These things, and many other facts of a similar nature, brought to our State emigrants not only from the East, but from all other countries of the globe, who desired to live under such favorable conditions, and in a short time there could be found in the mining regions, as well as in the chief towns and cities, representatives from almost every nation. But a very small proportion, however, of those who came into the mountains in the year ’53 engaged in the business of mining, for previous to this time the very important discovery had been made that, by the use of water for irrigation, the soil could be rendered highly productive, and all kinds of fruits could be raised in the red and apparently barren soil. The German population commenced the cultivation of the grape vine, and from this point in the history of California can be dated the inception of the fruit and wine industries of the Pacific Slope, which in a few years swelled to immense proportions. The little valleys and level places, suitable for orchards and vineyards, were readily located, and everything indicated the fact that all had become convinced that this was the promised land, for which they had so long been searching.
It must not be supposed that the gold seekers from the Eastern side of the Continent, in their earnest desire to improve their financial condition, should entirely overlook their spiritual welfare; and that they did not forget their early training was evident from the fact that in the spring of ’51 a church was organized, and a suitable building erected near the mouth of Cedar Ravine, where services were held upon the Sabbath. The Rev. Mr. Owens was the first minister to officiate, and it was stated that this was the first church organization in the mining regions. The discovery was soon made, that although we had a church and a very respectable congregation, containing quite a number of ladies and a few children, yet there was something else wanting, something that had been associated in our minds from infancy in connection with a church, and this was a bell. The question therefore at once suggested itself as to how we could reasonably expect success in spiritual matters without a bell. Upon the supposition that this would be an impossibility, a committee was appointed, and money was raised for the purchase of one.
After much inquiry, the committee succeeded in purchasing in San Francisco an old ship’s bell. This upon its arrival was hailed with hearty cheers, and elevated in due time to its lofty perch upon the roof of the church. The sound of it could be heard for many miles around, reverberating among the ravines and cañons, telling to the miners far and near, in the plainest tones and in unmistakable language, that the holy Sabbath day had not only found its way across the barren desert and the mountain ranges, but had come to stay, and they must not forget it.
All persons are, perhaps, aware that the peculiar tone of a bell which we have often been accustomed to hear, and are therefore familiar with, can very easily be distinguished from the tones of another, even after the lapse of many years. Near the head of the Big Cañon, about two miles from the town, was a cabin occupied by three or four men who had followed the sea, and upon the first Sabbath morning when the bell was rung the sound of it reached the ears of the sailor boys; and one of them rushing from the cabin door exclaimed:
“Blast me eyes, shipmates, if thet aint ole Dick’s voice” (the name given to the bell on shipboard), “and I’ll jest bet a tar bucket agin an ole soldier, that the Capt’in of the ship has been on a spree, lost his bearin’s, and is a sailin’ up Hangtown Creek, and a comin’ to anchor off the town. We’ll scrub decks, trim sails, make all taut, me lads, and take a cruise down that way, and hev a talk with ole Dick.”
Jack was informed upon reaching town that the bell upon the church, sure enough, was formerly used upon the ship “Staffordshire.”
“Yas” says Jack; “I wud know that bell in any part o’ the world. For twelve years Dick and I sailed together the seas over, from the China Sea up through the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean; an’ we could all understan’ Dick’s language when he talked to us. It was Dick who tole us when the plum duff and ole horse was ready fur us to stow away in our lockers. When ’twas our watch below, an’ also late at night, when ’twas our watch on deck, we wud hear ole Dick sing out, ‘Aye, below there, me hearties! Rouse out, ye lubbers, an’ come on deck,’ an’ we always obeyed his orders.’ Well, me lads, ’tis quite a change fur ole Dick from the deck of a ship tossin’ about on the ocean, to the roof of a church up in Hangtown; but he’ll do his duty faithfully an’ if the land lubbers will be as quick to come on deck for prayers when he talks to ’em on a Sunday mornin,’ as the lubbers in the ship’s fo’cas’le were, they’ll all sail through life in safety with a fair wind. An’ then, when their voyage is ended, and Dick tells them that tis their watch below, they can slip their cables from this world without fear, sail over to the other side, an’ find a safe harbor in the next.”
About thirty-eight years have now passed since the old ship’s bell first made its appearance in the mining regions. It served its purpose well for a short time upon the roof of the church, in calling together the miners for prayers on Sunday mornings; but an increase in number of the congregation demanded a larger edifice. A larger bell was therefore deemed necessary, and Dick was transferred to the roof of the school-house on the hill, from which his voice can yet be heard, with the same cheerful tone calling upon the children to come and prepare themselves to take a part in the active duties of life.
The school was for a long time under the instruction of Mr. Cyrus Bartlett, of New Bedford, Mass.