USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 10
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" We regained our horse and spent some two hours in clambering out of the unpleasant position in which we had placed ourselves. It was then about four o'clock, and we were some twenty miles from Sonora. So we put spurs to our Bucephalus, managing to get in not long after night- fall; receiving solace for our wanderings in the shape of a long and pleasant night's sleep."
From the chatty writer's entertaining sketch, much in- formation can be gained as to the country lying east of Sonora, for which purpose in fact it was included.
The Water Supply,
At the date at which Mr. Murray wrote, mining opera- tions had assumed a complexion to which they had before been strangers. More water was required in consequence of the greater and more permanent character of the works necessary to be undertaken to extract the gold. Formerly working only in the very rich surface deposits, and sepa- rating the gold from the gravel by means of the pan and the rocker, the supply of water furnished by accidental pools and trinkling rills had sufficed. Now, with the ex- haustion of the superficial deposits, and the intrusion upon larger masses of poorer gravel, came the necessity for a copious and constant supply of the aqueous fluid; and to meet this demand came the construction of those immense and costly pieces of engineering science that pervade these foothills. The two aqueducts mentioned by Mr. Murray -the hydraulic race and the Stanislaus race (the Tuolumne Water Company's ditch)-were not the only ones of their kind; although they merit the distinction of being among the most extensive that have ever been undertaken in the county down to the present time.
At the commencement of the previous Winter there had been two ditches fetching water into the dry diggings of
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the county. Both of these were small-not having a capacity greater than an eight or ten tom stream each. Both took their supply from creeks subject to the effects of drouth, and consequently conveyed their full streams dur- ing but a very short period of time. One of these was the Seco Company's race, bringing water from Wood's Creek into Campo Seco; the other the Jackson's Flat race, from Mormon Creek to Jackson's Flat.
Some time in February the Sonora Water Company went into operation, conveying water from Sullivan's Creek to Sonora. Their ditch was somewhat larger than the fore- going, carrying a twenty tom, stream, which diminished about one half before June. The next completed was the Sullivan's Creek race, bringing water from that Creek to Shaw's Flat. This race was about equal in capacity to that of the Sonora Company, but it was enabled to fetch water for a few weeks only. In that time, however, the lucrative character of the undertaking was fully demonstrated, for the expense of digging the ditch was speedily paid, and a handsome dividend remained for the stockholders. Miners flocked in by the hundred to the vicinity of the water, and for a short time it infused life and activity into a section of country which was afterwards nearly deserted. This com- pany extended its ditch to the Tuolumne, and by that means was enabled to hold out much longer in the ensuing year. Next came the Tuolumne Water Company, which had by that time brought a small stream of water from Five Mile Creek. It never exceeded a twenty tom stream, and yet for a time, in June and July, it was the only support and maintenance of a brisk industry in Columbia-so much so that there was talk, and a well -founded belief that the town would prove a rival to Sonora.
Following the first rains came an immediate revival in mining. All of the races mentioned began to pour floods upon the grounds in which, at that time, there was an am-
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ple deposit of the precious metal, needing only an applica- tion of energy and intelligence to get it out. All were active at one and the same time, and these little races each set in operation a great number of toms, each stream being used over and over again until the water had arrived at too low a level to be of utility.
But in addition to those already named, the ditch of the Tuolumne Water Company, then completed to the Stanis- laus, sent down, for the first time, the waters of that river upon the auriferous belt, bringing a hundred and fifty tom stream into Columbia, and carrying a portion of it quite to the Montezuma Flats, as before mentioned. A tremendous impetus was given to operations in the whole section of country round Columbia, Springfield and Shaw's Flat, the community, constantly augmented by accessions from abroad, becoming actively engaged in the search for the glittering metal. Probably not less than three thousand miners were actively engaged within a circle of one mile radius.
During the Winter, the use of sluice-boxes forming a continuous flume, often several hundred feet in length, first came into vogue. At Campo Seco, where an abundant supply of water from the ditches of the Hydraulic Water Company, the Campo Seco Ditch Company and that of Messrs. Johnson & Carey was available, the first extended use of the new contrivance was made. The work proved comparatively easy considering the immense amount of dirt which could be washed by the exertions of lines of men on either side of the sluice. In consequence, the dig- gings at that place were more extensively worked than ever before.
One of the places particularly indebted for its growth to the Hydraulic Ditch was Algerine Camp, which diggings, located two miles from Curtisville, were first opened in
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May, 1853. The first discoveries were made in the pre- vious Winter by some Mexicans, immediately on which Mr. C. F. Dodge, of Sonora, and several other gentlemen, be- came interested in and took up claims in the more favored spots. Very large amounts of gold were soon taken out, and the reports being circulated, a large population was soon attracted to the very important discovery. Merchants and business men generally located, a wide street was laid out, and tents erected to supply the wants of the camp. Fifteen or twenty frame houses were then immediately be- gun, among them a hotel. Almost the entire population residing on Curtis' Creek removed at once to the new dig- gings, leaving this once immensely rich watercourse de- serted, after having worked its entire bed several times.
Social Progress.
Under date of March 25th, 1854, the editor of the So- nora Herald wrote as follows: " We are gratified to see the marked improvement that has taken place in the soci- ety of our little city in the past year. As an evidence of this, witness how differently Sabbath is observed. In past years, on this sacred day, might be seen a fantastically dressed Mexican clown, preceded by a band of shockingly bad music, parading the streets and notifying the citizens of a bull and bear fight about to come off. Now, instead, at the same hour of the day, troops of rosy-faced, quiet, orderly children are seen returning from Sunday-school, and well-dressed men and women on their way to the house of worship. We can boast now of five churches of different denominations, and all of them well attended -good evidence of an advanced state of civilization.
" Then, on the same day, the city was crowded with the inhabitants of surrounding camps, quarreling, fighting, drinking, swearing, squandering the hard-earned means of
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the past week at the gambling table, or at some low brothel. Now, although not such as could be wished, things are changed. The day is regarded by the public generally, more as one of rest from labor, and not as one of debauch- ery and dissipation.
" And what has caused this great change in public senti- ment ? To what else can it be attributed but to the pres- ence of woman; virtuous, pure, sympathizing woman; whose influence is as effective in the formation of public character, as it is felt in the domestic circle; the great controller of public opinion, without whom society is dull and existence a blank.
" The very considerable accession to our population in the last year of some of the fairer portion of God's creation is a source of intense gratification to all, and we indulge in the pleasurable anticipation that the coming will year fur- nish a still larger number."
At this time there was in progress a private school, taught by Mrs. Harmon, wife of Rev. S. S. Harmon, then a prominent clergyman of Sonora, but now Principal of Washington College, in Alameda county. The good lady's pupils numbered some twenty. Her terms were eight dollars per month for the older ones, while those under twelve years of age were charged five dollars.
Another of the permanent institutions was a military company, the " Sonora Greys," which was organized in the Spring of '54. It number about fifty members, and was commanded by Captain H. W. Theall, who was regarded as an accomplished officer and drill-master, and whose name has before appeared in these pages as a prominent merchant of Tuolumne, and who was at that time Post- master of Sonora. Making a requisition upon the United States Quartermaster General, the "Greys," were provided with arms and accoutrements. Their uniform was very
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neat and tasteful, being of gray cloth with black trim- mings. For a long time the " Greys " remained an im- portant and much noticed organization, taking a promi- nent part in military and civic displays, and occasionally responding to calls to assist on graver occasions. Their valor was never tried in war, but had the occasion arisen it would doubtless have been the historian's pleasant task to chronicle behavior of which the community might well be proud.
During two years the meetings of the company were held in rented buildings; but inspired by the example of their sister corps, the "Fusileers" of Columbia, they resolved to erect an armory for their own special uses. To this pur- pose, Major Ball's building was raised an additional story, and in this upper part the "Greys," now under Captain Stewart, had their quarters. The hall, sixty by twenty- nine feet in size, was fitted up in good style, the expense being borne partly by the corps and partly by the public- spirited residents of Sonora.
Besides the " Fusileers," already mentioned as occupy- ing John Leary's Armory Hall, and who first organized in January, 1854, Columbia possessed another military com- pany, the " Columbia Light Artillery." This, however, was not of so old a date as the other, it meeting first in June, 1857. This corps became quite a feature in the county, far outshining the more common-place infantry.
The Artillery was commanded by Major J. B. Urmy, associate editor of the Tuolumne Courier, his subordinates being Lieutenant Hooker and Sergeants McDonald and Leavitt.
The Banks of Tuolumne.
The earlier banks estabished in Tuolumne were located at Sonora, and have already been noticed in these pages.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Their number has been a matter of remark, but their cap- ital and connections, and the amount of their business, cannot now be accurately told. Their affairs went on pros- perously in almost every instance, their chief business being the buying and transmission of gold dust from the mines to the Eastern States.
The year 1855, however, marked an era of misfortune and peril to the banking houses of that, date. As before mentioned, the house of Wells, Fargo & Co. had estab- lished themselves in the mines, having several offices in Tuolumne county. Besides this firm, there were Adams & Co., Page, Bacon & Co., D. O. Mills & Co., all of whom had the confidence of the public to a remarkable degree. That this confidence was abused by some of them, time has made evident, for in February, 1855, rumors of the forth- coming ruin of some of the firms began to be heard throughout all California, into nearly every mining camp of which State their branches had extended. A universal panic was created, which led shortly to the suspension of some of these houses and the total failure of Page, Bacon & Co., thereby rendering penniless hundreds of those whom the hard won accumulations of years had made comfortable. Still there remained some firms who came forth from the wreck honestly and well, more flourishing and prosperous than ever, passing safely through the ordeal, and coming to possess the esteem of the communities wherein they transacted business.
In Columbia, D. O. Mills & Co. stood the fight bravely, paying their claims as fast as presented, and going on with- out embarrassment. Their stability was hardly doubted from first to last, although a considerable "run" was in- augurated upon their house, which compelled them to pay out largely.
Wells, Fargo & Co. remained in working order through-
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out the State, with the exception of a few of their offices, which suspended for a short time.
Adams & Co. had remained for several years the most prominent express company in the gold region. Their en- terprise had been remarkable, even for the time in which it was displayed. Their offices in Tuolumne county were on a par with the amount of business they transacted. Taking the lead in all matters of enterprise as they did, their house was regarded as one of the least likely to be affected. But the storm which had burst upon them was not to be re- sisted. Their doors in Columbia and Sonora closed Febru- ary 23, their agents stating that the suspension was only temporary, and that business would immediately be re- sumed, they having ample funds to satisfy depositors. The firm, however, was insolvent, and by the next mail came advices that they had applied for a discharge from their liabilities, by assigning their property to their creditors, their express business remaining intact throughout.
Upon receipt of this news in Columbia, a high degree of excitement was occasioned, and the office of Adams & Co. was besieged by a crowd of men clamoring for their de- posits. But Charles J. Brown, the agent, had removed the available funds, depositing them in the safe of the Tuol- umne Water Company, where they remained until handed over to the proper receiver, A. A. Cohen, of San Francisco. R. A. Robinson, the Secretary of the Water Company, who had assumed the responsibility of secreting the money in the said safe, incurred great odium therefor, he being looked upon as particeps criminis, by the miners, who were disposed to hold every one guilty who had anything to do with the banking companies, who had so suddenly become objects of detestation. The funds that thus escaped the seach of these unauthorized creditors amounted to seven thousand dollars, including two thousand held for Mr. Bul-
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lock, the Springfield agent. At Sonora a large number of persons who had money deposited with Adams & Co. met on the 4th of March and took possession of the express office, broke open the vault, and removed the funds therein contained. A committee of four respectable citizens was appointed to disburse the money to those who held certifi- cates of deposit. This the committee proceeded to do, until all the funds, amounting to about forty thousand dol- lars, had been paid out to the depositors present.
This high-spirited way of administering upon the bank- rupt estate was mentioned by the press of that day in terms of admiration, as being the correct thing to do under the circumstances. Probably the trifling fact that but few comparatively, of all the depositors were there, did not present itself at the time. Be the moral status of such an act as it may, no one was prosecuted, nor even severely blamed, except the members of the firm, against whom many judgments were secured in the Justices' Courts, which, for the time, were alive with business. The mem- bers of the firm of Adams & Co. were I. C. Woods, D. H. Haskell and Alvin Adams.
An incident of the career of Messrs. Adams & Co. may be worth mentioning here. It is the robbery of the So- nora and Stockton stage, of the box containing the ship- ment of the above firm, amounting, this time, to more than twenty-five thousand dollars. The robbery took place at & point one mile out of Sonora, and was effected by cutting the straps which held the box on the rear of the stage when it slipped off by its own weight. The weight was such as to require two men to lift it. With characteristic decision the agent, Mr. Bancroft, offered a reward of two thousand five hundred dollars for the arrest of the parties who committed the robbery, and five thousand dollars to any one through whose agency the money should be recovered,
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
and a proportion of that sum for any part of the lost bullion. The result was that about one-half of the stealings were recovered, being found in Wood's Creek, about two hundred yards from the scene of the robbery. The company imme- diately fulfilled its promise, paying to the finders the sum agreed.
The remaining banking firm, Messrs. Page, Bacon & Co., were even less fortunate than Adams & Co., and deservedly so, since their actions, as every old Californian knows, indi- cated the basest spirit of fraud. Suspending operations wholly, they yet had the audacity to resume business with only the motive of still further victimizing the public. After their suspension in February, their vault at James- town was broken into by their creditors, but with less good fortune than had their predecessors at Sonora stormed the vaults of Adams & Co. The vault was empty, the contents having previously been removed to San Francisco, indicat- ing that the resolve to suspend had been made many days before.
Fires in Sonora.
During the year 1853, Sonora was twice visited by the devouring element, each time suffering severely, but lightly in comparison with her already narrated experience. On the first of these two occasions, which was the early morn- ing of October 4th, Labetoure's building, midway be- tween the two branches of Sonora Creek, took fire, and was speedily destroyed. The flames spread rapidly in every direction, but through the organized exertions of the Hook and Ladder and Hose Companies, aided by the citizens generally, the fire was prevented from spreading, as on a former occasion. The new and valuable City Hotel build- ing was saved by means of a large and powerful force- pump located within. On the north the fire was stopped
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by the fire companies, the last remaining building upon that side of. the street being Cooper & McCarthy's livery stable. The hose from the Water Works being now brought into use, the fire was stayed to the northward.
The bank buildings of Wm. Hammond & Co., Adams & Co. and Wells, Fargo & Co. were destroyed.
A single life was lost on this occasion, the unfortunate person being E. B. Lundy, a Canadian, who was asleep in the rear of Holden's saloon.
The losses aggregated three hundred thousand dollars, made up in part of the following named losses, which were the most considerable :
Wertheimer, Greenhood & Co., $7,500; E. Lyons & Co., $10,000; Murphy & Wood's " Long Tom Saloon,' $28,000; Aspinall & Williamson's " El Dorado," $6,000; A. Cohen & Co., $18,000; M. Hanna, $6,000; T. Robinson, Bours & Co., $5,000; M. A. Zeill, $5,000; " El Dorado Saloon", building, $8,000; Estate of Joshua Holden, $15,000; Leip- ziger & Co., $8,000; Barbier & Co., $5,000; Collins & Co., $8,000; " Palace " (saloon), $14,000; - Lyons, $6,000; Caro Bros., $5,000; Peter Mehen, $4,000.
The fire lasted one hour.
The art of putting out fires, it appears, was afterwards studied in Sonora to considerable advantage, for the next conflagration of any moment entailed but the compara- tively small damage of fifty thousand dollars. It took place in the November following the fire above chronicled.
This later blaze broke out in a building occupied _; by Chinese-whether accidentally or not was not known. It burned up Batchelder's Daguerrean Gallery, a ¿tin and stove store, Messick & Mccullough's carpenter shop, Neil's saddlery, the " Shades " saloon, a barber shop, the law office of Hall & Greenwood, Wood & Purdy's paint store, and a few other structures.
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Certainly, Sonora had had by this time an exceedingly thorough experience by fires, having within a year or so been burned completely over, with the exception of a few outlying buildings. The last fire had demolished the build- ings left standing by the previous ones.
The City Hotel, mentioned in the preceding accounts as escaping the flames, was a very prominent building in those days. It was erected by Messrs. Green & Lane (Alonzo Green and Judge James Lane) to take the place of the hotel of Captain Green, mentioned previously as having been destroyed in the great fire in 1852. The old pioneers spoke of this structure as " a little the finest building to be found in the mountains of California." Its dimensions were fifty by one hundred feet. It was built with thick adobe walls, and consisted of two lofty and spacious stories. It was fitted up as a family hotel, and was furnished throughout in what was then regarded as fine style. The lower story was taken up by the saloon, billiard and dining rooms. The saloon, being very capacious, was frequently used for the purpose of holding political meetings, etc. A spacious staircase, opening on the street, leads to the up- per story, which contains twenty private rooms, parlors, etc., all carpeted and furnished. From the roof a most delightful view of the city and its environs could be ob- tained, the hotel being situated at an angle of the main street, from whence nearly the whole of the town, not less than a mile in length, could be seen.
The eating arrangements were on a par with the excel- lence of the hotel and its other appointments. The first proprietors were said to have been men who understood the business perfectly; and their enterprise and good judgment met its reward in the successful career of this house, which was for a long time regarded as one of the best hotels in California.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
After this considerably detailed description, the reader will have but little difficulty in identifying the structure spoken of with the present City Hotel of O. L. Bemis, Esq., and which, under that gentleman's management, still maintains its ancient prestige.
The Miners' Convention.
Public opinion had by the year 1852 been aroused to such an extent upon the subject of the disposition of the mineral lands of California, that definite action was taken in many localities towards influencing Congress to pass acts relating thereto. The causes that led to this were many. But direct or indirect, they may be stated thus: As boldly and prominently as stands the then infant State of California among the other members of the Union- peculiar in her vast mineral resources, and in the wonder- ful advantages which she offered to the enterprising set- tler, of whatever calling-so stood the mineral portion of the lands of this State, peculiar and remarkable from the general whole. Great as are her agricultural capabilities; happy as is her geographical position, there has ever been one distinguishing peculiarity that California has possessed beyond all other advantages, viz: the extent and produc- tiveness of her mineral lands. This great feature, far from being of ephemeral character, is yet destined long to main- tain its preponderating influence, and will for many years yet absorb the industry, capital and enterprise of a great mass of those who make these hills and valleys their home.
But as this interest occupied, at the time concerning which these pages are written, a vastly greater preponder- ance of attention, hence it was that the vast extent of rich farming lands, stretching away for hundreds of miles throughout the center of the State, then, and for many
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succeeding years, remained in an unimproved condition, devoted only to the rearing of the vast herds of cattle which served as a tribute to the mining regions. And hence it was, also, that nine-tenths of the population of the State was then either centered in or directly de- pendent upon the product of the mines, capital, enterprise and labor all concentrating themselves around the diggings as a focus, while the larger cities, San Francisco, Sacra- mento and Stockton, all owed their activity, and even their existence, to the great industry of gold extraction.
The questions which were of the highest interest to Cali- forniaus were those, of course, which bore particular ref- erence to this leading pursuit. In addition, it may be said that no other State in the American Union, nor, indeed, any country in the whole world, presented a parallel to the wonderful singularity which characterized California. Other States were populated mainly by emigrants from some particular section of our common country. The Pa- cific shore was settled indiscriminately from all. The main dependence of other new States had been their agricultural resources; these formed no part of the former greatness of California. In other newly settled States common labor was considered advantageously remunerated when receiv- ing ten to twenty dollars per month; in California, it com- manded from seventy to one hundred dollars. The for- eign immigration into the older States had been solely composed of the European races; in California, the Asiatic element has always threatened to preponderate. Other States were mostly resorted to by people who came to live and die in their new homes; it was reserved for California to be looked upon as a temporary abiding place and a con- venient scrambling ground for the human family.
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