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[Imprint] illustration of Native American Chief: TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEES
PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT H. L. A. BATES, GENERAL AGENT 440 COMMERCIAL STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The Shawnee Fire Insurance Co.
York Creek 6/24/09
Dear Edward:
Lesley sent me up your long letter and I was glad to hear from you and about your trip. It certainly must have been mighty interesting and I hope to take the same trip some day. I did not have much of a trip, all farm country until I got to Oroville. I left Oroville about seven o'clock on Monday night on a work train. It was chock full of Greeks & Italians, about five white men aboard. We rode till about twelve o'clock when were arrived at the end of the track, a place called Big Bar. I went into a building here with a fellow named Brady and got out my blankets, in which we rolled up, and slept on the floor. It was cold as the devil outside and not much warmer inside. In the morning we got up and had our breakfast,
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for which we paid 50¢ apiece, about the worst breakfast I ever ate.
About 9 o'clock the stage came. It was a small wagon pulled by two horses with room for 2 men and the driver and a pile of baggage. [small drawing of the stage with note]: The stage. I rode till lunch which I ate at Kopps, a surveying camp, and after a rest went on again till night. I stayed over night at another surveying camp called Hutchinsons. The next morning I changed stages and went on till I arrived at a place called Beldons were [where] they had shot about 35,000 pounds of powder and blocked up the road. The other fellow on the stage, named Truxel, and I then got off the stage and walked to Gradons camp, where Les is. You never saw a more surprised fellow in your life than Les when I walked in. I stayed over night and went on the next morning to Kerlingers where I am now, about five miles from Gradons.
It is a pretty good camp, but Les has a
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[Imprint] illustration of Native American Chief: TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEES
PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT H. L. A. BATES, GENERAL AGENT 440 COMMERCIAL STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The Shawnee Fire Insurance Co.
better one, I like our fellows better though.
Father send [sent] me a fishing outfit about two weeks ago but I have not been able to catch a darn thing. The chink however goes out and catches them all the time.
We don't want very much up here now as the work is nearly all finished. I am a sort of a vegetarian now, not eating meat anymore, also I have not eaten breakfast or lunch for the last four or five days. I feel better without it. The swimming up here is dandy, the water being nice and cold and the air hot as the devil. How is it up there hot or cold?
I hope that you have a good time up there, skiing, skating, snowballing etc. The mountains tops around here are
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covered with snow also and Les and I are going up on the 4th.
Remember me to Sam Babcock and if you see anybody else up there, to them also.
We mogs old kid I must quit now so goodbye Ever Your loving brother R W Bates
P.S. Address all letters to me Mr. -----------------c/o Kerlingers Camp W.P.R.R. Oroville, Calif.
I hope that you have better luck fishing than I have had.
Say! You have a son of a gun of a long address.
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[Imprint] illustration of Native American Chief: TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEES
PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT H. L. A. BATES, GENERAL AGENT 240 SANSOME STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The Shawnee Fire Insurance Co.
Office June 26/09 Sat noon
My dear Edward:
I received your letter of the 25th today and was delighted to hear you had such a fine time on the wood chopping trip and that you caught seven Eastern brook trout. Did you catch them with the fishing outfit I gave you?
I am sending you by mail today
1 pr nail scizzors .85 ¢ 1 soap dish 25 2 books of 2¢ stamps 50 1 nail brush 25 1 #7 1/4 Canvas hat 50 $2.35
and hope they will reach you safely. Dont ask me to send you too much, as every thing costs.
I got a letter from Mother from Bozeman but I suppose she is back in Billings again. They seem to be alright but dont expect to be back before the end of July.
I will send your letter to Mother, as the episode about Mrs. Durst will amuse