some 60 or 70
pounds, and filling little keg with water, some
fifteen OF US starred in company. The first day
we made abou, Is miles and then laid down 10
res. our exhausted frames on the ground, with
but sing { blanket each for covering. The sec.
ond DAY wclravelled bu, ii ,e miles in the NOR
Eing and five or SIX in The evening. This day
man by the name OF Hunt, fIom Massachu
sets, gave out and could 60 no further. As he
was GU, Of waller | let him wei his lips with
mine and some others dill the same, but all We
could do 10 revive him proved unavailins. He
was Determined 10 die, and We, 10 save our own
lives, were obliged 10 leave him as our stock OF
water was getting vely short. We had some IL
or Is miles TO travel before We came 10 river.
never shall forget The scene OF leaving Thai poor
man 10 die on the barren plain; but that was
nothing 10 what followed.
The next day our water was reduced 10 few
drops. Al II o'clock the sun was pouring down
with unheard OF intensity and not breath OF air
slrrins when another very fine young man from
New Hampshire, gnom had formed quite an
attachment Tor "a our short quainIance, and
when we werc within seven or eight miles OF The
river, as near IS we could judge, wiIled right
down under The sun and could co no further All
was done hat could be done 10 arouse Jim 10 &C.
ton, but without effeci; gave The poor ielloy a
few drops OF wafer, and such scene as present.
ed ilsell when we were about lc leave him hope
never 10 witness again. He drew me down 10
the ground, aud kissing me, said-"O, God
can you leave me here 10 die alone2" ! told him
10 keep up courage, that we would go 10 the
river where there was tent, and hat We would
rigiup something 10 carry him on, and would be
back as soon as possiblei SO we bid hun good by
aid started. Before We reached the river, felt
myself as if | must surely fail, bur | knew il |
gave up al all il was 10 die, ard when such
thoushls as halling came over me. | would arouse
as from sound SLEEP. never experienced such
feelings. think death from heat or exhaustion
would be an easy onr. Before we got TO The river
two MOI: dropped but the survivors could do
nothing for them, b1! were obliged 10 press tor.
ward Toward ID. river 10 order 10 save their own
lives. We al last came in sight of the long
looked for river, and such feelings Of joy as we
experienced ] WI mol aIiem?i TO portray.
Alter replenrhing liule, We procured three
mules and went back tor our friends. | was in
hopes TO find The one who dropped FIRST alive, bul
when arrived and jumped Of the mule, found
handkerchief over his lace, | "a; sd il, be lay
as though asleep, with his hands crossed on his
breasr, but he was quite dead. We put him or
a mule. and one OF The other Two was so weak
that he could not ST, alone and SO we trudged
back 10 the IcGl, locnd or Indian blanket, sewed
him up in ii, and buried him. s'aid al The river
Two days 10 recruit, then came on 10 this place.
There IS enc other route 10 cross This plain where
there is wafer in one place, but we gol on The
wrong road