The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 132
401 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
132 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
Mercedes Rivers. Everything was new when I got there, the season
was a very wet one, the roads new, and travel very difficult. Stock-
ton was a town of Tents and canvass houses and had then a popula-
tion of only a few hundred- but everything was alive and full
of life and hope. Gold was more plentiful than provisions, and
here and in the mines for that year at least, the spirit of Religion
in its earthly application held full sway. Every man was a brother,
all were honest, for their was no temptation to steal, a cornucopia
hung in every tent, 'the spirit of enterprise, of manhood, generous
self denial, human sympathy, kindness and hospitality, seemed to
pervade all classes and the novelty of the new life, the abundance
of wealth, and the far away homesick feeling that softens 'the
roughest parts of our nature-made a common brotherhood of the
early California miners.
On Woods Creek there were not more than 50 persons when I
got there and 'they were scattered along the creek for a mile or two.
I had two companions or partners-Swearingen & Elkins, both
from Eastern Texas. We had traveled by way of Stockton, to lay
in a supply of provisions. We had a wagon and were enabled to
rep' -ish our purses by hauling an old German woman, her bed
& other plunder and the bagage of a lot of sailors all of whom
were destined for 'the nearest mines-about 1000 pounds at 75
cents pr pound-which was just one cent pr pound pr mile, for
this load of freight.
We reached the mines in Feby- soon had our claims staked
off. built us a log Cabin-and in a few days were busy digging
and washing out the gold. Elkins kept the wagon running haul-
ing freight. We soon had several thousand dollars ahead. Sum-
mer came on, 'the streams got low-and although we were making
$10 pr day each-we thought to do better on the River bars-and
jumped our woods creek claims and moved to the Tuoulumne Rivr.
This proved a bad venture, we failed to find the precious gold
in any paying quantity. So now in July my firm decided to employ
our time and 'talents in quite another direction. We started down
the country to buy beef cattle. In the vicinity of San Beniventura
we purchased about 200 head of splendid cattle at $18 pr head.
These cattle we took to the mines & sold out the greater part of
the lot at $50 to $60 pr head- the remnant I took to French
Camp & started a Butchery. This did not succeed well. I formed
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/136/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.