Calaveras chronicle., 1851-12-13

Mr.. EDIroR-After remaining two days
at the Bar and purchasing at bargain for
zen ounces an "auld gray mare with sad
/ die complete, the vender retaining the
spurs Ga huge pair of California make) for
which he deducted two ounces Being thus
fully equipped, joined a party who ap-
peared firmly convinced that there must be
gold somewhere between the Cosumnes and
| Mokeumne rivers. We left Big Bar pro-
nouncing it decided humbug, and pro-
claiming loud and strong that all the Gulch
Diggings in that vicinity were worked out
1t is singular fact that about that time,
the lamentable cry of :" the mines are ex-
hausted," y" all worked out" won't pay"
&c F, was started, and asserted in better
faith than at this time, and every disap.
pointed miner since then has added the tale
to the burden of his woe, with misanthrop-
ic forsshadowings of starvation and dis
tress. Won't pay !" always has been and
always will be the loafers' focstn through
out the mines, and the Californian's POGO,
or the Indians nuehudHe are but echoes of
these watchwords in the Castle Of Indo-
lence, servants TO the vass4lage Of pride,
aYariee, and imbecility. Most of these
same men who pronounced in such positive
terms that it would not pay to labor, con-
sdered that it paid" to get drunk on vii
lainous brandy at 81 per drink, and that it
" paid frst-rate' to risk money on games,
the profits of which were 200 to 800 per
cent. to the banker | fear there are n
Z" few more left in California Of these we'll
paid miners. Excuse the depression.
Two hours ride brought US into Hitch
cocks valley. In crossing the bottoms, We
broke our way through wild clover, breast
high to the horses; we encamped on a
branch of Dry Greek, near where Dr.
Wards Ranch now is. Just above the
camp was an Indian rancherie. They were
busily engaged in gathering grass-seeds
and esculent roots for the coming winter,
and also green cI0Uer. They rendered US
full supplies Of Exchanges, but our stock
being decidedly carniverous, we declined
the hospitality of our herbiverous friends,
and left them to the full enjoyment Of their
fsvorite luxury
At Hicks Ranch we struck the trail that
I'D to Suttcr's Creek, and followed it to
the base Of the low hills, thence forking
nOrthward, prospecting as we went for new
Uggings. Suffers Creek was discovered
By the old Captain, shortly after the old
Dry Diggings we're first worked out He
took with him a party of Indians, and after
several days of ups and downs through that
mountainous region, they discovered gold
on the creek. which since bears his name
He was the first to employ Indian labor in
mining and to adopt the plan Of buying the
Indians gold, rendering trade in payment.
Many miners afterwards made independ-
ent fortunes following the same plan. SUIT
ter's Greek was the first placer discovered
south of Dry Diggings. Shortly after,
Ama1ore discovered his diggings. A
branch Of his party first worked on Jack
son Greek and Rio Seco.
On our arrival at Dry Diggings we found
the place quite deserted, as the Kelsey's
had just discovered their dry diggings, be-
tween the South and Middle Forks, and al
so the wealth Of the Middle Fork began
to pour her golden stream into the drawers
of the Coloma merchants. One instance |
will mention. Two men, V-n H-n
and H-y, both of them boon companions
of mine, packed themselves at Coloma with
three weeks provisions, two tin pans, one
pick, ana one shovel, and started for the
Middle Fork, which they struck at Ford's
Bar. They worked unmolested fifteen or
twenty days, when the Indians discovered
them and stole their provisions and blan-
kets. This misfortune compelled them to
leave for Coloma, bringing with them sixty
three pounds of gold, the result Of their
uHltFu lduOF 10 SHOW Tue CIreleSSnoSS
with which gold was handled at that time,
| will state circumstance that occurred
On their arrival at Coloma, they were
brought over the river and proceeded to the
store TO divide their pile. After drinks all
aound, and general good time of it among
the boys, handkerchief containing seven
teen pounds, nicely knotted up in the cor
ner, was among the missing After ge-
neral search among barrels and boxes, and
various blank looks by the assembled few,
the search was extended to the door, and
from the door to the river, where, on the
other side, 10 and behold the handkerchief
was found-the gold all safe 1t lad been
lost almost three hours before it was miss
ed. A general extension Of drinks and
Oyening of more sardines. crowned the
event; for Van was prince among good
fellows. and all parties in general and NY
self in particular, was brought to acknow-
ledge the cnrn. PoRTER