Author: dave

SUNDAY 24th

The Rainey Season has finaley Set in with earnest. Times will Soon be lively. Last evening We Experienced quite a heavy Thunder Shower accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning & hail Stones the Size of Buck Shot beat down upon the tents with deafening violence  Also on the 20th We Experienced a tremen­dous Storm of rain and wind.     It blew with Such violence that quite a number of Our inhabitents where unhoused before Morning, and about 8 O Clock in the Evening a large Frame Building (in progress of Erection) fell with a tremendous crash Starting all the nabours from their tents. On the Same Evening two of the N Y Bishops made their appearence in our town, as visiters, having no place of their own to Stop at for the night,       Mr McKeny invited them to put up at his place, they done So.  and when 10 0 Clock came they turned in (Or went to Bed) The Clerk also retired. In the night One of the visiters (Supposeing all to be fast asleep) took it into his head to Rob the Store      He accordingly arose from his Bed and went to the Desk took out all the Money it contained and then returned to his Bed. The Clerk, being awake (and the Moon Shining through the tent) Saw the whole Maneuver      But having no Arms he did not Say a word, but as soon as the fellow returned to his Bed the Clerk Slipt Slyly out and informed Mr McKeny, who arose instantly and arrested them both on the Spot. the thief was putting on his Boots, preparing to Vamous, the Next Morning he was tried and found Gilty. He is held in the Sum of $2000 to appear before the Supreme Court at its next Session. Yesterday I received a note from George (at Stockton) he is well & hearty . Preaching to day as usual, by Captain Atwood .

SUNDAY DECEMBER 1 , 1850

Nothing of Much Interest the past week  I has near forgotten however to Mention the Death of Charles Strong of Long Island. He departed this life on the 27th Age 27 Years      Mr S was a fine young Man and had but just got into the Mines when he was taken with the Diarea but his desease turned to the Typhus Fever, Which carried him from this Stage of Action to try the realities of another world.

Dearest Friend thou hast left us

Here thy loss we deeply feel,

But tis God who has bereft us

He can all our Sorrows heal.

Started for Stockton on friday Morning and arived at that place on Saturday Evening     attended Service to day in Stockton,

Sunday 8th

George arived with the Schooner at Stockton on Tuesday Evening with Potatoes & Cabbage     Started for the Hill on Thursday Morning with a load and arived on Friday night.

Express in but no letters.  George came up with me but returned yesterday. Wrote a letter to Father to day.

Sunday 15th

Made another trip to Stockton the past week     got caught in a Storm, Making the roads So·bad that it was with much difficulty that I got through with My team. business very dull at Stockton.  Had a tremendous gale there this week Making Ship reek of a number of tents. No preaching to day Mr Atwood being absent to Stockton

Sunday 22

We have remarkable fine weather for this Season of the Year Very little rane indeed, causing dull times through out all the winter digings. I was ner to Murphys on thursday          they have formed a company of fifty Men to work the flat clean through by beginning at the lower end etc   The Expresses have again arived but no letters for us       I certainly think that we are entirely forgotten by our friends at Home.           Preaching today by Capt Atwood.

SUNDAY 28th

Tuesday Eve the 24th   To Morrow is Christmas     A Party of 4 Mr Sharp Mr Prisson Mr Connor & Myself Set out this Evening for the purpose of Hunting Deer in the Evening      We Set Out about 4 P M and at Sundown we reached a Small hut Situated on the Northbranch of the Calvares distant from this place about 8 Miles   the Hut was built of Logs by Some Miners who wintered there Last Winter.        it was Open in front and no Fireplace. having no blankets with us we knew we Should Suffer with the Cold if we did not keep a good fire all night     we therefore Set about building a temporary Chimney which we completed in about 10 minutes. With a roaring fire burning, therin         by the Side of this rude fire place we Sat talking & joaking, till about 10 0 Clock, when feeling Somwhat fatigued we laid down upon the Cold ground to try and rest in the Arms of Natures Sweet restorer (Balmy Sleep). We remained in this position but about 10 Minutes, for we found it very uncomfortable one.  We therfore aroused and Spent the remainder of the night talking & thinking of Home Sweet Home.

As Soon as the day began to dawn

We were to the Mountains away,

In the Chase for the deer and the Fawn,

To selebrate the Christmas day.

We were Soon on track of a herd about 10 in number but not withstanding we Chased them for two or three Hours        we had the Mortification to return with out any   We found it imposable to get near Enough to them on account of So Many Hunters out after them. We therefor returned to our Homes at about 12 0 Clock Somewhat fatigued. The weather continues remarkable fine and dry        very discourageing to the miners.  Preaching to day by Capt Atwood quite a number Out to day.

 

SUNDAY JANUARY 5th 1851

Another Year has gone and we Still live in the Enjoyment of good health, and all and Much More than a poor Sinner like Me could Expect On Tuesday I thought I would try and have Something for New Years like home I therefore Set about making Mince Pies, & I Succeeded very well indeed My friends pronounced them very good Much better than Some they had eaten at Home and Made by the Delacate fingers of Some female     I felt quite flattered   So that I resolved to Make another Batch Shortly  I Set Out for Stockton on thursday Morning and arived there on Friday at 1 0 Clock. Found George there well and hearty Business very Dull there   Commenced raining this Morning and continues through the day.

SUNDAY JAN 12th 1851

I returned from Stockton on Monday last        The rane Seaced on that day and Since we have had dry weather.   Tod & Co Express arived on Thursday Evening             No letters Yet.              Preaching to day by Capt Atwood   a very few out to day

SUNDAY·1 9th

The Weather continues remarkable dry & pleasent        Last year at this time the Hills & Mountains were beautifully decorated with natures productions          The Flowers the grass and Srubery of all kinds but not So this year.   The Express arived Wednesday    Got one Letter from Charles & Emily      On Monday last Philitus Moved down on the Calaveras about 3-1/2 Miles from this place.   Yesterday discovered a vane of Gold in quartz the prospect of its being rich is good              Preaching today as usual by Capt Atwood .

SUNDAY 26th 1851

Quite an unusual degree of Excitement has prevailed the people of Some of the Mining districts of late on account of the numerous depridations commited by the Indians. Many Oxen & Mules have been drove off the Mountains where the red Skins have their Strong holds, fortified on all Sides by nature.           A party of Men Set out from this place a Short time Since, for the purpose of retaking the Stolen property. They proceeded toward the Mountains and on their way found a Small Indian camp and demolished it killing Some three or four of their number. the remainder fled to the Mountains and the whites persued them to the Bass of an eceeding high Mountain and a very preciptous one    upon the top of this Mountain they had their fortified town, and as the wites drew near large numbers of the red.s were Seen preparing for a defence, and Soon commenced the Battle by rolling huge rocks down the tremendous Steeps causing the Snow (which by the way was about 2 feet deep) to fly in every direction, as well as peaces of the rock itself, makeing it a dareing undertakeing to proceed any farther up the Mountain.  the wites therfore with drew and arived at this place quite exausted .         the troubles however on the Mariposa, were rather more Serious. Mr Savage had a Store on the little Mariposa , which the Indians took possesion of killing the Man who was left in charge, first and then carried off the goods to the Value of about $8,000. Mr Savage amediately raised a party of about 70 Men, and pursued them to their Strong hold which was only accessable at one point and that was a narrow passage .         the Indians were about 300 Strong.  The wites rushed in upon them causing them to Scatter at first, but they Soon rallied again and fought with desperate courage.      the wites took to the trees, and Made Such terable havoc among the Indian Ranks that they fled in disorder leaveing between twenty and thirty dead upon the Field. the wites loss was three or four killed and Some wounded. the wites then burned the Town composeing A large number of Huts.     the wites then withdrew and returned to their camp for a fresh Supply of provisions and a reinforcement. The weather continues very dry.           Goods very cheap of every kind. Wrote a letter to Charles and Em to day.