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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
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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 ]
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00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:29,000
FOR SOME,
IT WAS THE AMERICAN DREAM,
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00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,667
BUT FOR OTHERS,
IT BECAME A NIGHTMARE.
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00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:35,933
Man: THIS IS CALIFORNIA --
THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG.
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00:00:35,933 --> 00:00:38,500
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING,
YOU TAKE IT.
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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 *
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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 *
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00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,533
* RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME *
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00:00:55,533 --> 00:01:00,667
* LET ME TELL YOU THAT
GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN *
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00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:04,667
* YOU MAY RUN FOR A LONG TIME *
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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 *
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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 *
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00:01:30,567 --> 00:01:32,933
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING,
GUNSHOTS ]
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Man:
FALL BACK! FALL BACK!
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THEY'RE COMING.
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Narrator:
BY AUGUST OF 1850,
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GREED HAD TRANSFORMED
THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
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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.
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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.
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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
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00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,067
WAS ON THE VERGE
OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE.
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00:02:30,067 --> 00:02:33,700
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN
IN ESSENTIALLY A DEPRESSION
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00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:35,067
FOR A DOZEN YEARS.
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00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:39,800
THERE'S NO REAL GOOD WAY,
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00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,167
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU WORK
IN THE UNITED STATES,
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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
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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.
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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 --
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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.
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00:03:42,967 --> 00:03:45,567
HE FOUND WORK
BUILDING A SMALL SAWMILL
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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...
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00:03:55,067 --> 00:03:57,300
...ARE NOTHING MORE
THAN ACCIDENTS.
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00:04:16,733 --> 00:04:20,300
ON JANUARY 24, 1848,
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00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:23,167
JAMES MARSHALL
BECAME THE FIRST MAN
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00:04:23,167 --> 00:04:26,067
TO FIND GOLD IN CALIFORNIA.
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00:04:29,067 --> 00:04:32,200
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
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00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,500
MARSHALL AND HIS MEN
CONTINUE TO FIND GOLD,
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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.
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00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:45,767
[ HORSE WHINNIES ]
68
00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,733
[ BELL JINGLES ]
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00:04:56,733 --> 00:04:58,933
[ BELL JINGLES ]
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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
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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
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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.
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00:05:48,933 --> 00:05:55,700
INSTEAD, HE CAME UP
WITH SOMETHING MORE MASTERFUL,
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00:05:55,700 --> 00:06:00,667
AND HE BET EVERY PENNY HE HAD
ON IT.
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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.
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00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:32,833
SAM BRANNAN WAS SOMETHING
OF AN ENIGMATIC CHARACTER.
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00:06:35,833 --> 00:06:40,600
HE WAS PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNIST
AS MUCH AS HE WAS ANYTHING ELSE.
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00:06:45,333 --> 00:06:46,667
[ HORSE WHINNIES ]
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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
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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!
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00:07:33,167 --> 00:07:35,100
GOLD!
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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
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AND HAVE TO BUY
THOSE SUPPLIES...FROM HIM.
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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!
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00:08:06,333 --> 00:08:09,733
HEADLINES SPLASHED ACROSS
THE FRONT PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS
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00:08:09,733 --> 00:08:13,333
FROM CALIFORNIA
ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK CITY,
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00:08:13,333 --> 00:08:18,367
INSTANTLY GRABBING THE ATTENTION
OF A POOR AND DESPERATE NATION.
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00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:21,067
PEOPLE ARE HEARING THESE STORIES
FROM CALIFORNIA
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00:08:21,067 --> 00:08:25,067
OF PEOPLE PICKING UP,
IN A MORNING,
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00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:28,067
MORE MONEY THAN THEY'D MAKE
IN A YEAR.
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00:08:28,067 --> 00:08:33,233
AND THAT STARTS
THIS EXPLOSION -- A FRENZY --
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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."
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00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:43,433
Narrator: WITHIN WEEKS,
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00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:45,833
THOUSANDS OF PROSPECTORS
DROPPED EVERYTHING
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00:08:45,833 --> 00:08:49,200
AND CRAMMED ONTO TRAINS
AND RIVERBOATS.
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00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,467
GOLD HAS THIS
"MYSTICAL POWER" ON MAN.
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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,
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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."
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00:09:45,067 --> 00:09:47,300
BUT IN 1849,
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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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