Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-04-02
Life in California in 40.
From the April century.l

FROM the April Century.
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, we're constantly arriving
FROM every part OF world and leaving for
the diggings. Outlaws and professional
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 for
tunes ms few days came down to Stock
ton, Sacramento and San Francisco to
squander them in night at the gamb-
ling tables. Scarcely woman was any
where to be seen. All restraining infu-
ences of society were absent, and can
not find an expression better suited to
the case than "Pandemonium OH 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 moving
panorama. The whole place was alive
with a 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 in
voice Of women's bonnets had arrived.
and could be seen at one of tine stores.
The excitement. was intense, and there
was rush from every direction to get
realistic view: of even SO insignificant a
substitute for femal: society. l do not
overstate the truth in saying that the
thoughts of home that were awakened
in the breasts of the rude looking men at
the sight Of those bonnets started tears
from. eyes which the worst forms OF pri-
walton and hardship had failed to
moisten.
The Christian missionary was already
on the ground, and good Parson Williams
had managed to find a place where he
could preach on Sunday. Ono of the first
men who arrived with his family care
| 70, cft lad hi
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, beg you to remain; the inno-
cent sound of that infants voice is more
eloquent than any words / can command.
1t speaks to the hearts OF men whose
wives and children are far away, looking
and praying for safe return to their
own loved ones at home" Never shall |
forget the sobs and tears which those
words evoked throughout that rough as
semby. That infants cry seemed to
them the music of angels
With those who made San Francisco
their temporary abode, gambling ap-
peared to be the chief occupation and
spanish monte the favoritc game. One
house fronting on the plaza, two-story
frame building called the Parker House,
rented for $l2j,000 per annum, the rental
being paid mostly by gamblers. A single
store OF small dimensions and made OF
A canvas tent used as gambling saloon
rented for 10000 per annum. Money was
loaned on good security at fifteen per
cent. month, and out OF the loan the
borrowers made fortunes in real estate
operations.