Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-02-17
A letter from Downieyille, in the

A letter from Downieville, in the
California Express, says:
Affairs are rapidly approaching a
crisis. Provisions cannot be OBJ
tanned for any consideration. There
is some little -four left, which the
lucky possessors retain for private
use. The supply oi beef is nearly
exhausted. Nearly all the hotels
are closed, and those that remain
open use barley as substitute for
-four, and on orr departure little Of
that was left. A meeting was held
the other evening at Craycrost's to
take into consideration the propriety
of able-bodied men quitting town,
leaving what little still remained for
the consumption of the infirm and
female part of the community
Consequently an immense number
lett.
We copy the following from the
same paper:
Mr.. Moodey states that no less
than 700 miners on Churn creek, in
the vicinity OF his ranch, were COM
PEELED to subsist six days on acorns,
being entirely destitute Of provi
sions, and unable TO procure them in
consequence Of the high water.
Al Downie's ranch on the north
side OF Cow Greek. ty'slve persons
were cooped up in room 7 by 8
for eight days, during which time
they we're obliged 10 subsist on one
scanty meal of beans per diem. One
of the number was Mrs. D., who
was very i'll. Her husband sue
ceeded in fording Cow Greek, and
reaching Fort Reading, where he
endeavored TO buy such luxuries as
his wife needed, but the officers re-
fused TO sell him any. He however
managed TO obtain from some OF
the soldiers their extra raiions, and
returned with them to the creek,
but was unable TO cross owing TO
the high water. Fortunately good
Samaritan happened along that way
soon after on horseback, who swan
the river and supplied his wife with
the necessaries provided by her hus-
band.
We learn from Mr.. Hickcok, who
left Goodyear's bar on Monday last,
that the snow in that region was
four feet deep; that three men had
been found on the hill this side.
frozen to death, with flour lashed 20
their backs, who had been carried
by Mr.. II. and his party to the bar
and buried. Mr.. Hickcok came
thI ough in 8 days on foot, bringing
$1,000 in treasure. He says he
was on the point OF yielding to ex-
treme exhaustion several times. II
is the intention of Mr.. Fl. to get the
train through to the bar if possible.
Almost the only bread used was
made of barley which sold at so
cents per 10.
Some judgment may be formed of
the severity Of the suffering among
the miners from a statement which
we notice in one Of the papers that
-four was selling at two dollars
pound-nearly four hundred dollars
barrelI Fifty TO seventy.fve cents
appears 10 be about the ordinary
price per pound throughout the
mining regions. The Sacramento
Transcript OF the lst instant res
marks:
A report is prevalent in Stockton
that some miners recently attacked
train OF wagons in Mariposa coun-
ty, and rifeG them of all the pro-
visions they contained. This, says
the Journal, must not be wondered
at, nor too strongly condemned, as
it is the spur Of starvation that drives
men TO such crimes. Their lives
depended on the stake, and men will
resort to any extreme TO satisfy the
demands OF nature.
From other quarters the record is
equally discouraging. but more par
ticularly from Calaveras county,
where the deprivation is most heart
rending. A gentleman Of our ac-
quaintanee informs us that riding out
a short distance from town a few
days since, he met man up to his
arm-pits in water, wadihg and swim
ming into town as best he could,
with but one determination, to have
Something 10 eat"