THE INDIAN WAR--A CHANGE IN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS--THE DESPERADO--THE
SAILORS--THE MINES WORKED OUT.
It was during this season that an event of the greatest importance
to the State and to the mining interest occurred. I refer to the
subjugation of the Digger tribe of Indians, a warlike and savage race,
who seemed determined to exterminate, if possible, the American race of
gold hunters; that is to say, in the opinion of the business portion
of the community who had something to sell. These Indians were in many
cases very badly treated and abused, and many had been killed for mere
sport by the border-ruffian element from the East. The consequence, a
very natural one, was that in a spirit of revenge they resented such
outrages by taking the lives of a few of those who abused them. But
this was deemed a sufficient cause for a war of extermination, and a
demand was made upon the Government for assistance. No regulars were
necessary, for the “Irregulars,” who were ever ready to volunteer when
an Indian is to be butchered, were numerous.
A small army was soon formed, commanded by Col. William Rogers, and
when all was ready, or nearly so, they marched for the front, if it
could be found. A fine spot for the purpose was discovered near at
hand, but a little out of range of the arrows. They went into camp and
waited for something to turn up. If any attempt was made by the Indians
to charge upon their works, reinforcements were sent for at once, and
a change of base ordered immediately. Such was the nature of this
ferocious, warlike regiment of Irregulars, however, that a change of
conditions was absolutely necessary.
The Indians were hidden behind the rocks upon the opposite side of
Brush Cañon, a few miles above the town, and, unconscious of danger,
were with their families engaged in various amusements. The older
members were seated around in groups discussing the current events
of the day, and indulging in reminiscences of the happy springtide of
youth when engaging in the pleasures of the chase after grasshoppers,
when the Colonel of the Irregulars, from a high commanding position,
the top of a stump, took a view of the situation with his field glass,
leaped to the soil below and ordered a charge at once.
The poor Indians, taken by surprise, fought with valor, disputing the
ground inch by inch; but, being overpowered by numbers, and it being
also nearly lunch time, they very precipitately vamoosed the ranch, and
the United States Government of America remained master of the field.
The ambulance train was ordered up, and the dead and wounded were
carefully handled when found. But one Irregular, however, lost his life
during the conflict, this unfortunate being Mr. W. McKinney, of Cold
Springs.
The opinion among the troops, however, was general, to the effect that
the Indian department suffered terribly, and that large numbers of
them had passed over to the happy hunting ground, and were, probably,
already engaged in chasing grasshoppers in the spirit land; but after
the smoke of battle had been drifted through and the ground sluiced
away, but one old squaw, with her papoose, were found in a ditch asleep.
The Grand Army of the Sierras captured all that was to be found in the
deserted Indian camp, the spoils consisting of an old pack saddle, a
jack knife with two blades, and one woolen shirt. These were taken
into town, and, under orders from the Government, sold at auction to
the highest bidder, the proceeds going into the Treasury and thrown in
among the surplus.
This terrible and devastating uprising was thus squelched, and the
Indians said they would do so no more, and they never did. The great
conflict which was participated in and decided by the valor of
undisciplined Irregulars, not only saved the entire country from utter
destruction, but, in addition, demonstrated the fact to the interest
of all concerned in mining, that the black sand which had heretofore
been thrown aside as valueless was in reality worth $1 per pound,
avoirdupois, in the following manner:
Powder for the grand army being scarce, an enterprising and shrewd
storekeeper in the town, who furnished certain supplies, substituted
kegs of the aforementioned sand in its place, and it was said that in
consequence of the great similarity of appearance, neither the grand
army, the Indians, nor Uncle Sam, ever knew the difference.
For further particulars and details please refer to the history of
the great conflict, as I do not wish to trespass too much upon such
incidents as are matters of historical record.
I desire, however, to mention a few facts in relation to this race of
Indians, for, in my opinion and judging from appearances, they are very
probably the ancestors of the great Mongolian race, and that the latter
descended from them. Of course, this was some time ago, and it may be
possible that it is just the other way, although it matters not which
party made the descent first, or which did the degenerating part of
the business. That the Indians have retained the old original dialect,
however, is an evidence of a very close relationship, which the most
skeptical must acknowledge.
Previous to the great battle which decided the destiny of the race and
the safety of the country, and when the grand old eagle, with prophetic
eye soared from aloft and, sailing majestically across the rocky
cañon, flapped its wings with joy from the top of the great American
banner suspended from a pile of sage brush, the Colonel in command had
dispatched an officer, in full regimentals, to demand the immediate
surrender of all goods and chattels which were contraband of war. This
meant, of course, all squaws and papooses which were in arms. The reply
told the tale of their descent at once.
“You Melican man heap allee samee fool. You no foolee me muchee. You
sabe squaw? You no takee, you wantee. You come catche.”
The officer explained that his object was only to cover them with the
old flag to protect them from the cold weather, as there was every
indication of rain.
Quite a change in social conditions was now taking place. Balls and
dances were more frequent, and the mining regions began to assume the
appearance of civilized communities. To our Eastern friends it was of
course a conundrum how women could live with safety here in the mines
of California, in the midst of such a crowd of cow boys and frontier
desperadoes. It did seem rather strange, but the reason why women
could not only reside here in perfect safety, but could travel about
the country free from insult and molestation as well, I will give an
illustration of:
[Illustration: THE WOMEN MUST BE PROTECTED.]
Soon after the arrival of the fall emigration of ’50, a very pretty
young married woman, wife of a Mr. Herrick, the hotel-keeper, could
frequently be seen riding a pony around among the hills. On one
occasion she was met upon the road a few miles from town by one of this
class of men who offered her an insult. She was not long in reaching
town and reporting the fact, and almost as quickly as I have stated
it he had a rope around his neck, while the other end was thrown over
the limb of a tree, but upon promising faithfully that he would never
do such a thing again, or never insult another woman in California,
he was allowed to depart. An insult to a woman was by these rough
miners considered a worse crime than robbery or murder, and punished
accordingly, and for this reason a woman could travel alone and
unattended anywhere among the mining regions in the early days.
The presence of woman not only illustrated the influence of changed
social conditions, but also the effect upon civilization in general;
for previous to her coming, as I have before mentioned, there was
among all, or at least the greater portion, a total disregard for
appearances, and a visit to the miner’s cabin would show that his mode
of life and household arrangements were sadly in need of repair. Under
woman’s influence, the old cabin was put into proper shape; a washboard
and tub stand by the door; the dishes are regularly washed and arranged
carefully upon the shelf, and the yard in front of the house has been
cleared of old hats, boots and either rubbish--showing by the changed
appearance of the old castle and its surroundings the effect of this
magical influence, tending toward higher conditions of civilization.
You see yonder a large cabin; it has recently undergone a complete
transformation. You observe that a new addition has been put on for the
convenience of cooking arrangements; in front of the house, which was
formerly littered with tin cans and piles of rubbish, all is now smooth
and clean. A pretty fence now surrounds the house, and if you approach
closer you will observe a sweet-pea vine and a morning-glory running
up around the window, fastened with pieces of cotton twine, and in
the corners of the yard, and along by the fence, you will also notice
growing bushes of certain varieties of roses.
The door opens and thence comes the pilgrim chap. But he does not
look like the same boy at all. Can it be he? That “biled shirt” and
those store clothes and shining boots have changed him somewhat in
appearance. But why this change? What is the matter with him, you ask.
Walk with me towards the house. Do you hear that strange sound? ’Tis
not the wail of a hyena or of a catamount from yonder mountain, but the
wail of an infant in the direction of the house. That is what’s the
matter. That rocking motion you hear is not made by a miner’s cradle,
but the other kind, and in it is a very valuable nugget, a ten-pounder
that the pilgrim has just struck, and 24 carets fine. And now don’t
you think that it is the presence of woman that tends to elevate
mankind, or you old forty-niners in particular, to higher conditions of
civilization?
“I reckon,” say each and all of us.
The desperadoes and border ruffians from Texas and Missouri were
now quite numerous. Many robberies were committed and some shooting
participated in occasionally. There were also many of this class
inclined to jump claims, when it was possible to do so without danger,
and, as one of them expressed it who had jumped a claim belonging to a
young man who had just gone to his cabin for
[Illustration: WOMAN’S INFLUENCE.]
[Illustration: THE CLAIM JUMPER.]
lunch, “All Hades couldn’t drive me off either.” He was dressed
in a kind of masquerade costume, and a gambler by profession from
some interior town in Missouri. He wore a white fur plug hat; blue
swallow-tail coat with brass buttons, and around his waist a broad belt
containing weapons enough for a whole regiment. But wait; a large,
powerfully built man was walking very leisurely toward the claim,
followed by the young man, its owner. The big fellow, C. Marple, who
was from Philadelphia, in a very mild and persuasive tone of voice
requested the U. S. arsenal to kindly leave the claim; but placing
his hand upon the most convenient weapon the claim jumper refused.
Mr. Marple, in a very polite manner, stepped towards him, and taking
him by the collar kindly assisted him to leave, which he did without
any further trouble; proving the well known fact that the greater the
scoundrel, the greater the coward,
[Illustration: THE ART OF SELF-DEFENCE.]
and requiring a great number of weapons, therefore, to convince others
of his bravery.
A desperado by the name of Burns, the same who afterwards assisted in
the capture of the noted bandit, Joaquin, came across the plains this
season, and could be seen visiting and lounging around the various
bar-rooms, carrying a miniature U. S. arsenal around his waist. Having
one day a dispute with this same Mr. Marple in relation to some
trifling matter, he grasped the handle of his favorite weapon, but the
unfrightened Yank, shoving his clenched fist in close proximity to the
desperado’s left eye, playfully remarked:
“Yes, draw your weapon, and I’ll bet drinks for the crowd that I knock
you down before you can cock it.”
Burns eyed the huge fist, concluded that he would like its appearance
better at a distance, put up his weapon, and treated the crowd. One of
these brave frontier ruffians made his stopping place and home at a
way station, or bar-room, located upon the emigrant road a few miles
from Hangtown, and was very frequently in the habit of accosting miners
and strangers who had occasion to stop at the place, in a very rough
and barbarous manner. He would draw a weapon, and ask if they had said
their prayers and were ready to die, getting, of course, his whiskey
free as a compromise, upon condition of putting up his weapons. Upon
one occasion, however, he struck a costumer, a regular old-fashioned,
Jacksonian Democrat from Kentucky, who did not believe in compromising.
As the latter stood at the bar enjoying his beverage, the border
ruffian approached him with an immense bowie knife raised above his
head, and inquired if the stranger had said his prayers that morning,
at the same time making a motion as if to strike. The old Kentuckian
remarked that he had not, as he had done all his praying in his younger
days, and enough, he reckoned, to last him the rest of his life, at the
same time drawing his pistol from his belt, and sending a ball crashing
through the brain of the desperado. No inquest, as the coroner did not
think it was necessary.
This class of desperadoes was now becoming quite numerous in the mining
regions, and caused much trouble and annoyance. But they must not be
confounded with, nor be included in, what in more modern times are
denominated as cow-boys; for the latter are a later invention, and as a
rule of a higher order, although there may be many desperate characters
among them. Yet the great majority
[Illustration: NO COMPROMISE.]
of cow-boys are respectable as compared with the border ruffians of
forty years ago. The term desperado, as I am informed, is derived from
the Sanscrit, or some other tongue: desper signifying to “git” and ado
being an abbreviation of the word adieu; in border dialect meaning
“Farewell, I’m off.” The individual who made the application, even if
it was many years ago, knew who he had reference to; for if ever there
was a man who felt inclined to “git” and to tender an affectionate
farewell, it is one of these old-style border ruffians or desperadoes,
when, chancing to be alone, he meets some one with whom he is not on
good speaking terms, the sight of whose clenched fist strikes terror
into his soul.
[Illustration: A SIMILE.]
They resemble the hyena very much, for when in numbers they are brave,
ferocious and warlike, and will at such times attack anything that
has legs, from an old milk-stool to a yearling calf, or anything that
walks, from a congressman to the walking-beam of a steamboat; but when
alone and he scents danger from afar, although encased in armor and
with an arsenal suspended to his waist, yet at such a time he resembles
very much the appearance of a little dog running up the road with a big
tin kettle tied to his tail, while from a rear view all that can be
seen is the hardware.
[Illustration: THE NEW COMER.]
[Illustration: DISCOVERY OF THE RED HILL GOLD.]
As the spring of ’51 approached, the opinion became general that the
mines of California were very nearly worked out, or rather that portion
of them which was thought to be worth working, and consequently many
left the mining regions in the dry diggings and went up to the various
rivers, north or south, others again returning to their Eastern homes.
Owing to the great specific gravity of gold, and being ignorant, also,
of the reasons why gold was almost invariably associated with running
streams, for at this time quartz was unknown and hill gravel mining
was not a possible conception, it was supposed that gold would always
be found only in the lowest places. The time soon arrived, however,
when all old miners, in this mining region at least, were to learn
something new in relation to mining, and discover that the richest
deposits were not in the lowest places by any means, but in the hills
above, in the beds of other, older rivers, and also among the quartz,
which is called the mother of gold, since it is only in this rock that
gold is found in its original state. To illustrate: Some miners were at
work with their cradles in what is called Emigrant Ravine, and about
two miles above town. It was a hot, sultry day, and a stranger, with
his pick and pan for prospecting, inquired of them if there was a place
where he could start in to work. One of the miners, for a joke, pointed
towards an oak tree near the ravine upon a little rise of ground, and
remarked:
[Illustration: THE TARS ON THE HILL.]
“Yes, there by that tree is the finest place to work that I know of.”
The prospector took a view of the ground, and, believing the old miner
to be in earnest, commenced to work. It was deep; the ground was dry
and hard, but, by perseverance and hard work, in about two days he
found the bed rock eight or ten feet below the surface, and from the
bottom of this hole he cradled out more gold in a week than the company
of astonished miners who had fooled him had obtained in their whole
season’s work. In this manner it was soon fully demonstrated that
gold was universally scattered all over, in spots, in no one place in
particular, but wherever you could find it.
A short time subsequent to this a colored man, in walking along the
trail at the foot of a steep hill, picked up a small piece of gold. Its
edges were sharp, and from all appearances it had never been in running
water; but the question was, where did this come from, and there lay
the mystery. Not from the ravine, and certainly not from the steep
side hill; but at any rate the colored man, from curiosity, dug a hole
upon the steep side hill. He found no gravel, but saw that the soil
upon the bed rock was a deep crimson color, and that, scattered around
among this blood red earth was to be found coarse gold. This had never
been in contact with water, but had been deposited by heat or chemical
action, and was the first discovery in this section of the rich, red
hill gold deposits.
It was in the spring of ’50 that four sailors, who had deserted from
their ship in San Francisco, took a cruise up among the mines, as they
remarked:
“Jest to see how the land lay.”
They cruised about for several days, hardly knowing what to do or even
how to do it, and during one of their daily excursions they found
themselves near the head of a small ravine, and a very steep one, which
emptied down into the big cañon. It was a pleasant spot, and one of
them remarked:
“Well now, me lads, let’s drop anchor here; pipe all hands, pass the
grog, and make the blarsted dirt fly.”
So one of them volunteered to commence operations by measuring off a
spot about the size of the forehatch, and then commenced work with his
pick and shovel to break out the cargo, until he struck bottom, as he
remarked. A number of miners at work in the ravine below watched the
operations of the Jack Tars, and were very much amused to see them
sinking a hole away up at the top of a hill. The soil was not deep, and
the tars, by taking a turn about at the helm, were soon down to the bed
rock, upon which they found the dirt and gravel of a very pretty red
color. Filling a pan they took it to the ravine below, where one of the
old miners kindly offered to wash it for them, although he remarked
that it was hardly necessary, for gold never could have got away up
there at the top of the hill. But upon washing it, they found to their
astonishment that there was gold “away up there on the hill,” and a
considerable lot of it too, as the amount in the pan indicated, for it
contained about $20. The jolly Tars procured cradles and the necessary
tools, and started in to work, at which they continued some three
months, during which time they extracted about $20,000, as was stated
by Adams & Co.’s agent soon after they left. The ravine was afterwards
known as the “Sailor Boy’s Ravine,” being about one and a half miles
from Hangtown and near the trail to the American River.
[Illustration: DISCOVERY OF THE OLD RIVER BEDS.]
It was late in the winter or fall of ’49, that the discovery by W.
Salmon and his comrades that gold existed in the hills in the vicinity
of Georgetown was made, and that many of them contained beds of gravel
which were rich in gold, this fact being well demonstrated by the
discovery in Forest Hill, a few months later.
[Illustration: UNCLE BEN ON GEOLOGY.]
Upon the discovery of hill diggings, mining assumed another form, for
instead of the mines being worked out, which was the general opinion,
we were only beginning to learn where to find the precious metal. The
first hill diggings in Eldorado County were discovered near Upper
Hangtown, early in the spring of ’51, by the Aiken brothers, who worked
a small ravine located on the side of Indian Hill. When working near
the upper end of the ravine their pay dirt left them, and, instead of
a slate bed rock, they now found that it had changed to what appeared
to be of the nature of sandstone. This, however, proved to be, upon
examination, cement, under which, upon working through it, they found
a deposit of rich gravel resting upon a slate foundation, and pitching
into the hill. Other hills in the vicinity were soon found to be
similar in character, cement capped, containing ancient river beds rich
in gold.
The discovery of these ancient river beds, among a portion of the
miners created quite a discussion as to their origin and the period,
in geological eras, when this ancient river system was destroyed,
and by what forces. Many of the discussions between these veteran,
self-taught, geological expounders were interesting, as well as
instructive, each one, of course, having a theory of his own which
must be the only reasonable interpretation. One of the most prominent
of these students of nature was an old gentleman from the State of
Wisconsin, Uncle Ben Coats, and to listen to one of his geological
lectures, under the shade of an aged oak, surrounded by a crowd of
miners who were all anxious to be informed as to the facts of the case,
was decidedly instructive and interesting--a scene, too, reminding one
of Socrates or Aristotle lecturing to his pupils in the shady groves of
Athens. We, the miners, soon became proficient in the use of the words
tertiary, pliocene, carboniferous, spirituous, and gaseous eras or
epochs, retaining even to the present time a very vivid recollection of
them, but more especially of the two latter epochs.