The New York Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1853, Page 2

TWO WEEKS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA. 48RIVAL or THe STEAMSHIP STAR OF THE WEST. SEVERITY OF THE SEASON. ee HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. | INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE. Destractive Freshets and Loss of Property. Great Suffering Among the Miners. MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. MARKETS, &e., &e., ke. ‘The steamship Star of the West, Capt. E. L. Tin Kilepangh, arrived early yesterday morning from St. Juan de Nicaragua, whence she sailed on the evening of the 17th inst., bringing three hundred passengers, and dates from San Francisco to the Ist inst., which ‘were brought down on the Pacific side by the steam- abip Brother Jonathan. We are indebted to the expresses of Wells, Fargo | & Co., Adams & Co., Gregory & Oo., J. W. Sullivan, and to Mr. Thos. J. L. Smiley, who came passenger im the Star of the West, for files of San Francisco papers. ‘The steamship Oregon left San Francisco on the merning of the 30th ult., with the mails and specie, ‘The following is the specie list, which, it will be per- ‘eeived, is not quite as large as the previous lists:— me & Co....$300,000 Jacobs & Levi.. Crocby & Dibolee 26,926 Flint, Peabody & Co. 22, Bpatz & Newhouse.. 10,500 Drexel, S. & Church. 50,000 L B, Thomas.. 20,000 B. Davidson........140,900 Qase, Heiser & Co... 70,000 Wells, Fargo & Co... 35,000 Rising, Caselli & Co,. 12,000 Adams & Co... . ....350,00 Mycer & Co. 17,000 Page, Bacon & Co. t & Wild 40,000 Other shippers... m, 13,540 Sanders & Brenha: see eee eo B18: The following is alist of the passengers who | sailed in the Oregon:— Hon § R Harris, Mr Ramevege, H S Brown, L Fasskney, 3 Thoras and lady, Jno Thomas, P Riardon, Mr St John, MDrautelle, H Toler and daughter, T P Downer, | W on, Chas McPherson, P Mila, F Mila, A Littletield, A er, F Galber, A W Walker, WA Benjamin, H Baker, | WSouls, J Moulton, J P Weir, JB Wall, Mr Baldridge Me r, P Boyle, John Mowen, Mr Tucker, J M Wedde Yuck, D'W Comstock, Chas Gabr, John Hart, Capi Han- m, John Sutter, Geo Bostwick, F Kintu, W Long C son, W J Hibler, J # brad A Wheeler, John Pord, J Childs, H Sullivan, J Mocre, T Roades, J Rodolph, A Fox, J Dipple, J Graves, C R Mather, E Degardon, TD Buekwick, ! Webb, J Honehi, F Sargent, J C Cameron, A McNabe, T Bostwick, R Bostwick, H Miller, E Austin, J Good, J Frisbee, B Shepard, J Judson, J Juyber, P F John. son, CD Shelby, J Moulton, A Bronson, L Cox, HC Slo- eum, M Price, Jas Price, WH Myers, Geo Davis, G PM. hanessen, J W Neeley, J Pope, JN Freeman, C Wayl W Baker, WH Baker, C Ames, ED Neary, C Chappal. The steamship Northerner sailed from San Fran- isco for Panama on the Ist inst., with the following passengers :— ‘Thos Hunt and servant, Capt Gannett, J M Smith, EJD St Ours, W Herron, R A Moore, () Morgan, W M Rockwell, Sherman, Captain H D Hunter, Henry Starr, J 0 Dunn, J W Bicknell, J Fenner, C French, reen, JR Bleeker, W Lanier and servant, A Quickham, H C Wilsoa, Jas H Kelly, 8 ae and lady, N Holland, firs M A Gib- Mre E F Blankman, Mrs R Barker, Lettennem, . % D Williams, 1 Bruce, C D Horn, W Salmon, C B Wise. rey, 0 Hohne, J Dutcherson, F H Sandford, Mrs E Stevens and daughter, H Blind, H Salsbury, W H Rohdehamer, J Smith, Geo Robinson, § A Batteau, and 226 in steerage. The steamer Winfield Scott, from Panama, arrived at San Francisco on the 3lst ult., and the Golden | Gate on the 17th. ‘The steamer Isthmus, which Jeft San Francisco on fhe 14th ult., was compelled to return by stress of ‘weather, and arrived back on the 20th. ‘The clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas, in attempt- dmg to put to sea, ran ashore, but was got off without sustaining any damage. ‘The building brought to San Francisco by the Chinese company of theatrical performers has been put up, and the ‘roupe are giving their peculiar per formances in it. The smallpox is prevailing at Murphy's Camp, and the citizens have erected a hospital for the bene- it of the sick. It was reported that the small! pox had made its appearance in Sonoma. An Englishman named Joseph Fulton, from this | eity, where his fether and mother reside, was found dead in the rear of the Exchange, in San Francisco, op the 29th ultimo, having died from exposure. A portion of Fitzgerald's cavalry and a detachment of infantry are quartered at Fort Redding. Owing to the stormy weather, there has been very ittle progress made in rebuilding Shasta. Provi- sious at that place are exorbitantly high. @ily commands 80c. and not seven days suppl, market. Potatoes 50c. to 70c. Market almost bare Of pork, meal, beans, &c. There are not more than twenty days supply of provisions on the road to Shasta, and one-half of this is detained at Tehama. The Chinese, during the present high p: of “barbarian” provisions, are botaking themselves to puppy and rat diet. At Spanish Bar, and on the upper waters of th South Fork of the American river, flour is + and high in price that but few can procwi asa general thing, the people live entire! ‘beans, potatoes, &c. Snow had fallen to a great depth in the vicinity of the mountains, and a number of the roofs of houses had been crushed in by its weight. At Gibsonvi it was {rom three to five feet deep. Some judgment may be formed of the severity of the suffering among the miners, from a state t which we notice in one of the papers, that flour w selling at Downieville at two doll: pound — nd, upon four hundred dollars a.barrel! Fifty to seve ive vents i te to be about the ordinary price per pound thronghout the mining regiona. Among the Christmas amusements in Sonora, we yan advertisement in the Herold, that ‘ono t, a California bear hunter, will tig t California grizzlies with a knil rand bull fight, and then a dog in which ten of the largest dogs in formances ‘will conclnde by th loon thirty feet high. Entrance Mr. A. EL. St. Germain, of the Toronto press, came passenger in the Star of the West. jews of the Fortnight, ¢ Alta California, Jan. 1.) iter is conceded to be the most this country stmee it has been ‘ans. Durin fest fortnight and snowing contin in t leys, and we are d t The present vere experience oy smo by Am it been raini mountains and vu ceipt of accounts of distress and suff 1 rta of the State. 1 igh, and comme — t owe: such an extent as to in causing immense dama Ficultural products. = T Tehama and Sacr water, whilst Ma thongh Sacra 5 levee, the lower portion waters at th ve been sw all the low lands the loss of mining i as be ut holt work for the present nded. Brid sweptaway and ferries destroyed, ¢ Jost. The southern portion of the 1 listricthas saffered eqnally with the northern. Sto » has heen inundated partially, and property to a eo r nount destre The bridge the Cava jaus, and other streams, have sw commitnication with the m towns for nded. The flood has heen waters higher than in the memorable winter t scarcity of provisions, and the con b pri asioned much suffering and ny miners hilst m 5k subsist ¢ Inte want. In one plore th forced a trader to sell what 1 forty-five centa per and a Jeave did so, thas leaving the provisi or those ‘who were unable to find their way thr ‘to the vailies. in some places cabins ire eovered with snow, and the roots of m erushed in, thus ontting off the last chance tection, The accounts received may be sre tly ex. agzerated—pevertheloss, there ts much prffering and | 2 | flourishing. distrees, and Sel not improbable that some may perish by starvation. The United States Land Commissioners have re- gamed their session in this city, and rendered several ns and decrees of final confirmation. Aron pyr imy ut is on a the claim oi Col. John C- Fremont to Las ariposan, containing ten square leagues, bounded on north iy the Sierra Nevada, on the east by the river Chuachilles, on the south by the San Joaquin, and west by the the Merced. ‘The grant was made in 1844 by Gov. Micheltorena to Juan B. Alvarado, in consideration of important services rendered. A man named William K. Jones was hung by the people a few days since, twelve milea above Sacra- mento, for the murder of Peter MeGaffigua. The Supreme Court of this State has rendered an impertant decision in relation to the validity of Mexi- can grante. ‘The opinion is an able one, aud was de- \ livered by Justice Heydenfeldt, in the case of Van- | derstice and Clarkson vs. Julien Hanks. This deci- sion greatly affects much of the landed interest in this State. They have also delivered an opinion, declar- ing that J. Caleb Smith, ex-Judge of the Superior Court, was entitled to his salary as a justice of that court for three yeays from the time le was elected. The court was re-organized with but one justice, in- stead of three; and at the election heid in 1551, Jus- tice Satterlee was elected. The decision gives Judge Smith a selary until April next, when the term for which he was clected by the Legistatare will expire. The New England Society celebrated the two huu- | dred and thirty-second anniversary of the Landing of | the Pilgrims, in this city, in fine style. An oration | was delivered at the American theatre, and a splen- | did dinner served up at Wilson’s Exchange. | A few days since, we were visited with a terrible southeast gale, which prevailed for two days. Several | light tenements were blown down, and some injury | done to the shipping in the harbor, Fora day or | two, communication by stage with San Jose was cut off, owing to the sudden rise of the intermediate streams. | The members of the next Legislatare are rapidly | congregating in this city, preparatory to their meei- | ing at Vallejoon Monday next. It is very uncertain | whether the seat of government will remain there | during the winter. In the event of its removal, Be- | necia will probably be selected. | A contract has been made by the Common Council | with Mr. J. B. M. Crooks to light the city within thirty days, the contract to remain in full torce until Donahne's g2s contract goes into operation. Miss Catharine Hayes has given twelve concerts | in this city, with great success. Her last concerts | have been given in San Francisco Hall. | Signora Biscaccianti will commence her concerts | In San Francisco Hall ina few days. | We have three theatres at present, all apparently Atthe American, Mr. James Stark is giving tragic delineations; at the Adelphi, Mr. and | Mrs. Baker are still managing that establishment; and the San Francisco theatre has recently been | opened by Mr. J. B. Booth, lady, and the Chapman | family. | We have dates from Oregon to Dec. 4th. There | Was much ive ranning in the Columbia river, and | the bark Ocean Bird and brig Hodgdon were frozen in near the mouth. The Legislature were in session, | but were doing nothing of importance. The mes- | Sage of the Governor had been voted out of the Le- | gislature by a majority of two Votes. | Goeat Flood in Sacramento. | [From the Sacramento Union, Dee, 20.) | On Sunday morning, about four o'clock, a break | was discovered near the upper end of the new levee above Sutter's fort, and in the centre of the great | slough, whieh extends along the base of the ridge. | The American river, throughout Saturday had been rapidly rising, and towards evening to such a height as to flow throngh the breaches made in the old le- vee during the shet of last spring. The old sloughs in the vicinity immediately commenced ri- sing and the water, driven by the wiud, washed against the base of the embankment and percolated through it. Although the levee was at this point | sixty feet on the base, and although workmen had been engaved in strengthening it, the current suc- ceeded in undermining and tearing it away. Imme- diately wea the discovery of the breach a large | party of laborers were despatched to the spot, but the angry element had obtained complete mastery and defied the puny attempt of man to arrest its progrees. By ten o'clock on Sunday morning the | gap bad opened to the width of sixty feet, and through it the water ran with fearful velocity towards the fert, and southerly to Sutter. The Marshal re- | paired to the latter place and opened the levee ata | point between the drawbridge and the Sacramento river, in order to drainoff the water from the sloughs above. During the day ihe crevasse gradually widen- | ed, and at dark, last evening, at least an Nenana feet of earth had been swept away. The Sacramento river also rose with alarmi rapidity, during Saturday and Sunday morning, until eleven o'clock, when it stood thirteen inches higher than at anytime during the flood of March last; there was but little variation during the day—at night the weter perceptibly lowered, and is now some fourteen inches below the summit of the levee in front of the ei Sutter lake, at noon, on Satnr- | day, was upto t! doorstep of the Oriental Hotel, and running infront of all the buildings on I street, without the levee. All d ng laborers were inces- | santly employed in packing bags of earth and piling them up on the narrow part of the levee, above | Fifth sireet, through which the water oozed. An | additional e was occupied daring last night in securing all weak pojuts on this section of the levee. | The Am Sunday mc below the hi art, who re house the water, in the gear es stood precisely at highest point attained in March last. Early on « yeered to the north, and fora few hours there was every prospect of a pe manent change; but during the day it wheeled about to its old quarter, and the afternoon and evening proved showery and warm. ‘The en’ an river began to recede slowly on ning, and at night was several inches ne-t point of the morning. Mr. Stew- ach, is one vast lake, ‘on being the little as the eye c dry spot in W y knoll. Poots id to be nd Cache a mighty river. The F the Sacramento, above the mouth of the or many miles. 3 a little lower than the river, but the former stream, it must be recollected, haz not yet felt at this place the influence Kk of the rains which hav len above during the last three days. The weather, however, has been so ex- cessive i, that we trust they did not extend far to the northward. The force with h the water nevessarily enters a n th ee, keeps wearing and tearing ug the action of the water co r extent than it ssome plan can 1 destruction of mbankment bulk of the st that event, the des greater than is now aa! of the w rapid, a thing the circumstances, At half past ten o' was swarming wi from the American river; in tion of property will be mach ipated, unless the recession te and to be expected under Sunday night, K street il boats as low down as entered J on Fifth, and was Fourth. The water z wpon the northern and western por- city, inclac that district lying between rom KX on rd, to I on Fifth street. we sball not be surprised to find it as far down as I" floats of varions 4 properi The te Journal eventeen incl great fi wwart ot ing 7 ides on this stream, informs us that at his | i | in which it is su; country on the west side of the Sacra- | J seven | | Saturday evening, after a constant and dismal con: | ratory to the next ro as the cye ean reach, water, dotted with trees, tops, submerged in in: others, from five on which they stand happens to or eleva- ted in its character. In Yolo county, on the opposite side of the river, the liquid element sweeps off i: aub- lime deur, and in Se eogieaeee horizon by h the vision ia MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ABOUT THE PRESTINTS. My. Brown, of Brown’e Express, had a narrow es- cape from drowning on the sth Dec. He was on his way to Morphy’s with a large amount of money, | and, when crossing a slough about fifteen miles froin | this city, his horse became frightened and unman- ageable. Mr. Brown stayed off his saddie, when the horse turned and plunged upon him. Finally, however, horse and rider reached the shore in safety, and returned, The roads in the interior are totally impassable. ‘The current in the Stanislaus is so violent that the ferryboats are ureless. The majority of the rancheros had prepared for the flood by driving their cattle to the mountains. The houses on the tule ranches on the hanks of the river have all been kl tg away. The bottom lands are completely inundated. All the bridges and ferryboats on the Stauislans, Tuolumne, Merced, and Mariposa, have been carried away. We have not heard of the loss of any stock, ex- cepting hogs. The eastern part of the city of Stock- ton is under water, though no fears are entertained of a general inundation. The flood is still rising, owing to the back water. Three miners were drowned near McDonald’s ranche, by the Calaveras river rising so fast that they 4 could not get out of the way. : ; A Mexican was drowned in attempting to swim the river at Guard's ranche, : A Californian was drowned in attempting to swim aslough at Douglass & Reany’s ranche. The water ‘was a fuot deep in the house on the place. The Calaveras bridge, although the water rose over it, stood firm. Nearly every house on the plains was more or less flooded. O’Neil’s ranche, twenty miles below Tehama, was wholly inundated. Mr. O'Neil, wite, and three chil- dren, were compelled to remain on a beam, under the roof of their house, for two days, without food. Mr. Sedora, wife, and family, floated in a wagon box from their dwelling toa neighboring island, where they were soon after “treed” by a grizzly bear, and obliged to stay in its branches the remainder of the day and succeeding night, without a morsel of sus- tenance, Mr. Hay lost, at his ranche, 200 hogs during the freshet. 5 At Lawson's ranche the Joss in stock, &c., is not less than $20,000. All the ferries on the Sacramento down to Tehama, broke away previous to the last flood, and there is now no direct communication between the two banks of the river. The loses by the present freshet are greater than those during the first flood. No less than 700 miners, on Churn Creek, were compelled to subsist six days on acorns, being en- tirely destitute of provisions, and unable to procure them in consequence of high water. At Downe’s ranche, on the north side of Cow creek, twelve persons were cooped up in a room, seven by nine feet, for eight days, during which time they were obliged to subsiston one scanty meal of beans per diem. One of the number was Mrs. D., who was very ill and far advanced in pregnancy. Her hus- band succeeded in fording Cow creek, and reaching Fort Redding, where he endeavored to buy such ne- cessaries as his wife needed, but the officers refused tosell him any. He, however, managed to obtain from the soldiers their extra rations, and returned with them to the creek, but was unable to cross, owing to high water. Fortunately, a ‘good Sama- ritan happened along that way”’ #00n after, on horse- back, who swam the river and supplied his wife with the necessaries provided by her husband. Communication with Yerka and Weaverville is entirely cut off. Last accounts from the latter place state that they are utterly destitute of provisions, and all who can leave are on their way to Shasta. The show oe the mountains, about Shasta, is deeper than in 1849, Four men, one of whom was a negro, were drown- ed between Monroeville and Tehama, while endea- yoring to save their stock. The road from Colusa to Red Bluffs is now utterly impassable. 4 One gentleman saved a eka of his horses by taking the top off of a very large hay rick, and cut- | ting a passway at one end, drew them upon it, where | they have been ever since. His hogs he floated into his kitchen, which was luckily above water, where they are still. r.Coly, just above Washington, has lost some twenty thousand dollars worth of cattle, which he | had bought up as beef for the spring market. Oue farmer put bis house in a scow, and his cattle in the Louse, and set sail across the plain for Cache creek, a distance of twenty miles. A number of instances of the total loss of hogs, horses, and horned cattle, are reported. There has heen a great loss of atock by the late | freshet. Dead horses and oxen are to be seen float- ing down both rivers, surrounded by tules and brush, posed they had become entangled. | The latest news from Downieyille ws that the place is almost entirely deserted. { Interesting News from the Interior. STOCKTON. The Stockton Journal of Dec. 24, says :—The winter of 1852 will no doubt be remembered by the residents of California as an era from which to date, | and with which to compare notes, The ‘oldest in- | habitant” says the weed of man russ not back to any season or example like the present, and we have no reason to doubt his veracity. The sur- rounding country in its general appearance con- vinces us that the freshet of 1852 an eyent the | like of which we may not again experience in inany ; years, ‘The freshet this season commenced rising on Saturday morning, after being preceded by several | days of Taw, gusty weather, the wind blowing from | the south-southeast in fitful avd hurricane blasts, driving the rain into every crack or crevice in the wooden buildings, and in one or two cases through solid brick walls. This rain and wind held on until tinuance of about seventy-five hours. ‘The waters commenced rising in the sloughs on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning the flood had attained such strength as to convince every one that Stockton was threatened with another freshet, probably more heavy and disastrous than the ee rise. During the day the volume of water continu to increase, and at dark the flood had risen to the high water mark. Still the roiiing current gathered | force and strength, sweeping onward in darkness to the veean. The stream at first threatened the Main street bridge, and the city fathers watched the creations of | their energy with trembling anxiety. Atsunset the waters had spread over the upper portion of the city, | coming down the small ravine that crosses Main street in the rear of the Cottage Home, and, striking | Weber avenue, opposite Lippincott & Vaughan’s, it swept down the main channel with tremendous force, bearing along timber and fences, and at length bear- ing off Brush’s house. The force of this building destroyed the foot bridge connecting Hunter street, ng against the bridge in front of Marphy & broke down and de-troyed that old and bat nown strueture, so ornamental and useful to | the city. ‘The waters did not do farther damage on Saturday | night; and on Sunday there was no perceptable rise until evening, when it commenced increasing very rapidly, and at dark the water was higher than ever be! in Stockton, and still it continued to advance. | o'clock one side of the store of Messrs. Jompton gave way and fell in the stream, | but lodging against the bridge, did no farther dam- ave than tearing off some of the timbers and pi destroying some goods that were left in the room. On Hnnter street, Nelson's syrup manufactory was | blown down, the front of the engine house was wa off, and the sidewalks washed of | On Market street, the crossing aad tidewalk was i away. ne water attained its highest. ¢ 10 'elock on war all over the ing through all vast lake, in wh anchor. The moon looked down from her s saw retier other sky, bine aa cerulean, crowned with thet f night, ed with the myriad that glitter above our heads and beyoad o lay night, at w in almost every eets. The re floated a fleet of houses at tartit path and orb reach. 4 it stole aw and when dawn broke, the of the flood was gor | What misery with it, who | ean tell? Almost every bridge on the averas has hedn swept away by the trains, and for two days was impossible to cross that stream except in boats. We ave informed that all the ranches be of the river have been completely covered by th eshet and most of them are at present under water. CALAVERAS. Throughout the week ending Dec he storm continued unabated, rain, snow and wind agreeably interest of the thing, 1 of flour to d we have alterna To add to the while we are writing there is not a pou be obtained in the town on 4 t stated that there were about six head o i Jentiful scarcity” o seighboriug mne » MUTONNding Camps are eve ¢ off.ar4 the storm-stay ler conside himeelf ri eowred for, in partaking of 49 fare ita and frijotes, minus the pr the maho- anu! these, too, atthe trifling charge ieee. tr n lost, men being engulphe tation cents a ing t rush rrents-—large nambers of cattle drowned agricuitural produce swept away, and proper every deecription destroyed. Such w a, and devastation has never before visit L The loss of Jife and property on tp | valley | and was followed to that place, | tarday last, in the ' ranche, near the gap of Table | murderers. We dering Calaveras river has been immense, Besides a tmplog Yo arin 2 oan of several persons wos we on McDonalds mache: twenty houd oF his inset horses have been tost. One pack-train, comprising thirty-two animals, was lost, with the exceptian of three or four. We are informed that the banks of the slougha are literally covered with dead and dying le. The Moquelumne has risen during the week to a nt almost as high as last year, when it swept away rries and bridges. We have not heard of any acci- dent cansed by its rise, asthe miners had already generally abandoned their river claims. The new bridge at the Middle Bar has nobly withstood the flood, and stands now, the best and most substautial structure of the kind in California. Staples’ bridge, on the Moquelumne river, was-car- ried away about last Sunday. The bridge at Hicks’ Tranche, across Sutter creek, was swept away. Also, one of the bridges at Dry creek. The bridge across | the Calaveras, or rather the San Antonio creek, at | Forman’s ranche, has been carried away by the force of the stream. Mr. Wilson’s wire bridge, across the Cosumnes, was at one time so badly damaged as to prevent teams crossing for several days. A large peeion of Tone Valley and of the Buena Vista ranche have been ovyertlowed, and the whole country, from the junction of Dry creek and Jack- son, was under water. The bridge across Dry creek, on the stage road from Stockton to Sacramento, was not injured. A large amount of stock has been de- stroyed on the tule lands, between Dry creek and the Cosumnes, mostly belonging to this” year’s emi- gration, Communigation between Jackson and Sa- cramento was completely cut off from Thursday night of last week until Tuesday night of this. On that day the stages got up as far as Drytown. Taylor's aud Wilson’s ranches were in great part overtlowed, and Mr. Wilson, we hear, has had be- tween $2,000 and $3,000 worth of property destroyed by the freshet. A house that stood between Da: Atherton’s and Gorham’s ranches, has been carried away by the freshet. At Douglass & Raine’s there was at one time, we were informed, tive feet of water on the floor. The loss of stock on these ranches, we fear, will be alarming. On Sunday, John Abadie, a French baker, in Jack- son, was drowned while attempting to cross the Mid- dle Fork of Jackson creek, about three miles above that place; his body was recovered the next day. On pouaay, aman by the name of Malone, from the State of New York, who has been engaged in putti up the inachinery of a steam saw iil! on the Sout Fork of Jackson creek, was drowned in attempting to cross the Middle Fork a few miles further up. A boy, whose name we have not heard, was drowned in Dry creek on last Sanday; he fell off the log on which pedestrians cross the creek, at Drytown. A man was drowned at Volcano on Saturday. The well known Indian chief, Pachatta, was killed near Jack- son, a short time since, by some Chinaman; no par- ticulars heard. COLUMBIA. The Gazette of the 18th December says :—On Tuesday last snow fell in Columbia to the depth of two or three inches,and on Wednesday it commenced raining in torrents, and continued for the balance of the week. We have never seen 60 much rain fall in the same space of time. Some of our streets have streams ranning down them large enough and afford- ing water sufticient for a saw mill. All communica- tion between Columbia and the valley is cut off, and we fear that provisions, which are already selling at extravagant prices, will continue to rise. We heard of a sale of a thousand pounds of flour, yesterday, on speculation, at forty dollars per hundred pounds. Should the roads continue in the same im ble condition for a few weeks, there is no telling the price that will have to be paid for provisions, On Wednesday night last snow again fell to the depth of several inches in this section of the country. The mountains a few miles above Columbia are co- vered with snow to a great depth, where it will pro- bably remain until late next spring. The winter, thus far, has been far more inclement than the win- ter of 1849, and we think a great deal more rain and snow has fallen. Around Columbia this unfavorable weather has alnost put a complete stop to mining and all other out-door occupations, and the conse- quence is, that money is scarce, provisions extrava- gantly dear, and times unusually hard, for California. We are pained to learn that a young man, named Alexander Hamilton, who not long since arrived in California, from across the ite) was frozen to death on the 18th inst., near the head of the Hydrau- lic Association’s race, in this county, We were shown, on Tuesday last, a large and bril- liant stone, which we learn had been properly tested by several jewellers and pronounced to be a pure and genuine diamond. We examined it through a glass, and no diamond we had ever seen was more brilliant; but not being a judge of such things we could form no correct opinion abont it. The weight of this beautiful diamond, if diamond it is, is seventeen ca- rats, and should it pie @ real diamond its value will be immense. It was found in a gulch two miles from Columbia, and we have no doubt auother can be found in the same gulch. SONOMA. Tt is calculated by competent judges, that Sonoma eer is capable of producing annually some- thing like 1,000,000 bushels of wheat, which, con- verted into flour, is more than suflicient to supply for | a year such a population as ours; and were the im- mense ones of Santa Rosa and Russian river includ- ed in this great wheat field, the amount mentioned would be increased tenfold. In the erection of good mills—say one each, in So- noma, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and on Russian river— | we have every reason to believe that the capital thus laid out would produce a handsome interest, besides being of the greatest benefit and convenience to the surrounding country. The smallpox still prevails in Sonoma. Mr. Sam- uel Wardlow, just arrived fron: Missouri, was the first- victim. The disease has not yet extended beyond two families. M.G. Vallejo and D. 0. Shattuck have been ap- as school commissioners for the Sonoma district. ‘here is an excellent private school in the town, un- der the care of Rev. J. J. May and Miss A. O. Strong. The hills around the valley were covered with snow which fell on the morning of the 22d. A singing school was to be opened in town. The Bulletin says :—We have a valley unsurpassed hy any other in this country--and this country beats the world—for abundaut returns in all that nature assigns to that latitude. The whole length and breadth of the valley is being ploughed up, prepa- »p—which will be great. These farmers want seed and implements, but don't know where to find them. SONORA. A correspondent of the Republican, under date of | Dec. 15, says it commenced to snow in Sonora about | noon on the 1ith, and next morning not merely the mountain tops, but the hills and valleys, were all glistening with snow, or rather with ice, for the mist which succeeded the storm so moistened the snow that it afterwards froze into a crost of ice, covering everything. he Tuolumne Hydraulic Association are rapidly completing their giant work. Already they are op- posite to Sonora, preparing to commence that por- tion of the rce which leads to Montezuma Flat, | through several intervening camps. On Sunday, the 12th inst., a horse thief was ar- rested at Moguelumne Hill, who was charged with stealing three valuable horses at San Jose Missi taken, and the horses identified. The pursuers took him back to San Jose, where he will be called upoa to answer the charge. Another horrible murder was committed on Sa- ighberhood of Montezuma Cit, n ascertained, tent to Tubb’s Mountain,was attacked 5, all he hi The Belore be died, A young inan, whos while on his way from the by two Mexicans, and robbed of ea fellow lived but a few minut however, he gave information to a he ith others, immodiately started in pursal have not yet learned that they have been arrested. FL DORADO. The El Dorado News contains the following items: The entire roof of the Empire theatre gave way on Thursday night last, from the great weight of the snow that bad julien upon it. The mine his vicinity are now busily engaged in their asa general thing, with fair surecesa, On Sunday laet the firm of Bernstein & Co., of this p rehased from the miners one hondyed pounds, less two ounces, of gold dust. On Wednex« last, the ther tood in this plac «This was the region. § reg! xperienced i w commenced fallin int ning last, and continued with | until Thursday evening, when it commenced raining. ‘The immense quantity of water which is now run ning into the creeks and ra cannot fail to over. flow the Sacramento valley, unlew these streams reday morning, the roof e, fell in with a tre | meiwlous crash, reat ainonat of snow that had accumulated on it during the two days previous. Team ters ave asking from eleven to fifteen cents per pound for freight rom Sacramento to this pla Property to the amount of twa thousand dollars has heen destroyed i olde since *4! t nger er has before. no viva ave rapid ve not to he ‘ome littl retain for pr exhausted. nd thoee that rema four, and on aur ¢ zo crisis ny consid ch the Ine The supply of beef is the hotels are cloved, i 3 a substitute to take into conside propriety hedied men quitting te vine what | ward for the consumption pf the infirm ang teuals re he was over: | | | | | i | | i of the community. Resolutions were also Whe ottecs that persone holding siete oad aes $pill ten days alter the had and ri would be an immense number left with the intention of returning. Some have packed on their backs flour from Foster's Bar, and several died from the effects of % ‘The trail from Downieville to the “‘Mount 7 on r’s hill is passable; but from thence to % Nigger Tent,” no traces of the road are visible, the wind at once obliterating, and the snow four feet deep. It is literally impossible for mules to travel further than Sleighville; one packer continued about a mile on, but was compelled to return. On the road between the Junction House and Oregon we passed several trains—but they cannot gain their destina- tion, At the former place Indians were employed to ack from thence to Downieville; of course but a imited a pte at this rate can be obtained, not suffi- cient to alleviate present necessities. ’ SHASTA. On Saturday, the 19th, there was another tre- mendous snow storm in the vicinity of Shasta. At Clear creek the snow was five feet deep, and on the mountains from ten to twenty feet. The messenger reports the roads wretched between Tehama and Cottonwood. Above the latter place, he passed many teams laden with flour and other provisions, destined for Shasta. There had already been arrivals at Shasta, aud provisions were lower. Flour now commands but 66c., and in other articles there was a corresponding decline. The messenger on his up- ward trip swam six creeks between Tehama and Cottonwood. The streams have since fallen. The Sacramento at Tehama is six inches lower. Miners are still arriving at Shasta from Weaverville, and all report an unprecedented scarcity of provision at that ae. No communication has yet been opened with Teka. From San Diego. Assistant George Davidson, of the Coast Survey, had selected between San Pedro and Los Angelos, the location for a base line for the commencing of the triangulation of the coast from the Mexican boundary to Point Conception, and for the topo- graphy of Catalina Island, according to the instruc- tions of the Superintendent, Prof. A.D. Bache. The season is extremely unfavorable for the rapid of these operations, The train, about forty miles this side of the river, ata place known as the Mud Holes, experienced a very severe shock of an earthquake; the earth, My moving backwards and forwards some three or four feet in an undulating way, near capsizing men, mules, and wagons, burst with a loud report resem- bling much a heavy peal of thunder, rending the e , and leaving a long deep chasm, from which exuded a large volume of gaseous matter resembling the smoke of an overheated furnace, and oneof the teamsters, a very intelligent man, informs us thathe | has witnessed many earthquakes in Peru, where he | lived for several hart ut never saw anything to equal this. Fortunately there was no injury sustained. Forty or fifty Mormons had arrived at San Pedro. ‘Thirty-three of them are elders and missionaries sent | to Oalcutta, Siam, Sandwich islands, &c., to promul- gate their peculiar doctrines. = heavy rains at Los Angeles had swollen the rivers and rendered the crossing of them difficult. The new jail was washed down, and several houses. The roads are in very bad condition, and it is next to impossible to drive stock through. Farmers were Te; ae in the certain prospects of the grass. e late 8. E. gales had carried away the brick storehouse at San Pedro, and destroyed and dam- | aged a large amount of government stores. The mountains were covered to a great depth with snow, and at Santa Barbara, the highest peaks had a whe covering. Frost had been felt along the whole | con! Three men, in going from Catalina harbor to San | Pedro, were caught in the S. E. gale, on Christmas night, and driven on the rocks to the N. W. of San Pedro. Two of them were lost; one was named Smart; the name of the other was not ascertained. Smart formerly taught school in Galveston, Texas. The survivor's name is Charles Rhodes. A Glance at the Mines. A report is prevalent in Stockton that some miners | recently attacked 9 train of wagons in Mariposa | county, and rifled them of all the proven, they con- tained. This, rays the Journal, must not be won- dered at, nor too strongly condemned, as it is the ur of starvation that drives men to such crimes. eir lives depended on the stake, and men will re- sort to any extreme to satisfy the demands of nature. From other quarters the record is equally discourag- ing, but more especially from Calaveros county, where the deprivation is most heart-rending. A gentleman of our acquaintance informs us that riding out a short distance trom town a few days since, he ‘met a man up to his arm-pits in water, wading and swimming into town as best he conld, with but one | determination—to have ‘‘something to eat!” This is but one case of a hundred, and, if the same weather | continues many days, we shall have scores coming in the same way, destitute and starving. The Marysville Herald says:— No less than four hundred miners have arrived in our city, or passed on below, within a week, who have been driven from the mines by a scarcity of pro- visions. Flour appears to be the article most re- quired, and least present, which seems to have been shut out from the mountains by the speculating eu- pidity of the San Francisco flour dealers. From all the mining regions on the Yuba and its tributaries, the accounts are vats startling, of distress by cold and famine. The £upress of yesterday, con- tains the following from Downieville, communicated to that paper by Sam Langton:— “He confirms the report of the ey scarcity of | provisions in Downievillle, particularly of flour, and | of the consequent suffering, owing to the unusual se- | verity of the weather, and the great oa of snow | on tlie mountains, He informs us that the morning | he left the Junction House, about fifty miners left for Goodyear’s Barand Downieville, packing from | fifty to seventy-five pounds of flour each, which they | purchaged at fifty cents per pound. He also speaks | ofa number of ‘extensive land slides, at different points on the river and its forks.” | We have heard of late much complaint on account | of the scarcity of beef. We have been informed by a gentlemen who seems to be conyersant with that arti- | cle of trade, that there is at this time a great scarcity of fat cattle in this market. We have been shown a letter | from Santa Barbara, of a recent date, which states | that they are worth at that place, $38 per head—be- ing an advance of some #16 over last year’s priaes. The Colombia Gazette gives the following items:— We were shown a specimen of solid gold taken out of Yankee Hill last week, by George Varney & Co., | which weighed 1234 ounces, 77 ounces of which was | thought to be pure gold. This specimen was foand five or six feet beyond the surface. There are many claims on the hill, which is but a mile or two from Columbia, which pay the miner well for his labor. On Jay last ‘a specimen was brought to onr | office of the richest and most beautiful character of gold we have everseen. This lump of gold was found in Indian (nileh, five miles from Columbia, in the claim of Messrs} Eaton, Heron & Brainard, and weighed thirty-even and a half ounces. These gen- tlemen took Out the same week thirty-five and a half besides their big specimen. On Shaw's Flat, Messrs. Webster, James 0. Mloyd & Low took out of their claim, one day last week, a specimen of gold quartz which weighed fifty-seven ounces, worth $400 or $500, or probably more, as the speciiuen must contain near three pounds of pure gold. They took out near three ounces, besides the | same day. | A musuber of other similar specimens were found last week, as the weather was good and the miners were generally all engaged. ; Looling at the great number of large and rich imens for the past several days, has given us the | rribly; oureyes have become cousiderably swollen, and ov c smartly elongated—so intensely | we gazed at the ground wherever we have Fortane might sa safew pound spec: sticking in the gronnd somewhere around; but as yet we have not found a piece larger than the head ofa pin. Tumber of the miners in this vic siness, but there are a great nv | | | are doing | aber who yg well, This is the case in all the ‘ountry that we have ever visited. This giod ora little better mining country | rn ther we ey pn in California, but ‘all in my eye men nd ex- | i pect to makea pile without industry, sobriety, and | the strictest economy aa bout five dollars | per day, or about nty-five dollars per month, but men mu ouomy, or ater portion of this will be dr ed out durin, month, and at the end of the time they will be no better off than when | | Miseellancons. Gare at SAN Prancisco—The sided and the waters of the bay being ¢ in comparison with the two precedin bor presented an unusually busy Steam tugs were ions vessels that Leinug hauled up to their original berths along- e wharf, A large number of y: 3 have suf- ured damage in consequence of the gule. clipper ship Seaman experienced damage to the amount of nearly $1,000, by chafing against Cali- fornia street clipper was slightly di O18, Francisco and Tepic, vide brig Lowell rubbed a, n, CATS ing to the latter out yd The brig Wyandott drifted from ler enchors across the chains | of the Sacrunento, and suffered damage to the amount of abot $500. The brig Margaret drifted t, and was driven » she biled. Nobody on | Herald, Jan. 19. | A terrible struggle took | the San Jose Hegister, | lacitizen of this county, | t seems that Mr. Reddick anda | an named were™out hunting, and ishe bear with & eub; they discharged the animal thiee bulls, and then parsued her int) a | from her moorin, | ders, 1 foot; the length of head, 7 iuct | on the tops of the h } York to San Francisco, Join Akin, ship carpentor, frow | New York. In § inco. onthe 1th ull., Rdward G. Alder: man, and George Alderuwn, brothers, oged about 99 aul thicket of bushes. The undergrowth was very dense and the hunters passed by the bear sIx feet Mr. Bs ce thi out him down, and in the fall the gun was thrown his reach. The bear rolled over Mr. Martin down a - small hill, but by the time Mr. Martin had gathered himself up, the animal returned to the Cea and seized him behind. Reddick then fired his rifle, but, ‘on account of the intervening brush, without effect. The en1 animal instautly let her hold Mr. Martin and grappled Mr. Reddick, whose and head she most horribly mangled with her teeth; the upper lip is nearly torn off, and the up of the nose destroyed; the bones immediate e the eyes are broken, but without injury to eye; and another large fracture extends along the right side of the head down to the forehead. Weary of the bel 3 the bear then left the unfortunate man, who, unable to get at his knife, had maintained the bre mer conflict with his hands and fect. As soon as animal had let go her hold on Mr. Reddick, that person sought safety in a tree. After the de- parture of the T, Messrs. Reddick and Martin walked home, a distance of about four miles, and sent for surgical aid. Dr. Cory immediately. repair- ed to the house, and has been’ in attendance upon. Mr. Reddick since. The case is considered @ critical one, inasmuch as inflanunation of the brain i apprehended. Aw Execution BY THE PropLe AT SACRAMENTO. Mr. Peter McGaffing was killed by a man named. William K. Jones, about two miles up the river from Sacramento, and on the 25th December, saya the State Journal, the neighbors on both sides of the river collected together atthe farm of the deceased, take into consideration the case, and determine some action inreference to Jones. It was first to empanel a jury of twelve men to hear evidence and to decide the case. Objections were, however, made to this mode of procedure, and it was finally deter- mined to examine him before all of those it, and then to take such action as the case might seem torequire. Accordingly, five witnesses were exam- ined, who testified to the killing andthe statements of the accused admitting the fact. Upon the vote belie moved in regard to his case, it was suggested that it be put whether he should be hung immedi- iately or paige over to rit beghtere The for- mer prevailed, by a vote of 19 to 12. coon the oe Spare for the execution were in made. <A platform supported by ropes was tached to a hay press that mood near by, in con- venient reach of the top beam, to which the cord was tied. Upon this the victim was led, and after the noose was proper]; fixed to his neck, the cord was cut, and William K. Jones passed the row line which separates time from et » The distance for him was only about four feet, and from the slight evidence of sensation given after the fall, the transit was momentary. m the sentence being announced to. him, he received it with the ut- most coolness and composure. He earnestly asked that his fate might not be communicated to Ris rela- tions, and he manifested much pain at the thought of the shock they would receive should they hear of it. He did not seek to justify himself, farther than that he was provoked to anger and excitement by one of the inmates of McG.’s house, and resented the indignity offered, in ejecting him from the house, in hot blood. He had no grudge against the de: ceased, and the deed was the result of the moment. Before being led to the scaffold prepared for his con- eraci tragedy, he asked to be shown ve where he was to be buried. He wished to look into his final resting place. He contemplated it seriously ie, yee aw ond penier eee He then asl for a glass of whiskey. ey were unable to furnish him.— Stale np y Tae Laxp Commission—Fremont’s CLarm Con- FIRMED.—The claims of F. P. Pacheco and J. C. Fremont were yesterday morning declared valid by the ea Re Acme OTS: ae yeas + grant calls for ten square ies in Mariposa a and it is declared renee ‘all, who rendered the opinion of the board, that it does not appear that either under the Mexican or Spanish rae did the title of the pet to mineral deposits within land granted embrace more than a right to demand a royalty from the private individuals who worked the mines; or, in one word, that Colonel Fremont’s , claim to the gold, with the above reservation, is as complete as to any other product of the soil compre- Ben a by his grant—Sun Francisco fan. 28. a ae eens IN any ee merica, bound to Hong Kong, en on . nearly one hundred Chinese wl , and was all ready to sail on Sunday The pilot took com- mand and had just given orders to raise the anchor, when the Chinese gave a sort of war whoop, and rushed down below ina body. In a twinkling they came tumbling up, every man_ brandishing pba ‘They made a lively attack on the officers and crew, who, to avoid being made mince meat of, were com- pelled to beat a hasty retreat over the sides. None stood on the order of their going, but they went uickly. tire ed VEE poe eee by pod hs cers, and they returned, gaine vessel and sent the rebels Bele The Ohinese, it seems, were falsely informed by some one, that the supply of provisions and water on board were inguf- ee ae sre! eon their revolt. arey have since hed the America, to recover their passage money. —San Francisco Herald, Dec. 28. as Fant or A Brick Bur.pinc.—The large three | story brick block on Clay street, which Messrs. Pal- mer, Cook & Co. have made such efforts to save from: he ruinous effects of the rain, has been cracking and ettling for some days past, and giving of an impending fall. Yesterday about one-f ot the front came down into the street with a tremen- dous crash. Several workmen near at hand saw it in time to save themaelves. There were @ number inside, who soon after came rushing out; but forta- tase ue one was injured.—San Francisco Herald, eC. . Resources or Canaveras Covnty.—The re- sources of Calaveras county, says a writer on tho pot, are inexhaustible. The hidden treasures in hills and valleys are alone sufficient to ensure the success of thousands. The land is adapted to agri- cultural productions. The miner, the business man and man of family, can find ample spice here for suc- cessful operations. The limited amount of water, which has heretofore operated strongly against the rapid growth of the bill, is about to be removed b: the enterprise of the Canal Company, who have al- ready ee 8ix miles of the flume, and as. soon as the weather becomes favorable will speedily flnish the remaining twelve miles, CaLirornta WHEAT AND Fovn.—A large amount of land throughout the State is being sowed in wheat this season, owing to the high prices flour has been commanding for the last four months. In fact, says the Stockton Journal, many farmers now refuse to sow this grain, because such quantities are bein; putin, in every direction, as in their opinion wiil create a glut in the market next year, and leave the price at three and four cents. Near San Jose two tiour mills are being erected, running in the aggre- gute twelve pair of stones, and designed by the owners to mill as good or better flour than can be shipped into this State from abroad. There’ are several mills already at work in San lrancisco, grinding night and day; but owing to the im} t machinery, the flour is not so good as ili or American brands. It is thonght by next fall, there will be a sufficient number of mills work in this State to grind all the wheat that will be raised. Tue Connor, or Great Venture Catiror- A friend writes us that a fine s nen of this gigantic bird, the Sarcoramphos Cu/iforniensis of ornithologists, was killed on the hills of the San Lucas range, near Monterey, the other » His measure was as follows:—From cad of tail feathers to top of beak, 4 feet 24 inches; from tip to tip of the wings, 8 fect 3 inches in breadth: fiom the outer joint to end of feather, 1 foot 9 inches: i. ¢. breadth of a wing. A feather measured 2 fect 4 Tnches; from point of heak to commencement of feathers on shoul- 24 inches thick from ¢rown of head to hottom of er beak; breadth, 2 6-8 inches; the tail, 1 foot 4 inches; legs and feet from fore joint, 10 inches. This bird is found, according to travellers and natoralists, along the whole coast of Northwest America, and throughout the Rocky Mountains, and inhabits the heights of the sierras and most unfrequented parts. He is eer attracted in parts w!) ¢ frequents by,a dead bul- lock or deer, and # ‘mon and trout from the India: Ww among birds second only to ei of South America, and ne and appearence. Farnhor says:—“It builds its 1 Calitornie, nong the woody districts, ea,in the most inac i The cessable parts of: the color of the feathers of this sj uswers to. Farnham’s ¢ ription. bein, rm brownish- black. bill is a mottled black, the skin of the head and neck yellow, without feathers to the ap roach of the shoulders. Its egg is nearly as large as of the ostrich. aly eo Merald, Marsloges and Deatles. DIRTIT. ¢. 17, the lad of Me doh Hoe MARRIED, by the Rev, Mr Ing ‘an, ail of the vy. Mr. Bensou silt ult., by Orrin Bailey, Req 0 Mrs. Julia Brown. Mr Charles f*. Man to Miss Ar Mr. Benson, Mir Ma 4 pinD, At Goodyear’s Par, 6th ult., John Mount Cincinnati, Ohio, aged about twenty In Marysville, Lith ult, Mr. De sumption. On beard ship John Boring formerly , of con on her voyage from New