WCP1634

[1]¹

Letter from the "Summit Pass"

May 25th, 1852

… we have had several snow storms & heavy rains which have delayed our work considerably, but fine weather has now set in & we can expect a long continuation of it. We are getting along rather slowly with our upper work as we have so much to do now down here at Columbia, as we have the water in from the creek & have a great many side ditches & canals to distribute it regularly throughh[sic] the different mining regeons[sic]. … I have now a great deal of work to do, as, besides my part of surveyor, which as engaged me nearly the whole time, I have been for the last three months, President of the Company, & I have therefore my hands full. The distance from one end of our works to the other is now about 25 miles, & as I am required at both ends, you can imagine I have enough to attend to. The water which we distribute now brings us in about 500 dollars a day, which about clears our current expenses, & we [1 word deleted] have still a large amount of work to complete, & a large debt to pay off, so that it will be sometime before we can realoze[sic] much ourselves.

We have a water saw mill on the upper end of our works, which is now cutting lumber for our upper flume. A great part of the canal is dug, & we have a tunnel about 8 chains, or about 500 feet long, through a hill of soft granite, which is just completed. We have a large amount of timgber work to do which I have to super-intend, as soon as I can be spared from this end of the work…

I have now been in the mines two years, & have seen many changes, & learned much of the nature of the country & its resources during that time. The times are indeed changed, the necessities, & even some of the luxuries of life are now to be obtained at a moderate expense. Women and children are now seen in various parts to enliven & cheer the dull monotony of man’s existance [sic]. The mining population is doing remarkably well, & of course the mercantile interests flourish accordingly. The presence of water by means of man’s perseverence & ingenuity is developing the wealth of the country in places hitherto untried & unthought of. And places which two years ago were thought to be worked out are now, by improved modes of working handsomely remunerating the miner. In fact I consider there is as good a chance for a working man in California now as there ever was, & there is every appearance of its continuance for many years, & there is no place in the world for a hard working man equal to California. Wages in the mines are now five dollars a day, & they were no more two years ago. Many men are going into agriculture, & gardening [words deleted].

[1]¹

Summit Pass.

May 25th, 1852.

My Dear Fanny,

I received the letters written by yourself and Thomas² last Christmas, about a month since and they were very acceptable, and as they contain syndry [sic] questions which require answering, I will endeavour to do so. IN [sic] the first place then you wish to know whether there are any animals etc. which would be rare in England. This I can answer in the affirmative, although the variety is not very great. The wild animals here are mostly small with the exception of the Grisly Bear and the Elk. There are several species of the fox, pole cat. wild cat,, [sic] racoons, wild dogs or coyotes, and a species of cougour [sic], or Lion of California, as it is sometimes called, which some say is rather a formidable kind of animal, but I never had the pleasure of miiting [sic] with one during my rambles; as most of these animals only proul [sic] about at night, thet [sic] would best be taken in traps. The assistance of the natives, however, could not be had, and I expect would be of little use if it could, as they hunt very little. They kill squirrels, and birds with their arrows, and the only animal they hunt is the deer. An indian [sic], if he wants some deer meat will go out early in the morning with his bow and arrows, and if he comes within sight of a deer he utters a yell and starts off after it. The deer of course starts off too, and is soon out of sight over a hill or risin [sic] ground when the deer generally stops and looks round, The Indian, however stops not, but starting into a kind of trot or half run run, follows steadil[y] in the track of the deer, till he again comes in sight of him. The deer again starts off as soon as the Indian comes in sight and is soon lost to view, but the hunter halts not, but over hill and valley across streams and ravines steadily follows in the track of the deer till the aaffrighted [sic] and tired animal begins to lag, and can only just kiip [sic] ahead of its hunter. Then is the time when he could wound it with his arrows, and easily dispatch it but he is by this time several miles from his camp and wishes to return so by a little skilful maneuvering [sic] and heading the animal occasionally, he gets it to take a pretty direct line towards his camp, he still following in the same unwearied pace, till he finally perhaps drives it into his own camp still alive, or dispatches it a short distance before he arrives there.

But I have been leaving my subject so must return. There are very few birds in this country, with the exception of wildfowl of which there is a great variety. There are a few very handsome birds which arrive here for the summer months, but leave in the winter. But of Insects there are abundance, especially beatles [sic], moths, and butterflies in the spring and summer; beetles are particularly abundant at this time especially small ones. Dragon flies are alro [sic] munerous [sic] and scotpions [sic] and trantulas [sic] are frequently met with; there is also a small species smart sprinkling of snakes and lizards, the rattler snake being the only one I have yet found at all dangerous. There is also a curious kind of lizard found frequently here which is here called erroniously³ the horned toad. It is in fact a perfect lizard, only its great breadth and short tail give it the appearance of th [sic] toad. It has spikes all over its body and a kind of crown of sharp and long spikes round its head. It is of a yellow and btown [sic] colour and is not very nimble in running so that they are easily captured. The [sic]

The best time for a person to arrive here for the purpose of collecting insecys [sic] etc., would be April. He would then have the whole of the spring and summer before him and he would also have an opportunity of collecing [sic] plants and flower seeds of which there are a great variety. I should much like to see Alfred⁴ here if he thought he could make it [sic] answer, as I do not suppose I shall be enabled to leave here for a year at least, and perhaps not then, but I could put him into the way of getting along here⁵ [2]⁶ either in gold mining or butterfly hunting, and I expect the Southern mines would be about as good a place as he could select for either, although I think insects might be more plentiful in the southern part of the state, or what is called lower California. We have just passed through a very severe winter, and we being here in the mountains have had an extra share of it. The first touch of it we had at Christmas time, when it rained and snowed for a whole week incessantly. We then had two or three weeks of warm and clear weather, but during Feb. and March it came on with redoubled fury. We had a heavy snow storm for about two or three days and then we had a deluge of rain for a whole week incessantly. This rain and snow from the mountains caused such an increase immense quantity of water in the rivers that the flood covered an immense tract of country and nearly carried away the city of Sacramento, destroying much property of every description, since then we have had several snow storms and heavy rains which has delayed our work as we have considerably, but fine weather has now set in and we can expect a long continuance of it. We are getting along rather slowly with our upper work as we habe [sic] so much to do now down here at Colunbia [sic], as we have the water in from the creek and nave [sic] a great many side ditches and canals to distribute it regularly through. the different mining regions. I take the opportunity of writing now as I shall soon have to go up in the mountains to attend to the other part of the work. I have now a great deal of work to do as besides my part of surveyor which has engaged me nearly the whole time I have been for the last three months President of the Company, and I have therefore my hands full. The distance from one end of our works to the other is now about 25 miles and as I am required at bothe [sic] ends you can imagine I have enough to attend to. The water which we distribute now brings us in about 500 dollars a day which about clears our current expenses and we have still a large amount of work to complete and a large debt to pay off, so that it will be some time before we can realize much ourselves.

We have a water saw mill built on the upper end of our works which is now getting lumber for our upper flume, a great part of the canal is dug and we have a tunnel about 8 chains or about 500 feet long through a hill of soft granite, which is just completed. We have a large amount of lumber work to do which I have to superintend, as soon as I can be spared from thiseend [sic] of the work. As Thomas says Alfred will be in England by July or August[,] he will probably be with you before this letter. I should like to have a long letter from him as soon as he can, after he arrives, and let me know whether it is likely he may come here or not, as I could send him further particulars and tell him what things to bring with him, and how to proceed, etc. I have now been in the mines twooyears [sic], and have seen many changes, and learned much of the nature of the country and its resources during that time. The times are indeed changed, the necessaries [sic], and even some of the luxuries of life are now to be obtained at a moderate expense. Women and children are now seen in various parts to enliven and cheer the dull monotany [sic] of man’s existence. The mining population are doing remarkably well and of course the mercantile interests flourish accordingly. the [sic] presence of water by means of man’s perseverance and ingenuity is developing the wealth of the country in places hitherto untried and unthought of. And places which two years ago were thought to be worked out are now by improved modes of working, handsomely remunerating the miner. In fact I consider there is as good a chance for a working man in California now as there ever was and there is appearance of it’s continuence [sic] for many years, and there is no place in the world for a hard working man equal to California. Wages in the mines are now five dollars a day, and they were no more two years ago. Many men are going into agrculture [sic], and gardening and even the seasons appear to be changing. We have had several heavy showers this month and last summer there was only one ^month in which we had no rain.

[3]⁷I have sent you a few newspapers lately and I hope you are more fortunate in receiving themmthan [sic] I am as I have never yet received one of the numerous papers that have been sent. In your letter you recommended me to keep notes with the intention of writing a work⁸ of that nature. In the second place I have no wish or inclination to become an author. I kept a kind of Dairy [sic] during my voyage and for about a year and a half afterwards but having then filled up my book, I have not kept any since. I shall send this to the postoffice [sic] to be in time to go by the mail on the first of June[.] You do not mention in your letter your address or where you are likely to be, but I suppose at Neath.

With many thanks, to you and Thomas for the letters and with kind love to Mother⁹, and yourself, believe me

Your ever affectionate Brother | John Wallace¹⁸.

[1]¹

HUNTING DEER lN CALIFORNIA.

(Indian Style, 1852)

From a letter of a 49er.

²In the first place then you wish to know whether there are any animals &c which would be rare in England. This I can answer in the affirmative, although the variety is not very great. The wild animals here are mostly small with the exception of the Grizzly bear and the Elk. There are several species of the fox, polecat, wild cat, raccoons, wild dogs or coyotes & a species of cougar, or "Lion of California", as it is sometimes called, which some say is rather a formidable kind of animal but I never had the pleasure of meeting with one during my rambles. As most of these animals only prowl about at night, they would best be taken in traps. The assistance of the natives, however, could not be had & I expect would be of little use if it could as they hunt very little. They kill## squirrels & birds with their arrows & the only animal they hunt is the deer. An Indian, if he wants some deer meat, will go out early in the morning with his bow and arrow & if he comes within sight of a deer he utters a yell & starts off after it. The deer of course starts #### off too & is soon out of sight over a hill or rising ground when the deer generally stops & looks round. The Indian however stops not but starting into a trot or half run, follows steadily in the track of the deer till he comes again in sight of him. The deer starts off as soon as the Indian comes in sight of him and is soon lost to view but the hunter halts not but over hill & valley across streams and ravines steadily follows in the track of the deer till the frightened and tired animal begins to lag and can just keep ahead of the hunter. Then is the time when he could wound it with his arrows & easily dispatch it he is by this time several miles from his camp and wishes to return so, by a little skilful manoeuvering and heading the animal occasionally, he gets it to take a pretty direct line towards his camp, he still following in the same unwearied pace till he finally perhaps drives it into his own camp still alive or dispatches it a short distance before he arrives there

[2]

If Mr. Searles wants grizzlies, why, another part of the mountain was the place, so the guide said. There were two there that had been killing cattle for a long time, and they were not only large, but bold and ferocious.

That was the kind of bears that Searles was looking for in those days, and away the outfit went. They reached the spot and pitched camp, but, because of foul weather, did not see the grizzlies, nor have any fun to speak of.

So it happened that, as he was walking along the side of the gulch, he saw through the brush a big grizzly lying in a bed. He could see no more than its nose, but aiming low he let drive and rolled the brute over, when two more bullets finished it.

He eventually located the bear in a chaparral thicket, but worked about it for sometime before getting a sight, and, then, all at once, to the very great surprise of the hunter, the bear rose up on its hind legs. with its nose not eighteen inches away. It was impossible, on because of the brush, for Searles to back off even a step; the best he c nn could do was to point the rifle across his body as near as he could guess towards the base of the beast's jaw, and pulled the trigger, hoped to send a bullet into its brain. As the gun was discharged, the bear pitched over on his fore feet, gasping and pawing at his eyes, where the flame of the cartridge had burnt the hair, but apparently ojly [sic] a little hurt.

As quick as a thought, Searles threw a new cartridge into the barrel, raised the rifle, and, pointing at the base of the bear's brain, pulled the trigger. It was one of the whittled carteridges [sic], and was not sent home. With another wrench of the lever, Searles tried again and failed. A third time he strove in vain to fire the gun, and then the beast turned on him opened-jawed. Searles jam^med his rifle into its law sic], but it brushed the weapon aside, threw him to the ground, and with one foot on his breast bit him on the lower jaw. The next bit[e] was in the throat, seve [sic] severing the wind-pipe and laying bare the artery, as well as the jugular vein, and then ot it grabbed the flesh of the shoulder etc.

Prominent among the names of the goldhunters of Cal[ifornia] stands that of John W Searles. It is prominent, not alone because he had made success of his prospecting, but because he was one of the most experienced hunters of grizzly bear the State has ever seen.³