SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1 1850
Mr Tod & Brians Express arived Yesterday but no letters.
On Monday the Stars and Stripes were floating in the Breeze half Mast having just recived the News of Gen or President Taylor ‘s Death. This news was very Suden and unexpected, how true the poet, The tall the Wise the reverned head, Shall lie as low as ours.
Received a note on friday from Friend Atwood.
SUNDAY 8th /50
Having done all our business at this place in the way of Gold diging, We thought best to Set out in Search of Some place to Spend the winter. With this in view we Started on Mules about 11 0 Clock A M on Friday for Mokelome Hill distant about 30 Miles, taking a N-W Cours. We arived on Saturday Morning having one night to Sleep on the road inconsequence of loosing the trail on friday afternoon, by going up the North Branch of the Calaveras Several Miles. But we percived our Mistake and turned about ariveing at right track by Sun down where we camped for the night beneath a large Oak and beside the beautiful Stream of water the North Branch from the Hill we decended the Mountains to the River (Mokelome) where we found our Friends Atwood, Small, Pane, and Wrightington very busily engaged in turning the Stream with a force consisting of 19 Men. We remain with them to day and expect to return tomorrow I am happy to Say that Our Brotheren have extablished religous Meetings here and I had the pleasure of hearing two exclent Sermons to day one by Brother Atwood, and another by One Mr Harris of Ten. There is a vast extent of Country here for opperation in the way of gold diging. But all the richest Gulches are dug out. But Still I think that Miners will do full as well here as at any of the digings this coming winter.
SUNDAY the 15th /50
We returned from the Mokelome on Monday last Much fatigued by a long ride Since our return we have Made up our Minds to go to San Francisco. We will probably Set out for that place next week. Mr Brown ‘s Express (Successer to Elwood) arived on Thursday, no letters yet. Tod & Brion Express arived on Friday also, being the Second time this Month. I understand it is the intention of that firm to run hereafter twice a Month, Friend Green arived from the Mountains on tuesday without Success. He reports Deer very plenty. He and his party killing Six while gone. they Saw one Grizily Bear but there Being but two of the party near, thay passed without attacting the Monster. There has been quite a change in the weather this past week, we having one or two Slight Showers and a number of days, when the Sun was obscured by dark clouds, very Cool night etc.
SUNDAY 22. /50
On Monday last hearing of a new discovery being Made at the American Camp (where we wintered last) I was induced to take a tramp to that place. I accordingly Set out about 8 A .M and arrived at about 4 P.M. I found a very Extensive flat (Say 15 Ach) Upon which there were about 50 persons at work throwing off about 18 inches of the top Soil. On inquiry I found the dirt paid from 6 to 10 cts to the pan. We put up for the night at a large new log Cabin Erected by Some Men who inclosed Some 15 or 20 Ach of Marchy Soil upon which they have Succeeded in raising a nice crop of potatoes Corn Cabbage, Watermellons, Mushmellons etc.
The next Morning after Eating a harty Breakfast we Started for home. at Wood’s digings I Saw a Young Grizely chaned to a post. he was caught near the Toolomme while very young. He is now about the Size of a Sheep, and he has become So tame & gentle that a person can pat him just like a Dog. At 12 Oclock we was at the Mclanes fery on the Stanislaus River. We found here emence labour Spent in turning the river, by diging race ways of Several hundred Yards in length and about 15 ftt wide, into which they have turned the water by building a Strong dam acrost the Stream at the Upper End of the Raceway. This work has imployed from 60 to 80 Men for three or four Months, and I am Sorry to Say they are now obliged to abandon it without a cents remuneration it proving a complete failure . We did not stop long here but Set out for the Summit of an Exceeding high Mountain, that lies directly in our way. and by the way, this Mountain is the dread of the whole traveling Community. After geting at the top of this Mountain, I was about 12 Miles from home. My legs and feet were already So lame by the previous day’s tramp together with My journey So far back, that I could scarsley Stand. but I continued on gradualy, and at Sunset I found Myself Safely harboured in our little Cabbin very Much fatigued, and exceedingly lame . The weather appears to indicate the approach of the wet Season. we had quite a Shower, Yesterday.
SUNDAY 29th
We Set out the first of the week for Stockton where we axrived on the 23rd in the Evening. Stockton has grown very Much Since last fall. Some very pretty buildings have been Erected Since, which together with the regular trips of the Steamboats, gives the place the appearance of an Old business Settlement. We had a very heavy Shower of rain in the Evening. On Tuesday Morning at 10 O Clock we Set out down the river for San Francisco. On Wednesday we passed the great New York of the Pacific (Mentioned before in this Journal) It appears very much as it did a year ago there are now about 5 Shanties in the place. In the Evening we arrived in Benecia. We landed and got Some Supper after which we took a walk around to See the place. We found it greatly enlarged Since last fall, Many improvements have been Made. All hours of the night the Steamboats may be heard ringing their Bells & blowing their wistle landing as they pass to and from Stockton Sacramento & San Francisco. On Thursday Eve we aroved at San Francisco. This City has grown So, and is So altered in its appearance that I Scarsley knew its Streets and avenues. Business was quite brisk Especialy in Mercantile line provisions on the rise etc Mechanicks Wages from 5 to $12. large numbers runing about unable to procure work.