The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-05-15
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE.
DEER CREEK, CALIFORNIA, }
March 18th. 1850. {


My DEAR SIR-Presuming that some ink
lings from 'the gold regions " would be in
teresting to your readers, and that you are
looking for lulfllment of my promise pre-
vious TO my departure from your fair city, l
have determined TO scrape you up few
items, which are respectfully submitted:
Ignorance is bliss, " says an antiquated
writer, and if ever this saying was verified,
it is in my case; without news from the
States, or knowledge of how railroad stocks
operate on the money market, or Rough and
Ready rules the great Empire, or how Sec
rotary Clayton served the impudent French
man-of these things and great many 9TH
ers we are (to repeat) in bssful ignorance.
Sunshine has come again. and the cold
storms of winter. think, have disappeared.
Little has been doing in these mines for the
last three months, owing to the inclemency
of the weather and the difficulty of trans
porting provisions hither; but we anticipate
a goodIy amount will have been taken out of
these diggings before the waters are low
enough on the larger streams to admit of their
being operated on.
Much difference of opinion exists regarding
the stability of the mines Now, sir the facts
are these. Seven years labor will not cx-
haust them, as new diggings are being Dis
covered daily, and those already worked
would yield well by being worked again.
We need an improvement in machinery-a
better mode of separating the gold from the
sand, than the present one. Who will take
the matter in hand ? 1t is really Iaughable
to see men rocking the little machine like
cradle with such persevering energy, put
ing to shame the operations of nursery maids
when trying to soothe some little cherub to
slumber.
lam sorry to inform you that we are on
bad terms with the Indians. During last
winter they stole our horses and cattle so ire
quently, that we were obliged to give them
a lesson or two, in the shape of Ieaden pills,
which we thought would certainly cool
their thieving propensties, but we were dis
appointed.
A few days ago an Indian party stole sew
eral oxen from one Of the miners. The party
was promptly pursued. the oxen recovered
and the savages taken prisoners. While
they were being brought TO the white settle
ments one of them let fly an arrow at the
owner of the stolen cattle, wounding him Sc
verely in the side. In the confusion the pris-
oners escaped. This so enraged the whites
that the following day a large party assem-
bled and went in pursuit. The savages were
in fhnir ~
murderous fire of rifles, which brought
goodly number to their end, and horribly
frightened the survivors to Judge by the quick
ness of their retreat.
| People here are wondering what the Sec.
rotary of War will say or has said in his re-
port, regarding the soldiers stationed in this
country. When the officer commanding at
Johnson's Fort was applied to for assistance
in protecting our lives and property from the
ruthessness OF the savages, his answer was.
"no authority" For what, then, we ask.
were they sent here.
Provisions, &C., have been very high here
during the winter in some cases bringing 600
per cent beyond the original cost; but as the
roads are getting passabe again and the
weather fine, there is a prospect of things
Ginning down. A few days ago purchased
a pair of coarse strong boots, such as my friend
Mr. Maghee, would sell at 81 25, for which
paid three ounces of gold. Rather striking
difference-ain't it?
No doubt some of your good citizens intend
emigrating during the year. If so, they
should start by sea, not later than the middle
of June. l do not allude to the overland
Travellers as they will have started before you
get this probably. But if any one will come
by the Isthmus, and can reach here by the 1st
of August they will be in time for the mining
on the rivers during the coming summer, as
the waters do not abate till about that time.
The average wages Of miners is about the
same as usual, SIC or SIS per day.
What is the reason you never sent me any
papers or rather what is the reason / never
got one. Can yon tell? Last mail weighed
900 pounds. Five wagon loads of mail
bags and not I single number of your paper
could find to my address. Where lies tie
fault?
Yours, very truly,
SHAMROCK.