The Country dollar. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1849-1851, August 24, 1849, Image 2

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    'Prom Calilfbrnin;
Correspondence of the New York Tritium',
SAN Paocisco, June 20,1849.
The accounts from the placers contin
ue encouraging, notwithstanding the
high water. The "mining season,"
how
ever, has hardly set in—the most favora
ble time being, from the middle of August
to the Ist of December, when the may
season commences. Several persons
have arrived in town during the past week,
however, from the Middle Fork and Stan
islaus diggings, who report that the water
a falling, and the most of the "diggers"
lam getting from half an ounce to three
ounces per day. I saw a piece which a
German brought down from the Middle
Fork weighing 48 ounce's. I have visited
all the placers in the country, and al
though I am aware many persons have re
turned home, disgusted with the state of
society and the labor required in digging
gold, I have no hesitation in saying that
the most brilliant immagination has never
yet conceived the real value of the placers
of North. California. Several millions of
dollars have already been obtained, and
there is no doubt but the mines are inex
haustible.
The town of San Francisco—the empo
rium of the West—has sprung up almost
as miraculously as that of the ancient ,
Thebes. Two years ago, half a dozin
fram2 and one or two adobe houses graced
the hill sides. But the town hasexpanded
until it has become a question whether the
present site will answer the wants of the
population. Since the first ofApril last,
more than three thousand houses have been
erected, and if a sufficient amount of lum
ber could be obtained, a thoudand more
-would be built during the next three
muiths. Lumber is very scarce, how
ever, and is now worth $3OO per
feet. The price of labor, to, is enor
mous. Mechanics of all descriptions
commands from $l2 to 816 per day, and
common laborers from $6 to $B. Not
withstanding these high rates, there are
plenty of men of entereprise and capital
willing to employ them. No man in,good
health need long want employment at these
prices. Great Heaven! what an opening
for industry. What a country for asser
ting and maintaining the rights of man.
So long as the placers continue to yield
their present daily average, the prices et'
labor can never fall. Como on then ye
vtdient Alarics of the North—yo chival
rous sons of the South—bring your wives
and little ones—your household goods and
gods; the march of empire is still west
ward, and all-bountiful California offers
you a hearty and noble welcome.
Itis true rents here are enormous, and
the price of most necessaries greater than
in New York ; but nevertheless, the con
dition of the laboring man is much im
droved. As an illustration of rent, take
the "Parker House," the new hotel re
cently erected by Robert A. Parker, esq.
This house yields an income to its props- '
etor which Crtesus never could have
claimed. One small room oil the second
floor, used as a monde room, rents for 81,
800 per month, and two rooms on the,
same floor for $2,400 per month. The
billiard room rents for $l,OOO per month,
and the offices from $lOOO to $2000.
The nett revenue of the whole house is at
least $150,000 per year.
A friend of mine no later than yester
day, paid $2OO per month for a sleeping
apartment. Board is $2l par week; a
game of billiards costs $1; and those who
indulge in gin cock-tails and brandy
smashes must be ready to pay 25 cents
per glass.
Over 20,000 tons of shipping are now
tying at anchor in front of this town, which
added to that of 250 vessels now on their
way from different parts of the world ,will
swell the amount of tonage in the harbor
of San Francisco beyond that of New
York or Liverpool.
The Legislative Assembly of the Dis
trict have recently incorporated a company
who are about erecting a magnifficant
wharf, where vessels may ly and dis
charge their cargoes. Several other
wharves have already been commenced,
and the great bugbear, the flat in front of
the town, which speculators in "Benicia"
and that worst of humbugs, "New York
of the Pacific" lots, have made such a
'hue and cry about, will soon disappear'
--and leave them (the speculators or their
victims) fiat on their backs.
The high price of town lots in San
Francisco will necessarily have the ten
dency, however, to drive many young
and e terprising men from the place to
other townie: - But that can't be helped.—
Lots which cost two years ago $l6, are
now worth $20,000 and even $40,000.
It is to be feared, too, that those mer
chants who have made large shipments of
Dry Goods, etc., to this market will lose a
great deal of money. The prices now
obtained for all kinds of merchandise will
not pay the expenses of shipment, and
your merchants had better look out before
they "put their foot in it." This is owing
to the fact that the supply exceeds grealy
the demand. Goods of all descripfrons
have been poured in from Valparasio,
Callao, Mexico, the Sandwich Islands and
China, and some of them sold at an im
mense sacrifice.
As for the gold-washing machines sent
out from New York and Boston, they are
humbugs and ofno value whatever.
The Joint Commission for selecting
sites . for forti fi cations, navy-yards, light-1
houses, etc., are over at Saucelito, (Little
Willow,) waiting impatiently the arrival
of the U. S. Steamer Massachusetts ,
' which' has been detained at Columbia
river for lumber. The season is already
so far advanced, however, for the Com
mission to proceed 'to Oregon with any
hope of successful • operation this year.—
Had the Massachusetts arrived time
they could have commenCeCtheli'Vera
tions in that quarter, attd•Nive• -reported
thbir reconnaissances innne rm.. • ,
CoL Atka, SpecittlAgetittethenor'
. wiauwfiééfiéééim‘kévm
al Post-Office for California and Oregon,
arrived in the steamer Oregon, and has en
tered upon the duties of his office.
A splended building recently,erected
by Purser a. M. Rice, U. S. N., as been
rented for Post-office, and it is to be
hoped our postal arrangements will be at
tended to. 'iMr. Rico has built within the
last two mBnths several fine stores and
dwelling houses, and seems in a fair way
to become a millionaire.
The Golden Emigration.
The Alta California of July 2d contains
the following interesting article on the re.
cent emigration :
Never, in the history of man, has a sin
gleevent so universally affected the world
as the discovery of the gold mines in Cali
fornia. Coming, as it did, so close on the
heels of the Mexican war and the revolu
tions of Europe—blazing, as it did, through
the smoke of battle fields, and booming a
bove the crash of falling thrones, it seems
to have waked the last chord, and struck
the last string which was needed to im
mortalize the year 1848. As in Califor
nia, so in other countries, all men were
possessed with the desire for gold—for
sudden wealth. The old, the infirm, and
the decrepid longed for their lost strength
or their full proportions, that they might
journey away for the' golden land—the
competent desired to embrace this favora
ble opportunity to become immenselyr ich—
the young were burning with ardor to delve
for the precious ore—and already the ad
vanced guard of the vast army wending
their way to California, have landed on
our shores. The vivid imaginations of the
young, the far-seeing judgment of the ex
perienced, the cupidity of the avaricious,
the recklessness of the speculator, and the
morbidness of the adventurer, seem to have
been equally & deeply affected. In some
instances the wantonness or carelessness
of editors and letter writers has added to
the tide of excitement whose surges are
already breaking on our shores.
This state of things cannot fail to im
press upon the mind of the most casual
observer, the power which gold possesses
over the human mind. Parents, brothers,
sisters, friends, the endearments of home,
the blessings of health, society and compe
tency, have all been abandoned for the
pursuit of gold digging in California.—
Men seem to be wrapped up in the idea
that gold is happiness—and they struggle,
and toil, and suffer for it, with a patience
and a perseverance that shame the penan
ces of hermits who cannot withstand the
tempter. And yet we believe that all
these passions and desires will accomplish
good; though it is painful to reflect upon
the disappointment, the suffering and the
unhappiness which must certainly be the
lot of many, very many individuals. The
mighty spirit which has been thus evoked,
will never stay its progress until California
shall be a populous and prosperous State
until steam communication shall .be open
ed with China and the beautiful Isles of the
Pacific—until a railroad shall traverse the
whole breadth of the continent of North
America, and the fame and glory of the
"First of Republics" be worthy of the im
mortal men whose patriotism and courage
laid its foundation.
From the best information in our pos
session, we are of opinion that up to this
time (30th Juno) there have probably ar
rived in this country since the Ist of Jan
uary last, about 15,000 souls,as follows:
FROM JANUARY 1, TO APRIL 11.
By sea, say 3,614. By land, say 500
From April 12, to June 30.
By sea in 110 vessels. Males. Females
Erom N,York direct 567 5
" Boston '" 36
" Philadelphia 44
" Baltimore " 7
" N. Orleans " 47
" Salem 7
" New Haven " 40
" 'Oregon " •25
" Panama " '1,251 25
" Central America 56 7
" Chili 1,350 70
" Mexico 1,452 57
" Sandwich Islands 370 7
" Tahiti 120 3
" China 34 2
" Peru 227 21
" New South Wales 43 3
" New Zealand 28
Total.
By land, from Sonoia and other north
ern departments of Mexico, (say) 5,000.
[The number of arrivals "by sea" from
12th April to 30th June, are actual mem- I
oranda furnished us by Capt. Edward A.
King, the Harbor Master; the others are
estimates, whieh will probably fall below
the mark.] •
Of these fifteen thousand persons, about
five thousand are Americans, six thou
sand Mexicans, two thousand Chileans, &
the remaining two thousand from nearly
every country. It will thus be seen that
a preponderance of the. emigrants, thus
far, is foreign.
The number of inhabitants in the coun
try on the first of January last, was prob.
ably not far from 15,000, exclusive of In
dians. Of this. number 9,000 were Cali
fornians, 5,000 Americans, and 1,000 for
eigners of many nations. This would
give then, the character of the present
population as follows:
Americans moooiChileans 2,500
Californians 9,ooolother nations 2,000
Mexicans 0,500
Total
By the last accounts from the Atlantic
States, there were about 17,000 emigrants
en mate for this country by sea. Some
3,000 of this number have already reach
ed here,' and the others will probably ar
rive by the end of October. In addition
to this, there wilt Probably be an dmigra
tion of 8,000 by land, which will reach
here , about the same time; and. if we set
down the number which will come via.
a and 'Mexico at the moderate com
putation of 3,000, we shall have a total
Mil
==
Americans in Calilornia at that time of
thirty-five thousand.
If we add to the above figures the prob
able number of emigrants which will reach
this country from Europe and all coun
tries, by the last of October, we shall then
find the total statement something like
this:
Americans •
35,000
Californians
All other nations
Of the thirty thousand already in the
country, it is supposed that ono half (in
cluding women and children) arc engaged
in the various business pursuits, and the
other half are engaged in digging. Wo
apprehend this will not be found fur from
correct.
Within the last twenty-four hours there
have arriv . cd in this port by sea, 839 emi
grants, as follows:
From N. York, in 6 vessels 400
" Boston,2 " . 55
4 , New-London 1 " 50
" Nantucket, 1 ‘" 20
" Beverley, 1 " 7
" Sandwich lards, 1 " 21
" Chile, 3 " 163
" Mexico, 1 It 134
" Sidney, NS WO " 23
The Delegates to the Whig State Con
vention assembled in the court house in
Harrisburg on Thursday the 16th tlay of
August, 1849, for the purpose of nomina
ting a candidate for the- office of Canal
Commissioner.
The Convention was called to order, and
temporarily organized by appointing Da
vid Leech, of Armstrong, Chairman. Af
ter which the Senatorial and Representa
tive districts were called over and the del
egates took their seats.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
2 .o'clock, P. M.
The Convention met agreeably to ad
ournment.
Mr. King, from the committee appointed
to select officers for the permanent organ
ization of the Convention, reported the
following :
President.
EDWIN C. WILSON, of Venango.
Vice Presidents:
Ephraim Jones, jr., of Allegheny.
David Hays, Chester.
Lloyd Jones, Montgomery.
N. F. Campion, Philadelphia county.
Benjamin Hershey, Lancaster.
James Wilson, Adams.
David Leech, Armstrong.'
Jacob B. Lancaster, Philadelphia city.
John H. Wintrobe, Bedford.
L. L. McGuffin, Mercer.
Isaac Bertolet, I3erks.
Josiah P. Hetrich, Northampton.
Cornelius Garretson; Columbia.
Henry W. Snyder, Union.
Samuel Williams, Philadelphia.
Secretaries.
•
Thomas Warner, Bucks.
John J. Cochran,
York. •
R. G. Durham, Centre.
J. C. Bomberger, Dauphin,
T. W. Duffield, Philadelphia county.
Col. Wilson was conducted to the chair,
and returned thanks to the Convention for
the honor conferred upon him in a brief,
but neat and pertinent address.
Mr. Swartzwelder moved that a com
mittee of nine be appointed to draft a pre
amble and resolutions expressive of the
sense of the Convention.
The president appointed Messrs. Swartz
welder, Kunkle, Riddle, Vorce,Durham, ,
Brown, Taggart of Nort h umber land, Hart
and Thompson.
On motion, the Convention then procee
ded to the nomination of candidates for
Canal Commissioner ; when
Mr. Durham nominated Henry M. Ful
ler, of Luzerne.
Mr. Warner nominated Joshua Dungan
of Bucks county.
Mr. Bertolet nominated Henry H. Kupp.
The nominations of Mr. Dungan and
Mr. Kupp wore subsequently withdrawn
by the gentlemen who nominated them ;
when _ .
- .—.. e
9
Mr. Kunkle submitted the following res
olution :
Risolved,unanimously, That HENRY
M. FULLER, of Luzernc county, be the
nominee of the Democratic Whig Party of
Pennsylvania for Canal Commissioner at
the ensuing election.
The resolution was adopted by acclam
ation, and greeted with warm applause.
The Convention then, on motion, took
a recess of one hour.
209
5,677
The Convention having re-assembled,
Mr. Swartzwelder, from the committee on
the subject, reported the following pream
ble and resolutions, which were read and
unanimously adopted :
The delegates from the various coun
ties and districts of Pennsylvania, assem
bled together in Convention, for the pur
pose of selecting and presenting to the
people a suitable candidate for their suf
frages for the office of Canal. Commission
er, and having performed that duty, pre
sent the following resolutions, as expres
sive of their views and sentiments on the
great principles of National and State po
licy.
Resolved, That this Convention offers
its warm congratulations to the people of
the United States, and our glorious old
Commonwealth, on the success of the De
mocratic Whig party, in the election of
that sound, sterling, patriotic, Democratic
Whig, Gen. Zachary Taylor, to the office
of President of the United States, and of
Wm. F. , Johnston, ',our firm, enlightened
and intelligent Governor, to the highest
office within this Commonwealth.
Resolved, That with such men as Tay
lor and Johnston at the head of our Na
tional and State affairs the - people have no
4,0,000
- •
Total
Total.
POLITICAL-
'Whig State Convention.
•
reason to fear an abandonment of their in- 'we have given them a man entirely war- I
terests or betrayal of their rights ; but may thy of their confidence, one who is well
repose in perfect confidence that the hon- known to the people, and the entire unami
or of the state and nation will be preserve imity of thin - Convention is the surest crit
ed untarnished, and the interests of the erion of the estimation in which ho is held
people protected and promoted. I by his fellow citizens. 1
Resolved, That in calling to his assis- Resolved, That it is the true interests of
tance in the administration of public af- the people to have gentlemen in the Board
fairs the honest, tho sagacious, and expo-'of Canal Commissioners entertaining dif
rienced statesmen of the country, the Pre- I ferent political principles, as thereby the
sident gives assurance that every depart fraudulentbestowal of public money on
ment of the government under his control party favorites, for party purpbses, will be
will be faithfully administered; that the prevented. We therefore call upon the
interests of the whole people will be con-' h onest tax-paying people of Pennsylvania,
stantly fostered and protected ; that public to give their suffrages to Henry M. Fuller,
faith with all nations will be steadily re- as the hest means of promoting their own
garded, and that, following the examples interests, and securing the public Treasu
of the earlier Presidents, the pure republi- ry against fraudulent peculation.
can principles of' the constitution, will be
deemed paramount, whatever interpreta
tions they may have received from recent
political commentators.
Resolved, That the selection of Wm.
M. Meredith for the responsible office of
Secretary of the Treasury, meets the hear
ty concurrence of the people of the State ;
that while Pennsylvania is honored in the
choice of one of her gilled sons, she feels
a proud confidence that the administration
will be strengthened by the influence of his
virtues, and the eminent abilities he brings
to the discharge of his duties.
Resolved, That we have undiminished
confidence in the Hon. James Cooper,
whose past life affords the surest guaranty
that he will nobly vindicate and sustain
the interests of Pennsylvania in the Na
tional Legislature.
Resolved, That if properly sustained by
the action of Congress, the enlightened
Chief Magistrate of the nation will in a
brief space of time restore to the people of
this country, the policy adopted by the
fathers of the Republic ; • the dissemination
of just and equal laws,' protection to their
honest industry, adequate wages for their'
labor, the improvement of Rivers and Har
bors, and the promotion of their general
happiness.
Resolved, That protection to the indus
try of the people-is onev.iff - the first duties ;
of government; that the - true interests of
the State an Nation are best promoted by
placing the Manufacturer, Mechanic, and
Laborer, side by side with, the Agricultur
alist—that the days of greatest prosperity
for the country have been those when do
mestic labor has been protected and unne
cessarY, and excessive importation of for
eign fabrics prevented by a proper tariff of
duties, and in our opinion, such results
have not followed the tariff of 1840, and
can never be promoted by its continuance.
Resolved, That as Pennsylvanians we
cannot tamely submit to see our iron man
ufactories thrown idle, our mines of coal
rendered valueless, oilr laborers and citi
zens unemployed, our farmers without a
market for their products, our capital des
troyed, and' business paralyzed, to try any
further experiinents on the Locofoco theo
ries of Free Trade, when we arc taught
by all past experience that poverty and
want must be the consequence of impor
ting from other countries those articles
which we • can better manufacture within
our own borders.
9,000
10,000
60,000
889
Resolved, That, in the language of Go
vernor Win. F. Johnston, wo view slave
ry as an infraction of human rights—op
posed to the enlightened spirit of our free
institutions—destructive of equality of pow
er in the general government, by enlarging
whore it exists, the constitutional represen
tion—possessing an influence against Nor
thern and Western policy and interests,
by promoting a system of laws destructive
of domestic industry and vitally affecting
free labor—retarding the natural growth
of population and improvement, by the ap
propriation of large tracts of land for the
benefit of the few, to the injury of the ma
ny—as in open defiance of the spirit of
the age, the march of rational truth : and
the enlightened policy of mankind,--and
while in good faith we would maintain the
compromises of the constitution, the fur
ther extension of the system should be
steadily and firmly resisted.
Resolved, That we have undiminished
and abiding confidence in our patriotic, en
lightened and worthy Governor, Wm. F.
Johnston, and believe that with such a man
at the head of our state affairs, if proprly
sustained by an honest and intelligent Le
gislature, Pennsylvania will be able to as
sume and sustain her exalted station at the
' head of the National confederacy.
Resolved, That the thinks of this Con
vention are due to our efficient and indefa
tigable State Treasurer, Hon. Gideon J.
Ball, for his patriotic and successful exer
ertions in paying the interest on our state
debt in specie, thereby- sustaining the cre
dit of the Commonwealth against the un
worthy combinations of the Locofoco lead
ers to tarnish and break it down, by pre
maturely drawing enorr494 sums of mo
ney from the public treasury to place in
the hands of their office-holders and polit
ical parasites, under a pretext of paying
the laborers on the public works.
Resolved, That we hail with joy the
successful struggle of the gallant Hunga
rians for their "long lost liberties"—and
deeply deploring the unhappy fate of
Rome, lorithe and detest the treachery and
inconsistency of her Republican conquer
or--and with our whole heart send our
shout of good cheer to all the down trod
den and oppressed of the old world, bat
tling against tyrants and tyranny.
Resolved, That as the government is in
duty bound. to protect the labor of the
country, so more especially should be its
care to foster and protect the youthful la
borer, the youth of the country being its
most valuable possession. We therefore
' deem 'the Ten Hour Law a proper and
judicious safeguard against oppression.
Resolved, That we heartily approve
' and will sustain an Elective Judiciary, a
Whig measure, carried out by the last
Whig Legislature.
Resolved, That in presenting to the cit
izens of Pennsylvania the name of Henry
M. Fuller as a candidate for their suffra
ges for the office of Canal Commissiner,
il;l2=
Eli
4 •V 1 ,
THE DOLLAR.
Clearfield, Pa., Aug. 24, 1849.
DECLINATION.
0:: - We are authorized to withdraw the
name of JOHN B. KYLAR, of Morris town
ship, as a candidate for the nomination to
the office of Sheriff at the ensuing Prima
ry election.
Ctr - l'he principal part of the proceed
ings of the late Whig Convention at Har
risburg will be found in our pages this
week.
The $3OO exemption law will be found
on our fourth, page this week. If we can
get hold of it, we will next week give the
supplement to the School law passed last
session.
Dreadful Accident,
An accident of the most distressing na
ture occurred in our village on Friday of
ternoon last, by which a little boy, be
tweer) 5 and 6 years'of age, son of IsArmr
FULLERTON, was instantly killed. This
little boy,•and another one of about the
same age, son of Wm. Morgan, were in a
wagon, when the horses took fright, and
started at full speed, upsetting the wagon
and throwing the children out, killing one
instantly, and slightly injuring the other.
Let this sad affair serve as a salutary
caution to those who are in the practice of
driving horses and wagons throngh our
streets. There is entirely too great a dis
regard of life in this respect.
KrSome person has sent us a notice
announcing a certain gentleman as a can
didate for the Legislature, without entms
ling us with his name. As such notices are
inserted as advertisements, we cannot of
course put them in without knowing who
is responsible for them.
Work for the Enterprising.
Now - that it is rendered certain that the
Central Railroad will be finished at least
in its Eastern division, at an early day
next spring, mad perhapashis fall, why da
not our men of capital make some effort
to form a connection with that great im
provement 1 We have several citizens
who could, single-handed and alone, do
the whole job themselves, and scarcely
feel the expense, and yet we see no move
ment being made towards such an under
king. The Glen Hope and Little Bald-
Eagle company are progressing finely
with their road, and will have it finished
in due season. The Philipsburg and
Spruce creek e?mptiny are also making
preparations to commence operation, and
all they need is some encouragement from
this section. To connect this place, then,
with the Central. Railroad, by the last na
med route, would only require the con
struction of about five miles of Turnpike,
and bring us within some 30 miles of what
will soon be the greatest thoroughfare in
the Union.
And when this is done, the great work,
which is destined to make this section of
Pennsylvania (now the most interesting)
the most wealthy and populous of her broad
domain, will have just commenced. The
next thing will be a connection with the
Milesburg and Smithport turnpike, and
thus secure the rich and rapidly increas
ing trade of Northern Pennsylvania and
Southwestern New York.. This can be
effected by the construction of a turnpike
some twelve or fourteen miles in length,
for part of which we now have a good road,
and for the rest part we have one of the
best locations that can be found anywhere.
Let those who are able, take the mat.
ter into serious consideration. It is time
they were doing something for the improye
ment of their Country.
The Magazines.
SARTAIN'S MAGAZINE, for September is
already on our table, rich in ail the excel
lencies that render this work as number
one in the family of Magazines. The list
of contributors for this number embrace
the names of the most celebrated writers
of our country—and the, embellishments
are beautiful indeed.
GODET I B Limes Boos, for September,
is.also before us, and more than sustains
the high reputation possessed by that long
established & universally admired-month•
ly visitor. It can only be firoperly estinut.
11l
led by being regularly read—the bee ?
you got acquainted with it, the better you
like it,
0::!7 - We again state that we will furnish
The
,Country Dotlar and either of the a.
bove works for one year, for the sum of
three dollars.
TUE CENTRAL RAILROAD,..•-•The Cert.
trrl Railroad is now finished to Lewistown,
and a train of Cars made an experimental
trip to that place on Monday last.
STAGE YET.—Last week the
stages were to re-commence running thro'
this place for certain. But like all the
former promises to the same 'effect, it has
enden in the promise. How much longer
will our citizens put up with the imposi
tion?
News from the MUG
From ib t Dayton Dullontin; 6111
From a letter received this morning
Monday, from near the Rocky moun
tains, dated June 28, we learn the follow
ing particulars. This letter though schor
ched and broken by the burning of the
mail boat at St. Louis, was one among
the saved, and states that the author Jno.
M. Wentz with five others, Dr. Longeneck
er, Kemp and others, wore travelling with
eight or ten other wagons from other parts
—were within one day's travel of the
mountains—that the Clegg Company were
one hundred miles ahead, and the six ex ,
pected to overtake them in a few days.—
They found such a sufficiency of food a
long the road, that if they had not taken
one pound of provisions from St. Joseph,
they would have found an abundance a
long the road which had been thrown
away as surplus. They had killed six
buffalo, and an abundance of small game.
One of the party one day went out,
along the route, and found a pile of meat
about 600 pounds, from which he took 00 ,
pounds of beautiful side meat, and a sheet
iron cook stove often pounds, weight, that
lay near by, which he brought into camp,
for which they threw out 60 pounds of
their own meat as inferior to what they
found. Whole barrels of flour Jay scat
tered along the road. Baer's Company
and others were behind, and many com
panies also that had pushed along hard for
the plains to find grass had become worn
down and now fell in the rear. They ex
pected to spend their fourth of July at
some fort in the mountains.
From a letter dated June 18, 50 miles
beyond Fort Laramie, we learn that the
company in which William Decker of this
place is travelling for the gold regions,-
left Fort Kearny June 1, and in 13 days•
reached FortLammie, passing over 1,000.
wagons. Major Sanderson, of the U. S.
army, arrived at Fort Laramie on the sth
of June en route with the advanced de-
tachment of the regiment ordered from
Fort Leavenworth for Oregon.
The great bulk of emigration ahead of
this company of five is estimated at 2,500.
wagons, and were at that time within one
hundred miles. There were many rue
mors of Indian dfficulties, but nothing re-
liable.
. _
He Fumed Capt. King, MeCorkle ands
Wm. Smith, some ten days before ; they
were in good health. He says it was a•
musing to see an ex-candidate for Con
gress driving an ox team.
Captain Smith'S Bear Story.
A correspondent of the Newark Daily
Advertiser gives the following receipt for
getting rid of one's neighbor's hogs :—A
bout the year 1830, I settled at the Lower
Peach Tree, in Wilcox County, Alabama,
and cultivated a few acres in corn and cot
ton, besides a small potato patch, and a
bit of garden, as was usual in them days..
My nearest neighbor, John Champion, be
ing better off than the rest of us, had a
nice gang of hogs, and feeling a little above
his neighbors on account of his wealth,
and being a rather overbearing man too,
was not particular whether his stock broke
into other peoples' fields or not. My crop
was to small to feed my family and John ,
Champion's hogs too: so I complained to
him several times, but got no relief: when
being at old Erasmus Culpeper's house one.
day, I heard him say that if a foot, or an
ear, or even a piece of bear skin, was
thrown down in a place where the hog&
use, that they would never show their
snouts there again. I went home and got.
the skin of a bear, which I had killedsome
time before, and having supplied myself
with some corn, I went °Miami saw about '
twenty fine year olds, munching away in
my field. I trolled them up,' an catching
a good runner, sewed- him. up in the bear
skin, and then turned him loose, when he
ran after the rest; who flew from the sup. ,
posed bear. The last that was seen of.,
them was at Basset's Creek, near forty..
miles from my house, only two being a••
live—one running from his fellow, sewed:
up in his bear skin, an he trying to catch,
the other. The rest were foural dead irk
the road, having literally run themselVes
to death. It is needless to add that John
Champion's hogs staid at home after that.
Sad Accident.
The Kittanning Free Pmss,relates the
following
On Monday evening last, a lad 16 or
18 years of age, a son of Mr. John Skin.
ner, residing about half a mile north, or
this place, in shooting at a mark near die
house, with the rifle, accidently shot his
mother,
who was in an outhouse at the
time. Her cries brought the family to
her assistance, when it was ascertained
that the ball had entered her left breast
inflicting what is supposed to be a mortal
wound—though at the present writing
(Wednesday morning) she is still alive,
with but faint hopes of her recovery.
nother sad warning against the card*
use of fire arms. • •
1