inspiration of Smith, or “Joseph,” as they call him, and calculate time
from the date of his death, as an era, speaking of an occurrence, as in
the first, second, or third year of the death of “Joseph.” They believe
the Book of Mormon to be a history of the western, as the Bible is a
history of the eastern continent. Those here were a _good_ set of
fellows, somewhat reckless, fine horsemen, fond of sprees, and an
occasional fight. Many of them had belonged to the “Mormon battalion,”
under the late Gen. Kearney, of whom they spoke in the most enthusiastic
terms. They had all been at “Salt Lake,” and considered that their
country, and home, many of them having left their families there. They
believe all other religions heresy, and quote Scripture to prove, that
the appearance of Smith, and the promulgation of his doctrine, was
predicted long before the Christian era, and that that doctrine must
prevail universally before the coming of the Millenium. They were all
hard workers, and fond of gambling. They had spent ten weeks in
canalling the bar, and the first indications were extremely favorable,
but it was soon necessary to incur additional expense, in order to drain
the deep holes in the bed of the river. The edges of these holes were
rich with gold; in spots the granite being quite yellow, so that the
gold was scraped up with spoons. It was the natural conclusion that the
edges being rich, the bottoms must be more so. The company, that is to
say, Amasa Lyman, (for, being one of the prophets, his word was law,)
resolved to construct a hose of duck to carry off the water as it was
pumped from the holes, consequently sent to town and purchased three
hundred yards of duck, which, using three widths, made the hose one
hundred yards in length, costing $600--the pump costing $50.
We now commenced draining the deepest and consequently the richest hole,
and soon had it in working order; the richness of the margin was, as we
thought, infallible evidence that the bottom must yield abundantly; we
removed a quantity of dirt and stone, and commenced to wash from the
bottom, but, to our surprise, it did not contain a particle of gold;
this, like most of the theories in reference to operations in
California, was not founded on correct principles. The influence of the
stagnant water in the holes seemed to extend to the surface, holding the
passing water in check. The current, as it is bearing the gold down
stream, comes in contact with this dead water, and parts; receiving a
sufficient check to allow the gold to deposit around the margin.
Several experiments were tried without success, and it was soon apparent
that the speculation was to prove disastrous. The operations were
managed without system or discretion. The “_faithful_” having a
majority, had it all their own way; and they managed as seemed best
calculated to victimize the “Gentiles.” As the sequel will show, _they_
were drawn into the same vortex. I had hired a man to work my share, but
the dividends did not pay his wages, and it was apparent that we must
dissolve the company, and each man work or abandon his share as he saw
fit. It was proposed to divide the bar into equal shares, to be drawn by
numbers representing them; the “_faithful_,” however, opposed this mode
of distribution; they were in favor of going on, and each getting all he
could; each to be allowed ten feet in width, wherever he might locate
his machine. They having canalled and worked the bar, knew every foot of
it, and the relative richness of the different parts. The “Gentiles” saw
no alternative but to be victimized, as they must submit to the
majority, and it being Lyman’s motion it was sure to carry. The place of
deliberation was at the tents on the side of the mountain, some distance
from the bar, and as the work had been suspended for several days, many
of the implements had been carried up.
There was an unusual anxiety and excitement on this particular occasion,
and as the vote was about to be taken, first the implements, then the
bar would be scanned, with marked solicitude; the clenched hand and
determined gesture giving token of the fearful struggle that was at
hand. The vote was given; each man “_broke loose_” for the bar as if his
life depended upon the exertion of the moment; some with machines on
their shoulders, others laden with shovels, tin pans, pick-axes, India
rubber boots, and spades, all rushing down, pell-mell, some crossing the
canal on the log, others, finding the log full, would rush in and wade,
or swim across; the implements of some, coming in contact with others,
all would tumble in to meet again at the bottom. Any one who has
witnessed a charge in battle, can form a faint idea of the confusion and
excitement on this occasion. The vanquished, however, instead of being
drenched in blood were drenched in water, and instead of broken bones,
cries of the wounded, the beating of drums, and torn uniforms, we had
broken shovel-handles, curses of miners, the rattling of tin pans, and
torn red flannel shirts. It so happened that the “_faithful_” all rushed
for the same spot, and when their _lions_ were served the _lambs_ found
the balance of the best in the hands of or in the possession of the
“Gentiles.” This occasioned considerable sparring among themselves, and
resulted in the “lambs” selling out for from ten to fifteen dollars,
being their entire summer’s work.
I did not trust my interest at this time, to the supervision of a hired
man, but joined in the foot-race, leaving Prince (the cook) in charge of
the store. I knew nothing about the best points in the bar, but followed
the “Prophet” and his satellites, and when they selected their “leads” I
took the one next above; in this lead I had an opportunity of seeing
rich deposits, although I kept it from the knowledge of the “faithful.”
I would go on the bar at 9 A.M. and work until 12; then from 1 P.M. to
4. On one day I got eleven and a half ounces, and on several days as
high as six ounces. The bed of my lead was rotten granite, which in some
places was entirely covered, being yellow with gold; in some of the
crevices of the rock I would take it out with a spoon, almost entirely
free from dirt. The person having the lead next above me found a piece
in a crevice worth twenty-five dollars, which was thought extremely
large for river gold; it was found in a cavity of its own size and form,
and seemed to have dropped in in a molten state. The final result was a
loss to almost all concerned in the operation; the same result attended
all the canalling operations within my knowledge with one or two
exceptions; such experiments, require such immense expenditures that
they must be extremely productive to remunerate.
Some three weeks after Jim’s departure, as I was sitting in the store,
in the after part of the day, I heard a peculiar whoop, and looking up
the side of the mountain I saw a cloud of dust, and a something flying
in the air that had the appearance of a sail that had broken loose from
its lower yard during a gale; then there were four legs and two other
legs, all of them seemed to be running races; whether on the ground or
in the air it was difficult to tell. I soon came to the conclusion that
it was a trial of speed between Old Gray and Jim; they both arrived
about the same time; Jim a little ahead; as between his poncho and old
Gray’s _latter extremity_ it was about an even race, and _they_ both
_settled down_ quietly, as if glad the race had ended. As Jim drew up to
the door, he dismounted, and throwing on the counter a large
handkerchief filled with gold and silver, said, “Well, by G--d, captain,
I’ve made a raise;” he then untied his handkerchief; there were twenty
or thirty dollars in silver, the balance in gold coin; the former he
insisted upon my accepting, assuring me that it was of not the least
value to him. He had been up the river twenty miles, had fallen in with
a Mormon who had some money, and who proposed that Jim should deal
“monte” and share the profits; in a few nights they had won $13,000; the
half of this was more money than he cared to have by him at any one
time, and was on his way to Sacramento City to spend it. He felt in high
spirits, and as there were two gamblers along in the evening, who wished
to open a “monte bank,” he wished me to allow them to do so, which I
did; they had a capital of a few hundred dollars, and Jim was to try his
luck at betting, which, by-the-way, he understood _as well_ as the other
branch of the game. He watched the run of the cards for some time, then
wished to cut them; soon he made a small bet--it won; he made a larger
bet, and won it also; after making a few successful bets, he “_tapped
the bank_,” and won it; at about midnight he mounted Old Gray for
Sacramento City, with as much money as he could conveniently carry.
The next morning a man came to the store, who saw Jim sleeping under a
tree, his money under his head, his horse tied with a lasso, having
traveled about five miles on his way to town. On his arrival, he looked
upon Sacramento City as his guest, and emptied his handkerchief in
drinking its health. He had all the inhabitants drunk who were disposed
that way, and many of them much against their will. He was quite
successful in getting rid of his money, and one week after his advent,
he had _invested_ his last dollar. He had engaged to pilot the mail
through to Santa Fé, for the government, and the time arrived while he
was _entertaining_ the city. Of course, he could not leave just then,
and when the officer in charge ordered him to start, he declared in the
_strongest_ language, that he considered himself full as good as some
men, and better than others. The result was that he was put in irons.
One day of such confinement would be sufficient to bring him to his
senses, and make him long for his mountain air. I have no doubt that,
ere this, he has seen the mail safely deposited at Santa Fé, and is,
perhaps, again extensively engaged in the mule trade.
Chapter Seventeenth.
FALSE REPORTS AND THEIR INFLUENCES--DAILY AVERAGE--ABUNDANCE OF
GOLD--ORIGINAL DEPOSIT--“COYOTAING”--SAILORS--THEIR SUCCESS AND
NOBLE CHARACTERISTICS--THEATRICAL TENDENCIES--JACK IN THE
AFTER-PIECE--MINERS ON A “SPREE”--THE WRONG TENT.
There was an almost universal uneasiness felt throughout the mineral
regions. Not a day would pass without arrivals and departures. To-day, a
report would be in circulation that at a particular point on the Juba,
or Feather river, miners were getting one hundred dollars per day. A
party would immediately set out, and to-morrow a party will arrive _from
that particular point_, having heard that at _this_ point, miners had
actually got all they could carry away. They would arrive with a full
supply of provisions, utensils, &c., but being disappointed, there would
be no alternative but to sell out, as their provisions could not be
drawn up the mountain. To-day a man arrives who has prospected
throughout the southern mines without success, and fallen in with a
report that has brought him to this point. Miners who are successful say
nothing about it, but those who are not, are generally fond of making an
_impression_. I have now in my mind’s eye several individuals who were
almost daily visitors at the store, who had always _just_ discovered a
very rich deposit. But strange as it may seem, that deposit never
happened to find its way into the individual’s pocket. Now, a man will
come in, all excitement, having just discovered, in a mountain gorge, a
deposit so rich that gold can be picked up by pounds and half-pounds. He
is out of provisions, and on his way to town to lay in a stock,
preparatory to availing himself of his rich discovery. He talks
incessantly of his prospects, and on his arrival in town imparts the
information to the press. It is published as coming from the individual
himself, and, of course, worthy of credit. It is copied by papers
throughout the world, and universally believed; this individual,
however, in the course of a week, has engaged to drive team by the
month, or if returning to the mines, goes in some other direction, as if
having forgotten his rich discovery. His report, however, sends
thousands to look for the spot, which, I need not say, they do not
succeed in finding. The _precise spot_ is rarely found; people get
within twenty miles of it, but seldom nearer. As if exerting the
influence of the Upas tree, they cannot approach within the prescribed
limit. At the same time, many were engaged in private leads that were
paying well, some averaging an ounce per day, and some even more. At the
mouth of a ravine near, there were ten persons at work, who were
averaging one and a half ounces per day. There were others in the
vicinity doing equally well.
The country had been thoroughly prospected; there was not a bar nor
ravine that did not bear the impress of the pick and shovel. There were
daily discoveries of deposits, sufficiently rich to pay well; still,
such discoveries, in proportion to the number in search of them, were
not one to twenty. All were earning something, and the mass more than
their expenses, still they were not averaging good wages. A man could
place his machine almost anywhere and get two dollars per day; this,
however, barely pays for the provisions consumed, and unless a lead will
pay _at least_ five or six dollars, it is not considered worth working.
A miner finds a lead that pays six dollars, he exhausts it in six, or
say ten days; his expenses are two dollars per day, leaving him, at the
end of ten days, forty dollars. He now spends a week, perhaps more,
before he finds another lead that will pay; his expenses have reduced
the amount in hand to twenty-six dollars. If he goes any considerable
distance, he must hire a mule to carry his provisions, machine, &c.,
which will cost him one ounce ($16) per day; two days exhausts his fund.
There are in California, two hundred thousand inhabitants. Say half this
number are engaged in mining--at five dollars each, it amounts to half a
million daily. Now, according to statistics, this is more, by half, than
is actually produced, and half this amount, or two dollars and a half,
is _about the daily average_, take the mass together.
As I have already remarked, the supply of gold is inexhaustible, and
late discoveries show that the rocks constituting the base of the
mountains are cemented with it. When proper machinery is brought to
bear, and the bowels of the earth opened, discoveries will undoubtedly
be made, that will eclipse the most exaggerated calculation. The
original deposits were, undoubtedly, in the depths of the earth, and all
that has yet been found is that which has been thrown to the surface, by
the convulsions of nature. The form and general appearance of the gold,
together with the appearance of its places of deposit, are conclusive
proofs of this theory. That the country has been convulsed by internal
fires, no one who has visited it, can doubt. Mountains of lava are seen
towering up, and caverns yawning at their base. The natural conclusion
is that many of the original deposits or veins are still undisturbed;
and, in the vicinity of the original deposits of those that have, gold
must exist, and will be discovered to an extent almost beyond
conception.
A system of mining was adopted near the commencement of the rainy
season, which went to show that gold is much more plentifully
distributed, as you near the original deposit. It was called in
California _parlance_, _coyotaing_. It was by digging holes or pits in
the ground, generally into the base of the mountains, sometimes
penetrating to the depth of fifty or one hundred feet, with the opening
just sufficient to admit a man. This mode was found extremely
profitable. Miners now also commenced prospecting among the rocks on
this side of the mountains, and with very fair success.
Among the operators in the mines, there were none, as a class, so
generally successful as sailors. They were numerous, and carried with
them those estimable traits for which they are so universally
celebrated. They were always, both hand and purse, at the disposal of
their neighbors. Nothing afforded them more pleasure than to administer
to the wants of others, always acting upon the principle that what
_they_ had belonged to the world at large, and they were merely the
agents to superintend its distribution. There was a bar in the immediate
vicinity, called “Neptune’s Bar,” worked entirely by sailors, and of the
twenty canalling operations in the vicinity, it was the only successful
one. They were well remunerated, and no one envied their success. They
would occasionally have a day of recreation, when all the neighbors
would expect to drink; in fact, it was looked upon by all as a gala day,
the amusements being of a rare and attractive character. The actors
would generally drink just enough to exhibit their most prominent
traits. Hogan was full of Shakspeare, and Tom of gunpowder; Charley, a
true son of Neptune, would always imagine himself in a gale, and go
aloft on the nearest tree; George would laugh; Bill would sing, and Geen
would cry; Jack was a long, lank boy of nineteen; his eyes, _on such
occasions_, had a peculiar way of closing themselves without his
consent, and generally much against _his_ will. The operation was
somewhat like closing a lady’s work-bag with a draw-string. He would
tell the “yarns,” and it was the only branch of the profession in which
he was _au fait_. Hogan would give us a medley, made up of _gems_ from
“Macbeth,” “Richard III.,” “Much Ado about Nothing,” and the “Merry
Wives of Windsor.” Tom would deploy into line for action, Charley would
fall through the hatch, Jack would sell a magic hat to a Jew, while
Prince, the cook, would be searching his pockets for yeast. On one
occasion Jack was, in theatrical _parlance_, cast, in the after-piece,
and he played his part with _much spirit_. He came to the store drunk,
with a large sack on his shoulder, _en route_ to the dry diggings. We
tried to dissuade him from crossing the river that evening, but he was
determined, and staggered down towards the crossing. We all followed,
Dewey, being furnished with a lasso, to fish him out in case of
accident. Jack was somewhat offended at the interest manifested in him,
and mounted the log with an emphatic oath. He walked steadily until he
had reached the middle of the stream, when, thinking no doubt that it
was time to begin to climb the mountain, he raised his head, lost his
balance, and fell in. The weight of the sack first took him to the
bottom, but he soon rose to the surface, when Dewey threw the lasso,
caught him around the neck, and drew him out. This was somewhat
embarrassing to Jack, but he possessed too much courage, at this
particular time, to give it up, and again mounted the log. This time he
walked much farther, so that there should be no mistake about it, but he
again looked up with the same result as before. The stream was very
rapid, and was fast carrying him down, but Dewey’s unerring lasso took
effect, and he was again drawn up the bank. This way of wearing cravats
Jack was not accustomed to, and it was sometime before he could raise
wind sufficient to carry him from his moorings.
The third attempt was made with better success. He reached the opposite
side, but in stepping off the log, stumbled, and, the bank being steep,
he rolled back to the margin of the river; Dewey again threw the lasso,
and Jack recrossed. This closed the scene; Jack did not come before the
curtain, and, I suspect, that if there had been one near, he would have
got behind it.
Occasionally the miners of that entire region of country would get on a
spree, go to some drinking establishment, all get tight, and have a
merry row. They would keep it up during the day, and at evening some one
perhaps would propose going home. This would be favored by some, but
generally met by a proposition to have another round, which would
invariably carry; then some would be accused of not having treated; he
would acknowledge the soft impeachment, and another round would be
ordered. They would all drink to friends at home in general, then to
some particular personal friend. Some one would propose going to the dry
diggings the next day, prospecting. Well, all in favor of going with
Price, to-morrow, to the dry diggings, will form on this side--opposed,
on the other; opposed are in the minority, and must treat. Some would
get mad and start for their tents, but having, at this particular time,
very vague ideas of localities, instead of going down the river, they
would go up the side of the mountain, and, _vice versa_; others would
start, but by some mysterious movement, the earth would _fly up_ and hit
them in the face. The balance of the party would take the last drink and
start, all wishing to go to the same place, but each, having his own
peculiar ideas, as to the direction.
After wandering about for some time, each would call to the others,
informing them that _he_ was right, and of course when all were right
none were wrong; but in the sequel not one, perhaps, out of the twenty,
would reach his tent during the night. On one occasion, one of the
party, after having taken the last drink, mounted his mule, designing to
go one mile up the river, but, on reaching the mouth of the ravine, the
worthy animal turned down stream. In the course of the night the rider,
as he supposed, reached his tent, and in attempting to dismount, being
somewhat _fatigued_, he fell against the side of it and rolled in at the
bottom; to his surprise he found it occupied by an individual, who,
disliking his abrupt _entrée_, brought his revolver into requisition;
the matter was explained, and our worthy rider found himself in the tent
of a stranger, five miles from his own.
[Illustration:
G. V. COOPER DEL.
ON STONE BY J. CAMERON
LITH. of G. W. LEWIS 111 NASSAU ST. N. Y.
SUTTER’S MILL,
_COLOMA, the spot where the Gold was first found_.]
Chapter Eighteenth.
ARRIVALS--PREPARATION FOR THE RAINY SEASON--NEW
DISCOVERIES--COLOMA--GAMBLERS _versus_ BAYONETS--“HANGTOWN”--PUBLIC
EXECUTIONS--FASHIONABLE ENTERTAINMENTS--WILD CATTLE--DANGEROUS
SPORTING--MURDERED INDIANS--THE WRONGS THEY SUFFER.
After the result of the different canalling operations was known, being
about the first of October, there was a general uneasiness felt
throughout the mines, partly owing to the ill-success attending the
above, and in part to a desire to make preparations for the approaching
rainy season, which was expected to set in about the first of November.
People were constantly arriving from San Francisco, having been informed
that this was the “_precise spot_.” The overland emigration was also
arriving, and there was a universal desire to change positions. Those
having productive private leads, were anxious to sell, go into the “dry
diggings,” throw up dirt, and prepare for operating during the rainy
season. Some of the canalled bars were not entirely abandoned, and much
of the stock was in market; but those who purchased it, were in a
similar condition to the man who purchased the bear skin, the worthy
owner of which was running wild in the forest, little suspecting that so
important a part of himself, had been made the subject of a mercantile
contract.
There were frequent reports of rich discoveries in the mountain gorges,
and many of them were found quite productive, inducing the occupants to
throw up temporary habitations to protect them during winter. Those who
wished to retain their claims on the river, would do so by leaving some
utensil to keep possession, and spend a week in prospecting in the
mountains. If successful in finding a productive spot, the pick-axe
would be left in charge. A rich deposit was found in the mountains
about four miles distant, to which the attention of all was directed,
and many threw up temporary huts and made preparation for the
approaching winter. The place immediately assumed the appearance of a
town. Stores were erected and filled, and _monte-banks_ established to
amuse the citizens. This newly discovered dry diggings is twelve miles
from Coloma, the point at which gold was first discovered; the
intervening distance being a succession of mountain gorges, all
containing gold, many of the vales being in the possession of herds of
wild cattle, that have never, until recently, been visited by man.