Year: 1866

w. I. Arberry to Mr.. Nelson


MCCLELLAN GULcH, NJ. T.,


Dec. Is, 1865


Ny Venerable old Fried Nels seat my
self to write you few lines to let you know
that l look back with fond recollectons up
on that venerable old bald pate and smiling
countenance, and think of the days we have
spent together in friendship and good will
was going to say | wish you were here to
batch with me this dreary, cold, long winter
but no old friend. | do not wish you such
luck. have heard you talk of the North
River and Hudson being cold in the winter.
1t is nothing compared to this country. A
man here San actually freeze to death in two
hours. The 1lth, 10Th and 18th of this
month the mercury stood %, 80 and 80 be-
low zero, and the wind blowing hurricane.
1t was impossible for man to travel with
out freezing. A great many miners have
been severely frost bitten, and some suppos-
ed to have been frozen to death. The snow
will average about a foot deep, and in some
places where the wind has drifted it, is very
deep. 1 am well fixed for the winter, old
sport-have the warmest cabin in town, a
good stove and fireplace, and 26 of the
finest venison hams that were ever hung up
in kitchen. What do YOU think of an old
buck dressing two hundred and twenty
pounds neat, and two inches of fat on his
ribs? The finest venison | ever saw abound
in these mountains. We have fine fat beef
at 25 cts. per ID. l think there will be a
great deal of suffering here this Winter, be-
fore Spring opens. There are many desti
tute men, who have no money or grub, and
if it stays this bitter cold weather men can
not work and earn anything. My winters
grub will cost me about eight dollars.
have young man staying with me, who
gets wood and cooks for his board. If had
known as much as do now | would have
gone below this, Fall, as there is no business
going on. or any chance to make money here
during the Winter and then it is worth a
mans life to stand this climate. This Win
ter will perfectly satisfy me of the Rocky
Mountains. l have been cursing warm
weather for sc years, and now with true re-
pentance, l humbly beg warm weather's
pardon, and | will not sin again. Nels.,
think there will be some good diggings
struck here next Spring, and further think
that | will do something myself; but can
didly, l would not advise any man to come
here. The warm seasons are very short,
and the winters so severe that man must
be in very big luck to make money. But |
know several men who have gone home with
ten, twelve, fifteen, and as high as twenty
thousand dollars. There are a few instances
of persons having great success in short
time. On the other hand you will see plen-
ty of men half starved. ragged and lousey,
shivering and almost froze to death, stag
gering around through the country without
even splinter to get a pound of -four
and let me tell you, old fellow, there is very
little generosity, or charity in this country.
Every man for himself. | gave man,
about six weeks ago, one hundred dollars to
60 down to the Bitter Root Valley for load
OF potatoes. 1 wanted some to last me
through the Winter, and told him he might
nave all the profits. My honest potato man
started, and that was the last of him and nv
money. 10 punish myself for allowing the
~ scounorel to swindle me, stew my fat
senlson lips without potatoes. live fine
have nothing to do but shut the door hn;ld
on warm fire. read over all the % paners IND and
then novels. then walk the floor five bnndnaJ Ind
times, take supper, read few hours mora
and pass the time as pleasantly as circnm'
stances will permit