Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-09
THE GOLD FEVER.
A Motley Crowd Collected at
the Border.
BAD TIA JUANA TANGIE-FOOT
Tedious Red-Tapeism of the Mexican
Customs 0fficials-COmical
Costumes.
lAssociated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
TIA JUANA, March There is very
large crowd here awaiting their passports
to cross the line. OF course, with such
8 large gathering of men, more or less
exciting episodes occur. Last night there
was some drinking and carousing. Tia
Juana whisky, some of it at least, is of
the kind that is not as good as other
kinds, and last evening the campers
we're treated to true sample of what
the article will do for a.man. One miner
became somewhat overloaded with the
drink that inebriates and proceeded to
ride his horse into a saloon, declaring
that he was bad man from Texas. He
was promptly attended to by Mexican
who was in the saloon, and landed in the
street with the imprint of the Mexican's
boot beneath his coat tail. A little later
another overburdened miner, or would
be miner, came into the saloon and as
serted that he was from "way up the
gulch" and mean man in a fight. He
was taken by the collar and pants and
seated in the dust of the street, by the
same Mexican. Nothing further hap
pened OF note. During the evening there
was some gambling going on, but it was
-qniet and seemed to be on the square.
The work of passing the inspection was
begun at an early hour this morning,
and was continued during the day. 1t
was slow work, however. and only few
outfits went through. A large number Of
prospectors arrived at the line yester-
day, considerably more than were put
through the customs inspection. The
crowd here is therefore augmented by
the addition, and the excitement is cor
respondingly higher.
This morning two Mexicans arrived at
the other side of the line, disposed of
some gold dust and returned to the mines
with all the provisions they desired. But
little can be learned of the reports they
brought, as they did not speak English,
and the Mexicans to whom they talked
simply repeat that the mines are very
rich and nearly everybody is taking out
gold in paying quantities. Most of the
news We receive here comes from San
Diego, and the papers are received with
much avidity by all who can get hold Of
'tnem.
Some of the outfits are exceedingly
amusing, and cause considerable laugh
ter among the prospectors themselves.
One party OF four carried their baggage
on their backs. One had two blankets /;
another the provisions, consisting of
-four, bacon and rice; another the camp
utensils, while boy was staggering
along uuder load of picks. shovels and
pans. Another party of four had their
baggage packed on two.wheeled cart,
and with ropes in front and muscle be-
hind were getting it over the ground
without the aid of horse, mule or burro.
Burros with pack saddles are common,
single and double teams are plentiful,
and four-horse teams are not uncommon.
On account of the slow speed with
which the Mexicans work, the pros
peetors are compelled to wait two, three
and four days before getting through the
line. All who come are advised to get
their teams ready, their papers made
out, and then come to the line ahead of
the outfit, in order to get their papers
through the custom-house by the time
their teams reach here.