Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-02
Frazer River "Reminiscences.

During the Frazer River excitement men closed
their stores left their work benches abandoned tn
wares and drays in the streets and rushed pell nell
for the steamer to go up to that locality The boats
Tere so crowded with gold hunters that there was
scarce standing room. The steward cooks and wait
ers WeTo Kept constantly at work the three days and
nights ot the passage providing meals. Four and
fTe tables had to be spread for each meal and then
the last dinner was served in the middle Of the ngbt
Those who were fortunate enough to secure state
rooms slept but ten times their number never sept
at all Did these passengers grumbe at their discorn-
fortsf Not at all. They were jolly and perfectly
happy in anticipation Of the gold they were TO pick
up by the handful, and, filing their sacks return
That was golden era at least for the steamers.
Some of these men are here now and thev relate
tber experiences in which there were almost ncred-
ible hardsbips and privations, with as much com
if they were those of Sabbath School picnic.
1t is a treat 10 watch the countenance of one of
these old miners rs be listens to the glowing ac
for some new field, just discovered. u sits and lis
teen9-Says not 4 Werd-oQk1Dg square into the face
OF the taiker These old fellows seldom consulted
for the that gold hunters always are satisfied
mat they are going to be successful. They seldom
ask advice as to outfits, IS they think they know best
besides. they expect to gather uD the gold by the
shoyeitull and be absent for little while.
HUNTING AND FISHING vs.. MINING.
Many OF them have been out on fishing and hunt
ing expeditions for three days and nights Mt time
N n the States and they know what coughing it" is
minds exactly the same thing, only with this differ
ence-Where one takes eight or ten pounds of fish in
nshlng' he takes 10 or ~ pounds of gold in mining
Having settled this fact ia his mind the new mner
resorts to figures, and finds with the same amount Of
ii tn IN % camping out digging etc. his mining opera
fishing yields only about ST. OF course with such an
immense advantage in favor of miling no sane man
would prefer fishing.
met one OF these sanguine young miners, and he
related ms experiences to me. lie formed one Of
party of six all hopeful as himself who started for
the mines. They left the city certain of coming back
loaGed down with gold. After reaching the scene Of
operations they found themselves deficient in outfit
but this they rem eded the ground by paying 500
per cent more than San Francisco prices. hen
came storms. which for days prevented them from
prospecting and picking out claims. They saw no
gold lying around loose though they walked over as
they declared miles and miles of ground never trod
by white mans foot before At length they learned
that they must be governed by The color of the dirt
A week or two was then spent in studying dirt
Finally they mede location-a hill, about as large
as the Astor House. They made their sluices con
tracted for water at 25 cents per inch and went to
work at tbs end of three months, they had not only
dug down the entire hill, but had washed it all
through their sluices and failed to take out gold
enough to pay expenses. The company was dissolved