The following from the St. Louis Re
publican is a fair specimen ol the way in
which matters on the Pacific coast are mis
represented by the Eastern press. Our read
ers do not need to be told that the account
published in the Union, to which allusion is
made, was entirely correct, as many witness
es who were present will testify. Captain
Smith failing to mention it in his private let
ter will not be regarded as very wonderful
h ere. — Yreka l '■» ion .
Was it a Hoax?— It will be recollected
that some weeks since an account was given
in the Yreka Unvn of a battle in Southern
Oregon, between four hundred soldiers and
three hundred Indians, in "liich alter nine
hours’ hard lighting the former were forced
to retreat. The .St. Louis Republican thinks
the story a hoax, and says:—
The fact of an American force beingforced
to retreat before a lesser number of Indians
ought to have made the California people a
little wary about believing such foolish gos
sip; but they were not, and the story has
had a run all over the country. The account,
as first published, was contained in an extra
from the Yreka paper of the 5th of Nov.,
and went on to state that on the 131st ulti
mo Capt. Smith, U. S. Army, had this en
gagement with tlie Indians. Mow, the truth
is that letters have been received in this
city, by his family, from Capt. Smith him
self, and dated as late a.A the Cth of Novem
ber, in which he does not even allude to any
battle with the Indians, lie was at Fort
Lane, and his letters were mailed at Jack
sonville. If an engagement, lasting nine
ihours and costing tlie lives of so many men,
had taken place, certainly he would have
mentioned so novel a circumstance in his fa
miliar letters, But he did not do it, and we
look upon the account of the battle as an un
adulterated hoax, gotten up to force the
Government to send additional troops to
California.
Hard Up—A Washington letter-writer
gives the following melancholy description of
the financial couditiou of members of Con
gress:
They have not drawn their | ay nor their
mileage; and although they can get along
"on time” for board, they liave no spending
money. Some are even deprived of their
“bacca,” while I do actually believe there
are not fifty members in tlie House who can
change an X if you were to tender it. Over
two hundred thousand dollars would be here
in extra circulation, if the Speaker was
elected and the usual appropriations voted.
As it is, Washington is hard up. Hoard
ing-houses and hotel-keepers are in a dread
ful plight to supply their tables. Many do
not distress themselves much, however, on
that head. A large number of faro banks
are in active operation, and arc the only re
tort of tlie whites, poor office-seekers and
done-up members.
A Shrewd Chinaman. — A Chinaman 1
cently called at a pawnbroker's on J street
and pawned a heavy twisted gold bracelet,
obtaining thereon an advance of $50. Sub
sequently lie redeemed the article, and in a
few days afterwards came back again and
re-pledged it (apparently) for a like sum.—
It has siuce been discovered, on critical ex
amination, that the bracelet uo\v in “soak”
is in every respect like the first, except that
it is silver, plated with gold. The resem
blance to the other was so strong the pawn
broker filed it away without examining it
particularly. It is thought that John will
not be in a hurry to call again.— »Vcrc. Unn n.
' Coinage os’ the Mint. —Tlie total amount
of coinage at the Branch Mint of this city
during tlie fiscal year ending June 30th,
1855, according to the report of Secretary
Guthrie, amounted to the sum of $15,003,-
507 31. The total amount of deposit.-. wan
$1(5,283,503 50. T. e only mint in the
country which exceeded ours in the amount
of deposit or coinage is that of the l S.
Mint in Philadelphia, the coinage of which
during the same period amounted to $20,-
160,047 02. The amount of silver coined
at our Mint was only $55,850 00.— S. 1
Herald.
Fashionable Religion. —The cost of
maintaining a certain fashionable church in
Boston for one year is $22,505—equal to
$432 75 per Sunday! This sum would sup
port 22 country churches.
Four at Once. —A Mrs. Rhodes, of this
city, on Thursday last, hud four Imhic.s at a
birth, two boys and two gil ls. They are all
very well indeed, and the mother is better
than could be expected. We have spoken
of tier as “a Mrs. Rhodes,” but we beg her
pardon—she is the Mrs. Rhodes. W e hope
she is a good American, ior, it the Sag-
Niclit women are breeding at such u rate,
tlie condition of affairs is alarming.—Louis
ville Journal.
Jenny Lind.—“I will sing for tlie benefit
of the poor here,” said Madame Jenny Lind
Goldscmidt when in Vervey, a small town
in Switzerland. But before tlie day ap
pointed l'or the concert arrived, the nightin
gale became hoarse and could not sing.—
“The poor cannot wait a day,” said the
singer, and she sent them 2,000 francs.
Doubts as to the Law or Gravitation.—
The President of the British Association tor
the advancement ol science, in his opening
address at the yearly scientific gathering
Jutely held at Glasgow, stated us one of the
of Rosse’s telescope, lor the Hint time
since the days of Newton, a suspicion lias
arisen in the minds oi astronomers that laws
.Otlaer than that of gravitation, may bear
rule ill space; and that neuLla p/ienteiui ic
vealed to us by that telescope, must be gov
erned by forces different from those of which
we have any knowledge.
Insane, Is it not a fact that California
Jias more insane in proportion to her popu
lation that; any other State? It w as yester
day that this county sent three ot hei citi
zens to the Insane Asylvm, and this morn
ing two more will be ordered to follow, in
sanity is fearfully cn the increase in this lo
cality — Stale Journal.
,«M» n »«►■■ ..»■
jfoay* The present estimate of the popula
tion of China w lour hundred millions.
THE JOURNAL,
if*
r ■ ■'
* o
m:\MAN
SAHBIKll 'I01fMARCH !. 1«56.
■ ■ *L. 1’. FISHER, is our authorized agent
in Sau Francisco, to obtain advertisements and
subscriptions.
jjrSt'Mr. E. G. Josi.in is our authorized Agent
to sol.cit Subscript.ons ami Advertisements, at
Lewiston, Ratos’ Ranch, R.dgeville, and at other
points on his route.
W. Rayelly, is our regularly authorlzi d
Agent to solicit Subscriptions and Advertisements
at Canon City.
To Advertisers. —Persons having Advertise
meats for insertion in the' Journal, will please to
leave them at the cilice of publication early on
Friday morning.
Single copies of the Journal, in wrapper!,
for the Atlantic Mail, can be had at the publtca
tion office.
J5S~Sh«i iU' Neuletj, who lias been on a visit
to the seat of Government, return'd on Monday.
*-*-*- ——
jTiO'We are indebted to the lion. J. W. Den
ver, for interesting put lie documents.
jEff-Gen. Jas. MeDougal was thrown from his
buggy in San Francisco a short time since, and so
severely injured, that amputation of one of his
legs, it is feared, will be necessary.
Death or Cuas. F. Cutler.—Wo notice in the
Nicaragua news by the Sierra Nevada, the deal!,
ot Chits. F. Cutler, formerly editor of the Trinity
Twin.
Barky A Co. have placed us under obliga
tions for the February So. of Harper’s Magazine,
which as usual, contains much iau resting and i ul
uable reading matt r.
Decision. —-The Supreme Court, in the ca-e of
Merrill vs. Gorham, thcrilf of eau Fraud.-co Co.
have d< eld- d that the Slu-rill' can constitutionally
ex- rcise the duties of Tax Collector.
* «* e
Jtar-Old Californian? say the rtedit earthquake
is but the forerunner of one still more severe.
They predict that the c’tv ol San Francisco is
bound to ‘ go under,' which by the way, we con
sider by no means improbable, without the uss.s
tanee of an earthquake.
are inform- d that tie re are about oik
hundred miners at work upon Deaduood Creek,
some of whom are doing very well. This Creek
empties into the Trinity above Lewiston, and ow -
ing to the- fact that it is some distance from any
travelLd trail, has heretofore escaped notice.
pf.i. ““We arc plea.-i d to see that Mr. Levi Rey
nolds, our lo wly appointed Road Overseer, has
eomiiu l.ee d improving our public roads. Th
newly ereetiel Fridge across Sidney Gulch, at the
lowi r end of town, is a dec.d- d improvement.—
W e trust our miners will not find occasion to un
dermine it.
Tukatrk'al.—We notice by the Shasta pap. le
thal Mr. J. riiomau’s Theatrical ( 'ompaity are ma
king a decided ‘ hit,’ in that place. La Petite
Cerito, takes the house by storm. Our boys are
becoming very impatient lor them to visit us, if
we may judge from the olt-rep sited enquiry,—
• When is Tbomaii coining over'.'’
Ttff The * Braueli of the old Corner fc. gar store’
inis the reputation of furnishing ti better article
.if sfegars. Ilian can be had this sid.- ol the ‘Old
Horner' in f-acrameuto, and certainly the box of
l.a T or de Vi upon oi*r- table the ot
lay, by • Max.’ is to us u most pi. using evid -nee
:lmt Gueexuoi);) a Newraier are d lermiiied to
ustly deserve their r- putatioii. Try them.
Accident.—Edward l'ray, a mint r on Oregon
Guleh, was brouglit into town l i t Monday, on a
litter, having been most terribly mangled l.y the
caving in of a bank, while at work o.i his claim.
li set ms lo us that our mini rs do not use stilli
clout caution in working under high hanks. We
can scarcely take up a paper from any portion of
the mining region, \\ itliout seeing accounts of in
juries received by the falling of banks.
jiif'Miss Sarah Pellet writes a letter from
Nicaragua to the (Sold: n lira. She says she is
delighted with Virgin Day, and from the tenor of
her letter, we are led to infer that she has joined
Walker’s army. Fast country lies.' our women
turning lilliblisters, too. England had better lake
the sober second thought in regard lo the threat
ened war with us, as our army of ‘ strong-minded
women' would be bard to beat.
Ji&'Tiie urn xji cted inert use in the d- maud for
our paper last we U, exhausted our supply, and
many of our friends were unable to obtain a copy.
W r e shall strike off an additional number of cop
ies, hereafter, and endeavor to avoid this difficul
ty.
We thank our friends lor the very liberal pat
ronage they have bestowed upon us, in this, our
first effort in the editorial lino. We shall endeav
or lo repay them by improving the Journal.
Distressing Accident and Death. V miner
named Charles (Mgers, while working his claim
on Red Hill, north of town, on Friday g'2d. was
instantly killed by the lulling of a bank upon
him. Every effort was made to remove the earth
from his body, but some :iU minutes elapsed before
this could be done, and when found life was ex
tinct.
He"a-- buiiiil on Saturday. A large concourse
of m.nu.- followed his remains to the grave, lie
was a nat.ve ol England, and came to this State
from Michigan, li - wa.- about ill years of age.
San F kanci-co Eyl.v.xu u ieletin. —We receive
regular files of this pa pi r through Mt s-rs. Rhodes
V Whitney's Express,who are the Agents for this
place, and we believe the only Express from w hom
it can he obtained.
The Bulletin still continues its hold and fearless
course, opposing the wrong, and advocating the
right. Its success is a very convincing proof that
the people of California, and particularly of San
Francisco, are nut all as corrupt as they have the
reputation of being.
rTbe wt allier during the last week has been
ttfully warm ami pleasant.
Qualification of lirand Jurors.
We notice in the proceedings of the Com"
of Sessions, for Shasta County, at the Feb.
Term, the following;
The People vs. John Mullen and Margaret
Mullen. —Indictment for Grand Larceny.—
Motion to set aside tlie indictment on the
ground that one of the Grand Jurors had
formed a decided opinion that the defend
ants were guilty of the offence charged in
the indictment, before he was enipnnncled
on the Grand J ury.
The motion was sustained.
The Shasta Courier in noticing the decis
ion, and commenting upon the law, says :
For this reason the Court decided that the
bill was improperly found, and that a grand
jury should be as tree lrom prejudice, under
the Statutes of California, as a petit jury
should be. JI is having made up and ex
pressed an opinion on the subject, would have
excluded him from the petit jury box, and
consequently he was disqualified from acting
us a grand juror, lienee llie law permit
ting grand jurors to he called to testily be
fore their fellows, would either disqualify the
member thus called, for further service ns a
juror, or it would vitiate the presentment it
self.
Query ? Would not that fact invalidate
the acts of that Grand Jury? If one in
dictment was defective, by reason of the im
perfection or illegality ol the grand jury,
would not that same disability exteud to utl
the acts and doings of that body.
Query ? Would the fact that a petit
juror, summoned for the term of a Court us
one of tiie regular panel, having expressed
an opinion in regard to the merits of the first
case on the docket, disqualify him, as a ju
ror, in all the subsequent cases on the dock
et ? We think not.
Section 281, of ‘an Act to regulate pro
ceedings in criminal cases,’ provides that ‘ a
person held to answer to a charge fora pub
lic offence, may challenge the panel of the
grand jury, or any individual grand juror.’
A cause of challenge to an individual grand
juror is defined in the same act, Sec. 183,
Sub-division till), to be, that he has formed
or expressed a decid'd opinion that the de
tciidant is guilty of the offence for which he
is held to answer. See. 297, of the same
act provides that, ‘ when the defendant had
not been held to answer before the finding
of the indictment, he may move to set it
aside on any ground which would have been
good ground for challenge, either to the
panel, or to any individual grand juror.’—
Our Statutes clearly provide that any cause
that would disqualify a person from being a
petit juror, would render him incompetent
to become a grand juror. We are unable to
see any necessity for a change in the law in
this respect. Why a person should be al
lowed to be present at the finding of an in
dictment against an individual for whom his
prejudices are so great that it required no
evidence to prove guilt, is more than we can
answer. The liberties of an individual are
as sacred to him in the grand jury room as
they are in the petit jury box, and should be
guarded by minds equally unbiased. In the
closing remarks ol the article, the following
language is used ;
If this decision be law, no indictments can
be had against any bawdy house or notori
ous nuisance, under our statutes.
Query ? Isii more necessary that a grand
juror should have expressed his opinion as to
the guilt or innocence of a person charged
with keeping a bawdy house than other
crime ?
Washington's I5iutii-Day IUu,.—We have set
dam it iv. r, since our sojourn in California, had
the pleasure of being present at, and participa
ting in a more pleasant and agreeable parly, than
tli one which caute oil' on the evening of the 22d,
at the I lid- pendcncc Hotel, in tills place. Thu on
ly emulation on the part of the participants seem
ed lu be who should enjoy themselves most, and
contribute the greatest amount to the general
slock of pleasure.
As yet we cannot pretend to vie with our neigh-
I ors le yotul the mountains, in numbers, and youth
of ottr fair sex. Vet we may say without boast
ing, that in no community is there to be found the
same number of ladies, who succeed so well in
rendering a Hall deeidt dly a pleasure to all who
attend, as the ladies of Trinity, and particularly
those who were present on this occasion.
To Messrs. Davis & liatehelor, and the amiable
hostess, Mas. Davis, the thanks of the community
are due for this admirable festival.
Tim Gulden Ikt.v.—Wo notice in the last num
ber of this paper the departure of J. K. Lawrence,
Lsip.a/ms the ‘hansum Kurile],’ its senior editor,
for New f ork. L is rumored that he goes thither
us N. }. correspondent for the Alta California. —
As liis name still rom bus at the head of the
funner paper, we hope to hear from him occasion
ally through its columns. The Gulden L'ra is one
of the most welcome exchanges laid upon our ta
ble, and from it we are enabled to glean much
useful and Interesting matter.
Another. —A neatly enveloped package
was handed in at ottr office on Thursday
which on opening we found to be a box of
genuine liegulias, from the new Cigar store
of A. Solomon, l’o.-t-Olliee Block, where nil
lovers of the weed can find a largo assort
ment. Mr. Levy will accept our thanks.
Rhodes A Whitney's Expkess.— The gen
tlemanly clerks of this establishment, will
accept our thanks for various favors during
the past week.
,«»—
New Advertisements. — We call the atten
tion of our readers to Advertisements of
E. G. Joslin’s Express ; M. Victor’s French
Bakery and Restaurant ; and the Magnolia
Bowling Alleys, in another column.
L.EU1 SLAT I RE.
This body have matters before them of vi
tal importance to the people of Ibis State,
which if carried into effect will accomplish
more towards giving stability and confidence
in our laws than any other measures that
could be adopted at this time. Judge Til
ford has introduced a bill in the Senate
amending the criminal act and laws in rela
tion to crimes and punishments, and creating
a remedy for offences made criminal by the
act heretofore unknown to our statutes. —
The most important of the amendments is
in relation to manslaughter. This crime is
punished by imprisonment in the State pris
on for a term not exceeding three years and
fine not exceeding live thousand dollars. —
The amendment lengthens the time to a
term not exceeding fourteen years. This is
a most wise and salutary change, and es
pecially as the death penalty ; .s affixed to the
crime of murder. Ho\y many persons have
been acquitted of the crime of murder for
the want of a proper punishment being fixed
by 'aw for the crime of manslaughter. Ju
ries will not convict of murder unless tin
proof is positive and admitting of not a
doubt, and to convict of manslaughter, which
they have a right to do under our statute,
i s making a farce of judicial proceedings.—
Sending an Individual to the Slate Prison
for three years for the highest crime known
to our laws is so supremely ridiculous that it
is seldom done. This one provision in our
laws has gone very far in making up the
black page of our State’s history in relation
to mob-law. It is to be hoped that Judge
Tilford will he successful in obtaining the
passage of the bill into a law. Another im
portant amendment is abolishing the death
penalty, or, in other words, leaving it to
the discretion of the jury to imprison in the
State Prison for life, which amounts to near
ly the same thing as abolishing the death
penalty entirely. If these amendments be
come a law, as we sincerely hope they may,
the guilty will not go unwhipped of justice
as heretofore, confidence will be restored to
the Courts and the laws of our State, and
tic; disgraceful acts of Judge Lynch will
cease to exist among us.
A bill lias been introduced into the House
by -Mr. lUuxb - , dividing the State into Con
gressional Districts. This should have been
done years ago. An effort w as made at the
session of ’oil but it failed. We hope it will
not receive the same fate at the hands of the
present Legislature. The act of Congress
requires it, justice to the people of the State
requires it; why then delay the matter any
longer?—argument is unnecessary to prove
the justice of the measure, or the public sen
timent in relation to the subject. The Leg
islature should go one step further and say
that the election of members of Congress
shall take place at the general election im
mediately preceding the term for w hich they
arc chosen. The House of Representatives
was intended by the Constitution to repre
sent the people. Li order to carry out this
provision of the Constitution the representa
tives must come direct, from tiie people. It
would not be straining a point to say that
in more than one instance in this State we
would have had a different delegation in
Congress from those representing us, had
the election taken place one year later. Yv e
say let the election take place at the proper
time, certain politicians to the contrtry not
withstanding.
If the Legislature passes a few acts of a
general interest to the State and effect an
early adjournment, they will receive the ap
probation of the people of California.
12 Ci.ampsc.s Vries.—There will he a meeting of
this ancient and honorable order this evening at
the new Imilding, immediately below Dralimer's
blacksmith shop, on Main street. A full attend
ance is d -sired. J!y order of the N. G. 11.
Thoman i- Coming. —Mr. K. H. Dlake ar
rived in this place, from Shasta, on Wednes
day night, and snforms us that Mr. Thoman
may be expected in Weaverville the latter
part of the coming week, with a full com
pany.
Brake ik Co’s Express. —We have been
placed under repeated obligations to this
house, lor favors during the wet k.
--»•« »•*—
islu-r it Co. of Cafiou Creek have started
a ditch from llu-ir flume to the lied Hills. We
shall expect soon to hear of some rich strikes in
that section.
A CriiiosiTV.- Messrs. Loonfis. Iluscroft & Co.
tlaUghtt red a steer oil Thursday last, which had
three distinct horns; the third one starting from
the neck, six inches back of the natural ones.
The curious can see the head by calling at tbe
Mountain Market.
Rowr. A. Co’s Express.— -Messrs. Charles
A. Rowe and Jas. A. Henderson have sup
plied us w ith papers during the week. Our
thanks, gentlemen.
A man named N 1*. Brown, killed
another named James L. Davis, at Nevada,
on Saturday last. From the circumstances
it is supposed to be justifiable.
Sine Hurst nv her Owners.— The Rus
sian ship Russia, says the Salem Uazettc,
which has been for some time at Boston, to
avoid the perils of war, was taken back of
East Boston, and burnt on account of her
owners, for the purpose of saving her cop
per.
Another New Paper.—The prospectus
for the Royal Plains , a new paper to be
edited by the Order of the E Clampsus A i
tus, was handed us too late yesterday, for
publication in to-day’s issue. Judging from
tic tone of the prospectus, we may expect
some lofty tournaments between the 1'cyal
Plains and the Budget, An unjust insin
uation seems to have been east against the
knights of the honorable Order, which we
presume will be justly repelled.— YreJca
l 'mini.
Trial of Cora.— We learn from the Bay
papers, that the first Monday in March is
set for the trial of Corn, the murderer of
Richardson,
— »
Effects of the Kahtiuji akk. — A lady on
Stockton street was eonlined two months
before her time, from the fright of the earth
quake on Friday morning.— Alla.
Molmoxism.- Several companies of Mor
mons lately undertook to introduce their sys
tem among the Cherokee Indians, 'flic Iu
dains became disgusted, and drove them out
of the nation.
Export of Peari, Shells. —During the
year 1855 there have been four vessels
loaded with pearl shells at the islands in the
Ray of Panama, amounting to six hundred
and lifty tons. Another was loading on the
22d ult, and will take about two hundred
and fifty tons.
Taule or Distances for the Northern Coast.
From San Francisco to Humboldt Bay, Cal. 230
“ “ “ “ Trinidad, Cal. 230
“ “ “ “ Crescent City, Cal. 300
“ “ Port Orford, Or. Ter. 370
" “ “ “ (iardiaer, I mp. river. ! J
** " Astoria, Col. riv. 0. T. 645
" “ Slioalwatcr Bay, \V. T. 13)3
“ “ Gray's Harbor, W. T. 735
“ “ “ “ Puget Sound, W. T. S33
“ “ “ “ Olympia. IV. T. 1035
A Goon Claim.— Goodrich and Bishop,
t wo journeyman typos, becoming tired of the
stick and rule, lately took up a claim on the
hill, pulled on miner’s boots, run in debt for
grub, cheated Joe Fluekauf out of a cook
stove, rented a cabin, and “pitched in.” —
We called at the bachelor quarters the other
day in search of an item, when one of them
informed us that they were taking oul $2,.
'JUS 50 per day, blit were paying $3,000 per
day for water. The other member of the
“banking” firm was looking for a flour sack
with which to re-seat his inexpressibles.—
Butte. Record.
Love Letters.—A correspondent of the
Alta California says:—-“Whilst discussing
California topics, allow me to ask who the
/mmbre is that sends by every mail from San
Francisco to his sweetheart in Fall River,
Mass., sueli infernally long-winded love let
ters? The one received by the steamer
George Law, on the 28th ult., comprised
one hundred uvdJarti/an.r pages of letter pa
per, exclusive ol a 'P. S.’ of forty pages, and
an '.V B.’ of ten more!
The Vr: ku f ui»H- publishes tlie fol
lowing in relation to the Indian war, taken
from the Table lloek Sentinel:
" The Indians who were sent to the Mead
ows, bring back some important information.
It appears that the force of warriors is about
300, or over—that they are fortified with a
view of securit y against ordnance, and con
fident of their ability to prosecute the war.
The chiefs say they are revenged for the In
dians that had been killed by the whites, and
are satislied and willing to treat -that they
will suspend hostilities, and remain at peace
as long as the whites let them alone—and
no longer. The warriors are said to be
nearly all eager to light. They had lost but
1 (I men during the war—six at the Grave
Greek, three at the month of .lump-off-Joe
six at Wagner’s ranch, and one at the
Meadows.
“ They were told that Mrs. Haines and
Iter daughter, and Mrs. Wagner’s child were
taken prisoners—that the two first died
within a week of disease with which they
were sick when captured, and that the lat
ter w as kept until a few days ago, when,
hearing of the murder of the two squaws
who hail been taken by the whites, she was
killed in revenge. At the same time a hall
Indian child was taken from its mother and
shot because it had white blood
Ukkei.y.— A Washington correspondent
has observed Horace Greely at the .National
Hotel, and is convinced that he is a very
vain man. lie says:—“The first person we
saw when we arrived was Mr. Greely, with
his coat collar up on one side and down on
the other. At first we thought he might
not be aware of the peculiar and non-com
mittal arrangement of his outward garment;
but to-day his collar is more awry than ever,
uud the knot of his cravat had got complete
ly round to the back of his neck. I am now
satisfied that this is done for the purpose of
attracting the attention of the people.”
teo Boston lias six thousand more females
than males, while Chicago has about fifteen
thousand more males than females.— Er.
In (’alifornia the disproportion is ten times
greater, and as long as the Western coun
try remains so unequally proportioned, we
fear our chances arc small
COMMUNIC A TED.
The man that hath not music in himself.
And is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is tit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils—
Let no man trust him. Shakehi-kaiie.
There is no one in whom the love of home
is more strongly implanted than in the mi
ner; mid every object that serves to remind
him of the “household gods” of other days,
is fondly cherished as a link in the chain
that binds him to the one loved spot—his
boyhood home. In every murmuring stream
let, and softly sighing breeze, arc “sounds
from home” fulling upon the ear in the whis
pered tones of well remembered music, re
minding him of that time when, “a wee bit
thing” as he was, he prattled with a dear
little sister all the day long, or kneeled at
the feet of an angel mother, lisping his tiny
prayer to Infinite Goodness, ere he bade her
“dood night.” Alone in his cabin, he finds
fit opportunity to ponder on tiiese hollowed
associations engraven on memory's tablet;
and as the pages arc turned, one by one,
loved images start out before hint with all
the vividness of reality, repeating o’er and
o’er again the kind, trusting, loving words
of childhood's happy innocence. The strong
man is again a child and feels us he did then
—but oh, how transiently!—those umlcfin
able emotions which prove the existence of
a God and point the way to Heaven; and
then is breathed the truly unselfish prayer;
then, and only then, does unalloyed happiness
fill the heart so long usurped by desolating
evils. In such moments, not one thought of
self intrudes upon tlmt holy sanctuary of al
leel ion—it is the last stronghold of purity,
of innocence, and of love.
The warbling of a bird, tlie chirping of a
cricket on the hearth, the pattering of rain
upon the roof, the solemn tu-whoo to-wlioo
of the owl, or the merry tinkling of a bell,
will awaken these holy emotions, and what
ever it may be that thus revives the recol
lections of other and happier days, it is
thenceforth a part and parcel of the miner
and his thoughts, sacred limn the polluting
touch of him whose ambition, pride, or lovo
of gold, has blotted out from the heart all
that was great, noble, and good. And, in
a community of miners, it not unfncpnutly
happens that some one prominent reminis
cence of by-gone days and scenes will come
to each alike, uniting them in one common
bond of sympathy and reverence. It speak*
to them always in the same musical tones;
is enshrined in each heart; anil its loss
would he a public calamity. It is one of the
“institutions” more valued than gold the
hand of the intruder dure not harm it. So
it is willi the honest “sons of toil,” whose
brawny arms and stout hearts have founded
a rity away up here in the mountains of old
Trinity, und planted the banner of ci\ili/u
tion whore for centuries the giant grizzly
proudly reigned “monarch of all he -ur
veyed.” To them the ringing of a hostelry
lu ll is like a “missel” from fatherland it
brings to mind their native village—the "old
folks at home”—the little “school house by
the dear running brook”—and liny wel
comed I ho day, now years agoue, when
IIovkv’s bell first peuled forth its notes upon
the mountain solitudes of Weaver. From
that day till now it has been the faithful
moiiiter of thousands, calling them to their
labors at morn, striking the signal of rest al
the close of day, und its fame is almost co
extensive with our country. J!lot it oat
from our midst and hearts that now respond
cheerfully to its monition w ill have lost a
cherished idol.
IIovky, ring nn / ring (hat bell as long as
there is strength in thy right arm; and
when that fails, draw on the hardy miners
for help. We are with you.
A Miner.
Ix My Cauix, Feb. -21, 1856.
'I’in IvtiiTHQi AKK.— The late eurthqnake
hit ai Sun !■ ranciseo, and along the const
1 ail ,'- ( ‘i sei ms not to have nftectcd in the
slightest degree the great Sierra Nevada
range; nor do we believe that this range of
mountains has for ages been subject to a
sii.glr \ibration or sideway motion from this
cause. Our belief is founded on the fact
that we know of one instance where an iso
lated rock, nine feet in height, almost nper
h et elipsc or egg shaped, of many tons
weight, is now standing upon one end, and
upon a base of less than one foot in diameter,
upon the smooth surface of another rock,
that though the strength of two men is not
sufficient to displace it, yet the slightest
violent movement from side to side would
inevitably send it leaping and tumbling into
tile valley below.
In the vicinity of Lake Valley, near the
summit of the Sierras, is the “steeple rock,’>
or petrified tree, as some believe it to be,
standing perfectly perpendicular, nearly 80
feet in height, and closely resembling at a
short distance a section of a pine tree en
tirely and smoothly denuded of its limbs,
and cut square oft' at the top. A column of
stone of 80 feet height, with a diameter of
less than four feet at bottom, would make
but a short stand against an oscillatory
movement if at all violent. We can there
fore, we think, confidently say to the ten
nnnts of our great metropolis, in case the
danger becomes imminent, flee yc in good
time to the Sierra Nevada range— Placer*
rille American.