Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-12-20
Extract of a Letter from J. Sher-
man, in California, to his Faith
er, N. Sherman, Esq, of Plain
field, VT.

man, in California, to his Faith
er, N. Sherman, Esq, of Plain
field, VT.
II MILES FROM SUTTER's MILLS,
California, Oct, 10, l649.
DEAR FATHER You must think that have
forgotten you, but have not had an opportunity
to write since hive been in the diggings and
you must excuse me, You may think that I
am going to tell you all about our overland trip,
but capnoi even begin it in letter. Suffice it
to say, that we got through after travelling sS
days, from the Missouri River, which was the
shortest time any company have made it with
wagons My health was good all the way. D.
Fl. was sick four or five days on the way. When
we got to the mills we heard that they were ma
king from $l6 to 20 a day. We went to the big
bar, on the Middle Fork, where we got $40 per
day, on an average, though some days we made
$50, and some days nothing. We were there
eight weeks; board was $32 per week-but
most of the men do their own cooking.
| can beat any of the girls making bread,
suppose. After we left the Big Bar, we looked
around for diggings three weeks before VIC found
any. There we found canou, where four men
had been all summer, and that day they went to
the mill and deposited 90 lbs They had made
here, from $50 to 100 per day We, however
have not yet had very good luck here. We, THAT
is four of us) the two Oatmans being with us,
have been here two weeks & have made about
5000 here. To-day we have made Sl28-S32
each. D H. sold his team for $3.50 when he
cot in, and sold $50 or 60 worth of things he had
IN the wagon. He has now got 10 o $1,000.
have got z or $500. | have bought Mule
and paid $l25 for him. Things are great deal
cheaper here at the mills, than they wets at the
oar d. H. thinks he shall 90 home in the
SP''hS'--I think that fhall not-dont know
Wnen shall when get pile of goId {, M
''''S cdaoH Tor we have got two claims four and
eight feet each. The men comnp in hero ,b,n,.
we nave got a large claim. If a man gets on
aho'hers claim the latter goes and tells him tina,
ne Is on his claim, and if he does not pe, off nre,
" soon' he gets bail through him. But know.
ing that is the way, he. bscks out, SO there
mas been no trouble as yet. We have rot our
ground here, and there has been more than
S|o'OOo taken off from less ground than mi.
which we occupy and which did not look better
l'lan ours but we may not get more than half
ana we may get more. $1,000 here is not thor
any more oil, than 800 at home. We are oo;rr
10 build US 10y house, as we now live ont pns
der tree. My health is first rate and so is TIA.
OF D. II. think that weigh Is or 90 pounds
more than did when | started my journey
J mere Is great many bears and deer here
lew nights since, bear came up within ten fee,
OF our camp. saw him coming, and aid ls,;l,
under my blanket, until he came up. then
yelled so loud to him, thot it awoke the rest of
my companions in the camp. lie was as large
as mule or two year old. They are yery LARGE.
and weigh from 10 TO 1900 lbs ; and great fight
flesh is grisley and tough. They get
here, $25 per day, and board. ] think we shall
make good haul here We have to din from
two to eight feet, where we get the most Of the
go'u' we nave got some pieces worth from
~ 10 S4O,'-the largest piece is worth S43 90
and hope we shall find still larger.
we had not more than four hours sleep ont Of
while on the route. Men do not
work so hard here as they do in the States. In
the summer they work but from six to eight hours
per day. 1t being very hot here in that season -
out 1t Is fine wenther here now we have not
nad more than two or three nights that we had
any dew since we left Fort Hall.
JONATHAN SHERMAN