DISCOMFORT AND DISEASE.

231

Much of the growing crime took root during the wet winter of 1849-50, which brought starvation and sickness to the inaccessible camps. Ill health was wide-spread, and more lamentable owing to the isolation of sufferers, devoid of friends and means, and remote from doctors and medicine. The seed of disease was frequently laid during the voyage out, in the unwholesome food and atmosphere of crowded vessels. Then came new climates and surroundings, unusual and exhausting labor, standing in water or on moist ground under a broiling sun, the insufficient shelter of tents or sheds, beds made upon the damp soil, poor and scanty provisions, excitement and dissipation. All this could not fail to affect most of the inexperienced new-comers, especially with fever, bowel complaint, and rheumatism; while scurvy, cutaneous, syphilitic, and pulmonary diseases, claimed their victims. 27 In October 1850 came the cholera; and although disappearing with the year, it is supposed to have carried off fifteen per cent of the population at Sacramento, and about half that proportion westward, 28 besides frightening away a large number. The strain of excitement, with attendant disappointments and windfalls, predisposed to insanity, while lowering the

27 The report from the state marine hospital at S. F. shows the proportion of 262 diarrhoea cases, 204 dysentry, 113 acute rheumatism, 93 intermittent fever, 47 chronic rheumatism, 46 scurvy, 40 gonorrhea, 37 typhus, 29 pythisis, 28 bronchitis, 26 pneumonia, among 1,200 patients. Cal. Jour. Sen., 1851, 921-3. Diarrhoea killed 10 out of a party of 19 on Trinity River. Pac. News, May 9, 1850. Dysentery was equally common, with ulcerated bowels. Dows' Vig., MS., 2; Unbound Doc., MS., 20; Barstow's Stat., MS., 2-3, 12; Larkin's Doc,, vi. 172, 175. Destitution and death by starvation is mentioned in Pac. News, Dec. 13, 1849; Garniss' Early Days, MS., 11. A remedy for scurvy was to bury the patient in earth, all but the head. 'Whole camps were sometimes buried at once, except a few who remained out to keep off the grizzlys and coyotes.' Sawtelle's Pioneers, MS., 5; Morse's Stat., MS.

At San José ten per cent, at S. F. five. Burnett's Rec., MS., ii. 241. It caused a rush of passengers by the Panamá steamer. Some died on board, but within a week the pest disappeared. Crary's Vig., MS., 1. It raged in Ophir, etc. Pac. News, Nov. 1, 1850; Cal. Courier, Oct. 24, Dec. 21, 1850; S. F. Picayune, Oct. 23, 25, Nov. 4, 6, Dec. 5, 1850. Judge Hoffman succumbed. A cholera hospital was opened at S. F., on Broadway. S. F. Directory, 1852, 17; Ver Mehr's Life, 367; Sac. Transcript, Oct. 14, 1850, says it broke out at S. F.; Polynesian, vii. 98, 110, 114, 118, 138; Shuck's Repres. Men, 936. It reappeared in 1852.

.

physical and mental tone." The lack of remedial facilities in the mining camps directed a stream of invalids to the towns, especially to San Francisco, despite its unfavorable winds and moisture. There were also constantly left stranded new-comers, reduced by Panamá fevers and the hardships attending badly fitted vessels, made desperate by destitution and suffering, from which only too many sought escape by suicide. Little ceremony attended the burial of these unfortunates in the cities, but in the mines a procession of miners usually attended to consign a comrade, often shroudless and uncoffined, to a shallow grave." The high cost of treatment by doctors and at private hospitals, with over-crowding and neglect in the public wards, tended to keep the death-rate high during the first two years of the mining era. 32

Obviously in a community of men the few women present were very conspicuous. There were whole groups of camps which could be searched in vain for the presence of a single woman, and where one was found she proved too often only the fallen image, the center of gyrating revelry and discord. In San

29 In 1850 twelve persons were cast upon the care of S. F., with an increase to three times that number by 1852, and legislative steps were taken to provide for the afflicted, at first in a brig anchored at North Beach. Cal. Jour. Ho., 1850, 1341; Cal. Polit. Code, 297-306; Fernandez, Cal., 189; Mines and Miners, 795-6; S. F. Herald, Sept. 30, 1851.

3 By the close of 1854 the suicides were estimated at 1,400. Helper's Land of Gold, 29. Some went to the Hawaiian Islands.

31 At S. F. pauper burials were contracted for in 1850 at the reduced rate of $35, formerly $50 to $100. S. F. Minutes, 1849-50, 68, 79-82, etc.; Garniss' Early Days, MS., 10; Wheaton's Stat., MS., 2. Mr Gray came from New York in 1850, as a professional undertaker. Pac. News, May 1, 1850; S. F. Alta, June 11, 1853; Feb. 26, 1863; Polynesian, vi. 110; Hutchings' Mag., iii. 133, 252. The interments at S. F. prior to 1850 are estimated at 970. For the year ending July 1851, when cholera raged, they rose to 1,475, then fell to 1,005, rising again to 1,575, with a proportionate decline after July 1853. Annals S. F., 593–6.

32 Hospitals are spoken of under Sac. and S. F. annals. A board of health was organized in 1850; also a medical society, June 22d. Pac. News, May 18, Dec. 14, 1850; Cal. Courier, Oct. 23-4, 1850. The fee-bill of the latter ranged from an ounce,' $16, the lowest price, upward; visits were rated at $32; advice and operations were specified as high as $1,000. Miscel. Stat., MS., 3-4; Armstrong's Exper., MS, 9.

In 1850 more

33 The place of women at dances would be taken by men. women began to come in, although composed largely of loose elements. Num

34

ABSENCE OF WOMEN.

233

Francisco and other large towns, families began to · settle, yet for a long time the disreputable element outshone the virtuous by loudness in dress and manner, especially in public resorts. In the scarcity men assumed the heroic, and women became worshipful. The few present wore an Aphrodite girdle, which shed a glamour over imperfections, till they found themselves divinities, centres of chivalric adorers. In the mining region men would travel from afar for a glance at a newly arrived female, or handle in mock or real ecstasy some fragment of female apparel. Even in the cities passers-by would turn to salute a female stranger,35 while the appearance of a little girl would be heralded like that of an angel, many a rugged fellow bending with tears of recollecbers 'from the east,' observes Barstow, Stat., MS., 4. The preponderance in this class lay, however, with Hispano-Americans, not excepting Californians, says Cerruti, Ramblings, MS., 50. Hundreds were brought from Mazatlan and San Blas on trust, and transferred to bidders with whom the girls shared their earnings. Fernandez, Cal., 190-1. The Peruvians were sought for dancing-saloons. Australia sent many. Polynesian, vii. 34. French women were brought out to preside at gambling-tables. Nine hundred of the French demimonde are expected,' announces the Pac. News, Oct. 23, 1850, to reside on Stockton and Filbert sts. The number dwindled to 50. Sac. Transcript, Nov. 29, 1850. Indian women were freely offered at the camps, and the number was increased by kidnapped females from the Marquesas Islands. See outcry on this point in Alta Cal., Dec. 21, 24, 1850. One noted prostitute claimed to have earned $50,000. Garniss' Early Days, MS., 7. For first published case of adultery in 1849 at S. F., see Richardson's Exper., MS., 27; also Miscel. Stat., MS., 2; Hayes' Scraps, Cal. Notes, v. 60, etc. The Home Missionary, xxii. 163-7, xxvii. 159, intimates that half the women in S. F. were of the loose element. Bolton vs. U. S., 99-101; Velasco, Son., 325. The Cal. Courier, Oct. 21-2, Nov. 16, 1850, inveighs against the demi-monde, while the Alta Cal., Dec. 19, 1850, commends the improved morals. So does S. F. Picayune, Sept. 27, 1850, although it admits that even the higher classes were dissolute. Armstrong, Exper., MS., 12, speaks of the personation of women and the sale of a wife. În Oct. 1849 there were not over 50 U. S. women in S. F., says McCollum, Cal., 61.

34 A story is told of the excitement over the discovery of a bonnet, attended by a dance around it, hoisted upon a May-pole. Some add a stuffed figure to the bonnet, and put a cradle by its side. Winans' Stat., MS., 17; Letts' Cal. Illust., 89-90. An acquaintance of Burnett, Rec., MS., ii. 38–9, related that he travelled 40 miles to behold a woman. Steamboat agents would cry out, 'Ladies on board!' to draw custom. Gamblers and proprietors of public resorts used to board vessels to offer flattering engagements; but even then women were soon married. Concerning claims to being female pioneers in different counties, see San José Pioneer, July 7, 1877, etc.; S. F. Bulletin, May 5, Aug. 11, 1876, etc.; Record-Union, May 4, 1876, etc.

The attention often made modest women uncomfortable, while others encouraged it by extravagant conduct. Loose characters flaunted costly attire in elegant equipages, or appeared walking or riding in male attire. Furnham's Cal., 22-3; Barry and Patten, Men and Mem., 138-9.

tion to give her a kiss and press a golden ounce into her hand. The effects of these tender sentiments remained rooted in the hearts of Californians long after the romance age,36 the only mellow trait with many a one, the only thing sacred being some base imitation of the divine image.

As modest virtue regained the ascendency with the increase of families, indecency retreated, to be sought in the shadow by the men of all classes who, during the earlier absence of social restraint, hesitated not to walk the street beside a prostitute, or yield to the allurement of debased female company midst surroundings far more comfortable and elegant than their own solitary chambers.37 With the subordination to some extent of the grand passion, gambling and other dissipations received a check, and higher pastimes and the home circle rose in favor. As any semblance of a woman could be almost sure of speedy marriage, intending settlers hastened to bring out female friends and relatives; benevolent persons sought to relieve the surplus market at home, and successful men recalled some acquaintance in their native village with whom

38

36 It was for a long time difficult to find a jury which would convict a

woman.

37 Balls were frequently attended at these places by public men of promi nence, where decorum prevailed, and champagne at high prices was made to pay the cost of supper.

38 Mrs Farnham issued a circular in N. Y., Feb. 1849, offering to take out a number of respectable women, not over 25 years of age, each to contribute $250 for expenses. Mrs F. fell sick, and the enterprise was left in abeyance. Farnham's Cal., 25-7. Subsequently she did bring out a number, adds Clark, Stat., MS., 1-2; Revue Deux Mondes, Feb. 15, 1859, 948-9. A similar futile Parisian enterprise had in view a share of the marriage portion. Pac. News, Nov. 11, 1850. Advertisements for wives were not uncommon. In Sawtelle's Pioneers, MS., 10, is related the repeated contests for and frequent marriage of a Mexican widow. Placer Times, Dec. 15, 1849, boasts of a wedding attended by 20 ladies, and the display of dress-coats and kid gloves. A mercenary fellow of Shasta advertised admission to his wedding at $5 a ticket, which brought a snug sum with which to start the household. Hutchings' Mag., ii. 567; Cal. Steamer, 25th Anniv., 50-1; Pac. News, Nov. 4, 11, 1850. Advertisement for 200 Chilian brides, in Polynesian, v. 202. It is said that Burnett owed his election for governor greatly to being married and having two daughters; his opponent was a bachelor. Hall's Hist., 204; Woods' Sixteen Mo., 75; Pioneer Mag., ii. 80; Hesperian, ii. 10, 494; Shinn's Mining Camps, 137; Fremont's Am. Travel, 100-3, 112. A writer in Overland, xiv. 327, denies the rarity of and stir caused by women, but on insufficient grounds. Merrill's Stat., MS., 10; Soule's Stat., MS., 4.

to open correspondence with a view to matrimony. As a class, the women of this period were inferior in education and manners to the men; for the hardships of the voyage and border life held back the more refined; but as comforts increased the better class of women came in,39 and the standard of female respectability was elevated.

40

Distance did not seem to weaken the bond with the old home, to judge especially by the general excitement created by the arrival of a mail steamer. What a straining of eyes toward the signal-station on Telegraph hill, as the time of her coming drew nigh! What a rush toward the landing! What a struggle to secure the month-old newspaper, which sold readily for a dollar! For letters patience had to be curbed, owing to the scanty provisions at the post-office for sorting the bulky mail Such was the anxiety, however, that numbers took their position in the long line before the delivery window during the preceding day or night, fortified with stools and creature comforts. There were boys and men who made a business of taking a place in the post-office line to sell it to later comers, who would find the file probably extending round more than one block. There was ample time for reflection while thus waiting before the post-office window, not to mention the agony of suspense, heightened by the occasional demonstration of joy or sorrow on the part of others on reading their letters."1

The departure of a steamer presented scenes hardly less stirring, the mercantile class being especially earnest in efforts to collect outstanding debts for remittance. At the wharf stood preeminent sturdy

39 And diminished the number of California widows left in almost every town of the eastern states; many of them pining and struggling against poverty for years in the vain hope of meeting again their husbands.

40 As proved, indeed, by later incidents, the war of 1861-5, the railway connection, etc.

The scene at the post-office is a favorite topic with writers on this period. Instance McCollum's Cal., 62-3; Cassin's Stat., MS., 16-17; Kelly's Excurs., ii. 252-5, with humorous strokes; Borthwick's Cal., 83–5; Cal. Scraps, 126-7; Alta Cal., Aug. 28, 1854, etc.