Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-05

SEVERE STORM Had tremendous snow
storm lately; commenced on Saturday and
continued I'LL Tuesday afternoon. Had an
average fall of about three feet in depth. Dur
ing part of the stormy time the wind was
quite high, the snow drifled considerably,
and the roads in many places became COM
pletely hid from view. AT one place on the
route to St. Louis, Bbout mide this side OF
Slate creek, no indication of road, save the
mari ed trees, was visible for several hum
dred yards The Strawberry Valley sleigh
came through on Monday, but, ow ing to the
bad state of the road, it did not reach La
Porte until late in the evening Il has been
making regular trips since that time.
SHOOTING AFFRAY AT PoRT WINE-A gen
eral muss took place at John Lanes saloon, at
Port Wine on Saturday evening, the par
ticulars Of which are these: George Storr
another person whose name we have not,
and a man named Griffith were playing cards;
and during the progress of the game Griffith
accused Story aud the other party of swind-
ling, and, drawing knife, made demonstra-
tions decidedly threatening. He demanded
his money back, and intimated that in case
his modest request was not complied with, he
would perform ventiating process upon
one of the other gamesters. At this stage of
the game John Lane "chipped in with "A pis-
tol and fired shot which took effect in the
thigh of Griffith, causing slight flesh wound.
The affair assumed no very i'll Eatured aspect
and caused very little excitement
STRuoK GRAvEL.-1he Niagara boys, at
Whisky Diggings, struck pay dirt one week
from Monday last it prospected S5 TO four
loads, which, although no big thing" is n
fair prospect, and is encouraging to the own.
ers Who have long worked without remuner-
alton. The Niagara tunnel was commenced
in 1858, and has run in distance of about
sixteen hundred feet
WHISKY DIGGINGs The Swift Sure, Porter,
Gem, North American New York. Redding,
Vermont, Niagara, Iron Bound. Nevada,
Gottscholl claims, Brown and Cos. Kepener
& johnson, Farrar, and several other claims
will pay largely as soon as water becomes
plen tiful; probably in few weeks The
dirt taken out of the Swift Sure tunnel in
running gangways (no breasts have been
opened yet has prospected splendidly aver
aging from 81 TO 81 to the car load. The
Porter claims have yielded exceedingly well
during the winter, and at present are paying
largely-they have averaged about 500 "A
week for several months past. The gentle
man from whom we have obtained this in
! formation, Mark Sco6eld, is of the opinion
that Whisky Diggiugs will continue to be
among the first mining places in this part of
the county,
The following items are from the Sierra
Citizen:
Monte CRsro.-The Ravine Company,
last week, cleaned up 81 ounces, and the
Empire Company Go ounces At Excelsior
! Hill, the Deadbroke took out | 1 ounces and
the Excelsior 80 ources. The snow at Mon
te Cristo during the storm of this week fell
to the depth of four feet, and at places is
drifted to a much greater depth.
SERIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH DoG.-Mr. jack
son (not the old General unguarde, " went
up / o one of the windows of the Jail to con-
verse with prisoner, when he was attacked
by Sheriff Whites dog Blucher, chained out
side the jail. The dog, as large and ferocous
as a grizzly bear, broke his chain and was in
a fair way to immolate his victim alive
He completely stripped one arm, tore out the
muscles like an unstranded rope, and was
proceeding to further anatomical operations,
in spite of the vigorous choking being ad-
miuistered 10y Mr.. jackson, who twisted lis
collar around his throat, when Mr.. White
fortunately arrived and coaxed Blucher into
a more couciliatory policy. The wounded
man was attended to bv Dr. Aiken. We
tarily place himself within reach of Blucher
lie is for war; right or wrong, and has no
com mpunctions against drenching American
soil with American blood Hes coercion
Ii5t
The GuDA GAP RoUTE We are again con.
strained to notice this wagon road route, in
asmuch as the Washoe passenger train came
through again on Tuesday of this week,
" Ia ft.u
very severe snow storm 1t may be unnec-
essary now to mention this fact, as actual
work in constructing the road will commence
as soon as the weather will permit, the nee
| essary arrangements to that effect having
been matured, and the progress of the enter
prise may be inferred, when the public are
informed that such men as Col. Alonzo Platt,
H. Z. Beattie. William II. Ladd, c. W. Gil
bert, etc, have their shoulders to the wheel
Yet, there can be no harm in stating in ad-
vance that the Yuba Gap. from its natural
advantages, must be the route for all seasons.
RTCu STRIKE the South Fork. about
one mile above town, three Frenchmen two
weeks ago, took out in half "a day 13S ounces
ofgold, and they next day worked until the
water stopped them, taking out 90 ounces
They have since been engaged in putting in
a pump, which, when in operation, will en-
able them to resume their work This ground
has been supposed to be rich but has been
flowed for several years by mill dam, which
accoul IS for its hidden treasure having re-
mained until the removal of the dam, not
long since permitted disclosure.
RAss VALLEY SILVER MINES This dis
trict of country is situated on the south side
of w off creek and about two and a half miles
IN direct line from the town of Grass Val
ley, and directly at the southern base of o.
born llill But little prospecting has here
totore been done in this neighborhood, on
account of the small yield of the quartz, and
the low value Of tire gold which is obtained.
The original discovery, or what IS now