FROM THE INTERIOR.
Sacramento Daily Union, December 30, 1852
Sonora.
The Herald the 25th was handed us by the messenger
of Wells, Fargo & Co. In the summary of mining intelligence,
that journal says : ” We never remember to have experienced a
more unpromising season than the present, for a new comer in
the mines. The earth is thoroughly surcharged with water,
making travel difficult and uncomfortable ; alternate snow
and rain keeps continually pouring down on us ; and the
whole atmosphere still appears loaded with moisture.
Out-of-door work is extremely disagreeable, although many
still continue it. The price of board and of provisions is
enormously high, with no present prospect of a decrease.
How different from the aspect of affairs during last winter!”
The snow about Sonora has been five or six inches in depth.
The editor has been shown a lump of gold weighing 11½ ounces,
found in the vicinity of a miner’s claim upon the top of the tailings.
The first washer could not have examined his ” hopper”, very thoroughly.
Quite a number of roads have been started between Stockton and
Sonora, but there are none which can be traveled securely or
expeditiously during the present season. Freights are twenty cents per
pound between Stockton and Sonora, and flour forty cents per pound
at the latter place.
Marysville.
The Express through Adams & Co., is received, from which we condense
as follows : The gentlemen of Marysville have made arrangements for
a grand-ball at the Merchant’s, on New Year’s ‘ eve.
Capt. Sutter’s property at Hock Farm has been little injured by the
recent freshet, and he looks forward to fine crops the next season.
Langton’s Express writes as follows from Foster’s Bar :
Foster’s Bar, Dec. 27, 1852. The storm appears to have subsided
and the sun once more gladdens us with his presence. The snow
has settled considerably and the trail to Downieville is reported
open to foot passengers, several of whom left the bar today
for Downieville, with sacks of flour on their backs ” a la mule,”
but is still considered impassable for trains. Nothing of interest
occurring in the neighborhood— flour is selling at 40c.
If this weather holds good we may look to see the majority of
the famished Downievillians who have passed our place during
the late severe storm, retracing “their winding way” to that far
famed but unfortunate locality, known as “the hole in the ground.”
We are informed that the snow is so deep between this city
and French Corral; that the stages are not able to get beyond
Empire Ranch, where passengers have to be transferred to the
outside of horses or mules, for the balance of the distance.
It is rather a cool exchange, but there being no remedy they
all submit with the best possible grace.
Calaveras.
The Chronicle of Saturday last contains an appalling account
of the condition of affairs in the county of Calaveras. The subjoined
extracts are from that paper : The Storm. — Throughout the
week, the storm has continued unabated. Rain, snow and wind,
agreeably alternating, lest we should get tired of the dull monotony
of an uniform pour down — have proved the great features of the
favors from the weather office. And as we have been cut off from
all communication with the cities since the 13th— the latest dates
received— the topics of conversation and discussion have been
about as varied as the different phases of the storm.
To make this barrenness of interest more keenly felt,
one should be situated — we are now — on a promontory, with
no resources in our rear, and no possibility of obtaining
supplies across the several “raging canawls” by which
we are at present hemmed in. To add to the interest of the
thing, while we are writing there is not a pound of flour
to be obtained in the town on any terms; and we have heard
it stated that there were about six head of cattle in the corrals,
with a “plentiful scarcity” on the neighboring ranches. The
surrounding camps are even worse off, and the storm-stayed
traveller considers himself richly catered for in partaking of ’49er
fare — flap-jacks and frejoles, minus the pork or the mahogony
imitation, and these, too, at the trifling charge of fifty cents
a piece — that is, kind reader, the “jacks,” not the “joles.”
But, while each trifling inconveniences can be borne, or buried in
forgetfulness, outside our lines, there are stirring ” incidents by
flood and field,” some alas! of a fatal character.
Lives have been lost, men being engulphed in the rushing
torrents — large numbers of cattle drowned, agricultural
produce swept away, and property of every description
destroyed. Such wide-spread ruin and devastation has
never before visited California. God grant that the catastrophes
already known to us, may be the only fatal effects of this fearful storm.
The bridge at Hick’s Ranch, across Sutter Creek, was swept away.
Also, one of the bridges on Dry Creek. The well known Indian chief, Pachatta,
was killed near Jackson a short time since, by some Chinamen.
No particulars heard.
A boy, whose name we have not heard, was drowned in
Dry Creek on last Sunday. He fell off the log on which
pedestrians cross the Creek at Drytown. Two substantial
foot bridges have been put across the Middle Fork of Jackson,
at that village — one by Barrett & Co., the other by Evans, White & Co.
A man was drowned at Volcano on Saturday. Communication between Jackson
and Sacramento was completely cut off from Thursday night
of last week until Tuesday night of this. On that day the stage
got up as far as Drytown.
Daylor’s and Wilson’s ranches were in great part overflowed, and Mr. Wilson,
we hear, has had between $2,000 and $3,000 worth of property
destroyed by the freshet. His wire bridge across the Cosumes
was at one time so badly damaged as to prevent teams
crossing for several days. As we go to press, a frightful tempest prevails.
Thunder, lightning and hail and rain are simultaneously heard,
seen and felt. The wind howls fearfully, and enormous sized
hail-stones are falling in myriads from heaven. The atmosphere
is keenly cold, and from all appearances, the storm will continue to rage
through out the night.
A Voice from the Mines.
A friend writes us from Rough and Ready under date of December 25th,
as follows: ” I take the liberty of troubling you as to the remote chance of
getting something to do in your city for the enormous prices of provisions
puts it out of the power of a man to maintain a family here, unless he has
an income from extraordinary sources. I must; ‘hang out my banner’ where
‘grub’ is more reasonable, or I shall be obliged to rush to the highway, go
filibustering, or turn patriot and hunt for office.”