The San Francisco call., 1897-08-20

TRINITY CENTER, CAL, Aug. 49,
Coffee Greek is aboom with the life and
labor of the 400 who have reached the
stream and scattered along its canyons
aud its guiches. Sill higher to-day is the
rate of the rush past here. At 3 P. NJ.
fifty have gone by or stopped with the
crowd now here, although it is the hottest
day OF the season. The thermometer regis
ters SO degrees, and scores have stopped
until evening by shaded streams and
springs along ths way. The walkers keep
arriving from sunrise to midnight. A
majority come from Redding by horse
bacE, special conveyance or stage. Last
night, between o'clock and midnight,
two loaded stages and a special load from
Redding rolled in.
A majority are from surrounding
regions OF Northern California, but quite
a number from the bay have got in and
they have even reached here from the
East. Two men who never saw mine have
lett jobs in Iowa and reached Coffee Creek
since reading the reports OF the Eastern
papers. One was milking cows OF dairy
ranch. s. doctor from Ohio was on his
way TO the coast looking for a location
when he heard the news, and he is here.
One of the batch of inquiries received by
Postmaster Mcdonald by last night mail
was from Chicago lady,, who writes
that her husband anu two sons have the
California fever. She wants to know if
the inclosed clipping from a Chicago pa
per is true or exaggerated, what the
chance is for a strong, am bilious man,
and asks is it safe as to life and morals
around the mines. The entertaining rush
is composed of plain and other foots,
greenhorns, practical miners, old pros
pectors, men with money looking for
snaps, fellows looking for a chance 10
bond and sell claim and general rustlers
wandering in, am bilious to better them
selves somehow.
Clarence Somers has been working in
the Gwin mine in Tuolumne County and
was staked by the other miners for the
trip. W. K. Hoover of the Royal mine,
Caiaveras County, has been similarly
staked by his fellows. A train dispatcher
at Dunsmuir secured a months vacation
and is on the creek. A party of two
saloon-keepers, a barber and a lum ber-
man OF Sissons report that fourteen have
left that town and a dozen more are
coming.
Joseph Morton and w. B. Frue OF San
Jose are sizing up the country and look
ing for investments. A Santa Cruz capi-
talist writes for pointers leading to large
investments. The rush is profitable to
the old residents here as well as being
three combined shows, which they enjoy
every minute.
Twenty owners of rigs from here to Red
ding are going into the passenger and e1-
press business and finding little money
by picking up parties, and often cutting a
dollar or so below the stage fare. which is
$5 for the ffty-six miles from Redding to
Trinity Center the latter being six miles
below Coffee Creek. Drivers of the big
freig hting wagons make their own terms
with trampers and often haul their outfits
on ahead.
Along the road during the heat of the
day men may be seen nursing bottles Of
vhiskey in the shade. and few pause a
day or two at stopping places where there
are bars and enjoy restful drinks. This
morning tenderfoot went into store
and bought broom to take along up COT
fee Creek to the hilarity of the public.
A young red-headed Englishman came
in with the tide, two companions he had
picked up and plug and cart the three
had bought in Redding for SIS. The Eng
Iishman had just come from London to
San Francisco, headed for some Pacific
Coast mining region, and he made con-
nections for Coffee Creek. Last night he
was frying the bacon for supper where
they camped on top of the Trinity Noun
tains, and as he turned the bacon a
ireighter said: "What are you doing. my
friend? You don't want TO fry bacon OUT
here only on one side" He threw the
bacon out and supped on bacon properly
cooked on one side. "Its blooming 'ot,
and 'olding that bloody cart back down
the mountains is ard on the feet,' he
retorted.
They have much Joy with the tender.
feet who stop old residens to ask ques-
tions. tWhy, yes. this country is chuck
full of gold," said one old fellow down
the road to an eager couple. 'Just let me
take your pan." The old man slipped
some gold dust into his mouth and went
down to the stream where he scooped up a
pan full of dirt. Calling attention to a
hill over there he dropped the gold into
the pan and went to washing. There was
about two dollars worth in the pan and
the boys were going to stay right there
"Oh no, this Is nothing, boys; go on up
Coffee Creek, where 1t is so much better"
said the old man, and they went.