Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-04-09

Mission is beautifully located, the land
around it fertile, and as there are no Span
ish claims upon it, a great many Amerl
r cans are "squatting" here, expecting the
t lands to become government property
We had dinner at Mr.. Wistman's, and
here, for the first time since leaving home,
, sat down to meal prepared by the hands
. of American females. Mr.. Wistman came
to the country in '46, settled here, and
: now owns fine, well stocked Ranch.
Wealth and prosperity has grown up about
him. Lodged at the "Old Missions" q
large, lone adobe building, in which New
Yorker has taken quarters and opened a
house of entertainment. Whether this
ever was a mission, or only goes by that
name, have never learned. 1t is situated
30 miles from San Francisco. Passed Jo-
Sc Sanchez Ranch, after which the country
became more barren in appearance.
On ascending the hill bordering upon
the Bay, we had a fine view of the Golden
Gate, through which the tide was cbbing,
with noise resembling thunder. We
could see the Pacific ocean in the distance,
rising up mountain like, and bounding the
horizon on the west The Mission Do
lores" lay in our way, situated 3 miles
from San Francisco. The lands around
this mission, are also being fast taken up
by American settlers. Shortly afterwards,
We entered the chappcrel and sand hills.
The sand is very deep, and team can do
little more than draw an empty wagon
through it. On reaching the summit of
the last sand hi the City of San Fran
cisco, Bay, harbor, and shipping, burst
upon our view. The appearance and mag
nitude of the place, far exceeded the
most liberal ideas We had formed of it.
We were almost lost in wonder az we
urged our wcaried mules through the
crowd in one of the principal streets, aud
gazed upon the large and even elegant
buildings, the display of signs and mcr-
chandize, and the moving mass of human
beings of every caste and tongue. We were
almost deafened with the hum Of business,
the noise of the saw and hammer, rattling
of cart wheels, and the jingling Of money
in the exchange Offices and gambling
houses.
w. rort ;nar;na along through several
Al the streets, gazing at everything that
attracted our attention, "with eyes and
mouth open, mot forgetting that we should
look up a stopping place, and that We were
"out" in the garb Of mountaineers. We
put up at hotel, boarding sl4 per week,
mule feed the same price. Our first bust.
ness was to go to the Post Office, and "get
our news" The answer, Nothing for
you, sir" took us all aback Could it be
possible, that our friends, after making so
many promises, had neglected or forgotten
us? 1t was cruel disappointment We
afterwards learned that no mails had been
received from the States for several months.
In strolling around town we observed a
striped pole /; this was something to my
mind, for had neither shaved nor trim
med my beard since leaving the Mississip-
pi river. The fee was dollar, and we'll
earned, for razor after razor was laid aside
no doubt but some of the sand of the
Gila remained in it.
On our way down, We had concluded to
stop at Pueblo, and get into some business,
and after remaining in San Francisco three
or four days We returned to Pueblo San
Jose. Here we we're advised by several
Americans to commence butchering. We
soon found that we could not talk enough
Spanish to purchase cattle, and gave up
the idea. The Spanish know but little
about the honor and laws of trade. If
they are in need of money, they will sell
their property for triAing sum to get it
but if person wishes to purchase of
them, and they do not want for money, no
price will buy it.
We made up our minds to return to the
diggings, and make the most of it during
the winter. Nothing particular occurred
until we reached the mines, except that
after crossing the San Joaquin, rain COM
menced falling and continued at intervals
for number of days. Our clothes and
blankets were kept constantly wet, in
which We had to sleep but by this time
We felt well, and were very much recruited
We we're also lost between tie Towalume
and Mercaides rivers, which is a very COM {
mon occur ence on these plains. The
trails through the mountains were so much t
,oftened by the rain, that our mules fire. s
sunk to their bellies. When we a
reached the diggings, we found that Ere q
nont's gulch was drowned out, and the i
miners were leaving for Aqua Frio, the G
|rv dipeincs several miles distant. Things e