Chandler writes of the hard winter due to cold, but that he has “a very warm stone cabin, a good stove, and plenty wood for the present.” Chandler writes that “the richest diggings ever discovered are here,” and he almost had an interest in a company that sold a claim for 240,000 dollars. Chandler writes of his experience with the Piute [sic] and Washoe tribes of Indians, telling how he and some other miners tried to help some Indians who were freezing to death. “We tried to catch the young scamps but they yelled like murder so we let them go … we heard afterwards they had frozen to death.” He also writes of the suffering of an emigrant family whose “teams had died on the road and were out of provisions.” Notations in pencil on the first page at the top read: “Sufferings of Indians and Emigrants.” Pencil marks highlight certain parts of the text pertaining to the title.
Gold miners Gold mines and mining West (U.S.) History 1860-1890 Pioneers Correspondence Nevada County (Calif.) Mining claims Paiute Indians Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California
Time Period
1855-1872
Place
Virginia City (Nev.)
Source
Autograph letter signed, 4 pages; N. A. Chandler Gold Rush Era Letters, D1942.1, box 1, folder 25
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