San Andreas independent., 1858-01-16
The Ancient River Bed.

Every dav new discoveries are being made
in the channel of an ancient water course
which has been more or less prospectcd for
years, but which has never been positively de-
fined as the former bed of river until within
few months. This antediiuyian channel has
been traced from Camanche Camp, below
Campo Seco, to Table Mountain, oae mile and
in the precious metal wherever prcspccted,
and some of the claims now being worked, in
the river bed, are paying larger ia per centage
and in quantity, than any others ia the county,
if not in the State.
This week, Mr.. Robt Mccall laid on our
table specimen of petrifed manzanita, taken
from the claim of Messrs. Dean, Smith Co.,
(who very kindly forwarded it to the Indpen-
dent,) mile and half above Cave City. The
sample is the most unique and beautiful petri-
faction we have yet seen, being perfect and
almost picture, In beauty and symmetry
This claim is the most eastern yet discovered
on the river bed, and is now worked at depth
of 1913 feet; the petrfaetion was found between
the lava aud the ledge, in layer of gravel and
pay dirt, yielding rich prospects of coarse gold.
The bedrock is still further down and has the
usual cemented pay-dirt on the ledge. East
of this claim the channel either sinks, or di-
vergcs right OF left underneath the lava noun
tains which border on the confines of the gold
region. Coming west from Table Mountain
the channel is traced to Gold Hill, half mile
below Cave City, where extensive and rich
diggings exist; thence to B9nty's Gulch, where
the indications arc still more positive, Tin the
claim of Messrs NJ. S. Faville Co.. that the
explorer is on the river bed. On Jones Flat
the channel is again opened, and in the deep
claims of Messrs Wood Knight & Co., and 9TH
crs, the layers of Stag. sand, cement, lava,
gravel and bouiders, down to the ledge, all
bcspeak the gold prospect on the river bottom,
which has been found in other places, similar
In richness and extent On the divide between
O'Neal's Greek and the San Antonio, is Tunnel
Hill, where the river bed has been worked for
years without its extent or richness having
been traced, but which is now plainly percep-
fible, from the epigeae aud hypogeae forma-
tions aud rock. The San Ant0nio Creek crosses
at right angles aad cats tiic channel and gold
level ia two, distributing its ancient sediment
and gold for miles down the stream. On the
western slope is Spring Gulch, where the lost
thread of the river is again taken up by Messrs.
Kinsey & Co., in their hydraulic claim, and
worked with considerable success. ONeal
Greek also divides the channel east OF Cisna
Hill, where the lesd was struck last year
with signal success. At the Old Gulch Wash
ington Flat,) and at Upper Calaveritas, the
channel Is more extensive, probably from other
cnanncls forming a junction with. the main
one- In the southern hill is located the claims
OF 'ndge brant, Shannon l. Co., Pierce Co.,
ana burnham Co., besides some new claims
recen'y discovered. At Vague Camp the
channel again dips underneath the cement
sand, lava and erags of Stag, as manifested on
the south OF Norman's ranch. and winds its
way to jerks ranch, where Messrs Mccall 6
Co, have struck the lead, and also Messrs.
Marlette Co. The old Dunning claim s also
on the channel, and Mr.. Orson Murray was
the first to explore and discover the lead ear,v
in 1852. The channel is thence traced west
continuously, by rich claims, to Chaparel Hin
where the North Branch again DESTROYS H.
identity and distributes its inconceivable
wealth in the rocky confines Of Big Canon.
Main Calayeras The channel is here eyi-
IDENTITY intersected by a similar one coming in
from the north. and winding around the base
of the Golden Gate Butte All the claims in
the vicinity of Chill Gulch, Red Hill, Worth s
Hill, Stewards Hill and Central Hill, are To-
Gated on this fork or its tributaries. The main
channel thence continues west, through low
divide near Dutch Charley's ranch, and passes
on to John Bull diggings and to Campo Seco,
French Hill and all the Diggings west, includ-
ing Camancle Camp, &c. The river claims