The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-02-12
fFSr Ne Casslte.
THE CALIFORNIA FEVER.

Messrs. SANpIRs g. DAvIs:--i TINS
That you arc we'll aware Of The excitement
,ha, is now existing among several young
men Of this community, who apparently
have strong symptoms Of yellow lever OF
nor. simply called the gold mania. Nov
. am 40, professional man, ] therefore
Icaonot prescribe remedy, bu, will ends"'
vor 10 give lev items TO those who con-
template making tho adventure, according
to nv own experience. 10 crossing the
|con,inent, don't Aatler yourselves that y
will DO pleasure trip. ] found j . con
l,inual sccue Of fatigue and hardshps
which no one can realize, only from expe
rience.
Ir the first place ! would say 10 those
who have the lover raging about 54degrees'
10 we'll consider their preseu. situation and
privileges, and Of that which might be d.
rine tho adventure 10 California. Il will
hardly do to back out, when once The OUTFIT
/ is made, aud The time come ready Tor a
start. This will be the frst trying time,
when you leave your dearest friends. And
remember boys, you must "lesvs all the
pretty girls behind you" --shink Of i ser'-
ously, there will be no sparkling the girls
when evening comes--I guess you don't
think o: ,hat--but when night overtakes
you, then 10 turn out your teams and guard
them, while some otthe company are doing
camp duty, and preparing cherries sup
per, no kind lady there 10 get your mea's'
unless you are fortunate enough to have
one with you. which would be rare cir
cumstauco After supper the watch is
made for the night, (Which you will dread,
when il comes your turn,) and all except
those on duty, are glad 10 turn ia under
their blankets, and snooze away, until thew
are called up to watch. IN the morning at
all are routed up to prepare
breakfast; after breakfast, up with the
teams, and make ready for start. Soon
YOU will be in motion again, towsrd the
Colorado; don't quail boys. when you get
to streams, where you will be obliged t.
drive your team up to your neck in water;
don't mind that, for the worst has not come
vet. II your team and wagon happen E
capsize. and the current take them down
stream, let them 90, but try and save YOUR
self; you don't begin 10 see the Elephant
vet. When you get TO the South Pass Of
the rocky mountains, look out that you
don't slide of, for the pass is only twenty
miles wide, and you will scarcely know
when you are at the summit, but you will
soon discover by the Pacific Springs, thai
you are on the west side Of the mountains.
So you will proceed on your journey, and
when you get among the cannibals, don't
run. but stand bv each other, end you will
20 doubt get through sale.
The accounts from California are gen.
orally favorable, we seldom see an account
that is unfavorable, but come 10 the reali
~, il is no trifliog adventure. When you
get to the Sierra Nevada mountains. and
you should meet grizzly. don't run boys.
but stand your ground, and il there 10 4
Nimrod among you, let him have the man.
agement Of old Druin, and II you get Of.
without being we'll Rugged and munchsd,
aud half devoured, consider yourselves
lucky fellows. And if you should be- for
tunate enough to get 10 the land Of Ophir,
you need no. expect to find particular
friends, for erery man is for himself in
that country. When once there, then
brace yourself against al! temptations, (for
il will be impossible to avoid thcm) In
less the mind is strong and we'll balanced,
it will he difficult to Withstand all tho al
lurements. With regard to the liquor ,rsf.
&c, there is no restraint, every trader has
i, and deals it out to all who asks for it;
no such thing as license in the gold region,
il is optional with all to use it or lot i,
alone, and you Oh know how often il is Us
ed to drown trouble, and very often too b,
those who have made solemn pledge
against the use OF il.
| would not write discouragingly to an,
one, bu. would say to al those who possess
good constitution, and who are Ole and
willing TO do hard labor, (for a stranger
cannot depend on any thing else 10 tina,
coun,ry;) and those who have no, fair psos
poets ahead, OF 10 their present situation.
and who can Withstand oil temptations te
evil, and can forsake their dearest friend.
and leave all the ladies, &c, would sa,
boys, "be sure you are right, and then g.
ahead" and good luck attend you. When
| make up my mind to 60 again, you viii
be apt to know il, and you will see me
oph! Now friend Sanders T. Davis, If 70,
think the above worth noticing, it is a,
your disposal. G.F.F.