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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:06,633 --> 00:00:09,233 Narrator: IN 1848, A CHANCE DISCOVERY 2 00:00:09,233 --> 00:00:12,700 WOULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. 3 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,533 GOLD! 4 00:00:14,533 --> 00:00:16,400 OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,867 NEARLY 300,000 PEOPLE WOULD HEAD WEST 6 00:00:18,867 --> 00:00:23,667 IN A HUNT FOR OVER $25 BILLION OF BURIED TREASURE. 7 00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:25,300 [ ALL CHEERING ] 8 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:29,000 FOR SOME, IT WAS THE AMERICAN DREAM, 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,667 BUT FOR OTHERS, IT BECAME A NIGHTMARE. 10 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:35,933 Man: THIS IS CALIFORNIA -- THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG. 11 00:00:35,933 --> 00:00:38,500 IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU TAKE IT. 12 00:00:40,233 --> 00:00:41,533 [ GUNSHOT ] 13 00:00:41,533 --> 00:00:45,000 * TELL THEM THAT GOD'S GONNA STRIKE THEM DOWN * 14 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,600 * YOU MAY RUN FOR A LONG TIME * 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,600 * RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME * 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,533 * RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME * 17 00:00:55,533 --> 00:01:00,667 * LET ME TELL YOU THAT GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN * 18 00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:04,667 * YOU MAY RUN FOR A LONG TIME * 19 00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:07,267 * RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME * 20 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:10,433 * RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME * 21 00:01:10,433 --> 00:01:13,667 * LET ME TELL YOU THAT GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN * 22 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:16,967 Narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. 23 00:01:16,967 --> 00:01:19,700 -- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com 24 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:22,433 CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS 25 00:01:22,433 --> 00:01:30,567 * LET ME TELL YOU THAT GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN * 26 00:01:30,567 --> 00:01:32,933 [ INDISTINCT SHOUTING, GUNSHOTS ] 27 00:01:35,133 --> 00:01:37,167 Man: FALL BACK! FALL BACK! 28 00:01:37,167 --> 00:01:38,167 THEY'RE COMING. 29 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:55,633 Narrator: BY AUGUST OF 1850, 30 00:01:55,633 --> 00:01:58,933 GREED HAD TRANSFORMED THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH 31 00:01:58,933 --> 00:02:01,567 INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR, 32 00:02:01,567 --> 00:02:04,567 WHERE THOUSANDS OF 49ers 33 00:02:04,567 --> 00:02:07,300 DESPERATELY FOUGHT EACH OTHER FOR GOLD. 34 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,400 BUT JUST TWO AND A HALF YEARS EARLIER, 35 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,900 NO ONE HAD EVER EVEN HEARD OF CALIFORNIA. 36 00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:24,967 IT HAD BEEN JUST OVER 70 YEARS SINCE THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED, 37 00:02:24,967 --> 00:02:26,600 AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT 38 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,067 WAS ON THE VERGE OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. 39 00:02:30,067 --> 00:02:33,700 THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN IN ESSENTIALLY A DEPRESSION 40 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:35,067 FOR A DOZEN YEARS. 41 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:39,800 THERE'S NO REAL GOOD WAY, 42 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,167 NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU WORK IN THE UNITED STATES, 43 00:02:41,167 --> 00:02:42,633 TO GET AHEAD. 44 00:02:42,633 --> 00:02:47,600 Narrator: ALMOST THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 20 MILLION PEOPLE 45 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,100 LIVED ON THE EAST COAST, 46 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:55,300 WHILE THE WEST WAS A VAST, EMPTY WILDERNESS. 47 00:02:55,300 --> 00:03:00,333 AND AT THE FURTHEST POINT AWAY SAT CALIFORNIA. 48 00:03:02,267 --> 00:03:04,067 NOT EVEN YET A STATE, 49 00:03:04,067 --> 00:03:07,633 CALIFORNIA WAS HOME TO BARELY 1,800 AMERICANS. 50 00:03:07,633 --> 00:03:12,233 BACK THEN, ONLY A SELECT FEW WHERE BRAVE ENOUGH -- 51 00:03:12,233 --> 00:03:16,200 OR STUPID ENOUGH -- TO MAKE THE TREK WEST. 52 00:03:37,233 --> 00:03:39,533 JAMES MARSHALL WAS AN ORDINARY GUY 53 00:03:39,533 --> 00:03:42,967 WHO CAME TO CALIFORNIA TO START A NEW LIFE. 54 00:03:42,967 --> 00:03:45,567 HE FOUND WORK BUILDING A SMALL SAWMILL 55 00:03:45,567 --> 00:03:47,633 ON THE AMERICAN RIVER. 56 00:03:47,633 --> 00:03:49,533 HE WASN'T LOOKING TO GET RICH, 57 00:03:49,533 --> 00:03:53,133 BUT SOMETIMES THE MOMENTS THAT FOREVER CHANGE THE WORLD... 58 00:03:55,067 --> 00:03:57,300 ...ARE NOTHING MORE THAN ACCIDENTS. 59 00:04:16,733 --> 00:04:20,300 ON JANUARY 24, 1848, 60 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:23,167 JAMES MARSHALL BECAME THE FIRST MAN 61 00:04:23,167 --> 00:04:26,067 TO FIND GOLD IN CALIFORNIA. 62 00:04:29,067 --> 00:04:32,200 OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, 63 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,500 MARSHALL AND HIS MEN CONTINUE TO FIND GOLD, 64 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:37,233 AND THEY KEPT IT QUIET 65 00:04:37,233 --> 00:04:39,900 SO THEY COULD HAVE IT ALL FOR THEMSELVES. 66 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:43,700 BUT THEN, MARSHALL MADE A HUGE MISTAKE. 67 00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:45,767 [ HORSE WHINNIES ] 68 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,733 [ BELL JINGLES ] 69 00:04:56,733 --> 00:04:58,933 [ BELL JINGLES ] 70 00:05:05,267 --> 00:05:07,567 YOU STILL OWE ME FOR THE TOOLS. 71 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:21,667 WHERE YOU'D GET THAT? 72 00:05:23,933 --> 00:05:26,433 CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? 73 00:05:34,433 --> 00:05:39,467 SAM BRANNAN WAS A 29-YEAR-OLD SHOPKEEPER, 74 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:41,600 AND HE HAD JUST LEARNED SOMETHING 75 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,667 THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE. 76 00:05:44,667 --> 00:05:47,167 BUT HE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY RUN INTO THE FIELDS 77 00:05:47,167 --> 00:05:48,933 TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND GOLD. 78 00:05:48,933 --> 00:05:55,700 INSTEAD, HE CAME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE MASTERFUL, 79 00:05:55,700 --> 00:06:00,667 AND HE BET EVERY PENNY HE HAD ON IT. 80 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,233 BRANNAN BOUGHT EVERY SHOVEL, EVERY PAN, 81 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:10,700 EVERY MINING TOOL AROUND, 82 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:16,633 AND MADE SURE NO OTHER STORE FOR 1,000 MILES HAD ANY LEFT. 83 00:06:24,167 --> 00:06:27,900 AND THEN HE STARTED THE SECOND PART OF HIS PLAN. 84 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:32,833 SAM BRANNAN WAS SOMETHING OF AN ENIGMATIC CHARACTER. 85 00:06:35,833 --> 00:06:40,600 HE WAS PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNIST AS MUCH AS HE WAS ANYTHING ELSE. 86 00:06:45,333 --> 00:06:46,667 [ HORSE WHINNIES ] 87 00:07:06,433 --> 00:07:07,833 GOLD! 88 00:07:09,367 --> 00:07:11,067 GOLD! 89 00:07:11,067 --> 00:07:15,300 GOLD FOUND IN THE AMERICAN RIVER! 90 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:16,367 GOLD. 91 00:07:16,367 --> 00:07:20,067 BRANNAN'S GOT BOTTLES FULL OF GOLD, 92 00:07:20,067 --> 00:07:23,200 AND HE TAKES THOSE BOTTLES AND HE WAVES THEM IN THE AIR, 93 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,667 YELLING, "GOLD! GOLD! 94 00:07:26,667 --> 00:07:28,900 GOLD FROM THE AMERICAN RIVER." 95 00:07:28,900 --> 00:07:33,167 GOLD! GOLD. REAL GOLD! 96 00:07:33,167 --> 00:07:35,100 GOLD! 97 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:38,700 Narrator: BRANNAN KNEW HE HAD A MONOPOLY ON SUPPLIES. 98 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:40,333 GOLD! 99 00:07:40,333 --> 00:07:42,567 HE JUST NEEDED THE WORD TO SPREAD FAR ENOUGH 100 00:07:42,567 --> 00:07:44,467 SO PEOPLE WOULD COME TO CALIFORNIA 101 00:07:44,467 --> 00:07:49,200 AND HAVE TO BUY THOSE SUPPLIES...FROM HIM. 102 00:07:59,133 --> 00:08:03,733 NEWS OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA TOOK THE COUNTRY BY STORM. 103 00:08:03,733 --> 00:08:06,333 READ ALL ABOUT IT! 104 00:08:06,333 --> 00:08:09,733 HEADLINES SPLASHED ACROSS THE FRONT PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS 105 00:08:09,733 --> 00:08:13,333 FROM CALIFORNIA ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK CITY, 106 00:08:13,333 --> 00:08:18,367 INSTANTLY GRABBING THE ATTENTION OF A POOR AND DESPERATE NATION. 107 00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:21,067 PEOPLE ARE HEARING THESE STORIES FROM CALIFORNIA 108 00:08:21,067 --> 00:08:25,067 OF PEOPLE PICKING UP, IN A MORNING, 109 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:28,067 MORE MONEY THAN THEY'D MAKE IN A YEAR. 110 00:08:28,067 --> 00:08:33,233 AND THAT STARTS THIS EXPLOSION -- A FRENZY -- 111 00:08:33,233 --> 00:08:36,733 THAT SPREADS ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, 112 00:08:36,733 --> 00:08:39,567 THAT IS KNOWN EVERYWHERE AS "GOLD FEVER." 113 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:43,433 Narrator: WITHIN WEEKS, 114 00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:45,833 THOUSANDS OF PROSPECTORS DROPPED EVERYTHING 115 00:08:45,833 --> 00:08:49,200 AND CRAMMED ONTO TRAINS AND RIVERBOATS. 116 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,467 GOLD HAS THIS "MYSTICAL POWER" ON MAN. 117 00:08:52,467 --> 00:08:56,867 THEY VIEW GOLD AS THEIR WAY OUT, 118 00:08:56,867 --> 00:09:01,500 THEIR WAY TO ESCAPE THEIR MUNDANE LIVING. 119 00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:02,700 THEY JUST TAKE OFF. 120 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:05,267 THEY LEAVE FAMILY, THEY LEAVE THEIR SECURITY, 121 00:09:05,267 --> 00:09:06,833 AND THEY GO CHASE THE GOLD. 122 00:09:06,833 --> 00:09:11,167 Narrator: THEY RODE AS FAR WEST AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY GO, 123 00:09:11,167 --> 00:09:14,100 BUT NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM, 124 00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:17,300 THEY ALL ENDED UP IN THE SAME PLACE -- 125 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:19,467 INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI -- 126 00:09:19,467 --> 00:09:21,967 THE START OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL 127 00:09:21,967 --> 00:09:25,133 AND THE END OF CIVILIZATION. 128 00:09:41,333 --> 00:09:43,267 AT VARIOUS TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 129 00:09:43,267 --> 00:09:45,067 YOU COULD SAY, "THIS IS WHERE THE WEST BEGINS." 130 00:09:45,067 --> 00:09:47,300 BUT IN 1849, 131 00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:50,167 IT BEGAN SPECIFICALLY AT THE MISSOURI RIVER 132 00:09:50,167 --> 00:09:51,533 AND AT PLACES LIKE INDEPENDENCE, 133 00:09:51,533 --> 00:09:53,233 WHERE THERE WERE FOLKS 134 00:09:53,233 --> 00:09:55,633 WHO COULD SELL YOU SORT OF THE LAST THING YOU NEED. 135 00:09:55,633 --> 00:09:57,267 EVEN TODAY IN THE WEST, YOU'LL SEE SIGNS, 136 00:09:57,267 --> 00:10:00,233 "LAST GAS FOR 117 MILES." 137 00:10:00,233 --> 00:10:02,233 WELL, THIS WAS BASICALLY THE SAME THING -- 138 00:10:02,233 --> 00:10:05,433 LAST PROVISIONS FOR 1,200 MILES. 139 00:10:05,433 --> 00:10:07,700 Narrator: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GOLD PROSPECTORS 140 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:09,967 ARRIVED IN INDEPENDENCE, 141 00:10:09,967 --> 00:10:14,300 PREPARED TO MAKE THE JOURNEY INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN. 142 00:10:16,267 --> 00:10:18,367 AMONG THEM WAS CHARLES ROBINSON, 143 00:10:18,367 --> 00:10:22,167 A 31-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR FROM SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 144 00:10:22,167 --> 00:10:26,467 WHO GAVE UP HIS PRACTICE TO GO FIND RICHES. 145 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,267 LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT ONE DAY HE WOULD BECOME 146 00:10:32,267 --> 00:10:36,400 ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. 147 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,700 BUT AT THAT POINT, HE WAS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, 148 00:10:40,700 --> 00:10:42,533 A PROSPECTIVE MINER, 149 00:10:42,533 --> 00:10:46,433 LOOKING FOR A GROUP OF 49ers TO JOIN UP WITH. 150 00:10:46,433 --> 00:10:50,667 WHEN YOU VENTURED OUT WEST, YOU DIDN'T GO ALONE. 151 00:10:50,667 --> 00:10:53,000 INSTEAD, MINERS TRAVELED IN COMPANIES 152 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,567 TO PROTECT AGAINST THE VIOLENCE OF THE TRAIL. 153 00:10:56,567 --> 00:11:01,900 OVERLAND COMPANIES ARE ORGANIZED AS JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. 154 00:11:01,900 --> 00:11:05,367 THAT MEANS EVERYBODY PITCHES IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY 155 00:11:05,367 --> 00:11:07,833 AND THEY ALL AGREE TO SHARE THE PROFITS. 156 00:11:07,833 --> 00:11:09,900 AND THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HELP EACH OTHER 157 00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:14,733 IN THIS ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING OF GOING 2,000 MILES 158 00:11:14,733 --> 00:11:18,067 ACROSS THE PLAINS AND MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. 159 00:11:18,067 --> 00:11:22,133 Narrator: ROBINSON HAD HIS EYE ON A COMPANY OUT OF BOSTON 160 00:11:22,133 --> 00:11:24,633 HAVING GOTTEN WORD THAT THEY'D SUNK THEIR MONEY 161 00:11:24,633 --> 00:11:27,967 INTO A HIGH-TECH GOLD-WASHING MACHINE, 162 00:11:27,967 --> 00:11:32,067 ONE THAT PROMISED TO GIVE THEM AN EDGE IN THE GOLDFIELDS. 163 00:11:32,067 --> 00:11:33,667 CAREFUL! CAREFUL! 164 00:11:33,667 --> 00:11:36,233 THAT'S WORTH MORE THAN THE PAIR OF YOU. 165 00:11:36,233 --> 00:11:39,067 YOU GOT ROOM FOR ONE MORE? 166 00:11:39,067 --> 00:11:40,767 IT'S $300. 167 00:11:40,767 --> 00:11:43,767 I'M A DOCTOR. 168 00:11:53,567 --> 00:11:55,433 FOLLOW ME. 169 00:11:55,433 --> 00:12:00,467 DOCTORS WERE PROBABLY THE MOST VALUED INDIVIDUALS -- 170 00:12:00,467 --> 00:12:02,833 YOU KNOW, BY PROFESSION -- ON THE TRAIL WEST. 171 00:12:02,833 --> 00:12:06,500 IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY WHO HAD SET A BROKEN LIMB BEFORE, 172 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:07,600 THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL. 173 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,600 GUNS WENT OFF BY ACCIDENT AND ON PURPOSE, 174 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,133 AND PEOPLE HAD GUNSHOT WOUNDS. 175 00:12:12,133 --> 00:12:16,067 A DOCTOR COULD BE ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT. 176 00:12:19,167 --> 00:12:23,967 FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHO I AM, I AM CAPTAIN WEBBER. 177 00:12:23,967 --> 00:12:28,067 I'M THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THIS COMPANY. 178 00:12:28,067 --> 00:12:30,300 THE JOURNEY TO THE GOLDFIELDS 179 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:33,500 IS NOT FOR THE WEAK OR FAINTHEARTED. 180 00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:36,167 WE WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGH UNTAMED LANDS, 181 00:12:36,167 --> 00:12:39,200 WHERE SCORCHING DESERTS, WILD ANIMALS, 182 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,133 AND INDIAN SAVAGES LIE IN WAIT. 183 00:12:43,133 --> 00:12:45,567 NOT ALL OF YOU WILL COME BACK ALIVE, 184 00:12:45,567 --> 00:12:51,367 BUT THOSE WHO DO WILL BE RICH MEN. 185 00:12:53,067 --> 00:12:55,133 MAN UP! 186 00:12:55,133 --> 00:12:58,967 Eymann: 49ers THAT WERE EMBARKING ON THE JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA, 187 00:12:58,967 --> 00:13:00,633 THIS WAS A GRAND ADVENTURE. 188 00:13:00,633 --> 00:13:01,800 HYAH! 189 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,433 THEY LOOKED AT THIS AS THEIR BIG OPPORTUNITY, 190 00:13:04,433 --> 00:13:06,067 AND YOU COULD SEE THERE WAS THIS SENSE 191 00:13:06,067 --> 00:13:07,833 THAT THEY WERE PART OF A BIGGER MOVEMENT. 192 00:13:07,833 --> 00:13:12,200 THAT WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY. 193 00:13:16,367 --> 00:13:18,933 IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES 194 00:13:18,933 --> 00:13:20,233 THEY GO AFTER THE GOLD, 195 00:13:20,233 --> 00:13:22,967 NOT KNOWING THE PROCESS BY WHICH TO GET THE GOLD. 196 00:13:22,967 --> 00:13:24,167 THERE'S SO MUCH RISK. 197 00:13:24,167 --> 00:13:27,167 IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE LENGTHS AND THE HARDSHIPS 198 00:13:27,167 --> 00:13:30,067 THAT MEN WILL ENDURE TO FIND GOLD. 199 00:13:30,067 --> 00:13:32,833 Narrator: STARVATION, DISEASE, EVEN DEATH 200 00:13:32,833 --> 00:13:34,700 WERE ALL THAT SEPARATED THESE MEN 201 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:38,267 FROM RICHES UNLIKE ANY THEY'D EVER SEEN. 202 00:13:38,267 --> 00:13:40,567 MANY WOULDN'T MAKE IT BACK ALIVE, 203 00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:43,667 BUT IT WAS A RISK THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE. 204 00:14:00,067 --> 00:14:03,533 Narrator: THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH WAS TRANSFORMING AMERICA... 205 00:14:03,533 --> 00:14:06,933 AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOPEFUL 49ers 206 00:14:06,933 --> 00:14:09,700 SET OUT FOR THE WEST COAST. 207 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:12,233 SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE TRAVELED BY SHIP -- 208 00:14:12,233 --> 00:14:13,733 AN 8,000 MILE JOURNEY 209 00:14:13,733 --> 00:14:16,567 AROUND THE SOUTHERN TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA 210 00:14:16,567 --> 00:14:21,100 THAT COST THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF $32,000. 211 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:23,967 ANYONE WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A TICKET 212 00:14:23,967 --> 00:14:28,133 WENT OVERLAND ON A SIX-MONTH TREK ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 213 00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:32,733 IT WAS THE START OF THE LARGEST MASS MIGRATION 214 00:14:32,733 --> 00:14:35,467 THE COUNTRY HAD EVER SEEN. 215 00:14:39,067 --> 00:14:40,933 [ BIRD CAWING ] 216 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:51,500 THE JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA WAS DANGEROUS AND LONG, 217 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:55,600 AND SO GOING ALONE WAS A CERTAIN DEATH SENTENCE. 218 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:01,067 INSTEAD, PROSPECTIVE MINERS TRAVELED IN SMALL COMPANIES, 219 00:15:01,067 --> 00:15:04,133 LIKE THE CALIFORNIA MUTUAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION -- 220 00:15:04,133 --> 00:15:06,500 A GROUP OF 40 MEN FROM MASSACHUSETTS -- 221 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:10,433 THAT WAS BETTER KNOWN AS BOSTON COMPANY. 222 00:15:10,433 --> 00:15:13,133 AS WE KNOW FROM THE COMPANY'S MANIFEST, 223 00:15:13,133 --> 00:15:17,767 BOSTON COMPANY WAS BUILT LIKE EVERY OTHER OUTFIT ON THE TRAIL, 224 00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:22,300 ORGANIZED AROUND A NUMBER OF KEY POSITIONS. 225 00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:25,233 EACH COMPANY HAD A DOCTOR. 226 00:15:25,233 --> 00:15:27,967 FOR BOSTON COMPANY, THAT WAS CHARLES ROBINSON, 227 00:15:27,967 --> 00:15:31,067 SOMEONE WHO COULD KEEP THE MEN ALIVE AND WELL ON THE TRAIL 228 00:15:31,067 --> 00:15:32,700 AND OUT IN THE GOLDFIELDS. 229 00:15:34,333 --> 00:15:36,700 EVERY COMPANY HAD A HIRED GUN. 230 00:15:36,700 --> 00:15:39,300 FOR BOSTON COMPANY, THAT WAS WILLIAM WALKER... 231 00:15:42,533 --> 00:15:46,167 ...A MAN WHO HAD BEEN A MERCENARY IN SEVERAL WARS. 232 00:15:54,167 --> 00:15:57,100 MOST COMPANIES HAD A GOLD EXPERT. 233 00:15:57,100 --> 00:16:01,667 FOR BOSTON COMPANY, IT WAS SYLVESTER EDGERLY, 234 00:16:01,667 --> 00:16:04,400 A JEWELER WHO UNDERSTOOD THE PROPERTIES OF GOLD 235 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,900 AND KNEW HOW TO FIND IT. 236 00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:12,633 AND THEN THERE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION OF ALL -- 237 00:16:12,633 --> 00:16:14,567 THE COMPANY LEADER. 238 00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:17,767 FOR THE MOST PART, THESE WERE MEN WHO'D ALREADY BEEN OUT WEST 239 00:16:17,767 --> 00:16:19,333 AND KNEW THE LAY OF THE LAND, 240 00:16:19,333 --> 00:16:21,567 MEN LIKE JOHN WEBBER, 241 00:16:21,567 --> 00:16:24,967 A FORMER MAJOR IN THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE MILITIA 242 00:16:24,967 --> 00:16:26,700 WHO HAD FOUGHT IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR 243 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:28,967 JUST YEARS EARLIER. 244 00:16:28,967 --> 00:16:31,967 IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY WITH MILITARY EXPERIENCE, 245 00:16:31,967 --> 00:16:33,500 YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ALWAYS REASSURING 246 00:16:33,500 --> 00:16:35,700 IF ONLY BECAUSE THEY KNEW HOW TO HOLD THEMSELVES 247 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:37,367 AND TO COMMAND. 248 00:16:37,367 --> 00:16:40,067 Narrator: BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMPANY 249 00:16:40,067 --> 00:16:42,433 WERE JUST WIDE-EYED YOUNG MEN, 250 00:16:42,433 --> 00:16:45,400 LOOKING FOR AN EASY WAY TO GET RICH. 251 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,100 Brands: CALIFORNIA GAVE THEM THIS OPPORTUNITY 252 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:48,567 TO GO OFF IN AN ADVENTURE. 253 00:16:48,567 --> 00:16:51,467 THEY KNOW THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GONNA MAKE IT, 254 00:16:51,467 --> 00:16:54,067 BUT THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE. 255 00:16:54,067 --> 00:16:57,467 Narrator: HAVING A WELL-ORGANIZED COMPANY 256 00:16:57,467 --> 00:17:00,467 OFFERED PROTECTION ALONG THE ONLY ESTABLISHED OVERLAND ROUTE 257 00:17:00,467 --> 00:17:04,500 TO THE WEST COAST -- THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL -- 258 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:08,067 A PATH THAT CUT THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TERRITORY 259 00:17:08,067 --> 00:17:09,933 IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. 260 00:17:09,933 --> 00:17:14,267 ANIMAL ATTACKS, HARSH ELEMENTS, AND DEADLY DISEASE 261 00:17:14,267 --> 00:17:17,433 KILLED AN ESTIMATED 20,000 TRAVELERS 262 00:17:17,433 --> 00:17:19,733 BEFORE THEY EVER REACHED CALIFORNIA, 263 00:17:19,733 --> 00:17:25,167 OR ROUGHLY ONE DEATH FOR EVERY 500 FEET ON THE TRAIL. 264 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:32,267 NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE WEST WAS GOING TO BE LIKE. 265 00:17:32,267 --> 00:17:37,200 THE WEST WAS AS ALIEN TO TRAVELERS 266 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,633 AS THE SURFACE OF MARS WOULD BE TO US. 267 00:17:44,433 --> 00:17:46,900 Narrator: THE BEST THING A COMPANY COULD DO 268 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:50,533 WAS KEEP MOVING, NOT JUST FOR SAFETY, 269 00:17:50,533 --> 00:17:54,733 BUT BECAUSE MINERS WERE ALREADY STARTING TO SHOW UP 270 00:17:54,733 --> 00:17:57,367 IN CALIFORNIA. 271 00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:04,200 THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THE WEST OF BOSTON COMPANY, 272 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,967 A MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION WAS UNDER WAY. 273 00:18:07,967 --> 00:18:12,533 WHILE THE OVERLANDERS WERE STILL STUCK ON THE TRAIL, 274 00:18:12,533 --> 00:18:15,900 TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MINERS TRAVELING BY SEA 275 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:19,767 WERE DESCENDING ON THE SMALL PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO... 276 00:18:22,533 --> 00:18:25,400 ...WHICH WAS QUICKLY BECOMING A BOOMTOWN. 277 00:18:30,067 --> 00:18:34,867 AND IT WAS ALL THANKS TO THE VISION OF ONE MAN. 278 00:18:34,867 --> 00:18:38,200 IN THE MONTHS SINCE HE HAD SINGLE-HANDILY 279 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,400 SPARKED THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 280 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,933 SAM BRANNAN HAD WATCHED THE PIECES OF HIS MASTER PLAN 281 00:18:43,933 --> 00:18:47,467 FINALLY FALL INTO PLACE... 282 00:18:47,467 --> 00:18:50,800 AS THE POPULATION OF SAN FRANCISCO EXPLODED 283 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,100 BY OVER 1,200% IN JUST UNDER A YEAR. 284 00:18:57,333 --> 00:19:00,800 SAN FRANCISCO WAS THE CITY THAT GOLD BUILT. 285 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:06,433 WITHIN JUST MONTHS, IT BECAME A CITY OF 15,000, 286 00:19:06,433 --> 00:19:10,300 THEN 20,000, THEN 50,000 PEOPLE. 287 00:19:10,300 --> 00:19:12,133 IT'S PROBABLY THE INSTANCE 288 00:19:12,133 --> 00:19:14,967 OF THE FASTEST URBAN GROWTH IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 289 00:19:14,967 --> 00:19:19,967 Narrator: SAM BRANNAN'S STORE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN CALIFORNIA. 290 00:19:19,967 --> 00:19:24,300 EVERY FORTUNE SEEKER STOPPED TO STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES 291 00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:27,067 BEFORE HEADING OUT INTO THE GOLDFIELDS. 292 00:19:29,067 --> 00:19:30,300 $4.50 RIGHT THERE. 293 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:32,700 NOW, YOU KNOW THOSE ARE $2 APIECE? 294 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:35,267 THOSE LANTERNS ARE $2 APIECE. 295 00:19:35,267 --> 00:19:36,633 ALL RIGHT, SIR, WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE? 296 00:19:36,633 --> 00:19:39,533 FOR THE MAN WHO STARTED THE GOLD RUSH, 297 00:19:39,533 --> 00:19:41,600 BUSINESS WAS BOOMING. 298 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,967 NOW, HOLD ON, SIR. HOLD ON, SIR. HANG ON. 299 00:19:46,633 --> 00:19:48,267 BRANNAN HAD EVEN FOUND A WAY 300 00:19:48,267 --> 00:19:52,433 TO STAVE OFF ANY POTENTIAL COMPETITION. 301 00:19:52,433 --> 00:19:55,767 HE'D ROW OUT TO INCOMING SHIPS, FIND OUT WHAT THEY HAD ON BOARD, 302 00:19:55,767 --> 00:19:57,667 MAKE THEM AN OFFER FOR THE CARGO, 303 00:19:57,667 --> 00:20:00,000 IF HE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE WORTH A LOT, 304 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,067 AND BUY IT. 305 00:20:01,067 --> 00:20:05,167 HE WAS A COMPLETE OPPORTUNIST. 306 00:20:05,167 --> 00:20:08,400 Narrator: BEFORE LONG, BRANNAN'S STORE WAS BRINGING IN 307 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:13,433 THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF $2 MILLION A MONTH. 308 00:20:13,433 --> 00:20:17,100 Kurutz: HE WAS ABLE TO SELL THINGS AT TREMENDOUS PROFITS. 309 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:20,433 THINGS THAT COST 25 CENTS IN NEW YORK CITY, 310 00:20:20,433 --> 00:20:23,967 WOULD NOW COST $10 AT BRANNAN'S STORE. 311 00:20:23,967 --> 00:20:26,767 Narrator: SAM BRANNAN 312 00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:29,367 WAS THE FIRST MILLIONAIRE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 313 00:20:29,367 --> 00:20:32,367 IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 314 00:20:32,367 --> 00:20:34,333 AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF MINERS 315 00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:38,800 WHO WERE STILL NOWHERE CLOSE TO CALIFORNIA. 316 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,033 BACK IN THE PLAINS, 317 00:20:42,033 --> 00:20:44,333 BOSTON COMPANY 318 00:20:44,333 --> 00:20:48,167 WERE STILL ON THE EARLY LEG OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL, 319 00:20:48,167 --> 00:20:51,733 WHICH RAN ALONGSIDE THE PLATTE RIVER, 320 00:20:51,733 --> 00:20:54,233 A BROAD AND FAST-MOVING WATERWAY 321 00:20:54,233 --> 00:20:58,967 THAT CUT 300 MILES ACROSS THE FUTURE STATE OF NEBRASKA. 322 00:21:03,133 --> 00:21:06,600 BUT THE TRAIL DIDN'T JUST RUN NEXT TO THE RIVER. 323 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:11,067 AT TIMES, YOU HAD TO CROSS IT. 324 00:21:17,567 --> 00:21:19,700 [ HORSE NEIGHS ] 325 00:21:22,067 --> 00:21:26,833 WHAT THE HELL? WHY ARE WE STOPPED, WALKER? 326 00:21:33,467 --> 00:21:35,733 [ HORSE NEIGHS ] 327 00:21:35,733 --> 00:21:37,467 WHAT'S THE HOLDUP, CAPTAIN? 328 00:21:37,467 --> 00:21:40,567 WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FERRY CROSSING. 329 00:22:05,867 --> 00:22:10,133 THE ONLY WAY TO GET ACROSS THE RIVER WAS BY FERRY. 330 00:22:10,133 --> 00:22:11,967 COMPANIES WERE FORCED TO SHELL OUT 331 00:22:11,967 --> 00:22:14,800 THE MODERN EQUIVALENCE OF $6,000 332 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,433 FOR A RIDE ON A MAKESHIFT BARGE. 333 00:22:17,433 --> 00:22:19,767 BUT THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF FERRIES 334 00:22:19,767 --> 00:22:22,567 FOR THE THOUSANDS OF WAGONS, 335 00:22:22,567 --> 00:22:27,100 AND BOSTON COMPANY WAS NOW STUCK IN A LINE OVER 10 MILES LONG -- 336 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:30,733 A TRAFFIC JAM THAT COULD TAKE WEEKS TO CLEAR. 337 00:22:30,733 --> 00:22:32,800 [ SIGHS ] 338 00:22:34,333 --> 00:22:36,067 I'D SUGGEST WE FIND ANOTHER ROUTE. 339 00:22:36,067 --> 00:22:39,533 NO, WE STICK TO THE TRAIL. 340 00:22:42,533 --> 00:22:45,633 Eymann: THERE WERE A LOT OF GROUPS THAT WOULD DISAGREE 341 00:22:45,633 --> 00:22:47,600 ABOUT THE ROUTES THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE. 342 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,800 THEY WOULD DISAGREE WHETHER THEY WERE GONNA HEAD NORTH OR SOUTH, 343 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,167 AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL IN A COMPANY. 344 00:22:55,167 --> 00:22:58,067 Narrator: ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE, 345 00:22:58,067 --> 00:23:01,567 THE MEN WERE FORCED TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A NEW REALITY. 346 00:23:03,867 --> 00:23:08,067 THE FIRST PROSPECTORS WERE RETURNING EAST, 347 00:23:08,067 --> 00:23:09,567 BRINGING WITH THEM 348 00:23:09,567 --> 00:23:12,667 HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOLD. 349 00:23:24,233 --> 00:23:26,933 THAT, MY FRIEND, WILL BE US IN SIX MONTHS. 350 00:23:30,133 --> 00:23:34,367 WE'RE ALL GONNA BE RICH MEN. 351 00:23:36,467 --> 00:23:38,500 THIS AIN'T THE ONLY ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 352 00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:43,067 I SAY WE FIND ANOTHER. 353 00:23:43,067 --> 00:23:45,567 I TOLD YOU, WALKER, WE STICK TO THE TRAIL. 354 00:23:45,567 --> 00:23:48,900 LET'S PUT IT TO THE VOTE. 355 00:23:48,900 --> 00:23:50,067 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR 356 00:23:50,067 --> 00:23:52,100 OF FINDING A QUICKER WAY TO THE GOLDFIELDS, 357 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:54,467 RAISE YOUR HAND. 358 00:24:13,567 --> 00:24:15,067 YAH! 359 00:24:27,767 --> 00:24:31,333 THE DECISION TO GO OFF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL 360 00:24:31,333 --> 00:24:33,333 WAS A HUGE RISK. 361 00:24:33,333 --> 00:24:37,267 IT COULD GET THE COMPANY TO THE GOLDFIELDS FASTER, 362 00:24:37,267 --> 00:24:40,267 BUT IT ALSO SENT THEM RIGHT INTO THE HEART 363 00:24:40,267 --> 00:24:53,900 OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TERRITORY IN THE WEST. 364 00:24:57,667 --> 00:25:00,167 Narrator: THE GOLD RUSH WAS PULLING AMERICA WEST 365 00:25:00,167 --> 00:25:04,267 FASTER THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. 366 00:25:04,267 --> 00:25:06,767 MOST OF THE HOPEFUL 49ers TRAVELED ALONG 367 00:25:06,767 --> 00:25:10,233 THE WELL-ESTABLISHED CALIFORNIA TRAIL. 368 00:25:10,233 --> 00:25:11,567 BUT THEN THERE WERE SOME 369 00:25:11,567 --> 00:25:14,333 WHO WERE DARING ENOUGH TO SET OFF ON THEIR OWN. 370 00:25:14,333 --> 00:25:18,433 AMONG THEM WAS THE BOSTON COMPANY. 371 00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:23,333 NOW HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THEIR FELLOW PROSPECTORS, 372 00:25:23,333 --> 00:25:25,533 THE COMPANY WAS TREKKING 373 00:25:25,533 --> 00:25:29,267 DEEP INTO THE HEART OF INDIAN TERRITORY. 374 00:25:29,267 --> 00:25:33,667 Brands: THE INDIANS WERE NEVER A REAL THREAT ON THE TRAIL, 375 00:25:33,667 --> 00:25:38,433 BECAUSE HERE WAS THIS MASS OF PEOPLE HEADING OUT TO THE WEST, 376 00:25:38,433 --> 00:25:40,200 AND AS LONG AS THEY KEPT GOING, 377 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,867 THE INDIANS REALLY DIDN'T BOTHER THEM. 378 00:25:42,867 --> 00:25:44,633 Narrator: BUT OFF THE TRAIL, 379 00:25:44,633 --> 00:25:47,800 OVERLAND COMPANIES WERE ISOLATED AND VULNERABLE -- 380 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:53,667 EASY TARGETS FOR THE TRIBES WHO CALLED THESE LANDS HOME. 381 00:26:07,067 --> 00:26:08,200 Man: HOLD! 382 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:09,333 HOLD! 383 00:26:34,433 --> 00:26:36,833 WHY DON'T THEY ATTACK? 384 00:26:36,833 --> 00:26:40,400 Robinson: I DON'T KNOW. 385 00:26:43,967 --> 00:26:46,733 THE GREATEST FEAR OF THE OVERLAND IMMIGRANT 386 00:26:46,733 --> 00:26:48,367 WAS AN INDIAN ATTACK, 387 00:26:48,367 --> 00:26:52,533 AND ANYTIME THEY SAW INDIANS OFF IN THE DISTANCE -- 388 00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:54,300 COMANCHES, CHEYENNES, WHAT HAVE YOU -- 389 00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:56,867 THAT WAS A GREAT MOMENT OF TERROR. 390 00:26:57,967 --> 00:27:01,333 Narrator: BLOODY SCALPINGS, MIDNIGHT MASSACRES -- 391 00:27:01,333 --> 00:27:04,867 EVERY TRAVELER HAD HEARD THE STORIES. 392 00:27:04,867 --> 00:27:07,367 AS BOSTON COMPANY MEMBER WILLIAM WALKER RECORDED 393 00:27:07,367 --> 00:27:11,833 IN HIS JOURNAL IN AN ENTRY MARKED JUNE 5, 1849, 394 00:27:11,833 --> 00:27:15,500 "A RUMOR CAME UP TODAY THAT AN OHIO COMPANY WAS ATTACKED 395 00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:17,500 BY THE INDIANS BEHIND US. 396 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:19,767 SEVERAL KILLED." 397 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,333 [ WOLF HOWLING ] 398 00:27:35,367 --> 00:27:36,567 [ RUSTLE ] 399 00:27:36,567 --> 00:27:38,433 [ GASPS ] 400 00:28:29,533 --> 00:28:30,567 TAKE COVER! 401 00:28:30,567 --> 00:28:32,900 [ HORSE NEIGHING ] WHERE'S MY GUN? 402 00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:34,167 [ GUN CLICKS ] 403 00:28:35,233 --> 00:28:36,467 [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ] 404 00:28:42,233 --> 00:28:44,233 [ BIRD CAWING ] 405 00:28:50,067 --> 00:28:51,933 Narrator: AS MORNING BROKE, 406 00:28:51,933 --> 00:28:55,967 THE EXTENT OF THE RAID CAME TO LIGHT. 407 00:28:55,967 --> 00:28:58,867 THREE MEN WERE DEAD, 408 00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:01,167 AND THE SURVIVORS PICKED THROUGH 409 00:29:01,167 --> 00:29:03,733 WHAT LITTLE THE INDIANS LEFT BEHIND. 410 00:29:12,633 --> 00:29:15,733 MORE THAN HALF THEIR FOOD SUPPLY WAS GONE, 411 00:29:15,733 --> 00:29:18,867 AND THEY WERE LEFT WITH ONLY TWO WAGONS. 412 00:29:18,867 --> 00:29:21,067 Webber: WE ONLY TAKE WHAT WE NEED! 413 00:29:21,067 --> 00:29:23,500 PROVISIONS, SUPPLIES ON THE WAGON! 414 00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:27,600 COME ON, LET'S MOVE IT! 415 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,900 WE GOT TO GET MOVING! 416 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:34,400 Narrator: THE ONLY GOOD NEWS 417 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,567 WAS THAT BOSTON COMPANY STILL HAD THEIR GOLD WASHER. 418 00:29:38,567 --> 00:29:43,167 THAT GAVE THE MEN JUST ENOUGH HOPE TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN. 419 00:29:45,100 --> 00:29:46,967 BUT THE LAST LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY 420 00:29:46,967 --> 00:29:51,100 WAS ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS... 421 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:55,267 BECAUSE BETWEEN THERE AND THE GOLDFIELDS 422 00:29:55,267 --> 00:29:57,967 LIED THE MIGHTY SIERRA NEVADAS. 423 00:29:59,833 --> 00:30:03,000 Bagley: YOU'VE COME 1,850 MILES. 424 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,267 YOU'VE TESTED YOURSELF TO THE ULTIMATE LIMIT, 425 00:30:07,267 --> 00:30:09,100 AND NOW YOU HAVE TO CROSS 426 00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:13,867 THE TOUGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE UNITED STATES. 427 00:30:13,867 --> 00:30:15,800 Narrator: 40,000 SQUARE MILES 428 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,267 OF IMPENETRABLE, WALL-TO-WALL MOUNTAINS 429 00:30:18,267 --> 00:30:22,500 SHOOTING OVER TWO MILES STRAIGHT UP -- 430 00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:27,433 THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. 431 00:30:27,433 --> 00:30:32,067 MANY HAD DIED TRYING TO CROSS. 432 00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:36,933 JUST TWO YEARS EARLIER, 433 00:30:36,933 --> 00:30:39,600 87 SETTLERS HEADING TO CALIFORNIA 434 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,767 WERE TRAPPED IN THESE SAME MOUNTAINS 435 00:30:41,767 --> 00:30:44,767 DURING THE BRUTAL WINTER OF 1847 -- 436 00:30:44,767 --> 00:30:47,833 THE INFAMOUS DONNER PARTY. 437 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,367 NEARLY HALF THE GROUP EITHER FROZE OR STARVED TO DEATH. 438 00:30:54,867 --> 00:31:00,067 AND MANY OF THE SURVIVORS WERE FORCED TO RESORT TO CANNIBALISM. 439 00:31:00,067 --> 00:31:04,067 NOW, DESPERATE TO AVOID THE SAME FATE, 440 00:31:04,067 --> 00:31:07,900 BOSTON COMPANY AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER 49ers, 441 00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:12,533 HAD TO FIND NEW WAYS TO NAVIGATE THE HAZARDOUS TERRAIN. 442 00:31:12,533 --> 00:31:16,167 THE PEAKS ARE MADE OF GRANITE, 443 00:31:16,167 --> 00:31:19,467 AND THEY'RE VIRTUALLY STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. 444 00:31:19,467 --> 00:31:22,800 YOU ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO HAUL YOUR WAGON 445 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:24,933 UP OVER A GRANITE ESCARPMENT -- 446 00:31:24,933 --> 00:31:27,367 VERY DANGEROUS TREK. 447 00:31:27,367 --> 00:31:28,633 Narrator: FOR SIX LONG WEEKS, 448 00:31:28,633 --> 00:31:30,267 BOSTON COMPANY CARRIED THEIR WAGONS 449 00:31:30,267 --> 00:31:33,600 THROUGH THE TREACHEROUS MOUNTAIN PASSES. 450 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,967 AFTER THIS INCREDIBLE ORDEAL, 451 00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:39,733 YOU FINALLY ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SIERRAS, 452 00:31:39,733 --> 00:31:46,233 AND YOU COME UP ON A RISE, 453 00:31:46,233 --> 00:31:47,567 AND YOU'RE IN THE GOLDEN LAND. 454 00:31:50,933 --> 00:31:56,467 Narrator: EIGHT MONTHS AND 18 DAYS AFTER LEAVING CIVILIZATION, 455 00:31:56,467 --> 00:32:02,867 BOSTON COMPANY HAD FINALLY MADE IT TO CALIFORNIA. 456 00:32:02,867 --> 00:32:04,533 Turin: IT WAS SUCH A LONG JOURNEY. 457 00:32:04,533 --> 00:32:09,133 IT WAS SUCH A LONG PROCESS TO GET TO THE ACTUAL MINING PART, 458 00:32:09,133 --> 00:32:12,567 AND THERE'S THE DOUBTS -- 459 00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:15,167 "WILL I REALLY FIND GOLD? WILL I BE A FAILURE? 460 00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:18,533 WILL I HAVE TO COME BACK HOME AND GO BACK TO MY OLD JOB?" 461 00:32:18,533 --> 00:32:22,400 YOU STILL DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, UNTIL YOU DIG IT UP, 462 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,333 IF THERE'S GOLD IN THE GROUND. 463 00:32:27,100 --> 00:32:30,567 Narrator: THEY'D ALREADY BEEN THROUGH HELL, 464 00:32:30,567 --> 00:32:31,967 BUT THAT WAS NOTHING 465 00:32:31,967 --> 00:32:36,100 COMPARED TO WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO ENCOUNTER IN THE GOLDFIELDS. 466 00:32:42,067 --> 00:32:44,233 Narrator: BY LATE SUMMER OF 1849, 467 00:32:44,233 --> 00:32:47,467 THE GOLD RUSH HAD CAUSED THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA 468 00:32:47,467 --> 00:32:53,133 TO SKYROCKET FROM 1,800 TO NEARLY 75,000 SETTLERS 469 00:32:53,133 --> 00:32:54,500 IN JUST A YEAR. 470 00:32:57,667 --> 00:33:01,733 AMONG THE NEW ARRIVALS WAS BOSTON COMPANY. 471 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:08,300 AFTER EIGHT GRUELLING MONTHS AND OVER 3,000 MILES, 472 00:33:08,300 --> 00:33:12,400 THE COMPANY NOW FOUND THEMSELVES IN A WHOLE NEW WORLD. 473 00:33:32,667 --> 00:33:35,800 THEY PAID THEIR DUES ON THE TRAIL... 474 00:33:37,767 --> 00:33:41,367 ...AND NOW IT WAS TIME TO GET RICH. 475 00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:50,200 BUT BY THE TIME BOSTON COMPANY ARRIVED, 476 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:55,367 THE GOLDFIELDS WERE ALREADY PACKED WITH PROSPECTORS, 477 00:33:55,367 --> 00:33:59,067 AS NEARLY ALL OF THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW PEOPLE 478 00:33:59,067 --> 00:34:02,133 WERE CRAMMED INTO THE SAME 13 MILES 479 00:34:02,133 --> 00:34:03,867 AROUND THE AMERICAN RIVER. 480 00:34:03,867 --> 00:34:06,600 Turin: YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON WITH A HIGH-RISK TOLERANCE 481 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,100 TO GO INTO GOLD MINING. 482 00:34:09,100 --> 00:34:11,667 I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY DO BETTER IN THE STOCK MARKET 483 00:34:11,667 --> 00:34:12,833 THAN YOU CAN GOLD MINING, 484 00:34:12,833 --> 00:34:15,400 BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, 485 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:18,333 ALL OF THE GOOD GOLD CLAIMS, ALL OF THE EASY GOLD, 486 00:34:18,333 --> 00:34:22,100 HAS BEEN FOUND. 487 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:24,933 Narrator: BOSTON COMPANY WAS FORCED TO STAKE THEIR CLAIM 488 00:34:24,933 --> 00:34:26,900 IN THE HEART OF THE CROWDED GOLDFIELDS, 489 00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:28,867 WHICH WERE NOW AS DENSELY POPULATED 490 00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:30,833 AS A LARGE EAST COAST CITY. 491 00:34:30,833 --> 00:34:33,967 BUT THE MEN WERE FEELING CONFIDENT. 492 00:34:33,967 --> 00:34:36,633 THEY STILL HAD THEIR SECRET WEAPON, 493 00:34:36,633 --> 00:34:41,300 ONE THAT PROMISED TO GIVE THEM AN EDGE OVER EVERYBODY ELSE. 494 00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:43,933 COMPANY B, LET'S UNLOAD THIS WASHER! 495 00:34:43,933 --> 00:34:44,933 COMPANY B! 496 00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:50,867 IT COST THEM A FORTUNE, 497 00:34:50,867 --> 00:34:54,167 AND THEY'D SPENT MONTHS HAULING IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY... 498 00:34:54,167 --> 00:34:55,767 CAREFUL WITH THAT. 499 00:34:55,767 --> 00:34:56,833 BACK! BACK! BACK! 500 00:34:56,833 --> 00:34:58,767 ...GUARDING IT AGAINST SURPRISE ATTACKS, 501 00:34:58,767 --> 00:35:01,700 RISKING LIFE AND LIMB, 502 00:35:01,700 --> 00:35:06,167 AND NOW, IT WAS ALL ABOUT TO PAY OFF. 503 00:35:10,233 --> 00:35:13,867 GOLD WASHER. 504 00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:16,867 Webber: "WEALTH AWAITS." 505 00:35:16,867 --> 00:35:18,400 WEALTH? 506 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:19,600 WEALTH AWAITS! 507 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:20,400 [ LAUGHTER ] 508 00:35:32,733 --> 00:35:35,733 Eymann: BOSTON COMPANY BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD 509 00:35:35,733 --> 00:35:37,633 A NEW WAY THAT THEY COULD GET MORE GOLD 510 00:35:37,633 --> 00:35:40,067 AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET RICH QUICKER 511 00:35:40,067 --> 00:35:42,167 BECAUSE THEY HAD THIS TECHNOLOGY WITH THEM. 512 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,567 [ ALL CHEERING ] 513 00:35:52,267 --> 00:35:55,100 Narrator: AS THE GOLD WASHER STARTED WORKING, 514 00:35:55,100 --> 00:35:56,467 IT LOOKED LIKE BOSTON COMPANY 515 00:35:56,467 --> 00:36:00,267 WAS ON THE VERGE OF STRIKING IT RICH. 516 00:36:06,067 --> 00:36:08,267 MEANWHILE, IN SAN FRANCISCO, 517 00:36:08,267 --> 00:36:13,533 SAM BRANNAN WAS OPERATING ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. 518 00:36:13,533 --> 00:36:16,267 IN THE TIME IT TOOK BOSTON COMPANY 519 00:36:16,267 --> 00:36:18,067 TO CROSS THE CONTINENT, 520 00:36:18,067 --> 00:36:20,967 BRANNAN HAD BUILT AN EMPIRE. 521 00:36:20,967 --> 00:36:23,400 THE ONCE STRUGGLING SHOPKEEPER 522 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,367 WAS NOW THE KING OF CALIFORNIA. 523 00:36:26,367 --> 00:36:30,067 Man: LAST WEEK, TWO OUNCES OF GOLD BOUGHT FOUR PICKAXES, 524 00:36:30,067 --> 00:36:33,967 AND THIS WEEK IT ONLY BUYS TWO. 525 00:36:33,967 --> 00:36:36,200 [ SIGHS ] 526 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,933 IT'S NOT THAT THE PRICE OF THE PICKAXE HAS GONE UP, 527 00:36:38,933 --> 00:36:41,300 IT'S THAT THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE, 528 00:36:41,300 --> 00:36:43,600 SO THE VALUE OF GOLD HAS GONE DOWN. 529 00:36:46,233 --> 00:36:48,967 Bagley: THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MAKING THE MONEY 530 00:36:48,967 --> 00:36:50,967 WERE MINING THE MINERS, 531 00:36:50,967 --> 00:36:55,733 AND NOBODY WAS MINING THE MINERS LIKE SAM BRANNAN. 532 00:36:55,733 --> 00:36:59,667 Narrator: BRANNAN'S STORE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN CALIFORNIA, 533 00:36:59,667 --> 00:37:05,067 WHICH MEANT HE COULD CHARGE WHATEVER HE WANTED. 534 00:37:05,067 --> 00:37:09,900 A POUND OF BEEF COST THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF $500. 535 00:37:09,900 --> 00:37:12,767 $700 FOR A PAIR OF BOOTS. 536 00:37:12,767 --> 00:37:15,667 $2,600 FOR A BLANKET. 537 00:37:15,667 --> 00:37:19,100 COSTS WERE SO HIGH, 538 00:37:19,100 --> 00:37:21,100 IT WAS CHEAPER TO SEND YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY 539 00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:23,767 TO BE CLEANED IN HAWAII AND THEN SHIPPED BACK 540 00:37:23,767 --> 00:37:27,367 THAN IT WAS TO HAVE IT WASHED IN ONE OF BRANNAN'S ESTABLISHMENTS. 541 00:37:27,367 --> 00:37:29,967 FOR BRANNAN, IT WAS THE PERFECT SCHEME. 542 00:37:29,967 --> 00:37:32,333 WITH NO OTHER OPTIONS, 543 00:37:32,333 --> 00:37:33,933 EVERY COMPANY IN THE GOLDFIELDS 544 00:37:33,933 --> 00:37:36,600 HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO ALONG WITH IT, 545 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,067 AND BOSTON COMPANY WAS NO EXCEPTION. 546 00:37:40,067 --> 00:37:41,867 AFTER MONTHS ON THE TRAIL, 547 00:37:41,867 --> 00:37:43,833 THEY NEEDED TO STOCK UP ON FOOD AND SUPPLIES. 548 00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:51,833 It's $25. 549 00:38:00,067 --> 00:38:01,533 [ PAN CLANGS ] 550 00:38:01,533 --> 00:38:03,433 WE'RE LEAVING. 551 00:38:14,333 --> 00:38:18,567 Narrator: CHARLES ROBINSON HAD SEEN MEN LIKE SAM BRANNAN BEFORE -- 552 00:38:18,567 --> 00:38:22,133 SOMEONE WILLING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS 553 00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:24,567 FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL GAIN. 554 00:38:24,567 --> 00:38:28,400 BUT WHAT ROBINSON HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING 555 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,300 WAS THAT IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, 556 00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:33,533 HE AND BRANNAN WOULD BE LOCKED IN AN EPIC BATTLE 557 00:38:33,533 --> 00:38:35,767 FOR CONTROL OF THE GOLDFIELDS -- 558 00:38:35,767 --> 00:38:42,067 ONE THAT WOULD SHAPE CALIFORNIA AND REDEFINE AMERICA FOREVER. 559 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:50,800 Narrator: DURING THE GOLD RUSH, 560 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,300 SOME METHODS FOR FINDING GOLD WERE BASED ON SCIENCE... 561 00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:55,467 OTHERS WERE NOT. 562 00:38:57,333 --> 00:39:00,067 THERE WERE MINERS WHO COVERED THEMSELVES IN OIL 563 00:39:00,067 --> 00:39:02,833 TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD PICK UP... 564 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:09,733 ...AND OTHERS WHO WASTED THEIR MONEY BUYING BOGUS GADGETS. 565 00:39:09,733 --> 00:39:14,067 AND THEN, THERE WERE THE FORTUNE-TELLERS... 566 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:19,233 ...OR, AS WE CALL THEM, CON MEN. 567 00:39:22,367 --> 00:39:26,467 IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT NONE OF THESE METHODS PANNED OUT. 568 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,967 BY SEPTEMBER OF 1849, 569 00:39:32,967 --> 00:39:35,533 THE GOLD RUSH WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, 570 00:39:35,533 --> 00:39:37,700 AND ALREADY, THE MODERN EQUIVALENT 571 00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:40,700 OF OVER $5 BILLION WORTH OF GOLD 572 00:39:40,700 --> 00:39:42,467 HAD BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE GROUND. 573 00:39:42,467 --> 00:39:44,433 BUT AS THOUSANDS OF NEW 49ers 574 00:39:44,433 --> 00:39:48,433 DESCENDED ON CALIFORNIA EVERY DAY, 575 00:39:48,433 --> 00:39:50,700 THE GOLD WAS GETTING HARDER TO COME BY. 576 00:39:50,700 --> 00:39:54,100 THE COMPETITION WAS HEATING UP. 577 00:39:54,100 --> 00:39:56,400 THERE WAS A SENSE THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER 578 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:57,867 AND WE SHOULD HELP EACH OTHER OUT. 579 00:39:57,867 --> 00:40:00,233 THAT CHANGED AS IT BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT 580 00:40:00,233 --> 00:40:02,600 TO MAKE MONEY. 581 00:40:10,100 --> 00:40:11,433 Narrator: WITH ALL THE COMPETITION, 582 00:40:11,433 --> 00:40:14,800 BOSTON COMPANY KNEW THEY NEEDED AN EDGE. 583 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:18,500 AND THEY WERE CERTAIN THEY HAD IT... 584 00:40:18,500 --> 00:40:21,833 WITH THE GOLD WASHER. 585 00:40:21,833 --> 00:40:25,200 JUST AS SOON AS THE GOLD RUSH STARTED, 586 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,633 TOP ENGINEERS BACK EAST BEGAN DEVELOPING NEW DEVICES 587 00:40:28,633 --> 00:40:31,700 THAT PROMISED TO PROCESS DIRT 588 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:34,933 UP TO 10 TIMES FASTER THAN A MINER COULD WITH A PAN. 589 00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:37,600 BUT NO MATTER HOW NEW THE TECHNOLOGY, 590 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:41,433 THE TECHNIQUE WAS BASED ON THE SAME AGE-OLD PRINCIPLE -- 591 00:40:41,433 --> 00:40:43,600 GOLD IS HEAVIER THAN DIRT. 592 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:47,267 SHAKE A BUCKET OF GRAVEL AND WATER AROUND LONG ENOUGH, 593 00:40:47,267 --> 00:40:50,200 AND EVENTUALLY THE GOLD WILL SINK TO THE BOTTOM. 594 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:53,500 THE WASHER JUST ACCELERATED THE PROCESS... 595 00:40:55,833 --> 00:40:58,833 ...OR AT LEAST THAT WAS THE IDEA. 596 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:08,067 WITH THE COST OF LIVING IN CALIFORNIA SO HIGH, 597 00:41:08,067 --> 00:41:10,700 MINERS HAD TO DIG UP AN OUNCE OF GOLD A DAY 598 00:41:10,700 --> 00:41:13,100 JUST TO BREAK EVEN. 599 00:41:13,100 --> 00:41:15,667 BUT AFTER WEEKS WITH THE GOLD WASHER, 600 00:41:15,667 --> 00:41:19,233 BOSTON COMPANY STILL HADN'T FOUND ANY GOLD. 601 00:41:21,967 --> 00:41:25,333 HEY! I SAY WHEN IT GOES. 602 00:41:25,333 --> 00:41:27,467 SORRY, WALKER. 603 00:41:27,467 --> 00:41:31,433 THE COMPANY WAS STARTING TO WONDER 604 00:41:31,433 --> 00:41:35,133 IF THE MACHINE THEY HAD CARRIED OVER 3,000 MILES TO CALIFORNIA, 605 00:41:35,133 --> 00:41:37,933 WHICH MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT, 606 00:41:37,933 --> 00:41:43,900 WASN'T QUITE THE SECRET WEAPON THEY HAD HOPED FOR. 607 00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:45,633 KEEP IT TURNING! 608 00:41:45,633 --> 00:41:46,967 I'M TRYING. 609 00:41:46,967 --> 00:41:49,233 PUT SOME MUSCLE IN IT. 610 00:41:49,233 --> 00:41:51,800 IT'S STUCK. 611 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:53,967 DOC, CHECK THE AUGER. 612 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:02,933 DAMN. KEEP IT MOVING! 613 00:42:05,467 --> 00:42:08,633 Ware: THERE'S NO GUARANTEE IN ANYTHING IN MINING. 614 00:42:08,633 --> 00:42:11,533 YOU CAN SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON EQUIPMENT, 615 00:42:11,533 --> 00:42:15,067 AND IF YOU'RE NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, 616 00:42:15,067 --> 00:42:18,267 YOU'RE JUST WASTING YOUR MONEY AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY GOLD. 617 00:42:18,267 --> 00:42:20,933 YOU'RE JUST TURNING WHEELS. 618 00:42:20,933 --> 00:42:23,233 HOLD IT. CHECK THE TRAY. 619 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:45,300 Kurutz: THESE MINING CONTRAPTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO CALIFORNIA, 620 00:42:45,300 --> 00:42:48,900 PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THESE THINGS DON'T DO ANY GOOD. 621 00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:51,900 NONE OF THEM REALLY WORKED, BUT PEOPLE WERE GULLIBLE. 622 00:42:55,467 --> 00:42:58,300 Narrator: IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR 623 00:42:58,300 --> 00:43:02,300 THAT THE ENGINEERS WHO DESIGNED THE MACHINE BACK EAST 624 00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:06,600 DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT GOLD MINING. 625 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:10,133 Turin: WHEN YOU TOIL AND SWEAT AND HAVE THE UPS AND DOWNS 626 00:43:10,133 --> 00:43:13,400 AND YOU GO THROUGH IT WITH A GROUP OF GUYS, 627 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:15,367 IT CAN EITHER SEPARATE AND FRACTURE 628 00:43:15,367 --> 00:43:16,633 AND YOU CAN BECOME ENEMIES, 629 00:43:16,633 --> 00:43:19,733 OR YOU CAN BECOME, WHAT WE CALL, A BAND OF BROTHERS. 630 00:43:19,733 --> 00:43:21,533 YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. 631 00:43:30,067 --> 00:43:32,100 WHAT'S WRONG? 632 00:43:32,100 --> 00:43:33,967 IT NEEDS A NEW COGWHEEL. 633 00:43:33,967 --> 00:43:38,600 WHERE CAN YOU GET ONE OF THOSE FROM? 634 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:40,267 BOSTON. 635 00:43:40,267 --> 00:43:42,367 THAT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. 636 00:43:42,367 --> 00:43:44,533 YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO FIX IT YOURSELF. 637 00:43:44,533 --> 00:43:45,967 WALKER, YOU CAN HELP HIM. 638 00:43:50,367 --> 00:43:53,400 YOU DO IT. 639 00:43:56,133 --> 00:43:59,300 WHAT DID YOU SAY? 640 00:43:59,300 --> 00:44:01,633 YOU DO IT. 641 00:44:01,633 --> 00:44:03,800 [ CHUCKLES ] 642 00:44:11,933 --> 00:44:13,267 HEY! HEY! WALKER, DON'T! 643 00:44:23,067 --> 00:44:26,067 Narrator: HIGH IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA NEVADAS, 644 00:44:26,067 --> 00:44:28,267 ALONG THE AMERICAN RIVER, 645 00:44:28,267 --> 00:44:31,667 BOSTON COMPANY HAD REACHED A BREAKING POINT. 646 00:44:31,667 --> 00:44:33,733 HEY. HEY. HEY. HEY. 647 00:44:33,733 --> 00:44:38,067 THE COMPANY'S HIRED GUN, WILLIAM WALKER, HAD HAD ENOUGH. 648 00:44:38,067 --> 00:44:39,767 [ SPITS ] 649 00:44:54,500 --> 00:44:56,333 [ GROANS ] 650 00:44:58,967 --> 00:45:01,067 I WANT MY MONEY BACK. 651 00:45:04,833 --> 00:45:07,733 WHATEVER MONEY'S LEFT BELONGS TO THE COMPANY. 652 00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:16,400 Brechin: GOLD CREATES A NEW KIND OF EXCITING 653 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:20,100 BUT ALSO DANGEROUS SOCIETY AT THE SAME TIME. 654 00:45:20,100 --> 00:45:22,333 AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DISCOVERED WHEN THEY CAME HERE. 655 00:45:22,333 --> 00:45:25,200 IT WASN'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAD BEEN PROMISED. 656 00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:27,667 IT WAS MUCH HARDER, MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. 657 00:45:43,067 --> 00:45:46,367 Narrator: WALKER TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS. 658 00:45:50,667 --> 00:45:53,933 HE GRABBED THE COMPANY'S MEAGER SUPPLY OF GOLD 659 00:45:53,933 --> 00:45:55,567 AND SET OFF ON HIS OWN. 660 00:46:10,933 --> 00:46:15,200 WHEN A MAN IS DESPERATE, HE'LL GO OUTSIDE OF THE LAW. 661 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:17,400 WELL, THERE IS NO LAW IN THESE CAMPS. 662 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:20,200 EVEN THE CAMPS THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE MODERN-DAY GOLD RUSHES, 663 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:22,133 THERE IS NO LAW. 664 00:46:24,267 --> 00:46:26,467 MONEY'S GONE. 665 00:46:35,533 --> 00:46:40,200 ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO LEAVE, THERE'S THE TRAIL! 666 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:42,967 STEAL ANY OF OUR ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS, 667 00:46:42,967 --> 00:46:45,200 AND YOU'LL BE FLOGGED! 668 00:46:50,167 --> 00:46:52,633 Narrator: THE COMPANY WAS FALLING APART, 669 00:46:52,633 --> 00:46:54,600 AND CAPTAIN JOHN WEBBER'S LEADERSHIP 670 00:46:54,600 --> 00:46:55,933 WAS BEING PUT TO THE TEST. 671 00:46:59,833 --> 00:47:03,067 WHILE BOSTON COMPANY STRUGGLED IN THE GOLDFIELDS, 672 00:47:03,067 --> 00:47:04,800 90 MILES WEST, 673 00:47:04,800 --> 00:47:08,533 OTHER LUCKIER 49ers WERE LIVING THE HIGH LIFE. 674 00:47:08,533 --> 00:47:10,100 IN JUST 18 MONTHS, 675 00:47:10,100 --> 00:47:13,900 GOLD HAD TURNED THE SMALL TOWN OF SAN FRANCISCO 676 00:47:13,900 --> 00:47:18,300 INTO THE LARGEST CITY WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI -- 677 00:47:18,300 --> 00:47:22,900 A WILD OUTPOST WHERE ANYTHING GOES. 678 00:47:22,900 --> 00:47:24,833 [ LAUGHTER ] 679 00:47:26,533 --> 00:47:30,533 Brands: THERE'S THE SLOGAN "WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS." 680 00:47:30,533 --> 00:47:32,700 THAT REALLY APPLIED TO CALIFORNIA 681 00:47:32,700 --> 00:47:34,900 IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE GOLD RUSH 682 00:47:34,900 --> 00:47:36,800 BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WERE ON VACATION 683 00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:38,767 FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW THEM. 684 00:47:38,767 --> 00:47:42,900 WHAT THEY DID IN CALIFORNIA PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET BACK 685 00:47:42,900 --> 00:47:44,633 TO WHEREVER THEY WERE GOING BACK TO. 686 00:47:44,633 --> 00:47:48,367 Narrator: BUT THE MAN WHO RULED IT ALL WAS A SHOPKEEPER 687 00:47:48,367 --> 00:47:51,433 WHO'D USED HIS MONOPOLY OVER MINING SUPPLIES 688 00:47:51,433 --> 00:47:53,533 TO SEIZE CONTROL OF THE CITY -- 689 00:47:53,533 --> 00:47:55,133 SAM BRANNAN. 690 00:47:56,733 --> 00:48:00,533 WHILE BRANNAN'S STORE HAD MADE HIM THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WEST, 691 00:48:00,533 --> 00:48:03,933 HE WASN'T ABOUT TO STOP THERE. 692 00:48:03,933 --> 00:48:06,333 BRANNAN HAS PRETTY GOOD BUSINESS INSTINCTS, 693 00:48:06,333 --> 00:48:07,667 AND HE BRANCHES OUT, 694 00:48:07,667 --> 00:48:10,633 AND HE STARTS A WHOLE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ENTERPRISES. 695 00:48:10,633 --> 00:48:16,300 Narrator: BRANNAN BEGAN TAKING OVER EVERY BUSINESS IN SAN FRANCISCO, 696 00:48:16,300 --> 00:48:19,333 AND ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GIVE HIM A CUT 697 00:48:19,333 --> 00:48:21,867 WAS QUICKLY RUN OUT OF TOWN. 698 00:48:24,833 --> 00:48:27,467 SAM BRANNAN WAS ESTABLISHING HIMSELF 699 00:48:27,467 --> 00:48:30,533 AS THE FIRST KINGPIN IN CALIFORNIA, 700 00:48:30,533 --> 00:48:36,933 AND WITH NO LAWS TO STOP HIM, NOTHING STOOD IN HIS WAY. 701 00:48:40,167 --> 00:48:43,967 Bagley: A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF SAM BRANNAN. 702 00:48:43,967 --> 00:48:46,733 THEY'D SEEN HIM EXERCISE HIS POWER. 703 00:48:46,733 --> 00:48:50,333 THEY'D SEEN HIM BE ABSOLUTELY RUTHLESS AT TIMES. 704 00:48:53,067 --> 00:48:56,100 LET ME SEE THAT ONE. 705 00:49:02,333 --> 00:49:05,100 THAT'S VERY NICE. 706 00:49:05,100 --> 00:49:07,567 THANK YOU. 707 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:13,767 BRANNAN RULED BY FEAR IN MANY WAYS. 708 00:49:19,133 --> 00:49:23,433 Narrator: JUST 130 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAN FRANCISCO, 709 00:49:23,433 --> 00:49:26,333 THE LANDSCAPE CHANGED QUICKLY... 710 00:49:26,333 --> 00:49:29,133 FROM THE ROLLING FOG OF THE BAY 711 00:49:29,133 --> 00:49:33,067 TO THE DRY, BLISTERING HEAT OF THE ROCKY HILLS. 712 00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:43,200 HUNDREDS OF 49ers LEFT THE OVERCROWDED GOLDFIELDS 713 00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:46,067 TO LOOK FOR UNTOUCHED LAND 714 00:49:46,067 --> 00:49:48,867 MILES AWAY FROM THE NEAREST RIVER. 715 00:49:48,867 --> 00:49:52,067 AMONG THEM WAS WILLIAM WALKER. 716 00:49:52,067 --> 00:49:55,167 SINCE ABANDONING BOSTON COMPANY, 717 00:49:55,167 --> 00:49:58,733 WALKER HAD FOUND HIMSELF IN A MUCH MORE HOSTILE CLIMATE, 718 00:49:58,733 --> 00:50:04,467 WHERE TEMPERATURES SPIKED TO 115 DEGREES 719 00:50:04,467 --> 00:50:07,067 IN THE SCORCHING SUN. 720 00:50:07,067 --> 00:50:09,933 ALSO BRAVING THESE HARSH CONDITIONS 721 00:50:09,933 --> 00:50:12,733 WERE THE ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF BOSTON COMPANY 722 00:50:12,733 --> 00:50:15,900 TO COME WITH HIM -- OLIVER MARTIN AND JOHN FOWLER. 723 00:50:15,900 --> 00:50:19,500 AND TOGETHER, THEY WERE TRYING THEIR LUCK 724 00:50:19,500 --> 00:50:22,367 AT A NEW METHOD FOR FINDING GOLD -- 725 00:50:22,367 --> 00:50:25,367 DRY MINING. 726 00:50:25,367 --> 00:50:29,100 MINERS TOSSED DRY EARTH INTO THE AIR, 727 00:50:29,100 --> 00:50:31,867 AND AS THE WIND BLEW AWAY THE LIGHTER PIECES, 728 00:50:31,867 --> 00:50:36,600 ONLY THE HEAVIER MATERIAL, LIKE GOLD, WAS LEFT BEHIND. 729 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:41,167 I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF DRY MINING OVER THE YEARS. 730 00:50:41,167 --> 00:50:43,433 I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE IT. 731 00:50:43,433 --> 00:50:46,200 THE CONTENTS OF THE MATERIAL HAS TO BE SO DRY 732 00:50:46,200 --> 00:50:48,267 IN ORDER TO GET A GOOD RECOVERY 733 00:50:48,267 --> 00:50:50,367 THAT YOU'RE WORKING IN A DUST STORM. 734 00:50:50,367 --> 00:50:51,933 IT JUST COVERS YOU. 735 00:50:51,933 --> 00:50:53,567 IT'S JUST MISERABLE. 736 00:50:53,567 --> 00:50:56,567 Narrator: WALKER DOCUMENTED HIS EXPERIENCE 737 00:50:56,567 --> 00:50:58,267 IN HIS JOURNALS. 738 00:50:58,267 --> 00:51:01,500 "WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AGAIN TODAY, 739 00:51:01,500 --> 00:51:04,667 GETTING BUT A FEW GRAINS OF GOLD." 740 00:51:04,667 --> 00:51:08,500 AFTER WEEKS OF BACKBREAKING WORK, 741 00:51:08,500 --> 00:51:13,733 WALKER, MARTIN, AND FOWLER HAD LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT. 742 00:51:13,733 --> 00:51:16,333 BEATEN DOWN AND EXHAUSTED, 743 00:51:16,333 --> 00:51:19,100 THEY WERE NO BETTER OFF THAN THEY'D BEEN BEFORE. 744 00:51:33,067 --> 00:51:35,067 [ METAL CLANGS ] 745 00:51:47,733 --> 00:51:49,300 ORO! 746 00:51:49,300 --> 00:51:50,400 ORO! 747 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:52,533 [ CONVERSING IN SPANISH ] 748 00:51:52,533 --> 00:51:55,300 ORO! ORO! 749 00:51:55,300 --> 00:51:56,767 [ LAUGHS ] 750 00:51:56,767 --> 00:51:58,133 ORO! 751 00:51:58,133 --> 00:52:00,233 [ ALL CHEERING ] 752 00:52:00,233 --> 00:52:02,900 ORO! 753 00:52:02,900 --> 00:52:09,833 IT SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE WHEN YOU DO FIND A STRIKE OF GOLD, 754 00:52:09,833 --> 00:52:11,167 AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, 755 00:52:11,167 --> 00:52:13,400 YOU'LL HAVE FIVE OR SIX GUYS, YOU KNOW, COMING HERE 756 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:14,867 AND THEY'RE WANTING TO PROSPECT 757 00:52:14,867 --> 00:52:17,133 OR THEY'RE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING. 758 00:52:17,133 --> 00:52:19,900 GOLD CAN BRING OUT THE VERY WORST IN PEOPLE. 759 00:52:19,900 --> 00:52:22,067 [ SPEAKS SPANISH ] 760 00:52:22,067 --> 00:52:23,067 [ LAUGHS ] 761 00:52:23,067 --> 00:52:25,100 [ CONVERSING IN SPANISH ] 762 00:52:27,133 --> 00:52:29,533 THERE WERE INSTANCES OF PEOPLE JUMPING CLAIMS. 763 00:52:29,533 --> 00:52:32,167 WHEN YOU STAKED A CLAIM, YOU WOULD GET 764 00:52:32,167 --> 00:52:35,200 YOUR 15-SQUARE-FOOT AREA THAT THIS WAS YOURS, 765 00:52:35,200 --> 00:52:36,233 AND YOU HAD THE RIGHT 766 00:52:36,233 --> 00:52:38,067 TO WHATEVER GOLD WAS DISCOVERED THERE. 767 00:52:38,067 --> 00:52:40,433 BUT YOU HAD TO ENFORCE IT YOURSELF. 768 00:52:40,433 --> 00:52:43,733 OTHERWISE, SOMEBODY WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO STEAL IT. 769 00:52:43,733 --> 00:52:45,467 [ MEN SHOUTING ] 770 00:52:56,367 --> 00:52:58,967 CLAIM JUMPING STILL HAPPENS. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. 771 00:52:58,967 --> 00:53:00,467 YOU HAVEN'T EATEN FOR 10 DAYS 772 00:53:00,467 --> 00:53:02,467 AND YOU'RE STRUGGLING JUST TO SURVIVE, 773 00:53:02,467 --> 00:53:04,133 YOU'RE GONNA TAKE DESPERATE ACTION. 774 00:53:04,133 --> 00:53:07,333 AND SOMETIMES, IT ENDS UP BEING SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, 775 00:53:07,333 --> 00:53:09,067 AND IT CAN BE UGLY. 776 00:53:28,233 --> 00:53:30,067 [ TWIG BREAKS ] 777 00:54:03,433 --> 00:54:05,433 [ BOTH GRUNTING ] 778 00:54:22,367 --> 00:54:25,600 [ GRUNTING ] 779 00:54:36,600 --> 00:54:38,933 [ BIRD SQUAWKING ] 780 00:54:48,267 --> 00:54:50,333 Brechin: GOLD HAS THE POWER 781 00:54:50,333 --> 00:54:53,700 TO TURN DECENT MEN AND WOMEN INTO PSYCHOPATHS. 782 00:54:53,700 --> 00:54:56,300 PEOPLE INFECTED WITH GOLD FEVER 783 00:54:56,300 --> 00:54:58,967 SIMPLY BECOME ABSOLUTELY RUTHLESS. 784 00:55:03,300 --> 00:55:05,300 [ BIRD SQUAWKING ] 785 00:55:08,900 --> 00:55:12,433 Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF COMING UP EMPTY, 786 00:55:12,433 --> 00:55:16,667 WILLIAM WALKER HAD FINALLY DISCOVERED HIS OWN METHOD 787 00:55:16,667 --> 00:55:19,800 FOR FINDING GOLD. 788 00:55:28,933 --> 00:55:32,733 Narrator: BY THE FALL OF 1849, 789 00:55:32,733 --> 00:55:37,767 SAM BRANNAN WAS THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO. 790 00:55:37,767 --> 00:55:39,433 HE ALREADY HAD A STAKE 791 00:55:39,433 --> 00:55:42,667 IN EVERYTHING FROM HOTELS TO SALOONS, 792 00:55:42,667 --> 00:55:45,700 AND NOW HE WAS TAKING IN AN INCOME 793 00:55:45,700 --> 00:55:51,067 OF NEARLY $4 MILLION A MONTH IN TODAY'S MONEY. 794 00:55:51,067 --> 00:55:54,733 BUT A NEW BUSINESS WAS MOVING INTO TOWN, 795 00:55:54,733 --> 00:55:59,833 AND BRANNAN SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO HIS EMPIRE. 796 00:56:12,467 --> 00:56:14,300 [ WOLF WHISTLING ] 797 00:56:14,300 --> 00:56:15,300 HOWDY, LADIES. 798 00:56:15,300 --> 00:56:16,333 HELLO, LADIES. 799 00:56:16,333 --> 00:56:18,333 HOW YOU DOING? 800 00:56:18,333 --> 00:56:21,067 Benemann: DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GOLD RUSH, 801 00:56:21,067 --> 00:56:24,933 95% OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME WERE MEN, 802 00:56:24,933 --> 00:56:28,267 AND THAT 5% OF THE POPULATION THAT WAS FEMALE 803 00:56:28,267 --> 00:56:30,100 WAS ALMOST ALL PROSTITUTES, 804 00:56:30,100 --> 00:56:32,600 AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEMAND. 805 00:56:32,600 --> 00:56:34,667 PROSTITUTES COULD MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. 806 00:56:38,667 --> 00:56:40,967 Brannan: I'M WILLING TO LEASE YOU ONE OF MY HOTELS, 807 00:56:40,967 --> 00:56:45,300 BUT I WANT A CUT OF 50%. 808 00:56:45,300 --> 00:56:47,667 SO, DO WE HAVE A DEAL? 809 00:56:53,767 --> 00:56:57,467 Narrator: PROSTITUTION QUICKLY BECAME THE BIGGEST MONEYMAKER 810 00:56:57,467 --> 00:57:00,667 IN SAN FRANCISCO. 811 00:57:00,667 --> 00:57:02,900 [ LAUGHTER ] 812 00:57:04,633 --> 00:57:09,067 SAM BRANNAN BEGAN IMPORTING WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 813 00:57:09,067 --> 00:57:13,867 IN JUST MONTHS, OVER 2,000 PROSTITUTES ARRIVED, 814 00:57:13,867 --> 00:57:15,700 AND EACH WOMAN COULD COMMAND 815 00:57:15,700 --> 00:57:20,867 THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF $100,000 A WEEK. 816 00:57:20,867 --> 00:57:24,233 BRANNAN ALREADY OWNED THE WATERFRONT. 817 00:57:24,233 --> 00:57:26,133 NOW HE TURNED IT INTO 818 00:57:26,133 --> 00:57:29,967 THE BIGGEST RED-LIGHT DISTRICT IN THE WORLD 819 00:57:29,967 --> 00:57:32,633 AND A WELL-OILED MONEYMAKER. 820 00:57:32,633 --> 00:57:34,400 THE GIRLS BROUGHT THE MEN 821 00:57:34,400 --> 00:57:37,700 DIRECTLY FROM THE BORDELLOS TO THE GAMBLING HALLS, 822 00:57:37,700 --> 00:57:41,167 WHERE THEY WERE EASY TARGETS FOR BRANNAN'S CASINOS. 823 00:57:41,167 --> 00:57:44,633 SAM BRANNAN WAS RAISING THE BAR. 824 00:57:44,633 --> 00:57:46,400 IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO OWN THE HOUSE. 825 00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:49,667 HE WAS MAKING SURE THE GAME WAS FIXED. 826 00:57:49,667 --> 00:57:54,067 Brechin: IN THE GAMBLING HALLS, THE DECKS ARE ALWAYS STACKED. 827 00:57:54,067 --> 00:57:55,833 YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE WINS. 828 00:57:55,833 --> 00:57:57,667 AND SAM BRANNAN COMES IN ON THAT 829 00:57:57,667 --> 00:57:59,900 BECAUSE THE FORTUNES THAT WERE REALLY MADE, 830 00:57:59,900 --> 00:58:01,067 THE LASTING FORTUNES, 831 00:58:01,067 --> 00:58:02,300 ARE MADE BY THOSE PEOPLE 832 00:58:02,300 --> 00:58:04,567 WHO GOT CONTROL BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. 833 00:58:21,400 --> 00:58:24,533 Narrator: MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE GOLDFIELDS, 834 00:58:24,533 --> 00:58:27,067 DESPERATION WAS TAKING OVER. 835 00:58:27,067 --> 00:58:29,833 THEIR GOLD WASHER WAS A BUST, SO NOW, 836 00:58:29,833 --> 00:58:32,833 BOSTON COMPANY WAS FORCED TO DIG FOR GOLD 837 00:58:32,833 --> 00:58:36,067 JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE -- WITH A PAN. 838 00:58:39,433 --> 00:58:42,667 AND AFTER THREE WEEKS OF BACKBREAKING WORK, 839 00:58:42,667 --> 00:58:45,767 THEY STILL HADN'T FOUND ANYTHING. 840 00:58:45,767 --> 00:58:48,867 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THE GOLD RUSH HAPPEN 841 00:58:48,867 --> 00:58:52,633 WAS THAT ANY IDIOT COULD MINE GOLD. 842 00:58:52,633 --> 00:58:55,967 IN CALIFORNIA, THERE WAS SO MUCH OF LUCK, 843 00:58:55,967 --> 00:58:57,133 GOOD OR BAD, 844 00:58:57,133 --> 00:59:00,067 IN DETERMINING WHO MADE IT AND WHO DIDN'T. 845 00:59:07,700 --> 00:59:09,067 GOLD! 846 00:59:09,067 --> 00:59:10,300 GOLD! 847 00:59:10,300 --> 00:59:13,867 [ MEN SHOUTING ] 848 00:59:19,333 --> 00:59:21,500 Beets: IT'S A BUSINESS. 849 00:59:21,500 --> 00:59:24,367 IT'S NOT A FAIRY TALE OUT THERE. 850 00:59:24,367 --> 00:59:26,300 SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN GO OUT THERE 851 00:59:26,300 --> 00:59:27,600 AND PICK IT OUT THE GROUND. 852 00:59:27,600 --> 00:59:29,367 WELL, THAT'S JUST NOT HOW IT WORKS. 853 00:59:32,800 --> 00:59:36,533 Turin: IF YOU'RE A GOLD MINER, YOU'RE GONNA HIT UPS AND DOWNS, 854 00:59:36,533 --> 00:59:40,833 AND MANY TIMES, THE DOWNS ARE REALLY, REALLY BIG. 855 00:59:40,833 --> 00:59:43,567 I EXPERIENCED SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. 856 00:59:43,567 --> 00:59:47,600 I DOUBTED MYSELF, I HAD FEARS OF FAILURE. 857 00:59:47,600 --> 00:59:50,367 THERE WAS ONE TIME WHEN I WALKED OUT ON A PIECE OF GROUND, 858 00:59:50,367 --> 00:59:51,833 AND I LOOKED AROUND, AND I GO, 859 00:59:51,833 --> 00:59:54,800 "WHAT IN THE HELL AM I DOING HERE? 860 00:59:54,800 --> 00:59:57,633 I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DO THIS." 861 00:59:59,467 --> 01:00:01,833 Narrator: WITH EVERY PASSING DAY, 862 01:00:01,833 --> 01:00:05,000 THE COMPANY SANK DEEPER INTO DEBT. 863 01:00:05,000 --> 01:00:08,867 AND WITH SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT, 864 01:00:08,867 --> 01:00:12,433 THEY NEEDED A GAME CHANGER. 865 01:00:13,967 --> 01:00:16,233 Brands: AS THE GOLD BECAME HARDER TO FIND, 866 01:00:16,233 --> 01:00:18,867 PEOPLE BEGAN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT 867 01:00:18,867 --> 01:00:20,867 OTHER WAYS OF GETTING GOLD. 868 01:00:20,867 --> 01:00:23,200 THE TOOLS BECAME MORE SOPHISTICATED. 869 01:00:23,200 --> 01:00:25,867 WHAT IS THAT? 870 01:00:25,867 --> 01:00:28,600 IT'S A SLUICE. 871 01:00:31,967 --> 01:00:35,333 HOW MUCH EARTH COULD YOU TURN OVER? 872 01:00:35,333 --> 01:00:38,700 1,000 BUCKETS A DAY. 873 01:00:44,867 --> 01:00:47,533 PRINCIPLE OF THE SLUICE BOX 874 01:00:47,533 --> 01:00:50,600 WAS ESSENTIALLY THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WASH PAN, 875 01:00:50,600 --> 01:00:55,267 EXCEPT IT WAS SORT OF RAMPING UP THE OPERATION. 876 01:00:55,267 --> 01:00:59,633 Narrator: IT WAS A SIMPLE BUT INGENIOUS CONCEPT. 877 01:00:59,633 --> 01:01:02,233 A SERIES OF BOXES LINED WITH WOODEN STRIPS 878 01:01:02,233 --> 01:01:04,100 WERE LOCKED TOGETHER. 879 01:01:04,100 --> 01:01:06,133 THE BOXES WERE FILLED WITH DIRT, 880 01:01:06,133 --> 01:01:08,500 AND AS RIVER WATER RUSHED OVER IT, 881 01:01:08,500 --> 01:01:11,267 LIGHTER PARTICLES WASHED AWAY, 882 01:01:11,267 --> 01:01:15,100 AND THE STRIPS CAUGHT THE HEAVIER GOLD. 883 01:01:15,100 --> 01:01:16,400 WITH A SLUICE BOX, 884 01:01:16,400 --> 01:01:19,667 A MINER COULD PROCESS 16 TIMES AS MUCH DIRT 885 01:01:19,667 --> 01:01:21,867 AS HE COULD WITH A PAN. 886 01:01:21,867 --> 01:01:25,667 IT WAS A MAJOR LEAP FORWARD IN GOLD-MINING TECHNIQUE, 887 01:01:25,667 --> 01:01:27,867 AS COMPANIES ALL OVER THE GOLDFIELDS 888 01:01:27,867 --> 01:01:30,100 STOPPED PANNING 889 01:01:30,100 --> 01:01:32,700 AND STARTED BUILDING MASSIVE SLUICES. 890 01:01:35,767 --> 01:01:40,933 AFTER WEEKS OF BACKBREAKING WORK CARRIED OUT IN SWELTERING HEAT, 891 01:01:40,933 --> 01:01:46,133 BOSTON COMPANY'S SLUICE BOX WAS FINALLY COMPLETE. 892 01:01:51,633 --> 01:01:55,267 THE SLUICE BOX IS STILL OUR MAIN WAY OF GETTING GOLD, 893 01:01:55,267 --> 01:01:56,267 EVEN NOW, 894 01:01:56,267 --> 01:01:59,733 JUST LIKE THEY DID 150 YEARS AGO. 895 01:01:59,733 --> 01:02:02,067 IT HASN'T IMPROVED THAT MUCH. PRETTY INCREDIBLE. 896 01:02:14,300 --> 01:02:16,600 [ WHISTLES ] BOYS. 897 01:02:16,600 --> 01:02:19,900 [ ALL CHEERING ] 898 01:02:19,900 --> 01:02:22,100 Man: GOLD! 899 01:02:22,100 --> 01:02:26,967 Narrator: BOSTON COMPANY WAS SURE THEY'D FOUND THEIR TICKET TO FORTUNE. 900 01:02:26,967 --> 01:02:30,567 JUST AS THEIR LUCK SEEMED TO BE TURNING... 901 01:02:34,067 --> 01:02:37,333 ...SOMETHING DEADLY HIT THE GOLDFIELDS. 902 01:02:52,233 --> 01:02:53,767 Narrator: BY LATE OCTOBER OF 1849, 903 01:02:53,767 --> 01:02:57,067 THE GOLD RUSH WAS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD, 904 01:02:57,067 --> 01:03:00,300 AND ALREADY, OVER 76 TONS OF GOLD 905 01:03:00,300 --> 01:03:02,967 HAD BEEN PULLED FROM CALIFORNIA -- 906 01:03:02,967 --> 01:03:05,267 MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF GOLD 907 01:03:05,267 --> 01:03:08,500 THAT HAD EVER BEEN DISCOVERED ON NORTH AMERICAN SOIL. 908 01:03:08,500 --> 01:03:11,633 ALL THAT GOLD WAS TRAVELING BACK EAST, 909 01:03:11,633 --> 01:03:15,100 INJECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEW WEALTH 910 01:03:15,100 --> 01:03:17,167 INTO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. 911 01:03:17,167 --> 01:03:19,667 BUT FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MINERS IN CALIFORNIA 912 01:03:19,667 --> 01:03:22,167 WHO WERE TRYING TO DIG IT UP, 913 01:03:22,167 --> 01:03:26,067 LIFE WASN'T GETTING ANY BETTER. 914 01:03:27,600 --> 01:03:31,067 IN FACT, IT WAS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT WORSE... 915 01:03:32,267 --> 01:03:34,067 ...AS A NEW MENACE 916 01:03:34,067 --> 01:03:38,233 WAS SWEEPING THROUGH THE CROWDED GOLDFIELDS -- 917 01:03:38,233 --> 01:03:42,833 ONE THAT THREATENED TO DESTROY EVERYTHING. 918 01:03:47,167 --> 01:03:49,967 I'M DYING, AIN'T I? 919 01:03:55,933 --> 01:03:59,200 CHOLERA. 920 01:03:59,200 --> 01:04:00,600 AT THE TIME, 921 01:04:00,600 --> 01:04:03,733 IT WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST DISEASES ON THE PLANET. 922 01:04:04,967 --> 01:04:06,433 IN JUST 50 YEARS, 923 01:04:06,433 --> 01:04:10,267 THE DISEASE HAD MADE ITS WAY FROM ASIA TO EUROPE 924 01:04:10,267 --> 01:04:12,600 AND NOW TO THE UNITED STATES, 925 01:04:12,600 --> 01:04:15,067 SPREADING ACROSS THE CONTINENT 926 01:04:15,067 --> 01:04:18,833 FASTER AND FURTHER THAN ANY EPIDEMIC BEFORE IT. 927 01:04:18,833 --> 01:04:20,733 WITHIN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, 928 01:04:20,733 --> 01:04:24,433 CHOLERA HAD KILLED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 929 01:04:24,433 --> 01:04:26,733 JAMES K. POLK, 930 01:04:26,733 --> 01:04:30,267 AND HIS SUCCESSOR, ZACHARY TAYLOR. 931 01:04:30,267 --> 01:04:32,600 BY THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, 932 01:04:32,600 --> 01:04:35,967 OVER 12 MILLION PEOPLE WOULD BE DEAD. 933 01:04:35,967 --> 01:04:42,067 IN THE 1840s, NO ONE KNEW WHAT CAUSED THE DISEASE 934 01:04:42,067 --> 01:04:45,267 OR HOW TO CURE IT. 935 01:04:45,267 --> 01:04:46,800 THE ONE THING THEY DID KNOW 936 01:04:46,800 --> 01:04:49,300 WAS THAT CHOLERA SEEMED TO BE MOST PREVALENT 937 01:04:49,300 --> 01:04:50,733 IN CROWDED AREAS 938 01:04:50,733 --> 01:04:53,267 WHERE THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO SANITATION, 939 01:04:53,267 --> 01:04:58,367 LIKE CITIES OR THE GOLDFIELDS. 940 01:04:59,800 --> 01:05:04,633 Brands: THESE MINING CAMPS THAT WERE BUNCHED REALLY CLOSE TOGETHER 941 01:05:04,633 --> 01:05:06,467 VERY OFTEN WERE VISITED BY CHOLERA 942 01:05:06,467 --> 01:05:07,967 AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 943 01:05:10,067 --> 01:05:14,867 YOU'LL GET 10,000, 15,000 PEOPLE IN THIS SMALL VALLEY. 944 01:05:14,867 --> 01:05:18,167 YOU HAD ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF URBAN LIFE 945 01:05:18,167 --> 01:05:21,200 WITHOUT ANY URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE. 946 01:05:21,200 --> 01:05:27,400 FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA HAD NO TIME TO DIG WELLS OR TO DIG LATRINES, 947 01:05:27,400 --> 01:05:33,333 AND SO, THE LOCAL STREAM BECAME BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. 948 01:05:33,333 --> 01:05:37,567 Narrator: FOR THESE CRAMPED AND FILTHY CONDITIONS... 949 01:05:37,567 --> 01:05:38,933 [ COUGHING ] 950 01:05:38,933 --> 01:05:41,067 ...IT TOOK JUST DAYS FOR THE DISEASE 951 01:05:41,067 --> 01:05:44,367 TO TAKE OVER THE BOSTON COMPANY CAMP. 952 01:05:44,367 --> 01:05:49,567 CHOLERA STRIKES FAST, ATTACKING YOUR INTESTINES 953 01:05:49,567 --> 01:05:51,600 AND CAUSING SEVERE DEHYDRATION 954 01:05:51,600 --> 01:05:55,067 THAT COULD QUICKLY LEAD TO ORGAN FAILURE AND DEATH. 955 01:05:55,067 --> 01:05:57,900 Eymann: IT WAS A HORRENDOUS DISEASE. 956 01:05:57,900 --> 01:06:01,100 YOU'RE VOMITING. YOU HAVE DIARRHEA YOU CAN'T CONTROL. 957 01:06:01,100 --> 01:06:02,867 YOU BECOME DEHYDRATED. 958 01:06:02,867 --> 01:06:05,667 IT WAS A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE. 959 01:06:07,233 --> 01:06:09,700 Narrator: THERE WASN'T MUCH A DOCTOR COULD DO 960 01:06:09,700 --> 01:06:11,933 EXCEPT EASE THE SUFFERING. 961 01:06:14,333 --> 01:06:16,200 Bagley: MOST DOCTORS BELIEVED 962 01:06:16,200 --> 01:06:19,067 YOU WANTED TO TRY TO COUNTER THE SYMPTOMS, 963 01:06:19,067 --> 01:06:22,933 WHICH WERE FREE-FLOWING AT BOTH ENDS. 964 01:06:22,933 --> 01:06:26,867 ONE OF THE IDEAS WAS GIVE THEM OPIUM 965 01:06:26,867 --> 01:06:28,467 TO STOP THEM UP 966 01:06:28,467 --> 01:06:32,233 AND ALCOHOL TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER. 967 01:06:32,233 --> 01:06:36,600 A LOT OF THESE TREATMENTS KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY CURE. 968 01:06:36,600 --> 01:06:40,200 BUT SOME PHYSICIANS RECOGNIZE 969 01:06:40,200 --> 01:06:43,133 THAT BODY'S LOSING A LOT OF WATER 970 01:06:43,133 --> 01:06:46,167 AND YOU BETTER GET IT BACK IN. 971 01:06:50,933 --> 01:06:53,067 [ COUGHING ] 972 01:06:58,500 --> 01:07:01,300 Narrator: IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR CHOLERA, 973 01:07:01,300 --> 01:07:04,733 DR. CHARLES ROBINSON WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO CALIFORNIA 974 01:07:04,733 --> 01:07:07,067 IN THE FIRST PLACE. 975 01:07:11,300 --> 01:07:13,100 JUST TWO YEARS EARLIER, 976 01:07:13,100 --> 01:07:15,967 THE DISEASE HAD ATTACKED HIS FAMILY. 977 01:07:23,633 --> 01:07:27,300 HE FRANTICALLY TRIED TO FIND A CURE. 978 01:07:35,200 --> 01:07:37,967 BUT IN THE END... 979 01:07:41,867 --> 01:07:46,500 ...HE WAS FORCED TO BURY HIS DAUGHTER AND HIS WIFE. 980 01:07:56,767 --> 01:07:59,833 CALIFORNIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FRESH START, 981 01:07:59,833 --> 01:08:06,567 BUT NOW, HE WAS RELIVING THE NIGHTMARE. 982 01:08:15,567 --> 01:08:21,933 THIS TIME, CHARLES ROBINSON WAS DETERMINED TO FIND A CURE. 983 01:08:32,300 --> 01:08:36,267 Narrator: AFTER WEEKS OF HIDING OUT IN THE HILLS, 984 01:08:36,267 --> 01:08:39,300 WILLIAM WALKER, JOHN FOWLER, AND OLIVER MARTIN 985 01:08:39,300 --> 01:08:41,433 HAD ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO. 986 01:08:46,367 --> 01:08:50,267 IT HAD BEEN MONTHS SINCE THEY'D LAST SET FOOT IN A MAJOR CITY, 987 01:08:50,267 --> 01:08:54,733 AND THESE GUYS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED. 988 01:09:00,500 --> 01:09:04,400 THINK WE'RE GONNA LIKE IT HERE, BOYS. 989 01:09:04,400 --> 01:09:06,567 [ PIANO MUSIC PLAYS ] 990 01:09:09,567 --> 01:09:15,067 * I WANDER TODAY TO THE HILL, DANNY * 991 01:09:15,067 --> 01:09:20,933 * TO WATCH THE SCENE BELOW * 992 01:09:20,933 --> 01:09:26,700 * THE CREEK AND THE CREAKING OLD MILL, DANNY * 993 01:09:26,700 --> 01:09:31,233 * USED SO LONG, LONG AGO * 994 01:09:31,233 --> 01:09:37,600 * THE CREAKING OLD WHEEL IS NOW STILL, DANNY * 995 01:09:37,600 --> 01:09:41,833 * USED SO LONG, LONG AGO * 996 01:09:41,833 --> 01:09:44,067 [ APPLAUSE, WHISTLING ] 997 01:10:02,333 --> 01:10:06,033 Kurutz: PEOPLE WERE COMING IN FROM THE FOOTHILLS 998 01:10:06,033 --> 01:10:07,900 WITH THEIR PILE OF GOLD. 999 01:10:07,900 --> 01:10:10,200 THEY WANTED TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM. 1000 01:10:10,200 --> 01:10:11,800 "LET'S HAVE A GOOD TIME." 1001 01:10:11,800 --> 01:10:14,200 YOU KNOW, "I'M A KING, I'VE MADE IT." 1002 01:10:38,833 --> 01:10:42,200 Narrator: THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC THAT HAD HIT THE GOLDFIELDS 1003 01:10:42,200 --> 01:10:44,733 SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LETTING UP. 1004 01:10:46,133 --> 01:10:50,267 ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE MINERS CONTRACTED THE DISEASE. 1005 01:10:50,267 --> 01:10:53,200 ONE OUT OF EVERY 12 DIED OF IT. 1006 01:10:53,200 --> 01:10:57,867 NEITHER DR. CHARLES ROBINSON NOR ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD 1007 01:10:57,867 --> 01:11:01,267 HAD ANY IDEA HOW TO STOP THE EPIDEMIC. 1008 01:11:01,267 --> 01:11:03,967 WHILE ISOLATED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, 1009 01:11:03,967 --> 01:11:08,567 ROBINSON KNEW HE COULDN'T CURE THE DISEASE, 1010 01:11:08,567 --> 01:11:12,733 BUT HE COULD TRY TO TREAT ITS SYMPTOMS 1011 01:11:12,733 --> 01:11:16,267 USING WHATEVER HE FOUND AROUND HIM. 1012 01:11:18,433 --> 01:11:21,400 AS ROBINSON CAREFULLY DOCUMENTED, 1013 01:11:21,400 --> 01:11:24,067 TO RELIVE PAINFUL MUSCLE SPASMS, 1014 01:11:24,067 --> 01:11:27,533 HE TRIED CAMPHOR FROM THE BARK OF AN EVERGREEN TREE. 1015 01:11:27,533 --> 01:11:30,100 TO STIMULATE THE BODY'S CIRCULATION, 1016 01:11:30,100 --> 01:11:33,533 HE TRIED HERBS MADE UP OF GROUND-UP CAPSICUM, 1017 01:11:33,533 --> 01:11:38,667 AND FINALLY, TO DULL THE PAIN, HE ADDED A LITTLE OPIUM. 1018 01:11:48,467 --> 01:11:50,267 BY FOCUSING ON THE SYMPTOMS, 1019 01:11:50,267 --> 01:11:53,567 ROBINSON HOPED TO KEEP THE PATIENT ALIVE LONG ENOUGH 1020 01:11:53,567 --> 01:11:55,600 FOR THEIR BODY TO FIGHT OFF THE DISEASE. 1021 01:12:00,133 --> 01:12:03,833 INCREDIBLY, IT WORKED. 1022 01:12:08,133 --> 01:12:11,133 WORD QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE GOLDFIELDS, 1023 01:12:11,133 --> 01:12:13,500 AND MINERS TRAVELED FROM MILES AWAY 1024 01:12:13,500 --> 01:12:17,833 TO BE SAVED BY THE DOCTOR IN BOSTON COMPANY. 1025 01:12:17,833 --> 01:12:20,533 Kurutz: TO HAVE A BONA FIDE DOCTOR WITH YOU 1026 01:12:20,533 --> 01:12:24,967 WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE AND A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE. 1027 01:12:24,967 --> 01:12:29,100 DR. ROBINSON WAS A MAN THAT PEOPLE WILL SEEM TO RESPECT, 1028 01:12:29,100 --> 01:12:33,133 AND HE WAS ABLE TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE, TOO. 1029 01:12:34,933 --> 01:12:37,200 MORNING, DOC. 1030 01:12:45,500 --> 01:12:48,133 Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF TORMENT, 1031 01:12:48,133 --> 01:12:51,467 CHARLES ROBINSON HAD FINALLY BEATEN CHOLERA. 1032 01:12:51,467 --> 01:12:52,967 DOC. 1033 01:13:03,233 --> 01:13:05,067 AND IN THE PROCESS, 1034 01:13:05,067 --> 01:13:09,200 HE'D MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE GOLDFIELDS. 1035 01:13:23,067 --> 01:13:26,133 THE CHOLERA CRISIS HAD BEEN AVERTED, 1036 01:13:26,133 --> 01:13:30,067 BUT MANY OF THE MEN WHO'D CONTRACTED THE DISEASE 1037 01:13:30,067 --> 01:13:31,567 HAD HAD ENOUGH. 1038 01:13:31,567 --> 01:13:36,867 MINERS BY THE HUNDREDS GAVE UP THEIR DREAM OF FINDING GOLD 1039 01:13:36,867 --> 01:13:39,800 AND HEADED HOME, 1040 01:13:39,800 --> 01:13:44,300 AMONG THEM, CAPTAIN JOHN WEBBER, 1041 01:13:44,300 --> 01:13:48,967 WHO AFTER MONTHS OF WATCHING HIS CONTROL OVER HIS MEN CRUMBLE, 1042 01:13:48,967 --> 01:13:50,367 FINALLY REALIZED 1043 01:13:50,367 --> 01:13:54,333 HE WAS NO LONGER THE TRUE LEADER OF BOSTON COMPANY. 1044 01:13:56,067 --> 01:13:59,567 I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK. 1045 01:14:02,133 --> 01:14:05,067 I HOPE AT LEAST SOME OF YOU COME BACK RICH MEN. 1046 01:14:08,867 --> 01:14:10,800 Eymann: WHEN WEBBER MAKES THE DECISION 1047 01:14:10,800 --> 01:14:12,833 AND PROBABLY AFTER BEING SICK LIKE THAT, 1048 01:14:12,833 --> 01:14:14,400 DECIDES TO TURN BACK. 1049 01:14:14,400 --> 01:14:17,667 I THINK THAT KNOWING WHO CHARLES ROBINSON WAS 1050 01:14:17,667 --> 01:14:18,933 AND ALSO THE FACT 1051 01:14:18,933 --> 01:14:21,067 THAT HE HAD JUST HELPED THEM THROUGH AN ILLNESS, 1052 01:14:21,067 --> 01:14:22,767 THAT HE WOULD'VE BEEN A NATURAL 1053 01:14:22,767 --> 01:14:25,067 FOR THE GROUP TO TURN TO AS A LEADER. 1054 01:14:30,067 --> 01:14:31,867 WHAT DO WE DO NOW, DOC? 1055 01:14:54,233 --> 01:14:58,867 Narrator: WILLIAM WALKER MAY HAVE FELT LIKE THE KING OF THE GOLDFIELDS, 1056 01:14:58,867 --> 01:15:03,500 BUT HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE WAS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE -- 1057 01:15:03,500 --> 01:15:11,067 AN EASY MARK WHO HAD PLAYED RIGHT INTO SAM BRANNAN'S GAME. 1058 01:15:28,367 --> 01:15:31,333 JUST YOU AND ME. 1059 01:16:11,767 --> 01:16:14,100 IF YOU BET THE REST OF YOUR GOLD, 1060 01:16:14,100 --> 01:16:15,667 I'LL DOUBLE YOUR STAKE. 1061 01:16:15,667 --> 01:16:20,800 IF YOU WIN, YOU'LL BE A VERY RICH MAN. 1062 01:16:20,800 --> 01:16:22,400 I THINK WE SHOULD GO. 1063 01:16:22,400 --> 01:16:23,667 SHUT UP, FOWLER. 1064 01:17:04,700 --> 01:17:07,633 DAMN IT! THIS THING'S FIXED! I WANT MY MONEY BACK. 1065 01:17:17,833 --> 01:17:21,600 OKAY. OKAY! OKAY! 1066 01:17:21,600 --> 01:17:22,700 OKAY. 1067 01:17:22,700 --> 01:17:24,900 [ GRUNTS ] 1068 01:17:24,900 --> 01:17:26,400 AAH! 1069 01:17:27,567 --> 01:17:29,333 YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS! 1070 01:17:29,333 --> 01:17:31,200 I'LL GET YOU, SON OF A BITCH! 1071 01:17:31,200 --> 01:17:33,367 [ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ] 1072 01:17:46,667 --> 01:17:49,733 Narrator: DURING THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1073 01:17:49,733 --> 01:17:53,967 THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE 49ers WASN'T THE HARSH CONDITIONS. 1074 01:17:55,300 --> 01:17:56,433 [ GUN COCKS ] 1075 01:17:56,433 --> 01:17:57,800 IT WAS EACH OTHER. 1076 01:18:00,067 --> 01:18:01,267 [ GUNSHOT ] 1077 01:18:01,267 --> 01:18:05,233 Brechin: IT WAS A VIOLENT AND A DANGEROUS CULTURE 1078 01:18:05,233 --> 01:18:08,067 IN WHICH COULD LOSE YOUR LIFE VERY, VERY EASILY. 1079 01:18:08,067 --> 01:18:10,833 AND ONE OF THE SAD THINGS IS WHEN THESE MEN, 1080 01:18:10,833 --> 01:18:13,267 WHO HAD WIVES AND FAMILIES BACK HOME, 1081 01:18:13,267 --> 01:18:15,733 THEY MIGHT SUDDENLY JUST STOP WRITING, 1082 01:18:15,733 --> 01:18:18,600 AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 1083 01:18:18,600 --> 01:18:22,767 Narrator: IN THE GOLDFIELDS, NINE OUT OF EVERY 10 PROSPECTORS WERE ARMED, 1084 01:18:22,767 --> 01:18:27,433 AND ON AVERAGE, THERE WAS A MURDER EVERY FIVE HOURS, 1085 01:18:27,433 --> 01:18:30,300 MAKING CALIFORNIA THE DEADLIEST PLACE IN AMERICA. 1086 01:18:37,067 --> 01:18:39,267 Narrator: WILLIAM WALKER HAD CHEATED AND ROBBED 1087 01:18:39,267 --> 01:18:42,167 TO GET AHEAD IN THE GOLDFIELDS, 1088 01:18:42,167 --> 01:18:47,633 BUT NOW HE WAS THE ONE BEING CONNED BY SAM BRANNAN. 1089 01:18:47,633 --> 01:18:49,633 YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS! 1090 01:18:49,633 --> 01:18:51,600 I'LL GET YOU, SON OF A BITCH! 1091 01:19:03,067 --> 01:19:07,300 Narrator: BUT WALKER HAD FINALLY REALIZED THE GAME WAS RIGGED. 1092 01:19:11,300 --> 01:19:15,767 AND HE WAS GOING TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS. 1093 01:19:17,100 --> 01:19:19,600 MEANWHILE, IT HAD BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS 1094 01:19:19,600 --> 01:19:22,233 SINCE THEY SURVIVED THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC, 1095 01:19:22,233 --> 01:19:25,700 AND BOSTON COMPANY WAS BACK AT WORK WITH THEIR SLUICE. 1096 01:19:25,700 --> 01:19:28,100 BUT THEY WERE HAVING NO BETTER LUCK 1097 01:19:28,100 --> 01:19:31,067 THAN THEY WERE WHILE PANNING. 1098 01:19:31,067 --> 01:19:33,333 IT WAS CLEAR. 1099 01:19:33,333 --> 01:19:35,933 THE PROBLEM WASN'T WITH THE TECHNOLOGY 1100 01:19:35,933 --> 01:19:37,933 BUT THE LAND. 1101 01:19:37,933 --> 01:19:41,200 SOME PEOPLE MAKE A MISTAKE ABOUT DIGGING AND DIGGING AND DIGGING, 1102 01:19:41,200 --> 01:19:43,833 THINKING, WELL, THAT'S THE ONLY CLAIM THEY'VE GOT, 1103 01:19:43,833 --> 01:19:45,500 AND THEY'LL WORK THEMSELVES TO DEATH 1104 01:19:45,500 --> 01:19:47,167 ON A CLAIM THAT'S GOT NOTHING ON IT. 1105 01:19:47,167 --> 01:19:48,800 IT'S JUST NO PAY DIRT. 1106 01:20:01,767 --> 01:20:03,833 4 OUNCES. 1107 01:20:08,900 --> 01:20:11,700 Turin: YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BAD CLAIM 1108 01:20:11,700 --> 01:20:14,233 UNTIL YOU'RE INTO IT TOO FAR. 1109 01:20:17,533 --> 01:20:21,300 A POOR MINER, WHICH IS USUALLY THE CASE, 1110 01:20:21,300 --> 01:20:24,733 TRIES TO OVERCOME THE LOSSES 1111 01:20:24,733 --> 01:20:28,033 THAT HE'S ALREADY ENCOUNTERED ON A BAD PIECE OF GROUND, 1112 01:20:28,033 --> 01:20:30,133 AND THEY NEVER MAKE IT UP. 1113 01:20:30,133 --> 01:20:33,767 A SMART MINER WALKS AWAY AND CUTS HIS LOSSES. 1114 01:20:37,600 --> 01:20:40,167 LET'S PACK UP AND GO TO SAN FRANCISCO. 1115 01:20:40,167 --> 01:20:42,333 IT'S CHRISTMAS. IT'S ABOUT TIME WE CELEBRATE SOMETHING. 1116 01:20:42,333 --> 01:20:44,700 YES, SIR. YES, SIR. WHOO! 1117 01:20:44,700 --> 01:20:46,267 GET THE GEAR. 1118 01:20:46,267 --> 01:20:48,933 Narrator: CHARLES ROBINSON DECIDED 1119 01:20:48,933 --> 01:20:51,100 IT WAS TIME THEY ABANDON THEIR CLAIM. 1120 01:20:53,167 --> 01:20:58,233 HE KNEW HIS MEN NEEDED A BREAK. 1121 01:20:58,233 --> 01:21:03,400 SO, BOSTON COMPANY SET OUT FOR SAN FRANCISCO... 1122 01:21:04,867 --> 01:21:09,167 ...AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE IN CALIFORNIA HAD THE SAME IDEA. 1123 01:21:09,167 --> 01:21:14,100 BY THE END OF 1849, AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHED, 1124 01:21:14,100 --> 01:21:18,600 75,000 MINERS FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA 1125 01:21:18,600 --> 01:21:21,067 FLOODED INTO THE CITY. 1126 01:21:28,733 --> 01:21:31,833 IT WAS THE BIGGEST PARTY SAN FRANCISCO HAD EVER SEEN 1127 01:21:31,833 --> 01:21:35,667 AS MINERS PACKED INTO BRANNAN'S BARS AND BORDELLOS 1128 01:21:35,667 --> 01:21:38,433 LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPE. 1129 01:21:41,100 --> 01:21:43,900 BUT ACROSS TOWN... 1130 01:21:43,900 --> 01:21:47,700 ONE MAN WAS LOOKING FOR REVENGE. 1131 01:21:50,267 --> 01:21:56,167 WITH SAM BRANNAN PREOCCUPIED, WALKER BROKE INTO HIS MANSION... 1132 01:22:00,067 --> 01:22:02,533 ...TO TAKE BACK WHAT WAS HIS. 1133 01:22:38,167 --> 01:22:40,167 HEY. 1134 01:22:40,167 --> 01:22:41,467 HEY, FOWLER. 1135 01:22:41,467 --> 01:22:43,967 THERE'S A BIG FIRE OUTSIDE. 1136 01:22:53,167 --> 01:22:55,667 WHAT ARE YOU DOING? [ GASPS ] 1137 01:22:55,667 --> 01:22:57,400 WHO ARE YOU? UH... 1138 01:22:58,867 --> 01:23:01,233 WHAT'S THE COMBINATION TO THE SAFE? 1139 01:23:01,233 --> 01:23:03,900 Fowler: WALKER, THERE'S A FIRE. WE SHOULD GO. 1140 01:23:05,600 --> 01:23:06,600 TELL ME. 1141 01:23:06,600 --> 01:23:08,533 PLEASE, GOD. PLEASE. 1142 01:23:08,533 --> 01:23:10,400 SHUT UP! WE NEED TO GO NOW. 1143 01:23:10,400 --> 01:23:12,633 TELL ME. I DON'T KNOW. 1144 01:23:12,633 --> 01:23:15,300 WALKER, WE ARE GONNA BURN ALIVE. 1145 01:23:18,533 --> 01:23:19,633 [ GASPS ] 1146 01:23:22,100 --> 01:23:24,100 [ CRYING ] 1147 01:23:39,633 --> 01:23:42,467 Narrator: IT STARTED IN A GAMBLING HALL DOWNTOWN, 1148 01:23:42,467 --> 01:23:45,533 BUT IN NO TIME, 1149 01:23:45,533 --> 01:23:49,367 WHAT WOULD COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE GREAT FIRE OF 1849 1150 01:23:49,367 --> 01:23:52,067 HAD SPREAD ACROSS SAN FRANCISCO... 1151 01:23:54,467 --> 01:23:57,300 ...DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH. 1152 01:24:13,967 --> 01:24:18,100 BY THE TIME ROBINSON AND BOSTON COMPANY ARRIVED, 1153 01:24:18,100 --> 01:24:24,867 THE CITY THAT GOLD BUILT HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND. 1154 01:24:28,367 --> 01:24:32,800 ON THE NEXT "GOLD FEVER," IN THE WAKE OF THE FIRE, 1155 01:24:32,800 --> 01:24:35,267 CHAOS BREAKS OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO. 1156 01:24:38,967 --> 01:24:41,067 IN THE GOLDFIELDS, 1157 01:24:41,067 --> 01:24:43,667 DESPERATE 49ers BEGIN USING DANGEROUS NEW METHODS 1158 01:24:43,667 --> 01:24:45,300 TO FIND GOLD... 1159 01:24:49,167 --> 01:24:51,300 GOLD! 1160 01:24:51,300 --> 01:24:53,967 Narrator: ...WHILE SAM BRANNAN MAKES A PLAY 1161 01:24:53,967 --> 01:24:55,467 TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE GOLDFIELDS... 1162 01:24:55,467 --> 01:25:00,300 IF YOU AND YOUR MOB DON'T LEAVE, I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU. 1163 01:25:02,367 --> 01:25:04,333 ...LEADING TO THE BLOODIEST DAY IN THE ENTIRE GOLD RUSH. 84481

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