The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-08-12
THE ARGONAUTS
OF F0RTY-N|NE
Story OF the Frantic Rush
Across Continent
As TOLD BY AN old DIARY
Discovery Of Gold In Call
fOrnia Caused Many lis
Tragic Events.
MEN TOOK TERRIBLE CHANCES
rBy NJ. NJ. Qaife, superintendent of
the Wisconsin State Historical
Society,"

Madison, Wis, Aug. S.-One day
in January, 1S4S, workman engag-
ed in digging a mill race on the
American River observed some yell
low particles of metal glittering in
the sand. Gathering a quantity of
them he took them to his employer,
and together the two men subjected
them to some rude tests which sat
isfied them that the shining grains
were pure gold.
Such was the discovery of gold in
California The secret could not be
kept. although California was then
so remote a place that several
months passed before the outside
world became aware of it. Seldom
has the news of a discovery been
attended by more dramatic conse-
quences. 1t threw the civilized
world into a fever of anticipation.
II started throngs of fortune-seek-
ers -cut-throats, gamblers, laborers'
physicians, farmers, preachers-on
a mad race for California. 1t pre-
cipitated the great sectional crisis
of 1850, the most serious in our
history between 1887 and 1861,
and it compelled the Government to
admit California to Statehood before
ever she had been territory.
An old diary, now in the posses
sion of the Wisconsin Historical
Society, portrays wildly the expe-
riences of one Wisconsin band of
Argonaunts who crossed the CONT
nent in the summer of 1S49 in search
of the golden fleece. The fortune
seekers, five in number were ali
residents of Madison, the capital of
the youthful State. Their first step
was to organize company equip
pedd with appropriate officers, laws
and regulations The company, to
which all contributed equally, then
purchased the equipment for the
long journey, the principal items
being heavy covered wagon and a.
six-mule team. One interesting by
law provided that in addition TO the
4. company property, each member
must equip himself with "a good
rife, pistol and knife
From early March until August
the toilsome journey lasted. The
route led over rugged mountain ran
ges and through ubrning deserts,
where men and horses alike were
in danger of perishing from thirst.
At one place ten men and ten mules
were barely sufficient to manage an
empty wagon" This place our di-
artist, with grim humor, decides TO
name the Devils Stairs" Anoth-
er time band of Grove Indians,
bent on stampeding the mules of the
party, raided the camp by night.
But the ARRAY passed off without
loss to either party, except the
powder and lead, which was wasted
profusely by both"
More successful thieves were the
coyotes, which stole the last pound
of pork from the party "when we
were awake and had good watch
dog on guard. and the pork lying
within four feet of our heads"
No less than forty thousand gold
seekers crossed the plains this sum-
mer of 1S49. and as many more
reached California by water, either
crossing the Isthmus Of Panama or
rounding Cape Horn. Hardship and
privation awaited them ALL dazzling
fortunes the few. and poverty, dis
ease and death the many.
One party OF Argonauts was more
fortunate than most. but listen to
this incident, which is only one of
the many observed by the diarist;
"A lone woman riding on skel-
eton of horse, and driving two
cows that We're but the shadow
of what they once had been,
when grazing quietly ON the prai-
ries of ILLINOIS. The womans dress
tOHoibttu VI Nhot Oh,' htSH' .'1'>
been a decent covering, but at this
time il was of a truth the evidence
of things not seen"
The woman hailed from Illinois,
and she with her decrepit live stock
was all that remained Of husband,
wife, and three children. fifteen or
twenty head of cattle. a wagon, and
eight hundred dollars In money.
Even so she was not disheartened,
and begged only for advice as to
what she should do. This was free
iy rendered by everyone; no two of
the advisors agreeing. however. the
only result was the frightening of
the poor woman's bewilderment, un-