USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Having introduced this circumstance to show the nature of the amusements indulged in in 1850, it will be proper now, in support of the assertion that the people were pro- gressing in refinement, to speak of their amusements and habits two years later.
In the first place, the various religious organizations thus far formed had met with a considerable degree of success. Public enthusiasm had not yet been awakened in any great degree upon that subject, nor, it may be added, is it noticeable at this day; but many earnest men had com- menced the move in the direction of morality and sobriety, by building churches, where the word of God might be heard. In connection with this, a movement was put on foot to effect a more marked observance of the Sabbath as a day of rest, instead of, as before, one of recreation and commercial dealings. That this effort was attended with pronounced results, is not very likely; but there is no doubt that the seed sown then did not all fall on barren soil.
1
96
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Not all of the God-fearing men who ministered in "Old Tuolumne" found their paths strewn with roses. Many were compelled to resign their charges, and the few who upheld their crosses found ample opportunity to bear them with all the pain and trouble that is said to deserve so well of their Divine Master.
To return to the subject of amusements : In 1852 Messrs. Richardson and Imbrie built a theater in Campo Seco, which was one of the earliest structures of the kind in the county. Like most buildings of that date, it was built of wood, boarded up at the sides, and covered with canvas. It was, in fact, hardly more than a tent. In the front por- tion of the building was the familiar bar. In this primi- tive structure the Chapman Family held forth for many nights, playing the initial engagement. These actors seem to have had an exceedingly successful season in the mines, playing in all the camps which contained any facilities for such performances, or men enough to compose an audience. Every man went to hear them, and very possibly no actors, "star" or otherwise, ever met the expectations of their audiences more fully; and certainly no audiences ever rose to the demands of the performers with such unanimity- such excess of satisfaction, and ebullition of feeling-as theirs. At Columbia the stage was covered with buckskin purses, each containing what the generous givers thought a proper testimonial of their appreciation. Discovering, however, that there was not noise enough about it to fully emphasize their feelings, the boys took to throwing silver pieces, and there was, it was said, an immediate scarcity of these coins, which, by the way, had not long been in circu- lation in the mines. Enthusiastic, red-shirted miners escorted the actors to and from the theater, and even in- truded their effusive good wishes into the privacy of the strangers' apartments. The force of generous sympathy could go no further than it did here.
כ
ر
م
A
A
C
٦
م م
٢
r
creer
ורי
Das .- Bell
C
7.
し
上午
97
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
In Sonora the Chapmans met with almost equal success. Their exhibitions were given in a small hall in the rear of, and connected with Ward's saloon. A procession of over a thousand miners, it is said, acted as escort on their jour- ney between Columbia and the neighboring city.
On the opening night in Sonora a bill was given, of which the following is a reproduction :
PHOENIX THEATER,
SONORA.
Grand Opening on New Years' Night !
This new and beautiful Theater, attached to Ward's Saloon, will be opened on the above night, with the fol- lowing powerful company :
MISS CAROLINE CHAPMAN, from Burton's Theater, New York.
MRS. HAMILTON, also from Burton's Theater.
MRS. BURRILL, from the American Theater, San Francisco.
MRS. CAMPBELL, from the American Theater, Sacramento.
MR. W. B. CHAPMAN, from the Broadway Theater, New York.
MR. T. S. CAMPBELL, Acting Manager.
MR. HAMILTON, from Burton's Theater, New York.
MR. THOMPSON, from the National Theater, New York.
MESSRS. G. W. DANIELS and MCCABE, Stage Managers ; BYERS, T. C. GREEN, PIPER and ROWE.
A full orchestra has been provided, of acknowledged musical talent.
An OPENING ADDRESS, written by a Gentleman of this city, will be delivered by MISS CAROLINE CHAPMAN
98
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
To be followed by the celebrated comedy, in three acts, of
THE SERIOUS FAMILY, After which, DANCING AND SINGING. To conclude with the Favorite Farce of the
ROUGH DIAMOND !
Full particulars in small bills.
PRICES OF ADMISSION .- Parquette, $1; Dress Circle, $2.
Doors open at ¿ past 6, and the curtain will rise at 7 o'clock.
This bill was continued for eight nights. Subsequently the comedy " Paul Pry " was substituted for a portion of the bill. Later, " She Stoops to Conquer," and "The Honeymoon, were produced.
Previous to the arrival of the Chapmans, a troupe of ballad singers, styling themselves the " Alleghanians," had visited the mines. Their performances were much attended, their songs being mostly of the pathetic, homelike sort of music that might be supposed to prove interesting and cap- tivating to a population so far separated from their former associations. At Sonora the Methodist Episcopal Church was placed at their service, and was filled repeatedly. The foremost singer, Miss Goodenow, on the occasion of her benefit was enthusiastically received by the citizens, four of whom, Messrs. Bertine, Todd, Gower and Satrustegui, each purchased one hundred dollars' worth of tickets, thus almost rivaling Genin, the hatter, of Jenny Lind celebrity.
99
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Settlement of Columbia.
Columbia, as already noted, sprang into existence in the month of March, 1850. New, and very rich deep diggings were struck there, together with very extensive, though poorer, surface deposits; and the people from surrounding camps and elsewhere, flocked there in great numbers. At once the place (first called American Camp, and afterwards Columbia) contained several thousand inhabitants, and the greatest success was achieved in mining, although by the most primitive means. With the giving out of the water, however, the population as rapidly fell off to a score, more or less, who alone remained of all the vast multitude.
The winter of 1850-51 set in with the most sanguine ex- pectations, but the miners left shared in the general disap- pointment at the insufficient fall of rain, scarcely enough falling to enable the ground to be prospected. Still, some made wages by carrying their dirt a long distance to water. The general success of these opened the eyes of the people of the surrounding camps to the possibilities thus indicated, and their attention was drawn also to the extent of these grounds. It was seen that there was not a foot of ground upon the immense flat, from Santiago Flat to Tim's Springs, and from Shaw's Flat to the hill overhanging the Stanis- laus, but was rich enough to pay for working, if water could be obtained for that purpose; and that there were hundreds of ravines and gulches that contained gold.
These tremendous resources, richer in kind than else- where found upon the earth's surface, drew again the swarms of people who were to make Columbia the typical placer mining camp of the world.
From the latest date mentioned, the growth of the camp was steady and permanent. From the obscure location, containing perhaps half a hundred miners, who washed a
1
100
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
limited amount of dirt in water brought in barrels, or laboriously carried the gravel to the distant springs, the town grew by successive additions from every camp and from every country. With them came artificial wants. The rude and primitive modes of mining would no longer answer. The winter rains could not be depended on, yet were taken advantage of to the utmost extent. At Christ- mas time in '51, a stream, fed only by the rains, was flow- ing through the streets of Columbia. Fifty "toms " inter- cepted its progress, and not a drop of the precious fluid but was made to do its work over and again, in separating the yellow particles from the gravel.
But such resources as the temporary streams, supplied from the clouds, were necessarily of small avail in the business of gold extraction, and so a move was made to speedily introduce an abundant and steady supply of water. The project was no less than turning a branch of the Stan- islaus River into the table land in the vicinity of the town.
With men of that day, to plan was to act, and the great work was commenced by the incorporation of the "Tuol- umne County Water Company," and the construction of a suitable ditch, or race, was immediately begun.
Joseph Dance, Esq., was chosen President of the new company, and General Benard its Engineer. On July 1, 1851, the work was commenced at Summit Pass. Though financially embarrassed, the company persevered, and finally help was given by D. O. Mills & Co., bankers at Sacramento, who afterwards established a branch house at Columbia.
The company turned the water of Five Mile Creek into Columbia on the 1st day of May, 1852, and in August of that year the ditch was completed to the South Fork of the Stanislaus.
101
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
During the succeeding autuinn, the town site was laid out, and building proceeded with "great rapidity. Split boards were the favorite material used in the construction of the simple houses of that date, and their consequently easy and ready combustibility proved the ruin of the town on more than one subsequent occasion.
On the 25th day of October, 1851, the first number of a weekly newspaper, entitled the Columbia Star, was issued from the press. It was published and edited by W. Gore, Esq., and, as before mentioned, was printed on the old Ramage press used by the Sonora Herald in its first few issues, and which was destroyed by a mob when the Star suspended publication after its fifth number had been printed. The first copy struck off was purchased by Mrs. De Noielle for an "ounce." The purchaser, by the way, was the first white woman who came to Columbia, and the second in the county.
In November, 1852, the Columbia Gazette, a weekly newspaper, was established by Colonel Falconer. This sheet proved more fortunate than its predecessor, it meet- ing with a large measure of success, and continuing until November 10, 1855, when it was merged into the Columbia Gazette and Southern Mines Advertiser. After the first year of its existence, Colonel Falconer sold his interest to Messrs. John Duchow and T. M. Yancey, Mr. Duchow be- coming the editor. Mr. Yancey afterwards disposed of his share to R. J. Steele.
The Gazette was a four-page publication, a trifle smaller than the Sonora Herald. It always pursued a consistent course, laboring hard for the welfare of Columbia, and apparently receiving the efficient support that its conduct merited.
In the latter part of 1852, the following business houses and places of entertainment existed:
102
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
21 Produce and grocery stores. 30. Saloons, groceries and restaurants. 17 Dry goods and produce stores. 4 Hotels.
7 Boarding-houses.
4 Banking and exchange offices.
3 Express offices.
2 Book and stationery stores.
5 Doctors' offices.
5 Law offices.
3 Tobacconists.
7 Bakeries.
1 Tin shop.
2 Barber shops.
3 Meat markets.
3 Blacksmith shops.
8 Carpenter shops.
3 Silver-smith shops.
1 Printing office.
3 Drug stores.
2 Wagon-maker shops.
3 Laundries.
4 Livery stables.
1 Reading room.
1 Brewery.
1 Ground coffee depot.
1 Daguerreotype room.
1 Boot and shoe shop.
1 Wine and liquor store.
1 Fruit and confectionery store.
1 Mexican fandango house. Total-150.
In addition to these, there was a large hall (previously spoken of), used for theatrical exhibitions, and similar pur-
103
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
poses; an amphitheater, for bull and bear fights; a church, with regular preaching every Sabbath; a Sunday School, which was well attended; a Masonic Lodge; a Division of the Sons of Temperance, and a Vocal Music Society.
Besides all these, which were immedately in town, the suburbs contained many shops, taverns and trading houses. The Tuolumne County Water Company had an extensive lumber yard in the vicinity, around which a little village grew up. They also had an office in Columbia for the transaction of business.
In November, '52, a post-office was established at Colum- bia, and Mr. A. A. Hunnewell was appointed Postmaster, so from that time on the town has enjoyed equal mail facil- ities with the most favored camps.
The town was, with wise forethought, laid out in rec- tangular blocks, separated by streets of commensurate width. The names of the principal streets, which ran north and south, commencing with the most westerly, were-Silver, Gold, Broadway, Main and Columbia streets. Those leading at right angles to those already named, were-Washington (nearest to Main Gulch), Fulton, State, Jackson and Pacific streets.
From the Gazette, of January 22, 1853, the following scraps of mining news are copied, in order to show the general status of that branch of industry at a time when Columbia and vicinity were at a high pitch of prosperity:
" Although we have not visited many of the camps this week, yet we are pleased to learn that the mines generally are doing better than at any time since last summer. Columbia Gulch is crowded with " toms," and the men in many of the claims are making wages."
" The Coyote Diggings, on the hill between Columbia and Gold Springs, are paying, in many places, as high as fifty and one hundred dollars per day to the man. New
104
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
holes are sunk, and new strikes are made almost daily. Hundreds, however, sink holes and find nothing, as the course' of the leads is as hard to find out as it is to discover the true feelings and sentiments of a heartless coquette; still the miners work ahead as if they expected to find thousands of dollars of the precious metal in every hole they sink."
" In Hatch's garden they are sinking holes in every di- rection, which in a few cases pay well."
"At Gold Springs, where thousands of dollars were carted and washed out previous to the rainy season, many of the miners are discovering better pay dirt under the claims that had been previously worked out."
" On Shaw's Flat, many of the miners are making good wages, and, as at every other place, hundreds are doing little or nothing."
" At Springfield, Santiago, Brown's Flat, Summit Pass, Yankee Hill, and the various gulches around Columbia, many of the claims are paying astonishingly, and the deeper the miners work down, in many cases, the richer they find the dirt."
" On Experimental Gulch, although it was supposed to have been worked out last season, many of the miners are making money. On a claim owned by Messrs. Beals & Hussey, one piece was taken out, last week, which weighed four and a half ounces; and another was found the same week weighing over two ounces. This claim pays ten dollars a day to the man."
" Although many of the miners are doing well, yet there are hundreds who work equally hard and live as frugal and economical as men can well live, that are not clearing ex- penses."
The Gazette concludes with the following sage remarks, which, by the way, have proved applicable through all the
105
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
succeeding years since they were penned, and even now would prove worthy of consideration :
" If miners would content themselves and remain on a claim, even if it did not pay them more than four or five dollars per day, the chances are in favor of their doing better than by wandering from place to place and spending all they have made, prospecting. How many thousands would now have their piles, and be ready to leave the mines, had they contented themselves to work on the first claims they located. Every miner who came to this country in '49 or '50 can now look back and see hundreds of instances where he could have made a fortune, if he had contented himself to remain where he was, instead of going in search of 'Golden Lakes' and 'Golden Bluffs.'"
The same paper mentions that although the prices of provisions were suffering a swift decline, still that flour was selling at thirty-five cents per pound, with an ample stock on hand. Beef, which was scarce, commanded thirty-seven and a half cents. Bacon was sixty cents, and butter and candles one dollar per pound. It is mentioned that a dealer purchased in Stockton twelve hundred dollars' worth of provisions, the transportation of which to Columbia cost him nine hundred, with freight at thirty cents per pound. This, it should be remembered, was in the midst of a very severe winter.
In February, business was said to be rapidly improving. " The four-horse coach makes three or four trips daily between Columbia and Sonora, and is generally crowded with passengers."
"Provisions are still declining, flour being plenty at 18 to 20 cents; pork, 50; bacon, 50; hams, 45; lard, 50; sugar, 20; coffee, 30; butter, 75; cheese, 33; rice, 30 beans, 20; potatoes, 20; barley, 14; dried apples and
106
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
peaches, 25; molasses, $2 per gallon; liquors, $1.50 to $5; nails, 25 to 30 cents per İb."
" Our town is thronged with miners every night, and we have never seen so much quiet and good order. The gambling houses are doing but little. The fandango houses still gather crowds of the boys who are fond of ' tripping the light fantastic toe.'"
" The cause of temperance is marching on with giant strides, between forty and fifty of our best citizens have taken the pledge during the week."
The first railroad ' boom ' that ever affected the people of Tuolumne is thus noted in the Gazette :
* " The building of a railroad from Stockton to the Southern mines has now become a fixed fact. A com- pany of the right character has been formed, a site for a town at the terminus has been purchased, and the initia- tory steps will soon be entered into. This is a work of in- calculable importance to the people of Tuolumne county, and we wish it from all our heart, 'good speed.'"
It is unnecessary to state that this railroad was not com- pleted, but the passage will serve to illustrate the child- like confidence that the inhabitants of this county have ever manifested in the immediate advent of the iron horse.
The New England Water Company, it seems, from the pages of the Gazette, had conveyed the waters of a spring, distant one mile from town, through wooden pipes under- ground, to a reservoir containing four thousand gallons. Thence it was taken in water-carts throughout the town, supplying families at the then cheap rate of five cents per bucketful.
The enterprise was said to pay extremely well, and later, iron pipes were laid down, capable of supplying a town of twenty thousand inhabitants. By the year 1856, hydrants connecting with these pipes had been put in position, from
107
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
which streams could be thrown eighty feet high, affording a great safeguard against fire.
An additional lot of mining notes appeared in the issue of February 12, by which it is learned that several good strikes were made on the hill east of Columbia, just before that date, furnishing some of the richest " coyote " diggings yet found. That French Gulch was paying extremely well, George Camp & Co. taking out two ounces per day to the man. In Shaw's Flat many were engaged in working the clay, from which they made good wages. One company of five were "puddling," and taking out one and a half pounds per day.
The Jamestown miners were averaging from four to six dollars per day, of which they paid one dollar for water.
At Montezuma the daily production was from five to ten dollars per diem.
" It will be seen from our mining news that immense sums of gold are being taken out in this county daily, and were all doing as well as the lucky few whose claims pay so well, the value of gold would inevitably depreciate ; but the tale is not finished, and we regret to state that here, as in the gold mines of every county in California, as well as Australia and elsewhere, hundreds and thousands are not making one dollar clear."
Another issue gives as mining intelligence these state- ments :
" SANTIAGO .- The claims at and around this camp are still paying well. Connor & Co., a day or two since, took out a lump weighing sixteen ounces. The same day they made five hundred dollars, including the lump. On Wednesday last, Lincoln & Co. found a beautiful specimen of pure gold, which weighed twelve ounces and eight dol- lars. The same day they took out eight ounces of fine gold from the same claim. This claim, now worked to a depth
108
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
of forty feet, has paid one ounce per day to the man, for several months past."
" YANKEE HILL .- On Sunday last, three Frenchmen found a lump of gold weighing 249 ounces, and valued at $3,600. This claim is in a small gulch, about one mile from Columbia, and was offered for sale but three days before for one ounce."
" Experimental Gulch still pays high wages. In an old claim, once thought to be worked out, five or six French- men, after four or five weeks' work, divided $10,500 be- tween them as their net proceeds. So much for perse- verance."
" Between Loring's Garden and Gold Springs several claims are paying well. From one of them ten ounces of gold was taken on Thursday last, and from one to three ounces per man, daily."
"BIG STRIKE .- Two Mexicans, Gregorio Contrares and his partner, commenced sinking a hole on Wednesday last, below Campo Seco, on the other side of Sullivan's Gulch near Page's Ranch, and struck a pocket from which they took out, by 12 o'clock on Thursday, $5,700 ; one piece of which weighed eight pounds. In one hour they washed out two hundred ounces in their Mexican bateas. The lucky Mexicans have bought fine suits of clothes, and intend vamosing for home in a few days."
"Mr. Daniel Boyle has shown us a fine specimen, weigh- ing seventeen ounces, of pure gold, taken from Columbia Gulch."
"New diggings were discovered yesterday in Matelot Gulch. Several pans, averaging two dollars each, were taken out, and large numbers of miners were staking off claims during the whole of Wednesday night."
"Mining is yet in its infancy in this vicinity. On Gold Hill they have coyoted to the depth of ninety feet, and
109
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
find the dirt to be worth from four to sixteen dollars a pan .'
" Every miner who wishes work can find it at from four to five dollars per day, wages."
Social Matters in Columbia.
In che summer of 1852, Mrs. Haley established the first school ever opened in Columbia. As to the success of the institution, it is impossible at this day to speak. It is known, however, to have continued for several months.
Afterwards a school was established by the wife of C. H. Chamberlain, Esq. This talented lady achieved a success in her pursuit, and giving satisfaction, remained in charge of the school until 1855. The lady brought to the difficult task the highest qualities of mind and heart, and her in- fluence on the youth of Columbia was of the greatest good.
It would seem that there was at that time quite a sub- stratum of refinement and some literary taste rife in the town, even at that early date, for, in addition to schools and churches, there was a Lyceum established, in which many people, including some prominent citizens, took part. This organization met weekly in the Assembly Room, over Harrison's book store.
An excellent feature of the Gazette was the publication of what was styled a " General Directory." This appeared in the advertising columns, and contained a considerable amount of information relating to churches, societies, etc. Therein were to be found notices like the following :
" METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Columbia. Divine service will be held every Lord's-day, at 11 o'clock, A. M., and 3 o'clock P. M. A. S. GIBBONS, Pastor."
110
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
" METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH, Columbia. Divine service will be held every Sabbath at 11 o'clock A. M., and at 7 in the evening. J. C. PRENDERGRASS, Pastor."
" METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURH, Springfield. Divine ser- vice will be held every Sabbath evening at 7 o'clock.
A. S. GIBBONS, Pastor."
" METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Sonora. Divine service will be held every Lord's-day at 11 o'clock A. M., and at early candle-light in the evening. Sunday School at half- past 2, P. M. DANIEL DEAL, Pastor."
"METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH, Sonora. Divine service will be held every Sabbath, at 11.o'clock A. M., and at 7 o'clock in the evening. M. EVANS, Pastor." " MASONS --
" Columbia Lodge, No. 28, A. F. and A. M., Columbia, meets at their Lodge room, on the first and third Thurs- days in each month, at 8 o'clock, P. M.
" Officers of the Lodge-T. J. Oxley, W. M .; J. A. Jack- son, S. W .; T. C. Boswell, J. W .; G. A. Field, Secretary ; J. Mills, Treasurer ; F. R. Sponster, S. D .; F. W. H. Aaron, J. D .; J. Campbell, T .; A. Campbell, Marshal ; J. C. Prendergrass, Chaplain ; Samuel Arnold and Isaac Levy, Stewards.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.