SHIPPING A QUARTZ MILL.
That evening Major H. met Sedgwick in the office, and, with a twinkle of
the eye, asked him if he was really anxious to take cheaper apartments.
The young man smiled and said he rather thought, as he would probably
only remain two or three months, it would not be worthwhile to change.
Next morning Sedgwick ordered a forty-stamp gold quartz mill complete,
with two rock-breakers, the batteries to be of five-stamp each and low
mortars, with a single pan for cleaning up--a free gold quartz mill.
Instead of one heavy engine, he ordered two, each of forty-horse power
to work on the same shaft, to be supplied by six thirty-horse-power
boilers to be set in two batteries. He ordered also one six-inch and one
four-inch steam pump, with the necessary boilers, and besides, a donkey
hoisting engine, good for an eight-hundred hoist. The order included
all the needed attachments, belting, retorts, duplicates of all parts
subject to breakage or wear, a forge, and shoes and dies enough to last
two years.
He stipulated, too, that the wood-work of the battery should be gotten
out, exactly framed and marked, and that all the pulleys, bolts, etc.,
should be included.
In two days the specifications were gotten ready, and the contract
signed, which included a clause that the whole should be ready in sixty
days, or less, from that date.
Then Sedgwick wrote fully to Jordan, giving him the account of what he
had done, and sending him a draft of the ground plan of the mill, and
full details as to the grading, hoping he would receive the letter and
have the rocks hauled, the battery blocks gotten out, and the grading
done.
This work under way, the exultant man devoted all his time to Grace,
except that every day, when in the city, he would make a run two or three
times to the foundry to mark the progress of the work.
Meanwhile, the happy pair visited every point of interest in and about
San Francisco. They frequented the theatres, drove to the Park and the
Cliff House, and both declared that San Francisco was the most delightful
spot on earth.
They were all the world to each other. In the happiness that filled their
hearts their eyes were softened, so that everything they looked at took
on roseate hues--the world had become a throne to them, over which had
been drawn a cover of cloth of gold.
Once they made a journey to Virginia City, and descended the Gould and
Curry shaft, and Sedgwick showed his bride where he and Jack first
discussed the probability of trying to make a little raise in stocks.
They went and looked at the lodging-house on the Divide where Jack and
Sedgwick roomed so long; visited the mills, saw crude bullion cast into
bars, and watched the procession of a miner's funeral, and in their
rambles Sedgwick stopped many a miner whom he had known, and presented
his bride.
Returning, they got off at Sacramento and waited over one day. There
Sedgwick ordered four seven-ton wagons, with four trail wagons of five
tons each, and four more of three tons each, and twelve sets of team
harness, a dozen of yokes and no end of chains; also a strong, covered
spring wagon with harness to match.
After forty days, Sedgwick was informed that everything would be ready in
ten days. His idea had been to charter a brig or bark, and send the
machinery to Port Natal by a sailing craft; but in crossing the bay in
visits to Oakland, Saucelito and San Rafael, he had noticed anchored, out
in the stream, a small iron bark-rigged steamer which carried the British
flag, and had read thereon the name "Pallas." One day he asked some men
on the wharf what ship it was and why it lay so long in the harbor.
The answer was that it was an English tramp steamer that some months
previously came in loaded with wines and brandies from Bordeaux.
The men also gave the information that, though a tramp steamer, it was
thought to be a very strong craft, fully bulk-headed, with first-class
machinery, and was commanded by the owner, a Scotchman named McGregor,
who, when not on his ship, stopped at the Occidental Hotel.
Sedgwick had already made his acquaintance at the hotel, so when he met
him that evening he asked him how long he expected to remain in the city.
McGregor replied that he was waiting to secure a cargo for his ship.
Then Sedgwick drew him out and learned that his steamer was of six
hundred tons, built with all care for a gentleman's yacht; that after
awhile the owner tired of his plaything and sold it to him at a mighty
discount on its first cost; and that he was seeing the world in it, and
trying at the same time to make the craft pay its own expenses. He said
also he had a picked crew and private surgeon, and added: "When I secure
a cargo, if you and the madam will become my guests, I will adopt you
both as long as you please to follow the seas."
Sedgwick declined with thanks, but said: "You want to see the world; how
would you like to make a run to the coast of Africa?"
"I would not object," he replied. "I have had the 'Pallas' overhauled
since we came into port. She is in first-class trim, good for a year if
no unusual misfortune overtakes her. I would as soon go to Africa as any
other place."
The result was the "Pallas" was chartered to carry out the machinery,
some mill-wrights, a couple of engineers, a couple of mill workers, an
assayer, and any miscellaneous freight that Sedgwick might desire to
send.
The ship was hauled into the wharf next day, and the loading of what was
ready was begun. Sedgwick got on board his wagons and trappings from
Sacramento. He ordered also a great quantity of drill steel, picks and
shovels, quicksilver, some giant powder and caps, some blankets,
mattresses, canned fruits, pickles, boots and brogans, and a whole world
of other supplies such as miners use.
In fifteen days the ship was loaded, and the craft put to sea, as was
understood and published, with a mixed cargo for Australia.
Sedgwick had insured the cargo; had paid the owner in advance the
freight, and McGregor estimated that, if prosperous, he could, running
slow to save coal, and stopping a week or ten days in Australia for coal
and fresh supplies, make Port Natal in eighty days.
In the meantime Sedgwick and his wife had made the acquaintance of an
English gentleman and his wife, named Forbes, who a few days previous had
started for England, but who had promised to visit some English friends
in Indianapolis, Indiana, until Sedgwick and Grace should overtake them,
that they might sail on the same ship from New York.
The day after the "Pallas" sailed, Sedgwick and his bride took the
overland train for the East.