Transcript: Stangroomletter18560502

[Page 1]

San Francisco 2nd May 1856 My Dear sir We have just returned here from a trip through the southern mines, where Lane and I accompanied Little to look over some works in the neighborhood of Volcano, Eldorado County. We went from Sacramento to Jackson and Volcano. We stayed there 3 days looking over the ground. Rode 45 miles up the country into the Sierra Nevada and camped out one night. In the night I went down to the river for some water, and 3 of the party, seeing me on all fours by the dim light of the expiring campfire, took me for a grizzly and were just consulting about shooting at me when I luckily stood up and came toward them. I don’t know whether my [kit?] has impacted any of his appearance to me. If so, I should decidedly consider it a proof of qui s'assemble se ressemble. We went from there to Murphy's and to see the big trees,

[Page 2]

arbres, près de Sierra Nevada, in Calaveras County. They are truly one of the wonders of the world. There are about 30 monsters looking much like the cedar, or perhaps more like the arborvitæ, yet the foliage being distinct from either, the leaves being round like whipcord instead of flat. They are classed as "Taxodeum gigans" and called "Washingtonia gigantea". They vary from 20 to 30 feet in diameter above the roots and are from 300 to 350 feet high. They say the tallest is 400. On the stump of one that has been cut down, 24 feet di., a very respectable table dancing platform is made and a horseman can ride 100 feet through the hollow trunk of one that has fallen. They present a splendid appearance, being perfectly straight and without foliage for 200 feet above ground. They well repaid the visit. One day we left our horses to go down a [bad?] place to the river. On our return found them gone, or

[Page 3]

rather did not find them. So we had to trudge 7 miles home in the dark through the forest, losing the trail and getting into all sorts of difficulties. We managed, however, to get home at about 11 very tired and hungry and determined to have stronger halters for the future. The horses were found next day but it cost us 50$, as the saddles were lost. We went on to Sonora, and Columbia, looked round the mines and on to Stockton and from there by boat down here. I don't see much probability of any satisfactory arrangement being made with the old Co. as they are behaving in a not unaccountable manner and have perfectly disgusted Little. I think, however, that he will give them a fair chance if they are at all reasonable in their ideas. If that affair is broken up, I expect he will invest the money in some other speculations, several of which seem advantageous, and I think a very handsome income

[Page 4]

could be derived from some of them. If the whole concern were to fall through, I think I should turn to mining, but – sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof – I am not at all anxious on my own account, but should be very sorry on Wm. Nicholson's. The passengers of the steamer which has just arrived have had a dreadful massacre at Panama. It began by a dispute about 10 cents and ended in a general fight. The natives firing into the mass killed 25 and wounded 27 passengers, some of them women, plundered the railway office and some of the hotels and did much damage. An American steerage passenger was the aggressor, but it has the appearance of the natives having been prepared to do something. We have beautiful weather down here, nice and cool, but up at Nevada the thermometer was 91ᵒ in the shade in March. What will it be in August? It won’t bear thinking of at all

[Page 5]

–  from what we see in the papers, I should think that peace really is more probable than I expected some time since, though I hardly think we are getting enough for the money and life spent. I suppose there have been great rejoicings throughout France about the new youngster with the big head. Flags are flying here in his honour, and a French frigate in the harbor is wasting a good deal of powder. The country is beginning to present a beautiful appearance, being covered with a carpet of wild flowers, some of them very beautiful. You can ride for hundreds of miles and see them as far as the eye can reach. I only came down here to get my letters and return to Nevada (alone this time) this afternoon. Lane and Little remain

[Page 6]

down here to settle some law business. I am glad enough to get rid of them for a short time as the amount of chaff I have to bear is more than enough. We have no facts to go on, but are very strong on inductive reasoning. I intended to send you a small map of this country on a sheet of letter paper. It is tolerably correct and would give you a good idea of the country. I have some at Nevada but find I cannot get any here. I will send one next time. With lots of love to Mama, Charly, Grandmama, Mat and Lucy, believe me, my dear sir, your affectionate son, M. L. Stangroom You had better continue to address to me under cover to the British consul, as I may not remain at Nevada.