A history of the Calaveras region of California

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A HISTORY OF THE CALAVERAS REGION OF CALIFORNIA

A D isse rta tio n P re s e n te d to th e F a c u lty o f th e G ra d u a te S c h o o l U n iv e rs ity of S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia

In P a r tia l F u lfillm e n t o f th e R e q u ire m e n ts f o r t h e D egree D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y

hy R i c h a r d Coke Wood J u n e 1950

UMI Number: DP28676

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P hD .

W- ' T O

c u t 7*3

T hi s dissertation, writ ten by

R i c h a r d Coke Wood under the guidan ce of h F a c u l t y C o m m it te e on Studies, a n d a p p r o v e d by a ll its me m be rs, has been pr es e nt e d to an d a c c e p te d by the C o u n c il on G rad ua te S t u d y an d Res ea rch , in par tia l fu l­ fillment of requirements f o r the degree of DOCTOR

OF P H IL O S O P H Y

Dean

D ate............

Committee on Studies

Chafrm>

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I .

PACE

EARLY EXPLORATE ONS....................

1

G a b r i e l M o r a g a ...........................................................................................1 G en eral V a lle jo c h a se s E s t a n i s l a o F rem ont c r o s s e s

........................... 2

t h e S i e r r a ............................................................ 5

F r e n c h a t Happy V a l l e y . . . . * . .......................................................8 C a r s o n , A n g e l , a n d M urphy p a r t y ..........................................11 F i r s t ’ g o ld fo u n d a t D ry tp w n II.

.......................................... 13

EARLY CAMPS OF SOUTHERN CALAVERAS..........................................15 .................

A n g e ls C am p.

18

D i s c o v e r y o f M u r p h y s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... 23 F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n a t M u r p h y s . . . . .......................................... 29 D is c o v e r y o f , t h e B ig T r e e s

........................................34

R o b i n s o n ’ s F e r r y ................. . . . ; ...................................................... 39 D i s p u t e o v e r t h e M o rg a n M i n e ..............................

43

P l i o c e n e S k u l l ........................................................................................ 45 III.

EARLY CAMPS OF NORTHERN CALAVERAS San A n d re a s

............................

W e st P o i n t ........................................................

...........................48 ....48

52

M okelum ne H i l l s e t t l e d .................................................................... 54 C h i l i G u lc h . . Jackson.

......................................

...................................

C o p p e r o p o l i s ...................... IV .

60 .6 6 73

STATE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES............................. 76 The S t a t e

C o n v e n t i o n o f 1 8 4 9 .....................................................76

iii CHAPTER

PAGE

F i r s t c o u n t i e s .................... F ir s t e le c tio n

.79

i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y ..................................... 81

S t e a l i n g t h e a r c h i v e s ...................................................................... 8 4 S m i t h s h o o t s C o l l y e r ......................................................................... &7 S a n A n d r e a s w i n s C o u n ty S e a t .................................................... 9 4 L o t t e r y t o p a y o f f d e b t ................................................................. 97 V.

CRIME AMD M IN E R S JU ST IC E ............................................................ 10Q P r e v a l e n c e o f c r i m e i n t h e m i n e s ..................................... 10 2 V i g i l a n c e C o m m itte e i n M okelum ne

H i l l .......................10 5

H a n g i n g t r e e a t J a c k s o n ...................................................

.1 0 9

M u r d e r o f B r a d s h a w a n d S a m s o n ................................................110 C h i l e a n W a r ........................................

114

F o r e i g n m i n e r ’ s t a x .........................................................................119 John R id g e ’ s s t o r y

o f J o a q u i n M u r i e t a ...........................125

T h re e -fin g e re d J a c k .

..............................................

.1 2 9

S h e r i f f M a r s h a l l a n d M u r i e t a .................................................. 1 3 2 C a p t a i n L o v e k i l l s M u r i e t a ....................................................... 138 Sam B ro w n

...................................

B la c k B a r t a t Funk H i l l V I.

MINERS AND. MINING.

141 .............................................1 4 4

........................................................

D e s c r i p t i o n o f p l a c e r m i n i n g ............................

14# 149

Q ,u a rtz m i n i n g ........................................................................................ 1 5 7 C a r s o n H i l l m i n e s .............................................................................. 159 C a r s o n H i l l p r o d u c t i o n ................................................................. 1 6 2 U t i c a M in e a t A n g e l s C a m p . . . '.................................................. 167

iv CHAPTER

PACE

Gwin M i n e .......................................................................

170

S h e e p ra n ch M in e

174

............

C o p p e r o p o l i s ..............................................................................................178 . V I I . CHURCHES AND PREACHERS.

........................................................

M orm ons i n S a n F r a n c i s c o ................................

.1 8 4

"..............1 8 5

M i n i s t e r ’ s Q u a r t z C o m p an y ............................................................ 189 R e v e r e n d I s a a c F i s h ............................................................................1 9 2 C h u r c h a t l o n e .............................................................

196

F i r s t c h u r c h a t A n g e l s ....................................................................199 C o n g r e g a t i o n a l C h u r c h a t A n g e l s ............................................. 201 M u rp h y s C h u r c h ........................................................................................ 2 0 6 R e v i v a l a t V a l l e c i t o ...................................................

213

M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h a t M i l t o n ..........................................................217 F a th e r A le ric

V III.

v is its

C a l a v e r a s ................................................219

F a t h e r B o b ard v i s i t s

t h e n o r t h e r n c a m p s .........................2 2 4

San A ndreas C h u r c h ..

............................................* ........................225

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS............................................................................232 F irs t free

s c h o o l i n C a l i f o r n i a ............................................. 233

F i r s t school d i s t r i c t s

i n C a l a v e r a s ...................................236

R e p o r t o f S u p e r i n t e n d e n t T h o m p so n ........................................ 239 M u rp h y s S c h o o l

......................

B r e t H a r t e H i g h S c h o o l ........................ •............

243 246

New b u i l d i n g f o r C a l a v e r a s H i g h ............................................. 249 O u t s t a n d i n g t e a c h e r s .........................

250

BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................... ....................................................................... 2 54

PREFACE I becam e i n t e r e s t e d

in w r itin g a h i s t o r y o f C a la v e ra s

C o u n ty s o o n a f t e r I m oved t o s o many r o m a n t i c b a n d itry , as i f

th e r e g io n i n 1938-

and t h r i l l i n g

sto rie s

T here w e re

o f e a r l y day m in in g ,

and o f s t r u g g l e f o r good g o v e rn m e n t t h a t i t

some o n e s h o u l d r e c o r d t h e m .

have been to ld in h i s t o r i e s

Many o f t h e s e

seem ed

sto rie s

o f th e M o th e r Lode o r o f t h e

S o u th e r n M in e s, b u t no one h a s d e v o te d h i s e n t i r e a t t e n t i o n t o C a la v e r a s C o u n ty .

M r. ^ e s s e M ason w r o t e a H i s t o r y o f

A m ador C o u n ty i n 1 8 8 1 w h i c h d e a l t w i t h t h e e a r l y b e g i n n i n g o f :th e g o v ern m e n t o f th e c o u n ty , a tte n tio n

b u t he c e n te re d h is

on t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f t h e c o u n t y w h i c h i n 1 8 $A

b e e a m e A m ador C o u n t y . e a rly h is to ry

He m ade n o e f f o r t t o d i s c u s s t h e

o f t h e cam p s i n t h e s o u t h e r n e n d o f t h e c o u n t y .

T h i s w o rk r e p r e s e n t s n o t o n l y r e s e a r c h i n o l d n e w s ­ paper f i le s ,

p rim a ry an d se c o n d a ry b o o k s , and c o u n ty r e c o r d s ,

b u t a g r e a t d e a l o f in te r v ie w in g o f th e re m a in in g o ld - tim e r s who c a n t e l l

so m e th in g o f th e e a r l y h i s t o r y

T h is d i s s e r t a t i o n

is

th e p r o d u c t-of

of th e r e g io n .

sev eral y ears of r e -

s e a r c h and s tu d y . I have n o t a tte m p te d t o d is c u s s a l l p h ases of h isto ry

th e

o f th e c o u n ty , b u t. th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t e a r ly

and d e v e lo p m e n t. re g io n sin c e i t s

M in in g h a s b e e n th e

e v e n ts

c h ie f in d u s try of th e

b e g i n n i n g s i n I 84 .8 ; t h e r e f o r e ,

d e v o te d a good d e a l of s p a c e to m in in g .

I have

The h i s t o r y

of any

o f t h e e a r l y cam p s m u s t d e a l w i t h m i n i n g a s t h e y a l l cam e in to

e x is te n c e

q u a rtz v e in s in

a s a r e s u l t o f th e r i c h th e v i c i n i t y .

g rav el or of ric h

T here a r e o n ly

tw o to w n s i n

t h e c o u n t y t h a t do n o t h a v e t h e i r o r i g i n b a s e d u p o n m i n i n g . ^ T h e s e tw o a r e M i l t o n a n d ;V a l l e y S p r i n g s w h i c h d e v e l o p e d i n th e

's e v e n t i e s as th e te rm in u s of r a i l r o a d s .

s to r y of C a la v e ra s i s I have a ls o

th e

T h erefo re,

th e

s to r y o f m in in g .

d i s c u s s e d c rim e and law e n fo rc e m e n t

b e c a u s e t h i s w a s a m a j o r p r o b l e m i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty d u r ­ in g th e

'f i f t i e s ,

's i x t i e s ,

a n d e v e n dow n t o

th e

'e i g h t i e s ,

w hen B l a c k B a r t w a s c a p t u r e d b y S h e r i f f Ben T h o r n .

A ll of

th e n o t o r i o u s b a n d i t s o p e r a t e d a t t im e s i n C a la v e r a s C o u n ty . I have n o t a tte m p te d to c o v e r a l l

e v e n t s down t o

p r e s e n t tim e .

I h a v e c e n t e r e d my a t t e n t i o n

h isto ry

c o u n ty an d have o n ly d i s c u s s e d

o f th e

p e r i o d s when i t to

seem ed n e c e s s a r y

th e d i s c u s s i o n o f th e

tru e

of th e

tru e

i n th e

e a rly p e rio d .

c h a p t e r on s c h o o l s .

a c h ie v e m e n t h as b e e n i n

to g iv e

th e

on th e e a r l y

fu ll

th e r e c e n t s ig n ific a n c e

T h is i s

e sp e c ia lly

T he g r e a t e s t p r o g r e s s a n d

th e r e c e n t p e r io d .

T h i s w as a l s o

d i s c u s s i o n o f q u a r t z m i n i n g w h i c h w as t h e m o s t

im p o rta n t in d u s try

i n th e c o u n ty u n t i l t h e g o ld m in e s w ere

c l o s e d by th e g o v e rn m e n t i n 1 9 4 2 . has been to d is c u s s

My c h i e f p u r p o s e , h o w e v e r ,

th e im p o rta n t e v e n ts in th e e a r ly p e rio d

o f th e c o u n ty 's h i s t o r y .

vii

I n a g r e a t many o f my r e f e r e n c e s I h a v e u s e d t h e name " M u r p h y s " i n s t e a d o f M u r p h y s Gamp. ■

The to w n now g o e s

by t h e name " M u r p h y s " a n d n o l o n g e r a t t a c h e s tim e i t

w as c a l l e d

have p r e f e r r e d C a m p ." o ffic e

" M u r p h y s ."

The same a p p l i e s

s till

re ta in s

t h e "C a m p ".

speak of th e

to w n a s

"A n g e ls" m o st o f th e

to

" A n g e ls

a lth o u g h th e p o s t

H ow ever, l o c a l r e s i d e n t s tim e ,

and I have

" A n g e l s " i n many o f my r e f e r e n c e s i n s t e a d o f

" A n g e l s C a m p ."

A t one

" M u r p h y ’ s C am p," b u t l o c a l r e s i d e n t s

The a p o s t r o p h e h a s b e e n d r o p p e d ,

used j u s t

" G a m p ."

CHAPTER I EARLY EXPLORATIONS G a b r ie l M oraga,

th e g r e a t S p a n is h e x p l o r e r , w as

p r o b a b l y t h e f i r s t w h i t e man t o v i s i t t h e r e g i o n t h a t i s now know n a s C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y . 1 M o r a g a , w i t h t w e n t y - f i v e m e n , l e f t S an J u a n B a u t i s t a on S e p te m b e r 21, 1 8 0 6 , w i t h F a t h e r P e d r o Munoz a s d i a r i s t a n d c h a p l a i n , lo c a tin g a s ite

f o r th e p u rp o se of

f o r an in la n d m is sio n .

He d i s c o v e r e d a n d

n a m e d t h e M o k e lu m n e , C a l a v e r a s , S t a n i s l a u s , 2 a n d T u o lu m n e 3 riv e rs,

a n d g o i n g o n s o u t h cam e t o a s l o u g h w h i c h h e n am ed

M a rip o s a s b e c a u s e o f th e l a r g e num ber o f b u t t e r f l i e s . av eras i s

th e S p a n ish f o r " s k u l l s . ”

th e r i v e r b e c a u se o f th ere*

C a l­

The name w as g i v e n t o

t h e l a r g e n u m b e r o f hum an s k u l l s

The s t o r y w a s t h a t a g r e a t n u m b e r o f I n d i a n s ,

found c o m in g

ISom e t i m e b e f o r e t h e a u tu m n o f 1 8 0 6 , a n e x p e d i t i o n was s e n t o u t fro m t h e M i s s i o n S an J o s e t o f i n d ' a r o u t e to B odega Bay. They r e a c h e d a r i v e r w h i c h w a s n a m e d R i o d e l a P a s i o n , a n d w h i c h some w r i t e r s t h i n k may h a v e b e e n t h e C a la v e ra s R iv e r. T h is seem s a s t r a n g e r o u t e t o t a k e f o r B o d e g a B a y , h o w e v e r , a n d t h e e x p e d i t i o n may n e v e r h a v e e n t e r e d th e C a la v e r a s r e g i o n . H u b e r t H. B a n c r o f t , C a l i f o r n i a H i s t o r y * I I , -46. 2He c a l l e d i t

th e L a sq u isim e s.

3He v i s i t e d t h e I n d i a n v i l l a g e o f T a g u a lo m e , a n d i t i s p r o b a b ly t h e o r i g i n o f th e nam e. S e e C h a r l e s E . C hapm an, A H i s t o r y o f C a l i f o r n i a . -422, a n d E d n a B r y a n B u c k b e e , The S a g a o f O ld T u o lu m n e . 1 6 .

2 down f r o m t i i e S i e r r a : : t o f i s i i f o r s a l m o n , w e r e s l a u g h t e r e d . M a so n se e m s t o t h i n k i t w as m o re l i k e l y

th a t th e In d ia n s

p e ris h e d as a r e s u l t o f an e p id e m ic .1 The n e x t v i s i t o f t h e S p a n i s h t o t h i s 1 8 2 9 , by G e n e r a l M a r i a n o V a l l e j o .

r e g i o n was i n

He w a s s e n t o u t t o h u n t

down a n d p u n i s h a g r o u p o f r u n - a w a y I n d i a n s l e d by E s t a n i s l a o , who h a d b e e n m a k i n g r a i d s o n t h e c a t t l e th e M issio n San J o s e .

and h o rse s of

The I n d i a n , E s t a n i s l a o ,

b o rn a t th e M issio n San J o s e .

had been

B o th h i s m o th e r and f a t h e r

had a c c e p t e d C h r i s t i a n i t y and l i v e d w i t h t h e m is s io n In d ia n s. f o r th e

H ow ever, a s E s t a n i s l a o g rew t o m anhood, h e lo n g e d free d o m o f h i s a n c e s t o r s and r a n aw ay, t a k i n g

s e v e r a l I n d i a n s w ith h im .

T h i s b a n d t o o k u p t h e i r a b o d e on

th e L a s q u is im e s R iv e r n e a r i t s R i v e r and m ade r a i d s sto c k .

acro ss

j u n c t i o n w ith th e San J o a q u in

t h e m o u n t a i n s on t h e m i s s i o n

I n A p r i l , 1829, G en eral V a lle jo fo u g h t a b a t t l e w ith

t h e I n d i a n s a t w h a t i s no w know n a s S t a n i s l a u s

C ity .

He

w as n o t s u c c e s s f u l , h o w e v e r , i n d e s t r o y i n g t h e I n d i a n f o r c e or in

c a p tu rin g th e le a d e r s .

A n o t h e r e x p e d i t i o n w as s e n t

o u t i n May u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f J o s e S a n c h e z . a ll-d a y b a ttle

A f t e r an

a g a i n s t t h e I n d i a n s , who w e r e e n t r e n c h e d i n

a t h i c k w oo d s o n t h e b a n k s o f t h e L a s q u i s i m e s , d r e w , h a v i n g l o s t tw o m e n .

th ey w ith ­

E s t a n i s l a o w a s now r u l e r

1 J e s s e D. M a s o n , H i s t o r y

o f A m ador C o u n t y . 6 6 .

3 o f th e L a s q u is im e s * C o m m a n d an ts M a r t i n e z , h o w e v e r , w a s m o r e d e t e r m i n e d th an e v er to d e s tro y th e

In d ia n hand,

and s e n t o u t G e n e ra l

V a l l e j o o n May 2 9 t h , w i t h h i s w h o l e c a v a l r y t i m e h e w as m o re s u c c e s s f u l .

tro o p *

T h is

A fte r f ig h tin g .th e In d ia n s

a l l d a y i n t h e sam e g r o v e , t h e S p a n i s h s e t t h e g r o v e o n fire

and fo rc e d th e In d ia n s to f l e e

T a q u a lo m e s I n d i a n v i l l a g e .

up t h e r i v e r t o t h e

A n o th e r b a t t l e

fo llo w e d , and

t h e I n d i a n s e s c a p e d b y f l o a t i n g down t h e r i v e r on l o g s * E s t a n i s l a o r e t u r n e d t o t h e M is s io n San J o s e , w h e re he w as h i d d e n b y F a t h e r D u r a n u n t i l p a r d o n e d by G o v e r n o r E c h e a n d i a . He l a t e r

e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f on t h e L a s q u is im e s R i v e r a t

w h a t i s known a s R e y n o ld s F e r r y .

The name o f t h e r i v e r w as

c h a n g e d t o S t a n i s l a u s f o r t h e I n d i a n . * 1' The f i r s t A m e r i c a n t o v i s i t

t h e C a l a v e r a s r e g i o n w as

J e d e d i a h S t o r y S m i t h a n d tw o o f h i s m e n , S i l a s G o b l e a n d R o b ert E vans.

On May 2 0 , 1827> w i t h e i g h t h o r s e s a n d tw o

m u le s , S m ith s e t o u t t o c r o s s

th e S ie rra to th e G reat S a lt

L a k e f r o m a camp on t h e l o w e r S t a n i s l a u s . r i v e r t h e A p p e la m m in y R i v e r . e ig h t days d e sp ite f e e t i n d e p th .

He c a l l e d t h e

The c r o s s i n g w a s m ade i n

t h e o b s t a c l e o f sn o w s f r o m f o u r t o

T h is w as th e f i r s t

e ig h t

c ro ssin g of th e S ie rra

by a w h i t e m an.

^ E d n a B . B u c k b e e , .S a g a o f O ld T u o lu m n e . 1 - 9 .

S m ith w i t h a p a r t y o f s e v e n te e n t r a p p e r s had s e t o u t fro m

th e v i c i n i t y

o f S a l t L ake i n

th e f a l l of

1826 on

a t r a p p i n g and e x p lo r a tio n t r i p .

h i s way

to th e M issio n San G a b r ie l,

S m ith

e x p l o r e d and

tra p p e d

up t h r o u g h t h e S a n J o a q u i n

V a lle y

u n til

reach ed

th e S t a n i s l a u s R iv e r w h e re he l e f t m o st o f

p a rty and, a f t e r

A f t e r m ak in g

he

h is

s e v e r a l a t t e m p t s , m ade a s u c c e s s f u l

c ro s sin g of th e S ie rra .

A lth o u g h h i s t o r i a n s have

p r e v io u s ly c o n s id e re d th e S onora P a ss a s th e m o st l i k e l y ro u te

ta k e n by S m ith ,

t h e l a t e s t s t u d y m ade b y F r a n c i s

F arq u h ar p la c e s h is ro u te a c ro s s

t h e S i e r r a 1 b y way o f

A n g e l s Camp, M u r p h y s , a n d E b b e t t s P a s s . d e sce n d ed th e E a s t C arson R iv e r ,

He t h e n

c r o s s e d t o t h e W est

W a l k e r a n d t h e n made h i s w ay a c r o s s

th e d e s e r t to S a l t

L ake. I n 1841 Jo h n B id w e ll c r o s s e d t h e S i e r r a w i t h t h e B a r t l e s o n - B i d w e l l p a r t y by a p a s s b e tw e e n D i s a s t e r C re e k , a t r i b u t a r y o f th e C la rk F ork o f th e S t a n i s l a u s , and G o ld e n C r e e k , a t r i b u t a r y

of t h e E a s t C arson R iv e r.

The p a r t y h a d a b a d t i m e t r y i n g t o g e t dow n b e t w e e n t h e N o rth an d M id d le F o rk s o f c la im e d i n l a t e r y e a r s

th e S t a n i s l a u s ,

an d B id w e ll

t h a t on an e x p lo r a tio n

trip

to

^ F r a n c i s F a r q u h a r , rrJ e d e d i a h S m i t h a n d t h e S i e r r a N e v a d a , 11 S i e r r a C lu b B u l l e t i n . X X V I I I , 4 5 ,

5 f i n d a n e a s i e r r o u t e Jie came u p o n o n e o f t h e C a l a v e r a s B ig T re e s

(S e q u o ia g i g a n t e a )

If

t h i s w e r e t r u e h e w o u ld

be o n e o f t h e e a r l y A m e ric an v i s i t o r s r e g i o n and th e f i r s t

to t h e C a la v e ra s

t o s e e t h e B ig T r e e s .

H isto ria n s

have p r e t t y w e ll d is c o u n te d h i s c la im , how ever. m ore l i k e l y tre e s

t h a t h e saw o n e o f t h e e x t r e m e l y l a r g e p i n e

of th e r e g io n , o r ,

was i n t h e

I t is

i f he d id se e a s e q u o i a , i t

s o u th g ro v e w h ic h i s

i n T u o lu m n e C o u n t y .

C a p ta in Jo h n C. F re m o n t an d h i s

e x p lo rin g p a rty ,

l e d b y K i t C a r s o n , cam e t h r o u g h w h a t w a s l a t e r C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y i n F e b r u a r y , I 84 .4.. re tu rn

F re m o n t h a d l e f t O regon t o

to S t . L o u is b u t had d e s i r e d t o e x p lo r e

d e s e r t r e g io n to th e s o u th and lo c a te

th e g r e a t

th e B u e n a v e n tu ra R iv e r

t h a t was s u p p o s e d t o f lo w t h r o u g h t h i s r e g i o n a n d h a v e its

o u t l e t i n San F r a n c is c o B ay.

A fte r tr a v e r s in g th is

d e s e r t w a s te f o r s e v e r a l w e ek s, he found h i s s u p p l i e s lo w and h i s

h o r s e s i n bad c o n d i t i o n .

R a th e r t h a n con­

t i n u e e a s tw a rd t o S t . L o u is o v e r t h e u n e x p lo re d d e s e r t , he d e cid ed to

c r o s s th e S i e r r a N evada i n t o

C a lifo rn ia

a n d r e p l e n i s h h i s s u p p l i e s fro m t h e M e x ica n S e t t l e m e n t s . T r a v e l i n g s o u t h , h e came t o t h e C a r s o n R i v e r a n d fo llo w e d a b ra n c h o f i t to

its

s o u r c e on t h e su m m it.

^John B id w e ll, E choes o f th e P a s t , 29 .

6 A n y o n e a t a l l f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e S i e r r a a p p r e c i a t e s how re m a rk a b le a f e a t i t Jan u ary

w as t o c r o s s

th e s e m o u n ta in s i n

and F e b r u a r y . On t h e a f t e r n o o n o f F e b r u a r y

20, I 844,

th e p a rty

r e a c h e d t h e su m m it, an d K i t C a rs o n b l a z e d one o f t h e t r e e s a n d c a r v e d h i s nam e a n d t h e d a t e , 1 8 4 4 , u p o n i t . p a s s i s now u s e d by t h e A l p i n e h i g h w a y ,

T h i s sam e

and i s known a s

C arson P a s s .

The p a r t y m ad e i t s

fo llo w in g th e

s o u th f o r t h o f t h e A m eric an R i v e r , a n d r e a c h e d

F o r t S u t t e r o n M a rc h 8 t h .

T h i s r o u t e w as l a t e r k n o w n a s

th e K i t C a rso n E m ig ra n t t r a i l , it

way down t h e m o u n t a i n s ,

a n d m any g o l d - s e e k e r s u s e d

d u r i n g t h e g o l d r u s h d a y s . - 1* T he E b b e t t s P a s s R o a d , w h i c h w as a l s o u s e d b y t h e

e a rly

e m i g r a n t s , w as d i s c o v e r e d i n 1 8 5 0 b y J o h n E b b e t t s , 2

who f o l l o w e d t h e C a r s o n r o u t e t o B i g M ead ow s, w h e r e h e th e n tu rn e d o f f ,

fo llo w in g th e n o rth e rn rid g e

f o r k o f th e S t a n i s l a u s R iv e r i n t o M urphys.

of th e n o rth

I t w a s know n

a s t h e B ig T re e s Road, and w as r u d e l y b r o k e n , b e i n g o n ly a s h o r t c u t f o r th o s e m in e rs g o in g t o

th e

s o u th e rn m in e s.

^ L e w is F . B y i n g t o n , " H i s t o r i c E x p e d i t i o n o f F r e m o n t and C arso n t o C a l i f o r n i a , ” Q u a r te r ly o f S o c ie ty of . C a l i f o r n i a P i o n e e r s . 8 : 1 8 4 - 9 1 , M arch, 1 9 3 1 . The m e m b e rs o f t h e Mormon B a t t a l i o n r e t u r n e d t o S a l t L a k e i n t h e sum m er o f I 8 4 8 , b y t h i s p a s s a n d Hope V a l l e y . 2 J o h n A . S m i t h , "The E b b e t t s P a s s R o a d , ” C a l a v e r a s C a l i f o r n i a n , A p r il 8 , 1945•

. C a p ta in S u t t e r , w ith a p a rty w h ite s,

v isite d

7

o f I n d i a n s and a few

t h e r e g i o n o f C a l a v e r a s i n 1 8 4 6 , an d saw ed

lu m b e r t o b e u s e d f o r b u i l d i n g a f e r r y

b o a t.

The m en

w o rk ed i n a c l u s t e r o f s u g a r p i n e s on th e r i d g e b e tw e e n S u t t e r a n d A m ador C r e e k s , a b o u t f o u r m i l e s *

above th e to w n s

o f Am ador a n d S u t t e r . 3I t is se ttle d c a ttle

in

a ls o v ery p ro b a b le t h a t C a lif o r n ia n s had

th e lo w e r p a r t o f t h e c o u n ty f o r p u rp o s e s of

r a i s i n g b e f o r e g o l d d i s c o v e r y i n I 8 4 8 , f o r on

D ecem ber 2 9 , 1 3 4 3 ,

t h e M ex ican g o v e r n o r M an u el M i c h e l t o r e n a

gave a l a n d - g r a n t to F r a n c i s c o R ico an d J o s e A n to n io C a s tr o know n a s

th e R ancho d e l R io E s t a n i s l a o .

I t w as t h e o n ly

M e x i c a n l a n d - g r a n t g i v e n i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty a n d w a s i n th e so u th w e st C o rn er of th e c o u n ty . A fe w y e a r s a g o a g r o u p o f A n g e l s Camp H i g h S c h o o l b o y s, w h ile h u n tin g ,

cam e u p o n t h e r e m a i n s o f a n o l d v i l l a g e

o r h a c i e n d a on t h e o l d l a n d g r a n t . am ong t h e l o c a l c i t i z e n s area.

N one o f t h e o l d t i m e r s

c o u ld rem em ber a v i l l a g e i n t h a t

The r e m a i n s a r e u n d o u b t e d l y o f M e x i c a n a r c h i t e c t u r e .

M rs. B uckbee, l o c a l h i s t o r i a n , b e l i e v e s t h e r u i n s a r e r e m a i n s o f o l d Campo F e l i z , w h i c h w a s p a r t o f t h e o l d r a n c h o . It

i s c la im e d t h a t t h e r u i n s w ere l a t e r

used as a h id e o u t

3-Mason, A m ador C o u n t y . 6 5 . ^ J o s e p h i n e C o r n e l l , " R e m a in s o f O ld B a n d i t R e f u g e , ” S to c k to n , R eco rd . F eb. 16, 1935.

0

8 f o r J o a q u in M u r ie tta and h i s b a n d i t s ♦ If

th is sp e c u la tio n is

tru e ,

th e C a li f o r n ia n s h ad

e s t a b l i s h e d th e m s e lv e s i n t h e c o u n ty f o r p u rp o s e s o f c a t t l e r a is in g b efo re

th e a r r i v a l o f t h e m in e rs i n th e s p r i n g of

I 8 4 8 , a n d Campo F e l i z w o u l d b e o n e o f t h e f i r s t s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e c o u n ty * G roups o f C a l i f o r n i a n s h ad p r o b a b ly t r a p p e d o r t r a d e d w ith th e In d ia n s in It

is

th e c o u n ty b e f o r e

c la im e d by l o c a l h i s t o r i a n s

s e ttle d

th e d isc o v e ry

t h a t C a lif o r n ia n s had

i n w h a t w as l a t e r R a i l r o a d F l a t a s e a r l y I t is

know n d e f i n i t e l y

o f g o ld *

a s 1837*

t h a t F ren ch tr a p p e r s w ith

h e a d q u a r t e r s a t F r e n c h Camp n e a r S t o c k t o n h a d e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r cam p a t H appy V a l l e y , l e s s M okelum ne H i l l , M a r s h a ll 's

as e a rly

t h a n tw o m i l e s e a s t o f

a s I 8 4 O, e i g h t y e a r s b e f o r e

d isc o v e ry o f g o ld .

F ro m t h i s p o i n t t h e y t r a p p e d

f a r i n to th e S ie r r a to th e e a s t . 1 I t is m in e d i n

d iffic u lt

th e C a la v e ra s

Weber,^ fo u n d er o f

to

say d e f i n i t e l y

j u s t who f i r s t

r e g i o n , b u t i t was p r o b a b ly C a p ta in

T u le b u rg ,

a s i t w a s t h e n c a l l e d , who

f o u n d g o l d a l o n g t h e M ok elum ne R i v e r .

In th e

la tte r p art

l j . A. S m ith , " E a rly C a la v e ra s H i s t o r y , " C a la v e ra s C a l i f o r n i a n , J a n . 1 1 , 1946* 2H . E . a n d G. E . R e n s c h a n d M i l d r e d H o o v e r , H i s t o r i c S p o t s i n C a l i f o r n i a , §>•

o f M a r c h , I 8 4 8 , a m an a r r i v e d i n T u l e b u r g in g s c a l e g o ld fro m S u t t e r ’ s m i l l .

c o u n try

b rin g ­

C a p t a i n W eb er f i t t e d

out a p ro sp e c tin g p a rty of s e t t l e r s , y ok-um -na I n d i a n s ,

(S to c k to n )

s tra n g e rs , and S i-

a n d com m enced t h e e x p l o r a t i o n

of th e

e a s t o f T u le b u rg , b e g in n in g a t t h e S t a n i s l a u s and

w o rk in g n o r t h .

A t t h e M okelum ne R i v e r , t h e

t o m ake a m o re d e t a i l e d th a t se c tio n of th e

c a p ta in d e c id e d

s e a rc h and found th e f i r s t g o ld in

c o u n ty .

C o n tin u in g n o r t h , he fo u n d

g o ld i n e v e ry g u l c h t o t h e A m e ric an R i v e r . d e c id e d to e s t a b l i s h i t s e l f

H is p a r t y

a t w hat w as a f te r w a r d s c a l l e d

W eb er’ s C re e k n e a r R la e e rv ille .* * * W eber r e t u r n e d t o and o rg a n iz e d a p a r ty M okelum ne R i v e r .

to e x p lo re th e

c o u n try s o u th o f th e

T h is p a r t y fo u n d e v e n f i n e r sp e cim en s

t h a n t h o s e d i s c o v e r e d a t C o lo m a . d isc o v e rie s,

S to c k to n

As a r e s u l t o f t h e s e

c o m p a n ie s w ere fo rm e d t h a t m in e d a l l

a n d g a v e nam es t o t h e e a r l y

area

cam ps. ^

A n o th e r e a r l y e x p e d i t i o n i n t o Don A n t o n i o C o r o n e l o f L o s A n g e l e s i n He .j o i n e d A u g u s t i n J a n s s e n ,

th is

a n a tiv e

t h i s re g io n w as le d by t h e sum m er o f I 8 4 8 . of F r a n c e , i n t h e

f o r m a t i o n o f a t r a d i n g a n d m i n i n g com p any a n d s t a r t e d o u t p ro sp e c tin g .

I n t h e San J o a q u in V a l l e y ,

th ey m et F a t h e r

J o s e M a r i a d e l R e a l , w h o s h o w e d th e m a s a c k f u l o f c o a r s e

3-Mason, H i s t o r y o f A m ador C o u n t y , 6 6 . 2 0wen C . C oy , G o l d D a y s . 7 7 •

10 g o ld w h ic h h ad b e e n ta k e n fro m p l a c e r s a lo n g th e S t a n i s l a u s b y t h e I n d i a n s ."** th e

T hey t h e n h e a d e d f o r t h e S t a n i s l a u s *

H ear

j u n c t i o n o f ,th e S t a n i s l a u s an d t h e San J o a q u in r i v e r s ,

th e y m et a p a r t y

o f I n d i a n s who se e m e d t o b e p l e n t i f u l l y 2 s u p p lie d w ith g o ld c h is p a s a n d q u i t e e a g e r t o t r a d e th e m f o r t h e g o o d s o f Don A n t o n i o * s p a r t y . of th e In d ia n s

D e sp ite th e e f f o r t s

to e lu d e th e m , a g r o u p o f t h e m in in g p a r t y

l e d by B e n ito P e re z

tra ile d

th e In d ia n s

to th e ir ra n c h e ria .

I n th e m o rn in g th e y fo u n d t h e I n d i a n s w ith p o le s i n

th e

S t a n i s l a u s R iv e r , o v e r tu r n in g ro c k s and p ic k in g o u t th e n u g g e ts fro m th e c r e v i c e s .

P e r e z and h i s c o m p a n io n s

th e m a n d q u i c k l y g a t h e r e d t h r e e o u n c e s o f g o l d . r e p o r t e d t o Don A n t o n i o , who o r d e r e d th e r i v e r to a b a r l a t e r (R o b in so n ’ s F e r r y ) . In d ia n s

t h e com pany t o move u p

day Don A n t o n i o w i t h tw o

ounces of g o ld .

The sam e d a y J u a n

S e p u lv e d a fo u n d a n u g g e t w e ig h in g one pound. t o o k o u t s o m uch g o l d t h a t i t a tte m p te d to c a rry S o t a , who w o r k e d i t

it.

He t u r n e d h i s c l a i m o v e r t o C a r l o s

tw o d a y s a n d s e c u r e d f i f t y - t w o p o u n d s Don A n t o n i o a n d

a M e x ica n m in e r , w e n t u p s tr e a m to a s m a ll

^ C o y , C o ld D a y s , 8 1 .

^ F la k e s .

J o s e V a ld ez

s t a g g e r e d h im w h e n h e

o f g o ld v a lu e d a t te n th o u sa n d d o l l a r s . A n d reas T ir a d o r ,

T hey t h e n

f a m o u s a s t h e S t a n i s l a u s M in e

The f i r s t

to o k f o r t y - f i v e

jo in e d

11 b a r a n d a t a d e p th , o f w ith g o ld . w orked a l l

four fe e t f i l l e d

He t h e n g a v e t h e c l a i m

h i s w ooden b a t e a l

t o Don A n t o n i o , who

day a n d h i s c o m p a n io n s w o rk e d i t

a ll n ig h t. 2

I n A u g u s t o f I 8 4 8 a n o t h e r g r o u p o f m i n e r s m ad e i t s w ay i n t o C arso n ,

th e C a la v e ra s r e g i o n . a d isc h a rg e d s o ld ie r

T h is g ro u p w as l e d by Jam es

f r o m C o l o n e l J o n a t h a n D.

S t e v e n s o n ’ s f a m o u s S e v e n t h R e g i m e n t o f New Y o r k V o l u n t e e r s . 3 I t a ls o

i n c l u d e d G e o r g e A n g e l , J o h n a n d Dan M u r p h y , D r . I .

C. a n d J a m e s I s a b e l , a n d W i l l i a m C a s e m e n t .

T h is g ro u p had

b e e n f o r m e d on W eber C r e e k n e a r P l a c e r v i l l e

(H a n g to w n ) w h e r e

J o h n M u rp h y h a d b e e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h C a p t a i n W eb e r i n h i s S t o c k t o n M i n i n g C om pany.

B e s id e s m in in g ,

J o h n M urphy h a d

b e e n r u n n i n g a t r a d i n g p o s t a s a p a r t n e r t o C a p ta in W e b e r.^ When t h e m i n i n g i n

t h e W eb e r G r e e k d i s t r i c t n o l o n g e r p a i d

iB o w l o r B u c k e t. 2B u c k b e e ,

S a g a o f O ld T u o lu m n e . 1 0 - 1 3 .

^ T h i s r e g i m e n t s a i l e d f r o m New Y o r k o n S e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 184,6, i n t h e s h i p s Loo C h o o , S u s a n D rew , a n d Thomas H. P e rk in s. I t n u m b e r e d 720 men a n d w a s t h e f i r s t arm y u n i t e v e r t o l e a v e th e U n ite d S t a t e s t o u p h o ld th e f l a g of i t s c o u n try . I b i d . . 113* 4 j o h n M urphy a n d D a n i e l M urphy h a d come t o C a l i f o r n i a w i t h t h e S t e v e n s - M u r p h y s P a r t y o f 18 4 4 . J o h n M urphy s o o n w a s a l i e u t e n a n t u n d e r C a p t a i n W e b e r i n t h e M e x ic a n W ar, a n d l a t e r b e c a m e a p a r t n e r w i t h W eber i n a S a n J o s e sto re . C a p t a i n W eb er m a r r i e d J o h n ’ s y o u n g e r s i s t e r , E lle n . H e n r y L . W a l s h , H a l l o w e d w e r e t h e G o ld D u s t T r a i l s , 473.

th re e

ounces o f g o ld p e r d ay ,

th e m in e rs c o n s id e r e d i t

u n p r o f i t a b l e a n d m o v ed t o o t h e r r e g i o n s . ^ T h i s p a r t y m in e d a ll

th e

stre a m s on th e t r i p

so u th ,

i n c l u d i n g D ry G r e e k ,

S u t t e r C r e e k , M o k elu m n e R i v e r , a n d C a l a v e r a s R i v e r , w i t h fa ir

s u c c e s s , b u t i t w a s a t w h a t w as l a t e r c a l l e d A n g e l s

C reek t h a t

th e p a r ty b rok e up.

G e o r g e A n g e l s e t u p camp

on t h e b a n k s o f t h e c r e e k a n d s t a r t e d m i n i n g . g r a v e l v ery r i c h

but h is success

a ttra c te d

He f o u n d t h e

o t h e r m in e rs

an d A n g el so o n fo u n d t h a t o p e r a t i n g a t r a d i n g p o s t was e v e n m o re p r o f i t a b l e t h a n m i n i n g . ' T h e camp t h a t g r e w up a r o u n d h i s s t o r e b e c a m e A n g e l s Camp, sm a ll p a rty

lam es C a rso n w i t h a

w e n t o n s o u t h a f e w m i l e s a n d m in e d o n a c r e e k

t h a t w as l a t e r k n o w n a s C a r s o n C r e e k , w h e r e , i n e a c h man t o o k o u t a n a v e r a g e M u rp h y b r o t h e r s t u r n e d

te n days,

o f 180 o u n c e s o f g o l d . 2 The

e a s t a fe w m i l e s an d m in e d on

C o y o te C re e k a t w h a t was l a t e r c a l l e d V a l l e e i t o . A n o th e r e a r l y e x p e d i t i o n i n t o

th e C a la v e ra s re g io n

w a s t h a t o f C a p t a i n J o h n A . S u t t e r who w i t h a c o m p a n y o f I n d i a n s m in e d t h e S u t t e r C re e k r e g i o n i n of 1848.

th e

e a r l y sum m er

The m i n e r s , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t a p p r o v e o f h i s u s e

^Jam es H. C a r s o n , " E a r l y R e c o l l e c t i o n s o f t h e M in e s " , San J o a q u in R e p u b lic a n , J a n u a r y 2 1 , 1 8 5 2 .

2 Ibid.

13 of In d ia n s

t o do t h e m i n i n g f o r h im a n d c a l l e d h i m a

" s la v e r."

He s o o n g a v e u p , d e c i d i n g h e w as n o t a g o o d

m in e r. first

The l a t e r f a m o u s S u t t e r C r e e k w as named a f t e r h i s e f f o r t s a t m in in g h e r e . N o r t h B r a n c h , l o c a t e d b e t w e e n t h e o l d M cG urk b r i d g e

and th e o ld R ile y p la c e

on t h e N o r t h f o r k o f t h e

C a la v e ra s

R i v e r b e l o w S a n A n d r e a s , w as o n e o f t h e f i r s t m i n i n g c a m p s i n t h e c o u a t y . l Two o r t h r e e h u n d r e d m i n e r s d u g f o r g o l d h e re i n 1 8 48-49.

T here w e re a g ro u p o f c a b i n s ,

a sto re ,

a n d som e o t h e r b u i l d i n g s . A c c o r d in g t o H enry L . W a lsh , D ry to w n , n o r t h a n d w e s t o f J a c k s o n , was th e p i o n e e r m in in g s e t t l e m e n t i n t h e c o u n ty , and th e f i r s t

i n w h ic h g o ld w as f o u n d .

He s t a t e s : 2

The r e c o r d s s t a t e a s e a r l y a s t h e s p r i n g o f 1 8 4 8 , a m o tle y p o p u l a t i o n o f M e x ic a n s, I n d i a n s , a n d A n g lo -S a x o n s was w o r k in g i n i t s r i c h r a v i n e s and g u lc h e s. I t s s t o r y i s th e u s u a l one o f one h u n d red d o l l a r s a day p a n n in g . In g e n e ra l,

t h e w h o le C a l a v e r a s r e g i o n ,

in c lu d in g

m o s t o f w h a t i s now A m ador C o u n t y , w a s f a i r l y w e l l e x p l o r e d in I 848.

Many o f

th e e x p e d i t i o n s

and g r o u p s , and e v e n i n ­

d i v i d u a l m i n e r s , w o u l d m in e a s h o r t w h i l e i n

some s p o t a n d

1 " C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y , " C a l a v e r a s C ham ber o f Com m erce B u lle tin . 2W a l s h , H a l l o w e d w e r e t h e G o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 1 0 5 .

u th e n , n o t s a t i s f i e d w ith th e g o ld y i e l d , a n o th e r l o c a l i t y .

w o u l d move o n t o

T h ere w ere a lw a y s ru m o rs t r a v e l i n g

ro u n d s t h a t t h e r e w ere r i c h e r d ig g in g s

th e

a t some o t h e r p l a c e ,

a n d many t i m e s t h e r e w e r e .

G o ld w as f o u n d i n

l a r g e a m o u n ts a l l o v e r t h i s

re g io n ,

b u t,

am azin g ly

of co u rse, c e r t a i n

a re a s had r i c h e r and l a r g e r d e p o s its th a n o th e r s .

Some o f

t h e s e w e re i n t e n s e l y w o rk ed by p l a c e r m in in g f o r a s h o r t tim e , w ere so o n c o n s id e r e d w orked o u t a n d t h e r e f o r e abandoned.

O th e rs w ere r i c h

and c o n tin u e d

to y i e l d fro m

b o th s u r f a c e m in in g la n d t u n n e l i n g u n t i l q u a r t z g o ld w as d isc o v e re d .

T h i s m o re e n d u r i n g f o r m o f m i n i n g l e d

to th e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p e rm a n e n t to w n s r a t h e r t h a n j u s t c am p s.

lP a n n in g and l a t e r by use o f t h e r o c k e r and t h e L o n g Tom.

CHAPTER I I EARLY CAMPS 0 ? SOUTHERN CALAVERAS COUNT? The b i g r u s h f r o m t h e e a s t e r n p a r t o f t h e U n i t e d S ta te s,

and fro m a l l

o v e r th e w o rld ,

d id n o t re a c h

C a lif o r n ia u n t i l 1849, h u t p r a c t i c a l l y

a ll of

th e

C a lif o r n ia n s abandoned w h a te v e r o c c u p a tio n o r p r o f e s s io n th e y w ere f o llo w in g an d h u r r i e d t o I 848.

th e g o ld f i e l d s

in

The t o w n s a l o n g t h e c o a s t w e r e p r a c t i c a l l y

d e s e r t e d by e a r l y

sum m er.

The o f f i c i a l r e p o r t o f

C o l o n e l R. B . M a s o n , M i l i t a r y

G o v ern o r o f C a l i f o r n i a

i n I 8 4 8 , t o W ash in g to n s t a t e s We r e a c h e d S a n P r a n c i s c o on t h e 2 0 t h d a y o f Ju n e , I 8 4 8 , and fo u n d t h a t a l l o r n e a r ly a l l of i t s m ale i n h a b i t a n t s had gone t o t h e m in e s . . . . We r e s u m e d t h e j o u r n e y b y way o f B o d e g a a n d Sonoma t o S u t t e r * s P o r t , w h e r e we a r r i v e d o n t h e m o rn in g o f t h e 2nd o f J u l y . A lo n g t h e w h o le r o u t e , m i l l s w ere l y i n g i d l e , f i e l d s o f w h e a t w ere l y i n g open t o h o r s e s and c a t t l e , h o u se s v a c a n t, and farm s g o in g t o w a s te . The R e v e r e n d W a l t e r C o l t o n , f o r m e r c h a p l a i n i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s N avy, and a l c a l d e has th is

to

say i n h is

o f M o n terey i n I 8 4 8 ,

d ia r y a b o u t th e r e s u l t s o f th e g o ld

***Coy, G o ld D a y s , 325*

16 r u s h on M o n te r e y :^ T u e s d a y , A u g u s t 2 8 t h , The g o l d m i n e r s h a v e u p s e t a l l s o c i a l and d o m e stic a rra n g e m e n t i n M o n t e r e y ; t h e m a s t e r h a s b e c o m e h i s own s e r v a n t , and th e s e r v a n t h i s l o r d . The m i l l i o n a i r e i s o b l i g e d t o g ro o m h i s own h o r s e , a n d r o l l h i s w h e e lb a rro w . W i l l i a m Redmand R y a n , tro o p s a ssig n e d

a v o lu n te e r in

to C a li f o r n ia i n

1847, has

a com pany o f th is

to say i n

P e r s o n a l A d v e n tu r e s i n U p p e r a n d Low er C a l i f o r n i a about h is a rr iv a l

a t M o n te re y l a t e

i n A u g u st, I 8 4 8 : 2

G o v e r n o r M a so n h a d d e c a m p e d t o t h e m i n e s ; t h e s t r e e t s w e re u n p e o p le d , t h e h o u s e s e m p ty , and t h e to w n d e s e r t e d . W it h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f a s t r a y R e g u l a r 1 now a n d t h e n , n o t a l i v i n g s o u l w a s t o be m et w i t h . E v ery b o d y was o f f t o th e r e a l Tom T i d d l e r ’ s g r o u n d t o p i c k u p t h e g o l d a n d silv e r. W ith t h i s w i l d r u s h t o a r e g i o n a lo n g t h e f o o t ­ h ills

n o t o v e r tw o h u n d r e d m i l e s l o n g a n d l e s s

f o r t y m ile s w id e ,

c e rta in

cam p s b e c a m e v e r y l i v e l y

n i g h t w h ere o n ly d a y s b e f o r e and th e lo n eso m e how l of

th an over

t h e r e had b e e n o n ly s o l i t u d e

th e c o y o te .

Some o f

t h e s e c am p s

l a s t e d b u t o t h e r s w ere soon w o rk e d o u t and d e s e r t e d .

^ W a lte r C o lto n ,

T h ree Y ears i n C a l i f o r n i a , 26.

^ W i l l i a m Redmond R y a n , P e r s o n a l A d v e n t u r e s i n U p p er and Low er C a l i f o r n i a , I I , 1 2 8 .

17 On t h e s p o t w h e r e G e o r g e A n g e l h a d s e t u p h i s

tra d in g p o st

a n d s t a r t e d m i n i n g , a l i v e l y cam p d e v e l o p e d .

A t f i r s t A ngel

d i d n o t s t a k e o u t a c la im b e c a u s e t h e r e was p l e n t y t o be fo u n d i n

th e c re e k a lm o st anyw here.

A ngel and h i s

g r o u p s o m e t i m e s t o o k o u t a s m uch a s t e n o u n c e s i n d a y . l B ut th e y w ere o n ly

a sin g le

th e advance g u ard o f th e r u s h .

The r e m a i n i n g m o n t h s o f I 84.8 sa w t h e c o u n t r y f i l l a m a zin g r a t e .

o f g o ld

A n g e l 's s t o r e ,

s e t up a t t h e

up a t an

in te rse c tio n

o f D ry C r e e k a n d A n g e l s C r e e k , w a s a c o n v e n i e n t c e n t e r f o r m in e rs i n

th e a re a ,

was r i c h p a n n in g i n

a n d w hen t h e w o rd g o t a r o u n d t h a t t h e r e th e c re e k , every b o d y w a n te d t o t r y

I n h i s m em o irs,

Jam es H. C a rso n t e l l s

how h e l e f t

h i s d i g g i n g s o n C a r s o n C r e e k b e c a u s e i t w as n o t g o o d e n o u g h , b u t h e c am e b a c k t o A n g e l s Camp i n s p r i n g o f 184-9*

it.

th e e a rly

He w r o t e : 2

A c h a n g e h a d come o v e r t h e s c e n e . When we r e a c h e d t h e t o p o f t h e m o u n t a i n s , we h a d t o s t a n d and gaze on th e sc en e b e fo re u s . The h i l l s i d e s w ere d o t t e d w i t h t e n t s , an d th e c r e e k s f i l l e d w i t h h u m an b e i n g s t o s u c h a d e g r e e t h a t i t s e e m e d a s i f a d a y ’ s w o rk o f th e m ass w o u ld n o t l e a v e a s t o n e u n t u r n e d i n th e m .

^ J a c k s o n , A nybody' s G o ld . 339. 2C a r s o n , " E a r l y R e c o l l e c t i o n s o f t h e M i n e s , " San J o a q u in R e p u b lic a n . J a n u a r y 21, 1 8 5 2 .

18 A n g e l s Gamp w a s f a m e d n o t o n l y f o r i t s m i n e s b u t a s a tra d in g c e n te r.

In th e

s p rin g of 1849, th e p o p u la tio n of

A n g e l s Camp w as t h r e e h u n d r e d , ^ e x c l u s i v e o f I n d i a n s .

T h is

w as b e f o r e th e sta m p e d e o f I 849 fro m t h e E a s t h ad r e a c h e d th e cam p.

M e a n w h il e t h e p l a c e r s a l o n g t h e

c re e k w ere

p a y in g w e ll. E a rly

i n I 8 4 9 , Thomas I . M a t t e s o n p a i d

f o r h i s p a s s a g e fro m San F r a n c is c o

fifty

to S to c k to n .

It

d o lla rs re­

q u i r e d s e v e n d a y s t o r e a c h S t o c k t o n a n d s e v e n m ore d a y s t o r e a c h M u rp h y s D i g g i n g s b y o x c a r t . m o v ed down t o A n g e l s .

He s e t t l e d

N ot l i k i n g M urphys, he a lo n g th e c re e k a t w hat

l a t e r b e c a m e C h i n a t o w n , a n d s p e n t t h e n e x t tw o m o n th s m in in g i n

th e c re e k ,

a v e ra g in g e ig h te e n ounces a d a y .2

T h ree o u n c es a d ay was c o n s id e r e d good m in in g .3 The d i g g i n g s w e r e f o u n d t o b e r i c h i n c re e k and th e s m a lle r g u lc h e s and f l a t s

th e m ain

o f th e r e g io n .

At

o n e p l a c e , f r o m tw o h u n d r e d s q u a r e f e e t o f s u r f a c e e a r t h , tw o b r o t h e r s nam ed W i n t e r , s lu ic e s n in e

in 1852, w ashed o u t in

th o u sa n d d o l l a r s w o r th o f g o ld ;

th e ir

and upon

l E d n a B. B u c k b e e , P i o n e e r D ays o f A n g e l 1s Camp. 3 . 2l b i d . , 4 ,

3 G o ld v a r i e d i n p r i c e f r o m e i g h t d o l l a r s t o e ig h te e n d o l l a r s an o u n c e . F ro m r e p o r t o f G o v e r n o r M ason i n C o y , G o ld D a y s . 3 3 3 .

19 d i g g i n g down t o b e d r o c k f o u n d l i m e s t o n e g o ld m ix e d w i t h s u l p h u r e t s .

Upon b e i n g c r u s h e d a n d w o r k e d ,

i t y ie l d e d fro m one h u n d red and f i f t y d o lla r s p e r to n . of th ir ty - f iv e

c o n t a i n i n g m uch

A sp e cim en a s s a y e d

t o tw o h u n d r e d i n London a t th e r a t e

t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s a to n .^ -

The r i c h n e s s

of th e p l a c e r s

a ttra c te d

o f m i n e r s , an d i n 1853 t h e r e w e re f o r t y - f i v e c a m p . 2 w hen G e r s t a c k e r v i s i t e d

seem ed to h im a s i f s o il of

hu nd red i n th e

A n g e ls i n A p r i l ,

1850, i t

t h e w h o le s u r f a c e h a d b e e n w o rk e d .

The

th e bed o f th e c re e k had ev ery w h ere been tu r n e d up.3 A lth o u g h th e p l a c e r s w ere v e ry r i c h

deep,

l a r g e num b ers

a n d t h e cam p, a f t e r t h e f i r s t

d e p e n d e n t on t h e t r a d e fro m t h e

th e y w ere n o t

few y e a r s ,

fo u n d i t s e l f

s u rro u n d in g r e g io n s and

fro m t h e

t r a v e l e r s p a s s i n g th r o u g h fro m one r e g io n to

a n o th e r.

H u nd reds o f h orsem en and p e d e s t r i a n s p a s s e d

t h r o u g h e a c h d a y o n t h e i r way t o M u r p h y s , C a r s o n H i l l , Jackson, lin e s

S la b R anch, and C herokee F l a t .

and f r e i g h t l i n e s

came t h r o u g h A n g e l s .

had one o f t h e b e s t h o t e l s its

l o c a t i o n m ad e i t

The m a i n s t a g e

in

A ls o , A n g e ls

t h e M o t h e r L ode r e g i o n a n d

a sto p p in g p la c e f o r th e n ig h t.

lT h e o d o re H. H i t t e l l ,

C a lifo rn ia H is to ry . I l l ,

121.

2 G. B . G l a s s c o c k , A G o ld e n H i g h w a y . 2 6 9 . 3]?riederieh G e r s t a c k e r ,

G e rsta c k e r* s T r a v e ls ,

202.

20 When B o r t h w i c k v i s i t e d A a g e l s Camp i n I B 5 1 , he fo u n d 1 a v i l l a g e com posed o f w e l l - b u i l t b o u s e s o f w ood, a n d a l t o g e t h e r a m ore r e s p e c t a b l e a n d c i v i l i z e d p la c e th a n San A n d reas. By 1 8 5 3 t h e p l a c e r m i n i n g a t A n g e l s Camp w a s p ra c tic a lly

e x h a u ste d ,

and i t lo o k e d a s i f

th e

w o u l d s o o n b e n o t h i n g b u t a r o m a n t i c m e m o ry .

The f l o a t ­

in g u s u a lly ex ceed ed th e p erm an en t p o p u la tio n . A u s t r a l i a n g o ld e x e ite m e n t i n 1852 r e s u l t e d

v illa g e

The

in a g re a te r

e x o d u s f r o m A n g e l s t h a n f r o m o t h e r cam ps w h e r e t h e

y ie ld

fro m t h e p l a c e r m in in g was g o o d . T he " P e r e g r i n e P i l g r i m , " a c o r r e s p o n d e n t f o r t h e D a i l y A l t a C a l i f o r n i a , v i s i t e d A n g e l s i n June, 1 8 5 3 , a n d fo u n d n o t h i n g to h i s l i k i n g a b o u t th e cam p.

He s t a t e s :

T h i s p l a c e i s o n e o f t h e hum bug t o w n s we s o m e ­ tim e s f i n d i n th e m in e s . A p p a re n tly t h e r e w as once a s m a ll s t r i p o f r i c h m in in g g ro u n d n e a r t h e cam p, and p e o p le b e l i e v i n g i t to be e x t e n s i v e , b u i l t q u i t e a num ber o f v e ry good fram e h o u s e s . B u t, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , th e d ig g in g s gave o u t. . ♦ so t h a t now we f i n d many o f t h e h o u s e s e m p t y . One b a d s i g n i s t h a t I o b s e r v e v e ry few m in e r s a t w ork i n t h e v i c i n i t y , a n d a l a r g e num ber l o a f i n g ab o u t and p la y in g c a rd s f o r th e w h isk e y . . . I t m i g h t seem h a r d t o s p e a k s o o f any p l a c e , a n d

ij.

D. B o r t h w i c k ,

T hree Y ears i n C a l i f o r n i a . 260.

21 s o i t w o u l d b e w e r e t h e y t o b e a f f e c t e d by i t . B ut a p p a r e n t l y th e y n e v e r g e t any n e w sp a p e r, and n e v e r r e a d a n y th in g , an d ta k e no i n t e r e s t i n any­ t h i n g — u n le s s i t i s th e p r i c e o f w h isk e y . The d i s c o v e r y o f t h e r i c h th is

g o ld -b e a rin g q u a rtz a t

tim e sa v e d A n g e ls fro m th e u s u a l f a t e

fo rty -n in e .

cam p s o f

B ennager R a sp b e rry h a s b een g iv e n c r e d i t f o r

d is c o v e rin g th e f i r s t g o ld b e a rin g h u n tin g r a b b i t s .

q u a rtz w h ile out

A c c o rd in g to le g e n d th e ram ro d s t u c k i n

h is m u z z le -lo a d e r, p o in te d

of th e

an d , b e in g u n a b le

to p u l l i t

th e g u n a t t h e ground a n d f i r e d .

f r e e , he

When h e w e n t t o

g e t t h e r a m r o d h e saw a g l i t t e r o f g o l d i n t h e r o c k had been d is lo d g e d .

C o n tin u in g h i s

w as a r e a l l y g o o d v e i n ,

th a t

s e a r c h , he found w h a t

a n d w as a b l e

to

tak e o u t se v e n

h u n d red d o l la r s in g o ld t h a t a fte r n o o n w ith o u t any t o o ls . The n e x t d a y h e th ird

day,

t o o k o u t tw o t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s a n d t h e

seven th o u sa n d d o l l a r s .

He h a d a m in e f r o m

w h i c h h e m ade a f o r t u n e . 1 The W i n t e r b r o t h e r s w e r e t h e f i r s t men t o d e m o n s tra te

t h a t q u a r t z m in in g c o u ld be c o n d u c te d on a

p a y in g b a s i s . first

The M a r s h a l l m in e d e v e l o p e d b y th e m w a s t h e

q u a r t z m in e d e v e l o p e d i n A n g e l s .

in g s i n 1854 y ie ld e d te n

The s u r f a c e w o r k ­

th o u sa n d d o l l a r s .

l J a c k s o n , A n y b o d y 1s C o l d . 3 4 0 .

T hey b u i l t

22

a rra stra s

o p e r a t e d by h o r s e p o w e r , m i n e d a n o p e n c u t f o r

e ig h t y e a rs ,

and a re

c r e d i t e d w i t h h a v i n g m ade i n e x c e s s

o f tw o h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d

d o l l a r s . ! They w e r e a l s o

th e f i r s t

t o e r e c t a q u a r t z m i l l i n A n g els- a n d a l m o s t th e f i r s t o p e ra te a p a y in g one in

th e s t a t e .

pow er, h ad tw e lv e s ta m p e r s , each,

and c ru sh e d

to

I t w a s r u n by w a t e r

w e ig h in g f i v e h u n d red pounds

e ig h te e n to

tw e n ty t o n s of r o c k i n

tw e n ty -fo u r hours.2 By O c t o b e r 1 7 , 1 8 5 7 , t h e S a n A n d r e a s , was a b l e

to

s ta te

In d ep en d en t

th a t:

B e tw ee n W i n t e r t o n ( A l t a v i l l e ) an d A n g e ls i s t h e e x t e n s i v e q u a r t z l o d e , w h ic h h a s g iv e n su c h an im p e tu s to t r a d e and e n t e r p r i s e i n th e v i c i n i t y . I n l e s s th a n a y e a r ’ s tim e o v e r f i f t y q u a r t z m i l l s w i l l be r u n n i n g . T here i s

n o lo n g e r any d o u b t a s t o

A n g e ls a s a m in in g c o n m u n ity .

th e

g r e a t e s t q u a r tz m in in g c e n t e r s

in

to b e one o f

th e M o th e r L o d e,

a n d s u c h fam ous m in e s a s t h e M a r s h a l l ,

th e L ig h tn e r ,

M o th e r Lode C e n t r a l ,

a d d to a g o ld

and U tic a w ere t o

i B u c k b e e , F i o n e e r Days o f A n g e l s Cam p, 8 . ^ C o m p i l e d b y J . A. S m i t h f r o m S a n A n d r e a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , O c t o b e r 1 7 , 1857* 3 w a lsh ,

of

H e r p o p u l a t i o n h a d g ro w n

to f i v e t h o u s a n d by 1 8 5 4 .3 She w as d e s t i n e d th e

fu tu re

C o ld D u s t T r a i l s ,

67.

th e

23 p ro d u c tio n th a t to ta le d P e r h a p s A n g e ls * T w ain ’ s i l l u s t r i o u s

one h u n d red m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . ^ g r e a t e s t fa m e h a s come f r o m M a rk

sto ry ,

th e

" C e l e b r a t e d Ju m p in g F ro g

o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty ," w h ic h h a s l e d t o t h e m odern a n n u a l Ju m p in g F r o g J u b i l e e . h eard

M a r k T w a in i s

t h e s t o r y f r o m R o s s C oon i n

su p p o se d to h a v e

th e b a r-ro o m o f

th e

A n g e ls H o t e l d u r i n g th e w i n t e r of I S 6 4 , w h i l e he was l iv i n g w ith th e

G i l l i s b o y s on J a c k a s s H i l l .

H ow ever,

S a n A n d r e a s c l a i m s t h e s t o r y w a s t o l d t o M ark T w a in i n th e o ld M e tro p o lita n H o te l i n

t h a t tc w n .

A t any r a t e ,

t h e s k e t c h w a s s e n t t o A r t e m u s W a rd , who w as p l a n n i n g a book o f hum orous p i e c e s , b u t i t a r r i v e d p u b lis h e d . sa w i t

The e d i t o r o f

and p rin te d i t .

w eary o f w ar new s,

to o l a t e

to be

t h e S a t u r d a y P r e s s i n New Y o r k

E d ito rs

c o p ie d i t ,

th ro u g h o u t A m e ric a,

a n d M a rk T w a in a n d C a l a v e r a s

C o u n ty becam e famous.^ As we h a v e a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d , John and D a n ie l,

t h e M u rp h y b r o t h e r s ,

a s s o c i a t e s o f A n g e ls,

i n May, I 8 4 8 , w e n t

on e a s t s e v e r a l m i l e s a n d f o u n d g o ld f i r s t now kn ow n a s V a l l e c i t o ,

w h ic h w as c a l l e d

a t w hat i s

" M u r p h y ’ s O ld

^ S t a t e m e n t o n t h e C h a m b e r o f Commerce m on u m en t i n A n g e l s Camp. 2 0 s c a r L e w i s , T he O r i g i n o f t h e C e l e b r a t e d Ju m p in g F r o g o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty , 1 6 .

24 D ig g in g s ."

Soon g o ld w as d i s c o v e r e d i n

fo u r m ile s to w ere c a l l e d

th e

n o rth

th e l i t t l e

on A n g e l s C r e e k ,

" M u r p h y ’ s New D i g g i n g s . "

v a lle y

an d t h e s e m in e s

The f o r m e r p l a c e

w a s l a t e r on c a l l e d V a l l e c i t o b y t h e M e x i c a n p o p u l a t i o n , and t h e s e t tl e m e n t to D ig g in g s ."

th e

n o rth w as c a l l e d

"M urphy’ s R ic h

D o u g la s a n d S t a u d e n b e r g , m em bers o f t h e

M urphy’ s p a r t y , w e re s u p p o s e d ly th e d i s c o v e r e r s

of g o ld a t

" M u r p h y ’ s New D i g g i n g s , " w h i c h f o r a t i m e w a s r e f e r r e d as S to u te n b e rg .

I t w as c a l l e d

e l e c t i o n s , h e l d i n N o v e m b e r,

th is

at

1849, a s

th e

to

tim e o f t h e

th e p r e c i n c t

r e t u r n s w ere fro m S t o u t e n b e r g .1 F rie d e ric h G e rsta c k e r,

a G erm an f r o m L e i p s i g ,

v i s i t e d M u rp h y s i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 8 5 0 , was t o l d

and w ro te

t h a t he

t h a t t h e f i r s t w h i t e man t o r e a c h M u r p h y s h a d

fou n d a M e x ica n and h i s w i f e i n

a sm a ll h o le l i k e

a w e ll.

The c o u p l e h a d d u g up f r o m b e t w e e n t h e r o o t s o f a p i n e t r e e a n e n o r m o u s sum— i t d o lla rs

i n n u g g e ts ,

is

s a i d e ig h te e n th o u sa n d

b u t a s s o o n a s t h e A m e r i c a n s sh o w e d

in te n tio n s of c o n te s tin g th e p la c e ,

th e

re a d ily

tre a su re

le ft

th e p la c e

to p u t t h e i r

p l a c e . 2 The M u rp h y b r o t h e r s ,

o rig in a l d ig g e rs

p a rtic u la rly

in a sa fe

John, h ir e d

^-Murphys w a s a l s o a t o n e t i m e c a l l e d W ingdam a n d i s s u p p o s e d l y t h e l o c a t i o n o f B r e t H a r t e ’ s s t o r y "A N i g h t i n W in g d a m ." C o y , S t e p s T o w ard S t a t e h o o d , 9 8 . ^ G e rs ta c k e r,

T ra v e ls ,

207•

25 In d ia n s

t o w o rk t h e i r c l a i m s and w e re a l l e g e d t o h a v e

ta k e n o u t one m i l l i o n f i v e h u n d red

th o u sa n d d o l l a r s b e f o r e

th e end of th e w et se a so n o f 1 8 4 8 .1 B an cro ft t e l l s In d ia n s.

of

t h e M u rp h y s*

s u c c e s s w ith th e

He s a y s : 2

One who v i s i t e d t h e S t a n i s l a u s i n O c t o b e r , 1 8 4 8 , t e l l s o f som e n a t i v e s h e s a w a t w o r k i n t h a t v ic in ity . He s a y s t h e t e n t o f M r, M u rp h y w a s p itc h e d i n th e m id s t o f a sm a ll t r i b e o f w ild I n d i a n s who g a t h e r e d g o l d f o r h i m , a n d r e c e i v e d in re tu rn p ro v isio n s and b la n k e ts . He k n o c k e d down tw o b u l l o c k s a d a y t o f u r n i s h m e a t . T hey r e s p e c t e d h i s p e r s o n a n d p r o p e r t y i n p a r t due t o th e f a c t t h a t he h ad m a rrie d th e d a u g h te r o f th e c h ie f. Some t i m e i n M ay, 1 8 4 9 , a p a r t y

o f f o r t y m en p a s s i n g

t h r o u g h M urphys F l a t fo u n d good p a y a t t h e lo w e r en d o f t h e f l a t and re m a in e d to m in e . p r e c i s e p o i n t g o l d w as f i r s t

It

i s n o t k now n a t w h a t

fo u n d ,

b u t i t w as n o t f a r

f r o m t h e c u t made t h r o u g h b e d r o c k b y t h e M u r p h y ' s F l u m i n g C om pany. An o u n c e t o " to le ra b ly "

th e p a n w as no u n u s u a l p r o s p e c t , a n d

good e v e n i n

'f o r t y - n i n e .

a d e p th o f fro m f o u r to te n

iG la s sc o e k , ^ B a n c ro ft,

fe e t,

G o ld w as f o u n d a t

th e l a t t e r b e in g

G o ld e n H ig h w a y , 2 6 6 . C a lifo rn ia H isto ry , I I ,

441*

26 c o n sid e re d r a t h e r deep d ig g in g s . By A u g u s t , 1 8 4 9 , about f if ty

m in e rs,

w ere unknown, a s h a b ita tio n s.

th e p o p u l a t i o n o f M urphys w as o n ly

c h ie f ly A m e ric a n s.

th e m in e r s w ere

C a b in s an d t e n t s

to o b u sy t o p u t up su c h

T h ey s i m p l y c a m p e d u n d e r t h e t r e e s .

R e g u la tio n s w ere p a s s e d l i m i t i n g c la im s fe e t sq u are. th e c la im

to

to e i g h t

The a d d i t i o n o f a p a r t n e r w o u l d e n l a r g e e i g h t by tw e lv e f e e t .

F o r th e se a so n th e s e

c la im s a v e ra g e d th r e e th o u sa n d d o l l a r s . o u t sev en th o u sa n d d o l l a r s i n One m i n e r r e a l i z e d

th e

A F renchm an t o o k

sum m er a n d w e t s e a s o n . 1

$8 0 , 0 0 0 fro m h i s w o rk t h e f i r s t w i n t e r . 2

I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t f i v e m i l l i o n

d o l l a r s w ere ta k e n from

a f o u r a c r e p l a c e r a r e a . 3 P ans w ere th e

o n ly im p le m e n ts

u se d i n w a sh in g u n t i l l a t e

w h e n t h e new i n ­

in

th e f a l l ,

v e n t i o n s o f r o c k e r s o r c r a d l e s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d f r o m W ood’ s C r e e k i n w h a t w as l a t e r sp rin g in

th e f l a t ,

T u o lu m n e C o u n t y .

w h ic h w as d a i l y

of w a te r f o r th e m in e r’ s c u lin a r y m ade t o c o l l e c t t h e w a t e r , o u t p la c e f o r ev ery b o d y .

T h e r e w as a s m a l l

d r a in e d o f th e s u p p ly

p u rp o ses.

A dam w as

and t h i s a f f o r d e d a p a n n in g The o r d i n a r y

ra te

o f w ages w as

^ S a n A n d r e a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , May 1 , 1 8 5 6 . ^B i o g r a p h i c a l H i s t o r y o f C e n t r a l C a l i f o r n i a C o u n t i e s , 1 54* 3 J o h n G a a rd e n , G o ld N u g g e ts o f t h e W o rld ,

64*

27 an oun ce o f g o ld p e r d a y b u t few c o u ld be h i r e d p ric e .

Pour or fiv e

o u n c es to th e pan w as n o t u n u s u a l

m in in g on w h at w as th e n c a l l e d th e

at th a t

th e la v a l e d g e .

c la im s p a id s i x t e e n o u n ces t o

Many o f

th e p a n .

By t h e sum m er o f 1 8 4 9 t h e r e w e r e f o u r t r a d i n g p o s t s on t h e

fla t.

T hey b e l o n g e d t o d o c t o r s B row n a n d W i l s o n ,

a m an nam ed C o n n e l l , Roman ( l a t e r s t a t e th e s e d ig g in g s

tre a su re r).

soon s p r e a d ,

s i d e s by t h e f a l l v ery e a r ly ,

t h e D a ly b r o t h e r s , a n d M a jo r R ic h a r d

of 1849.

News o f t h e r i c h n e s s o f

and m in e r s cro w d ed i n

from a l l

But th e r a in y s e a s o n s t a r t e d

an d n o t h i n g c o u ld be done b u t m ark t h e p l a c e r s

t h a t w e r e t o b e w o rk e d ' i n t h e su m m e r. C e r s t a c k e r , who cam e t o M u rp h y s i n A p r i l ,

1850,

sa y s:l To p r e v e n t a b u s e , t h e A m e r i c a n d i g g e r s c a l l e d a m e e tin g i n w h ic h i t was r e s o l v e d t h a t no one s h o u ld h a v e a l a r g e r p l a c e r — and o n ly one i n h i s nam e— t h a n s i x t e e n f e e t l o n g and e i g h t f e e t b r o a d , w i t h a s p a c e o f tw o a n d a h a l f f e e t a r o u n d i t f o r th ro w in g d i r t . Such a c la im m ig h t be r e g i s t e r e d f o r a f e e o f tw o d o l l a r s w i t h t h e A l c a l d e , i n w h i c h c a s e i t w o u ld b e v a l i d u n t i l A u g u s t, 1 8 5 0 , an d n o lo n g e r. By A u g u s t , 1 8 5 0 , n o t o n l y m i n e r s b u t a g r e a t many s t o r e k e e p e r s w i t h g o o d s and p r o v i s i o n s had cro w d ed i n t o M urphys F l a t .

Thus i t

d & e rs ta c k e r,

w a s n o l o n g e r a cam p b u t a t o w n .

T r a v e l s . 207#

28 H ere i s v isite d

it

in

G e r s t a c k e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f M urphys w hen h e t h e summer o f 1 8 5 0 . 1

T h e r e w a s a l a r g e w ood y p l a i n i n t h e m i d s t o f w h i c h a s m a l l to w n a r o s e • A b r o a d s t r e e t o f l a p g e s t o r e t e n t s e x te n d e d a lo n g th e m id d le of th e f l a t . N ot o n ly th e n e c e s s a ry p r o v is io n s and u n n e c e s s a ry d r in k s m ig h t b e had i n th e s e , s h o p s , b u t a l s o r e a l a r t i c l e s of lu x u ry . T he m a i n s t r e e t w a s t h u s s o l e l y o c c u p i e d by t h e d i f f e r e n t s t o r e s a n d s h o p s . A m ass o f s m a ll b lo c k h o u s e s a n d t e n t s l a y b e h i n d th em , s c a t t e r e d as f a r as th e n e x t ran g e of h i l l s . A lth o u g h c o n s i s t i n g o n ly o f t e n t s , i t h a d , d u r in g t h e sum m er o f 1 8 4 9 , b e e n r a i s e d t o t h e r a n k o f a r e a l to w n , w h e re a n a l c a l d e , a s h e r i f f a n d a c o n s t a b l e w ere d u ly e l e c t e d . The w h o l e to w n c o m p r i s e d a b o u t f i f t y t e n t s , tw o o r t h r e e b l o c k ­ h o u s e s , and a house b u i l t o f p la n k s ; y e t , i t a l r e a d y b o a s t e d n e a r l y a s m any " b a r s " a s t e n t s , b e s i d e s t h r e e A m erican a n d f o u r F re n c h d i n i n g r o o m s , tw o d o c t o r s 1 s h o p s , a t l e a s t t w e n t y g a m b l i n g t a b l e s and a s k i t t l e g ro u n d w h ere y o u m ig h t h av e t h r e e th ro w s f o r th e r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e o f tw e n ty fiv e c e n ts. I n t h e N o v e m b e r 1 3 t h e l e c t i o n o f 1 849» S t o u t e n b e r g was one o f t h e p r e c i n c t s i n d istric t.

G e rsta c k e r t e l l s

th e San J o a q u in

us t h a t S to u te n b e r g w as a

p a r t o f M urphys D ig g in g s s e t t l e d

by G erm ans.

I t was

n a m e d a f t e r a G erm an c a l l e d S t a u d e n b e r g 2who h a d s e t up th e f i r s t

sto re h ere.

A p ril, 1850, i t

When G e r s t a c k e r a r r i v e d i n .

seem ed to h im t h a t e v e r y i n c h o f s p a c e

^ G e rs ta c k e r,

T ra v e ls , 207.

2By p o p u l a r u s e t h e nam e b e c a m e S t o u t e n b e r g .

29 on t h e f l a t

had b e en m in e d .

He d i d n ’ t h a v e m u ch s u c c e s s

and s a y s t h a t a lth o u g h g o ld w as t o be fo u n d , he d id n o t fin d

it

nor d id a m a jo rity

o f th e d i g g e r s .

By A u g u s t , 1 8 ^ 0 ,

a g r e a t m any s t o r e k e e p e r s h a d come i n w i t h g o o d s a n d s e t u p s t o r e s , b u t t h e d i g g e r s b e g a n t o l e a v e a p l a c e w h ere th e y c o u l d n o t e v e n m ak e w a g e s . ^ The a l c a l d e , M a j o r ? / y a t t , and th e s to r e k e e p e r s u sed d i f f e r e n t r u s e s m in e rs, b u t s t i l l h is lu c k a t

th ey l e f t .

to keep

G e rs ta c k e r d e c id e d to tr y

"M c C a lo m e . " 2

The f o r e i g n m i n e r ’ s t a x . , p a s s e d by t h e le g isla tu re in

f o r e i g n e r s w o rk in g f o r th e m se lv e s o r

th e d ig g in g s ,

c re a te d g re a t in d ig n a tio n a t

M urphys, an d r e s u l t e d i n w hat w as c a l l e d R e v o lu tio n .

sta te

th e s p r i n g o f 1 8 5 0 , le v y in g a tw e n ty d o l l a r

m o n t h l y t a x on a l l o th e rs a t

th e

th e F re n c h

The g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e m i n e r s w e r e F r e n c h m e n ,

a s m a l l e r num ber G erm ans,

and a few S p a n i a r d s .

M e x ic a n s h a d b e e n d r i v e n o f f .

The

The f o r e i g n e r s s a i d

w o u ld n ’ t p ay t h e t a x a n d arm ed t h e m s e l v e s .

th e y

On May 2 0 t h a

r e p o r t s p r e a d t h r o u g h t h e cam p t h a t a r e v o l u t i o n h a d b ro k en o u t i n S o n o ra.

A l e t t e r a r r i v e d c a l l i n g on th e

F r e n c h i n M u r p h y s t o come t o

lG e rsta e k e r, 2 M o k e lu m n e .

th e a i d o f t h e i r com rades i n

T r a v e ls . 207.

30 S o n o ra.

M o s t o f t h e F r e n c h a rm e d t h e m s e l v e s i n g r e a t

e x c ite m e n t and h a s t i l y m arched o f f a f f a i r was a h o a x .

to

th e w a r.

The l e t t e r w a s g e n u i n e ,

But th e

b u t w hen th e

F re n c h a r r i v e d i n S o n o ra th e y fo u n d e v e r y th in g p e a c e f u l . The F r e n c h r e t u r n e d

t o M u rp h y s a t n i g h t , s i n g l y ,

v e r y m uch a s h a m e d o f t h e m s e l v e s .

T hey a p o l o g i z e d t o t h e

a l c a l d e , b u t t h e .A m e ric a n s c e n s u r e d t h e a c t i o n s a t a p u b lic m e e tin g ,

an d th e i n c i d e n t c r e a t e d i l l w i l l b e tw e e n

th e r a c i a l g ro u p s. 1 One o f t h e b i g g e s t p r o b l e m s f a c i n g t h e

m in e rs a t

M u rp h y s w a s t h a t o f a n a d e q u a t e w a t e r s u p p l y t o w a s h t h e i r g r a v e l . 2 T h is n eed r e s u l t e d i n

t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e U n io n

W a t e r Company t o b r i n g w a t e r a d i s t a n c e o f f i f t e e n m i l e s fro m th e S t a n i s l a u s R i v e r ,

s o u th o f t h e B ig T r e e s .

d i t c h was c o m p le te d u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n an d w a t e r r e a c h e d M urphys i n

of C a p ta in H a n fo rd ,

Jan u ary , 1853.

I t w as d u r in g

th e n e x t te n y e a r s t h a t p l a c e r m in in g re a c h e d i t s t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f M u r p h y s w as g r e a t l y becam e a r o a r i n g cam p.

peak;

expanded, and i t

Ju dge John S h e p h e rd , b o r n i n

M u rp h y s i n 1 8 5 1 , d e s c r i b e s

^ G e rsta c k e r,

The

it

as fo llo w s:3

T ra v e ls, 220.

^ F rie d e ric h G e rsta c k e r,

C a l i f o r n i a G o ld M i n e s , 9 3 •

3F ro m a s p e e c h o f J u d g e S h e p h e r d s t h e f i r s t w h i t e c h i l d b o r n i n M u rp h y s, a t - t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e H .D .G .W .’ s momument a n d r e p o r t e d i n S t o c k t o n , R e c o r d , D e c e m b e r 6 , .1937♦

31 S a lo o n s , d an ce h o u s e s , and to u g h s fro m o t h e r c lim e s k e p t tim e s l i v e l y . S h e r i f f Boh P a u l a n d h i s d e p u t y , B en F . M a r s h a l l , w e r e k e p t o n t h e ju m p n i g h t a n d d a y u n t i l t h e Law a n d O r d e r L e a g u e w a s f o r m e d , c o m p o s e d o f h u s k y y o u n g New E n g l a n d e r s , who b e c a m e th e S h e r i f f s p o s s e , and th e to u g h s and o t h e r p e ac e d i s t u r b e r s w ere su b d u e d . When F a t h e r H e n r y A l e r i e in th e

o f S o n o r a v i s i t e d M u rp h y s

l a t t e r p a r t of 1 8 5 1 , he d e s c rib e s th e p la c e as

b e in g p i l e d h ig h w ith g r e a t h eap s o f ro c k s and c o b b le s to n e s . The l a r g e l i m e s t o n e b o u l d e r s th e b lo o d -re d e a r th th o u sa n d m in e r s i n

s to o d o u t, w ashed c le a n o f

t h a t once c o v e re d th em . t h i s a r e a w ere s t i l l

The t h r e e

re c e iv in g f a i r

re tu rn s fo r th e ir in d u stry . 1 M urphys w as a t r a d i n g c e n t e r f o r a num ber o f m in in g a r e a s . and a m ile to G u lch ,

F r e n c h G u lch w as a fe w m i l e s t o th e

t h a t m et a t

th e w e s t,

e a s t w ere M i s s o u r i G u lch and P e n n s y lv a n ia th e l i t t l e

v i l l a g e o f B ro w n s v ille .

T h is was a r i c h a r e a an d w o rk e d u n t i l th e m id d le B ed H i l l , p ro d u cers.

S ix M ile C re ek ,

's i x t i e s .

and S k u n k 's M ise ry w e re g o o d

C o y o t e C r e e k was e x t e n s i v e l y m in e d a l l

t h e w ay

th r o u g h D o u g la s F l a t and on to Y a l l e e i t o . The* n o r t h p a r t o f M u r p h y s - F l a t l e a d i n g u p t h e g u l c h back of

t h e p r e s e n t M a s o n i c T e m p le w as kn ow n a s O w ls b u r g

and w as th o ro u g h ly w o rk e d .

!W a lsh ,

A l a r g e n u m b e r o f C hinese:;-

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s , 6 9 .

32 w orked t h i s

a r e a o v er a f t e r i t had b een abandoned by th e

A m e ric an s.

The r e g i o n o u t t o t h e s o u t h ,

l e a d i n g u p M u rp h y s

G u l c h a n d o n t o t h e C e n t r a l H i l l h y d r a u l i c m i n e , w a s know n a s A l g i e r s an d was v e r y r i c h . C e n t r a l H i l l m in e , acro ss

In o rd er to

g e t w a te r to th e

a s u s p e n s i o n flu m e was c o n s t r u c t e d

th e lo w e r end o f th e v a l l e y ,

i n 1 8 5 7 , t h a t w asone

of th e g r e a t e s t e n g in e e rin g f e a t s i n th e s t a t e The f l u m e w a s h e l d up b y tw o w i r e c a b l e s ,

at

one

lo n g and one and a h a l f in c h e s i n d i a m e t e r ,

th a t tim e .

th o u sa n d f e e t

stru n g over

to w e r s w h ic h w e re n i n e t y - f o u r f e e t h i g h on t h e n o r t h an d one h u n d red and tw e n ty - f o u r f e e t h ig h o n th e s o u t h . th e flu m e t o t h e b e d o f hu nd red and n in e ty

t h e c r e e k w a s a d i s t a n c e o f tw o

fe e t.

e ig h te e n hun d red f e e t ,

From

T he l e n g t h o f t h e

and i t

w o u ld c a r r y

flu m e was

fifty

in c h e s of

w a te r. 1 A n o th e r o u t s t a n d i n g a c h ie v e m e n t o f th e m in e r s o f M u rp h y s w a s t h e

c o n s tr u c tio n o f th e

th e p u rp o se o f d r a in in g

th e f l a t

w orked t o a g r e a t e r d e p th . f l a t had f a i l e d ,

so

B e d r o c k F lu m e f o r th a t i t

E a rly a tte m p ts

c o u ld be

to d ra in

th e

a n d som e m i n e r s h a d a b a n d o n e d ' t h e i r c l a i m s .

I n S e p te m b e r, 1 8 5 9 ,

t h e flu m e had b e e n c o m p le te d .

a b o u t fo u r th o u sa n d f e e t lo n g and fro m s i x t o seven f e e t deep, c u t th ro u g h s o lid lim e s to n e .

I t was

th irty The r o c k

ISan Andreas, Independent. November 14, 1857.

33 was d r i l l e d

by b an d and b l a s t e d w i t h b l a c k p o w d e r.

m in e rs r a n t h e i r t a i l i n g s

in to

T he

t h e flu m e a n d s e v e r a l t im e s

e a c h y e a r t h e U n i o n W a t e r Company f u r n i s h e d t h e m w i t h a la rg e

q u a n tity o f w a te r

had a c c u m u la te d .

t o w a s h aw ay t h e t a i l i n g s

th a t

The m i n e s o n t h e F l a t w e r e now w o r k e d

to a d e p th o f a b o u t t h i r t y - f i v e

fe e t,

and g r e a t q u a n t i t i e s

o f g o ld re m o v e d .! L ik e m o st o f t h e o t h e r m in i n g c a m p s, M urphys w as d e s t r o y e d by f i r e

on A u g u s t 1 9 , 1359*

th e M a g n o lia S a lo o n ,

The f i r e

sta rte d

n e a r t h e we-st e n d o f t o w n .

I t w as

in

u s e d a s a F a n d a n g o H o u s e a n d t e n a n t e d by some d i s r e p u t a b l e M e x i c a n women, o n e o f whom w a s s u s p e c t e d o f s e t t i n g t h e fire

in revenge f o r h a rs h tr e a tm e n t.

b lo w in g ,

and th e e n t i r e b u s i n e s s s e c t i o n was b u r n e d ,

in c lu d in g th e su p p o se d ly P erry .

A b r i s k w in d was

f ir e - p r o o f h o te l o f S p erry

and

The t o t a l l o s s w a s a b o u t $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 a n d f o r t y - s e v e n

b u sin e ss houses d e stro y e d . a n d b y M onday som e f i f t e e n

The f i r e

o c c u r r e d on S u n d a y ,

o r tw e n ty h o u s e s w ere a l r e a d y •

b e in g r e b u i l t . 2 An a r t i c l e i8 6 0 ,

sta te d

in

th e S a n A n d re a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , M arch 2 ,

t h a t M urphys h a d b e e n p r a c t i c a l l y

A. S m ith , " E a r l y C a l a v e r a s H i s t o r y , " W e e k l y , M a r c h 2 , 19A5*

re b u ilt

C a la v e ra s

2San Andreas, Independent, August 27, 1859.

34 a n d t h a t f e w to w n l o t s e re c te d a n eat l i t t l e a u d ie n c e l i k e l y

to

w e re v a c a n t . th e a te r,

g a th e r in

and P e rry had r e b u i l t , h o ste lry

la rg e

enough to h o ld any

t h e c o m m u n ity , and S p e r r y

e n la rg e d ,

so t h a t i t w as one o f

m o u n ta in s,

Judge P u tn e y had

a n d im p ro v e d t h e i r

th e f i n e s t h o te ls i n th e

T h i s h o t e l w a s p o p u l a r f o r m any y e a r s a s a

sto p p in g p la c e f o r t o u r i s t s C a la v e r a s B ig f r e e s , The B ig T r e e s

on t h e i r w ay t o v ie w t h e

f i f t e e n m ile s e a s t. (S e q u o ia g l g a n t e a ) had b e en d i s ­

c o v e r e d i n 1 8 5 2 b y A . T . Dowd, a h u n t e r e m p l o y e d f o r t h e U n i o n W a t e r Company a t t h e c o n stru c te d .

tim e th e c a n a l w as b e in g

He w a s f o l l o w i n g t h e

tra il

o f a w ounded

g r i z z l y b e a r w h e n h e s u d d e n l y cam e u p o n o n e o f t h e im m e n se tre e s. tre e s,

He w a s o v e r c o m e w i t h w o n d e r a t t h e b u t w hen h e t o l d o f h i s

i n cam p,

th e y la u g h e d a t h im .

t h e m o n l y by p e r s u a d i n g

s iz e o f th e

d isc o v e ry to h is

co m rad es

He w a s a b l e t o c o n v i n c e

s e v e r a l o f th e m a f e w d a y s l a t e r

t o a c c o m p a n y h im f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f b r i n g i n g i n

a la rg e

g riz z ly . 1 J o h n B i d w e l l e l a i m e d h e h a d b e e n t h e f i r s t w h i t e man to s e e one o f th e

t r e e s w h e n h i s p a r t y cam e o v e r t h e S o n o r a

p a s s i n I 8 4 1 , 2 a n d J . M. W o o s t e r v i s i t e d

^ S c e n e s o f W o n d er a n d C u r i o s i t y 2S e e a b o v e , 4 .

th e g ro v e and

in C a lifo rn ia . 8 .

35 carv ed h is i n i t i a l s

on one o f t h e

w h i l e on a p r o s p e c t i n g e x p e d i t i o n . na m e d W h i t e h e a d h a d v i s i t e d o n May 2 0 , 1 8 5 0 . p u b lic ity

p o rta n t

He s t a t e s

tre e s

t h a t a man

a few d a y s b e f o r e ,

Hone o f t h e s e m en, h o w e v e r ,

to th e ir

c a lle d a tte n tio n

th e

tr e e s i n Ju n e, 1850,

to

d isc o v e ry ,

a n d i t w a s Dowd who f i r s t

th e t r e e s .

to M urphys, a s i t

gave

T h i s d i s c o v e r y w a s im ­

l a t e r b r o u g h t m any t o u r i s t s .

M in in g la w s f o r t h e M urphys d i s t r i c t ,

a d o p te d

O c to b e r 2 6 , 1 8 5 7 , p r o v id e d : a m i n i n g c l a i m i n a n y n ew g r o u n d i n p l a c e r d ig g in g s s h a l l n o t ex ceed one h u nd red f e e t s q u a re , and i n o ld o r abandoned d ig g in g s , one h u n d red f e e t w id e by o n e h u n d r e d an d f i f t y i n l e n g t h . E v e r y m i n e r w a s p e r m i t t e d t o h o l d tw o c l a i m s , c la im and one w et o r w a te r c la im .

The d r y c l a i m

w o rk ed w h en ev er w a t e r c o u ld be o b t a i n e d a t p ric e s,

o n e dry sh o u ld be

th e u s u a l

a n d a w e t c l a i m f r o m May 2 0 t h t o N o v e m b e r 2 0 t h . 1 The C a l a v e r a s L i g h t G u a r d s , a m i l i t i a

o r g a n i z e d May 4 , 1 8 6 1 , a n d m e t r e g u l a r l y f o r of m ilita ry to e n lis t in

tra in in g .

Many o f

th e s e r v ic e d u rin g

u n i t , was th e purpose

t h e m e m b e rs w e r e t h e f i r s t th e C i v i l W ar.

A g reat

p a r t o f Company A , S e c o n d R e g i m e n t , C a l i f o r n i a V o l u n t e e r s , w e r e m e m b e rs f r o m M u r p h y s .

The G u a r d s h a d a f i n e a r m o r y

iSan Andreas, Independentt November 7, 1857.

36 on t h e h i l l n o r t h o f a n d o v e r l o o k i n g t h e

to w n .l

Q u a r tz m in in g d e v e l o p e d l a t e r i n M urphys t h a n a t A n g e ls,

an d th e m in e s i n

th is re g io n ,

lo c a te d in

th e l a s t

B e l t o f t h e M o th e r L o d e, c o u l d n o t com pare i n p r o d u c t i o n to

t h o s e i n t h e A n g e ls a r e a .

M u rp h y s*

c e n te r co v e red th e p e rio d o f th e

g lo ry a s a m in in g

’f if tie s

and ’ s i x t i e s

when p l a c e r a n d h y d r a u l i c m in in g w ere p r o d u c in g r i c h re tu rn s* V a lle c ito , d isc o v e re d

w h e r e t h e M u rp h y b r o t h e r s o r i g i n a l l y

g o ld , was a v e r y p o p u l a r p l a c e ,

d e a l o f g o l d was t a k e n o u t d u r i n g t h e of th e o ld re m a in s i n V a l l e c i t o o ffic e ;

and a g r e a t

f i r s t decade.

to d a y i s

One

th e W e lls F a rg o

o n l y cam ps t h a t p r o d u c e d a g r e a t d e a l o f g o l d h a d

such o ffic e s * p o p u la tio n of

A t one tim e d u r in g t h i s

e a rly p e rio d th e

t h e to w n w a s f o u r t h o u s a n d .

The r e c o r d s

sh o w t h a t i n o n e w e e k s i x t e e n h u n d r e d o u n c e s o f g o l d w a s produced in th is v i c i n i ty

a n d p u rc h a s e d by th e l o c a l

m e rc h a n ts . 2 A t th e a v era g e o f s ix te e n d o l la r s an ounce, w h ic h was p a i d a t t h e su m .

An a r t i c l e

tim e ,

t h i s w o u ld am ount t o a t i d y

i n th e San A n d re a s, I n d e p e n d e n t,

i C a la v e ra s C h r o n ic le . Ja n u ary 28, 1865. ^ S p e e c h by J u d g e J . A. S m i t h a t t h e d e d i c a t i o n Of t h e m onum ent f o r t h e o l d . b e l l t h a t h a d h u n g i n a n o ak t r e e s i n c e t h e ’ f i f t i e s , S t o c k t o n , R e c o r d , O c t o b e r 2 , 19 39*

37 A p ril 28, i8 6 0 ,

sta te s

t h a t o n t h e p r e v i o u s S u n d a y m o re

g o ld -d u s t w as b ro u g h t i n t o V a l le c i to

and o ffe re d f o r s a le

th a n b u y e rs had c o in to p u rc h a s e . When F a t h e r A l e r i c 1851, he fo u n d th e t r a i l to V a lle c ito g o ld .

v isite d

th e a r e a fro m S o n o ra in

fro m M urphys t h r o u g h D o u g la s F l a t

l i n e d w i t h m in e r s h a r d a t w ork p a n n in g f o r

F iv e d i f f e r e n t t r a i l s

le d in to V a lle c ito ,

and i t

b e c a m e t h e r e n d e z v o u s f o r a v i c i o u s c r o w d o f r o w d i e s who h a u n te d i t s

s a lo o n s an d g a m b lin g h a l l s

day and n i g h t .

Many o f t h e s e w e r e M e x i c a n b a n d i t s — n i g h t r i d e r s o f M u r i e t a * s g a n g 1 — who s p e n t t h e i r n i g h t s n o rth e rn h i l l s . ch u rch i n th e l i t t l e

i n c rim e i n

th e

F a t h e r A l e r i c m ade no a t t e m p t t o b u i l d

t h i s c o m m u n i ty ,

a l t h o u g h he h a d m ade p l a n s

a

fo r

w ooden c h u rc h t h a t w as soon to b e c o n s tr u c te d

i n M u rp h y s .2 The d i g g i n g s a t V a l l e c i t o w e r e d e e p a n d c o u l d n o t b e w orked i n

th e w i n t e r b e ca u se o f th e l a r g e am ount o f

w a te r t h a t a c c u m u la te d fro m th e w et w e a th e r . sunk i n t o

th e g r a v e l fro m f i f t y

g o ld w as c o a r s e ,

S h a f t s w ere

to one h undred f e e t .

The

a n d m any l a r g e n u g g e t s w e r e f o u n d .

^ T h e nam e i s a l s o s p e l l e d M u r r i e t t a , b u t I ’ m f o l l o w i n g t h e s p e l l i n g u s e d by J a c k s o n i n A nybody’ s G o ld . He s p e l l s i t a s J o h n R i d g e s p e l l e d i t i n t h e f i r s t b o o k o n th e b a n d it . % a lsh ,

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 69*

38 A m an n am ed l o h n W a r d , i n F e b r u a r y , a nu g g et w o rth n in e

1 8 5 3 , p i c k e d up

th o u sa n d f i v e h u n d red d o l l a r s I n

I S 59 m i n i n g w a s s t i l l

g o o d , a n d a m i n e r na m e d G i b s o n , i n

A p r i l , 1S59> t o o k o u t o f h i s s l u i c e b o x a s e v e n t y - o u n c e n u g g e t , m ix e d w i t h q u a r t z *

A fte r s e p a ra tin g

th e

q u a rtz ,

he had a fo rty -o u n c e n u g g e t.2 The s h o r t a g e o f w a t e r f o r w a s h i n g g r a v e l w a s o v e r ­ com e b y t h e C a l a v e r a s W a t e r Company w i t h d i t c h e s b r i n g i n g w a t e r from th e S t a n i s l a u s . V a l l e c i t o w as a c e n t e r o f t r a d i n g f o r s e v e r a l r i c h re g io n s,

s u c h a s W ade’ s F l a t , Humbug H i l l

hum bug) an d a l l

u p a n d dow n C o y o t e C r e e k .

was d e s t r o y e d by f i r e

(w h ic h was no When t h e

to w n

on A u g u s t 1 2 , 1 8 5 9 , s e v e n d a y s

b e f o r e th e M urphys’ f i r e ,

t h e r e w ere f o r t y - s e v e n b u s i n e s s

e s t a b l i s h m e n t s dam aged o r d e s t r o y e d , w i t h a l o s s o f $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 . A lth o u g h F a th e r A l e r i c f e l t t h a t i t to b u ild a ch u rch i n in te re s te d

in

t h e to w n ,

was i m p o s s i b l e

th e m in e rs w ere

th e r e lig io u s l i f e .

so m e w h a t

I n 1853 a b e l l was

p u r c h a s e d and hun g i n a b i g oak t r e e , sum m oned t o w o r s h i p o n S u n d a y b y i t s

and th e m in e rs w ere m e llo w t o n e s .

The

s e r v i c e w as h e l d u n d e r th e s p r e a d in g lim b s o f t h e o a k .

^ G l a s s c o c k , A G o ld e n H ig h w ay « 2 6 7 . 2 I . A. S m i t h , " E a r l y D a y s o f C a l a v e r a s , " C a la v e r a s P r o s p e c t , F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 1945*

39 A few y e a r s ag o a h e a v y w in d s to r m b le w t h e t r e e

down a n d

i n 1939 t h e l o c a l c i t i z e n s h ad a m onum ent e r e c t e d on w h ic h th e b e l l w as p l a c e d a s a p e rm a n e n t t e s t i m o n i a l to t h e f a i t h of th e e a rly

in h a b ita n ts.

I t h as a lr e a d y b een m e n tio n e d le ft

t h a t Jam es H. C a rso n

G e o r g e A n g e l a t A n g e l s G r e e k a n d w e n t on s o u t h a b o u t

fo u r m ile s,

w here h e b e g a n t 6 p a n i n a c r e e k r u n n i n g

aro u n d th e b a se o f a h i l l C arso n C reek and H i l l . and i n

t h a t l a t e r b e c a m e k n ow n a s

He d i s c o v e r e d g o l d o n C a r s o n F l a t

th e c r e e k i n A u g u st, I 8 4 8 .

p a n n e d o u t 1 80 o u n c e s i n

He c l a i m s t o h a v e

t e n d a y s . * 1- H o w e v e r , h e d i d n o t

seem t o b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h i s a n d c r o s s e d t h e S t a n i s l a u s , p r o s p e c tin g a s he w e n t.

He c a m p e d a t t h e p l a c e t h a t

l a t e r becam e S o n o r a , w i t h o u t d i s c o v e r i n g t h e r i c h n e s s o f th e d e p o s its .

He s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n a r e s t l e s s

s p i r i t and

c o u ld n o t b e h e l d by t h e r i c h n e s s o f a n y o f t h e s e r e g i o n s . H ow ever, t h e b a r s on t h e S t a n i s l a u s n e a r C a rs o n H i l l and C arson C reek w ere y i e l d i n g r i c h r e t u r n s i n 1843-49 to th e f i r s t m in e rs.

The Don A n t o n i o C o r o n e l e x p e d i t i o n

to th e

S t a n i s l a u s m in e h a s b e e n m e n t i o n e d . 2 A t t h i s p o i n t o n t h e riv e r,

l a t e r k n o w n a s M el o n e s ,

J o h n W* R o b i n s o n a n d

iR e n s e h and H oover, H i s t o r i c 2S e e A b o v e , 9«

S p o ts, 4 6 .

uo S t e p h e n M e ad , who h a d b e e n m e m b e rs o f t h e C a r s o n - R o b i n s o n M in in g E x p e d i t i o n , i s t a r t e d a t r a d i n g p o s t a n d e s t a b l i s h e d a f e r r y a c r o s s th e S ta n is la u s R iv e r i n w h i c h w a s kno w n a s R o b i n s o n ’ s F e r r y .

th e

I t w as l a t e r

c a l l e d M e lo n es by t h e M e x ic a n s b e c a u s e

th e

g o l d n u g g e t s w e re s i m i l a r t o m elo n s e e d s . c a lle d

it

S lu m g u llio n .

v ery p r o f i ta b le ,

and i n

sum m er o f I 8 4 S , on

shape o f th e The A m e r i c a n s

The T r a d i n g p o s t a n d f e r r y p r o v e d th e

sum m er o f I8f>0 i n a p e r i o d o f

s i x w eeks te n th o u sa n d d o l l a r s

in f e r r ia g e

t h e m i n e r s *2 M e l o n e s w a s o r i g i n a l l y

f e e was p a id by

n o t a t th e r i v e r

c r o s s i n g b u t h a l f w ay b e t w e e n t h e r i v e r a n d C a r s o n H i l l . 3 W a lte r C o lto n o f M o n te rey v i s i t e d

th e S ta n is la u s

m i n e i n 184*8 a n d w r o t e : 4 I t w as i n t h e S t a n i s l a u s t h a t t h e l a r g e s t lu m p o f p u r e g o ld e v e r m in e d i n C a l i f o r n i a w as d i s c o v e r e d . I t w e i g h e d t w e n t y - t h r e e p o u n d s a n d w as n e a r l y p u r e and c u b ic in fo rm .

lT h e C a rso n -R o b in so n m in in g e x p e d i ti o n s e t o u t fro m M o n te rey i n M arch , I 8 4 9 , w i t h n i n e t y - t w o w e ll- a r m e d m en. T hey h a d c r o s s e d o v e r t o t h e S i e r r a a t M a r i p o s a a n d m ad e t h e i r w ay n o r t h t o t h e S t a n i s l a u s , m i n i n g a l l th e s tre a m s th ey c r o s s e d . C arso n , " E a rly R e c o l le c tio n o f th e M in e s ," San J o a q u in R e p u b lic a n . Jan u ary 21, 1852. - . ^ G la ssc o c k ,

G o ld e n H ig h w a y . 2 7 7 .

3 J a c k s o n , A nybody* s G o l d , 3 3 4 . 4 C o lto n ,

T h ree Y e a rs i n C a l i f o r n i a . 3 8 .

41 J.

R . B r o w n e , w ho v i s i t e d

th is

re g io n in 1849,

M e lo n e s was t h e l a r g e s t m in i n g to w n i n t h e p o p u la tio n of fiv e m ore r i o t o u s

th o u sa n d .

camp i n

says

s t a te , w ith a

B a n c ro ft sa y s th e r e w as no

t h e S i e r r a . 1 T h is w as p r o b a b ly t h e

l o c a t i o n o f t h e R o a r i n g Camp o f B r e t H a r t e ’ s " L u c k o f R o a r i n g C a m p ." H a r v e y Wood cam e t o M e l o n e s i n A u g u s t , 1 8 4 9 , a n d m in e d .

He l a t e r b o u g h t t h e R o b i n s o n a n d M ead F e r r y a n d

o p e ra te d i t

u n t i l a b r i d g e was c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 8 9 4 .

He t e l l s

o f p r ic e s p a id f o r

su p p lie s

in I 8 4 9 .

H is

p a r t n e r s , H u y l a s a n d F o u r e , m ad e tw o o u n c e s o f g o l d o n e day and d e c id e d t o have a g ra n d s u p p e r .

T hey i n v e s t e d

e ig h t d o l l a r s f o r a sm a ll can o f p r e s e r v e s ,

fo u r d o lla rs

f o r o n e c a n o f s a r d i n e s a n d a few e x t r a s , m ak in g th e c o s t of th e ir

supper s ix te e n d o lla r s

He s t a t e s

each.2

t h a t I n d i a n G u lc h n e a r b y , a n d E l D o rad o

B a r , b e tw e e n M cLeans F e r r y a n d C o y o te C r e e k , w e re fo u n d to be e x c e e d in g ly r i c h . th e

A g r o u p o f m en c a l l i n g

" I n d e p e n d e n t T w e lv e " h a d a g o o d c l a i m

th e m se lv e s

on E l D o rad o

B a r, and by w o rk in g one r o c k e r u n t i l te n i n

t h e m o rn in g

th e y w o u ld t a k e o u t fro m t w e n t y - f o u r t o t h i r t y - s i x

lB a n c ro ft, H isto ry o f C a lif o r n ia . I I , ^ H a r v e y W ood, P e r s o n a l R e c o l l e c t i o n s W ood. 1 9 .

ounces

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o f H arvey

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1851, and fo u n d a l a r g e

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o o lo n y o f M e x ic a n s a n x io u s t o

re c e iv e th e v i s i t o f a p r i e s t . c o u ld se e

F ro m t h e

so u th bank he

th e w h o le n o r t h bank o v e r s p r e a d w i t h t e n t s

ra m sh a c k le b u i l d i n g . m eans o f s h a f t s

and

The M e x i c a n s w e r e m i n i n g t h e r o c k by

t o a d e p t h o f tw o h u n d r e d f e e t w i t h o u t a i d

of ropes or w in d la sse s.

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t h e r e w as a s o r t o f s t e p o r p l a t f o r m ,

th irty

re s tin g

a p o le w ith a num ber o f n o tc h e s c u t in i t s

f e e t o r so on w h i c h w a s

sid e .

The r o c k

t h a t was e x c a v a t e d w as b r o u g h t up i n l e a t h e r s a c k s on th e b a c k s o f t h e m e n , w ho m ad e t h e i r way u p b y c l i m b i n g a s u c c e ss io n of th e s e p o le s . c u la r p it,

The o r e w a s p l a c e d i n a c i r ­

a n d a l a r g e r o c k was d ra g g e d a ro u n d an d a ro u n d

t h e p i t b y a m u le o r h o r s e f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c r u s h i n g t h e o re ro c k to s u f f i c i e n t s m a lln e s s so t h a t th e o re c o u ld be w ashed o u t.

T hese p i t s w ere c a l l e d

" a r r a s t r a s . Tl

T h i s w as

t h e M e l o n e s m i n e a n d w a s o n l y a n e x t e n s i o n o f t h e m i n e s on t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e h i l l know n a s C a r s o n H i l l D i g g i n g s . A few h u n d red f e e t above

th e abandoned d ig g in g s o f

J a m e s C a r s o n on C a r s o n C r e e k ,

a c c o rd in g to

m an nam ed W i l l i a m H a n c e ,

w h ile f o l lo w in g a s t r a y m u le ,

J r.,

tra d itio n ,

saw y e llo w m e ta l i n a n o u tc r o p p i n g o f q u a r t z . o f f a chunk w ith a ro c k ,

a

K n o ck in g

he fo u n d i t w eig h ed f o u r t e e n

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g o ld .

T h is w as i n

O c to b e r, 1S50.

O w n e rsh ip o f

t h e m i n e , h o w e v e r , w a s s o o n c o n t e s t e d b y tw o d i f f e r e n t f a c t i o n s , a n d f o r a tim e i t m ig h t r e s u l t . th a t

lo o k e d a s i f

se rio u s

fig h tin g

Ja n ie s F i n n e g a n a n d W i l l i a m C a r l o w c l a i m e d

th ey had o b ta in e d a p a r t n e r s h i p

in

t h e m in e w i t h

H ance a n d t h a t w h ile th e y w ere a b s e n t an d w i t h o u t t h e i r c o n se n t,

H ance h a d i l l e g a l l y

d isp o se d of th e c la im

to

th e

C a r s o n C r e e k C o n s o l i d a t e d M i n i n g C om pany, s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d M organ M in e . J.

T h is com pany c o n s i s t e d o f H a n c e , J .

A u s till,

B. S m ith , W illia m R o v e, D. M urphy, Jam es N o t t , a n d

A. M organ, an d i t o c c u p a tio n a l l

c l a i m e d by r i g h t o f d i s c o v e r y

and

o f a le d g e of q u a r t z j 1

B e g in n in g a t th e s o u th w e s te r n te r m in u s o f t h e q u a r tz ro c k c ro p p in g o u t t o th e w e s t o f w hat i s c a l l e d C a r s o n C r e e k d i g g i n g s , on t o p o f t h e m o u n t a i n d i r e c t l y w e st o f s a id d ig g in g s ; th e n c e ru n n in g n o r th ­ w e s t p a r a l l e l w i t h s a i d d ig g in g s t o th e b row o f t h e s a i d m o u n ta in f a c i n g upon C arso n C re e k , c o m p r is in g a l i n e a r d is ta n c e o f a b o u t s e v e n te e n h u n d red f e e t , w ith b ra n c h e s o r s p u rs o f s a id le d g e c ro p p in g o u t a t d iffe re n t p o in ts .

v e in . area

A lto g e th e r th e y c la im e d f o u r th o u sa n d f e e t

on t h e

I t w as th e a c c e p te d p r a c t i c e

in th is

th a t

of th e m in e rs

t w e n t y - f i v e f e e t w as enough f o r one m an, an d so

t h e m in e r s f e l t t h a t C o l o n e l M organ and h i s a s s o c i a t e s

iM i n u te s o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty C o u r t a n d M in in g C l a i m s , A p r i l 2 , 1 8 5 1 , 25*

h a d no r i g h t

to c l a i m e n o u g h g ro u n d t o a c c o m o d a te one

h u n d red and s i x t y m in e rs# t h i s m in e w a s , T h is

When t h e g r o u n d w a s a s r i c h

t h e r e was b o u n d to b e

as

tro u b le #

d isp u te le d to a t r i a l in

t h e C o u r t of J u s t i c e

o f P e a c e P u tn e y a t M urphys w i t h a j u r y

of m in e r s .

The

ju ry gave a d e c i s io n i n f a v o r o f th e F in n e g an g ro u p , and th e y to o k p o s s e s s io n o f a p p e a le d th e c a s e to

th e m in e .

The M o r g a n g r o u p

t h e C o u n ty C o u r t w h e r e J u d g e S m i t h

re v e rs e d th e d e c is io n .

On D e c e m b e r 9 ,

1851,

th e s h e r i f f

p l a c e d t h e M organ g r o u p i n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e m in e , b u t F in n e g a n g a th e r e d a f o r c e o f m in e rs and to u g h s ,

in c lu d in g

th e n o t o r i o u s B i l l y M u llig a n o f C o lu m b ia , an d r e p o s s e s s e d th e m in e .

D e sp ite th e e f f o r t s o f

F in n e g a n * s g ro u p r e t a i n e d

c o n t r o l o f t h e m in e u n t i l 1 8 5 3

w hen a c o u r t o r d e r e x p e l l e d h is

c o l l e a g u e s w ere h e a r t i l y

b a ttle s

t h e M organ g r o u p ,

t h e m . 1 By t h i s

s ic k of th e l i t i g a t i o n s

t h a t h a d o c c u p i e d th em f o r tw o y e a r s .

re tu rn e d

and

M o rg a n

to E n g la n d b u t n o t w i t h o u t a good d e a l o f g o ld .

I t w as c l a i m e d h e t o o k f i v e m i l l i o n d o l l a r s tw e lv e

tim e M organ a n d

f e e tlo n g , T h is

from a h o le

s i x f e e t w id e , and n in e f e e t d e e p .2

M o r g a n M in e on C a r s o n H i l l w a s

C a lifo rn ia and p erh ap s in

th e w o rld .

J.

th e r i c h e s t

B o s s B ro w n e , who

^ C a la v e r a s C h r o n i c l e , D ecem ber 2 7 , 1 8 5 1 . ^ G la ssc o c k ,

G o ld e n H ig h w a y , 2 7 6 .

in

45 is

c o n sid e re d a c c u ra te

a sin g le

b la st

in w ritin g of

t h r e w down $ 1 1 0 , 0 0 0 i n g o l d *

c la im s a b l a s t b ro k e lo o s e #3 0 0 ,0 0 0 I t was c la im e d

t h e M o th e r L o d e,

to

says

A n o th e r a u th o r

$ 3 1 0 ,0 0 0 i n

g o ld .

t h a t th r e e m i l l i o n d o l l a r s w o rth o f g o ld

w as t a k e n fro m a h o l e e i g h t f e e t s q u a r e by s i x t e e n f e e t d e e p . l On N o v e m b e r 2 2 , 1 8 5 4 , t h e in

l a r g e s t n u g g e t e v e r found

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s was t a k e n o u t

lu m p f i f t e e n i n c h e s

of t h i s m in e .

It

was a

l o n g b y s i x i n c h e s w id e and f o u r i n c h e s

t h i c k , w e i g h i n g a b o u t two h u n d r e d a n d f o u r t e e n p o u n d s , T r o y , a n d s o l d by Jam es P e r k i n s ,

$4 0 , 0 0 0 2

i n New O r l e a n s .

New O r l e a n s ,

its

th e d is c o v e r e r ,

When i t

was c a r e f u l l y

fo r assayed in

r e a l v a lu e w as g i v e n a t # 3 8 ,9 1 6 .

At

s e v e n t e e n d o l l a r s an o u n c e t h i s w o u ld g i v e a T roy w e i g h t o f o n e h u n d r e d a n d n i n e t y a n d t h r e e - f o u r t h s p o u n d s *3 A t on e tim e d u r i n g t h e

1f i f t i e s ,

over a p e rio d

of

two y e a r s , q u a r t z m i n e s a t C a r s o n H i l l y i e l d e d o v e r t h r e e m illio n

d o lla rs.

B o th i n r i c h n e s s

and i n p o p u la tio n

C a r s o n H i l l w a s a r i v a l o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l . p o p u la tio n a t

tim e s o f f i v e

lG la s sc o c k ,

th o u sa n d .

It

had a

P e r h a p s a s m u ch a s

G o ld e n H ig h w a y , 2 7 6 .

2 l t w as th e t h i r d l a r g e s t n u g g e t e v e r fo u n d . The l a r g e s t w as fro m C h i le an d w as s a i d to w e ig h 400 p o u n d s . The s e c o n d l a r g e s t w as f o u n d i n B a l l a r a t , A u s t r a l i a i n 1 8 3 9 , w e ig h in g 224 p o u n d s. T heodore H. H i t t e l l , C a l i f o r n i a H is to ry . I l l , 142. 3 c h a r l e s P e t e r s , A u t o b i o g r a p h y , 83*

th ir ty m illio n d o lla rs

i n g o ld h ave b e e n ta k e n fro m th e

m in e s a t C a rs o n H i l l .

T here w e re s e v e r a l r i c h

s c a t t e r e d a b o u t th e H i l l , S o u th C a r o lin a ,

th e S t a n i s l a u s ,

K n o w in g a l i t t l e e a s ily b e lie v e

such a s

of

th e h i s t o r y

th a t in

g o ld w as ta k e n o u t .

m in e s

th e E n t e r p r i s e ,

th e U n io n ,

th e

and o t h e r s .

o f th e H i l l a p e rs o n can

t e n m o n th s i n 1 8 5 0 ,

# 2 ,8 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n

The t w e l v e h u n d r e d f e e t o f q u a r t z

v e i n r u n n i n g t h r o u g h t h e M o rg a n m i n e w a s t h e r i c h e s t

in

C a lifo rn ia .1 J a m e s G-. F a i r , who l a t e r m ade h i s f o r t u n e a t C o m s to c k L o d e i n V i r g i n i a C i t y , o b t a i n e d la te r

p e r i o d b u t was i n v o l v e d i n a

W illia m I r v i n e

th a t la s te d

t h r o u g h A n g e l s a n d on

a r e a num ber of m i n i n g cam ps t h a t h a d

o n ly t o m e n tio n th e m , ev en th o u g h A lta v ille ,

is

p o ss ib le of i t s

j u s t o u t o f A n g e ls w as known a t d i f f e r e n t

in 1852.

w h ic h i s l o c a t e d

It

each has a sto ry

tim e s a s F o r k s - in - th e - R o a d , W in te rto n , I t w as s e t t l e d

o f la w s u its w ith

fo r y e a rs.

b r i e f p e r io d s of g lo ry and th e n fa d e d .

ow n.

t h e m in e a t a

se rie s

On t h e r o a d f r o m C a r s o n H i l l t o San A n d re a s t h e r e

th e

and C herokee F l a t .

B e h i n d t h e to w n i s

B a ld H i l l ,

on

t h e s h a f t o f t h e o l d M a t t e s o n M in e w h e r e

th e fam ous C a la v e r a s S k u l l was fo u n d i n

^ W a l s h , G o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 4 7 7

1866,

and a b o u t '

47 w h ic h B re t H a rte w ro te

th e poem " P l i o c e n e S k u l l . "

S c i e n t i s t s w ere ta k e n i n by th e hoax*

The s k u l l w a s f o u n d

in P lio c e n e g e o lo g ic a l fo rm a tio n , h u t a f t e r f u r t h e r stu d y it

w as fo u n d t o b e h a r d l y T e r t i a r y

y ears

o ld .

and n o t m o r e t h a n f i f t y

Jam es M a tte s o n f o u n d th e s k u l l ,

in on th e hoax.

b u t h e was n o t

R o s s C oon who t o l d M a rk T w a in t h e s t o r y

of

t h e C a l a v e r a s J u m p i n g F r o g may h a v e b e e n t h e o r i g i n a t o r

of

th is p r a c tic a l

jo k e .

H oaxes w ere d e v e lo p e d t o a h i g h

d e g re e d u r in g t h e m in in g d a y s .

I t w as a p a r t o f

"se e in g

th e e le p h a n t." 1 The D e m o r e s t F o u n d r y , b u i l t h e r e i n 1 8 5 7 , p ro d u c e d a g r e a t d e a l o f th e m a c h in e ry f o r th e m in e s . F o llo w in g th e t r a i l

to San A n d reas,

c a m p s a s D o g to w n , S a n A n t o n e ’f i f tie s ) , in g .

t h e r e w ere su c h

( a n o t o r i o u s cam p i n t h e

U p p er and Low er C a l a v e r i t a s ,

and F o u rth C ro ss­

A l l o f t h e s e cam p s w e r e l i v e l y a n d a c t i v e f o r

s h o r t tim e d u r i n g th e p e r i o d o f p l a c e r m in in g .

i R e n s c h a n d H o o v e r , H i s t o r i c S p o t s . 47*

a

CHAPTER I I I EARLY CAMPS OF NORTHERN CALAVERAS COUNTY San A n d re a s

( S t * A n d re w )

o l d e s t C a th o l i c C h u rch i n

ta k e s i t s

th e c o u n ty .

It

nam e f r o m tJie w as f i r s t

s e t t l e d b y a f e w M e x i c a n s who c a m p e d a t t h e f o r k s o f t h e g u lc h a b o u t o n e - f o u r t h o f a m ile a b o v e t h e p l a c e w here th e to w n now s t a n d s .

I n 1 8 4 9 o t h e r M e x i c a n s a r r i v e d a n d m in e d

h e re b u t i t w as n o t u n t i l

th e s p r in g o f 1850 t h a t a few

A m e r i c a n s cam e i n a n d b e g a n m i n i n g i n T h e re was a l a r g e

in c re a se

th e m a in g u lc h .

o f M e x ica n m in e r s

in 1850, and

by f a l l t h e r e w e r e a r o u n d f i f t e e n h u n d r e d m i n e r s i n

th e

c a m p . l D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h e cam p w a s n o t o r i o u s f o r i t s c rim e .

Many o f t h e g r a v e s s c a t t e r e d a r o u n d t h e h i l l s a r e

e v id e n c e o f th e

v io le n c e .

in g s w ere f r e q u e n t .

H a n g in g s,

s ta b b in g s ,

and s h o o t­

No b u i l d i n g s w e r e e r e c t e d u n t i l 1 8 5 0 ,

as t e n t s w ere u se d f o r b u s in e s s a s w e ll a s f o r r e s i d e n c e s . A t t h a t tim e th e B e l l a U n io n - - th e f i r s t fram e b u i l d i n g — w as c o n s t r u c t e d .

It

serv ed a s sa lo o n ,

g a m b lin g h a l l ,

and c o u rth o u s e . In th e s p r in g o f 1851, a t t e n t i o n w asc a l l e d

to

th e a r e a ,

and th ey b e g a n to

n u m b ers.

lW a lsh ,

o f A m e ric a n

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 9 1 .

a rriv e

m in e rs

in la rg e r

49 L ack o f w a t e r was t h e m a in d raw b ac k t o t h e m in in g , a lth o u g h i t w as a t f i r s t

c o m p e n sa te d f o r by t h e r i c h n e s s

o f th e g r a v e l and th e e a s e w ith w h ic h g o ld w as fo u n d .

In

th e s p r in g o f 1851, C a p ta in R o b e rt Pope lo c a te d and s u r ­ v e y e d a d i t c h l e a d i n g f r o m W illo w C re e k t o S an A n d r e a s . S h o rtly

a f t e r w a r d s a c o m p a n y k n o w n a s M i n e r s D i t c h Company

co m p lete d a p a r a l l e l d i t c h .

In a la w su it

Company l o s t i t s

t h e w i n t e r o f 18 51 a n o t h e r

rig h ts .

In

d i t c h com pany w as o r g a n i z e d .

th e M in e rs D itc h

I t was c a l l e d

t h e U n io n

C o m p an y , a n d b r o u g h t w a t e r i n f r o m M u r r a y C r e e k b y t h e sp rin g

of 1852*

By I 8 5 6 t h e T a b l e M o u n t a i n W a t e r Company

h a d c o m p le te d a d i t c h w h ic h g av e a n a d e q u a t e

su p p ly .

I t w a s i n 1852 t h a t th e c i t i z e n s o f th e cam p, b e c o m in g t i r e d

o f th e c rim e a n d v io le n c e r e s u l t i n g

e le m e n t o f t h e M e x ica n p o p u l a t i o n , pose o f r id d in g

fro m a n

o rg a n iz e d f o r th e p u r ­

th e a r e a o f Jo a q u in M u rie ta and h i s

gang.

T h ey h a d a r e n d e z v o u s a t Y a q u i Camp ( tw o m i l e s s o u t h ) , a f t e r a s e v e r e f i g h t th e b a n d i t s w ere d r i v e n o u t o f

and

th e

cam p a n d i t w a s d e s t r o y e d . ^ I n A u g u st, c e n te r of tw e lv e

1852,

th r e e m in e rs fo u n d , in th e v ery

to w n , a n u g g e t w h ic h s o l d

to W e lls F arg o f o r

th o u sa n d d o l l a r s .

l j . A. S m i t h ’ s S c r a p b o o k . He d o e s n o t g i v e h i s s o u rc e o f m a t e r i a l , b u t i t i s r e l i a b l e , b e in g b a se d e i t h e r on o l d n e w s p a p e r f i l e s o r o t h e r e a r l y d o c u m e n ts*

50 I n 1853 th e m in e s w ere i n

fu ll

o p e ra tio n .

T h ere

w a s p r o b a b l y n o m o r e f l o u r i s h i n g cam p i n C a l i f o r n i a . ric h

d ig g in g s

on G o ld H i l l w e r e d i s c o v e r e d ,

d e v e lo p m e n t w as slo w u n t i l 1 854-55* t h a t M r. M u r r a y s t r u c k t h e o l d r i v e r w h ic h flo w e d d i r e c t l y

o r g u lc h e s.

a lth o u g h

I t w as a t

th is

tim e

channel of a p re h is to ric

under th e

a h u n d re d t o a h u n d re d and f i f t y h ills

The

to w n , a t a d e p t h o f

f e e t , w ith o u t re s p e c t f o r

H is s h a f t was l o c a t e d n e a r t h e n o r t h

p o i n t o f D o u g la s H i l l .

The g r a v e l w a s t h e r i c h e s t t h a t

h a s e v er b een found i n

th e o ld c h a n n e l— se v e n ty o u n ces to

th e pan .

T h is s t r i k e

came a t a b o u t t h e t i m e t h e

p la c e r

m in e s on t h e s u r f a c e w ere b e in g w o rk e d o u t .

The l a s t g o o d

p a y in g c la i m s w e re w o rk e d i n 1857*

18 5 9 ,

w ere n o t l e s s

By J u l y ,

th a n e ig h ty m in e s w o r k in g t h i s

w i t h i n a m i l e o f t o w n . I I t was b e c a u s e o f t h a t S a n A n d r e a s becam e o n e of in

th e c o u n ty .

in

g o ld d u s t . 2 In th e

One f i r m

th e

channel

th is channel

g re a t p ro d u cers

of g o ld

i n 18 59 s h i p p e d o v e r # 5 0 0 , 0 0 0

summer o f 1 8 5 5 t h e f i r s t b r i c k

w e re e r e c t e d i n t h e to w n .

o ld

th e re

b u ild in g s

The b r i c k u s e d w a s s h i p p e d

a ro u n d t h e H orn a s b a l l a s t f o r v e s s e l s a n d b r o u g h t t o

lS a n A n d reas, In d e p e n d e n t, J u ly 2 j . a . S m ith , D ecem ber 6 , 1 9 4 4 .

30, 1859.

" D a y s o f O l d 11, C a l a v e r a s P r o s p e c t ,

51 San A n d re a s on p a c k a n im a l s . F ire d e stro y e d it

t h e to w n i n 1 8 5 6 ,

1856, and 1863, as

h a d m o s t o f t h e m in in g cam ps w h e re t h e b u i l d i n g s w e re

c o n s tru c te d o f wood. each tim e ,

The t o w n w a s r e b u i l t m o r e s o l i d l y

u n t i l m o st o f th e b u ild in g s w ere o f b r i c k o r

sto n e . The S a n A n d r e a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , a w e e k l y , n e w s p a p e r , was f i r s t p u b lis h e d

i n S a n A n d r e a s on S e p t e m b e r 2 A, 1 8 5 6 .

D u r i n g t h e C i v i l War d a y s , S a n A n d r e a s h a d a m i l i t i a c a lle d

t h e S an A n d re a s U n io n G u a rd s.

b a s e m e n t o f t h e Odd F e l l o w s , H a l l . d rills

The a r m o r y w a s i n

th e

T he m i l i t i a h a d s q u a d

e v e ry seco n d S a tu rd a y of e ach m o n th .1 A t a m i n e r s ’ m e e t i n g on J u l y

la w s f o r th e d i s t r i c t w e re a d o p te d . c la im s f o r

5, 1862,

th e m in in g

T hey p r o v i d e d t h a t

s h a f t d ig g in g s s h o u ld be one h u n d re d f e e t

s q u a re , and a tu n n e l c la im

s h o u ld b e one

h u n d r e d f e e t w id e

ru n n in g th ro u g h th e h i l l .

A ll g u lc h and

s u r f a c e c la im s

s h o u l d b e two h u n d r e d f e e t

square.2

To t h e e a s t o f S a n A n d r e a s w e r e i m p o r t a n t m i n i n g c am p s w h i c h c a n o n l y b e nam ed s u c h a s M o u n t a i n R a n c h (E l D orado)

and R a i l r o a d F l a t .

nam e f r o m t h e w ood en r a i l s

The l a t t e r

a c q u ire d

u se d on a l i t t l e

Is a n A n d reas, R e g is te r , A ugust 2 9 ,

ra ilro a d

1863*

^ C a la v e ra s C h r o n ic le , J u ly 2 6 , 1862.

its

52 ru n n in g in to

a m in e .

W est P o i n t i s w h e re K i t C a rs o n cam ped

i n 1 8 4 4 when e x p l o r i n g a r o u t e f o r He c r o s s e d

th e F rem ont e x p e d i t i o n .

t h e M o k elu m n e R i v e r o n t h e I n d i a n s u s p e n s i o n

b rid g e , t h a t w as n e a r t h e r e and f o l l o w i n g b a c k up th e r i v e r , d is c o v e r e d th e C arson P a ss fro m g o ld ru s h to

th e w e s t .

th is re g io n in I 8 4 9 .

S to c k to n s e n t th e

f i r s t m u le tra in

T h ere was a

L o u is C h ie a rd o f i n t o W est P o in t

in th e

f a l l of 1 8 4 9 .1 T he m i n e r s t r a c e d p a y th e co u rse

d irt fo r

of an a n c ie n t r i v e r

fo u n d n u g g e ts v a r y in g fro m f i v e

bed i n

tw e n ty m il e s a l o n g th is

d o lla rs

re g io n and

to n in e ty

d o lla rs

in v a lu e .

T h is c h a n n e l a lo n e tu r n e d o u t m i l l i o n s o f

d o lla rs

g o l d . 2 E x te n s iv e p l a c e r m in in g w as c a r r i e d

in

n e a r W e s t P o i n t a t Sand^G&lcJ^, S k u l l F l a t , D ig g in g s.

W est P o i n t ,

M o u n ta in R a n ch , l i e M o th e r L o d e. e x tra c tin g c a m p ."

on

a n d New

as w e ll a s R a ilro a d F l a t and

w ith in th e g r a n i t e b e l t o f th e E a s t

B ecause of th e

so ft

g ra n ite

th e g o l d , W est P o i n t was c a l l e d

and e a s e o f " p o o r m an’ s

T he m i n e r s w o r k i n g t h e r e n e e d e d v e r y l i t t l e

c a p ita l.

3*F. A . K a z m a r e k , G h o s t T o w n s , a p a m p h l e t p r e p a r e d f o r t h e C h a m b e r o f Commerce o f S t o e k t o n . 2H i s t o r y

of C e n tra l C a lif o r n ia C o u n tie s , 166.

53 Q u a rtz m in in g w as v e ry im p o r ta n t a t a l a t e r p e r io d in

th is re g io n ,

a n d t h e r e w e r e m any i m p o r t a n t m i n e s ,

a s th e S t a r o f t h e W est, B l a z in g S t a r , S c o rp io n ,

such

th e W a te r L i l y ,

t h e W ide W e s t , a n d m any o t h e r s .

As h a s a l r e a d y b e e n m e n t i o n e d ,

C a p t a i n W eber v i s i t ­

e d t h e M ok elu m ne R i v e r a i n A p r i l o r May o f 1 8 4 8 a n d f o u n d th e f i r s t M in e s.

g o l d i n w h a t w as l a t e r known a s

D u rin g t h e sum m er, a com pany o f e i g h t m en, h e a d e d

by Jam es P . M a r t i n , i n a p e r i o d o f to ta k e

th e S o u th e rn

two m o n t h s , w e r e a b l e

o u t s e v e r a l th o u sa n d d o l l a r s

th e m o n t h e M o k elu m n e R i v e r .

In

J o n a t h a n D. S t e v e n s o n cam e t o

th e

in

g o ld f o r e a c h of

th e e a r l y

a u tu m n C o l o n e l

r i v e r w ith ab o u t a

h u n d r e d o f h i s m en who h a d r e c e n t l y b e e n m u s t e r e d o u t . P o ssib ly th e

f i r s t c o d e of m in in g la w s t o be d raw n up i n

C a l i f o r n i a w a s w r i t t e n by t h e C o l o n e l f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f h i s m en o n t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r . 2 The s o l d i e r s

stru c k i t

r i c h a t w hat a fte r w a r d s

b e c a m e know n a s G-wynn C a n y o n ,

th e p r e s e n t lo c a tio n of

P a r d e e Dam, c a l l i n g

t h e p l a c e M id d le B a r.

f o l l o w e d up t h e r i v e r

to B ig B a r,

Some t h e n

one of th e f i r s t

im p o rta n t

3-Mokelumne i s a n I n d i a n w a r d m e a n i n g sn o w w a t e r . Prom a n a r t i c l e p u b l i s h e d by t h e S t a t e P a r k C o m m is sio n , S t o c k t o n , R e c o r d . N ovem ber 1 7 , 1 9 3 7 . 2R ensch a n d H o o v e r, H i s t o r i c

S p o t s , 9*

m i n i n g cam p s o n t h e

riv e r,

and o n to V o lc an o an d

M o k e lu m n e H i l l , w h e r e t h e y w e r e t h e

first

W h ile g e t t i n g a d r i n k i n

in

th e r i v e r ,

one o f S te v e n s o n ’ s s o l d i e r s fiv e pounds.

’fo rty -n in e sp ran g up,

riv e r.

and th e

of I 848,

a g r e a t g o ld ru sh

to

th e

And f o r m i l e s a l o n g t h e r i v e r i n

’f if tie s

im p o r ta n t m in in g s e t t l e m e n t s

su c h a s M id d le B a r , P o v e r ty B a r, R ic h G u lc h ,

M o s q u ito G u lc h , L ancha P l a n a , p a rtia lly

th e f a l l

g o ld .l-

fou n d a n u g g e t w e ig h in g tw e n ty -

T h is p r e c i p i t a t e d

b a rs a lo n g th e

to f i n d

re sp o n sib le fo r

M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

as i t

a n d B i g B a r*

The l a t t e r w a s

th e l a t e r d e v e lo p m e n t o f

w as l o c a t e d o n t h e r i v e r

j u s t b e lo w

M o k e lu m n e H i l l w h e r e t h e p r e s e n t h i g h w a y c r o s s e s t h e riv e r*

I n 1850 a f e r r y w as e s t a b l i s h e d h e r e , known a s t h e

W h a le B o a t F e r r y .

I t w a s s u p e r s e d e d by a t o l l b r i d g e i n

185 2 , w h ic h l a s t e d u n t i l

s w e p t aw ay by t h e f l o o d s

of 1862*2

M okelum ne H i l l w a s n o t a n i m p o r t a n t m i n i n g c e n t e r in

1848, but

lo c a tio n to th e

so o n becam e

im p o rta n t a s

i m p o r t a n t m in in g r e g i o n s and b e c a u s e

o n ly r e a l s t o r e f o r m ile s a ro u n d .

a rtic le

in

a v is ito r

a c e n tr a l sh o p p in g it

had

A c c o rd in g to a n

th e San A n d re a s , I n d e p e n d e n t * S e p tem b er 1 8 , 1 8 5 8 , t o M o k e lu m n e H i l l o n N o v e m b e r 1 5 ,

I 8 4 8 , says

h e f o u n d t w e n t y o r t h i r t y m en e n g a g e d i n m i n i n g ,

Iw a lsh ,

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s , 1 0 0 .

2R e n s c h a n d H o o v e r , H i s t o r i c

S p o ts, 10.

th a t

and t h a t

a M r. S y r e e w a s k e e p i n g a t r a d i n g s t o r e

th e re w h ile

G-. B . D i c k i n s o n a n d f a m i l y w e r e k e e p i n g a b o a r d i n g t e n t . The n e w c o m e r w o r k e d f o r tw o d a y s a t a n o u n c e a d a y a n d th e n s t a r t e d m in in g f o r h i m s e l f . r e a l i z e d n e a r ly a pound of

In

two w e e k s h e h a d

g o ld .

H ow ever, a c c o r d i n g t o a d o cu m en t r e c e i v e d fro m th e F rench L ib ra ry , i n

San F r a n c i s c o ,

w hose nam es r e m a in e d a t t a c h e d t o tim e , w ere th e f i r s t

th e l o c a l i t y

f o r a lo n g

s e t t l e r s . 1 T h is docum ent s a y s t h a t a

M r. G - r e g o ir e o f S t o c k t o n r a i s e d he i n s t a l l e d h i s

th e F o u rcad e b r o th e r s ,

th e f i r s t

te n t,

i n w h ich

f a m i l y a n d a Ttt i e n d a ,t o r g e n e r a l s t o r e ,

in IS 50. L arge q u a n t i t i e s M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

and i t

o f g o ld w ere becam e one o f

s o o n f o u n d on th e r i c h e s t

a s m o st n o t o r i o u s p l a c e r m in in g c e n t e r s

in

th e

N ovem ber, l S ^ S , a F re n c h m a n , f i s h i n g f o r f r o g s

as w e ll

c o u n ty .

in a p ro s­

p e c t h o l e , saw a s p e c k o f g o ld and upon w o r k in g th e o u t w ith h is pocket k n ife , T h is w as one of H ill.

In

g o ld

o b ta in e d a n u g g e t w o r th $ 2 , 1 5 0 .2

t h e f i r s t l a r g e n u g g e t s f o u n d a t M o k e lu m n e

I t w as c la im e d

t h a t t e n m i l l i o n d o l l a r s was w a sh e d

fr o m t h r e e a c r e s o f g r a v e l on th e H i l l

in th e e a rly

l T r a n s l a t i o n o f a F re n c h d o cu m en t r e c e i v e d fro m M r. F r a s l i n o f t h e F r e n c h . L i b r a r y , 4 1 4 M a so n S t r e e t , S a n F r a n c i s c o , by. D . F r i c o t a n d g i v e n t o J u d g e J . A . S m i t h . ^B io g r a p h ic a l H is to r y C o u n t i e s .1 5 4 *

of C e n tra l C a lif o r n ia

56 ’ f i f t i e s . 1 B a y a r d T a y l o r , who v i s i t e d says,

th e H i ll i n 1849,

"Two n e g r o e s w a s h e d e i g h t y t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s f r o m

t h e i r c l a i m i n a m o n t h . ’*2 A co m pan y o f s e v e n F r e n c h m e n com m enced w a s h i n g i n one o f of

th e

a d j o i n i n g g u l c h e s t o M o k elu m n e H i l l

I 849 an d in a few w eeks had enough g o ld t o

in

th e f a l l

re tu rn to

t h e i r n a t i v e home s a t i s f i e d . 3 I n 1851 a com pany o f F ren ch m en d i s c o v e r e d a r i c h d e p o s i t i n one o f

th e n e i g h b o r i n g h i l l s ,

a fte rw a rd s c a lle d

F ren ch H i l l .

When t h e r e p o r t g o t o u t o f t h e r i c h n e s s o f

th e c la im s ,

t h e r e w a s a n a t t e m p t b y t h e A m e r i c a n s t o m ove

i n on th e c la im s .

The F r e n c h d e f e n d e d t h e m s e l v e s a n d r a n

up th e F re n c h f l a g .

The camp t o o k s i d e s ,

an d f o r a few

d a y s tw o a r m i e s f a c e d e a c h o t h e r r e a d y f o r r e a l w a r f a r e . H ow ever, c o o l e r h e a d s s u c c e e d e d i n b r i n g i n g a b o u t a s e ttle m e n t w ith o u t th e o u tb re a k of h o s t i l i t i e s .

T h is was

kno w n a s t h e F r e n c h W a r. These r i c h d i s c o v e r i e s b ro u g h t a ru s h a n d m any n o t o r i o u s

and c r i m i n a l c h a r a c t e r s .

was a p o p u l a t i o n o f f r o m t h r e e

th o u sa n d to

of m in e rs By 1 8 5 3 t h e r e

f o u r t h o u s a n d . 4*

1 G a a r d e n , G o ld N u g g e t s , 6 4 . 2G la s s c o c k , 3 H itte ll, 4 lb id .

G o ld en H ig h w a y , 2 6 1 .

C a lifo rn ia H is to ry , I I I ,

114*

57 H o w ev er, e le g a n t.

t h e to w n i n

1 8 5 1 w a s i n n o way v e r y

B o r t h w i c k , who v i s i t e d

th e v illa g e ,

d e sc rib e s i t

as fo llo w s :1 The d i g g i n g s w e r e c h i e f l y d e e p d i g g i n g s w o r k e d b y m e a n s o f " c o y o t e h o l e s 11, a h u n d r e d f e e t d e e p a n d a l l t h e g r o u n d a r o u n d t h e m i n e w as a c c o r d i n g l y c o v e re d w ith w in d la s s e s and h e ap s of d i r t . The p o p u la tio n w as a m ix tu re of e q u a l p r o p o r tio n s o f F re n c h , M e x ic a n s, a n d A m e ric a n s, w ith a few s t r a y C h in am en , C h i l i a n s , a n d s u c h l i k e . The t o w n i t ­ s e l f , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f tw o o r t h r e e w o oden s t o r e s and g a m b lin g s a l o o n s , w as a l l o f c a n v a s . Many o f t h e h o u s e s w e r e m e r e s k e l e t o n s c l o t h e d i n d ir ty ra g s of canvas. When h e w a s t h e r e p o rta n t sp o rtin g

t h e c o m m u n ity w a s e x c i t e d o v e r a n im ­ e v e n t— a f i g h t b e tw e e n a c h a in e d b e a r

and a S p a n ish b u l l . When F a t h e r B o b a r d , o n h i s r o u n d o f d u t i e s

to th e

c a m p s f r o m S a n A n d r e a s , v i s i t e d M o k e lu m n e H i l l i n 1 8 5 1 , he fo u n d :2 A s q u a t t y a r e a o f bumpy t e r r a i n a l m o s t e n t i r e l y e n c i r c l e d by i r r e g u l a r m ounds o f a l l s i z e s and sh a p e s w ith sh a c k s and t e n t s s tu c k aro u n d in a l l i m a g in a b le p o s i t i o n s , h ig h and lo w ; t h e one m a in s t r e e t o r c ro o k e d l a n e , r u n n i n g n o r t h and s o u t h , w as l i n e d on e i t h e r s i d e w i t h u n e v e n ro w s o f a l t e r n a t e l e a n to s and canvas s h a c k s , h o u sin g th e s t o r e s and s a l o o n s and g a m b lin g j o i n t s .

iB o rth w ic k , 2 w a lsh ,

T h r e e Y e a r s i n C a l i f o r n i a . 234*

C o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 9 7 .

58 T he r i c h e s t d i g g i n g s w e r e t h e v o l c a n i c m o u n d s s u r r o u n d i n g th e cam p, known a s S t o c k t o n H i l l , N i g g e r H i l l , and F ren ch H ill* s o u th e rn edge o f d o lla rs in sq u are*

S to c k to n H i l l and C o rra l F l a t , to w n , p r o d u c e d a n e s t i m a t e d

th irty

m illio n

g o l d . l M in e rs w ere a llo w e d c la im s s i x t e e n f e e t

N ig g e r H i l l h a s an e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g

A n e g r o c am e t o t o w n i n

m i g h t g e t som e g o l d - d u s t . w as d i r e c t e d

In o rd er

c am e i n w i t h h i s

m in e rs, a s i t

He a s k e d w h e r e h e to g e t r i d

o f h im he

to go d i g f o r i t on th e h i l l w here e v e ry o n e

w as s u r e t h e r e w as no g o l d .

w as a l i t t l e

sto ry .

t h e sum m er o f 1 8 5 1 b u t w a s n o t

c o r d i a l l y r e c e i v e d hy t h e A m e r ic a n s .

c la im s.

on th e

A t t h e end o f a w eek t h e n e g r o

po u ch es lo a d e d w ith n u g g e ts and d u s t .

su rp rise d a t sta rte d

He

t h e e f f e c t t h i s r e p o r t h a d on t h e

a sta m p e d e f o r

th e h i l l

to

sta k e

out

I t w as a f t e r w a r d s known a s N ig g e r H i l l . 2 From t h e s e f a b u l o u s l y r i c h h i l l s

i n g m in e s o f C h i l i G u lc h , B u ck ey e,

and th e s u rro u n d ­

J e s u s M a r ia , R ic h G u lc h ,

W h is k e y S l i d e , H a p p y T a l l e y , a n d t h e r i v e r b a r s , d rew a g r e a t d e a l o f t r a d e .

th e H ill

W e l l s , F a r g o C o m p an y ’ s r e c o r d s

show s h i p m e n t s o f g o l d i n e x c e s s o f f i v e m i l l i o n d o l l a r s th e

’fiftie s .

A t one tim e i n

th e

e a rly

’f if tie s

l s t o c k t o n , R e c o r d , N ovem ber 1 7 , 1 9 3 7 , by t h e S t a t e P a r k C o m m issio n . 2J a c k s o n , A n y b o d y ’ s G o l d , 3 6 3 • th e r e w ere s e v e r a l n e g ro e s .

in

th e re

a rep o rt

Some s o u r c e s s a y s

in

59 w ere e stim a te d , to

be f i f t e e n

im m e d ia te v i c i n i t y

th o u sa n d p o p u la tio n i n

th e

o f M okelum ne H i l l . I

W ater f o r w a s h in g t h e g r a v e l w as a p ro b le m a s i t i n m any o t h e r o f c o n stru c tio n o f

th e e a r l y eam ps.

was

T h is w a s s o lv e d by th e

t h e M o k e lu m n e H i l l C a n a l , b r i n g i n g w a t e r

f r o m t h e r i v e r e i g h t e e n m i l e s aw ay a t a c o s t f o r c o n s t r u c ­ tio n

o f tw o h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y

gave p le n ty

t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s *2 T h i s

o f w a t e r f o r M o k e lu m n e H i l l

a n d was c a r r i e d

on

w e stw a rd f o r a n o t h e r e ig h t e e n m i l e s . One o f t h e

e a r l i e s t C a lif o r n ia new spapers,

C a la v e r a s C h r o n i c l e , w as e s t a b l i s h e d h e r e 1851.

I t c la im e d t o

f o r many y e a r s

th e

on O c to b e r 28,

be t h e f i r s t w e e k ly i n

th e s t a t e

t o h a v e th e w i d e s t c i r c u l a t i o n

and

o f any

m o u n ta in j o u r n a l — s i x t e e n th o u s a n d c o p ie s i n 1 8 7 2 .3 T h e to w n w a s d e s t r o y e d b y f i r e

i n 1 8 5 4 , 1 8 6 5 , and

1 8 7 4 , b u t w as r e b u i l t on e a c h o c c a s i o n . P r o b a b l y M o k e lu m n e H i l l w a s o n e o f t h e to w n s i n F ren ch ,

th e

c o u n ty .

It

to u g h e s t

h ad a m ix e d p o p u l a t i o n o f Y a n k e e s ,

G erm an, S p a n i s h , C h i l e n o s , a n d M e x i c a n s , an d t h i s

p ro b a b ly r e s u l t e d i n i t s

re p u ta tio n f o r v io le n c e .

For

* J . A. S m i t h ’ s S c r a p b o o k . He g i v e s n o r e f e r e n c e b u t th e m a te ria l i s r e l i a b l e . 2p a i l y A l t a C a l i f o r n i a , J u n e 2 3 , 1 8 5 3 -

3Calaveras C h ro n icle, March 15, 1873*

s e v e n te e n w eeks in s u c c e s s io n ,

m en jw e re.

k ille d

b e tw e e n

S a tu r d a y n i g h t a n d Sunday m o r n in g .

F iv e w ere k i l l e d w i t h i n

a w eek,

c o m m itte e w as r e s o l v e d

and a s a r e s u l t a v i g i l a n t e

upon, b u t i t

d id n o t c o n tin u e i n

e x is te n c e lo n g .l i t

is

c la im e d t h a t i t w as a f a v o r i t e h a u n t f o r J o a q u in M u r ie ta . A sto ry i s q u ite

to ld

t h a t M u rie ta p la y e d c a rd s a t th e H i l l

o f t e n b e c a u s e no one knew w h a t h e lo o k e d l i k e .

One

n i g h t a r a s h m in e r th rew h i s poke on th e t a b l e w ith th e re m a rk t h a t h e w o u ld b e t f i v e h u n d re d d o l l a r s t h a t he w o u ld k i l l M u r i e t a t h e f i r s t tim e h e m et h im . who w a s a t t h e t a b l e ,

M u rie ta ,

t o o k t h e m o n e y a n d g a l l o p e d a w ay

b e f o r e t h e m in e r knew w h a t h a d happened.^ Some o f d u c e rs and a t im p o rta n c e . had a

t h e n e a rb y g u l c h e s a n d cam ps w e re r i c h t i m e s a l m o s t e x c e e d e d M o k e lu m n e H i l l

H appy V a l l e y ,

p ro ­

in

tw o m i l e s e a s t , w h e r e t h e F r e n c h

tra d in g and tra p p in g base b e fo re

th e d isc o v e ry o f

g o l d , w as a r i c h m in in g a r e a f o r a num ber of y e a r s . C h i l i G-uleh tw o m i l e s

s o u th , w as a r i c h and

n o t o r i o u s p l a c e r m i n i n g cam p w h i c h r e c e i v e d i t s

nam e f r o m

t h e l a r g e n u m b e r o f C h i l e a n s who m i n e d t h e r e i n 1 8 4 8 - 4 9 , a n d w as th e

s e ttin g fo r th e

C h i l e a n W ar t h a t l a t e r l e d

iM a s o n , Amador C o u n ty , 6 8 . 2 J a c k s o n , A n y b o d y y s G o ld . 3 6 4 .

to

61 s t r a i n e d r e l a t i o n s b e tw e e n U n ite d S t a te s . H ill,

and th e

J o h n M c S o r l e y , a n o l d - t i m e r o f M o k e lu m n e

r e m e m b e r s w h e n C h i l i G u l c h h a d tw o p o l l i n g p l a c e s

w ith each p o llin g th a t fiv e p a rtn e rs th e

th e g o v e rn m e n ts o f C h ile

a r o u n d tw o t h o u s a n d v o t e r s . in

He s t a t e s

o n e o f t h e m in e s i n t h e v i c i n i t y a t

end o f t h e y e a r c l e a n e d up a n d d e c l a r e d a d i v i d e n d o f

s i x h u n d red th o u sa n d d o l l a r s

e a c h . l The m i n i n g i n t h i s

w as p l a c e r and h y d r a u lic m in in g , ric h .

In F eb ru ary , 1865,

t h e i r m in e a t t h e

ra te

area

and th e g r a v e l w as v e ry

tw o m i n e r s w e r e t a k i n g g o l d f r o m

o f one hu nd red d o l l a r s

a day.

Two

m en w o r k i n g w i t h a l o n g - t o m r e m o v e d o n e h u n d r e d o u n c e s a d a y i n 1 8 4 9 f r o m t h e s e c t i o n k n ow n a s

"C openhagen D ig g in g s ."

F rom a m in e on t h e e d g e o f t h e G u lc h w as r e c o v e r e d t h e l a r g e s t known q u a r t z

c ry s ta l in

th e w o rld .

The cam p c e n t e r e d a r o u n d t h e A m b u s t e r H o t e l a n d s t o r e , w h ic h w as b u i l t

in

1851.

In

th e

h o t e l , known a s C h i l i F l a t , w as l o c a t e d

r e g i o n b e lo w th e th e C h a te a u -M e re ie r,

a la rg e

tw o -sto ry ,

e ig h t y - r o o m , w ooden b u i l d i n g ,

fo r i ts

b e a u t i f u l g a rd e n s and g ay p a r t i e s . 2

fam ed

A l a r g e p a r t o f A m ador C o u n t y w a s i n C a l a v e r a s

l G . W. P e n n e b a k e r , "R om ance o f C a l a v e r a s W e e k ly . F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 1 9 4 0 .

o l d M o k e lu m n e H i l l , "

^ R e p o r t o f th e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a P a r k C o m m issio n , S t o c k t o n , R e c o r d , O c to b e r 2 7 , 1937*

62 C o u n ty up u n t i l 1 8 5 4 , a n d t h e r e w e r e a num ber o f i m p o r t a n t d ig g in g s i n

th a t re g io n .

V o lc an o , a t f i r s t c a l l e d S o l d i e r s ’

G u lc h , w as o n e o f t h e m o st i m p o r t a n t . nam e b e c a u s e o f i t s is

l o c a t i o n i n a sm a ll round v a l l e y .

It

l o c a t e d o n S u t t e r ’ s C re e k a n d w a s f i r s t m in e d i n I 8 4 8

by S te v e n s o n * s s o l d i e r s . in

I t was g iv e n th e

Two o f t h e m w e r e f o u n d d e a d h e r e

th e s p r i n g o f 1849 by a p a r t y

o f M e x ica n s.

b u i l t tw o h u t s i n S o l d i e r s ’ G u l c h . g o ld w as p l e n t i f u l , d o lla rs in

T hey h a d

F o r a tim e g r a s s - r o o t s

m i n e r s g e t t i n g a s m uch a s f i v e

a sin g le pan of g ra v e l.

m in e rs stre a m e d i n t o

W ith su c h r i c h

t h e camp i n 1 8 4 9 a n d 1 8 5 0 .

hun d red d ig g in g s ,

I t w as

c la im e d t h e r e w as a p o p u l a t i o n o f f i v e th o u s a n d by 1 8 5 0 .^ T he f i r s t w a g o n w a s d r i v e n i n b y W i l l i a m W i l e y i n 1849 w ith a p a r ty o f e i g h t , sons.

I t was c a l l e d

lo n e s p a r ty

i n c l u d i n g J o h n G r e e n a n d tw o

th e G reen p a r t y .

th e cam p.

The G r e e n p a r t y ,

d ig g in g th ro u g h e ig h t f e e t o f a r e d d is h c la y ,

g r a v e l so r i c h fin g e rs. y a rd s to

th e

cam e i n w i t h w a g o n s , a n d b y w i n t e r o f 1 8 4 9 ,

t h e r e w ere a b o u t one h u n d red i n a fte r

Soon a f t e r w a r d s ,

th e y c o u ld p ic k o u t th e

T h ey h a d t o

cam e t o

g o ld w ith t h e i r

c a r r y t h e d i r t a b o u t tw o h u n d r e d

th e c r e e k to w ash i t

in

a b o u t one hun d red d o l la r s a day;

a ro ck er. som e o f

E a c h m an m ade

t h i s w as c o a r s e

lR e n s c h and H o o v er, H i s t o r i c S p o t s . 1 4 .

g o ld .

One p i e c e w a s v a l u e d a t n i n e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s .

fifte e n

fe e t,

th ey ra n i n to

a y e llo w c la y

so to u g h i t

At c o u ld

n o t h e w ashed, an d th e y abandoned th e c la im s a s w o rked o u t. T h i s sa m e c l a i m , h o w e v e r , w a s w o r k e d f o r m ore p e r s i s t e n t m i n e r s .

y e a rs by

T hey w e r e l a t e r k n o w n a s

an d G ordon c l a i m s , ' a n d s t i l l P ro b a b ly a m i l l i o n

th irty

la te r

th e C ro ss

th e G e o rg ia c la im s .

d o l l a r s w as ta k e n o u t o f

th is

one c l a i m . 1

S u f f i c i e n t m i n i n g h a d b e e n d o n e by 1 8 5 0 t o l e a r n t h a t t h e r e was g o ld i n

th e r e g i o n i n l a r g e

e x te n d e d t o

g re a t d e p th s .

th e r i c h e s t .

A c a rtlo a d

S o l d i e r s 1 G u lc h was f o u n d to b e of d i r t a f t e r b e in g h a u le d to

c r e e k a n d w ashed w o u ld so m e tim e s y i e l d a sin g le

a m o u n ts and t h a t i t

#250.

th e

O c c a sio n a lly

p a n o f d i r t w o u l d c o n t a i n a s m u ch a s # 5 0 0 i n g o l d . 2

Men who h a d n e v e r h a d a h u n d r e d d o l l a r s b e f o r e w o u l d m ak e a th o u sa n d d o l l a r s i n a d a y . as r i c h as S o ld ie rs* was n e a r e r t h e

C la p b o a rd G u lc h , a lt h o u g h n o t

G u lc h , p a id good w a g e s, a n d th e g r a v e l

su rface.

I n d i a n G u lc h w as a l s o r i c h .

The c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p e r m a n e n t b u i l d i n g s p o r t a n c e i n V o lc an o w as d e la y e d u n t i l th e m in e rs, h u ts. sp rin g .

e a g e r to f in d

th e f a l l

g o ld , l iv e d i n t e n t s

o f a n y im ­ o f I 8 4 .9 , a s o r b ru sh

A t t h a t t i m e tw o h o u s e s w e r e b u i l t n e a r a g o o d One w a s o f w ood b u t t h e o t h e r w a s a b r u s h a n d

l M a s o n , Am ador C o u n t y , 2 07 2I b i d .

p o le sh a n ty

c o v e re d w ith . d i r t .

A t a b o u t t h e sa m e t i m e ,

C ook a n d Company g o t a b a r r e l o f s y r u p ,

one o f w h isk e y ,

and one o f v i n e g a r fro m S a c ra m e n to and opened a s t o r e . S y ru p and v i n e g a r w ere f i v e fifty

c e n ts a d rin k .

d o lla rs

The s t o r e

a g a l l o n an d w h isk e y

seem ed t o b e a l s o

r e s t a u r a n t a s b o a r d e r s w ere k e p t a t th e r a t e d o lla rs

a w eek.

In

a

o f tw e n ty -o n e

t h e s p r i n g o f t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r m any

new a n d s u b s t a n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s w e r e a d d e d t o h ad b e e n p r o v e n t h a t t h e r e was g o ld i n to s u p p o r t good m in in g f o r

t h e cam p a s i t

s u f f ic ie n t q u a n tity

sev eral y ears.

M ann o p e n e d a

r e s t a u r a n t and ch arg ed one d o l l a r f o r m e a ls .

A m an n a m e d

H a n fo rd opened a n o th e r s t o r e w ith a good su p p ly o f p r o ­ v isio n s.

T h e f i r s t w h i t e woman a r r i v e d i n

th e m in e rs w a lk e d o u t a d i s t a n c e o f fro m V o lc a n o t o a rriv e d ,

j u s t to

t h e cam p o f a f a m i l y

1850.

Many o f

th re e o r fo u r m ile s t h a t had r e c e n tly

c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f a w h i t e w om an.

Many

m i n e r s cam e i n t h i s y e a r a n d w i t h th e m cam e a B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r na m e d A . M. D a v i d s o n who h e l d se rv ic e s in

t h e cam p.

th e f i r s t r e l i g i o u s

He a f t e r w a r d s b u i l t a c h u r c h . 1 I n

th e f o l l o w i n g y e a r t h e r e w as a p o p u l a t i o n l a r g e su p p o rt th re e h o te ls : P h ila d e lp h ia H ouse.

th e V o lc a n o ,

th e N a tio n a l,

The p o p u l a t i o n w a s g r e a t l y

by t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a w agon r o a d

^ M a s o n , A m ador C o u n t y . 2 0 4 .

enough to and th e

in c re a se d

th r o u g h V o lc an o a n d

acro ss first

th e S ie r r a

to C a rso n V a lle y

to w n i n C a l i f o r n i a

o v e r l a n d a n d m any o f

in 1852.

It

was th e

r e a c h e d b y t h e i m m i g r a n t s c o m in g

th e m s t o p p e d t o m i n e a n d t r y t h e i r

lu c k .l By t h e y e a r o f 1 8 5 3 g o l d h a d b e e n f o u n d i n t h e su rro u n d in g h i l l s F la t.

and f l a t s ,

s u c h a s U n io n F l a t a n d M a h a la

A l s o t h e J a c k s o n D i t c h Company w a s o r g a n i z e d a n d s o o n

a fte rw a rd s

t h e V o lc a n o Com pany.

was b r o u g h t i n t o began.

th e h i l l s

The w a t e r f r o m S u t t e r C r e e k

and f l a t s ,

I t w as fo u n d t h a t g r e a t m a sse s o f g r a v e l c o u ld be

m o v ed i n

t h i s m anner.

T h is h y d r a u l i c m in in g b r o u g h t a r e ­

v i v a l t o V o l c a n o , a s m any o f g iv in g o u t,

down o n t h e

th e

and g o ld p r o d u c t i o n

was s h o r t - l i v e d .

s u r f a c e d ig g in g s w ere ju m p ed .

to w n , s p o i l i n g

of fiv e

th a n Ja c k so n .

But th e r e v iv a l

S l u i c i n g fro m th e h y d r a u l i c m in e s c r e p t th e g ard en s and s t r e e t s .

By 1 8 5 5 V o l c a n o h a d r e a c h e d i t s la tio n

and g r o u n d - s lu ic in g

p eak w ith a popu­

th o u sa n d and b o a s te d o f a p o p u la tio n l a r g e r Ja c k s o n , h o w ev er, had been a b le

c o u n ty s e a t e l e c t i o n

by a f e w v o t e s w h e n A m a d o r C o u n t y h a d

b e e n form ed i n 1 8 5 4 . b e i n g w orked o u t ,

By t h e m i d d l e

’s ix tie s

t h e m in e s w e re

a n d t h e p l a c e w a s on i t s w a y t o w a r d s

b e c o m in g a g h o s t to w n .

N in e ty m il l io n d o l l a r s i n g o ld had

b e e n ta k e n o u t o f V o lc an o d u r i n g

^ H itte ll,

to w in th e

th e s h o r t s p a n o f

C a lifo rn ia H isto ry . I l l ,

11 3 *

m in in g a c t i v i t y . 1 V o lc a n o seem ed t o b e m ore r e f i n e d o t h e r m in in g cam ps.

t h a n m any o f t h e

I t had a s o c ia l s e t ,

engaged in

c u l t u r a l im p ro v e m e n ts, an d c o u ld b o a s t o f a l i b r a r y c i a t i o n w h ic h m et w e e k ly to d i s c u s s p o l i t i c a l , sc ie n tific

q u e stio n s .

One o f

c a lle d

,rAn E x a m i n a t i o n i n t o

s o c ia l and

t h e l e a r n e d men o f t h e

w a s P r o f e s s o r H o r n , who c o m p o s e d a v e r y

e ru d ite

asso­

to w n

tre a tise

t h e Laws o f N a t u r e , " w h i c h

a c h ie v e d w o rld -w id e p o p u l a r i t y . 2 In

1854 o c c u rre d

th e h a n g in g o f a n o t o r io u s b u l ly

f r o m A r k a n s a s w ho h a d s t a b b e d a m i n e r nam ed M c A l l i s t e r t o d e a th w h ile th e l a t t e r w as d e fe n d in g h i s f o u r t e e n - y e a r - o l d d a u g h te r.

The r o p e b r o k e t w i c e b e f o r e

su c c e ss fu l.

A c o r o n e r ’ s j u r y m et th e n e x t day b u t c o u ld

f i n d no w i t n e s s e s . d e a th ."

t h e h a n g in g was

T hey r e n d e r e d a v e r d i c t o f " a c c i d e n t a l

T h i s e x e c u t i o n c o n v i n c e d m an y o f t h e e v i l - d o e r s

t h a t some o t h e r t o w n w o u l d b e m o r e h e a l t h f u l . th e ly n c h in g

th a t w o rrie d

I t was n o t

th e m b u t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e b o d y

h a d b e e n d i s p o s e d o f p i e c e m e a l am ong t h e g a m b l i n g j o i n t s o f th e to w n .3 Jackson,

th e p re s e n t

c o u n ty

s e a t o f A m ador C o u n t y ,

l M a s o n , A m ador C o u n t y , 2 0 2 . 2W a l s h , C o l d D u s t T r a i l s , 1 0 8 . 3 ib id .,

108.

w as of no im p o rta n c e B o tille a s

in 1848*

I t w a s kn o w n a t f i r s t a s

(B o ttle S p rin g ) b e ca u se o f th e p i l e

t h a t bad c o ll e c t e d aro u n d tb e s p r in g ,

of b o ttle s

T r a v e le r s found t b i s

a g o o d s t o p p i n g a n d c a m p in g p l a c e on t b e r o a d fro m S a c r a m e n t o t o t b e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r m i n e s . p r e s e n t nam e f r o m C o l o n e l A l d e n J a c k s o n , J a c k s o n v ille

in

sto p f o r

f r e i g h t b e tw e e n n o r t h e r n v a l l e y

tb e fo u n d e r of

te a m s te rs h a u lin g

t o w n s a n d t b e M o k e lu m n e

L o u i s T e l i i e r w as t b e f i r s t w h i t e r e s i d e n t .

b u i l t a lo g c a b in co v ered w ith ra w h id e s. im m e d ia te v i c i n i t y lo g ic a l

o b ta in e d i t s

T u o lu m n e C o u n t y , wbo c a m p e d t h e r e . 1 I t s

f i r s t fa m e cam e a s a s t a g e

R iv e r.

It

He

T be m i n i n g i n t b e

o f t b e to w n w as n o t r i c h ,

b u t b e in g tb e

c e n t e r f o r a l a r g e m in in g a r e a an d a c o n v e n ie n t

sto p p in g p la c e ,

tb e

becam e s u f f i c i e n t l y s u ita b le p la c e le g isla tu re

to w n g r e w a n d p r o s p e r e d , a n d b y 1 8 5 1 im p o rta n t

f o r tb e

to

feel th a t

c o u n ty s e a t ,

i t w as t b e m ost

a lth o u g h

b ad s e l e c t e d D o u b le S p r i n g s a s

th e s t a t e

tb e lo c a tio n of

tb e

c o u n ty g o v e rn m e n t.

W ith o u t any p r e t e n s e a t l e g a l i t y

tb e

r e c o r d s w e re k i d n a p p e d fr o m D o u b le S p r i n g s a n d rem oved

t o J a c k s o n , w h ere th e y re m a in e d u n t i l an e l e c t i o n c h a n g e d t b e c o u n t y s e a t t o M o k e lu m n e H i l l . ite s

fe lt

tb is

ju s tifia b le

i n 1852

Tbe J a c k s o n -

on t b e b a s i s t h a t D o u b le S p r i n g s

l J a c k s o n , A n y b o d y Ts G -old, 365*

h a d o n ly one h o u s e , w h ic h s e r v e d a s c o u r t h o u s e , h o t e l , a n d s a lo o n , w h ile in th e s p rin g o f 1 8 5 0 , Jack so n had th re e lo g h o u se s and se v e n t e n t s ,

a n d by A u g u s t h a d s e v e n b u i l d i n g s .

The f i r s t w h i t e woman a r r i v e d a t t h i s and h e r s i s t e r .

In

th e f a l l

tim e ,

a M r s . HoughA

t h e r e w as a g r e a t im m ig r a tio n ,

an d by D ecem ber t h e r e w e re one h u n d re d b u i l d i n g s . T he p l a c e r m i n i n g i n

th e

g u lc h e s a ro u n d Ja c k s o n w as

g o o d b u t n o t a s r i c h a s a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l a n d i t w a s n o t u n til

th e d isc o v e ry

of q u a rtz m in in g in th e m id d le

’f if tie s

t h a t J a c k s o n was a s s u r e d o f a p r o s p e r i t y t h a t w as to tin u e

l o n g a f t e r o t h e r cam ps h a d d i e d .

m in e w as d i s c o v e r e d i n

th e

’f i f ti e s

The A r g o n a u t q u a r t z

and had p ro d u c e d

# 1 7 ,3 9 1 ,4 0 9 up t o 1 9 3 0 .

T he A r g o n a u t a n d K e n n e d y

(d is c o v e re d b e fo re 1870)

a r e am ong th e d e e p e s t i n

Jackson had l i t t l e fro m J a c k s o n G reek .

w a te r u n t i l i t

I n 1855 th e

con­

th e w o rld .2

was b r o u g h t i n

d itc h of th e

J a c k s o n W ater

Com pany t a p p i n g t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r t w e n t y m i l e s a b o v e to w n w as c o n s t r u c t e d a n d J a c k s o n was a s s u r e d o f a n a d e q u a t e su p p ly . S u t t e r G reek a c q u ir e d i t s

nam e f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t

J o h n S u t t e r a n d h i s m en c u t t i m b e r t h e r e i n I 8 4 6 .

S u tte r

a l s o m in e d t h e r e i n I 8 4 8 , b u t w as n o t s u c c e s s f u l a n d s o o n

l M a s o n , A m ado r C o u n t y , l 6 7 « ^K ensch and H o o v er, H i s t o r i c

S p o t s , 19*

w ent back to h is sto re

farm s.

In

I 8 4 9 a man n a m e d J a c k s o n h a d a

i n a t e n t h e r e , a n d W h e e le r,

G o o d rich ,

b r o u g h t i n a lo n g - to m fro m S a c ra m e n to

and M o u lto n

and w o rk e d th e

I t w as n o t u n t i l 18 5 1 , w h e n q u a r t z - b e a r i n g fo u n d , t h a t

t h e cam p b e c a m e a c t i v e .

nam ed t h e L i n c o l n i n

th e l a t e

first

s e t up t h e r e .

In th e

g o l d w as

T he U n i o n m i n e , r e ­

fiftie s ,

1851 and w as th e l e a d i n g p r o d u c e r .

a re a .l

Its

’fiftie s ,

w as d is c o v e re d i n sta m p m i l l w as th e

L e l a n d S t a n f o r d , who

h ad a s t o r e i n S a c ra m e n to , w as a s to c k h o ld e r i n

th e L in c o ln

When i t b e g a n t o l o s e m o n e y , h e cam e u p t o s e l l o u t f o r fiv e

th o u sa n d d o l l a r s ,

b u t a n o th e r s to c k h o ld e r,

p e r s u a d e d h im n o t t o s e l l . fo un d a g a in ,

W i t h i n a y e a r t h e v e i n was

r i c h e r th a n anyone b e lie v e d ;

so ld h is i n t e r e s t fo r

R . C. Downs

$4 0 0 ,0 0 0 . 2

S ta n fo rd l a t e r

r e t u r n s f r o m t h i s m in e

h e lp e d fin a n c e th e C e n tr a l P a c i f i c R a ilr o a d . I n 1853 t h e r e w ere

t h r e e m in e s on t h e

S u t t e r G reek — th e W o lv e rin e , H a y w a r d ow ned m o s t o f

so u th s id e of

E u rek a, and B ad g er.

th e B a d g er.

He c o m b i n e d i t

A lv in z a w ith th e

E u r e k a , a n d by 1 8 5 7 t h e y w e r e y i e l d i n g $ 6 8 , 0 0 0 a m o n t h . 3 M i n i n g b e ^ a n a t A m ado r C i t y ,

th re e m ile s n o rth

iM a so n , Am ador C o u n ty . 2 1 8 . 2J a c k s o n , A nybody’ s G o ld . 3 7 4 . 3 M a so n ,

ojd.

c i t ..

218.

of

S u t t e r G re e k , i n 1 8 4 8 , b u t th e p l a c e r s w ere n o t r i c h * w as n o t a m in in g c e n t e r o f a n y im p o rta n c e u n t i l

It

a p reach er

nam ed D a v id s o n d i s c o v e r e d g o l d i n q u a r t z on t h e s o u t h s i d e o f A m ad or C r e e k ,

i n .F e b r u a r y , 1 8 5 1 .1 T h ere w e re a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h h im G lo v e r , H e r b e r t , a n d P . Y. C o o l, a l l m i n i s t e r s o f th e g o sp e l;

t h e c l a i m w a s k no w n a s

th e g u lc h as

" M in iste rs*

on t h e n o r t h s i d e

G u lc h ,"

M in iste rs* L a te r

C laim " an d

t h e v e i n w as f o u n d

o f th e e r e e k a n d becam e known a s

" O r i g i n a l A m ado r M i n e , "

th e

T he p r e s e n t K e y s t o n e m i n e i s

a

r e s u l t of th e c o n s o lid a tio n

of

S p rin g H i l l ,

an d W a ln u t H i l l M in e s i n 1 8 5 7 .2

G ra n ite S ta te ,

t h e O r i g i n a l A m ador w i t h t h e

By 1 8 5 4 A m ador C i t y h a d a l a r g e r p o p u l a t i o n S u tte r C reek . C h ic a g o ,

P r o m i n e n t m i n e s w e r e t h e G l o v e r n e a r New

th e B la c k H i l l ,

th e S e a to n ,

and Q u a rtz M o u n ta in .

A s h o r t d i s t a n c e f r o m Am ador C i t y i s g o ld w as f i r s t sp rin g of ra v in e s

th an

d isc o v e re d i n

D ry to w n , w h e re

C a la v e r a s C o u n ty .3 i n

th e

I 8 4 8 , a m ix e d p o p u l a t i o n w as w o r k in g i n i t s

and g u lc h e s .

T he p a n n i n g w a s r i c h ,

a s m u ch a s a h u n d r e d d o l l a r s

th e y i e l d

b e in g

a day.

D ry to w n w as n o t nam ed b e c a u s e o f a n y te n d e n c y

3-T h i s w a s t h e sam e m a n who h a d h e l d r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e s in V o lc a n o . ^R ensch an d -H o o v er, H i s t o r i c

th e f i r s t

S p o ts, 19.

3 w a ls h , G o l d D u s t T r a i l s , 1 0 5 ; G o ld , 372.

Jackson,

A n y b o d y *s

to w a rd s te m p e ra n c e . c o u ld b o a s t o f

six

A t th e p eak of i t s sto re s

career

and tw e n ty -s ix

t h e camp

sa lo o n s and th e

u s u a l num ber o f g a m b lin g h a l l s .

I t was s u r r o u n d e d by

d ig g in g s w ith p i c t u r e s q u e nam es,

s u c h a s R a t t l e s n a k e G u lc h ,

M u r d e r e r ’ s G u l c h , F o r e s t Home, A r k a n s a s C r e e k , S p rin g s,

Y ankee H i l l ,

G u lc h , S l a t e

G u lc h ,

W illo w

F o r t J o h n s , L o w e r R a n c h e r i a , D eep

and H orse C re e k .

T h e r e w e r e many c a m p s a l o n g t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r , b u t Lancha P la n a

( f l a t b o a t)

m ost im p o r ta n t.

becam e i n t h e

th a t

one o f

th e

I t w as o v ersh ad o w ed i n 1 8 4 8 -4 9 by P o v e rty

B ar on t h e s o u th s id e o f th e r i v e r . at

’f if tie s

Its

c h i e f im p o rta n c e

tim e w as a m o o r in g p l a c e f o r t h e f e r r y b o a t t h a t

c a rrie d p assen g ers

to P o v e rty B a r.

I t w as f i r s t

c a lle d

’’D i s c o v e r y D i g g i n g s , * ’l b u t t h e p l a c e r m i n i n g w a s n o t r i c h . It

reach ed i t s

h e i g h t o f p r o s p e r i t y a f t e r 1 8 5 6 , when h i l l

and b l u f f m in in g w ere b e t t e r th a n r i v e r m in in g . sc a tte re d

a lo n g

th e r i v e r a t W in te r’ s B a r, P o v e rty B ar,

O r e g o n B a r , P u t ’ s B a r , Camp O p r a , C o p p e r C e n t e r , T o w n e r v i l l e m ade L a n c h a P l a n a a

to u g h cam ps o f th e c o u n ty .

and

tra d in g c e n te r as w e ll as

a p l a c e o f c a r o u s a l a n d m erry m ak in g .

I t becam e one o f th e

I t was s u p p o s e d l y a f a v o r i t e

h a n g -o u t f o r Jo a q u in M u rie ta , c o m m i t t e d m o re m u r d e r s o n t h i s

% a lsh ,

The m i n e s

a s w e l l a s Sam B row n (who coast

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s . 1 0 1 .

th a n any o t h e r p e r s o n ) ,

Sam M a r s h a l l ,

a to u g h gang fro m S t e u b e n v i l l e ,

O h io ,

and

o th e r c rim in a ls . I n 1 8 5 0 a n e f f o r t w a s m ad e t o p o p u la tio n , b u t, o th e rs in

as i t

e x p e l t h e M e x ica n

was o p p o s e d b y G e n e r a l S te d m a n a n d

t h e c o m m u n ity w i t h c o o l e r h e a d s , a s u n f a i r ,

th e

m ovem ent f a i l e d 1 The to w n o f

t e n t s a n d b r u s h s h a n t i e s was b u r n e d i n

I 8 5 3 , b u t w hen F a t h e r F o r e t n ic k v i s i t e d t h e r e w ere th r e e

th o u sa n d v o t e r s i n

s i x hu n d red I n d ia n s ,

t h e cam p, w i t h a n o t h e r

C h i n a m e n , a n d M e x i c a n s . 2 T he p r i n c i ­

p a l s t r e e t s w e re W all a n d B ro ad w ay . c a lle d

t h e cam p i n 1 8 5 4 ,

I t had a new spaper

t h e Am ador D i s p a t c h , r a n b y H e c k e n d o r n e a n d P r y n e .

D u rin g an e l e c t i o n t o C om anche,

c am p aig n a p a r a d e was h e l d

th r e e m ile s aw ay.

th a t reached

L e la n d S ta n fo r d c lo s e d h i s

cam p aig n f o r g o v e r n o r o f t h e S t a t e w i t h a r a l l y

in Lancha

P la n a i n 1 8 6 1 .3 P o v e rty B ar,

j u s t a c r o s s th e r i v e r fro m Lancha P la n a ,

w as o n e o f t h e b i g cam ps on t h e r i v e r u n t i l fire

i n S e p te m b e r, 1 8 5 9 .

The r i v e r m i n i n g i n

w o r k e d o u t a t a b o u t t h e sam e t i m e a n d t h e g a in e d i t s

p re v io u s g lo ry .

A c c o rd in g to

G o ld D u s t T r a i l s ,

3 0 a k la n d , T rib u n e ,

t h e b a r s was

to w n n e v e r r e ­ th e San A n d re as,

iM a s o n , Am ador C o u n ty . 194* 2W a l s h ,

d e s t r o y e d by

101.

J a n u a r y 31 > 1 9 4 3 *

73 I n d e p e n d e n t f o r S e p tem b er 1 8 , I 8 5 8 : "T h e to w n b a d s e v e n p r o v i s i o n s t o r e s , a b a k e r y , t h r e e h o t e l s , t h r e e b i l l i a r d s a l o o n s , tw o b a r b e r s h o p s , an d tw o d r y g o o d s s t o r e s w e l l s t o c k e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g fro m baby s to c k in g s to s to g y b o o ts* T ro tt and C u n n in g h a m h a v e j u s t f i n i s h e d t h e i r l a r g e l i v e r y s t a b l e and a r e p re p a re d to f u r n i s h th e p u b lic w ith any k in d o f a t u r n - o u t th e y w ish — a g e n tl e pony o r a p a i r o f " t w o - f o r t y s ” , b e f o r e a s p l e n d i d C oncord b u g g y .” B e sid e s th e s e ,

t h e r e w e re tw o e x p r e s s o f f i c e s ,

ru m s h o p s , f o u r r o n d o s a l o o n s ,

a n d m any f a n d a n g o h o u s e s .

On t h e n i g h t o f M a r c h 8 , 1 8 5 8 , p erfo rm ed

th e R o b in so n F a m ily

a t l ’I'readwpL^D H a l l i n P o v e r t y B a r ,

w as so g r e a t t h a t t h e m ain s t r i n g e r , b ro k e , c r e a t i n g g r e a t a la rm . cro w d t h a t i f

M r.

a n d t h e cro w d

su p p o rtin g

jo is t

T re a d w a y a s s u r e d

th e

t h e y w o u ld r e m a i n q u i e t t h e s t r i n g e r w o u l d

be se c u re d and th e

sho w w o u l d g o o n . l

L a te r, flo o d s of

t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r w a s h e d aw ay

m u c h o f t h e l a n d o n w h i c h t h e to w n w a s l o c a t e d , i n h a b i t a n t s m o v ed t o

and i t s

C am anche.

Campo S e c o , o r D ry D i g g i n g s , w as s e t t l e d M ex ica n s i n

n in e

I 8 4 .9 , who w e r e w o r k i n g t h e r i c h

O regon G u lc h , w h ic h f lo w s m ost c o sm o p o lita n o f a l l

th r o u g h t h e to w n .

by

p la c e rs of I t w as th e

th e m in in g cam ps, c o n t a i n i n g ,

a c c o rd in g to u n o f f i c i a l r e p o r t s ,

a p o p u la tio n of fo rty

ls a n Andreas, In dependent. March 20, 1858.

d iffe re n t n a tio n a litie s .

B e f o r e b e i n g d e s t r o y e d by f i r e

i n 1 8 5 4 , i t b o a s t e d som e " t h r e e a bank,

th o u sa n d i n h a b i t a n t s , w ith

t h r e e h o t e l s , m an y s a l o o n s , The to w n w a s r e b u i l t ,

and th e

u n til in

th e l a t e

in g o u t,

tw o M e x i c a n s d i s c o v e r e d

to p r o s p e r ity

in

’f i f ti e s .

th e

a g a in by f i r e .

p l a c e r m in in g w as good

J u s t a s . th e p l a c e r s w ere p l a y ­

’s ix tie s .

i n S e p tem b er, 1 8 5 9 ,

and a b r e w e r y ." !

th e

copper le a d

In le s s

b u sin e ss

th a n

th a t le d

t h i r t y m in u te s

s e c t i o n w as d e s tr o y e d

The to w n w a s r e b u i l t a n d b e c a m e a c o p p e r

p ro d u c in g c e n te r in A w r ite r to

th e

’s ix tie s .

th e C a la v e ra s C h ro n ic le i n 1862 s t a t e s : 2

T h at a b o u t a l l th e p l a c e r m in in g t h a t w as b e in g done a r o u n d Campo S e c o w a s b y a h o r d e o f C h i n e s e , b u t t h e c o p p e r l e a d s l o o k e d h o p e f u l , a n d Campo S e c o m i g h t b e re v iv e d to i t s fo rm er g lo r y . A lth o u g h C o p p e ro p o lis i s n o t one o f th e e a r l y m in in g cam ps,

and n o t one o f th e n o r t h e r n cam ps,

b e c o m e a f l o u r i s h i n g m i n i n g to w n i n t h e e a r l y sh o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d .

’s ix tie s and

th e fo llo w in g y e a r s ,

o f c o p p e r w e r e h a u l e d b y o x - c a r t a n d m u le

lW a ls h , C o ld D u s t T r a i l s , 1 0 2 . ^C a la v e ra s C h r o n ic le , June 14, 3 w a lsh ,

d id

C opper w as d i s c o v e r e d h e r e i n i8 6 0

b y W. K . R e e d a n d Thom as M c C a r t y . 3 i n g re a t q u a n titie s

it

0£ .

c l t . , 11 4»

1862.

te a m s o v e r a p r i v a t e sh ip p e d

t o l l ro ad

to S to c k to n , w here i t w as

t o W ales f o r r e d u c t i o n *

C o rn w a ll,

E n g la n d ,

to w o rk i n

W ar y e a r s

t h e to w n r e a c h e d i t s

M in e rs w ere im p o rte d fro m

th e m in e s. peak.

D u rin g th e C i v i l

In 1863- 64,

$ 1 ,6 0 0 ,0 0 0 w o rth o f o r e w as s h ip p e d th ro u g h S t o c k t o n . l By 1 8 6 4 t h e p r i n c i p a l v e i n i n d e v e lo p e d t o a w id th o f of fifte e n

fe e t of so lid

to tw e n ty p e r c e n t p u r i t y ,

h u n d red and f i f t y c e le b rity .

fo rty

It

fe e t,

A t one tim e th e

o f te n th o u sa n d ,

(th e C o u rie r),

a t a d e p t h o f tw o

w as v a l u e d a t t w o m i l l i o n d o l l a r s

h ig h g ra d e ore.3 excess

th re e

th e

to w n h a d a p o p u l a t i o n

and b o a s t e d a n e w s p a p e r

sc h o o ls,

to w n , a s i t

i n I 8 6 5 .2

t h o u s a n d t o n s y e ’a r l y

tw o c h u r c h e s , f o u r h o t e l s ,

a n d m any s t o r e s a n d w o r k s h o p s . ^ * I n A u g u s t , d e stro y e d

s u lp h u re t o re

t h u s g i v i n g t h e m in e a w o r ld - w id e

The Ames M in e p r o d u c e d t w e n t y

in

t h e U n i o n M in e

1867, f i r e

h a d s o m an y o f t h e o t h e r m i n i n g

to w n s ♦

^ B a n c ro ft, H is to ry

o f C a l i f o r n i a . V I,

^ B io g ra p h ic a l H is to ry C o u n tie s. lo 5 .

513-

of C e n tra l C a lif o r n ia

3G host to w n s. 4 H i s t o r i c a l la n d m a rk C o m m issio n , C a l a v e r a s P r o s p e c t . S e p te m b e r 2 1 , 1 9 3 7 .

of

CHAPTER IV STATE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY- BOUNDARIES C o n g re ss, b e in g H a ra sse d by tb e b i t t e r m en ts o v e r th e e x t e n s i o n o f s l a v e r y b e en u n a b le to

to

d isa g re e ­

th e t e r r i t o r i e s ,

had

p r o v id e f o r any fo rm o f c i v i l g o v e rn m e n t f o r

C a l i f o r n i a by 1 8 4 9 .

C o n se q u e n tly ,

th e m i l i t a r y

g ov ern m en t

an d t h e r e m n a n ts o f t h e M e x ica n s y s te m o f g o v e rn m e n t w ere c o m p le te ly in a d e q u a te

to cope w ith th e p ro b lem s o f g o v e rn ­

m en t c r e a t e d by t h e g r e a t r u s h o f

e m ig ra n ts in

g ro u p s and C a li f o r n ia n ew sp a p ers,

tirin g

C ongress,

dem anded t h a t i f n e c e s s a r y

I849.

o f th e d e la y

When G e n e r a l B e n n e t

a rriv e d

G overnor, he had

in stru c tio n s

fro m P r e s i d e n t T a y lo r to

g o v e rn m e n t.

He i s s u e d a p r o c l a m a t i o n o n J u n e 3 , 1 8 4 9 ,

c a llin g f o r an e le c tio n

to

to

R ile y

seek to o rg a n iz e a

be h e l d o n A u g u s t 1 , 1 8 4 9 ,

th e p u rp o se o f c h o o sin g d e le g a te s

of

a g o v e r n m e n t be. f o r m e d

w i t h o u t th e c o n s e n t o f C o ng ress* in C a lifo rn ia as M ilita ry

Local

fo r

th e G e n e ra l C o n v e n tio n

t o m e e t a t M o n te re y on S e p tem b er 1 , a n d a l s o

to

e le c t lo c a l

o ffic ia ls .1 P o u r d e le g a te s w e re to be c h o se n by D istric t.

th e San Jo a q u in

C a la v e r a s w as i n t h e D i s t r i c t o f San J o a q u in ,

1(3 o y , S t e p s T o w a rd S t a t e h o o d ,

(m s ) .

one o f th e d iv id e d . R iv e r,

te n d i s t r i c t s It

c o n ta in e d

i n t o w h ic h th e

a ll

sta te

w as t o be

t h e a r e a s o u t h o f t h e G o su m n e s

l y i n g b e tw e e n th e c o a s t ra n g e a n d th e S i e r r a N evad a.

The f o l l o w i n g e l e v e n p r e c i n c t s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d San Jo a q u in D i s t r i c t : S u l l i v a n ’ s D ig g in g s,

T u o lu m n e R i v e r T u o lu m n e R i v e r ,

S o n o r i a n Camp, S t o c k t o n , C u rtis v ille , v ille

th e o n ly p r e c i n c t s

A p p a re n tly A n g e ls,

C u rtis -

(M o k e lu m n e ) w e r e

d is tric t:

y ears

S ix

J . M. H o l l i n g s ­

T hom as L . V e r m e u l e , B e n j a m i n S .

B. F . M o o r e , a n d J . M. J o n e s .

under th ir ty - f iv e h i s home a s

R iv e r M erced es,

i n w b a t i s no w C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y .

0 . M. W o z e n c r a f t ,

L ip p in c o tt,

(lo w e r d ig g in g s ) ,

a n d M o q u e lo m o u s

d e l e g a t e s w ere c h o sen fro m t h i s w o rth ,

th e

J a m e s to w n , M o q u elo m o u s, A n g e l s ,

and J a c k s o n v ille .

(on A n g e ls C r e e k ) ,

in

of age,

and none o f

T h ey w e r e a l l th e m l i s t e d

th e m in in g cam ps, b e in g e i t h e r fro m S to c k to n

o r San F ra n c is c o .

N one o f th em h a d b e e n i n

th a n th re e and a h a lf y e a r s ,

th e

s t a t e m ore

a n d tw o h a d b e e n h e r e f o r

o n ly f o u r m o n th s .1 The c o n v e n t i o n o f f o r t y - e i g h t d e l e g a t e s m e t i n S e p te m b e r a t M o n te re y a n d d rew up a C o n s t i t u t i o n w h ic h was su b m itte d 1849.

to

th e p e o p le i n

T here w e re a g a i n t e n

an e l e c t i o n h e l d N ovem ber 1 3 , d is tric ts ,

w ith th ir t y - t h r e e

l j . R oss B row ne, D e b a te s i n th e C o n v e n tio n C a l i f o r n i a , a p p e n d ix .

of

p re c in c ts

in

th e San Jo a q u in D i s t r i c t *

c i n c t s w ere i n

th e C a la v e ra s r e g io n :

th ir ty - e ig h t v o te s; tw e n ty v o t e s ;

C arso n * s C reek ,

tw e n ty -n in e v o te s ;

v o t e s ; M cLane*s C r o s s in g

M cLean*s C r o s s i n g — one o f

th e f e r r i e s

v o t e s ; M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

M o k e lu m n e L o w e r B a r ,

A n g e l s Camp,

C a l a v e r a s Camp ( o n C a l a v e r a s R i v e r )

(D ry to w n ), n i n e t y - t h r e e

th irty -fiv e

The f o l l o w i n g p r e ­

n in e ty -fiv e

one h u n d re d f i v e v o t e s ;

v o te s;

f i f t y - f o u r v o te s;

T a y lo r* s F e rry

th e C a la v e ra s

S to u te n b e rg (th e

O reg o n B ar fifty -th re e

V o lc a n o ,

The t o t a l v o t e

(M u r p h y s D i g g i n g s ) , second c ro s s in g o f

on th e ro a d t o S t o c k t o n ) ,

one h u n d re d tw e n ty

f o r t y - f i v e v o te s ; a n d Buena V is ta

n o r t h o f L a n c h a P l a n a on t h e r o a d t o

n in e ty ,

v o te s;

S c o l l a n * s Camp ( o n t h e C a l a v e r a s R i v e r n e a r S a n

A n d reas), f i f t e e n

v o te s;

(a lso

on th e S t a n is la u s ) ,

( o n l o w e r M o k e lu m n e R i v e r n e a r M i d d l e B a r ) , v o te s;

D ry G r e e k

Jack so n ),

(ju st

tw e n ty v o t e s .

i n t h e C a l a v e r a s r e g i o n was s e v e n h u n d r e d

b u t i t w a s a d a y o f s t o r m a n d r a i n a n d a g r e a t many

d i d n ’ t v o t e *3The C o n s t i t u t i o n w a s a d o p t e d w i t h v e r y l i t t l e o p p o sitio n ,

b o th in

le d f o r g o v ern o r in

th e d i s t r i c t and th e s ta te * th e San Jo a q u in D i s t r i c t ,

J* W. G e a r y

a lth o u g h

S t e p s T o w a rd S t a t e h o o d * ( m s ) . I n th e San J o a q u i n D i s t r i c t , 2403 v o t e s w e re c a s t f o r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , a n d 137 w e re o p p o se d t o i t . I n t h e s t a t e 1 2 ,8 7 3 v o t e s w ere c a s t f o r C o n s t i t u t i o n and 811 o p p o se d .

P e t e r B u r n e t t w as e l e c t e d by tb e s t a t e . M o k e lu m n e H i l l w a s g i v e n a m a j o r i t y L ie u te n a n t G overnor, M c D o u g a l.

b u t tb e

sta te

R i c h a r d •Roman o f

by tb e

d istric t,

fo r

v o te d i n f a v o r o f John

E d w a rd G i l b e r t a n d G e o r g e W r i g b t w e r e e l e c t e d

re p re se n ta tiv e s

to C o n g re ss,

and s ix te e n S ta te

t h i r t y - s i x m e m b e rs o f t b e A s s e m b l y w e r e a l s o

S e n a to rs and

e le c te d .

Tbe S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e m e t i n S a n J o s e d u r i n g t b e m id d le o f D ecem b er* 1849 9 a n d one of tb e i m p o r t a n t d u t i e s w as tb e

s e ttin g

first

up o f c o u n ty b o u n d a r ie s

an d tb e p r o v i d in g f o r l o c a l g o v e rn m e n t.

A c o m m itte e , w itb

G e n e r a l M a ria n o V a l l e j o a s c h a irm a n , w as g iv e n d ra w in g t b e c o u n ty b o u n d a r i e s . le ft

up to G e n e ra l V a l l e j o ,

g eo g rap h y , p o p u la tio n ,

wbo w a s a n a u t h o r i t y

e o u n t i e s w ere fo rm ed i n

tb e m in in g d i s t r i c t

la r g e s t p a rt of tb e

of

on

and tb e n o m e n c la tu r e o f tb e r e g i o n . i t s r e p o r t on J a n u a r y

th e

tb e ta s k

Tbe b u l k o f t b e w o r k w as

T be c o m m i t t e e p r e s e n t e d

re p o r t because of

and m ost

tra n s ito ry p o p u la tio n ,

4 th .

in tb is

p la n n e d .

18 50.^-

H o w ev er, tb e l e g i s ­

l a t u r e m ade a n u m b e r o f c h a n g e s a n d a d d i t i o n s , a s s i g n e d by tb e g o v e r n o r o r g a n i z e d

first

a lth o u g h tb e

p o p u l a t i o n w as l o c a t e d h e r e i n

O n ly e i g h t e e n c o u n t i e s w e r e

No

and tb e b i l l

tw e n ty -s e v e n c o u n tie s ,

A c c o r d i n g t o tb e S e v e n th C e n su s, 1850, C a la v e ra s C o u n ty w as l i s t e d s e c o n d i n p o p u l a t i o n i n t b e S t a t e , w i t b 1 6 ,8 0 2 ; E lD o rad o bad 2 0 ,0 5 7 ; t h e r e w e re no r e t u r n s ,fo r San F ra n c is c o . Tbe t o t a l f o r t b e s t a t e w as 9 2 ,5 9 7 .

80 w ith th e m in in g c o u n tie s

o f C a la v e r a s , E l D orado,

and M a rip o sa i n c l u d e d T h e C o u n ty w as f i r s t

c o u n ty

s e a t f o r C a la v e ra s

s e t a t P le a s a n t V a lle y ,

on th e o ld r i v e r

ro a d one and a h a l f m ile s w e st o f Jenny L in d , F eb ru ary 18, 1850, b u t e sta b lis h e d se a ts

by t h e a c t o f

t h e c o u n ty g o v e rn m e n t was n e v e r

t h e r e . 2 Two a m e n d a t o r y a c t s c h a n g e d t h e c o u n t y

i n b o t h C a l a v e r a s a n d T u o lu m n e C o u n t i e s .

S p r i n g s was d e s i g n a t e d a s th e f i r s t

th e c o u n ty s e a t i n C a la v e r a s ,

c re a te d ,

p resen t siz e .

t h e c o u n ty w as n e a r l y

D u rin g th e

first

a c t s w ere p a sse d in an e f f o r t t o d e fin e th e l a s t ,

D o u b le and

c o u n ty g o v e rn m e n t w as o r g a n iz e d there.3

As o r i g i n a l l y tim e s i t s

T u o lu m n e ,

passed in 1851,

g iv e s

th e b o u n d ary l i n e s a s o r i g i n a l l y B e g in n in g a t

th e

fo u r

tw o y e a r s ,

th re e

th e b o u n d a rie s;

th e c l e a r e s t in te n d e d .

d e fin itio n of It

read s

c o r n e r o f S a c ra m e n to an d S an

3-0wen C. C o y , C a l i f o r n i a C o u n t y B o u n d a r i e s ,

1-3*

^R ensch an d H oover, H i s t o r i c S p o t s . 4 1 . J u d g e J . A. S m ith , i n d o in g r e s e a r c h to g e t m a t e r i a l f o r a b ro n z e m a r k e r t o b e e r e c t e d a t D o u b l e S p r i n g s , cam e a c r o s s a d e e d w h ic h s t a t e d t h a t P l e a s a n t V a l l e y a n d D o u b le S p r i n g s w e re t h e sa m e p l a c e . Ju d g e S m ith i s c o n v in c e d t h i s i s th e e a s e . 3 c h a r l e s L. P e e k l o c a t e d t h e l a n d a t D o u b le S p r i n g s i n 1847 and f i l e d c la im s w ith th e A lc a ld e o f San F r a n c i s c o . T h is p r e - e m p ti o n n o t i c e w as r e c o r d e d S e p te m b e r 1 9 , 1 8 5 0 , on p a g e 6 9 , i n R e c o r d B, 3 r d A r c h i v e s , S a n F r a n c i s c o . 4-Coy, C o u n t y B o u n d a r i e s » 8 0 .

J o a q u i n C o u n t i e s ; t h e n c e up t h e m i d d l e o f D ry C r e e k to i t s s o u r c e ; th e n c e f o llo w in g th e s u m m it,o f th e d i v i d i n g r i d g e b e t w e e n t h e M o q u e lm n e a n d C o su m n e s R iv e r s ; th e n c e due e a s t to th e s t a t e b o u n d ary l i n e ; th e n c e i n a s o u t h e a s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n a lo n g th e b o u n d a ry l i n e o f th e s t a t e to th e p a r a l l e l o f t h i r t y e i g h t d e g r e e s o f n o r t h l a t i t u d e ; th e n c e due w e s t t o t h e s u m m it o f t h e S i e r r a N e v a d a ; t h e n c e i n a w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n a l o n g s a i d s u m m it t o t h e n o r t h f o r k o f t h e S t a n i s la u s R iv e r to a p o in t one m ile n o r th of K h ig h t’ s F e r r y ; th e n c e a lo n g th e e a s t e r n b o u n d ary of th e San Jo a q u in t o th e p la c e of b e g in n in g . The c o u n t y o f f i c e r s w e r e c h o s e n a t a n e l e c t i o n in A p ril,

1850.

h e ld

The S t o c k t o n , T i m e s , A p r i l 2 0 , 1 8 5 0 , l i s t s

th e fo llo w in g r e t u r n s C l e r k o f t h e S u p re m e C o u r t — S . H. T h o r p , 6 5 2 ; o t h e r s , 52 D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y --------------------- S . A . B r o o k s , 7 1 6 ; o th e rs , 52. C o u n t y J u d g e -------------------------------Wm. F o w le S m i t h , 6 0 5 ; G-. H . C a m p b e l l , 2 3 2 ; R. H . D a l y , 176; G u ild , 150. ---------------------L e w i s C o l l i e r , 1 9 8 ; J o h n J . C o u n ty C l e r k L in d , 455. A t t o r n e y ( P r o s e c u t i n g ) ----------J . B room e S m i t h 8 6 6 . S h e r i f f ---------------------------- ------------ J . H a n s o n , 3 3 0 ; o t h e r s , 2 0 4 . T r e a s u r e r ------------------------------------ D r . Wm. L . M a r t i n , 4 2 3 ; J . G. D u d l e y , 3 1 4 ; T. P . S e a r s , 2 1 8 ; S . C. S a w y e r , 1 3 7 T hese r e t u r n s do n o t a g re e e n t i r e l y w ith t h e l i s t first

c o u n ty o f f i c i a l s

of th e

a s r e p o r t e d by M ason i n h i s H i s t o r y

i T h e S t o c k t o n , T i m e s , May 1 8 , 1 8 5 0 , r e p o r t s t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty a t f i f t e e n t h o u s a n d . T h is w o u l d e n t i t l e t h e c o u n t y t o s i x a s s e m b l y m e n a n d tw o s e n a t o r s — o n e m e m b er f o r e v e r y n i n e t e e n h u n d r e d p e r s o n s .

o f A m ador C o u n t y .

He r e p o r t s A . B. M u d g e , a s

T reasu rer

and H. A. C a r t e r a s P r o s e c u t in g A t t o r n e y . 1 The r e c o r d s a s t o t h e a re c o n tra d ic to ry .

c h a ra c te r o f

th e f i r s t

P o w le S m i t h w a s a n e a s t e r n m a n ,

o ffic e rs and

som e s a i d h e w a s a m i s e r a b l e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f m e a n n e s s . O th e r s s a i d h e w as h o n e s t a n d w o u ld n o t a p p ro v e th e p e c c a d illo s of C o lly e r.

C o lo n e l C o l ly e r was s a i d

g e n i a l m an b u t r e c k l e s s . o f p o c k e tin g a l l He i s

h is

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in h is six ty

th e m o n e o u n c e e a c h , a l l

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s a id of C a rte r,

o f f i c ia l c a p a c ity . fo re ig n e rs

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one d a y ,

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own p o c k e t a n d d e c a m p e d w i t h a n '

e s tim a te d $ 3 0 ,0 0 0 .2 Jo h n H anson, th e c a rrie d

to be a

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sa tis fa c to rily ,

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a p p a re n tly sa m e may b e

th e p ro s e c u tin g a tto r n e y .3

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se rv e d a s C o u rt H ouse,

sa lo o n ,

sto re ,

and

i M a s o n , A m ado r C o u n t y , 6 6 . 2 S a n J o a q u i n R e p u b l i c a n , F e b r u a r y 25> 1 8 5 2 . A. B. M udge w a s k i l l e d i n a f i g h t w i t h a m an n a m e d C h a s e i n 1 8 5 7 i n N o r th San J u a n ( S i e r r a C o u n ty ) a s a r e s u l t o f a d i s p u t e over C hase’ s w if e . C o ld e n E r a , M arch 2 2 , 1 8 5 7 .

3 M a s o n , A m ador C o u n t y , 6 6 . ^ T h e nam e c o m e s f r o m t h e f a c t t h e r e w e r e tw o s p r i n g s . I t w as a s t o p p i n g p l a c e o n t h e r o a d f r o m S t o c k t o n t o M o k e lu m n e H i l l .

h o t e l T h e w id e ,

c o u r t s w ere h e ld

i m p o r t e d fro m C h in a*

se ss io n

i n a t e n t e ig h t by te n f e e t The f i r s t

under a b ig oak t r e e .

th e

th e la w s p a s s e d by th e l e g i s l a t u r e

1849- 5 0 , w henever a m a jo rity

c o u n ty

th e y s h o u ld be th e

c o u n ty s e a t .

A c c o rd in g to

p e titio n e d

its

B o t h J a c k s o n a n d M o k e lu m n e

H i l l w ere l a r g e r c o m m u n itie s a n d f e l t lo c a tio n of

G rand J u r y h e l d

f o r an e le c tio n

of th e v o te rs

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c o u n ty

se a t,

ju d g e m ig h t o r d e r a n e l e c t i o n on t h i r t y

th e

days*

n o tic e .

On J a n u a r y 8 , 1 8 5 1 , J u d g e F o w le S m i t h , h a v i n g b e e n p e t i ­ tio n e d

to ch an g e th e c o u n ty

h e ld on F e b ru a ry 2 2 ,

When t h e

o rd ere d an e le c tio h

to be

1851, f o r th e p u rp o se of s e l e c ti n g

perm an en t l o c a t i o n f o r C a la v e ra s.

se a t,

th e

first

seat of ju s tic e

fo r

th e

a

C o u n ty

of

c o u n t w a s m ad e b y C o u n t y C l e r k

l T h i s b u i l d i n g w a s i m p o r t e d f r o m C h i n a b y Sam B ran nan f o r h is s t o r e in S a c ra m e n to . I n 1 849 a m an n a m e d D u d l e y b o u g h t t h e h o u s e , w h i c h w a s m ade o f p a n e l s , a n d e r e c t e d i t a t D o u b le S p r i n g s . I n t h e P l a c e r T im e s , A ugust 11, 1849, a p p ea rs t h i s a d v e rtis e m e n t: " D a il y e x p e c t e d on t h e s c h o o n e r P e t r o l * fro m H ong K ong, f o u r w ooden h o u s e s , 1 2 x 2 4 f e e t , 2 ro o m s e a c h . . A l s o w in d o w g l a s s , 4 c o u c h e s , 6 t a b l e s , 1 c h a i r , 1 0 , 0 0 0 l b s . r i c e , 7500 l b s . s u g a r , 3 c m t. p a i n t . A p p ly t o S . B ra n n a n & C o ." T h re e o f t h e s e h o u s e s form ed th e c o u r th o u s e i n one lo n g s t r u c t u r e , tw e lv e by s e v e n ty -tw o f e e t . T he c o u r t w a s h e l d i n o n e e n d , t h e r e c o r d e r ^ o f f i c e c a m e n e x t , a n d t h e n c am e th e l i v i n g q u a r t e r s o f th e c o u n ty ju d g e an d r e c o r d e r . A p p a r e n t l y J u d g e S m i t h a n d R e c o r d e r C o l l y e r ow ned t h e b u i l d ­ i n g f o r c o u n t y r e c o r d s show t h a t S m ith s o l d h i s h a l f i n t e r e s t t o B o ile a u an d S h a l l f o r #5 00 , on F e b ru a ry 1 8 , 1851; C o l ly e r s o l d h i s h a l f t o B o i l e a u a n d S h a l l f o r #30 0 o n A u g u s t 2 6 , 1 8 5 1 , a f t e r t h e c o u n ty s e a t h a d b e e n m oved t o J a c k s o n i n Ju ly , 1851. P a r t of th e o ld b u i l d i n g s t i l l s ta n d s b e h in d t h e o l d A . R* W h e a t h o u s e a t D o u b l e S p r i n g s .

C o l l y e r , M o k e lu m n e H i l l w a s d e c l a r e d , t h e s u c c e s s f u l

to w n ,

h u t a s u b s e q u e n t c o u n t y b y J u d g e S m i t h m ad e J a c k s o n t h e C o u n ty S e a t . l H o w ev er, S m ith w as c h a r g e d w i t h f r a u d b y t h e M o k e lu m n e H i l l s u p p o r t e r s . th e

The J a c k s o n a d h e r e n t s d e c l a r e d

e l e c t i o n a f a r c e a n d m ade p l a n s t o

s e a t and ta k e th e a r c h iv e s H isto ry

c a p tu re

to Jackson*

schem e.

M ason, i n h i s

A t any r a t e ,

w e n t t o D o u b le S p r i n g s o n e d a y i n J u l y , in

th e

C o lly e r,

c o u n ty

c u sto d ia n

h e a n d T heo M udge

I8 5 1 ,3 a n d i n v i t e d

s e a t to a round o f d r i n k s .

th e g ro u p .

In

th e m e a n tim e , P . E .

W a ld e n a n d F r e d e r i c k G a l l m o v e d t h e a r c h i v e s th em t o J a c k s o n , w h e re a s h a k e

r a g e when h e l e a r n e d t h a t

o u t and to o k

sh a n ty had been p re p a re d f o r

th e f o o t o f C o u rt S t r e e t .

T he C o l o n e l w a s i n

th e c o u n ty

h e s w o r e t h e a rm y w o u l d b e c a l l e d S m ith , h o w ev er,

C o lo n el

o f t h e a r c h i v e s , was fo n d o f l i q u o r a n d

im b ib e d h e a r t i l y w i t h

th em a t

c o u n ty

o f A m ad o r C o u n t y , 2 s a y s t h a t C h a r l e s B o y n t o n

p ro b a b ly p la n n e d th e

a ll

th e

a

s e a t had v a n is h e d ,

out if

n ecessary .

and

Judge

s e e m e d t o b e u n d i s t u r b e d a n d w a s on h a n d i n

^ T h e S t o c k t o n , T i m e s , M a r c h 1 2 , 18 5 1 , r e p o r t s t h a t a t th e r e c e n t e l e c t i o n f o r th e p erm an en t l o c a t i o n o f th e c o u n ty s e a t th e r e t u r n s gave a n e x c e s s o f v o t e s i n f a v o r o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l . ^ M a s o n , A m ad or C o u n t y . 6 6 . 3T he l a s t r e c o r d e d d a t e i n D o u b l e S p r i n g s i s Ju n e 16, 1851, and on J u ly 2 8 , 1851, C o lly e r s ig n e d a n e l e c t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e t o B en M a r s h a l l a s S h e r i f f , d a t e d a t Jackson.

Jack so n read y to a d m in ste r j u s t i c e .

A. s u b s e q u e n t c o u n t o f

th e b a l l o t s b y Judge S m ith fo u n d J a c k s o n t o b e th e e le c tio n ,

th e w in n e r o f

a lth o u g h he w as o p e n ly c h a rg e d w ith f r a u d and

s u s p e c te d o f h a v in g c o n s p ir e d i n th e a b d u c tio n o f

th e

a rc h iv e s.

com e t o

C o lo n e l C o l l y e r w as l a t e r p e r s u a d e d t o

Jack so n and issu e p a p e rs f o r

th e c o n v e n in g o f c o u r t ,

and th e

c o u n ty s e a t re m a in e d t h e r e u n t i l 1 8 5 2 , when i t w as t r a n s ­ ferred

t o M o k e lu m n e H i l l . ^

d e a l o f a n im o sity

H ow ever,

C o lly e r h e ld a good

to w a rd Ju d g e S m ith b e c a u s e h e b e l i e v e d

S m ith had h e lp e d i n

t h e schem e t o k id n a p t h e r e c o r d s .

The l a s t t e r m o f t h e C o u r t o f S e s s i o n s h e l d a t D o u b le S p r i n g s w as on Ju n e 1 3 , 1851*

The m i n u t e s s t a t e

th a t

I n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e a b s e n c e o f J u d g e W. F . S m i t h and th e S h e r i f f o r h i s d e p u ty , th e c o u r t w as a d jo u rn e d w ith o u t day. T he n e x t s e s s i o n o f t h e c o u r t w a s h e l d a t J a c k s o n b e g i n n i n g on M onday, A u g u st 4 , 1 8 5 1 .

D u rin g t h i s

te rm

th e G rand J u r y

r e t u r n e d a n i n d i c t m e n t a g a i n s t P . E . W a ld e n a n d F r e d e r i c k G a ll f o r th e

c rim e o f f e l o n i o u s l y

th e D i s t r i c t C o u rt, la w fu lly

in

on J u ly 1 ,

th e c u sto d y

of th e

ste a lin g

th e r e c o r d s of

1 8 5 1 , w h ic h w e re l e g a l l y c o u n ty

c le rk .

A t th e O c to b e r 6, 1 8 5 1 , C o u rt o f S e s s i o n s ,

^ M a s o n , A m ad o r C o u n t y , 1 6 8

th e

and

fo llo w in g en try was made: 3C ase o f t h e . p e o p l e v s . F r e d e r i c k G u ll an d P . E . W ald en . N o lle P r o s e q u i (n o f u r t h e r p r o s e c u t i o n ) , w as e n t e r e d hy t h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y , A lo n z o P l a t t . The C o u r t o f S e s s i o n s , r e f e r r e d th e

d u t i e s o f th e B o ard s o f S u p e r v is o r s

m id d le

1f i f t i e s * 2 S e c t i o n 8 o f A r t i c l e

to above,

p erfo rm ed

u n t i l in th e 6 o f t h e 1849

C o n s titu tio n f o r th e S ta te p ro v id e d : T here s h a l l be e le c t e d i n e ac h o f th e o rg a n iz e d c o u n t i e s o f t h e S t a t e o n e C o u n t y J u d g e , who s h a l l h o ld h i s o f f ic e fo r fo u r y e a r s . T he C o u n ty J u d g e w i t h tw o J u s t i c e s o f t h e P e a c e , t o be d e s ig n a te d a c c o r d in g to la w , s h a l l h o ld C o u rts o f S e s s io n w ith such c r im in a l j u r i s d i c t i o n a s th e L e g is - . l a t u r e s h a l l p r e s c r i b e , and he s h a l l p e rfo rm such o t h e r d u tie s a s s h a l l b e r e q u i r e d by law . The tw o a s s o c i a t e c h o se n by th e

ju stic e s

ju stic e s

o f t h e C o u rt o f S e s s io n s w ere

o f th e p e a c e o f th e c o u n ty and

e l e c t e d b y b a l l o t f r o m t h e i r own m e m b e r s . The l e g i s l a t u r e S e ss io n s to

d iv id e th e

i n 1 8 5 1 e m p o w e re d t h e C o u r t o f c o u n ty i n t o

to w n sh ip s, n o t e x c e e d in g

tw e lv e ,

a n d p r o v i d e d t h a t tw o j u s t i c e s

e le c te d

fro m each to w n sh ip . The f i r s t

o f th e

peace be

te rm o f t h e C o u r t o f S e s s i o n s f o r

^M i n u t e s o f t h e C o u r t o f S e s s i o n s . 2J .

A. S m i t h ,

C a l a v e r a s W e e k l y , May 2 8 , 1 9 4 3 .

67 C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty w a s h e l d a t D o u b l e S p r i n g s on J u n e 1 0 , M e m b e rs p r e s e n t w e r e W i l l i a m

F o w le S m i t h ,

1850*

C o u n ty J u d g e , a n d

G eorge H. W y a tt, o f M u rp h y s, a n d W illia m L. D u d le y , a sso c ia te

ju s tic e s .

The p e t i t i o n

A. L . F e n c h f o r a f e r r y

acro ss

B ar was h e a r d a n d g r a n t e d . fiv e d o lla rs le v ie d

on e v e r y m a l e i n h a b i t a n t i n

an e le c tio n

c a n d id a te fo r

th e

c o u n ty

of ta x a b le p r o p e r ty .1

th e re m o v a l o f th e c o u n ty

f o r c o u n ty

th e

and a ls o ' l e v i e d a ta x o f

c e n ts on each h u n d red d o l l a r s Soon a f t e r

c e iv e d

t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r a t M i d d l e

T he c o u r t o r d e r e d a p o l l t a x o f

b e tw e e n tw e n ty -o n e a n d f i f t y , fifty

o f W illia m M a r tin and

o f f i c e r s was h e l d .

s e a t to

Jackson,

Joe D o u g la s,

c l e r k s h i p a g a i n s t C o lo n e l L ew is C o l l y e r ,

re­

th e l a r g e r n u m b er o f v o t e s , 2b u t C o l l y e r l o c k e d u p

v o t e s and w o u ld n o t c e r t i f y

b ro k e open h i s d e sk , c o u n te d th e c e rtific a tio n

of e le c tio n

th e e l e c t i o n . re tu rn s,

t o D o u g la s.

Ju d g e S m ith

and i s s u e d a

T h is a c t s t i r r e d

C o l l y e r 1s a n g e r a t J u d g e S m i t h a n d h e m ade t h r e a t s S m ith on s i g h t . C o l l y e r on

th e

The l a t t e r stre e t

s h o t h im w i t h o u t w a r n in g .

C o lly e r

t h r e a t S m i t h w as n o t

* ■5 V

J.

shoot

arm ed h i m s e l f and w h e n he m et

w as n o t arm ed b u t b e c a u s e o f h i s

iju d g e

to

up

A. S m i t h ’ s S c r a p b o o k .

^ F r ie n d s o f J o e D o u g la s i n V o lc an o v o te d a ra n c h e ria of In d ia n s. M ason, Am ador C o u n ty . 2 5 0 .

trie d

8$ f o r h o m ic id e .1 At th e C o ro n er’ s in q u e s t, a v e rd ic t of ju s tif ia b le so s tr o n g , h ow ever,

h o m ic id e .

th e

P u b l i c i n d i g n a t i o n w as

t h a t S m i t h r e s i g n e d i n M ay,

w a s a n o r t h e r n m an a n d C o l l y e r a s o u t h e r n e r , sid e s

a c c o rd in g ly .

e a ste rn

1852.

S m ith

an d p e o p l e

to o k

S m ith l a t e r b ecam e a m i n i s t e r i n an

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W hen t h e b o y s f r o m M o k e lu m n e H i l l h e a r d o f t h e p l a n s ,

t h e y s e n t o v e r s e v e r a l l i g h t - f o o t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s who succeeded in g e ttin g b u lls

th e

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C o l l y e r w a s k i l l e d b e t w e e n S e p t e m b e r 11 a n d S e p te m b e r 2 0 , 1 8 5 1 . C o l l y e r ’ s l a s t e n tr y in th e c o u n ty r e c o r d s w as on S e p tem b er 1 1 . On S e p t e m b e r 20 a s t r a n g e h a n d w r i t i n g a p p e a r s , a n d i t i s s i g n e d by T . J . H a r t l e y , C o u n ty C l e r k . On O c t o b e r 1 0 , 1 8 5 1 , h e m e n t i o n e s C o l l y e r a s t h e " l a t e C o u n t y C l e r k . ” E . A. W i l t s e e , " D o u b l e S p r i n g s , ” Q u a rte rly of C a l i f o r n i a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y . X II,1 7 6 -1 8 3 , June, 1932• % a s o n , A m ador C o u n t y . 1 6 8 .

f r o m M o k e lu m n e H i l l r o d e f u r i o u s l y v o tin g in

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to re c e iv e

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1852,

s ta te s

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t h a t h e n o t i c e d tw o t h i n g s :

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Jan u ary

th e se

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1855

th e C o u rt o f S e s s io n s a d o p te d th e p ro p o s a l

o f A u g u s tu s G e b h a rt t o b u i l d a c o u r th o u s e f o r w as t o b e f i n a n c e d by $ 4 ,0 0 0 i n

$ 8 ,1 0 0 .

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and to o k o v e r i t s

d u tie s,

f i r s t m et i n s e s s io n

^ M a s o n , A m ad o r C o u n t y . 169* 2 C a l a v e r a s W e e k l y , A p r i l 13» 1 9 4 5 *

on May 7 , 1 8 5 5 , a n d c o n t i n u e d i n B e sid e s l e g a l i z i n g

s e s s i o n u n t i l May 1 7 * 1

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in

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th e B o ard :

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and

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fa v o re d th e d iv is io n

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nam e s h o u l d b e A m a d o r, a f t e r o n e o f t h e S p a n i s h p i o n e e r s , J o s e M a r i a A m a d o r . 3 The b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n A m ado r a n d C a l a ­ v e r a s w as t o be a l i n e up th e c h a n n e l o f to

th e

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p r e v io u s n o r t h e r n b o u n d ary o f 1 8 5 5 bo t h e C o s u m n e s R i v e r ,

o f E l D o r a d o C o u n t y t o A m ador C o u n t y .

^ C o m m i s s i o n e r s w e r e E . W. G e m n i l l , A . G. S h e a t h , A le x a n d e r B o i l e a u , a n d A lo n z o P l a t t . ^ M a s o n , Am ador C o u n t y , 7 7 . 3A m ador m i n e d t h e r e g i o n i n I 8 4 8 . H o o v e r, H is t o r i c S p o t s , 8 .

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I n I 8 6 4 , w hen A l p i n e C o u n ty w as c r e a t e d , A m a d o r 's t e r r i t o r y of th e S ie rra

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th e

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o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty an d Jam es F . H u b b ard a n d

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1 8 5 5 , i n w h ic h th e y a s c e r t a i n e d

i n d e b t e d n e s s o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty w as $ 6 8 , 0 1 8 . 0 0 .

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A. B . L a f o r g e ,

C o u n ty T r e a s u r e r , m ade a dem and

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fo r

a w a r r a n t f o r th e am ount d e c id e d upon by th e C o m m is sio n e rs. S h ip m an r e f u s e d

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f o r a w r i t o f M andam us

93 a g a i n s t t h e A u d i t o r f o r t h e sum o f $ 2 6 , 5 1 7 . 3 2 . Ju d g m e n t w as r e n d e r e d by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t of t h e F ifth J u d ic ia l D is tr ic t I856.

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The A u d i t o r

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of c o u rt a c tio n and

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o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

a lth o u g h

f o r a few y e a r s y e t V o lc a n o was to t h r e a t e n h e r p o s i t i o n

as

l e a d e r o f t h e new c o u n t y . fo rtu n a te .

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f a s t - g r o w i n g a n d m ore f a v o r a b l y l o c a t e d S an A n d r e a s . C a la v e r a s C o u n ty ’ s b o u n d a ry w as s l i g h t l y IB 5 6 , w hen a s m a ll s t r i p

on i t s

s o u th e r n l i n e w as g iv e n

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to

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th e q u a lif ie d

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c o n sistin g

o f Jam es B a r c la y ,

C o u n ty J u d g e ;

W il l ia m E . D a k in , C o u n ty C l e r k ;

G eorge T ry o n ,

S h e riff;

and C h a rle s E a n i l l e ,

T r e a s u r e r , r e f u s e d t o m ove t o S a n A n d r e a s ,

c la im in g

C o u n ty th e

B o ard o f S u p e r v i s o r s h a d n o p o w er t o c a n v a s s t h e v o t e s and d e c la re th e r e s u l t s .

T he B o a r d t h e r e f o r e

f o r a n a l t e r n a t i v e w r i t o f m an dam us i n

file d

th e

a p e titio n

c o u r t o f Judge

S . W. B r o c k w a y , D i s t r i c t J u d g e o f t h e E l e v e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , w h ic h i n c l u d e d C a l a v e r a s and A m ador C o u n t i e s . The w r i t w a s i s s u e d ,

and th e re sp o n d e n ts ap p eared

t o sh o w

c a u s e why a w r i t o f p e r e m p t o r y m an d a m u s s h o u l d n o t b e i s s u e d . I n t h e i r answ er th e d e fe n d a n ts c la im e d th e f i f t e e n d o lla r s had n o t been c o n trib u te d

and d e p o s i t e d

th o u sa n d

as re q u ire d ,

t h a t th e te m p o ra ry b u i l d i n g s h ad n o t b e e n p ro v id e d ,

th a t

t h e B oard o f S u p e r v i s o r s h ad o p en ed t h e

r e t u r n s and c o u n te d

o n ly a p o r t i o n

had d e c la re d

e le c tio n in

of

th e v o te s b e fo re

f a v o r of San A n d re a s ,

w ere f r a u d u l e n t .

th e y

T h erefo re,

T hey c l a i m e d t h e t o t a l

th e

th e r e tu r n s

v o te c a s t w as 7901

a n d t h a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l r e c e i v e d A 4 0 0 . An o r d e r w a s g i v e n t o

try

th e c a se b e fo re

D i s t r i c t C o u rt o f th e S ix th J u d i c ia l D i s t r i c t

th e

in and f o r

t h e C o u n ty o f S a c ra m e n to a n d t o r e t u r n a v e r d i c t a s so o n a s p o ss ib le .

The p e r e m p t o r y w r i t o f m andam us w a s i s s u e d by

th e D i s t r i c t C o u rt, S uprem e C o u r t .

a n d t h e c a s e was t h e n a p p e a l e d

The o r d e r o f

th e D i s t r i c t

C o u rt w as

to th e

su s ta in e d a fte r

in a d e c is io n r e n d e r e d i n O c to b e r, IB 6 6 .1 F i n a l l y ,

th re e y e a rs ,

th e ir o ffic e s

t h e c o u n t y o f f i c i a l s w e r e f o r c e d t o m ove

to S an A n d re a s , w h ere t h e ' s e a t o f g o v ern m en t

f o r th e c o u n ty h a s re m a in e d . T he f i r s t m e e t i n g o f

th e

B o ard o f S u p e r v i s o r s w as

h e l d i n S an A n d re a s o n N ovem ber 5 , 1 8 6 6 . c o u rth o u se f o r u se of o f f e r of th e b u ild in g

As t h e r e w a s n o

th e c o u n ty o f f i c i a l s ,

J o h n W. S h a r p ’ s

t h e a t e r b u i l d i n g w as a c c e p t e d u n t i l t h e new

c o u ld be c o n s t r u c t e d .

D. L . M o r r i l l d r e w p l a n s f o r a c o u r t h o u s e a n d j a i l . B id s w ere opened i n A p r i l ,

1 8 6 7 , by th e B o ard o f S u p e r ­

v i s o r s , a n d W i l l i a m M a lo n ey w a s f o u n d t o b e t h e lo w b i d d e r . He w a s a w a r d e d t h e

c o n tr a c t f o r th e

sum o f $ 1 4 , 3 0 0

c o n s tru c te d a tw o -sto ry b r ic k b u ild in g , fe e t.

I t was l o c a t e d a b o u t f i f t y

fifty

and

by s i x t y - s i x

f e e t b a c k f r o m M a in

S t r e e t .2 B e fo re c lo s in g is

n ecessary

th e c h a p t e r on c o u n ty g o v e rn m e n t,

to d is c u s s

th e f in a n c e s o f

it

th e c o u n ty w h ic h had

I c h a s . A. T u t t l e , R e p o r t s o f G a se s o f C ourt o f C a li f o r n ia , 325.

t h e S uprem e

2 l n 1893 t h e H a l l o f R e c o r d s was e r e c t e d , i n t h e s p a c e in f r o n t . o f th e c o u rth o u s e . On May 8 , 1 9 0 0 , t h e c o u n t y p u r c h a s e d f r o m t h e Odd F e l l o w s a n d M a s o n i c L o d g e s a t S a n A n d re a s f o r $ 7 ,5 0 0 th e t w o - s t o r y b r i c k b u i l d i n g w h ic h a d j o i n s th e H a ll o f R e co rd s on th e s o u th s id e f o r o f f i c e p u rp o ses. J . A. S m i t h , " D a y s o f O l d , ” C a l a v e r a s C a l i f o r n i a n , F eb ru ary 22, 1946.

99 been in

a c o n fu s e d c o n d i t i o n fro m th e f i r s t

o rg a n iz a tio n .

few y e a r s

of i t s

T h is s i t u a t i o n w a s b r o u g h t a b o u t by f l u s h

tim e s an d a p p a r e n tly

e x h a u s t l e s s w e a l t h f o l lo w e d by a

p a r t i a l d e p o p u la tio n

o f th e c o u n ty a n d a d e c r e a s e o f m in in g

a c tiv ity .

By 1 8 7 1 c o n d i t i o n s w e r e s u c h t h a t t h e B o a r d o f

S u p e r v is o r s r e a l i z e d d r a s t i c m e a su re s m u st be u sed in to

a v o id r e p u d i a ti o n

of d e b ts.

A t th e M arch m e e tin g

B oard r e n d e r e d a d e b t s t a t e m e n t o f th e $ 2 2 G ,5 0 3 .6 5 .

The t a x r a t e s f o r

$ 4 .6 0 p e r h u n d re d a n d t h e

o rd er th e

c o u n ty o f

th e y e a r h a d b e e n s e t a t

e s t i m a t e d r e v e n u e w o u ld b e

$ 1 8 ,4 7 5 . The B o a r d , a n d M. G. L e w i s , A n d reas, c o u n ty ,

in fo r

c o n sistin g of S. L. P rin d le ,

th e n c a l l e d a p u b lic m e e tin g a t San

r e s p o n s e t o m any d e m a n d s f r o m a l l

p a rts of

th e

th e p u rp o s e o f s e l e c t i n g b u s i n e s s m an ag ers to

conduct a lo tte r y

to d isp o se

h e ld A p ril 3 , 1871,

of

th e

d e b t.

The m e e t i n g w a s

a n d V o ln e y S h e a r e r o f M urphys was

s e le c te d as

c h a irm a n and S . L . P r i n d l e

se c re ta ry .

It

o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l a s

was d e c i d e d t o h o l d a l o t t e r y

A le x a n d e r W y lie ,

a n d B . R. P r i n c e ,

a n d Wm. W e l l s 9

t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e B oard

o f S u p e r v is o r s , w ere chosen b u s in e s s m an ag ers. m ade t o s e l l 2 0 0 , 0 0 0

tic k e ts

$ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 w o u ld b e r e t u r n e d t o b a la n c e

A. H. C o u l t e r ,

used f o r

re lie f

of

at

$ 2 .5 0 e a c h .

th e

P l a n s w ere

Of t h i s

am ount

t i c k e t h o ld e r s and th e

th e c o u n ty

d e b t.

The n u m b e r o f

p riz e s

o f f e r e d w as 6558,

o r one to e v e fy

The g r a n d p r i z e w o u ld b e $ 2 0 ,0 0 0 i n

th irty

chances.

g o ld c o in .

The d r a w i n g w a s s e t f o r N o v e m b e r 1 3 , 1 8 7 1 , fo re

th e d a te a r r i v e d ,

a ll

but be­

th e b u s i n e s s m a n a g e rs w ere

a r r e s t e d o n a b e n c h w a r r a n t i s s u e d o u t o f San F r a n c is c o on an in d ic tm e n t f i l e d

in th a t c it y .

t r i a l and p o stp o n e d , th e l e g i s l a t u r e

b u t b efo re

sta te

th e

d a te o f t r i a l a r r i v e d

by a n a c t d i s m is s e d a l l p r o s e c u t i o n

th e s o - c a lle d L o tte ry le g isla tu re

The c a s e w as s e t f o r

A c t.

An a c t w a s a l s o p a s s e d b y t h e

on M arch 3 0 , 1 8 7 2 ,

a p p ro p ria tin g

fu n d s f o r r e d e m p tio n o f th e

C a la v e r a s C o u n ty .

It

a ls o

under

$ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 from

bonded in d e b te d n e s s

p ro v id e d t h a t any p e rs o n w ith in

s i x m o n th s , h o l d in g o u t s t a n d i n g b o n d s o f th e c o u n ty , d e p o s i t th e m w i t h

of

c o u ld

th e c o u n ty a u d i t o r w ith a n o f f e r o f w h at

he w o u ld t a k e f o r t h e b o n d s ; a c c e p t e d a t m ore t h a n f i f t y t h e d e b t was p a i d i n

h o w e v e r, n o b o n d s w o u ld b e p e rc e n t o f p ar v a lu e .

t h i s m anner, b u t th e

M ost of

$ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0

a p p r o p r i a t e d by th e S t a t e w as p le d g e d a g a i n s t a l l r e a l and p e rs o n a l p ro p e rty

of th e

w as l e v i e d o f n o t l e s s fiv e c e n ts

c o u n ty .

th an te n

Each y e a r a s p e c i a l ta x c e n t s n o r m ore th a n tw e n ty -

p e r $100 on t a x a b l e p r o p e r t y

in

th e

c o u n ty u n t i l

th e d e b t w as p a i d . l

^-J. A. S m i t h , " T h e D a y s o f O l d , " C a l a v e r a s P r o s p e c t , S e p te m b e r 1 4 , 1944*

CHAPTER V CRIME AND MINER13 JU STICE D u r i n g t h e sum m er a n d f a l l e a rly m in e s.

sum m er o f 1849*

o f 1848 a n d e v e n i n t o

d i s o r d e r and c rim e w ere a b s e n t i n t h e

I t w o u ld seem f r o m r e p o r t s

t h a t th e m in e rs w ere

e v e n m ore h o n e s t t h a n t h e u s u a l f r o n t i e r s m a n . V

M ason v i s i t e d

th e m in e s i n

b e h a v i o r o f t h e m en i n m in e d C a rs o n C re e k i n

th e

When G o v e r n o r

1848 he w as im p r e s s e d by th e good

th e m in in g a r e a .

J a m e s C a r s o n , who

1848, w ro te :!

H o n e sty w as th e r u l i n g p a s s io n am ongst t h e m in e rs o f *4 8 . O ld d e b t s w e r e p a i d ; h e a v y b a g s o f g o l d d u s t w e re c a r e l e s s l y l e f t l y i n g i n t h e i r hom es; m in in g t o o l s , th o u g h s c a r c e , w e re l e f t i n t h e i r p l a c e s o f w ork fo r d a y s a t a tim e a n d n o t one t h e f t o r r o b b e r y w as c o m m itte d . He e x p l a i n s a l s o

t h a t d i s p u t e s w ere r a r e

t h e m i n e r s h a d no d i v i s i o n

i n I 848 an d t h a t

o f th e gro u n d i n t o c la im s .

Many

t i m e s f o u r o r f i v e m en w o u l d

b e w o r k in g i n a s p a c e a few

f e e t in d ia m e te r.

th e y w o u ld m e a su re

L a te r on,

o f f w ith a ta p e m easu re u n d er th e d i r e c t i o n s T h is c o n d i t i o n c o u ld n o t l a s t . d isc o v e ry sp re a d

to a l l p a r ts

th e

c la im

o f th e a lc a ld e .

As n e w s o f t h e

o f th e w o rld t h e r e w as a

^ E d n a B . B u c k b e e , P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l Ts C am p, 6 5 .

sta m p e d e t o t h e g o ld f i e l d s so c ie ty .

th a t in c lu d e d a l l

c la s s e s

of

D u r i n g t h e s u m m e rs o f 184 9 a n d 1 8 5 0 , d r u n k a r d s

and p u r i t a n s ,

c o n v ic ts and c le rg y m e n ,

r i c h a n d p o o r cro w d ed i n t o sh o u ld e r.

h o n e st and d is h o n e s t,

t h e m in e s an d w o rk ed s h o u l d e r to

A ls o , p e o p le from

a ll p a rts of

th e w o rld — E u ro p e ,

A s ia , A u s tr a lia , A f r ic a —w ith a l l k in d s o f background, h u rrie d

to th e d ig g in g s .

T he n e w s p a p e r s o f 18,49 r e p o r t e d

v e s s e ls i n San F ra n c is c o h a rb o r f l y i n g f l a g s a sco re of fo re ig n c o u n trie s . w ere o f

fro m m ore th a n

M any o f t h e s e f o r e i g n e r s

th e lo w e s t c l a s s e s o f t h e s e n a t i o n s a n d w ere a n x io u s

t o m ak e a f o r t u n e

in

c rim e becam e ra m p a n t.

t h e q u i c k e s t w ay p o s s i b l e . C arson h ad an e n t i r e l y

r e p o r t t o m ake o f c o n d i t i o n s i n 1 8 4 9 .

N a tu ra lly ,

d iffe re n t

He w r i t e s : 3*

T h is h o n e s t y w a s n o t to b e fo u n d i n t h e c ro w d s t h a t d a il y th ic k e n e d aro u n d u s i n F o r t y - n i n e . H o rd es o f p i c k - p o c k e t s , r o b b e r s , t h i e v e s , and s w i n d l e r s w ere m i x e d w i t h m en who h a d come w i t h h o n e s t i n t e n t i o n s . . . M u rd e rs, t h e f t s and r o b b e r i e s so o n becam e th e o r d e r o f th e day. H ugo R e i d , a w a rn in g to m in e s,

a C a l i f o r n i a r a n c h e r and t r a d e r ,

a frie n d

who w a s c o n s i d e r i n g g o i n g

to

w rite s th e

as fo llo w s :2 D on’ t go t o t h e m in e s o n a n y a c c o u n t .

lO w e n C. C o y , G o l d D a y s , 1 8 8 . 2J a c k s o n ,

A n y b o d y ys G o l d , 1 0 8 .

They a r e

lo a d e d to th e m u z z le w i t h v a g a b o n d s fro m e v e r y q u a r t e r o f th e g lo b e , s c o u n d r e l s fro m n o w h ere, r a s c a l s fro m O r e g o n , p i c k - p o c k e t s f r o m New Y o r k , a c c o m p l i s h e d g e n t l e m e n f r o m E u r o p e , i n t e r l o p e r s f r o m L im a a n d G h i l e , M e x ica n t h i e v e s , g a m b le r s o f n o p a r t i c u l a r s p o t , and a s s a s s in s m a n u fa c tu re d i n H e ll f o r th e e x p re s s p u rp o se o f c o n v e r t in g h ig h w a y s an d byw ays i n t o t h e a t e r s o f b lo o d . The s i t u a t i o n w a s m a d e m o r e d i f f i c u l t b y t h e l a c k o f any g o v e rn m e n ta l m a c h in e ry t o c la s s .

T he d i s c o v e r y

cam e s o s o o n a f t e r

cope w ith

th e c rim in a l

of g o ld and th e r u s h

to th e m in e s

th e a c q u i s i t i o n

of C a l i f o r n i a

th a t

C o n g ress had n o t p ro v id e d a d e q u a te l e g i s l a t i o n . law u n d e r a m i l i t a r y

g o v e rn o r w as i n

g o v ern m en t w as th e re m a in s o f w as n o t o n ly m in e rs.

fo rce,

M ilita ry

b u t th e l o c a l

t h e M e x ica n s y s te m .

in a d e q u a te b u t d i s t a s t e f u l t o

The A m e r i c a n s h a d b e e n t r a i n e d

T h is

t h e A m e ric an

in

se lf-g o v e rn m e n t.

M any o f th e m h a d com e f r o m t h e f r o n t i e r w h e r e t h e y h a d le a rn e d

th e im p o rta n c e o f d i r e c t a c t io n .

T h erefo re,

th e

m in e rs w ere n o t lo n g i n o r g a n iz in g t o d e fe n d th e m s e lv e s fro m th e d e p r e d a tio n s o f th e th e ir rig h ts .

u n sc ru p u lo u s and to

The m i n e r ’ s c o u r t s w e r e n o t ,

fro m a t r u e k n o w le d g e o f c o n d i t i o n s ,

safeg u ard

when j u d g e d

th e a c tio n

o f a mob

te n d in g to w a rd a n a rc h y a n d l a w le s s n e s s , b u t a m eans o f p r o t e c t i o n - - a m eth o d o f s o c i a l c o n t r o l . E v e r y m i n i n g cam p o r d i s t r i c t h a d i t s sh e riff,

c h o sen and b a c k e d by th e m in e r s .

a lc a ld e

and

T h e s e tw o w e r e

a fa irly

sa tis fa c to ry

th e A m e ric a n . lo o s le y w ith

c o m b in a tio n o f t h e M e x ica n s y s te m and

The d u t i e s o f th o se o f

ju stic e

w as a n e e d f o r a j u r y ,

e a rly

cam ps,

a lc a ld e

co rresp o n d ed

o f th e p e ac e.

When t h e r e

th e m in e rs w ere c a l l e d

w i t h o u t m uch l e g a l f o r m a l i t y , th e d e c is io n s .

th e

to g e th e r

*

an d t h e r e w as no a p p e a l fro m

As t h e r e w e r e n o j a i l s

o r p riso n s in

th e

th e p u n ish m e n t w as im m e d ia te and d r a s t i c . r

B a n is h m e n t fro m a cam p, w h i p p i n g s ,

c u ttin g

o ff

h a n g in g s w ere th e u s u a l fo rm s o f p u n is h m e n t. h arsh ,

b u t th e y w ere e f f e c t i v e .

a n d show t o a c t i o n , th e ir

sense of

sev ere. te lls

o f th e a c tio n

and

T hese seem

The m i n e r s w e re t o l e r a n t

b u t w hen som e f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n

ju s tic e o ccu rred ,

John Lynch,

ears,

of

a c t i o n was r a p i d a n d

one o f C o lo n e l S te v e n so n * s s o l d i e r s , o f one o f th e f i r s t m in e r* s c o u r t s

C a l i f o r n i a a t M urphys D ig g in g s i n t h e

s p r i n g of 1 8 4 9 .

in He

sta te s:^ I n th o s e e a r ly d ay s t h e f t w as a lm o s t unknow n, and i t w a s q u i t e common f o r t h e m i n e r s t o l e a v e t h e i r f o r e n o o n ’ s w a sh in g o f g o ld i n f r o n t of t h e i r t e n t s t o d ry , w h ile th e y w e n t to t h e i r a f t e r n o o n ’ s w o rk . One d a y a b o u t h a l f a n o u n c e o f g o l d s o e x p o s e d d isa p p e a re d . The m i n e r s h e l d a c o n f e r e n c e , a n d s u s p i c i o n p o i n t i n g s t r o n g l y to w ard a n ew -co m er. He w as ta k e n i n t o c u s to d y . A j u r y w as c a l l e d o f w h ic h R i c h a r d R om an, a f t e r w a r d s S t a t e T r e a s u r e r , w a s f o r e m a n , a n d o f w h ic h I w as a m em ber. The e v i d e n c e

I j o h n L y n c h , W ith S t e v e n s o n t o

C a lifo rn ia . 47.

a g a i n s t th e f e l l o w w as s l i g h him g u i l t y , a n d t h e s e n t e n c e cam p. On b e i n g r e l e a s e d , h e q u ic k ly . I b e l i e v e t h i s was ju r y i n th e m in e s. B an cro ft says

t , b u t th e ju ry b e lie v e d w as b a n is h m e n t fro m w as g la d to le a v e t h e f i r s t t r i a l by

th e f i r s t p o p u la r

m in e s was h e l d i n P l a c e r v i l l e i n

Jan u ary ,

men w e r e c a u g h t r o b b i n g a g a m b l e r . to

th irty -n in e la sh e s,

trib u n a l in

th e

1 8 4 9 , when f i v e

A fte r se n te n c in g

th e j u r y and ju d g e d is c o v e r e d

th em th re e

o f th em h a d b e e n i n v o l v e d i n a r o b b e r y a n d a t t e m p t e d m u r d e r on th e S t a n i s l a u s .

T he c r o w d d e c i d e d

to h a n g th e m .

to w n h a d b e e n c a l l e d D ry D i g g i n g s b e f o r e t h i s

The

event but

w a s now c a l l e d H a n g t o w n . l M rs. B uckbee says:2 The f i r s t g o v e r n m e n t i n c a m p s w a s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e " m i n e r ’ s m e e t i n g s ’* a t J a c k a s s G u l c h i n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f 1848, and t h a t .t h is d e v e lo p e d i n to tfm i n e r * s c o u r t s , * * t h e m e e t i n g o f a l l f r e e m e n i n open c o u n c il. A l l th e cam ps i n e le m e n t of c r i m i n a l s , had to in

ta k e m easu res

th e e a r l y

C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty h a d a l a r g e

g a m b le rs and to u g h s, to

’fiftie s ,

expel th is

e le m e n t.

a n d m o s t of th em I n M u rp h y s,

c o n d it i o n s becam e so bad t h a t th e

lH u b e r t H. B a n c r o f t ,

The W o r k s , X X X 7I, 1 4 4 .

^ B u c k b e e , S a g a o f O ld T u o lu m n e . 2 2 .

Law a n d O r d e r L e a g u e w a s o r g a n i z e d b y a g r o u p o f y o u n g m en f r o m New E n g l a n d , who a i d e d c o m m u n i ty o f t h e

o ffen d ers.

1850 and h a d t h i s

th e

sh e riff

in rid d in g

th e

G e r s t a c k e r v i s i t e d M u rphys i n

to say about c o n d itio n s :^

N e v e r h a d s o m any m u r d e r s b e e n h e a r d o f b e f o r e . A v i l e r a b b le o f ra g a m u ffin s had d e te rm in e d to f in d g o ld a t any p r i c e . T he f o r e m o s t o f t h i s c l a s s w e r e t h e g a m b l e r s who g a l l o p e d f r o m d i g g i n g s t o d i g g i n g s . One d a y tw o M e x i c a n s w e r e f o u n d c l o s e t o M u r p h y ' s Camp, l y i n g i n t h e g r a s s w i t h t h e i r s k u l l s b r o k e n and t h e i r c lo th e s c u t open. The m u r d e r e r s h a d t a k e n t h e i r g o ld b a g s. When t h e g u i l t y w e r e c a u g h t ,

t h e m in e r s o f M urphys

c o u ld and d id p u n is h q u ic k ly and s e v e r e l y . of th is ,

a n o te in

As e v i d e n c e

t h e m useu m a t S a n A n d r e a s d a t e d 1 8 5 2 ,

M u r p h y 's M in e s , r e a d s : D ear F rie n d I t a k e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f w r i t i n g t h i s few l i n e s t o you h o p in g to f i n d you i n good h e a l t h me a n d C h a r l e y i s s e n t e n c e d t o b e h u n g t o d a y a t 5 o c l o c k f o r a r o b b e r y g o o d b y g i v e my b e s t r e s p e c t t o F r a n k a n d Sam a n d C h u r c h . John B u c ro ft A V i g i l a n c e C o m m i t te e w a s o r g a n i z e d H ill

to

rid

t h a t cam p o f i t s

c r i m in a l e le m e n t.

a c t i o n w as b r o u g h t on by a s e r i e s

lG e rsta c k e r,

i n M o kelu m n e

G e r s ta c k e r 's

of m u rd e rs.

T r a v e l s . 233*

T h is For

106 s e v e n te e n w eeks i n

s u c c e s s i o n t h e r e w as a h o m ic id e b e tw e e n

S a tu r d a y n i g h t and Sunday m o rn in g . one w e e k .1

B o rth w ic k c i t e s

d e a l t o u t by t h i s

V ig ila n c e

F i v e m en w e r e k i l l e d

a n e x a m p le o f t h e C o m m i t te e i n

in

sum m ary j u s t i c e

1852.

He s t a t e s :

Two m e m b e r s o f t h e V i g i l a n c e C o m m i t t e e r o d e o v e r f r o m M o k e lu m n e H i l l , n i n e m i l e s t o t h e n o r t h t o c a l l F a t h e r B o b a r d , a n d g e t h im t o r e t u r n w i t h t h e m t o h e a r t h e c o n f e s s i o n o f a M e x i c a n whom t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o hang t h a t a fte rn o o n . The p r i s o n e r w a s a c c u s e d o f h a v in g c u t i n t o a t e n t and s t o l e n s e v e r a l h u n d red d o lla rs. On b e i n g t o l d o f t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e j u r y a n d t h a t h e was to b e e x e c u te d th e n e x t d a y , he r e c e i v e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a s a p i e c e o f n e w s w h i c h i n n o way c o n ­ c e r n e d h im , m e r e ly s h r u g g i n g h i s s h o u l d e r s an d s a y i n g , " S ta B u e n o ," i n a to n e o f u t t e r i n d i f f e r e n c e . When h e was l e d o u t to b e h a n g e d — he a s k e d f o r g i v e n e s s f o r t h e a c t s of v i l l a i n y he had c o n fe s s e d and p o l i t e l y to o k l e a v e o f t h e w o r l d w i t h , " a d i o s , c a b a l l e r o s . TT He w a s t h e n r u n up t o a b u t c h e r * s d e r r i c k by t h e V i g i l a n c e C o m m i t t e e , a l l t h e m e m b e rs h a v i n g h o l d o f t h e r o p e , and th u s s h a r in g th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . T h is V ig i la n c e o rg a n iz e d as a r e s u l t

C o m m i t t e e a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l w a s of a m u rd e re r e s c a p in g p u n ish m e n t.

A m an n a m e d J a m e s C a m p b e l l , a m u le b e l o n g i n g f r ie n d of th e

D ecem ber 2 5 ,

1 8 5 1 , m o u n te d

t o a C h ile a n and w as r i d i n g

o w n e r , N a i d e s by n a m e ,

o f f when a

s to p p e d h im .

C a m p b e ll p r o m p tly s t a b b e d h im f a t a l l y ,

and so u g h t re fu g e

1-Mas o n , A m a d o r C o u n t y , 6 8 . ^ B o rth w ic k ,

T h re e Y e a r s i n C a l i f o r n i a , 259

in a m in e r’ s c a b in .

H ow ever, h e w as p u r s u e d an d t a k e n

p r i s o n e r a n d g i v e n t r i a l by t h e m i n e r s . g u ilty

a n d i t w as v o te d

to

He w a s p r o n o u n c e d

t u r n h im .o v e r to

th e

a u th o ritie s .

H o w ev er, a g ro u p o f h i s f r i e n d s o b t a i n e d h i s r e l e a s e b e f o r e th is

c o u ld be d o n e.

escaped.

He w a s a r r e s t e d b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s b u t

The p e o p l e w e r e i n d i g n a n t a n d f o r m e d a - V i g i l a n c e

C o m m itte e t o

see

th a t

j u s t i c e w as d o n e .

I n M arch a n d A p r i l

o f 1 8 5 2 tw o c r i m i n a l s w e r e e x e c u t e d b y t h i s seem ed to be fo u n d e d f o r a u th o ritie s to

ta k e

in

a u th o ritie s

th e p u rp o se of a s s i s t i n g

th e p erfo rm an ce of t h e i r

t h e la w i n t o fa ile d

t h e i r own h a n d s .

th e

C o m m itte e .

It

th e

d u tie s r a th e r

th a n

When t h e s e

C o m m itte e w o u ld s e e t h a t j u s t i c e

w a s d o n e . 3A V i g i l a n c e C o m m i t te e w a s a l s o i n 1852 f o r th e p u rp o s e of a u th o ritie s .

A man w a s a r r e s t e d

e x a m in e d by t h e at

a id in g

ju s tic e

e le c te d

f o r m urder i n

of J a c k s o n and c o m m itte d f o r

tria l

c o u rt.

som e o f

^ B a n c ro ft,

T he V i g i l a n c e

h u nd red d o l l a r s

and h a v in g s e c u r e d h i s

f o r th e law to

not sa tis fy

th e r e g u l a r ly

1852,

C o m m itte e h a d o f f e r e d t h r e e

w illin g

Jackson

June,

th e n e x t te rm o f th e d i s t r i c t

a p p re h e n sio n ,

form ed a t

ta k e i t s

fo r h is

a r r e s t th e y w ere

co u rse.

H ow ever,

th is

d id

t h e p e o p l e who a r o u s e d a mob w h i c h t o o k

C a lifo rn ia H is to ry . 466.

108 h im fro m j a i l tio n

and h an g ed h i m .1 T h is g i v e s

a good i l l u s t r a ­

of t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n a r e g u l a r l y

c o m m itte e

of V ig ila n c e and a p a s s i o n a te ,

irre sp o n s ib le

o rg a n iz e d

re v e n g e fu l,

mob.

Many o f t h e m i n i n g c a m p s , f o l l o w i n g t h e th e San F ra n c is c o

V ig ila n c e

C o m m itte e i n r i d d i n g t h e

o f c r i m i n a l s , fo rm ed V ig ila n c e m u rd erers an d c rim in a ls

in

C o m m itte e s

to

In Ju ly ,

T hey w e r e

A t M urphys i t 1851,

c ity

c le a n o u t th e

t h e i r c o m m u n itie s .

n o t a lw a y s c a l l e d by t h a t nam e. Law a n d O r d e r L e a g u e .

e x a m p le o f

w as t h e

a c o m m itte e was

f o r m e d i n S o n o r a and i n M a r c h , 1 8 5 4 ,

one w as fo rm ed i n

M a rip o sa .

d id n o t c o n tin u e in

H ow ever,

t h e s e c o m m itte e s

o p e ra tio n lo n g a f t e r d riv e n o u t.

t h e w o r s t e le m e n t w as p u n is h e d o r

B ut th e m in e rs w e re a lw a y s r e a d y

p u n ish m e n t o f c r i m i n a l s h e sita te d if

to i s s u e

th e c a s e

in to

I n M arch, 1852,

o u t th e

e x e c u tio n

it. a man w a s h a n g e d b y a m i n e r ’ s c o u r t

i n San A n d reas f o r r o b b e r y . M e x ic a n ,

th e

t h e i r own h a n d s a n d n e v e r

a v e rd ic t and c arry

ju s tifie d

to ta k e

A t a b o u t t h e sam e tim e a

h a n g e d a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l f o r s t e a l i n g ,

a d m itte d

t h a t h e h a d c o m m i t t e d e i g h t m u r d e r s b e t w e e n M o k e lu m n e H i l l and S o n o r a .^

^ B a n c ro ft,

C a lifo rn ia H is to ry , 466.

2M a s o n , A m ador C o u n t y , 6 8 .'

J a c k s o n w a s f o r m any y e a r s p r o u d o f i t s

h a n g in g

t r e e w here t h e m in e r s p r o m p tly e x e c u te d t h o s e fo u n d g u i l t y by th e m in e r ’ s c o u r t s . T e llie r* s sa lo o n ,

T he t r e e w a s l o c a t e d n e a r L o u i s

and i t s

lik e n e s s i s

c o u n t y s e a l o f A m ador C o u n t y . t r e e w as t h a t o f

e n g ra v e d on th e

The f i r s t h a n g i n g o n t h e

"C o y o te J o e , " an I n d i a n c h a r g e d w i t h

k illin g

a b la c k s m ith f o r h i s m oney.

m in e r’ s

ju ry

He w a s t r i e d

in a r e s t a u r a n t n e a r th e t r e e .

by a

The s e c o n d

c a s e w a s t h a t o f a C h i l e a n o who h a d s t a b b e d a w om an. w as a l s o

trie d

by a j u r y

e x e c u te d on th e

tre e .

In

m u r d e r e d i n S q u aw G u l c h . M e x ic a n .

a t Jackson.

trie d

1851,

c o n v ic te d , and

tw o F r e n c h m e n w e r e

S u s p ic io n w as f i x e d

He w a s a r r e s t e d b y t h e S h e r i f f

a t S a c ra m e n to

e x e c ite d ,

of c itiz e n s ,

He

and e x a m in e d b e f o r e

th e

on a y o u n g

of C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty

Ju s tic e

A cro w d o f F re n ch m e n g a t h e r e d

o f th e Peace

and,

w ere d e te rm in e d t o h a n g th e M e x ic a n .

b e c o m in g T he s h e r i f f

t o g e t h i m t o M o k e lu m n e H i l l b u t t h e F r e n c h m e n t o o k

h i m a w ay a n d h a n g e d h i m o n t h e E v e r y c o m m u n i ty i n g a m b le rs, b a n d its , cam p o n l y

th e

tre e .- * c o u n ty h a d h a n g in g s ,

a n d c r i m i n a l s w o u ld be f o r c e d

to c o n g re g a te i n a n o th e r .

c o u n ty h a d a l a r g e r p r o p o r t i o n

and th e

o u t o f one

No s e c t i o n o f

th e

o f c rim e a n d m u rd e r th a n th e

^ M aso n, Am ador C o u n t y , 1 6 9 .

110 m i n e s o n S a n D o m in g o C r e e k ,

I n 1 8 5 1 tw o a n d t h r e e

a t i o n s and m u rd e rs w ere o f a lm o s t d a i l y tim e fro m f i v e

to

and tw o -th ird s

o f th em w e re M e x i c a n s . 1

a ssa ssin ­

o ccu rren ce.

s i x h u n d re d m in e rs w orked i n

th is

At tiia t stre a m ,

A w r i t e r i n th e San A n d reas, In d e p e n d e n t f o r M arch 3 , i 8 6 0 ,

s ta te s :

T he " o l d C a l i f o r n i a n * 1 n e e d n o t b e t o l d t h a t t h e s e m o u n ta in s a r e d o t te d w it h t h e g r a v e s o f m u rd e re d m en. T he C o u n ty o f C a l a v e r a s , w h o s e m i n e s w e r e o r i g i n a l l y p e o p le d w ith f a l s e - h e a r t e d a s s a s s i n a t i n g M e x ic a n s, w as p a r t i c u l a r l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n e a r l y t i m e s by d e e d s o f b lo o d sh e d . I n som e d i s t r i c t s (w e may nam e J e s u s M a r i a a n d S a n D o m in g o ), i f a l l th e m u r d e r e r s c o u ld be c o l l e c t e d t o g e t h e r , t h e y w o u l d f i l l a c e m e t e r y , a n d we d o u b t n o t, i f th e a g g re g a te o f d e a th s by v io le n c e f o r t h e e n t i r e c o u n t y s i n c e t h e y e a r I 8 4 8 , c o u l d b e summed u p , t h e y w o u ld r e a c h f i v e h u n d r e d . A d ra m a tic cheap

th e l i v e s

m en i n

C h ili

e x a m p le o f how t h e g r e e d f o r g o l d m ad e

o f men i s

G uv l c h i n

tw e n ty -tw o and th e M a ss a c h u se tts,

t h a t o f t h e m u r d e r o f tw o y o u n g

th e a u tu m n o f

1853.

o th e r tw e n ty -th re e .

One w a s a g e d

T h ey cam e f r o m

and t h e i r nam es w e re B ra d sh aw an d Sam pson.

1

The c l a i m

upon w h ic h th e y w o rk ed w as r i c h ,

m o n th s o f h a r d w o rk t h e y

and a f t e r

a c c u m u la te d a l a r g e

q u a n tity

a few of

g o ld d u s t . One d a y , w h i l e S a m p s o n w a s p r e p a r i n g d i n n e r o u t s i d e th e

te n t,

a n d B ra d sh a w w as w r i t i n g

a le tte r

l C alaveras Weekly , November 5, 1943

to h i s m o th e r

inside the tent, three Mexicans rode up to the tent and inquired of Sampson the road to San Andreas.

As he turned

to give them instructions, one of the party struck him over the head with his revolver and instantly killed him.

The

three then entered the tent and attacked Bradshaw with knives.

Before he could reach his revolver they were upon

him and stabhed him eleven times, leaving him for dead, after which they robbed the tent of all the gold dust. Bradshaw was found soon afterwards and lived long enough to give a description of the murderers.

On the

table was found a half finished letter to his mother in which he had told her of his success in mining and his ex­ pectations of meeting her soon with wealth enough for both. The letter was taken by his friends and sent to his mother along with another one telling the sad story of his murder. His mother sent a headstone and an iron railing from Boston, and directed that the railing be placed around the graves . 1 The large number of races in the mines would naturally result in friction and racial animosities, and the greed for gold emphasized these racial intolerances.

The

American miner was especially intolerant of all other groups,

l s a n A n d re a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , M arch 3 , I 8 6 0 . T hese g r a v e s a r e i n t h e O ld P i o n e e r C e m e t e r y o n t h e m a i n h i g h w a y b e tw e e n San A n d re as an d V a lle y S p r i n g s .

112 a s he c o n s id e re d and th e

th e la n d h i s

by r i g h t o f r e c e n t c o n q u e s t ,

f o r e i g n e r was an i n v a d e r o f h i s

w as e x te n d e d to w a rd a l l

th e

e x c e p tio n of th e B r i t i s h ,

ra c e s , w ith

rig h ts . th e

o rig in

in

th e A n g lo -S p a n ish r i v a l r y

in th e d if f e r e n c e in

in id e a s

t h e i r own, 1 8 48 b e f o r e

th e

cam ps.

g re a t ru sh

of 18 4 9 -5 0 .

d riv e n

fro m t h e

In

1 8 4 9 m any o f

m in e s a n d e x p e l l e d

e le m e n t in th e

The M e x i c a n m i n e r ,

m in in g d i s t r i c t ,

re s o rte d

o f m ak in g a l i v i n g , w ith th e G rin g o .

e ffe c t of

S o u th e rn M in e s,

a b o u t r e s e n tm e n t and c rim e w h ic h l e d

rev en g e.

and

to h o ld c la im s o f

The b r u t a l t r e a t m e n t h a d t h e

c o n c e n tra tin g t h is b rin g in g

of se v e ra l c e n tu rie s ,

th e y h ad a c q u ire d t h e i r c la im s in

th e S o u th A m erican s w ere fro m th e

T h is f e e l i n g h ad

T h e re w ere few A m e ric an m in e r s

to a l l o w M e x ica n s

even th o u g h

ex p ressed

o f g o v ern m en t a n d r e l i g i o n ,

t h e r e c e n t M e x ica n w a r .

t h a t w ere w i l l i n g

p o ss ib le

b u t i t w as m o st s t r o n g l y

a g a i n s t t h e M e x ic a n s a n d S o u th .A m e ric an s. its

The f e e l i n g

fo rced o u t of

to ro b b e ry

and in

to a c ts

ev ery good

an d m u rd e r a s a m eans

o r s im p ly a s a m eans o f g e t t i n g

C a la v e ra s,

of

a s one o f th e

even

c o u n tie s in

th e

S o u th e r n M i n e s ,l h a d a l a r g e p o p u l a t i o n o f M e x ic a n s a n d , th e re fo re ,

h ad a g r e a t d e a l o f c rim e fro m t h i s

so u rce.

T h e re w e re a n um ber o f cam ps t h a t w e re e s p e c i a l l y

lT h e S o u t h e r n M in e s w e re u s u a l l y c o u n t i e s s o u t h o f t h e C o su m n e s R i v e r .

c e n te rs

c o n sid e re d th o se

f o r M e x ica n s.

San A n d re as had b e e n one o f

th e se ,

but

Y a q u i Gamp, a f e w m i l e s s o u t h , w a s n o t o r i o u s f o r i t s i n a l e le m e n t and a s a h a n g o u t f o r J o a q u in M u r ie ta . t h e A m e ric an m in e r s o f San A n d r e a s , and ro b b e rie s ,

d ro v e

tire d

th e M e x ica n s o u t .

t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r , w a s a l s o

Lancha P la n a ,

a n o th e r hangout f o r

of th e h i l l ,

c rim e .

h a d som e s u b s t a n t i a l c i t i z e n s ,

M e x ica n s.

on

th e to u g h s

B u t Camp O p r a ,

nearb y a t th e b ase

O pra w as m a rk e d a s a r e s o r t o f

F in a lly ,

of th e m u rd ers

and w as v e r y l a r g e l y M ex ican i n p o p u l a t i o n .

The l a t t e r

c rim ­

e x c e e d e d Lancha P la n a i n b u t Camp

d e s p e ra te w h ite s a s w e ll as

The g r a v e y a r d t h e r e w a s f i l l e d

m o s t l y b y m en who

h a d b e e n v i c t i m s o f w h isk e y .^ Los M u e rto s , n e a r A n g e ls C re e k , l o s M u e rto th irs ty

(C re e k o f t h e D e a d ), was one o f

o th e r

th e m ost b lo o d ­

o f e a r l y day cam ps a n d w as p o p u l a t e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y

by M e x ic a n s a n d C h ile n o s . h isto ry

on t h e A rro y o de

it

A t o n e p e r i o d o f t h e c a m p 's

was c o n s i d e r e d an u n s a f e p l a c e

th a n M e x ica n s an d C h i le a n s

to l i v e .

f o r any p e r s o n The g a m b l i n g

h o u s e s w e re f r e q u e n t e d by J o a q u i n M u r i e t a a n d h i s l i e u ­ t e n a n t s , M anuel G a rc ia R a m iriz

( T h re e -fin g e re d -J a c k ), F ra n c isc o

( " K i n k o " ) , M u l a c h o , Ramon P e r e z

and Ju an C ord oza.

G a rc ia ,

( t h e . " T o m a le m a n 11) ,

who w a s a w h i t e r e n e g a d e ,

iR e n s c h and H o o v e r, H i s t o r i c

S p o ts, 12.

b o a ste d

o f t h e m an y r o b b e r i e s

and m u rd e rs he h a d c o m m itte d i n

Los M u e r t o s .1 I t w as h e r e fo u g h t in

th a t

th e B a ttle

th e a u tu m n o f I S 5 2 .

o f S i x M ile C re e k w as

The s t r u g g l e b e g a n

at

C e n t r a l H i l l b e tw e e n t h e A m e ric an an d M e x ica n m in e r s f o r su p rem acy o f S ix M ile C re ek and c o n tin u e d u n t i l Los M u e rto s was r e a e h e d .

In

th e

fig h tin g ,

a n A m e ric an m in e r an d a

M ex ican w e re k i l l e d ,

and th e re

fo llo w e d s e v e r a l ly n c h in g s .2

L ow er H a n c h e ria , I 848.

It

tw o m i l e s e a s t o f D r y t o w n , b e g a n i n

h a d a p o p u l a t i o n m ad e u p l a r g e l y

o f M ex ica n s an d

C h i l e a n s a n d w as a known r e s o r t f o r c r i m i n a l s . of A ugust 6,

1855,

a se rie s

of ro b b e rie s

On t h e n i g h t

and m u rd ers w ere

p e r p e t r a t e d by a g a n g o f tw e lv e M e x ic a n s s u s p e c t e d o f liv in g

i n Low er R a n c h e r i a ..

As a r e s u l t

th e m in e rs a ro s e

en m asse a n d dem anded t h a t e v e r y M e x ica n be d is a rm e d an d d r iv e n fro m th e

re g io n .3

T he m o s t f a m o u s e x a m p l e o f t h i s r a c i a l a n i m o s i t y i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty w a s t h a t o f t h e a t C h ili

G u lc h ,

C h ile a n w ar,

n e a r M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

w h ic h o c c u r r e d

i n 1 8 4 9 .4 - I n t h i s

i B u e k b e e , P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l * s C am p.

55.

2i b i a . 3R ensch and H o o v er, H i s t o r i c

S p o t s . 14*

4 - C o l o n e l A y r e s , who w a s o n e o f t h e A m e r i c a n s t a k e n p r i s o n e r by t h e C h i l e a n s , t e l l s t h e s t o r y i n la m e s J . A y r e s , G o ld a n d S u n s h i n e . 4 6 - 5 8 .

s e ttle m e n t of C h ile a n s , s u p p o r t e d by e i g h t o r p e o p le w ere o f th e a c tu a lly in

sla v e s

a new g u lc h ,

peon c la s s

The r e s t

th e y w ere c la im

of th e

and w e re d e p e n d e n t s ,

headm en.

S m a ll p a r t i e s

c o m p la in e d t h a t w henever th e y

C h i l e a n s who l a i d e x a sp e ra tin g

C oncha was th e c h i e f ,

te n l ie u te n a n ts .

of th e

th e v i c i n i t y

a D r.

or

o f A m e ric an s d isc o v e re d

d r i v e n o f f by a s u p e r i o r body to th e

g u lc h .

of

T h is a c t i o n was so

t h a t th e m in e rs d e c id e d to

c a l l a m ass m e e tin g

and form a m in in g d i s t r i c t a n d f o r m u l a t e a c o d e o f la w . t h i s m e e tin g

th e m in e r s a d o p te d a law w h ic h p r o h i b i t e d

m a s t e r s f r o m t a k i n g up c l a i m s f o r t h e i r s l a v e s . b e e n th e u s u a l c u sto m w h e re m in in g d i s t r i c t s Soon a f t e r t h i s m e e tin g , fo rc ib ly

At

d r o v e som e m i n e r s ,

h o w ev er,

T h is h a d

h ad b e en fo rm ed .

th e C h ile a n s

under p e c u lia rly

e x a sp e ra tin g

1

c irc u m s ta n c e s ,

fro m th e g u lc h th e y w e re m in in g .

new s s p re a d a ro u n d , C o llie r,

a lc a ld e

m e e tin g o f th e

th e

e x c i te m e n t was i n t e n s e .

o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

d istric t

be h e l d .

t i o n was a d o p te d f i x i n g a tim e le a v e in

Judge

a d v is e d t h a t a m ass

At th is

m e e tin g a r e s o l u ­

a t w h ic h t h e C h i l e a n s m u st

o r be e x p e l l e d by f o r c e , a n d

a body to th e

¥/hen t h e

th e n a c o m m itte e m arched

C h i l e a n Camp a n d s e r v e d n o t i c e

upon th e

headm an p r e s e n t t h a t t h e y m u st l e a v e . A few n i g h t s

l a t e r a b a n d of C h i l e a n s r a i d e d t h e

A m e ric a n cam ps a n d t o o k t h i r t e e n

p riso n e rs, k illin g

tw o

A m e ric an m i n e r s — E n d i c o t t and S t a r r — i n t h e f i g h t i n g .

T hey

h ad a w r i t o f a r r e s t fro m Ju d g e R e y n o ld s o f S to c k to n a g a i n s t t h e A m e ric an m in e r s a n d c la im e d th e y w e re l e g a l l y to e n fo rc e

th e

n i g h t and th e

la w .

The c a p t i v e s w e r e m a r c h e d a r o u n d a l l

n e x t day w e re

th e S o u th F o rk

of

ta k e n to

th e C a la v e r a s .

John S c o l l a n 's

p r o c e e d i n g s by c e r t i f y i n g t o

th e

and a d v is e d

le a d e rs

t h e b a n d now b e c a m e w o r r i e d

th e ir

p riso n e rs.

One o f

re le a se

to

th e ir

th e p r i s o n e r s . about w hat to

The do

th e m o s t v i c i o u s o f th e m ,

m an n a m e d T i r a n t e , w a n t e d t o k i l l d is p e rs e , b u t th e o th e rs

le g a lity

a r r e s t o f th e A m e ric a n s.

He r e f u s e d

w ith

th em t o

Gamp o n

As S c o i la n w as an a l c a l d e ,

t h e y a t t e m p t e d t o p e r s u a d e h im t o g i v e

of

d e le g a te d

a ll

o b je c te d .

th e m se lv e s and o v erp o w ered t h e i r

th e c a p tiv e s and th e n

D u rin g th e

w h i l e c a m p e d on t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r ,

a

second n ig h t,

t h e A m e ric a n s f r e e d

c a p to rs.

The C h i l e a n s

w e r e m a r c h e d t o O’ N e i l l ' s r a n c h o n t h e m a i n S t o c k t o n r o a d w h ere th e A m e ric an s m et a r e s c u e p a r t y The C h i l e a n s w e r e g i v e n a t r i a l

in

search

o f th em .

by a c o u r t o r g a n i z e d by

t h e m i n e r s o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l a n d T i r a n t e a n d tw o o t h e r s w ere h a n g ed , la sh e s, D r.

f o u r o r f i v e w ere g iv e n f i f t y

a n d tw o w e r e c o n d e m n e d t o

Concha had a lr e a d y

k ille d

soon a f t e r

th is

When t h e n e w s o f t h e

le ft

to one h u n d red

have t h e i r

ears c u t o ff.

f o r San F r a n c i s c o , b u t w as

in a f i g h t i n

a "fandango h o u s e ."

tro u b le re a c h e d S to c k to n ,

p u b lic

in d ig n a tio n a t

th e a c ts

of J u d g e R e y n o ld s an d th e s h e r i f f

who h a d p l a c e d

th e w r i t

of a r r e s t

C h i le a n s was g r e a t .

in

B o th , o f f i c i a l s

th e hands of th e to o k h u r r i e d

d e p a rtu re

f o r San F r a n c is c o . T h ere w as a r e p e r c u s s i o n y e a r s l a t e r w h e n a mob i n m a ltre a te d and k i l l e d c ru ise r.

th e s t r e e t s

tre a tm e n t of th e

As a r e s u l t o f

a tim e a s i f

fo rty

of V a lp a ra iso ,

th e

C h ile ,

o u tb re a k to h a tre d

C h ile a n s i n

th e m in e s i n

th e i n c i d e n t , r e l a t i o n s b e tw e e n th e

U n ite d S t a t e s and C h i le becam e s t r a i n e d , fo r

tro u b le

s a i l o r s b e lo n g in g to a U n ite d S ta te s

The n e w s p a p e r s a t t r i b u t e d

c r e a t e d by t h e 1849.

of th is

and i t

lo o k ed

t h e r e m ig h t be w a r . l

The o u t b r e a k s o f r a c i a l h a t r e d w e r e d i r e c t e d n o t o n ly a t as

is

th e M e x ica n s a n d C h i le n o s , b u t a l s o a t t h e F r e n c h ,

sh o w n b y t h e F r e n c h W ar a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l

1851.

A

F r e n c h m a n nam ed V e n d e e n w a s m i n i n g a l o n e

la te r c a lle d

F ren ch H i l l ,

i n g u lc h e s f o r g o ld , a p la c e

to w o rk .

and a s

on a

th e m in e rs u s u a l l y

th ey r i d i c u l e d

H ow ever,

in A p ril,

h im f o r

h is

h ill,

search ed

c h o ic e of

h e had d e v e lo p e d a r i c h c la im

a n d m ad e

t h e m i s t a k e o f b r a g g i n g a b o u t i t . The m i n e r s

began to

in v e s tig a te

and f in d in g th e re g io n r i c h ,

b e g a n t o m ak e c l a i m s n e a r b y .

A d isp u te

3-Ayres, G-old and S un sh ine. 4 6 - 5 8 .

th ey

a r o s e b e tw e e n th e

118 F renchm an and an I r is h m a n , o v e r w here t o

who h a d a c l a i m n e x t t o h i s ,

th ro w t h e d e b r i s .

A fig h t

F re n c h s i d e d w ith t h e F renchm an, n e ig h b o rh o o d s id e d w ith

and

fo llo w e d , and th e

th e I r i s h

th e ir c o m p a trio t.

fig h t

and one I r i s h ­

and th r e e w ounded.

The F r e n c h , b ack to

th e

A g en eral

e n s u e d i n w h i c h tw o F r e n c h m e n w e r e w o u n d e d , m an k i l l e d

in

arm ed w i t h r i f l e s

th e h e ig h ts

of

th e h i l l ,

e l e c t e d a M r. Y i l l a c e g u e a s F ren ch t r i - c o l o r .

and re v o lv e rs,

o rg a n iz e d

c o m m a n d e r,

On t h e o t h e r

in to

fe ll

c o m p a n ie s,

and h o i s t e d t h e

s id e p r e p a r a tio n s w ere

b e i n g m ade n o t o n l y by t h e I r i s h

b u t by a l l t h e A m e ric a n s ,

to sto rm

T hey c l a i m e d t h e

th e F ren ch s tro n g h o ld .

of th e F ren ch f l a g w as’ open r e v o lu tio n . g re a tly of

a la rm e d ,

a p p e a le d to

T he a u t h o r i t i e s ,

th e G o vernor f o r th e h e lp

th e m i l i t i a . I n t h e m e a n tim e , M r. de l a R i v i e r a ,

of F ra n c e , e n d ea v o re d to

a c o m p ro m ise .

to p e rs u a d e h i s

On May 3> 1 6 5 1 ,

i n c l u d i n g M r. B u t l e r K in g , at

ra is in g

th e

scene and,

w ere a b le

a fte r

to r e s t o r e

and to o k p o ss e ssio n tw o e x c e p t i o n s . had k i l l e d

th e

c o n su la r agent

c o m p a trio ts

to ag re e

s e v e r a l A m e ric an n o t a b l e s ,

c o l l e c t o r of c u sto m s,

a rriv e d

s e v e r a l s p e e c h e s fro m b o t h s i d e s ,

o rd er.

The F r e n c h l o w e r e d t h e i r f l a g

of t h e i r m in e s w i t h o u t o p p o s i t i o n , w ith

The c l a i m

of t h e F re n ch m a n , B o u rd o n , who

Irish m a n , and th a t

of a n o th e r

o n e who h a d

119 been a c tiv e in th e f ig h t, o f th e w ounded.

In th e

o f t h e F re n c h w ere was h e l d ,

w ere c o n f i s c a t e d

c o n fu s io n t h a t fo llo w e d ,

p i l l a g e d and

set a fire .

h o w ev er, and s e v e r a l of

p u n is h e d by h a n g in g

e n te re d th e

h ill,

to

and f i l l e d

sa ck s w ith th e

to a h u n d red d o l l a r s

th a t w h ile th e

s e v e r a l A m e ric a n s

b e h in d th e F renchm en,

A m ass m e e tin g

e a rs cu t o ff.^

O th e r a c c o u n ts o f th e w ar c la im c o n fe re n c e s w ere g o in g on,

th e te n ts

th e o f f e n d e r s w ere

o r h a v in g t h e i r

w h ic h w a s f i f t y

fo r th e b e n e f it

h o le

slip p e d

in

th e y had dug in th e

one h u n d r e d f e e t i n d i a m e t e r , ric h o re,

th e

d i r t p a y in g f i f t y

a sack.

The f e e l i n g b e c a m e s o i n t e n s e t h a t i n M ay , 1 8 5 0 , a l i c e n s e

ta x of

o n a l l . f o r e i g n m i n e r s w a s p a s s e d by

a g a in s t th e f o r e ig n e r s t w e n t y d o l l a r s a m o n th t h e S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e *2

The n e w s w a s r e c e i v e d w i t h b i t t e r n e s s b y t h e f o r e i g n e r s , a s i t w as v i r t u a l l y

p ro h ib itiv e

t o m o s t o f th e m who w e r e

l u c k y t o make g o o d w a g e s a t m i n i n g . s e v e r a l i n c i d e n t s — th e a lre a d y been d e s c rib e d . to r e s i s t th e

ta x ,

I t re s u lte d

F ren ch r e v o lu tio n

in

i n M urphys h a s

A t S o n o ra th e M e x ica n s r e s o l v e d

and in Ju ly ,

1850,

risin g

tw e en th e A m e ric a n s a n d M e x ica n s n e a r l y

fe e lin g be­

r e s u l t e d i n som e

^ R e c e i v e d fro m M r. F r a s l i n o f t h e F r e n c h L i b r a r y , 4 1 4 M ason S t r e e t , San F r a n c i s c o . T r a n s l a t e d b y D. F r i c o t , s u b m i t t e d b y J . A. S m i t h a n d p r e s e r v e d i n h i s S c r a p b o o k . ^ S ta tu te s

of C a l i f o r n i a , 1850:

18 9 -1 9 0 .

120

i

h a n g in g s .

It

d id r e s u l t in

a dem and t h a t a l l f o r e i g n e r s

n o t engaged in p erm an en t b u s in e s s c h a r a c te r m ust le a v e

and n o t of r e s p e c t a b l e

th e S onora d i s t r i c t u n le s s

p e rm itte d

t o r e m a i n by a c o m m i t t e e o f A m e r i c a n s i n e a c h c a m p . S e p te m b e r,

1850,

th re e -fo u rth s

th e a r e a , a f f e c tin g

b u sin e ss

By

o f th e M e x ic a n s had l e f t

in th e

S o u t h e r n M in e s g r e a t l y .

The t a x c r e a t e d m u ch o p p o s i t i o n a n d w a s i m p o s s i b l e to c o l l e c t . it

In fa c t,

n o g r e a t e f f o r t w as m ad e t o c o l l e c t

from an y b u t t h e M e x ic a n and C h in e s e m in e r s .

r e p e a le d i n 1 8 51, b u t re im p o se d in o n ly

th re e

d o l l a r s a m o n th .

d o l l a r s a m o n th a n d i n

fro m th e m in e s, b u t th a t

it

th is

ta x .

a ls o

c re a te d in

s o m uch r e s e n t m e n t

term s

of t h e

a llo w e d

t o m in e

c rim e s

e n fo rc e m e n t.

th e m o st d r a s t i c a l l y

T h ey w e r e o n l y

fo u r

a t te n d o l l a r s a m o n th .1

e n a c tm e n t an d e f f o r t s a t

The C h i n e s e m i n e r s w e r e

of

d r i v i n g m any o f t h e f o r e i g n e r s

th e A m e ric an s p a id d e a r l y

t h a t fo llo w e d i t s

ra te

I t w as l a t e r r a is e d to

1 8 58 s e t

I t had su c ce ed e d in

1852 a t t h e

I t w as

a f f e c t e d by

th e w o rk e d -o v e r

a r e a s t h a t w o u ld no l o n g e r p a y w h i t e m a n ’ s w a g e s , one of t h e A s i a t i c s h a p p e n e d to d r i v e n o f f by th e w h i t e m en.

strik e

it

and i f

r i c h h e w as

J o h n C h in am an , a s he w a s

c a l l e d , w as a d o c i l e p e r s o n and w as u s u a l l y a c a u s e f o r

S ta tu te s

of C a l i f o r n i a . 1 8 5 8 : 12 0 -1

j e s t r a th e r th a n

re se n tm e n t.

b ack even th o u g h a b u sed ,

He w a s n o t l i k e l y

as d id

th e M e x ic a n s.

to f ig h t E n trie s in

t a x c o l l e c t o r ' s n o t e b o o k s s h o w how t h e f o r e i g n m i n e r ’ s t a x w as u se d

to d e f r a u d t h e

c o lle c to r w ro te : fe llo w ,

poor C e le s tia ls .

nI w a s s o r r y

b u t th e la w m akes i t

to

have to

n ecessary

a n d t h a t ’ s w h e r e I g e t my p r o f i t . ” 1

to

A d e p u ty ta x sta b

th e poor

c o lle c t

th e

ta x ,

A l e t t e r w ritte n

by

a c o r r e s p o n d e n t t o th e D a ily A lta C a l i f o r n i a fro m th e S t a n i s l a u s R iv e r i n 1853 s t a t e s : 2 I was t o l d o f a c ir c u m s ta n c e y e s t e r d a y t h a t b e a u t i f u l l y i l l u s t r a t e s th e sy ste m of ta x in g fo re ig n e rs. A gang o f v i l l a i n s w e l l arm ed , in t h e v i c i n i t y o f A n g e l s Cam p, m ad e a d e c e n t o n a l o t o f C h in a m e n a n d , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o b e t a x - c o l l e c t o r s , c o m p e l l e d th e m t o p a y o v e r #380. F r o m o n e C h in a m a n t h e y t o o k # 9 0 . T h ere w ere a l s o who e n j o y e d h e a th e n .

th o s e b r u t a l m in e rs and b a n d i t s

to r m e n tin g and t o r t u r i n g

th e se p e c u lia r

T h r e e - f i n g e r e d l a c k G a r c ia w as r e p o r t e d t o

h u n g s i x C h in a m e n u p b y t h e i r q u e u e s a n d s l i t .one a f t e r It

th e

o th e r

seem s o n ly

fo r

th e

have

th e ir th ro a ts

f u n o f w a t c h i n g , th e m d i e . 3

re a so n a b le

1 J a c k s o n , A nybody’ s G o ld ,

th a t under th e se c o n d itio n s

213.

2p a i l y A l t a C a l i f o r n i a . J a n u a r y 2 9 , 1 8 5 3 .

3Jackson, o£ . c i t . , 213.

122 th e

C h in e se

sh o u ld r e t a l i a t e by m u rd ers and r o b b e r ie s as

th e M e x ica n d i d . la rg e ,

th e

s tr a n g e w ays o f

and so m e th in g th e

S o m e tim e s

th is d id th e

to l a u g h a t .

happen b u t,

"H e a th e n C h in e e " w as a j e s t

Good e x a m p l e s o f t h i s

tw o C h i n e s e W a rs o f C a l i f o r n i a .

W e a v e rv ille in

Ju ly , 1854,

n e a r K n ig h t’ s F erry The c a u s e

fo r

by and

are

One w a s h e l d i n

a n d t h e o t h e r i n C h i n e s e Camp

on t h e S t a n i s l a u s

in S e p te m b e r,

th e w a r w as a d i s p u t e b e tw e e n t h e

C om pany o f R o c k R i v e r R a n c h , a n d

I 856.

S a m -Y ap

t h e Yan-Wo Com pany a t

C h i n e s e Camp who w e r e w o r k i n g a c l a i m b e s i d e e a c h o t h e r on t h e

S ta n isla u s.

cam e t o r e s t on t h e

T he Y an-W os r o l l e d S a m -Y ap c l a i m .

e ig h te e n m in e rs in v o lv e d th e C h in e se in

th e

in

ro c k w h ic h

T h ere w ere o n ly but i t

grew u n t i l a l l

re g io n had ta k e n s i d e s .

c h a l l e n g e was p r i n t e d S a m -Y a p Com pany t o

at firs t,

a la rg e

A fo rm al

t h e C o lu m b ia G a z e t t e

t h e Y a n -W o s a n d t h e

from th e

day o f h o s t i l i t i e s

was s e t f o r S e p te m b e r 2 6 t h .

The b l a c k s m i t h s

w e re k e p t b u sy m a k in g p i k e s ,

sw o rds,

of th e

area

and s a l m o n - s p e a r s .

Some m u s k e t s a n d p o w d e r w e r e o b t a i n e d , b u t

th e

C h in a m e n

d i d n ’ t kn o w how t o s h o o t t h e g u n s a n d h a d t o h i r e

th e

w h ite m in e r s to

On t h e

day o f b a t t l e slic e d ,

t e a c h th em a t

b o th s i d e s

and th r u s t u n t i l

am usem ent o f th e

te n

d o lla rs

a day.

l i n e d up and m arch ed , y e l l e d , th e y had t h e i r f i l l ,

w h ite m in e rs .

to th e

g reat

A f t e r b o th c o m p a n ie s w e re

e x h a u s te d fro m t h e i r f e r o c i o u s

s h o u tin g and g rim a c in g ,

S h e r i f f S t u a r t d is a r m e d th em .

A l t h o u g h a h u n d r e d o r m o re

s h o t s w ere f i r e d

th e

c a s u a l t i e s w ere f o u r C h in e s e d e a d ,

f o u r w ounded, a n d a h o r s e s h o t fro m u n d e r a d e p u ty sh e riff.

A h o red

jo u r n a lis t w ritin g of

th e San F ra n c is c o , b a ttle

B u lle tin

sta te d :

d o lla rs

" I t w as a v e r y b a d

f o r e i g n m in e r ’ s t a x w as r a i s e d t o

te n

i n 1 8 5 8 , t h e C h in a m e n w e r e m o s t a f f e c t e d a s o t h e r

f o r e i g n e r s h a d a l r e a d y becom e c i t i z e n s th e C h in e se

th e ir

in

a s s o few w ere k i l l e d . ”1 When t h e

but

th e a f f a i r

c o u ld n o t .

by n a t u r a l i z a t i o n ,

Many o f t h o s e

s till

c la im s l e f t f o r San F r a n c i s c o . - H ow ev er,

m i n i n g c o m m u n ity i n

C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty

had i t s

w h ic h s u r v i v e d l o n g a f t e r p l a c e r m in i n g was They w e r e p e r m i t t e d

to

each

C h in ato w n e x h a u ste d .

do l a u n d r y w o r k a n d m e n i a l h o u s e ­

h o ld an d d o m e s tic t a s k s f o r w h ic h i t o th e r la b o r e r s .

w o rk in g on

T he C h i n e s e

o f v ic e su c h a s g a m b lin g ,

was i m p o s s i b l e

se c tio n s o f

d rin k in g ,

to g e t

to w n w e r e n e s t s

and im m o ra lity , b u t

t h e y w e r e n o t a c a u s e o f m uch c o n c e r n

to

th e m in e rs.

O n ly

t h e s a l o o n - k e e p e r and g a m b ler d i d n ’ t l i k e

th e C h in e se

b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t s p e n d t h e i r m o n ey i n

th e w h ite m an’ s

sa lo o n .

A f t e r l a r g e n um bers h ad b een f o r c e d o u t

lJ a ck so n , Anybody’ s Cold, 214.

of

th e

m in e s an d r e t u r n e d t o

San F ra n c is c o ,

W o rk m a n ’ s P a r t y r a i s e d

th e c ry

th e K e a r n e y ite s and

a g a i n s t ch ea p C h in ese la b o r

a n d m any l a w s a n d o r d i n a n c e s w e r e p a s s e s d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a g a i n s t th e m . A t o n e tim e o r a n o t h e r C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty seem ed t o be th e

a re a of o p e ra tio n

p e rio d .

Such bad c h a r a c te r s

Tom B e l l , in

of a l l

B lac k B a r t,

th e c o u n ty .

b a n d its, sta rte d

t h e b a d m en o f

as B illy M u llig a n ,

Sam B ro w n ,

and even T ib u rc io V asquez,

The m o s t n o t o r i o u s o f a l l

o p e ra te d

t h e .C a l i f o r n i a

h o w e v e r, w as J o a q u i n M u rie ta ,l-w h o a l l e g e d l y h is c a re e r in

th e

c o u n ty an d c o n tin u e d

h e r e u n t i l he w as s u p p o s e d ly k i l l e d . m u ch p u r e f i c t i o n w r i t t e n p o ss ib le

th a t e a rly

to f in d

out

th e

m any c r i m e s a t t r i b u t e d

is

about h is

th a t

it

career,

is

im ­

a n d so

t o h im m u st h a v e b e e n c o m m itte d by

o t h e r l a w le s s M e x ic a n s, J o a q u in ,2 th a t i t

T h e re h a s b e e n so

ab o u t M u rie ta tru th

to o p e ra te

who m i g h t h a v e h a d t h e name

im p o s s ib le t o g iv e any a c c u r a te h i s ­

t o r ic a l r e p o r t of h is

a c tiv itie s .

Jo s e p h H enry J a c k s o n ,

i n h i s b o o k Bad C om pany,

1m u s i n g t h e s p e l l i n g " M u r i e t a ” w i t h o n e ” r ” a n d one ” t ” b e c a u s e Jo h n R id g e s p e l l e d i t t h a t w ay; a l s o , th e a c t o f th e S ta te L e g is la tu r e s p e lle d i t t h i s w ay. 2T h ere w as a J o a q u in C a r r i l l o and a J o a q u in V a le n v u e l a , who w e r e b a n d i t s a t t h i s t i m e a n d o p e r a t e d i n C a la v e r a s C o u n ty . T hey m ay h a v e b e e n t h e sa m e a s M u r i e t a , o r t h e y may h a v e b e e n d i f f e r e n t l e a d e r s .

125. debunks a g re a t d e a l of th e f i c t io n l i f e a n d show s t h a t i t

is

v ery

s u rro u n d in g J o a q u i n 's

la rg e ly

ro m a n tic le g e n d

t h a t g o es b a c k to a p a m p h le t w r i t t e n by Jo h n H o llin R id g e , a p a rt-C h e ro k e e c a lle d

jo u r n a lis t of

th e tim e .

T he p a m p h l e t w a s

The L i f e a n d A d v e n t u r e s o f J o a q u i n M u r i e t a ,

C e l e b r a t e d C a l i f o r n i a B a n d i t , and was p u b l i s h e d i n 1 8 5 4 in San F ra n c is c o .

O n l y one c o p y i s

ow n ed by a p r i v a t e

c o lle c to r

th a t th is w ritte n

is

th e

in to

in to E n g lish . career,

i n New J e r s e y .

Jackson says

so u rc e of e v e ry th in g t h a t has been

ab out M u rie ta .

tra n s la te d

known t o e x i s t a n d i s

R i d g e 's w ork h a s b e e n p i r a t e d and

S p a n is h a n d F re n c h and t h e n r e t r a n s l a t e d Jackson, ra th e r

chooses th e

a num ber o f b a n d i t s

th a n r e f e r r i n g

Jo a q u in s, b e lie v in g o p e ra tin g

in

th a t

t o M u rie ta * s th e r e w ere

t h e S o u t h e r n M in e s b y

t h e nam e o f J o a q u i n i n t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n 1 8 5 1 - 5 3 a n d f o r w hose a c t s

J o a q u in M u rie ta w as b la m e d .1

Jo a q u in M u rie ta i s

so f ir m l y

im p la n te d in

o f th e o l d - t i m e r s o f C a la v e r a s C o u n ty , h o w e v e r, h isto ry of

of th e

supposed l i e u t e n a n t ,

J a c k 11 ( M a n u e l G a r c i a ) .

not

th a t no

a r e a w o u ld b e c o m p le te w i t h o u t a d i s c u s s i o n

th e b a n d i t a n d h i s

o p e ra te d in

t h e m in d s

"T h re e -fin g e re d -

T h e r e w a s a J o a q u i n M u r i e t a w ho

t h e S o u t h e r n M i n e s b e t w e e n 1 8 5 0 - 5 3 9 b u t he w a s

t h e R o b i n H ood t y p e

o f b a n d i t w ho r o b b e d t h e r i c h a n d

1 Joseph Henry Jackson, Bad Company, 15.

gave to

th e p o o r.

c u tth ro a t.

He w a s a c r u e l ,

b ru ta l c a ttle

He w a s w a n t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y

t h i e f and

f o r th e m urder o f

G e n e ra l Bean a t th e M is s io n S an G a b r ie l an d f o r t h i s r e a s o n C a p ta in H arry Love,

in

1 853, ^ a y h av e c la im e d

h e a d he e x h i b i t e d was t h a t o f M u r i e ta r a t h e r th e

o t h e r J o a q u i n s . l Many p l a c e s i n

c la im e d by th e o ld - tim e r s a s a s a c a b in in

t h a t th e th a n one o f

C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty a r e

" h i d e - o u t s tr f o r M u r i e t a , s u c h

th e h i l l s b a c k o f M u rp h y s, a t r e e

near

J a c k s o n , Y a q u i Camp n e a r S a n A n d r e a s , a n d L a n c h a P l a n a o n t h e M o k e lu m n e R i v e r . have liv e d

M u rie ta * s

i n b o t h M u r p h y s and. L a n c h a P l a n a .

su c h a s F ran k M a rsh a ll w ere t o l d

b a n d its

of V a i l e d t o ,

C a la v e ra s r e g io n .

O ld -tim e rs,

sto rie s e x p lo its

th a t of

T hey may o r may n o t b e

T h e s e s t o r i e s may b e a b o u t o n e o f t h e m an y M e x i c a n o p e ra tin g

in th e re g io n

g o i n g b y t h e nam e o f J o a q u i n , to M u rie ta . th e

te ll

th em by t h e i r f a t h e r s a b o u t t h e

M u rie ta in th e tru e .

s i s t e r w as su p p o sed to

at

but

th e

tim e and a p p a r e n t l y

th ey a r e a l l

Any e f f o r t t o g i v e t h e h i s t o r y

c o u n ty m u st r e p o r t

d e c i d e how a u t h e n t i c

th e se

e v e n ts and l e t

th ey so u n d .

T h ere i s

a ttrib u te d

o f c rim e i n th e r e a d e r n o way t h e y c a n

lA n a r t i c l e i n t h e S a n J o a q u i n R e p u b l i c a n . May 7 , 1 8 5 3 , s t a t e s t h a t J o a q u i n ’ s r e a l n am e i s J o a q u i n M u r i a t i . The a c t o f t h e S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e , May 1 7 , 1 8 5 3 , a u t h o r i z i n g C a p t a i n H a r r y L ove t o . r a i s e a com pany o f r a n g e r s , s t a t e d t h a t h i s p u rp o s e w as to c a p tu r e f i v e J o a q u i n s —M u r ie ta , G c o m o re n ia , V a le n z u e lo , B o t e l l i e r , an d C a r r i l l o . H itte ll, H isto ry of C a lif o r n ia . I l l , 723.

be p ro v ed o r d isp ro v e d p e r io d have

sin c e

a ll

th e p io n e e rs

of

th a t e a rly

passed on.

M u rp h y s, San A n d re a s ,

and P l a c e r v i l l e

have a l l

been

nam ed a s t h e p l a c e w h e r e l e g e n d s a y s J o a q u i n ’ s b r o t h e r , C a r l o s , was u n j u s t l y

hanged f o r h o rse

h e was w h ip p e d f o r a t t e m p t i n g sto rie s,

how ever,

th e y a l l

ag ree

a l l ag ree

to a id h i s b r o th e r .

th a t th is

A m e ric an m i n e r s .

B ut th e

c rim e and th e

C a la v e ra s C o u n tie s th an

c la im

s o u th b ran ch o f th e

in

g o ld w a sh ers f o r It

is

A lso ,

th e h i s t o r y

as

c la im e d

to

th e p la c e

M r s . B u c k b e e , who o f T u o lu m n e a n d

c la im s

th e w i f e ’ s

a s s a u l t o c c u r r e d on t h e

second i n ju r y , of th e

and w h ile

C a la v e ra s t h a t ,

J o a q u in sw o re v e n g e a n c e a g a i n s t th e

by c r u e l

C a la v e r a s R i v e r . 1 R id g e c a l l e d h e r

I t was a f t e r t h i s

le g e n d ,

d isa g re e

anyone e l s e ,

i n g h i s w i f e on t h e b a n k s th e

sh e was k i l l e d

sto rie s

nam e w a s C a r m e l i t a a n d t h a t t h e

to

d id happen.

name o f h i s w i f e .

h a s done m ore r e s e a r c h

R o sita .

The

t h a t M u rie ta * s young w if e w as b r u t a l l y

a s s a u l t e d a n d som e s t o r i e s

of th e

s t e a l i n g and w here

b u ry ­

a c c o rd in g

th e se

d e a th o f h is b r o th e r and w ife . t h a t he th e n w e n t t o h i s

J u a n i t a ’ s house i n L ancha P la n a f o r a s h o r t

siste r

tim e an d l a t e r

i E d n a B r y a n B u c k b e e , ’’The L i o n o f S o n o r a , ” U n io n D e m o c r a t. J a n u a r y 2 7 , 1 9 3 4 . T h is a c c o u n t i s th e one fo llo w e d i n g e n e r a l.

to h is

frie n d s,

J o a q u in and C a r l o s N o r ie g a ,

H ere he c o m p le te ly r e c o v e r e d t h e ro w d y m i n e r s ,

fro m t h e

b u t he c a r r i e d

th e

i n San A n d re a s,

b e a t i n g g i v e n h i m by scars

f o r th e r e s t

of

h is l i f e . T hese s t o r i e s

o f m is tre a tm e n t and abuse can be

tr a c e d back to John R id g e ’ s L ife fic tio n , b e lie v e c la im

o f M u rie ta and a re m o s tly

y e t a g r e a t m any o f t h e o l d - t i m e r s i n th e s t o r i e s

th a t

are

Some o f

th e

c o u n ty

o ld -tim e rs

even

t h e i r p a r e n t s h a d known M u r i e t a a n d h a d

s y m p a th iz e d w i t h h im . a c c o u n ts ,

tru e .

th e

And a c c o r d i n g

to

o ld new spaper

J o a q u i n t h e b a n d i t d i d f e e l t h a t .he h a d b e e n

a b u s e d by t h e A m e ric a n m in e r s an d h a d becom e a b a n d i t t o g e t rev en g e. g iv e s

The S a n J o a q u i n R e p u b l i c a n , A p r i l 2 3 ,

th e a c c o u n t o f an i n t e r v i e w w i t h

b y so m e M e x i c a n r e s i d e n t s sta te d

th e b a n d it Jo a q u in

o f a farm n e a r S a lin a s .

robbed,

w ith o u t j u s t i c e ,

and p e r s e c u t e d ,

and

th e re fo re

f o r h i s w ro n g s f o u r f o l d

he w o u ld n e v e r k i l l

a S p a n ia rd .

f l o g g e d and m a l t r e a t e d

h e was d e te r m in e d t o g e t on t h e

A m e ric a n s, b u t t h a t

A c c o rd in g to

h e w a s on h i s w ay t o L o w e r C a l i f o r n i a a t t h a t M rs. B uckbee, " L io n o f S o n o r a ," in th e

He

th e r e a s o n f o r h i s c o n d u c t w as t h a t he h ad b e en

o p p ressed ,

rev en g e

1853,

lo c a l h is to ria n ,

sta te s

th e a r t i c l e , tim e .

in her s to ry ,

t h a t i t w as i n M urphys D i g g i n g s ,

f i r s t p a r t of 1850,

t h a t M u r i e t a was d e a l i n g

"faro "

in

o n e o f t h e g a m b l i n g t e n t s w hen h e m e t T h r e e - f i n g e r e d -

Jack

(M anuel G a r c i a ) ,

a l s o known a s J a c k B ra d y .

I t w as

b e l i e v e d t h a t G a rc ia w as a d e s e r t e r fro m S te v e n s o n ’ s New Y o r k V o l u n t e e r s

and u s e d

He h a d b e e n t h e

le a d e r

I 848 a n d w as an

e sp e c ia lly

t h e nam e G a r c i a a s a d i s g u i s e *

of a band o f h o rs e

b r u t a l m an, k i l l i n g

He b r a g g e d t h a t h e e n j o y e d t h e on t h e b o n e s

of th e

feel

sin c e

fo r p le a su re .

of h i s k n i f e

C h in e s e he m u rd e re d ,

th a t he k e p t a c o lle c tio n

th ie v e s

g ra tin g

and i t w as

o f C h in e se e a r s a s

c la im e d

tro p h ie s of

t h e s e m u r d e r s . - 1M rs. B uckbee c la im s band, a ls o

h e w a s m ad e t h e Jo a q u in C a r r i l l o .

b a n d its

w ith t h e i r

te rro riz e d

He p r o v e d

h o rses,

to be a f e a r l e s s ,

c o o l-

and d u rin g th e n e x t th r e e y e a r s

th e p e o p le

o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty

b lo o d y c r im e s .

By 1 8 5 1 , h i s b a n d w a s s a i d and f i f t y

th is

c h ie f and w as c a l l e d E l C a p ita n ,

headed, d e sp e ra te le a d e r, h is

t h a t w h en M u r i e t a j o i n e d

t o num ber o n e h u n d r e d

m en, w e l l a rm e d a n d s p l e n d i d l y

m a k in g th em f o r m i d a b l e

in b a t t l e

o v e rta k e .

I t w o u ld be i m p o s s i b l e

a ttrib u te d

to M u rie ta ,, o r

a b o u t h im by l o c a l w r i t e r s

to

m o u n te d o n f i n e and d i f f i c u l t to

lis t a ll

reco u n t a l l

th e

and o l d - ti m e r s .

iB uekbee, "The Lion of Sonora,"

th e

sto rie s

c rim e s to ld

P erh ap s a

few w i l l

su ffic e

to i l l u s t r a t e

a n d d e m o n s t r a t e how f i r m l y

h i s m eth o d s and c o o l c o u ra g e

fix e d

i n t h e p u b l i c m in d i s

th e

M u rie ta le g e n d . I n O c to b e r,

1852,

F id d le to w n f e e l i n g

Jo a q u in w as s a u n te rin g

sa fe in h is

d isg u ise ,

h i m , w hen h e w a s b e t r a y e d by a s e n o r i t a fan d an g o h o u s e s . h is

p isto l

t h e to w n t o

c o m p a n io n s w e r e s u c c e s s f u l fo r

once t h e

w ere g a in i n g

p u rsu ers on th e

th e ir h o rse s in

in

one o f t h e

b a n d its,

h im .

He a n d h i s

h a v e b e t t e r m o u n ts a n d

who w e r e f o r c e d

to le a v e

c h a p a r r a l n e a r D ry C r e e k a n d

T hat n ig h t th e y

on f o o t and e x p la in e d

ta k e

he f l o u r is h e d

i n f o r c i n g t h e i r way o u t , b u t

seem ed t o

th e th ic k

e s c a p e on f o o t .

a s n o one k n e w

F in d in g h im s e lf su rro u n d e d ,

and d e f i e d

aro u n d .

came i n t o L o w e r R a n e h e r i a

t h e i r d e m o r a l i z a t i o n by s a y i n g t h e y

had b e e n c h a s e d by I n d i a n s . 1 Many p o s s e s w e r e s e n t o u t a f t e r t h e none c o u ld c a p tu r e

th em .

b a n d its, b u t

U n d e r-S h e riff E l l i s

C o u n ty an d a p o s s e f o u g h t a d e s p e r a t e b a t t l e and h is

gang ab o u t f o u r m ile s

o f C a la v e ra s w ith M u rie ta

s o u th w e s t of San A n d r e a s ,

i n w h i c h o ne o r tw o c i t i z e n s w e r e k i l l e d ,

and M u rie ta

T h re e -fin g e re d

th e canyons o f

J a c k w ere

th e B e a r M o u n ta in r a n g e .

lB u c k b e e ,

fo rced back

in to

But E l l i s w as n e v e r a b le

" T he L i o n o f S o n o r a . "

to

and

133c a p tu re

o r c o r n e r t h e m . - 1N e a r V o lc an o g re w a l a r g e

oak t r e e

y e a r s w as known a s M u r i e t a ’ s R o o s t. h ig h in

th e t r e e ,

w as a p la tf o r m

p e rfe c tly

in

th e

w i t h w a te r and a p a l l e t a lw a y s

On o n e o c c a s i o n , w h i l e lo fty

n e st,

a posse

th e s h a d e b e lo w t o d i s c u s s w h ile th e b a n d it

c h u ck le d

Joe B ry an ,

a sta g e

Com pany o u t o f S o n o r a , com pany e n t e r e d B ry an t o s s fo r th e

o ff

in to

pursu ed

or needed

he w a s h i d d e n f r o m s i g h t

s e a r c h i n g f o r h im p a u s e d i n f u r t h e r p la n s f o r

h is c a p tu re

to h im s e lf on h i s l o f t y

spoke S p a n is h

flu e n tly ,

and t h a t to h a v e

s e a le d m essag es and p r o v is io n s

of n o t m q le s tin g

th e

s ta g e s he d ro v e.

to know M u r i e t a w e l l an d s a i d

upon th e

ta b le

th a t

he was sp e c ta c u la r

t h a t s e n t th e g a m b le rs s c u r r y i n g .

s a id he re c o g n iz e d M u rie ta in w h ere a g ro u p o f g a m b le rs w e re

iH itte ll,

perch.2

d r i v e r f o r t h e C a l i f o r n i a S ta g e

p r e s e n t i n M o k e lu m n e H i l l w h e n M u r i e t a m ade h i s le a p

fo lia g e ,

in r e a d i­

an a g reem en t w ith M u rie ta

le tte rs,

c o u rte sy

He c l a i m e d

I t w as c la im e d t h a t

h i d d e n by t h e d e n s e

n e s s f o r J o a q u i n w h e n he w a s c l o s e l y a re s t.

t h a t f o r m any

th e

He

c ro w d a r o u n d a t a b l e

t e l l i n g w h a t t h e y w o u l d do

H isto ry of C a lif o r n ia , I I I ,

2 ju d g e S m ith ’ s S c ra p b o o k .

712.

if

J o a q u i n m ade h i s

ap p earan ce.

o f t h e b a n d i t on th e w a l l ,

T h e re was a good p i c t u r e ,

s ta tin g

th a t fiv e

d o l l a r s w o u ld b e g i v e n f o r h i s a r r e s t , no one r e c o g n iz e d h im . s h o o t M u r i e t a dow n i n

One o f t h e h is

tra c k s

dead or a liv e ,

but

g a m b le r s sw o re he w o u ld

if

m om ent J o a q u i n l e a p e d on t h e t a b l e , and s a id :

th o u sa n d

h e m et h im .

At th is

drew h i s d e a d ly g u n ,

” 1 am J o a q u i n , m ak e g o o d y o u r t h r e a t s ! "

I n s t a n t l y , t h e r e w as a s c ra m b lin g and s c u r r y in g t o g e t o u t o f th e

im m e d ia te v i c i n i t y ,

and b e f o r e

th e g a m b le rs c o u ld

r e c o v e r fro m s u r p r i s e , M u r ie ta w en t t h r o u g h d o o rs and w as o ff

th e s w in g in g

i n a c lo u d of y e llo w d u s t t o

th e

s o u th .^

F rank M a rs h a ll of V a l le e i t o r a n a b u tc h e r sh op w ith h i s

f a t h e r B en M a r s h a l l i n M u r p h y s f o r m any y e a r s

a n d he t e l l s

th e f o llo w in g s t o r y

f r ie n d s h ip w ith M u rie ta . sh e riff

w a s d e a l i n g M o n te i n T e n t",

Ben M a r s h a l l b e c a m e t h e s e c o n d

of C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty i n

c o n s t a b l e a t M u rp h y s.

a b o u t B en M a r s h a l l ’ s

1851,

but in

F ran k M a rsh a ll c la im s a sky b lu e

te n t,

on t h e w e s t e n d o f M u rphys i n

1850 h e w as t h a t M u rie ta

known a s

th e

"B lu e

1 8 5 0 . 2 One d a y a

1 B u c k b e e , P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l 1 s Cam p. 6 7 . 2l n t h e sum m er o f 1 9 4 9 M r . A r t h u r S l u m p , who l i v e s a b o u t tw o m i l e s b e l o w M u r p h y s o n M u r p h y s C r e e k , f o u n d a h e a d b o a r d f o r a g r a v e on r u b b i s h b y t h e c r e e k , m a r k e d : "M rs. J o a q u i n M u r i e t a , d i e d i n 1 8 5 2 . R est in Peace".

g roup o f

ro w d y A m e r i c a n m i n e r s d e c i d e d

M e x ic a n ’ s

te n t

h e a rin g th e

and d r i v e h im o u t o f cam p, h u t B en M a r s h a l l ,

n o ise ,

sto p p e d th e

becam e v e ry a n g ry a t th e

a ffa ir.

th em M u r i e t a h a d . a r i g h t t o r u n h i s if

The A m e r i c a n s

c o n s ta b le b e c a u s e he w as d e fe n d ­

i n g t h e M e x ica n a g a i n s t t h e A m e ric a n s ,

and,

to u p s e t th e

b u t M a rsh a ll t o ld

b u s in e s s u n m o le ste d ,

t h e y d i d n ’ t g o o n t h e i r w ay a n d b e h a v e t h e m s e l v e s ,

he w o u ld a r r e s t

th em .

I t w as n o t lo n g a f t e r S o n o ra w h ere he had h i s

t h i s t h a t Jo a q u in w ent to

p ic tu re

M urphys g a v e t h e d a g u e r r o t y p e b e f r i e n d e d h im . lo c a te d

to d a y

U n fo rtu n a te ly

by t h e

ta k e n and on r e t u r n i n g t o

to M a rsh a ll b e c a u se he had th is

g ra n d c h ild re n

I t w as one n i g h t i n

p ic tu re

can n o t be

o f B en M a r s h a l l .

1 8 5 3 a t M o k e lu m n e H i l l ,

M a r s h a l l h a d becom e s h e r i f f a n d M u r i e t a n o t o r i o u s , M a rsh a ll re c o g n iz e d and c a l l e d

to h im t o

M a rsh a ll c a lle d

th e f i g u r e sto p .

of

th e b a n d it

The M e x i c a n d i d

a g a in , g iv in g h is

refu sed ,

h im t o

th a t

in th e d ark n o t answer**

own n a m e .

The M e x i c a n

th e n s to p p e d , drew h i s g u n and a d v a n c e d c a u t i o u s l y t h e s h e r i f f w ho t o l d

a fte r

p u t aw ay h i s g u n .

to w a rd

M u rie ta

sa y in g t h a t w h ile M a rs h a ll had once b e frie n d e d

h im t h e r e m ig h t b e o t h e r s a r o u n d who w o u ld r e c o g n i z e h im . M a r s h a l l t h e n t o l d h im t h a t h e d i d n ’ t b lam e h im f o r f e e l ­ in g a s he d id

t o w a r d a l l A m e r i c a n s a f t e r t h e w ay h e h a d

134 been tre a te d ,

bu t t b a t fo r th e

t h e p e o p l e w e r e d e m a n d in g h i s w o u ld h a v e to l e f t th e

fu lfill

h is

c r i m e s he h a d c o m m i t t e d a rre st,

o a th of o f f i c e

c o u n ty a n d n e v e r r e t u r n e d .

"I resp ect you, S ir;

sa id ,

s h e r i f f he

u n le s s M u rie ta

Jo a q u in r e p lie d ,

y o u h a v e my w o r d .

He b a c k e d away a n d w a s g o n e i n M a rsh a ll

and a s

I 'l l

le a v e

th e d a rk n e s s .

to n ig h t.”

F rank

t h a t t h e r e w e re n o m ore c r im e s t r a c e a b l e

to M u rie ta h im s e lf

c o m m itte d in C a la v e r a s C o u n ty , a l t h o u g h

th e b a n d it v i s i t e d

h is

s e v e ra l tim e s a f t e r

siste r,

th is

who l i v e d

b u t a lw a y s a t n i g h t . 1

T here w ere o t h e r o l d - t i m e r s who c l a i m e d t h e y k n e w , p e r s o n a l l y , U n fo rtu n a te ly c o n tra d ic to ry .

i n M urphys,

in

C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty

Jo a q u in M u rie ta .

th e ir d e s c rip tio n s of th e b a n d it a re q u ite T here l i v e d

i n M u r p h y s f o r many y e a r s ,

F re n ch m a n nam ed L o u is F r u s s h a y . 1850, liv in g th e re

th e r e s t

He cam e t o M u r p h y s i n

of h i s

life .

He c l a i m e d h e

knew M u r i e ta w e ll a n d had a p a r t n e r s h i p w ith D o m in g o C r e e k . som e,

a fan cy

F ru ssh ay

h im o n S a n

c la im e d t h a t M u r ie ta w as h a n d ­

d r e s s e r , b u t s h o r t an d q u ic k a c t i o n e d .2

J o e E n o s , known t o

ev ery o n e a s " P o rtu g u e s e ” J o e ,

^ S to c k to n , R e c o rd . S e p te m b e r 3 , 2 T h is w as t h e M urphys b y F r u s s h a y .

d e s c rip tio n to ld

1932. G ene G a r d e l l a o f

a

cam e t o MurpJays i n 1 8 5 2 .

He c l a i m e d h e k n e w M u r i e t a w e l l ,

. a n d d e s c r i b e d Him a s b e i n g a h a n d s o m e S p a n i a r d , and a fa n c y

d resser,

b u t a b i g man o f a b o u t s i x

l ig h t sk in , fo o t

th re e

i n c h e s . 1 How c a n s u c h s t o r i e s b e r e c o n c i l e d . W h e th e r t h e r e w as o n ly one l a r g e Jo a q u in M u rie ta

or s e v e ra l

no o ne knew f o r s u r e c e rta in in

p o w e rfu l gang u n d e r

gangs under s e v e r a l Jo a q u in s

in 1853, b u t l i f e

h a d becom e s o u n ­

i n t h e m in e s o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty t h a t a d e c r e a s e

t h e p o p u l a t i o n was n o t i c e a b l e .

M arch 1 7 ,

T he C a l a v e r a s C h r o n i c l e ,

1853, s t a te d :

I t i s to b e r e g r e t t e d t h a t so i n s e c u r e i s l i f e now c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s c o u n t y i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e r e c e n t o u t r a g e s , t h a t t h e r e i s an a p p e r c e p t i b l e f a l l i n g o ff in th e p o p u la tio n . T h is i s p a r t i c ­ u l a r l y n o te d a lo n g th e C a la v e ra s R iv e r . Our c i t i z e n s a r e e i t h e r r e t u r n i n g h om e, o r s e e k i n g fo re ig n sh o re s in hope of fin d in g th a t p r o te c tio n th a t cannot be a ffo rd e d h e re . D u r i n g A p r i l a n d M ay, 1 8 5 3 , o v e r f i v e C a r s o n 's H i l l

f o r th e A u s tr a lia n

h u n d red m in e rs l e f t

g o ld f i e l d s ,

fo r fear

o f b e in g ro b b e d o r m u rd ered by M u rie ta * s desperadoes.2 T h is s p r i n g o f 1853 was a b lo o d y one i n C a la v e r a s

1 T h is i s Jo e E nos.

th e s t o r y

to ld

J a c k M o rle y o f M u rphys by

S an J o a q u i n R e p u b l i c a n , M arch 9 , 1 8 5 3 , s t a t e s t h a t t h e r e i s a d e c r e a s e in p o p u la tio n a lo n g th e C a la v e ra s R i v e r due t o f e a r o f t h e r a i d s o f J o a q u i n and h i s b a n d s .

C o u n ty , to w n s

The b e t t e r c i t i z e n s

f o r m e d p o s s e s i n m any o f t h e

in an e f f o r t to c a t c h t h e b a n d i t s ,

su c c e ss fu l. search .

b u t none w ere

A g r o u p cam e up f r o m S t o c k t o n t o

T he n e w s p a p e r s o f t h e

sy m p a th y f o r t h e p e o p le th e m s u c c e s s i n t h e

sta te

in

w ere e x p r e s s i n g

th e th e ir

o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty and w i s h i n g

chase a f t e r

J o a q u i n 's g an g .

t h e m any m u r d e r s a n d c r i m e s w e r e c r e d i t e d Jo a q u in ,

jo in

A ll o f

to M u rie ta ,

or

e v en th o u g h th e y w e re c o m m itte d m ile s a p a r t an d

S im u lta n e o u s ly . T he D a i l y A l t a C a l i f o r n i a . F e b r u a r y

1A , 1 8 5 3 ,

sta te s:

A t B ig B a r on t h e C onsum nes on T u e sd a y a p a r t y o f f i v e M e x ic a n s k i l l e d s i x C h in am en and r o b b e d th e m of s ix th o u sa n d d o l la r s . The M e x i c a n s w e r e s u p p o s e d to b e h e a d e d by J o a q u in . C i t i z e n s o f t h e C onsum nes h a v e o f f e r e d one t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s f o r J o a q u i n d e a d or a li v e . The sa m e p a p e r 1853,

t a k e n fro m t h e

c a rrie d

an a r t i c l e

S a c ra m en to p a p e r s ,

c rim e w ave i n C a la v e ra s C o u n ty .

It

on F e b r u a r y 1 6 , te llin g

o f th e

sta te d :!

On F r i d a y , c i t i z e n s o f J a c k s o n b r o u g h t i n t h e d e a d bo d y o f M r. L a k e , a b u t c h e r of t h a t p l a c e , a n d t h e b o d y o f a C h in am an . On t h e n e x t d a y , S a t u r d a y , t h r e e C h in am en w e re k i l l e d b e tw e e n S u t t e r a n d J a c k s o n , a d is ta n c e of fo u r m ile s . T he d r i v e r o f t h e S t o c k t o n S t a g e a n d tw o p a s s e n g e r s w e r e k i l l e d o n t h e s a m e d a y b y J o a q u i n a n d tw o o t h e r s . On t h e sa m e d a y , t h e

l D a i l y A l t a C a l i f o r n i a , F e b r u a r y 1A, 1 9 5 3 .

sam e p a r t i e s d r o v e f i f t y C h i n e s e f r o m a cam p i n t h e n e ig h b o r h o o d a n d d e s t r o y e d t h e i r cam p. On t h e p re v io u s T h u rsd a y , J o a q u in ro d e th ro u g h th e v i l l a g e of San A n d re a s a t a q u ic k g a l l o p and s h o t t h r e e A m e ric a n s a s he p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s . H is band c o n s i s t e d of a b o u t s i x t y m en. A la r g e p a rty of A m e ric an s s t a r t e d in p u r s u i t and o v e r t o o k th e M e x ic a n s a t C ook’ s G u lc h on S u t t e r C r e e k , b u t a f t e r a b a t t l e t h e M e x ic a n s e s c a p e d . The n e w s p a p e r s f o r t h e w ith

th e se

referen ces

C o u n ty a n d m o s t o f t h e and h i s b a n d .

th e

c rim e w ave i n

in

C a la v e ra s

c rim e s a r e a t t r i b u t e d

to

Jo a q u in

1853,

o f M o k e lu m n e H i l l . l I n t h e m o n th

one h u n d re d h o r s e s w ere s t o l e n an d t h i r t y

p e o p le m u rd ered in C a la v e ra s C o u n ty .2 i n of 1853,

fille d

T w e n ty p e r s o n s w e r e m u r d e r e d w i t h i n a

m o n th i n t h e v i c i n i t y of June,

to

s p r i n g o f 1853 a r e

th e

e a rly

sum m er

s e v e n te e n m u rd e rs w e re c o m m itte d i n s e v e n d ay s

C a la v e ra s

th e c o u n ty

C o u n ty .3 P o s s e s w ere

s e a rc h in g th e h i l l s

f o r t h e b a n d i t s b u t w ere

c a t c h i n g a few M e x ic a n s b e l i e v e d q u ic k ly hanged.

In F eb ru ary ,

w ere s e a r c h in g th e h i l l s

o n ly s u c c e s s f u l i n

g u ilty .

1853,

T hese w ere

o v e r a h u n d r e d men

i n e v e ry d i r e c t i o n aro u n d Ja ck s o n .4

i D a ily A lta C a lif o r n i a t F e b ru a ry 14,

1853.

^ S a c r a m e n t o , U n i o n , May 2 7 , 1 8 5 3 * 3B uckbee, 4p a il y

of

" L io n o f S o n o r a ."

A lta C a lif o r n ia , F eb ru ary 18,

1853.

TJie c o n d i t i o n s

c o u ld n o t b e c o p e d w i t h by t h e l o c a l

o f f i c i a l s and c itiz e n s L e g isla tu re to r a i s e

a n d on May 1 7 ,

th e S ta te

p a s s e d an a c t a u t h o r i z i n g C a p t a i n H a rry L ove

a com pany o f m o u n t e d r a n g e r s ,

tw e n ty m en, t o s e r v e

to r e c e i v e

and a th o u s a n d E a rly

n o t to

th e s t a t e f o r th r e e

p u rp o se o f c a p tu rin g th e b a n d its They w e re

I S 53,

m o n th s f o r t h e

l e d by f i v e

one h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y

d o lla r s rew ard fo r

th e

exceed

Jo a q u in s.

d o lla rs

a m o n th

c a p t u r e *1

i n A u g u s t, 1 8 5 3 , new s r e a c h e d San A n d re a s

t h a t C a p ta in H arry Love and h i s S t a t e R a n g e rs had k i l l e d Jo a q u in M u rie ta and T h re e -f in g e r e d Ja c k a t P anoche P ass in

th e C o a s t R anges in

a b a ttle

head and th e m u tila te d a lc o h o l and e x h i b i t e d

on J u l y 2 5 .

Jo a q u in * s

han d of G a r c ia w ere p r e s e r v e d i n i n many p l a c e s .

T hey w e r e e x h i b i t e d

i n M urp h y s and o t h e r to w n s i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty , fee

of one d o l la r b e in g

ch arg ed .

a d m issio n

T h is f e e was w i l l i n g l y

p a i d by t h e g r a t e f u l c i t i z e n s . 2 D oubt w as so o n e x p r e s s e d , w as t h a t o f M u r ie ta . 1853,

th e

t h a t th e

head

T he S a n F r a n c i s c o , H e r a l d , A u g u s t A,

sta te d :

3-Hit t e l l , in

h o w ev er,

H isto ry

of C a lif o r n ia , I I I ,

723 *

^Taken fro m th e S a n ta C ru z , S e n t i n e l and q u o te d C a l a v e r a s C i t i z e n , O c t o b e r 2 IT, 1 8 8 5 .

The J o a q u i n w h o s e h e a d h a s b e e n t a k e n o f f i s now s a i d t o b e t h a t o f J o a q u i n V a l e n z u e l a , a s t h e r e a r e som e h a l f d o z e n J o a q u i n s t h e r e i s n o c e r t a i n t y t h a t we h a v e t h e r i g h t o n e u n t i l t h e w h o l e g a n g is c a p tu re d . Many o f

th e r e s id e n ts

th e head d e c la re d

it

o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y who s a w

w as n o t t h a t o f M u r i e t a .

t h e s e w a s C h a r l e s G - o t t s c h a l k , who f o r w as S u p e r i o r Ju d g e o f C a la v e r a s

tw e n ty -s e v e n y e a rs

C o u n ty .

T hey s a i d

M u r i e t a ’ s h a i r was a r i c h b ro w n , a n d t h e h a i r s e rv e d h e a d w as a c o a rse b la c k . of th ir ty - f iv e frie n d s

and M u rie ta w as

i n San A n d r e a s ,

escape by

le tte rs

on t h e

p re­

The h e a d w a s f r o m a man o n ly

tw e n ty -f i v e . l J o a q u in ’ s

C a rlo s and J o a q u in N o rie g a ,

t h a t h e h a d m ad e a s u c c e s s f u l e s c a p e a c r o s s S o n o r a , M e x ico .

Among

T hey c l a i m e d t h e y

c o u ld

c la im e d

th e b o rd e r in to

s u b s ta n tia te

h is

r e c e i v e d f r o m h im t h a n k i n g t h e m f o r

h a v in g h id d e n h im i n t h e i r h o u s e . 2 The f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r , p rin te d

d a te d A u g u st 1 8 , 1 8 5 3 , w as

in th e San F ra n c is c o , H e ra ld ; 3

3-In t h e S a n J o a q u i n R e p u b l i c a n , A u g u s t 2 , 1 8 5 3 , i s a n a r t i c l e s t a t i n g t h a t i n t h e a u t h o r ’ s m in d i t w a s J o a q u i n V a l e n z u e l a , n o t C a r r i l l o , who h a d b e e n k i l l e d . T h a t h e w a s w e l l k n ow n i n M a r i p o s a C o u n t y a n d w a s a n o t o r ­ i o u s h o r s e t h i e f a n d c o m p a n io n o f T h r e e - f i n g e r e d J a c k . "He i s t h e S i m o n P u r e J o a q u i n , a n d y o u w i l l s e e h i s h e a d i n t h e c o u r s e o f a w eek i n S t o c k t o n ." ^B uckbee, 3 lb id .

"L io n of S o n o r a . ”

S enor E d ito r s H e ra ld : As my c a p t u r e o r s u p p o s e d c a p t u r e s e e m s t o be t h e t o p i c o f th e d ay , I w i l l , th ro u g h y o u r k i n d n e s s , in fo rm y o u r r e a d e r s o f y o u r v a lu a b le p a p e r, t h a t I s t i l l r e t a i n my h e a d , a l t h o u g h i t i s . p r o c l a i m e d th ro u g h th e p r e s s e s of y o u r c i t y t h a t I w as r e c e n t l y c a p tu re d . Jo a q u in M u rie ta M ost o f t h e c o n v in c e d

o ld -tim e rs

o f C a la v e r a s C o u n ty w e re

t h a t M u r i e t a was n e v e r c a p t u r e d , b u t w a s f o r c e d

o u t of th e

re g io n .1

C a l a v e r a s h a d o t h e r b a d m en t h a t b e c a m e n o t o r i o u s d u rin g

th is

e a rly

p e rio d .

B i l l y M u llig a n w as one o f t h e s e .

He w a s f o r c e d o u t o f S a n F r a n c i s c o b y t h e V i g i l a n c e C o m m itte e i n IB 5 1 , "hounds". th e r i c h

a s h e h a d b e e n a m em ber o f t h e n o t o r i o u s

He cam e t o C o l u m b i a a n d w h i l e

th e re

he h e a r d o f

s t r i k e m ade a t M e lo n e s b y H a n c e , M o rg a n , a n d

a sso c ia te s.

He g a t h e r e d

a g a n g o f r u f f i a n s m ad e u p o f

g a m b le r s an d t o u g h s fro m a ro u n d C o lu m b ia an d s u p p o r t e d F in n e g a n , by f o r c e

a o n e -tim e p a r tn e r i n

th e m in e s,

o f t h e M o r g a n m in e a n d o p e r a t e d i t

n i n e m o n th s b e f o r e M o rgan a n d H ance w e r e o rd er

fo rc in g th e

1B uckbee,

gang o f f

th e

G o ld e n H ig h w a y , 27B.

occupancy

f o r a p e rio d

a b le to

p r o p e r t y . 2 Many o f

"T he L io n of S o n o r a ."

^ G la ssc o c k ,

in h is

of

g et a c o u rt th e

lo c a l

141 m in e rs w ere s y m p a th e tic

to th e

se iz u re because

t h e M organ

Com pany h a d c l a i m e d a g r e a t d e a l m o r e t e r r i t o r y m in e rs f e l t in

th e y w ere e n t i t l e d

th e m in e , M u llig a n r e t u r n e d

w a s s h o t by t h e p o l i c e , tre m e n s . h is

to .

w h ile

th an th e

W i t h t h e w e a l t h h e m ad e

to San F r a n c is c o w here he in a s ta te

of d e liriu m

He w a s s h o o t i n g a t p e o p l e o n t h e

stre e ts

fro m

h o t e l w in d o w . Sam B ro w n w a s o n e o f t h e

s ta te .

c o o le st k i l l e r s

He c l a i m e d s e v e n t e e n n o t c h e s

n o t in c lu d e

th e M e x ic a n s,

c o ld b lu e e y e s and q u a r t e r s w ere

lo n g ,

on t h e

C h ile n o s,

th e

on h i s g u n w h i c h d i d and C h in e s e .

b r i g h t am ber h a i r .

San A n to n e R i d g e .

B ro w n a n d h i s f r i e n d B u n t y Owen k i l l e d a m o n t e gam e a t U p p e r C a l a v e r i t a s .

in

He h a d

H is h e a d ­

In June,

1855,

two C h i l e n o s o v e r

A gang of an g ry

C h i l e n o s c h a s e d th e m fro m t h e p l a c e b u t w h en one o f

th e

C h i l e n o s w a s m o r t a l l y s h o t by t h e

p u rsu it

w as a b a n d o n e d . w as n o t i f i e d h im he

D e p u ty S h e r i f f

o f th e a f f a i r .

th e

Ben T h o rn a t San A n d re a s

T a k in g E dw ard H o p k in s w i t h

t r a v e l e d a l l n i g h t i n p u r s u i t o f B ro w n a n d O w e n s .

He l e a r n e d

t h e y w e r e a t J o h n H i c k ’ s c a b i n o n O’ N e i l ’ s

C reek w ith fo u r

of th e ir

frie n d s.

p l a c e Sam B ro w n a p p e a r e d , r i f l e T ho rn ,

fle e in g p a ir ,

b u t th e

ed th e r i f l e .

d e p u ty

kept

W hen h e a r r i v e d

i n h a n d and a im e d

on a p p r o a c h i n g

B row n a n d Owen w e r e

a t th e it

at

a n d B ro w n l o w e r ­

ta k e n b e fo re a n earb y

ju stic e

of t h e

w anted to him ,

peaee fo r

l y n c h Brown,

Thorn k e p t th e

lodged

them i n

the

h e a rin g and a lth o u g h th e C h ile n o s

an d Brownf s f r i e n d s w a n te d t o r e s c u e

two d e s p e r a d o e s jail

in h is

c o n tr o l and

a t M okelumne H i l l .

Brown w as s e n t t o S a n Q u e n t i n b u t w a s r e l e a s e d w i t h i n a few y e a r s

and r e t u r n e d to C a la v e ra s

T h o r n , who w a s n o w s h e r i f f , f o r him , k ille d

a n d he so o n l e f t

on t h e

fo r V irg in ia C ity ,

He w a s l a t e r

and p r o b a b l y m o s t h i g h l y r o m a n ­

tic iz e d b an d it o p e ra tin g th e

" P O S . 11

was a g e n tle m a n in

in

t h e C a l a v e r a s r e g i o n was

N o t o n l y w a s he a p o e t ,

e v e r y way e x c e p t i n

h e o b t a i n e d h i s money. to b acco ,

to o uncom fortable

C a r s o n R i v e r b y a man n a m e d V a n S i c k l e . 1

The m o s t u n u s u a l

B lack B a rt,

made t h i n g s

C ounty, b u t

He n e v e r

b u t he

th e manner i n w h ic h

sw ore,

drank,

o r used

b u t w as alw ays w e ll d r e s s e d and c o u ld t a l k w i t t i l y

o n m an y s u b j e c t s .

He l i v e d n e a r t h e p o l i c e

sta tio n

in

S a n F r a n c i s c o and many t i m e s a t e w i t h p o l i c e m e n a t a n e a r b y restau ran t.

He s a i d

th e y w ere f i n e

t h o u g h t he was C h a r l e s E . B o l t o n who t o o k p e r i o d i c a l t r i p s w ith

to

fello w s.

H is

frien d s

( B o l e s ) , ' a m i n i n g man

th e m in es.

tw e n ty -e ig h t h o ld u p s, but claim s h is

l o a d e d and t h a t he n e v e r s h o t a man.

^ J a c k so n , Anybody1s C o ld , 130*

He i s

c re d ite d

gun was n e v e r

H i s f i r s t poem was

143 w ritte n

and l e f t

left

1873.

in

a t a holdup i n

1877>

and a s e c o n d poem w as

T h ere w e re n o more v e r s e s b u t e v e r y

w as r e p o r t e d t h a t r a l o n e b a n d i t h a d h e l d up a s t a g e new spapers p rin te d

the

tim e

it

the

fo llo w in g d o g g e re l;1

I ' v e l a b o r e d l o n g and h a r d f o r b r e a d F o r h o n o r and f o r r i c h e s B u t o n my t o e s t o o l o n g y o u ' v e t r e a d you f i n e - h a i r e d sons of b i t c h e s . B l a c k B a r t , t h e P08 I t w as Ben T horn, S h e r i f f b ro u g h t B lack B a r t 's

career

o f C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y , who

to a c l o s e .

h a d h e l d up t h e M i l t o n - S o n o r a s t a g e m iles e a s t d riv er

I t was a f t e r he

a t Funk H i l l ,

o f C o p p e r o p o l i s , o n N o v e m b e r 3* 1 8 8 3 *

of th e

stag e,

R. E . M c C o n n e l l , w a s o r d e r e d

a few The to

" T h r o w down t h e b o x I " b y a man w h o s e f a c e w a s c o n c e a l e d by a f l o u r s a c k s l i p p e d to u n h itch coach.

the

over h is

head.

He w a s t h e n o r d e r e d

team and d r i v e th em to t h e r e a r

I n th e m eantim e th e

of th e stag e

b a n d it had opened th e W ells

Fargo box and taken o u t b u l lio n

and c o in s v a lu e d a t f o u r

thousand

The b u l l i o n

and

fiv e

hundred d o l l a r s .

(two h u n d r e d

t w e n ty - e ig h t o u n c es) was b e in g s h ip p e d fro m t h e

P a t t e r s o n M ine a t Tut t i e t o w n . As M c C o n n e l l d r o v e t h e

horses

iT ackson, Anybody' s G o ld , 3 5 3 .

to

the r e a r

of th e

144 s t a g e he saw Jam es R o l l e r i

a sh o rt d istan ce

rab b its.

R o l l e r i had dism o u n ted a s h o r t

the s ta g e

a n d was a rm e d w i t h a r i f l e .

t h e b o y t o come t o h i m b u t b y t h e b a n d i t was l e a v i n g .

c h ief w ith

the

and C a p ta in S to n e

of th e

sh o ts a t B art

several a rtic le s

of J.

one c o r n e r . B . Hume o f W e l l s ,

sp ecial d e te c tiv e ,

H a rry M orse,

San F r a n c i s c o p o l i c e ,

found a

i n S a n F r a n c i s c o w b ere th e m ark was i d e n t i f i e d a s

b e l o n g i n g t o C. E . B o l t o n . ta lk in g w ith th e

lau n d ry

B o l t o n came i n

W hile th e

ag en t,

i n v e s t i g a t o r s w ere

Thomas W a r e , who k n e w B a r t

a n d w a s a r r e s t e d . ! He w a s b r o u g h t

b a c k t o San A n d r e a s w h e re he c o n f e s s e d took th e crim e.

the

one o f w h ic h was a h a n d k e r ­

the a s s is ta n c e

F a r g o a n d Company a n d h i s

w ell,

several

l a u n d r y m a r k ”F 2 0 7 " i n

S h e r i f f T horn, w i t h

laundry

.M cC onnell m o tio n e d

The r o b b e r l e f t

b eh in d in h i s h u r r ie d f l i g h t ,

tim e b e fo re from

tim e he a r r i v e d

M cC onnell f i r e d

b u t a p p a re n tly m issed .

away h u n t i n g

sh eriff

the ro b b e ry

t o t h e hidden l o o t a t th e

He w a s s e n t e n c e d

to s i x

scene of th e

y e a r s a t S an Q ,u en tin .2

When he cam e o u t h e w a s i n t e r v i e d b y

the

rep o rters

s t a t e d t h a t he w o u l d com m it n o m ore c r i m e s .

Ijack so n ,

and

and

One o f t h e

Bad Company, 1 5 3 .

A. S m i t h , " T h e D a y s o f O l d ” , C a l a v e r a s C a lif o r n ia n , A p ril 6, 1945.

rep o rte rs

a s k e d him i f

w hich he r e p l i e d :

he w o u ld w r i t e any m ore p o e t r y ,

"Young m an,

d id n ’ t I

ju st sta te

to

I w ould

c o m m i t n o m o r e c r i m e . " ! He d i s a p p e a r e d a n d h i s w i f e a n d c h ild r e n back in H an n ib al, M iss o u ri, happened

to him .

There

is

n e v er le a rn e d what

a leg en d t h a t W ells,

Fargo and

Company h a d " p e n s i o n e d " h i m t o p r e v e n t h i m f r o m r o b b i n g any m ore

stag es,

but th ere

J u d g i n g by t h e

is

in te reste d

m aking a l i v i n g d u r i n g t h e m ile

M arch,

robbers

’e ig h ties.

of b e i n g t h e f a v o r i t e r e s o r t B e t w e e n M ay,

on t h i s r o a d .

Funk H i l l ,

sta te

a few

o f C o p p e r o p o l i s , w h e r e B l a c k B a r t made h i s

l a s t h o l d - u p , was t h e February

of

1876, and

1 8 8 5 , t w e n t y - o n e m en h a d b e e n s e n t e n c e d t o

east

The

betw een M ilto n and S onora

in C a lif o r n ia .

p riso n f o r ro b b eries m iles

th ere

i n t h i s m eans o f

’ s e v e n t i e s and

stag e road

e a rn e d the r e p u t a t i o n stag e

to i t . 2

number o f s t a g e h o l d - u p s

w e r e a g o o d m any o t h e r s

th irty -fiv e

no t r u t h

25,

the s ta g e .

1884,

fav o rite

On O c t o b e r 7 ,

2, 1 8 8 5 .3

^Jackson,

At t h i s

p o i n t on

t w o a t t e m p t s w e r e made t o h o l d u p

w as h e l d up a t F u n k H i l l , and F eb ru ary

sp o t.

1884,

th e S o n o ra-M ilto n sta g e

a n d a g a i n on O c t o b e r 2 4 ,

The r e a s o n f o r

Anyb ody* s G o l d ,

th e

1884,

p o p u larity

366.

2I b i d . . 3 6 7 . 3 j # A. S m i t h , M a r c h 1 6 , 19 4 5 *

"Days of O ld ",

C alav eras P r o s p e c t,

of th is

r e g i o n was t h a t i t was a l o n e l y

d r i v e r s w ere fo rc e d to larg e

q u a n titie s

v ia stag e

to the

d riv e

r o a d and t h e

slo w ly on th e h i l l .

A lso,

of b u l l i o n w ere s h ip p e d from th e m ines train

a t M ilto n .

S h e r i f f B e n T h o r n d i d m o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r man t o b rin g to

ju stic e

C ounty.

He w a s a b s o l u t e l y

by h i s

cap tu re

d ep u ty s h e r i f f e lected

th e b a n d its and c rim in a ls

o f Sam B r o w n . by S h e r i f f

co n stab le

of t h e

A n t o n i o Camp, o n e o f co un ty ,

in

m urderers

1855* to

fearless

the

in

1855.

long in b rin g in g

He a r r e s t e d in 1854;

the

several

John P h ip p s fo r m u rd er­ P e d r o y B a r r o , who

m u r d e r e d a man a n d woman a t S a n A n t o n i o ; Jam es D i l l ;

He w a s

more r i o t o u s r e g i o n s o f

in g M orales a t San A ntonio

who k i l l e d

a p p o in ted

tow nship w h ile l i v i n g a t San

He w a s n o t

ju stic e .

a s was d e m o n s tr a te d

He w a s f i r s t

C larke

of C alav eras

Howard M a u p in ,

t h e m u r d e r e r o f Thomas W h i t c o m b ;

a n d f o u r M e x i c a n s w h o m u r d e r e d a G e r m a n on I n d i a n C r e e k . I t was s o o n a f t e r He c a p t u r e d

t h i s t h a t h e a r r e s t e d B r o w n a n d Owen.

th e m u rd ere rs o f E lkannah S a id ,

o f t h e P e t t i c o a t M ine a t R a i l r o a d E l a t ,

su p erin te n d en t

and he ended

B l a c k B a r t * s c a r e e r o f c r i m e . 1 He w a s e l e c t e d S h e r i f f

l j . A. S m i t h , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C i t i z e n s o f N o r t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a ” , C a la v e r a s W eekly. O c to b e r 2, 1942.

o f C a l a v e r a s C ounty i n 186 7 and s e r v e d I t was th r o u g h e f f o r t s

to

from th e

co unty

c rim in a ls

t h e g o l d m in e s t o make e a s y m o n e y .

A n o t h e r m an t h a t h is

term s.

o f s u c h b r a v e men t h a t t h e

w a s m ad e s a f e f o r p e r s o n a n d p r o p e r t y w ho f l o c k e d

for ten

s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d , who s e r v e d

c o u n t y m any y e a r s i n a n e f f o r t t o b r i n g p e a c e a n d

safety

to. i t s

c itiz e n s,

is

S u p e r i o r J u d g e C, VY G o t t s c h a l k .

He s e r v e d a s d e p u t y s h e r i f f , ro ad com m issioner, e le cted

judge in

dep u ty c l e r k

and a s s e s s o r ,

and d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y b e fo r e b e in g

1879.

He h e l d t h i s

o ffice

for

tw enty-

seven y e a r s ,1

^B io g r a p h ic a l H i s t o r y of t h e C o u n tie s o f C e n tr a l C a l i f o r n i a , 300.

CHAPTER VI MINERS AND MININGThe f i r s t m i n e r s t o little

d iffic u lty

sim p le.

and

in stream beds.

to f in d

t h e i r m ethods w ere

eq u ip m en t,

in

18 4 8 , w a s t h e

inches to p ,

the

In th e

and even th e

so t h a t th e m in e r* s demands c o u ld be m et,

I t was sta m p e d o u t o f a s i n g l e w ith

pan.

When c o n d i t i o n s

t h e m i n e r * s p a n cam e t o a s s u m e d e f i n i t e

iro n ,

th e

any k i n d o f a p a n or bowl was u s e d .

I n d i a n b a s k e t was p r e s s e d i n t o s e r v i c e . became a d j u s t e d

in

The f i r s t m e c h a n i c a l m e t h o d u s e d b y

The M e x i c a n s u s e d w o o d e n b o w l s o r b a t e a s ,

shape.

I 848 h ad

o r p r i e d w ith k n iv e s from c r e v ic e s

t h e men a t S u t t e r * s M i l l , rush

gold,

in

I n som e c a s e s g o l d c o u l d b e p i c k e d u p i n f a i r l y

go o d -sized fla k e s rocks

fin d in g

th e gold f i e l d s

sid e

flarin g .

in diam eter a t

p r o p o r tio n s and p iece of sh eet

I t was u s u a l l y a b o u t t e n

the b o tto m and s i x t e e n i n c h e s a t t h e

and a h eav y i r o n w ire rim s t r e n g h t e n e d

the to p o f t h e

pan. A fter p u ttin g

the g ra v e l

to

be washed i n

th e pan,

N

the m in er th en f i l l e d

th e pan w ith w a te r

and w ith a c i r ­

c u l a r m o tio n c a r e f u l l y washed th e

silt

ro c k s and gold sa n k to

of th e pan.

p e b b le s w ere

the b o tto m

c a re fu lly d iscard ed

away.

and f i n a l l y

The h e a v i e r The l a r g e r th e g o ld d u st

was l e f t

in

th e bottom o f th e pan,

A v a ria tio n

o f t h i s was

Md r y w a s h i n g , " u s e d w h e r e

t h e p a y d i r t was n o t n e a r a s t r e a m . in to

a larg e

canvass

or p iece

t h e l a r g e r p e b b l e s came t o

the

c a r e f u l l y b r u s h e d away, and in to

the a i r

so t h a t

of

The d’i r t w a s s h o v e l e d

c lo th and th en sh ak en u n t i l

surface.

These w ere th e n

th e l i g h t e r m a t e r i a l was th r o w n

t h e w ind c o u ld c a r r y

it

away.

t h e r e was n o t

s u f f i c i e n t w ind,

u n til

l i g h t e r m a t e r i a l was s e p a r a t e d f r o m

a ll

the

If

th e m in e r w ould b lo w a t

it

the

h e a v ie r gold . By t h e

latter

p art

o f 1849 a n d e a r l y p a r t

m i n i n g m e th o d s w e r e b e c o m in g m ore e l a b o r a t e . o f men w e r e b e i n g f o r m e d w h o , w o r k i n g a g r e a t d e a l m ore dams t o g e t a t t h e c o lle c te d . esp ecially

than

the

bed of

the

Com panies

to g eth er,

in d iv id u a l m in er. r i v e r s w here

of 1850,

c o u l d do

They b u i l t

th e g o ld had

W ingdam s— d i v i d i n g t h e r i v e r l e n g t h w i s e — w e r e common.

Pumps, w i t h w a t e r w h e e ls to work

them , w e re c o n s t r u c t e d ,

a n d t h e r o c k e r was i m p o r t e d f r o m

th e p l a c e r m in es of G -e o rg ia .l T h is r o c k e r h ad a p e r f o r ­ a te d i r o n top at

th e b o tto m .

o p e ratio n .

and t h r e e

or four r i f f l e s

f i l l e d w ith m ercury

The name r o c k e r c a m e f r o m t h e

The l o n g w o o d e n

m ethod of

t r o u g h was on r o c k e r s ,

3-W. fi. M o r r e ll, The Gold R u s h e s, 9 8 .

lik e

a

150

baby c r a d le ,

a n d o n e m an c o n s t a n t l y

fo rth

as th e w ater ran th ro u g h i t .

free,

it

was c a u g h t b e h i n d

m e r c u r y was t h e n s q u e e z e d reto rted . m ercury,

ro ck ed i t back and As t h e

the r i f f l e s

in

gold was w ashed the m ercu ry .

The

t h r o u g h b u c k s k i n a n d t h e am algam

T h is m ethod was a l s o

s u c c e s s fu l w ith o u t the

a lth o u g h n o t so h ig h a p r o p o r tio n

of

g o l d was

recovered. A "p u d d lin box” about s ix f e e t useful for

d e a l in g w ith tough c la y w h e re w a te r was s c a n ty .

The d i r t w a s s t i r r e d th e slim e

s q u a r e was fo u n d

f o r some t i m e i n

th en run o ff a t i n t e r v a l s

the

same w a t e r a n d

th ro u g h a plug ged h o le

a few i n c h e s fro m the b o tto m . W h e r e w a t e r was p l e n t i f u l , th e lo n g -to rn ,

also

u s e d i n G -eorgia.

wooden t r o u g h fro m t e n o r tw e lv e fifte e n

to

th e low er

t h e r o c k e r g a v e way t o I t was a n i n c l i n e d

to

th irty

e i g h t e e n i n c h e s w ide and e i g h t end w e re p e r f o r a t e d

sh eets

b o tto m an d u n d e r them a s h a l l o w , f e e t lo n g ,

w ith r i f f l e s

sh o v elled in a t ru n through

the

the box.

to

upper end,

inches

in len g th , deep.

of iro n s e t in to

flat

c a tc h the

feet

At the

box f o u r o r f i v e g old.

The d i r t w a s

a n d w a t e r was c o n t i n u a l l y

L o w e r down t h e d i r t w a s s t i r r e d

and

th e l a r g e r r o c k s rem oved. The h o n o r o f d e v e l o p i n g t h e by a p a r t y o f m i n e r s a t N evada C i t y

s l u i c e b o x was c la im e d in

the

e arly p a rt

of

1 8 5 0 It

was p r o b a b l y tiie

n a tu ra l

lo n g -to rn a n d was s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w h e r e w a t e r was p l e n t i f u l . bed of

th eir

lo ng-torn.

1851 t h e

slu ice

d isso lv in g

the

by r i f f l e s

in

one

T h i s was t h e b e g i n n i n g ,

no m ore e f f i c i e n t how ever,

a great

of the w ork.

than t h e

and

th e b o tto m . M e rc u ry was

slu ice

lo n g -to rn o r r o c k e r .

box w as

I t w as,

th e w a te r d i d m ost

th e n t h e w a t e r was t u r n e d o f f an d T h is became a f a v o r i t e

Som etim es s e v e r a l th o u s a n d d o l l a r s

w ould be a c c u m u la te d i n to

a to rren t,

The s l u i c e m i g h t b e r u n f o r s e v e r a l d a y s b e ­

g o ld dust rec o v ere d .

Sunday.

as th e

l a b o r - s a v i n g m ethod, a s

fo re b ein g clean ed , th e

at

the e n d .

many t i m e s u s e d b e h i n d t h e r i f f l e s ,

The f a l l

gold along u n t i l c a u g h t

h o rizo n tal sectio n

S om etim es a lo n g -to rn w as a d d e d a t

b u t by

le n g th s of

th ro u g h l ik e

and w a s h in g t h e

a n early

to

thousand f e e t in le n g th .

the w a t e r w ould r u s h clay

m ad e a

l e a d i n g down f r o m t h e i r

box was b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d

fro m one h u n d re d t o th at

fin d in g th a t the

them enough f a l l ,

t r o u g h on th e h i l l s i d e

claim to

was s u c h

d e v e l o p e d i n many p l a c e s

These m in e r s ,

the ra v in e d id n o t give

long board

d e v e lo p m e n t fro m tile

the

riffle s,

in g o ld d u st

and i t was n e c e s s a r y

guard th e s l u i c e box to p re v e n t ro b b e ry .

caught robbing a s lu ic e

task fo r

M y th ie f

b o x was d e a l t w i t h h a r s h l y a n d

lMorrell, G-old Rushes, 99.

m ight be hanged to

the n e a r e s t

tree.

H y d r a u l i c m i n i n g was t h e n e x t d e v e l o p m e n t f r o m slu icin g .

It

has been d efin ed as th e

g o ld from g o ld - b e a r in g d e t r i t u s , o f g r a v e l and o th e r m a t e r i a l, pressure

d isch arg ed

by m eans

surface d ep o sits

of w a te r u n d e r g r e a t

o u t t h i s m ethod of m in in g ,

c o n d i t i o n s w ere n e c e s s a r y :

th at

th at is ,

thro u g h p ip e s a g a in s t a u r if e r o u s

m a t e r i a l . 1 To c a r r y

or g rav el,

act of e x tractin g

p len ty

bed-rock w ith in reach ,

the d e b r i s

loose

earth

h ig h la n d s nearby

th e w a t e r w ould have a g r e a t

ch an n el th ro u g h w hich

of w ater,

several

deal

of f o r c e ,

so

and a

from th e w a sh in g s m ight

be d isc h a rg e d . There

is

co n sid era b le d iffe re n c e

of

o p in io n

as to

w here h y d r a u l i c m in in g w as f i r s t u s e d , 2 b u t Nevada C ity claim s

the

honor.

M athew son f i r s t

I t was h e r e ,

used w a te r to

H is m ethods w ere but tw en ty -fiv e

in

p o w e r wa s l i m i t e d .

inch es

of w a ter,

through a canvas hose

and n o z z le

fo rty

The m i n e r s f o u n d

to s i x t y

fee t.

n o z z le s and p i p e s

the p re s s u re

t h a t Edward

w e a r away g r a v e l b a n k s . 3

crude, an d h is to f i f t y

1852,

a fte r

He h a d

w h i c h was p l a y e d

a fa ll t h a t by

of from using m etal

of w a te r c o u ld be in c re a s e d %

^Coy,

G o l d D a y s , 133*

^Mason i n h i s H i s t o r y o f Amador C o u n ty s a y s h y d r a u l i c m i n i n g w as f i r s t u s e d a t Mokelumne H i l l i n 1 8 5 2 , 2 0 8 . 3coy,

o jd .

c i t . ,

134.

so t h a t a s m a ll h e a d o f w a t e r c o u ld w ash m ore e a r t h i n t o the s l u ic e r It

t h a n c o u l d h e s h o v e l l e d i n b y a h u n d r e d men.

c o u ld n o t be u s e d e v e ry w h e re , b u t w h e re i t was

ap p lica b le,

w h o l e a r e a s o f g r o u n d t o a d e p t h o f two

h u n d red f e e t c o u ld be w ashed th ro u g h th e

slu ices fo r a

sm all co st*

t h i s m eth o d was

th a t i t

The s e r i o u s d i s a d v a n t a g e

n o t o n ly w ashed w hole h i l l s

away b u t f i l l e d

the v a lle y s and stre am s w ith b o u ld e rs , Several lic

d itc h e s w ere c o n s tr u c te d

to

g rav el,

a n d mud.

The s u s p e n s i o n f l u m e a t

the purpose of c a rry in g w ater

t h e C e n t r a l H i l l M i n e f o r h y d r a u l i c mining.**-

m ines a t R a i l r o a d F l a t u se d t h r e e hundred s l u i c e boxes ru n n in g in t h e r e w ere s e v e n te e n d i t c h e s lo n g ,

co n stru cted fo r

m in es.^

It

up

to c a r r y w a te r f o r h y d rau ­

m i n i n g n e a r M okelumne H i l l .

M urphys w as c o n s t r u c t e d f o r

to

The C l a r k

stre a m s and had th re e

the

’s ix tie s .2

By 1 8 5 4

i n C a la v e ra s C ounty,

325 m i l e s

th e purpose of c a r r y in g w a ter to the

h a s b e e n e s t i m a t e d t h a t when h y d r a u l i c m in i n g

was a t l a s t p r o h i b i t e d by law i n c e r t a i n

***See a b o v e , p .

p o rtio n s

of

31

^A ccording to th e C a la v e ra s C h r o n i c l e , A ugust 28, 1 8 6 9 j one h u ndred and n in e ounces of g o ld w ere ta k e n from one s l u i c e box i n a w eek i n R a i l r o a d F l a t i n A u g u s t, 1 8 6 9 . M u l t i p l y t h i s by 3 0 0 , t h e num ber o f s l u i c e b o x e s o p e r a t i n g , and a g e n e ra l e s tim a te of p ro d u c tio n w i l l be o b ta in e d . ^ B an cro ft,

C a l i f o r n i a H i s t o r y , V I,

375.

C a lifo rn ia

(1892),

o v e r $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 was i n v e s t e d i n

b ran c h of m in in g a lo n e , to

ten m illio n

and the

a n n u a l y i e l d was fro m e i g h t

d o lla rs.^

Q u a rtz m in in g began i n

the e a rly

n o t t o o s u c c e s s f u l f o r so m e t i m e * first

th at

It

is

’f i f t i e s

b u t was

claim ed t h a t

the

q u a r t z v e i n was d i s c o v e r e d on t h e F re m o n t G r a n t i n

M a r ip o s a C ounty i n 18 4 9 * 2

I n C a l a v e r a s C ounty t h e M organ

M ine w as d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e

fa ll

by W illia m H anee,

o f 1850 on t h e M o th e r Lode

and i n F e b r u a r y ,

1851,

a B a p tist preacher

nam ed D a v i d s o n d i s c o v e r e d q u a r t z g o l d on t h e s o u t h s i d e Amador G r e e k . ^

I t w a s h e r e a t A m a d or C i t y t h a t

stam p m i l l was b u i l t

in 1851.

of

the f i r s t

The S p r i n g H i l l C o m p an y ,

was o r g a n i z e d and an o l d s te a m e n g in e b r o u g h t i n fro m S acram ento to ru n th e n o t too

su c ce ssfu l.

C r e e k was a l s o

stam p m i l l . A m ill

sta rte d

T his m i l l ,

on t h e n o r t h s i d e

i n S eptem ber,

o f t h e o r i g i n a l Am a do r M i n e .

1851,

h o w e v er, was o f Amador

on t h e c l a i m s

The m a c h i n e r y w a s b e t t e r

in

t h i s m i l l and t h e r e s u l t s w e re m ore s u c c e s s f u l . ^ Q u artz g o ld ,

it

is

c la im e d , was d i s c o v e r e d a t

A n g e l s Camp b y B e n n a g e r R a s p b e r r y i n 1854> b u t t h e W i n t e r

lE ld red g e S k in n er, 2C oy,

H isto ry

C old D a y s, 1 3 7 .

^See above,

p.

69*

^M ason, Amador C o u n t y , 1 4 5 .

o f C a l i f o r n i a , Y,

213.

B ro th e rs w ere f i r s t

to d em o n strate s u c c e s s f u l q u a rtz

m in in g i n A ngels a t

th e M a r s h a ll M ine.'

M exican a r r a s t r a s

They u s e d t h e

o p e r a t e d by h o r s e p o w e r f o r

q u a r t z m in in g h u t w ere th e f i r s t

th e e a rly

t o p u t up a stam p m i l l

in A n g els.^ The c o n f u s i o n a t C a r s o n H i l l o v e r t h e s i z e claim s t h a t r e s u l t e d illu stra te d

in

the

ju m p in g o f t h e M organ M ine

th e n eed f o r d i f f e r e n t m in in g law s to r e g u l a t e

q u a rtz m in in g from th o se used in p l a c e r m in in g . June,

1851,

m in in g . of

In

a m in in g c o n v e n tio n was h e l d a t R a n c h e r ia i n

th e n o r th e r n p a r t of th e county f o r reg u latio n s

of q u a rtz

to

ensure

th e p u rp o s e o f m aking

th e peace and s e c u r i t y

of qu artz

T h is c o n v e n tio n form ed a d i s t r i c t i n

th at p art

t h e c o u n t y n o r t h o f t h e M okelumne R i v e r t o w h i c h a l l

th e r u l e s

ad o p ted a t

m in in g d i s t r i c t law s b e h in d the f i r s t

In

r e g u la tio n s had th e f o r c e

them .

federal

m ining d i s t r i c t th is

th e m e e tin g w ould a p p ly . of

These l o c a l th e s t a t e

L a t e r on , when C o n g r e s s i n 1866 p a s s e d law s d e a l i n g w i th m in in g ,

law s w ere th e

b asis fo r

co n v en tio n a t R an ch eria,

c l a i m on a q u a r t z v e i n w as l i m i t e d

to

th e lo c a l

them . th e s iz e

two h u n d r e d a n d f o r t y

f e e t on t h e l e n g t h o f t h e v e i n , w i t h o u t r e g a r d w idth,

to

t h e d i s c o v e r e r o r company,

of a

to th e

and one h u n d red and

iBuckbee, Pioneer Lays of Angels Camp, 8.

tw e n ty f e e t i n a d d i t i o n t h e r e t o f o r e a c h member o f t h e Company In the

f i r s t rush

t o o p e n q u a r t z m i n e s , many w e r e

d e v e lo p e d w hich u n d er c o n d it i o n s p r e v a i l i n g a t co u ld n o t p o s s ib ly census f o r 1852, in

b e made t o p a y .

q u artz m ills

only f o r t y

or f i f ty

recovery.

in C a lifo rn ia , in

b u t by 1861 t h e r e w ere o su c c e ssfu l o p eratio n .

in ex p erien ce,

th is

h ig h r a t e

The M e x i c a n s u s e d t h e a r r a s t r a

T he f i r s t

of m o rta lity

b u t i n e f f i c i e n t m ethods o f

b u t i t was n o t c a p a b le o f d e v e lo p m e n t, m ills.

su c ce ssfu lly ,

a s w ere

in

o u tp u t.

l a t e r made e n t i r e l y

b u t w ere

of iro n .

q u a r t z was c r u s h e d ,

upon a n .lin c lin e d r i f f l e - b o a r d

six

stam p

T he s t a m p s w e r e

a t f i r s t made o f wood a n d s h o d w i t h c a s t - i r o n ,

A f te r the

th e

stam p m i l l s w e re c ru d e and slo w b u t a n

im provem ent o v e r th e a r r a s t r a

an am alg am ato r,

th e S ta te

By I 8 5 8 t h e r e w e r e t w o h u n d r e d a n d

The c h i e f r e a s o n f o r was n o t o n ly

A ccording to

tim e

$ 4 7 2 ,0 5 5 .0 0 was i n v e s t e d i n q u a r t z m in in g

C a la v e ra s C ounty.

e ig h ty

th at

th e s lim e was w ashed

and th en c e conveyed in to

a m oving wooden b o x ,

in ch e s deep c o n ta in in g m ercury.

six

f e e t square

and

The m e r c u r y c o l l e c t e d

t h e g o l d by f o r m i n g a n am algam a n d t h e g o l d w as l a t e r

^■Mason, A m a d o r C o u n t y , 1 4 5 . 2C a l i f o r n i a M ines and M i n e r a l s , 8

rem oved. A nother re a s o n f o r th e e a r ly q u a r t z m in in g v e n t u r e s was t h e c o s t . even w ith s h a f ts and tu n n e ls , c a p ita l.

failu re

o f s o many

P la c e r m in in g ,

n e v e r r e q u i r e d a s m u ch

To f o l l o w a v e i n o f q u a r t z f r o m t h e s u r f a c e

g r e a t d ep th s r e q u ir e s m ach in ery .

sc ie n tific

to

t r a i n i n g and e x p en siv e

S h a fts m ust he sunk,

tu n n els run,

and h o i s t i n g

m ach in ery and d r a in a g e p ro v id e d . D espite

th ese

b e in g im proved. such as

th e

the gold,

By 1 8 6 3 C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y h a d t h i r t y t w e l v e o f w h i c h w e r e a t A n g e l s Camp.

I t had been d isc o v e re d t h a t t h e na m e g i v e n t o along th e fla n k

t h e M o th e r L o d e , w h ic h was

th e s e r ie s

of q u a rtz v ein s

ex ten d in g

o f t h e S i e r r a N evada fro m Georgetown*

to C o u l te r v i ll e , ran sq u a rely o f A n g e l s Camp a n d d i r e c t l y

m ile s,

se p aratin g

c h l o r i n a t i o n and f l o t a t i o n p r o c e s s e s , w ere

q u artz m ills ,

R arely i s

q u a r t z m i n i n g was s l o w l y

O th e r m ethods o f

b ein g d ev elo p ed . three

o b stacles

any lo d e

through th e w estern sid e

th ro u g h C a la v e r a s C ounty.

t r a c e a b l e f o r m ore t h a n a few

b u t t h e M o th e r Lode e x te n d s a d i s t a n c e

of seventy

*1, M e r c u r y was s i x d o l l a r s a p o und i n I 8 4 8 , b u t t h e r i c h C in n a b a r m ines i n C a l i f o r n i a w ere so o n p r o d u c in g , and th e p r ic e dropped to f i f t y c e n ts a pound i n 183$.

m ile s.^

It

a fo o t to degrees

is

a h ard , w h ite

th irty

feet,

eastw ard.

th r e e m ile s w ide. lo d es,

from i t s at

The m i n e r a l i z e d b e l t a t A n g e l s i s The l o d e p r o p e r d i v i d e s

and i s

norm al c o u rs e .

th e O neida,

at

th is p o in t.

so m etim es t h r e e

in to It

th ree

is

n o t alw ays

o r fo u r m iles

N ear S u t t e r Creek i t

t h e H ayw ard,

was s t r u c k

and th e K eystone m ines and i s

trac ea b le

through C a la v era s,

C ounty to

th e P ine

T uolum ne, a n d i n t o M a r i p o s a 2 T ree M ine n e a r M a r i p o s a .

The g r e a t p e r i o d C o u n t y c am e a f t e r

v a r i e s i n w id th from

and h as a d ip of a b o u t f o r t y - f i v e

or groups of v e in s ,

in a s tra ig h t lin e

q u artz,

of q u a r tz m in in g i n C a la v e ra s

t h e p l a c e r m in e s w ere b e i n g w orked o u t ,

b u t t h e p eak of p r o d u c t i o n was n o t r e a c h e d u n t i l a ro u n d th e

tu r n of

the h is to ry C ounty; but it

the

cen tu ry .

of a l l

th e

I t w o u ld be d i f f i c u l t

p o ssib le

to

discu ss

m ore i m p o r t a n t p r o d u c e r s . group a t C arson H i l l ,

trace

q u a rtz g o ld m ines i n C a la v e ra s

i t w ould be d i f f i c u l t is

to

t o e v e n na m e a l l

o f them ,

the g e n e r a l h i s t o r y

The c h i e f

of

the

q u a r t z m ines w ere th e

t h e A n g e l s Camp m i n e s ,

t h e G w in M i n e ,

^The name, M o th er L o d e, i s u s u a l l y r e s t r i c t e d t o a s e r i e s o f g o l d q u a r t z v e i n s l y i n g s o u t h o f t h e Cosumnes R i v e r , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m P l y m o u t h , Amador C o u n t y , i n a s o u t h ­ e a s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n i n t o M a r i p o s a C o u n ty n e a r t h e tow n o f C o u lte rv ille. Coy, G o ld D a y s , 1 0 7 . ^ H itte ll,

H isto ry

of C a lifo rn ia , I I I ,

111.

t h e E a s t B e l t o f t h e Mode L o d e m i n e s a t W e s t P o i n t , E l D orado,

and SheepRanch,

and th e R oyal C o n so lid a te d

a t Hodson. B eg in n in g a t

th e S o u th e rn end of

th e M other Lode c r o s s e s t h e S t a n i s l a u s ,

th e c o u n ty w here th e C arson H i l l

o r M organ M ine w as one o f t h e r i c h e s t e v e r d i s c o v e r e d i n the

cou nty o r th e

Lode was f i r s t

sta te

found.

and was t h e p l a c e w h e re t h e M o th e r The m i n e s o n C a r s o n H i l l a r e

ed w ith p ro d u c in g a b o u n t # 2 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 d iscovered p artn ers,

one named M organ;

I t was

a t t r a c t e d th o u san d s th e l a r g e s t

U n ited S ta te s a t # 4 3 ,5 3 4 , though r i c h ,

h e n c e t h e name M organ M in e .

on t h e n o rth w e s t s i d e

only f i v e hu n d red and f i f t y

before,

go ld .'* ’

i n 1 8 5 0 b y W i l l i a m H a n c e , who w a s j o i n e d b y s i x

The c l a i m l a y

it

in

c re d it­

to

piece

o f C a r s o n H i l l a n d was

f e e t long,

t h e cam p.

b u t was so r i c h

As h a s b e e n s t a t e d

of q u a r tz e v e r r e p o r t e d

cam e f r o m t h i s m i n e i n 1 8 5 4 .

in the

I t was v a l u e d

and was a p a r t of a #300 ,0 0 0 p o c k e t . 2 was n o t r i c h

th at

The o r e ,

enough t o be w orked i n hand

m o r t a r s and so was c r u s h e d i n

a r r a s t r a s r u n by M e x i c a n s .

1 0 1 a f P . J e n k i n s , The M o t h e r L o d e C o u n t r y , 5 5 . 2 These f i g u r e s a r e u s u a l l y g iv e n f o r th e C a la v e ra s N ugget. H ow ever, a c c o r d i n g t o C h a rle y P e t e r s , a n o ld m in e r who p u b l i s h e d h i s A u t o b i o g r a p h y i n 1 9 1 5 , t h e n u g g e t w e i g h e d 2 1 4 l b s . , 8 o z s • , T r o y , a n d w h e n f i n a l l y a s s a y e d i n New O r l e a n s i t was v a l u e d a t # 3 3 ,9 1 6 . A t #17. an ounce th e w e i g h t w o u ld b e 190 l b s . , 12 o z s .

B etw een F e b r u a r y , # 2 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 , A d isp u te

18$0,

and D ecem ber,

b esid es la rg e

arose

1851,

t h e m ine y i e l d e d

sums h i g h - g r a d e d by M e x i c a n s . 1

o v e r o w n e r s h ip o f t h e m ine i n 1851 b e tw e e n

t h e H a n c e -M o rg a n g r o u p a n d l a m e s F i n n e g a n who c l a i m e d t o b e a p artn er

of H ance.

F i n n e g a n e m p l o y e d som e t o u g h s ,

i n g B i l l y M u llig a n o f C olum bia, and o p e r a t e

it

occupy

f o r n i n e m onths i n 1 8 5 2 .

h i s company r e c o v e r e d th ey

to

c l o s e d t h e mine

t h e m ine i n 1 8 5 3 , alth o u g h i t

# 3 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 in gold in

th is p erio d

is

in clu d ­

t h e m in e by f o r c e When M o r g a n a n d

th ro u g h c o u r t a c t io n ,

reputed

to have produced

and i t w as n o t o p e ra te d

a g a in u n t i l 1 86 7 .^ H ow ever, C a rs o n H i l l was c o v e r e d w i t h m in in g lo ca tio n s.

T here w ere su c h i m p o r t a n t m in es a s t h e

L a s t C hance, M elones, K eystone,

M elones,

E n t e r p r i s e , M in e ra l M o u n tain ,

South C a ro lin a ,

m o st fam ous o f t h e s e and M organ.

C alav eras,

and S t a n i s l a u s .

C a rso n H i l l m ines w ere t h e

The

C alav eras,

These m in es a re a l l w i t h i n a d i s t a n c e

of

a b o u t one m i l e

of

the S t a n i s l a u s R iv e r t o a l i t t l e

C arson H i l l . ^

R eserve,

and e x t e n d from n e a r t h e n o r t h b r a n c h beyond th e

sum m it o f

The S t a n i s l a u s a n d t h e M o r g a n c l a i m s w e r e

1 J a c k s o n , A n y b o d y 1s G o l d . 335 2 See a b o v e ,

43*

^ C a l i f o r n i a M ines and M i n e r a l s , 3 40.

161 the r i c h e s t .

The. M o r g a n c l a i m w a s o b t a i n e d b y J a m e s G. F a i r

an d was r e t a i n e d by h i s and w orked b eg in n in g

h e irs u n til

1918.

the p r o p e r t y f o r a p e r i o d , for

F a ir sank a s h a f t

an d r e t u r n s form ed a

th e g r e a t f o r t u n e he a c q u i r e d a t V i r g i n i a

C ity . A fte r th e r i c h ore near tbe

s u r f a c e was w orked and

more e x p e n s i v e m a c h i n e r y w as r e q u i r e d h ill,

o p eratio n s p r a c tic a lly

to go d e e p e r i n t o

ceased u n t i l

the

about 1898,

a lth o u g h h i g h g r a d e r s a n d l e a s e r s w o rk e d t h e m in es w ith good re su lts. M i n i n g o n a l a r g e s c a l e w a s b e g u n i n 1 8 9 8 by t h e M e l o n e s M i n i n g C o m p an y , h e a d e d b y M r . W. B . D e v e r e a u x o f New Y o r k .

T h is company b u i l t a one h u n d r e d - s t a m p m i l l

an d a c y a n i d e p l a n t w i t h w h ic h t o work t h e lo w g r a d e o f tw o a n d

th ree

d o lla rs

a ton in g o ld n e a r

s o u t h o f t h e M organ c l a i m .

ore b o d ies;

also ,

th e

to th e r e g i o n below

3 0 0 0 - f o o t M elones s h a f t .

The o p e r a t i o n s w e r e e f f i c i e n t

and d e s p i t e

of th e

cost le f t

ore,

th e low s e r v i c i n g

B etw een 1 9 0 8 -1 0 the

th is

t h e low q u a l i t y

a neat p ro fit.

c o s t was o n l y $ 1 .0 8 p e r t o n .

c o s t o f m in in g and m il l in g in c r e a s e d a s

a r e a s w ere e x h a u s t e d , reached $ 1 .6 0 . t h e m ine

But d u rin g

ton had

c o st was ev en tu ally the p e r io d

of

How ever,

the s u rfa c e

a n d by 1 9 1 4 t h e c o s t p e r

T his i n c r e a s e d

in 1918.

the s u r f a c e

T h is company d ro v e t h e 4 5 0 0 - f o o t

tu n n e l from M elones th ro u g h th e h i l l the la rg e

ore

to

clo se

o p eratio n th e

m ine had p r o d u c e d a b o u t # 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 a tu n n el,

d u ring

th is p erio d ,

c o u n te re d w hich y ie ld e d

a

in gold.

r i c h p o c k e t of

# 2 5 ,0 0 0

In co rp o rated , ore

o re was e n ­

o v e rn ig h t,1

A l l t h e o l d m i n e s on t h e h i l l , M elones, w ere c o n s o lid a te d

W hile r u n n i n g

under

in c lu d in g the

th e C arson H i l l

i n 1 9 2 0 , w i t h W. J .

L o rin g as m anager.

tak en o u t a v erag e d .tw e lv e d o lla r s and s ix ty

although a r i c h

a t o n a n d m uch o f i t a to n .

th ree

bu t in creased

company t o h a l t

c e n ts a to n

thousand

cost

at th e

o p e ratio n s

g o o d o r e -was a v a i l a b l e

The l e v e l

company t o o k

4550 f o o t l e v e l

caused

d esp ite

fo o t of

in

th e

the f a c t t h a t

th e s h a f t s .

p e r i o d o f o p e r a t i o n had p ro d u c e d a n o th e r The m i n e w a s r e - o p e n e d

o f t h e m ine

f e e t when t h i s

in 1926,

a t th e

showed

The c o m p a n y f o l l o w e d t h i s

t h e 4550 f o o t l e v e l .

h a d b e e n down t o over,

d o lla rs

tw en ty d o l l a r s

s h o o t down t o

The

o r e s h o o t on th e M organ c l a i m showed sa m p le s

as high as e ig h ty sam ples of

G-old M i n e s

This

# 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .

1 9 3 3 by a n e w c o m p a n y ,

th e C arson H ill

C o l d M i n i n g Company w i t h J o h n A. B u r g e s s

as m anager.

c o s t t h e company # 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 t o p u t t h e

It

eq u ip ­

ment i n t o o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n , b u t c o s t of o p e r a tio n w as l o w due

to

th e d e p r e s s i o n and

th e

ease of o b ta in in g

%

unem ployed m in e rs a t low w a g e s.

I t was p o s s ib l e

Jenkins, Mother Lode Country, 90.

t o work

163 t h e m a r g i n a l o r e o f t w o and. t h r e e Much o f t h e

and h a u l e d by t r u c k .

through

a p ro fit.

s u rfa c e w ith

The o r e w a s a l s o

an o r e p a s s to l o a d i n g c h u t e s

h au lag e tu n n e l.

in th e long

U nderground m in in g w as a l s o done in t h e

C a l a v e r a s an d M organ m i n e s . g o ld from tw en ty p ro fita b le

a to n a t

o re c o u ld be e x c a v a te d from th e

power s h o v e ls dropped

d o lla rs

W ith t h e i n c r e a s e

to t h i r t y - f i v e

d o lla rs an

in

value of

ounce, i t was

to w o rk th e un d erg ro u n d o re to a l e v e l of

3500 f e e t . The sta m p m i l l h a d a c a p a c i t y a t f i r s t b u t was en larg ed to

o f 6 50 t o n s

1100 to n s p e r d a y .

p e r day The g o l d

w a s r e c o v e r e d by a m a l g a m a t i o n ,

co n cen tratio n ,

T h is m i l l b u r n e d i n May,

fo rcin g a c e ssa tio n

1942,

o p e ra tio n s and soon a fte r w a r d s

and c y a n i d i n g . of

th e governm ent is s u e d i t s

o r d e r c l o s i n g down g o l d m i n e s f o r t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e w a r . D uring t h i s p e rio d of o p e r a tio n

th e m ine had p ro d u c e d

2 ,8 4 0 ,0 0 0

tons

o f o r e fro m w h ic h was r e c o v e r e d §6 , 5 0 0 ,0 0 0

in g o ld .

D u rin g th e p e r i o d s of o p e r a t i o n fro m 1898 t o 1942,

t h e m in e s on C a r s o n H i l l h a d p r o d u c e d , § 1 8 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

There i s

no a c c u r a t e

the

r e c o r d o f h o w m u ch g o l d w a s p r o d u c e d i n

e a rly p erio d of o p e ra tio n , o v e r #2 6 , 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 a s a t o t a l

but

a c o n serv ativ e

estim ate of

f i g u r e h a s been m ad e.^

1Jenkins, Mother Lode Country, 90.

The M o t h e r L o d e C e n t r a l ,

M arble S p r in g s ,

W aterm an m in e s a r e a l l l o c a t e d c l o s e

to

and

t h e highw ay on i t s

w e s t s i d e b e t w e e n C a r s o n H i l l a n d A n g e l s Camp. them c a n com pare i n p r o d u c t i o n w i t h

H a rris,

N on e o f

th e C arson H i l l

or

A ngels m in e s. In

th e A ngels group a re s e v e r a l e a r l y p r o d u c e r s .

The S u l t a n a w a s f i r s t

f o u n d by t h e W in te r B r o t h e r s i n 1852

and w orked by open c u t ,

th e ro c k b e in g c ru sh ed by an

a rrastra.

calle d

later

I t was f i r s t

th e Bovee.

th e V /in te rs o r M a r s h a l l and

The W i n t e r s w e r e r e p o r t e d

a s h i g h a s two t h o u s a n d t o t h r e e

to have o b ta in e d

thousand d o l la r s a to n ,

and w ere su p p o sed t o have p ro d u c e d a b o u t # 2 00,000 b e f o r e se llin g was i n

to W illiam Bovee. o p eratio n ,

hundred f e e t , d o lla rs

a to n .

th at

and the

a ten -stam p m ill

a d e p th of th r e e

o re y i e l d e d from s i x

to

tw en ty -six

The m i l l b u r n e d i n 1 8 7 0 . I n d e p e n d e n t , October 17> 1 8 5 7 ,

t h e r e w ere

tw elve

y e a r i n A n g e l s Camp a f t e r first

’six tie s

t h e m in e was o p e n e d to

The S a n A n d r e a s , sta te d

In th e

claim d isc o v e ry .

q u artz m ills

erected

i n one

t h e W i n t e r B r o t h e r s made t h e

The a r t i c l e

rep o rted

th a t th e

q u a r t z l o d e h a d b e e n c la im e d and was b e i n g w ork ed f o r m i l e s and p r e d ic te d

t h a t betw een A l t a v i l l e

A n g e ls t h e r e w ould be f i f t y year.

m ills

The a u t h o r o f t h e a r t i c l e

( c a lle d W in terto n )

in o p eratio n w ith in a m entions

the fo llo w in g

and

c la im s w here m i l l s w ere i n have a s te a m m i l l ; th at

a n d Company

to n s o f ro ck in

tw en ty -fo u r hours;

B a k e r a n d Company h a v e a t w e l v e - s t a m p e r , w a t e r

power m i l l ; steam m i l l

B rodie,

C a m e r o n , L i g h t n e r a n d Company h a v e a

( t h e i r c o m p a n y was t h e f i r s t t o

in g p r o c e s s to b u rn o u t s u lp h u r e ts , too i n t r i c a t e ) ; M organ,

"F ritz

W in te r B ro th e rs have a w a t e r power m i l l

can c r u s h f o r t y

Slocum ,

o p eratio n :

try

but found th e p ro ce ss

A. . P . B o u t o n h a s a s t e a m m i l l ;

and F r i t z

have a steam m i l l ;

Company on t h e C r y s t a l

the r o a s t ­

G arriso n ,

and B enjam in and

C l a i m h a v e a new t w e l v e - s t a m p e r m i l l . "

T h e s e e a r l y m i n e r s w e r e f a c e d w i t h m any d i f f i c u l t problem s.

Roads w e re p o o r an d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n was d i f f i c u l t ;

in ad eq u ate

e q u ip m e n t and i n a b i l i t y

h an d icap p ed

them ,

t o rem ove t h e w a t e r

a n d many t i m e s a f t e r

hundred f e e t they had to

give

g o i n g d ow n o n e

up.

The q u a r t z m i n i n g l a w s o f t h e A n g e l s D i s t r i c t w e r e a p p ro v e d on J u ly 20,

1855*

w ere g iv e n i n a r t i c l e s

The m o s t i m p o r t a n t p r o v i s i o n s

two a n d t h r e e .

They a r e a s f o l lo w s : '* '

A r t i c l e 2. He o r t h e y s h a l l h a v e t h e r i g h t s t o a l l the d ip s , s t r i k e s o r a n g le s o f e v e ry v e in o r i g i n a t i n g on t h e c l a i m . We u n d e r s t a n d t h a t a v e i n o r i g i n a t e s on o r b e lo w th e s u r f a c e , r u n n i n g downw ards an d n o t f r o m b e lo w r u n n i n g u p w a rd , so t h a t no p e r s o n l o c a t i n g a c l a i m on e i t h e r s i d e of th e b o u n d a rie s of a n o th e r s h a ll have a r i g h t to a v e in ru n n in g th ro u g h h is o r t h e i r c l a i m . . . b u t n o man s h a l l h a v e a r i g h t t o f o l l o w a v e i n on th e l e n g t h o f i t b e h i n d t h e p e r p e n d i c u l a r l i n e of h is boundary. 3-Re c o r d s o f r u l e s

and b y - l a w s o f C o u n ty W a te r D i s t r i c t s .

A rtic le 3. One h u n d r e d f e e t s h a l l b e a l l o w e d t o e a c h man o n t h e l e n g t h o f t h e v e i n , b y o n e h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y o n e a c h s i d e o f i t , o r h e may t a k e m o r e on one s i d e t h a n on t h e o t h e r , b u t t h e c l a i m s h a l l n o t e x c e e d m ore t h a n t h r e e h u n d r e d f e e t i n w i d t h on t h e s u r f a c e . We, t h e u n d e r s i g n e d o f f i c e r s o f t h e a b o v e named m e e t i n g , c e r t i f y t h e above to b e a tru e re p o rt. Jo e l P. H ig g in s, P re s. Sam P . C r a n e , S e c . D uring th e fin an ces, blem s,

1s i x t i e s

and i n a b i l i t y

and S e v e n t i e s ,

to cope w ith

th e q u a r tz m in in g a c t i v i t y

i n 1 8 8 4 s e v e r a l m ines opened up, G reat W estern,

th e Bovee,

because

of

the e n g in e e rin g p ro ­

d i e d down i n A n g e l s , s u c h a s .t h e Uno,

and th e W est End.

but

th e

I n 1890

t h e L i g h t n e r o p e n e d u p a n d t h e U t i c a M i n i n g Company t o o k o v e r so m e o f t h e o l d c l a i m s a n d b e c a m e t h e m o s t p r o s p e r o u s of a l l

the m in e s. The U t i c a M i n e , w h i c h l a t e r b e c a m e t h e b i g p r o d u c e r ,

was n o t a s u c c e s s f u l m ine i n determ in ed

early p e rio d ,

alth o u g h a

e f f o r t was m a d e t o m ak e q u a r t z m i n i n g i n

U tic a claim s u c c e s s f u l. sid erab le

th e

A sm all m ill was b u i l t ,

and con­

d e v e l o p m e n t w o rk was d o n e w h ic h was n o t s u c c e s s f u l .

J a m e s G. F a i r

took h o ld

p ro p erty .

n e v e r r e p a i d him , b u t h e an d h i s

It

Irw in D avis,

and did

a g o o d d e a l of w ork on th e

so ld th e p ro p erty a t

a p ro fit

p artn er,

f o r $30,000 t o

J a m e s T. B o y d a n d J u d g e D e l o s L a k e o f S a n F r a n c i s c o . It

the

has been claim ed t h a t F a i r " s a l t e d ” th e m in e.^ 3 - B u c k b ee , P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l s Camp, 3 7 .

The c l a i m w as c a l l e d when p u r c h a s e d i n 1 8 6 5 , a f t e r h i s home t o w n .

the " I n v i n c i b l e ," b u t

Ju d g e Lake renam ed i t

the

"U tica*’

The U t i c a M i n i n g Company o n l y

o p e r a t e d f o r a b o u t two m o n th s w hen t h e w o r k w as g i v e n u p , as th ere

seem ed no f u r t h e r r e a s o n f o r d e v e lo p m e n t.

and Lake w ould have b e e n w i l l i n g one w ould w ork i t tw en ty y e a r s

to s e l l

t o a n y o n e, b u t no

f o r more t h a n a s h o r t t i m e .

t h i s m ine,

Boyd

For alm o st

t h a t was t o p r o d u c e m i l l i o n s ,

was

n o t w orked. it

I t was o n ly a f t e r C h a r l e y L ane t o o k o v e r t h a t i became a s u c c e s s f u l p r o d u c e r . T he S t i c k l e M i n e , w h i c h

was l o c a t e d i n A n g e ls i n

1852 by G e o rg e S t i c k l e ,

came a p a r t o f t h e U t i c a M in e , a s d i d M adison,

and t h e

the R asp b erry ,

th e

Gold C l i f f .

The U t i c a M i n e r e a c h e d i t s 1896, y ie ld in g a s o n e t h o u s a n d men.

la te r be­

h ig h e s t p ro d u ctio n in

h i g h a s $ 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 a m onth and e m p lo y in g o

From J a n u a r y

3,

1693,

to Septem ber,

1895

t h e g r o s s p r o d u c t i o n was $ 4 , 1 5 4 , 0 2 6 . 5 2 . ^

I t was r e a l l y

s e v e r a l m ines — th e S t i c k l e s ,

R aspberry,

Brown, W a s h i n g t o n ,

Dead H o r s e ,

N ugget,

C o nfidence, L i t t l e

c o v e r i n g 6135 f e e t a l o n g t h e l o d e .

1

Buckbee,

^A.

It

and G old C l i f f — w a s ow n ed b y t h e

P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l s Camp, 3 7 .

J . W ells,

C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y , 19*

•^Clarence Logan, Mother Lode Gold Belt of California 42.

H o b a r t E s t a t e an d o p e r a t e d by C h a rle y Lane a s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t . W ith f o u r m i l l s , and a la rg e

ag g reg atin g

one h u n d re d and e ig h t y s ta m p s , ' 1 c h lo r in a tio n w orks, t h e U t i c a M i n i n g Company

was i n 1899 one o f t h e l a r g e s t m in in g c o m p a n ie s i n p w o rld .*

the

The U t i c a Com pany b o u g h t t h e U n i o n W a t e r Company o f M urphys and b u i l t it

a power house j u s t above M urphys,

t h e b e s t w a te r and power r e s o u r c e s

D uring th e larg e ly

’n i n e t i e s

because

a ctiv ity

1889,

of

O nly t h r e e

A nother trag e d y h i t

tow n

the U t i c a .

th e U tic a caved in w h ile a

t i m b e r i n g c r e w o f n i n e t e e n men w e r e p a irs.

the c o u n ty .

t h e tow n o f A n g e ls w as a l i v e l y

of t h e

I n D ecem ber,

in

g iv in g

attem p tin g

o f t h e men e s c a p e d t o t h e th e U tica

fire

broke o u t and bu rn ed f o r

lo ss

of l i f e ,

t o make r e -

sh aft.

i n 1895 when a d i s a s t r o u s fo u rteen

days.

T h e r e w as no

a l t h o u g h many m i n e r s w e r e o v e r c o m e , b y t h e

fu m es, b u t th e p r o p e r t y l o s s was great.^* A fire U tica p ro p erty ,

broke o u t i n in

the

S t i c k l e M in e , w h ic h was

1897 and b u rn e d f o r

elev en d a y s.

It

^The H ayw ard a n d H o b a r t C h l o r i n a t i o n W orks w e r e the l a r g e s t in th e s t a t e . 2C a l i f o r n i a M ines and M i n e r a l s , 3 2 . ^ B u c k b e e , P i o n e e r D a y s o f An g e l s Ca m p . 4 0 . T h i s i s w h e r e U t i c a P a r k i s now l o c a t e d i n A n g e l s . A lb id . ,

was f i l i a l l y

p u t o u t w ith o u t f l o o d in g th e m ine,

damages am ounted to

# 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .1

When t h e U t i c a w a s f i n a l l y had produced a t o t a l and S t i c k l e s

b u t th e

c l o s e d down i n

of # 1 7 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

in

g o ld .2

1915,

it

The U t i c a

com bined p ro d u c e d # 2 3 ,6 3 5 ,0 0 0 .^

The G o l d C l i f f ,

w h ic h was o p e r a t e d a s a p a r t o f t h e

U t i c a group and w as o p e r a t e d s e v e r a l y e a r s a f t e r

the U tic a

s h u t do w n , w a s d i s c o v e r e d

i n 1879 hy D o la n and Coggsw erll.

The d i s c o v e r e r s w o r k e d i t

f o r a tim e a n d

e ig h t

thousand

w orked i t

d o lla rs.

They s o l d

t o C a p t a i n D r a k e , who

f o r fo u r y e a rs w ith l i t t l e

to C h arles H ick erso n .

It

success

rem ained i d l e ,

b o n d e d b y W. E . S h i p m a n , C . D. L a n e ,

m ost of to ta l

It

and th en s o ld

how ever, u n t i l

a n d Woodson G a r r a r d .

T h is m in e was a c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f h a l f c laim s.

took o u t seven to

a d o zen e a r l y day

was p r o s p e c t e d t o a d e p t h o f 2700 f e e t b u t

the o re

came f r o m a b o v e t h e 1 9 0 0 f o o t l e v e l .

The

p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e G old C l i f f was # 2 , 8 3 4 , 0 0 0 . ^ The S t i c k l e ' - s m i n e w a s l o c a t e d i n 1 8 5 2 by G e o r g e

S tick le

a n d i n 1 8 8 4 w a s a c q u i r e d b y F . K . B e c h t e l who b u i l t

a tw en ty -stam p m i l l

on t h e p r o p e r t y

in 1885.

The f i r s t

■^Buckbee, P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l s Ca mp, 4 6 . 2 J e n k i n s , M o t h e r L o d e C o u n t r y , 5 5^ L o g a n , M o th e r Lode G o ld B e l t , 4 2 . ^T b i d . ,

56.

ore

rati

through the m ill averaged fo u rte e n d o l la r s

l a r g e amount of

the o re a ssa y ed a t e i g h t d o l la r s

The v e i n v a r i e d i n w i d t h f r o m s e v e n t e e n and av erag ed about fo u r d o l la r s th e f i r e

a to n ,

of 1897,

a to n in

to

and a

a ton.

th irty -fiv e

gold v a lu e .

feet B efore

t h e S t i c k l e s h a d p a i d $ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 a m onth

f o r m any m o n t h s . ' 1* The L i g h t n e r M i n e w a s l o c a t e d

ju s t n o rth

of and %

ad jo in in g

th e U t i c a M ine.

I t was o r g a n i z e d i n 1 8 9 6 a n d d i s ­

co n tin u ed o p e ra tio n s in 1913.

The c a p i t a l s t o c k a t

tim e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n was $ 1 2 5 ,0 0 0 a n d t h e t o t a l on t h i s

s to c k am ounted t o

$ 55 0 ,0 0 0 .

the

d iv id en d s

From 1 8 9 6 t o 1915

t h e a n n u a l g o ld p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e m ine was $ 2 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 . The L i g h t n e r w a s t h e f i r s t m i n e i n en tirely

o p e r a t e d by e l e c t r i c i t y .

It

the

county to be

had a fo rty -s ta m p

m i l l w h i c h c o u l d c r u s h two h u n d r e d t o n s o f o r e p e r d a y . The c o m p a n y a l s o

operated

The A n g e l s M i n e , is

a good exam ple o f

a larg e

c h lo rin a tio n p la n t.

on t h e n o r t h s i d e

a s m a l l m ine t h a t w a s o p e r a t e d a t

p r o f i t over a lo n g p e rio d of

a

tim e on v a r y i n g g r a d e s o f o r e .

The A n g e l s c l a i m w a s f i r s t w o r k e d i n t h e b e f o r e 1870 h a d b e e n w o rk e d t o

’f if tie s

and

th e d e p th of 186 f e e t .

1867 t h e o r e was y i e l d i n g e i g h t d o l l a r s D octor H i l l

o f A n g e l s Camp,

a to n .

c l a i m w h ic h l a t e r became a p a r t o f

In

The th e A ngels

• ^ B u c k b e e , P i o n e e r D a y s o f A n g e l s C a m p , 44*

M i n e was w o r k e d f i r s t f r o m 1 8 5 7 t o 1 8 6 ? a n d d u r i n g tim e y i e l d e d By 1 8 8 4 i t fifty

# 25 0,0 00 .

H ow ever,

it

th is

d i d n o t show a p r o f i t .

h a d b e e n w orked t o a d e p t h o f one h u n d re d and

f e e t on a f i f t e e n

fo o t v ein .

The A n g e l s Q u a r t z M i n i n g Company w a s f o r m e d i n 1886 and i n c l u d e d B illin g s,

C ry sta l,

Beda B lo o d . M arch 1 ,

O neida,

and

u n til

n o t know, b u t

t o 191& t h e p r o d u c t i o n w a s a b o u t # 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0

T here

are a lso

the v i c i n i t y

on t h e C e n t r a l H i l l C alav eras R iv e r. Ranch,

M cC orm ick,

The t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n i s

f r o m o r e a v e r a g i n g two t o

m ines i n

D octor H i l l ,

The A n g e l s ,

The Company o p e r a t e d c o n t i n u o u s l y

1918.

f r o m 1900

the fo llo w in g claim s:

ten d o lla rs

a ton.***

a number of r i c h o f A n g e l s Camp.

Channel of

These a r e

d rift,

or g ra v e l,

These a r e l o c a t e d

the p r e h i s t o r i c

b u ried .,

th e C alav eras C e n tra l,

S lab

G olden R iv er, and Y a l l e c i t o W e ste rn . A n o th e r m ine t h a t was d i s c o v e r e d i n

th is early

p e r i o d on t h e M o th e r Lode and l a t e r

on becam e one o f

b ig p ro d u cers of th e

C w in M i n e .

c o u n ty was t h e

It

the

is

l o c a t e d f i v e m i l e s s o u t h w e s t o f M okelumne H i l l i n R i c h G u lc h n e a r t h e Mokelumne R i v e r a n d w as f i r s t m in e d i n 1851

1Logan, Mpther Lode Gold B e l t , 5

by D r .

T o la n d o f T oland M e d ic a l C ollege.^*

an i n c l i n e d

sh aft,

th e f o u r hundred fo o t l e v e l g o ld was t a k e n a t

th e th is

surface,

the

but a t about

o r e was lo w - g r a d e .

Only

t i m e a s n o t h i n g w a s kn o w n

a b o u t r e c l a i m in g g o ld from s u l p h u r e t s . m ine p a s s e d i n t o

tim e

two h u n d r e d f e e t d e e p , w as s u n k a n d

so m e r i c h o r e w a s f o u n d n e a r t h e

th e f r e e

At t h a t

In 1867,

th e

c o n t r o l o f S e n a t o r Gw in o f C a l i f o r n i a ,

and up u n t i l 1882 was w o rk e d a s f a m i l y p r o p e r t y w i t h few records k e p t. d o lla rs

a day.

I n 1873 i t w as p r o d u c i n g a b o u t one th o u s a n d 2

From A p r i l 7 , b u llio n said

IB 71,

t o A u g u s t A, 1 8 8 2 ,

o u t p u t was # 1 ,3 9 9 ,1 4 -6 .,

and a c o n te m p o ra ry r e p o r t

t h e m ine had p ro d u c e d o v e r $ 2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .3

w ith a t o t a l of

six ty

a v e ra g e d betw een t h r e e

the

Two m i l l s

stam ps had b een p r o c e s s in g o re

and seven d o l l a r s a to n in f r e e

gold f o r s e v e r a l y e a rs b e fo re

t h e m ine was c l o s e d i n 1 8 8 2 .

The s o u t h s h a f t h a d r e a c h e d a d e p t h o f 1 5 3 0 f e e t , th e expense of o p e ra tin g a t

th at lev e l,

t h e m i l l an d e q u ip m e n t was w orn o u t ,

p lus

G old and S u n s h i n e , 1 2 9 .

^C a la v e r a s C h r o n i c l e , M arch 15,

1873.

^ L o g a n , M o t h e r L o d e G o l d B e l t , 2A.

and

the f a c t

re su lte d in

of th e m in e.

^A yres,

th at

th at

th e c lo sin g

The m i n e w a s r e - o p e n e d D e v e lo p m e n t Company, w i t h F . F .

i n 1894 by t h e

Thomas a s g e n e r a l m a n a g e r

an d D a n i e l M cC lure a s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t . was e r e c t e d ,

Gwin M i n e

A fo rty -stam p m ill

and by 1 8 9 7 a new s h a f t h a d r e a c h e d a d e p t h

of fo u rte e n hundred f e e t .

D iv id e n d s from 1897 to

November 3 0 , 1 9 0 1 ,

$ 2 6 0 ,0 0 0 . 1

to ta le d

Soon a f t e r

m i l l was e n la r g e d t o one h u n d re d sta m p s, a t o t a l of 1 3 8 ,3 8 3 t o n s o f

th e

and i n 1903

o r e was m i l l e d .

w o rk e d t o a d e p t h o f 2850 f e e t .

th is

The m in e w a s

Some o f t h e

o re-sh o o ts

w e re 450 f e e t i n l e n g t h a n d t h e m ain o r e - s h o o t was 1400 f e e t long,

a near record.

The m i n e w a s c l o s e d i n 1 9 0 8 .

The P l a t t n e r c h l o r i n a t i o n p r o c e s s w a s f i r s t

used

s u c c e s s f u l l y a t t h e Gwin M i n e . T here w ere s e v e r a l i m p o r t a n t m ines i n P o i n t a r e a t h a t w ere l o c a t e d i n are

in the g r a n ite

t h e W est

the e a rly p e rio d .

of th e E a s t B e lt Lode.

These

The u p p e r

g r a n i t e . i s of a d ecayed n a t u r e and v a r i e s from tw en ty to e ig h t fe e t

in d ep th .

The f i r s t m i n e r s d i d n o t b e l i e v e

t h a t i t w ould pay to f o l l o w g ran ite,

th e ore v e in in to

b u t l a t e r m in ers pro v ed t h i s

q u a r tz le a d s w ere q u i t e num erous. a person s t a r ti n g

1

the

so lid

to be e rro n e o u s .

I t has been s ta te d

The th at

t h r e e m i l e s n o r t h o f W est P o i n t an d p r o -

Logan, Mother Lode Gold B e l t , 27.

eee& ing s o u th f o r a d i s t a n c e of th e fo rk s

of

of nin e m ile s,

to

the

t h e Mokelumne R i v e r , w o u ld c r o s s

v e in every hundred yarda.

Many o f

th ese

ju n ctio n

a qu artz

c o n ta in e d gold

an d w e re w o rk e d by M e x ic a n s i n tim e

the e a r ly days*1 At one k y R e v e r e n d B e n j a m i n D. H e n r y , v h o h a d

come t o C a l i f o r n i a f r o m B a n g o r , M a i n e . tim e

the M e th o d is ts had p r e t t y

Up u n t i l

th is

w e ll d o m inated th e P r o t e s t a n t

d e n o m in atio n i n C a la v e ra s C ounty.

T his f i r s t

C o n g reg atio n al

C h u r c h w a s b u r n e d i n t h e f i r e t h a t d e s t r o y e d M o k e lu m n e H i l l 2 i n 1854R e v e r e n d M r. H e n r y o n l y r e m a i n e d tw o y e a r s a s h e,b ecam e so h o m esick f o r h i s

home i n M a i n e t h a t he h a d t o

retu rn

H ow ever,

to h i s n a tiv e

sta te .

o r g a n iz e d th e w ork w e l l b e c a u s e

he m u st h av e

th e church c o n tin u ed

to

p r o s p e r a n d a n e w c h u r c h b u i l d i n g w a s d e d i c a t e d by R everend J o s e p h B enton o f S a c ra m e n to ,

on M a r c h 8 ,

1857.

T h is new c h u r c h , w h ic h c o s t $ 2 7 0 0 . a n d h a d a s e a t i n g cap acity

of

two h u n d r e d , w as p a i n t e d w h i t e a n d h a d

F r e n c h windows c o v e r e d w i t h g r e e n b l i n d s . It

is

c laim ed

t h a t when t h e p e o p le d e c i d e d t o b u i l d

a n e w c h u r c h a woman s t o o d o u t

in f r o n t of

h o ld in g a g o ld pan and t e l l i n g

th e m in ers as th ey r e tu r n e d

lA n th o n y ,

F ifty T ears

the v a ca n t l o t

of M eth o d ism , 68.

^C a la v e r a s C h r o n i c l e , A ugust 2 6 , 1865. ^W. W. F e r r i e r ,

C o n g reg atio n alism in

C a l i f o r n i a , 16.

f r o m w o r k t h a t we a r e

going to b u ild

a house of w o rs h ip .

As t h e men w e n t b y t h e y w o u l d p u t g o l d d u s t i n t h e p a n and so o n t h e r e was enough t o buy m a t e r i a l s of the

th e ch u rch .

L ater

fo r c o n stru ctio n

t h e same m e th o d w as u s e d t o

fu rn ish

church.*^ R everend I .

1855,

and to

th e church n o t by

S.

Z elie

took over th e p a s t o r a t e

h i m s h o u l d go t h e

and p a r s o n a g e . .

cred it fo r

T his c h u rc h i s

th e C o n g re g a tio n a l C hurch.

g reg a tio n a l

church

b u ild in g in

t h e s e v e n t h e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e

It

in

c o n s t r u c t i o n of still

is th e

in use b u t

o l d e s t C on­

use i n C a l i f o r n i a ,

a n d wa s

C o n g r e g a t i o n a l C h u rc h of

C alifo ra ia . A lth o u g h th e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l i s t s w ere e v e n t u a l l y t o have fo u r church b u ild in g s

i n C a la v e ra s C ounty,

M e th o d is t w ere th e p i o n e e r s and s t a r t e d

the

churches in

M urphys and A n g e ls w h ic h l a t e r became C o n g r e g a t i o n a l . In the E ig h th U nited S ta te s a p o p u la tio n of 1 6 ,2 2 9 ,

Census f o r i8 6 0 , w ith

C a l a v e r a s County c o u l d b o a s t one

C o n g r e g a tio n a l C hurch v a lu e d a t $ 5 0 0 0 .,

to f iv e M eth o d ist

C h u r c h e s v a l u e d a t $ 2 4 0 0 a n d f i v e Roman C a t h o l i c v a lu e d a t $ 1 4 ,1 0 0 .

By t h e N i n t h C e n s u s i n

l a t i o n wa s d e c r e a s i n g

C hurches

1870 th e popu­

and t h e M e t h o d i s t s a n d C a t h o l i c s

-*\A. W. P e n n e b a k e r , " R o m an c e o f O l d M o k e l u m n e H i l l D a y s," C a la v e r a s W eek ly , O cto b er 11, 1940.

w ere l o s i n g ground* M eth o d ist,

T h ere w e re one C o n g r e g a t i o n a l ,

one P r e s b y t e r i a n ,

a n d two C a t h o l i c

th ree

C hurches.

A lthough th e M e th o d is ts b u i l t p io n e e r c h u rc h es i n p r a c t i ­ c ally is

a ll

t h e i m p o r t a n t m i n i n g camps o f

th e co u n ty ,

o n ly one a c t i v e M e th o d is t C hurch i n t h e c o u n ty

T his c h u rc h i s

lo cated

W illiam C onverse as th e

th ere

today.

a t V a lle y S p rin g s w ith R everend p asto r.

A n o th e r one of t h e . e a r l y M e t h o d i s t c h u r c h e s was a t l o n e w h ic h was t h e n i n C a l a v e r a s C o u n ty . p reach in g an e ld e r

th ere tree

in January,

every

t h e M okelumne) 1853,

i n 1853*

R e v e r e n d C. B.

D rytow n, a n d W i l s o n 's Mr.

Camp w a s

serv ice

under

T a y l o r was (a p la c e

on

T a y lo r r e p o r t e d i n Novem ber,

t h a t lo n e h a d b u i l t a n e a t c h u r c h an d p a rs o n a g e and

t h a t i t was p a i d f o r . in 1862,

the b r i c k

D uring th e p a s t o r a t e

c h u rc h w hich i s

M e th o d is t C hurch was begun, many y e a r s .

but i t

When L a w t o n l e f t

m em bership was 121, at

F.

1853, b u t he h eld

two w e e k s .

se n t to p reach a t lo n e ,

J.

$12,000 w i t h

still

in

o f D. H. L a w t o n u s e by t h e

was n o t f i n i s h e d f o r

the c h u rc h i n 186 3 , th e

a n d t h e c h u r c h b u i l d i n g was v a l u e d

the parsonage v a lu e d a t an a d d itio n a l

thousand d o l l a r s . F o r a tim e,

in

the

'f if tie s ,

Campo S e c o a n d S a n

A n d re a s w e re c o m b in e d , a n d P . Y. C oo l was t h e M e t h o d i s t p asto r.

He r e p o r t e d

t h a t a t Campo S e c o h e h a d t h i r t y

197

m em bers and a S u n d a y S c h o o l o f f i f t y p u p i l s , p aid

#800.

The p a s t o r w a s

I n 1 8 6 2 Campo S e c o w a s c o m b i n e d w i t h A n g e l s

a n d i n I 8 6 4 w i t h C o p p e r o p o l i s u n d e r W. C. C u r r y a n d i n I 865 w ith

t h e K n i g h t s F e r r y M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h , ' 1'

The f i r s t P r o t e s t a n t C h u rc h a t S a n A n d r e a s w as s u p p l i e d by a M e t h o d i s t m i n i s t e r and w a s e r e c t e d of #1500.

i n 1 8 ^ 9 f r o m s u b s c r i p t i o n by t h e c i t i z e n s

com m unity. S t.

The b u i l d i n g w a s l o c a t e d

C h arles S tr e e t,

S treet,

at a cost

w hich a t

th at

I t was l o c a t e d b e h i n d

h i g h e r u p on t h e h i l l .

of the

on t h e w e s t s i d e

tim e was c a l l e d

of

Church

th e p r e s e n t ch u rch and

Reverend R o b ert K e lle n of th e

Mokelumne H i l l M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h w as a l e a d e r i n s e c u r i n g s u b s c r ip tio n s f o r the b u ild in g . m ittee

The f u n d r a i s i n g

c o n s is te d of W illia m Irw in e ,

com­

S e n e c a H. M a r l e t t e ,

and Jo s e p h K e r n s .2 The c h u r c h w a s l a t e r m o v e d down t o l o c a t i o n on th e highw ay. reb u ilt move

I t w as probably

as i t w ould have b e e n a v e r y

th e w hole b u i l d i n g .

fo u n d atio n

the p r e s e n t

t o r n down a n d

d iffic u lt

ta s k to

T h is c h u r c h was b lo w n fro m i t s

in a storm in F e b ru a ry ,

1938.

R everend J .

K ir k of W est P o i n t was h o l d i n g Sunday m o rn in g s e r v i c e s

L. in

^A nthony, F i f t y Y e a rs of M etho d ism , 127. 2 J . A. S m i t h , 'D a y s o f O l d , " C a l a v e r a s C a l i f o r n i a n December 22, 1944.

the building at that time, and the few ladies responsible for the building asked Reverend Kirk to tear it down and rebuild it.

Reverend Kirk had little time to work at the

task, but gradually was getting the job done when he was joined by Reverend Fred Bach of Santa Rosa, in December, 1938.

Reverend Mr. Bach was a carpenter as well as a

minister.

He continued the work with some assistance and

the first church service was held in the new building on Easter Sunday, 1939* The building was largely financed by the Ladies Circle.

They raised money by food sales, bazaars, and

rummage sales.

The church was built-on a pay-as-you-go-

basis, the total cost amounting to #5 0 0 0 .

The Calaveras

Cement Company donated the cement for the foundation, and Reverend Mr. Kirk, who had a small sawmill, donated rafters and heavy timbers. 1 The present church has no denominational connections, although Reverend Mr. Bach is a Baptist minister.

Although

the church was originally built by the Methodist and supplied by them for many --years, it has been largely a community church, ■ especially.in' more recent years.

In 1867 the

Methodist minister in charge of the San Andreas and

^Reverend Fred Bach, present minister, is the source of this information.

199 C o p p e r o p o l i s c h u r c h w a s E . A. W i b l e . n ine

co m m unicants,

two c h u r c h e s ,

He r e p o r t e d

one p a r s o n a g e ,

Sunday S c h o o ls w ith one h u n d re d p u p i l s . s u p p l i e d by J .

th irty -

a n d two

I n 1868 i t w as

H. J o n e s b u t t h e n d r o p p e d f r o m t h e l i s t

of M eth o d ist ap p o in tm en ts. At one tim e b e tw e e n 1 9 1 7 -2 0 R e v e re n d M r. E ew is o f th e C o n g re g a tio n a l Church a t A n g e ls s u p p l i e d th e c h u rc h a t San A n dreas. There seem s t o b e no r e c o r d

of a P r o t e s t a n t

b u i l d i n g a t A n g e l s Camp b e f o r e 1 8 5 9 . th ere,

how ever, a s

l i s t A ngels in

Perhaps

H all or th e

sch o o l.

A n g e l s Camp,

S e r v ic e s w ere h e ld

th e r e c o r d of M e th o d ist a p p o in tm en ts

co n n ectio n w ith

V a lle cito .

Church

th e w o rk a t M urphys and

s e r v i c e s w ere h e ld i n How ever,

i n 1859,

under t h e le a d e r s h ip

e ith e r S tick le* s

the P r o te s ta n ts

o f R e v e r e n d J a m e s McGowan,

who w a s t h e M e t h o d i s t m i n i s t e r a t M u r p h y s a n d V a l l e c i t o 1855 and a g a in i n 186 1 ,

d ecided to b u ild

The c h u r c h w a s o r g a n i z e d o n F e b r u a r y 2 , c alle d

E llis

fiv e

in

a house of w o rsh ip . 1859,

and was

th e M e th o d is t E p is c o p a l C hurch o f A n g e ls .

w a s J a m e s MoGowan a n d t h e

of

The e l d e r

t r u s t e e s w e re P e t e r M oore,

T hom as,W illiam N i g h t i n g a l e ,

John P a r n e l ,

and O tis

H o d gskins The s i t e

chosen fo r

t h e c h u r c h was t h e h i l l

n o r th of

1 R e c o r d s o f n o t a r y p u b l i c G e o r g e Y o u n g o f A n g e l s Camp, F e b r u a r y 6 , 1859? I n t h e a r c h i v e s a t S a n A n d r e a s .

town n e a r t h e l o c a t i o n o f b u ild in g .

th e p r e s e n t C o n g r e g a tio n a l C hurch

The S a n A n d r e a s ,

I n d e p e n d e n t , L uly 30,

IB 59,

sta te s

L a s t week th e c i t i z e n s o f A n g els h e l d a m e e tin g f o r th e p u rp o se o f s e l e c t i n g a s i t e and d e v i s i n g means f o r th e e r e c t i o n o f a P r o t e s t a n t C hurch. The l o c a t i o n i s o n t h e s a m e h i l l w h e r e S t i c k l e * s H a l l a n d t h e new s c h o o l h o u s e a r e l o c a t e d . T his sm a ll c h u rc h , was u se d u n t i l

v a lu e d a t #1000 i n i8 6 0 by I .

H. M i l l e r ,

1905 when t h e p r e s e n t C o n g r e g a t i o n a l C h u rc h

was d e d i c a t e d . I n 1 8 5 9 B e v e r e n d J . W. R i c k s w a s a p p o i n t e d a s M *ethodist m i n i s t e r a t A n g e ls , year.

I n i860 J .

b u t he d id not stay th e

hundred

fu ll

H. M i l l e r w a s g i v e n t h e p a s t o r a t e w h i c h

w a s c o m b i n e d w i t h Campo S e c o . co m m unicants,

the

He r e p o r t e d f i f t y - t w o

two S u n d a y S c h o o l s w i t h a t o t a l o f o n e

tw enty p u p i l s .

The t w o c h u r c h b u i l d i n g s w e r e

v a lu e d a t $2000.^ D esp ite

the r e l i g io u s

i n t h e new c h u r c h b u i l d i n g , support i t s churches.

e n t h u s i a s m t h a t had- r e s u l t e d

the, A n g e ls c h u r c h c o u l d n o t

p a s t o r and c o n tin u e

t o be com bined w i t h o t h e r

I n 1 8 6 2 R e v e r e n d A. P . H e n d o n w a s a s s i g n e d

A n g e l s a n d Campo S e c o by

the M eth o d ist C onference.

to

In

1 8 6 4 i t w as c o m b in e d w i t h Mokelumne H i l l b u t l e f t u n s u p p l i e d .

^A nthony, f f if ty Y e a rs o f M eth o d ism , 216.

201; I n 1 8 6 5 H. D. B r a y a n t w a s t h e p a s t o r f o r the

th e one y e a r ,

but

c h u r c h was u n s u p p l i e d a f t e r t h a t u n t i l I 8 6 9 , when

J . A p p le to n became th e p a s t o r . co m m unicants, v alu ed a t

but a fte r 1894-

one c h u r c h v a lu e d a t

$600.

T. B e a i z l e y

He r e p o r t e d $4 0 0 . ,

tw en ty -sev en

and tw o p a r s o n a g e s

The A n g e l s C h u r c h w a s s u p p l i e d i n 1 8 7 0 b y

as a p a r t

of h is

p asto rate

of s e v e ra l chu rch es,

1 8 7 5 w a s n o t s u p p l i e d by a r e g u l a r m i n i s t e r u n t i l

C. V. A n t h o n y s t a t e s i n h i s b o o k H i s t o r y

o f M ethodism ,

t h a t h e v i s i t e d A n g e ls i n 1885 and fo u n d t h e c h u r c h p o o r l y l o c a t e d and t h e b u i l d i n g i n

a sta te

T h ere was no m i n i s t e r a n d t h e

of g re a t d e la p id a tio n .

church had p ro b ab ly been

so ld f o r ta x e s. I n 1894 R e v e re n d E. B. W inning w as s e n t f o l l o w e d i n s u c c e s s i v e y e a r s by I . a n d C. H. ? /o o d .

The l a t t e r r e p o r t e d

w e re f o u r t e e n m em bers an d t h a t h i s Perhaps m in iste rs,

for

Young,

th is th e

salary

to A ngels,

J . E. H enderson,

in 1897 t h a t th e re

s a l a r y w a s $6 8 7 *

d isc o u rag e d th e M eth o d ist

c h u r c h w as n o t s u p p l i e d a f t e r t h i s by

th e M eth o d ist C onference.

The C o n g r e g a t i o n a l O h u rc h t o o k

o v e r t h e P r o t e s t a n t w ork an d t h e U nion C hurch b u i l d i n g i n 1900. I n M ay,

1900,

th e R everend W illia m B a ir ,

^-Anthony, F i f t y Y e a r s o f M e t h o d i s m , 2 1 6 . 2I b i d . , 2 1 7 .

s e n t by

202 the Home Mission Board of California, arrived at Angels and began preaching in the little Union Church.

He saw

the need for a Protestant Church as there were between four thousand and five thousand people in the vicinity, with no Protestant Church holding regular services.

He urged the

people to form an organization for the purpose of better carrying on the Christian‘work in the community.

This was

agreed to and the date of August 9, was set for the organization meeting. At the organization meeting twenty-four persohs were present, and Reverend Mr. Bair was called on to ex­ plain the principals of Congregationalism and to read the Articles of Paith.

A vote was then taken on the question

of organizing a Congregational Church.

The motion was

carried unanimously and the Pirst Congregational Church of Angels Camp was formed.

The following people came

forward and subscribed to the statement of doctrine: John A. Orr, Mrs. Malinda W. Thorpe, Mrs. Susan J. Clark, Mrs. M. A. Minard, Miss Anna Smith, Mrs. Phoebe Rushmer, Mrs. Carrie A. Bair, and Reverend W. R. Bair.

Election of

officers was then held, with John A. Orr chosen as Senior Deacon and Mrs. Phoebe Rushmer selected as clerk and treasurer.

203 tTThe members of this little church then formed a circle, joined hands and pledged them­ selves to each other in church fellowship and unitedly pledged themselves to do all in their power to build up and maintain a strong and effective church organization* And while thus clasping each other’s hands, brother Bair led us in prayer, asking G-od to witness the sincere purpose of ouit hearts in striving to establish a church in this camp for the glory of Ood and the salvation of man. , Phoebe Rushmer, Clerk.” The first Board of Trustees was John A. Orr, Mrs. M. A. Minard, and Mrs. Phoebe Rushmer.

On September 18, 1900,

the Ecclesiastical Council met at the Angels Church for the purpose of recognizing the recently organized church. Reverend Mr. Bair continued as the minister for the next two years, until September, 1902.

At the end of his pastorate

the records show that he had received $1239-85 in salary, an average of about six hundred dollars a year.

Reverend

Mr. Bair must have been a man of great faith to have con-' tinued in the work despite his meager salary.

He didn’t even

have the support of a few men in his congregation, but was dependent almost entirely upon the ladies. ception was John Orr.

o

The one ex-

However, the church was now more

^Minutes of the meeting in the Church Records. ^Mrs. Minard who. was a charter living in Angels, states that there were the church. She can remember one period was only one man who attended services. the corner by himself but finally became stopped coming.

member and still never many men in during whi*Sh there He sat back in discouraged and

soundly e s t a b l i s h e d

th an e v e r b e fo r e .

The m e m b e r s h i p b y

1 9 0 3 w a s n i n e men a n d t w e n t y - o n e women a n d p l a n s w e r e b e i n g d i s c u s s e d f o r a new c h u r c h b u i l d i n g , U n io n C h u rc h o f i 8 6 0 was e n t i r e l y

as th e

little

old

in ad eq u ate.

R e v e r e n d W. 1 . S p e e r s f o l l o w e d R e v e r e n d M r . B a i r a p a sto r a t a salary

o f $ 4 7 .0 0 a m onth.

had a good d e a l of i n f l u e n c e

Perhaps th e

on t h e s h o r t

term of R everend

M r. S p e e r s a s h e so o n a s k e d t o b e r e l i e v e d H ow ever,

salary

of h is

d u tie s.

no o t h e r C o n g r e g a t i o n a l m i n i s t e r w o u ld a c c e p t t h e

p a s t o r a t e u n t i l 1 9 0 4 when R e v e r e n d Mr. H a m b le to n t o o k charge of

th e w ork. I n 1 9 0 3 a p p l i c a t i o n w a s m ade t o

Church B u ild in g S o c ie ty f o r a i d church b u ild in g , vo ted

i n c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a new

a n d on J u n e 1 8 ,

1904,

the

c h u rc h m em bership

to^p .roceed a t once to b u i l d a h o u se o f w o r s h ip .

w e r e n o t t o e x c e e d $5Q0. the

th e C o n g reg atio n al

O ther funds f o r c o n s tr u c tio n

Loans of

c h u r c h w e r e r a i s e d by d o n a t i o n s a n d by t h e w o rk o f t h e

lad ies

in g iv in g food s a l e s ,

bazaars,

and d in n e rs .

The new

b u i l d i n g was c o n s t r u c t e d on t h e same l o t w i t h t h e o l d U nion C hurch,

s u r r o u n d e d by a c e m e t e r y .

There w ere p l a n s

f o r u sin g th e o ld church f o r a p arsonage a t f i r s t , was l a t e r ev en tu ally

d ecided

to t u r n

it

in to

a so cial h a ll.

but i t I t was

t o r n down a n d r e - b u i l t a s t h e p r e s e n t s o c i a l h a l l

j u s t b e h in d the p r e s e n t c h u rc h .

The f i r s t

s e r v i c e was h e l d

in the new ehuroh on January 8, 1905, with Reverend Mr. Hambleton preaching a communion sermon. These new facilities apparently attracted new members because the membership reached a peak of sixteen men and fifty-seven women in 1910.^

This was during a

period in which the mines of Angels were active and the population of the town was large.

This membership was not

maintained and by 1915 it had dropped to forty-six. Reverend Mr. Doane took Hambleton*s place in 1907 at a salary of $1000.

The church raised $800. and the Home

Missionary Society furnished $200.

2

Even this modest

amount was too great for the church to raise, and in 1911 Angels joined with the Murphys Congregational Church under Reverend Magill.

Reverend Goodsell was asked to accept the

pastorate in the latter part of 1911 at $800. annually -$600. from the church and $200. from the Home Missionary Society.

Although G-oodsell remained until 1915 at this

salary, it was apparently too much for the ladies to raise. After Reverend T. G-. Lewis came in October, 1915, it was found necessary to combine the work m. th San Andreas. However, Reverend Mr. Lewis was not too well liked in San

^Figures are from the Church Records. 2

Church Records.

Andreas because of bis outspoken criticism of the Catholics, and the services in San Andreas were discontinued.

The

Murphys and Angels churches were made a combined pastorate in 1925 under Reverend Mr. Bissell and was not separated until February, 1949, when the churches were separated on a self-supporting basis without the assistance of the Home Missionary Society.

The Angels Church received assistance

in 1943 from the California Youth Authority as they wished to employ the Angels1 minister as chaplain for the Fricot Ranch School for Boys.

Reverend John Dickey, who was the

minister at the time, accepted the additional work and made one trip a week to the school for services and counseling for which he received $50• a month.

In 1949 the Fricot

Ranch School work became a part of the Angels pastorate under the direction of Reverend Lawrence G-ranger and Reverend Joseph Todd was called to the Murphys Church. In 1947 an additional hall was built just east of the Angels Church for use in religious education and for recreational purposes.

This was financed by contributions

and the work of construction was done by the members of the church.

This new building is called Friendship Hall. There was no Protestant Church in Murphys until

1853,

i-n 1852 services were held once each Sunday by

Dr. Moore of Columbia who included Murphys in his

207 circuit.

1

In 1853 the Methodist Episcopal Church sent

J. McHenry Caldwell to the Vallecito pastorate included Murphys and Douglas Flat,*

2

which also

Reverend Mr. Caldwell

found that the interest in Protestant services at Murphys was sufficient to make possible the construction of a church and parsonage.

Apparently the pastorate was afterwards

listed as Murphys because there are no further records of Methodist appointments to Vallecito, but the Murphys minister was charged with conducting services in Vallecito. The correspondent for The Pacific, June 3> 1853> states: Since our visit one year hence, Murphys has increased in size and business. We notice the erection of many fine buildings. A Methodist Church and parsonage have been built, both neat in their appearance and painted. This work has been accomplished within a short time, through the efforts of Reverend Caldwell, a young man who labors with great acceptance among his people. With the increase of families we are happy to note as a sign of progress the erection of his church in whose worship Christians without distinction of nam© may unite on the sabbath. When this same correspondent had visited Murphys on June 11, 1952, he stated: The inhabitants (of Murphys) have with commendable zeal contributed the money and

^The Pacif ic, June 11, 1852. ^Anthony, Fifty Years of Methodism, 143*

i

208

taken steps towards the erection of a build­ ing which shall answer the purpose of a church, schoolhouse, and town hall. Therefore, the construction of the church was probably started in 1852, but it was under Reverend Caldwell that the work was completed and regular services scheduled. In 1854 I* H. Miller supplied the Murphys pastorate and in 1855

McG-owan was sent to take over the work.

In

I8 5 6 there were sixty communicants in the church and eighty pupils in the Sunday School.

The church and parsonage com-

bined were valued at only #700.

1

After I8 5 6 there is no

record of who supplied the church until 1861 when Rev­ erend McG-owan is again in charge.

Perhaps he had been

sent back in an effort to revive the work, but apparently he was unsuccessful because no one was sent from the Methodist Conference to Murphys in the following years. The correspondent for the Alta California, June 16, 1861, states: I have attended worship in the Presbysterian Church (in Murphys), connected with which is a Sunday School containing forty scholars.

1Anthony, Fift.y Years of Methodism, 144.

209 Perhaps a Presbyterian minister was holding services in the Protestant Church in 1861, for in I8 6 3 Reverend James Pierpont, a Presbyterian, was holding services in Murphys. No denomination was regularly supplying a minister for the church, however, in 1866 when the Congregational Church was organized. The church records state that the Protestant Union Society owned the little church that had been constructed in 18$3 on a site donated by Dr. Wm. Jones. In 1866, the Protestant people of Murphys wrote to Reverend J. Warren of San Mateo, Superintendent of the Congregational Conference, and asked him to come to Murphys and organize a church.

He came and preached at the

church on September 1 4 , 1866, and surveyed the possibilities of organizing a church.

An organization meeting was held

at the home of Mrs. James Sperry on September 23, 1866. Mr. C. Maegan was chosen clerk, and Mrs. Sperry, treasurer and chairman of the finance committee.

Reverend Caleb

Maegan was then ordained as the first minister. charter members of the church were as follows:

The Mrs. L. J.

Sperry, Mrs. G. W. Putney, Mrs. Mary Ann Scott, Mrs. Mary Williams, Mrs. M. Webb, Mrs. M. Lowman, Donald Kipper, U. L. Grover, Mrs. H. Y. Traver, and Mrs. E. M. Johnson.”*”

^•Church R e c o r d s.

210 The first church building taken over by the Gongregational Church was a brown, one-room building with a small storage room behind.

It was furnished with a low

organ and plain, straight benches, with a seating capacity of about fifty.

This little frame building served the

congregation for forty-two years.

In the year 1895, under

the leadership of Reverend M. J. Luark, construction of a new church was begun.

The total cost of construction was

#1 ,6 0 0 , but much of the labor and materials were donated. The present building was dedicated December 13, 1897* The first parsonage was located where the Forrester home now stands and was burned.

The church later bought

the Matteson home across the street from the church for #500. and made it into a parsonage.

The Ladies Aid, which

seemed to be the most active branch of the church for many years,^ did the work of repairing and remodeling the new parsonage., The Social Hall was added to the church in 1935 at a cost of #700. Of the thirty-two ministers who have been assigned to the church since 1866, Reverend Thomas Magill served the

***The Murphys Church, like the Angels Church, and so many churches in the Mother Lode region, had few men. Amon Tanner, an old-timer of Murphys, tells how he was almost the only man who attended the services for many years.

longest period (1911-1927).

Reverend M. J. Luark served

the next longest period, during two different pastorates. Reverend Magill was the last resident minister at Murphys* With the arrival of Reverend Frank Bissell- in May 1925, the Murphys Church was combined with the Angels Church and administered by the resident minister at Angels.

However,

in 1948 the Murphys Church, feeling that this arrangement was unsatisfactory, asked for the appointment of a resident, full-time minister at Murphys.

Reverend Mr. G-ranger con­

tinued as the minister at Angels Camp and Reverend 1. 0. Todd took over the pastorate at Murphys.

This was an ambitious

step for both churches as they had been receiving financial aid from the Home Missionary Society for many years to help pay the pastor’s salary.

This was especially true for

Murphys as this church' had a membership of only forty-seven members. Of all the many members, friends, and loyal workers who have supported the church during its eighty-four years, Mrs. Eliza Hoyt should he mentioned first.

She was a

member of the church for many years, and in her will she left $10,000 to the church,

^his money was invested in

mining stock and has been a source of revenue for many years.1

1Church Records. These records are fairly complete and in good order, thanks to the effort of Mrs. Eva Stephens who was clerk of the church for many years.

2 12

When Father Aleric of Columbia made his first trip into Calaveras County in 1852, he found that Vallecito was the rendezvous for a vicious crew of Mexican bandits, generally night riders, who often spent the night there after making raids on neighboring camps.

There is no

evidence that he made any effort to build a church in the community.

However, there were among the miners, who mined

the rich gravel around Vallecito in the middle ‘fifties, some who believed there should be religious services in the community.

The y obtained a bell and placed it in the large

oak tree, that grew in the center of town.

The pealing of

this bell called those residents of the camp who were in­ terested to religious services under the spreading limbs of this great oak.

It was also used to sound the warnings of a

fire and to call the miners together for public meetings. Some of the old-times tell the story that a collection of #700. was taken to buy the bell and a committee sent to San Francisco to choose the best one available.

The committee,

however, could find no bells in San Francisco and while con­ sulting about the matter in one of the saloons imbibed too freely and spent all the money.

IWalsh, Gold Dust T r a i l s , 69.

213 The next day with no money and no bell, but probably a headache, the committee became desperate and decided to obtain a bell from >one. of the many ships in the harbor. That night the committee quietly stole aboard one of the ships and obtained a fine bell which they brought back to Vallecito and installed in the oak tree, where it remained until 1938.

The only weakness in the story is the fact

that the bell is not a ship’s bell.

It is not rung by

a lanyard attached to the clapper but is rung on a rockerarm as ships1 bells are not.1

However, the bell is old?

as it bears around the top the maker’s name, "Jones and Hitchcock, Troy, New York, 1 8 5 3 - ^ 1 1 old-timers of Vallecito will testify that it had been in the tree longer than any of them could remember when a heavy wind in 1938 blew the old tree down.

The following year the old bell

was mounted on a monument which bears a bronze plaque giv­ ing something of the history of Vallecito. There is no record as to whether there was a church in Vallecito in I8 5 3 when Reverend Caldwell was sent there, but there was very likely some building used for church services.

Perhaps it was the little church

1The more credible story is that an itinerant preacher brought the bell up from San Francisco and mounted it in the tree to summon the miners to worship on Sunday.

which was torn down in 1906 when the present little Union Church was built.

References to church service in Vallecito

in the religious publications of the early mining period would indicate a place of worship more substantial than the open air under the wide branches of an oak tree.

However,

revival meetings during the summer months were held out in the open. In 1856 Reverend 0. P. Fitzgerald, who later became a Bishop of the Methodist Church was supplying the church at Sonora.

In his book, California Sketches, he gives the

following interesting description of a camp meeting at Vallecito, held under the oak trees:**• I had never seen a California camp meeting and when the eccentric Dr. Cannon, who was dentist, evangelist, and .other things all at once, sent me an invitation to be at one that was to be held at Vallecito, in Calaveras County, I accepted. An unexpected circus had thrown in the bacground. The preacher’s ed under one of the largest oaks, were ranged rough, backless seats dation of the worshippers.

the camp meeting stand was erect­ in front of which for the accommo­

During the first day and night of the meeting small but well-behaved audiences waited upon the word, more curious than religious. The second night was a solemn and trying time. The crowd had rushed to the circus. Three or four preachers and a dozen hearers held the camp ground. Everybody was sad but Cannon. He was in high glee. ’Tomorrow night there will be a big crowd as their conscience will bother them,* he predicted.

^Bishop 0 . p. F it z g e r a ld , C a lifo r n ia S k e tc h e s , 8 7 -92.

21.5 This was true and the old camp meeting choruses echoed among the Calaveras hills. The crowds in­ creased until Sunday when Bishop Kavanaugh preached to an immense crowd. The eloquent Kentuckian was in •one of his inspired moods and swept everything be­ fore him. He held the people for nearly two hours. Aniens and shouts burst' forth'all around the stands and tears rained from hundreds of eyes long unused to the melting mood. A Digger Indian chief with a number of bucks and squaws had come upon the grounds and seated against trees watched. The chief watched Bishop Kavanaugh closely and at length showed signs of profound emotion; his bosom heaved, tears streamed down his tawny cheeks, and finally, in a burst of admiration pointed to the Bishop and exclaimed, 1Capitanl Capitanl' He did not understand English. The Sunday night service drew another large crowd and ended with a great victory. Singing and praying kept up beyond midnight. Levi Vanslyke, a wild boy of Vallecito, was converted and became an unusual minister of the gospel. None of the old-timers can remember when the first little church was built in Vallecito, but some of them re­ member that Mr. Moyle donated the lot and also preached in the church even though he was not an ordained minister. Mr. John Solari came to Vallecito as a seventeen-year-old boy in 1877, and the church was there then in the same lot. In this first church the door was to the west. 'Many of the old-timers remember Mr. Harper riding his roan horse over from his ranch on Murphys Creek every Sunday to hold services.

He was n0-fc an ordained minister either, but

216 enjoyed preaching, as he was a devout Baptist.

n

On two

different occasions women preachers conducted services in the church. The church was a community church with no denomin­ ation supplying the church regularly.

Much of the time,

as has been previously stated, the Vallecito Church was a part of the Murphys or Angels pastorate.

In 1906 the old

church was torn down and replaced by the present one. Funds were raised for construction materials by donations and benefit food sales and dinners.

A good deal of the

labor in the construction work was donated. Different denominations have used this later church.

The Christian Science Church of Angels used it

for several years before they were able to construct their present lovely concrete block and tile-roofed church in Angels.

In more recent years the Nazarene Church appoint­

ed a minister to Vallecito, and services were held regular­ ly by that denomination.

At present the different Protes­

tant Churches of Angels, Murphys, and Sonora are alternately conducting services in the church. The little brick church at Copperopolis was built in 1862 when Copperopolis was furnishing copper for the

^Mr. Harper’s granddaughter, MpS# Ed French of Murphys, gave this information.

21? Union forces in the Civil War.

It was supposed to have been

built by the Congregational Church*1' but apparently was not. supplied by a Congregational minister.

None of the old-

timers can remember when it was anything but a community church, open to any denomination who would supply a minister.^

In 1889-90 a Reverend Tubbs was the Protes­

tant minister in charge of the work at Copperopolis; under his direction a parsonage was added to the church property. This was later burned and the church was neglected.

The

Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) took over the church and used it as a meeting place for a number of years.

More recently the

Copperopolis Community Club has purchased it from the Odd Fellows as a Community Church and Hall.

Sunday School is

held regularly, in the church at the present time and Reverend Mr. Clark holds Union services every Sunday. In the ’sixties there were two churches in Copper­ opolis, but one was probably the Catholic Church.

However,

the Methodist's were sending ministers to hold services in Copperopolis.

In 1864 the Methodist sent Reverend W. C.

Curry to the pastorate of Copperopolis and Campo Seco. ^e reported fourteen members at Copperopolis, and a lot

^•Elliot, Calaveras County, 68. ^Mrs. Biedinger and her sister Mrs. Bollinger'came to Copperopolis in 1883, and they state it has always been a Union Church.

218 valued at $200*

Apparently the Methodists had plans to

construct their own building and were not using the Con­ gregational Church*

In IS65 Copperopolis was coupled with

Knights Ferry and supplied by J. McKelvey.

Reverend E. A.

Wible was appointed to Copperopolis in 1866,

and this is

the last appointment made by the Methodist Conference. Apparently no church was ever constructed by the Methodist. The little wooden church which was built at Milton in the early *eighties by the Methodist Church South was rebuilt in 1895 and turned in a different position.

At

that time a steeple, vestibule, and bell were added. Milton was an important shipping transfer point at this time as it was the terminus of the Stockton and Copperopolis division of the Central Pacific Railroad.

This church

supplied the spiritual needs of the residents of Milton until 1910 when the Nazarene Church was organized and built a new church on the opposite side of town.

This new

group took away about half the members of the Methodist Church, and with the decrease in population the church had difficulty surviving.

The Methodist Church was finally

closed in the early ’twenties and, except f or an occasional funeral service, has remained unused.

In recent years it

•^Anthony, Fifty ^ears of Methodism, 261.

219 has been sold and the steeple, bell, and weathervane moved to the church at Valley Springs, the only active M ethodist Church in Calaveras County. The first Catholic priest to visit the Southern Mines was Father Arnault a Frenchman who had come up from Mexico in 1849.

He established a little church in Sonora

after the classic style of the coastal Missions. 1

Little

is known of his work, and he may have visited the camps along the Stanislaus and in other parts of Calaveras County. 'The successor to Father Arnault was Heverend Henry Aleric who was sent from San Francisco in May, 1851, to the South­ ern Mines by Bishop Alemany.

He made his headquarters in

Sonora for a period of six years but soon set out on a . trip to the camps in Calaveras County which were a part of his parish.

To Father Aleric is due the credit for initiat­

ing the Catholic work in Calaveras County.

These earlier

trips were made either on a mule or by foot, but the hardy Father rejoiced in making his rounds to give spiritual con­ solation to the lonely miners.

^

In his first trip into Calaveras County in the ear3_y part of the summer of 1851, Father Alerid first visited Robinson’s Ferry on the Stanislaus, or as the Mexicans

1Walsh, Gold Dust T r a i l s , 58.

220 called it, Melones, whefe he found a large camp of Mexicans, ^e was especially impressed by their simple faith and the respect shown him.

He then made his way over the hill to

a little camp on Carson Creek called Carson Hill Diggings. Here he found a group of Irish Catholics who welcomed him and for whom he held services in the hospitable boarding house of Mr. and Mrs. Rooney.

Little Theresa Rooney who

attended this first mass was eventually to become famous as the wife of lames G. Fair, the multi-millionaire of the Comstock Lode who began his mining career at Carson Hill and Angels Camp. At Angels Camp Father Aleric found a large number of Irish and Italian miners of the Catholic faith who wel­ comed him, but there was no church building for services. However, some building was used, probably a hotel lobby or even a saloon, because it had been three years since many of them had attended church services and Father Aleric had a large attendance.

By 185L the population of Angels had

reached five thousand and sufficient funds were obtained to build a modest little church of wood with a steeple in the Gothic form.

According to Walsh, the building was on

the east side of the road leading out to San Andreas, just opposite the old Invincible Mine.**"

1-Walsh, Gold Dust T r a i l s , 67

This church only sur­

vived a short time and was destroyed in the great fire of O'une, 1855 •

Services were held in the town hall for a

time, but with the reconstruction of the town, another church was erected on Lightner Hill just in back of the Dightner Mine mill and just south of the Utica Manor House. This church served for Catholic services until 1903 when the present church was constructed under the direction of Father lames Vaughan who came to Angels in October, 1901, as parish priest.

Father Vaughan didn*t trust the solidity

of the ground under the old church and looked for a more solid location.***

In 1903 lames V. Coleman, owner of the

Angel*s Quartz Mining Company, donated the lot where the present church now stands on the east side of the main road to San Andreas and on the north side of town.

Coleman

also subscribed a hundred dollars a month toward the con­ struction of the church and a residence for the priest, until the buildings were completed. The church at Angels had been administered by the priest from San Andreas most of the time until 1900 when Father Hunt took up his residence in Angels Camp.

He was

given the care of missions at Murphys, Vallecito, Douglas

^Father Patrick Hennebary who visited Angels in 1865 states in his diary that the noise of tunneling in the mine beneath the church became so disturbing that he had to dis­ continue his services. Walsh, Gold Dust Trails, 67.

222 Flat, Carson Hill, Melones, Copperopolis, and Altaville. While Father Michael 0*Reilly who had been sent to San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill, West Point, and Comanche.

Father

Vaughan was the pastor at Angels from 1901 to 1922 when he was succeeded by Father lames O fFlanaghan.

In 1926 all of

Calaveras County was given over to the care of Father O’Flanaghan.

Father ^ohn McG-uire came to Angels and took

over the work’in the county in 1932 and remained until 1949 when he was replaced by Father Kenny.”*" Returning to Father Alericfs first trip in 18$1, we find him going out to the north to what was then Cherokee Flat, now Altaville, and then turning to the right up Angels Creek until he made his way to Murphys Diggings.

He found

about three thousand miners in the vicinity of the camp, and a large proportion of them were of the Catholic faith. They welcomed him enthusiastically, and before he left a group of Irishmen promised that they would erect a suitable house of worship.

This was accomplished before the arrival

of Father Slattery in 185$.

Pete Mitchler, an old-timer of

Murphys, was author of the story that his father was a carpenter and helped construct the first little frame church which stood half way up the hill on the north side of town.

■^Walsh, Cold Dust Trails, 519.

223 This location was probably in back of the present post office.

Mitchler also tells that the church was torn

down by the miners who wanted to mine the gravel beneath the church.

He says they went to Father Motter, who was

the pastor at San Andreas and in charge of the Murphys church in 1 8 5 8 , and promised to substitute a more elabo­ rate building of brick on a knoll west of the camp if he would consent to the removal of the present church.

This

was agreed to and at once the new brick church was under constr uction.1 The Kaler girls, Loretta and Elizabeth, whose father Austin Kaler came to Murphys in 1852, have a dif­ ferent story.

They can remember their mother telling

about the little church of wood burning down and how some of the women rushed in and saved the altar pieces. The church was begun in 1858 and located at its present site on a lot donated by Dr. William; Jones.

It

is not known just when the buildihg was completed but it was dedicated on November 3* 1861, by Reverend Joseph S. Alemany, Archbishop of San Francisco.2

This lovely little

The bricks for this church were made at a quarry just north of Murphys and just opposite the Tanner Ranch house. 2Calaveras Chronicle, October 19, 1861, carries a story telling or the deeucation.

2ZU

brick church, named after Saint Patrick, with its steep roof and pointed belfry, located on its pine-elad hill overlooking the valley, is one of the most beautiful in all the mining region*

When the church was first con­

structed the windows were made of beautiful stained glass, rumored to have come from Italy, but in later years these were removed much to the regret of the lpcal residents* Murphys never had a resident pastor but was always administered from Columbia, San Andreas, or Angels.

Until

1855 the camps in the southern part of the county were ad­ ministered from Columbia, but in July, 1855, Father Motter arrived at San Andreas and took over all the work in Calaveras County.

He was the church builder, and under

his supervision churches were constructed at San Andreas, Angels, Albany Flat, Campo Seco, and Murphys.

was re­

placed in 1862 by Father Ygnacio Yzguierdo who resided at San Andreas.

Murphys was administered from San Andreas

until 1900 when Father Hunt took up residence in Angels and Murphys became a part of his pastorate. 1 Father Aleric returned to Columbia in 1851 by way of Douglas Flat and Vallecito, saying mass in each place for the faithful but making no effort to establish a church in either camp.

IWalsh, Gold Dust T r a i l s . 519.

San Andreas was first visited by a Catholic Priest, Father John Bobard, in May, 1851.

He left during the

summer and resided at Mokelumne Hill, but returned in the fall and made plans to build a church.

This church was a

canvas structure having a wooden cross over the door.

The

interior had no seats, but there was an altar at one end 1 covered with candlesticks made of wine bottles. The church was named San Andreas and apparently the camp took its name from the church. Father Bobard*s territory included the northern part of.Calaveras County and all of what is now Amador County.

He at once set out to visit the different camps

in his parish, such as Calaveritas, San Antone, and Dogtown, to the south and Double Springs, Campo Seco, Lancha Plana, and the bars along the Mokelumne River.

At Mokelumne Hill,

Father Bobard found a large group of Irish miners who had arrived in the camp in 1851, and they gave him a hearty welcome.

A church was soon built near the location of the

present church, but it was burned in 1854.

The faithful

gathered subscriptions and a new church, distinguished by stained-glass windows, an artistic cupola, and an ornamental cross, was built on Brewery Hill.

J-The P a c i f i c , June 18, 1852

This may be the church

referred to in the following item in the Calaveras Chronicle, March 20, 1862: Reverend Father Byrne will commence the building of a new Catholic Church in a few weeks on the lot donated for that purpose by Francis Snyder, Esq. This church was destroyed in the fire of 1874, after which the little church which is now used was built.

1

There was never a resident priest at Mokelumne Hill as it was served by priests from San Andreas, Volcano, and of late years from Angels Camp. Father Bobard continued on his trip to Big Bar on the Mokelumne River and to Jackson, Sutter Creek, Drytown, and Volcano.

This was his territory until 1854 when Father

Rogalle took over the work in Amador County. ed, however, by Father Blave from Stockton.

He was assist­ When Father

Bobard returned to San Andreas in 1851, he set up the first canvas church which has been described.

This was probably

the first Catholic Church in what is now Calaveras County and may have preceded the canvas Methodist Church dedicated by Reverend Isaac B. Fish on November 23, 1851.

However,

according to the story of old residents, a more substantial church was soon built on the site of the Baggio’s family home, near the Masonic Hall and just a short distance down

^Walsh, Cold Dust Trails, 99.

227 the street from the present church. In July, 1854-9 Father Bobard was replaced by Father Francis Foretnick of Monterey who took over the work in Amador County as well.

There were few churches in this

northern territory and services were held in other build­ ings.

Drytown, which had a strong Mexican population, had

the first Catholic Church in this region, built in 1854. This church was burned in 1 8 5 5 to spite the Mexican popu­ lation of Drytown by their Mexican enemies in Lower Rancheria.

There was a Catholic Church in Volcano in

1 8 5 4 because the murderer, McAllister, was hung from a big

oak by the side of the Catholic Church.

There is no further

information as to its age, however. In May, 1 8 5 6 ,

the town o f San Andreas was burned,

including the Catholic Church and residence of Father Foretnick.

Father Foretnick moved to Volcano at this time

and gave his attention to the work in Amador County, and two priests, Father Joseph Callagher and Father Charles Delahunty took over in San Andreas until Father John Hotter arrived in July.

Father Hotter was given all of

Calaveras County as his pastorate, and was faced with the problem of rebuilding churches which had burned in Angels (1855)

and San Andreas.

His success in building churches

in San Andreas, Angels, Albany Flat, Murphys, and Campo

228 Seco certainly qualified him for the title of the great church builder* Despite a fire in 1857, Father Hotter, with the aid of Catholics and non-Catholics alike, succeeded in getting a new building erected by August, 1857.

The San Andreas,

Independent, August 12, 1857, states: The church at San Andreas was erected by Messrs. Scott and Sheehan; the frontispiece, gallery and pews, by Messrs. Rapp and Bliss, and the Altar and Tabernacle by Messrs. Hughes and Sheldon of Mokelumne Hill. The whole buildcost thus far about $4,000 and it will cost about $1,000 more to finish it, with plastering, etc. This amount has been raised on subscrip­ tions by the congregation of San Andreas, with generous additional subscriptions of other de­ nominations. The church was dedicated on August 9, 1S57, by Archbishop Alemany of San Francisco, followed by High Mass and a sermon by Reverend Father McFeeley.^

The church is

still in use and is located on the hill to the west of town with an inspiring view over the surrounding country.

It has

a cupola, surmounted with the cross, and carved in a white marble tablet over the door is the following inscription in Roman letters:

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.Tt

Father Hotter visited all the camps in Calaveras County for the next six years, as well as assisting Father Foretnick in Amador County, who was in ill health.

^•San Andreas, Independent, August 12, 1857.

In

229 May, 1862, he was recalled to San Francisco to become the secretary to Archbishop Alemany.

His zeal resulted in the

achievement of more than any other apostle who covered the early trails of Calaveras. lather Ygnacio Yzguierdo, a refugee priest from Mexico was the pastor at San Andreas for the next three years.

He leaves a definite record of his work a rare

thing for these early priests to do.

In his final report

on May 1, 1 8 6 5 , he states that he had churches in San Andreas, Campo Seco, Lancha Plana, Angels Camp,^ and Murphys under his supervision.

He visited the following

villages where there were no chapels:

Vallecito, Cave City,

El Dorado, Calaveritas, Grizzertown (sic) and Jenny Lind. The good priest had also established a Catholic school in San Andreas with over sixty children in attendance, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

The school was supported by

pew rentals and small tuition charges for each family sending children.

o

This school continued until 187A when it

was discontinued. One of the churches supplied by Father Yzguierdo

^•He mentions two churches at Angels— 1st church, St. Michaels; 2nd church, St. Columbans. ^Walsh, Gold Dust Trails, 112.

230 was the one he had. built in Copperopolis in I8 6 3 .

Copper­

opolis was the largest mining camp in the county at this time and by 1865 could claim a population of 10,000,

Copper

had been discovered in i860 by W. K. Reed and Thomas McCarty, and by 1861 the Civil War was demanding this copper. large camp sprang up quickly.

A

In 1861 the first Catholic

Church was constructed, but it burned in one of the numerous fires that plagued the early camps.

In I8 6 3 a Mrs. King gave

a lot for a new church, and with financial donations from her and others in the town, Father Yzguierdo built the new church.

This church survived the big fire of August, 1867,

but was later burned.

With the revival of copper mining

during World War I, Copperopolis became a thriving community with the need for a new church.

In 1916 Father lames

Vaughan, pastor of the Angels Camp church, built the present attractive white church of St. Ignatius which is used today. Father Yzguierdo succeeded in getting a church for the faithful in Lancha Plana by persuading the Hibernian Benevolent Society to convert their meeting hall into a church.

This was solemnly dedicated on June 10, I8 6 3 , but

after I8 6 5 , placer mining declined along the Mokelumne River and the camps became depopulated.

The few remaining

buildings and settlers disappeared with the hydraulic and dredger operations.

The little church disappeared with the

rest. The little Catholic Church at Campo Seco was also abondoned and torn down.

The bell was removed and in­

stalled in the cupola of the little church that was later erected at Comanche. .After Father Yzguierdo left San Andreas in 1865 there were many priests sent to continue the work in Cala­ veras County.

With the exception of one year (1886-87)

when Father Van Schie of Sutter Creek administered the work, San Andreas remained the resident parish of the priests who attended the county until 1900 when Angels Camp became the residence of Father Hunt.

He was given the care of the

missions in the south end of the county. In 1926 Angels became the residence of the parish priest, Father lames 0*Flanagan, and San Andreas became a Mission Church.

In 1932 Father John Maguire replaced

Father 0 fFlanagan and continued to supply the work for the whole county until 1949 when replaced by Father Kenny.

CHAPTER V III SCHOOLS AHD TEACHERS Although the rush to California in ’forty-nine and •fifty was made up very largely of single men, it was not long until wives and families were coming to join the husbands and fathers.

But even before the state had many

school-age youngsters, the first State legislature made provisions for an educational system.

The sixteenth and

thirty-sixth sections of land in each township had been set aside by the federal government for the promotion of public schools, and for a university two whole townships were granted.

Added to this was a 500,000 acre grant, by

the federal government for internal improvement.^

The first

State Superintendent of Public Instruction was John G. Marvin, who estimated in his report of February 13> 1&55 that the value of the school land in California was about #8,000,000.

An effort was made to use this school land

for a general fund sacred to the public schools, but it was opposed by Senator Wm. Gwin and General H. W. Halleck. As a result of the sale of school lands, about 50,000 acres

^Coy, Humboldt Bay Region, 8A-. This had been set aside by the state constitution for support of schools.

of land were lost before safety measures were established.

1

Superintendent Marvin in his report on schools in 1852 recommended:

(1) that a five cent tax be levied on

each one hundred dollars worth of property for the aid of schools; (2) that the office of County Superintendent be created; and that proceeds from swamp and overflow land be applied to the school.

The report also stated that

Calaveras County had one hundred children of school age but no public schools. ‘ The first free school in the state was organized in 1850 in San Francisco.

The system of public schools was

rather slow in developing and many of the early schools were private schools, supported by a religious denomination. As late as 1857, State Superintendent Paul K. Hubbs report­ ed that there was no such thing as a public school in the state and that rate bills and other expenses excluded many from the schools.

He urged a greater state appropriation.

The legislature followed his advice in I8 5 8 and also authorized the school districts to levy a special tax on all property, so that the schools would be open to all on a free basis.

However, as late as 1862 the public school

at Mokelumne Hill was charging one dollar and

fifty cents

per month for all children attending the school. However, the school system of the state was being •*-Mason, Amador C o u n t y , 2 6 7 .

234 g rad u ally p u b lic

im proved.

Under th e

o rig in a l a c t s e ttin g asid e

lan d f o r the b e n e f it of sc h o o ls,

only

t h r e e m onths

o f s c h o o l e a c h y e a r w as r e q u i r e d f o r any a s s i s t a n c e the p u b lic

lan d rev e n u e.

In 1858,

A. J . M o u l d e r ,

from

th e S ta te

S u p erin ten d en t of P ublic I n s tr u c tio n ,

recommended t o

leg islatu re

be r e q u i r e d

school f o r

th at a ll

school d i s t r i c t s

the P u b lic

s c h o o l s y s t e m w a s made

i n 1 8 6 3 w h e n a new l a w p r o v i d e d f o r t h e e l e c t i o n for school d is tr ic ts

to s e r v e

and a u t h o r i z e d t h e i s s u a n c e la w was p a s s e d

County S u p e r i n te n d e n t resid en ts.

A lso,

of t r u s t e e s

th ree years

of te a c h e r c e r t i f i c a t e s .

2

t r u s t e e s w ere a p p o i n t e d by th e

on t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of t h e in

the use of

lo cal

tex tbooks

I n 1855 S u p e r i n t e n d e n t Hubbs r e ­

co m m en d ed t h a t u n i f o r m s e r i e s

o f t e x t b o o k s be u s e d .

and som etim es e v e r y p u p i l , By t h e m i d d l e o f t h e

in

fo r a p e rio d of

som e u n i f o r m i t y

was b e i n g d e v e lo p e d .

sch o o l,

to h o ld

a p e r i o d o f s i x m o n th s e a c h year.'*'

A nother advance i n

B efore t h i s

th e

th e sc h o o l sy stem of

had h i s

S ix ties

the

Every

own t e x t b o o k s . confused c o n d itio n s

th e s t a t e w ere b e in g e l i m i n a t e d and

^-"The S a n A n d r e a s S c h o o l w i l l commence i t s s e s s i o n o n Monday n e x t i n t h e new s c h o o l h o u s e , n o r t h o f t o w n . P a r e n t s and o t h e r s a r e i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e s c h o o l w i l l be c o n ti n u e d f o u r m onths and a l l th e p rim a ry b r a n c h e s o f E n g lish ta u g h t." J . W. W i l l a r d i s t e a c h e r . . S a n A n d r e a s , I n d e p e n d e n t , Ma p Ch 1 3 , 1 8 5 8 . 2 M a so n , Amador C o u n t y t 2 6 8 .

235 higher standards were being demanded in the schools. Naturally enough the first schools in Calaveras County were private schools, supported by tuition from the parents,

^t is impossible to tell just when the first

public schools were established because there are no county records on the matter before May 7, 1855, the date of the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

At that time we

know from the minutes of the Board that public schools had been established in San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill, Angels Camp, Murphys and Cave City.

However, the little camp of

Ft. lohn in what is now Amador County was probably the first camp to have a school as well as a church in 1850.-®-

In

1 8 5 2 a school was organized in Mokelumne Hill in the tent

used by the Methodist Church. Fish, wife of the minister.

The teacher was Mrs. Isaac She received seventy-five

dollars a month for daily sessions of three hours.

The

school numbered five pupils— two white children and three negroes.

2

The Methodist Church was also the location of the first school in lackson.

It was taught by Mrs. Trowbridge,

one of the few women in the camp before 1830.

•^ Rensch a n d H o o v e r , H i s t o r i c

S p o ts , 15.

^ H i i i o t t , C a l a v e r a s C oun ty, 7 7 .

3

M ason , Amador C o u n t y , 169 .

In 1852, State Superintendent Marvin’s report stated there were twenty public schools in the state and as yet none in Calaveras County.

Private schools were being

established which were turned into public schools between 1853 and 1855.

Murphys had private schools taught by a

Miss Powers and also one taught by a Miss Vichers before I8 5 5 .

These were probably primary grades.

A Mr. Jaquith

taught in the first school building in Murphys before 1855. He was the first teacher in the public school. 1

The

M e t h o d i s t Church, b u i l t in 1853, may h a v e b e e n u s e d as a

school, also.

When funds for its construction were being

planned, it was stated the building would be used for church, education, and town meetings. 2 Schools, probably private, had been established in 3

Volcano, Jackson, Sutter Creek, and lone in I8 5 3 .

lames G-ould moved to Lancha Plana on the Mokelumne River in 1853 and set up a private school for the ten or twelve children in the camp.^ Many miners were bringing their families to California,

1For a full discussion, see Richard C. Wood, Murphys, Queen of the Sierra, 59. ^The Pacific, June 1 1 , 1 8 5 2 . ^Mason, Amador County, 2 6 8 . ^Ibid., 1 9 4 .

237 and State Superintendent Hubbs reported the number of school children in the state had increased from 2,000 in 1853 to 5 ) 7 5 1 in 1854.

It was probably in this year that

the public schools were organized in San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill, Angels Gamp, Murphys and Gave Gity.

The minutes of

the Board of Supervisors give us accurate dates of the formation of public school districts after 1855 and the following is a list of the first of these that were formed: V a lle cito .N ov. 1 7 , D i s t r i c t No. 2 o f Tow nship No. 6, em bracing P l e a s a n t S p r in g s , R ic h G ulch, R ich G ulch F l a t , C edar G ulch, M o s q u i t o G u l c h , a n d G l e n c o e . . . . . * ...............N o v . 1 7 , D ouglas F l a t .... F e b . 11, D i s t r i c t N o . 3, T o w n s h i p N o . 6 , M i d d l e B a r t o Bay S t a t e R a n c h ..........................D e c . 20, W e s t P o i n t .................................. . . . . . . . . . ................. D e c . 2 9 , D i s t r i c t N o . 4 , T o w n s h i p N o . 6 , Bay S t a t e R a u c h a n d C h i l i G u l c h . . . . . . _______ F e b . 1 9 , U p p er C a l a v e r i t a s , Lower C a l a v e r i t a s , F o r e m a n ’ s R a n c h , O ld G u l c h , F r e n c h G u l c h , S a n A n t o n e , I n d i a n C r e e k . . . . . . . .May 1 5 , N e g r o G u l c h ( J e s u s M a r i a ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .^-ug. 1 6 ,

1855.

1855. I 856. 1856. 1856. 1857. 1858. 1858.

In June, 1 8 5 9 , the following twelve school districts were named by the Board of Supervisors:

San Andreas, Mokelumne

Hill, Pleasant Springs, Chili Gulch, Golden Gate, Gave City, West Point, Angels, Murphys, Vallecito, Douglas Flat, Negro Gulch, and Upper Calaveritas. By June 12, 1871, there were the following twentysix school districts: Paloma, Campo Seco, Comanche, Salt Spring Valley, Copperopolis,

2 38

Vallecito, Douglas Flat, Telegraph City, Fleasant Springs, Mosquito Gulch, West Point, Brushville, Black Hills r Murphys, Altaville, San Andreas, Petersburg, Fourth Crossing, Spring Valley, Washington Ranch, Chili Gulch, Railroad Flat, Negro Gulch, Cave City, Sheepranch and Upper Calaveritas. The school districts were eventually increased until there were fifty-seven, but with the decrease of mining activity and loss of population, plus unionization of a few schools, the number of school districts are now twenty-four. There have been unionizations of districts of West Point, El Dorado, and Angels.

Lincoln joined West Point in 1930.

Banner and Cave City joined to form El Dorado Union in 1946, and Carson and Melones joined Angels in 1948 to form the Mother Lode Union.

Many of the schools, however, were

small one-room school buildings and when the population migrated, such as at Washington Flat, Peppermint, Big Trees, Petersburg, Williams, and others, the schools closed and the district was ahsorbed by an adjoining district.

This

occurred to the Union School District which was annexed to Mokelumne Hill in 1870. The two high school districts, Bret Harte at Angels and Calaveras at San Andreas, were organized in 1905.

In

1924 two years of high school work was provided at West Point but this functioned only as a part of the elementary

239 district. Apparently the first County Superintendent of Schools was R, Thompson as there is no record of any re­ ports on schools by a superintendent before this time. Up until 1855 ^he assessor had been acting as County Superintendent of Schools.

1

State Superintendent Marvin

had recommended in 1852 that the County Assessor be made ex-officio County Superintendent. The following report of Superintendent Thompson, published in the San Andreas, Independent, November 2 6 , 1 8 5 9 , gives a rather complete picture of the schools:

SAN ANDREAS— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 232. Teacher, Mr. Joseph Holden, Trustees: J. Benjamin, J. Sullivan, N. B. Jenks. CAMPO SECO— Scholars between' 4 and 18 years of age, 136, Teacher, Mrs. Maria Hill. Trustees: J. B. McG-ilvery, J. Gabbert, Wm. 0. Gray. UPPER CALAVERITAS— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 108. Teacher, Mr. D. K. Swim. Trustees, J. W. Sharp, E. R. Purple, Moses Thorp. MOKELUMNE HILL— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 147 • Teachers, John H # Allen and Wm. J. Bakin. Trustees: J. C. Gebbhart, A. P. Dudley,, James Hepburn. PLEASANT SPRINGS— Scholars'between 4 and 18 years of age, 51. Teacher, Miss Selina Griswold. Trustees: A. H. Hoerschner, George Turner, Capt. Burning.

^Coy, Humbold t Bay Region , 1 5 9 .

240

CHILI GULCH— Scholars-between 4 and 18 years of age, 52. Teacher, Mrs. rlester A. Morse. Trustees: Mr. N. Beals, Mp. Cassil, Mr. L. R. Morse. GOLDEN GATE— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 29. Teacher, Miss Faulks. Trustees: L. M. Schrack, J. Dickerson, A. R. Young. CAVE CITY— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 22. Teacher, M. M. Griffith.Trustees: Geo. .K. Johnson, W. C. Bean, H. Howes. WEST POINT— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 56. Teachers, M. M. Collier and Miss L. J. Hope. Trustees: S. G. Briggs, A. M. Hope ANGELS— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 140. Teacher, W. W. Durham. Trustees: Wm. Coddington, F. Maxon, J. C. Scribner. ALTAVILLE— Scholars between 4 and 18 years of age, 92. Teachers, Miss M. J. Clayes and W. W. Durham. Trustees: J. Ward, A. Gardner, C. S. Rieves. MURPHYS— Scholars between the ages of 4 and 18 years, 124. ' Teachers, L. W. Keys and Miss Mary A. Kelly. Trustees: Wm. Jones, Volney Shearer, R. Senter. VALLECITO— Scholars between 4 and 18 years df age, 9 0 . Teachers, M. Holmes and T. W. Brotherton. Trustees: A. Taylor, J. Booth, M. W. Hall. Two years later Superintendent Thompson gives an­ other report on the conditions of the schools in the Calaveras County which was published in the Balaveras Chronicle, November 1 1 , 1 8 6 1 .

It is worth quoting as he takes pride

in pointing out the advancement made in the public school system. No District in the County that has drawn public funds for the last year has had school for a less period than

four months during the year, and the average of the districts is over seven months; that is, the children on an average in the 13 Districts from which I received reports have had the privilege of attending school for over seven months of the last school year. This is nearly a month more than- last term. The total number of children entitled to draw public money the coming year is 1822; last- year, 1600. They are divided as follows: San Andreas, 346; Campo Seco, 111; Upper Calaveritas 123; Mokelumne Hill, 220; Pleasant Springs, 66; Chili G-ulch, 109; West Point, 7 8 ; Angels , 152; Altaville, 217; Murphys, 177; Vallecito, 70; Brushville, 93; Comanche, 5 6 ; Total, 1822. The census returns from Cave City shows that they have 48 school children for which they would have been entitled to draw, if the teachers had made a report. This makes the second year that the Cave City District has lost its share of the school fund, through the neglect of its teachers. The total amount spent for school purposes during the school year is a little over $13,000.00. About one half this amount was raised by rates and private sub­ scription, one quarter from the county fund and one quarter from the State fund. This includes $4000 expended at Murphys for a school house. The amount raised,by different districts by rates and private subscriptions, are as follows: San Andreas, $4&0; Campo Seco, $268; Upper Calaveri­ tas, #232; Mokelumne Hill, #533; Pleasant Springs, #420 Chili G-ulch, #167; West Point, #750; Angels, $663; Altaville, #125; Murphys, #3100; Vallecito, #267; Brush ville, $150; Comanche, $300; Total, #7455. At some future time I will give through your paper a short history of each school in the County. R. Thompson, County Supt. of Common Schools. W. C. Mosher was County Superintendent in 1866 and h i s r e p o r t p u b l i s h e d i n t h e C a l a v e r a s C h r o n i c l e , M arch 1 7 ,

stated that the amount expended on public schools between 1852 and I8 6 5 had amounted to $96,011♦

The total school

attendance for the past year had been 1275 with an average daily attendance of 691 in twenty-two schools.

The total

expenditures had been $15,878., and $1 0 ,7 5 2 . of this amount had been for teachers1 salaries. The school enrollment bad almost doubled in 1870 and six new school districts had been added.

County

Superintendent Wells reports that there were 2151 pupils in attendance in the following schools: Angels, 115; Altaville, 107; Brushville, 7&; Car­ son Hill, 39; Camp-o Seco, .90; Cave City, 17; Comanche, 100; Chili G-ulch, 66; Copperopolis, .112; Douglas Flat, 11; Eureka, 57; fourth Crossing, 75; Mosquito Gulch, 19; Murphys, 172; Mokelumne Hill, 196; Uegro Gulch, 18; Petersburg, 81; Pleasant Springs, 16; Paloma, 17; San Andreas, 159; Spring Valley, 35; Sheep Ranch, 30; Salt Valley, 20; Telegraph City, 97; Upper Calaveritas, 13; Vallecito, 82; West Point, 73; Washington Ranch,'10; Total, 2151. This apparently was the largest enrollment up to this time in the schools of the county and' exceeded the present enrollment.

The enrollment in 1950 in both elementary

and high school as reported by Superintendent Chas. Schwoerer in 1863.

This is slightly more than the 1822

reported in 1861. By 1890, according to a report of Superintendent William Nuner, the number of pupils in the schools'had increased to 2421.

This was the largest attendance ever

243 reported in the county*

He also reported that the county

had fifty-three school buildings, one of brick, and employ­ ed sixty teachers, twenty-five of whom held grammar grade certificates and thirty-five primary certificates.'**

There

were 2407 pupils in attendance in the fifty-seven schools of the county in 1904.

The number of pupils was declining but

the number of schools had increased by three over the number in operation in 1890.

This was the largest number of school

districts established.

After this there was a decrease to

the present twenty-four. The total number of teachers were then seventy-three, employed at the average salary of $63.07 a month. There are many old school buildings in Calaveras County.

Many of them should have been replaced with new,

modern ones, as they are inadequate.

The residents of

Douglas Flat claim they have the oldest building still in use, giving the date 1834 for its construction.

There

are no records that substantiate this‘claim, but the oldtimers say it was built the same year the first little school was built in Murphys . The enrollment must have been rather small at

^State Resources, March 1890, 77. 2

This is a statement of one of the oldest residents of Douglas Flat, Dave Eltringham, in an interview with Superintendent Schwoerer

Douglas Flat because on June 7, 1859, ^he Board of Super­ visors ordered the Douglas Flat and Muiphys School consolidated under the name of Murphys District.

1

The following year, i860, the present Muiphys school, which has been in continuous service to the present time, was built at a cost of f^OOO.

This fund was raised by

contributions and the labor donated. the land.

Dr. Wm. Jones donated

The new two-room school was o.bcupied in 1861

by Mr. ^aquith and Mr. Isaac Ayers as teachers with an enrollment of 177.

A third room as a separate building,

was built for the primary grades in the 1880*s when the enrollment became too large for the building. ^Be Calaveras Chronicle, November 18, 1871, printed the following names of pupils in the Muiphys School who were on the honor roll: Effie Fisk, Annie Shearer, Clara Heulard, Francis Mitchler, Sarah Williams, Charles Curtis, Frank Fisk, Williard Rhodes, John Carley, Winnie Rooney, Mary Shearer, Francis Vancil, Carmelita Dorrain, Lizzie Osborn, Melvin Curtis, Harry Cregg, Frank Davis, Ceorge Marshall, whole number in attendance, 112. Signed, E. It* Knowlton, and Mrs. L. A. Knowlton. The Douglas Flat School was not permanently combined with the Muiphys School because the little one-room schoolhouse has graduated many boys and girls in its years of

^-Minutes of the Meetings of the Board of Super­ visors.

service.

It has been closed in recent times, but is now

in active service again. There were no high schools in Calaveras County until 1905 when the two high schools were established.

The

Calaveras Union High School district was approved by the voters on November 4» 1904 and consisted of the entire county.

In deciding where the high school building should

be located, the Board of Supervisors ran into the problem of rivalry between the respective towns, expecially Angels Camp and San Andreas.

The supervisors from San Andreas and

Mokelumne Hill naturally wanted the school located in their area.

They succeeded in getting the supervisor from Angels

to v ote in favor of San Andreas with the promise that‘the County Democratic Central Committee would recommend him for postmaster at Angels.

The vote was then three out of five

for locating the high school at San Andreas.^ The residents of Angels were incensed.

They felt

their community was the victim of political horse trading and under the leadership of Harry Barden, Eli Price, and Fred Stevenot planned to organize a high school district at Angels, taking in the surrounding elementary school districts of.Vallecito, Carson, Altaville, Robinson Ferry,

^The story as told by M. H. Manuel, an old-timer of Murphys. Some old-timers say the supervisor from Angels had been defeated in an election and voted for San Andreas for spite„

246 Douglas Flat, San Domingo, Keystone, Ramona, and Washington Flat.

On June 19, 1905 the Bret Harte High School district

was approved by the voters.

School was opened in the fall

of 1905 at Bret Harte High School with E, d # McKinley as principal assisted by Miss Ruby Howell.

A third teacher,

Miss Georgina Ramsay was added the second year.

The first

building was a two-room frame building, located on Democrat Hill.

Later rooms were added to this building, until in

1926 there were ten rooms.'*' The courses of study of fere d were college preparatory and commercial work.

There were no frills, such as physical

education and music.

In the first year there were two

classes entered— freshman and sophomore.

Many of the

elementary schools of the county had been offering ninth grade work for a number of years, and there had accumulated quite a large sophomore class. There were forty-six pupils in these first two classes.

Here is a partial list of the students:

p

Virgil Airola, Frank McClury, loe Bennett, Sam Nichley, Jupe Jordon,. Ben Carlow, Frank McClory, Fred Lemoine, Myrtle Eason, Annie McKay, Annie Harp, May Grinnan, Lavena Bouche, Della Rolleri, Claire Edwards, Laura Crosby, Rebecca Gardner, Florence Collier, Eva Gazzola, Louise Gazzola, Kate Cutler, Opal Brodie, Reba Carlow, Gertrude Carlow, Esther Carley, Gladys Wierick, Emily Martin, Mau^e Edwards. lRecords of Bret Harte High School. ^Mrs. Florence Martell made out this list. a member of this first class.

She was

The first Board of Trustees for Bret Harte in 1905-06, consisted of the Boards of Trustees for the Angels and Alta­ ville schools.

In 1906 one member to the Board of Trustees

was elected from each of the elementary districts included in the high school district. Funds for construction of the first modest high school building were raised by public contributions. building was enlarged as enrollment required.

The

Mr. Wairen.

Rose donated the five acres of land for the schoolground, and the Manuel Estate donated the lumber. The name Bret Harte was chosen as the name for the high school by Harry Barden because of the poem, "Society on the Stanislow" by Harte that had given so much publicity to Altaville. By 1 9 2 6 the wooden frame building was not adequate to meet the needs of the district, and plans were drawn for a new high school to be located on the highway in Altaville. An election was held and a $60,000 bond issue was approved to raise the necessary funds for the construction of the new building.

These bonds will be retired in 19-55

W. P. Campbell was the principal at the time the new building was constructed and G-us May, A1 Wilson, and Fred

^Superintendent of Schools, Records, 1926-1927.

Stevenot were members of the Board, of Trustees. The Calaveras Union High School began classes in September, 1905, with lames Keith as principal, assisted by R. W. Decker.

These first classes were held in the Masonic

Hall which served as the high school until 1928 when the present building was completed. The district includes the entire county except those schools in the Bret Harte District, and the Board of Trustees was the the County Board of Education. capacity until 1913*

They served in this

The first principal, lames Keith,

served for sixteen years. The first class consisted of six boys and eighteen girls in the G-eneral Culture and Scientific Course and thirteen boys and six girls in Commerical elasses.^ The G-eneral Culture and Scientific Course offered, consisted of the following subjects:

Arithmatic, Algebra,

Latin, General, U. S. History, Georgraphy, Grammar, Com­ position, and Rhetoric, Ivanhoe, Mythes, Ancient History. The enrollment in the above■course: Hattie Dietz, Edith Segale, Katarina Bund, Violet Tyler, Rosa Bartold us, Eva Hoye, Elsie Salcido, Eunice Fischer, Sadie Bund, Birdie Fisk, Lida N. Fisk, Ula R. Hutchins, M. Alma Haupt, Louise Qneto, Idell Parsons, Estelle Podesta, Eunice N. Beal, Florence Getchell,

■^Calaveras Union High School, R e c o r d s, 1 9 0 5 -1 9 0 6

249

Louise Oenochio, Carlos Shinn, Harry Terwilliger, Hertel Fugitt, D. Winchester McCarty, Wm. Nelson. The Commercial Course offered, consisted of the following subjects:

Business English, Arithmetic, Pen­

manship, Spelling, Commercial Law, Bookkeeping, Transcrib­ ing, Shorthand, Typewriting, Business Methods.

The enroll­

ment in the above course-was: Clarence Leonard, Albert Das so, Edwin G-. Steel, Belle Ames, Tessie Genochio, Edyth Zwinge, Laura Dasso, Lottie M. Hall, Agnes Holland, John McFall, Laura Treat, Nellie Miller, Eva Donovan, Frank LaRiviere, Edith Oneto, Nellie Treat, Amy Schwoerer, Leland Leonard, Margaret Casey. The first graduating class was in 1910 with only one graduate, Maude Newlan. The school had grown to the point in 1926 where the Masonic Hall was no longer adequate, and plans were made for a new high school.

As the first move the Board of

Trustees purchased thirty acres of ground from Clarence G*etchell as a campus.

The price was #3,000.

A bond

election was held in 1926 to raise $125,000 for the con*struction of the new building.

The necessary two-thirds

majority was not obtained due to the opposition of the West Point District.

However, another election was held

on January 21, 1927, in which the bond issue for $125,000 was approved.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees,

Frank Meyers, had assured the West Point voters that school

buses would be purchased to bring their students to San Andreas as soon as roads would permit, and they vjcted. . for the bond issue.

The bonds were sold at a $7,000 pre­

mium to the Calaveras Central, Bank and Blythe and Witters of San Francisco.

Bissell and Mayo of Stockton were the

architects, and contractor H. H. Henning offered the low bid at $78,000.

The electric, plumbing, and other fixtures

brought the construction cost up to $125,000.

The $7,000

premium on the bonds was used to equip the new building. The bonds were to be retired in 25 years at $5,000 a year. The building was completed and occupied in the spring of 1928. Charles H. G-astineau was the principal of the high school at the time and the Board of Trustees were: Frank Meyers, Henry Ward, Mrs. Newlan, Mrs. Waters, and L. L. Redding.

Frank Meyers and Henry Ward are still serving as

members of the board. Calaveras County has been fortunate to have many fine men and women as teachers in the schools of the county . There would be no historical value in simply naming all the teachers, even if it were possible to obtain such a list, but there were some of the teachers who were so outstanding that they should be discussed. One of the early teachers who should be mentioned, because one of her pupils became internationally famous as

251 a scientist, was Mary Ann Gonway Wesson.

Her parents

brought her to Monterey, California, in 1847> and in 1857 they moved to Murphys where Mary Ann taught in the public school for several years.

One of her pupils was Albert A.

Michaelson, who became famous for his experiments with the speed of light. James Keith was the first principal at Calaveras Union High School and for sixteen years was an outstanding teacher.

It was said he could teach with ease all courses

of the curriculum.

He also taught the elementary school at

Murphys before going to San Andreas.

He later served one

,term as District Attorney of the County and ran for the office of superior judge but was defeated. W. M. Nuner, who was assessor of Calaveras County for forty-four years, started his career as a teacher in the Murphys School.

He served two terms as Superintendent

of Schools before being elected as assessor. George Cosgrave, who later became a Federal Judge of the District Court at Fresno, taught in the little oneroom school at Vallecito. William A. Dower, who later became District Attorney and served out Judge McSorley's term as Superior Judge, was a teacher in the schools of the county. The present Superior Judge, J. A. Smith, began his career as a teacher at the Murphys School and continued to

teach several years before going into law. The present Superintendent of Schools, Charles Schwoerer, served a period of apprenticeship in the schools of the county.

He began his teaching at the little one-

room school of Washington Flat on the grade road between Murphys and Altaville.

He has had the longest tenure as

superintendent, having served since 1923. W. L. R e d d i n g o f M u r p h y s h a d one o f t h e l o n g e s t careers

in

th e s c h o o ls o f C a la v e r a s C ounty.

He t a u g h t i n t h e

M u r p h y s S c h o o l f o r t h i r t y - t w o y e a r s a n d f o r many y e a r s w a s a m em b er o f t h e C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n ,

Probably there has been no other teacher more highly esteemed and admired than Theresa Rivera, who started teach­ ing in the schools of Calaveras County at eighteen and re­ tired at seventy-five.

Her first school was the little

rural school at Brushville, but. she latbr taught in schools all over the county. she retired.

She was teaching at San Andreas when

She served two terms as Superintendent of

Schools, but was not happy in the work as she preferred the classroom.

She was granted a First Grade Certificate on

February 26, 1887, by the County Board of Education after successfully passing an examination in the following sub­ jects:

Arthography, Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography,

H i s t o r y , Word a n a l y s i s ,

Theory and p r a c t i c e , M e n ta l A r i t h -

253

metic, Composition, Physiology, Bookkeeping, Civil Govern­ ment, School law, Industrial drawing, Entomology, Vocal Music, Reading, Penmanship,

Miss Rivera had to be examined

in these additional subjects: Algebra, Natural philosophy, Oral Grammar, Englishrand American literature, Constitution of the United States and California.

Miss Rivere died

November 7> 1943.^ Other persons who started successful careers as teachers in the Calaveras schools were:

Charles Snyder,

later District Attorney; George Frioux, later Superior Judge in San Joaquin County; Martin Huberty, instructor at California Agricultural College at Davis; George Dietz, garage owner in Angels,

The latter probably holds the

record of being the youngest person ever to obtain a teachers' credential to teach in the county.

He passed the

county teachers examinations in Amador County when only seventeen.

He was granted a complimentary certificate on

the basis of this examination and began teaching school at Willow Creek when just past his eighteenth birthday.^

^Miss Louise Oneta has given this information. ^This material has been obtained by personal interview.

BIBLIOGRAPHY I PRIMARY

Ayers, James J., Gold and Sunshine. Richard G. Badger. Boston: The Gorham Press, 1922. Beasley, Thomas Dykes, A Tramp Through the Bret Harte Country. San Francisco: Paul Elder and Company, 1914* Biographical History of the Counties, Merced, Stanislaus Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1 8 9 2 . Horthwick, J. D., Three Years in California, 1851-4* Edinburgh: W. Blackwood and Son, IB57• Bryant, Edwin, What I saw in California. New York: D. Appleton Company, 1849. Bidwell, John, Echoes of the Past. Chico: Advertiser, 1923.

Chico

Bowne, Ernest., Round the North Hemisphere, 1878-9. London: H. L. Barrett,^l’8'80. Browne, J. Ross, Debates in the Convention of California Washington: John T. Towers, 1 8 5 0 . California Mines and Minerals. San Francisco: California Miner *s Associat ion, 1899 . Colton, Walter, Three Years in California. New.York and Cincinnati: Cleaves, McDonald and Co., 1 8 5 0 . Davis, Wm. Heath, Seventy-five Years in California. San Francisco: John Howell, 1929. Ferguson, Charles, Experiences of a Forty-niner. Fred T. Wallace, editor, Cleveland: Williams Publishing Company', 1888. Fitzgerald, 0. P., California Sketches. Nashville: Methodist Book Concern, 1903.

25‘5 Gerstacker, Friederich, Gerstacker’s Travels* Translated from German by Friederich Gerstacker. London and Edinburgh: T. Meelson and Sons, 1854Gerstacker, Friederich, California Gold Mines. Oakland: Biobooks, 1946. Gillis, Ysfilliam R., Gold Rush Days with Mark Twain. New York: Albert and Charles Boni, 1930. Hittell, John K., Resources of California. San Francisco: A. Roman and Company, 18657' Hutton, William R., Drawings of California in 1847-48. Henry Huntington Library and Art Gallery, San Francisco: Grabborn Press, 1942. Huntley, Henry V., California: Its Gold and Its In­ habitants . London: Thomas Cantley Newby, 1 8 5 6 . Logan, Clarence A., Mother Lode Gold Belt1of California. San Francisco: Bulletin Number 1 0 8 , "Division of Mines, 1934. Mason, Jesse D., History of Amador County. Oakland: Thompson and West~ 1881. Peters, Charles, Autobiography. San Francisco: Perman Publishing Company, 1915. Ryan, William Redmand, Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California. Vol. II. London, 1850. Sargent, J. T., Amador County History. Published by the Amador County Federation of Women’s Clubs. Jackson: Amador Ledger, 1927* Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California. San Francisco: Hutchens and Rosenfeld, 1861. Shinn, Howard Charles, Mining Camps. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1885. Taylor, Bayard, El Dorado. New York: Putnam, I8 6 5 . Tuttle, Charles A., Reports of Oases of the Supreme Court of California. 3Q0C. 'Sacramento: Clayes and Company, 1867.

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Wood, H a r v e y , P e r s o n a l H e c o l l e c t i o n s o f H a r v e y Wood. A n g e l s Gamp, C a l i f o r n i a ! M o u n t a i n E c h o P r i n t i n g O f f i c e ,

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II

SECONDARY

Anthony, C. V . , Fifty Years of Methodism. Methodist Book Concern, 1 9 0 1 .

San Francisco:

Bancroft, Hubert Howe, History of California. 7 vols. San Francisco": Historical Company, 1 8 8 8 . ______ _____________ , California Interpocula. San Francisco: Historical Company, 1 8 8 : . Buckbee, Edna Bryan, Pioneer Days of Angel's Camp. Angels Camp: Calaveras Californian, 1 9 3 2 . __________________ , Saga of Old Tuolmne. New York: Press

of

the P io n e e r s ,

1935.

Bufford, Chas. M . , A Hundred Years of Congregationalism in San Francisco. San Francisco: Congregational Church, 1949.

"Calaveras County", Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce Bulletin. San Andreas, California, n.d. Calaveras County, a Historical Summary. California, Inc., 1 9 3 6 .

Sacramento:

Chapman, Charles C., A History of California. Macmillan Co., 1 9 3 0 .

Alta

New York:

Coy, Owen C., California County Boundaries. Berkeley: California Historical Survey Commission, 1 9 2 3 . ____________ , Cold Days. Los Angeles: Company, 1 9 2 9 .

Powell Publishing

____________ , Humboldt Bay Region, 1 8 5 0 - 1 8 7 5 . Los Angeles: California State Historical Association, 1 9 2 9 . ____________ , In the Biggins in Forty-nine. Los Angeles: California State Historical Association, 1 9 4 8 .

257

Elliot, W. W., Calaveras County, Oakland: and Company, 188 5.

W. W. Elliot

Freye, Paul, A History of the First Congregational Church of Sacramento, Sacramento: First Congregational Church, 1949. Glasscock, G. B., A Golden Highway. Merrill Company, 1924.

Indianapolis:

Gaarden, John, Gold Nuggets of the World, Gaarden Publishing Company, 1904.

Bobbs-

Hollywood:

Hittell, Theodore H., California History. 4 vols. Francisco: Stone and Company, 1^9^

San

Jackson, Joseph H,, AnybodyTs Gold. New York: D. AppletonCentury Company, 1941. _____________ , Bad Company. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1949. Jenkins, Olaf P., The Mother Lode Country. Bulletin 141. San Francisco: Division of Mines, 194 8 • Kazmarek, F. A., Ghost Towns. n.d.

Stockton: Chamber of Commerce,

Kerr, Mark B., Mining Resources of Calaveras County. San Francisco: Calaveras County Exhibit of the Mining Fair, 1898. Lynch, John,. With Stevenson to Gal ifornia. New York; D. Appleton Company",™ 1 8 7 6 . Lewis, Oscar, The Origin of the. Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. San”"Fraa cisco: The Book Club of California, 1931. Morrell, W. P., The Gold Rushes. New York: Company, 1941.

The Macmillan

Rensch, H, E., E. G. Rensch, and Mildred Hoover, Historic Spots in California. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 1933. Scott, Reva, Samuel Brannan and the Golden Fleece. New York: Macmillan Company, 1948.

Skinner, Zoeth Eldridge, History of California, V. Century Historical Company, 1914. Stellman, Louis J"., Mot Her Lode. San Francisco: Publishing Company, 1934.

New York:

Harr Wagner

Walsh, Henry L., Hallowed Were the G-old Dust Trails. Santa Clara: University of Santa Clara Press, 1946. Wells, A. J., Calaveras County. San Francisco: Magazine, 1908. Wood, Richard C., Murphys, Queen of the Sierra. Camp, California: Calaveras Californian, 194 8 .

Sunset Angels

Ill PERIODICALS "Angels", State Resources, 1:82, March, 1890. Byington, Lewis F., "Historic Expedition of Fremont and Carson to California," Quarterly of the Society of Pioneers, 8 :1 8 4 -9 6 . Marcn, 1931Farquhar, Francis, "lededlahSmith and the Sierra Nevada," Sierra Club Bulletin, 23:1-35, June, 1943. Hunt, Rockwell D., "Angel’s Camp," October, 1946.

The Grizzly Bear, 79: 8-23

______________ "San Andreas of Calaveras County," Urizzly Bear, 79:6-9, November, 1946.

The

Sawin, Herbert, "One Hundred Years of California Cold Placers” Scientific Monthly, 60:56-62, luly, 1949. Taylor, R. N., "Amador’s Fertile Foothill," The Great West, Ianuary, 1913• IV NEWSPAPERS A, Angels Camp Calaveras Californian. Dec. 22, 1944-Feb. 22, 1946.

. B. Mokelumne Hill Calaveras Chronicle, March 17, 1853-March 15, 1873 Calaveras Weekly, Feb. 18, 1940-Nov. 16, 1946. C . Oakland Tribune, Fan. 31, 1943 D. Sacramento Placer Times, August 11, 1849. Union, May 26,27, 1853. E. San Andreas Calaveras Citizen, Oct. 23,24, 1895. Calaveras Prospect, Sept. 21, 1937-March 16, 1941. Independent, Aug. 12, 1857-Nov. 2 6 , 1861. Register, Aug. 29, 1863. F. San Francisco Daily Alta California, Fan. 29, 1853-Fune 24, 1853 Herald, August 4, 1853. The Pacific, Aug. 29, 1851-Feb. 25, 1853. G-. Sonora Union Democrat, Fan. 27, 1934. H . Sto ckton San Foaquin Republican, Fan. 21, 1852-May 7, 1853. Record, Sept. .3, 1932-Dec. 6, 1937. Times, April 20, 1850- March 12, 1851.

260 V GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS A. California Laws, statutes, etc. Statutes of California. I8 5 Q-I8 5 S. . •B. United States Census office.

Seventh Census, 1850.

The seventh census of the United States, 1850, embracing a statistical view.of each of the states and territories. Washington, 1853. Census office.

Eighth Census, i860.

Statistics of the United States in i860. Census office.

Washington, 1866.

Ninth Census, 1870.

The statistics of the populati on of the United States in l8?0. Washington, l8?2. VI DOCUMENTS Records of Ownership and Operation of the Pro Plata Mine. I . C . Sco 1 es , Murphys, 0 alifornia Records of Deeds, Titles, and Mortgages for the Table Mountain Ranch. Fred Kenny, Murphys, California. VII MANUSCRIPT MATERIALS A. Bret Harte High School District.

Public Archives Bret Harte High School.

Records, 1905-1950. Calaveras High School District. Records, 1905-1950.

Calaveras High School.

Calaveras County.

Clerk.

Minutes of the Court of Sessions, 1851. M i n u t e s o f t h e B o a r d o f S u p e r v i s o r s , I855rl860.

Minutes of Calaveras County Court, 1851. R e c o rd s o f C ounty C l e r k ,

Book A a n d B.

Records of Mining and Water Pistri cts. Records of Notary Public George Young of Angels Camp. Calaveras County.

Superintendent of Schools.

Annual Reports on Schools of Calaveras County, 1859-1949. First Congregational Church of Angels Camp.

Angels Camp, Calif

Minutes of Meetings. First Congregational Church of Murphys.

Murphys, Calif.

Minutes of Meetings. San Francisco County.

Recorder.

Record B, Third Archives. B. Unpublished Manuscript, Coy, Owen C., Steps Toward Statehood, 1849. Unpublished manuscript. In the author1s possession at the University of Southern California. Ferrier, W. W., Congregati onalism in Cal if ornia. Unpublished manuscript. In the San Francisco office of tbe Congregational Church for Northern California. French Document. Author unknown but received from the librarian, Mr. Fraslin, of the French Library, 414 Mason Street San Francisco. Translated by D. F r i c o t . jn possession of J. A. Smith, San Andreas.

C. Pioneer Statements Bollinger, Mary * Statement of Recoilections. 1950. In an interview in Feb., 1950, Mrs. Bollinger tells of conditions in Copperopolis since 1882. Fiske, Fred. Statement of Recollections. 1948. In an interview in April, 1948, Mr. Fiske tells about his experiences in Murphys. G-ianelli, Al. Statement of Recollections. 1948. In an interview in March, 1948, Mr. G-ianelli tells about the development of the Murphys Township since he first became supervisor in 1914 Meyers, Frank. Statement of Recollections. 1950, In an interview in February, 1950, Mr. Meyers gave the history of the Calaveras•Union High School since he became a member of the Board of Trustees in 1926. Schwoerer, Charles. Statement of Recollections. 1950. In an interview in Januaiy , 1950, Mr. Schwoerer tells of the development of the public schools since he became Superintendent of Schools in 1924