The Gazette
Davenport, Scott, Iowa

April 5, 1849
Married
In Davenport, on Monday evening last, 2nd inst., by Rev. E. Ripley, Mr.
Robert Christie, of Le Claire to Mrs. L.G.W. Hoge of Davenport

Off for California
Last Monday three teams left this place for the El Dorado. Those who went
out in this company were Dr. H. Brown, D. Hawley, D. Robers, G.W. Lambert,
I. Thomas and three others whose names we do not remember. May they succeed
in reaching California and their brightest anticipations be realized.

DELIGHTS OF AN OVERLAND JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA
We find in the St. Louis Republican the following rich communication, which
will afford considerable amusement if not instruction, to those about
migrating to the Pacific:-]


Once more tell me how all have come out that went into the diggings. We hear
that 6,000 persons, are employed, and make from $8 to $32 per day. Who gets
the money? Not those who dig and toil, but the trader, speculator, and he
who hires hands and shows them where to dig, furnishes tools and the means
of living. The laborer, as in this coutnry, barely makes his living. You
hear a flaming account of how one of Mr .A or B had made in one week $1,500.
He might have gambled among the laborers, traded with them, and a thousand
other ways, to obtain the fruit of their labor, but the particulars are not
given that he stripped off coat and jacket, with spade and pick in hand,
waded into the earth hat-band deep, into a deep hole, and dug up the pure
stuff. How was it in Peru, one of the richest mining countries on the face
of the globe?  In the lead mines,  and every other mining operation
throughout the known world? Does every one come out rich- full of gold? Does
every tenth man, every fiftieth or hundredth man, better his condition, and
become wealthy after years of toil, fatigue and trouble?- Just look at the
Galena lead mines and surrounding country, in 1827, where there were 50,000
men at work. How many came out well? Not one half, not even the quarter or
hundredth man. So with the Potosi mines; and so with all others. This is no
humbuggery- an "air castle"- "great cry and little wool." Nevertheless, go
it boots, while you are young- try your luck; help the speculators and arch
knaves out; they are interested in your going; they have their end to
accomplish- sell you their goods, get your earnings, fairly if they can,
unfairly if ye will. Their motto is, "get money, get money still, and let
Virtue follow if she will." If you desire to know how you would test your
ability to perform the digging operation- jump into a coal wagon, go with it
to its diggings, there try a week's labor. You will come back saying, "I
can't come it; its no go." Neither is it " all gold that glitters."
Nonsense.

By the time you reach the gold region in California, you have expended some
two hundred dollars, worn out all your clothes, become weary from the long
march, eat up all you carried with you, had all your tools stolen from you,
weak and sick and unable to work, without friends to administer to your
wants; without a comfortable house or home- thrown in among thousands of
idle, dissipated, unfeeling brutes, intent on gain; penniless, poor,and
without strength or means, or friends to assist you; surrounded by vulgar,
rough and uncouth rowdies, all engrossed in searching after gold- tattered,
ragged, and cross- without law, discipline or control- every one his own
master- stealing here and lying there- inventing schemes to deprive the
unsuspecting of their prospects and leads- laying hands on everything
palatable, wearable or useful; where migh and strength determine right,
though wrong and "coward guilt to sheltering caverns fly," until sickness,
disease, and death close the scene. Then you may easily imagine worse than
this picture- human vultures preying upon your carcass like cannibals
gormandizing in their hoarse laugh over fallen victims! It is nevertheless,
truer than fiction- the pure and certain results of rash and premature
enterprise. With these naked truths staring each other in the face, if you
go, you must take a copy of these broken sentences along with you; and if
you live to come back, prove or disprove the sayings and warnings of
EZEL.





Submitted by: #000525