The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-17
Late from the Gold Region.

The New York Sun contains the fol-
lowing letter, dated: .
PANAMA, Feb. 18th l849.
send you by the very last means ol
conveyance a few items Of interest
from California. They were received
here this morning from Spaniard who
came passenger in the Peruvian bark
Martinez, direct from San Francisco.
Emigrants OF all kinds and coors are
pouring in in multitudes. Every Ian.
guage, race, color and shade is repre-.
sented. Lawyers, ministers, women
in male attire, robbers, artist Gratis, and
outcasts from civilized life, are all flock.
ing to the gold regions. Al are fran.
tic with hopes Of finding chunks OF gold
as large rs mill stones; but few days
experience of California life changes
their views Of gold hunting.
Living is excessively high, and min.
ing Tor the precious minerals is one oI
:he worst kinds Of lottery. For each
person that is so fortunate as to find a
mass sufficient to enrich him for life,
there are dozens who can scarcely
make living.
Many robberies have taken place,
but they are chiefly confined to food
and closhing. These things, at times,
when there is scarcity in the market
bling $500 barrel, although few
days before it was sold for Sl5.
The necessities Of mary of the emf
grants and these varieties in prices lead
to numerous thefts. Robberies for gold
are rare. One or two murders have
however, occurred for this cause.
The new comers and greenhorns are
frequently swindled in the most shame
tul manner, and redress is out of the
question. Perhaps great social crime:
might be punished, but everything is as
yet too new, and thieving is too com
mon to he punished in the absence o
regular law.
For instance, a green one who ha.
goods for sale. often takes large guam
titles of glittering ore, supposing it t'
be gold, but too late finds it to be 9th
ing but copper and iron ore-bulhe cal
do nothing TO recover his property.
Spurious silver ore is common. o.
first landing, many are willing 70 sci
their coats off theirsbacks for this sor
Of pay.
The emigrants who have guns. pow
der and ball TO protect themselves, arr
frequently driven by hunger to leav'
their all and seek for provisions.
Gangs ofedesperadoes in the noun
tains steal the mules Of the miners AM
kill them Tor food.
A companyis about to be formed o
those who cansraise mules or means t.
travel over land to the States. 1t woult
in their condition be a terrible expedi
lion; but they prefer doing SO TO Twin!
as atpreseni.
FROM PERU.
The gold fever was raging In Peru Il
the greatest extent; letters had been re
ceivej from the gold regions, givinI
statements of enormous quantities o
gold which were constantly being fonn'
and the most extraordinary stories il
regard TO the richness of the miners
and their great suffering for want
food. 3ep. 3ao NJ a.Es1a
One OF the reports we translate a
follows, from the adsices received b,
"El Corro de Lima, being an extrac
from letter published in that paper:
"a few days since, large Americal
ship anchored on the coast within
short distance Of the shore, having
full cargo Of flour. She had hardly cas-
| anchor when she was surrounded by
| multitude of boats and canoes. ~
@The cargo was robbed; all the Sc
provisions were taken, and her riggin