River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-07-30
LIFE IN CALIFORNIA IN Is4s.
The Rough state of Society at That Early


Day.
Life in California was at that time
wild romance. No words of mine can
describe the scenes that were enacted
during that chaotic period. Thousands
OF men, organized in bands or wholly
disorganized, were constantly arriving
from every part of the world and leav-
ing for the diggings. Outlaws and pro-
fessional gamblers opened saloons by
the score at every point where men
congregated. Money was scattered
everywhere as if by the wind Miners
who had realized fortunes in few days
came down to Stockton, Sacramento
and San Francisco TO squander them in
night at the gambling-tables. Scarce
" woman was anywhere to be seen.
All restraining influences of society
were absent, and l can not find an ex-
preston better suited 10 the case than
'pandemonium on a 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 all
of them were doing an enormous bust
ness. The rest of the village consisted
of shanties or tents used for restaurants
and saloons. Human life was a moving
panorama The whole place was alive
with mass of unkempt men clad in
flannel shirts and heavy boots, who
were inspired with the 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
an invoice of women's bonnets had ar
rived and could be seen at one of the
stores. The excitement was intense,
and there was a rush from every direc-
ton to get a realistic view of even so
Insignificant a substitute for female So
ciety. / do not overstate the truth in
saying that the thoughts of home that
We're awakened in the breasts of the
rude-looking men at the sight of those
bonnets started tears from eyes which
the worst forms of privation and hard
ship had failed to moisten.
The Christian missionary was already
on the ground, and good Parson vii
liams had managed to find a place
where he could preach on Sunday. One
of the first men who arrived with his
family came to one of these meetings
attended by his wife and baby. During
the sermon it CHANGED that the baby
cried and the mother was about to
withdraw, when the preacher addressed
her thus: My good woman, l 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 a safe return to their own
loved ones at home" Never shall for
get the sobs and tears which those
woI0s 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 APP
peared to be their chief occupation and
Spanish monte the favorite game. One
house fronting on the plaza, two-story
frame building called the Parker house,
rented for S12O, 600 per annum, the rent
al being paid mostly by gamblers A
single store Of small dimensions and
made of rough boards rented for SO, 600
a month. A canvas tent used as gam
bling-saloon rented for $40. 600 per an
mum. Money was loaned on good Sc
curity at fifteen per ce Mt. month, and
out of the loan the borrowers made for
tunes in real estate operations