Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-07-17
CALIFORNIA IN 80.
Some OF tho Feuturoa or Living Thoro
During the Gold Excitomont.


During the Gold ExcitoInent.
Life in California was ut that time n
wild romance. No words of mine can
describe the scenes TINT were enacted
| during that chaotic period. Thousands
of mon, organized in bands or wholly
discrganized, wero constantly arriving
from every part of the world and leav-
ing for the diggings. Outlnws and pro-
fessional gamblers opened saloons by
the scoro at every point where mon con-
gregntcd. Money was scattered every
whore rs if by the wind. Miners who
had realized fortunes in q few days
came down to Stockton, Sacramento,
| and San Francisco to squaudor them in
night ut the gambing-tnblos. Scarcely
q woman was anywhere to DO seen. Ali
| restraining influences of society were
absent, and 1 cannot find an expression
better suited to the case than "Pande.
monium on frolic."
as there were no wives, there could
be no homes or families. A few stores
had been hastily put up along the shore,
made of rough boards or canvas, and oil
of them were doing on enormous bust.
ness. The rest of the village consisted
OF shanties Or tents used for restaurants
| and saloons. Human life was O moving
panorama. Tho whole place was alive
with mass OF unkempt men clad in
flannel shirts and henvy boots, who wero
inspired with tho one desire to hurry on
to the mines.
This rough life was not without its
touches of sentiment. One day the town
was electrified by the rumor that IN in
voice of women's bonnets hud arrived
and could be seen ut one of the stores.
Tho excitement was intense, and there
WAS rush from every direction to get
realistic view OF even so insignificant
a substitute for female society. I do
not overstato the truth in saving TINT
tho thoughts of home that were awak-
ened in the breasts of the rude-looking
men ut the sight Of those bonnets started
Tears from eyes which the worst forms
of privntion and hardship had failed to
mCisten.
The Christian missionary was already
on the ground, and good Parson Williams
had managed to find place where he
could preach on Sunday. One Of the
first men who arrived with bis family
! came to ono of these meetings attended
by his wife and baby. During the ser-
mon it CHANGED that the baby cried and
tho mother wns about to withdraw.
when the preacher addressed her thus |:
My good woman, beg you to remain !;
the innocent sound OF that infants
voice is more eloquent than any words
l can command. 1t speaks to the
hearts OF men whose wives and children
are far away, looking and praying for q
safe return to their own loved oncs ut
home" Never shall forget the sobs
and tears which those words evoked
throughout that rough assembly. That
infants cry seemed to them the music
Of angels.
With those who made San francisco
their temporary abode gambling OPP.
penred to be the chief occupation and
Spanish monte the favorite game. One
house fronting on tho plaza, two-story
frame building called the Parker House.
rented for $4,000 per annum, the
rental being paid mostly by gamblers.
A single store of small dimensions and
made OF rough boards rented for So, 900
n month. A canvas tent used as n gam
bling. aaloon rented for $4,000 per
annum. Money was loaned on good Sc.
curity at 10 per cent. e. month, and tout
OF the loan the borrowers made fortunes
In real estate operations. Century.