The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-07-08
Dovnieyle, Sierra County California Saturday July 1854


up to Fosters Bar, crossed the river and
camped on the hills that night, the 9Th
of October, l849.
The next morning we came down to the
spring and had breakfast, and counted our
NUMBER, those that were to go and Those
that were to stay. Some we did not think
proper to let go with US, as they would
only eat our provisions, and bring about a
famine in our own camp.
It may seem strange that l should talk
about not letting all go who were at our
camp the next morning after leaving Eos
ter's Bar; but when I tell yo,, that there
were some thirty-Gve or forty kanakas
that wanted to go with us, that had nei-
ther money nor provisions, you will see the
propriety Of our making halt. They
had worked with the colored men who
were along with ME, and expected to live
on heir provisions during our prospecting
tour. After holding a consultation, We
came to the conclusion that the hanakaS
should not so with US. So | was appoint
ed to tell them that if they acou!d go they
must look out for themselves, that they
need not expect any of our provision, as
We had little enough for ourselves, that
we did not know where we were going OF
when we would be back, and that it was
matter Of uncertainty whether we starved
or not.
Our company consisted Of seven colored
men, two white men aud a boy, thought
one fellow who was with us was not oil
much account in the mountains, and said
as much to the rest Of our party-tlat he
was not the right grit for a mountaineer
lie put on such long face that it was
enough to dishearten all hands. believe
he was from Michigan, end either sick OF
love-sick, | don't know which. When We
got to Slate Range | told him that ]
thought it would be better for him to turn
back, and when we represented to him thi
probability of being killed by the Indians
or torn to pieces by the bears, the last az
guueEt was clinch +, and he put back
and we were all glad of it. To see hin
sitting by the camp hre at night, with {
box OF Bra dreth's pills, reading the di
rections and swallowing them like q CHECKER
eating dough, it Was enough to give US
I'LL the blues. He was like many more
that I have since met, who expected tt
make a fortune with a few pounds o
crackers.
After he left us the colored people were
all in high spirits, for colored men arr
much more light hearted under dil1iculties
than the whites. ! was now the only
white man in the party except Michae
Devearney, and he was little boy-bu
Mike was brick.
While we were encamped at Slate
Range, one of the men went back after {
kanaka and an Indian. The Kanaka the,
brougi. with them was : i'm Crow, WIZ
caused such excitement above Downieville
the spring following. We then moved OF
to Cut Eye Fosters camp. and there stait
over Sunday, replenishing our stock 0
provisions with hundred pounds Of flour
A famous cleaning Of firearms tool
place there, shot guns, rifles and pepper
boxes. They took them all apart: made /
rousing fire, and piled the barrels on it
Some of them were loaded, and af
ter they became hot they commenced {
running fire on their own account, which
caused the astonished darkies to take t.
the tall timber. I happened to be some
distance off, and hearing the racket an6
seeing them running behind trees, ! die
not know what the matter was and started
towards the camp. They shouted to MT
to tree until all the gun-barrels were dis
charged. They said that was a capita
way to clean guns. but did not think
much of it.
Here / FIRST met with Cut Eye Foster
His camp was close to ours, in what il
known as Oak Valley, about mile and 1
half from where I am now writing.
tried to- get all the information coult
from Cut Eye; he thought the prospects
in the unexplored region we've good, bu'
that it was rather late 10 the fall to 81
prospecting SO far in the mountains. W.
saw several returning, and if I had beer
with white men I know very we'll stheJ
would have been for returning. As il
was We were al Of one mind TO 60 ahead
and ahead We went.
After we got oil our old shot guns, rifles