USA > California > Amador County > History of Amador County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 54
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CLIMATIC EFFECT OF THE LOSS OF THE TIMBER.
Whether the destruction of timber has already affected any change in the climate, is an open ques- tion. The thirty years during which a rain-gauge has been kept, is not a sufficient length of time to determine the average amount of rain, as one or two exceptional seasons would make the amount greater or less than the general average, and lead to a wrong conclusion. After a series of dry scasons it seems easy to prove a serious change, and after a rain like the one occurring in February, 1878, no change at all. The old Spaniards speak of seasons of drouth. The year 1825 was said to be so desti- tute of rain that even large rivers dried up, the San Joaquin being so low that cattle could ford it at Stockton; but as no cattle were ever seen at that point prior to 1843 (except when stolen by the Indians), when Gulnac, in the interest of Weber, established a cattle rancho there, the tradition is not worth much. The tremendous bursts of rain or cloud breaks, seem to be a phenomenon peculiar to trceless countries.
There is one condition that may mitigate to some extent the cutting away of the timber. Everywhere there is springing up an immense number of small pines, hundreds for every one that was cut away. For miles around Volcano they have started up so thick, that a hundred to the square rod is a low estimate. In some places these second-growth pines are a foot or more in diameter, though where there are a hundred to the rod, they may be only a few inches in thickness. The writer of this article assisted, in 1856, in building a small reservoir in Boardman's gulch, near Volcano. A small pinc, about an inch in diameter, was left in the embank- ment, as likely to do no harm. Twenty-four years afterward it had grown to be considerably over two feet in diameter. This may be considered excep- tional, but hundreds in the immediate vicinity, which have sprung up since, are a foot or more through. If these young pines could be protected, it is not likely that a serious change of climate need be appre- hended. As a commercial speculation, an invest- ment in young pine trees is quite as promising as stocks in Arizona or Colorado, or even better than cutting them down and sowing the ground to grain.
SUMMER PASTURE.
Near the head-waters of the American, Cosumnes, and Mokelumne rivers, are many valleys which pro-
duce an abundance of clover, and other grasses. Thither, in the Summer, many herds of cattle and sheep are driven, to remain until the falling snows or cold weather remind them of the return of Winter. Butter, of a quality equal to that made at Point Reyes, is manufactured in considerable quantities. The cattle, fattened on these green pastures, bring an extra price. The work of tending these herds, though lonely, is not without enjoyment. The clear, cold water; the pure, exhilarating air; the glorious prospects from the hills; trout fishing in the streams; and an occasional deer, or perhaps the advent of a grizzly, serve to keep the mind employed, and build up a wasted nervous system. Almost every valley is thus claimed as Summer pasture by laws, or rather common usage. Cattle pastured here in the Sum- mer retain a lively memory of the green grass, and every Spring, on the approach of warm weather, manifest an intense uneasiness, and, if possible, break away and make their way by themselves. The instinct of the buffalo in cmigrating from Texas to Montana, is perhaps of the same origin.
AS A SUMMER RESORT
The upper valleys are unsurpassed. It is true there are no such tremendous gorges as the Yo Semite, or groves of the Sequoia Gigantea, but there are num- berless sources of amusement and health. Silver lake is one of the most beautiful sheets of water in the world, and a sojourn on its banks in the Summer is one of the pleasantest enjoyments possible. The lake is full of small trout, that despise all the patent flies and other deceitful contrivances for their destruction, and bite eagerly at, as Izaak Walton would say, a hook baited with a grasshopper or a vile worm. While they do not bite so as to load down a man or a boat in a few hours, the angler is sure of enough to make him a hearty supper, and also the necessary appetite to relish, as well as a tone of stomach to safely and profitably, for the body at least, dispose of them. Nothing can be bet- ter to restore a worn out nervous system, or repair debility induced by overwork of any kind, than a residence of a few weeks in the Sierras. A delicate, feeble woman, who had to be lifted into a carriage at the beginning of the journey, has been known to improve so rapidly in a few weeks as to get up in the morning and, from very exuberance of feeling give half a dozen Indian yells that could be heard a mile, or catch up a pair of oars and row a half-mile out into the lake, singing and shouting in a way that would bring the police down on her or cause an ex- amination for lunacy if done in a city.
The peaks around about are excellent hills to climb to give one wind and muscle, and try them, too. The months of July, August and September are best for these visits, and a tent with plenty of bedding the best outfit. Hotels arc rather scarce and not of ex- travagant size when found, and a dozen or two visitors. would tax the lodging capacity, as well as the larder, to the utmost. Fresh beef and milk can
HAN'S STATION
HAM'S STATION, HOTEL AND RANCH OF A.C.HAM AMADOR, WAGON ROAD 22 MLS. FROM SILVER LAKE, AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.
RESIDENCE, RANCH ANDBUSINESS PLACE OF A.C.HAM AQUEDUCT CITY, AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.
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generally be found at the Summer ranches in the vicinity, and bacon, coffee and bread will always relish when nothing better is at band. Camp on the shores of the lake, for a mile or two away there is frost every night; bnt the lake, absorbing the sun's rays during the day, parts with the heat at night, making a delightful temperature for sleep and rest Thunder peak, south of Silver lake, is said to exhibit at times some very curious electrical phenomena. It will be remembered by some of our readers that a scientist has recently discovered that zones of different elec- trical conditions are found at different heights ; perhaps some of our young scientists may work out this problem on Thunder mountain. Several persons report curious things, such as quite perceptible shocks, as if from a Leyden vial, flashes of flame from the points of knives, sparks from metallic but- tons, etc.
PRACTICAL JOKES.
The following letters, from Ed. Briggs of Ply- mouth to the Dispatch; will give one a vivid idea of the rollicksome feelings a party is likely to have, and the consequent character of their amusements :-
PLYMOUTH, August 26, 1880.
EDITOR DISPATCH: I promised several sports in different parts of the county that I would, on my return from a hunting and fishing excursion to the head-waters of the north fork of the American river, write a brief description of the same, and send it to you for publication.
Our company consisted of the following well- known gentlemen: James Dohman, captain; J. E, Brown, guide; L. G. Noris, assistant; G. K. Goble, camp guard; Frank Potter, teamster; E. B. Muggy, commissary; J. J. Dohman, and C. W. Wild, cooks. With a four-horse team loaded with a month's sup- ply of provisions, ammunition, etc., we set out upon the third of August, calculating to spend a month in the Sierras, on the head-waters of the north Ameri- can river.
Nothing of interest occurred on the journey until we reached what is called Silver creek. Here we found quite an encampment of excursionists from Sacramento and other localities, all in fine health and good spirits. The fishing here is excellent. The waters of this beautiful stream come pouring and dashing down from the snow-capped mountains, foaming and sparkling in the beautiful sunlight, in its native purity, cool from the snowy mountains, and clear as crystal; and oh, what a treat, after leav- ing the brackish and mineral water of the valleys and foot-hills, to sit beside this beautiful stream beneath the shadows of those towering firs and pines. and drink from this pure fountain. Here we struck camp for the remainder of the day, our fish- ing tackle was unpacked, and soon our entire com- pany was busy trying their luck among the finny tribe which inhabits this stream in great abundance. The creeping shadows of evening now warn us that it is time to repair to camp for supper, and as the boys began to drop in, each with a long string of regular beauties, their countenances radiant with smiles, tell but too well how delighted they all felt with their success. All hands now busy preparing the fish for the cooks, who, with their pans and corn- meal, begin their work, and in a few moments we have all surrounded our frugal table, when the con-
versation goes back to the boys left behind. with such remarks as, " now if old George Durbam was here, wouldn't he enjoy this." I then told the story about George and " Put." coming into a wood camp once up in the mountains; that the cook had pre- pared a whole sheep for the wood-choppers, but George being very hungry, could not wait for the boys to come in, and persuaded the cook to let him eat; that to the astonishment of the cook, and the disappointment of the hungry wood-choppers, and in spite of the remonstrances of the cook, he ate the entire sheep at one meal. Cook, Breesc, and other fellow sportsmen were not forgotten, and the demi- john was brought forth, and a health drank to all the sports left behind. Then the big fish-eat com- menced in earnest. Supper over, and pipes well filled, amongst other topics it was discussed what we should name our first camp, when one very enthusiastic Democrat proposed to call it Camp Hancock, in honor of the distinguished gentleman who heads the Democratic ticket, whilst an equally. sanguine Republican proposed Garfield as an appro- priate name. The arguments on both sides were put forth in a very forcible manner, and for a while it seemed that the camp would be left without a name, as neither side was willing to yield, when luckily, a very conservative member of the party proposed a compromise name, which seemed to sat- isfy the entire party, and the name of "Garcock" was unanimously adopted, and the new name, with the names of the entire party, was the next morning neatly carved on a beautiful tamarack tree. The fishing being so good, and the feed for our animals so plentiful, we concluded to enjoy another day at Camp Garcock, in which we were equally successful, catching all the fish we wanted, and at every recnr- ring meal the flask and camp jokes went round. The deer hunt of Dry canon, in which our mutual friend W. T. Jones participated, was related in a most interesting manner by L. G. Norris and others of the party; and after spending a very happy day and night, we again packed up and started for the head-waters of the Rubicon river, one of the finest deer parks in California, and after two days of hard travel over one of the roughest countries there is in the mountains, we camped for the night, within six miles of the park. The next morning we packed the horses-leaving the wagon behind-and after considerable difficulty, reached our camping place about five o'clock P. M. Away up among the lofty peaks of the Sierras, and the shadows of evening again began to creep over the towering rocks that have stood sentinel over this lonely spot for centuries gone by, and as we listen to the mournful music of the wind as it comes sighing through her cragged heights, we became conscious of that sublime power and greatness which awes and uplifts like God him- self.
This park is located where the Rubicon comes dashing down from the summits of the mountains in all the grandeur that nature could invest it with- the mountains on each side of the stream, rising in regular amphitheatrical style, that is, in a succession of benches one above the other, for miles on either side, these benches or tables varying in width- sometimes the ascent from one bench to another being very steep and rocky. Among these rocks on the benches are the homes of the fleet-footed and keen-sighted deer; and from the vast numbers found here, it would seem that this is to them a favorite resort. We found them here in countless numbers, from the tiny fawn in all the beauty of his spotted
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HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
dress, to the largest buck, with horns like a young forest. This splendid park has never, as yet, been. disturbed by the shepherd, and in all probability never will, as it is almost inaccessible for man or beast, and I do think there should be some steps taken by the proper anthorities to secure this as a publie park to the exclusion of all shepherds, for it is an established faet among hunters that sheep and deer will not range together.
I am admonished by counting my pages that I am trespassing upon your valuable space, and will hasten to a close for this time. Suffice it to say that we spent ten days in this secluded place, with more excitement and pleasure than was ever enjoyed by us before; we killed twenty-one deer, and caught three little spotted fawns which we very reluctantly had to turn loose again, as it was impossible for us to obtain milk for their subsistance; but we have them all marked, and we may at some future day have the pleasure of reclaiming them with the trusty rifle. We could fill two or three columns with incidents of the hunt, which we know would interest the sport- ing boys, but we cannot crowd it into this letter. Probably at some future time we will write a letter of incidents connected with this remarkable hunt.
We were gone three weeks, and all returned in excellent health, thinking that no party that has gone to the mountains this summer has had a better time than we have. NIMROD.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. 9, 1880.
EDITOR DISPATCH : Having been strongly urged by a goodly number of your readers for another let- ter descriptive of some of the incidents connected with our late extraordinary hunt in the mountains, I hope will suffice as a sufficient apology for our appearance again in your columns with another sporting letter. Then, to commence with, we wish to state, that before our departure, we all had a mutual agreement that nothing that we should say or do should, in any way, mar or disturb the friendly feeling that existed one for the other-in other words, jokes should all be free. It was a good time we were out for, and a good time we would have. Almost the first thing that attracted our special attention in our new camp, was a fight with a large rattlesnake, which infests this part in untold num- bers. Almost every rock has its rattlesnake, some- times two or three, and some of our boys were terribly afraid of snakes, particularly our young friend Wilds. He could see more snakes than all the rest of the boys put together. I think it was the second day that Mr. Norris and Mr. Muzzy killed a large deer close to camp, and in dressing the deer, a happy idea struck Muzzy for a good practical joke on Wilds. So he carefully rolled up the small entrails of the deer, and packed them into camp in his pocket, and then posted all the boys, except Wilds. After supper we made a big camp-fire, all hands lying around, smoking and recounting the exciting seencs of the day. Among other topics the number of snakes seen and killed; the habits of the snake, and particularly his venom and great antipathy to the whole human race. During this time Muzzy had found a place alongside of Wilds, and taking out his deer guts, without Wilds' knowledge, carefully pinned one end to the seat of Wilds' pants, while the rest of it, about ten feet, lay in a heap by his side, all hands awaiting the discovery with suppressed mirth. Pretty soon he rolled over on his side, and his hand came in contact with the gut. With one wild yell he sprang to his feet, clearing the fire at one bound, and as he went over the gut wrapped
around a small brand of fire. Away gocs Wilds around the camp shouting :-
"Suakel help! shoot!" and "Oh, my God, boys, don't let it eat me alive!"
Three or four of the boys fired off their guns, and by this time the whole party had become so con- vulsed that they were rolling and tumbling on the ground. The snake caught around a bush and pulled loose, and Wilds fell breathless in among where the boys were rolling and laughing. He now began to take in the situation, and raising himself up he says :-
" Now look here, you d-d fools, I don't see any- thing funny about this, and if it wasn't for breaking our pledge, I would lick every d -- d scoundrel of you. You all think you have played smart, don't you ?" By this time the demijohn was produced, and I tell you there was justice donc her this time. The next morning Wilds and Brown were out carly, and killed a fine large buck, the biggest I ever saw in my life. Wilds had it now, for he had found out that it was Muzzy that had perpetrated the joke on him; so he takes the head off the buck with a long neck, then carefully arranging it on a stick, he placed it so it looked like a deer lying beside a rock, with nothing visible of him but his head. Next morning he in- vites Muzzy to accompany him on a hunt. He takes him up on the right side of the rock, then he whis- pers to him to keep a sharp lookout. Just then, bang goes Muzzy's gun, Wilds pulls up, but Muzzy says, " hold, Claib, I want this one," (up to this time he had not killed any) bang, again, with the same, result; d -- n you, he says, I will fetch you, and this time he missed the head and struck the stick, and the head fell to the ground; he dropped his rifle in the excitement, and rushed up; imagine his surprise to find a deer head without a body. It was now Wilds' time, who sings out, "look out for snakes." He describes Muzzy as looking more like an idiot than anything else he could compare him to. Muzzy now tries to bribe Claib to say nothing about it when they return to camp, but he was uncompromising, and that night the jug and the joke went high. It was about this time that Mr. Norris placed the deer head, which was literally working with deer "tieks," under Captain Dohman's blankets; he had not lain there very long until he sprang up exclaiming "Light- ning has struck the traveler, or the traveler has struck lightning, one or the other." The Captain did not sleep much that night, but he affirms that there was not less than a bushel of ticks on him at once.
A hunter from Virginia City, named J. N. Robin- son, joined our party while we were up there, whom we found to be a very genial, social gentleman, and a remarkably successful hunter, and devotedly at- tached to this hunting-ground. He informed us that he had spent two months each year for the past four years, at this place, and always succeeded in killing all the deer he wanted, and in honor of him we call the place "Robinson's Park."
This will now finish this hunt, but as our quail season soon commences, we expect to have rare sport in this end of the county, and will, from time to time try and make your sporting column interesting to at least the sports of the gun. NIMROD.
SALT SPRINGS.
These are about six miles south of Silver lake, on the south side of the Mokelumne river, and con- sequently in Calaveras county; but properly belong to the Silver lake region, and merit the notice of all
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who visit that vicinity. They are on an elevated bench of rock a few yards from the river, and, unless special search for them is made, might be passed unnoticed by persons fishing along the river. The salt water is found in holes of various sizes, from a few inches to three feet in depth, in the solid granite rock which characterizes the whole region. These are so regular in their shape as to induce a belief that they are hollowed out by human agency, in the manner that the holes where the Indian women grind or pound their acorns and pine nuts are, which they resemble. Reports differ as to their number. Captain J. C. Ham, estimates them at nine hundred. Eli Smith, of Volcano, who has visited them several times, thinks there may be one hundred and fifty. The holes are always found filled with water. At the bottom is a mixture of dirt and salt, which, being washed, leaves a residuum of remarkably pure table salt. The water with which the holes are filled appears to have trickled over the rocks from above, and seems to come from a small shallow lake or pool, a hundred or two feet in diameter, which is surrounded by tall reeds and grass, so that one might pass quite near without secing the water. There is no apparent trail leading to these salt wells, but as the surrounding rock is the indestruc- table and trackless granite, no conclusion as to their origin or use can be formed from that circumstance, as thousands might visit the place, and lcave no trail. In the early days of silver mining on the Comstock ledge, the Indians brought in considerable quantities of salt, which was thought to have been found out on the plains beyond Carson river. It seems likely that the whole Washoe tribe may have for centuries annually visited this place for salt; that the wells were gradually hollowed out, and constantly enlarged by use. A thorough examina- tion of the subject might reveal many interesting things in Indian history.
MAMMOTH QUARTZ VEIN.
In wandering over the rocks one will see innu- merable quartz veins of all sizes and kinds, crossing each other with faults and other geological phe- nomena, highly suggestive of the disturbed condi- tion of affairs when earth was young, ere the Sierras were lifted from the sea, or of the earth in our own time, thirty thousand feet below, where new Sierras are slowly being formed. Between Silver lake and the salt wells is a quartz vein, said to be the largest in the State. It appears to be barren of gold, which, however, may, in its own time, have been deposited near the surface, as in our present worked veins, twenty thousand feet above the present summits of the Sierras.
THE RUBY OR SCHORL MINE
Is in this vicinity, on what is called Burley's peak. This is a form of quartz crystallization of various colors-white, green, red, and black, some of the varieties bordering upon emerald. It is likely that a thorough search might reveal valuable stones in this
vicinity. The mine is claimed by J. C. Ham, of Aqueduct City.
TROUT FISHING.
Mention has been made of the small trout in Sil- ver lake. Whether they are of different species, or whether the climatic character of the lake prevents their growth, is uncertain, but no large fish are found in the lake, while in the streams around are trout of several pounds in weight, which have all the wariness and vigor, when hooked, characteristic of the trout family. The unlucky fisherman will see hundreds of "fine speckled beauties" lying at ease in a hole twenty fect deep, from which fly nor worm will draw them. Some persons in times past, in revenge no doubt, have blown them up with dynam- ite, or strangled them with pounded soap-root. The law makes these acts high misdemeanors, but who cares for law forty miles in the woods, when the trout refuse to bite at a reasonable bait ?
The rocks in all this vicinity are glacier-polished, and none but an active, sure-footed man can clamber safely over them.
SILVER MINES.
Some twenty-five miles west of the summit argen- tiferous galena in considerable quantities has been found. The slates and other rocks in the vicinity of the junction of the old Placerville and Volcano emi- grant roads have all the appearance of being metal- liferous, and may yet prove the source of much wealth. Lyman and Silas Tubbs, and others, made the discovery, some years since, of such an outcrop; but they have never developed the prospect.
MAGNIFICENT VIEWS FROM THE SIERRAS.
Standing on one of the western spurs of the Sier_ ras, the valleys of the San Joaquin and Sacramento, as well as the hills of the Coast Range, are in full view; Mount Shasta in the north, and the treeless plains of the south, the sharp outlines of the Mendo- cino peaks, Diablo in the middle, with the hazy atmosphere, now shading everything with the tint of autumnal ripeness, now drifting away towards the sea in crimson clouds, and leaving the air so clear that the streets of Sacramento, though fifty miles away, are distinctly visible, are elements out of which the most splendid sunsets that imagination can conceive, will occasionally appear.
Sometimes the fog comes rolling in from the ocean like a sea of molten silver, spreading over the valleys, until only the tips of the highest mountains are visible above the feathery masses of vapor that lie at rest, or, slowing melting, blend and fuse into a thousand shapes, reminding one of an invading host taking the land, and, sometimes, of the spiritual world, where millions of departed souls rc-enact the stories of their earthly careers. Sometimes, at the close of a storm, when the clouds, in dense, black masses, hang suspended around the summits of the Sierras and high over the plains, the setting sun, blazing through the rifts, will strike across the wide plains, tinging the hills with a rich orange hue, and
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