Year: 1865

MoRRIsox's June 10, 1865.


EDITOR UNION REcoRD: left you at
Morrisoo's- l propose to give you parting
farewell to the place Morrison was Scotch
man. who wandered here in 1850 and struck
diggiDgs in this gulch. He built a house
which stood for eight years. when whirl-
wind came along one day, including the night,
and old Morrisou's home lay cross and pile.
There is no evidence now where it stood
John Chinaman has demolished every trace Of
the original location. SIC transit gloria mundi
Old Morrison left as soou as be discovered the
diggings for parts unknown. Like all great
discoveries he lef. without even getting
claim, and be was even robbed OF the name of
discovery by the citizens naming the place
Morristown-a bad imitation of Morrison.
Morristown is camp of about one hundred
Inhabitants, and families enough 10 sustain
school, Passing from Morrison Diggings the
next place is Port Wine When this place
was discovered the prospectors were determined
TO have burst. In searching the camp q
keg of liquor was discovered. when they start
ed in on it; it was supposed to be whisky as
the combat thickened on We brave" it was
concluded TO be only Port wine, and amid the
scene of confusion and turmoil the name Of
the place was proposed. At this momenious
period the liquor was supposed to be in the
act Of watering, and one of the party pro
nounced it no stronger thar Port wine. This
was good idea and it was proposed TO call
the dggings Port Wine, which name it has
retained ever since, although more whisky
has been consumed than Port wine in that
place. Port Wine contains very Industrious
and thrifty population, is said to support q
good school, and has one of the best school
houses in Sierra county.


am now in ST. Louis In an early time
this was one Of the gayest places in this range
Of the mountains. Ii contained FIVE hotels,
five stores and FIVE saloons. together with the
most remunerative mines 10 the county of
Sierra. More miners or as many have gone
from this location with compency as from
any other place Of its size in the Stale But
/ its glory has departed and the busy tbrong is
not to be seen about its streets and still there
are some very good claims not worked out,
and will pay for many years to come. | will
pass over Chaudlervie and Pine Grove and
try and get at Howland Flat A party OF
miners, dead broke, under the impetus OF bad
whisky, left Pine Grove a bowling for parts
unknown. They took the trail TO Poker Flat
which led through wet slash covered with
willows and water. Here they camped o
bowling 1t is said there was one of the party
by the name of Howland, but that is not in
evidence. Indications of mines were discov-
cred, but the location hung fire for many years.
St. Louis, Chandleryie and Pine Grove, only
mile or two distant, were large mining
camps. Rowland Flat was good place for
the dead broke to talk about making O raise
but it was hard for them to raise "red on
its reputation to ever shell out. But presto
! change, at this time il is one of the largest
mining camps in the county, and has some OF
the richest claims in the State. 1t now ranks,
in regard to population, with any place in the
county, and bids fair with its euvious Potosi
Balerack, TO outlive any place in prosperity in
this range OF the mountains, so far as wash
gravel diggings are concerned. The amount
of gold taken out in this place l am not able
to give at this time. My next will be Gibson
vile and Whisky Diggings. 0. S. b.