The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-29

mail closed. On the morning nfter my
arrival met Captain 1lownes, Of the
"Marianna, with Charles Ayres, and a
good many acqunintances, all OF whom
were we'll and In good spirits. stopped
on board Of tho Mariana tor several
nights, until our old brig came In, which
sha managed to do by some means on
the evening OF the 9Th October, making
| the trip from Panama In the unaccount-
nblo short time Of 166 days; nearly six
months making, but mn equal distance to
that OF the one between New York and
Liverpool, which Is nsually made In
Twenty-Five or thirty days. OF my little
land trouble need say nothing cx>~St
tlint was generally very willing to stop
when night ca,no, for though had got
ten nm old "cavs" Cor horse)-he was
| much moro trouble than worth--nll thlngs
taken In consideration. had to walk
sometimes h mile to carry him to water
md then perhaps walk two miles In the
morning before could flnd him (for
YOU mist remcmbcr that It Is not in all
places that you can md plenty OF grass
and water In California;, and when did
find him. no would perhaps havc wan
| dcred way from tho little grass he could
have gotten, and gone on the top OF the
highest hill In tho neighborhood. and
look as thin as a razor-bladc, SO I could
not rido him soino days at all. but would
walk until ! could get somewhere when
| I could get some corn or something to
strengthen tho creature. Our land travel
was not. however altogether wanting In
| interest, as saw what ! may never
again SEQ. a good many mustangs or wild
horses or cattle. a great many decr and
good, large flock Of antclopes.
San Francisco.
OF San Francisco I suppose I need only
shy the whole town looks like the streets
OF largo city In the neighborhood OF Il
large fire, which Is still burning, boxes,
| bales, barrels and bags In the most COM
plete and entire confusion all around tho
landings and the Same confusion and
hustle, which Is generally seen in n city
| In the neghborhood OF large and stil
| burning fire, is seen thoro throughout
the CITY. Labor is very dear, though
scarce as there arc a great many per-
sons there who are merely looking
around and catching up little Jobs in or
der to get hold OF some ready money
| You would laugh II you could see some
OF our Virginia lawyers and doctors car
rylng the hod and wheeling dirt. though
| they are doing It, be 1t said to their
| praise, I worked some little in San
Francisco and received one dollar an
hour for my labor which is the usual
prco for jobbng. made, however, ar
engagements for leaving San Francisco
and was off on the morning Of eth Octo-
Der for Stockton, and thence to the plc--s
at which my letter is written. T arrived
at Stockton on the 18th and put out from
there on the 18th for the dggings, pass
ing tho "Stanisaus" River on the 18th
at Knights Ferry. This is surely ono
OF the prettiest places ever saw, and
II there was anything in the world to In
duce n man to settle thereabouts besides
the scenery, I should be pleased to do
So The river here has a natural dam
about thirty feet wide. over which the
water runs about eight or ton inches In
depth.g That part OF the river which
! Is damned up appears to be about fifty
! feet deep, and you can see the f1rsh and
salmon for twenty feet beneath the sur
face, the water is so clear. The nouns
tans here form a most beautiful curve,
and would almost induce one to think
themselves at Harper's Ferry II they
were to be awakened without knowl-
edge of their whereabouts. I arrived at
| the diggings on Friday, 9th October,
! passing through what Is called Woods
old dgg1ngs'' very early In the morning,
\ andgforS tho first time saw the miners at
| their work digging and washing dirt In
4 great confusion and apparently In great
haste, though I have found that the
more a man hurries when no IS obtain
Ing gOlQ, the moro ne I1lakeS. lltH39
At the Mines.
there passed n few miles farther, and
came to what is called Woods new
dlggings," a place at which they have
no water to wash with. packing the dirt
on their backs in bags to creek about
| q mile to wash 1t, and It still pays them
very we'll for this trouble. So I suppose
when they can get rain enough tobform
4 some holes for washing, this will enable
| to make a. great deal more with less
trouble I got over to my home on
the evening Of tho 10th and pitched my
little tent. and put things to rights by
night. On. Saturday and Sunday We
looked around a little In order to deter
| on Monday morning, There Is camping
with me at present scotchman, who
| came up in company with me on the
Same vessel from Panama (and he Is
| surely one OF the most particular men In
| the observance OF the Sabbath I ever
saw, who amused me very much Oh the
first Sabbath day we arrived here. We
were all sitting around campfire. was
serving and had been washing. He had
been reading his Bible few minutes.
! when he laid down tho book. observing
as he did It. cts no use l cannot think
! OF my Bible to-day, for my mind Ia too
| much occupied with the thoughts OF the
morrow" and for tho FIRST time heard
him say he could not keep that day as
became Christian. There Is a gentle-
/ man camping near mo who gave mo
slight -lecturo for washing and sewing
on the first Sabbath came here. and as
| l had occasion to pass his tent every
day after water, I saw him the next
Sunday making himself deerskn cap,
and he excused himself by saying that
his had been carried off by the gentla-
man who camped with him. and no did
not expect him home that day, there
fore he not being able to wear his
friends hat (Which was India rubher)
he thought he would Just tack together
q malseshift OF deerskIn, and such is
California, A man cannot keep the Sab
bath day we'll as no would WISH ms he
is almost compelled to do something he
should not suppose It Is not worth
| while to give you an account OF tho
manner OF mining, as there have been
so many accounts OF tho manner OF mn-
| inH published every day In your pa