CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.] An archive of 12 letters from William, E. B. and Robert Patten to George Cole 1848-1853. Together 35 pages, 4to, closely written. With additional Cole family documents.
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.] An archive of 12 letters from William, E. B. and Robert Patten to George Cole 1848-1853. Together 35 pages, 4to, closely written. With additional Cole family documents. “San Francisco is one of the most filthy stinking muddy disagreeable holes…that ever god made” A fascinating and colorful Gold Rush archive. The three Patten brothers left Maine in 1849 to follow the gold rush to San Francisco. They wrote back home to their friend George Cole about their experiences: the familiar odyssey of initial high hopes for wealth bitterly dashed against the harsh realities of the rough and wild streets of San Francisco. [31 December 1848] “When we reach San Francisco whatever appears for the best we shall endeavor to do, we go prepared to proceed into the mines if we think proper and trust in Providence that we shall be spared to return to our homes and our friends in the course of eighteen months.” [26 December 1849] “This is a most extraordinary country as Paddy says and the town of San Francisco is one of the most filthy stinking muddy disagreeable holes now that ever God made or no, to say that God ever made such a place as this would blaspheme, so I will say that ever man made…” William reports that there are probably 20,000 inhabitants in the city, “from every nation and country under heaven.” Corruption and violence were rife. [21 August 1850] “I am of opinion that letter prepaid in this post office are often destroyed and the money pocketed by the damned rascally clerks…There was a devil of a fracas last week at Sacramento City. It arose out [of] what is called here the Squatter question. A number of persons have located themselves on vacant lands presuming they have as good a right to it as any other American citizen…two of the squatters were killed and several wounded. I don’t know how these scrapes will end, the people here are much dissatisfied with the present government. Gross charges of corruption are preferred against the public officers and not without cause, and if Uncle Sam does not take measures to settle the difficulties that are fast increasing in this country serious consequences must ensue. The mines are crowded to excess and murders and robberies committed almost every day. There is plenty of gold there no doubt but one half the reports circulating through the papers respecting the gold diggings are damned infernal lies and the authors of them deserve hanging.” A rich vein of California history.
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.] An archive of 12 letters from William, E. B. and Robert Patten to George Cole 1848-1853. Together 35 pages, 4to, closely written. With additional Cole family documents.
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.] An archive of 12 letters from William, E. B. and Robert Patten to George Cole 1848-1853. Together 35 pages, 4to, closely written. With additional Cole family documents. “San Francisco is one of the most filthy stinking muddy disagreeable holes…that ever god made” A fascinating and colorful Gold Rush archive. The three Patten brothers left Maine in 1849 to follow the gold rush to San Francisco. They wrote back home to their friend George Cole about their experiences: the familiar odyssey of initial high hopes for wealth bitterly dashed against the harsh realities of the rough and wild streets of San Francisco. [31 December 1848] “When we reach San Francisco whatever appears for the best we shall endeavor to do, we go prepared to proceed into the mines if we think proper and trust in Providence that we shall be spared to return to our homes and our friends in the course of eighteen months.” [26 December 1849] “This is a most extraordinary country as Paddy says and the town of San Francisco is one of the most filthy stinking muddy disagreeable holes now that ever God made or no, to say that God ever made such a place as this would blaspheme, so I will say that ever man made…” William reports that there are probably 20,000 inhabitants in the city, “from every nation and country under heaven.” Corruption and violence were rife. [21 August 1850] “I am of opinion that letter prepaid in this post office are often destroyed and the money pocketed by the damned rascally clerks…There was a devil of a fracas last week at Sacramento City. It arose out [of] what is called here the Squatter question. A number of persons have located themselves on vacant lands presuming they have as good a right to it as any other American citizen…two of the squatters were killed and several wounded. I don’t know how these scrapes will end, the people here are much dissatisfied with the present government. Gross charges of corruption are preferred against the public officers and not without cause, and if Uncle Sam does not take measures to settle the difficulties that are fast increasing in this country serious consequences must ensue. The mines are crowded to excess and murders and robberies committed almost every day. There is plenty of gold there no doubt but one half the reports circulating through the papers respecting the gold diggings are damned infernal lies and the authors of them deserve hanging.” A rich vein of California history.
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Suchauftrag anlegen![CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH] An archive of 12 letters from William...](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2016/NYR/2016_NYR_12262_0371_000(california_gold_rush_an_archive_of_12_letters_from_william_e_b_and_rob).jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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