I wrote you on the third that our contract hands had quit work as well as the wages hands.

On that day all the strikers gathered at Princeton. We kept about a dozen men at work at Mariposa and Pine-Tree. The tunnel contract men at Pine-Tree returning to work after the contract men had left the ground.

The Company shaft contract men at Princeton, eight in number called upon me to represent that they dared not attempt to go on with their work—their real purpose being to impress me with the danger of resisting the strikers. I assured them that not the smallest concession would be made, and they must be prepared to suffer all the loss to which under their contract they were liable if they delayed to go on. They went from here to Pine Tree to convey a threat to the men on the tunnel. I [203]saw these men afterwards and satisfied them that they were safe and they still continue at work, though repeatedly threatened. After the return to Princeton of the Company shaft gang, the strikers held a meeting and appointed a committee to bring before me terms of compromise. In this they in effect yielded the main question, acknowledging that the wages I fixed were not as low as were paid else-where in the state, but making grievous complaints of the board and lodging arrangements and demanding payment in gold and regular paydays. They stated that in the New Almaden and other large mining enterprises where the wages of miners were $3, board was but $4 per week and comfortable lodgings were furnished.

I declined to make any change in the rules I had given the Superintendents, though I assured them that if their demand had been made under other circumstances and as a request and I was satisfied that it would better serve the interests of all hands on the Estate, I might have given it favorable consideration.

In the evening another general meeting was held at Princeton the proceedings of which were given me the next morning in writing. It was resolved that inasmuch as I refused to compromise with them, they would associate themselves together under a pledge to prevent any work from being done for the company at any point until they were all reemployed at the old rates and under the old rules of Mr [Park].

On receiving this I went to Princeton and found a very meek [and] sheepish looking “mob” surrounding the company shaft, and Mr Williams and the Captain & clerk standing on the doors confronting the mob. The contractors had appeared and offered to go to work, were sent down the shaft, when doubtless according to previous arrangement, the mob came up with the intention of making a show of taking them out forcibly & thus giving them grounds for claiming release from their contract. Williams shut the door on the contractors & held them and the mob hesitated. I passed through and joined Williams, the mob opening a way for me in the most respectful manner. I after some conversation with Williams passed out again and went on to Mariposa, where soon after my arrival I received a dispatch from Williams stating that the mob had attempted to put him off the doors, and he having been joined by one or two other good men, the mob got the worst of it—no weapons but fists being used—we have had fire arms ready but kept them out of sight at all points—he still held the doors and intended to. He gave me the name of the leader in the assault, and according to previous arrangement I immediately procured a warrant and started a Deputy Sheriff after him. Before he reached the ground however, the mob had dispersed and the man was hidden. I employed trusty men to look for him last night and got warrants out and another officer to look after three other men who had been prominent in the affair. I have seen all the Magistrates & [204]Justices & warned them that the county would be held responsible for any losses of the company by mobs & that I should defend its property at all points by whatever means I found necessary. As soon as the doors of the shaft were opened the contractors came out and deserted.

Williams writes me this morning that he had been informed that it had been arranged that after they had stopped work at Princeton to proceed to Green Gulch and lynch any men whom they found at work there, and thence to Pine Tree &c.

All the prominent ring leaders fled to the bushes as soon as the Sheriff’s officers began to look for them. I don’t much think we shall ever see them on the Estate again.

We shall barricade the Company’s shaft today and put an armed guard about it, and on Monday the contractors are warned that there can be no excuse for any further delay in the prosecution of their work.

We shall swear in a number of special officers today and keep two deputy sheriffs at Princeton.

The mill at Princeton is at work on the reserve rock, and well watched and guarded.

We have a few men at work—chiefly China-men at Mariposa, Pine Tree & Benton Mills. I have heard from all points this morning. Everything is quiet and in my opinion the [strike] as an illegal proceeding is done with, though it may be some time before we get many men at work again.

The strikers have attempted to obtain demonstrations of the sympathy of the community with them, and started a subscription paper for establishing a fund to maintain the strike. I believe they have failed and however that may be I have the magistrates committed to act in confidence with me, including those who are here called “Secesh”.

Since the strike commenced we have promptly met all demands and have settled with nearly one hundred men. They are not of the best or worst class, the amounts due each being generally small. The total disbursement has been under $8000. This has had a good effect in convincing the men that we are in earnest and have confidence that we shall get all the hands we want at the wages fixed.

As soon as the strike commenced I sent advertisements to the San Francisco papers, stating wages & board rates.

The Deputy Sheriff whom I brought from Mariposa told me that Mr Park’s unwillingness to settle with the men and his desire to postpone payments during the last two years led him to yield to their demands in all other matters so generally, rather than meet demands for payment in full, that they felt confident that this would always be the case. Williams says this was not exactly so—as they made no demands, but it was the reason he did not undertake to reduce wages & this was understood by the men. The committee of the strikers whom I saw threatened that they [205]would all demand payment. I told them that they were all welcome to go as soon as they liked, and would be paid as fast as they came up. I give every man gold enough to carry him to San Francisco—the balance in a check. The men on final payments almost invariably dispute their accounts if they have been of long standing. This is a source of irritation which cannot be avoided under our present system of credit.

Adams has been busy spreading the rumor that I swindled the laborers on the Central-Park & have been sent here to play the same game. He will soon leave these parts.

Saturday Night. All quiet to-day a disposition to go to work being evident with the majority. At Green Gulch one set of contractors went to work in the morning and another agreed to go on Monday. The Princeton contractors have kept out of sight during the day.