Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-05
CALIFORNIA IN '49.
Some of the Features of Living Thoro
During the Cold Excitement.

Some OF the Teatures of Living Thoro
During the Cold Excitement.
Life In California was at that time q.
wild romance. No words of mine can
describe the scenes that we're enacted
during that chaotic period. Thousands
of men, organized in bands or wholly
disc rganized, were constantly arriving
from every part OF the world and !oay-
ing for the diggings. Outlaws and pro-'
fe isional gamblers opened saloons by
the score at every point where men con-
gregated. Money was scattered every
where as il by the wind. Miners who
had realized fortunes in O few days
came down to Stockton, Sacramento,
and San Francisco to sguauder them in
might at the gambling-tables. Scarcely
O woman was anywhere to he seen. All
restraining influences of society werc
absent, aud | cannot find an expression
better suited TO the case than "Pande-
monium on frollc.
As there were no wives, there could
be no homes or families \ few stores
had been hastily put mp along the shore,
made of rough boards or canvas, and all
of them were doing an enormous bust
nesq. The rest of the village consisted
of shantie3 or tents used for restaurants
and sa oons. Human lie was moving
panol anna The whole place was alive
with mass OF uhkempt 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 womeu's bonnets had arrived
and could be seen at one Of the stores.
The excitement was intense, and there
was a rush from every direction to get
q realistic view Of even 50 Insignificant
q substitute for female society. / do
not overstaie the truth in saving that
the thoughts of home that were awak-
ened 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 hardship had failed to
mCisten.
The Christian missionary was already
on the ground, and good Parson Williams
had managed to find place where lie
could preach on Sunday. One oftlIe
first men who arrived with his family
came to one of these meetings attended
by his wife and baby. During the SER
mon it CHANGED that the baby cried and
the mother was about to withdraw,
when the preacher addressed her thus:
my good woman, 1 beg you to remain;
the innocent sound of that infants
voice is more eloquent than any words
l can command. it speaks to the
hearts Of men whose wives and children
are far away, looking and praying for q
safe return to their own loved ones at
home" Never shall forget the sobs
aud 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 APP
peared to be the chief occupation and
Spanish monte the favorite game. One
house fronting on the 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 50, 900
a month. A canvas tent used as n gam
bling saloon rented for $4,000 per
annum. Money was loaned on good Sc
curity at 10 per cent. month, aud ;out
of the loan the borrowers made fortunes
in real estate operations. Century.