San Andreas independent., 1858-09-18
REM1N1scENcEs OF 1s4s.

WHO is there among the early pioneers
of California that has not vivid recol-
lection of the perils and hardships en-
countered by the hardy adventures who
first explored these mountains and sought
the hidden treasures of our gulches and
ravines? We we'll remember those eally
days, and the pleasurable emotions that
filled our breast, caused by the new and
exciting life which we had entered upon,
for our lot was cast with those who came
among these hills the memorable year of
the discovery, in search of the fabulous
treasures whose existence was already a
demonstrated fact. We were among
what may be denominated the second
batch of adventures. Landing at Mon
terey in the fall of 1o48, we undertook
the overland journey to the mines from
that place, setting out on foot on the 9th
of October, in company consisting of
nineteen persons, having two OK teams,
laden with provisions. The native
Californians told us that we could not
winter in the mines they warned us of
perils to be dreaded from Indians, and
from the severity of the winter season,
which they represented as much greater
than was ever felt in the valleys. These
warnings were of course unheeded nei-
ther Indians nor snow had any terrors for
men before whose eyes were dancing Wis
ions of untold wealth. We journeyed
on, making short stages, and stopping
each night at place convenient for wa
tering and feeding our cattle. Each man
was armed with rusty old fint-lock mus
ket, and guard was set every night, in
regular camp style. The entire journey
was a pleasure trip to each and all of our
company, even though foot-sore and weary
at the close of the day. The ever-chan-
ging scenery of the fine valleys through
which our route lay, was novelty, and
had peculiar charm for us, as being our
first sight of the interior Of Upper Cali
fornia. 1t was jovial company, that of
ours-full of the glowing spirit of youth
with call the world before u.s. and our
pathway leading to fields of gold. For
twenty days we journeyed onward, meet
ing with no other mishap than the occa-
sional miring in slough, of the ungainly
block wheels of our old California OK wag-
ons. On the road we occasionally fell in
with miners returning to the settlements
to pass the winter. The greater number
of these had well-filled sacks of dust,
and some displayed the tempting Jumps
to our wondering eyes. OF course such
sights as these buoyed up our hearts and
excited us to increase the speed of our
slow teams. After weighing we'll the ac-
counts of different localities related to us
by those whom we met on the road our
company resolved that the Mokelumne
diggings should be the termination of our
journey. Accordingly, we arrived at the
place where the town of Mokelumne
Hill now stands ON the 18th of Novem-
Der. We found twenty or thirty men en-
gagged in mining there; Mr.. Syrec (since
a resident of Stockton) was keeping a
trading store; and Mr.. G.. d. Dickinson
(now of Dickinson's Ferry, Tuolumne
river,) and family were keeping board
ing tent.
The first few days after our arrival on
the Hill were occupied in building log
cabin, killing our cattle and sailing and
curing the meat. Part of it was made
into jerked beef and part was corned and
laid away in barrels. While engaged in
this labor an amusing incident occurred.
We were visited by Polo, the chief of the
Mokelumne Indians. He was dressed in
the uniform of Volunteer of Stevenson S
regiment, and with his attendant braves
made very warlike appearance Thro'
a little broken Spanish, helped with signs,
we were informed that Polo was the CAP
ITAN, and owned all the land around
there, by virtue of which he claimed
tribute from us. After considerable par
ley with the chief, who put on such airs
as he thought beftted his dignity and
power, we got rid of him on making a
present of the offal of the cattle we had
killed. Polo was accounted brave and
cunning Indian, not particularly friendly
to the whites, and it was said of him that
he never drank the fre-water that has
since decimated his tribe. He was the
finest looking Indian that we met in our
travels In these mountains.
When our cabin was finished and every
thing prepared for passing the winter
comfortably, the members of our compa-
ny formed partnerships of two and three
each, to mine. The writer of this had
an offer of employment for two days at an
ounce day, in the claim of man NAM
ed Ridout. The offer was accepted, and
the earning of the two ounces was consid-
cred good commencement of our gold
mining experience. As soon as we got
through with Ridout's job, we commen-
ced mining for ourselves, with two part
ners, our claim being situated in the main
gnlch which runs through Mokelumne
Hill. In about two weeks we had reali-
zed nearly pound of gold each. Being
impatient and unused to labor, we soon
thought our claim had given out, and we
abandoned it. We then prospected in
various places with Indifferent success,
until we began to think we had struck
the wrong place in coming to Mokelumne
Hill. About this time we heard accounts