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The History of the Gold Discoveries of the Northern Mines of California's Mother Lode Gold Belt As Told By The Newspapers and Miners 1848-1875

by Lewis J. Swindle

326 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0137; ISBN 1-55212-472-X; US$29.95, C$46.08, EUR30.00, £20.80

This book is the chronological history of the gold rush and gold discoveries from 1848 through 1875, as viewed and reported by the newspapers and miners, on what was called the Northern Mines area of California's Mother Lode Gold Belt.

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about the book      about the author      excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book This book is the chronological history of the gold rush and gold discoveries from 1848 through 1875, as viewed and reported by the newspapers and miners, on what was called the Northern Mines area of California's Mother Lode Gold Belt. The Northern Mines was that area north of the Cosumnes River, which included Placerville on northward. It included the region containing the South, Middle and North forks of the American River, the Bear River, the South, Middle and North forks of the Yuba River, and the South, Middle and North forks of the Feather River, plus all the other branches and tributaries that ran into the named forks and rivers. This book contains as many newspaper articles that could be found relating to the gold rush days. In using the newspaper articles from the golden era as printed, with their dates, this reveals just when the "New Diggings" as they were called, were found; where they were being made; how rich some of the diggings were; what type of diggings they were; the names of some of the prospectors who found some of the diggings or who were at the diggings and what they were taking out. There are tales of how some of the diggings were found and why some of them received the names they did. The overall purpose of this book is to give a full picture of exactly what was happening to as many different named diggings, locations, camps, and towns that came up in the Northern Mines area, and to give an account of events over at least a certain length of time, exactly as it was reported. To determine from just where each newspaper article within this book comes from, each of the newspaper articles used has first, the date on which it appeared in the newspaper, followed in parentheses by the name of the newspaper from which that particular article was obtained from.

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About the Author While in the U.S. Military stationed in Turkey in the eary 1970s, Swindle became interested in minerals and geology. In returning to the U.S. and during the 26 years he lived in Colorado, he spent countless hours in the mountainous terrain looking for, digging and collecting the minerals known to exist in the Pikes Peak Region. He always enjoyed writing, which resulted in having six extended articles about minerals and his experiences published in a national mineral magazine over a period of eight years. He then spent six years searching the plains around the Pikes Peak Region, to determine the origin, types and forms of Petrified Wood existing within that area. In moving to the California and the Gold Belt Region, it seemed only natural that searching out the history of its gold would follow the author's next interest. This book being the results of that interest. Also by Lewis J. Swindle: The History of the Gold Discoveries of the Southern Mines The Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858 The Story and Trials of Adolph Julius Weber

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Excerpt

January 11, 1854 (Alta)
     Onion Valley contains a few dwellings and three stores; is prosperous and thrifty, and afford good pay to miners. A 42 ounce specimen was found there a few days ago.
     Nelson Creek is a prosperous locality. One company of five took out $2,000 last week. Others are doing well.
     The miners on Hopkin's Creek are doing well. Poorman's Creek is also said to yield well.
     Miners on the Yuba River, in the vicinity of Long Bar are putting in their horse power and other machinery, in order to commence work in their bank claims. They think the present very low stage of water, with the prospect of soon having rain, warrants them in so doing. (Gibsonville Trumpet)

January 12, 1854 (Grass Valley Telegraph)
     LARGE LUMP OF QUARTZ - A few days ago we saw a large and solid lump of quartz, the weight of which was about 200 pounds and was valued by the Gold Hill Co., to whom it belongs at something over $3,000.

January 14, 1854 (Placer Herald)
     New and rich diggings have been discovered at Hesse's Crossing. In one claim - two young men have been at work for nine weeks. The first week's work netted 91 dollars and the production has steadily increased up to last week, when they took out 500 dollars. There are but few miners in that region at present. (Marysville Herald)

January 21, 1854 (Placer Herald)
     GOLD POINT. There are four men engaged in working the claim. Last week they realized $200 to $291 per day. One of the hands discovered gold in a seam on the clay. What is quite unusual, it was entirely destitute of gravel. Collecting a pan of the dirt, he washed it and to his surprise found by weighing that he had five and a half ounces of pure gold dust.
     Mines at Pike Flat for the last two weeks have average 16 to 20 ounces per day with nine men.
     Found on the 2nd of January a purse containing $17.12 on the road between Doty's Ravine and Gold Hill, which the owner can have by calling the subscriber at Gold Hill proving property and pay for the advertisement.

January 21, 1854 (Butte Record)
     MINING INTELLIGENCE - We were shown by Mr. Kerby of the Miner's Ranch near this place, some beautiful specimens of pure gold, picked up in the surface and flats, where the rocks has been washed bare by the recent rains. They varied in value from $2.40, $9 and on the aggregate amounted to 63 ounces. This shows inclusive that the gravel in this vicinity will pay richly, if sufficient water can be had. The proposed route of the South Fork Fluming Company will supply this section.
     BIG LUMP - Some Frenchman in the vicinity of Loafer's Diggings near this place lately, been doing an extensive mining business. On Monday last they took out 2 chunks beautiful specimens of the clear ore. The weight of the largest one was $84 and the other $17. The average about $30 per day to the hand with plenty of ground to work and so far it all prospects rich.

February 11, 1854 (Placer Herald)
     MINING AT MICHIGAN CITY - Since the introduction of water into this place, we have favorable reports. The large claim of Stoor, Carr & Co. has been paying per day 2 ounces to the hand.

February 11, 1854 (Sierra Citizen)
     DOWNIEVILLE -Operations have again commenced the damage of the late rains having all been repaired. Numerous sluices are in operation in the vicinity of the town, but we have heard of no unusual strikes. In visiting the numerous drifts and examining the machinery, we discover great improvements since we operated on the same ground with rockers and pans.
     EUREKA NORTH - Mr. Totten, of this place paid us a visit a few days since, and informed us that the company with which he is connected in two days washed out $500. Water there, in abundance. For a long time the miners have been unable to do more than drift, leaving the dirt to be washed when the ditches afforded sufficient water.
     SOUTH DIGGINGS - Last week the Packup & Company took out 360 ounces. The Baldwin claims yielded in one day 20 ounces, their normal average being from $15 to $20 per day. New diggings have been discovered in the vicinity, and some eighteen tunnels have been opened with prospects of success.
     MONTE CRISTO DIGGINGS - These diggings are located near Oak Ranch, between Downieville and Canyon Creek. Some time since gold was discovered in this vicinity and some twenty men have since been engaged drifting into the hill. Hitherto little washing has been done, but gold has been found in sufficient quantities to warrant the prosecution of the work.
     FOREST CITY - We have conversed with several gentlemen from this place, who represent the prospects of the miners as very flattering. They complain of previous neglect, and assure us that this is one of the most important mining districts in the mountains.
     JIM CROW'S CANYON - There are quite a number at work in and around this place, with what success we have not recently heard. Two men were frozen to death on the way from Galloway's Ranch to this canyon.
     MINNESOTA - This thriving village has become noted in mountain geography. We have never visited the diggings there, but from the amount of gold dust passing through the Express lines, we infer that this is an exceedingly rich district. Tunneling is here carried on extensively. We have heard of no extraordinary discoveries.
     SEAR'S DIGGINGS - Mr. Beck, regular Expressman from Downieville to Sears' Gibsonville, etc, informs us that since the rains have commenced all the little villages on his route present a very animated appearance. The trades have ceased to apprehend a failure in business on account of having credited out their goods in the expectation of work commencing at the usual time. In St. Louis, several dealers supplied the miners with provisions, to guard against a scarcity during the winter, at the same time receiving but little cash. Almost every cabin had sufficient provisions to do over winter, having learned from experience the importance of being so prepared.

The Mountain Echo changed its name to the Sierra Citizen on February 11, so its news articles are listed by that name from this point on.

February 18, 1954 (Sierra Citizen)
     MINES AND MINING IN SIERRA COUNTY. Perhaps in no part of the State have such changes taken place as on the head waters of the several branches of the Yuba. Soon after the tide of emigration, began to roll into this country some adventurous individuals not satisfied with the riches of the bars below followed the course of the river farther and farther until at length they arrived at the Forks, which was then considered almost equal to the achievement of Mungo Park. After the approach of winter they returned to the lower settlements, with such bewildering stories of whole pans full of gold that could be had for the digging, that in the following spring every steamboat and ox-wagon was freight with all sorts of people, with all sorts of indescribable apparatus, with which they confidently expected to exhaust the resources of Yuba in an incredibly short space of time
     The fame of the Yuba spread far and wide, and then commenced a general rush to its head waters. No matter how rich the claim might be on the bars below, it was abandoned under the impression, that if the river was rich so low down there must be mountains of gold at its source.
     The general idea, then, was that the thin scales found below had been washed down from some monstrous gold hill above, hence everyone was desirous of pushing as far as possible into the mountains, thinking that the further he could get the better would be the opportunity of realizing the extravagant visions that half demented him. Since then one cannot travel in any direction without meeting prospecting parties, some looking for Gold Lake, some burrowing in the hill side, while under the nearest tree anothe rparty, half discouraged, half hopeful, are smoking their pipes around a camp-fire, trying to solve the perplexing question, whether it is better to continue wandering through the mountains and take the chances, or to return to the river and work for five dollars a day.
     Within the last four years the restless, untiring energy of the miners have been gradually developing the resources of this region. Instead of the mines being exhausted in two or three years, as many wise-acres predicted, they are now in a more prosperous condition than they ever were. It is true, that the richest surface deposits have been exhausted, and in the most practicable places the bed of the river has been worked. But attention has been turned to the unexhaustible treasures of the hills, which for several years were neglected.
     The day has gone by, for amateur miners to lay down the law-book, the scalpel, or the pen, make a flying visit to the mines and return with both pockets full of gold. It now requires the strong arm and iron will, to dig deep in the bowels of the earth. For this the professional gentleman and the man of leisure are not prepared.

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Catalogue Information

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