The Newtown bee., 1904-12-09
To California In '49.
INTERESTING ST o R Y FROM THE DIARY OF
 GLOVER HAWLEY,
Brought Out In a Vivid Way By the Pen of E. L.
 Johnson.

Fremont, Cal, November p, I549.
 Dear Wife: l have just finished somewhat lengthy letter to Asa as promised in my last l would do, and now for little chat with you in this way. l am almost always with you in my sleeping hours, which is quite pleasant.
 have had no letters from you of a later date than June, which l got on my arrival in San Francisco in Septem- Der. Most likely I have several now in the office if l could get at them. When l was up at the mines man left there for the purpose of bringing up letters from San Francisco. He wanted S3 each letter for them, but bargalned at last to get them if 1 had several, for S1 each. l thought myself quite fortunate, and he would be back in two weeks. Just when the time was up, the first of the rain began to fall for the season and in such quanti- ty as to nearly cut off all communica- tion across the plains. l then wanted to leave the mines, but expecting my letters every day l could not think of it for moment. 1 held CD, waiting in this way for three weeks and at last started on foot for this place with my blanket, overcOat, rifle and something to eat on the road, sufficient to last me three days. This was jerked beef and hard bread, just the thing to trav- el with. MriN eafieI left to wait an other week for the letters, then to sell some things we did not think proper to leave and could not bring, together with some dust amounting in all to something over $500, then to follow hoS fo yuo11/ a second day was very hard walking, the prairie being much of it under water and the ravines very high. Some I waded. One I crossed on the back of mule, one in wagon body taken off the wheels, and one on the back of a negro. 1 should not have left the mines in some time if my provisions had been forwarded, and also the fear of being shut in all winter, which I disliked very much. It has rained in torrents almost every day since the 1st of November, and the communications were almost closed.
 I arrived here the third day and found the boat we left in the care of Mir Brown was sold and there was some doubt about getting my pay.. was very sorry it was gone, for boats now are in great demand to carry provisions by water to the mines. It was just the thing and would have brought S45O. However, the man had gone down to Sacramento City, and down 1 went after him, found him and ob- tained the dust after some bother, $125. This is about what it cost us.
 This was Thursday. Friday and Saturday I worked on building and got $24. Sunday l walked up back to this place. g miles, found Neafe had got in, but without the letters. This was yesterday, so you see l am on hand for business with as good health as l ever enjoyed in my life. l have chances, plenty of them to make money this winter without being at the mines ard without the risk of health, and much more pleasant and comfortable. I think 1 had better over-run the time had set for my re- turn home, although it is with much reluctance 1 propose it. l an here and have done as we'll as could be ex- pected under the circumstances. We got in very late, then the sickness at the mines kept me from them for a long time, and now the rainy season has set in very early and drove me out. The last week there, it rained much of the time. We worked what we could with pans, one mile from our tent. Saturday, we weighed our week $ work and made out $11O. l think we would both regret it should 1 lose the chance now 1 am here of making some thing handsome to return with.
 The gold is certainly here in great abundance, and with that greatest of all blessings, health, l am positive l shall succeed in my wishes. I have been offered SIP day in Sacramento City to work on buildings all the good l weather to work out in this winter, l but I think l can employ myself tC l better advantage than that. You can l not imagine the hustle and business
 iii a place like Sacramento City, which I is now but six months old, and at this l time has an area nearly as large as I Bridgeport. The buildings are mostly I of canvas, although some of them now put up are three and four stories high large and good looking. These last < mentioned were not here when
 passed through the lst of October. l The frames were brought up in ships
 The hammer is heard in some all night ' and all Sunday. l pursue line Of tht
 strictest economy although l have never gone without my reg ular meals We cook our own food live cOmfOrtabl, 1 and cheap. I consider dollar here ii i worth to me as much as at home.
 can hardly stay to finish this sheet fO
 an opportunity presents to send it t
 the city direct. Love to you and chil
 dren, and respects to all. In hast your distant husband,- Glover Flaw 1 ley.