Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-02-16
County Intelligence.

The following letter from an old friend at
North Fork describes the going of of Holmes
j Smiths big reservoir, which was about three
thousand feet above the river, one mile below
that place 1t is dated Feb, 10th, and says:
FRIEND GoRDON DO you remember the res
ervoir Holmes IL Smith were building when you
visited this place last summer? Last Friday
morning that reservoir took its departure and has
not since been heard from.
Holmes tells me the giving way was caused by
the caving Of the hill sides bounding it. He had
worked all night, and about an hour before gone
TO bed in the old cabin, Just below the reservoir
lie was awakened by the entrance of one of the
day hands who had occasion to go to the cabin
for something. Shortly after he heard an unusual
noise and getting up to ascertain the cause, had
to run for dear life, and turning to look, after he
had gained secure position, found that his late
sleeping place had vanished. A new cabin. fur
ther up on the hill side, was also submerged, and
the heavy stone fire place was all that kept it
from following its more ancient companion. Most
of the men lost all their clothing; Holmes saved
only what be had on? We wish Norcross had
been on the hillside with that big instrument of
his-EDl Five hundred dollars worth OF pro-
visions, two hundred pounds of powder quarter
of beef and valuable watch dog went down to
the Trinity with the reservoir. The total loss is
not less than $4,000.
Had it not been for The Providential entrance
of the man [Give that man a pension, Holmes. -
Ed who woke him, our friend Holmes would
have gone with the rest. He says he beat the
water just twenty-five feet, to an inch
Two nights before Holmes life was barely
saved by raising his hand in time TO ward off a
falling lump of clay, which. when it struck his
hand, threw him into pile of tailings fifteen
feet distant. He says that shocked his nervous
system slightly, but the breaking reservoir ddn t
disturb his equanmty particle.
Geo. Hancock, frst-rate, hard. working fel-
low, but somehow out of luck, has claim just
this side of Holmes. The other day he ran a
bedrock pick through his foot, which will lay
him up for several weeks
Mr.. G. w. Durkee, while employed on his ditch
some two or three miles up the North Fork cut
one foot partly off with an axe You know Dur
kee is never frightened at trfes. When he cut
his foot the men laborng with him proffered their
assistance to take him home. But Durkee ii ed
up the foot, cut pair OF crutches, and SO hobbed
home without assistance
There are no idle men about North Fork now
Mr. Starr, our livery stable proprietor, has pur-
chased a fine span of horses and buggy, and we
North Forkers now ride out in fine style as
yoa Weaver-UiLiidnS. A wagon road on this side
the river to Mouth of Cafion Creek is in contem-
plation. Our energetic road overseer, Nc Whor-
ter is improving the road wherever it is neces-
North Fork hotel, intends giving ball on the
22d His hotel is kept second to none in the
county. So every one says who stops there.
More after while. One WHO Knows.
"Stcel Pen" writes us from Cafion Creek un-
der date Feb. llth, as follows:
EDiTOR JOURNAL Your correspondent did
not give you all the items in his last weeks let
ter We have plenty of water-the only thing
we stood in need of. Potter ~ Co. are putting
in an extensive tiune at Red Guch. Hank"
as he is usually called, is picking up from $40 to
ST. day in his claims. They expect something
better when they clean up the hume. Crews x
Co. lately took S66 from six loads of drift dirt
On Red Flat. Scanlan IL Co. are doing good
business. Further down Appleby & Co. are ma
king SO to $40 day. Fisher & Co. will extend
their ditch to Pennsylvania Bar this spring. which
viii command good diggings. In the upper dis.
trict Fakes & Co., McFall ~ Co. and Charley
and $50 day, to the hand Slack d Co. it is
supposed have struck the Fulwider lead, and are
taking it out big.
All our citizens are loyal TO the Union. On
Red Fiat there are few of the other kind.
"Amigo" wrote the following from Rush
Creek, Feb l4th:
Mr.. EDITOR Il have frequently noticed that
you solicit communications from different parts
Of the county. News we have but little of here
and my missive will consequently not occupy
much space in your paper. Rush Creek has
prospect OF becoming quite a town. W. A.
Qnne has just completed his new store, and will
leave in few days to purchase goods Short
has inst completed his dwelling-house and black
smith shop, and miners have no excuse now for
working with dull picks. Nunnallys ditch is
paying well he is now furnishing some fifteen
different companies with water. Luttman IL Co.
are making about $40 day on Red Hill John
Taylor Il Co. have just commenced opening their
claims, and their prospect is good for big wages.
A. Bonourman is making from $4 TO Sc per day.
He employs several men. Siles d Co. are max
ing good wages onehaf mile below the mouth
of the Creek. They employ several men also.
Things 60 on about right here.