Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-02-04
IL Days Later from California.
ARRIVAL OF TIE STAR OF TIE WEST

SUFFERING AMONG THE Miners.
The steamer Star Of the West, from San
Juan, arrived ut New York Friday morning
bringing 300 passengers, and California dates
to the lst inst.
The steamer Golden Cato arrived AT San
Francisco, December 18th. The Winfield
Scott arrived 2gth
The Oregon lett on the 20,h, and Northerner
Jan. LIST, both for Panama, and took down TO.
gether = 1921 900 in gold dust.
The star Of the West was bourded on the
l0'h by the barquo John Colby, from NAVY
Bay for st. Marks. The crew were all sicl;
and one dead. Supplied her with medicines.
ne ioHowlng Is summary Of the news
published at San Francisco LIST inst
lhe present winter Is conceded TO be the most
stvere ohe experienced in this country since il
has been populated by Americans. During
the last fortnight It has been rainsrand snor-
ing continually in the mountains aud valleys.
and we are daily in the receipt of accounts of
distress and suffering in all parts of the State.
Inc waters have been unusually high, and
communications through the mining regions
have been almost entirely cut off, either by the
snow or overil1Hing stredmA
Ihe rivers have been swelled TO such an ex.
tent as to lnunda,o all the lowlands, causing
an immense damage, and destroying stock and
agricultural products. The whole country be .
tween Tehama aud Sacramento city, was en-,
tlroIy under water, while Marysyile WAS part-
" inundated; and though Sacramento was
well protected by evee, the lower portions
were submerged, The waters at the nrtsent
time have subslGo1, although the rains st,
Continue. Ga tho mountain streams the loss
OF mining implements has been great, and all
w0rk Tor the present is suspended Bird yes
! a anil H. 4
and some few lives lost. The southern portion
OF the mining district has suffered equally with
| the northern.
Stockton has been inundated partially, ard
| property toa consde Etie amount destroyed.--
| Tho bridges on CaaveraA, StaHiSlauS, and 9th.
er streams, have been swept away, aud con
munication with the mining towns for while
| suspended.
The flood has been universal and the waters
! higher than in the memorable winter Of 1919.
Tho great scarcity Of provisions and the con-
| sequent high price has Occasoned much sut,-
erIng AMI distress, aud it is feared that many
| VIII actually die from starvation. Many mi =
ners suJsst entirely on beef and potatoes,
whilst IN other PORTIONS If the mines there are
hundreds who have nothing at all but barley
and potatoes. In portions OF Yu5l and Sierra
counties, the snow was already ten feet deep,
and sttil falling, and the miners actually re
duced to absolute want.
la one place the miners held meeting aud
offered trader, to sell what ilpur they had on
! hand, at 40 cents per pound, and al who were
able to leave did so, thus leaving the provis-
ions to those who were unable 10 find their way
through the snow to tho valleys.
In some places cabins are entirely crushed
thus cutting of the last chance of protection
The accounts received may be greatly exa.
geratct, nevertheless there 5 much suffering
and distress, aud it is not improbable that some
may perish by starvation.
The United States Land Commissioners have
resumed their session in this city, and rendered
several opinions and DEGREES of final confirms
ton. Anon. the mos, important is one con
tirmnI the claim Of Col. John G.. Fremont tC
Las Mariposas, containing ten square leagues
bounded Oh the north by the Sierra Nevada, eT
the cast by tue river Chuachilles, on the soutl
, hy s." J;",liu, Hnd west by the Merced.-
The grant was made in 1871, by Governor
M'ohc!'oronn to Juan l}. Alvurado, in conf /
Grafton Of important service rendered.
A man named William X jones was huns
by the people few days sucP, ! , niles above
: SACRAMENTO, for the murder o; Peter McGaf
igan.
} The Supreme Court of this State has ren
! dored an important decision in relation to thC
validity Of MeX.can grants The opinion il
an able one, and WAS delivered by Justice Hey
denieIdt in the case of Vandcrshee ard Clark
son vs. Julien Hanks. This decision greatly
Affects much landed interest in this State.
The New England Society celebrated tn,
232d Anniversary OF the landing of tho Phi
GRIM, IN this city, in fine style. An ORATOR
) was delivered at the Mexican Theatre.
lew days since We were visited with I
terrible southeast gale which prevailed for two
days. Several hight tenamcnts were blowI
down. and some injury done to the shipping il
! the hatbor.
The members Of the next Legislature art
rapidly congregaling in this city, preparatory
to their meeting at Vallejo on Monday next
II is very uncertain whether the seat Of Gov
ernmeut will remain there during the winter
) In tie event o! its removal Danicla will pruJa
bly, be selected.
OREGON. We have dates from Oregon t.
Dec. !. There was much ice running in lht
Columbia river, and the bar1ue Ocean Bird anC
brig llodgdon were frozen In near the mouth
The Legislature was in session, but was do
ing nothin. of Importance.
SANDWICH AND SoCIGTY IsLANDs.-Our dates
from the Sandwich Islands are to Dec. 1. The
news is not Of much importance, though III
terestng.
The Sandwich Islands news is favorable
Sugar plantations are expected to yield abund-
anty.
In the Society Islands tho French are re-
ported as extending their power aud influence
rapidly. The French Governor has despatched
an expedition against Navigator Islands 20 pun
ish the natives for insulting missionaries and
French traders.
Tho barluo America, which cleared at San
francisco Tor Hong Kong, on the 26h ut, with
| lO) Chinese passengers, had Just ho!sted an-
chors when the Chinese made a desperate at
tack with knives on the officers and crew, dri-
wig Them overheard Assistance being after
wards obtained, the vessel was rctakcn. The
Ch nese had been informed that the vessel was
short of provisions and water. The America
WAS afterwards attached by the Chinese for
their passage money, and the voyage was aban-
doned.
The English steamer from Queen Cherlutes
Island arrived ut Page.s Sound with Capt.
ltenncy and the crew of the schooner Susan
Sturgls. The crew taken prisoners by the In
dans, but had been bought by the Hudson
] ID.