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1853 SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA EX-GOLD MINER'S LETTER
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1853 SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA EX-GOLD MINER'S LETTER
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Very interesting, excellent 3 pp. original folded letter dated (Sacramento, California), Mar 12 1853, from Daniel Bailey, an ex-gold miner, who worked on a steamboat, to his sister, Harriet at Augusta, Maine, with faint red San Francisco/ Cal postmark, containing some nice mining related content. Reads, in part, as folows, "I left the mines about the first of Jany & went down to San Francisco, where I found employment about the first of Feb. Since that time I have been on board the Steamer GOV. DANA running from Sac[ramento] City to Marysville, the distance 70 miles, and we make daily trips making 140 miles run from 8 o'clock AM to 8-/12 or 9 PM. I suppose you have been anxiously expecting a letter from me for some time and have been sadly disappointed. I really hope you will excuse me and I will try to write oftener. Mother's letter by Enoch Resnick was duly rec'd. He said she called previous to leaving & said you were all well. Today is our day for laying over in Sac City, instead of Sunday, but last night news came up that the Steamer GAZELLE had broken her shaft and so we were obliged to go down and tow her up. We are now about 15 miles from the city & have towed her about 30 [miles]. I am in the clerk's office on the GAZELLE writing to you. S. B. Coburn is clerk on board of her. Perhaps if I remain on her (the DANA), I may have the clerk's berth eventually. Saml. Soale of Skowhegan is one of the principal owners of the GAZELLE & DANA. Coburn is also interested, having bought out A. D. Arnold's share & he (Arnold) returns home this mail ... Sumner Brisk of Augusta in on board the DANA and the crew are almost all Kennebunkers. My letters all have to be sent from Auburn to San Francisco & probably it will be best to direct your letters there for the future. Mining has been rather hard on the rivers during the first part of the winter, on account of severe rains & storms. Provisions were very high & scarce ... here are quite a number of Bloomfield boys going to Australia, Some have gone. I think, however, that it will be as well for me to remain here. My speculations so far have been failures and I have come to the conclusion that it is best to make a sure thing of it ... Mr. Resnick has gone up Feather River to work in a saw mill for Mr. Cross of Solon ME. He was unwell on the passage out, but regained his health soon after he arrived. The Lawrence boys, whom I have been in co[mpany] with since I have been here, are in the mines. I have not heard from them since I came down from the mines. Do not know whether I shall return to the mines this summer or not ... I am well and rugged, weigh 165 [pounds] and have weighed more. Don't know when I am coming home, whether rich, poor ... [signed] Daniel ..." The Steamer GAZELLE, 81 tons, was built at San Francisco in 1852. The beautiful Steamer GOVERNOR DANA, 46 tons, was built at Oldtown ME. Enhanced photocopy for ease of reading is provided. Good condition, letter two extra vertical file folds, a few very minor defects, address panel slightly worn at edges, little bit faded and age stained, postmark partially struck . *** We have been in the paper Americana business since 1953 and are members of both the Manuscript and Ephemera Societies as well as numerous other collector organizations.
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