THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH OF 1849
Gold Fever
By Winter and Spring of 1848, the rumor of the discovery of gold in California had trickled to the East Coast. But these whisperings were initially dismissed as fantasies. The American public needed validation. Colonel R. B. Mason, military commander in California sent an urgent report to Washington D.C. on his visit to the gold region in July 1848.
"I have no hesitation now in saying, that there is more gold in the country drained by the Sacramento and San Joaaquin Rivers than will pay the cost of the present war with Mexico a hundred times over. No capital is required to obtain this gold, as the laboring man wants nothing but his pick and shovel and tin pan, with which to dig and wash the gravel, and many frequently pick gold out of the crevices of rocks with their knives, in pieces of from one to six ounces."
R. B. Mason, Colonel 1st Dragoons,
commanding August 17th, 1848
Following the receipt of this report, President James Polk delivered the confirmation the people required in his farewell message to Congress on December 5, 1848. He told Congress, and the American people:
"The accounts of the abundance of gold in that territory are of such extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief were they not corroborated by authentic reports of officers in the public service."
This confirmation swept through the nation, and reached the souls of millions. Thousands of Americans dropped what they were doing, and prepared to make the journey to California. With all of this optimism, it was easy to rationalize why the thousands decided to take the journey West. The talk of gold rang through every house, farm, cabin, and harbor, across the country and the globe.
As the dream of easily obtaining vast amounts of gold and wealth captured the nation, Americans and foreigners alike began to lose rationale. These individuals were simple prey for a growing amount of entrepreneurs and swindlers. Thousands of individuals took amazing risks to reach California in 1849 and the 1850's, desperately hoping to obtain the fortunes they dreamt about. They came from the East Coast of America, Europe, China, South America, and the South Pacific. Most made the perilous journey via a 2,000 mile trek across the American outback or the sea route around the tip of South America (There were, of course, no railroads or rivers to swiftly bring them west.) Many 49ers discovered themselves extremely ill-prepared for the 2,000 mile overland journey which would take up to six months. Most of the land-going travelers used covered wagons, which moved about 2 miles an hour. However, several dozen adventurous 49ers attempted to make the trip with only a simple wheelbarrow, and others even tried to walk with what they had on their backs.
All 49ers traveling across the West would find themselves in desperate need of the most precious resource of all, water. Water was reported to be sold for as much as $100 per drink. Those without money were sometimes left to die.
Prospectors who chose the sea route were equally unlucky. Favored by gold seekers from the eastern states, this route had its fair share of miserable qualities. Seasickness was rampant. The food was full of bugs, or worse rancid. Water was stored for months in the ship's hold and was almost impossible to drink. And then there was the boredom months and months at sea with nothing to do. Others seeking to quicken the sea journey opted for a route across Panama. Although a logical shortcut, this route was too dangerous and difficult, forcing 49ers to traverse the rain forests of Central America, and find ships to ferry them to San Francisco once they reached the coast. Most waited for weeks, even months, in over-crowded, disease-infested towns.
The Famous 1848 "Cal" Quarter Eagle
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