The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-06
AMONG EARLY ARGONAUTS.
Some "reminiscences Of Life With the
Pick, Shovel and Pan.
Trading at the Eines-The Cholera at sacrs.
mento-A Horrible -vicissi.
tudes Of Newspaper Enterprise.
NUMBER THREE.

CouPIe oi teams loaded up With merchau-
disc, with which thought could spend the
summer trading in the mining regions. We
took the road toward Auburn in lovely
weather. the rain had ceased and the
whole country was beautiful with flowers
and with fresh grass, and the large oaks by
the way increased the charm. All along the
road there were people camped. mostly in
tents. coming into the city or going to the
mines, and thus conducting trading estab-
hshments. Auburn was one of tie most
fourishing mining towns Of early DAYS. but
now 1t finds its prosperity in fruit growing.
At the time Of our visit there were three or
Tour stores and about the same number of
hotels. The hotels were without bedding
for their guests, who had as a rule to sleep
In their own blankets on the floor.
The town had been formed irregularly
around the diggings, from which
were obtained large quantities of
gold. as well as one of the largest
nuggets ever dug up in this State. From
Auburn we went up on the old road to Hi
nols town about twenty-five miles ahead.
Here were three or four trading places.
We had the intention to stop at this point
and begin trading, but there was nothing
dong In mining, the water being up in
Inc streams. few miners were waiting 10
get into the beds OF the rivers again. There
being no prospect here We kept on.
When We started from Sacramento we were
10 pay % cents a pound for everything
hauled cut OF the city 10 Illinois town. On
this part OF the route, between Auburn and
Illinois, t re had been some depredatiOnS
by the Indians, out nobody had been hurt,
and people were more frightened than in
1ured. One team had been stopped and the
goods thrown Gus of the wagon. This team
turned about and left the goods on the road
At Illinois town We found both actual bust
ness and prospects poor, but there were re-
ports that further
Up IN THE MOUNTAINS
The miners were getting gold in fair guam
tity, and We concluded 10 90 further No
wagons had been up there before, but by
doubling our teams We succeeded In reach
ing hating place, and thence We packed
cur goods up We located on tile ridge
Of the mountains. between the Bear
can River, where q sort OF trsdip G
post had been set I'D. The mines
had been worked on Bear River two or
three miles one way. near where ColfaX
now stands. Ii the ether direction, down
toward the north FORK, there mad been
very rich Clggings. There were sui some
miners digging IN the Culches among the
hills. We stopped at this place. but had TO
pay 10 cents additional for teaming, which
made the cost from Sacramento 50 cents per
pound. Deep snow lay On the ground. We
cut poles and put up good trading-tent
with counter, and we stayed at this spot
during the summer, sending as we wanted
10 Sacramento for further supplies. The
lowest freight paid was % cents pound. We
could send goods by packing them down to
Bear River by little trail very pre-
ciplt0us, but on the north fork we could
pack 10 very few places, 1t was so precipl-
tous. The miners had to take their pro-
VISIONS and other supplies down with them,
sometimes making use OF a little tree
or bush which they trailed along after them.
We remained well into September. There
were iour or i've stores open besides ours,
and they were all selling tolerably well, but
they sold their goods on cred {, whereas we
only sold Tor gold. Tie result Of the credit
system was that in the fall every one OF
those stores was bankrupt, whereas We
came out with profit, but We did not make
very much. Ii vas useless TO stay Up In the
mines during the winter, as the miners
abandoned the place when they could not
work, and we returned TO Sacramento. Be
sides trading with the miners we did some
business with the 800 or 400 Indians who
we're in the neghborhood
NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE.
When got back | found man named
Bouth in the city whom l had known well
before when he was publishing newspa-
per at Hannibal, on the Mississippi. He
told me he bad bad made arrangements to buy
the Placer Times, which was the first paper
published in the interior Of the State. 1t
was owned by the proprietors of the Alta
California, Edward Gilbert. Kemble, Dur-
wage and others. The price was to be
$4,000 and he wanted me to 60 nto part
nership with him and to share in the pur.
chase. He had funds enough, he stated.
TO pay half the amount, and he
asked ME to find the other half.
He added that he had just come to Sacra-
mento. having crossed the plains, and that
he had his team and some stock up at
Placeryiile, or Hangtown as it was then
called. 1t was therefore proposed by bin
that be should go 40 to Placeryille and gel
all the money be could, and sell his stock,
and that should go down to San Francisco
10 make good the bargain for the sale Of
the paper. which we should thereafter con-
duct jointly. Thinking his statements were
true ! started down TO San Francisco to
meet kembe. who was TO leave for New
York IL day or TWO, and / made arrange
Jsents with him that | should meet a partner
OF his named Conner In Sacramento In three
or four days. when we should hand over
the purchase money. Kemble assured me
the paper was well worth the price at which
If was going, ard told me what the business
was, and | believed what he said. At the
time appointed Conner came up TO Sacra-
mento 10 close the bargain and MAKE the
transfer, but | found that the man who
wanted 10 go into the venture with me had
no money. l therefore declined to have
any partnership with him. At that time /
was well acquainted with a law firm OF good
sianding-Tweed IL Aldridge. They must
then have been worth 100000 or $780,
coo, and they owned good building in the
city. l stated my position TO Aldridge, who
said that he could not raise the full sum at
the moment. but that they could obtain
enough and that he would go in with me.
He wOu5 not. however, leave his business,
but woo.d let me conduct the paper. The
agreement was that he should take half
share in the enterprise. But the Alta pro-
prietOr told me that he wanted young man
who had been editing the paper year or
two 10 become partner also. His name was
j. L. Lawrence. He had no money, but he
said he could get il in New York easily,
and fnally the arrangement was that /
should have half and Aidrdge and Law
renee one-quarter each.
vICIssITUDEs OF JoUURSALIsM.
The Alta proprietor remarked that the
real estate itself would fetch half the pur-
chase money. and it was in fact very
good building on Second street, near K.
There was also printing material, aud
more than enough OF accounts owing
the paper 10 pay for all. 1t was, in short, a
splendid bargain as matters then stood.
Notes were given for the purchase at 10 per
cent per month interest. and we paid some
cash down. As showing what change of
values often occur, i may say that a fterward
1 sold the building for only $500. 1t was
eventually burned down in the fire that
broke cut after got to San Francisco.
Well we went on with the paper as
daily, and within two or three weeks after
we got possession we were doing nicely.
The advertising was large and prices were
high. We soon had reverses and difficult
ties. The cholera broke out in San Fran
cisco, and there was apprehension that it
would visit Sacramento 1t very soon did
One afternoon it was reported that in an old
building right in front of us toward the
levee, intended for a circus a man was
lying at deaths door. The people con-
cluded that The man had cholera. When
the cholera did come Enthusiastically victims
were taken off very rapidly. Just back
from our place the city authorities estab-
ii-hed a cholera hospital. Ours was build
ing Of two stories.