120 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
crevices well “ mudded,” all the light used being admitted through 
the door. There is a cave, walled and roofed with rocks, the 
canvas closing the entrance being the only indication that it is 
a tenement. An army tent is also seen, which is well secured, 
as if in momentary expectation of the approaching blast; dirt 
has been thrown well over the foot, to prevent the winds from 
searching out the occupant. In front is a tree, under which is 
a camp-kettle and frying-pan, and near are a few dying embers, 
the smoke curling up and mingling with the foliage. It seemed 
hard that one accustomed to the luxury of a comfortable home, 
should be doomed to spend the winter in this forlorn condition. 
Climbing up the side of the mountain, are seen mules heavily 
laden with provisions and mining utensils, which are destined 
to some favorite spot in the mountain gorges. Trade begins to 
improve, miners are laying in their supplies for the winter, and 
merchants find their stocks exhausted, and are driven to town 
to replenish. The sun assumes a peculiar color, and where it 
is reflected in the water is a “royal” purple. Its rays had be¬ 
come very dim, and on the 27th of October the deluge burst 
upon us. 
General Winchester and company had just placed their quick¬ 
silver machine, and commenced successful operations on the bar, 
but one night destroyed their works, carrying one of their 
machines, laden with twenty-five pounds of quicksilver, a 
distance of three miles, destroying it, and emptying its valuable 
contents into the river. The rise of the river was so rapid that 
those on the opposite side, when it commenced to rain, found it 
impossible to recross six hours after. The scene was most ter¬ 
rific; the mountain on either side of the river, rose almost 
perpendicularly, and the torrents rushed down, undermining huge 
rocks, which, after making a few leaps, would come in contact 
with others of equal dimensions, when both, with one terrific 
bound, would da$|j|into the chasm below. 
Mining operalfils were, for the time, suspended, and miners, 
many of whom were destitute of even the protection of a tent, 
were hovering about their fires in a most desponding mood; 
many were entirely destitute of means, and cooking, perhaps, 
their last day’s supply. Teams were constantly arriving with 
miners fresh from the States, who would descend the mountain 
