Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-10-02

W na'o o5oiA cSoH hafOLcu Win tct-
ter from this gentleman. now in Cali.
fornia. His numerous friends win be
pleased to hear Of his continued good
health and hne prospects Of success:
KANTAN CREEx. CAL. Aug. 5, Isl.
DEAR BROTHER: I have Just finished
perusing your letter Of the 4ih OF June,
which came to Onion Valley by private
express, and having an opportunity Of
sending you a few hasty lines, ] take
up my pen to inform You that | am well
and sill in the land Of the living-or, |
might more properly say, a "state ofex-
istence," for q man in the mountains OF
California don't lire in every sense Of
the word, particularly when it refers to
the pleasures and enjoyments Of life.
The only enjoyment the country affords
is good nights rest aaer hard and
profitable days work, or a good feed of
pork and flour after "a hours fast.
received your letter OF the 25th of
March on the 7th Of June, one week af-
ter ! had written. The same day l
came across an old acquaintance in the
person of Major Evans, Of wilksvil'e,
and | think we were mutually happy in
shaking hands. He was we'll and is op-
Grating on Poor Mans Creek with tol-
cradle prospect.
Kanyan Creek, after having been de-
serted twice, has turned out some pump
kins after all. We located eight Gains
when we first came on the creek, and
stuck to them, while the large body of
the prospecters went farther north, and
as the snow left the mountains and the
water went down men prospected more
thoroughly. and s1me of the claims
prove to be very rich. We did not get
the best claims Notwithstanding we took
the first claims that were taken on the
creek. We have sold two and half
claims $50 feet in claim tor $3.50;
1926 down and the balance when il
comes out Of the ground. We compile
ted the draining OF the balance two
weeks ago yesterday. The first week
we dug out $500, and the next $500,
and we have better show this week.
The gold here is coarse and is of the
purest and finest quality Of any have
seen in California. The pieces in size
range from 25 cents to an hundred dol
lars. The largest DAYS work we have
done amounted TO IL ounces and two
dollars; | raked out two pieces that
weighed "a and 40 dollars. There are
FIVE men in our company now, MIR. s.
w. Price, from Oregon, formerly Of
Buffalo. Va, P. l.. Trout and John X.
Walls. from Hancock, o., S. P. Billien,
from Missouri, and myself.
The days here are very warm and
the nights cold. Vegetation took start
about the lst of June. and the sides Of
the mountains are covered with heavy
growth Of almost every variety of weeds
and bushes, and quite variety of fruits
and berries, such as gooseberries, cur
rants, rsspberries, service berries, &c.
There are several groceries on the
Creek now and we can get our supplies
without carrying them so far, at reasona-
bic prices, Is cents for -four, 20a25 Tor
fresh beef, and other things in proper
ton.
Father is continually asking for de-
scription of the country, and dIwould be
glad if ! could compEyNwith his request.
but it seems almost impossible. have
had il in contemplation ever since [
have been in the mines. but I can never
catch time, opportunity and conve-
nience together. have never written
to Mr. Lindsay, and do not know that
will be able to while | stay in the noun
tains.
am sorry you suffer Yourselves 10
feel uneasy at not hearing from me, and
once more | will tell you not to feel so,
for if an thing should happen you would
hear of IT in the shortest possible time.
| still feel determined TO come home
this winter if it is only on a visit. Fa-
ther, in speaking Of the returning Cali
fornians, says, "some with and some
without money" which, as he thinks, is
owing to their drinking and gambling
propensiIies. This is a popular error,
as could show you conclusiveIy if
had time. He would hit it oitener by
referring TO the other class, and giving
them proper credit for their rascality and
roguery in trade, but it will not apply.
as general rule, in either case. At
any rate | intend to make my appear
ance in old Gallipolis this fall or winter,
(without have a mighty good prospect
ahead) if nothing happens. ] have long
since given up the idea Of making for
tune here in a short time, and at pre-
sent | have enough to take me home
and square up every thing. and a first
rate prospect for some more, so think
you can look for me with considerable
certainty about Christmas.
Charley Mayhem is one of our neigh
bors, and be wants me to have you tell
his father that he is we'll.
| am at present enjoying first rate
health and about as greasy and lousy as
any of our company or neighbors, for |
must tell you the lice and blow flies are
about the greatest annoyances we have
up here. There are three kinds of lice.
known as the racers, yaybacks and
griSLeys, and il is impossible to get rid
of them without changing our clothing
and blankets once a week at the least
calculation, but this we cannot do, as