The Trinity journal., 1857-01-31
w in t + p aper s &.
BY ENELIN.-N0. Ill.


1t is pleasant in these days of mid winter, when
the snow hes to the depth Of two or three feet
around our comfortable log cabins, to recur to
the earlier periods of California history and note
the improvements which industry and enterprise
have effected here in the short space of two or
three years.
In those days adventurcrs on prospecting
tours, besides the inclemency of the weather, had
to contend with great scarcity of provisions, as
we'll as the hostlities of cunning savages. Not
unfrequently parties of men have been showed
up" in the mountains at this season of the year,
with no protection from the bowling storm but
such as was afforded them by an old canvass tent,
which, with other things, was usually packed
about on jackass, the almost invarabie compan-
ion Of prospecting companies single one of
these patient and enduring animals is generally
sufficient to transport from place to place all the
provisions, cooking utensils, mining tools, blan-
kets, clothing and other necessnries required by
four or five men such an expedition. a large
stock of patience and perseverance is however
required more than anything else, but these quail
tiles are just as adequate to overcome other
obstacles, and their exercise is as frequently re-
wardcd.
Many Of those who then came very near being
frozen or starved to death in the mountains du
ring the early days are now lightfully situated
in some more congenial location in the older
States, while those who remain have now provd-
ed themselves with comfortable and convenient
homes.
1t was in the winter of the year 1856, or rather
late in the Fall that party of four men left the
west branch of Weaver creek for the purpose of
taking up & ranch on the Hay Fork of Trinity
river. Probably more jovial company of young
men never worked a claim together, or hood po-
tatoes and cabbage together in the same field,
seemingly because they had learned and deter
mined to take the good the gods provided, with
out asking questions. Having with the pick and
shovel raised small " stake" on the aforesaid
West Weaver creek they resolved to look out
new stamping ground" and turn their attention
to raising vegetables. Though provisions were
eXtravagantly high, they could not do without II
stock of grub, 80 they loaded up their two
tools and cooking utensils and Immediately start
ed for their destination. The latter articles were
few in number, consisting only of a coffee pot in
which to make coffee and pennroyal tea a camp
kettle for the beans, and tt Gying-pan in which
to cook meat and bake bread. They were four
days in making trip now made in one but they
at last arrived on the Hay Fork, without meeting
with 1ifiiou1i,y ia II,
no white men on the journey except few miners
on the Trinity, and on the stream where they de-
signed making settlement there were but four,
one old, gray haired man, still resident of that
valley, who was then herding mules, and three
miners who were prospecting in the vicinity
The Tanching party, whose names forgot to men
tion in the beginning Of my story consisted Of
Samuel Ingles and John Morton, Of Now York,
and Jacob White and George Dugud, of Indiana.
have stated their original place Of residence be
cause, in those days at least one of the first in
quiries made by strangers on meeting was for the
native State of each other. can assign no 9th
er reason for this than that stronger feeling Of
friendship was in general entertained for those
who we're born and brought up in the same State
A ludcrous Instance of this kind Of feeling once
came under my notice which ] shall not soon
forget
A party of some hNlfa dozen OF us had en-
campcd on q small stream on which another com
pany were at work who it proved were all cmi-
grants from the State of Maine AS was custom
airy under such circumstances one Of our number
being in want Of some tool or other which they
possessed, he called on them and politely request
ed the loan of the desired article. First, howev-
er they inquired whether there were any foreign
ers amongst US, which being satisfactorily answer
ed, they replied that they had indeed intended to
have no dealings with any persons who were not
natives Of Maine, but had afterwards resolved to
extend their fellowship to citizens Of any part of
the United States, when the implement was free
ly handed over. 1t is to be inferred, however,
that if they remained any length Of time in Cal
ifornia they learned to discard such an abomin-
ably selfish policy, for the miners Of this State
are justly celebrated, the world over, for kind,
generous and open-hearted conduct Their fire.
quent and sudden reverses of fortune probably
conduco to this humane disposition, but whatever
it may be, certain it is that no class of men arc
so ready to yield the largest measure of aid and
assistance to the needy and suffering as the min
ing portion Of our population.
But am digressing from my story and forget
ting my party, which | left on the Hay Fork,
where, having encamped near the present resi-
dence Of NJ Ruch, they passed the night unds-
turbed by either Diggers or grizzlies, although
both were numerous in the vicinity.
CONTINUED NEXT wEEK
THE MORMON WIFE.-A wife in Utah cannot live
out half her days In families where polygamy
has been introduced, she suffers an agony OF ap-