The Shasta courier., 1866-08-11
From Roaring River.

/
In CANP, Aug. 5, 1866.
Ed. COURIER The familiar countenance
of the old COURIER presented itself to your
humble servant last night. l was glad to
see the old fellow. / examined its columns
to see how my old friends engaged in opening
the quartz mines were getting along, but
found nothing of their doings. Have they
quit? If so, set them a-going. Let that
powerful leverage conceded to the Press be felt
in its fullness of power. Remember that the
best mining county in the State lies waiting
to be developed SO agtate ?-yes, agitate
for like the dropping of water it wears.
Speaking of things mundane reminds me
by association of ideas. you know-of
little paragraph in the COURIER, copied from
the Red Bluff Observer. learn from that
paragraph that the people of Red Bluff are
suffering from sore eyes. Now that's bully
paragraph as a local news item, and am
glad you copied it, else / should not have
seen it, and might have gone to my grave in
ignorance of so important fact. Lo, the
poor red men of this section are afflicted in
the same manner. and am told that contact
with the afflicted in any way may not be had
with safety; in short, that it's. ketchin'.
Now query: Have not some of them Buffers
been pirmtin' around up here ?-and isn't
that the way the disease has spread {? for this
appears to be the home of it. Sore eyed
Dggers and sore eyed dogs are not pleasant
sights to look upon. I never saw a sore
eyed Buffer. but don't believe they are bit
pretty. Are they, Baker?
THE MINES.
No greater field for profitable investment
of labor and money in mining exists any
where than in this Roaring River and Gas
Point region l venture the assertion that
there are not five men in the county who
have any conception of the world of wealth
lying here waiting upon intelligent enter.
prise to unloose it from its bed of cement
The quantity of ground is almost beyond
conception, and none of it has been more
than fairly prospeeted. Many claims have
been opened, and work begun with hydrau
lies with a pressure of from forty to sixty
feet; not enough to cut the bank fast enough
to make it profitable, though wages have al
ways been realized, and in many instances
small fortunes made when a soft streak
could be found. The experiment of getting
the dirt down by means of powder is now
being tried by company here, and with
very fattering prospects. If the process
proves what is claimed for it, and the dirt is
as it ,oas, within six months this will be
flourishing mining camp. A little time will
tell the story.
AMUsEMENTs.
The vicinity of GAINESVILLE was the theatre
of grand dance and pow wow among those
noble specimens of the human family known
as Diggers The grand feature of the occa-
sion was the " scalp Dance" and the cause
of this {. feature being introduced was that
hunter named Davis, once a white man,
living over the mountains towards the coast,
had killed Yuca Indian, scalped him, and
sent the evidence of his destructive powers
and high civilization over to the Diggers here.
Having many personal friends among them,
they received it with much joy. did not
see the dance, but it was described to me as
every interesting" and in the manner fol-
lowing: The scalp being made fast to the top
of a pole some ten feet high. and in place
convenient for an ambush, band of the most
expert and bravest warriors conceal them
selves for about a half hour, the squaws and
their attendants waiting in the greatest sus
pense the expected attack. At last it comes.
The ambushed red devils, gaudily and fear
fully painted, and armed with bows and
arrows, charge en- masse upon the impaled
scalp, and when near enough to be certain of
their aim. let fly the deadly shafts, and their
enemy is supposed to be vanquished Then
follow terrific shouting and dancing, the
whole of them presenting the appearance of
well gotten up devils. The dance was
success. Beef was slaughtered in lage
quantities for the delectation of fastidous
appetites, and whisky flowed in gentle
streams down the necks of chivalrous war
riors and their lady loves. Gambling, dane.
ing and other amusements. participated in by
the whites $50 called), continued until tired
nature could no more.
Jim and wife attended this dance. For
day or two previous we had them employed
as pack train in getting supplies to our
camp, and they called on US as they were on
their way to the carnival. l told Jim to be
careful or the white man would get bis wife
from him. Jim speaks good English, and
his look showed perfect confidence in himself
as he said: Jim smarter than any of 'em,
and if they get her they'll pay for her, you
betp'
| have not seen Jim and lady since, and as
they both had sore eyes. imagine they have
retired to some watering place to recuperate
| tired and diseased nature. III learn where,
and that the effect is good, I'll let them