Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-03-26

failed under them. We killed an animal
resembling a ground hog this afternoon
on which we expected to have delicious
supper. After dressing him as well as we
could without water, we threw the carcass
into The fire, and stirred him up until
we though, him " done brown. But,
alas like the Pelican, a single bite sufflced
for supper. We laid it aside, sorry that
we had troubled packing it into camp, and
turned in to rest If we could, or suck our
gum. 10 allay ,hirst, thinking that we could
ca, something if we had it. Distance, ~
mles-255l.
Thursday, Sep. 20.-Made an early
start. and the small path we were upon
soon led US 10 the water. This We found
in deep ravine amongst the mountains.
The bed Of the stream was dry, except IN
this one place, but from signs, large body
of water pours down it during the rainy
season. This is the character Of many oi
the small streams running from these
mountains, We found horse and mule
tracks, short distance up the ravne. but
there they ended. After fruitless search
for a trail leading cut, in the direction
we wished TO go, We were obliged TO de-
scend the rocky bed Of the arroyo. We
were not aware at this time, that We were
so near The Maraposa" diggIngs, which
are located within ten miles 10 The east
ward of this point. Ignorance may be
the smother of vice." but it was the cause
Of misfortune and suffering 10 US in this
case. Having nothing to cook we tried
acorns, but they were too green and bitter.
We drank cup of coffee and started. We
had gone but short distance, when we
again found The trail and cart tracks, which
we had been endeavorins 10 follow, and
continued on this for sometime, before we
/ discovered that we we're travelling in 5.
f. direction, and directly on the back
track. Here was dilemma, which way TO
90 we knew not. Three fourhs Of our
mules were completely worn out, and our
selves so reduced in strength, that we could
scarcely pack and unpack. After short
deliberatiou we concluded TO return TO the
ravine, which we had followed out 10 the
edge of the plain. Here we found another
small hole Of water, some good gross, and
encamped beneath the shade Of large
spreading oak.
John Musser, Hill Dixon and Charles
Gathwait, took four Of the best mules, and
started in search of the mines for provisions.
They had gone but mile or two, when
Dixon and Ga,hwait d" had some Words
abou, the course. Qhey were Of the same
mess,) Hill knocked Gathwait off his
mule, and he fell "smash'' into hornets
nest. The insects not liking this, attacked
the intruder on all sides. He not knowing
where he was,or what thisne pain meant,
sung out Justify for help 10 get out of HI.
Poor Charley returned 10 camp wriihlng
with pain; his "eyes blacked,' face
swollen, and j." blind as a bat." There is
no doubt but that hunger quickens the
temper and destroys mans best nature,
We have not met single person, since
leaving the San Joaquin river, that could
give US any information, not even an In
dian whom we could employ as guide,
without which it is difficult TO travel in this
country, there being SO many trails run
ming in various directions. Those that
went in search of provisions, were inslruc'
ted to strike a due north course, in case
they could no. find well beaten satislac-
tory trail to follow. We drank a little
coffee and lay down to mediate upon our
"fx." Slept, but only TO dream Of "sides
Of bacon" "pots Of mush." and other lux
uries, that we despised in days lang syne.
Distance, 5 miles-2556.
Friday, Sep. 2l.-This morning gath
cred up an old dirty bag that hadcontalned
sugar, and boiled it out. In this water we
boiled coffee, and a better cupl never drank.
Some Of US started out with our guns, and
succeeded in killing small hare, a hawk,
and few wood.peckers, quaiIs, and doves.
These we put into camp kettle, e,and made
it full of broth, but it scarcely deserved the
name, being so thin and poor. Ou; of,his
9 of US a,e or rather supped, for there was
scarcely a bird to the man. We styled 1t
e" bird tea" This is all we have eaten for
So hours. The condition Of our bodies
can we'll be imagined. My rifle is the
only gun left in our mess, out OF what we
started with. We made all the effort we
could 10 kill some large game, but without
success. We anxlousIy looked for relief
until dark, expecting our men TO return !;
but they did not come, and we began to
fear that they had s.rayed from their
course, for we we're oil satisfied that we
could not be far from some place"