The Sierra citizen., 1854-09-23
For the Sierra Citizen.
: NO. X.
Letters from Major Downie.

0CLCCxO ~ VAA AActJVA 0V WAAVs
Trade was hourishing now about the
forks, with now, and then, a lawsuit to
enliven matters. If miner lost his claim
YOU would not see such doleful faces as l
saw at Downieville the last time was up,
on some of them who had lost theirs
Whenever the verdict was given "you have
lost your claim" in these days you would
hear them shout "let her rip! plenty
more claims-come lets have something
to drink y and then there was drinking
match that would astonish the natives
now-a-days-both parties trying which
could out treat the other
remember one case in particular, when
all the champagne in town went I guess
Uncle" had to shell out right smart for
that law-suit-no drawing of corks was
the order of the day the necks were bro
ken off and it was ''who takes champagne?
who takes brandy fall back you who
drank and make room for those who have
not"-go to the streets and bring in
everybody 'Uncle's" treating another
basket" Should stranger come along
and inquire what was the matter, or what
was ?-"oh nothing only "Uncles' treat
ing, he gained the lawsuit to-day Such
scenes were an everyday occurrence, or [
should say night occurrence, as it was
generally after midnight when the Jury
would retire to bring in their verdict, and
they had a pretty good idea that the boys
were getting thirsty, so it was not very
often they kept them waiting.
There was some bottled Ale made its
appearance in town and as this was some
thing new the Court gave recess two or
three times a day-staying proceedings to
strengthen the inner man. The malt
liquor could have been drunk in Court as
well as anywhere else, but the judge did
not want his table covered with slops, so
they went elsewhere. 1t was pretty hard
work talking then, and the lawyers about
Downieville couldn't stand much such
mental labor as was required without re-
cruiting exhausted nature by frequent
draughts Of the refreshing fluids.
When will the miners learn to settle
their difficulties without recourse to Courts
of Law? Who so fit as to to settle among
themselves any disputes about their claims?
In some cases men may be compelled to
go to law but it was always best to SUBJ
NIT to the decision of a meeting of the
miners on the ground. had a lawsuit
with some fellows who came from the
South Yuba, somewhere about Nevada,
they came to Downievile to make new
laws and jump claims-they got up public
MEETINGS in the Plaza and tried to intro
duce New Laws, but they got beat at that
and their next move was to Jump the
claims of all foreigners, and as had the
misfortune to be a Scotchman this was
brought against me in Court. Was not
a Scotehman and therefore a foreigner?
Well l remember the night told them
vas Scotchman but proved to them
that | was not a foreigner. Yes am
Scetchman and al1 @aa ~
'.Proud of the land that gave me birth,
They have Wallace, braver never born,
And there's Bruce at Freedoms Bannock
born" .s q. u.
And can also appreciate he privi-
lodges of a citizen of the United
States. The other parties were fined fifty
dollars but could never find out what
became of that money, but have an idea
it went for Ale. l sold that claim shortly
afterwards to young man by the name
of Boney who was in fever to get home
to his young wife; he was to pay me two
thirds of the proceeds Of the claim as it
came out until he had paid for it IA very
bad way to sell claim though.) l got
two or three days share-some days it
paid over one thousand dollars-and
packed up my blankets and started on
prospecting tour, was gone about two
weeks and when l came back the claim
had changed hads. / had two tents and
cooking utensils on the claim, they were
gone too, gold scales and all, and my
brave Mr.. Boney was going it with steam
boat speed, homeward bound-to throw
.ll himself into the arms of the girl he left
behind him. Well now. that is the last
married man l will have anything to do
with This time was out prospecting
with ten others in company; we got up the
divide above Jim Grow canon and sh. .nod