Author: dave

TUESDAY 20th

Found the Cattle, 9 A .M Set out again for the digings. 4 P M. passed Green Springs, and encamped at night 1-1/2 mile beyond..

WEDNESDAY 21st

Very disagreeable weather on account of a cold rain Storm, traveling out of the question. Several of the Company Set out on a hunt for Deer. One of the Party Soon Shot one, and we all ate a very hearty Supper of Venison.

THURSDAY 22

Traveled on very Slow on account of very bad Roads          to day we made up our Minds to go to the American Camp to Spend the winter, instead of the Towalamy           the former being Some nearer.

FRIDAY 23

At 8 A M both teams was put onto one wagon, hoping to get through with that to the Mines, and returning for the other before night, it being but about three miles distant          But the first wagon had gone but a Short distance when it got Stuck in the Mud obliging us to unload and pack our things for 1/4 of a mile.      at night however we had the Satisfaction of Seeing the first Wagon in the Mines.

SATURDAY 24

The Second Wagon was brought through after passing through the Same difaculties that we did with the first.  we was not Sorry to find our selves to day in the Gold Mines of California.

SUNDAY 25

From this Date up to the 29th We where all busily engaged, fixing Our tent, which we determined to Make as Comfortable as our Means and Circumstances would admit. Gold or no Gold we Made up our minds to Spare no pains to Secure our health as much as possible, and guard against all Sickness. Knowing that fogs are peculiar to this Country and knowing that it lingers in the vallies late in the Morning and returns early at night, we Selected quite an elevated cite for our tent, that we might escape the unhealthey Mist as Much as posable, and have a free circulation of good fresh air.

The heavy rain Storms in this Country come Most invariably from the South East. We accordingly pitched our tent So that the front Door faced the North West. After raising our tent and pinning the Sot Cloth fast to two logs for the purpose placed parallel with each other, we proceeded to arrange the in Side. We found it was the Custom of Many Miners to Sleep upon the ground.  too avarious to Spend a day to fix a temporary cot to lay upon, this we knew was very essential for the good of our health and determined to attend to it, the whole length of our tent is 18 ft and 12 wide, 7 feet in the rear was Set apart for our Sleeping room, this room 7 feet by 12.        in each Corner of appartment we Set a post extending up as high as the walls of the tent. We then got four Rails and extended them from one Post to the Other about 18 inches from the Ground. from the front and rear rails we Suspended our hammocks, leting each lap upon the next one to it about 6 inches in this way we rigged a cot 12 feet wide and 7 long upon this we made our Beds and enjoyed many a good nights rest.

to prevent the dampness that might come through the tent from falling upon us during the night, we took a Small tent that we had on hand, and Spread it over the Four Posts (Before mentioned) having it raised a little in the center So that all wet that fell upon it was carried off on each Side. Upon one Side of the tent we put our provisions, and on the other our Trunks, and in the center, a Temporary Table Made of a log Split in two, and the Edges goined together forming a Surface about 2 feet wide and 4 ft 6 inches long,  Upon this we placed our Plates and ate our Meals consisting of principaly, Pork, Beef,, Smoked Beef, ham, Beens, Venison, Flap Jacks and hard Bread, Rice, Coffee, Tea etc.

THURSDAY 29th

Having our Tent arrangements completed to day, we began to think Strong of using the Pick Ax and Shovel, for the first time  We soon found by observation that not more than three Could work together at a good advantage with one Rocker or Cradle. Excelsior Company being in Number Six, We concluded to work three in a party each party having a Cradle of it Own. These Machines (if you have them Made) will cost from 32 to 64 Dollars. We having a large Chest with us, we concluded to knock it apart and turn it into Gold washers, and when done we found ourselves in possession of two very fine ones. Early this Morning We took our tools Pans etc, and Set out on a prospecting Cruise. This is done in order to tell where it will pay to go washing with the Machine. We followed a ravine from our tent to its head        tried Several pans of dirt but Could get no More than 6 or 8 cents to the pan.  This we thought would hardly pay two hundred pans is considered a days work for three men. eight cents a pan would be 16 dollars, 5-33 for each Man.  So we concluded to pass on to the Next Ravine. at 12 O Clock we found a Spot that paid about 14 cents to the pan   this we thought would do to begin with and got the Machine to work amediatly.

 

SUNDAY DECEMBER 2 1849

A person engaged in digging in the Earth, in Search for Gold from Morning till Night, from Monday Morning until Saturday Night, does not find Much time to write Journals nor Matter of More Consequence. Neather does he feel (after Spending the day thus laborously) like to take his pen in hand to note the incidents of the day. But rather to turn in (or retire) and enjoy the full benefit of Natures Sweet restorer, Balmy Sleep that he May be prepared to resume his labors the following day. I Shall therefor hereafter keep a weekly Record. Writing every Sunday, we will take a peep through the Weeks as they pass, and Note all the interesting incidents that occur therein, if any Such there be.

It is now December, at home Called Cold December.     but it cannot be Called Cold here, indeed the Sun is So warm during the day that it causes a Man to perspire quite freely. I think the temperature of the air in the Month of December here, Agrees with the latter part of April and the first of May at New York. The Mornings and Evenings are cool, but during the Day it is indeed pleasant Occasional Showers of Rain fall to the ground. Not to Soften and turn to its own liquid State, the pure white Snow, but to Soften the hard and Srubless Ground that has been Baked by a hot and Scorching Sun, unobscured by Clouds, for Several Months gone by. The Trees to and the Chaparel which but a Short time ago bore the appearance of lifeless Braches and Brush. Now put forth their green leaves, as if inpulsed by growing Showers of April and the genial warmth of a May Sun.

Provisions are very high in these Mines and in Some other Mines, the price is Still More enormous. We are very fortunate indeed having brought a very good Supply with us. Those who have to buy all their provisions will have to lay out a considerable Sum in course of the winter. Flower & Pork $1.25¢ the pound Potatoes $1 per pound Beens $1 per lb Molases $6 the Gal. & every thing els according.

SUNDAY 9th

Finding that we could better by Sinking holes in a Gulch Not far distant from our tent, we concluded to leave the Small ravine and try our fortune in Sinking holes. Some places holes are Sunk to the Depth of 6 or 8 feet.     at the bottom, the Gold is generally Scattered through a red Stoney Soil, Sometimes found 2 in thick and Sometimes 18. The precious Metal appeares to run in vanes in Many places. So that holes are often Sunk within a few inches of it and left because they could not find Gold enough to pay men for working it.     another may come along and put a hole down close to the one that had been forsaken and do extremely well. So it goes. Some vanes are very rich So Much So that by taking a Six penny pice and raising as Much dirt as you could keep upon it, you could See the particles of Gold glisten all through very plane.

The weather has been very fine the past week permitting us to work every day. What a blessed thing it was that God in his unbounded Wisdom Saw fit it Set Apart one day out of Seven, for man to rest from his labours and Meditate upon the goodness and Tender Mercies of Him who So regarded him as to give his only Son to die the ignomenious death of the Cross for his redemption.  I am Sorry to Say, there are Some who do not regard the Sabbeth here at all, not even to cese from washing gold. So eager, that they keep constantly at it rain or Shine Week days and Sundays all the Same. As for our Company I am happy to say, up to the present time they have not dug and they declair that Gold or no Gold they will not dig on Sundays.

SUNDAY 16th

During the past week we have had three Stormy days, Monday, Thursday, & Friday. Tuesday all hands turned to and put up a Fireplace and Chimney of Stone . We find this to be a Very great improvement, a great convience and very comfortable .