The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-09

or Oregon Cssrsspsnasnss.
PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept II, 1853.
Tip through California to Oregon Sketches Of the
Cites, ToWws, and Cosntry-Sad Fate of an
Rmigra~t Party, &c.
wrote you last from the southern mines Of Cali
lpmia, in the neighborhood of Sonora The weather
becoming very warm, concluded to give up my 10
catien there, and try the northern mines. On my
vay passed through San Francisco, and stopped
~ days there. was surprised to see how great was
Ne change which the nine months, since LETT it,
had wrought. Large numbers Of the best kind Of
buildngs going up in every part OF the city, and
h the environs many elegant residences are now
erected. It is already noble city, and in but few
years must hold rvalship with the greatest empo'
inns Of the world.
From San Francisco l went to sacramento, wnere
stopped day. Notwithstanding the ter1ue ca
lanities which have almost overwhelmed this city, IT
\ sll place of great extent and business, and re-
Aains, and will retain, presume, the distinction OF
heing the second city Of California.
Taking small class steamer proceeded up the
Sacramento river to Colusa, hundred and thirty
I've miles above Sacramento. In winter the nsviga-
Ton extends still another hundred miles, to Converts
great extent, and very productive, but it is quite
healthy I heard it said From Cousa we were
taken by coach along the valley another hundred
miles, and came to Shasta q right smart
mining town, which has been just rebuilt,
after being almost completely burned up There are
. large number Of stores there, as it Is the
point of supply for extensive region, and it has
very busy air. From Shasta on ward is only mule
A.,;vE Co. tk~ nd uOlv mazda INV
way from here on foot, which method of locomoson
prefer to any other and which is here at any rate,
y ar the most agreeable. 1t s little lonely, how
sver; the houses are sometimes ten or twelve miles
apart and you may pass over long distance without
meeting any one. The profound quiet and seclusion
q these rural districts were TO me very pleasing
Now and then the deer are startled by your football
and bound away from its sound, and all is still agaia.
On leaving Shasta you pass up the valley of Clear
Greek for some twenty-five miles, and then strike
across high range of land on to the Trinity, which
considerable stream, and valley of no great ex
tent Following up this stream quite to its head,
you the height Of land, and pass into the
valley Of SCOTS river, which is rem srkaby fine
enc, and of considerable extent being six or seven
niles wide in some places although the stream is quite
mall There are here quite q number OF settlers,
and Q good deal of land under cultivation. After
the long stretch of desert land between the valley
md Shasta, (about one hundred miles,) it seemed
IKE an oasis in the desert. found the people here
. good deal alarmed about the Indians, who have
committed many murders and destroyed much pro
lerty in the Rogue river valley, and it was feared
That the Shasta Indians (who occupy this yaleyD
would break out in the same manner.
Crossing another height Of land, you pass from
SCOTS into the Shasta valley, which is of greater
satent but not rear!y as fertile as the former In
q Yreka, which is one of the most
siderable mining towns of Northern California, and
Ne diggings hereabout are quite rich but are not
much worked at this season, on account Of the
weather Here too, the greatest excitement prevails
N regard to the Indians, although no outbreak has
% yet taken place; and, owing to the small number
q Indians, (not more than thirty or forty0 there
probably viii be none. company of mounted
men, however, are constantly engaged in securing
NE country adjacent, and another had been des-
patched to the aid of the Rogue river settlements,
WHARF the danger is really great. In fact not long
after leaving the Yreka, on my way there. met a
couple of zen riding furiously from whom leaned
hat house had been attacked the same morning,
and Eve or six men killed or severely wounded, and
they were on the way to seek medical assistance for
them No. long alter leaving them, | came to the
base of the Siskiysn mountains, which are the
boundary between California and Oregon, and
crossing which you find yourself in the Rogue
river country, and in the midst Of the hostile
Indians. halted day here, in hopes OF finding
some cOmpanionship across the mountains; but as
none came, t.ok my way across on foot and alone
IL is lonely place eaough, for about twelve miles
without any houses, and many places where The In
diane, securely amoushed, might destroy almost aoy
number without even being seen. | experienced no
molestat,on, however, and made my way into the
valley Of the Rogue river a. the expense Of only
slight trepidarion when the bushes were moved by
Some wild animals as invaded their domains
A little way down the valley was the house
which had been attacked. The attack was made
at day break, according to the usual prae-
tice of the Indians. Two enigrant wagons
we're encamped by the river. The men,
three in number, were asleep under the
wagons, and al we're killed or badly wounded that
they did not long survive. The women and children
The wagons were riddled with balls and arrows.
Certainly 1t hard fate, after escaping all the
danger Of their long travel 30 to perish on the soil
sssy had come far to seek As the people here were
with them . few days, and assisted them to keep
guard; but the Indians offering no further mo'esta
es On :. Ga. os nd b nVe g.
the last of the mining towns, although the mining
region extends to the, north considerably further
truth it is not at all certain yet where it stops.
Jacksonville is the depot of the Rogue river valley,
ir which there are rich mining claims, as well as
great agricultural resources and bids fair to become
place of considerable importance.
The camp where the troops, numbering some three
thousand, who were engaged in the war, was about
zen miles from Jacksonville under command Of Gen.
lane, and walked down there one day and stopped
ever night, to see how the "boys" got on. re
manned here all night, and we had fine time Of it,
With the canopy OF heaven for covering; but the
hardy minersoldiers made but little account Of it,
and the bright sun of the morning soon put all to
ighs. There had been engage nent day or
swo BEFORE in which the whites, engaging ct great
disadvantage, were rather worsted. Capt Alden,
United States army, was very badly wounded in
thh engag cement, by wound in the neck, and Gen.
Wool WAS wounded slightly in the arm, The In
dams are very well armed and have shown good
deal Of sbrewdness in carrying the war; but they
have committed many barbartes, aod from the
spirit which is aroused, they can hardly fail to re-
ceive summary chsstisement.
Finding the war Ia sfatu quo on account of pro-
posed treaty with the Indians, and mining pursuits
altogether interrupted, as well as all Others Iresolved
tspuA across Oregon TO Portland, and thence again
- Gan Francisco. Travelling in that direction
W. considered extremely dangerous, and received
moAy warnings 10 the effect that could hardly cross
Il unharned; but, as had made up my mind to
cross 1t all events, set out conposedly enough from
jacksonville on foot, alone and unarmed, as | had