The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-08-01
M I S @ Ell L A N z 0 U S.
SAN FRANCISCO,
By Day and Night.

A better idea of San Francisco, in the
beginning of September, lS49, cannot be
given than by the description of single
day. Supposing the visitor to have been
long enough in the place to sleep on a
hard plank and in spite of the attacks OF
iunumerable fieas, he will be awakened at
daylight by the noises of building, with
which the hills are all alive. The air is
temperate, and the invariable morning fog
is Just beginning to gather. By sunrise,
which CLEANS hazily over the Coast Noun
tans across the Bay, the whole populace
is up and at work. The wooden buildings
unlock their doors, the canvas houses and
tents throw back their front curtains; the
lighters on the water are warped out from
ship 10 ship; carts and porters are busy
along the beach; and only the gaming-ta-
bles, thronged all night by the voteries OF
chance, are idle and deserted. The tenn
perature is so fresh as to inspire an active
habit of body, and even without the stim-
ulus of trade and speculation there would
be few sluggards at this season.
As early as half past six the bells begin
to sound to breakfast, and for an hour
thenceforth, their incessant clang and the
braying of immense gongs drown all the
hammers that are busy on a hundred roofs.
The hotels, restaurants and refectories OF
all kinds are already as numerous as ga
ming-tables, and equally various in kind.
The tables d'hote of the first class, (Which
charge 50 and upwards the meal,) are
abundantly supplied. There are others,
with more simple and solid fare. frequent
ed by the large class who have their for
unes yet 10 make.
By nine o'clock the town is in the full
flow of business. The streets running
down to the water, and Montgomery street
which fronts the Bay, are crowded with
people, all in hurried motion. The vari-
ETY. of characters and costumes is remark
able. Our own coantrymen seem 10 lose
their local peculiarities in such a crowd,
and it is by the chance eptIhets rather than
manner, that the New Yorker is distin-
guished from the Kentucian, the Carolini-
an from the Down-Easter, the Virginian
from the Texan. The German and French
man are more easily recognised. Peruvi-
ans and Chilians GO by in their brown
ponchos, and the sober Chinese, cool and
lmpassive in the midst of excitement, look
out OF the oblique corners of their long
eyes at the hustle, but are never tempted
10 venture from their own line of business.
The eastern side of the plaza, In front of
the Parker House and canvas hell called
the Eldorado, are the general rendezvous
Of business and mbining
change, park, club-room and promenade
all IN one. There, everybody not con-
stantly engaged IN one spot, may be seen
at some time of the day. The character
Of the groups scattered along the plaza is
oftentimes very interesting. In one place
are three or four spectators bargaining
for lots, buying and selling ''ffty varas
square" in towns, some of which are can
vas and some only paper; in another a
company of miners, brown as leather, and
as rugged in fea lures as in dress; in third
perhaps, three or four naval officers spec
ulating on next cruise, or knot of gen.
eel gamblers, talking the over last nights
operations.
The day advances. The mist which
alter sunrise hung low and heavy for an
hour or two has risen above the hills, and
there will be two hours of pleasant sun.
shine before the wind sets in from the sea.
The crowd in the streets is now wholly
alive. Men dart hither and thither, as il
possessed with an never resting spirit
lou speak 10 an acquaintance mercnant
perhaps. He utters few hurried words
OF greeting, while his eyes send keen Ian
ces on all sides OF yon; suddenly he catch
es sight of somebody in crowd; he is off,
and IN the next five minutes has bought
up half cargo, sold a town lot at treble
the sum he gave, and taken a share in
some new and imposing speculation. 1t
Is impossible to witness this excess and
dissipation of business without feeling
something of its influence. The very air
is pregnant with magnetism of bold spirit
cd, unwearied action, and he who ventures
lnlo the outer circle of the whirlpool, is
spinning, ere he has time for thought, in
lis dizzy vortex.
But see! the groups in the plaza sudden
y scatter; the city surveyor Jerks his pole
out of the ground and leaps on pile of
boards; the venders of cakes and sweet
meats follow his example, and the place
IS cleared just as the wild bull which has
been racing down Kearney street makes
his appearance. Two vanqueros, shout
ing and swinging their lariats, follow at
not gallop; the dust flies as they dash
across the plaza. One of them, in mid
I,areer, hurls his lariat in the air. Mark
now deftly the coil unwinds in its flying