The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-28

50 little demand 10: iaOoE un0 tue SAkS"s0 - -.
ing here so great, believe that . person would
save more money BY goirg home than TO remain
here on expense during the winter, even 4 ne re-
turned again in the spring. Thousands are 'eav'
ing here weekly. Many are returning to the
states. Some are going to the Sandwich Islands,
and some 10 Oregon, but great proportion are
comnelled to remain here through necessity, not
having sufficient means TO get away. Many OIL
n. latter class are those who have lately arrived
ia the country without money and a no' able 10
gek 10 the mines, and others who have been un-
successful in mining have come here in hopes TO
get employment, but great majority Of 'hem
have sought their own ruin at the monte table ana
croc shop. You have little idea to what an ex-
tent gambling and drinking are carried on mere;
every public house and drinking establishment
contains from to monte tables, besides there
are various other games going on in the same
building, such as roulef, faro. A b {, q, ana .
! score of others which do not know the names
Of. Gambling, drinking, and suicide are the or
der OF the day There have been three suicides
committed since came here, all Of which were
,casioned through the influence Of gambling ana
drinking. Two weeks ago last Sabbath morning
man shot himself through the head, moi stones
throw from my boarding place. heard the re-
ro,t distinctly, and soon saw persons collecting
about the house. went over, and there beheld
one Of the most horrid sights ever witnessed,
there lay man on cot with the back part o.
his head entirely blown OF, how It could have
been done is beyond conjecture, there was Moth
ing found about him but 2 common dueiling pis-
tolls, which it does not seem TO be capable Of pro-
ducing such an effect. ] was told this man LOST
$1,000 the evening before and returned to hisiodg-
ings in state Of intoxication, and probably COM
miited the rash act under the influence OF delirum
tremens. THANK God that am not addicted to
any Of these vile practices which cause so much
misery and ruin, and hope / may be permitted
to return 10 my friends as free from them a. am
now have yet to bet the first cent on monte
or any other game Of hazard since left ~ y,
and have been snrro unded with rum and gam
bers ever since left hume, but all these tempt
ations and allurements have not yet made any
inroads upon my previous resolutions which were
never TO come under their influence again, for
from them proceed. misery, crime, poverty and
death.
Mr. Miller has gone TO Sacramento City to buy
some horses. He thinks Of starting an Omnibus
here, which he thinks will pay well, as there is
nothing of the kind in the city. II he does not
succeed in getting up team soon think he will
return home, Us he has not been able as yet to
get any permanent employment or engage in any
business that promised success. Since he came
from the mines, Mile has stopped with kilhorn
IN small house which be rents. stopped there
one week and then en-, to live with young man
who keeps boarding house and with whom
was previously acquainted in Burlington, VI. He
was quite anxious that should 60 in with him
in the business, as his means were rather limited
he was not able TO furnish and make such i'm.
provemeDts as he wished 10. He thought he had
first rate place and when fairly regulated would
make money fast. was SO anxious to &c, into
at once, without any further examination, but
upon little reflection ! told him would come
and stop with him few days and see what the
prospect was and if fair. would put in an amount
equal to his capital invested, which was about
$1,000. This was agreed upon and ! went TO
work with him. He had 90 boarders when
commenced, IS paying $40 and Sl5 per week.
His rem, was $400pcr month and he paid The
cook and waiter $500. / had not been ,herelong
before discovered that it was losing game
Blu, not till had lent him hundred dollars to
enable him TO procure lumber and materials for
putting up births, as his boarders were all grum-
bling and threatened TO leave fhe did not provide
something for them to lay upon besides the floor.
This saw must be attended to and supplied him
with means to do il. do not think that he in
tended 10 deceive me about the concern as he
maintained frs, rate character in Burlington
and was in one of the frs, houses in the place,
but he had no; examined the business thoroughly
and really supposed that he should do well from
the fact that every body else seemed to, that en-
gagged in that business. But when l dcmons.ra-
ted 10 him in round numbers he becamed really
concerned, and told me that he would secure me
at once, for the money I had advanced. The
poor fellows rent becomes due to. morrow and he
has no. means TO pay il, SO suppose he will
lose all he has put in. Ihave been with him
tor the last three weeks assisting enough to pay
for nv board, and think he will save enough
ought Of the concern,o pay me back the borrow
ed money, so my expenses will not amount to
much thus far, since came to this city.
/ have lately entered into new speculation
which think will turn out WELL About miles
from this place lies the Mission of Dolores which
thas been recently ascertained to belong to the
public domain. have made a claim on this Of
hundred yara lot which is 1877 feet square
Should the claim hold good think can realize
thousand dollars out oft before spring, as it is
most delightful spot and the only fertile land
about San Francisco. It is exciting great deal
Of attention and more are striking out lots in
every direction. 1t destined to become a large
city in my opinion in q very short time the soil