Diary of H. W. Rigler in 1847 and 1848, With Notes [pp. 233-245]

244 DiaryofiL W. B:~rini8~~andr8~8. [Sept.
laughed with them. They talked about the tail-race was not deep enough. There
quitting work in the mill, but decided not was so much back water about the wheel
to do so, because it would be unfair to that the power was insufficient, so when the -
leave the job unfinished, and besides they gate was shut down, it was with the order
were not sure they could do better at gold that it should not be raised till the tail-race
hunting. I had written to my friends at should be deepened.
Sutter's Fort that gold had been found.] Sunday, AJarc/z 19th. - All hands hunt ed for gold. I was the luckiest one, and
Sunday, Feb. 27th.-I took the boys to my found $3'. Last week we completed the
gold mine, but the river had risen so that tail-race and the saw did much better.
the part of it where I got the gold on the Sunday, ffarch 26/k. - All last week, I
~~nd was under water. However, five of was busy teaching some Indians how to chop
us got nearly two ounces, and of this I down trees for saw logs. They were anxpicked up more than a third. Barger said ious to learn, but awkward, and they cut
Bigler could see gold where there was`nt some awful gashes in their feet and legs;
any. Three of the battalion boys arrived and then looked at me as if I should have
at our shanty from Sutter's Fort to see for prevented them from wounding themselves.
themselves about the gold discovery of Today I found $6 worth of gold.
which I had written to them. Marshall was Sunday, April 2d. - Clear and warm.
there when they came in and he sat till a Found a new place for gold, and got $30.
late hour. He was in an excellent humor April ~/k. - Stevens, Brown, and I, sadthat evening, and as usual, a very entertain- dled our horses and started for Sutter's Fort,
ing companion. Hudson, one of the visi- for the purpose of settling with Sutter and
tors, asked the privilege of prospecting in arranging with the men of our battalion for
the tail-race the next morning, and it was the journey to Salt Lake. Having started
granted. The next morning the three, late, we traveled only a few miles and
Wilfred Hudson, Sidney Willis, and camped in the mountains.
Fifield, went into the race and Hudson April 8/k. - Arrived at the mill site near
found a piece worth $6. They sojourned the fort and were told that Hudson and
with us till the ~nd March, and then re- Willis had gone up the river to hunt for
turned to the Fort following the course of gold, where they found~it before.
the river and hunting for go]d along its Sunday, April 9/k. The members of our
banks. They found some at the place battalion held a meeting and we resolved
afterwards known as Mormon Island. to be ready to start for Salt Lake on the ist
March ir/k. - We started the sawmill of June; excepting those who are to leave
this afternoon, and it was a success, and a next Saturday with an express for Salt
great surprise to the Indians, one of whom Lake and perhaps for the Eastern States.
when previously told by Brown that the April ri/k. - After dinner Brown and I
mill would saw of itself, said it was a lie.- started on our return trip and camped in
He had helped Brown at the whipsaw and the foothills.
knew a saw would not go unless there was a April 12/k. - In the morning while our
man at the end of it. Now he lay on his horses were cropping the young grass, we
belly for two hours watching the saw cutting prospected a ravine and got about $io.
boards much faster than any whipsaw, and Mounting our horses we followed up the
finally got up, said it was bueno, and he ~u1mTi~e5r express party was doubtless to carry the extra
wanted to learn to manage a sawmill. the latter part of March~~wtth a six~co1uhmann aft~}flcfe1SoCnO
March 12/k.- The saw ran all day, but ~" The of California" prepared for the piirpo~e