Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-03-27
AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTS FROM THE
GOLD REGION.

Cap tain D. William Phelps, who reached
Cha rleston lately, in the brig Henrico, from
Cha gres, (having come from California via the
18th mus,) has reached his home, in Boston,
and the consequence is, we have, in the more
sta id and discreet temper Of that region, the
information he authenticity communicates
to the Boston papers. The Traveller says
"Captan P. brings quantity of gold, in
grains. in scales, and in lumps-thc largest of
the latter weighing about an ounce and a half
The amount of gold brought by him has been
much overrated in the published accounts,
though he brings considera Bile quantity
much less, however, than the lowest amount
stated, $3.50, 000.)
AS Capt. P. work ed lily at the mines,
which we believe was not the case with Mr..
Anterior, his experience Of the minutie of the
gold digging there, is consdcra bio. In the
first place, to the pieces of gold that have
been reported to be found, he says the largest
piece that he has seen is in the possession of
Mr.. Mellus, and weighs but SIX ounces. He
had heard numerous stories at the mines of
large pieces being found; but in every instance
where they were investigated, they turned out
to be false, CT greatly exaggerated. One man
was reported 10 have found piece weighing
several pounds; he went to see him, and found
that its weight was only t,oo ounces, and that
it was the proceeds Of an entire DAYS work.
Of them averaging $3.50 per day, he thinks
that those who have done the best have not
obtained more than SO, 900 during the entire
digging season. The hours Of work were from
five to ten hours per day, Formerly, the In.
dams were willing to work for trf1e, but
they have since become better acquainted with
the value Of their toll. They are principally
the remnants Of tribes, and not formidable.
But one case of disorder occurred before
"a laff hat of ,
suited Mormon woman. The people turned
out, caught the negro, tied him to tree gave
him good lashing, and then turned him loose,
with the threat Of rifle ball if he misbchaved
again. The inha btants of California, Capt.
P. says, are anxious to maintain order; but
they can hardly do it in any other way than
by lynch law, until some regular government
is established.
When several companies of Col. Mason's re-
giment deserted to the mines, file of soldiers
were sent after them, who, in their turn, de-
serted. COL Mason then went with file Of
dragons. called the miners together, and told
them If they expected the countenance of the
government, they must help him arrest de-
serters. TO this they replied, that if there
were any refugees from justice among them
they were wiling to turn out and help arrest
them, but their time was too precious to be
occupied in running after deserters. After
this, Col. Mason was glad to get back with
half Of his dragons.
Agriculture has been so totally neglected
that man who had a field containing Is, 900
bushels of wheat, could not get it harvested,
though he offered half the product, and was
obliged to let his cattle eat it. Women and
children. as we'll as their husbands and Satb-
ers, had become gold diggers. Capt. Phelps
opinion as to the success of expeditions daily
starting from this country, is, that it will de-
pend upon the manner of their orgaization-
There is no doubt, he says, o. there being con.
siderable quantities of gold in California, but
there is great exaggeration in the matter.
Letters had appeared r the papers from
persons who have no existence in California
and in respect 10 vessels that have never been
there.