The union Democrat., 1870-04-30
Rainsle.'Ns. ..
CoLunBr..


of years agone return vividly to the memory
while travelling over the land, historic in on
recollection /; years have flown by like sum
mer dreams more than two decades hav,
passed since our footsteps FIRST wandered owe
dear old Tuolumne, in search of the glitter
ing root of all evil; and now, when abou
departing from the scenes among which wal
.passed our youth aud prime, the sad remem
brance of by-gone years crowd upon oul
memory. The hands once pressed to ours in
the grasp of amity are now cold and stark
the friends Of ancient days are scattered
come have passed over the dark river, where
the weary are at rest; others-have wandered
In feverish search of the yellow dross, and
but few remain to recall to each other the
incidents of the score of years back. We
stood on the bridge over the Main Flume; the
snind reverted back to 49," The palmy days
of old Tuolumne; we were again under tie
big log which broke the wind from our camp
IN April; the tent of the gamblers again dot
tod the hill sides, the busy hum of the pros
,pectors again made music as it did during
that week of great excitement. The pristine
appearance of hill and valley, of gulch and
ravne, was as vivid as though unchanged
/ from days of yore. But romance is sue
ceeded by stern reality, and in place of the
grassy flats, noble oaks, or the dense nnder-
growth is confused medley of deserted dig
gios, or houses perched upon earthly pima
. cles. The monte banks, the faro banks, aye,
= and the auriferous earth are among the things
'of the past in their places are now deep
= mud holes, guarded by heavy limestones,
seemingly watching over departed treasures
Fln front was Columbia, which, though nest
ling in beauty among the mountains, bears
mo comparison in it's present state Of brick
and mortar to its appearance in those days
1of old, with the white tents among the great
: trees. Beneath us was the water fume run
ming swiftly and steadily, carrying the stones
Of f'the mountains to Susun Bay. And on
f, that Easter Monday, sad day to bereaved pa
, rents another little innocent was hurried
away from loving hearts, finding watery
&. death in that resistless, remorseful torrent !;
moro than one arm was stretched oct to save,
more than one hand endeavored to grasp
sthe little darlng-but the death grasp of the
sewift current was the more powerful, sweep
ing the poor boy miles below to destruction
And as that night we stood upon that bridge,
unkrowing and unknown, we sympathized
: with'the sorrowiug ones, honoring the young
girls and young men who refused to partici
pate in the festivities of the night, preferring
! rather to condole with the grieved parents
who had lost the pride of their lives.
Eve rambled to Summit Pass, but the place
knew us no more yet it seemed Tut yester-
day. when we directed the spot from which
hthe first shovel of earth should be taken to
commence the ditch of the Tuolamne County
Water Company, on the Is: of July, 1851.
" The 900 hardy miners present On that day
little dreamed Of the millions of dollars to be
liberated by their labor, and still less dream
ed they of the arduous task they were to en-
counter. How few now live Of those parti-
cipating of that Barbecue on the 4th Of July,
Mt the Summit Pass?
N4another memory the great "Water
SStsiEe" of "55'! The "bone and sinew, f"
the rough miners Of Tuolumne marched into
' Columbia 1000 strong Columbia neTer
will, again see such day, as when in solid
Column, the serried ranks marched in, cheer
ing aud cheered by the assembled thousands;
welcomed by bright glances from bright
= eyes. The day was one to be remembered.
'nhd though foot sore and weary, returning to
S;his home in river canon or rocky glen, no
>red or grey shirted miner regretted bis part
an the exhibition. But "reminiscences crowd
TOO fast for chronicleing, and so few remain
.iur the told stock" that the living would
cease to interest themselves in their histories.
The first President aud Superintendent Of the
Water Co.. "sleep the sleep that knows no
waking" many others rest with them in the
city of the dead the Vice President gives o
atribute to their memory.
Though the palmy days of Columbia seem
' 10 uuNc PefSSSN away '"~AS - -
future in the vista of time. What though
the houses are torn down and the streets are
dug up ? what though the people are emigrat-
.1ng? what though the placer mines are be
coming exhausted? There are more houses
to be built, mere people to take our places,
and other means of existence besides placer
mining. The luxurious vineyards, the mag
nifcent orchards and fertile soil, in and
around the city, will yet be sources of pros
perity With the peopleing of the plains, with
railroads to the mountain districts, comes the
rejuyenation Of Tuolumne. With the first
stroke Of the pick on mountain railroad.
sounds our ,ocsin of prosperity. Our farming
is not our only resources; though placer
,mines cease to be remuneratve, yet quartz
mining Is in the ascendent new discoveries
'sare continually made. though seldom chroni-
,cled for the information of the public. Many
million of dollars lies buried deep under
the dark basalt Of the Table Mountain !;