1 00:01:15,570 --> 00:01:18,510 "THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ON EARTH 2 00:01:18,580 --> 00:01:20,510 "THAT YOU WILL MEET SOMEDAY. 3 00:01:20,580 --> 00:01:23,600 THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN STONE." 4 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,020 "THEY WILL BE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT GET TIRED 5 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:31,520 "BUT WHO WILL KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, 6 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:34,280 GOING, GOING ALL THE TIME." 7 00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:38,580 "THESE PEOPLE DO NOT FOLLOW 8 00:01:38,650 --> 00:01:41,380 "THE WAY OF OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER. 9 00:01:41,450 --> 00:01:43,620 THEY FOLLOW ANOTHER WAY." 10 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:47,510 "THEY WILL TRAVEL EVERYWHERE, 11 00:01:47,570 --> 00:01:49,040 "LOOKING FOR THIS STONE 12 00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:51,880 "WHICH OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER PUT ON THE EARTH 13 00:01:51,940 --> 00:01:54,210 IN MANY PLACES." 14 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,280 SWEET MEDICINE. 15 00:02:03,910 --> 00:02:07,480 [NARRATOR] ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 24, 1848, 16 00:02:07,540 --> 00:02:09,510 A MAN NAMED JAMES MARSHALL 17 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:12,510 WALKED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE AMERICAN RIVER 18 00:02:12,580 --> 00:02:14,020 IN CALIFORNIA 19 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:18,450 TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS OF A MILL HE WAS BUILDING. 20 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,940 [J.S. HOLLIDAY] AND HE LOOKS DOWN 21 00:02:21,010 --> 00:02:24,930 WHERE THE SOIL HAS BEEN DUG, AND THERE'S A SPARKLE, 22 00:02:24,990 --> 00:02:27,510 AND THERE'S A GLINT IN THE MORNING LIGHT, 23 00:02:27,580 --> 00:02:28,800 AND HE REACHES DOWN, 24 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:31,980 AND HE PICKS IT UP WITH HIS STUBBY, DIRTY FINGERS-- 25 00:02:32,070 --> 00:02:34,190 AND THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD 26 00:02:34,270 --> 00:02:36,020 THAT HE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED-- 27 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:38,020 AND HERE IS THIS, THIS... 28 00:02:38,090 --> 00:02:40,530 SPECK OF THE FUTURE, THIS TINY LITTLE SHOCK 29 00:02:40,590 --> 00:02:43,480 THAT'S GOING TO REVERBERATE RIGHT TO TODAY-- 30 00:02:43,550 --> 00:02:45,310 LITERALLY TILL NOW. 31 00:02:45,380 --> 00:02:48,530 HE PICKS IT UP, AND HE SAYS, "MY GOD!" 32 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,900 AND HE YELLS OUT, HE SAID, 33 00:02:50,970 --> 00:02:53,540 "MY GOD, I THINK I'VE FOUND GOLD!" 34 00:02:54,790 --> 00:02:57,780 [MEN CHANTING IN NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE] 35 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,880 [NARRATOR] BY 1848, THE UNITED STATES 36 00:03:52,950 --> 00:03:56,130 CLAIMED VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE WEST. 37 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,540 THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE, 38 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,760 THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS AND OREGON, 39 00:04:01,820 --> 00:04:03,690 AND THE WAR WITH MEXICO 40 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,960 HAD STRETCHED THE NATION'S BOUNDARIES 41 00:04:06,030 --> 00:04:08,750 ALL THE WAY TO THE PACIFIC. 42 00:04:11,050 --> 00:04:14,490 BUT THE WEST WAS AMERICAN IN NAME ONLY. 43 00:04:14,550 --> 00:04:17,490 FEW PEOPLE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 44 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,490 WERE ANXIOUS TO VENTURE INTO ITS FORBIDDING INTERIOR. 45 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,500 IT STILL SEEMED TOO DISTANT, TOO MYSTERIOUS, 46 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,730 TOO DANGEROUS. 47 00:04:32,070 --> 00:04:35,520 THEN GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN CALIFORNIA, 48 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:37,530 AND EVERYTHING CHANGED-- 49 00:04:37,590 --> 00:04:41,260 FOR THE WEST AND FOR THE COUNTRY. 50 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:45,470 SUDDENLY GOLD-SEEKERS RUSHED IN 51 00:04:45,530 --> 00:04:48,120 FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE-- 52 00:04:48,190 --> 00:04:51,190 CHINESE PEASANTS PURSUING TALES 53 00:04:51,260 --> 00:04:54,480 OF A GOLD MOUNTAIN ACROSS THE OCEAN, 54 00:04:54,540 --> 00:04:56,540 MEXICAN FARMERS 55 00:04:56,610 --> 00:04:58,450 AND CLERKS FROM LONDON, 56 00:04:58,510 --> 00:05:01,050 TAILORS FROM EASTERN EUROPE, 57 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,390 AND SOUTH AMERICAN ARISTOCRATS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. 58 00:05:08,810 --> 00:05:11,940 THE THIN STREAM OF AMERICAN EMIGRANTS 59 00:05:12,010 --> 00:05:14,150 CROSSING THE CONTINENT 60 00:05:14,210 --> 00:05:16,350 BECAME A TORRENT... 61 00:05:17,730 --> 00:05:19,990 THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS 62 00:05:20,050 --> 00:05:24,010 OF OPTIMISTIC BUT INEXPERIENCED PROSPECTORS, 63 00:05:24,070 --> 00:05:27,010 WILLING TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES 64 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,690 AND SET OUT ON THE LONG TRAIL FOR CALIFORNIA, 65 00:05:30,780 --> 00:05:35,070 HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH AND RETURN IN GLORY. 66 00:05:40,090 --> 00:05:42,010 BECAUSE OF GOLD, 67 00:05:42,090 --> 00:05:45,030 A ONCE-SLEEPY VILLAGE ON A MAGNIFICENT BAY 68 00:05:45,090 --> 00:05:47,000 WOULD CHANGE OVERNIGHT 69 00:05:47,060 --> 00:05:49,530 INTO A THRIVING, INTERNATIONAL CITY 70 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,030 WHERE STOREKEEPERS, SPECULATORS, AND SCOUNDRELS 71 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:56,590 ALL DREAMED OF BECOMING INSTANT MILLIONAIRES. 72 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,950 BECAUSE OF GOLD, SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES 73 00:06:06,010 --> 00:06:09,970 WHO HAD LIVED IN CALIFORNIA FOR 3/4 OF A CENTURY 74 00:06:10,030 --> 00:06:13,470 WOULD SUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES SURROUNDED BY STRANGERS 75 00:06:13,540 --> 00:06:15,560 AND ROBBED OF THEIR LAND. 76 00:06:18,710 --> 00:06:20,650 AND BECAUSE OF GOLD, 77 00:06:20,710 --> 00:06:24,600 CALIFORNIA'S INDIANS WOULD BE OVERWHELMED, ENSLAVED, 78 00:06:24,670 --> 00:06:27,050 AND THEN SLAUGHTERED. 79 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,860 "THE GOLD RUSH REVOLUTIONIZED AMERICA," 80 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,180 WROTE ONE MAN WHO HAD SEEN IT ALL. 81 00:06:37,250 --> 00:06:40,500 "IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF OUR NATIONAL MADNESS, 82 00:06:40,570 --> 00:06:42,900 OUR INSANITY OF GREED." 83 00:06:50,570 --> 00:06:55,010 IT HAD TAKEN HALF A CENTURY FOR THE UNITED STATES 84 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,520 TO ENCOMPASS THE VAST SPACES OF THE WEST. 85 00:06:58,580 --> 00:07:01,870 NOW THE LUST FOR GOLD WOULD ANIMATE THE NATION 86 00:07:01,940 --> 00:07:04,540 TO BEGIN TO FILL THEM UP. 87 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,460 [HOLLIDAY] THE GOLD RUSH CHANGED CALIFORNIA, 88 00:07:09,530 --> 00:07:11,410 IT CHANGED THE WHOLE WEST, 89 00:07:11,460 --> 00:07:14,470 AND IT CHANGED AMERICA'S SENSE OF ITSELF, 90 00:07:14,530 --> 00:07:16,470 BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME 91 00:07:16,530 --> 00:07:19,040 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 92 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,640 IN THE MINDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 93 00:07:21,710 --> 00:07:23,990 FULFILLED THE DREAM OF JEFFERSON, 94 00:07:24,060 --> 00:07:25,840 WHICH WAS A CONTINENTAL NATION 95 00:07:25,910 --> 00:07:28,400 FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC. 96 00:07:28,460 --> 00:07:31,030 NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THE AMERICA STRETCHING 97 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:33,990 FROM CHESAPEAKE BAY TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY 98 00:07:34,050 --> 00:07:37,340 UNTIL FATHERS AND SONS AND UNCLES AND BROTHERS 99 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,340 AND FIANCES WERE OUT THERE. 100 00:07:39,410 --> 00:07:41,060 [MAN CHANTING] 101 00:07:55,070 --> 00:07:57,010 "A FRENZY SEIZED MY SOUL. 102 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,830 "PILES OF GOLD ROSE UP BEFORE ME. 103 00:07:59,890 --> 00:08:02,600 "CASTLES OF MARBLE, THOUSANDS OF SLAVES, 104 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:04,400 "MYRIADS OF FAIR VIRGINS 105 00:08:04,470 --> 00:08:07,320 "CONTENDING WITH EACH OTHER FOR MY LOVE 106 00:08:07,390 --> 00:08:09,450 "WERE AMONG THE FANCIES 107 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,470 "OF MY FEVERED IMAGINATION. 108 00:08:11,540 --> 00:08:16,460 IN SHORT, I HAD A VERY VIOLENT ATTACK OF THE GOLD FEVER." 109 00:08:16,530 --> 00:08:18,860 HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT. 110 00:08:20,930 --> 00:08:23,790 [NARRATOR] THE FIRST GOLD HAD BEEN FOUND 111 00:08:23,850 --> 00:08:27,820 ON THE LAND OF A SWISS-BORN ADVENTURER NAMED JOHN SUTTER, 112 00:08:27,890 --> 00:08:30,810 WHO HAD ALREADY CREATED A 50,000-ACRE EMPIRE 113 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,810 FOR HIMSELF IN CALIFORNIA. 114 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,480 IF HE COULD KEEP THE DISCOVERY QUIET, 115 00:08:36,550 --> 00:08:37,930 HE BELIEVED, 116 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,000 IT WOULD MAKE HIM RICH BEYOND HIS WILDEST IMAGININGS. 117 00:08:42,070 --> 00:08:44,910 BUT RUMORS BEGAN TO SPREAD. 118 00:08:44,970 --> 00:08:46,780 ONE PERSON WHO HEARD THEM 119 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,790 WAS A MORMON ELDER NAMED SAM BRANNAN. 120 00:08:49,860 --> 00:08:53,680 HE HAD BEEN SENT TO CALIFORNIA TO ESTABLISH A COLONY 121 00:08:53,750 --> 00:08:55,250 FOR THE CHURCH, 122 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,900 BUT THE RUMORS OF GOLD LED HIM TO SUTTER'S MILL. 123 00:08:58,970 --> 00:09:01,910 THERE HE SAW AN EASIER PATH TO RICHES 124 00:09:01,990 --> 00:09:03,940 THAN WORKING THE STREAMS. 125 00:09:04,010 --> 00:09:06,960 HE OPENED A STORE NEXT TO SUTTER'S SAWMILL, 126 00:09:07,030 --> 00:09:10,350 FULLY STOCKED WITH PICKS, PANS, AND SHOVELS 127 00:09:10,410 --> 00:09:13,800 TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE TREASURE-SEEKERS 128 00:09:13,870 --> 00:09:16,490 HE KNEW WOULD RUSH TO THE GOLD FIELDS 129 00:09:16,550 --> 00:09:18,460 ONCE WORD GOT OUT. 130 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,960 [T.H. WATKINS] SAM BRANNAN GATHERED TOGETHER 131 00:09:21,030 --> 00:09:23,460 ENOUGH GOLD DUST FROM VARIOUS SOURCES 132 00:09:23,530 --> 00:09:25,230 TO PUT INTO A VIAL, 133 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:28,100 TOOK THE NEXT BOAT DOWN TO SAN FRANCISCO, 134 00:09:28,170 --> 00:09:29,720 LANDED IN SAN FRANCISCO-- 135 00:09:29,780 --> 00:09:32,470 STILL CALLED YERBA BUENA IN THOSE DAYS-- 136 00:09:32,540 --> 00:09:35,310 AND STRODE UP AND DOWN THEN MONTGOMERY STREET 137 00:09:35,370 --> 00:09:37,860 WAVING THE VIAL OF GOLD OVER HIS HEAD 138 00:09:37,930 --> 00:09:40,790 AND CRYING, "GOLD! GOLD FROM THE AMERICAN RIVER!" 139 00:09:40,860 --> 00:09:42,480 IT WORKED PERFECTLY. 140 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:45,000 PEOPLE SPILLED OUT OF THE SALOONS. 141 00:09:45,070 --> 00:09:48,890 THEY PASSED THE VIAL AROUND, HEFT IT IN THEIR HANDS, 142 00:09:48,950 --> 00:09:51,510 FEEL ITS WEIGHT, LOOK AT IT, 143 00:09:51,570 --> 00:09:54,010 AND IT ABSOLUTELY ENTRANCED THEM. 144 00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:58,110 [NARRATOR] THE GOLD RUSH HAD BEGUN. 145 00:10:09,870 --> 00:10:11,510 BY THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, 146 00:10:11,580 --> 00:10:15,400 3/4 OF THE MEN LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO 147 00:10:15,450 --> 00:10:18,030 HAD LEFT TOWN TO DIG FOR GOLD. 148 00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:21,100 FROM MEXICO, WHERE THE SPANISH HAD BEEN MINING GOLD 149 00:10:21,170 --> 00:10:23,400 FOR THREE CENTURIES, 150 00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:26,390 SO MANY MEN HEADED NORTH, ONE AMERICAN REPORTED, 151 00:10:26,460 --> 00:10:32,700 THAT IT SEEMS AS IF "THE ENTIRE STATE OF SONORA IS ON THE MOVE." 152 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,980 THOUSANDS MORE SET SAIL 153 00:10:35,050 --> 00:10:38,040 FROM EVERY PORT IN SOUTH AMERICA. 154 00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:40,970 AS WORD SPREAD ACROSS THE PACIFIC, 155 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:45,110 HAWAIIANS AND CHINESE CAME TO WORK THE STREAMS. 156 00:10:48,130 --> 00:10:53,070 FOR THOSE WHO GOT THERE EARLY, GOLD SEEMED TO BE EVERYWHERE-- 157 00:10:53,130 --> 00:10:57,560 LODGED AMONG ROCKS, GLITTERING IN SAND BARS, 158 00:10:57,620 --> 00:11:01,630 SWIRLING IN POOLS AND EDDIES, THERE FOR THE TAKING. 159 00:11:04,060 --> 00:11:08,500 SOME MADE FORTUNES USING NOTHING BUT SPOONS OR JACKKNIVES 160 00:11:08,570 --> 00:11:10,500 TO SCOOP IT UP. 161 00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:14,020 OTHERS HIRED INDIANS TO DO THE WORK. 162 00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:17,480 SEVEN MINERS EMPLOYING 50 INDIANS 163 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:23,180 DUG OUT 273 POUNDS OF GOLD IN JUST TWO MONTHS. 164 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,040 PROSPECTORS LIKED TO SAY THAT THE NAME "CALIFORNIA" 165 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:33,520 CAME FROM A COMBINATION OF THE INDIAN WORDKALI, 166 00:11:33,590 --> 00:11:35,040 WHICH MEANT "GOLD," 167 00:11:35,110 --> 00:11:38,950 ANDFORNIA,WHICH MEANT "WOULDN'T YOU LIKE SOME?" 168 00:11:40,660 --> 00:11:43,050 [HOLLIDAY] THAT TREMENDOUS SUCCESS 169 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,450 OF THAT SUMMER OF 1848 170 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,560 SPREAD BY WAY OF LETTERS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTS. 171 00:11:49,620 --> 00:11:51,210 THE PRESIDENT, 172 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,060 IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, 173 00:11:54,130 --> 00:11:57,110 ANNOUNCES THAT THE ASTONISHING NEWS FROM SACRAMENTO IS TRUE-- 174 00:11:57,180 --> 00:12:00,570 SO THE NEWS IS COMING, NOT ONLY FROM THE PRESIDENT, 175 00:12:00,630 --> 00:12:02,120 BUT MOST OF ALL, 176 00:12:02,190 --> 00:12:05,610 FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITING THESE VIVID REPORTS. 177 00:12:05,670 --> 00:12:09,090 A GUY WRITES HOME, AND HE SAYS, 178 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,610 "YOU REMEMBER DICKSON? HE USED TO WORK FOR EBENEEZER." 179 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:17,120 HE SAID, "HE HAS DUG ENOUGH GOLD TO WEIGH DOWN A MULE." 180 00:12:17,190 --> 00:12:19,350 NOW,THATMEANS SOMETHING TO PEOPLE-- 181 00:12:19,420 --> 00:12:20,890 A MULE. 182 00:12:22,570 --> 00:12:24,510 "THE BLACKSMITH DROPPED HIS HAMMER, 183 00:12:24,580 --> 00:12:28,360 "THE CARPENTER HIS PLANE, THE MASON HIS TROWEL, 184 00:12:28,430 --> 00:12:31,350 "THE FARMER HIS SICKLE, THE BAKER HIS LOAF, 185 00:12:31,420 --> 00:12:33,250 "AND THE TAPSTER HIS BOTTLE. 186 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,250 "I HAVE ONLY A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN LEFT 187 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,260 "AND A GANG OF PRISONERS, 188 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:39,670 "WITH HERE AND THERE 189 00:12:39,740 --> 00:12:42,930 "A SOLDIER WHO WILL GIVE HIS CAPTAIN THE SLIP 190 00:12:42,990 --> 00:12:45,050 "AT THE FIRST CHANCE. 191 00:12:45,110 --> 00:12:48,030 "I DON'T BLAME THE FELLOW A WHIT-- 192 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:51,050 "$7.00 A MONTH, WHILE OTHERS ARE MAKING 193 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,050 200 OR 300 A DAY." 194 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:54,610 WALTER COLTON. 195 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,040 [RICHARD WHITE] EVERYONE KNEW 196 00:12:58,110 --> 00:12:59,560 CALIFORNIA WAS VALUABLE, 197 00:12:59,630 --> 00:13:01,400 BUT NOBODY COULD HAVE IMAGINED 198 00:13:01,460 --> 00:13:03,230 THAT IT WOULD BE A PLACE 199 00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:04,650 OF SUCH IMMENSE RICHES 200 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,320 AND RICHES TO BE HARVESTED 201 00:13:06,380 --> 00:13:07,500 SO QUICKLY 202 00:13:07,570 --> 00:13:09,120 AND SEEMINGLY SO EASILY. 203 00:13:09,190 --> 00:13:10,670 IT'S AN INCREDIBLE BOON, 204 00:13:10,740 --> 00:13:12,510 AN INCREDIBLE STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE, 205 00:13:12,570 --> 00:13:14,410 AND IT JUST IS ONE OF THOSE SENSES 206 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,490 IN WHICH TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, 207 00:13:16,580 --> 00:13:19,010 IT MUST HAVE SEEMED THAT EVERYTHING WAS JUST FALLING 208 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,500 IN THE PATH OF AMERICANS. 209 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:22,830 ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS STOOP AND PICK IT UP. 210 00:13:29,070 --> 00:13:31,510 "I HAVE CARRIED A HEAVY LOAD 211 00:13:31,580 --> 00:13:34,880 "ON MY BACK EVER SINCE I WAS A BOY. 212 00:13:34,950 --> 00:13:37,900 "I LEARNED THEN THAT WE WERE BUT FEW, 213 00:13:37,970 --> 00:13:40,480 "WHILE THE WHITE MEN WERE MANY, 214 00:13:40,550 --> 00:13:43,150 "AND THAT WE COULD NOT HOLD OUR OWN WITH THEM. 215 00:13:43,220 --> 00:13:47,530 "WE HAD A SMALL COUNTRY. THEIR COUNTRY WAS LARGE. 216 00:13:47,590 --> 00:13:50,480 "WE WERE CONTENTED TO LET THINGS REMAIN 217 00:13:50,540 --> 00:13:52,980 "AS THE GREAT SPIRIT MADE THEM. 218 00:13:53,050 --> 00:13:54,380 "THEY WERE NOT 219 00:13:54,450 --> 00:13:57,470 "AND WOULD CHANGE THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS 220 00:13:57,530 --> 00:13:59,740 "IF THEY DID NOT SUIT THEM. 221 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,060 "WE WERE LIKE DEER. 222 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,990 THEY WERE LIKE GRIZZLY BEARS." 223 00:14:05,060 --> 00:14:07,060 CHIEF JOSEPH. 224 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,060 [NARRATOR] BY THE BEGINNING OF 1849, 225 00:14:24,130 --> 00:14:27,010 OVER 50,000 AMERICAN GOLD-SEEKERS 226 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,980 HAD DECIDED TO HEAD FOR CALIFORNIA. 227 00:14:30,030 --> 00:14:33,890 THE ONLY QUESTION WAS HOW TO GET THERE. 228 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,790 SINCE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO OVERLAND 229 00:14:36,860 --> 00:14:40,860 UNTIL SPRING THAWED THE PRAIRIES AND MOUNTAIN PASSES, 230 00:14:40,930 --> 00:14:42,850 THE MOST IMPATIENT PROSPECTORS 231 00:14:42,930 --> 00:14:44,750 STARTED OFF BY SEA... 232 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,370 14,355 NAUTICAL MILES, 233 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:55,260 ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA. 234 00:14:55,330 --> 00:14:59,860 BUT MOST OF THE AMERICANS DECIDED TO WAIT 235 00:14:59,930 --> 00:15:03,050 AND GO BY WAGON TRAIN. 236 00:15:04,550 --> 00:15:06,990 "APRIL 11, 1849. 237 00:15:07,050 --> 00:15:10,470 "ALL MY THINGS BEING READY LAST NIGHT, 238 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:14,480 "I ROSE EARLY AND COMMENCED PACKING IN MY TRUNK, 239 00:15:14,550 --> 00:15:18,280 "PREPARATORY TO LEAVING HOME ON MY LONG JOURNEY-- 240 00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:22,990 "LEAVING FOR THE FIRST TIME MY HOME AND MY DEAR FRIENDS 241 00:15:23,050 --> 00:15:25,990 "WITH THE PROSPECT OF ABSENCE FROM THEM 242 00:15:26,060 --> 00:15:29,010 FOR MANY MONTHS AND PERHAPS FOR YEARS." 243 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,580 WILLIAM SWAIN. 244 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,000 [NARRATOR] WILLIAM SWAIN WAS 245 00:15:35,070 --> 00:15:38,890 A 27-YEAR-OLD FARMER'S SON FROM YOUNGSTOWN, NEW YORK, 246 00:15:38,940 --> 00:15:41,510 UTTERLY CONVINCED HE WOULD FIND RICHES 247 00:15:41,570 --> 00:15:43,940 IN THE GOLD FIELDS OF CALIFORNIA. 248 00:15:44,010 --> 00:15:46,940 HIS WIFE SABRINA WAS AGAINST HIS GOING WEST. 249 00:15:47,030 --> 00:15:51,470 SHE DID NOT KNOW IF SHE AND THEIR INFANT DAUGHTER ELIZA 250 00:15:51,530 --> 00:15:54,170 COULD BEAR TO BE APART FROM HIM. 251 00:15:54,230 --> 00:15:57,540 WILLIAM'S OLDER BROTHER GEORGE WAS FOR IT. 252 00:15:57,610 --> 00:15:59,240 IF PICKINGS WERE AS EASY 253 00:15:59,310 --> 00:16:01,940 AS THE NEWSPAPERS SAID THEY WERE, 254 00:16:02,010 --> 00:16:05,260 HE WOULD GO WEST, TOO, THE FOLLOWING SPRING. 255 00:16:05,330 --> 00:16:06,760 SWAIN'S PLAN 256 00:16:06,830 --> 00:16:09,980 WAS TO TAKE THE OVERLAND ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA, 257 00:16:10,050 --> 00:16:12,790 MAKE A QUICK $10,000 IN THE GOLD FIELDS, 258 00:16:12,850 --> 00:16:14,490 AND RETURN HOME. 259 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,990 HE CARRIED WITH HIM A GUIDEBOOK TO THE OVERLAND TRAIL, 260 00:16:19,060 --> 00:16:21,880 A BIBLE, AND HIS DIARY. 261 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,980 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "I HAD FORTIFIED MY MINDARY. 262 00:16:27,050 --> 00:16:28,440 "BY PREVIOUS REFLECTION 263 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:31,000 "TO SUPPRESS MY EMOTIONS, AS IS MY CUSTOM 264 00:16:31,070 --> 00:16:33,490 "IN ALL CASES WHERE EMOTION IS EXPECTED. 265 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,390 "BUT THIS MORNING I LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE 266 00:16:36,460 --> 00:16:40,500 "THAT I AM NOT MASTER OF MY FEELINGS IN ALL CASES. 267 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,500 "I PARTED FROM MY FAMILY 268 00:16:42,570 --> 00:16:45,250 "COMPLETELY UNABLE TO RESTRAIN MY EMOTIONS 269 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,420 "AND LEFT THEM ALL BATHED IN TEARS, 270 00:16:48,470 --> 00:16:50,190 "EVEN MY BROTHER, 271 00:16:50,260 --> 00:16:52,030 "WHOSE ENERGY OF MIND 272 00:16:52,090 --> 00:16:54,030 I NEVER SAW FAIL BEFORE." 273 00:16:54,100 --> 00:16:55,810 [HOLLIDAY] HE IS A FARMER. 274 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,450 HE LIVES A SIMPLE LIFE. HE'S PRETTY WELL-EDUCATED. 275 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,190 HE'S READ SHAKESPEARE. HE'S READ WORDSWORTH. 276 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:04,740 HIS WIFE IS A TEACHER. 277 00:17:04,810 --> 00:17:05,940 THEY HAVE 278 00:17:06,010 --> 00:17:07,460 A VERY COMFORTABLE LIFE. 279 00:17:07,530 --> 00:17:08,980 THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING 280 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:10,480 TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IN 1849. 281 00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:11,960 THIS IS A KEY POINT. 282 00:17:12,030 --> 00:17:14,980 THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM DISTRESS. 283 00:17:15,050 --> 00:17:17,150 HIS EXPECTATIONS WERE PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE EXPECTATIONS 284 00:17:17,220 --> 00:17:19,150 OF AN AVERAGE FARMING FAMILY IN AMERICA. 285 00:17:19,220 --> 00:17:20,990 THE GOLD RUSH CHANGED THAT. 286 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:22,470 SUDDENLY HE WANTED MORE. 287 00:17:22,540 --> 00:17:24,240 SUDDENLY HE WASN'T SATISFIED. 288 00:17:24,310 --> 00:17:25,940 [SHIP WHISTLE BLOWS] 289 00:17:26,010 --> 00:17:27,980 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "APRIL 12, 1849. 290 00:17:28,050 --> 00:17:29,980 "AT HALF PAST 2:00, 291 00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:33,500 "I TOOK PASSAGE FOR DETROIT ON THE STEAMERARROW. 292 00:17:33,570 --> 00:17:35,370 "THE LAKE IS VERY SMOOTH, 293 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,490 "AND THE BOAT SHOOTS ALONG LIKE AN ARROW, 294 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,010 "AND AS SHE LEAVES 295 00:17:40,070 --> 00:17:42,990 "FAR IN THE DISTANCE OBJECTS FAMILIAR TO ME 296 00:17:43,060 --> 00:17:46,510 "AND BEARS ME ON TO THOSE THAT ARE STRANGE, 297 00:17:46,580 --> 00:17:50,080 I FEEL THAT SHE BEARS ME AND MY DESTINY." 298 00:18:03,530 --> 00:18:04,900 "DEAR, DEAR WILLIAM, 299 00:18:04,970 --> 00:18:06,970 "I FEEL AS THOUGH 300 00:18:07,030 --> 00:18:09,470 "I WAS ALONE IN THE WORLD. 301 00:18:09,540 --> 00:18:11,440 "THE NIGHT YOU LEFT HOME, 302 00:18:11,510 --> 00:18:13,980 "I DID NOT, NOR COULD NOT, 303 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,480 "CLOSE MY EYES TO SLEEP. 304 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:18,960 "WILLIAM, IF I HAD KNOWN 305 00:18:19,030 --> 00:18:21,980 "THAT I COULD NOT BE MORE RECONCILED 306 00:18:22,050 --> 00:18:23,980 "TO YOUR ABSENCE THAN I AM, 307 00:18:24,050 --> 00:18:26,970 "I NEVER COULD HAVE CONSENTED TO YOUR GOING. 308 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,970 "HOWEVER, I WILL TRY TO RECONCILE MYSELF 309 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:31,980 "AS WELL AS I CAN, 310 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:33,430 "BELIEVING GOD WILL 311 00:18:33,490 --> 00:18:34,980 "ORDER ALL THINGS 312 00:18:35,050 --> 00:18:36,480 FOR THE BEST." 313 00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:38,070 SABRINA. 314 00:18:42,650 --> 00:18:44,670 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "MAY 6, 1849, 315 00:18:44,740 --> 00:18:45,990 "INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI. 316 00:18:46,060 --> 00:18:48,510 "WE CAME UP FROM ST. LOUIS 317 00:18:48,580 --> 00:18:51,010 "WITH A COMPANY FROM MARSHALL, MICHIGAN. 318 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,500 "THEY ARE GOT UP ON THE JOINT-STOCK PRINCIPLE 319 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,800 "AND ARE GOING WITH OX TEAMS. 320 00:18:56,870 --> 00:18:59,690 "THEY PROPOSED THAT WE SHOULD JOIN THEM 321 00:18:59,750 --> 00:19:02,570 "BY PAYING $100 EACH INTO THE FUND, 322 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,020 "FURNISHING A WAGON, 323 00:19:04,090 --> 00:19:07,010 "AND THUS BECOMING MEMBERS OF THEIR COMPANY, 324 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,660 WHICH WE HAVE DONE." 325 00:19:08,730 --> 00:19:11,100 [NARRATOR] THE MEMBERS OF SWAIN'S COMPANY 326 00:19:11,170 --> 00:19:14,450 PRINTED "WOLVERINE RANGERS" ON THEIR WAGONS 327 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,450 WITH AXLE GREASE. 328 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,870 OTHER COMPANIES HAD THEIR OWN NICKNAMES-- 329 00:19:19,940 --> 00:19:21,910 WILD YANKEE, 330 00:19:21,980 --> 00:19:24,060 ROUGH AND READY, 331 00:19:24,150 --> 00:19:26,130 LIVE HOOSIER, 332 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,450 AND NEVER SAY DIE. 333 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,000 BUT IN HONOR OF THE MOMENTOUS YEAR 334 00:19:32,070 --> 00:19:35,260 THEY BELIEVED WOULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES, 335 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:39,040 THEY ALL PROUDLY CALLED THEMSELVES FORTY-NINERS. 336 00:19:43,060 --> 00:19:44,830 [HOLLIDAY] 30,000 PEOPLE-- 337 00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:46,480 THAT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION-- 338 00:19:46,550 --> 00:19:48,090 IN THE SPRING OF 1849 339 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:51,370 TAKE OFF FROM INDEPENDENCE AND ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, 340 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,530 AND TRAVEL ALONG THE GREAT PLATTE-- 341 00:19:54,590 --> 00:19:55,890 HUNDREDS OF MILES OF WAGONS. 342 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,490 YOU CAN LOOK TO THE WEST, 343 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,510 AND AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE ON A DUSTY DAY, 344 00:20:00,580 --> 00:20:03,020 THERE ARE WAGON TRAILS WAY OFF INTO THE DISTANCE. 345 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,020 AND YOU TURN AROUND TO LOOK BACK, 346 00:20:05,090 --> 00:20:06,920 AND THEY'RE STRETCHED ALL THE WAY BACK 347 00:20:06,990 --> 00:20:08,570 AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE. 348 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,970 THE MEN WHO TRAVELED TO CALIFORNIA 349 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,040 IN THE GOLD RUSH YEARS 350 00:20:26,110 --> 00:20:28,960 HAD A CONSCIOUS SENSE OF THE NEED TO ORGANIZE. 351 00:20:29,030 --> 00:20:30,480 THERE ARE RULES-- 352 00:20:30,540 --> 00:20:32,550 FOR INSTANCE, NO SWEARING. 353 00:20:32,610 --> 00:20:34,060 THEY HAVE CONSTITUTIONS. 354 00:20:34,130 --> 00:20:36,200 THEY HAVE THESE RULES AND ORDERS. 355 00:20:36,270 --> 00:20:39,020 IT'S NO SWEARING, NO DRINKING, WE WILL OBSERVE THE SABBATH. 356 00:20:39,090 --> 00:20:41,190 MANY A COMPANY BROKE UP OVER THE ARGUMENT 357 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:43,320 OF WHETHER OR NOT TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH. 358 00:20:43,390 --> 00:20:45,080 "HOW CAN WE OBSERVE THE SABBATH? 359 00:20:45,140 --> 00:20:47,930 "HERE IT IS THE MIDDLE OF JUNE. WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND. 360 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,060 "THESE PEOPLE ARE PASSING US ON SUNDAY. 361 00:20:50,130 --> 00:20:50,980 "THEY'RE ROLLING. 362 00:20:51,050 --> 00:20:53,250 HOW CAN WE SIT HERE?" YOU KNOW. 363 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,020 SO THEY HAVE ARGUMENTS ABOUT IT, 364 00:20:55,090 --> 00:20:57,040 AND COMPANIES SPLIT UP OVER THE MORAL QUESTION 365 00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,270 OF WHETHER TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH OR NOT. 366 00:21:02,710 --> 00:21:04,390 [NARRATOR] FOR 30 DAYS, 367 00:21:04,460 --> 00:21:07,010 THE FORTY-NINERS CROSSED ROLLING PRAIRIE 368 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,020 IN WHAT IS NOW KANSAS AND NEBRASKA. 369 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,520 IT WAS INDIAN TERRITORY, WHERE TRIBES FROM THE EAST 370 00:21:13,590 --> 00:21:16,810 HAD BEEN RELOCATED A DECADE EARLIER. 371 00:21:16,870 --> 00:21:21,510 FEARS OF INDIAN RAIDS PROVED MOSTLY GROUNDLESS. 372 00:21:21,580 --> 00:21:25,680 MEN WERE MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY DROWNING AT A RIVER CROSSING 373 00:21:25,750 --> 00:21:28,520 OR BY AN ACCIDENT WITH THEIR OWN GUNS 374 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,670 THAN THEY WERE AT THE HANDS OF INDIANS. 375 00:21:31,740 --> 00:21:35,710 THE SAC AND THE FOX, THE PAWNEES AND KICKAPOOS 376 00:21:35,780 --> 00:21:39,060 CHARGED TOLLS AT BRIDGES AND FORDS. 377 00:21:39,130 --> 00:21:40,250 THE POTAWATOMIS 378 00:21:40,310 --> 00:21:43,530 SOLD THE EMIGRANTS BACON, BEEF, AND VEGETABLES 379 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,040 AND CHARGED FROM $1.00 TO $5.00 380 00:21:46,100 --> 00:21:49,290 TO FERRY EMIGRANTS ACROSS THE KANSAS RIVER. 381 00:21:54,130 --> 00:21:57,550 THE REAL DANGER ON THE PLAINS WAS CHOLERA, 382 00:21:57,610 --> 00:22:01,000 WITH ITS SOARING FEVERS, CHRONIC DYSENTERY, 383 00:22:01,070 --> 00:22:04,570 AND GHASTLY DEATH FROM DEHYDRATION. 384 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,490 CHOLERA WAS RAMPANT 385 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,510 ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN 1849 386 00:22:11,580 --> 00:22:15,520 AND QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH THE WAGON TRAINS. 387 00:22:15,580 --> 00:22:17,850 SOME 1,500 OF THE GOLD-SEEKERS 388 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,500 WHO SET OUT FOR CALIFORNIA THAT SPRING 389 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:23,570 DIED FROM IT ON THE TRAIL. 390 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,010 "YOUNGSTOWN, NEW YORK. 391 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,030 "DEAR BROTHER WILLIAM, 392 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:33,520 "WE WERE IN A PERFECT FEVER OF ANXIETY ABOUT YOU. 393 00:22:33,580 --> 00:22:36,520 "WE KNOW THE CHOLERA WILL BE WITH YOU 394 00:22:36,590 --> 00:22:38,020 "IN CROSSING THE PLAINS. 395 00:22:38,090 --> 00:22:41,020 PLEASE WRITE AS SOON AS YOU GET THERE." 396 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:42,590 GEORGE SWAIN. 397 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,530 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "SABBATH, MAY 27, 1849. 398 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,520 "IN VIOLATION OF OUR PRINCIPLE, 399 00:22:51,590 --> 00:22:53,050 "WE TRAVEL TODAY 400 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:55,960 ON ACCOUNT OF THE SICKNESS ON THE ROUTE." 401 00:22:57,190 --> 00:22:58,430 "MAY 31st. 402 00:22:58,490 --> 00:23:02,050 "I WAS ATTACKED AT NOON BY DYSENTERY VERY BADLY. 403 00:23:02,110 --> 00:23:03,980 "I GOT REVEREND HOBART 404 00:23:04,050 --> 00:23:07,000 TO MAKE ME A COMPOSITION TEA." 405 00:23:08,390 --> 00:23:10,000 "JUNE 1st. 406 00:23:10,050 --> 00:23:14,210 "STILL TAKING MEDICINE, OPIUM, AND ASTRINGENT POWDERS. 407 00:23:14,270 --> 00:23:18,510 "TODAY I HAVE THOUGHT MUCH OF HOME AND OF MY LITTLE GIRL 408 00:23:18,580 --> 00:23:21,060 WHO IS TODAY 1 YEAR OLD." 409 00:23:24,070 --> 00:23:25,520 "JUNE 7th. 410 00:23:25,590 --> 00:23:28,610 "I AM ON THE GAIN BUT VERY WEAK. 411 00:23:28,670 --> 00:23:32,010 "MY APPETITE IS GOOD, BUT I CANNOT EAT HEARTY 412 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,080 FOR FEAR OF THE CONSEQUENCES." 413 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,920 [NARRATOR] ON JUNE 13th, 414 00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:41,020 WILLIAM SWAIN AND HIS COMPANIONS 415 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,040 PASSED FORT KEARNY ON THE PLATTE RIVER. 416 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:47,040 BY EARLY JULY, THEY REACHED FORT LARAMIE 417 00:23:47,090 --> 00:23:49,040 IN WHAT IS NOW WYOMING. 418 00:23:49,110 --> 00:23:52,030 THEY HAD GONE NEARLY 700 MILES FROM MISSOURI, 419 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:55,450 BUT THEY STILL HAD MORE THAN 250 TO GO 420 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,040 BEFORE THEY REACHED SOUTH PASS, 421 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:01,040 WHICH WOULD TAKE THEM THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, 422 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:03,110 AND NEARLY 1,000 MORE 423 00:24:03,170 --> 00:24:06,060 BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY REACHED THE GOLD FIELDS. 424 00:24:08,550 --> 00:24:10,500 "JULY 4th, INDEPENDENCE DAY. 425 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:11,980 "DEAR SABRINA, 426 00:24:12,070 --> 00:24:15,450 "I HAVE JUST LEFT THE CELEBRATION DINNER TABLE, 427 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,490 "WHERE THE COMPANY ARE NOW DRINKING TOASTS 428 00:24:18,570 --> 00:24:20,490 "TO EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY 429 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,010 "AND CHEERING AT NO SMALL RATE. 430 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,010 "I ENJOY MYSELF BETTER IN CONVERSING WITH YOU 431 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,500 "THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE PEN. 432 00:24:28,570 --> 00:24:30,450 "I AM HEARTY AND WELL, 433 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,500 "FAR MORE SO THAN WHEN I LEFT HOME. 434 00:24:33,570 --> 00:24:35,520 "I AM ALSO MORE FLESHY. 435 00:24:35,590 --> 00:24:37,520 "NOTWITHSTANDING THESE FACTS, 436 00:24:37,590 --> 00:24:40,540 "I WOULD ADVISE NO MAN TO COME THIS WAY 437 00:24:40,610 --> 00:24:42,110 "TO CALIFORNIA. 438 00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:44,630 "KISS MY LITTLE GIRL FOR ME, 439 00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:46,800 "GIVE MY LOVE TO GEORGE AND MOTHER, 440 00:24:46,870 --> 00:24:48,600 "AND TELL THEM 441 00:24:48,670 --> 00:24:51,820 "I AM DETERMINED TO HAVE MY SHARE OF THE ROCKS. 442 00:24:51,890 --> 00:24:54,460 "YOUR AFFECTIONATE HUSBAND UNTIL DEATH, 443 00:24:54,540 --> 00:24:56,590 WILLIAM SWAIN." 444 00:25:03,350 --> 00:25:06,150 [NARRATOR] AS THOUSANDS OF FORTY-NINERS STREAMED WEST, 445 00:25:06,220 --> 00:25:07,920 MANY CARRIED WITH THEM 446 00:25:07,990 --> 00:25:10,970 THE EXPLORER JOHN C. FREMONT'S OFFICIAL REPORTS, 447 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,380 WHICH PORTRAYED HIS SCOUT, 448 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,480 KIT CARSON, 449 00:25:15,550 --> 00:25:18,570 AS FEARLESS, CHIVALROUS, AND RESOURCEFUL. 450 00:25:18,630 --> 00:25:22,290 BUT THESE REPORTS PALED IN COMPARISON 451 00:25:22,350 --> 00:25:26,490 TO THE SENSATIONAL DIME NOVELS ABOUT CARSON 452 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,010 WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER BEEN WEST THEMSELVES 453 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,560 AND CERTAINLY HAD NEVER MET THE FORMER MOUNTAIN MAN. 454 00:25:33,630 --> 00:25:36,500 [DAYTON DUNCAN] HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 455 00:25:36,570 --> 00:25:38,170 LEGENDS IN HIS OWN TIME-- 456 00:25:38,230 --> 00:25:39,690 A CASE WHERE PEOPLE 457 00:25:39,750 --> 00:25:41,190 HAD THEIR IMAGE 458 00:25:41,250 --> 00:25:43,010 OF WHAT A WESTERNER WAS 459 00:25:43,070 --> 00:25:46,510 THAT SOMETIMES DIDN'T SQUARE WITH THE REAL THING. 460 00:25:46,580 --> 00:25:49,010 KIT CARSON WAS UP AT FORT LARAMIE, 461 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,350 AND SOMEBODY CAME OVER AND SAID, 462 00:25:51,420 --> 00:25:53,530 "I HEAR YOU'RE KIT CARSON. IS THAT RIGHT?" 463 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,520 AND HE WAS KIND OF A LACONIC MAN. 464 00:25:55,590 --> 00:25:57,020 HE SAID, "YEAH, I AM," 465 00:25:57,090 --> 00:25:59,790 AND THE PERSON FROM THE EAST LOOKED HIM UP AND DOWN 466 00:25:59,860 --> 00:26:01,520 AND COMPARED IT TO WHAT HE READ, 467 00:26:01,590 --> 00:26:03,690 AND HE GOES, "NO, I DON'T THINK YOU REALLY ARE KIT CARSON." 468 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,410 [NARRATOR] THE REAL CARSON KNEW ENOUGH 469 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,000 NOT TO GAMBLEHISFUTURE ON FINDING GOLD. 470 00:26:10,070 --> 00:26:13,490 INSTEAD, HE BOUGHT SOME 6,500 SHEEP FROM THE NAVAJOS 471 00:26:13,550 --> 00:26:15,490 AT 50 CENTS A HEAD 472 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,810 AND BEGAN DRIVING THEM TOWARD THE GOLD FIELDS, 473 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:20,980 WHERE HE HOPED TO SELL THEM 474 00:26:21,050 --> 00:26:23,710 FOR MORE THAN 10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT. 475 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,500 EVEN HERE, HIS FAME PRECEDED HIM. 476 00:26:26,570 --> 00:26:29,420 WHEN HE DROVE HIS SHEEP ONTO A FERRYBOAT 477 00:26:29,490 --> 00:26:32,220 ON THE GREEN RIVER IN WYOMING, 478 00:26:32,290 --> 00:26:34,780 THE BOATMAN REFUSED TO LET HIM PAY. 479 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:36,780 [DUNCAN] THEY LET HIM TRAIL 480 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,180 HIS 6,500 SHEEP ACROSS FOR FREE-- 481 00:26:39,250 --> 00:26:41,000 THAT'S QUITE A SAVINGS-- 482 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:44,500 IN ORDER THAT THEY COULD NAME IT "KIT CARSON'S CUTOFF" 483 00:26:44,570 --> 00:26:47,500 BECAUSE THEY FIGURED IF PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THAT, 484 00:26:47,590 --> 00:26:49,510 THAT'S THE ONE THEY WOULD TAKE, 485 00:26:49,570 --> 00:26:52,230 AND THEY'D MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF HIS NAME. 486 00:26:52,290 --> 00:26:54,010 [NARRATOR] SOON THERE WOULD BE 487 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,150 CARSON LAKE, CARSON RIVER, 488 00:26:56,210 --> 00:26:59,700 CARSON PASS, CARSON SINK, 489 00:26:59,770 --> 00:27:03,170 CARSON CITY, AND MORE. 490 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,970 THE OLD SCOUT WAS PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT IT ALL. 491 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,310 SOMEONE ONCE SHOWED HIM THE COVER 492 00:27:08,370 --> 00:27:11,130 OF A PARTICULARLY LURID BOOK ABOUT HIMSELF 493 00:27:11,190 --> 00:27:13,800 AND ASKED ABOUT THE STORY IT CONTAINED. 494 00:27:13,860 --> 00:27:16,320 "IT MAY BE TRUE," HE ANSWERED, 495 00:27:16,380 --> 00:27:19,390 "BUT I AIN'T GOT ANY RECOLLECTION OF IT." 496 00:27:33,230 --> 00:27:35,340 "DEAR HUSBAND, 497 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,990 "THIS IS ONLY THE 25th OF AUGUST. 498 00:27:39,070 --> 00:27:40,990 "WHAT A LONG SUMMER. 499 00:27:41,060 --> 00:27:44,490 "O! HOW I WANT TO SEE YOU. 500 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,510 "SOMETIMES I ALMOST IMAGINE MYSELF WITH YOU, 501 00:27:48,580 --> 00:27:53,240 "BUT ALAS IT IS ONLY THE DREAM OF FANCY. 502 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:55,020 "O! WILLIAM, 503 00:27:55,090 --> 00:27:57,670 "IF I COULD SEE YOU THIS MORNING, 504 00:27:57,740 --> 00:28:00,180 "I WOULD HUG AND KISS YOU 505 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:01,850 TILL YOU WOULD BLUSH." 506 00:28:01,910 --> 00:28:03,200 SABRINA. 507 00:28:09,870 --> 00:28:11,810 [NARRATOR] BEYOND THE NORTH PLATTE, 508 00:28:11,870 --> 00:28:15,590 WILLIAM SWAIN AND THE OTHER FORTY-NINERS IN HIS COMPANY 509 00:28:15,660 --> 00:28:18,310 ENDURED 50 MILES OF TREELESS SAGEBRUSH 510 00:28:18,380 --> 00:28:20,550 DOTTED WITH POOLS OF ALKALINE WATER 511 00:28:20,610 --> 00:28:22,550 FATAL TO OXEN. 512 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,140 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "WAGONS AND CARTS 513 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,140 "WERE SCATTERED ON ALL SIDES, 514 00:28:30,210 --> 00:28:32,910 "AND THE STENCH OF DEAD AND DECAYING CATTLE 515 00:28:32,980 --> 00:28:35,140 "ACTUALLY RENDERED THE AIR SICKENING. 516 00:28:35,210 --> 00:28:38,820 "SOME IDEA CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE FACT 517 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:43,050 THAT IN ONE SPOT COULD BE SEEN 150 DEAD CREATURES." 518 00:28:45,890 --> 00:28:47,830 [NARRATOR] ON JULY 31st, 519 00:28:47,890 --> 00:28:49,660 THEY CROSSED THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE 520 00:28:49,730 --> 00:28:51,960 AT SOUTH PASS. 521 00:28:52,030 --> 00:28:54,830 THEY WERE NOW THROUGH THE ROCKIES, 522 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:58,320 MORE THAN HALFWAY TO CALIFORNIA. 523 00:28:58,390 --> 00:29:00,350 BUT THE HARDEST PART-- 524 00:29:00,420 --> 00:29:02,890 THE DESERTS AND THE SIERRA NEVADA-- 525 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,520 STILL LAY AHEAD. 526 00:29:08,010 --> 00:29:09,950 EVERYONE ON THE TRAIL THAT SUMMER 527 00:29:10,010 --> 00:29:12,950 HAD HEARD THE STORY OF AN EARLIER WAGON TRAIN 528 00:29:13,020 --> 00:29:16,950 THAT HAD TAKEN A SUPPOSED SHORTCUT CALLED HASTINGS CUTOFF, 529 00:29:17,020 --> 00:29:19,460 ONLY TO BE TRAPPED IN THE SIERRAS 530 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,220 NEAR TRUCKEE LAKE. 531 00:29:21,290 --> 00:29:24,480 HALF OF THE EMIGRANTS HAD DIED. 532 00:29:24,540 --> 00:29:26,980 SOME OF THE OTHERS HAD SURVIVED 533 00:29:27,050 --> 00:29:30,130 BY EATING THE FLESH OF THEIR DEAD COMPANIONS. 534 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,550 THEY WERE REMEMBERED AS THE DONNER PARTY. 535 00:29:37,540 --> 00:29:40,460 WILLIAM SWAIN AND THE OTHERS WERE LATE, TOO, 536 00:29:40,530 --> 00:29:41,980 AND THEY KNEW IT. 537 00:29:42,050 --> 00:29:45,480 SNOW WOULD SOON BEGIN TO FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS. 538 00:29:45,550 --> 00:29:47,980 THEY ALSO BEGAN TO FOLLOW SHORTCUTS 539 00:29:48,050 --> 00:29:50,420 THAT SEEMED LIKELY TO SPEED THEM THROUGH 540 00:29:50,490 --> 00:29:51,990 TO THE GOLD FIELDS-- 541 00:29:52,060 --> 00:29:53,510 SUBLETTE'S CUTOFF, 542 00:29:53,570 --> 00:29:55,510 HUDSPETH'S CUTOFF, 543 00:29:55,580 --> 00:29:58,010 AND IN THE WESTERN NEVADA DESERT, 544 00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,510 LASSEN'S CUTOFF. 545 00:29:59,580 --> 00:30:03,020 [HOLLIDAY] YOU HAD HEARD BY THE GRAPEVINE 546 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,020 THAT THERE'S DESERT, THERE'S DEATH, 547 00:30:05,090 --> 00:30:06,520 THERE'S DESOLATION, 548 00:30:06,590 --> 00:30:08,490 THERE'S HORROR AHEAD. 549 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,520 EVERYBODY THINKS THEY WANT TO GO DUE WEST. 550 00:30:11,590 --> 00:30:14,530 LASSEN'S CUTOFF PRESUMABLY LEADS YOU DUE WEST-- 551 00:30:14,590 --> 00:30:15,930 ACROSS THE DESERT, 552 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,530 OVER THE NORTHERN END OF THE SIERRA NEVADA, 553 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,030 AND DOWN INTO THE WARMTH AND THE REWARDS 554 00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:22,690 OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. 555 00:30:22,750 --> 00:30:25,570 SO AT THE POINT WHERE YOU MAKE THE CHOICE, 556 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:26,940 THERE IS THIS MOMENT WHERE 557 00:30:27,010 --> 00:30:29,040 SCORES OF MEN STAND AROUND, 558 00:30:29,110 --> 00:30:31,980 AND THEY DEBATE, AND THEY ARGUE, AND THEY DISCUSS, 559 00:30:32,050 --> 00:30:34,500 AND THEY READ LITTLE SIGNS ON THE ROAD, 560 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:36,050 AND A BARREL, 561 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,420 A BIG BARREL FULL OF CARDS AND FULL OF INFORMATION-- 562 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:40,050 YOU SIFT THROUGH IT. 563 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,390 "OH, GEORGE WENT THIS WAY. SAM WENT THIS WAY. 564 00:30:42,460 --> 00:30:44,040 LOUIE WENT THAT WAY. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?" 565 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:45,340 THERE'S CHOICES BEING MADE. 566 00:30:45,410 --> 00:30:47,540 AND THEY STAND AROUND, AND THEY DEBATE, 567 00:30:47,610 --> 00:30:49,060 AND SOMETIMES COMPANIES WOULD ARGUE, AND THEY'D SPLIT. 568 00:30:49,130 --> 00:30:50,550 AND THERE'D BE FIGHTS-- 569 00:30:50,630 --> 00:30:52,420 "WE'LL GO THIS WAY. YOU'LL GO THAT WAY." 570 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,450 SO IT WAS A LIFE-AND-DEATH CHOICE. 571 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,050 EVERYBODY KNEW IT TO BE THAT. 572 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:57,840 IT WASN'T JUST SOME CASUAL MATTER OF SAVING A FEW HOURS. 573 00:30:57,900 --> 00:30:59,540 IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE. 574 00:31:03,190 --> 00:31:05,010 [NARRATOR] ON SEPTEMBER 21st, 575 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,500 WILLIAM SWAIN AND THE WOLVERINE RANGERS 576 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:11,020 JOINED THE STREAM OF 10,000 GOLD-SEEKERS 577 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:14,070 AND STARTED DOWN LASSEN'S CUTOFF. 578 00:31:15,420 --> 00:31:18,090 IT, TOO, WOULD PROVE A MISTAKE. 579 00:31:20,090 --> 00:31:22,000 THEY FIRST HAD TO STRUGGLE 580 00:31:22,060 --> 00:31:24,600 ACROSS THE SEARING BLACK ROCK DESERT... 581 00:31:26,580 --> 00:31:30,040 TRAVELING BY NIGHT TO SAVE THEIR OXEN. 582 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:33,590 THEN THEY HAD TO FACE THE MOUNTAINS. 583 00:31:35,610 --> 00:31:41,030 THE ROADS WERE MADE UP OF ALMOST EQUAL PARTS MUD AND BOULDERS. 584 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:43,850 WAGONS BROKE DOWN. 585 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:48,560 THE WOLVERINE RANGERS AGREED TO SPLIT UP INTO SMALL GROUPS. 586 00:31:48,620 --> 00:31:52,110 IT WOULD NOW BE EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. 587 00:31:54,940 --> 00:31:57,050 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "NOVEMBER 6th. 588 00:31:57,110 --> 00:32:00,100 "WE COMMENCED OUR WAY IN 10 INCHES OF SNOW. 589 00:32:00,170 --> 00:32:02,650 "I CARRIED A CHANGE OF UNDERCLOTHES-- 590 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,020 "BOTH OF FLANNEL AND OF COTTON-- 591 00:32:05,090 --> 00:32:06,990 "TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS, 592 00:32:07,060 --> 00:32:08,990 "ONE COAT, ONE PANTS, 593 00:32:09,060 --> 00:32:11,490 "ONE NECK HANDKERCHIEF, MY JOURNAL, 594 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:14,010 "POCKET BIBLE, POCKETBOOK, 595 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,750 AND A FEW DAYS' PROVISIONS." 596 00:32:19,090 --> 00:32:22,570 "THE STORM INCREASED AS THE DAY ADVANCED." 597 00:32:24,570 --> 00:32:26,510 [HOLLIDAY] BUT WHEN YOU GET TO 598 00:32:26,580 --> 00:32:28,530 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA, 599 00:32:28,580 --> 00:32:31,280 YOU DON'T SEE THE GREEN OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. 600 00:32:31,350 --> 00:32:34,930 YOU SEE THE DESOLATION OF THE PITT RIVER VALLEY. 601 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,540 YOU SEE ROCKS AND STUNTED GROWTH 602 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,870 AND MOUNTAIN DESERTS. 603 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,790 IT'S JUST A PAIN. IT'S A SHOCK. 604 00:32:42,860 --> 00:32:45,260 IT'S A HIT IN THE HEAD. 605 00:32:45,330 --> 00:32:48,550 IT HURTS YOUR HEART TO SEE WHAT STILL LIES AHEAD. 606 00:32:48,620 --> 00:32:50,650 AND YOU HAVEN'T GONE A SHORTCUT. 607 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,540 WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE GONE NORTH, 608 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:56,040 U'RE AT WHAT'S CALLED GOOSE LAKE. 609 00:32:56,110 --> 00:32:57,710 SO INSTEAD OF GOING WEST, 610 00:32:57,770 --> 00:32:59,540 YOU'VE GONE NORTH-NORTHWEST. 611 00:32:59,610 --> 00:33:01,540 NOW YOU GOT TO GO SOUTH. 612 00:33:01,610 --> 00:33:04,500 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "AT DAWN, WE ARRIVED AT ANTELOPE CREEK, 613 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,000 "8 MILES FROM LASSEN'S RANCH, 614 00:33:07,070 --> 00:33:09,570 AND FOUND IT NOT FORDABLE." 615 00:33:11,070 --> 00:33:12,510 "THE SKY CLEARED. 616 00:33:12,570 --> 00:33:14,960 "WE KINDLED A ROUSING FIRE, 617 00:33:15,020 --> 00:33:17,490 "DRIED, AND RESTED OURSELVES TILL NOON, 618 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:19,930 "WHEN TWO OTHER MEN AND MYSELF, 619 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,020 "WITH OUR CLOTHES LASHED TO OUR SHOULDERS, 620 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,220 "FORDED THE STREAM. 621 00:33:25,290 --> 00:33:29,010 "IT WAS THE HARDEST JOB I EVER HAD. 622 00:33:29,070 --> 00:33:32,020 "WHEN I STEPPED ONTO THE OPPOSITE SHORE, 623 00:33:32,090 --> 00:33:36,010 I THOUGHT MY FLESH WOULD DROP FROM MY BONES." 624 00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:41,100 [NARRATOR] WILLIAM SWAIN HAD FINALLY MADE IT TO CALIFORNIA. 625 00:33:44,090 --> 00:33:46,520 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "JANUARY 6, 1850. 626 00:33:46,590 --> 00:33:48,540 "DEAR GEORGE, 627 00:33:48,610 --> 00:33:51,040 "THERE WAS SOME TALK BETWEEN US 628 00:33:51,110 --> 00:33:53,550 "OF YOUR COMING TO THIS COUNTRY. 629 00:33:53,610 --> 00:33:55,550 "FOR GOD'S SAKE, THINK NOT OF IT. 630 00:33:55,610 --> 00:33:57,520 "TELL ALL WHOM YOU KNOW 631 00:33:57,580 --> 00:34:00,540 "THAT THOUSANDS HAVE LAID AND WILL LAY THEIR BONES 632 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,490 "ALONG THE ROUTES TO AND IN THIS COUNTRY. 633 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:07,380 "AND AS FOR YOU... STAY AT HOME, 634 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,000 "FOR IF MY HEALTH IS SPARED, 635 00:34:10,060 --> 00:34:13,550 I CAN GET ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US." 636 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,520 [NARRATOR] ON A BUFFALO ROBE HE KEPT IN HIS TEEPEE, 637 00:34:29,580 --> 00:34:33,520 THE LAKOTA NAMED LONE DOG MARKED THE PASSAGE OF EACH YEAR 638 00:34:33,590 --> 00:34:35,520 BY PAINTING THE SINGLE EVENT 639 00:34:35,590 --> 00:34:37,590 HIS PEOPLE REMEMBERED MOST VIVIDLY. 640 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:42,030 HIS WINTER COUNT BEGAN IN 1800 641 00:34:42,090 --> 00:34:46,520 AND SPIRALED OUTWARD WITH THE PASSING SEASONS. 642 00:34:46,580 --> 00:34:48,950 THE YEAR THE UNITED STATES TOOK 643 00:34:49,020 --> 00:34:51,490 THE SOUTHWEST AND CALIFORNIA FROM MEXICO, 644 00:34:51,550 --> 00:34:57,030 LONE DOG HAD NOTED THE DEATH OF A WARRIOR NAMED BROKEN LEG. 645 00:34:57,090 --> 00:34:59,530 IN 1848, 646 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,120 THE YEAR GOLD HAD BEEN DISCOVERED AT SUTTER'S MILL, 647 00:35:03,180 --> 00:35:07,490 A MAN NAMED HUMP BACK WAS KILLED BY AN ENEMY'S LANCE. 648 00:35:07,550 --> 00:35:09,490 AND THE NEXT YEAR, 649 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:12,410 AS WILLIAM SWAIN AND HIS FELLOW FORTY-NINERS 650 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:13,990 REACHED CALIFORNIA, 651 00:35:14,060 --> 00:35:17,310 LONE DOG'S RECORD SHOWED THAT THE CROWS HAD STOLEN 652 00:35:17,380 --> 00:35:20,980 A GREAT NUMBER OF HORSES FROM THE LAKOTAS, 653 00:35:21,050 --> 00:35:24,070 LEAVING ONLY HOOFPRINTS IN THE SNOW. 654 00:35:40,090 --> 00:35:42,740 ♪♪ THIS CALIFORNIA IS A HUMBUG PLACE ♪ 655 00:35:42,810 --> 00:35:45,930 ♪ OUT IN THE WORLD IN THE BUSHES ♪ 656 00:35:45,990 --> 00:35:48,700 ♪ WHERE TO MEET WITH THE POOR MAN'S FATE ♪ 657 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:50,300 ♪ MANY A POOR DEVIL PUSHES ♪ 658 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:53,300 ♪ SO HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪ 659 00:35:53,370 --> 00:35:55,970 ♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND OF LABOR ♪ 660 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:58,920 ♪ HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪ 661 00:35:58,990 --> 00:36:01,290 ♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND OF LABOR, I BELIEVE ♪♪ 662 00:36:06,660 --> 00:36:08,460 [HOLLIDAY] WHAT THEY HAD EXPECTED 663 00:36:08,530 --> 00:36:10,670 WAS THE IMAGE THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 664 00:36:10,730 --> 00:36:12,970 IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF 1848-- 665 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:17,470 THE STORY OF DIGGING UP GOLD AND ALL THE PEOPLE SUCCEEDING. 666 00:36:17,540 --> 00:36:20,490 THEY WERE STUNNED, SHOCKED, DISMAYED. 667 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:23,910 THE REALISM THAT STRUCK THEM ABOVE ALL ELSE WAS, 668 00:36:23,980 --> 00:36:27,550 THERE ARE SO DAMN MANY MINERS. 669 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:31,990 THERE WERE 40,000 MINERS 670 00:36:32,050 --> 00:36:33,990 IN THE MINING CAMPS, 671 00:36:34,060 --> 00:36:36,460 IN THE MINING REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA 672 00:36:36,530 --> 00:36:38,490 BY THE FALL OF 1849. 673 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:42,450 THERE HAD ONLY BEEN 6,000 OR 7,000 IN THE FALL OF 1848. 674 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,520 NOW YOU'VE GOT 40,000 MINERS THERE. 675 00:36:44,580 --> 00:36:45,950 THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN COMING 676 00:36:46,590 --> 00:36:47,840 NOT ONLY OVERLAND-- 677 00:36:47,900 --> 00:36:49,710 I MENTIONED THEY CAME AS EARLY AS AUGUST. 678 00:36:49,770 --> 00:36:51,840 THEY'D BEEN COMING BY SHIP SINCE DECEMBER. 679 00:36:51,910 --> 00:36:53,840 THEY'D BEEN COMING FROM HAWAII, FROM OREGON, 680 00:36:53,910 --> 00:36:55,190 FROM CHILE, FROM SONORA. 681 00:36:55,260 --> 00:36:56,410 THEY'D BEEN POURING IN. 682 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:58,010 THE WORLD RUSHED IN TO CALIFORNIA. 683 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:02,040 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "SOUTH FORK, FEATHER RIVER. 684 00:37:02,100 --> 00:37:04,440 "WE LOCATED A SPOT FAVORABLE FOR DAMMING 685 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:05,970 "AND DRAINING THE RIVER. 686 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:07,260 "WE MADE OUR CLAIM 687 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:10,480 "AND THEN BUILT A HOUSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 688 00:37:10,540 --> 00:37:13,280 "TO SHELTER OUR HEADS FROM THE SOAKING RAINS. 689 00:37:13,350 --> 00:37:16,270 "SO HERE WE ARE, SNUG AS SCHOOLMARMS, 690 00:37:16,330 --> 00:37:18,980 "WORKING AT OUR RACE AND DAM. 691 00:37:19,050 --> 00:37:20,990 "IF THERE IS NO GOLD, 692 00:37:21,050 --> 00:37:23,990 "WE SHALL BE OFF TO ANOTHER PLACE, 693 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:26,480 "FOR THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF GOLD HERE, 694 00:37:26,540 --> 00:37:29,150 "AND IF WE ARE BLESSED WITH HEALTH, 695 00:37:29,210 --> 00:37:31,750 WE ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE A SHARE OF IT." 696 00:37:31,830 --> 00:37:34,770 [NARRATOR] OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN 697 00:37:34,830 --> 00:37:37,450 WHO SWARMED INTO CALIFORNIA IN 1849, 698 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:40,510 MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE IN THEIR 20s. 699 00:37:40,570 --> 00:37:43,990 "A GRAY BEARD WAS ALMOST AS RARE AS A PETTICOAT," 700 00:37:44,060 --> 00:37:46,060 ONE MAN REMEMBERED. 701 00:37:46,130 --> 00:37:49,570 AND MOST HURRIED TO ONE OF THE SMALL SETTLEMENTS 702 00:37:49,650 --> 00:37:53,600 THAT GREW UP ALMOST OVERNIGHT WHEREVER GOLD WAS FOUND-- 703 00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:56,190 COYOTE DIGGINGS AND GRIZZLY FLATS 704 00:37:56,260 --> 00:37:58,490 AND MAD MULE GULCH... 705 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,780 BEDBUG, SHINBONE PEAK, 706 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,860 POKER FLAT, AND MURDERER'S BAR... 707 00:38:04,930 --> 00:38:08,590 WHISKEY DIGGINGS, DELIRIUM TREMENS, 708 00:38:08,650 --> 00:38:12,040 SLUMGULLION, SHIRT TAIL CANYON, 709 00:38:12,110 --> 00:38:15,020 COOL, AND YOU BET. 710 00:38:17,530 --> 00:38:21,960 ROUGHLY 2/3 OF THE FORTY-NINERS CAME FROM THE UNITED STATES, 711 00:38:22,030 --> 00:38:25,320 AND 2/3 OFTHEM WERE FROM NEW ENGLAND, 712 00:38:25,390 --> 00:38:27,970 BUT THE MINERS ALSO INCLUDED SLAVES, 713 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,470 FREE BLACKS, EVEN CHEROKEES, 714 00:38:30,540 --> 00:38:33,860 FORCED OUT OF GEORGIA 20 YEARS EARLIER 715 00:38:33,930 --> 00:38:37,480 WHEN GOLD HAD BEEN FOUND ONTHEIRLAND. 716 00:38:37,550 --> 00:38:40,500 "THE REST OF THE MINERS," ONE AMERICAN WROTE, 717 00:38:40,570 --> 00:38:43,990 "CAME FROM EVERY HOLE AND CORNER IN THE WORLD." 718 00:38:44,050 --> 00:38:45,960 CALIFORNIA NOW HAD MORE IMMIGRANTS 719 00:38:46,020 --> 00:38:49,080 THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE UNITED STATES. 720 00:38:50,460 --> 00:38:53,330 "WE ARE A MIXED LOT 721 00:38:53,410 --> 00:38:55,500 "IN THIS LITTLE TOWER OF BABEL-- 722 00:38:55,580 --> 00:38:59,000 "FRENCHMEN, ENGLISHMEN, GERMANS, ITALIANS, 723 00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:02,000 "CHILEANS, NABOBS, AND BEGGARS. 724 00:39:02,090 --> 00:39:03,940 "MOST PEOPLE HERE SPEAK ENGLISH, 725 00:39:04,010 --> 00:39:05,640 "GOOD OR BAD, 726 00:39:05,710 --> 00:39:07,030 "BUT YOU FIND, 727 00:39:07,090 --> 00:39:10,450 "AT THE SIDE OF A LEAN YANKEE IN TIGHT PANTS, 728 00:39:10,510 --> 00:39:13,470 "OTHERS RECOGNIZABLE BY THEIR CLOTHING OR ACCENT. 729 00:39:13,530 --> 00:39:15,970 "THERE IS A STOCKY JOHN BULL, 730 00:39:16,030 --> 00:39:18,960 "A CHINAMAN, A HINDU, A RUSSIAN, 731 00:39:19,020 --> 00:39:23,980 AND A NATIVE CALIFORNIO ALL TRYING TO CONVERSE." 732 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,780 VICENTE PEREZ ROSALES. 733 00:39:28,260 --> 00:39:31,200 [NARRATOR] ONE OF THE FIRST GOLD-SEEKERS 734 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,950 WAS A CANTONESE MAN NAMED CHUM MING. 735 00:39:34,020 --> 00:39:37,410 HE STRUCK IT RICH NEAR SUTTER'S MILL 736 00:39:37,470 --> 00:39:39,580 AND WROTE HOME TO SAY SO. 737 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:43,980 SOON, MORE CHINESE WERE SETTING SAIL FOR CALIFORNIA. 738 00:39:44,050 --> 00:39:48,480 IN 1852, 20,000 CHINESE WOULD COME-- 739 00:39:48,550 --> 00:39:51,570 2,000 IN A SINGLE DAY. 740 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,110 [JACK CHEN] WHEN THE GOLD WAS FIRST DISCOVERED, 741 00:39:56,180 --> 00:39:59,530 THE CHINESE WROTE BACK TO THEIR PEOPLE IN CHINA 742 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,550 AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS MIRACULOUS FIND-- 743 00:40:02,620 --> 00:40:06,100 THAT YOU GO IN THE STREAMS OF CALIFORNIA 744 00:40:06,170 --> 00:40:08,140 AND PICK GOLD OUT. 745 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:10,510 EVEN TODAY, THEY CALL THIS-- 746 00:40:10,570 --> 00:40:13,010 CALIFORNIA OR SAN FRANCISCO-- 747 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:14,530 GUM SANNG-- 748 00:40:14,580 --> 00:40:16,560 THE GOLD MOUNTAIN. 749 00:40:16,630 --> 00:40:19,030 [NARRATOR] IN THE PROVINCE OF CANTON, 750 00:40:19,100 --> 00:40:21,830 A LETTER WAS CIRCULATED ENCOURAGING MORE MEN 751 00:40:21,900 --> 00:40:24,950 TO COME TO THE GOLD MOUNTAIN. 752 00:40:26,590 --> 00:40:30,040 [MAN] "AMERICANS ARE VERY RICH PEOPLE. 753 00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:32,050 "IT IS A NICE COUNTRY, 754 00:40:32,110 --> 00:40:34,550 "WITHOUT MANDARINS OR SOLDIERS. 755 00:40:34,610 --> 00:40:38,130 "MONEY IS IN GREAT PLENTY IN AMERICA. 756 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:41,050 "THEY WANT THE CHINAMAN TO COME 757 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:43,620 AND MAKE HIM VERY WELCOME." 758 00:40:53,420 --> 00:40:55,820 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "GEORGE, I TELL YOU, 759 00:40:55,890 --> 00:40:57,790 "THIS MINING AMONG THE MOUNTAINS 760 00:40:57,850 --> 00:40:59,270 "IS A DOG'S LIFE. 761 00:40:59,340 --> 00:41:02,240 "A MAN HAS TO MAKE A JACKASS OF HIMSELF 762 00:41:02,310 --> 00:41:04,130 "PACKING LOADS OVER MOUNTAINS 763 00:41:04,190 --> 00:41:06,510 "THAT GOD NEVER DESIGNED MAN TO CLIMB, 764 00:41:06,580 --> 00:41:07,900 "A BARBARIAN BY FORGOING 765 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:10,330 "ALL THE COMFORTS OF CIVILIZED LIFE, 766 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:12,840 "AND A HEATHEN BY DEPRIVING HIMSELF 767 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:14,740 "OF ALL COMMUNICATION WITH MEN 768 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,540 AWAY FROM HIS IMMEDIATE CIRCLE." 769 00:41:17,610 --> 00:41:21,410 [NARRATOR] DIGGING FOR GOLD WAS HARD, MONOTONOUS, 770 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:23,380 AND MOSTLY UNREWARDING. 771 00:41:23,450 --> 00:41:25,920 "IT COMBINED," ONE MINER SAID, 772 00:41:25,980 --> 00:41:28,870 "THE VARIOUS ARTS OF CANAL DIGGING, 773 00:41:28,940 --> 00:41:32,020 "DITCHING, LAYING STONE WALLS, 774 00:41:32,090 --> 00:41:35,570 PLOWING, AND HOEING POTATOES." 775 00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:38,900 [HOLLIDAY] IT'S CALLED THE DIGGINGS. 776 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,550 THAT WAS THE WORD-- THE DIGGINGS. 777 00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:43,550 WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING. 778 00:41:43,620 --> 00:41:47,050 WHEN WE THINK OF MINING, WE THINK OF A MINE SHAFT, 779 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:48,540 BUT THAT'S LATER. 780 00:41:48,610 --> 00:41:50,240 THESE ARE RIVERBANKS, RIVER BARS, 781 00:41:50,310 --> 00:41:53,490 DRIED CREEKS, ROCKS-- ROCKS BY THE MILLIONS-- 782 00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:56,630 AND THE GOLD IS BENEATH THOSE ROCKS. 783 00:41:57,900 --> 00:41:59,550 THIS IS PLACER GOLD. 784 00:41:59,620 --> 00:42:01,550 THAT MEANS THAT FOR EONS OF TIME, 785 00:42:01,620 --> 00:42:03,520 THE GOLD HAS BEEN ABRADED, HAS BEEN SEPARATED 786 00:42:03,590 --> 00:42:05,370 BY THE ACTION OF WATER AND ROCKS, 787 00:42:05,420 --> 00:42:07,410 SO THAT THE PIECES OF GOLD ARE PURE. 788 00:42:07,470 --> 00:42:09,510 YOU PICK THEM UP, AND THAT IS GOLD. 789 00:42:09,580 --> 00:42:12,180 THAT'S ALL THERE IS-- JUST PLAIN GOLD. 790 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:13,680 YOU'RE WORKING IN FREEZING WATER 791 00:42:13,750 --> 00:42:16,420 UP TO YOUR WAIST FOR HOURS AT A TIME. 792 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:17,670 YOU'RE REACHING DOWN, 793 00:42:17,730 --> 00:42:19,670 MOVING ROCKS, BRINGING IN THE ROCK AND THE GRAVEL 794 00:42:19,740 --> 00:42:21,670 AND WORKING IT ALL THE TIME 795 00:42:21,740 --> 00:42:23,360 WITH YOUR HANDS, WITH YOUR SHOVELS... 796 00:42:23,420 --> 00:42:24,570 MOVING ALWAYS THIS DEBRIS 797 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:27,360 TO GET RID OF THE DEBRIS 798 00:42:27,430 --> 00:42:29,800 TO PULL OUT THE LITTLE, TINY... 799 00:42:29,860 --> 00:42:31,860 LITTLE SAMPLES OF YOUR FUTURE, 800 00:42:31,930 --> 00:42:33,050 THE LITTLE, TINY PIECES 801 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:36,040 THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR YOU, 802 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,540 GOING TO BUY YOU THE MEANS TO GET RID OF YOUR MORTGAGE, 803 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:40,410 THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE 804 00:42:40,470 --> 00:42:43,040 TO BUY SOME MORE LAND IN IOWA 805 00:42:43,110 --> 00:42:45,040 IN ORDER TO MOVE AND PACK UP AND GO TO SOME NEW PLACE. 806 00:42:45,110 --> 00:42:47,550 ALL OF THAT IS BUILT INTO EVERY EFFORT THAT YOU'RE MAKING 807 00:42:47,610 --> 00:42:48,720 EVERY SINGLE DAY. 808 00:42:48,780 --> 00:42:51,030 [NARRATOR] EVERYTHING IN THE DIGGINGS 809 00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:53,040 COST TOO MUCH-- 810 00:42:53,100 --> 00:42:55,540 $1.00 A POUND FOR POTATOES, 811 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:57,540 EGGS AT 50 CENTS APIECE, 812 00:42:57,610 --> 00:43:00,540 $20 FOR A BOTTLE OF RUM. 813 00:43:00,630 --> 00:43:03,980 JOHN SUTTER PEDDLED WHEAT TO HUNGRY MINERS 814 00:43:04,050 --> 00:43:06,880 AT $36 A BARREL. 815 00:43:06,950 --> 00:43:10,000 AT HIS STORE, THE MORMON SAM BRANNAN 816 00:43:10,070 --> 00:43:12,990 WAS CLEARING $2,000 A DAY IN PROFITS 817 00:43:13,060 --> 00:43:16,080 EXCHANGING TOOLS FOR GOLD DUST. 818 00:43:19,900 --> 00:43:22,330 ♪ OH, THE MINER WORKS HARD WITH THE SHOVEL AND THE PICK ♪ 819 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:24,670 ♪ TILL HIS BODY IS FEEBLE AND TENDER ♪ 820 00:43:24,730 --> 00:43:27,090 ♪ AND THEN HE GOES INTO TOWN AT THE END OF THE WEEK ♪ 821 00:43:27,150 --> 00:43:29,660 ♪ AND SPENDS ALL HIS DUST ON A BENDER ♪ 822 00:43:29,720 --> 00:43:32,480 ♪ HAUL OFF THE OVERCOAT, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪ 823 00:43:32,540 --> 00:43:34,310 ♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND OF LABOR ♪ 824 00:43:34,380 --> 00:43:37,780 ♪ HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪ 825 00:43:37,850 --> 00:43:40,550 ♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND OF LABOR, I BELIEVE ♪♪ 826 00:43:54,550 --> 00:43:56,300 [WOMAN] "MY DEAR, HOW OFTEN... 827 00:43:56,370 --> 00:43:59,550 "OH, HOW OFTEN I THINK OF VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS 828 00:43:59,620 --> 00:44:01,420 "YOU ARE SURROUNDED WITH 829 00:44:01,490 --> 00:44:04,470 "AND HOW MANY MEN OF GOOD MORALS AT HOME-- 830 00:44:04,540 --> 00:44:06,480 "YES, AND PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, TOO-- 831 00:44:06,540 --> 00:44:10,060 THAT HAVE BEEN LED INTO ALL KINDS OF VICE." 832 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:14,920 "OH, MY DEAR, YOU CANNOT BE TOO CAUTIOUS-- 833 00:44:14,980 --> 00:44:17,500 "NOT THAT I DISTRUST YOU, 834 00:44:17,570 --> 00:44:20,540 "BUT RATHER, ON THE CONTRARY, 835 00:44:20,610 --> 00:44:23,040 "PERHAPS I PLACE TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE, 836 00:44:23,110 --> 00:44:27,000 KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALL FALLIBLE CREATURES." 837 00:44:27,060 --> 00:44:29,060 SABRINA. 838 00:44:30,570 --> 00:44:32,450 [HOLLIDAY] CALIFORNIA WAS 839 00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:34,970 THE GOLGOTHA OF SIN. 840 00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:36,670 CALIFORNIA, FROM ITS EARLIEST TIMES, 841 00:44:36,740 --> 00:44:39,470 WAS SEEN IN HOMES AND CITIES, 842 00:44:39,540 --> 00:44:41,380 IN TRADITIONAL PLACES OF AMERICA, 843 00:44:41,440 --> 00:44:42,980 AS A SINFUL PLACE. 844 00:44:43,050 --> 00:44:46,520 IN THESE MINING CAMPS, THERE ARE GAMBLING HALLS. 845 00:44:46,580 --> 00:44:48,970 SOMETIMES THEY'RE TENTS. SOMETIMES THEY'RE BUILDINGS. 846 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:51,970 SOMETIMES THEY'RE JUST A TABLE UNDER A TREE. 847 00:44:52,040 --> 00:44:53,840 THEY'RE UBIQUITOUS. 848 00:44:53,910 --> 00:44:55,980 AND THESE GAMBLING HALLS WERE PLACES 849 00:44:56,040 --> 00:44:58,930 WHERE MEN BY THE HUNDREDS AND THE THOUSANDS WENT 850 00:44:58,990 --> 00:45:02,820 TO ESCAPE THEIR HAUNTING FEARS THAT MAYBE THEY'LL FAIL. 851 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:05,670 THIS IS WHERE YOU COULD MAKE A FORTUNE. 852 00:45:05,740 --> 00:45:07,640 HAVING FAILED ON THE TURN 853 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:10,470 OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SHOVELS, 854 00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:12,470 MAYBE ON THE TURN OF A CARD 855 00:45:12,540 --> 00:45:14,440 YOU CAN MAKE WHAT YOU FAILED TO MAKE 856 00:45:14,510 --> 00:45:16,810 UP THERE IN THOSE DIRTY CANYONS, 857 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:18,810 IN THOSE HOT OR COLD CANYONS, 858 00:45:18,880 --> 00:45:20,820 WHERE YOU POURED YOUR HEART OUT. 859 00:45:20,880 --> 00:45:22,890 THEY WALK INTO THESE GREAT BIG PLACES, 860 00:45:22,950 --> 00:45:25,490 AND THERE'S EXCITEMENT, AND THERE'S HOPE, 861 00:45:25,550 --> 00:45:27,490 AND THERE'S A SENSE OF SIN-- 862 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:29,490 "MOTHER WOULDN'T WANT ME TO BE HERE. 863 00:45:29,560 --> 00:45:31,510 WHAT IF LOUISE KNEW THAT I WAS HERE?" 864 00:45:31,580 --> 00:45:33,900 A LOT OF MEN, YOU KNOW, WOULD WRITE HOME 865 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:36,000 AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON 866 00:45:36,070 --> 00:45:38,020 AS IF THEY HADN'T SEEN IT. 867 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:40,500 "I'VE BEENTOLD WHAT GOES ON... 868 00:45:40,570 --> 00:45:42,250 IN THESE GAMBLING HALLS." 869 00:45:44,090 --> 00:45:45,110 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "LAST FALL, 870 00:45:45,170 --> 00:45:48,330 "I WAS PROUD OF THE MINERS AS A BODY, 871 00:45:48,390 --> 00:45:50,530 "BOTH FOR THEIR HONESTY AND THEIR SOBRIETY. 872 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:53,520 "BUT THE RAPIDITY WITH WHICH THEY HAVE RETROGRADED 873 00:45:53,580 --> 00:45:55,520 "ONLY PROVES MORE CLEARLY 874 00:45:55,580 --> 00:45:57,500 "THE NECESSITY OF RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT 875 00:45:57,570 --> 00:45:59,500 "AND THE GREAT INFLUENCE 876 00:45:59,570 --> 00:46:03,140 "OF WELL-ORGANIZED AND MORAL SOCIETY. 877 00:46:03,210 --> 00:46:05,460 "DRINKING HAS BECOME VERY PREVALENT, 878 00:46:05,530 --> 00:46:07,300 "SWEARING A HABITUAL CUSTOM, 879 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:11,770 "AND GAMBLING HAS NO EQUAL IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY. 880 00:46:11,830 --> 00:46:13,970 "IT HAS ALREADY REACHED AS FAR AS FEATHER RIVER, 881 00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:15,820 "AND SOME OF THE BOYS 882 00:46:15,890 --> 00:46:18,160 "WHO CAME ACROSS THE PLAINS IN OUR TRAIN 883 00:46:18,210 --> 00:46:19,530 "ARE AT IT... 884 00:46:19,590 --> 00:46:23,050 THOUGH THEY PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS WHEN HOME." 885 00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:28,500 [NARRATOR] FORTY-NINERS LINED UP 886 00:46:28,570 --> 00:46:30,490 TO VISIT THE PROSTITUTES, 887 00:46:30,550 --> 00:46:33,510 WHO APPEARED IN THE CAMPS WITHIN WEEKS 888 00:46:33,570 --> 00:46:35,540 OF EVERY MAJOR GOLD STRIKE. 889 00:46:35,610 --> 00:46:38,510 [PATRICIA NELSON LIMERICK] THEY LOOK SO CHARMING 890 00:46:38,580 --> 00:46:41,400 IN THE MOVIES-- THE DANCE HALL GIRLS, 891 00:46:41,460 --> 00:46:44,650 BORDERLINE PROSTITUTES WEARING THOSE COLORFUL CLOTHES. 892 00:46:44,720 --> 00:46:48,000 THE STORIES SEEM TO BE CLOSE TO PURE MISERY 893 00:46:48,070 --> 00:46:50,020 OF MISERABLE LIVING CONDITIONS, 894 00:46:50,070 --> 00:46:54,510 RISK OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN EVERY WORKING MOMENT, 895 00:46:54,580 --> 00:46:57,010 WRETCHED RATE OF PAY, 896 00:46:57,080 --> 00:46:59,680 DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM. 897 00:46:59,750 --> 00:47:04,620 SUICIDE WAS A COMMON WAY FOR A PROSTITUTE'S LIFE TO END. 898 00:47:04,690 --> 00:47:09,540 IT'S A VERY GRIM, STARK, PUSHED-TO-THE-EDGE KIND OF LIFE. 899 00:47:14,550 --> 00:47:16,950 [NARRATOR] WOMEN WHO WERE NOT PROSTITUTES 900 00:47:17,020 --> 00:47:19,440 WERE SO RARE IN THE GOLD FIELDS 901 00:47:19,500 --> 00:47:21,470 THAT FORTY-NINERS STOOD FOR HOURS 902 00:47:21,540 --> 00:47:23,360 JUST TO GAZE UPON ONE. 903 00:47:23,420 --> 00:47:27,730 MINERS CALLED THEM PETTICOATED ASTONISHMENTS. 904 00:47:29,230 --> 00:47:32,000 [MAN] "GOT NEARER TO A FEMALE THIS EVENING 905 00:47:32,060 --> 00:47:35,180 "THAN I HAVE BEEN FOR SIX MONTHS. 906 00:47:35,250 --> 00:47:37,390 CAME NEAR TO FAINTING." 907 00:47:39,620 --> 00:47:42,460 [WOMAN] "EVEN I HAD MEN COME OVER 40 MILES 908 00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:45,580 "OVER THE MOUNTAINS JUST TO LOOK AT ME, 909 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:49,000 "AND I NEVER WAS CALLED A HANDSOME WOMAN 910 00:47:49,080 --> 00:47:51,380 IN MYBESTDAYS." 911 00:47:51,450 --> 00:47:53,520 [NARRATOR] LUZENA WILSON ARRIVED 912 00:47:53,590 --> 00:47:57,010 IN NEVADA CITY, CALIFORNIA, WITH HER HUSBAND 913 00:47:57,070 --> 00:48:00,030 AND SET UP CAMP UNDER SOME TREES. 914 00:48:00,090 --> 00:48:02,580 HE FAILED TO FIND GOLD, 915 00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:06,880 BUT SHE FOUND HER OWN WAY TO STRIKE IT RICH. 916 00:48:06,950 --> 00:48:10,400 "I BOUGHT PROVISIONS AT A NEIGHBORING STORE, 917 00:48:10,470 --> 00:48:12,960 "AND WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME BACK AT NIGHT, 918 00:48:13,020 --> 00:48:16,370 "HE FOUND 20 MINERS EATING AT MY TABLE. 919 00:48:16,440 --> 00:48:19,900 "EACH MAN, AS HE ROSE, PUT A DOLLAR IN MY HAND 920 00:48:19,960 --> 00:48:22,460 "AND SAID I MIGHT COUNT ON HIM 921 00:48:22,530 --> 00:48:24,470 AS A PERMANENT CUSTOMER." 922 00:48:24,530 --> 00:48:26,400 LUZENA STANLEY WILSON. 923 00:48:26,470 --> 00:48:28,870 [NARRATOR] SOON SHE WAS SERVING 924 00:48:28,940 --> 00:48:32,630 200 BOARDERS AT $25 A WEEK EACH. 925 00:48:32,690 --> 00:48:36,130 SHE BUILT AN INN, HIRED A COOK AND WAITERS, 926 00:48:36,190 --> 00:48:37,980 EVEN BECAME A BANKER, 927 00:48:38,050 --> 00:48:41,000 HANDLING GOLD DUST FOR THE MEN SHE FED. 928 00:48:41,070 --> 00:48:45,000 [LUZENA STANLEY WILSON] "A SMART WOMAN CAN DO VERY WELL IN THIS COUNTRY. 929 00:48:45,070 --> 00:48:47,010 "TRUE, THERE ARE NOT MANY COMFORTS, 930 00:48:47,070 --> 00:48:50,330 "AND ONE MUST WORK ALL THE TIME AND WORK HARD, 931 00:48:50,390 --> 00:48:53,810 "BUT THERE IS PLENTY TO DO AND GOOD PAY. 932 00:48:53,880 --> 00:48:56,900 "IT IS THE ONLY COUNTRY I EVER WAS IN 933 00:48:56,970 --> 00:48:58,970 "WHERE A WOMAN RECEIVED 934 00:48:59,030 --> 00:49:01,570 ANYTHING LIKE A JUST COMPENSATION FOR WORK." 935 00:49:18,700 --> 00:49:23,130 [MAN] "SINCE THE WHITE MAN HAS MADE A ROAD ACROSS OUR LAND 936 00:49:23,190 --> 00:49:26,640 "AND HAS KILLED OFF OUR GAME, WE ARE HUNGRY, 937 00:49:26,710 --> 00:49:29,470 "AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR US TO EAT. 938 00:49:29,530 --> 00:49:32,470 "OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN CRY FOR FOOD, 939 00:49:32,530 --> 00:49:35,590 AND WE HAVE NO FOOD TO GIVE THEM." 940 00:49:35,650 --> 00:49:37,540 WASHAKIE. 941 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:42,480 [NARRATOR] THE GOLD RUSH HAD PROVED A DISASTER 942 00:49:42,540 --> 00:49:44,480 FOR THE INDIANS OF THE PLAINS. 943 00:49:44,550 --> 00:49:47,470 THE CHOLERA BROUGHT BY THE WAGON TRAINS 944 00:49:47,530 --> 00:49:50,400 HAD KILLED HALF OF THE NORTHERN CHEYENNES. 945 00:49:50,470 --> 00:49:53,910 WHEN A GROUP OF PAWNEES WENT OFF TO HUNT BUFFALO, 946 00:49:53,970 --> 00:49:57,010 THEY FOUND THAT THE HERDS ALONG THE MAIN WAGON TRAIL 947 00:49:57,060 --> 00:49:59,010 HAD BEEN DRIVEN AWAY. 948 00:49:59,080 --> 00:50:00,680 SOME STARVED TO DEATH 949 00:50:00,750 --> 00:50:03,770 ON THE WAY BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES. 950 00:50:03,830 --> 00:50:06,340 AND COMPETITION FOR THE DWINDLING GAME 951 00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:08,990 INTENSIFIED RIVALRIES BETWEEN TRIBES 952 00:50:09,060 --> 00:50:12,570 WHICH HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR GENERATIONS. 953 00:50:16,580 --> 00:50:19,010 [RICHARD WHITE] THIS IS A PERIOD 954 00:50:19,080 --> 00:50:21,520 OF INCREDIBLE CHAOS ON THE PLAINS. 955 00:50:21,580 --> 00:50:25,040 THE LAKOTA AND THEIR ALLIES ARE EXPANDING. 956 00:50:25,100 --> 00:50:27,040 THERE'S WARFARE EVERYWHERE. 957 00:50:27,110 --> 00:50:30,530 THE AMERICANS ARE BEGINNING TO PENETRATE ACROSS THE PLAINS 958 00:50:30,590 --> 00:50:32,130 TO CALIFORNIA. 959 00:50:32,190 --> 00:50:34,500 IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 960 00:50:34,560 --> 00:50:36,450 TO BRING THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. 961 00:50:36,510 --> 00:50:38,970 WHAT THEY SUCCEED IN DOING IS MAKING IT ABSOLUTELY WORSE. 962 00:50:39,030 --> 00:50:42,390 [NARRATOR] IN 1851, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S PLAN 963 00:50:42,450 --> 00:50:45,040 WAS TO CONVENE ALL THE PLAINS TRIBES 964 00:50:45,110 --> 00:50:46,560 AT FORT LARAMIE 965 00:50:46,630 --> 00:50:49,410 AND CONVINCE THEM TO STOP FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER 966 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:52,300 AND ENDANGERING THE WHITES HEADING THROUGH THEIR LANDS 967 00:50:52,360 --> 00:50:54,630 ON THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA. 968 00:50:57,120 --> 00:50:59,840 THE COMANCHES AND KIOWAS STAYED AWAY. 969 00:50:59,910 --> 00:51:03,430 "WE HAVE TOO MANY HORSES," ONE CHIEF SAID, 970 00:51:03,490 --> 00:51:06,480 "TO RISK AMONG SUCH NOTORIOUS HORSE THIEVES 971 00:51:06,550 --> 00:51:08,580 AS THE LAKOTAS AND CROWS." 972 00:51:10,070 --> 00:51:12,520 THE PAWNEES ALSO REFUSED TO COME. 973 00:51:12,580 --> 00:51:16,070 THEY WERE AFRAID THE LAKOTAS WOULD KILL THEM. 974 00:51:18,570 --> 00:51:20,510 STILL, 10,000 INDIANS, 975 00:51:20,580 --> 00:51:23,530 REPRESENTING NEARLY A DOZEN TRIBES, 976 00:51:23,600 --> 00:51:25,080 FINALLY ATTENDED. 977 00:51:26,580 --> 00:51:30,040 THE GOVERNMENT OFFERED THEM $50,000 WORTH OF SUPPLIES 978 00:51:30,100 --> 00:51:32,040 EVERY YEAR FOR 50 YEARS 979 00:51:32,100 --> 00:51:36,020 IF THEY WOULD AGREE NOT TO HARASS THE WAGON TRAINS 980 00:51:36,090 --> 00:51:39,930 AND TO GRANT THE ARMY THE RIGHT TO BUILD FORTS. 981 00:51:40,000 --> 00:51:44,030 MOST IMPORTANT, EACH TRIBE WAS TO STAY WITHIN A TERRITORY 982 00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:46,030 RESERVED FOR IT 983 00:51:46,100 --> 00:51:49,590 AND STOP WARRING AGAINST ITS NEIGHBORS. 984 00:51:50,970 --> 00:51:54,060 [WHITE] YOU HAVE NAIVE AMERICAN NEGOTIATORS SHOW UP 985 00:51:54,130 --> 00:51:56,700 TO TRY TO DISTINGUISH TRIBAL TERRITORIES. 986 00:51:56,750 --> 00:51:58,530 AT THIS TIME, 987 00:51:58,600 --> 00:52:00,470 THERE ARE NO TRIBAL TERRITORIES 988 00:52:00,530 --> 00:52:03,570 IN THE SENSE THAT AMERICANS BELIEVE THEM TO BE, 989 00:52:03,640 --> 00:52:05,950 AND SO THEY TRY TO DRAW LINES ON THE MAP. 990 00:52:06,020 --> 00:52:08,660 THEY TRY TO GET INDIANS TO CONFORM TO THOSE LINES, 991 00:52:08,720 --> 00:52:10,560 AND THEY'RE GOING TO FAIL. 992 00:52:10,630 --> 00:52:12,160 FURTHERMORE, THE INDIANS THEMSELVES 993 00:52:12,230 --> 00:52:15,010 SEE THROUGH THE HYPOCRISY OF ALL THIS. 994 00:52:15,080 --> 00:52:17,520 THE LAKOTA, WHO ARE ALSO AN EXPANDING PEOPLE, 995 00:52:17,580 --> 00:52:18,950 FRANKLY TELL THE AMERICANS, 996 00:52:19,020 --> 00:52:20,500 "LOOK, YOU'RE EXPANDING. 997 00:52:20,570 --> 00:52:23,390 "WHEN YOU WANT LAND, YOU PUSH THE INDIANS OUT OF THEM. 998 00:52:23,460 --> 00:52:26,370 "ALL WE'RE DOING IS WHAT YOU DO. 999 00:52:26,460 --> 00:52:29,460 "YOU HAVE NO MORE RIGHT TO STOP US 1000 00:52:29,530 --> 00:52:32,580 THAN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP YOU." 1001 00:52:34,580 --> 00:52:37,540 [JO ALLYN ARCHAMBAULT] WE MOVED INTO THESE PLAINS 1002 00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:40,540 MAYBE 300 YEARS AGO FROM EASTERN HOMELANDS 1003 00:52:40,590 --> 00:52:42,570 IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN. 1004 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:44,530 WE WERE TERRIFIC WARRIORS, 1005 00:52:44,590 --> 00:52:48,050 AND WE WERE VERY GOOD AT WHAT WE DID. 1006 00:52:48,100 --> 00:52:50,530 WE SWEPT THE ENEMY ASIDE, 1007 00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:53,950 AND WE TOOK THIS LAND FOR OURSELVES. 1008 00:52:54,020 --> 00:52:55,920 WE TOOK THE BLACK HILLS. 1009 00:52:55,990 --> 00:52:58,790 WE CHASED OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF IT, 1010 00:52:58,860 --> 00:53:03,030 AND THEN OUR SUPERNATURAL BEINGS HEARD US IN THOSE HILLS, 1011 00:53:03,100 --> 00:53:07,000 AND SO WE OWN THOSE HILLS PARTLY BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST, 1012 00:53:07,070 --> 00:53:09,920 AND AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THE RIGHT OF CONQUEST. 1013 00:53:09,990 --> 00:53:13,390 [NARRATOR] WHEN THE LAKOTAS REFUSED TO GIVE UP 1014 00:53:13,460 --> 00:53:16,510 THE LANDS THEY HAD TAKEN FROM OTHER TRIBES, 1015 00:53:16,570 --> 00:53:18,580 THE AMERICANS BACKED DOWN. 1016 00:53:20,560 --> 00:53:23,000 ON THE MAP THEY FINALLY DREW, 1017 00:53:23,060 --> 00:53:24,500 THE BLACK HILLS, 1018 00:53:24,570 --> 00:53:26,020 ONCE THE KIOWAS', 1019 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:28,020 THEN THE CHEYENNES' SACRED GROUND, 1020 00:53:28,090 --> 00:53:30,760 NOW BELONGED TO THE LAKOTAS. 1021 00:53:32,260 --> 00:53:35,530 "THE SIOUX WERE GIVEN RIGHTS TO THE BLACK HILLS 1022 00:53:35,590 --> 00:53:36,910 "AND OTHER COUNTRY 1023 00:53:36,980 --> 00:53:38,510 "THAT THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE HAD CLAIMED. 1024 00:53:38,580 --> 00:53:40,520 "THE SQUAW MEN TOLD THEM 1025 00:53:40,580 --> 00:53:44,020 THIS GROUND DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU NOW." 1026 00:53:44,090 --> 00:53:46,090 JOHN STANDS IN TIMBER. 1027 00:53:49,590 --> 00:53:51,530 [NARRATOR] TO CONCLUDE THE TREATY, 1028 00:53:51,590 --> 00:53:55,050 THE AMERICANS INSISTED THAT EACH TRIBE NAME A HEAD CHIEF 1029 00:53:55,110 --> 00:53:57,530 WHO COULD SIGN FOR HIS PEOPLE. 1030 00:53:57,600 --> 00:54:01,040 BUT NONE OF THEM ACKNOWLEDGED A SINGLE LEADER, 1031 00:54:01,100 --> 00:54:03,970 SO THE AMERICANS PICKED CHIEFS FOR THEM. 1032 00:54:04,060 --> 00:54:05,970 A WARRIOR NAMED CONQUERING BEAR 1033 00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:08,990 WAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE LAKOTA, 1034 00:54:09,060 --> 00:54:12,480 AND THE FORT LARAMIE TREATY WAS FINALLY SIGNED 1035 00:54:12,550 --> 00:54:14,720 ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1851. 1036 00:54:18,070 --> 00:54:20,990 THAT WINTER, THE LAKOTA CHRONICLER LONE DOG 1037 00:54:21,060 --> 00:54:23,260 COMMEMORATED THE FORT LARAMIE TREATY 1038 00:54:23,320 --> 00:54:26,010 WITH A PICTURE OF TWO INDIANS, 1039 00:54:26,080 --> 00:54:28,010 A LAKOTA AND A CROW, 1040 00:54:28,080 --> 00:54:32,020 EXCHANGING PIPES AS A TOKEN OF PEACE. 1041 00:54:32,080 --> 00:54:36,020 IN 1852, LONE DOG DREW AN INDIAN FROM ANOTHER TRIBE 1042 00:54:36,090 --> 00:54:38,020 APPROACHING A LAKOTA TEEPEE 1043 00:54:38,090 --> 00:54:41,030 WITH A PIPE INSTEAD OF A WEAPON. 1044 00:54:41,090 --> 00:54:43,030 AND IN 1853, 1045 00:54:43,090 --> 00:54:45,960 HE SHOWED A GOVERNMENT AGENT BRINGING A STRIPED BLANKET, 1046 00:54:46,030 --> 00:54:50,100 PART OF THE TREATY PAYMENT THE UNITED STATES HAD PROMISED. 1047 00:54:53,670 --> 00:54:59,860 BUT IN AUGUST OF 1854, THE FRAGILE PEACE CAME APART. 1048 00:54:59,930 --> 00:55:03,300 WHEN A CALF STRAYED FROM A MORMON WAGON TRAIN 1049 00:55:03,370 --> 00:55:04,980 INTO A LAKOTA CAMP, 1050 00:55:05,030 --> 00:55:07,800 A WARRIOR SHOT IT WITH AN ARROW. 1051 00:55:07,870 --> 00:55:10,270 30 SOLDIERS FROM FORT LARAMIE 1052 00:55:10,340 --> 00:55:13,490 MARCHED INTO THE CAMP OF CONQUERING BEAR, 1053 00:55:13,560 --> 00:55:15,980 TRAINED A HOWITZER ON THE TEEPEES, 1054 00:55:16,040 --> 00:55:18,980 AND DEMANDED THAT THE GUILTY MAN SURRENDER. 1055 00:55:19,050 --> 00:55:20,980 HE REFUSED. 1056 00:55:21,050 --> 00:55:23,500 CONQUERING BEAR APOLOGIZED 1057 00:55:23,570 --> 00:55:27,390 AND PROMISED TO PAY MORE THAN THE ANIMAL WAS WORTH. 1058 00:55:27,460 --> 00:55:32,010 THE TWO SIDES ARGUED FOR 45 MINUTES. 1059 00:55:32,080 --> 00:55:37,500 SUDDENLY, THE OFFICER IN CHARGE ORDERED HIS MEN TO FIRE. 1060 00:55:37,570 --> 00:55:38,930 [GUNSHOT] 1061 00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:42,020 CONQUERING BEAR WAS THE FIRST TO DIE. 1062 00:55:42,090 --> 00:55:46,020 THE ENRAGED LAKOTAS SWARMED OVER THE AMERICANS. 1063 00:55:46,090 --> 00:55:51,030 ONLY ONE SOLDIER MANAGED TO CRAWL BACK TO FORT LARAMIE 1064 00:55:51,080 --> 00:55:53,000 BEFORE HE, TOO, DIED. 1065 00:55:53,070 --> 00:55:56,320 [WHITE] CONQUERING BEAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PERSON 1066 00:55:56,380 --> 00:55:59,540 WHO WOULD SETTLE THIS IN THE APPROPRIATE MEANS, 1067 00:55:59,600 --> 00:56:03,110 AND THEY KILL THE AGENT OF THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP. 1068 00:56:03,180 --> 00:56:04,960 THEY KILL CONQUERING BEAR. 1069 00:56:05,030 --> 00:56:08,460 AND WHAT HAD BEEN A MINOR DISPUTE OVER A COW 1070 00:56:08,530 --> 00:56:11,470 INSTEAD BECOMES A SIGN TO THE LAKOTA THAT, 1071 00:56:11,530 --> 00:56:13,990 HOW CAN YOU TRUST THESE PEOPLE? 1072 00:56:14,050 --> 00:56:16,050 [NATIVE AMERICAN CHANTING] 1073 00:56:17,570 --> 00:56:21,980 [NARRATOR] NOTHING BETWEEN THE LAKOTAS AND THE UNITED STATES 1074 00:56:22,040 --> 00:56:24,550 WOULD EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. 1075 00:56:31,570 --> 00:56:34,010 "THE YANKEES ARE A WONDERFUL PEOPLE-- 1076 00:56:34,070 --> 00:56:36,010 "WONDERFUL. 1077 00:56:36,070 --> 00:56:38,510 "WHEREVER THEY GO, THEY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. 1078 00:56:38,580 --> 00:56:41,500 "IF THEY WERE TO EMIGRATE IN LARGE NUMBERS 1079 00:56:41,560 --> 00:56:42,980 "TO HELL ITSELF, 1080 00:56:43,050 --> 00:56:44,520 "THEY WOULD IRRIGATE IT, 1081 00:56:44,580 --> 00:56:46,520 "PLANT TREES AND FLOWER GARDENS, 1082 00:56:46,580 --> 00:56:48,920 "BUILD RESERVOIRS AND FOUNTAINS, 1083 00:56:48,990 --> 00:56:53,010 AND MAKE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL AND PLEASANT." 1084 00:56:53,070 --> 00:56:55,930 MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO. 1085 00:56:58,430 --> 00:57:00,170 [NARRATOR] NO ONE HAD BEEN MORE ACCOMMODATING 1086 00:57:00,230 --> 00:57:03,950 TO THE AMERICANS THAN MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO. 1087 00:57:04,020 --> 00:57:06,470 THE DESCENDANT OF SPANISH SOLDIERS 1088 00:57:06,540 --> 00:57:10,190 WHO HAD CONQUERED MEXICO AND COLONIZED CALIFORNIA, 1089 00:57:10,260 --> 00:57:13,480 HE HAD BUILT HIMSELF A VAST EMPIRE 1090 00:57:13,550 --> 00:57:15,460 IN THE FERTILE SONOMA VALLEY. 1091 00:57:15,530 --> 00:57:18,970 HE WELCOMED THE FIRST WAVE OF FORTY-NINERS 1092 00:57:19,030 --> 00:57:23,240 AND HOPED TO PROFIT HIMSELF FROM THE GOLD RUSH. 1093 00:57:23,300 --> 00:57:24,970 WITH ITS WEALTH 1094 00:57:25,040 --> 00:57:28,980 AND SUDDEN POPULATION OF 90,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS, 1095 00:57:29,040 --> 00:57:31,900 CALIFORNIA DEMANDED IMMEDIATE STATEHOOD 1096 00:57:31,960 --> 00:57:35,920 AND, IN 1850, GOT IT. 1097 00:57:35,980 --> 00:57:40,010 VALLEJO HELPED DRAW UP THE NEW STATE CONSTITUTION 1098 00:57:40,070 --> 00:57:43,620 AND SERVED IN THE FIRST STATE SENATE. 1099 00:57:46,080 --> 00:57:48,510 BUT IN THE OVERCROWDED MINING CAMPS, 1100 00:57:48,580 --> 00:57:52,020 TENSIONS ROSE AS AMERICANS BEGAN TO SUGGEST 1101 00:57:52,080 --> 00:57:54,950 THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM IN CALIFORNIA 1102 00:57:55,020 --> 00:57:57,020 FOR ANYONE BUT THEM. 1103 00:57:57,090 --> 00:57:59,770 [HOLLIDAY] AS MINING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT, 1104 00:57:59,840 --> 00:58:02,910 AS THE CLAIMS BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND 1105 00:58:02,980 --> 00:58:06,780 BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE MINERS THAN THERE WERE WORKABLE CLAIMS, 1106 00:58:06,850 --> 00:58:08,450 EVERYONE COMPETING AND FIGHTING 1107 00:58:08,520 --> 00:58:12,950 FOR HIS SMALLER AND SMALLER OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE IT RICH, 1108 00:58:13,020 --> 00:58:15,360 YOU BECAME, THEREFORE... 1109 00:58:16,710 --> 00:58:18,510 DESIROUS OF FINDING AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR FAILURE 1110 00:58:18,580 --> 00:58:22,480 OR DESIROUS OF FINDING A WAY TO GET AN ADVANTAGE. 1111 00:58:22,550 --> 00:58:24,480 WELL, ONE OF THE WAYS WAS TO SAY, 1112 00:58:24,550 --> 00:58:27,470 "I'M AN AMERICAN. WHAT ARE THE MEXICANS DOING HERE?" 1113 00:58:27,540 --> 00:58:29,970 "WHAT ARE THE INDIANS? WE DON'T NEED THE INDIANS. 1114 00:58:30,040 --> 00:58:31,970 "WE CAN CERTAINLY GET RID OF THEM. 1115 00:58:32,040 --> 00:58:33,880 "WHAT ARE THE CHINESE DOING HERE? 1116 00:58:33,940 --> 00:58:35,660 "THOSE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE HERE. 1117 00:58:35,730 --> 00:58:36,930 "THIS ISN'T THEIR LAND. 1118 00:58:37,000 --> 00:58:39,310 THIS IS MY LAND. THIS BELONGS TO US." 1119 00:58:39,380 --> 00:58:41,500 [NARRATOR] IN 1850, AMERICAN MINERS 1120 00:58:41,570 --> 00:58:43,440 PRESSURED THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 1121 00:58:43,500 --> 00:58:47,510 INTO ENACTING A MONTHLY TAX OF $20 1122 00:58:47,570 --> 00:58:51,510 ON ALL MINERS WHO WERE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS. 1123 00:58:51,580 --> 00:58:53,500 THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS 1124 00:58:53,580 --> 00:58:56,010 WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE GOLD FIELDS. 1125 00:58:56,080 --> 00:58:59,230 THE TAX WAS FAR MORE THAN THEY COULD PAY. 1126 00:59:04,510 --> 00:59:07,460 "THE ILL WILL OF THE YANKEE RABBLE 1127 00:59:07,530 --> 00:59:09,460 "AGAINST SONS OF OTHER NATIONS 1128 00:59:09,530 --> 00:59:10,950 "WAS RISING. 1129 00:59:11,010 --> 00:59:12,950 "THIS MUTUAL BAD FEELING 1130 00:59:13,010 --> 00:59:14,950 "EXPLAINS THE BLOODY HOSTILITIES 1131 00:59:15,020 --> 00:59:16,470 "AND ATROCITIES 1132 00:59:16,530 --> 00:59:18,470 "WE WITNESS EVERY DAY 1133 00:59:18,540 --> 00:59:22,470 IN THIS LAND OF GOLD AND HOPE." 1134 00:59:22,540 --> 00:59:24,540 VICENTE PEREZ ROSALES. 1135 00:59:27,530 --> 00:59:30,380 [NARRATOR] IN THE MINING TOWN OF DOWNIEVILLE, 1136 00:59:30,450 --> 00:59:32,980 A MEXICAN WOMAN REMEMBERED ONLY AS JOSEPHA 1137 00:59:33,050 --> 00:59:35,450 AWOKE TO FIND A DRUNKEN AMERICAN 1138 00:59:35,520 --> 00:59:37,420 IN HER BEDROOM. 1139 00:59:37,490 --> 00:59:41,490 SHE REACHED FOR A KNIFE AND STABBED HIM TO DEATH. 1140 00:59:41,560 --> 00:59:43,500 A MOB IMMEDIATELY SEIZED HER, 1141 00:59:43,560 --> 00:59:47,500 AND WHEN SHE FAILED TO EXPRESS REGRET FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE, 1142 00:59:47,570 --> 00:59:49,220 HANGED HER. 1143 00:59:50,550 --> 00:59:52,490 "IT WAS NOT HER GUILT 1144 00:59:52,550 --> 00:59:54,490 WHICH CONDEMNED THIS UNFORTUNATE WOMAN," 1145 00:59:54,560 --> 00:59:58,080 ONE NEWSPAPERMAN WROTE, "BUT HER MEXICAN BLOOD." 1146 01:00:00,580 --> 01:00:02,860 "I ALWAYS THINK OF THE SPANISH GIRL 1147 01:00:02,930 --> 01:00:05,500 "STANDING ON THE PLANK OF A BRIDGE, 1148 01:00:05,570 --> 01:00:07,500 "TOSSING HER HAT TO A FRIEND 1149 01:00:07,570 --> 01:00:10,520 "AND PUTTING THE ROPE AROUND HER NECK, 1150 01:00:10,590 --> 01:00:13,020 "FOLDING HER HANDS, AND FACING DEATH 1151 01:00:13,090 --> 01:00:16,510 WITH A BRAVERY THAT SHAMED US MEN." 1152 01:00:16,580 --> 01:00:18,250 FRANKLIN BUCK. 1153 01:00:20,250 --> 01:00:22,230 [MAN] "THE MANNERS AND HABITS 1154 01:00:22,300 --> 01:00:23,970 "OF THE CHINESE 1155 01:00:24,040 --> 01:00:25,700 "ARE VERY REPUGNANT 1156 01:00:25,770 --> 01:00:27,590 "TO AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA. 1157 01:00:27,660 --> 01:00:29,520 "OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, 1158 01:00:29,590 --> 01:00:32,030 "BLOOD, RELIGION, AND CHARACTER, 1159 01:00:32,110 --> 01:00:34,030 "AND INFERIOR IN MOST MENTAL 1160 01:00:34,100 --> 01:00:35,530 "AND BODILY QUALITIES, 1161 01:00:35,600 --> 01:00:38,030 "THE CHINAMAN IS LOOKED UPON BY SOME 1162 01:00:38,100 --> 01:00:39,830 "AS ONLY A LITTLE SUPERIOR 1163 01:00:39,900 --> 01:00:42,040 "TO THE NEGRO 1164 01:00:42,100 --> 01:00:44,910 AND BY OTHERS AS SOMEWHAT INFERIOR." 1165 01:00:44,970 --> 01:00:48,540 [NARRATOR] THE CHINESE MINERS KEPT TO THEMSELVES, 1166 01:00:48,610 --> 01:00:51,050 COOKED THEIR OWN KIND OF FOOD, 1167 01:00:51,110 --> 01:00:55,050 PRACTICED THEIR OWN RELIGION, RARELY LEARNED ENGLISH, 1168 01:00:55,120 --> 01:00:57,050 AND WERE DENIED CITIZENSHIP. 1169 01:00:57,120 --> 01:00:59,860 [HOLLIDAY] THEY END UP WORKING THE CLAIMS 1170 01:00:59,920 --> 01:01:02,060 THAT ARE THE LEAST ATTRACTIVE, 1171 01:01:02,120 --> 01:01:04,560 AND YET THEY MAKE A SUCCESS IN THEM 1172 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:05,830 BECAUSE THEY WORK HARDER, 1173 01:01:05,890 --> 01:01:07,040 BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TECHNIQUE 1174 01:01:07,110 --> 01:01:08,510 AND A WILLINGNESS 1175 01:01:08,580 --> 01:01:09,660 TO STRUGGLE LONGER. 1176 01:01:09,730 --> 01:01:11,670 THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK ON THE SUNDAYS. 1177 01:01:11,730 --> 01:01:13,690 THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP ALL PLAY AND CONCENTRATE. 1178 01:01:13,750 --> 01:01:15,020 AND SO EVEN WHEN 1179 01:01:15,090 --> 01:01:17,540 THEY'VE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THE WORKABLE MINES 1180 01:01:17,620 --> 01:01:21,510 AND THEY TURN TO THE MOST SEEMINGLY DESERTLIKE PLACES, 1181 01:01:21,580 --> 01:01:24,660 BARRENLIKE PLACES, THEY SUCCEED, 1182 01:01:24,730 --> 01:01:29,100 AND THIS AGGRAVATES AND ANGERS THE AMERICANS EVEN MORE. 1183 01:01:31,600 --> 01:01:33,540 [RONALD TAKAKI] IN 1852, 1184 01:01:33,610 --> 01:01:36,690 BECAUSE OF INTENSE COMPETITION BETWEEN CHINESE MINERS 1185 01:01:36,760 --> 01:01:39,530 AND ANGLO-AMERICAN MINERS, 1186 01:01:39,590 --> 01:01:43,700 THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A SECOND FOREIGN MINERS TAX. 1187 01:01:43,760 --> 01:01:48,540 THIS LAW WAS IN EFFECT FROM 1852 TO 1870, 1188 01:01:48,600 --> 01:01:52,460 AND THE REVENUES-- THE STATE REVENUES-- 1189 01:01:52,520 --> 01:01:56,060 COLLECTED FROM CHINESE MINERS 1190 01:01:56,130 --> 01:01:58,900 CONSTITUTED 50% OF THE INCOME 1191 01:01:58,960 --> 01:02:01,470 OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 1192 01:02:03,200 --> 01:02:04,990 [NARRATOR] WHEN THE CHINESE PAID 1193 01:02:05,050 --> 01:02:06,490 THE MINERS TAX 1194 01:02:06,550 --> 01:02:08,990 AND REFUSED TO LEAVE THEIR CLAIMS, 1195 01:02:09,060 --> 01:02:10,990 AMERICANS RESORTED TO INTIMIDATION. 1196 01:02:11,060 --> 01:02:14,510 THEY HACKED OFF THE CHINESE MINERS' QUEUES, 1197 01:02:14,580 --> 01:02:16,450 BURNED DOWN THEIR SHACKS, 1198 01:02:16,510 --> 01:02:19,570 BEAT AND FLOGGED AND MURDERED THEM. 1199 01:02:24,570 --> 01:02:26,810 EVEN MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO 1200 01:02:26,880 --> 01:02:30,030 WAS BETRAYED BY HIS AMERICAN FRIENDS. 1201 01:02:30,090 --> 01:02:33,010 LAWSUITS AND AN INVASION OF SQUATTERS 1202 01:02:33,080 --> 01:02:34,820 REDUCED HIS SPRAWLING ESTATE 1203 01:02:34,880 --> 01:02:38,440 FROM A QUARTER OF A MILLION ACRES 1204 01:02:38,500 --> 01:02:41,060 TO FEWER THAN 300. 1205 01:02:41,120 --> 01:02:43,790 "AUSTRALIA SENT US A SWARM OF BANDITS 1206 01:02:43,860 --> 01:02:46,360 "WHO DEDICATED THEMSELVES EXCLUSIVELY 1207 01:02:46,450 --> 01:02:49,350 "TO ROBBERY AND ASSAULT. 1208 01:02:49,410 --> 01:02:51,270 "FRANCE, DESIRING TO BE RID 1209 01:02:51,330 --> 01:02:54,520 "OF SEVERAL THOUSAND LYING MEN AND CORRUPT WOMEN, 1210 01:02:54,590 --> 01:02:56,550 "EMBARKED THEM ON SHIPS 1211 01:02:56,620 --> 01:02:59,740 "WHICH BROUGHT THEM TO SAN FRANCISCO. 1212 01:02:59,810 --> 01:03:01,980 "CHINA POURED UPON OUR SHORES 1213 01:03:02,040 --> 01:03:04,960 "CLOUDS AND MORE CLOUDS OF ASIATICS-- 1214 01:03:05,030 --> 01:03:07,900 "VERY HARMFUL TO THE MORAL AND MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT 1215 01:03:07,970 --> 01:03:09,870 "OF THE COUNTRY. 1216 01:03:09,930 --> 01:03:13,000 "BUT ALL THESE EVILS BECAME NEGLIGIBLE 1217 01:03:13,070 --> 01:03:15,990 "WITH THE SWOLLEN TORRENTS OF SHYSTERS 1218 01:03:16,060 --> 01:03:17,960 "WHO CAME FROM MISSOURI 1219 01:03:18,030 --> 01:03:19,990 "AND OTHER STATES OF THE UNION. 1220 01:03:20,060 --> 01:03:22,010 "THESE LEGAL THIEVES, 1221 01:03:22,080 --> 01:03:24,500 "CLOTHED IN THE ROBES OF THE LAW, 1222 01:03:24,570 --> 01:03:26,570 "TOOK FROM US OUR LANDS 1223 01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:29,020 "AND, WITHOUT THE LEAST SCRUPLE, 1224 01:03:29,090 --> 01:03:31,370 "ENTHRONED THEMSELVES IN OUR HOMES 1225 01:03:31,440 --> 01:03:34,530 LIKE SO MANY POWERFUL KINGS." 1226 01:03:34,590 --> 01:03:37,100 MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO. 1227 01:03:49,110 --> 01:03:51,030 [WATKINS] YOU CAME DOWN 1228 01:03:51,090 --> 01:03:53,960 AFTER A YEAR OR SO IN THE MINES, 1229 01:03:54,050 --> 01:03:57,050 FREEZING YOUR BUTT OFF, WORKING LIKE A DOG, 1230 01:03:57,120 --> 01:03:59,570 LIVING UNDER ABSOLUTE PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS, 1231 01:03:59,630 --> 01:04:00,640 AND HERE YOU GOT IN SAN FRANCISCO, 1232 01:04:01,620 --> 01:04:03,100 A BOAT RIDE AWAY, 1233 01:04:03,190 --> 01:04:04,470 ONE OF THE GREAT METROPOLISES 1234 01:04:04,540 --> 01:04:06,470 WITH EVERYTHING AVAILABLE TO YOU, 1235 01:04:06,540 --> 01:04:07,930 AND YOU JUST WENT CRAZY. 1236 01:04:07,990 --> 01:04:09,980 YOU GAMBLED, YOU BOUGHT, 1237 01:04:10,040 --> 01:04:12,700 YOU WHORED AROUND, AND YOU DRANK, 1238 01:04:12,760 --> 01:04:15,500 AND THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK YOUR MONEY 1239 01:04:15,570 --> 01:04:17,500 WERE THE ONES WHO GOT RICH. 1240 01:04:17,570 --> 01:04:19,540 IT'S JUST THE WAY IT WAS. 1241 01:04:21,570 --> 01:04:22,990 "WHEN I LANDED HERE 1242 01:04:23,060 --> 01:04:24,830 "WITH MY LITTLE COMPANY, 1243 01:04:24,890 --> 01:04:27,330 "THERE WERE BUT THREE FAMILIES IN THE PLACE, 1244 01:04:27,400 --> 01:04:28,830 "AND NOW THE IMPROVEMENTS 1245 01:04:28,900 --> 01:04:30,510 "ARE BEYOND ALL CONCEPTIONS-- 1246 01:04:30,580 --> 01:04:32,420 "HOMES IN ALL DIRECTIONS, 1247 01:04:32,480 --> 01:04:35,020 "BUSINESS BRISK, AND MONEY PLENTY. 1248 01:04:35,090 --> 01:04:37,020 "HERE WILL BE 1249 01:04:37,090 --> 01:04:39,510 "THE GREAT EMPORIUM OF THE PACIFIC 1250 01:04:39,570 --> 01:04:41,530 AND EVENTUALLY THE WORLD." 1251 01:04:41,590 --> 01:04:43,130 SAM BRANNAN. 1252 01:04:43,190 --> 01:04:46,010 [NARRATOR] IN THE FALL OF 1849, 1253 01:04:46,080 --> 01:04:50,030 THE VILLAGE OF SAN FRANCISCO HAD BARELY 2,000 RESIDENTS. 1254 01:04:50,100 --> 01:04:52,040 JUST ONE YEAR LATER, 1255 01:04:52,100 --> 01:04:55,520 THE POPULATION HAD GROWN TO NEARLY 35,000, 1256 01:04:55,590 --> 01:05:00,110 AND IT HAD BECOME THE WEST'S FIRST FULL-FLEDGED CITY. 1257 01:05:02,650 --> 01:05:05,320 A SINGLE-HOUSE LOT ON PORTSMOUTH SQUARE 1258 01:05:05,380 --> 01:05:09,970 GREW IN PRICE FROM $16.50 TO 45,000 1259 01:05:10,040 --> 01:05:12,370 IN JUST THREE YEARS. 1260 01:05:13,730 --> 01:05:15,480 [SHIP WHISTLE BLOWS] 1261 01:05:15,540 --> 01:05:18,480 EVERYTHING WAS BROUGHT IN BY SEA AT FIRST-- 1262 01:05:18,550 --> 01:05:20,720 WHISKEY, SHOVELS, 1263 01:05:20,780 --> 01:05:24,440 LUMBER ALL THE WAY FROM THE FORESTS OF MAINE, 1264 01:05:24,500 --> 01:05:26,500 EVEN A CARGO OF CATS, 1265 01:05:26,570 --> 01:05:29,510 FERRIED IN TO TAKE ON THE RATS 1266 01:05:29,570 --> 01:05:31,540 THAT RULED THE WATERFRONT. 1267 01:05:33,580 --> 01:05:36,510 [WATKINS] IT WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S 1268 01:05:36,580 --> 01:05:38,520 GREAT COMMERCIAL EMPIRES, 1269 01:05:38,580 --> 01:05:40,690 ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT CITIES, 1270 01:05:40,750 --> 01:05:43,240 WITHIN A MATTER OF FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. 1271 01:05:43,300 --> 01:05:45,020 THE SIMPLE REASON WAS GOLD. 1272 01:05:45,090 --> 01:05:47,460 THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO EXPLAIN IT. 1273 01:05:47,530 --> 01:05:50,030 HALF A BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOLD 1274 01:05:50,090 --> 01:05:53,500 WAS PULLED OUT OF CALIFORNIA'S MINES AND STREAMS 1275 01:05:53,560 --> 01:05:56,030 BETWEEN 1849 AND 1860. 1276 01:05:56,100 --> 01:05:59,020 HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN 19th-CENTURY MONEY-- 1277 01:05:59,090 --> 01:06:01,720 THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY. 1278 01:06:01,790 --> 01:06:05,710 IT ABSOLUTELY DEFINED WHAT THE CITY WAS. 1279 01:06:07,460 --> 01:06:09,460 [NARRATOR] MOST OF THE GOLD 1280 01:06:09,530 --> 01:06:11,470 THE MINERS EXTRACTED 1281 01:06:11,530 --> 01:06:13,970 FROM RIVERS, STREAMS, AND HILLSIDES 1282 01:06:14,040 --> 01:06:17,490 WASHED INTO THE POCKETS OF MERCHANTS AND BANKERS, 1283 01:06:17,560 --> 01:06:19,660 COOKS, LAWYERS, STAGECOACH OPERATORS, 1284 01:06:19,720 --> 01:06:21,990 SALOON KEEPERS, MADAMS-- 1285 01:06:22,060 --> 01:06:25,280 ANYONE WHO FILLED THEIR NEEDS. 1286 01:06:27,550 --> 01:06:30,480 LEVI STRAUSS, A JEWISH IMMIGRANT FROM GERMANY, 1287 01:06:30,550 --> 01:06:34,490 TURNED UP IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH A BOLT OF COTTON DUCK 1288 01:06:34,560 --> 01:06:37,640 HE THOUGHT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR MAKING TENTS. 1289 01:06:37,710 --> 01:06:40,510 IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WRONG MATERIAL, 1290 01:06:40,580 --> 01:06:42,350 BUT STRAUSS USED IT 1291 01:06:42,410 --> 01:06:44,950 TO MAKE A MINER A PAIR OF DURABLE TROUSERS. 1292 01:06:45,020 --> 01:06:47,520 SOON, OTHER MINERS WERE ASKING 1293 01:06:47,570 --> 01:06:50,400 FOR "THOSE PANTS OF LEVI'S." 1294 01:06:52,170 --> 01:06:55,530 ON THE CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND GRANT STREETS, 1295 01:06:55,590 --> 01:06:58,880 AN ENTERPRISING CHINESE IMMIGRANT NAMED WAH LEE 1296 01:06:58,950 --> 01:07:02,300 OPENED CALIFORNIA'S FIRST LARGE HAND LAUNDRY, 1297 01:07:02,370 --> 01:07:05,970 CHARGED $5.00 A DOZEN TO WASH SHIRTS, 1298 01:07:06,040 --> 01:07:08,610 AND MADE A KILLING. 1299 01:07:08,670 --> 01:07:10,740 JOSHUA ABRAHAM NORTON 1300 01:07:10,810 --> 01:07:13,960 ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO FROM LONDON 1301 01:07:14,030 --> 01:07:15,960 WITH $40,000 IN HIS POCKET 1302 01:07:16,030 --> 01:07:19,820 AND SWIFTLY TURNED IT INTO A QUARTER OF A MILLION 1303 01:07:19,880 --> 01:07:21,650 BY SHREWD INVESTMENTS. 1304 01:07:21,720 --> 01:07:26,060 BUT WHEN PRICES COLLAPSED, NORTON WAS RUINED. 1305 01:07:27,540 --> 01:07:30,060 HIS MIND SNAPPED UNDER THE STRAIN. 1306 01:07:34,570 --> 01:07:37,000 "AT THE PEREMPTORY REQUEST AND DESIRE 1307 01:07:37,070 --> 01:07:39,000 "OF A LARGE MAJORITY 1308 01:07:39,070 --> 01:07:41,990 "OF THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1309 01:07:42,060 --> 01:07:43,990 "I, JOSHUA NORTON, 1310 01:07:44,060 --> 01:07:46,490 "DECLARE AND PROCLAIM MYSELF 1311 01:07:46,560 --> 01:07:49,580 EMPEROR OF THESE UNITED STATES." 1312 01:07:51,980 --> 01:07:55,500 [NARRATOR] SAN FRANCISCANS WERE DELIGHTED. 1313 01:07:55,570 --> 01:07:58,370 NORTON WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL UNIFORM TO WEAR 1314 01:07:58,440 --> 01:08:00,510 WHILE HE WANDERED THE STREETS, 1315 01:08:00,570 --> 01:08:02,580 BOWING GRACIOUSLY TO CITIZENS 1316 01:08:02,640 --> 01:08:05,960 HE WAS CONVINCED WERE HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS. 1317 01:08:06,030 --> 01:08:08,950 BARTENDERS GAVE HIM FREE DRINKS. 1318 01:08:09,020 --> 01:08:14,040 THE CITY DIRECTORY LISTED HIM AS "NORTON, JOSHUA--EMPEROR." 1319 01:08:15,520 --> 01:08:19,430 AND WHEN HE DIED, 30,000 OF HIS FORMER SUBJECTS 1320 01:08:19,490 --> 01:08:22,030 TURNED OUT FOR HIS FUNERAL. 1321 01:08:25,030 --> 01:08:26,870 [WATKINS] THE TOWN HAD 1322 01:08:26,930 --> 01:08:28,940 A GREAT SENSE OF TRANSIENCE. 1323 01:08:29,000 --> 01:08:31,370 WELL, TRANSIENCE ALWAYS CARRIES WITH IT 1324 01:08:31,440 --> 01:08:33,470 AN AIR OF POSSIBILITY, 1325 01:08:33,540 --> 01:08:35,980 AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT CHARACTERISTICS 1326 01:08:36,040 --> 01:08:38,480 OF SAN FRANCISCO IN THE GOLDEN ERA. 1327 01:08:38,560 --> 01:08:41,850 IT WAS STILL A TIME WHEN A PERSON COULD ARRIVE 1328 01:08:41,920 --> 01:08:43,990 AND SEEK OUT THE POSSIBLE. 1329 01:08:44,050 --> 01:08:46,000 EVERYTHINGDID SEEM POSSIBLE. 1330 01:08:46,070 --> 01:08:47,670 THERE WERE SO MANY STORIES 1331 01:08:47,740 --> 01:08:50,010 OF PEOPLE WHO HAD RISEN FROM NOTHING 1332 01:08:50,070 --> 01:08:51,360 TO COMPLETE DOMINANCE-- 1333 01:08:51,430 --> 01:08:54,010 PEOPLE WHO'D ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO 1334 01:08:54,080 --> 01:08:56,010 WITH $100 IN THEIR POCKETS 1335 01:08:56,080 --> 01:08:58,520 AND ENDED UP BUILDING HUGE BUSINESS BLOCKS 1336 01:08:58,580 --> 01:08:59,970 FIVE YEARS LATER. 1337 01:09:00,030 --> 01:09:03,460 THIS WAS REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN 1338 01:09:03,520 --> 01:09:06,290 SO THAT THE TOWN TOOK ON AN AIR 1339 01:09:06,360 --> 01:09:08,940 OF A KIND OF RAREFIED DEMONSTRATION 1340 01:09:09,010 --> 01:09:11,950 OF WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS ALL ABOUT, 1341 01:09:12,010 --> 01:09:15,520 CONDENSED, PACKED INTO A FEW GOLDEN YEARS. 1342 01:09:28,530 --> 01:09:30,960 "THE INDIANS FORMERLY SUBSISTED 1343 01:09:31,030 --> 01:09:34,490 "ON GAME, FISH, ACORNS, ET CETERA. 1344 01:09:34,550 --> 01:09:37,440 "BUT IT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM 1345 01:09:37,510 --> 01:09:40,490 "TO MAKE A LIVING BY HUNTING OR FISHING, 1346 01:09:40,560 --> 01:09:42,140 "FOR NEARLY ALL THE GAME 1347 01:09:42,210 --> 01:09:43,490 "HAS BEEN DRIVEN 1348 01:09:43,560 --> 01:09:44,960 "FROM THE MINING REGION 1349 01:09:45,030 --> 01:09:48,450 "OR HAS BEEN KILLED BY THE THOUSANDS OF OUR PEOPLE 1350 01:09:48,520 --> 01:09:50,990 "WHO NOW OCCUPY THE ONCE QUIET HOME 1351 01:09:51,050 --> 01:09:52,990 OF THESE CHILDREN OF THE FOREST." 1352 01:09:53,050 --> 01:09:55,060 EDWARD A. STEVENSON. 1353 01:09:57,560 --> 01:09:59,990 [NARRATOR] NEAR THE CROWDED GOLD FIELDS, 1354 01:10:00,060 --> 01:10:02,500 INDIANS FOUND IT HARDER AND HARDER 1355 01:10:02,560 --> 01:10:04,500 TO FIND FOOD. 1356 01:10:04,570 --> 01:10:06,300 SOME BEGAN TO STEAL. 1357 01:10:06,370 --> 01:10:10,250 THE MINERS DESPISED THEM ALL AS "DIGGERS." 1358 01:10:12,420 --> 01:10:14,960 ONE CALIFORNIA LAW MADE IT LEGAL 1359 01:10:15,030 --> 01:10:18,510 TO DECLARE ANY JOBLESS INDIAN A VAGRANT, 1360 01:10:18,580 --> 01:10:22,530 THEN AUCTION HIS SERVICES OFF FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS. 1361 01:10:22,600 --> 01:10:25,520 AND IT PERMITTED WHITES TO FORCE INDIAN CHILDREN 1362 01:10:25,590 --> 01:10:28,540 TO WORK FOR THEM UNTIL THEY WERE 18, 1363 01:10:28,610 --> 01:10:30,020 PROVIDED THE PERMISSION 1364 01:10:30,090 --> 01:10:32,540 OF WHAT THE LAW CALLED A "FRIEND" 1365 01:10:32,610 --> 01:10:34,710 WAS OBTAINED FIRST. 1366 01:10:34,780 --> 01:10:38,530 WHITES HUNTED DOWN ADULT INDIANS IN THE MOUNTAINS, 1367 01:10:38,600 --> 01:10:40,550 KIDNAPPED THEIR CHILDREN, 1368 01:10:40,600 --> 01:10:42,940 AND SOLD THEM AS APPRENTICES 1369 01:10:43,000 --> 01:10:45,410 FOR AS LITTLE AS $50. 1370 01:10:45,470 --> 01:10:47,540 "IF EVER AN INDIAN 1371 01:10:47,630 --> 01:10:50,560 WAS FULLY AND HONESTLY PAID FOR HIS LABOR," 1372 01:10:50,630 --> 01:10:52,530 ONE WHITE SETTLER SAID, 1373 01:10:52,600 --> 01:10:55,550 "IT WAS NOT MY LUCK TO HEAR OF IT." 1374 01:10:55,620 --> 01:10:57,990 INDIANS COULD NOT COMPLAIN IN COURT 1375 01:10:58,050 --> 01:11:00,550 BECAUSE, BY ANOTHER CALIFORNIA STATUTE, 1376 01:11:00,640 --> 01:11:03,240 NO INDIAN OR BLACK OR MULATTO PERSON 1377 01:11:03,310 --> 01:11:05,440 WAS PERMITTED TO GIVE EVIDENCE 1378 01:11:05,510 --> 01:11:08,730 IN FAVOR OF OR AGAINST A WHITE PERSON. 1379 01:11:12,580 --> 01:11:15,520 "THE MINERS ARE SOMETIMES GUILTY 1380 01:11:15,590 --> 01:11:19,520 "OF THE MOST BRUTAL ACTS WITH THE INDIANS. 1381 01:11:19,590 --> 01:11:22,540 "SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE FALLEN UNDER MY NOTICE 1382 01:11:22,610 --> 01:11:25,510 "THAT WOULD MAKE HUMANITY WEEP 1383 01:11:25,600 --> 01:11:28,030 AND MEN DISOWN THEIR RACE." 1384 01:11:28,100 --> 01:11:30,100 WILLIAM SWAIN. 1385 01:11:32,600 --> 01:11:34,520 "WE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT 1386 01:11:34,590 --> 01:11:36,020 "WILL RENDER SUCH AID 1387 01:11:36,090 --> 01:11:39,030 "AS WILL ENABLE THE CITIZENS OF THE NORTH 1388 01:11:39,110 --> 01:11:41,980 "TO CARRY ON A WAR OF EXTERMINATION 1389 01:11:42,050 --> 01:11:44,500 "UNTIL THE LAST REDSKIN OF THESE TRIBES 1390 01:11:44,570 --> 01:11:46,050 "HAS BEEN KILLED. 1391 01:11:46,120 --> 01:11:47,920 "EXTERMINATION IS NO LONGER 1392 01:11:47,990 --> 01:11:50,050 "A QUESTION OF TIME. 1393 01:11:50,120 --> 01:11:52,560 "THE TIME HAS ARRIVED, 1394 01:11:52,620 --> 01:11:55,810 "THE WORK HAS COMMENCED, 1395 01:11:55,880 --> 01:11:58,050 "AND LET THE FIRST MAN 1396 01:11:58,110 --> 01:12:00,450 "THAT SAYS TREATY OR PEACE 1397 01:12:00,510 --> 01:12:03,170 BE REGARDED AS A TRAITOR." 1398 01:12:03,230 --> 01:12:05,400 YREKA HERALD,1853. 1399 01:12:06,720 --> 01:12:09,940 [NARRATOR] INDIANS CONTINUED TO DIE FROM DISEASES 1400 01:12:10,010 --> 01:12:14,010 THE WHITE MAN HAD INADVERTENTLY INTRODUCED AMONG THEM, 1401 01:12:14,080 --> 01:12:17,730 BUT NOW THOUSANDS MORE WERE BEING KILLED DELIBERATELY. 1402 01:12:19,570 --> 01:12:23,020 [MAN] "THE BOLD VOLUNTEERS CREPT ON THEM BEFORE DAY 1403 01:12:23,090 --> 01:12:25,490 "AND KILLED ABOUT NINE MEN, 1404 01:12:25,560 --> 01:12:27,630 "THE BALANCE ESCAPING. 1405 01:12:27,690 --> 01:12:30,030 "THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN REMAINED, 1406 01:12:30,090 --> 01:12:32,530 "TRUSTING THAT AN AMERICAN 1407 01:12:32,600 --> 01:12:36,130 "WOULD NOT MURDER WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 1408 01:12:36,200 --> 01:12:39,020 "IN THIS, THEY WERE MISTAKEN. 1409 01:12:39,090 --> 01:12:41,020 "THE AMERICANS SEARCHED AROUND 1410 01:12:41,090 --> 01:12:43,820 "AMONG THE HAYSTACKS WITH A HATCHET 1411 01:12:43,890 --> 01:12:47,040 "AND SPLIT THE CHILDREN'S HEADS OPEN. 1412 01:12:47,110 --> 01:12:48,810 "IN THIS WAY, 1413 01:12:48,880 --> 01:12:52,100 THERE WERE OVER 40 WOMEN AND CHILDREN BUTCHERED." 1414 01:12:55,600 --> 01:12:58,990 [NARRATOR] THE TOWNS OF MARYSVILLE AND HONEY LAKE 1415 01:12:59,060 --> 01:13:01,540 PAID BOUNTIES FOR INDIAN SCALPS. 1416 01:13:01,610 --> 01:13:05,980 SHASTA CITY OFFERED $5.00 FOR EVERY INDIAN HEAD 1417 01:13:06,050 --> 01:13:08,480 BROUGHT TO CITY HALL, 1418 01:13:08,550 --> 01:13:10,990 AND CALIFORNIA'S STATE TREASURY 1419 01:13:11,050 --> 01:13:13,940 REIMBURSED MANY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 1420 01:13:14,000 --> 01:13:16,010 FOR THEIR EXPENSES. 1421 01:13:16,070 --> 01:13:18,440 "IT WAS OF NO UNFREQUENT OCCURRENCE 1422 01:13:18,510 --> 01:13:22,010 "FOR AN INDIAN TO BE SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD 1423 01:13:22,080 --> 01:13:25,020 "OR A SQUAW TO BE RAPED BY SOME BRUTE. 1424 01:13:25,080 --> 01:13:27,350 "SUCH A THING AS A WHITE MAN 1425 01:13:27,400 --> 01:13:29,840 "BEING PUNISHED FOR OUTRAGING AN INDIAN 1426 01:13:29,900 --> 01:13:31,360 "WAS UNHEARD OF. 1427 01:13:31,420 --> 01:13:32,720 "IT WAS THE FABLE 1428 01:13:32,790 --> 01:13:36,530 OF THE WOLF AND THE LAMB EVERY TIME." 1429 01:13:36,590 --> 01:13:38,930 GENERAL GEORGE CROOK. 1430 01:13:41,430 --> 01:13:45,540 [NARRATOR] THERE WERE SOME 150,000 INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA 1431 01:13:45,600 --> 01:13:48,520 BEFORE THE FORTY-NINERS CAME. 1432 01:13:48,590 --> 01:13:52,530 BY 1870, THERE WOULD BE FEWER THAN 30,000. 1433 01:13:52,590 --> 01:13:56,550 IT WAS THE WORST SLAUGHTER OF INDIAN PEOPLES 1434 01:13:56,610 --> 01:13:58,620 IN UNITED STATES HISTORY. 1435 01:14:13,550 --> 01:14:15,480 [SABRINA] "AND NOW, MY DEAR, 1436 01:14:15,550 --> 01:14:17,480 "ALLOW ME TO ASK, 1437 01:14:17,550 --> 01:14:21,000 "ARE YOUR MOST SANGUINE EXPECTATIONS REALIZED, 1438 01:14:21,070 --> 01:14:23,010 "OR AT LEAST BEING SO? 1439 01:14:23,070 --> 01:14:26,490 "OR DO YOU FIND THINGS VERY MUCH EXAGGERATED? 1440 01:14:26,560 --> 01:14:29,510 "WOULD YOU ADVISE ANYONE TO GO TO CALIFORNIA? 1441 01:14:29,580 --> 01:14:32,180 "THERE ARE MANY ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM YOU 1442 01:14:32,250 --> 01:14:34,020 AND LEARN THE PROSPECTS." 1443 01:14:34,080 --> 01:14:35,400 SABRINA. 1444 01:14:39,090 --> 01:14:40,870 [NARRATOR] EVERYTHING HAD GONE WRONG 1445 01:14:40,940 --> 01:14:43,010 FOR WILLIAM SWAIN. 1446 01:14:43,080 --> 01:14:46,510 HE'D SPENT THE WHOLE COLD, RAINY WINTER 1447 01:14:46,580 --> 01:14:50,130 IN A CLAUSTROPHOBIC CABIN ON THE FEATHER RIVER. 1448 01:14:50,200 --> 01:14:53,020 IN THE SPRING, HE AND HIS PARTNERS 1449 01:14:53,090 --> 01:14:56,020 MOVED TO FOSTER'S BAR ON THE YUBA, 1450 01:14:56,090 --> 01:15:00,430 ONLY TO BE KEPT FROM PANNING BY A HEAVY SPRING SNOW MELT 1451 01:15:00,510 --> 01:15:04,460 THAT TURNED THE CLEAR STREAM INTO A ROARING BROWN RIVER. 1452 01:15:04,530 --> 01:15:06,970 "FIVE MONTHS, RAIN," HE WROTE, 1453 01:15:07,050 --> 01:15:08,970 "FOUR MONTHS, HIGH WATER, 1454 01:15:09,040 --> 01:15:13,520 AND THREE MONTHS, ALMOST TOO HOT TO WORK." 1455 01:15:13,590 --> 01:15:17,980 DAY AFTER DAY WITHOUT SUCCESS TAXED HIM, 1456 01:15:18,050 --> 01:15:22,550 BUT SO DID HIS FEAR OF RETURNING HOME A FAILURE. 1457 01:15:24,070 --> 01:15:26,990 [HOLLIDAY] PRIDE IS A POWERFUL FORCE, 1458 01:15:27,050 --> 01:15:30,370 THE PRIDE THAT KEPT SO MANY MEN IN CALIFORNIA. 1459 01:15:30,440 --> 01:15:32,610 THEY WANT TO GO HOME. 1460 01:15:32,680 --> 01:15:35,500 "BUT I CAN'T GO UNTIL I'VE GOT SOMETHING 1461 01:15:35,560 --> 01:15:37,000 "TO PROVE MY SUCCESS. 1462 01:15:37,060 --> 01:15:39,500 "THEY'VE BEEN READING ABOUT SUCCESS BACK HOME. 1463 01:15:39,570 --> 01:15:42,520 "I KNOW," SAYS THE MINER, "HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FAILING. 1464 01:15:42,590 --> 01:15:46,010 "FAILURE IS THE MOST COMMON FACT OF LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. 1465 01:15:46,070 --> 01:15:47,460 "THEY DON'T KNOW THAT. 1466 01:15:47,520 --> 01:15:49,330 "HOW CAN I GO HOME A FAILURE 1467 01:15:49,390 --> 01:15:52,010 WHEN THEY EXPECT ME TO COME HOME A SUCCESS?" 1468 01:15:52,080 --> 01:15:53,200 SO THEY STAY. 1469 01:15:55,600 --> 01:15:58,040 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "DEAR SABRINA, 1470 01:15:58,100 --> 01:16:01,520 "MY SPECIFIC ANSWER TO YOUR KIND QUESTION 1471 01:16:01,590 --> 01:16:05,360 "IS THAT MY EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT REALIZED. 1472 01:16:05,430 --> 01:16:08,480 "WE HAVE BEEN UNLUCKY, 1473 01:16:08,550 --> 01:16:10,980 "OR RATHER, BY BEING INEXPERIENCED, 1474 01:16:11,050 --> 01:16:13,970 "WE SELECTED A POOR SPOT FOR A LOCATION 1475 01:16:14,030 --> 01:16:16,470 "AND STAKED ALL ON IT, 1476 01:16:16,540 --> 01:16:19,490 "AND IT HAS PROVED WORTH NOTHING. 1477 01:16:19,560 --> 01:16:21,490 "I MOSTLY REGRET THE NECESSITY 1478 01:16:21,560 --> 01:16:23,560 OF STAYING HERE LONGER." 1479 01:16:25,280 --> 01:16:27,480 [NARRATOR] BY THE SUMMER OF 1850, 1480 01:16:27,550 --> 01:16:30,500 WILLIAM SWAIN HAD BEEN AWAY FROM HOME 1481 01:16:30,570 --> 01:16:32,500 FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. 1482 01:16:32,570 --> 01:16:37,490 ALL HE HAD TO SHOW FOR HIS TREK ACROSS THE CONTINENT WAS $500-- 1483 01:16:37,560 --> 01:16:41,010 NOWHERE NEAR HIS GOAL OF 10,000. 1484 01:16:41,080 --> 01:16:44,900 THEN HE GOT A LETTER FROM HIS BROTHER. 1485 01:16:44,970 --> 01:16:47,000 [GEORGE SWAIN] "DEAR WILLIAM, 1486 01:16:47,070 --> 01:16:49,000 "KEEP YOUR COURAGE UP. 1487 01:16:49,070 --> 01:16:50,450 "IF YOU FAIL THERE, 1488 01:16:50,500 --> 01:16:52,520 "YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME. 1489 01:16:52,590 --> 01:16:54,830 "YOU HAVE TRIED YOUR BEST TO DO WELL, 1490 01:16:54,880 --> 01:16:57,510 "AND IF YOU CAN'T DO IT THERE, 1491 01:16:57,580 --> 01:16:59,000 "YOU ARE BETTER OFF 1492 01:16:59,060 --> 01:17:01,480 "THAN MANY WHO HAVE GONE THERE WITH THEIR ALL 1493 01:17:01,550 --> 01:17:03,950 "AND LEFT NOTHING BEHIND TO FALL BACK ON. 1494 01:17:04,020 --> 01:17:05,440 "YOUHAVESOMETHING 1495 01:17:05,500 --> 01:17:07,960 "AND FRIENDS WHO WILL MEET YOU 1496 01:17:08,020 --> 01:17:10,460 "JUST AS CORDIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL AS SUCCESSFUL. 1497 01:17:10,520 --> 01:17:12,460 "TO TELL THE PLAIN TRUTH, 1498 01:17:12,530 --> 01:17:13,980 "I WISH MOST SINCERELY 1499 01:17:14,040 --> 01:17:15,980 "YOU WERE OUT OF THAT-- 1500 01:17:16,050 --> 01:17:17,460 "IF YOU ARE ALIVE-- 1501 01:17:17,530 --> 01:17:18,930 "AND AT HOME, 1502 01:17:19,000 --> 01:17:20,970 "NO MATTER IF YOU HAVEN'T 1503 01:17:21,030 --> 01:17:22,790 "GOT A SINGLE MILL. 1504 01:17:22,850 --> 01:17:25,060 YOUR BROTHER, GEORGE SWAIN." 1505 01:17:27,540 --> 01:17:30,490 [NARRATOR] REASSURED BY HIS BROTHER'S LETTER, 1506 01:17:30,560 --> 01:17:33,500 IN NOVEMBER, SWAIN LEFT THE DIGGINGS 1507 01:17:33,550 --> 01:17:35,980 AND HEADED FOR SAN FRANCISCO. 1508 01:17:36,050 --> 01:17:40,490 BY THE TIME HE PAID FOR HIS PASSAGE HOME BY SEA, 1509 01:17:40,550 --> 01:17:43,510 HE HAD NO MORE CASH IN HIS POCKET 1510 01:17:43,570 --> 01:17:46,990 THAN WHEN HE'D LEFT YOUNGSTOWN 18 MONTHS EARLIER. 1511 01:17:48,580 --> 01:17:51,010 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "NOVEMBER 6, 1850, 1512 01:17:51,080 --> 01:17:53,020 "SAN FRANCISCO. 1513 01:17:53,080 --> 01:17:55,020 "DEAR FRIENDS, 1514 01:17:55,090 --> 01:17:58,510 "IT IS A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE WRITTEN HOME. 1515 01:17:58,570 --> 01:18:00,510 "I HAVE GOT ENOUGH OF CALIFORNIA 1516 01:18:00,570 --> 01:18:03,460 "AND AM COMING HOME AS FAST AS I CAN. 1517 01:18:03,530 --> 01:18:05,350 "I REMAIN, AS EVER, 1518 01:18:05,410 --> 01:18:08,470 "YOUR SON, BROTHER, AND HUSBAND, 1519 01:18:08,530 --> 01:18:10,030 WILLIAM." 1520 01:18:17,360 --> 01:18:19,790 ♪ OF ALL THE COMRADES I HAD THEN ♪ 1521 01:18:19,860 --> 01:18:22,280 ♪ THERE'S NONE LEFT NOW BUT ME ♪ 1522 01:18:22,350 --> 01:18:24,970 ♪♪ AND THE ONLY THING I'M FITTING FOR ♪ 1523 01:18:25,030 --> 01:18:27,690 ♪ IS A SENATOR-TO-BE ♪ 1524 01:18:27,750 --> 01:18:30,290 ♪♪ AND THE PEOPLE CRY AS I PASS BY ♪ 1525 01:18:30,350 --> 01:18:34,340 ♪ "THERE GOES A TRAVELING SIGN" ♪ 1526 01:18:34,410 --> 01:18:37,140 ♪ "THAT'S OLD TOM MOORE, A BUMMER SURE" ♪ 1527 01:18:37,210 --> 01:18:39,610 ♪ "FROM THE DAYS OF '49" ♪♪ 1528 01:18:39,680 --> 01:18:42,300 ♪ OH, I MISS THE BOYS AND ALL THE NOISE ♪ 1529 01:18:42,370 --> 01:18:45,490 ♪ AND THE GOLD THAT ONCE WAS MINE ♪ 1530 01:18:45,550 --> 01:18:47,820 ♪ IN THE DAYS OF OLD, THE DAYS OF GOLD ♪ 1531 01:18:47,890 --> 01:18:49,990 ♪♪ THE DAYS OF '49 ♪ 1532 01:18:50,060 --> 01:18:52,230 ♪ IN THE DAYS OF OLD WHEN WE DUG UP THE GOLD ♪ 1533 01:18:52,290 --> 01:18:55,150 ♪ IN THE DAYS OF '49 ♪♪ 1534 01:19:04,520 --> 01:19:06,860 [NARRATOR] WITHIN A FEW SHORT YEARS, 1535 01:19:06,920 --> 01:19:10,460 THE SURFACE GOLD IN CALIFORNIA WAS ALL BUT GONE. 1536 01:19:10,530 --> 01:19:12,280 MOST OF WHAT GOLD REMAINED 1537 01:19:12,360 --> 01:19:15,270 COULD NO LONGER BE RETRIEVED BY A SINGLE MINER 1538 01:19:15,330 --> 01:19:17,950 WITH A PICK OR SHOVEL OR PAN, 1539 01:19:18,020 --> 01:19:20,390 NO MATTER HOW HARD HE WORKED. 1540 01:19:20,450 --> 01:19:23,460 IT LAY AT THE BOTTOM OF RIVERS, 1541 01:19:23,520 --> 01:19:25,460 IN VEINS OF QUARTZ 1542 01:19:25,530 --> 01:19:28,480 THAT COULD ONLY BE REACHED BY DEEP SHAFTS, 1543 01:19:28,550 --> 01:19:31,970 OR HIDDEN IN HILLSIDES FROM WHICH IT HAD TO BE BLASTED 1544 01:19:32,030 --> 01:19:33,900 BY POWERFUL STREAMS OF WATER. 1545 01:19:33,970 --> 01:19:37,490 BIG MACHINERY REQUIRED BIG MONEY. 1546 01:19:37,550 --> 01:19:41,990 CALIFORNIA'S GOLD FIELDS WERE SOON CONTROLLED BY INVESTORS 1547 01:19:42,060 --> 01:19:44,490 WITH HEADQUARTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO 1548 01:19:44,560 --> 01:19:46,500 AND WORKED BY MINERS 1549 01:19:46,560 --> 01:19:49,920 WHO NOW LABORED FOR A WEEKLY PAYCHECK. 1550 01:19:51,400 --> 01:19:53,800 AS DISCOURAGED FORTY-NINERS HEADED HOME, 1551 01:19:53,870 --> 01:19:58,360 SOME PAUSED TO PAN FOR GOLD IN PLACES THEY HAD BYPASSED 1552 01:19:58,430 --> 01:20:00,490 IN THEIR HURRY TO CALIFORNIA. 1553 01:20:00,560 --> 01:20:03,750 OTHERS FANNED OUT IN EVERY DIRECTION. 1554 01:20:03,810 --> 01:20:07,000 THERE WERE NEW STRIKES-- IN IDAHO, 1555 01:20:07,070 --> 01:20:10,490 OREGON, NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA, 1556 01:20:10,550 --> 01:20:15,810 LAST CHANCE GULCH IN MONTANA, PIKES PEAK IN COLORADO, 1557 01:20:15,880 --> 01:20:20,550 AND IN NEVADA, THE GREAT COMSTOCK LODE. 1558 01:20:20,610 --> 01:20:24,030 AND WHEREVER GOLD AND SILVER WERE DISCOVERED, 1559 01:20:24,100 --> 01:20:28,040 THE PATTERN SET IN CALIFORNIA REPEATED ITSELF. 1560 01:20:28,110 --> 01:20:32,040 AMERICANS RUSHED IN, TOWNS SPRANG UP, 1561 01:20:32,110 --> 01:20:36,030 AND INDIAN PEOPLES-- THE APACHE AND PAIUTE, 1562 01:20:36,100 --> 01:20:40,650 THE SHOSHONE AND COEUR D'ALENE, CHEYENNE AND NEZ PERCE-- 1563 01:20:40,720 --> 01:20:44,600 FOUND THEMSELVES OUTNUMBERED IN THEIR OWN LANDS. 1564 01:20:49,010 --> 01:20:51,450 "STEALING BEGAN." 1565 01:20:52,960 --> 01:20:55,060 "LAND, CATTLE, HORSES-- 1566 01:20:55,130 --> 01:20:58,050 "EVERYTHING BEGAN TO DISAPPEAR. 1567 01:20:58,120 --> 01:21:00,050 "THERE IS A SAYING 1568 01:21:00,120 --> 01:21:02,070 "THAT MEN WILL STEAL EVERYTHING 1569 01:21:02,140 --> 01:21:04,420 "BUT A MILESTONE AND A MILLSTONE. 1570 01:21:04,490 --> 01:21:07,490 THEY STOLE MY MILLSTONES." 1571 01:21:07,560 --> 01:21:09,500 JOHN AUGUSTUS SUTTER. 1572 01:21:09,560 --> 01:21:12,450 [NARRATOR] JOHN SUTTER HAD EXPECTED 1573 01:21:12,520 --> 01:21:16,520 THE GOLD RUSH TO MAKE HIM RICHER THAN EVER. 1574 01:21:16,590 --> 01:21:18,520 INSTEAD, IT RUINED HIM. 1575 01:21:18,590 --> 01:21:20,510 SQUATTERS TOOK OVER HIS LAND, 1576 01:21:20,590 --> 01:21:22,510 CREDITORS DOGGED HIM, 1577 01:21:22,580 --> 01:21:25,530 AND HE BEGAN TO DRINK HEAVILY. 1578 01:21:25,600 --> 01:21:29,870 FINALLY, SOMEONE BURNED DOWN HIS HOUSE. 1579 01:21:29,930 --> 01:21:32,040 SUTTER MOVED EAST 1580 01:21:32,100 --> 01:21:34,540 AND HAUNTED WASHINGTON FOR YEARS, 1581 01:21:34,600 --> 01:21:37,520 SEEKING COMPENSATION HE SAID HE WAS OWED 1582 01:21:37,590 --> 01:21:39,530 FOR HAVING OWNED THE LAND 1583 01:21:39,590 --> 01:21:42,550 ON WHICH GOLD WAS FIRST FOUND. 1584 01:21:42,610 --> 01:21:44,550 HE DIED IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1585 01:21:44,610 --> 01:21:47,550 STILL WAITING FOR CONGRESS TO ACT. 1586 01:21:47,620 --> 01:21:51,050 BUT SUTTER'S RUIN WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY 1587 01:21:51,120 --> 01:21:53,010 FOR SOMEONE ELSE. 1588 01:21:53,090 --> 01:21:56,540 NANCY GOOCH HAD COME WEST AS A SLAVE, 1589 01:21:56,610 --> 01:21:59,560 WAS EMANCIPATED WHEN CALIFORNIA ENTERED THE UNION, 1590 01:21:59,630 --> 01:22:02,620 AND GOT A JOB AS A COOK AND WASHERWOMAN. 1591 01:22:02,680 --> 01:22:04,480 SHE MANAGED TO EARN ENOUGH 1592 01:22:04,550 --> 01:22:08,000 TO BUY THE FREEDOM OF HER SON AND HIS WIFE 1593 01:22:08,070 --> 01:22:09,490 BACK IN MISSOURI. 1594 01:22:09,560 --> 01:22:10,990 THEY CAME WEST 1595 01:22:11,060 --> 01:22:13,990 AND EVENTUALLY BOUGHT THE SITE OF SUTTER'S SAWMILL 1596 01:22:14,060 --> 01:22:16,510 ON THE BANK OF THE AMERICAN RIVER, 1597 01:22:16,580 --> 01:22:18,580 WHERE THE GOLD RUSH HAD BEGUN. 1598 01:22:27,090 --> 01:22:29,530 [WILLIAM SWAIN] "ABSENCE FROM MY FRIENDS 1599 01:22:29,580 --> 01:22:32,510 "HAS GIVEN ME A TRUE VALUATION OF THEM, 1600 01:22:32,580 --> 01:22:35,530 "AND ALSO IT HAS TAUGHT ME TO APPRECIATE 1601 01:22:35,600 --> 01:22:38,680 THE COMFORTS AND BLESSINGS OF HOME." 1602 01:22:38,750 --> 01:22:41,040 [NARRATOR] WILLIAM SWAIN HAD FOUND 1603 01:22:41,110 --> 01:22:43,540 NO GOLD IN CALIFORNIA 1604 01:22:43,610 --> 01:22:46,530 AND HAD GONE HOME AND STARTED FARMING AGAIN 1605 01:22:46,590 --> 01:22:49,030 AS IF HE'D NEVER BEEN AWAY. 1606 01:22:49,100 --> 01:22:52,620 HE AND HIS WIFE SABRINA HAD THREE MORE CHILDREN... 1607 01:22:54,620 --> 01:22:58,040 AND SWAIN EVENTUALLY BECAME THE BIGGEST PEACH GROWER 1608 01:22:58,110 --> 01:23:00,270 IN NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK. 1609 01:23:03,190 --> 01:23:05,880 BUT IN THE EVENINGS ON HIS FARM 1610 01:23:05,950 --> 01:23:08,000 WHEN THE WORK WAS DONE, 1611 01:23:08,050 --> 01:23:10,980 HE NEVER TIRED OF TELLING HIS WIFE 1612 01:23:11,050 --> 01:23:12,990 AND HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN 1613 01:23:13,050 --> 01:23:16,510 ABOUT THE GREAT ADVENTURES HE HAD HAD 1614 01:23:16,570 --> 01:23:18,510 CROSSING THE COUNTRY 1615 01:23:18,580 --> 01:23:22,580 WHEN IT AND HE HAD BOTH BEEN YOUNG.