Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-04-06
Another California Letter.

Another California Letter.
The Boston Traveller publishes the fol-
lowing letter signed Geo. w. Morrell,
which il Pronounces genuine:
SAN Francisco, Jan. 30. 1s49.
DEAR UNCLE: l set myself down to
write few lines, to let you know that
am in the land of the living, and that | am
now enjoying tolerable good health While
| was in the gold diggings my health was
bad for month or so-lor there we had
nc houses, and for the most part had to
sleep on the ground or under rocks, where
we could get place. Talk of the army
| never saw half The hardship while | was
in the service. that | have seen in the gold
dggings. Could we have houses or good
tents, however. we would be comfortable
even in the gold diggings.
As for gold, have got plenty of it.
have got about 1913 pounds. 1t sells here
for from $l2 TO ST. the ounce. was in
the diggings three and half months, and
if had had something to wash out the
dirt clean, should have got as much again;
for we can get nothing near all of it out
| have number of pretty large pieces
one piece weighing fUe pounds.
| want you TO come out here, YOU can
get just as much gold as you want.
know where there is ledge that is almost
solid gold; but | shall not tell any body,
nor work at ii, till my friends come cut
found it out by one CT the Indian Chiefs
whose life saved, when he was about To
be murdered. A great many are killed and
nothing is said about it.
Tie excitement is so great that every
body has been digging gold, and every one
here has got plenty of gold. Living
here is now So day. 1t has been $40.
The gold country is immense. | have
been 500 miles up the country; and the
further we go, the thicker the gold is. |
think on the river where was, the loun-
tain head is in the mountains; but it is
awful travelling to get up 10 my ledge.
know where there is plenty of silver in the
mountains, They took me prisoner and
was with them nine months. At last
| discovered that one Of the Chiefs was 4
| Free mason, and he at once set me free -
| find that great many Of the Indian
! Chiefs are tree'masons. | was made a
mason by the recommendation Of an aged
| friend, before | left Michigan. | left there
when the war first began and Joined Col
Fremon's regiment. We crossed the
mountains, and got taken by the Indians
| was released in consequence of being 4
mason, and would advise all who intend
TO come out to this wild country, to be ma.
sons, for they will find trucr friends among
the Indians. The Indians hold masonry
TO be sacrcd-which it is.
If you was here you could make money
at your trade just as fast as you pleased
! for mechanics here will not work at lhci
trades, because they get rich so much faslcI
at the gold diggings.
You never saw such set as there is il
this place. There are people of all nation,
and colors. If Congress does no! make
some laws, and strict ones, too. | do no
know what we shall do. The population
here are awful bad, caused by that curse o
the earth, Ram. Ifthat had been KEEP; out
| there would have been no trouble here
1t is warm weather here now. No snow
Iheic was some snow AT the diggirgs-no
much.
! 1t you come out come with number
The more that come together the better
they can do. | understood yesterday tina
the news had come from Monterey tina
they had found an inexhauslibIe gold mine
about go miles from there, and also some
silver mines; but we take no notice O
the silver mines, which can be got at a
half the trouble of the gold. Quicksilver
is here in abundance, in all the hills.