East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-23
On the Trail of Gold in FOrty-Nine
Continued from page eleyon1

Continued from page e.eNeh1
,B. Localities several foreign GOV.
erDmcDfs 8efnsll, began to cet rid of
the rold i'm their treasures e1chang-
me IA f,r silver lesl the precious met
IA become IL plertifa amt the de-
cline In values proye disastrous. Eng
land outfitte8 c.upanies 10 come and
explore The new treasure fields. our
,vn states. first viewing with alarm
the reckless race To the west. finally
srcrptod II MS jnevuale and those
who were wont TO preach and 30 print
Wsrninrs AGAINST the evils OF a no
v.edic career soon iaiued the thrOucs.
t was stampede. Families never
vai.od .o prepare for the hazardous
trim across thc country. but started
loorly eguipred over the trail with
their oxen teams. cr crowded aboard
vessels. which added 90 the veritable
forest of masts tina, grew up like
magic In san Francisco bay IRE
rressible thousands dared the dangers
OF the plains. some were annihilat-
co hy Indians scores starved ana
thirsted. bur those who endured
reached their goal Many were dis
pTponted. for foolishly they had per-
mitted themselves to believe that
great Jumps Of gold could be picked
Cr almost anywhere, and these pass
ed on. Others, thwarted oy proNi-
H.. a., tha ,,,rstift nf gold became
farmers. shopkeepers, arusanS-cre-
ators and doers Of things Sailors de-
serted their ships on arriving at san
Francisco scarcely before anchors
struck solid bottom; indeed, some
captains, desirous Of making return
trips to Panama put their men IN
irons and released them only Wheh
they promised 10 accept SIZE month
wages and remain with the vessel
The garrison at Monterey was sorely
depleted for officers and men allke
were either given Ions furloughs or
took French leave 70 go TO the dig
sings Indians were Instructed 10
wash the placer gold, but more stress
was laid upon the delivery Of 1t TO
the persons who employed them Tor
I; few beads or some article OF ap-
iarent finery that might strike their
fancy; and the early storekeepers rls-
std up scales unlike those fashioned
ey blind justice and weighed the dust
and nuggets in payment for goods al
fabulous prices
At the commencement Of the rush
there was no need of safeguarding
cne's possessions. Gold was exposed
openly in sacks piled up in tents, bul
comparatively few thefts were re-
corded. Everyone seemed happy, eX-
Cept old Sutter pining over the invas-
ion Of his empire, the failure Of his
erist mill enterprise, and Marshall
who had failed to win fortune and
who became morose and claimed close
communication with the spirit world.
IN 1s47 the population Of California
was fixed at $4,000. In 1850 it was
100000, and increasing by leaps and
hounds. There was no stemming the
rtstless tide. Peoples Of all colors,
creeds and conditions came from
every quarter Of the globe. Good,
had and Indifferent they were, and
J. man had a steady eye 1t be-
hooved him to possess a steadier
hard The old safety and ease Of the
populace vanished. Strict guard was
Eept over provisions and all else.
Men scattered all along the Yuba,
where they earned $50 and 800 a
cay From Coloma to Spanish Bar
Try Diggings Oater Hanftown and
subsequently given the more pleas
ing name Of Placerville). up and
down the Tulumne, far and wide the
army Of seekers spread, and finally
traced the placer gold to its source.
Aiie MOtnEr Lode. ana the process OF