H. F. Wilkinson Correspondence, 1887 Oct. 16 and 1889 Jan. 17

Auburn Oct [October] 6th 1887

Dear Friend Jake

I received your telegram last night. In regard to the fire it occured on ^last Friday night about one O'Clock as near as I can tell. I was sleeping in the lower works and^when the flames woke me up the whole roof was on fire when I woke up I had a scarce time to get out altho [although] I tryed [tried] to get the bellows out of the blacksmith ^shop but could not do it. I am confident it was set on fire. I think there ^was coal oil spread all over the roof of the blacksmith shop for when I got out of the shop the whole roof was in a sollid [solid] flame. My dog commenced

looking up toward the house which attracted my attention I saw flames rising from the upper works. I immediately ran up to the house and woke up my family and then went to the works to save what I could the Round House Part was all in flames I succeeded in getting out the Bellows & Vice and that was all that I could save. There was but verry [very] little breeze and that fortunately was from the East. Had the wind ben [been] from the South we would lost the house and barn also and left ^us under a tree without a dollar I am satisfyed [satisfied] there was coal oil used on the Round House for I found a bottle near the works that had cole oil in it. This

is as near as I can tell about the matter none of our neighbours came near to assist us I know there had not been any blacksmithing done in the Round House for three or four days before the fire occured and none at the lower works for months. The shafts ar [are] burned down to the water and god nows [knows] how much waist has caved in there probably fild [filled] up 50 feet or more. This is all that I know of to write you Hooping [Hopeing] that I may be able to hold what is left till Rain comes. Yours Truly H.F. Wilkinson Auburn Placer Cou Placer County

Auburn, Cal. [California] January 17th 1889.

Dear Jakee

Yours of the 15th at hand I received the Report all right and Showed it to Mr Hobson he said it was all right and a verry [very] good Report and also stated that he did not think it was over drawn I have not forwarded the Report to Mires & to yet as There is a Party hear [here] that is looking for mines for an English Co. Mr C E Reed is going to help us out on it Mr Reed is a verry [very] wethy man and what ever he says to this Expert gowes [goes] I told him if he would make sale of the mines that I would make it all right with him he said he did not want anything but was willing to help me out if Possable He looks for him every day and when he comes and Examines the Property if it dont go I will forward the Report at once to Mr Myers & Co. Mr Reed lives in San Francesco he has a Ranch hear of 1200 acers that he is improving he has a ranch in Yolo Co [County]] of 3000 acers he had 80,000 Sacks of wheat this year for market he is the man that aspired for govener [governor] of this State I think Eather [Either] 4 years ago or 6. Dont say anything to aney [any] Person that I have mentioned Reedes name to you for he told me

not to mention his name in this affair now be sure and dont do it I will write you soon again and let you know all the particulars.

Yours H F Wilkinson Auburn Placer Cou [Placer County] Cal [California]