The southern press., 1850-09-07

IL was 10 De continued, he thought II become the
solemn and indispensable duty of the Southern
States to provide new guards for their future Sc.
curity and happiness.
From the Ne,o Orleans True Delta.
Letter From Francisco.
SAN FRANcIsco, July Is, 1850.
am more and more asonished at this wonder
full country, the longer reside in it. To one nc,
customed to the jog trot life Of our Northern and
Southern cities, the changes which few weeks
effect here, seem perfectly magical.
Since ! wrote you on the first instant, whole
blocks Of houses and stores, have been built up in
this city; and know not how many new cities
have been located in the neighborhood. A gen
tleman who returned to this country with us on
the " Tennessee, sold his rancho, or farm, last
fall for S45, 900; on his return in June last, he
found a city where his cornfeld stood, and had to
give $S, 900, for small house and lot on tin the
new city of Marysve! Sacramento, Marys-
vile, Stockton and Benecia, growing with
mushroom rapdity, and it is predicted that some
OF them of them may outstrlp San Francisco in
Importance. This, however, from all | can lear,
from various inquiries, think extremely doubtful
1t will be difficult to remove the immense trade al
ready established here, at this nearest port to the
Pacific.
1t is proposed to have the principal streets OF
the city planked, before the rainy com
mences, in November, which will obviale the ne
cessity Of wearing the seven league boOts--so
much in use last winter. Although we have SO
many new houses, the expectation of an immense
influx of population from the western states, by
way ofthe plains, still keeps rents very high, the
smallest houses being from 500 to per month,
and angling from that tor $500.
The gambling houses here are much reduced in
number, and the strong prejudices felt against the
fatal practice of gambling, is gradually extermin-
ating them. Those still left are elegantly fitted
up, probably more so than in any other place in
America, and they formerly were furnished with a
splendid band of fmusc--this custom has ceased
but an excellent lunch at eleven in the morning,
and an elegant supper at ten in the evening, are
still furnished to all who wish to partakc Of them,
free Of charge, though Of course they are only de-
coys, and every guest is expected to bet even if
he does not play. In the cities and towns further
in the interior, there are hundreds of gambling
houses, where traps are spread for the miners re
turning with their gains, Many poor fellow
tempted by the brilliant seduction, has lost, in u
night, the hard earned profits Of u year Of priva-
ton, and beeh forced to give upthe hope Of see
ing dear homes and kind friends, for another
year of slavish toll and discomfort.
The prospects of these miners are daily more
brilliant, at least, for those who choose their pa-
GERS wisey--but there are many who know moth.
ing of the nature Of the ground in which gold may
be expected to be found, dig in vain, and either
turn their attention to agriculture, or hire them
aeyes to others for SO much per month. In fact,
| learn that the mines are gradually falling into
the hands Of few men, with large means, who
employ laborers at $40 per day, and board, with
the privilege Of leaving whenever they choose
This, the greatest number Of men find more profit
able, and much safer than digging, at their own
risk; and really, $500 per month is not bad wages
After few months waiting, man may dig as
much gold, in the shape of vegetables, as he car
possibly do in the richest "placer." gentle
man here who has " rancho" few miles from
the city, told me he should raise 5000 worth o
potatoes this season, and others confirm it, as 20
tat1 hr,n from, E,,a
pound. Other productions are in the same proper
ton. At present the whole eastern and western
world contribute 10 feed California. A gentleman
about to prospect" Ia California word) among
the mines, told me that after he had collected pro
visions for the journey, he found among them flour
from Chill, cabbage from China, potatoes from,
Australia, and bacon from Van Dieinan's Land
This wonderful country, so great in its mineral
and vegetable resources, is equally remarkable in
animals. The monstrous buffalo lumbers heavily
on before the deadly arrow of the swift hunter ;
the deer and antelope fly with the speed of the
wind the vast plains; the noble elk, with ant
lers in the air, like the limbs of dead pine, dashes
through the thcket the fox, wolf, and black bear
creep sealthiy upon their prey, while, lord of all
supreme in strength and ferocty, roams the griz-
Fly bear, and both men and animals yield him un-
disputed sway.
was told by an officer Of the army, distinguished
for his feats in hunting well for ability iu
the field, that no hunter, who had aught TO live
for, ever attacked a grizzly bear single handed
This animal is swift Of foot horse, is mex
pressibly fierce, of enormous strength, and offer
weighs, when full grown, twenty y-fve hundred
pounds. He has been known to drag the carcass
of buffalo two hundred yards from the camp
where it had been left by the hunters, and the
bravest man, when alone, Is not ashamed to con-
ceal himselfin thicke ora TIRE topat his approach
They sometimes, however, yield to numbers, and
one enormous fellow was actually taken with a
| ohnr ahn ~ ,,,,Io
this city.
News came one morning last month that another
still larger, was in the same neighborhood, and
the hunters full Of enthusiasm, determined to take
him too, and have such bear fight as was never
seen before. Eight Of the bravest and most ex.
pert set out accordingly for the encounter. He wa;
soon found, and his sagacity howng him at once
their object, he deliberately sat down and waited
the attack. And splendidly he looked, that primi.
tive old warrior, as with grim visage and flashing
eyes, he glared upon the puny intruders who at.
tempted to drive him from his ancient stamping
ground. The hunters slowly approached in a
circle, keeping his attention distracted by various
movements from the one who was to throw the
first lasso. Swift lightning the coil rose in the
air, and fell with fatal certainty around the neck
of the grizzly monster. With equal rapidity, and
before it could be tightened, Bruin, with one motion
Of his paw, threw it off Another and another fell
but were either eluded or tossed hecely aside. Al
last one cast by old and caucous hunter, tight,
ened around his throat ere he was aware, and man
! and horse strrined eveay nerve to drag him down
What was there horror to see him seize the lasso
in his paws and draw themtowards him with the
ease Of kitten playing with ball of yarn The
hunters determined to take him alive, refrained
from firing, while the horse, now frantic with ter
ror, leaped from side to side 70 escape his fate
More fercely gttered those terrible eyes as his
victims drawn by the lasso, which is firmly fast.
ened to the saddle, came nearer and nearer. Grea,
gouts of foam stood upon his lips, and his white
teeth grinned with contempt as the hunter, now
just under his jaws, prepared to leap from his
seat. He was too late to escape unharmed. One
blow from that tremendous paw laid open his boot
and tore off one side Of his foot; a second, and his
noble horse, the hero of many chase, lay quiv-
ering in death, being completely disemboweled. -
Apparently satisfied with this, Bruin retreated to
the woods, and the assaiants returned with their
wounded companion to the settlement, to renew