The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-04-20
Correspondence Of The Cecil Whig.l
Letter from the Land of Gold.
San Francisco, Feb. Oath 1880.

cuh r IouClsC0p I Gu. <ftn 1ooOs
Well, here l am IN the heart Of the
c'ty-the city whose name has been con-
stantly sounding in my ears for the last
six months. arrived on the 22nd int,
thus making the trip from New York in
thirty four days and a half. The ship
stopped one day in each OF the ports Of
Acapulco, San Bias, .Mazatlan, San Die
80 and Monterey, and we were all glad to get
on shore At those pIaces-glad to get on
terra firma, and gratifed with the oppor-
tunity OF taking peep at Mexican man
ners and customs. have almost book
OF items upon my voyage on the Pacific,
but it you could see me in my 8 by 10
rsom, with nine other dodgers and their
luggage, seated on 4 trunk and trunk
for my desk, with a room full OF drunken
gamblers on each s,de-I say, could you
see and hear these things as now see
and hear them, you would excuse me for
not writing you moro.
cannot pretend to give you sketch
OF San Francisco. One must be here at
lsast week before he can recover from
his bewllderment. The eternal din and
confusion Of New York Is not greater
than that you hear and zee here. be-
lievs all that is published in the States
about San Francisco is true--the bad as
we'll as the good. The two hundred de-
serted vessels in port are here-the sto-
ries about the piles and "big chunksp Of
gold are true. The almost Innumerable
number OF gambling shop. are here; and
aye gods. it doth amaze me-" to see
women bet 10 OF. on a single turn OF the
roulette. The fact is, everything surpri-
SEES me and you must wait sometime before
] Can write you rational letter.
All nations have sent their representa-
tives here. You see the Ch,naman with
his flaming red troussrs-the Mandarin
with his eve rlasting t,il-the Sandwich
Islander and the Sidney bird fresh from
the chain gang d England. Money,
money is the sole object Of every one. II
you meet an old friend In the street and
enquire after his health, ten to one he'll
answer you by asking s::9op much have
you nude today" Il had always been
told mo that anything you took hold Of
would pay; 80, the first day I tried my
haad as newsboy, and made $25 clear
profit. The second day l started out to
peddl- eggs and made SO. / can get ,
situation to morrow at $3.50 month and
boarded, but will not accept it, a. am
off for the San Joaquin on the Goth where,
all accounts say the miner must be pecu-
liarly unfortunate who does not "bag" an
ounce per day.
1 arrived IN the best season OF the year.
The rainy weatheris just over ard the
temperature Of the atmosphere is delight
tul. The miners are leaving for the
mines in great numbers. Boots, clothing,
provisions and vegetables are much cheap
er than they formerly have been. l am
paying 80 cents night for lodging, and
boarding costs me Sl,25 per day. Wash
ing is Sc the dozen with ironing. and
$3.50 without. Enclosed are some sam
Piles of the real metal taken from the
mines on Feather river. Va ..-..,.,..
As lam going to remote quarter Of
the mining region you may not possibly
hear from me again for three or four
months, but if an opportunity offer l shall
write again soon. Yours &C.
R. F. MAY. Il