The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-29
CALIFORNIA INTELLIGENCE.
LATEST FROM FRAZER RIVER.
SUMMARY OF F0RTNIGHT's NEWS.
THE GOLD FEVER IN CALIFORNIA

AS during the fortnight previous, the last fifteen
days have been occupied almost exclusively by Fra
ger river matters. The new gold mines at the north
have been in everybodys mind and in everybodv's
mouth. The press of the entire state has been
almost monopolized by accounts and letters from
there; and every line on the subject has been
seized and read with the utmost ayidity. The
exodus from California of emiprants for that re-
gion has continued undated Steamers and
sailing vessels-some of the former of the largest
cass-haye been called into requisition to ac-
commodate the travel. Owing to the carelessness
or design of the masters of vessels in not en-
tering the full number of their passengers on
the custom-house books it is impossible to get at
the exact number of those who have left San Fran
cisco since the breaking out of the excitement, for
the new gold region; but it is variously estimated
at from $4,000 to $4,000 persons, all adult males.
As yet there seems to be falling off in the num-
Der who are leaving. The interior towns are being
deserted, and operations in parts of our mining
country will for a time cease. Property in various
parts of California has necessarily deprecated. In
many places the depreciation is unreasonably great;
and perhaps better time for investing money pro-
tably in property in California never existed than
at present. Mining claims paving splendidly, and
real estate, have been sold by individuals afflicted
with the "Frazer river fever at less than half of
their real value
Our latest news from Victoria, V. l., reach to
ZSth June, and direct from the mines to the
10Th June. At that time there immense
number of miners on the banks of Frazer river,
waiting for the stream to fall to enable them to go
to work on the bars, which said to be fabulous
ly rich. "Some dry diggings had also been dis
covered in the neighborhood of the river-but
owing to the presence of large number of Indians
not of the most friendly disposition, the miners
dared not extend their searches far from the
stream, where the bulk of the whites were congre-
gated.
The town of Victoria, on Vancouver Island has
sprung rapidly into Importance. Great speculations
have been made in real estate there. Lots which
few months ago were sold by the Hudson's Bay
Company at $50, are selling at over 81 900. A
newspaper, called the Victoria Gazette, has been
started there; and an American steamer (the Sur
prisel is also running regularly between Victoria
and Fort Hope, which is one hundred miles above
the mouth of Frazer river. Merchandise of all de-
scriptions, excepting sprituous liquors, permit
ted to be imported free of duty into Victoria, by
the Hudson's Bay Company; but this Company
claims the right to the exclusive trade upon the
river and in the interior of the mines.
Most OF those leaving here for the new mines go
by way of Victoria, it is necessary for the miners
to go there to procure license to dig in the mines.
Strong efforts have been made to bring some Amer
lean town-site into notice, but with only partial
| success. Whatcom and Sehome at first took the
lead, as it was believed a route could be quickly
| opened thence overland to the new mines Up to
the present, however, the road has not been rem
dered passable and Victoria is rapidly outstrippng
| all her rivals.
| On the 21st June dreadful disaster occurred al
! drowned. 4 small sail boat, called the Alcatraz
while conveying an overload of passengers from the
steamer Commodore to the shore was capsized and
| precpitated thirty-four into the water, o
whom thirteen were drowned.
STATE NEWS.
The Sunday law, passed by the legislature at it:
last session, has been declared by the Supreme Court
of California to be unconstitutional and void This
law had excited much Indignation among the foreign
residents of the state and the Hebrews; and its alb
rogation by the Supreme Court has been hailed by
them with great manifestations of JOY. Our Judge
decided that such astatute is in contrayention tC
the constitutional guaranty OF perfect religious lib
erty.
Two men, named Divid Switzer and Thomas My
ers, were instantly killed at Seby's Flat, Nevad;
county, on 22d June, by the caving in of the banl
while working in narrow cut on the claim o
| Matthewson Il Co. The deceased were both from
! Williamsville, New York.
A lump OF pure gold was recently found at Sal
Spring Valley, Calayeras county, which weighed
| eighty pounds.
Twelve hundred bushels of barley, gathered il
two piles, in field three miles from Stockton ol
the Sonora road, were consumed by fire on tn
morning of the 25th June As the grain has beel
attached by the sheriff. it is supposed the destruc
tion was malicious
A. d. Rightmire passed through Placerville O
the 18th June, with corps of men and train c
sixty animals, on his way to establish posts alon
the stage line from California to Salt Lake. He ea
pected to start stage through early in the presen
month.
The people in the southern counties of the Stat
are still busted with hunting out and hanging tn
u
ed that region, and committed numberless murder
and robberies. These miscreants principal
Mexicans, headed by famous American desperate
called Jack Powers. Seven have been aread
captured and hung, and others have been drive
away.
Two Austrians, residing on Elder Creek, Shasi
county, were murdered while asleep by band
six Mexican assassins, on the 23d June.
OREGON AND WASHINGTON TERRITORIE!
=, We have dates from Oregon territory to the oct
e. laAa
news is very important, inasmuch as we are inform
ed of general gathering of the Indian tribes
that part of the world, in northern border, wi
the evident intent of proceeding to hostilites II
large number of our people who have left Calforn
+ for the mines, causes us here to regard the
: movements of the savages with the utmost anxiet
, The government should lose no time in dispatchir
i to Washington and Oregon large military fore
J, The commander of the Pacific Division has be-
l. | hurrvng thither all the troops at his command
IS but their number and equipment are wretched
IS inadequate. A small armed steamer is also mut
needed for service against the Indians IN the mort
= . ern waters The Light House Department steame
n the Shubrick now there. is far from sufficient.
,e The recent election in Oregon terminated in t
o. election of the following officers:
te Gocernor-John Whiteaker: Con3ressmon-L.
d Grover: Secretary of Sdte-lI. Heath; State IRE
e, surer-J ID. Boon; State Printer-Asahel Bush.
6 e The people of both Oregon and Washington a
considerably excited by the recently discovered &c
er mines Several of the small town on Puget Sou
e Importance, and attracted to them eager specu
~ tors in real estate.
From the Alta California, July 81
ID TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN NEVADA COUNTY
% JUMPING A CLAIM
d. We are informed by gentleman who arriv
N night before last from Grass Valley that terri
tragedy was enacted at Deer Greek, near that pla
he ON the I'd inst A DR.. McMurtha and his brotl
s. owned quartz vein there, which was 'Ijumped'
n twelve men, On the I'd inst. the jumpers entered
r. tunnel on the vein, barricaded the mouth of it w
ke pine logs and declared that they would kill
err first man who should throw any dirt into the moi
- of the tunnel DR.. McMurtha threw shovel
If, of dirt into the tunnel, and forthwith one of
" " jumpers shot him dead with rifle. Thereupon
ha surviving brother drew revolver and fred all
=" charges. then took the revolver from the body
"a his dead brother and fired all its charges among
es twelve. The result was that four were killed q
seven wounded. Mr., McMurtha then gave him:
OF up TO the officers of the law, and after exami
us tion he held to have acted justhably and ne
discharged.
.p- T. From the San Francisco Herald Judy 81
ROW ON BOARD THE PACIFIC STEAM
he CORTES.
The fremen of the Cortes yesterday struck
higher wages; but it seems that only three II
were subsequently shipped to serve in that cap;
ot y In the evening the Cortes hauled into the stre
he when the passengers finding that there o
In three firemen on board, determined that the ste
a er should not proceed to sea. meeting was ht
de- at which resolutions passed expressive of Il
desire to return to the wharf, which the captain
lilt fused to accede to- A number of passengers t
.ss- tovarda tba hall to raise an alarm but W
re - - =. ii, -, IL, +onoJ 30 shoot
Ni' first man who touched the bell. A large bod.
hs passengers then surrounded the captain, with dra
nd revolvers, and demanded that the ship should
laid along side the wharf The captain, howe'
an Immediately sent shore for Mr.. Solomon,
oat United States Marshal, who proceeded on boart
th In the meanwhile, resolutions were passed to pr
ted cute the owners for taking larger number of
18th senoers than the law allows 1t is probable
sly the United States Marshal will keep the peace
the affair can be properly regulated.
cer cn" From the San Francisco Herald, July 81
by UNITED STATES TROOPS FOR OREGON
Company X, United States Sd Artillery, Cap
E. o. c. Ord arrived here yesterday morning f
Fort Miller via Stockton, en- route for Oregon
EN- reinforce Colonel Steptoe's command. The con
tive ny numbers eighty men, and performed the dist;