Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-07-22
From California.

The Star Of the West, arrived at New
York, left Aspinwall on the 5th inst, with
the California mails, two hundred and
fifty passengers, and 81 ,401, ,713.45
A fire broke out in Mariposa On the 18th
Of June, and the greater portion of the
business part of the place was destroyed
The fire commenced at the lower end of
Main street, and spread rapidly on both
sides until checked at the Post-ofice on the
east side, and at the Union Hotel, opposite,
which buildings were saved. Among the
destroyed were the Ell Dorado saloon, New
comb & BlumenthaPs saloon, and Messrs.
Sullivan & Cashman's store, and some few
other buildings, were saved.
There had also been a large fire at San
Andreas, Calayeras county, by which prop
erty to about the amount Of 100000 was
destroyed.
Mr.. Thomas McNabb, at San Francisco
had been successful in an attempt to ride
two hundred miles within ten hours. He
rode California stock entirely, forty-two
horses having been provided for the occa-
sion. The running commenced at seven
clock in the morning and terminated at
five o'clock in the afternoon, less thirteen
minutes, leaving him winner of the wager
Of 81 800 by II ] minutes Mr.. McNabb
stopped to refresh himself between the list
and 80th miles, and again between the II lth
and l2Oth miles, occupying from four to
five minutes each time, and ON another
occasion sat on the grass and rested for
nine minutes. The shortest time Of ac-
complishing any single ten miles was 26
minutes, ID seconds The longest 33 min
utes, 80 seconds
Tie Frazer Riicer Nines-All the Cal
ifornia and Oregon papers are filed with
accounts Of and speculations upon the new
gold mines discovered upon the Frazer
river and surrounding regions. The ex-
pectationS which the first discovery excited
seem likely to be even more than realized
The latest accounts represent that not only
Is there an abundant supply of gold, but
that good order prevailed at the mines
that no difficulty had occurred with the
Hudson's Bay Company; that the Indians
were friendly and peaceable; and that
goods Of all kinds were admitted free, ex-
cept liquors. \ gentleman just returned
from the mines, (NIr Lewis Lewis re-
ports TO the editor of the Sacramento Mer-
/ curry that he spent seven or eight days on
and near the river, and was well satisfied
that the mines are immensely rich; that
! he saw 81 800 which had been taken out
by one man in fourteen days, and that he
was about Immediately TO return, taking
his wife and family
The excitement in San Francisco is
plainly very great. At every arrival from
the new mines the newspaper and express
offices are besieged with persons seeking
information, while persons newly arrived
are waylaid and followed by crowds OF
excited men eager for whatever news they
can communicate. The steamer Republic,
which arrived from Frazer river at San
Francisco on the 10Th of June, brought
down about 300 OF OF gold dust
FROM OREGON.
The Defeat Of Col. Stcptoe Confirmed.
The San Francisco papers contain ex-
tracts from Oregon papers to the 8th of
June. The defeat of Colonel Steptoe, by
the Indians, is confirmed. He was caught
in an ambush, the Indian force amounting
to FIVE hundred warriors, while there were
but one hundred and ten men in command
Of the Colonel, ill-suppled with ammuni-
ton. He had been forewarned of an attack
but as the Spokanes, the promised assail-
ants, where tribe having the most friend
ly relations with the whites, he paid no
attention to the admonition. The loss of
Colonel Steptoe's command was far less
than previously reported. There were two
officers and eight men, including three
friendly Indians, killed, and ten men wound
ed. The officers killed were Captain O..
FL. Taylor, of Company G, and Lieutenant
w. Castor, of Company II, First Dragons.
At the last dates Colonel Steptoe was at
Fort Walla Walla waiting for reinforce
ments. Brigadier General Clark and staff
had gone to the seat of war in Washington
Territory The steamer Senator arrived
at San Francisco on the 18th of June from
San Diego, with some two hundred troops
destined to the scene of the Indian difficult
ties.