San Andreas independent., 1856-09-24
San Andreas.


the Gulch, since called San Andreas.j about
one-f fourth of mile above where the town now
stands and commenced working in the bed OF
the gulch, by sinking holes and washing out
with !" 5atteas,"
In the fall of '49, their numbers considerably
ssfncreased, but the place was not looked upon as
worthy of any great note. as mining locality
But in the winter of 1849, or spring of 80, a
few Americans came in, and commenced ooe-
rations In the main gulch, which soon had a
tendency to bring in Others In the meantime
the Spanish population continued to increase,
until, in the fall and winter of 1850, they num-
bered some twelve or fifteen hundred At this
time, the principal part encamped on the
hillside, on which is now located the town of
San Andreas, and on all sides were seen small
tents, such as usually designated any important
mining locality, in the palmy and prosperous
DAYS of 1849-5O.
The mines were rich, every person was doing
WELL and of course, during these flush times"
shops, were the necessary concomitants of a
large Spanish population,--and on every night
En1ight be seen numbers Of brave caballeres and
comely senoritas capering nimbly on light fan
tastic toe"
III population composed of such incongru-
GUS materials, il could not be expected but that
there would be numbers of de sperate and bloody
encounters, in which pistols, bowie-knives, etc.,
figured conspicuously, terminating frequently in
death, or at least, severe and ghastly wounds to
some of the party, while the guilty offender
could easily escape to some other locality where
he could again perform similar feats of daring
and chivalry.
In the spring of 1851, was erected the Bella
Union,-the first frame building in San Andreas;
which building answered the purpose of court
room, drinking saloon, ard gambling-house,
and in after days the building went through a
variety of uses among which, it became the
fashionable resorting place of the early miners,
it being the Dance House, Could It's walls have
spoken, during the fire of last spring, which de-
stroyed its ancient and respectable appearance,
many a blush would be brought to the modest
through every county of this State and every
State of our Union. About the time Of its COM
pletion, rich digsings were discovered at Mokel-
umne HILL A rush was made-everyb fol-
lowed the rush-San 1tndreas became nearly
depopulated, and the WORTHY proprietor of the
Bella Union, began to think that he was not
only soTe Proprietor, but sole customer of the
new and splendid establishment
Early in the summer of 1851, Capt. Robert
Pope came to this place located the right Of
way, and surveyed the route of a ditch, leading
from Willow Creek TO the foot hills north OF
San Andreas. Shortly afterwards a company
calling themselves the Miners Ditch Company,
commenced digging ditch along the same
route, which was completed and the water run
ming through, early in the spring Of 1852. Then
commenced a lawsuit between Capt Pope and
the Miners Company, which terminated in So,
in the Miners" being ousted of all their pre-
tended right, title, and interest
In the fall of 1851, the miners began to re-
turn from the stampede they had taken in the
direction of Mokelumne Hill, and the following
winter, San Andreas became quite hourishing
camp.
During the winter Of 1851, another Ditch
Company was formed, called the Union Com
pdny, for the purpose of bringing water from
Murray's Creek. This ditch was completed in
the spring of 1852. In March or April of this
year, Mexican was killed while asleep in Har-
dins house. The murder was supposed to have
been committed by another Mexican, who was
sleeping in the same building. He was arrest
f ed, tried and acqutted but when leaving
town, was overtaken, and executed by the pop
uace. He was buried on the summit of the
hill South oftown.
In June 1852, the water failing in this vicin-
ity, many of the miners left and located on the
rivers and in the neighboring camps, during
the summer months. In the fall they all re-
turned. aid the camp again became life, blus-
ter and activity.
:, In the winter of 1852, the whole community
in this vicinity was kept in d constant agitation
and alarm, caused by the depredations and
murders Of the notorious bandit Joaquin ana
MS band of murderers who had estabhEhed
their head quarters at Yacque Camp, about three
miles from this place; whence they issued forth
to levy contributions upon the unsuspecting
traveller on the highway, the quiet and peaceable
miner in his cabin, and the harmless John
Chinamann wherever he was found. For some
time robberies were committed in different parts
of the county, and no one appeared to be
aware whence the blow came, or where they
should strike, in order to put stop to the de-
predations that were being almost daily COM
mitted. Frequent meetings of the citizens were
held to devise means for ridding the country
Of this band of eut-throats, who were striking
terror to the hearts of all our citizens Num-
bers of persons formed themselves into volun-
teer companies, and parties were securing the
l IL.