, 1858-05-14
THE INDIANS FRIENDLY.
Interesting Correspondence, etc., etc.

By the arrival at this place this morning
Of the steamer Sea Bird Capt. Cohnor, from
Bellingham Bay, we have later and very i'm
portant intelligence from the Thompson's and
Frazer's River Gold Mines, which will be
found in detail below. ..
The Sea Bird reports the arrival of the
mail steamer Panama at Port Townsend from
San Francisco, on Sunday, at 8 PM, with
a full load Of passengers and freight.
The Sea Bird landed some IS passengers
and 20 head Of stock at Whatcom. The
stock is intended for packing through to the
mines. The owners intend starting imme-
diately, and will endeavor to get through by
land oil the way.
The Whatcom people intend running the
new trail directly through to the mines, with
out striking the river at any point.
A miner at or near the forks Of Thomp-
sons River writes to friend at Seattle that
he is making $S5 day.
We learn from Samuel McCaw, Esq, who
came passenger in the Sea Bird and who
recently left Fort Yale, that miners in that
locality are making from 50 to SIC per day
each. Some fifty or more are at work q
few miles above Fort Yale.
Mr.. McCaw ascended the river some 20
miles above Fort Yale, and assures us that
the diggings are rich along thewhOle of that
distance; the mines yielding an average of
not less than sl2 per day per man. The
gold Is found on and within six inches Of the
surface.
Mr.. McCaw brings fifty ounces Of the gold
with him, the largest pieses Of which are
worth three or four dollars. He received
this in trade with the Indians.
Provisions are reported in abundance at
the various trading posts on the river.
The Indians are friendly, and will continue
50 as long as they remain unmolested.
The Hudson Bay Co.'s officials are said to
be very accommodating, and furnish every
facility to miners to reach their destinations,
with view to promoting immigration.
The water in FIazer's River has risen up
wards of twenty feet within the past fort
night, and at last accounts was steadily rising
at the rate Of two feet per day.
The new town Of @Sehome" had been
laid out and lotsw takenup quite rapidly
by business men from various parts Of the
Sound. Schomc is about one mile south Of
Whatcom.
The steamer Constellation arrived at Bel
lingham Bay yesterday with l70 passengers
$50 Of whom were landed at Whatcom
She brings a very heavy freight list.
The Sea Bird brings up the U. S. Mail,
which was left for her OF Port Townsend by
the Panama. l
The annexed letter, received from friend
in whom we have the utmost confidence, we
recommend to the careful perusal Of our
readers. 1t contains information and instruc
tons which all who contemplate going to the
mines should possess -
Correspondence Of The Puget Sound Herald.
McCAw's RAPIDs, FoRr YALE,
April 80, 1858.
We arrived at this place yestsrday after
noon, and have only about seven miles fur
ther to travel. The last two or three miles
were the worst which we have yet travelled.
Yesterday, in order to ieaeh our camping
place, we were obliged to pack all our stores
from one point to another, with the excep
ton Of few bundles, &c, which were lefi
in the largest canoe; but on bringing the
first canoe (the largest) up the rapids, shs
capsized, and nearly everything in her was
lost. The Indians picked up few Of such
articles as would float. The twoIndlans who
were steering the canoe were saved.
Immediately after, the canoe got fast be
tween the rocks, and the party who were
towing her secured her again and brought
her back to the place whence they started,
when, with the assistance Of Indians, they
were all brought safely to camp. We have
four canoes.
Two other canoes were capsized in the
same place in less than an hour after our
mishap, and were dashed to pieces on the
rocks. One Of them belonged to Mr.. Nc.
Almond, of Dunginness, but he did not lose