, 1862-01-25
A Novice Bxpressman.

]
and professions in this particular locality
have found it necessary to resort to many
unusual expedients to "make the ends
meet" Our friend Charley, of Tracy &
Cos express, found himself in dilemma
the other morning. All the " boys" con-
nected with the establishment, had either
gone above or below, and he was left alone
to keep shop" The stage for the Dalles
had started out without taking package
which it was necessary to send. This fact
was discovered after the stage had been
gene an hour or more The package must
be sent, and Charley could not leave the
Office to take it himself, so he began to cast
about for trusty messenger to go and over
take the stage He finally bethought him
self of his neighbor Ned, who is always up
to time, (G. D., and as accommodating as
he is punctual. Ned agreed to take the
package lust for the fun of the ride, and
Charley busted himself getting it ready
In the meantime the horse was brought to
the door, and Ned, having procured dep
. uty to oficiate at his place of business dur
ing his absence, presented himself teady-
rugged for the ride. Now, Ned" said
Charley, I want you 10 turn that horse
loose, and overtake the stage in double
quick time" " I'll do IT, said Ned, post
ing out Of the Office to where the horse as
tied,-probably misunderstanding the i'm
port of the instructions, and no doubt en-
terUalning vivid recollections of The treat
ment he had received from spiking cay
uses " on his trip to the mines last summer
ard forthwith proceeded to turn him
loose ;" when the horse-like Sut Love
goods daddy, perhaps, thinking it necessary
to keep up his reputation as ahorse-reared
up his masterly hind leg" and started
full tilt down the street. scattering the
street passengers in every direction. In the
meantime, the astonished Charley, having
got everything in readiness, presented him
self at the door, and seeing what Ned had
done, exclaimed, "What in the ID did
you do that for" Why" said Ned, be-
ginning to realize that he had done some
thing wrong you told me to turn him
loose, and thought maybe the horse was
one of these id spikin' cusses, and that
it was necessary to let him go and kick up
his heels little before one got on him, to
keep him from throwing feller off,
By the assistance of several men the horse
was re-captured, and brought up standing
at post, when Ned mounted him and sue
coeded in overtaking the stage without
again q" turning him loose
GREAT Loss OF SToCK.-From all sections of
the country, we have accounts of the loss Of
stock. The severe weather has swept it off at a
most fearful rate. Nearly if not quite all the
stock that was driven from the Willamette late
last season has persisted and a great deal of
J stock that was in good condition last fall has
shared the same fate. Even in the best ranges
very great Some gentlemen with whom we
have conversed estimate the proportion that have
died from the effects Of the weather at one-haif,
and some at two-thirds of all the stock in
in the valley. If either of these estimates ap.
proximate nearly to the TRUTH the loss will be Sc
yerely felt and will in some measure retard busi-
ness operations in the spring 1t is needless at
this time, in the face of these stirring facts, to
add anything by way of advising a preparation
in future against like disasters. The experience
of the present winter has certainly furnished suf
fcient argument to induce preparation hereafter,
if like results would be avoided
FLOOD IN CALIFORNIA late food was
more destructive in California than in Oregon.
The Sacramento river flowed over many of its
bottoms from five to ten miles in width, sweeping
off houses, bridges stock and everything that
lay in its course. The loss of property along the
Sacramento river and its tributaries is estimated
at S5,OOOOOO. In Sacramento City-which was
almost entirely overfo wed-the loss is estimated
at S1,OO0OOO. Marysyle was almost entirely
ruined. The Appeal says steamboats, ran all
over that city, saving the inhs bitants, and also
all over the fields and farms for five miles around
Many other towns and villages along the river
were almost entirely desolated Hundreds of
of houses were seen floating down the river many
of them with persons in them.
FROM THE DALLEs-We extract the follow-
ing from private letter, dated Dalles, Dec 20 ::
Snow ten inches deep and more coming. A
fatal shooting affair occurred in saloon last
night. 1t appears that two soldiers had some
slight dispute, with which whisky had more to
J do than sense. One drew a revolver to
f strike or shoot the other, when the pistol went
off, and the ball hit third party in the forehead,
killing him instantly. The deceased was SER
geant in Co. A, California volunteers, named
: George Shel herd. The cap Of the pistol flew in
to another mans eye and SO injured it that he
must lose the sight"
LEWIsToN.--The latest accounts from
Lewiston are to the effect that the people
there are nearly destitute of wood, and quite
so in respect 70 some articles in the provis-
ion line. Some little building is going on,
and Ga ,vvoi11 ie IN 7,rOcaee Of oroo+;o,, l,,