The Sierra citizen., 1854-07-29
NO. III.
Letters from Major Downie.


I have already said we had a good pros
pecting company, and SO it proved to be.
We got ready to resume operations lone
was to keep camp, enc look after the
mules, while the rest went in twos and
threes up and down the banks ofthe river.
Each one could 60 alone if he chose; but
however, we went-each one was to have
what he got in his pan. We found this,
much the best way of prospecting; it pre-
vented rascality, as when two went to-
gether they could if they chose divide be-
tween them what they dug, and report no
success to the rest of the company. This
was the common rule among miners then;
however, all hands reported every evening
whether they had discovered any rich
bars, if so the discoverer had the first
choice of the ground.
While camped on the Jersey Flat, Jim
Crow killed salmon trout weighing
twelve or fourteen pounds. The fish was
boiled in a camp-kettle, and in looking in
the kettle after the fish was taken out
gold was found in the bottom. This MAJ
look like fish story, but it is neverthe e.
less true. Afterwards we discovered a
small bar at the lower end of Zumalt Flat
which prospected well. So we broke up
camp on Jersey Flat and moved up the
river. -Four of us went to work With a
rocker and washed out about twelve
ounces the first day We at last conclu-
ded the bar was worked out and left it
Some of the boys got as much as thirteen
or fourteen ounces day crevicing in the
banks-that was by the lead weights, and
Jack Smith said they were made for
killing dogs. We had one half ounce
brass weight, and by that all the other
weights were regulated, giving good
weight all the time until we had one oil
eight ounces, and that big weight was
brought into requisition almost ever; day
We worked few days on a bar at the
Forks above, until that was worked out
as we supposed. We afterwards founc
gold all along the banks, and sometimes
/ found several hundred dollars in a few
hours, very seldom using shovel. Ou1
mining implements consisted of butchers
knife, tin-pan and crow-bar. Wherevel
we saw place that looked as though il
would pay, we crossed the river on tn,
rocks. when we happened to be on th'
opposite side, delved into the crevices, ant
found out what was there so quick that i
astonished the sulky neighbors, who woult
give us no information few days before
We shortly after held consultation
about what we should do in the winter
and finally came to the conclusion to stol
over winter If we could find q bar to worl
on, and at the same time contr7ye to la,
in q stock Of provisions. We therefor
agreed to abandon the crevfciny basines
and look up bar where plenty Of dir
could be easily, obtained, the, scarcity 0
dirt had been our principal grievance
when crevicing as just about the time w
had our hopes excited to the highest pitch
the rich spot would give out, and afte
spooning and scrapingI D while we woul'
begin to look really disconsolate.
While camped on zamaH Flat, 1 du|
o hole on the opposite side on little bal
that was afterwards named the "tin-cul
diggings," and found it would pay about
dollar to the pan. l worked there my
self short time, but could get nobod
to help me. -Four Of the company wen
up the South Fork to what is now calle
Brifogie Flat, and there found q prospec
in the bar on the South side,, which the
a thought would do, SO we packed up an
n removed to that place. bought dug
| 49, \ -4
t out. or bur.rnt-out rocker, from that mys
|, terious company for one ounce-the sam
e company that were going to make clea
4 sweep of all the gold on the North Fori
Z l then crossed the river with. my old my mul
n and log rocker, not without much diff
7, Guilty. Asit was hard getting along ii
, banks we,adopted the old plan Of easin
them downPwith ropes and when an an
K NAL went to fast, Or turned head to, OF
q Of the men went down and 'sslewed" hil
y round. Mynaie. got fcdl ola hornet
i nest, became furious, and .btoGethe "du,
y out" Twas at q loss to Know what IL
}. matter was, as had never seen him RI
re before, being usually very sedate, we
behaved animal. Pdning dowh. my ID