Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-10-31
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ce.ved Monday evening letter from his
son, V. A. GATES, from which we make
the following extracts. The letter is
dated Sacramento City, Sept. 9th. Mr..
Gates left here last spring for Califor-
mia, by land, and it will be remembered
we published letter from him TO his
father, some time since, written from
Fort Laramie. DR.. Talefero, Of whom
mention is made, is the gentleman who
left GalliPolis one year ago last spring
He was from Franklin county, Va, we
believe:
SACRAMENTO CRY, Sept. 5th, so.
My DEAR FATHER: l take this op-
portunity of informing you that | ar
rived safe at the City of Sacramento,
on the ed day of September, after labo-
rious and tiresome journey of four
months and two days, during which
time | have had my health as well as
ever, and that is more than thousands Of
the emigrants can say, for after passing
Fort Laramie the scenery changes, and
a person may lay his "fun tools" in the
bottom of the wagon, and prepare him.
self for all kinds of privation, exposure
and the hardest kind of work.
We are ahead of the main body OF
the emigration, and thank God for if,
for I would hate to witness the destruc-
ton and misery which is now on this
road; it was bad enough when we came
along, and we did not altogether escape,
for our provisions fell about three weeks
short, Notwithstanding we lived on short
allowance about the same length Of
time. Our wagons were loaded down
with sick, and the scarcity of grass kept
US back.
We came TO the first trading posts al
the Desert, where -four was selling at Sc
per pound, pork 81 so and every thing
else in proportion. Men who had plen-
ty of money got along well enough, bul
they were scarce, consequently the road
was lined with beggars, principally for
eigners, as the poor Americans were
too proud, and would eat the dead ami
mails along the roadside before they
would beg. But cannot tell you all al
once, suffice it to say we (CaPt. H..
DIR. Beale, Frank and myself,) four ou
of ten, reached this city in good health
Three left us and went to Salt Lake
1--WE came the cutoff one poor fellow
we buried near the summit of the Sier
ra Nevada heights; his name was Thos
Lindsay. from near Winchester, Clarl
county, Ky. Junius Hereford left us il
the mountains and went ahead, the 9th
er two we left at the first settlements
sick.
We have sold our team at very fail
price, nearly as much as it cost, and are
going to try our luck in the mines. We
90 different directions and will NEE
again in a week or ten days at thi'
place, and compare notes, then ] viii
write and give you my opinion OF th'
country, prospects, &c.
have made all inquiry after DIR. Tai
efero, and from all can learn thinl
he is dead. A young man by the name
> OF Greathouse informs me that he cross
ed the plains last fall and stopped q
: Lawson's rancho, and while there maj
was left, who was sick, answering th'
name and description.who died. He als'
f gave me an introduction to Mrs. o.
Brien, of this city, an intelligent lady
who was there at the same time AM
nursed this person until he died. Sh
says he spoke tenderly of his wife, AM
was anxious to write but was unabl
to do so.
have not yet seen any OF the Gal
liza county boys. but have heard of them
r but how or what they are doing | can
not learn.
Business here is brisk but wages ar
very low at present, on account of tn
country being flooded with newly ar
rived emigrants, out of money and ou
of spirits, who crowd down TO the cit,
T and then have to go to work for mean
to enable them 10 get back TO the mine
again. 1t is my opinion any person cal
make money here but not quite as fas
as they anticipated; however will kno'
more about il on my return to the city.
} Your afectionate son,
? V. A. GATES.
, Mr.. ]. IT. PROSE writes to his friend
!: in this county from Sacramento City
under date of Aug. 18th. He speaks Q
his mining operations. "We have nc
: done much at mining till lately. Gu
$ company last week took out about fiv
}, thousand dollars. We took out six
teen hundred dollars a: one an-full an
five hundred in another. The prospec
is tolerable fair. Emigrants are com
e ing in rapidly. What they all will d
y is more than I can say as half that ar
e nov here are doing nothing" w