The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-10-20
The Gold Hunt in California.

that intense thirst for gold, has ever been a
characteristic of humanity, aud of none,
more SO than the European races. The fol-
lowing account, reminds us of the mania
among the Spanards, when they frs, land
ed upon ST. Domingo, in their Wild search
for the glltering dust. The Americans from
their peculiar energy of character, go il with
more of rush, than the INDECENT Spaniard /:
CALIFORNIA, June ! 1913.
We still live and have our being in this
"FarlheSt Vest" with only one serious APP
prehenSion, that weare III danger of having
more gold than food, for who can WELD a
spade, and shake a dish, can Gil his peck
cts, Il sGd guSio. Oh! this California eli.
mate certainly influences dispositions. A
Californian never dreams Of work. Some
GA horseback have to exert themselves IN
tanning Wild horses and cattle. and H. the al
tcrmanagemeu nj of them, but srdiGd me dois, ,
those who obtained a stay in this world by
head work, when in Office ar obtained cred
il on the hopes Of one, Ca Californian wall
pay his debts, but he takes his own time in
dong this, or any other good thing, had TO
get up prOaH}ciameHiO, occasionally, as
the funds or credit ran low; the natives
having, blythe change of flags, been brought
to stand still, he must 60 ahead AS they
best can 10y the ownership ul a few leagues
OF land aud aicw thousand head OF cattle
Ills now the Yankees turn. beginning in
October, 1916, under Lieut.. Washington
Bartlett alcaIde Of the town of Yciba Bue
IA. Hundreds of our country men obtained
in that town, at Sl5 each, house lots Of 30
yards square, $50 Eugli,hfeetO This they
continued under Judge Bryant and Judge
Hyde, one an editor, the other LAWYER Of
your city. Houses costing 500 to 81 900
sprung up like the story of Alsddin's times.
Fifty various lots, without any improve
men'S, sold from 500 to $1,000. Mer-
chants, lawyers, blacksmith,, carpenters,
&c, became owners Of snug little houses.
Many sent home for their families all was
doing well. Mechanics obtained 81 to IS
per day; even some of the volunteers came
IN Tor large share, by the well i.med aud
prudent permission of their officers, while
they performed their duty TO government.
Lawyers, so a fee: the merchant made
lW percent; clerks aud SChoOlmaSterS. 500
TO 81 900 per annmm. Every Que appeared
happy and coHtented, making money with
out tronble: like a Californian imagining
Providence had taken them under special
protection. When all this was in the full
blast OF successful operation. and no proba-
bllity Of its being brought TO a close pr1sto !
some one proClailning that there was, gu the
branches OF the Sacramento, ''god for the
gathering" This cry, | believe, began
from the Mormons; immediately the most
tnough'lesS, the most sanCuihr, took horse
or launch, for the rivers OF wealth. In less
than one month, they returned to Yerba
Buena, now San Francisco, with few hun
dred dollars Of gold du>t, worthwhile States.
SI1 per ounce. The whole mass of foreign
population struck, not Cor higher wages, but
lof none at all--spades and shovels rose
from 81 TO $40; tin pans, cups, to uuhear
oi prices; few cunSiderate turner's and
backsmiths remained at home to make
spades and picks, and turn wooden dishes
to wash ont the sand. These few are max
$50 TO $40 per day: cooks aud boa,rurn de.
mand $50 per month. The result in a few
words, is that, more than half, think three.
iourths of the houses, in some towns are va
Gated. a passage in the lannch rose from
nothing to Slto$Sto $40. Every one bro'l
more astonishing news of this II Dorado of
rivers, whose bottoms were gold. only re-
curing to step in, scoop up handful Of
black sand move the hand few minutes in
the water, and there remained the pure
thing itself. Rivers, whose banks slttered
with the fine LACK sand, imprcguatcd with
quantities Of gold that gli>tcned still more.
until the "ryes ached." Pans and shovels
sold for $50 Oh the spot; $50 day was de-
I ma md cd hy IN 4 1
nearest rancho, fora quarter of meat, or 500
a day to cook for mess of ten men, or s.
man. This. they say, was submitted to
for few days. Whether these golden sto-
,cs of rivers Of gold, were true or false.
could not Immediately be known. This
much was seen. No one from the gold re-
gIonS had any time TO stop TO talk, or spin
street yarns; but with more tools, tea, cuf-
fee, flour and crackers, paid for in gold dust
itself, at $ll per ounce, they were off again.
There was no waiting Tor whatthc Germans
call stand point. M hcSi;a,iou-no more
lunbelici-by the most skcptical: all must
90: ard, truly, III some towns, dRhdce cone.
Near two hundred houses in the town o!
San Francisco are closed by the owners.
Bcnicia, small town of a years growth
situated forty miles iiom the entrance OF
San Francisco Bay. had but two men left
who were earning $50 day 10y the ferry.
Monterey is now showing strong symptoms
OF the gold fever, its inhabitants. in general
! thinking they are sufficiently rich, can af-
ford for a tewdays longer, to let well enough
alone; but onward goes this fever, raging
strongly in the brains oi all, depopulatina
towns, carrying oil men, women and chill.
drcn. A Slx.yeRr old child can gather $.
or So n day; man $40 To SO; old and
young ladieSin proportion, according 10 how
they admire to stand two feet deep in tho
water, or can dig with shovelS, roll round n
wooden dish or basket.
A correspondent of the n. O. Picayune
writes as follows:
81 cannot enlarge or add any thing to the
following, which have from gentleman
wholeit California, Oh the lstins,. He say.
the mine, or p'dCer--the mine proper la,
not yet been come to--iS situated short
distance from Suffers Fort, on the Ame.i.
can fork. IL is an erteEt from ninety to on,
hundred miles IN icnyih, and probdbV iwea
| tyfa breddh. The entire population, even
young children have left their trade, pro,
LESSONS, or farm to attend 10 the mines
With no other implement, than a spade OF
shovel, pick axe and n bowl, man make,
sixty TO seventy dollars day, and som,
who have constructed rude machines Get
Oh nrl ,,trn,,, 4, , A., a