Author: dave

SUNDAY 23

One Stormy day. Nothing more this week.

 

SUNDAY 30th

Very pleasent all this week.

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6th 1850.

I wish you a happy New Year. Although we are far from home and near and dear friends, Still as we Sat around our fire Place enjoying a good fire on Tuesday last, our Minds would Stroll acrost the Great Waters and wander through a large Circle of acquaintences and bring to our fond recollection Many Dear Friends to whome we could heartily Say I wish you a happy New year. Imagination bore me away with the Swiftness of Eagles wings, and placed me in the City of New York, and other Places, retracing the Steps of former years. Calling, from house, to house. Exchanging good wishes as a Token of Socialbility and true friend­ship . I heard the Cheerful laugh echo through the richly furnished halls, and capacias parlors, of friends who had Spaired no panes in preparing every thing as entertaining as posible . But reality found me in California Siting beside a rudly constructed Fireplace, without it rained, and the wind blew Cold and Chilly. Still we found Some enjoyment in thinking and talking over the incidents and pleasurs of by gone years. Three Stormy days this week.

Great God, we Sing thy Mighty hand,

By which Supported Still we Stand:

The opening year thy Mercy Shows:

Let Mercy crown it till it close,

In Scenes exalted or depress’d

Be thou our joy and thou our rest;

Thy goodness all our hopes Shall raise

Adorn thro’all our changing days.

When death Shall interrupt these Songs,

And Seal in Silence Mortal tongues,

Our helper, God, in whom we trust,

In better worlds our Souls Shall boast.

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

Nothing worthy of note this past week.  Two Stormy days.

Two stormy days this week.

SUNDAY 27th

The past week has been very Stormy Six out of Seven days. On Monday we had three inches of Snow which made Surrounding Country appear very much like Winter. On Tuesday Thomas Ailward Set out in company with others on a prospect to the Spanixh Slough about thirty Miles North of this place, expecting it be gone about two weeks.  On Wednesday it Snowed again.  These are the only Snow Storms we have experienced this winter So far.

SUNDAY FEBUARY 3, 1850

The past week has been very pleasant, but we have done very little at gold washing, although the whole week or nearly at least has been Spent in Sinking holes but without Success. feeling quite tired of diging, Philetus George and myself came to the conclusion yesterday Morning to Spend the day, in the woods ahunting as a Sort of resting Spell. So after Breakfast we pre­pared and Set out in a North East direction.   a portion of our route was very wild and Mountainous, and a portion comparatively level.  we Saw numerous flocks of quail and a few Hare.   at about Noon, we concluded we was about three or fore Miles from our tent and feeling Somewhat fatigued and a little hungry withall we Set about looking for a Stream of water, to Sit beside and refresh ourselves . Just at that Moment I Saw a Number of Meder­larks near by, and I Strolled off from My partners for the purpose of trying my luck among the larks. My Gun was prepared and I was in the act of raising it to My Shoulder, when My attention was arested by a terorable restling in the Bushes about 30 yards off. I turned My Eyes in the direction, and was not a little Surprised to See a noble Deer rushing full Speed through the Bushes . My Gun was loaded with common Duck Shot, but the Creature was So near that I thought I might Stand a pretty good chance to hurt him considerable. As quick as thought I raised My Gun to My Shoulder and aimed through an opening Space in the Bushes which I knew the deer would pass. Just as the Creature had come in range of My Gun I pulled trigger, but the deer continued on with unslacked pace through an open plain about  1/4 of a Mile in width till about half Way acrost when She Stopped and walked very leisurealy- the remainder of the way till I lost Sight of her in the woods on the oposite Side of the plain. I was Satisfied from the movement of the Animal, that it was hurt considerable.  I hastily reloaded My Gun with large Buck Shot with the intention of following up My Game.    My partners hearing the report of My Gun and Seeing the deer emerge from the woods, made up their Minds that I was on a Chase, and Set out acrost the Plain about 1/4 of a Mile from the deers track            I crossed the plain in the deers trail. I entered the woods and commenced Surch for My game, and it was not long before I Saw her lying down, evidently badly wounded  I moved Silently up to a bush that Screened me from her Sight, about a good gunshot  distant. Just as I was raising My Gun to My Shoulder the deer Saw one of My partners creeping up on the opsite side . She made one Spring but ere She made the Second, the report of My Gun Echoed through the woods, and My Game fell to the ground. One More Shot from Georges gun fixed her So that it was useless for any more firing. We Soon dressed her and packed her home. We went out in another direction in the afternoon and returned at night with a few quailes and a very fine hare, well pleased with the Sport of the day.

Thomas Ailward returned from his prospecting expedition to Merfris digings, to day.     we expect to Set out for that place in the course of a week or two.

SUNDAY 10th

Very pleasant weather. It is with regret that I have to record in this weeks page, the Death of My Friend Mr Erastus Holmes of Stamford Connetacut.   he died very Suddenly on Friday nght at 12 0 Clock he enjoyed the best of health till about a week previous to his death. In the Midst of life we are in death. We made a Coffin out of Solled tree and beried him just as the Sun was Sinking in the west.  after the reading of the Episcopil Form of Funeral Service by Mr Young. Mr Holmes was a Ship Mate of Mine, a Young Man of good Moral character, formerly a Member of the Methodi st Church .  he leaves many behind Who feels and Mourns his loss.

 

 

 

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SUNDAY 17th

The weather continues fine . Tuesday visited Jacksonville a town situated about 5 Miles from this place in a South east direction, it is on Woods Crick near where it empties into the Twoalomy.  On Wednesday, Struck our tent and Set out for Stouten­ burgh about 35 Miles to the Northward . We passed Some very high Mountains, that appeared almost impassable for mules, but these Anamels climbed them with their Packs of 225 lb with but little trouble.    On the trail we Saw Several places, where, there was formerly an Indian Village. These places was a little Elevated, and appeared to be Sufficently large to Accomodate from 10 to 20 Families. The Kings circle being in the center and a little higher and a considerable larger than the rest. On Friday we arrived at Stoutenburgh. This place is Situated on Angles Crick, and contains about 200 Miners, Who are at present laying idle on account of the water in the ground preventing them from Sinking holes. The company previously Mentioned and who accompanied us from Stockton have removed to this place also. Saturday, we Set our tent and built bunks etc. On Tuesday recieved two letters one from A .H. dated July 25 1849 & one from D.S.L. dated Oct 16 1849