Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-23
DETAILS OF CALIFORNIA NEWS.

DETAILS OF CALIFORNIA NEWS.
Great ,s Ere't.ned Concerning the Frazier Riser Mines
DoTddo-Etec on The California Mnes-Bad Prospects
/ for San Francisco Merchants, &c.
The Star of the West at New York brings 81 x4Ol
III in gold. She connected with the steamer Sonora
which lett San Francisco June Il st and reached Panama
ON the 9th inst Among the passengers by the former
steamer IS Washington Booth, ESQ., of Baltimore, who
has just put IN operation flour mill driven by steam at
Payta, the first of the kind established in Peru
From our California files we make up the following
highly interesting summary of news:
fHE FRAZIER RIVER MINEs.-All the California and
Oregon papers filled with accounts of and specua-
tions upon the gold mines discovered upon the Fra
zler river and surrounding regions. The expectations
which the first discovery excited likely to be even
more than realized The latest accounts represent that
not only IS there an abundant supply of god but that
good order prevails at the mines that difficulty had
occurred with the Hudson Bay Company that the In
das were friendly and peaceable: and that goods of
all kinds were admitted free except liquors. gentle
man just returned from the mines Mr Lewis Lewis)
ports to the editor of the Sacramento Mercury that he
spent seven or eight days and the river and
well satisfied that the mines are immensely rich that
he saw 81 800 which had been taken out by in
fourteen days, and that he about Immediately re-
turn taking his wife and family He recommends the
Victoria route as the least expensive
1t is estimated that at least eight thousand people
have already left California for the mines since the
breaking out Of the excitement Besides those intend
ing to mine, of quite number have gone up to
trade and others to speculate in lots upon the sites of
future cities etc. Six steamers have been laid on the
route between San Francisco and the Mines beside
eight ten sailing vessels. Every ship leaves crowded
with advcnurers, and tickets sold days in advance
The last steamer that eft the Cortes is supposed to
have carried off fully 800 passengers although only
about 900 appeared the customhouse returns Among
Others several gentlemen connected with the California
press have gone up with the intention of starting
papers at different points in the new country One pa
per, the North American by Wiston, Bartlett &
Towne is already announced at Victoria V L. the cap
ltal OF the Hudson Bay Company possessions.
The excitement in San Francisco is plainly very great
At every arrival from the mines the newspaper and
express offices besieged with persons seeking infor
nation, 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 o. of gold
dust, and her report is as follows:
"Owen Hoy, formerly hackman in the employ of
MIR. r. +. Kerrisen, came down. He has been at work
on Hills bar, and when mining he did not make less
than $25 per day. and from that to $50 Thus far the
miners have not attempted to go to the bed rock. It
appears to be generally conceded that when men are
work with the water at favorable stage, they
from $8 to 500 per day to the hand. At present the
water is too high to allow of washing the bars, and
is not expected to fall before the 18th of July The
Indians do not allow the miners to work on Thompsons
river. The Sea Bird and Surprise running up Fra
river to Fort Hope and Yale and carry passengers
TO InOSe points from Victoria 1Or SZU eacn eSSelS
are not allowed to 60 up the river from Whacom. Pro
visions reported to be and dear in the mines
Miners at work in the banks of the rivers are
king S. per day
Mr.. James A. McCrea, writing from Whatcom, un-
der date of June 9, says:
There have been several miners here from the mines
all with plenty of god and they gave favorable reports
such making from to six per day to the
man when the water is low So we may expect to have
plenty Of ore soon There about thousand people
in hat opl IF
trail to be opened The town is quiet. There is
of that roughness for which California was distinguished
in early times. Gambling is not allowed"
1t will be seen that the following quotation contra
diets the report made by Mr. Lewis above quoted, in
respect to the free admission of goods and the
stence of difficulties between the Hudson Bay Company
ard the miners Mr.. Lewis had been on the spot, how
ever and his report is of later date than the following
from the Puget Sound Herald Of June IL:
The U. S. mail steamer Constitution, Capt A. b
Cove arrived on Wednesday last from Bellngham Bay
and all the intermediate ports the sound From the
purser learn that the steamer Pacific from San Fran
cisco via Portland arrived at Belingham Bay, witt
upward Of five hundred passengers all old California
miners Some thirty mules, portion of pack train
Of 200 arrived at Whacom, packed, and left or
Monday
Frank Matthias, W. H. Wood, W. Tidd, Terry ant
several Others have just returned from the mines fo
more provisions, boats and mining implements. AL
previous reports of the richness Of the mines have beer
confirmed. All these gentlemen have large quantities
of the ore, AMI state that they dug from 500 to 48
cry day they worked Goods very scarce and
n quently very high at the mines
The steamer Surprise had gone up Frazer river will
Gov Douglass All steamers gate Frazer river
by procuring miners license at cost OF 50 per mar
for every of her passengers and conforming to
tan conditions of suerance, among which these
Q That goods to be shipped that not bought
the Hudson Bay Company. That no arms or ammuni
tions to be carried which not imported from the
United Kingdom That miner is to trade with the
Indians, etc. Samuel McCaw, Of Steilacoom had some
two thousand dollars worth of goods confscated by ht
Hudson Bay Company's officers at Fort Langley
Mr. Woods informs that repeated difficulties have
occurred on Frazer river between the Hudson Bay Com
panys officials and miners In consequence OF the former
ezng the canoes and effects of the latter for infringe
s. men S on the right of the company.
s The Indians divided in opinion with regard to th
4 Americans the more numerous party, headed by Fol
lock- chief disposed to receive them favOraby, be
cause they obtain more money for their labor from TN
y " Bostons than from King Georges men, as the,
style the English. They have learned the full value
their labor and instead of one dollar a-day an OLE
shirt for guiding and helping to work boat up river
they now charge from five to eight dollars per day
Another portion of the Indians in favor of driving
off the BOstOns' being fearful of having their cOun
try overrun by them.
Mr.. Giddings, formerly of Olympia, who came pas
senger on the Constitution is said to have brought u
E $4,000 in dust.
E, A letter dated Frazer River, May 10th, says:
d We have got into the Mines after long and tediou
D. journey We have been digging four days, and mad
= $92 between us three. We are doing toerably vel
IS considering the chances have without ftout.-
Provisions very high here pork is selling at 81 pc
b -four 80 cents per h. rocker irons, each
1t picks Sc each; shoves 81 each tea 81 per h.
everything else in proportion If any could get her
J. with provisions fortune might be made on their SALE
The winters represented as being very severe tn
river being frozen solid and the snow very deep"