Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-25

at Bolios Bay, where we were entertained tor
the night. Next morning steamers were dls-
patched tor the relief of passengers, and arriv-
ed at San Francisco April 10th, 4, z. NJ he
California Gold Seker' has no local hab
itation long at time. He Is necessarily lndesci-
sive and irregular His soiled and wayworn rags,
his long hair and ancient beard that has not
been cut for years at once proclaimed nm OF
the tribe of "Leyi," his low crowned oil covered
hat shows his respect for California .faS@i0"S;
his old ragged flannel shirt, he knows, does not
want washing more than twice month; MS ulr-
ty earth colored pants seem to be cal cniaied ex-
3ressly to the climate; there is a large doorway
in the seat. and numerous windows III the legs,
to promote a due circulation of air, while his
toes are continually on prospecting tour, peep
ont like frors from the ends of his old boots.
At meal time he nourishes around his ilre,
gnashine his teeth with unspeaksble ayldlty
over irving slap-iack. He can make you
hatch of bread, bake you mess of grlddle cakes,
or fry YOU beef steak from a side OF bacon, as
we'll as your wives and sweetheats at home
"Wten on prospecting tour, be shoulders
his blankets, two or three weeks rations OF hard
bread and a few mining utensils. OnWad lie
plods until he asceuds the snow capeC heights
of the Sirra Nevada, that rear their lofty heads
to the clouds At night he sinks down entirely
exhausted; too tired to cook his illfsted supper;
and passes away the night beneath the broad
canonv of heaven, dreaming of his home and
friends, the only moment he is truly happy; with
the bowling of wolves for his lullaby. He can
not sleep nor rest well lest the savage may
pouncc upon him; or some wild beast seize up
on him and devour him. Weeks and months
are spent in this way; day after day he has to
dir. dig, pick, shovel, lift and torn over huge
rocks, bail water, lug dirt in sack fifty or
hundred rods. often without dino to reward
them for their labor. Here the poor miner
cries oftener than a child cleaning out the black
sand broiIing under the scorchinS sun at noon,
shiverinc with cold at night; he gladly sees the
sun disappear behind the rugged mountains, after
raninq tue few shining scales which almost
! hide themselves in the crevices of his pan
With heavy heart he tuns his face once more
towards the valley, wondering what ever induc
ed him to leave the comforts of home, to be-
come q toil-worn and weather beaten miner, IN
the isolated wids of California Once more
he attempts to try his luck in daming some
river. This requires immense sums OF money
and labor. The water is finally turned; hole
( is dup in the very bed of the stream; many pan
/ fulls are tried; and gracious heavens! not olme
to be found Dead broke and not cent 70
nav debt. Disheartend and worn out, bestow-
! mo a hearty and audible d-a on all dams,
he resolves to let those dig who could hnd any
thing and take advantage OF the first deep snow
and slide down to the valley of the Sacra-
mento. determined to 60 to the West IN search
of the Lord knows what for he don't. The
miners Sunday is passed away in misery. lie
bends himself gracefully over q wash tub, made
of an old barrel sawed in two; washing out his
old earth-colored rags; and stitches up the sad
est rents of his dry-gOods, plssers q few flour
sacks on his old ragged shirt and pants; drives
few large nails in his old boots, to keep them
from exploding; darus his old socks, to induce
them to stay with him; and sows on stray
button, with no fears of aristocratlc trowns from
unenlightened "Upper Tens Sometimes he
attends church at the appointed hour. Some
old galvanlsed preacher appears with his 1oui
story plug hat on, and standing collar fits SC
tight he couldn't swallow; with bottle IN one
pocket, and a deck of cards in the other. lie
takes the stand and waves his lights with the
greatest applause to the wandering "EsauS;
while Others resort to the grog-shop, the hohs5
of prostitution and gambling saloons; and ottor
the cry of murder at the dead hour Of night
is heard among them. And the theiving gamb
lers, their name is '.Le5ion, for they many
"Those who have homes iii Tennessee; had bet
ter not leave them to become gold seeker and
sufferer in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Cali
foruia: for if he knew the hardships and priva
tions to encounter, the toll and pain to endure
he would sooner hoe corn and dig potatoes at
four bits. a day, than ever undertake the expedi
ton.
Every steamer that arrives brings thou
sands of deluded mortals to these far and desc
late shores where they are cut off from the ad
vantages of social intercourse and civilized so
, cietv Here they are mixed with the very skum
of the earth from The most distant and remote
part Of the world; from China's Celestial En-
pire, from the lost cities of Europe and Asia
and from the tangled wilds of Central Ameri
, ca. who would take your life for dollar. Eve
ry newspaper you take up is trumpeting forth
, biz strikes, rich beds and lucky hombreBs il
the mines, holding forth in glowing terms, brigh'
j visions Of wealth to our astonised fellow citlzeE'
at home, exciteing them to try their luck IT
the land Of Ophir; leaving comfortable homes
and friends to undergo all the vic lssitudes o
life in California.
WILEY Britain.
, Sacramento City, Cal, Feb. 22d, 1854.
Tlo ;obt M, the Nash