Does this look like a man who has found lots of gold? Hey! Isn't that a Rolex Oyster on his wrist!!!!
Then again, he does own the Internet. . . Ya reckin he just lives simple but has it all burried somewhere?
Here's an 1849 newspaper account of provisioning for the Gold Rush. it mentions "rifles" and, in several places "revolvers." I have heard the pepperbox style of pistol was popular. I think one of the early Dixie Annuals covered the guns of the Gold Rush - I'll check when I get home.
The Gazette
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Dec 20, 1849
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE
The letter from which we are permitted to make the following extracts, was written by a gentleman who formerly resided in this vicinity, whose veracity cannot be questioned. A notice of the detention of the brig, fears of her loss and her final appearance at San Francisco, reached us through the prints prior to the reception of the letter:-
Brig Phoenix, April 3d
Lat 9 deg. 10 min. N. Long. 85
DEAR BROTHER- I left Davenport Jan. 29th, made very good time to Chagres, arriving February 27th, since which time I have met with many delays. The isthmus was literally crowded with all classes of people on their way to gather the precious metal. Its very difficult on this side to procure passage. I have known Steamer Tickets to sell for $800 when the original price in N.York was but $200. I bought a ticket on the Phoenix for $200 and could have sold it the next day for 50 per cent advance. Getting passage tickets here is about like throwing an apple in a crowd of boys- its the lucky lad who gets the apple. If vessels do not come in faster than they have, at least one-third of the emigrants will be bound to return home or take some other route. Board in Panama is $2.00 per day. Provisions are becoming very scarce, many are returning home already being nearly out of funds; some have started with an insufficient sum, whilst others have lost all they had by gambling, which is carried on at every stopping place on the isthmus and in every variety of ways. The health of Panama, in fact I may say of the whole isthmus, is yet very good, and as to Cholera, there has not been a single case come under my notice since I left home. It is true, there have been a number of deaths, but that you would naturally expect amongst such a number of emigrants, all unaccustomed to a camping life and the most of whom have been transferred from an extreme cold climate and thrown under the scorching rays of a tropical sun. There have also been several drowned in ascending Chagres river, and several have been wounded, two or three mortally, by the improper use of firearms.
We left Panama March 18th, went up to Tobago Island to take in wood and water, weighed anchor the 20th and proceeded on our trip. We had fine breezes for several days, since which time we have met with some calms, gales, and storms which we were told were all very common in this latitude at this season. We are longing to get to Rialgo where we are bound to put in to do some repairs to the ship and take in some provisions, when I intend mailing my letter, after which place we will look for more regular winds. Our passengers number 76. So you know our accommodations are no where enviable, although we try to make ourselves as happy as possible under such circumstances. Our amusements are playing at chess, checkers, and backgammon, with occasionally a game of cards for a bottle of wine, or a little fruit. Others will be keeping time to a well played violin. You will see others sitting or standing in groups, some singing the well known theatrical song, "O carry me back to old Virginia shore." You will hear others telling in what way they intend investing their funds on their return home, building large castles in the air. I have noted the lat. and long., that by referring to your map you will readily see where this letter was written. A breeze begins to stir, so I close.
RIALGO, Nicaragua, April 8.
Since writing the above we experienced a heavy gale and will be obliged to remain here two weeks to repair damages. This is a beautiful Spanish City, containing about 10,000 inhabitants. I yesterday rode out to Chinendagua, distance of about ten miles,- a still larger and more beautiful place than this. The people are very civil and courteous, particularly the dear ladies, who follow you around the streets like so many boys to see an elephant. Tonight we attend a fandango got up for our (especial) benefit.
April 20th.- The Steamers have not stopped at this place, agreeably to contract, so I will carry my letter on until I can get a chance to send it. We sail to-morrow, great shedding of tears to-day between our lads and the Spanish lasses.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 12th, '49.
After the longest and most tedious and long suffering passage recorded in history, I arrived in this place, being within a few days of four months, after leaving Rialgo. We encountered a tremendous storm and got blown out to sea. Lost several of our most important sails and spars, consequently were so crippled that we could scarcely make any headway at all, but to help the matter we had a constant dead ahead wind. Our provisions began to grow short and the largest water tank sprang a leak by the working of the ship, and lost all its water, so we had to go upon close allowance of both water and provisions. We were forty days without bread and not a pound of flour on board. We lived thirty days on a pint of mush for breakfast, no dinner and a single slap-jack for supper made office and corn ground together in a coffee mill. We had both beef and pork but durst not touch either, on account of thirst. We had but a single pint of water per day that we could use in tea, coffee, or drink it clear, but of course we drank it clear to save evaporation. Some seemed to do much better without water than others. Some could save a gill of water per day out of a pint, whilst others would go raving about the decks perfectly crazy for drink. I have seen five dollars paid for a pint of water just as freely as I ever did for a barrel of flour. But on the morning of the 4th of July to our great joy we heard the cannon firing at Santa Cruz, and at 4 o'clock we dropped anchor. We sent ashore, killed a bullock and had a perfect jubilee. Next day we went on board and got our rifles, revolvers, and what few clothes we could carry, deserted the ship and took up our line of march on foot for San Francisco, distance about ninety miles, arriving in five days. I suppose there are at this time about fifty thousand people in this place mostly living in tents and on board of ships. It is said that there are double the number of ships now lying in this bay than ever were at one time in N. York harbor. Carpenter's wages are from 12 to 20 dollars per week. Blacksmiths get about the same wages as Carpenters. Common laborers from 8 to 12 dollars per day. To-morrow I start for Stockton, thence to the diggings, and as there is no steamer looked for under two weeks I'll defer mailing this until I can say something about gold digging.
TOWALANA RIVER, Aug. 12th.
I have been in the diggings just three weeks to-day. I have been sick eight days, had a severe attack of bilious fever, but to-morrow I shall again try work. These are not considered sickly diggings, but on the contrary are more healthy than others. Sickness is all the fear I have, although the people appear to be well disposed, but no one has time to take care of the sick or hardly to bury the dead, and as to a coffin, that's out of the question.
I suppose that the miners in this digging are averaging about one ounce per day. Gold sells here for 16 33-100 dollars per ounce, that is about one hundred dollars per week- this I mean clear. I had dug just ten days and had cleared one hundred and seventy dollars when I was taken sick. You can always exchange for gold coin at the above rate.
I would not recommend any one to come here who has a family. There have been a great many had their throats cut and gold taken. I never think of going to bed without first placing my gold under my pillow (that is to say my old coat) then examine my revolver, take my tooth-pick in my hand and then lay down. There was a man hung about five rods back of my tent last week and two nearly whipped to death. Served right- robbed a trading tent, and we have no other laws.
Provisions are plenty at the following prices, Pork 60 cts per lb., Flour 50, fresh beef 25.
We are raising a company of about 30 to go up the Mera Pada in about two weeks to explore that river. There is said to be lots of gold there, but the Indians are very hostile. But if there is gold plenty we are bound to have it or take a licking.
I have to close as the man by whom I send this letter to San Francisco is about to start. It is a rare chance to find anyone going down, as I am about two hundred miles from that place.
WM. ELDRIDGE
