Letters From California Goldrush-1850

GRATIOT, FANNING, MOLONEY, PERDREAUVILLE, LORIMIER, ALLEN, HEECOCK, GODAIRE, MCDANIEL, MORRISON, SAUCIER, WHITESIDES, CRANE, HARRIS, COX, SERRE, SIMPARE, MORHISER, DEMOINEAUX, STIGER, CHILDS, CORIELL, CORKERY, CRANE, OBRIEN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/3/2018 at 07:37:06

The Miner’s Express, Du Buque Visitor, Wednesday, May 15, 1850, Dubuque, IA, Page: 1

Letters From California

Exttact of a Letter From James Fanning
Life in the Mines - Provisions, &c. – The Journey – The country – Summer Prospects, &c.

We had a pleasant time here for the winter, among old acquaintances, but it would be called a dog’s life at home. Our chief diet is pork, bread, and coffee – coffee, bread and pork, three time a day – when you are not tired of it. Teamster charge to this place, at time, fifty cents per lb. for hauling forty miles.

Our little town is composed of a few cabins and tents. C. H. Gratiot & Co., Leon Perdreauville, the funny fellow, Charles Lorimier, E. Allen, James Heecock, Henry Godaire, George McDaniel, John , Jesse & E. Morrison, Henry Saucier, Abraham Whitesides, Thomas Crane, Joseph Harris, Hart, from about Shullsburg, John Moloney, &c., all in good health and conditioned, though we do live on bread and pork.

There is a kind of potato here that would starve Iowa hogs; they sell for .75 cents to a dollar a lb.; hay in the rag city (Sacramento) $1,000 per ton; wood from &16 to $20 a cord. The butchers of Dubuque would be ashamed to sell such beef as they sell here for 50 cents per lb.; - I have even seen some mutton at a dollar a pound.

Though I am in an awkward position, standing beside a bunk, I will try and scribble all the fact I can; but I suppose Richard Cox has told you all about the country verbally.

After describing the destruction of property, caused by the overflowing of the Sacramento, Mr. Fanning goes on to say, “I will not advise any person to come to this country, as it is a very hard place to get to; attended by many dangers and difficulties; but if the fever is so great that people must come, let them not come by the mountains; for, those that may not be disabled by the scurvy, will be chocked by the dust. If they persist after this, and say, “Sure, others went safe and so can we," let them come with light wagons, and with light loads, and leave all old trash behind. * * * (Here Mr. Fanning gives some directions for the journey, which cannot be applicable; he then goes on to describe the country.) This country is good for nothing but its gold. There is no fish west of the mountains worth catching. Elk, Deer, Antelope, Hares, and blue Partridges are abundant. There are very fine birds in the mountains, called Sage hens, of about 5 pounds weight; also Prairie Hens, like those in the States.

The average of men’s labor is from twelve to fifty dollars a day. It is supposed that there will be fifty thousand miners to work this summer. I am very handy at making cradle to wash the dust in, and most of the old coons who go home, will be quite handy about the nursery.

Serre & Co. were well when I saw them; Simpare was here for two days; he is going far into the mountains with the Morrison’s. They started yesterday. Morhiser, Demoineaux, and Stiger were well when I saw them last. T. C. Childs is keeping store in the city, and is well. Samuel Cox, and Edward Coriell are well.

If I get along in health as I have done, I hope to be home next fall, as stout as a horse. John Moloney and I sleep together. He went to work the first day with a partner, and made $12, but he wants to get big chunks. I will write in earnest, when I am settled for the summer.

I send you a small section of virgin gold, which I dug out yesterday. C. Morrison got a very pretty piece three days ago, which weighted two ounces, equal, to thirty-two dollars.

I saw John Corkery here; he is in good health now but has been sick.

As I had had so much trouble stumping over the mountains 2500 miles from home, I intend to stay here until I make a spoon or spoil a horn. . I have had no chance yet to do much more than make a living, which is all that could be expected for the winter. I suppose we had made in time, that we worked, about six-hundred dollars

Doctor Crane came to the city a perfect show, from sickness; and were it not for Childs and Gratiot, he would be worse. Doctor O’Brien is in the city; he had to leave his family one hundred and thirty miles up the valley, at the first ranch.

In the course of one month we hope to go up in the mountains, where we will remain all summer. I will write again when I have a better opportunity. Remember me to all friends.
I remain, &c,
JAMES FANNING