Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-28
In THE DAYS OF FORTY-NlNE
Bone Interesting History firm the Log
Book Of an Argonaut
COST OF LIVING IN THE GOLDEN DAYS
Facts About the Early History OF
California Cleaned from the I'm
coIored Record of Capt. Chntnrd
of the United states Navy.

It is refreshing to read unprejudiced ac-
counts OF stirring events or times, especially
when they have been much written about
by persons who wrote with the special OBJ
feet OF attracting readers. When bare facts
are exciting. a plain narration OF them is a
food for readers which those who write ito
be read" seldom furnish SO 1t is that
private writings become OF the greatest
value to the historian who seeks to truly
reflect the past. The historian, writing
something that the sensational has been
squeezed out Of by frequent reprints, and
seeking for the plain truth, sets great store
by diaries, letters and official documents.
which are frequently wanting in literary
style, but are replete with facts and i'm
pressions that are not colored.
Next to those of national warfare, relates
tho st. Louis Globe Democrat the days OF
'49 in California were probably the most stir
ring OF this century Ia the United States
They were days when California, with Its
fabulous wealth, was, in point of travel
much farther away from st. Louis than
Klondke is now. California was the ma
lions lottery. Thither people of all classes
went seeking an El Dorado and their com.
mon purpose mingled them and made the
society of the mining camps. II was a civili
Zation Of fabulous welth and extraordinary
extravaganza. Men were either wealthy be
yond all expectations or they were desperate
starving In the mountains where they huntc
gold In vain. Some perlshed from starvation
and tleir graves became gold mines, yielding
wealth untold
In attempting to describe the conditions
In California men have written columns and
books. SCme wrote truthfully, others un.
tbp nf ND
readable fiction imposed upon them as truth
1t has been hard to pick out the facts and
when one reads anything about the days OF
'49 he wonders If 1t was true. To such per.
sons the diary of man who did not write
for print is a feast.
RECORD OF A NAVAL OFFICER.
ClD;ain Frederick Cha.ard. who died Octo
ber 3, 1897, at the Mlllanphy hospital 81
Louis, was in San Francisco in the fall o
1Si9, and kept such a record. Captain
Chatard was the oldest surviving officer o
the United States navy of the ante-bellur
days. He entered the navy in 1924 when h
was but II years old. In 18i9 he was lieu
tenant commander of the Lexington and wa
on the western coast in October of that yeas
He saw the historic era of San francisco
Being United States officer, he saw 1t al
observer and "a looker-cn in Vienna" Cap
tain Chatard served continuously in the Nav
department till the breaking out OF the war
when he resigned his position there an
Joined the confederate navy. He participate
in the battle OF Drury's Bluff on the Jane
river; EvansEort, on the Potomac; Acqui
creek and other important engagements. A
the close OF the war he came to St. Loui
and for several years he was connected will
the old Life Association OF America wei
known life insurance company of that day
He retired from active business some eigh
teen or twenty years ago and during the las
two years was in the Mullanphy hospital.
CaOtlin C'h9tarl DDSpryant
not easily carried away by bright prospects
and therefore his impressions of San Fran
cisco and the gold fields were such per
fectly disinterested man would receive. II
noted some OF his impressions in the 10
book of the Lexington. together with som
instances that had been related to him b
reliable men, illustrating the life of tn
camps. This log book was not known to b
In existence uotil 1t was found among hi
effects after his death. He seems to hav
been chiefly impressed by the outrageou
prices charged for the necessaries of life
Some of the matter of fact statements in tn
record will strike the reader of today a
odd; for instance, a salute to John G
Adams, eX-presdent. deceased" and the re
ports about the Mormons having settled a
the Salt lake. The part of the record in tn
log book here printed begins with the refer
ence to some refugees from Mexican trouble
In Lower California. The following eutrie
are in the log book in peculiar, close
scholarly handwriting:
THE GOLD FEVER.
Monterey, October 7, 1S49.-All m
passengers are landed. Colonel Mason pro
vided them with house rent for two months
and also two months rations Twelve of m
crew have deserted. They could not resis
the temptation OF gold hunting. They ha
$1,000 due them, but what was that? Ever,
day are seen persons coming in from tn
mines with gold dust In leather bags, rag
or bottles. Two Frenchmen arrived who ha
collected $4,000 in seven days. One man a
the mines found solid piace of gold weigh
ing twenty-five pounds. Another a piec
close to 1t weighing seven pounds For
soldiers, to whom short leaves of absenc
had been granted returned with varlou
amounts-sl 900, 81. 900 or $1,000 sometimes
Is 1t wonder that sailors can't resist tn