USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 19
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Monday, November 5th .-- Rained all day. Messrs. Willeck and Whigham arrived here from Sacramento City. This morning Sampson made arrangements to cabin with us. Daddy Blue, Dodge and Quinch in a sweat about the matter.
Tuesday, November 6th .- To-day it was clear; Sampson, Robbins and myself went to work upon the cabin.
Wednesday, November 7th .- To-day it rained by showers, and we worked at intervals.
Thursday, November 8th .- To-day same as yester- day.
Friday, November 9th .-- Clear to-day and we get our cabin all ready for the roof.
Saturday, November 10th .- This morning 1 took two horses and started for Sacramento City in com- pany with Risher, who was going home. The day was somewhat wet, but not so much so as to stop ns. We got to the Half-way House and stayed all night.
Sunday, November 11th .-- This morning my bill for breakfast, and for letting my horses stand on a pile of spoiled hay was three dollars and a half. The day was clear, the sun shone beautifully, and as we were going down the valley we could see the snow- clad peaks, of both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range Mountains-one behind and the other before us.
Monday, November 12th .- To-day it was clear and pleasant. I bought what things I wanted, and made ready for starting.
Tuesday, November 13th .- To-day I waited until the steamer MeKim came up, expecting to get letters. I was disappointed. Rained in showers during the day, but at night it came down in torrents.
Wednesday, November 14th .-- This morning it was clear, and I started for home with about fifty pounds on one horse and seventy-five on the other. By wading and floundering through the water from one to two feet deep, I got across the valley. My horses frequently mired down so that I had to unload them. About sunset one of them mired so that I had to unpack him, tie the bridle reins to his feet, and roll him over before I could get him out. By this time it was dark and I was unable to proceed any farther; so I wrapped myself in my blanket, and was lulled to sleep by the howling of the coyotes.
Thursday, November 15th-This morning I found my horses with a drove of wild ones, and had trouble in catching them. After getting them, and shaking the lizards out of my blankets, in three miles the horses mired twice, so badly that I had to unpack. About 10 o'clock I got my breakfast-the first that I had eaten since yesterday morning. About 10 o'clock at night I got to Auburn, where I stayed all night.
Friday, November 16th .- After sleeping in Ken- nedy's tent all night, 1 went up home and got my breakfast -- the first since yesterday morning.
Saturday, November 17th .- By this time Robbins and Sampson had built the chimney and got the clapboards ready, and by noon we had part of the roof on. In the afternoon it rained.
Sunday, November 18th .- To-day the weather was clear and cool; so we dried our bed-clothes and other things.
Monday, November 19th .- To-day we worked at the cabin and finished the roof. It rained all day; but at night we felt as if we had a shelter.
Tuesday, November 20th .- To-day was clear and warm, and we finished the cabin.
Wednesday, November 21st .- To-day was clear and pleasant, and we built a large fire in the cabin and dried it thoroughly.
Thursday, November 22d .- To-day we moved into the cabin and commenced to lead a bachelor's life.
Tuesday, November 27th .- To-day we had a shower of rain; but since last Thursday the weather was clear and warm.
Sunday, December 2d .- Since Tuesday the weather has been clear and warm without any rain. To-day I tried to bake some ginger-bread, but made a mis- take and put in mustard in the place of ginger.
Sunday, December 9th .- During the last week the weather has been beautifully clear, without any rain, and of nights there was a strong north wind, making the nights cold; but in the morning after sunrise, the wind would change and blow from the south, which made the days warm and pleasant.
Sunday, December 16th .- The weather for the last week has been variable. Monday and Tuesday were clear and cold. On Tuesday night it commenced
79
EARLY MINING HISTORY.
raining and continued until Friday, occasionally ceasing a few hours. On Friday morning it com- meneed snowing, and continued to snow until night, when it ceased. Considerable snow fell, but the ground was so wet from the rain that it melted away.
Sunday, December 23d .- It rained all of last week with the exception of one day, when it was beautiful and elear, giving us a chance to get out of the cabin where we were pent up to our dissatisfaction.
Tuesday, December 25th .- Sinee Saturday the weather has been fine. To-day being Christmas, we did not work. O! glorious Christmas! Hall, Robbins and I got a quarter of venison and a bottle of old Monongahela, and retired to the cabin. We then made a pot-pie. After it was cooked we ate, drank, and were merry until evening; we then topped off with a taffy-pulling, which was quite amusing when we got our fingers mixed among the stieky molasses.
Monday, December 31st .- Since Tuesday there has been no rain exeept a little that fell on Thurs- day.
Tuesday, January 1, 1850 .- To-day it rained mod- erately. About 11 o'clock Robbins and I took our plates, knives and forks, and went to Hall and Mar- tin's tent, to partake of a pot-pie made of beef and potatoes, for the occasion. The feast was glorious and good, and was not without a little of that stuff which makes a person happy for a short time. At night we went to Auburn where we spent the even- ing.
The above, copied almost verbatim, is given for several purposes. First, as showing the vicissitudes of the early pioneers in the days of their green inex- perience; secondly, as being valuable for reference as to the rain-fall in the vicinity of Auburn during the time it was written; thirdly, it records the time, nearly, when the name was given to the place, for thus he relates that on September 27th, he started from Sacramento for the " North Fork Dry Diggings," the only name by which the locality was then known; and that in returning from Sacramento upon a subsequent trip. November 15th, he speaks of arriving at Auburn-circumstances which tend to prove that the nomenelature was applied between those dates; and fourthly, it designates several of the old wayside stopping places en route whose iden- tity is now correctly recorded and preserved from oblivion.
SOLDIERS AND PROSPECTORS IN 1849.
The next party, after that of Claude Chana, who visited Auburn Ravine for mining purposes of which any authentic data can be obtained, were a squad of soldiers, who came early in the spring of 1849. They formerly belonged to Colonel Stevenson's Regiment, and, arriving in the country too late for active par- ticipation in the War with Mexico, had tired of gar- rison duty, and either absented themselves from the command by furlough or desertion, congregated at
the embarcadero on the way to the mines, and arrived at the diggings together. There were not less than a dozen of these men, who made their first camp on Auburn Ravine at the bend of the stream about a half-mile below the present site of Auburn, where a fountain of cool water gushes out from the rocky hillside bordering the southern side. This was thereafter, and to the present time is, called Soldier's Spring. The party, however, did not remain there long, but went to Barnes' Bar, on the North Fork, where the most of them remained until late in the fall.
At Barnes' Bar they established two camps under the following circumstances: The regiment had come to California in three ships-the Thomas II. Perkins, Loo Choo and Susan Drew. Most of the men of the party had arrived in the two latter-named vessels, and were about evenly divided in number. A camp of a dozen way too unwieldly, while half the number would be better. Therefore the Loo Choo passengers formed a mess by themselves, as also did those of the Susan Drew, and after that time were known respectively by the name of their ships, and the members contra-distinguished as a Loo Choo or a Susan Drew boy.
One of the men who first came to Soldier's Spring was a deserter from the regular service, and, from fear of capture, left his companions and went some twenty miles up the country, where he became insane, and, during the month of August, was fre- quently seen by the writer skulking among the rocks along Bear River, not far from where the Rising Sun quartz mine now is, an emaeiated, diseased lunatic, hiding from imaginary pursuers, whom, he fancied, were upon his trail for the purpose of bringing him before a court-martial-a pitiable object of misery and fear. Another, who had belonged to Stevenson's Regiment, was " Doe " Osborne, from Cortland
County, New York, who. previous to enlisting, had studied medicine, and may have practiced the pro- fession some. Hence his title of Doctor Osborne. That same fall he went to Los Angeles, where in after years he was afflicted with some paralytie affee- tion, and, being a very singular genius, became widely known, dying there but a few years ago. John Allen was another; a powerful, robust. young man of about twenty-five, with a magnificent phy- sique, and when drunk, which was quite often, a terror to the sober citizen. "Jack," as he called himself, did not last long; he was killed at Grass Valley in 1851, by a man whom he had threatened and abused.
PRICES OF 1849.
The following are extracts from an account book, kept in the pioneer days of 1849, at Barnes' Store, on the north fork of the American River, by P. M. Back- us. A perusal of the entries therein is most interest- ing as showing the prices of articles in those jolly days, and the character of the eatables and drinkables which miners then thought to be necessary for the
80
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
preservation of life, and for the comforts of the inner man. We give below some extracts from the aforesaid account book, which looks for all the world like a modern pass-book, save a somewhat dilapidated appearance. The accounts are all for the months of June, July and August, 1849.
" Doctor' One bottle gin. $ 6 00
66 Two Ibs biscuit, 81 25 ৳ 1b. 2 50
66 One Ib figs 1 50
To one pair socks. 3 00
D. T. Crabtree, One Ib sugar. 2 00
" Uncle Ben," To one pair socks.
3 00
L. Battaile, J. S. Dillahunty, M. Godbury.
To 19 pounds pork, $1.50 per lb .. 28 50
251bs flour @@ 621c 1b. 15 62
36 1bs pork and ham. 54 00
1 cotton handkerchief. 50
66 To hire of one pack-horse. 10 00
24 00
66 1 bottle molasses
2 00
Thomas Gautz, 2 meals. 3 00
2 sodas. 1 00
Mr. Hall, 3 boxes sardines . 9 00
Ferris & Co, 173 Ibs bacon 41 75
Geo. Rogers, 2 apples. 3 00
A. B. Kellog, 1 paper pepper. 1 00
Jas. A. Cunningham, 1 shirt 4 00
-Placer Herald, January 25, 1873.
PRICES IN AUBURN IN 1849.
The following is a copy of a bill of goods pur- chased in Auburn by Mr. M. D. Fairchild, and pre- served by him as a memento of olden time :-
AUBURN, December 12, 1849.
Mr. Fairchild bought of Wetzler & Co.
12 lbs rice, @ 75 cts .. $ 9 00
9 lbs meal, @ 75 cts 6 75
11 Ibs sugar, (@ 80 cts. 8 80
10 lbs cherries (dried ). @ 80 cts. 8 00
10 1bs peaches (dried), @ $1 00 __ 10 00
2 1bs tea, (@. $1 50. 3 00
77 lbs pork, ( 80 cts. 61 60
85 lbs beef (eorned), @@ 50 cts 42 50
10 lbs raisins, (, 60 cts 6 00
1 1b candles, (@ $2 00. 2 00
150 Ibs flour, 60 cts 90 00
$247 65
Paid, WETZLER & Co.
The payment was in gold-dust at $16 per ounce, the usual currency of the time. This bill could be supplied at Auburn in 1881 at about $33.50. The purchase was made at quite a favorable time, as prices were much higher when the severity of the winter of 1849-50 developed itself, flooding Sacra- mento City and rendering the roads difficult to travel.
pants 23 00
Benj. Ogden, 1 box salt. 1 50
1 butcher knife. 2 00
1 kettle.
14 00
1 ax and handle.
10 00
66 2 pipes.
50
1 bottle pepper sauce. 3 00
1 stew pan. 8 00
J. C. Fruit, 1 1b saleratus
10 00
James Fort, 1 tin pan.
16 00
James Fort, 1 cup 2 00
1 plug tobacco 1 50
1 purse. 2 00
66 1 1b nails.
75
66 1 bag
2 00
66
1 pail. 5 00
1 bottle pickles. . 6 00
A. B. Harding, 1 box cigars. 15 00
John Piper, 1 frying pan 7 00
G. Gantz, 1 Mb potatoes. 1 00
F. A. Boughton, 1 lb coffee. 75
1 1b crackers 1 50
4 lbs rice. 2 00
66
1 tin pan 16 00
1 bag 1 50
1 shovel. 8 00
1 pick
12 00
1 box yeast powders. 3 00
1 paper tobacco. 1 00
James Ewers, 1 magnet. 12 00
Robert Johnson, 1 bottle porter. 5 00
66 1 quart beans. 2 00
L. Battaile, 1 B. knife. 2 50
Captain Slade & Co., 30 Ibs flour, 62}c. 18 75
Mr. Maynard, 2 bottles ale, $2 50 ... 5 00
José, the Chillano, 1 Ib chocolate 2 50
1 day's board. 3 00
Mr. Bower, To one day's board for self and
young Smith
5 00
Mr. Lennox, 25 Ibs sugar 18 00
5 lbs figs 7 50
12 lbs dried apples 25 00
4 fathoms rope. . 5 00
Dr. Fruit, 3 lbs bread. 3 73
Robt. H. McPherson, 1 caddy tea. 10 00
66
2 bottles pickles.
14 00
66
1 bottle gin 6 00
66
1 bottle brandy 8 00
2 drinks.
1 00
Mr. Rodgers, To 1 blank book.
1 00
Wadleigh, To 1 serape . 3 Ib tobacco.
8 00
63
Griswold & Co, 12 Ibs pork. 18 00
¿ Ib soap. . 75
1 1b bread. 1 25
5 00
66 1 box matches. 1 50
3 drinks
drinks
6 00
¿ bottle brandy . .
4 00
1 bottle wine .. 5 00
66
¿ doz cigars 2 25
provisions. 2 00
66
8 cigars
1 00
1 handkerchief 75
watermelon
4 00
66
S drinks _ 4 00
1 doz cigars 1 50
¿ bottle brandy 4 00
Major Briggs, 10 drinks
50
Johannes Ohissen, To 1 pair linen pants
5 00
To 1 pair scales. 12 00
1 ham, 16 1bs
PHOTOGRAPHED BY J. M JACOBS
.L. J. Soule.
EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER XVIL.
EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA.
Preparations for Emigration-The Routes to California-The Pacifie Mail Steamship Company-Arrivals at San Fran- cieo in 1849-The Expectant Argonaut-On the Isthmus- A lesson in Maritime Law-Sailing to San Francisco- Crossing the Plains-An Overland Journal-Population at the Close of 1849-Domestic Habits of the Pioneers-The Miner's Cabin-Housekeeping and Cooking-Thrifty Char- aeters-Meanness and its Reward-First Duel in Placer-A Homieide.
THE exhibition of gold by Lieutenant Beale; the reports to the State Department by Thomas O. Lar- kin, and to the War Department by Colonel R. B. Mason, Military Governor, and Capt. J. L. Folsom, were officially made public, and created a greater and more general excitement throughout the civil- ized world than ever before known.
Letters and gold-dust from people in California soon came, telling of the wonderful richness of the mines and their extent, and advising friends to migrate to the new gold regions without delay. Such news and such appeals were irresistible. The newly-acquired Spanish territory upon the distant Pacific Coast, of which Dana had so pleasantly written in his "Two Years Before the Mast;" the great bay and rivers deseribed in Wilkes' Exploring Expedition; the graphic records of Fremont's explorations, and the stories told by returned whalers had charmed the youth of the land with the enthusiasm of romance, and now that this land was filled with gold where all could help themselves without great capital or obedience to masters, showing a brighter opportunity for inde- pendenee and success than the older countries offered, fired the imagination and aronsed the spirit of emigration in all.
PREPARATION FOR EMIGRATION.
Preparation for the flight began in all parts of the country. The fall of 1848 was well advanced when the facts of the discovery became generally known. The winter season was approaching and forbade an immediate movement, but gave opportunity for the excitement to spread and for preparations to be made. The period was opportune. The war with Mexico had just closed, and the volunteers were returning covered with the glory of their brilliant exploits, ready themselves, and ineiting all the ener- getie and courageons young men of the country, for new adventure. Meager reports had been heard of the pleasant climate, the great rivers, the broad val- leys and the snowy mountains of distant California, and there was the attractive field for the young adventurers. Very little, however, was really known of the new country, and this faint knowledge gave enchantment to the distant land.
THE ROUTES TO CALIFORNIA.
Several rontes afforded the way to the Pacific Coast: By sea around Cape Horn; by way of the Isthmus of Panama; across Mexico to one of the
Pacific ports of that country, and by land the entire distance across the plains through New Mexico and Sonora; or following the route of Fremont through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and directly to the gold region in the Sierra Nevada. All the rontes were taken by large numbers of emigrants. To the people of the East the sea was most conven- ient, and to those chosing that route it was not nec. essary to wait for spring. Every class of sailing craft available were at once put in readiness for the voyage, and, receiving their cargoes of living freight, were soon breasting the seas for the desired haven.
THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
Congress, as early as March, 1847, had proposed a mail route via the Isthmus of Panama, from New York to Astoria, with semi-monthly trips on the Altantie side, and monthly on the Pacific, with San Francisco as one of the way ports; but not until April, 1848, did a responsible party dare undertake the contract. Then the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- pany was formed, Messrs. Howland and Aspinwall being the principal capitalists, and the construction of three steamers was begun for the Pacific side, named the California, Oregon and the Panama. Their construction was commenced before the news of the gold discovery was known in the East, and their plans were drawn simply for mail and freight boats of the cheapest character. There was the slimmest possible chance for profit, even with the annual sub- sidy of $200,000 offered by Congress.
Fortunately for the enterprise, Lieutenant Beale arrived with the news of the finding of gold, and. with a sailor's knowledge of shipping, urged upon Aspinwall the necessity of changing the plan of his steamers, as they would be needed for carrying pas- sengers. Aspinwall was about the only one who had faith in Beale's report, and altered his steamers in accordance with the advice given. These steamers, each of about 1,000 tons burden, were soon com- pleted, and sailed on their voyage cie the Straits of Magellan for San Francisco, the California arriving February 28th, the Oregon, March 31st, and the Pan- ama, June 4, 1849.
The establishment of this line diverted large num- bers to the Isthmus route, hoping to get passage on the steamers, but so great was the rush that not half of the number could be accommodated. Vessels of all kinds that could be obtained at Panama were turned into passenger carriers, and with inadequate supplies and inadequate knowledge of the winds of the coast, much suffering and loss ensued. Thus the Isthmus route, which had seemed the easiest and quickest proved to many, one of hardship, danger and delay.
THE EXPECTANT ARGONAUT.
California, in 1818, was supposed, by the ardent adventurers who were preparing to seek her shores, to be unprovided with any of the needed imple- ments for prosecuting the work to be engaged in;
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82
.
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
to have no places at which clothing, boots, blankets, etc., could be obtained, and that the utmost to be expected there in the line of provisions was the beef they had learned was abundant. Nobody, therefore, must think of going into this wilderness without an expensive outfit embracing every conceiv- able article of utility and comfort. The seaport cities and the frontier posts, early in 1849, became the rendezvous where thousands of people congregated to fit out for the journey, and their assemblage at these places gave growth to many hitherto unknown industries.
Ingenious mechanics invented all sorts of ma- chines for gold washing; the sail lofts were kept active in the manufacture of tents, hammocks, and canvas bags; provision dealers drove brisk trades in supplying the throng with stocks intended to last for many months; old hulks that had been rotting for years at their moorings were re-coppered, re-painted and provisioned and advertised as staunch, fast-sailing and A 1, and speedily filled up with passengers; old mules and broncho mules and horses of every grade, and cows and oxen, wagons and carts were crowded in the markets of the outfitting posts bordering the great plains.
Buoyantly, hopefully, and without misgiving, in the early spring of 1849, did the multitude set forth from every frontier post and every seaport of the country for California, as the argonauts, for Colchis, with Jason, in search of the golden fleece. Those who left the Eastern seaports in good vessels perhaps were the best off, and as a rule landed at San Francisco in the best circumstances, having their outfit with them in the hold of the ships. Those at that time who went to the Isthmus of Pan- ama unprovided with tickets npon some connecting steamer on the Pacific side ( of which only two had reached that coast ), were probably in a worse pre- dicament than all. The overland travelers, that year, had no lack of provision. having started with so much generally as to be burdensome. Flour, bacon, and other articles of food in many places along the different overland routes were piled up in cords, and hundreds of wagons were abandoned from sheer inability of the animals to draw them, while the road lay open and the way before them to the goal they were hastening to. They could travel onward. at least, and reach their place of destination even though they should arrive at the mines destitute. With those upon the Isthmus, however, affairs were different. Those people were cooped up in a foreign country, where malaria to an alarming degree existed; they could neither get up the Pacific Coast without extraordinary intervention; nor back to the ports whence they had come, as the steamers landing pas- sengers there did not wish to break up their profita- ble business by taking those back, if any there were, who would turn the tide of travel into some other channel, and therefore upon landing their load at Chagres would immediately steam over to Navy
Bay and out of reach of any who might wish to return.
ON THE ISTHMUS.
The months of April, May and June, 1849, was a time when the Isthmus of Panama contained from 4,000 to 8,000 American immigrants who were in vol - untary residents. Cholera and other diseases inei- dent to a tropical climate attacked them, and as the majority were from the Northern States, made fearful havoc. Meantime all reports from Cali- fornia were of the most extravagant character, which fact kept the minds of those who had ven- tured upon the journey in the main steadfastly fixed in the determination to reach the land No promising. This state of affairs kept the rate of passage from Panama to San Francisco high, and fabulous sums were paid for steamer tickets. Masters of whale and other ships who happened to be in any of the Pacific ports, hearing of this extraordinary condi- tion, unloaded cargo, took on extra provisions when necessary, then crowded sail for Panama, and announced their readiness to carry passengers to San Francisco. Little coasting vessels from the South American ports, and in fact craft of all descrip- tions came into the port of Panama and were either speedily chartered or sold.
Several journals kept by these early pioneers of California are lying before the writer, and as the most natural and truthful record of these eventful times an occasional extract from them is given below. The first is that of a member of the " Ganargwa Mining Company, of Newark, Wayne County, New York, for San Francisco, rin Chagres and Panama," as stated upon a printed card used for marking their innumerable articles. This company numbered twelve-two of whom arrived at the " Dry Dig- gings," soon atter ealled Auburn, on the second day of August, 1849, and were bound by articles to each other as "strong as holy writ." Beginning their organization in December, 1848, and not sailing from New York until the following March, they had ample time to equip, not as the " law directed " quite, but as the inclination dictated. Some of the mem- bers had elaborate arms manufactured to order- bright steel tomahawks, heavy and with long taper- ing poles, that by a blow could be made to sink up to the eye in a block of wood; knives of enormous size formed in the most savage-looking " Bowie " style from the blades of aneient scythes, with guns of antique pattern and Allen's " pepperboxes "-for were there not Indians and half-civilized Mexicans who must be intimidated in the new land to which they were going ? Red shirts, blue shirts, corduroy pants and stogy boots were necessary, for were they not all going to the mines to dig for gold? And after the gold was dug how could it be used without first being coined ? So this company ordered and had made, at a machine shop, a coining press with steel dies, with which to coin five and ten-dollar gold pieces. Besides these things they had other name-
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