I soon shall be in 'Frisco, And then I'll look all round, And when I see the gold lumps there, I'll scrape the mountains clean, my boys, A pocket full of rocks bring home, That's the land for me, I'm bound for San Francisco With my wash bowl on my knee Ministers of the gospel raised their voices against the dangers of gold and prophesied troublous woes upon the country, and these started in the first ship as missionaries to San Francisco, where they were often discovered afterwards in the mines with overalls and rubber boots or at the gambling table, where the pastor would sometimes meet one of his own church members. Physicians, lawyers and judges would obtain a good supply of balls and powder and start off to the land of gold to the tune of "O! Susanna, don't you cry." On the appearance of grass upon the plains the march began. The prairie schooners from Missouri and Arkansas, drawn principally by oxen or mules, and lighter wagons from the Northwest, formed a continuous line of march by every route leading to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. In wagons, on horses, on mules, with pack animals, hand carts and wheelbarrows, men, women and children trudged along on foot. Harrassed by Indians, the day was passed in toil and the night in standing guard. Through inexperience and haste the animals' strength, with only grass for food, began to fail, and before the pass was reached the loss of stock became serious, and large quantities of supplies, especially in '49, had to be abandoned. These losses became a disastrous matter before the end of January was reached. Along the valley of the Humboldt, across the wide sandy plains, covered with sage brush and alkali, under a burning sun, the long journey was slowly performed. Many trains, to avoid the 45-mile desert between the sink of the Humboldt and Carson river, took what was known as Lassen's cut-off, but which proved to be much farther and more difficult. A large number that were in the rear were caught in the snows of the Sierras, and relief parties were sent from Sutter's Fort to their assistance. After having slept in the open air for months on the ground, the rainy season in the mines had to be provided for. Some gained shelter for themselves by building canvas or log cabins. Others, neglecting to so provide for themselves, in their haste to secure and work their mining claims, became dependent for shelter and food upon the more thoughtful and provident at great expense. My first winter in the mines was spent in a canvas tent, where snow fell at considerable depth on Rancheria creek, in Amador county. Many suffered from scurvy and other ailments in consequence of improper food. The late Dr. Stillman, who conducted a hospital in Sacramento in '49 and '50, in his interesting book, "Seeking the Golden Fleece," estimates that "in less than one year at least 10,000 of the young men who started on their long journey with cheers and songs were sleeping their last sleep beneath the wild flowers." Fruit and vegetables were impossible to obtain. All our flour, butter and cheese were brought from Chili, South America. Later, when a few apples commenced to arrive from Oregon, they sold readily for $1 apiece. It was the memory of these hard experiences endured by the early immigrants that formed the basis of the organization of the Society of Pioneers, of whose experiences those who have entered the state at a later period have no adequate conception. Among those coming at an early date was a class who might have regarded themselves as pioneers, principally from Sydney, Australia, and other foreign countries, and known as a dangerous and rowdy element, but they soon disappeared before the advancing civilization without leaving posterity or any evidence of industrial enterprise. Most of the great enterprises that have placed California in the front rank of the states of the Union were originated and carried to completion by pioneer brains and money. They were, and are today, the mental and financial forces that control our great railroad systems, our extensive commerce, our manufactures, and largely the banking business. Two of the greatest educational institutions of the world have been established and endowed, at a cost of $40,000,000, by pioneers who endured the hardships of the early immigrants. With few exceptions the most important and responsible positions in public life in the state, on the bench, at the bar, in the United States senate, are and have been filled by Pioneers or Sons of the Golden West. With one or two exceptions every governor of California has been a pioneer. Two years after the discovery of gold by Marshall while digging a mill race at Coloma, on the American river, I, like thousands of other young men, had the California gold fever and "had it bad." The imagination, especially of those of an adventurous spirit, was stimulated by the most extravagant and exaggerated accounts of the gold mines. It was even reported that nuggets of pure gold worth thousands of dollars had been found with handles attached to them, making an independent fortune for the lucky finder. Uniting the very limited capital at my command-saved from teaching school in winter at $12 a month, and working in summer-I, with four other young fellows, left my father's home at Marengo, Ill., on April 19, 1850, with two covered wagons and eight horses, with such a supply of provisions, medicines and the like as might be required for a journey of five or six months. The parting with father, mother and sisters was for the moment a sad one. The gift of that bible and the tearful benediction and prayer for the safe return of an only son can never be effaced from memory, and often in times of temptation, when far from home and social restrains, those memories prevented the son's feet from straying into forbidden paths. The novelty of camping out and cooking soon wore off. Every member of the company performed the duties of cook and dishwasher in turn one week at a time. After crossing the Mississippi river we were compelled to remain at Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, nearly three weeks until the grass should start, as the prairie fires had consumed the greater part and settlers were often twenty or thirty miles apart. We soon ascertained that the house at Tipton at which we were stopping was the headquarters of a gang of horse thieves, and we were compelled to stand guard over our horses at night. On one occasion the thieves came near getting away with two of our best horses during a very dark night, but the guard, having awakened from sleep, discharged his revolver, which caused the thieves to disappear in the darkness. We encountered many driving storms and swollen streams. As there were no bridges we sometimes had to construct our own. After arriving at Council Bluffs-then a military. post on the east bank of the Missouri-and going into camp on the river bottom, we were joined by other companies of overland emigrants from Illinois and Wisconsin, and organized a company for mutual protection while passing through the various Indian tribes. We were to be known under the name of "Wild Rovers," with J. H. Hardy of Wisconsin as captain. A schedule of by-laws was adopted and signed by each member of the company. The manner of leaving camp in the morning and corralling and standing guard every night was provided for and ever after adhered to, until the company was compelled to break up into smaller bands on account of shortness of feed for stock. The Indians would sometimes attempt to stampede our horses when picketed out at night by shaking buffalo robes as near as safety to themselves would permit, and in one or two instances succeeded, but, fortunately, after considerable delay, the stock was all recovered. Whenever there was an appearance of danger the train was corralled in the form of a circle, or semi-circle, and fires for cooking were made inside, while a strong guard was placed with the horses until a certain hour in the night, then they were tied to the |