Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/69



their labor  with  Sutter  and  Marshall,  who  furnished tools and  provisions,  Bigler  and  his  associates  rained for two  months,  one  mile  below  the  saw-mill.^  They stopped in  the  midst  of  their  success,  however,  and tearing themselves  away  from  the  fascination,  they started on  June  17th  in  search  of  a  suitable  rendez- vous, where all  the  saints  might  congregate  prior  to beginning  their  last  pilgrimage  across  the  mountains. They found  such  a  spot  the  next  day,  near  where Placerville now  stands,  calling  it  Pleasant  Valley. Parties arrived  one  after  aiiother,  some  driving  loose horses into  a  prepared  timber  corral,  others  swelling the camp  with  wagons,  cattle,  and  effects;  and  so  the gathering continued  till  the  3d  of  July,  when  a  gen- eral move was  made. As the  wagons  rolled  up  along the divide  between  the  American  River  and  the Cosumnes on  the  national  4th,  their  cannon  thundered independence before  the  high  Sierra. It was  a  strange sight, exiles  for  their  faith  thus  delighting  to  honor the power  that  had  driven  them  as  outcasts  into  the wilderness. *

. The  party  consisted  of  forty-five  men  and  one woman, the  wife  of  William  Coory. It was  by  almost incredible toil  that  these  brave  men  cut  the  way  for their wagons,  lifted  them  up  the  stony  ascents,  and let them  down  the  steep  declivities. Every step added to  the  danger,  as  heralded  by  the  death  of the  three  pioneers,  Daniel  Browett,  Ezra  H.  Allen, and Henderson  Cox,  who  were  found  killed  by  the Indians of  the  Sierra. And undaunted,  though  sor- rowful, and filled  with  many  a  foreboding,  the  survi- vors descended the  eastern  slope  and  wended  their way through  the  thirsty  desert;  and  there  we  must leave them  and  return  to  our  gold-diggers.

as we  worked  on  his  claims  or  land.'  Bigler ^  Diary  of  a  Mormon,  MS.,  75. A Mormon  writing  in  the  Times  and  Transcripl  sa^s:  'They  undertook  to make  uBffive  them  half  the  gold  we  got  for  the  privilese  of  digging  on  their land. l£is«waB afterwarcP  reduced  to  one  third,  and  in  a  few  weeks  was giTen up  altogether.'  Mrs  Wimmer  states  that  Sutter  and  Marshall  claimed thirty per  cent  of  the  gold  found  on  their  grant;  Brannan  for  a  time  secured ten per  cent  on  the  pretext  of  tithes.
 * ' HaTing  aa  imderatanding  with  Mr  Marshall  to  dig  on  shares. .  .so  long