The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-08-17
CALIFORNIA ITEMS /,
0r,the DARK Siae cf The Panorama, as
seen and drawh By Returning Emf
Tv05fe

report mat oht ol IU- memberd Who landed th1 Il,
November last, 90 have been sick and have
died Mr. McCulom, of Ann Harbor, reports
that OUT Of l8 who went over IN Turner'S
Pioneer Line, % have died
young gentleman informed us at Panama
thai out Of 70 who accompanied him were
dead, two more then sick, and he was ON his
way back, satisfied with r-di6anr Siea-fs oSsst
tanned ofthe 'quadruped' al Sacramento City,
where 100 died on the first three days Of Dec.
George Greatrake, Of Pittaburg, informed US
that Of $50 members Of Capt. Anksim's compa-
ny, nearly al had been sick, and many had
died. He saw the captain driving an ox-team
at San Francisco; also, Mr.. Butler, son>in-law
ofJudge Irwin, working on the streets at S5
day. The latter gentleman threw up situa>
tion in the Arsenal Of SI5o0 per annum.
Two out of his own mess of 3 had died. All
had been sick, and buttw had made any thing
above expenses. Two brothers had dug $500
dollars in six weeks. In Sacramento City he
was charged S4 for small pate Of tomatoes.
~ LuhlueSVl NV' lOl NoItH ccVehth elItelS
Philadelphia, related many facts similar to the
above, fully confirming all the statements in
this article. The Dr. has visited all parts of
Calilornia-has seen the miners lite in every
phase-io well qualified to give co rect, in
tellgent and unbiased opinion.
The Doctor does not hesitate to make the
most grave and serious charges against Col
Fremont, Mr.. Bryant, and other Writers on Cal
iforna, with no other desire than to elicit truth
7 The following statement of DR.. Luki0s is given
with his approval;
lie charges Col. Fremont with stating to nu-
merous persons in Panama that an ounce day
was a moderate average Of the miners through
out California, aud that amount was actually
ATTAINED at his own mines. DR.. Lukins asserts
that the partner Of Col. =. informed HIM that
they did not average SIS day.
During stay of twenty days on the Isthmus,
we had an opportunity of colvetsirg with o
large number af reinfnlna said hnntars. most
oENaom MADE similar statements. Every per-
san even those mtsl successful, are reluctantly
compelled to admit their own folly, by candidly
advising all persons to stay at home. Not even
the most fortunate are compensated for the pri-
vatons, hardships and loss Of health incident
! to miners life. Nine out OF ten will infali-
bly, be prostrated with disease, and one or two
out of the ten will die, OF those who survive
ten per cent. will drag out a miserable exis.
tence with ruined constitutions. OF the bal
ance who may remain at the mines one year
one or two may draw prize OF 5000 or $4,000
by stumbling on pocket Perhaps one ol
u two others may get from 1000 to 5000, and the
balance will have nothing, or next to it,
y That there is an inexhauslibe supply Of golr
is admitted by all. That any man who enjoy'
good health for one year may take out from
one to five thousand dolars, is very probable
Subtract these probabilities from the above
mentioned certain6es, and the fact that So pc
s day is the very lowest possible sum for whlcl
existence can be maintained, and if you ar
Is good at figures you may approximate you
chance for 10000, the very lowest figures W
have heard mentioned by any one as the mini
- mum OF their expectations.
=, Fearing the above statements are in the mai
. correct, we most reluctantly and yet earnesll
=, = recommend all who are well of at home /
: con tent theuselvee and 'let well enough alone
ill more Is known Of the country. We sa
= reluctansly, for, with thousands, we too eagerl
- swallowed the gided pill, and firmly believe
that men accustomed to labor could realiz
n from one to two ounces a day. Under th
impression we have not hestated to recommen
d those who were properly situated to go Man
:, have gone, and some are now slumbering qn
>, etIy beneath the deep blue ocean. They, wit
q thousands Of others, have been sacrificed BY tn
F, cupidity, sefshness and avarico Of heartlei
land speculators; some of them high in oiHc
and prominent in aflnence, with a zeal and il
. dustry worthy OF better cause, have colecte
isolated instances Of successful speculation, {
4. the fortunate result ofa lew days digging, an
heraded them forth to the world as what a
y might expect. Two OIL three valleys, of ie
miles in extent, have been found, Of passab
=, fertility and unusual saubrity, and fOrthwit
!, the whole country resounds with extraordinal
y !. accounts Of the deIiihtfu climate, fertile SO
= and great natural advantages Of California f
~ agriculture.
J.. = Let US now look at the other side Of the Pi
" ture, as drawn by the deuded victim, vino
ne pallid hue and AeshIess bones, empty pockt
ID and woe-begone countenance speak in la
he guage too plain TO be misunderstood, Of bligt
to ed hopes and ruined prospects.
ID AFefmonths Of toll across the tedious plai
w and rugged sietra Madre, he finds himself
-es last in desert valley, with barren mouniai
on either side. This is The vOunted gold !
gion, and he prepares TO extract, from the bo'
els 81 mother earth, compensation for his P
,.s vatobs. He rises at early dawn, and with
od llaht heart wieIds tile spade and pickaxe
4 w4ariad nature demands refreshment. He pl