On The Trail To The California Gold Rush

by DeLano, Alonzo

• ISBN13: 9780803266490
• ISBN10: 0803266499
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: Bison Books
• More Book Details
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Summary

Lured by "the astonishing accounts of the vast deposits of gold in California," Alonzo Delano (1806-74) of Ottawa, Illinois, bid farewell to his wife and children and joined the rush to El Dorado. For the next five months-April to early September 1849-he persevered in writing his remarkably detailed diary, recounting his experiences among the more than thirty thousand goldseekers representing all thirty states who struggled across half of the continent to California's "gold fields." With each entry the reader is drawn into the changing circumstances, from a hurried trailside burial of a comrade to a defense against an Indian attack; from suffering thirst in the desert to anger at a lazy campmate.Unlike most diarists who at the end of the epic journey gave up their demanding task, Delano continued his vivid account until the summer of 1851. He went on to report as a professional journalist, ranging far and wide across the scenes of life in the diggings and the cities, from prospecting along the Yuba River to witnessing lynch law in San Francisco.First published in 1854 as Life on the Plains and among the Diggings and deemed a California Gold Rush classic, this new edition will carry on the adventure for thousands of new readers.J. S. Holliday is the director emeritus of the California Historical Society and the author of The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience and Rush for Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California.

Author Biography

J. S. Holliday is the director emeritus of the California Historical Society and the author of The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience and Rush for Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I. Unexpected era in life - Company formed at Dayton, Ohio - Departure to St. Joseph - On the Missouri - Brown - Boat Embassy - Crowded emigration - Death by cholera and burial of a young Virginian - Indian Territory - Safe arrival of cattle at St. Joseph - Death by cholera and burial of Harris - Chill and Fever - Harney's Landing - Ferry across the Missouri - Indian country - Timber land - Panorama Plains - Our seventeen wagons - Fifty Ottawa men - Great and Little Namaha	13	(10)
CHAPTER II. Rolling prairie - An old pioneer - Strangers with mules and ponies - White men and Indian - Indian theft and deception - Prairie - Grass and water - Thunder shower at night - Mistake of the day - Spoiled bacon - Dividing ridge - The two Namahas - Broken country - Out of the way - Crossing the Great Namaha - Bridge built and crossed - Westward - Tributary of the Little Namaha - Severe thunder shower at night - Wyeth's Run - Hall's Ford - Unknown stream - Pioneer Green - Absentee - South-west course - Crossed the stream - Signs of Buffalo	23	(19)
CHAPTER III. Big Namaha - Lost run - The Big Blue - Dry weed fuel - No water - Prairie dogs - Onion family - Table land - S.S. Course - Road found - Nineteen days on Prairie - Companies of gold-seekers - Little Blue - Sand hills - Valley of the Platte - Muddy Missouri - Fort Kearny - St. Joseph road united - Colder atmosphere - Meeting old friends - Captain Tutt - Indian company - Fort - Willow - Severe rain storm	42	(14)
CHAPTER IV. A change for the better - Islands in the Platte - Indian robbery - South Bend company - Terrible storm and great loss of cattle - Forks of the Platte - Buffalo - Meeting Friends - Buffalo meat - Fording the river - Men lost - Washing day - Serious results of a joke - Indian village and burying ground - Tindall's grave - Smith Creek - Court-House Rock - Chimney Rock - The "post-office" - Unexpected meeting - Emigrant trains - Picturesque valley - Scott's Bluffs	56	(19)
CHAPTER V. Laramie Peak - Laramie River - Fort Laramie - South Bend company - Warm Springs - Cold Water Creek - Division of the company - Horse Creek and Riola Bonta - Black Hills - Crow Indians - Rock Ridge - A beautiful creek - Alkaline district - Colonel Joseph Watkins - A sublime Government - Poison water - Dead cattle - Ferry over the North Platte	75	(15)
CHAPTER VI. Over the North Platte - Wagon on the current - Mule trains - Sand-stone cone - Antelopes and wolves - Dry pond - Saleratus - Poison water - encampment - immense number of emigrants - The red Buttes - Sand Rock - Willow Spring - Timely hospitality - Independence Rock - Sweet Water River - Intense heat - Perpendicular rock - River through the chasm - Devil's Gate - Shooting a desperado - Myriads of crickets	90	(13)
CHAPTER VII. Valley of the Sweet Water - Wind River - Toils of the emigrant - Rencounter threatened - Ice in the desert - Prairie dogs, antelope and mountain sheep - "All is not gold that glitters" - Trading post - Fraudulent post-office - A beautiful prospect - Ascent to the South Pass - Face of the country - Great numbers of dead cattle - suffering of the emigrants - An old settler - A man accidentally shot - South Pass - Over the mountains - A last look homeward Disbanding of trains	103	(15)
CHAPTER VIII. Leaving South Pass - Little and Dry Sandy Rivers - Passage by Sublett's cut-off - Hardships in the desert - Green River - Re-union of old friends at the Ferry - Brutal murder - Search for the criminal - Irregular jury trial - Independence day - Unpleasant incidents - A welcome shade - Bear River - Camp of Snake Indians - Rough traveling - Face of the country - Mountain Indians and traders - Game	118	(17)
CHAPTER IX. Hunting Excursion - Mountain scenery - Bear River Valley - Beer Springs - Mineral Springs - Visit to the craters of two extinguished volcanoes - Lindley's misfortune - River Neuf - Arrival at Fort Hall - Panack River - Trading with the Indians - Mule train from Oregon - Valley of Raft River - Large snake - The author gets lost - His suffering for water - Return - Valley of Goose Creek	135	(19)
CHAPTER X. Hot Spring Valley - Post-office - Destitute Emigrants - Chill and fever - A party of Digger Indians - Anecdotes - The great basin - Humboldt, or Mary's River - Wild fowl - Appetite and provisions - News from the Platte - Sickness and abandonment of Mr. Ware - Incidents by the way - Indian depredations - Mary's River - Night travel - More trouble from the Indians - wolves - sleeping in the open air	154	(18)
CHAPTER XI. Broken Surface of the country - Visit to Lieut. Thompson's camp - Col. Kinkead - Bad news from the Sink - Pastimes - Left the Humboldt River - Journey over the desert - Sufferings for want of grass and water - A mother's affection for her child - The oasis in the desert - Hot springs	172	(15)
CHAPTER XII. Hot springs - Applegate's route - Onward over the desert - More Indian theft - In pursuit of the Indians - Distressing reports from the desert - Quantities of dead cattle and horses - Remarkable curiosity - Cañon through the mountains - Standing sentry - Travelers from Oregon - Lake of salt water - Fresh beef	187	(14)
CHAPTER XIII. The Sierra Nevada in sight - Dry bed of a lake - Excursion to the mountains - Narrow escape from an Indian's arrow - Mountain scenery - Crossing the mountain - Salt Lake - Pitt River - A hill of magnesia - Mount Shasta - A noble act of relief - Magazine Rock - Heroic fight with the Indians - Adventure among the Indians	201	(16)
CHAPTER XIV. Leaving the valley of Pitt River - False alarm - Good forage - Feather Creek - Timely hospitality from a brother Odd-fellow - An under-ground river - Game - Cooking a beef steak - Prospecting for gold - Venison - Effects of starvation - Deer Creek - Starting alone for the valley of the Sacramento - Incidents by the way - The valley in sight - Sensations - Col. Davis' house - Lawson's Settlement - Prices of provisions - Emigrants	217	(67)
CHAPTER XV. Sufferings of the emigrants on the journey in the fall of 1849 and 1860 - Destitution - Cholera - Employments in the mines - Narrative continued - Arrival in the valley - Broken contracts - Separation - In pursuit of supplies - Indians at the Ranches	284
CHAPTER XVI. Arrival at Sutter's Fort - Plans for the future - Meet Captain Greene and Doctor Angel - Friendly aid - Sacramento City - Departure for the mines - Bear River - Cayotes - Yuba River Arrival at the mines - Sickness - Success in trade - Return for more goods	249	(9)
CHAPTER XVII. Hardships of the miners - Unexpected meeting with Colonel Watkins - Kindness of Doctor Morse - Doctor Patrick - Crossing the Yuba River - Sickness - Severe rains - Theft, and its cause - Returning from the mines - Melancholy death of Mr. Chipman	258	(14)
CHAPTER XVIII. Trouble with the Indians on the South Fork - Fate of Mr. Henderson on the North Fork of the Platte - His wife and children - Prospecting for gold - The result - Disappointed hopes, and failures - Getting rid of the Indians - Mr. Turner - Melancholy incidents	272	(13)
CHAPTER XIX. Stolen cattle - Rapid growth of cities and villages - Speculation - Uncertainty of titles - Sacramento City - Its gambling houses - Refinement - Great flood - Crayon sketches - A speculation in town lots - The Indians	285	(10)
CHAPTER XX. Influence over the Indians - Their character and habits - Burial rites - Affection for the dead - Their language - Food - Selection of marriage partners - Government - Dress - Their propensity to gamble	295	(14)
CHAPTER XXI. Disposition and character of the Indians - Their honesty - Cruelty and injustice of the whites - Incidents - Their confidence - Number of wives - Anecdotes - Their final extermination	309	(12)
CHAPTER XXII. Peter the hunter - At the battle of Waterloo - His adventures - His daughters - Jim Beckwith - His daring act among the Blackfeet, and escape - Southern Indians - Influence of the Catholic missions - Change of quarters - Miners in search of the Golden Lake - The result	321	(13)
CHAPTER XXIII. Departure for the Gold Lake country - Mexican muleteers, and pack mules - A California lion - Arrival at Grass Valley - Settlers and gamblers - A quarrel - Loss of mules - Sublime mountain scenery - Onion Valley - Difficult descent from the mountains - mules precipitated down the steep banks - Arrival and settlement at Independence - Uncertainty of business operations at the mines - A storm - Sudden departure of the miners - A losing business	334	(13)
CHAPTER XXIV. Nelson's Creek - Independence bar - The climate - Mountain life - Struggles of the miners - their disappointments - Population - Mining life - Gambling and dissipation - 1forrible murder - Robberies - Volcanic remains - Change of Location - New acquaintances - Departure for San Francisco	347	(19)
CHAPTER XXV. Arrival at San Francisco - Admission of California as a State - Excitement and rejoicing of the citizens - State of the country - Indignation at the delays of Congress in admitting her into the Union - The need of laws - Previous good order of the inhabitants - Commencement of crime - Particular cases of crime - Insecurity of life and property - Indignation of the citizens - Bold robbery and apprehension of the criminals - Execution of Stuart and Wildred - Public sentiment - Immense meeting on the plaza - The Vigilance committee of San Francisco - Execution of Jenkins - Resolutions to establish the People's Court - Salutary effects,	366	(6)
CHAPTER XXVI. Resources of California - Uncertainty of mining - Probable extent of the gold region - Where gold is usually found - Hints to persons prospecting - Talc beds Auriferous quartz veins - Cause of failure in mining - Crushing the rock and separating it from the gold - The Chilian mill - Process of separation - The mines inexhaustible - Enterprise of the Miners	372	(9)
CHAPTER XXVII. California - Her resources - Mineral wealth - Climate - Tillable land in the valleys - Richness of the soil - Productions - Water - power - Timber - Rapid increase of population - Health - Conclusion	381