San Andreas independent., 1858-09-18

had, we were not afraid to encounter
them.
On the way southwark we found gold
on the surface of gulches by the road
side, in the vicinity Of the middle branch
of the Calaveras. And here, an Incl
dent which happened to the writer is
thought worthy of relating, as an episode
in the thread of our narrative. While
trudging wearily along the road, we met
two or three men of our acquaintance,
coming from the opposite direction. One
of them announced that he had ga letter
from home" for the writer of this. The
reader can imagine better than we can
describe, the joyful thrill which the an
nouncement sent through our heart-the
mingled emotions of love and recollections
of home which were called up by the
sight of the dear present which we recci-
we'd at such time and on such an occa-
sion. Many, probably, may have met
with similar events in their lives, but no
one ever priced letter from home as we
priced that. 1t was nearly a year old !;
still we priced it more than all the gold
in the valleys around us, and we slept
happy that night and had pleasant dreams
of home, with that letter in our pocket
After two day travel we reached An
gels Called SO after trader of that name,
who had store in the camp at the time,
and whose log cabin was situated pretty
near the spot where Scribner's store now
stands. There were some hundred or
more miners in the vicinity, most of
whom were doing well. We had ac-
quaintances among them, and we were
welcomed to the tent of some old come
rades. The day after our arrival storm
set in, III consequence of which but little
work was done that day by anybody in
camp. We well recollect how dismal and
dreary that day seemed to us there we
were, twenty-five miles from our comfort
able cabin, sheltered from the storm only
by tent, and even that much shelter due
to the hospitality of friends. However,
the storm ceased the next day, and we
went up the creek short distance and
commenced mining with jack knife and
pan. After working about half day,
ourself and our partner found we had
eighteen dollars in dust. We thought
this very good, but concluded to go on tc
the river, to see if there were not better
diggings there. Accordingly, our party
(Which consisted of FOUR moved out Of
camp that evening, and camped for tn.
night about half a mile beyond Angels
The night being cold, we collected bro
ken limbs of trees and made huge fire
by which we stretched ourselves to sleep
We cannot say that that sleep was yer,
sound or refreshing, for we had not Ions
lain down ere furious storm of rail-
commenced. 1t poured on US through
the livelong night, and we were right glac
when morning came
After drying our blankets at the fire
in the morning, we were on the roaC
again. We passed by Carson's Creek
where there were no miners then, though
Jim Carson had discovered gold there
previously. In the course of a few hours
we arrived at the place now known as
Robinson's Ferry, where we found large
ranchcria and several hundred Indians
of whom Jesus was chief. One of the
Murphy's of Santa Clara, (who afterward
gave Murphy's Camp its name,) had q
trading post here, and was doing lively
business with the Indians, whom he had
completely under his control 1t was
told us that he was taking in gold dust
by the bushel. Whatever gold they dug
the indians brought to him, and he gave
them blankets, trinkets or provisions in
exchange. Only a few days previous to
our arrival an Indian had found five
pound lump, for which Murphy had Civ
en- him blanket The diggings were in
Indian Gulch, which runs down to the
river from Carson's Hill. We met one
or two white men here, who told us very
discouraging stories, among other things,
that an Indian would drive white man
from his hole as soon as they saw him
taking out gold. OF course these stories,
whether true or false, had the contrary to
an encouraging effect on our party, alrea-
dy wear;el by their tramp, and more than
half sick Of their journey.
A consult ton was held, and it was re-
solved that W, should turn our faces to-
wards Moke!umne Hill, and find shelter
in our log cabin, as the most comfortable
quarters for winter, and content ourselves
with such diggings as we could find there
This resolution was accordingly put in
execution, and a party of the saddest gold
hunters that ever travelled these noun
tains might have been seen that evening
vending their way over Carson's Hill
That night we encamped between Car
sons and Angels, and heavy snow
storm falling during the night, we woke
up in the morning to find ourselves COW
cred by a foot of snow Bright and
early we took the road, and tramped all
day in the snow, reaching Mokelumne
Hill about 9 o'clock at night. Thus en-
ded our first prospecting tour Sonora
Herald.
DaSK Kind words are the brightest flow
ers of earth-use them, and especially