The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-09
THE LURE OF COLD.
How II Drew the Half Crazed East
to California In 1849.
WAS A WILD RACE FOR RICHES
The Excitement Caused by the Dis
oovery Of the Precious Metal, the
Fury With Which the "YsIlo~, Fever"
Ragged and the Rush to the Coast.

oovery of the Precious Metal, the
Fury With Which the "YsIlow, Fever
Ragged and the Rush to the Coast.
One Of the most exciting periods I'm
the United States Of q commercial
character was the wild rush Of people
from the eastern part OF the country
10 California In 1S4S and 1S49, follow
Ing the announcement Of the extensive
discovery OF gold. IL looked as II the
faces Of all eastern people were turned
that were published OF the vast guam
titles Of the yellow metal that were
everywhere in evidence.
The height Of the excitement was
reached when on Dec. 8, 184S, Presi-
dent Taylor announced the discovery
In his message. The abundance OF gold
was such, he said, as could hardly be
believed were It not for the reports Of
officers on the public service who had
seen the mines.
The first question that entered the
mind OF the eastern prospector was
how to reach the diggings. Till spring
came the overland route was closed
But the way by sea was open and to
dwellers on the seabOard was far the
better.
Then began a series Of most unusual
advertisements In the newspapers
Manufacturers Of rubber goods adver-
tised tents, beds, gold bags and camp
outfits. One publisher got out book
containing fifty-four engravings OF i'm
plements used I'm washing gold from
sand. A manufacturer advised all go
Ing to the gold country to take along
one Of his gold washing machines
Such advertisements as "An oyster
house will be sold low; proprietor Is
going to California" and For sale,
for hundred dollars, half light,
easy business that pays a handsome
profit, as the advertiser Is going to Cal
tornia," became common.
Every ship, brig, schooner or sloop
that was half fit to go to sea was
scraped, painted, fitted with hunks or
cabins and advertised as an Al, fair
sailing, copper bottomed, copper nailed
vessel, bound for San Francisco direct
or via Chagres. Before the middle OF
December four ships loaded with nd-
venturers left New York, and six 9TH
ers were to sail in a few days
A New York paper found fifteen yes
sells loaded for California and reported
many more ready to go to that country
from Boston, Salem, Philadelphia, Bal.
timore and New Orleans.
Many went out as individuals, while
thousands Joined companies or associa-
tlons which chartered or bought ships.
Many associations chartered ships and
sent them around the Horn, while they
journeyed overland. Many Of these as
sociations had odd titles-as, for in
stance, "the New, York Yellow Fever
company" -"
BY the end sof January, 1S49, eighty
vessels had set sail for San Francisco
via Cape Horn, fourteen for Chagres
and two for Vera Cruz, carrying, all
told, over $500 passengers.
The newspapers spread broadcast all
sorts of exciting rumors, and with the
arrsal Of each batch Of letters the
gold fever ragged more fiercely than
ever. A letter from gentleman In
California stated that Jumps OF gold
n pound I'm weight had frequently been
found and that good sized pieces could
be dug from the crevices I'm the rocks.
Every ship that sailed was so crowded
that temporary houses were built on
its deck. and by the midd>e of March
more than 1900 gold hunters had left
for California.
Much trouble followed those who
passed through Mexico. on account Of
the bitter feeling that had been en-
gendered by the recent war with that
country, and all along the route
through Mexico were said to be strewn
the bones Of those who had been muir
dered.
Early in March the great emigration
overland began, and scores Of compa-
MES and thousands OF men attached
to no company set Off for the gold
fields. In less than three weeks. II Is
said, $3.50 wagons crossed the Missis-
sippl Mt st. Joseph and 1900 at Savan-
nah Landing and Council Bluffs. The
country. II was said, for miles and
miles represented n great tented field.
Toward autumn the first Of the over.
land emigrantA came streaming across
the mountains. In less than two years
after the discovery Of gold close to
100000 emigrants found their way to
California In search Of the yellow met