The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-02-23
Late From California.

4
day morning The fist extracts are from a writer
with whom our readers are already familiar
Mr. GR,pLEY The letter was addressed TO Mr.
| Cushnan, 10 whom We are indebted for perrniss-
ion to publish such portions as do not partake Of
confidential nature.
S,cR,MSSro CRY. Dec. Is, 1912
J y. II " Ct.shmdr--Desr sir You doubtless
think me very delinquent IN not writing 20 YOU Oft
. ener than have The truth Is that all summer
have been shut up in the mountains, not hearing
Of anything that Is going on in the world, and not
hayiu.; an opportunity to forward letters if had
written them. AT the last time wrote YOU We
had nearly completed our dam and race IN the
middle fork Of tho American rycr, since which
time we have finished the work, and have taken
out enough to pay all Of our expenses, but the
rainy season commencing earlier than usual We
determined upon winding up our operations for
this season, which We have done and gone into
winter quarters We shall commence our work
again in the spring, and hope that during the
winter We shall be able to make such arrange
mems as will enable Us to realize our autcipa
lions when we commenced last spring We want
some machinery (Which presume we shall be u
ble TO obtain TO carry on our work, which Is by
lar the most extensive mining operation which has
been undertaken IN California. | have no doubt
that large amount Of gold can be obtained from
this Bar" tina; it is there We have no doubt and
ii we obtain the requisite machinery We shall get
some of II al least
On the first Of Nov left the Bar" anu came
to the mill where was TO meet friend with
whom had been working during the summer
| found him and started for his camp, distance
from the mill IL miles They We're doing we'll,
and thought could work in the mines till the
first of Dec, when would leave and come TO this
city.
For months hal not tasted Of any thing but
salt pork and beans. AT the mill ate fresh pro
visions and after walking five or SIX miles up tn,
mountains, wa. attacked with darrhoea il soon
began 20 rain hard, and as there was no place
where | could stop short of nv friends camp
there was no alternative but Ia toll on wet 10 the
skin and suffering the most intense pam. This was
about the middle Of the afternoon about dark we
found We had lost our way, we met two men com.
ing down the mountain who told us that we had
passed our trail about two miles. We turned
back, and late IN the evening we got into camp
spread my wet blauket- and lay down. where
for one week thought never should leave the
rayinc. was wet during the whole time, not
day passed but it rained hard 10 one ever suffer
ed more than | did during that week. My friend
Kellogg did all for me that he could and for his
kindness shall ever remember him with graft
tude. One man died just below me and another
i. not expected to live with the same disease |
thought Of home then | assure YOU, still did not
regret my Journey, nor have ever regretted since
| left Ottawa my determination to take this IMP.
After remaining here two weeks Returned to the
mills, where heard Of some Of the Ottawa gold
hunters, distant about ten miles. gave man
$40 to take my blankets and small hand trunks
and walked over. | found Albert Furnsworth
and Erick Albert has been sick bu. is now
well, he is about building cabin, and think
will have good winter quarters. From here
went 10 Weavertown where found Jas. Bacon
VIII Rogers, Henry Niles. d'John Anderson
Jr. staid with them over night, and then left
for !his place. was obliged to walk as the road,
were impossible for teams. i left alone an
walked the first day IL miles, it raIned hard al
the time. At nigh, paid g for supper, and 50,
for laying on the ground in a cabin, s. for broak
fast and walked the second day IS miles in III,
rain. The Thrill Jay reached this place tired
lame, and sore. The last night where stopped
paid 81 for supper Of tough beef and poo
tread, nothing else Oh the table whatever, Ju,
tasted rood have been dowr
To San Francisco where found several letter
from home, and others which were quite interest
, ing to mc-bought some goods and returned t
this place. = Saw Nj John Gree
in the city yesterday, his party are about so mile
/ from here, in the mines, doing well believe
have not seen Frenianburg he is in the mines.
Saw Erwin, Reed, and Elder i
, town. Erwin, Charles Fisher and John Olrnstea
are at Hang town." where they have store
. Erwin is to leave for the Yuba soon.
= Jos Reddick has Just arrived, he had all his ca
: tie stolen by the indians. and left every thing b
r had on the plains, had to walk in 800 miles, he
: well. John Anderson wished me to say 10 h
= mother that he is we'll | am told that ha Is ste
5 DIV, smart, close and saving. He wanted If col
e cluded 10 come home in the spring To send hon
Il some money to his mother, when You see her tie
: her so.
e The following letter was from VI H,SSrEA
: FLINT who previous to starting to California ha
u resided on Indian Creek in this county. It wG
!, addressed to Mr. Seth Freeman, in this place, I
!. whose kindness we are indebted for pSrruiSsio
e to copy it,
= SACRAMENTO CRY, Dec Il, ls49.
!, Dear Sir-l arrived on the Sacramento Bottor
!. and at the first settlement Iawson') on the ne
{! thern route, leaving the Humboldt about65 mill
;, above the Sink, the sth Of Sept, after long al
:! htigueing journey Of five months anS seven ia.
from Ottawa. Soon after my arrival proceed'
" up the Sacramento River 10 what are call Re
70 ding's Mines, distance from Suffers Fort or Sa
y ramento City, OF from the mouth Of the Americ'
y Fork, the nearest ship landing, Of 200 miles.
:. have, however left those diggings now not CO
y" sidering them very profitable, and am IN Il
y city making preparations for working the min
in this vicinity, They are not, as some suppo
{, u over the valley, bu, the best Of them are co
4 6u ed TO- or near the foot Of tho mountains, on
bars in the rivers, in creeks or dry runs &c, al
a ,me Zines a creek rich with gold in one bran
h, nj ne in another. The depth to be dug var
c fro, ! few inches to many feet; the bottom, c,
e sistir % rock or clay, must be found, where t
q gold !, generally lodged, especially the larl
par,icl. I, varying from the coarscr dust to pie,
. Of man> oLuces. One piece found, reputed
have wciL he'd IL lbs, is a story not at all ncre
BILE here. The leading implements used for d
e ring are a 81. ovel, pick, aud large iron spoc
4. and those for WASHING, a cradle or washer and
, nan. All the. implements can be got here,
= that it is unnecc sary' to bring them along. y
ney however is in iispensable The market is
nv chauyable: fou :, when first came here, v
CO selling a, IS perhu. Dire ',now ii brings s?S pc
L. then SEQ now s25 p, r lNolbs, sugar l5a25c
:, h.; potatoes ?7sc per lb; beans aud rice, from
II >