The herald., 1894-01-21
A RELIC OF '4o,

Who Has Been Planning Gold the
Mokeiumne River Since AS.
Clovedaler Prospect: In 1916 there
was great excitement in New York city
at the news OF the opening of tae Mex
lean war. Samuel w. Pearsall, then a
young man OF 20 years, fred with the
spirit Of the times, enlisted in Company
B of the First regiment of New York
volunteers, commanded by Jonathan d.
Stevenson and Colonel
Henry s. Burton. They sailed from
New York city in September, 1916, and
arrived at San Francisco in March,
1S47, coming around the Horn. Com
psny b, of which Samuel W. PearsaH
WAS a member, was disbsnded at Monte
rey in October, 1648. Upon being dis
banded party OF 20, Pearsall
being one of the number,
''struck out" for the mines, passed
through Livermore pass, crossed the
tule plains and arrived at Stockton,
which city then consisted OF three tents,
constituting a provision depot for the
surrounding country. These three tents
were owned and the business conducted
by Captain Weber, Sergeant Belt and
Captain Taylor.
Pearsall's party stayed three days at
Stockton, then the OK teams were headed
and started for the mines on the Mokel-
umne river-the river of snowy waters,
according to the Indians the vicinity
being the present location OF Moke-
lumne Hill townsite and surroundings.
The party was 10 days in reaching the
locality now Campo Seco. Pearsall was
one of the pioneers cutting the way
through. They camped one night on
the present site of Campo Seco, and, re-
Stunning their Journey on the following
day, hewing their way through the path
less woods, making a road for their
vehicles, consisting of the primitive,
umbering Mexican carts, with the cattle
yoked to them in Mexican style, with
thongs of rawhide lashing beam at the
base Of the horns, to which the pole of
the cart was linked. They were four
days reaching the present site Of Nickel
umne Hill, distance OF about II miles.
Some of the "boys" had gone ahead on
horseback, and by the time the teams
came up they had log cabin in course
OF onstruction--the first building putup
on Mokelumne hill.
There not being water enough on the
"Hill" for the crowd of "boys," the
larger number moved down to the river
and located about 100 yards from what is
now Big Bar bridge. The fret work
upon arriving was the building of
monster log cabin. A party was then
detailed to go to Stockton for supplies,
principally -four. This returning party
met Colonel Stevenson and Lieutenant
John B. Bonnycsstle's party at what is
now known as the Double Springs"
where the newcomers had the bad luck
to "break down." 1t was then made an
understanding that the Corners should
remain whore they were until the other
party returned to Stockton, when they
would bring them up to the Hill" On
arrival, after providing quarters, alton
ton was directed to making laws-min-
ing laws-and Colonel Stevenson was
the first Justice of the peace on
Mokelumne Hill. The mining laws
allowed l6 feet square of ground to the
man, and they held good until 1851,
when what is known as the French
war" broke out, caused by a dispute as
to what constituted the limits of
mining claim, after which 80 feet square
were allowed to the man.
Colonel Stevenson and Lieutenant
Bonnycastle left for Sacramento in JAM
uary. 1S49. Pearsall Gays: II PANIED
on the river in '48 and l am banning
there yet" Many are the thrilling epi-
sodes the old pioneer can relate, enough
to make big volume. Mr.. Pearsall is
one of the ''old boys" that ought to be
in that mining camp at the midwinter
fair