Year: 1862

DEAR JOURNAL - have not written before us
| wished to see how everything was before said
anything. The river has fallen sufficiently to
allow us to work the diggings for few days. aud
] am well satisfied with the prospects obtained.
The last three days has had the effect of raising
tthe river some eight inches. and it is rather dis
couraging to those whose claims depend upon
low stage of water for working, more especially
as those who come down stream occasionally
bring us the cheering news that the snow is from
fifteen to sixty feet deep at the head Of Rush
Greek, Stuart's Fork and other streams. How
ever, think the low bar claims can all be worked
by Z" pot dams' though it is working at great
disadvantage. As for those whose claims are in
the bed of the stream they must content them
selves with d ming the river this year, and put
off their dammiug operations for another season.
The river is nearly three feet higher at present
than | have ever seen it at this season OF the
year. We work altogether with rockers, there
being no water for sluices Myself and my old
"pard do the rocking as scientifically as any
Chiuamen you ever saw.


/ You don't know my old pard." Well, that's
yo,lr loss. | first got into cahoots" " with him
on my return from Weaverville, after having at
tempted to help Mr.. Pile make a pile by an ap-
/ peal to the Democracy of this county through
the columns of the Appea5. Neither of us had a
''red " at the time, we went up Redding' s
Greek and went to rocking. AS we happened to
strike a pretty fair prospect, by Saturday night
we each had good stake, aud we came down to
Kanaka Bar to give our money chance. We
soon struck bandy-legged chap who was ION
| it," aud down sat to u four handed game OF
" draw poker" Did you ever play draw ?"
It's great game foI a poor mau ; if you have
not got pair to start in on you can "draw "
and get ono, and if you have already got one
pair you can draw aud get another, Things
went on swimmingIy until got a pair fqueens,
and thought I'd play them high for luck.
dew three skies and then tried, while my money
lasted, to run out two pair OF deuces Pard set
all his up ON " two pair,7 and next morning two
! sl.lIy looking hombres :, might heae heea seAan \
wetding their weary way homewards. When
we got home we found the hogs had eat up all
our grub except one box OF yeast powders |
have hated hogs ever since, and when John
Hooker came round with his petition for Hog
Law you bet | signed it, although the butcher
threatened to stop the credit for beef with all
who signed.


There are not as many miners here this season
as usual The floods of last Winter destroyed
most of the bitches and water works, and there
are but few places that will pay for working un-
less the works are rebuilt The ranch is now
owned by our friend Bob Stilwell, while Stephen
(aot the one that stoned for his righteous
ness,) attends to the store department, The only
thing that bothers me is this rousiug out SO carly
mornings. \ friend Of mine who has been to
the Salmon river country tells ne that the at.
mosphere is SO light up in those elevated regions
that he has seen men go to sleep while walking.
| always knew that could stand mighty sight
Of sleep in the morning, but was never able to
account for it on philosophical principles before.


Politically we are all sound on the Union. /
don't know of "rebe " in The precinct The
action Of the Republican Central Committee is
looked upon as the right movement for The times,
and some surprise is manifested that the Union
Democratic Committee did not take similar aG-
tion. But while | believe that the masses Of
that party are loyal | think that many of them
attach too much prestege to party. Who will be
their nominee for the Assembly, Of course we
cannot guess but about half Of those whom
have heard spoken of-woll, if ] was out buying
secessionists, and should happen to get them in
the trade, wouldn't consider had lost a red. y


| must close for the present. but if the river
ever does get to a low stage | viii send you
some good mining items. | nearly forgot tc
mention a little incident which occurred to nae
showing how persons may be similarly a1ectec
when in the same situation, even after lapse q
years | was awakened on the night after my
arrival here by Bob, who stood along side OF the
bed with very large glass Of gin aud very
small glass Of wafer OF course | asked an ex
PLANTATION, aud told that had called for tha
article three times in my sleep. Tho only clue
we can get to the mystery Is that tue bed wa.
last occupied by The Republican candidate fol
County Clerk, while eiectionecring last Fall
Could you explain it2 Truly yours


IIPHEsOR.