Collection: Directories and Documents > Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection

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Title: Peter Decker Diaries p255 Collection Type: Directories and Documents Collection Name: Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection # of Pages: 1 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-08-28 18:28:27 OCR Software Version #: tesseract 5.4.1 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 05:50:06 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 05:50:06

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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See = ™~ , THE PETER DECKER DIARIES to on re give curious pictures-{-Phe 1/,th_mile—WwhiehBroadway shows to the eye has her group of two, three to a dozen men passing in squads each encumbered with some essential to “camp life” such as a piece of steak a side of bacon — a ham a sack of flour a jar of pickles a pan a pick & shovel coffee pot or camp fixtures of some kind going along apparently merrily each bears the peculiar exterior which tells to what “manor born.” Then it is a group of men from the States. They walk so free appear so independent. Here is a squad of Cornwall miners. They look, act & show out the miner. There are a few rugged sons of “Brin” really “Paddys.” How that dozen or more of representatives of the “Celestial Empire”— Chinamen trudge along with their gownish trousers worn so low & brown flat faces, so inexpressive in countenance but peacefully disposed. Yon hard featured “Villain” like fellow is an Australian or rather a “Sidneyite.” Why are those Sidney convicts allowed to be landed here? Here comes the slow plodding Dutchman with his little greasy bundle followed by the broad faced Norwegian. Look at the Mexican riding by on a lope & picking up a whip that lays on the ground without checking the horses gate. Thats one of the sort that old Jack gives a “little more grape.” Yon dark group are a lot of “Kanakas” peculiar as their native Islands. What are those Frenchmen gabbing all speaking at once & constantly emphasizing so much quite different in their customs & habits from the Chillians just behind them. That col’d Gentleman dressed so gay is one of those bondsmen of the South whose promise to the contrary has not restrained him from asserting freedom on the far shores of the Pacific, Last, yet first here is the little company of Indians passing along in Indian file, bows & arrows in hands & the Squaws & their Papooses cribbed on their backs, how nimbly they walk & how little intelligence the Digger Indians countenance displays almost hid by the bushy thicket of uncombed hair. Such is Califomnia, a perfect “Confusion of Tongues.”278 The most opposite SEEING THE ELEPHANT 255 habits here mix in to make up the grand w bringing together of a worlds piodibeons Pe ee species. Surely Gold thou hast a Talismanic influence What but thou could do these things? : ee 3. Had a fine day. Two Englishmen fought last night with knives. One lays on the hill dead & the other badly wounded. A coroners inquest held, the live man taken by the Sheriff & the dead one left lying on the ground, so a few miners buried him. Civil law is no law here. A poor fellow long sick died today at Whites Had a faithful cousin to wait on him. Took an acct of stock & find business has not paid at all. gL UESDAY 4, Warm today as summer days in Ohio The man who died yesterday at Whites followed to the ere four persons. But little respect for the dead age eer the living. Hard country & worse times, WEDNESDAY 5. Cloudy today with a fair prospect of rain. Took a walk out this afternoon up little Deer Creek & over Kiota hills. Many sinking shaft with great labor Much as 90 ft deep hindered with water greatly. DuBuque men mining a level or tunnel into western hill 2 drain it. Horse power established to draw water Water for washing brot on to the hill from Rock Creek279 & another ditch in making 5 miles long from same Creek Also a large ditch by Young & Co. bringing in part of rie rig on we hill for washing. Clear water cost $8 pr day for a Tom & 2nd & 38rd ¢ ready $5 ‘ Sides a Thaise 8rd class already muddy T HURSDAY 6. Weather rather unsettled, a little sprinkling of rain this evening. Tonight Mr. Apperson [Epperson] was married to Mrs Brondurant. He a widower about 4 months, & she a widow some six weeks. Frmay 7. Clear warm day. Persons passing through here on their way to Feather River daily. Bot me a oe Revolver 4 in. bbl. for $40.00, No. 9770. AturDAY 8. Clear fine day nothin i Appersons shivereed last night. oe