San Andreas independent., 1857-07-11
Fourth of July in the Mines.

Fourth of July in the Mines.
Early on last Friday a casual observer might
have seen preparations to receive, in this camp
that old Seventy-sixer, the Fourth of July and
to give him miners welcome. The gayeties
and festivities of our National Sabbath were
about to be repeated with an individual WILL
and although not so brilliant as they would
have been had some united action been adop-
ted, yet they were quite as patriotic and consid-
erably more noisy. The juvenile fraternity
amused themselves with the usual pocket-pat-
riotism, in the shape of fre-crackers, squibs,
serpents, Roman candles. and various Chinese
fireworks while the other side of twentv-one
manned the Blacksmith Artillery and Rag
Paixhan s-gcnerally ending with an intcrmis-
sion-prclude-of crackers and cheese \ Rag
Paixhan is large ball of canvas, firmly bound
with marline, and enclosing from four to six
pounds of powder; fuse leads from the outer
surface to the powder within the q internal ma
chine is perfectly safe. and being firmly bound
with numerous bands of strong canvas, the ex-
ploson is perfectly deafening. The National
salute on the morning of the Fourth, fired by
the Light Brigade from their Anvil Battery,
we are told, was well executed, as also was the
q Tiger of the Ragged Regiment
The Ball at the Spring Valley House had,
early on Friday evening, thinned out the popu-
lation of this camp. and being among the
:! thnned,' we shall endcavor to take a peep at
the gay throng of youth and beauty assem-
bled at the hospitable mansion Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Briant, mine host and hostess of the Spring
Valley House. The Ball was certainly the most
comfortable and agreeble one we ever attended.
The music of Mr.. kelly's band was good, and
the direction of Mr. J. L. Britton all that could
be wished in mastering the ceremonies of so
jovial an occasion.
At an early hour the company commenced
assembling from various parts of the surround
ing country; every mode of conveyance ap-
pearcd to be pressed into requisition, from the
superb silver-mounted two-horse chariot as it
rolled along with its burden of encrinolined,
carrying poor miner, with a poor claim, per-
spring in anxiety to be liz time for g the OPEN
ing of the Ball." Good accommodations being
provided for the guests and their conveyances,
visitors had no further care after arriving, but
to e dance all night, till broad daylight, and 90
home with the gals in the morning'-and well
did they fulfill their mission The assemblage
was large, but not too great to dscommodc any
one disposed to be satisfied. a few very beau
tiful young ladies were present, from each of
the surrounding camps, and without dsparagng
any, we must accord the premium to Campo
Seco and vicinity for pretty girls and good dan
GERS; San Andreas next, and from all the way
on the road to Stockton, came galaxy of we'll
We saw Anna there, but as she wishes to re-
main incog., will not describe the gorgeous dis
play of her pure, celestial white-robes as they
mingled with the streakings of the morning light
July 4th, 1851 the cighty-6rst anniversary of
American independence, will long be remem-
bered by the brave men and far women assem-
bled at Briant's. Manly pride thrilled through
every breast as . the day we celebrate dawned
on another anniversary of Liberty's boon to
Independence. Americas
fairest daughters pointed to the shielding power
of the stars and stripes for protection, encircled
by the strong arms around them
"Who all unbribd on freedoms ramparts stand
Faithful and true, bright wanderers Of the landn
As the sun rose in all its majesty of a Cali
fornia brilliancy DER the "golden hills to the
eastward, the "goodly companie,n with regrets
that time was so feeting, separated, each well
pleased with the Anniversary Ball at the Spring
Valley House.
On the morning of the Fourth, the early pa
triot might have seen four solitary horsemen on
the road to San Andreas bearing the Genius of
Liberty in their midst, until even the "blooded
stock partook Of the spirit that moved the
party. The result was, that while one person
ated "John Gilpin" of old, another played Ma
zcppa, or the wild horse of Tartary," in a most
improved style We thought of tour Cinder-
lila" at the Ball, who shed-or would have
shed-tears should we fall, still the Tartarrean
ca5allqdc sped DER hill aud plain with an hide
pendent ca5ollero, until the running stream at