New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-08-12
THE FRASER MINES AND THEIR INFLUENCE
ON CALIFORNIA.

From or OWn CoroJoHdenf
SAS FRANCIsco, July 2D, 1888.
When last wrote you, Cslfornia was suffering with
the Frazer fever; but the disease has changed con-
sidersby during the fortnight il is now chill Inc
new FL Dorado, according to popular psrlsnce, hiss
got black eye. The excitement has died away the
emigration il slmos. at al eni.
Frazer River is very high, and the consequence is,
that no work can be done on the lower psrt of the
river and it is impossible to ascend to the upper psr.
Several thousand mtn are sncsmped on the b.nks Of
tie river doing nothing under very dlscouraging
circumstances Many OF them have little money
they can get no employment. Pfovlsons, even
the cheapest such as -four aud besns, are worth
from 80 10 80 cents AZ pound; they are living in
tents and brush sheds If rains every day; there is
no game: the banks of the river are covered with
dense and almost impossible timber and brushwood,
except where they rIse into steep and inaccessible
snow covered mountains; and wherever there Is
camp of white men, numerous Indians, skllliul IN
thieyiDg and ready in the use Of firearms are con-
SANITY lurking about. AMI there is no probability
that the river will fall to permit of any proita
be mining for a month TO come The consequence
is that the adventurers on tie banks of Frazer
River are miserable. The great majority of them
repent having left California They would be glad
10 be back under our sunny sky, where most Of
them were few weeks since doing well enough,
with which they would not be contented, so
high Las the discomfort risen on the river, that n
Mr.. Henry kerrisOn, who wrote favorable letters
from the mines several months sg0, was IN danger
of his life He had reached Fort Hope before the
river had reached its present height, and he found
very rich diggings and his private letters, descEb
ing his gaIns-abOut $50 per day-being published,
contributed somewhat 10 increase the excitement.
He had been policeman in this city for long time,
was extensively known and being generally cOnsd.
cred as good fellow, his statements were believed.
The desperation Of those fellows the river led 10
loud talk against Kerrison and finally half drunken
chap, named Conroy, attacked him and threatened
to hill him. and kerrison compelled to shoot
him IN self-defense. The wound proved fatal.
KerrsoD unwilling TO trust himself in the hands of
the excited miners, fled to Fort Langley, where he
offered to be tried and has since gone to Victoria.
He will not 90 to the mines again till the water
falls.
In Victoria there are 1000 or 5000 people, many
Of whom in the same condition with the miners
on the river. They, too, are desperate and Indig-
nant. They are out OF work, short of money, un-
able TO co further, IL come back, to do anything
where they are. An indignation meeting was held
in Victoria last week. The Fraser mines were de-
csred TO be all humbugs, and the steamship owners,
the Hudson's Bay Company and all who were sus-
pected of having contributed TO excite the Fraser
fever were condemned in unmeasured terms. One
indscreet fellow sad the meeting making fools
Of themselves; the Fraser River was rich, for he
knew il; be had himself dug so per day. He was
Immediately seized, hustled and beaten and cries
were raised of Bring 4 rope" /" Hang him."
" Hireling of the steamship company" He man.
aged TO escape, and probably Will know better next
time.
Such conduct Oh the part ofthe disappointed gold
seekers may appear rather singular but the old
Calfornians have heard of the like before. Jus.
such meetings were held in San Francisco in ls4-.
The California mines were voted humbugs, and all
who had ineulcsted reports Of their richness were
set down as knaves. So too in Australia.
Mr.. Hargrayes, the discoverer Of the gold mines
Of Australia, thus records his experience several
months after be had made his discovery public
when about two miles from Sidney on his way
10 the diggirgs) net with member Of the Lsgisls-
tive Courc, who begged NE to retrsce my steps as
suripg NE that ehoud lose mylife if ventrred 10
proceed for that there hundreds OF unsuccessful
diggers net fsr advance their return from the
diegngs, who declared that bad deceived them and
they would put me 10 death.
Nevertheless, proceeded on my way, and Ger.
tanly met many returning from the mines Fortu.
nstely WA not Known to any Of them. sccostsd
Italy OF them IN passing; but was shocked to hear
at tines the most horrid imprecations eveed against
what they called the curse of God, man who had
brought them across the mountains in search Of gold
10 arsSer 70 my inquiries, one said that there
little gold but that il was al dug OUT he hsd lost four
value fsrthing beside having to cross and recross
the mourtsns. Another had ost fifteen pounds az
other twenty pounds. ard another thirty POUNDS.
Blu; It would be 10 vain f,r me to attempt TO de-
scribe al that Witnessed at this particular jgrc.ure
Among other strange sights saw blind m4n led by
lame one tIudgirg across the mountains route fo-
the gold feltt. Thousands VINO stared from
Sydney neyer reached hlf way ard seeing 80 r.aIy
oonirs BACK A going. those upward bound e. dis
Stisged, and returned IN despair, yosipg yesgsscoe