The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-28
FROM CALIFORNIA And OREGON.
FIRE At VOLCANO-A NEW STAGE-ROAD TO
SAN O-MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

SAN FRANCIsco, Monday, Oct. 81, I859.--A
most important discovery has recently been
made of good stage-road between San Diego and
the desert east of that port which the trip be-
tween San Diego and Fort Yuma can easily be
made in two days time. With direct steam com
municatiOn between San Diego and San Francisco
therefore, the new road brings us within less than
four days of Fort Guma-two days less than the
quickest trips ever made heretofore 1t would be
a very easy matter 10 give us an overland mail be
tween New Orleans and San Francisco, via San An
tonia, FL Paso and San Diego, in sixteen eigh-
teen days, if Congress would pay for it.
Capt Kirby, of the ship Uncnwah, which arrived
from New York on the 22d inst, gives quite
thrilling description of an immense iceberg which
he saw off Cape Horn on the 9th Of August last
Capt Kirby at first could not believe that il was
ice, and thinking he might have been drifted to
the northward during the several days in which he
had not been able to get observation set it down
as an island covered with snow. The wind was
from the eastward, and the ship going at the rate
Of eight knots she soon brought the whole body
above the horizon. and not long after the ice
found to stretch along the whole head and on the
weatherbow. The course Of the ship was thea al
tered, so as to bring the ice on the lee bow, and
gradually, the bearings altered five icebcrgs Of
yarous sizes were made ont. The ship passed
within few miles to the windward of them.
The ice field and bergs were estimated to he from
eight to ten miles long, ana very high-a solid mass
ut ice. against which the broke, as upon the
iron bound shores of continent. At four miles
distance the water about the ship agitated with
cddcs aad ripples caused by the opposing presence
Of so large II body to the usual ocean currents
The sides along which the ship passed appeared to
be PERCEPTIONS up for than hundred feet from
the water, when they broke up towards the peaks
in the interior of the Island; and down the Steppes
the spy-claSs showed the existence OF great gucs.
and water courses When the sun sh0ne full upon
the Island it reflected the light with great bril-
lancy.
1t was late in the afternoon when the Uncowah
passed About O'Clock large English packet
ship, under a cloud Of canvass hove in sight, steer
ing to the eastward, and aStern to the ceward of
her bark. Capt. Kirby displayed his signals
reading ice ahead, which the ship acknowledged by
Immediately hauling up to the norhward towards
Cape Horn, and the bark, though too far distant
to read the signals, took the alarm and followed
suit. The ice directly in the track of vessels
| bound to the eastward.
The vessels were steering full upon it, and would
have reached it (but for this warning) after dark,
when, probably, both would have foundered. the
ship appeared to be large Melbourne packet, and
| had many people deck. The name made out
! from her signals was PhilopOntas This immense
! iceberg was, doubtless detached from the vast
masses in the Antartic Ocean, and set to the
northward and eastward by the currents.
! FROM OREGON-DIsCOvERY OF RICH GOLD DIGGINGs.
Late news from Oregon had been received at San
| Francisco. A Government express man, named
McGuire, recently arrived at the Dalles, brings
reliable intelligence that new and rich gold dig
| gings have been discovered near the above named
| river
The Dallas journal contains the following par
| tculars:
According to our informant, the discovery is
confined to a small bar on the river, which is being
| worked by soldiers. Quartcrmaster's men, and Il
| large number OF Indians. The men from camp go
| down after breakfast, walking distance of five
! miles, and working not more than half day, ave
| raging about $50 to the hand. This is without the
ordinary conveniences for mining, and with moth
ing but picks, using frying pans for washing out.
With ''rockers, it is estimated that from $50 to
5000 could readily be taken out.
The discovery, we are told, was made bv Ser
geant Compton, in whose honor the locality has
been named "COmptOn's Bar"
The effect of this news has been to create quite
an excitement in our town, but as vet we have not
heard of any departures for the gold mines.
Should the next advices confirm these startling re-
ports, we may expect to see stampede scarcely
equalled by that to Frazfr's River
SAN JUAN ISLAND MOVEMENTS or GEN. SCoTT-THE
OCCUPATION OF THE ISLAND.
BY way Of San Francisco we have details of the
news from British Columbia. previously reported
bv telegraph. Gen. Scott and Staff landed al Port
Townsend, and re-embarked on board the United
States steamer Massachusetts,, for Bellingham Bay.
The Victoria Gazette Oct. y. says
"rhe prominent feature of the news published
in this ISSUE is the arrival in these waters of Lieu
tenant General Scott, Commander-in-C Chief of the
United States Army. OF the precise object of thi:
visit it is impossible to speak definitely all that is
known being that Gen Scott invested with grea
discretionary powers. 1t is not probable, however
that those powers have any bearing on the ultmat,
settlement of the boundary, but conferred il
consequence of apprehensiOns on the part of the
United States Government, that a collision betweeL
Gen. Harney and the British forces had taker
place, that the matter had otherwise becom,
more complicated than at the date to which tht
advices received by the United States Government
reached. During his stay in this vicinity it is sta
ted that General ScOtts headquarters will be or
board the United States steamer Massachusetts,.
''Gen. Scott arrived at Portland, Oregon, Oct q
The Ne,cs says the Northerner, havng first stopped
at Vancouver the news of his arrival on this cOas
hod haan DI hnr hnF,r tia oF l..
Northerner, and at the time of its arrival an i'm
mense crowd of our citizens was congregated upor
the wharf, and the steamer approached the
wharf, and the stawart form of the old hero o
= Vera Cruz and Chepultepec. and a score of Other
splendid victories, became visible-then such deaf
ening cheers 'as Americans alone can give sponta
ne0uslv burst from the assembled citizens, which
the gallant old hero gracefully acknowledged. Sub
sequenty, the Portland Fire Department, in uni
| form, gave the General 4 similar welcome salute
Then ringing of bells and the firing of cannon alsC
attested the sense of respect which the great mas
of our citizens entertain towards the man who ha
won for the American name host of splendid
| victories. We are rejoiced because of the sponta
neous and hearty welcoming which our citizen!
gave the gallant old hero. The General leaves OF
the steamer to day.
''The City Council of Portland extended to Gen
Scott the hospitality of the city. While accepting
it, he has declined any formal reception"
VINE Growing IN M1ssouRr-Swrss EMGRAr1o,
THERE.-We understand that Mr.. Frederick Munich
awell-knOwn German vine grower from Missouri
arrived here on Thursday last by the New Yorl
from Germany. He had been sent out by the ''Far
} mers and Vine-Growers' Society,"" composed O
gentlemen from this city, st. Louis and Boston, t.
; turn the German emigration into the Missouri vim
district
Though received coldly by the governments, h
welcomed by the peasants, and by conversation
and the scattering of documents including his owl
. statistical work on Missouri he hopes he has begu
an important movement in Missouri. His iourne
extended into Switzerland, and his success wa
greater there than even in Germany. The govern
:, ment and people responded most warmly to hi
plans, and were surprised at the resources he un
u folded of the State of Missouri.
e AS Switzerland is over-crOwded with population
it believed that of thousands of its industrou
people, vine growers and laborers, will eIngrate
d Missouri in the next four years.
Vine-growing is one of the richest and the bes
, developed branches of industry in our country
J. ". Y Post.
/ A green sprig from the Emerald Isle entered
j boot and shoe shop to purchase pair of brogan
After Overhauling bis stock in trade without bein
o able to suit his customer, the shnpkeeper hinte
: that he would make him pair to order .'Al
t what'll ye sx to make me good pair of emf" W.
!, the query. The price was named the Irishman d.
Il murred, but after Chatting down. the thing was
e trade. Paddy was about leaving, when the othe
b called after him, asking, "but what size shall
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