The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-01

THE FRASER RIVER MINES.

The California steamer brings intelligence from Victo-
ria Vancouver Island to the 9th of August and from
Fort Hope Fraser river to August 23d The principal
item of news Is the threatened breaking out of serious
war between the Indians and the miners Ever since the
white men have invaded the Fraser River country they
have been made to submit to various annoyances and
outrages from the savages. These have become more
and more frequent and unbcarable and lately not few
white men, who have been caught at distance from the
larger camps alone, in small parties have been mur-
dered TO protect themselves the whites at Fort Yale
enrolled into two three companies and started out
into the Indian country to fight the savages into
making peace. A few days after they had left Fort
Yae ION the 18th August report reached that place
that one of the companies had been surprised at night by
large body of Indians and that all but one or two had
been inhumanly butchered
This news created immense excitement among the mi
ners all along the banks Of the river and In Victoria
when the account of tho massacre reached there The
miners held meetings, memoralized the governor for
arms organized companies and prepared themselves for
war of determination Many were disposed to censure
the Husons Bay Company and the most serious difficult
ties were apprehended all round While matters were in
this posture in that the account of the whole
sale massacre of the white company untrue
The companies that had started out had found the In
dams peaceaby disposed and had succeeded in efectng
a treaty with them. While Of the companies was
subsequently camped out for the night with their
Indian friends war party Of savages, who had not
heard of the treaty, returned and, seeing the whites
around the camp fire, discharged voley at them, which
killed the captain, Graham and his first lieutenant
Indians at tho camp succeeded in signalzing the attack
ing party to det when explanations were made, and
sorrow expressed for the msake This was the founda
ton for the story of the massacre Since the formation
Of the treaty outrages Ind been committed But as
the presence of the miners on the bars and banks
of Fraser river intereres with the salmon fisheries,
which the chief dependence of the savages for food
IL is certain that serious difficulties must hereafter bc con-
tnued between them and the miners.
The mining news from Fraser river is still unsatisc
tory. The river, at latest accounts was too high to
allow of profitable working by the majority of the miners
Some 'dry diggngs' have been discovered near Fort
Yale but what their richness extent is is not yet
known here Considerable excitement had also prevailed
at Victoria concerning reported gold discoveries ON
vancouvers island, northwest of Victoria, and distant
from that place from FIVE to twenty five miles As many
as thousand people had rushed there and staked off
claims " but the latest accounts represent the whole
thing a bumbug Gold was found in minute PARTICLES,
but not in sufficient quantity to pay the dggers Busi
ness very dull at Victoria and property there had
greatly deprecated in value few of those who went
up to Fraser river and large number of those who pro-
ceeded further than Victoria and Bengham Bay have
returned TO California.