Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-03-04

family alone. What we are enabled to give,
though far from uninteresting, had to be culed
from amidst matters of purely private nature.
This i'll account for any want of consecutive
ness in the narrative, which might strike the
readers notice.-sheperdstovn Register.
. SACRAMENTO CRY, Dec. rs, ls49.
Perhaps some have written 10 the States CIV
ing an account of our difficulties and hardshlps,
for they were great indeed. What we called
"roads'' were such as no human being ever at
tempted to travel before with wagons Some
DAYS we could not make more than or miles
and do our very best, Then we were in emf
nent danger of starving OF freezing to death, the
distance proving to be so very much greater than
any of us had anticipated
After travelling along the Humboldt river full
half its length, left it, to cross desert OF so
miles to Fremonts Mud lake, and then towards
the Sierra Nevada, which we struck some 200
miles north Of the old crossing place. Having
eurrnounted these, we next had to cross over
and travel along the California mountains some
100 miles, so that we did not reach the gold re-
xion until the I'd Of November. Our wagon was
: the only one of the whole that reached the
mines.
Behind our train we left some thousand per
sons, most Of whom were caught in the snow
and would have inevitably petshed bat for the
Governments having sent relief train. l give
thanks to the great God OF Heaven who SO nler-
cifuliy watched over and protected ME from the
numberless dangers to which was exposed
The Indians lowered about us for some three
hundled miles, aud we could only keep them
off by the srictest watch. One night they shot
three OF cur mules, a misfortune that delayed
.our march no little, making as i: did so consid-
s4rable deduction from our means CT locono-
sion.
Like all the other Companies formed in the
States, our Company mas dissolved Kennedy
aud myself are housekeeping together in this,
Sacramento, city. Our habitaton is 10 teet by
IL, and covered in with canvass. For this spot,
and this only, we pay 5000 year or S75
month. Six months ago lots that are now selling
for $4,000 could be bought for $500
We reached the mines too late in the fall fer
work this season. However we tried little,
though for the whole weeks that we were at
the mines we had only days of such weather
as we could worl, in. We made three hundred
dollars in the seven days but had TO give $500
a barrel for -four, $l25 hundred for pork, Us
gallon for moasses and S SO h. for cheese.
Dear as these things are they will be dearer next
spring. thought that on the whole we were
doing but bad business, so determined to
come to this city and spend the winter. My
intend going up the Uber River to little place
called Ubervle, at the head of navigation If
that place should grow anything Ike as fast as
Sacramento | shall be pretty sure CT realizing
something handsome in short time DR. Will
der-and myself intend having trading store,
and will also practice our profession together,
and SO we hope to get along quite comfortably.
All the fortunes that are made here are made
by speculation. It takes the strongest, the har-
Il
..aud they often looso their health, and cannot
make more, should suppose, than from to
thousand dollars year
Sacramento City has epreagup as il by magic,
in the last six months, having some FIVE thou
sand inhabitants. We have from 20 to so deaths
"a day From what have seen so far, California
has horrible climate for tie l.angs and bowels.
You can scarcely meet raan without cough.
Most of the deaths occur from inflammation OF the
lungs and bowels. think this is owing i'll a
great measure to the manner OF living, scarcely
ever having ON any clothes dry and comfort
able bed 10 sleep on A house weather proof
will rent for OF s hundred dollars month, no
snatter how small Next month intend NOV
ing into more comfortable quarters than my
present.
My practice is getting to be quite good, and
trading also, SO hope to rub along pretty well
till spring when things will probably be still
better. am happy to say my health has great
,y improved have met many kind friends
here, Oae young man insisted Oh my going to
the Sandwich Islands, offering 10 bear my ex-
peuses, but ] declined. The young man to
whorgl I am indebted for carrying this letter
came out last spring with $4,000 worth OF goods.
He returns now with one hundred thousand
Very soon will write you a longer and more
satisfactory letter. / hope TO return to old Shep-
erelstown by the tall Of 1851 with the fruits Of
my harvest. Our party are all well.