Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-06-03
GREEN R. JoNEs.


 of Mr. Ct c. Straughn, have sent it to you for publication. Your old friend,
 GREEN R. JONES'
 AGUA FRIo MINES; CAL, Feb. 10th, 1851. DEAR SrRAuGHN:-I promised in the letters which wrote to you md Clark at Los Angeles, that !, would write again as soon as become settled at the mines. Jack .. W. Anderson,) and myself in company with two others, started from Los Angeles on the 14th December, if mistake not; and ar arrived the San Joaquine on the 23d of the same month; at the point where we struck the river, there was a ferry and store House, kept by two Americans, one from Mississippi and the other from Tennessee. We were received by these gentle men with considerable manifestation of kindness, they gave dinner and supper, and invited us to stay all night, of course as we were very much fatigued, we accepted the kind invitation, and spent quite pleasant night. Early next morning a merchant from the dlggingS on that stream came down, he was encamped l2 miles above us im- mediately in the mountains, and three miles below the dggins. From all the information we could ob- tam from him, respecting the different southern mines, we were induced to go up with him and try our luck for awhile, at the first mines we came
 
 about sunset on Christmas Eue.
 Mir. Alsbeny the owner of the camp, told us if we would light and stay all night with him, he would go with us to the digginS next morning, and help us to select spot, which to pitch our tent and go to work, that he would let us have any amount of provisions we wished, and full set of tools as cheap as weeon!d get them any where in the mines; such offers appeared so full of kind ness to us, who were entire strangers, that did not hesitste.to except them. There were two other emigrants who hal just arrived at AllsbuTg few days before us, they like ourselves were broken down from the fatigues of the trip, and were anx- ious toput period to their journey. Allsburg had large cloth tent. with a chimney at one end, mado of sticks and dirt, and funneled out with old barrels, one upon another; large blazing fire had been made by an Indian servant, and around this fire were seen seated on boxes, kegs logs of wood and such other things as were most conveniently come at, all the inmates of this little encampment, which consisted only of nine in num- Der. As six of us werenew corners, of course the price of picks, crow bars. rakes, pans, and grub bng hoes, and all such things as pertain to mining were the subject of conversation for some twolor three hours, then the different prospects of the diff ferent mines in the different parts of the country, were taken up and discussed at large, al last the company began to speak seatteringy of matters and things in general, and finally tapered of into tales and anecdotes, some talked more and some less, but all continued until each succeeded in raising loud and lively laughter; suffice it to say the night passed oG very pleasantly and we en- enoVed nt,cb hetfav fha m anv ana conid have supposed among entire strangers, we were in me health and the best Of spirits. al the very thought of beias a the end of our journey of being al the mines where we wonld be able to go 10 dig ging sugs of gold, of itself enough to make us cheerful and happy We had met with friends among those strangers, who seemed disposed to do all m their power to advance our interest and our wishes, we had already contracted with them Tor pfoYislons and tools; were within three mli,s of the place, and several of thom had yoIun- teered to go with as and spend the next day in heiping us to ind rich spot, in a word all things seemed suddenly to eonsplre in propieous signs of our good luck and prosperity, but as far spent as the night was before we retired to sleep, we were l up bright and early next morning, aai am sare no Christmas Eye brought forth q more brilliant and beautiful mafniag than 1t was--,ha sky looked as blue as indigo, and not ctshd bespeclea its 'broad expansive bosom the Sgeft.winas ffesh from the wsters oi inc Pacific. gently kissed the trees around us and the binds saag the songs of spring, whist the piles Of snow that iay etnbankeA ] upon the lofty tops of the Sierra Nevada in ,he east ght'eIed n the beams of the rising sun-then there was poetry m the appearance of the huge rocks and cliffs that hung about the trees of sur rounding mountains, and there was music in the I sound of the rippies that murmered over the peb