All language subtitles for The West - s01e03 - The Speck of the Future (1848-1856)

"THERE ARE ALL KINDS
OF PEOPLE ON EARTH

"THAT YOU WILL MEET
SOMEDAY.

THEY WILL BE LOOKING
FOR A CERTAIN STONE."

"THEY WILL BE PEOPLE
WHO DO NOT GET TIRED

"BUT WHO WILL KEEP
PUSHING FORWARD,

GOING, GOING
ALL THE TIME."

"THESE PEOPLE
DO NOT FOLLOW

"THE WAY OF
OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER.

THEY FOLLOW ANOTHER WAY."

"THEY WILL TRAVEL
EVERYWHERE,

"LOOKING FOR THIS STONE

"WHICH OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER
PUT ON THE EARTH

IN MANY PLACES."

SWEET MEDICINE.

[NARRATOR]
ON THE MORNING
OF JANUARY 24, 1848,

A MAN NAMED JAMES MARSHALL

WALKED ALONG THE BANKS
OF THE AMERICAN RIVER

IN CALIFORNIA

TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS
OF A MILL HE WAS BUILDING.

[J.S. HOLLIDAY]
AND HE LOOKS DOWN

WHERE THE SOIL HAS BEEN DUG,
AND THERE’S A SPARKLE,

AND THERE’S A GLINT
IN THE MORNING LIGHT,

AND HE REACHES DOWN,

AND HE PICKS IT UP
WITH HIS STUBBY, DIRTY FINGERS--

AND THE LAST THING
IN THE WORLD

THAT HE MIGHT HAVE
EXPECTED--

AND HERE IS THIS, THIS...

SPECK OF THE FUTURE,
THIS TINY LITTLE SHOCK

THAT’S GOING TO REVERBERATE
RIGHT TO TODAY--

LITERALLY TILL NOW.

HE PICKS IT UP,
AND HE SAYS, "MY GOD!"

AND HE YELLS OUT,
HE SAID,

"MY GOD,
I THINK I’VE FOUND GOLD!"

[MEN CHANTING
IN NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE]

[NARRATOR]
BY 1848, THE UNITED STATES

CLAIMED VIRTUALLY
ALL OF THE WEST.

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE,

THE ANNEXATION
OF TEXAS AND OREGON,

AND THE WAR WITH MEXICO

HAD STRETCHED
THE NATION’S BOUNDARIES

ALL THE WAY TO THE PACIFIC.

BUT THE WEST WAS AMERICAN
IN NAME ONLY.

FEW PEOPLE EAST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI

WERE ANXIOUS TO VENTURE
INTO ITS FORBIDDING INTERIOR.

IT STILL SEEMED TOO DISTANT,
TOO MYSTERIOUS,

TOO DANGEROUS.

THEN GOLD WAS DISCOVERED
IN CALIFORNIA,

AND EVERYTHING CHANGED--

FOR THE WEST
AND FOR THE COUNTRY.

SUDDENLY
GOLD-SEEKERS RUSHED IN

FROM EVERY CORNER
OF THE GLOBE--

CHINESE PEASANTS
PURSUING TALES

OF A GOLD MOUNTAIN
ACROSS THE OCEAN,

MEXICAN FARMERS

AND CLERKS FROM LONDON,

TAILORS
FROM EASTERN EUROPE,

AND SOUTH AMERICAN ARISTOCRATS
FALLEN ON HARD TIMES.

THE THIN STREAM
OF AMERICAN EMIGRANTS

CROSSING THE CONTINENT

BECAME A TORRENT...

THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS

OF OPTIMISTIC
BUT INEXPERIENCED PROSPECTORS,

WILLING TO LEAVE
THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES

AND SET OUT ON THE LONG TRAIL
FOR CALIFORNIA,

HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH
AND RETURN IN GLORY.

BECAUSE OF GOLD,

A ONCE-SLEEPY VILLAGE
ON A MAGNIFICENT BAY

WOULD CHANGE OVERNIGHT

INTO A THRIVING,
INTERNATIONAL CITY

WHERE STOREKEEPERS,
SPECULATORS, AND SCOUNDRELS

ALL DREAMED OF BECOMING
INSTANT MILLIONAIRES.

BECAUSE OF GOLD,
SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES

WHO HAD LIVED IN CALIFORNIA
FOR 3/4 OF A CENTURY

WOULD SUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES
SURROUNDED BY STRANGERS

AND ROBBED OF THEIR LAND.

AND BECAUSE OF GOLD,

CALIFORNIA’S INDIANS
WOULD BE OVERWHELMED, ENSLAVED,

AND THEN SLAUGHTERED.

"THE GOLD RUSH
REVOLUTIONIZED AMERICA,"

WROTE ONE MAN
WHO HAD SEEN IT ALL.

"IT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF OUR NATIONAL MADNESS,

OUR INSANITY OF GREED."

IT HAD TAKEN HALF A CENTURY
FOR THE UNITED STATES

TO ENCOMPASS
THE VAST SPACES OF THE WEST.

NOW THE LUST FOR GOLD
WOULD ANIMATE THE NATION

TO BEGIN TO FILL THEM UP.

[HOLLIDAY]
THE GOLD RUSH
CHANGED CALIFORNIA,

IT CHANGED THE WHOLE WEST,

AND IT CHANGED
AMERICA’S SENSE OF ITSELF,

BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME

THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,

IN THE MINDS
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,

FULFILLED THE DREAM
OF JEFFERSON,

WHICH WAS A CONTINENTAL NATION

FROM THE ATLANTIC
TO THE PACIFIC.

NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT
THE AMERICA STRETCHING

FROM CHESAPEAKE BAY
TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY

UNTIL FATHERS AND SONS
AND UNCLES AND BROTHERS

AND FIANCES WERE OUT THERE.

[MAN CHANTING]

"A FRENZY
SEIZED MY SOUL.

"PILES OF GOLD
ROSE UP BEFORE ME.

"CASTLES OF MARBLE,
THOUSANDS OF SLAVES,

"MYRIADS OF FAIR VIRGINS

"CONTENDING WITH
EACH OTHER FOR MY LOVE

"WERE AMONG THE FANCIES

"OF MY FEVERED
IMAGINATION.

IN SHORT, I HAD
A VERY VIOLENT ATTACK
OF THE GOLD FEVER."

HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT.

[NARRATOR]
THE FIRST GOLD HAD BEEN FOUND

ON THE LAND OF A SWISS-BORN
ADVENTURER NAMED JOHN SUTTER,

WHO HAD ALREADY CREATED
A 50,000-ACRE EMPIRE

FOR HIMSELF IN CALIFORNIA.

IF HE COULD KEEP
THE DISCOVERY QUIET,

HE BELIEVED,

IT WOULD MAKE HIM RICH
BEYOND HIS WILDEST IMAGININGS.

BUT RUMORS BEGAN TO SPREAD.

ONE PERSON WHO HEARD THEM

WAS A MORMON ELDER
NAMED SAM BRANNAN.

HE HAD BEEN SENT TO CALIFORNIA
TO ESTABLISH A COLONY

FOR THE CHURCH,

BUT THE RUMORS OF GOLD
LED HIM TO SUTTER’S MILL.

THERE HE SAW
AN EASIER PATH TO RICHES

THAN WORKING THE STREAMS.

HE OPENED A STORE
NEXT TO SUTTER’S SAWMILL,

FULLY STOCKED WITH PICKS,
PANS, AND SHOVELS

TO CATER TO THE NEEDS
OF THE TREASURE-SEEKERS

HE KNEW WOULD RUSH
TO THE GOLD FIELDS

ONCE WORD GOT OUT.

[T.H. WATKINS]
SAM BRANNAN GATHERED TOGETHER

ENOUGH GOLD DUST
FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

TO PUT INTO A VIAL,

TOOK THE NEXT BOAT
DOWN TO SAN FRANCISCO,

LANDED IN SAN FRANCISCO--

STILL CALLED YERBA BUENA
IN THOSE DAYS--

AND STRODE UP AND DOWN
THEN MONTGOMERY STREET

WAVING THE VIAL OF GOLD
OVER HIS HEAD

AND CRYING, "GOLD!
GOLD FROM THE AMERICAN RIVER!"

IT WORKED PERFECTLY.

PEOPLE SPILLED OUT
OF THE SALOONS.

THEY PASSED THE VIAL AROUND,
HEFT IT IN THEIR HANDS,

FEEL ITS WEIGHT,
LOOK AT IT,

AND IT ABSOLUTELY
ENTRANCED THEM.

[NARRATOR]
THE GOLD RUSH HAD BEGUN.

BY THE MIDDLE OF JUNE,

3/4 OF THE MEN
LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO

HAD LEFT TOWN TO DIG FOR GOLD.

FROM MEXICO, WHERE THE SPANISH
HAD BEEN MINING GOLD

FOR THREE CENTURIES,

SO MANY MEN HEADED NORTH,
ONE AMERICAN REPORTED,

THAT IT SEEMS AS IF "THE ENTIRE
STATE OF SONORA IS ON THE MOVE."

THOUSANDS MORE SET SAIL

FROM EVERY PORT
IN SOUTH AMERICA.

AS WORD SPREAD
ACROSS THE PACIFIC,

HAWAIIANS AND CHINESE
CAME TO WORK THE STREAMS.

FOR THOSE WHO GOT THERE EARLY,
GOLD SEEMED TO BE EVERYWHERE--

LODGED AMONG ROCKS,
GLITTERING IN SAND BARS,

SWIRLING IN POOLS AND EDDIES,
THERE FOR THE TAKING.

SOME MADE FORTUNES USING NOTHING
BUT SPOONS OR JACKKNIVES

TO SCOOP IT UP.

OTHERS HIRED INDIANS
TO DO THE WORK.

SEVEN MINERS
EMPLOYING 50 INDIANS

DUG OUT 273 POUNDS OF GOLD
IN JUST TWO MONTHS.

PROSPECTORS LIKED TO SAY
THAT THE NAME "CALIFORNIA"

CAME FROM A COMBINATION
OF THE INDIAN WORD KALI,

WHICH MEANT "GOLD,"

AND FORNIA, WHICH MEANT
"WOULDN’T YOU LIKE SOME?"

[HOLLIDAY]
THAT TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

OF THAT SUMMER OF 1848

SPREAD BY WAY OF LETTERS
AND GOVERNMENT REPORTS.

THE PRESIDENT,

IN HIS STATE
OF THE UNION SPEECH,

ANNOUNCES THAT THE ASTONISHING
NEWS FROM SACRAMENTO IS TRUE--

SO THE NEWS IS COMING,
NOT ONLY FROM THE PRESIDENT,

BUT MOST OF ALL,

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WRITING THESE VIVID REPORTS.

A GUY WRITES HOME,
AND HE SAYS,

"YOU REMEMBER DICKSON?
HE USED TO WORK FOR EBENEEZER."

HE SAID, "HE HAS DUG ENOUGH GOLD
TO WEIGH DOWN A MULE."

NOW, THAT MEANS
SOMETHING TO PEOPLE--

A MULE.

"THE BLACKSMITH
DROPPED HIS HAMMER,

"THE CARPENTER HIS PLANE,
THE MASON HIS TROWEL,

"THE FARMER HIS SICKLE,
THE BAKER HIS LOAF,

"AND THE TAPSTER HIS BOTTLE.

"I HAVE ONLY A COMMUNITY
OF WOMEN LEFT

"AND A GANG OF PRISONERS,

"WITH HERE AND THERE

"A SOLDIER WHO WILL
GIVE HIS CAPTAIN THE SLIP

"AT THE FIRST CHANCE.

"I DON’T BLAME
THE FELLOW A WHIT--

"$7.00 A MONTH,
WHILE OTHERS ARE MAKING

200 OR 300 A DAY."

WALTER COLTON.

[RICHARD WHITE]
EVERYONE KNEW

CALIFORNIA WAS VALUABLE,

BUT NOBODY COULD HAVE IMAGINED

THAT IT WOULD BE A PLACE

OF SUCH IMMENSE RICHES

AND RICHES TO BE HARVESTED

SO QUICKLY

AND SEEMINGLY SO EASILY.

IT’S AN INCREDIBLE BOON,

AN INCREDIBLE
STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE,

AND IT JUST
IS ONE OF THOSE SENSES

IN WHICH
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD,

IT MUST HAVE SEEMED THAT
EVERYTHING WAS JUST FALLING

IN THE PATH OF AMERICANS.

ALL THEY HAD TO DO
WAS STOOP AND PICK IT UP.

"I HAVE CARRIED
A HEAVY LOAD

"ON MY BACK
EVER SINCE I WAS A BOY.

"I LEARNED THEN
THAT WE WERE BUT FEW,

"WHILE THE WHITE MEN
WERE MANY,

"AND THAT WE COULD NOT
HOLD OUR OWN WITH THEM.

"WE HAD A SMALL COUNTRY.
THEIR COUNTRY WAS LARGE.

"WE WERE CONTENTED
TO LET THINGS REMAIN

"AS THE GREAT SPIRIT
MADE THEM.

"THEY WERE NOT

"AND WOULD CHANGE
THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS

"IF THEY DID NOT
SUIT THEM.

"WE WERE LIKE DEER.

THEY WERE LIKE
GRIZZLY BEARS."

CHIEF JOSEPH.

[NARRATOR]
BY THE BEGINNING OF 1849,

OVER 50,000
AMERICAN GOLD-SEEKERS

HAD DECIDED
TO HEAD FOR CALIFORNIA.

THE ONLY QUESTION
WAS HOW TO GET THERE.

SINCE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
TO GO OVERLAND

UNTIL SPRING THAWED THE PRAIRIES
AND MOUNTAIN PASSES,

THE MOST IMPATIENT PROSPECTORS

STARTED OFF BY SEA...

14,355 NAUTICAL MILES,

ALL THE WAY AROUND
THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA.

BUT MOST OF THE AMERICANS
DECIDED TO WAIT

AND GO BY WAGON TRAIN.

"APRIL 11, 1849.

"ALL MY THINGS
BEING READY LAST NIGHT,

"I ROSE EARLY AND COMMENCED
PACKING IN MY TRUNK,

"PREPARATORY TO LEAVING HOME
ON MY LONG JOURNEY--

"LEAVING FOR THE FIRST TIME
MY HOME AND MY DEAR FRIENDS

"WITH THE PROSPECT
OF ABSENCE FROM THEM

FOR MANY MONTHS
AND PERHAPS FOR YEARS."

WILLIAM SWAIN.

[NARRATOR]
WILLIAM SWAIN WAS

A 27-YEAR-OLD FARMER’S SON
FROM YOUNGSTOWN, NEW YORK,

UTTERLY CONVINCED
HE WOULD FIND RICHES

IN THE GOLD FIELDS
OF CALIFORNIA.

HIS WIFE SABRINA WAS
AGAINST HIS GOING WEST.

SHE DID NOT KNOW IF SHE
AND THEIR INFANT DAUGHTER ELIZA

COULD BEAR
TO BE APART FROM HIM.

WILLIAM’S OLDER BROTHER GEORGE
WAS FOR IT.

IF PICKINGS WERE AS EASY

AS THE NEWSPAPERS
SAID THEY WERE,

HE WOULD GO WEST, TOO,
THE FOLLOWING SPRING.

SWAIN’S PLAN

WAS TO TAKE THE OVERLAND
ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA,

MAKE A QUICK $10,000
IN THE GOLD FIELDS,

AND RETURN HOME.

HE CARRIED WITH HIM A GUIDEBOOK
TO THE OVERLAND TRAIL,

A BIBLE, AND HIS DIARY.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"I HAD FORTIFIED MY MIND

"BY PREVIOUS REFLECTION

"TO SUPPRESS MY EMOTIONS,
AS IS MY CUSTOM

"IN ALL CASES
WHERE EMOTION IS EXPECTED.

"BUT THIS MORNING
I LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE

"THAT I AM NOT
MASTER OF MY FEELINGS
IN ALL CASES.

"I PARTED FROM MY FAMILY

"COMPLETELY UNABLE
TO RESTRAIN MY EMOTIONS

"AND LEFT THEM ALL
BATHED IN TEARS,

"EVEN MY BROTHER,

"WHOSE ENERGY OF MIND

I NEVER SAW FAIL
BEFORE."

[HOLLIDAY]
HE IS A FARMER.

HE LIVES A SIMPLE LIFE.
HE’S PRETTY WELL-EDUCATED.

HE’S READ SHAKESPEARE.
HE’S READ WORDSWORTH.

HIS WIFE IS A TEACHER.

THEY HAVE A VERY
COMFORTABLE LIFE.

THEY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IN 1849.

THIS IS A KEY POINT.

THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING
THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM DISTRESS.

HIS EXPECTATIONS WERE PERFECTLY
COMFORTABLE EXPECTATIONS

OF AN AVERAGE FARMING FAMILY
IN AMERICA.

THE GOLD RUSH CHANGED THAT.

SUDDENLY HE WANTED MORE.

SUDDENLY HE WASN’T SATISFIED.

[SHIP WHISTLE BLOWS]

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"APRIL 12, 1849.

"AT HALF PAST 2:00,

"I TOOK PASSAGE FOR DETROIT
ON THE STEAMER ARROW.

"THE LAKE IS VERY SMOOTH,

"AND THE BOAT SHOOTS
ALONG LIKE AN ARROW,

"AND AS SHE LEAVES

"FAR IN THE DISTANCE
OBJECTS FAMILIAR TO ME

"AND BEARS ME ON
TO THOSE THAT ARE STRANGE,

I FEEL THAT SHE BEARS ME
AND MY DESTINY."

"DEAR, DEAR WILLIAM,

"I FEEL AS THOUGH I WAS
ALONE IN THE WORLD."

"THE NIGHT
YOU LEFT HOME,

"I DID NOT,
NOR COULD NOT,

"CLOSE MY EYES
TO SLEEP.

"WILLIAM,
IF I HAD KNOWN

"THAT I COULD NOT BE
MORE RECONCILED

"TO YOUR ABSENCE
THAN I AM,

"I NEVER COULD
HAVE CONSENTED
TO YOUR GOING.

"HOWEVER, I WILL TRY
TO RECONCILE MYSELF

"AS WELL AS I CAN,

"BELIEVING GOD WILL

"ORDER ALL THINGS

FOR THE BEST."

SABRINA.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"MAY 6, 1849,

"INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI.

"WE CAME UP FROM ST. LOUIS

"WITH A COMPANY
FROM MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

"THEY ARE GOT UP ON
THE JOINT-STOCK PRINCIPLE

"AND ARE GOING
WITH OX TEAMS.

"THEY PROPOSED THAT
WE SHOULD JOIN THEM

"BY PAYING $100 EACH
INTO THE FUND,

"FURNISHING A WAGON,

"AND THUS BECOMING MEMBERS
OF THEIR COMPANY,

WHICH WE HAVE DONE."

[NARRATOR]
THE MEMBERS OF SWAIN’S COMPANY

PRINTED "WOLVERINE RANGERS"
ON THEIR WAGONS

WITH AXLE GREASE.

OTHER COMPANIES
HAD THEIR OWN NICKNAMES--

WILD YANKEE,

ROUGH AND READY,

LIVE HOOSIER,

AND NEVER SAY DIE.

BUT IN HONOR
OF THE MOMENTOUS YEAR

THEY BELIEVED WOULD
CHANGE THEIR LIVES,

THEY ALL PROUDLY
CALLED THEMSELVES FORTY-NINERS.

[HOLLIDAY]
30,000 PEOPLE--

THAT’S NOT AN EXAGGERATION--

IN THE SPRING OF 1849

TAKE OFF FROM INDEPENDENCE
AND ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI,

AND TRAVEL
ALONG THE GREAT PLATTE--

HUNDREDS OF MILES OF WAGONS.

YOU CAN LOOK TO THE WEST,

AND AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE
ON A DUSTY DAY,

THERE ARE WAGON TRAILS
WAY OFF INTO THE DISTANCE.

AND YOU TURN AROUND
TO LOOK BACK,

AND THEY’RE STRETCHED
ALL THE WAY BACK

AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.

THE MEN WHO TRAVELED
TO CALIFORNIA

IN THE GOLD RUSH YEARS

HAD A CONSCIOUS SENSE
OF THE NEED TO ORGANIZE.

THERE ARE RULES--

FOR INSTANCE,
NO SWEARING.

LITERALLY. ONE OF THEIR...
THEY HAVE CONSTITUTIONS.

THEY HAVE THESE RULES
AND ORDERS.

IT’S NO SWEARING, NO DRINKING,
WE WILL OBSERVE THE SABBATH.

MANY A COMPANY BROKE UP
OVER THE ARGUMENT

OF WHETHER OR NOT
TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH.

"HOW CAN WE OBSERVE THE SABBATH?

"HERE IT IS THE MIDDLE OF JUNE.
WE’RE ALREADY BEHIND.

"THESE PEOPLE
ARE PASSING US ON SUNDAY.

"THEY’RE ROLLING.

HOW CAN WE SIT HERE?"
YOU KNOW.

SO THEY HAVE ARGUMENTS
ABOUT IT,

AND COMPANIES SPLIT UP
OVER THE MORAL QUESTION

OF WHETHER TO OBSERVE
THE SABBATH OR NOT.

[NARRATOR]
FOR 30 DAYS,

THE FORTY-NINERS
CROSSED ROLLING PRAIRIE

IN WHAT IS NOW
KANSAS AND NEBRASKA.

IT WAS INDIAN TERRITORY,
WHERE TRIBES FROM THE EAST

HAD BEEN RELOCATED
A DECADE EARLIER.

FEARS OF INDIAN RAIDS
PROVED MOSTLY GROUNDLESS.

MEN WERE MORE LIKELY TO DIE
BY DROWNING AT A RIVER CROSSING

OR BY AN ACCIDENT
WITH THEIR OWN GUNS

THAN THEY WERE
AT THE HANDS OF INDIANS.

THE SAC AND THE FOX,
THE PAWNEES AND KICKAPOOS

CHARGED TOLLS
AT BRIDGES AND FORDS.

THE POTAWATOMIS

SOLD THE EMIGRANTS
BACON, BEEF, AND VEGETABLES

AND CHARGED
FROM $1.00 TO $5.00

TO FERRY EMIGRANTS
ACROSS THE KANSAS RIVER.

THE REAL DANGER ON THE PLAINS
WAS CHOLERA,

WITH ITS SOARING FEVERS,
CHRONIC DYSENTERY,

AND GHASTLY DEATH
FROM DEHYDRATION.

CHOLERA WAS RAMPANT

ALL ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES IN 1849

AND QUICKLY SPREAD
THROUGH THE WAGON TRAINS.

SOME 1,500
OF THE GOLD-SEEKERS

WHO SET OUT
FOR CALIFORNIA THAT SPRING

DIED FROM IT ON THE TRAIL.

"YOUNGSTOWN, NEW YORK.

"DEAR BROTHER WILLIAM,

"WE WERE IN A PERFECT
FEVER OF ANXIETY
ABOUT YOU.

"WE KNOW THE CHOLERA
WILL BE WITH YOU

"IN CROSSING THE PLAINS.

PLEASE WRITE AS SOON
AS YOU GET THERE."

GEORGE SWAIN.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"SABBATH, MAY 27, 1849.

"IN VIOLATION
OF OUR PRINCIPLE,

"WE TRAVEL TODAY

ON ACCOUNT OF THE SICKNESS
ON THE ROUTE."

"MAY 31st.

"I WAS ATTACKED AT NOON
BY DYSENTERY VERY BADLY.

"I GOT REVEREND HOBART

TO MAKE ME
A COMPOSITION TEA."

"JUNE 1st.

"STILL TAKING MEDICINE,
OPIUM, AND ASTRINGENT POWDERS.

"TODAY I HAVE THOUGHT MUCH
OF HOME AND OF MY LITTLE GIRL

WHO IS TODAY 1 YEAR OLD."

"JUNE 7th.

"I AM ON THE GAIN
BUT VERY WEAK.

"MY APPETITE IS GOOD,
BUT I CANNOT EAT HEARTY

FOR FEAR
OF THE CONSEQUENCES."

[NARRATOR]
ON JUNE 13th,

WILLIAM SWAIN
AND HIS COMPANIONS

PASSED FORT KEARNY
ON THE PLATTE RIVER.

BY EARLY JULY,
THEY REACHED FORT LARAMIE

IN WHAT IS NOW WYOMING.

THEY HAD GONE NEARLY 700 MILES
FROM MISSOURI,

BUT THEY STILL HAD
MORE THAN 250 TO GO

BEFORE THEY REACHED SOUTH PASS,

WHICH WOULD TAKE THEM
THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,

AND NEARLY 1,000 MORE

BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY REACHED
THE GOLD FIELDS.

"JULY 4th,
INDEPENDENCE DAY.

"DEAR SABRINA,

"I HAVE JUST LEFT
THE CELEBRATION DINNER TABLE,

"WHERE THE COMPANY
ARE NOW DRINKING TOASTS

"TO EVERYTHING
AND EVERYBODY

"AND CHEERING
AT NO SMALL RATE.

"I ENJOY MYSELF BETTER
IN CONVERSING WITH YOU

"THROUGH THE MEDIUM
OF THE PEN.

"I AM HEARTY AND WELL,

"FAR MORE SO
THAN WHEN I LEFT HOME.

"I AM ALSO MORE FLESHY.

"NOTWITHSTANDING
THESE FACTS,

"I WOULD ADVISE NO MAN
TO COME THIS WAY

"TO CALIFORNIA.

"KISS MY LITTLE GIRL
FOR ME,

"GIVE MY LOVE
TO GEORGE AND MOTHER,

"AND TELL THEM

"I AM DETERMINED TO HAVE
MY SHARE OF THE ROCKS.

"YOUR AFFECTIONATE HUSBAND
UNTIL DEATH,

WILLIAM SWAIN."

[NARRATOR]
AS THOUSANDS OF FORTY-NINERS
STREAMED WEST,

MANY CARRIED WITH THEM

THE EXPLORER JOHN C. FREMONT’S
OFFICIAL REPORTS,

WHICH PORTRAYED HIS SCOUT,

KIT CARSON,

AS FEARLESS, CHIVALROUS,
AND RESOURCEFUL.

BUT THESE REPORTS
PALED IN COMPARISON

TO THE SENSATIONAL DIME NOVELS
ABOUT CARSON

WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAD
NEVER BEEN WEST THEMSELVES

AND CERTAINLY HAD NEVER MET
THE FORMER MOUNTAIN MAN.

[DAYTON DUNCAN]
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST

LEGENDS IN HIS OWN TIME--

A CASE WHERE PEOPLE

HAD THEIR IMAGE

OF WHAT A WESTERNER WAS

THAT SOMETIMES DIDN’T SQUARE
WITH THE REAL THING.

KIT CARSON WAS UP
AT FORT LARAMIE,

AND SOMEBODY
CAME OVER AND SAID,

"I HEAR YOU’RE KIT CARSON.
IS THAT RIGHT?"

AND HE WAS KIND
OF A LACONIC MAN.

HE SAID, "YEAH, I AM,"

AND THE PERSON FROM THE EAST
LOOKED HIM UP AND DOWN

AND COMPARED IT
TO WHAT HE READ,

AND HE GOES, "NO, I DON’T THINK
YOU REALLY ARE KIT CARSON."

[NARRATOR]
THE REAL CARSON KNEW ENOUGH

NOT TO GAMBLE HIS FUTURE
ON FINDING GOLD.

INSTEAD, HE BOUGHT SOME 6,500
SHEEP FROM THE NAVAJOS

AT 50 CENTS A HEAD

AND BEGAN DRIVING THEM
TOWARD THE GOLD FIELDS,

WHERE HE HOPED TO SELL THEM

FOR MORE THAN
10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT.

EVEN HERE,
HIS FAME PRECEDED HIM.

WHEN HE DROVE HIS SHEEP
ONTO A FERRYBOAT

ON THE GREEN RIVER
IN WYOMING,

THE BOATMAN REFUSED
TO LET HIM PAY.

[DUNCAN]
THEY LET HIM TRAIL

HIS 6,500 SHEEP ACROSS
FOR FREE--

THAT’S QUITE A SAVINGS--

IN ORDER THAT THEY COULD NAME IT
"KIT CARSON’S CUTOFF"

BECAUSE THEY FIGURED IF
PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THAT,

THAT’S THE ONE
THEY WOULD TAKE,

AND THEY’D MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY OFF HIS NAME.

[NARRATOR]
SOON THERE WOULD BE

CARSON LAKE,
CARSON RIVER,

CARSON PASS, CARSON SINK,

CARSON CITY,
AND MORE.

THE OLD SCOUT WAS
PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT IT ALL.

SOMEONE ONCE
SHOWED HIM THE COVER

OF A PARTICULARLY LURID BOOK
ABOUT HIMSELF

AND ASKED ABOUT THE STORY
IT CONTAINED.

"IT MAY BE TRUE,"
HE ANSWERED,

"BUT I AIN’T GOT
ANY RECOLLECTION OF IT."

"DEAR HUSBAND,

"THIS IS ONLY
THE 25th OF AUGUST.

"WHAT A LONG SUMMER.

"O! HOW I WANT
TO SEE YOU.

"SOMETIMES
I ALMOST IMAGINE
MYSELF WITH YOU,

"BUT ALAS IT IS ONLY
THE DREAM OF FANCY.

"O! WILLIAM,

"IF I COULD SEE YOU
THIS MORNING,

"I WOULD
HUG AND KISS YOU

TILL YOU
WOULD BLUSH."

SABRINA.

[NARRATOR]
BEYOND THE NORTH PLATTE,

WILLIAM SWAIN AND THE OTHER
FORTY-NINERS IN HIS COMPANY

ENDURED 50 MILES
OF TREELESS SAGEBRUSH

DOTTED WITH POOLS
OF ALKALINE WATER

FATAL TO OXEN.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"WAGONS AND CARTS

"WERE SCATTERED
ON ALL SIDES,

"AND THE STENCH OF DEAD
AND DECAYING CATTLE

"ACTUALLY RENDERED
THE AIR SICKENING.

"SOME IDEA CAN BE
DRAWN FROM THE FACT

THAT IN ONE SPOT
COULD BE SEEN
150 DEAD CREATURES."

[NARRATOR]
ON JULY 31st,

THEY CROSSED
THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

AT SOUTH PASS.

THEY WERE NOW
THROUGH THE ROCKIES,

MORE THAN HALFWAY
TO CALIFORNIA.

BUT THE HARDEST PART--

THE DESERTS
AND THE SIERRA NEVADA--

STILL LAY AHEAD.

EVERYONE ON THE TRAIL
THAT SUMMER

HAD HEARD THE STORY
OF AN EARLIER WAGON TRAIN

THAT HAD TAKEN A SUPPOSED
SHORTCUT CALLED HASTINGS CUTOFF,

ONLY TO BE TRAPPED
IN THE SIERRAS

NEAR TRUCKEE LAKE.

HALF OF THE EMIGRANTS
HAD DIED.

SOME OF THE OTHERS
HAD SURVIVED

BY EATING THE FLESH
OF THEIR DEAD COMPANIONS.

THEY WERE REMEMBERED
AS THE DONNER PARTY.

WILLIAM SWAIN AND THE OTHERS
WERE LATE, TOO,

AND THEY KNEW IT.

SNOW WOULD SOON BEGIN TO FALL
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THEY ALSO BEGAN
TO FOLLOW SHORTCUTS

THAT SEEMED LIKELY
TO SPEED THEM THROUGH

TO THE GOLD FIELDS--

SUBLETTE’S CUTOFF,

HUDSPETH’S CUTOFF,

AND IN
THE WESTERN NEVADA DESERT,

LASSEN’S CUTOFF.

[HOLLIDAY]
YOU HAD HEARD BY THE GRAPEVINE

THAT THERE’S DESERT,
THERE’S DEATH,

THERE’S DESOLATION,

THERE’S HORROR AHEAD.

EVERYBODY THINKS
THEY WANT TO GO DUE WEST.

LASSEN’S CUTOFF PRESUMABLY
LEADS YOU DUE WEST--

ACROSS THE DESERT,

OVER THE NORTHERN END
OF THE SIERRA NEVADA,

AND DOWN INTO THE WARMTH
AND THE REWARDS

OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.

SO AT THE POINT
WHERE YOU MAKE THE CHOICE,

THERE IS THIS MOMENT WHERE

SCORES OF MEN STAND AROUND,

AND THEY DEBATE, AND THEY ARGUE,
AND THEY DISCUSS,

AND THEY READ
LITTLE SIGNS ON THE ROAD,

AND A BARREL,

A BIG BARREL FULL OF CARDS
AND FULL OF INFORMATION--

YOU SIFT THROUGH IT.

"OH, GEORGE WENT THIS WAY.
SAM WENT THIS WAY.

LOUIE WENT THAT WAY.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"

THERE’S CHOICES BEING MADE.

AND THEY STAND AROUND,
AND THEY DEBATE,

AND SOMETIMES COMPANIES
WOULD ARGUE, AND THEY’D SPLIT.

AND THERE’D BE FIGHTS--

"WE’LL GO THIS WAY.
YOU’LL GO THAT WAY."

SO IT WAS
A LIFE-AND-DEATH CHOICE.

EVERYBODY KNEW IT
TO BE THAT.

IT WASN’T JUST SOME CASUAL
MATTER OF SAVING A FEW HOURS.

IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE.

[NARRATOR]
ON SEPTEMBER 21st,

WILLIAM SWAIN
AND THE WOLVERINE RANGERS

JOINED THE STREAM
OF 10,000 GOLD-SEEKERS

AND STARTED DOWN
LASSEN’S CUTOFF.

IT, TOO,
WOULD PROVE A MISTAKE.

THEY FIRST HAD TO STRUGGLE

ACROSS THE SEARING
BLACK ROCK DESERT...

TRAVELING BY NIGHT
TO SAVE THEIR OXEN.

THEN THEY HAD TO FACE
THE MOUNTAINS.

THE ROADS WERE MADE UP OF ALMOST
EQUAL PARTS MUD AND BOULDERS.

WAGONS BROKE DOWN.

THE WOLVERINE RANGERS AGREED
TO SPLIT UP INTO SMALL GROUPS.

IT WOULD NOW BE
EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"NOVEMBER 6th.

"WE COMMENCED OUR WAY
IN 10 INCHES OF SNOW.

"I CARRIED A CHANGE
OF UNDERCLOTHES--

"BOTH OF FLANNEL
AND OF COTTON--

"TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS,

"ONE COAT, ONE PANTS,

"ONE NECK HANDKERCHIEF,
MY JOURNAL,

"POCKET BIBLE,
POCKETBOOK,

AND A FEW DAYS’
PROVISIONS."

"THE STORM INCREASED
AS THE DAY ADVANCED."

[HOLLIDAY] BUT WHEN YOU GET TO
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA,

YOU DON’T SEE THE GREEN
OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.

YOU SEE THE DESOLATION
OF THE PITT RIVER VALLEY.

YOU SEE ROCKS
AND STUNTED GROWTH

AND MOUNTAIN DESERTS.

IT’S JUST A PAIN.
IT’S A SHOCK.

IT’S A HIT IN THE HEAD.

IT HURTS YOUR HEART
TO SEE WHAT STILL LIES AHEAD.

AND YOU HAVEN’T GONE
A SHORTCUT.

WHAT YOU’VE DONE
IS YOU’VE GONE NORTH,

AND YOU’RE AT
WHAT’S CALLED GOOSE LAKE.

SO INSTEAD OF
GOING WEST,

YOU’VE GONE
NORTH-NORTHWEST.

NOW YOU GOT TO
GO SOUTH.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"AT DAWN, WE ARRIVED
AT ANTELOPE CREEK,

"8 MILES FROM
LASSEN’S RANCH,

AND FOUND IT
NOT FORDABLE."

"THE SKY CLEARED.

"WE KINDLED
A ROUSING FIRE,

"DRIED, AND RESTED
OURSELVES TILL NOON,

"WHEN TWO OTHER MEN
AND MYSELF,

"WITH OUR CLOTHES LASHED
TO OUR SHOULDERS,

"FORDED THE STREAM.

"IT WAS THE HARDEST JOB
I EVER HAD.

"WHEN I STEPPED ONTO
THE OPPOSITE SHORE,

I THOUGHT MY FLESH
WOULD DROP FROM MY BONES."

[NARRATOR]
WILLIAM SWAIN HAD FINALLY
MADE IT TO CALIFORNIA.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"JANUARY 6, 1850.

"DEAR GEORGE,

"THERE WAS SOME TALK
BETWEEN US

"OF YOUR COMING
TO THIS COUNTRY.

"FOR GOD’S SAKE,
THINK NOT OF IT.

"TELL ALL WHOM YOU KNOW

"THAT THOUSANDS HAVE LAID
AND WILL LAY THEIR BONES

"ALONG THE ROUTES
TO AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

"AND AS FOR YOU...
STAY AT HOME,

"FOR IF MY HEALTH
IS SPARED,

I CAN GET ENOUGH
FOR BOTH OF US."

[NARRATOR]
ON A BUFFALO ROBE
HE KEPT IN HIS TEEPEE,

THE LAKOTA NAMED LONE DOG
MARKED THE PASSAGE OF EACH YEAR

BY PAINTING
THE SINGLE EVENT

HIS PEOPLE REMEMBERED
MOST VIVIDLY.

HIS WINTER COUNT
BEGAN IN 1800

AND SPIRALED OUTWARD
WITH THE PASSING SEASONS.

THE YEAR
THE UNITED STATES TOOK

THE SOUTHWEST AND CALIFORNIA
FROM MEXICO,

LONE DOG HAD NOTED THE DEATH
OF A WARRIOR NAMED BROKEN LEG.

IN 1848,

THE YEAR GOLD HAD BEEN
DISCOVERED AT SUTTER’S MILL,

A MAN NAMED HUMP BACK WAS KILLED
BY AN ENEMY’S LANCE.

AND THE NEXT YEAR,

AS WILLIAM SWAIN
AND HIS FELLOW FORTY-NINERS

REACHED CALIFORNIA,

LONE DOG’S RECORD SHOWED
THAT THE CROWS HAD STOLEN

A GREAT NUMBER OF HORSES
FROM THE LAKOTAS,

LEAVING ONLY HOOFPRINTS
IN THE SNOW.

♪ THIS CALIFORNIA
IS A HUMBUG PLACE ♪

♪ OUT IN THE WORLD
IN THE BUSHES ♪

♪ WHERE TO MEET WITH
THE POOR MAN’S FATE ♪

♪ MANY A POOR DEVIL PUSHES ♪

♪ SO HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT,
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪

♪ MINING IS
A HARD KIND OF LABOR ♪

♪ HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT,
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪

♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND
OF LABOR, I BELIEVE ♪

[HOLLIDAY]
WHAT THEY HAD EXPECTED

WAS THE IMAGE
THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED

IN NOVEMBER,
DECEMBER OF 1848--

THE STORY OF DIGGING UP GOLD
AND ALL THE PEOPLE SUCCEEDING.

THEY WERE STUNNED,
SHOCKED, DISMAYED.

THE REALISM THAT STRUCK THEM
ABOVE ALL ELSE WAS,

THERE ARE
SO DAMN MANY MINERS.

THERE WERE 40,000 MINERS

IN THE MINING CAMPS,

IN THE MINING REGIONS
OF CALIFORNIA

BY THE FALL OF 1849.

THERE HAD ONLY BEEN 6,000
OR 7,000 IN THE FALL OF 1848.

NOW YOU’VE GOT
40,000 MINERS THERE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE
WHO’VE BEEN COMING

NOT ONLY OVERLAND--

I MENTIONED THEY CAME
AS EARLY AS AUGUST.

THEY’D BEEN COMING BY SHIP
SINCE DECEMBER.

THEY’D BEEN COMING
FROM HAWAII, FROM OREGON,

FROM CHILE, FROM SONORA.

THEY’D BEEN POURING IN.

THE WORLD RUSHED IN
TO CALIFORNIA.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"SOUTH FORK,
FEATHER RIVER.

"WE LOCATED A SPOT
FAVORABLE FOR DAMMING

"AND DRAINING THE RIVER.

"WE MADE OUR CLAIM

"AND THEN BUILT A HOUSE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

"TO SHELTER OUR HEADS
FROM THE SOAKING RAINS.

"SO HERE WE ARE,
SNUG AS SCHOOLMARMS,

"WORKING AT
OUR RACE AND DAM.

"IF THERE IS NO GOLD,

"WE SHALL BE OFF
TO ANOTHER PLACE,

"FOR THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE
OF GOLD HERE,

"AND IF WE ARE
BLESSED WITH HEALTH,

WE ARE DETERMINED
TO HAVE A SHARE OF IT."

[NARRATOR]
OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN

WHO SWARMED
INTO CALIFORNIA IN 1849,

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM
WERE IN THEIR 20s.

"A GRAY BEARD WAS ALMOST
AS RARE AS A PETTICOAT,"

ONE MAN REMEMBERED.

AND MOST HURRIED TO
ONE OF THE SMALL SETTLEMENTS

THAT GREW UP ALMOST OVERNIGHT
WHEREVER GOLD WAS FOUND--

COYOTE DIGGINGS
AND GRIZZLY FLATS

AND MAD MULE GULCH...

BEDBUG, SHINBONE PEAK,

POKER FLAT,
AND MURDERER’S BAR...

WHISKEY DIGGINGS,
DELIRIUM TREMENS,

SLUMGULLION,
SHIRT TAIL CANYON,

COOL, AND YOU BET.

ROUGHLY 2/3 OF THE FORTY-NINERS
CAME FROM THE UNITED STATES,

AND 2/3 OF THEM
WERE FROM NEW ENGLAND,

BUT THE MINERS
ALSO INCLUDED SLAVES,

FREE BLACKS,
EVEN CHEROKEES,

FORCED OUT OF GEORGIA
20 YEARS EARLIER

WHEN GOLD HAD BEEN FOUND
ON THEIR LAND.

"THE REST OF THE MINERS,"
ONE AMERICAN WROTE,

"CAME FROM EVERY HOLE AND CORNER
IN THE WORLD."

CALIFORNIA NOW HAD
MORE IMMIGRANTS

THAN ANY OTHER PART
OF THE UNITED STATES.

"WE ARE A MIXED LOT

"IN THIS LITTLE TOWER
OF BABEL--

"FRENCHMEN, ENGLISHMEN,
GERMANS, ITALIANS,

"CHILEANS, NABOBS,
AND BEGGARS.

"MOST PEOPLE HERE
SPEAK ENGLISH,

"GOOD OR BAD,

"BUT YOU FIND,

"AT THE SIDE OF
A LEAN YANKEE IN TIGHT PANTS,

"OTHERS RECOGNIZABLE
BY THEIR CLOTHING OR ACCENT.

"THERE IS
A STOCKY JOHN BULL,

"A CHINAMAN,
A HINDU, A RUSSIAN,

AND A NATIVE CALIFORNIO
ALL TRYING TO CONVERSE."

VICENTE PEREZ ROSALES.

[NARRATOR]
ONE OF THE FIRST GOLD-SEEKERS

WAS A CANTONESE MAN
NAMED CHUM MING.

HE STRUCK IT RICH
NEAR SUTTER’S MILL

AND WROTE HOME TO SAY SO.

SOON, MORE CHINESE WERE
SETTING SAIL FOR CALIFORNIA.

IN 1852, 20,000 CHINESE
WOULD COME--

2,000 IN A SINGLE DAY.

[JACK CHEN]
WHEN THE GOLD WAS
FIRST DISCOVERED,

THE CHINESE WROTE BACK
TO THEIR PEOPLE IN CHINA

AND TOLD THEM ABOUT
THIS MIRACULOUS FIND--

THAT YOU GO IN THE STREAMS
OF CALIFORNIA

AND PICK GOLD OUT.

EVEN TODAY, THEY CALL THIS--

CALIFORNIA OR SAN FRANCISCO--

GUM SANNG--

THE GOLD MOUNTAIN.

[NARRATOR]
IN THE PROVINCE OF CANTON,

A LETTER WAS CIRCULATED
ENCOURAGING MORE MEN

TO COME TO
THE GOLD MOUNTAIN.

[MAN]
"AMERICANS ARE
VERY RICH PEOPLE.

"IT IS
A NICE COUNTRY,

"WITHOUT MANDARINS
OR SOLDIERS.

"MONEY IS
IN GREAT PLENTY
IN AMERICA.

"THEY WANT
THE CHINAMAN TO COME

AND MAKE HIM
VERY WELCOME."

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"GEORGE, I TELL YOU,

"THIS MINING
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS

"IS A DOG’S LIFE.

"A MAN HAS TO MAKE
A JACKASS OF HIMSELF

"PACKING LOADS
OVER MOUNTAINS

"THAT GOD NEVER
DESIGNED MAN TO CLIMB,

"A BARBARIAN
BY FORGOING

"ALL THE COMFORTS
OF CIVILIZED LIFE,

"AND A HEATHEN
BY DEPRIVING HIMSELF

"OF ALL COMMUNICATION
WITH MEN

AWAY FROM HIS
IMMEDIATE CIRCLE."

[NARRATOR]
DIGGING FOR GOLD
WAS HARD, MONOTONOUS,

AND MOSTLY UNREWARDING.

"IT COMBINED,"
ONE MINER SAID,

"THE VARIOUS ARTS
OF CANAL DIGGING,

"DITCHING,
LAYING STONE WALLS,

PLOWING,
AND HOEING POTATOES."

[HOLLIDAY]
IT’S CALLED THE DIGGINGS.

THAT WAS THE WORD--
THE DIGGINGS.

WHY? BECAUSE THAT’S
WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

WHEN WE THINK OF MINING,
WE THINK OF A MINE SHAFT,

BUT THAT’S LATER.

THESE ARE RIVERBANKS,
RIVER BARS,

DRIED CREEKS, ROCKS--
ROCKS BY THE MILLIONS--

AND THE GOLD IS
BENEATH THOSE ROCKS.

THIS IS PLACER GOLD.

THAT MEANS THAT
FOR EONS OF TIME,

THE GOLD HAS BEEN ABRADED,
HAS BEEN SEPARATED

BY THE ACTION
OF WATER AND ROCKS,

SO THAT THE PIECES OF GOLD
ARE PURE.

YOU PICK THEM UP,
AND THAT IS GOLD.

THAT’S ALL THERE IS--
JUST PLAIN GOLD.

YOU’RE WORKING
IN FREEZING WATER

UP TO YOUR WAIST
FOR HOURS AT A TIME.

YOU’RE REACHING DOWN,

MOVING ROCKS, BRINGING IN
THE ROCK AND THE GRAVEL

AND WORKING IT ALL THE TIME

WITH YOUR HANDS,
WITH YOUR SHOVELS...

MOVING ALWAYS THIS DEBRIS

TO GET RID OF THE DEBRIS

TO PULL OUT
THE LITTLE, TINY...

LITTLE SAMPLES
OF YOUR FUTURE,

THE LITTLE, TINY PIECES

THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR YOU,

GOING TO BUY YOU THE MEANS
TO GET RID OF YOUR MORTGAGE,

THAT ARE GOING TO
MAKE IT POSSIBLE

TO BUY
SOME MORE LAND IN IOWA

IN ORDER TO MOVE AND PACK UP
AND GO TO SOME NEW PLACE.

ALL OF THAT IS BUILT INTO
EVERY EFFORT THAT YOU’RE MAKING

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

[NARRATOR]
EVERYTHING IN THE DIGGINGS

COST TOO MUCH--

$1.00 A POUND
FOR POTATOES,

EGGS AT 50 CENTS APIECE,

$20 FOR A BOTTLE OF RUM.

JOHN SUTTER PEDDLED WHEAT
TO HUNGRY MINERS

AT $36 A BARREL.

AT HIS STORE,
THE MORMON SAM BRANNAN

WAS CLEARING
$2,000 A DAY IN PROFITS

EXCHANGING TOOLS
FOR GOLD DUST.

♪ OH, THE MINER WORKS HARD
WITH THE SHOVEL AND THE PICK ♪

♪ TILL HIS BODY IS FEEBLE
AND TENDER ♪

♪ AND THEN HE GOES INTO TOWN
AT THE END OF THE WEEK ♪

♪ AND SPENDS ALL HIS DUST
ON A BENDER ♪

♪ HAUL OFF THE OVERCOAT,
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪

♪ MINING IS
A HARD KIND OF LABOR ♪

♪ HAUL OFF YOUR OVERCOAT,
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ♪

♪ MINING IS A HARD KIND
OF LABOR, I BELIEVE ♪

[WOMAN]
"MY DEAR, HOW OFTEN...

"OH, HOW OFTEN I THINK
OF VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS

"YOU ARE SURROUNDED WITH

"AND HOW MANY MEN
OF GOOD MORALS AT HOME--

"YES, AND PROFESSED
CHRISTIANS, TOO--

THAT HAVE BEEN LED
INTO ALL KINDS OF VICE."

"OH, MY DEAR, YOU CANNOT
BE TOO CAUTIOUS--

"NOT THAT
I DISTRUST YOU,

"BUT RATHER,
ON THE CONTRARY,

"PERHAPS I PLACE
TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE,

KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALL
FALLIBLE CREATURES."

SABRINA.

[HOLLIDAY]
CALIFORNIA WAS

THE GOLGOTHA OF SIN.

CALIFORNIA,
FROM ITS EARLIEST TIMES,

WAS SEEN IN HOMES
AND CITIES,

IN TRADITIONAL PLACES
OF AMERICA,

AS A SINFUL PLACE.

IN THESE MINING CAMPS,
THERE ARE GAMBLING HALLS.

SOMETIMES THEY’RE TENTS.
SOMETIMES THEY’RE BUILDINGS.

SOMETIMES THEY’RE
JUST A TABLE UNDER A TREE.

THEY’RE UBIQUITOUS.

AND THESE GAMBLING HALLS
WERE PLACES

WHERE MEN BY THE HUNDREDS
AND THE THOUSANDS WENT

TO ESCAPE THEIR HAUNTING FEARS
THAT MAYBE THEY’LL FAIL.

THIS IS WHERE
YOU COULD MAKE A FORTUNE.

HAVING FAILED
ON THE TURN

OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF SHOVELS,

MAYBE ON THE TURN OF A CARD

YOU CAN MAKE
WHAT YOU FAILED TO MAKE

UP THERE
IN THOSE DIRTY CANYONS,

IN THOSE HOT
OR COLD CANYONS,

WHERE YOU POURED
YOUR HEART OUT.

THEY WALK INTO
THESE GREAT BIG PLACES,

AND THERE’S EXCITEMENT,
AND THERE’S HOPE,

AND THERE’S
A SENSE OF SIN--

"MOTHER WOULDN’T WANT ME
TO BE HERE.

WHAT IF LOUISE KNEW
THAT I WAS HERE?"

A LOT OF MEN, YOU KNOW,
WOULD WRITE HOME

AND TALK ABOUT
WHAT WAS GOING ON

AS IF THEY HADN’T SEEN IT.

"I’VE BEEN TOLD
WHAT GOES ON...

IN THESE GAMBLING HALLS."

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"LAST FALL,

"I WAS PROUD OF
THE MINERS AS A BODY,

"BOTH FOR THEIR HONESTY
AND THEIR SOBRIETY.

"BUT THE RAPIDITY WITH
WHICH THEY HAVE RETROGRADED

"ONLY PROVES MORE CLEARLY

"THE NECESSITY
OF RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT

"AND THE GREAT INFLUENCE

"OF WELL-ORGANIZED
AND MORAL SOCIETY.

"DRINKING HAS BECOME
VERY PREVALENT,

"SWEARING
A HABITUAL CUSTOM,

"AND GAMBLING HAS NO EQUAL
IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY.

"IT HAS ALREADY REACHED
AS FAR AS FEATHER RIVER,

"AND SOME OF THE BOYS

"WHO CAME ACROSS THE PLAINS
IN OUR TRAIN

"ARE AT IT...

THOUGH THEY PROFESS TO BE
CHRISTIANS WHEN HOME."

[NARRATOR]
FORTY-NINERS LINED UP

TO VISIT THE PROSTITUTES,

WHO APPEARED IN THE CAMPS
WITHIN WEEKS

OF EVERY MAJOR GOLD STRIKE.

[PATRICIA NELSON LIMERICK]
THEY LOOK SO CHARMING

IN THE MOVIES--
THE DANCE HALL GIRLS,

BORDERLINE PROSTITUTES WEARING
THOSE COLORFUL CLOTHES.

THE STORIES SEEM TO BE
CLOSE TO PURE MISERY

OF MISERABLE
LIVING CONDITIONS,

RISK OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
IN EVERY WORKING MOMENT,

WRETCHED RATE OF PAY,

DRUG ADDICTION,
ALCOHOLISM.

SUICIDE WAS A COMMON WAY
FOR A PROSTITUTE’S LIFE TO END.

IT’S A VERY GRIM, STARK,
PUSHED-TO-THE-EDGE KIND OF LIFE.

[NARRATOR]
WOMEN WHO WERE NOT PROSTITUTES

WERE SO RARE
IN THE GOLD FIELDS

THAT FORTY-NINERS
STOOD FOR HOURS

JUST TO GAZE UPON ONE.

MINERS CALLED THEM
PETTICOATED ASTONISHMENTS.

[MAN]
"GOT NEARER TO
A FEMALE THIS EVENING

"THAN I HAVE BEEN
FOR SIX MONTHS.

CAME NEAR TO FAINTING."

[WOMAN]
"EVEN I HAD MEN
COME OVER 40 MILES

"OVER THE MOUNTAINS
JUST TO LOOK AT ME,

"AND I NEVER WAS CALLED
A HANDSOME WOMAN

IN MY BEST DAYS."

[NARRATOR]
LUZENA WILSON ARRIVED

IN NEVADA CITY, CALIFORNIA,
WITH HER HUSBAND

AND SET UP CAMP
UNDER SOME TREES.

HE FAILED TO FIND GOLD,

BUT SHE FOUND HER OWN WAY
TO STRIKE IT RICH.

"I BOUGHT PROVISIONS
AT A NEIGHBORING STORE,

"AND WHEN MY HUSBAND
CAME BACK AT NIGHT,

"HE FOUND 20 MINERS
EATING AT MY TABLE.

"EACH MAN, AS HE ROSE,
PUT A DOLLAR IN MY HAND

"AND SAID
I MIGHT COUNT ON HIM

AS A PERMANENT CUSTOMER."

LUZENA STANLEY WILSON.

[NARRATOR]
SOON SHE WAS SERVING

200 BOARDERS
AT $25 A WEEK EACH.

SHE BUILT AN INN,
HIRED A COOK AND WAITERS,

EVEN BECAME A BANKER,

HANDLING GOLD DUST
FOR THE MEN SHE FED.

[LUZENA STANLEY WILSON]
"A SMART WOMAN CAN DO
VERY WELL IN THIS COUNTRY.

"TRUE, THERE ARE NOT
MANY COMFORTS,

"AND ONE MUST WORK
ALL THE TIME AND WORK HARD,

"BUT THERE IS PLENTY TO DO
AND GOOD PAY.

"IT IS THE ONLY COUNTRY
I EVER WAS IN

"WHERE A WOMAN RECEIVED

ANYTHING LIKE A JUST
COMPENSATION FOR WORK."

[MAN]
"SINCE THE WHITE MAN HAS
MADE A ROAD ACROSS OUR LAND

"AND HAS KILLED OFF
OUR GAME, WE ARE HUNGRY,

"AND THERE IS NOTHING
FOR US TO EAT.

"OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
CRY FOR FOOD,

AND WE HAVE NO FOOD
TO GIVE THEM."

WASHAKIE.

[NARRATOR]
THE GOLD RUSH HAD
PROVED A DISASTER

FOR THE INDIANS
OF THE PLAINS.

THE CHOLERA BROUGHT
BY THE WAGON TRAINS

HAD KILLED HALF
OF THE NORTHERN CHEYENNES.

WHEN A GROUP OF PAWNEES
WENT OFF TO HUNT BUFFALO,

THEY FOUND THAT THE HERDS
ALONG THE MAIN WAGON TRAIL

HAD BEEN DRIVEN AWAY.

SOME STARVED TO DEATH

ON THE WAY BACK
TO THEIR VILLAGES.

AND COMPETITION
FOR THE DWINDLING GAME

INTENSIFIED RIVALRIES
BETWEEN TRIBES

WHICH HAD BEEN GOING ON
FOR GENERATIONS.

[RICHARD WHITE]
THIS IS A PERIOD

OF INCREDIBLE CHAOS
ON THE PLAINS.

THE LAKOTA AND THEIR ALLIES
ARE EXPANDING.

THERE’S WARFARE EVERYWHERE.

THE AMERICANS ARE BEGINNING
TO PENETRATE ACROSS THE PLAINS

TO CALIFORNIA.

IT’S A REAL CHALLENGE
FOR THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

TO BRING THE SITUATION
UNDER CONTROL.

WHAT THEY SUCCEED IN DOING
IS MAKING IT ABSOLUTELY WORSE.

[NARRATOR]
IN 1851, THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT’S PLAN

WAS TO CONVENE
ALL THE PLAINS TRIBES

AT FORT LARAMIE

AND CONVINCE THEM
TO STOP FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER

AND ENDANGERING THE WHITES
HEADING THROUGH THEIR LANDS

ON THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

THE COMANCHES AND KIOWAS
STAYED AWAY.

"WE HAVE TOO MANY HORSES,"
ONE CHIEF SAID,

"TO RISK AMONG
SUCH NOTORIOUS HORSE THIEVES

AS THE LAKOTAS AND CROWS."

THE PAWNEES
ALSO REFUSED TO COME.

THEY WERE AFRAID
THE LAKOTAS WOULD KILL THEM.

STILL, 10,000 INDIANS,

REPRESENTING NEARLY
A DOZEN TRIBES,

FINALLY ATTENDED.

THE GOVERNMENT OFFERED THEM
$50,000 WORTH OF SUPPLIES

EVERY YEAR FOR 50 YEARS

IF THEY WOULD AGREE
NOT TO HARASS THE WAGON TRAINS

AND TO GRANT THE ARMY
THE RIGHT TO BUILD FORTS.

MOST IMPORTANT, EACH TRIBE
WAS TO STAY WITHIN A TERRITORY

RESERVED FOR IT

AND STOP WARRING
AGAINST ITS NEIGHBORS.

[WHITE]
YOU HAVE NAIVE AMERICAN
NEGOTIATORS SHOW UP

TO TRY TO DISTINGUISH
TRIBAL TERRITORIES.

AT THIS TIME,

THERE ARE
NO TRIBAL TERRITORIES

IN THE SENSE THAT
AMERICANS BELIEVE THEM TO BE,

AND SO THEY TRY
TO DRAW LINES ON THE MAP.

THEY TRY TO GET INDIANS
TO CONFORM TO THOSE LINES,

AND THEY’RE GOING TO FAIL.

FURTHERMORE,
THE INDIANS THEMSELVES

SEE THROUGH THE HYPOCRISY
OF ALL THIS.

THE LAKOTA, WHO ARE ALSO
AN EXPANDING PEOPLE,

FRANKLY TELL THE AMERICANS,

"LOOK, YOU’RE EXPANDING.

"WHEN YOU WANT LAND, YOU PUSH
THE INDIANS OUT OF THEM.

"ALL WE’RE DOING
IS WHAT YOU DO.

"YOU HAVE NO MORE RIGHT
TO STOP US

THAN WE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO STOP YOU."

[JO ALLYN ARCHAMBAULT]
WE MOVED INTO THESE PLAINS

MAYBE 300 YEARS AGO
FROM EASTERN HOMELANDS

IN MINNESOTA
AND WISCONSIN.

WE WERE TERRIFIC WARRIORS,

AND WE WERE VERY GOOD
AT WHAT WE DID.

WE SWEPT THE ENEMY ASIDE,

AND WE TOOK THIS LAND
FOR OURSELVES.

WE TOOK THE BLACK HILLS.

WE CHASED OTHER PEOPLE
OUT OF IT,

AND THEN OUR SUPERNATURAL BEINGS
HEARD US IN THOSE HILLS,

AND SO WE OWN THOSE HILLS
PARTLY BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST,

AND AMERICANS UNDERSTAND
THE RIGHT OF CONQUEST.

[NARRATOR]
WHEN THE LAKOTAS
REFUSED TO GIVE UP

THE LANDS THEY HAD TAKEN
FROM OTHER TRIBES,

THE AMERICANS BACKED DOWN.

ON THE MAP THEY FINALLY DREW,

THE BLACK HILLS,

ONCE THE KIOWAS’,

THEN THE CHEYENNES’
SACRED GROUND,

NOW BELONGED
TO THE LAKOTAS.

"THE SIOUX WERE GIVEN RIGHTS
TO THE BLACK HILLS

"AND OTHER COUNTRY

"THAT THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE
HAD CLAIMED.

"THE SQUAW MEN TOLD THEM

THIS GROUND DOES NOT
BELONG TO YOU NOW."

JOHN STANDS IN TIMBER.

[NARRATOR]
TO CONCLUDE THE TREATY,

THE AMERICANS INSISTED THAT
EACH TRIBE NAME A HEAD CHIEF

WHO COULD SIGN
FOR HIS PEOPLE.

BUT NONE OF THEM ACKNOWLEDGED
A SINGLE LEADER,

SO THE AMERICANS
PICKED CHIEFS FOR THEM.

A WARRIOR NAMED
CONQUERING BEAR

WAS CHOSEN TO
REPRESENT THE LAKOTA,

AND THE FORT LARAMIE TREATY
WAS FINALLY SIGNED

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1851.

THAT WINTER,
THE LAKOTA CHRONICLER LONE DOG

COMMEMORATED
THE FORT LARAMIE TREATY

WITH A PICTURE OF TWO INDIANS,

A LAKOTA AND A CROW,

EXCHANGING PIPES
AS A TOKEN OF PEACE.

IN 1852, LONE DOG DREW
AN INDIAN FROM ANOTHER TRIBE

APPROACHING A LAKOTA TEEPEE

WITH A PIPE
INSTEAD OF A WEAPON.

AND IN 1853,

HE SHOWED A GOVERNMENT AGENT
BRINGING A STRIPED BLANKET,

PART OF THE TREATY PAYMENT
THE UNITED STATES HAD PROMISED.

BUT IN AUGUST OF 1854,
THE FRAGILE PEACE CAME APART.

WHEN A CALF STRAYED
FROM A MORMON WAGON TRAIN

INTO A LAKOTA CAMP,

A WARRIOR SHOT IT
WITH AN ARROW.

30 SOLDIERS
FROM FORT LARAMIE

MARCHED INTO THE CAMP
OF CONQUERING BEAR,

TRAINED A HOWITZER
ON THE TEEPEES,

AND DEMANDED THAT
THE GUILTY MAN SURRENDER.

HE REFUSED.

CONQUERING BEAR APOLOGIZED

AND PROMISED TO PAY MORE
THAN THE ANIMAL WAS WORTH.

THE TWO SIDES ARGUED
FOR 45 MINUTES.

SUDDENLY, THE OFFICER IN CHARGE
ORDERED HIS MEN TO FIRE.

[GUNSHOT]

CONQUERING BEAR
WAS THE FIRST TO DIE.

THE ENRAGED LAKOTAS
SWARMED OVER THE AMERICANS.

ONLY ONE SOLDIER MANAGED TO
CRAWL BACK TO FORT LARAMIE

BEFORE HE, TOO, DIED.

[WHITE]
CONQUERING BEAR WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE PERSON

WHO WOULD SETTLE THIS
IN THE APPROPRIATE MEANS,

AND THEY KILL THE AGENT
OF THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP.

THEY KILL CONQUERING BEAR.

AND WHAT HAD BEEN
A MINOR DISPUTE OVER A COW

INSTEAD BECOMES
A SIGN TO THE LAKOTA THAT,

HOW CAN YOU TRUST
THESE PEOPLE?

[NATIVE AMERICAN CHANTING]

[NARRATOR]
NOTHING BETWEEN THE LAKOTAS
AND THE UNITED STATES

WOULD EVER BE
THE SAME AGAIN.

"THE YANKEES ARE
A WONDERFUL PEOPLE--

"WONDERFUL.

"WHEREVER THEY GO,
THEY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

"IF THEY WERE TO EMIGRATE
IN LARGE NUMBERS

"TO HELL ITSELF,

"THEY WOULD
IRRIGATE IT,

"PLANT TREES
AND FLOWER GARDENS,

"BUILD RESERVOIRS
AND FOUNTAINS,

AND MAKE EVERYTHING
BEAUTIFUL AND PLEASANT."

MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO.

[NARRATOR]
NO ONE HAD BEEN
MORE ACCOMMODATING

TO THE AMERICANS THAN
MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO.

THE DESCENDANT
OF SPANISH SOLDIERS

WHO HAD CONQUERED MEXICO
AND COLONIZED CALIFORNIA,

HE HAD BUILT HIMSELF
A VAST EMPIRE

IN THE FERTILE
SONOMA VALLEY.

HE WELCOMED THE FIRST WAVE
OF FORTY-NINERS

AND HOPED TO PROFIT HIMSELF
FROM THE GOLD RUSH.

WITH ITS WEALTH

AND SUDDEN POPULATION
OF 90,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS,

CALIFORNIA DEMANDED
IMMEDIATE STATEHOOD

AND, IN 1850, GOT IT.

VALLEJO HELPED DRAW UP
THE NEW STATE CONSTITUTION

AND SERVED
IN THE FIRST STATE SENATE.

BUT IN THE OVERCROWDED
MINING CAMPS,

TENSIONS ROSE AS AMERICANS
BEGAN TO SUGGEST

THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM
IN CALIFORNIA

FOR ANYONE BUT THEM.

[HOLLIDAY]
AS MINING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT,

AS THE CLAIMS BECAME
MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND

BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE MINERS
THAN THERE WERE WORKABLE CLAIMS,

EVERYONE COMPETING AND FIGHTING

FOR HIS SMALLER AND SMALLER
OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE IT RICH,

YOU BECAME, THEREFORE...

DESIROUS OF FINDING
AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR FAILURE

OR DESIROUS OF FINDING A WAY
TO GET AN ADVANTAGE.

WELL, ONE OF THE WAYS
WAS TO SAY,

"I’M AN AMERICAN. WHAT ARE
THE MEXICANS DOING HERE?"

"WHAT ARE THE INDIANS?
WE DON’T NEED THE INDIANS.

"WE CAN CERTAINLY
GET RID OF THEM.

"WHAT ARE THE CHINESE
DOING HERE?

"THOSE PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BE HERE.

"THIS ISN’T THEIR LAND.

THIS IS MY LAND.
THIS BELONGS TO US."

[NARRATOR]
IN 1850, AMERICAN MINERS

PRESSURED
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

INTO ENACTING
A MONTHLY TAX OF $20

ON ALL MINERS WHO WERE NOT
UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS

WERE FORCED
TO LEAVE THE GOLD FIELDS.

THE TAX WAS FAR MORE
THAN THEY COULD PAY.

"THE ILL WILL
OF THE YANKEE RABBLE

"AGAINST SONS
OF OTHER NATIONS

"WAS RISING.

"THIS MUTUAL
BAD FEELING

"EXPLAINS THE BLOODY
HOSTILITIES

"AND ATROCITIES

"WE WITNESS
EVERY DAY

IN THIS LAND
OF GOLD AND HOPE."

VICENTE
PEREZ ROSALES.

[NARRATOR]
IN THE MINING TOWN
OF DOWNIEVILLE,

A MEXICAN WOMAN
REMEMBERED ONLY AS JOSEPHA

AWOKE TO FIND
A DRUNKEN AMERICAN

IN HER BEDROOM.

SHE REACHED FOR A KNIFE
AND STABBED HIM TO DEATH.

A MOB IMMEDIATELY
SEIZED HER,

AND WHEN SHE FAILED TO EXPRESS
REGRET FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE,

HANGED HER.

"IT WAS NOT HER GUILT

WHICH CONDEMNED
THIS UNFORTUNATE WOMAN,"

ONE NEWSPAPERMAN WROTE,
"BUT HER MEXICAN BLOOD."

"I ALWAYS THINK
OF THE SPANISH GIRL

"STANDING ON THE PLANK
OF A BRIDGE,

"TOSSING HER HAT
TO A FRIEND

"AND PUTTING THE ROPE
AROUND HER NECK,

"FOLDING HER HANDS,
AND FACING DEATH

WITH A BRAVERY
THAT SHAMED US MEN."

FRANKLIN BUCK.

[MAN]
"THE MANNERS
AND HABITS

"OF THE CHINESE

"ARE VERY REPUGNANT

"TO AMERICANS
IN CALIFORNIA.

"OF DIFFERENT
LANGUAGE,

"BLOOD, RELIGION,
AND CHARACTER,

"AND INFERIOR
IN MOST MENTAL

"AND BODILY
QUALITIES,

"THE CHINAMAN IS
LOOKED UPON BY SOME

"AS ONLY
A LITTLE SUPERIOR

"TO THE NEGRO

AND BY OTHERS AS
SOMEWHAT INFERIOR."

[NARRATOR]
THE CHINESE MINERS
KEPT TO THEMSELVES,

COOKED THEIR OWN
KIND OF FOOD,

PRACTICED THEIR OWN RELIGION,
RARELY LEARNED ENGLISH,

AND WERE DENIED CITIZENSHIP.

[HOLLIDAY]
THEY END UP WORKING THE CLAIMS

THAT ARE THE LEAST ATTRACTIVE,

AND YET THEY MAKE
A SUCCESS IN THEM

BECAUSE THEY WORK HARDER,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TECHNIQUE

AND A WILLINGNESS

TO STRUGGLE LONGER.

THEY’RE WILLING TO WORK
ON THE SUNDAYS.

THEY’RE WILLING TO GIVE UP
ALL PLAY AND CONCENTRATE.

AND SO EVEN WHEN

THEY’VE BEEN DRIVEN OUT
OF THE WORKABLE MINES

AND THEY TURN TO THE MOST
SEEMINGLY DESERTLIKE PLACES,

BARRENLIKE PLACES,
THEY SUCCEED,

AND THIS AGGRAVATES AND ANGERS
THE AMERICANS EVEN MORE.

[RONALD TAKAKI]
IN 1852,

BECAUSE OF INTENSE COMPETITION
BETWEEN CHINESE MINERS

AND ANGLO-AMERICAN MINERS,

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED
A SECOND FOREIGN MINERS TAX.

THIS LAW WAS IN EFFECT
FROM 1852 TO 1870,

AND THE REVENUES--
THE STATE REVENUES--

COLLECTED FROM CHINESE MINERS

CONSTITUTED
50% OF THE INCOME

OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

[NARRATOR]
WHEN THE CHINESE PAID

THE MINERS TAX

AND REFUSED
TO LEAVE THEIR CLAIMS,

AMERICANS RESORTED
TO INTIMIDATION.

THEY HACKED OFF
THE CHINESE MINERS’ QUEUES,

BURNED DOWN THEIR SHACKS,

BEAT AND FLOGGED
AND MURDERED THEM.

EVEN MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO

WAS BETRAYED
BY HIS AMERICAN FRIENDS.

LAWSUITS AND AN INVASION
OF SQUATTERS

REDUCED HIS SPRAWLING ESTATE

FROM A QUARTER
OF A MILLION ACRES

TO FEWER THAN 300.

"AUSTRALIA SENT US
A SWARM OF BANDITS

"WHO DEDICATED
THEMSELVES EXCLUSIVELY

"TO ROBBERY AND ASSAULT.

"FRANCE,
DESIRING TO BE RID

"OF SEVERAL THOUSAND
LYING MEN AND CORRUPT WOMEN,

"EMBARKED THEM ON SHIPS

"WHICH BROUGHT THEM
TO SAN FRANCISCO.

"CHINA POURED
UPON OUR SHORES

"CLOUDS AND MORE CLOUDS
OF ASIATICS--

"VERY HARMFUL TO THE MORAL
AND MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT

"OF THE COUNTRY.

"BUT ALL THESE EVILS
BECAME NEGLIGIBLE

"WITH THE SWOLLEN
TORRENTS OF SHYSTERS

"WHO CAME FROM MISSOURI

"AND OTHER STATES
OF THE UNION.

"THESE LEGAL THIEVES,

"CLOTHED IN THE ROBES
OF THE LAW,

"TOOK FROM US OUR LANDS

"AND, WITHOUT
THE LEAST SCRUPLE,

"ENTHRONED THEMSELVES
IN OUR HOMES

LIKE SO MANY
POWERFUL KINGS."

MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLEJO.

[WATKINS]
YOU CAME DOWN

AFTER A YEAR OR SO
IN THE MINES,

FREEZING YOUR BUTT OFF,
WORKING LIKE A DOG,

LIVING UNDER ABSOLUTE
PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS,

AND HERE
YOU GOT IN SAN FRANCISCO,

A BOAT RIDE AWAY,

ONE OF
THE GREAT METROPOLISES

WITH EVERYTHING
AVAILABLE TO YOU,

AND YOU JUST WENT CRAZY.

YOU GAMBLED, YOU BOUGHT,

YOU WHORED AROUND,
AND YOU DRANK,

AND THE PEOPLE
WHO TOOK YOUR MONEY

WERE THE ONES WHO GOT RICH.

IT’S JUST
THE WAY IT WAS.

"WHEN I LANDED HERE

"WITH MY LITTLE
COMPANY,

"THERE WERE
BUT THREE FAMILIES
IN THE PLACE,

"AND NOW
THE IMPROVEMENTS

"ARE BEYOND
ALL CONCEPTIONS--

"HOMES
IN ALL DIRECTIONS,

"BUSINESS BRISK,
AND MONEY PLENTY.

"HERE WILL BE

"THE GREAT EMPORIUM
OF THE PACIFIC

AND EVENTUALLY
THE WORLD."

SAM BRANNAN.

[NARRATOR]
IN THE FALL OF 1849,

THE VILLAGE OF SAN FRANCISCO
HAD BARELY 2,000 RESIDENTS.

JUST ONE YEAR LATER,

THE POPULATION HAD GROWN
TO NEARLY 35,000,

AND IT HAD BECOME THE WEST’S
FIRST FULL-FLEDGED CITY.

A SINGLE-HOUSE LOT
ON PORTSMOUTH SQUARE

GREW IN PRICE FROM $16.50
TO 45,000

IN JUST THREE YEARS.

[SHIP WHISTLE BLOWS]

EVERYTHING WAS BROUGHT IN
BY SEA AT FIRST--

WHISKEY, SHOVELS,

LUMBER ALL THE WAY
FROM THE FORESTS OF MAINE,

EVEN A CARGO OF CATS,

FERRIED IN
TO TAKE ON THE RATS

THAT RULED THE WATERFRONT.

[WATKINS]
IT WAS ONE OF THE WORLD’S

GREAT COMMERCIAL EMPIRES,

ONE OF THE WORLD’S
GREAT CITIES,

WITHIN A MATTER
OF FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

THE SIMPLE REASON WAS GOLD.

THERE’S NO OTHER WAY
TO EXPLAIN IT.

HALF A BILLION DOLLARS’
WORTH OF GOLD

WAS PULLED OUT OF CALIFORNIA’S
MINES AND STREAMS

BETWEEN 1849 AND 1860.

HALF A BILLION DOLLARS
IN 19th-CENTURY MONEY--

THAT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY
AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT ABSOLUTELY DEFINED
WHAT THE CITY WAS.

[NARRATOR]
MOST OF THE GOLD

THE MINERS EXTRACTED

FROM RIVERS, STREAMS,
AND HILLSIDES

WASHED INTO THE POCKETS
OF MERCHANTS AND BANKERS,

COOKS, LAWYERS,
STAGECOACH OPERATORS,

SALOON KEEPERS, MADAMS--

ANYONE WHO FILLED
THEIR NEEDS.

LEVI STRAUSS,
A JEWISH IMMIGRANT FROM GERMANY,

TURNED UP IN SAN FRANCISCO
WITH A BOLT OF COTTON DUCK

HE THOUGHT WOULD BE PERFECT
FOR MAKING TENTS.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE
THE WRONG MATERIAL,

BUT STRAUSS USED IT

TO MAKE A MINER
A PAIR OF DURABLE TROUSERS.

SOON, OTHER MINERS
WERE ASKING

FOR "THOSE PANTS OF LEVI’S."

ON THE CORNER
OF WASHINGTON AND GRANT STREETS,

AN ENTERPRISING
CHINESE IMMIGRANT NAMED WAH LEE

OPENED CALIFORNIA’S
FIRST LARGE HAND LAUNDRY,

CHARGED $5.00 A DOZEN
TO WASH SHIRTS,

AND MADE A KILLING.

JOSHUA ABRAHAM NORTON

ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO
FROM LONDON

WITH $40,000 IN HIS POCKET

AND SWIFTLY TURNED IT INTO
A QUARTER OF A MILLION

BY SHREWD INVESTMENTS.

BUT WHEN PRICES COLLAPSED,
NORTON WAS RUINED.

HIS MIND SNAPPED
UNDER THE STRAIN.

"AT THE PEREMPTORY
REQUEST AND DESIRE

"OF A LARGE MAJORITY

"OF THE CITIZENS
OF THE UNITED STATES,

"I, JOSHUA NORTON,

"DECLARE AND
PROCLAIM MYSELF

EMPEROR OF THESE
UNITED STATES."

[NARRATOR]
SAN FRANCISCANS WERE DELIGHTED.

NORTON WAS GIVEN
A SPECIAL UNIFORM TO WEAR

WHILE HE WANDERED
THE STREETS,

BOWING GRACIOUSLY TO CITIZENS

HE WAS CONVINCED
WERE HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS.

BARTENDERS GAVE HIM
FREE DRINKS.

THE CITY DIRECTORY LISTED HIM
AS "NORTON, JOSHUA--EMPEROR."

AND WHEN HE DIED,
30,000 OF HIS FORMER SUBJECTS

TURNED OUT FOR HIS FUNERAL.

[WATKINS]
THE TOWN HAD

A GREAT SENSE OF TRANSIENCE.

WELL, TRANSIENCE
ALWAYS CARRIES WITH IT

AN AIR OF POSSIBILITY,

AND THAT IS
ONE OF THE GREAT CHARACTERISTICS

OF SAN FRANCISCO
IN THE GOLDEN ERA.

IT WAS STILL A TIME
WHEN A PERSON COULD ARRIVE

AND SEEK OUT THE POSSIBLE.

EVERYTHING DID
SEEM POSSIBLE.

THERE WERE SO MANY STORIES

OF PEOPLE WHO HAD RISEN
FROM NOTHING

TO COMPLETE DOMINANCE--

PEOPLE WHO’D ARRIVE
IN SAN FRANCISCO

WITH $100 IN THEIR POCKETS

AND ENDED UP BUILDING
HUGE BUSINESS BLOCKS

FIVE YEARS LATER.

THIS WAS REPEATED OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN

SO THAT THE TOWN TOOK ON AN AIR

OF A KIND
OF RAREFIED DEMONSTRATION

OF WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM
WAS ALL ABOUT,

CONDENSED, PACKED
INTO A FEW GOLDEN YEARS.

"THE INDIANS
FORMERLY SUBSISTED

"ON GAME, FISH,
ACORNS, ET CETERA.

"BUT IT IS NOW
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM

"TO MAKE A LIVING BY
HUNTING OR FISHING,

"FOR NEARLY
ALL THE GAME

"HAS BEEN DRIVEN

"FROM
THE MINING REGION

"OR HAS BEEN KILLED
BY THE THOUSANDS
OF OUR PEOPLE

"WHO NOW OCCUPY
THE ONCE QUIET HOME

OF THESE CHILDREN
OF THE FOREST."

EDWARD A. STEVENSON.

[NARRATOR]
NEAR THE CROWDED GOLD FIELDS,

INDIANS FOUND IT
HARDER AND HARDER

TO FIND FOOD.

SOME BEGAN TO STEAL.

THE MINERS DESPISED THEM ALL
AS "DIGGERS."

ONE CALIFORNIA LAW
MADE IT LEGAL

TO DECLARE ANY JOBLESS INDIAN
A VAGRANT,

THEN AUCTION HIS SERVICES OFF
FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS.

AND IT PERMITTED WHITES
TO FORCE INDIAN CHILDREN

TO WORK FOR THEM
UNTIL THEY WERE 18,

PROVIDED THE PERMISSION

OF WHAT THE LAW CALLED
A "FRIEND"

WAS OBTAINED FIRST.

WHITES HUNTED DOWN
ADULT INDIANS IN THE MOUNTAINS,

KIDNAPPED THEIR CHILDREN,

AND SOLD THEM
AS APPRENTICES

FOR AS LITTLE AS $50.

"IF EVER AN INDIAN

WAS FULLY AND HONESTLY PAID
FOR HIS LABOR,"

ONE WHITE SETTLER SAID,

"IT WAS NOT
MY LUCK TO HEAR OF IT."

INDIANS COULD NOT COMPLAIN
IN COURT

BECAUSE, BY ANOTHER
CALIFORNIA STATUTE,

NO INDIAN OR BLACK
OR MULATTO PERSON

WAS PERMITTED TO GIVE EVIDENCE

IN FAVOR OF
OR AGAINST A WHITE PERSON.

"THE MINERS
ARE SOMETIMES GUILTY

"OF THE MOST BRUTAL ACTS
WITH THE INDIANS.

"SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE
FALLEN UNDER MY NOTICE

"THAT WOULD MAKE
HUMANITY WEEP

AND MEN DISOWN THEIR RACE."

WILLIAM SWAIN.

"WE HOPE
THAT THE GOVERNMENT

"WILL RENDER
SUCH AID

"AS WILL ENABLE
THE CITIZENS
OF THE NORTH

"TO CARRY ON A WAR
OF EXTERMINATION

"UNTIL
THE LAST REDSKIN
OF THESE TRIBES

"HAS BEEN KILLED.

"EXTERMINATION
IS NO LONGER

"A QUESTION OF TIME.

"THE TIME
HAS ARRIVED,

"THE WORK
HAS COMMENCED,

"AND LET
THE FIRST MAN

"THAT SAYS
TREATY OR PEACE

BE REGARDED
AS A TRAITOR."

YREKA HERALD, 1853.

[NARRATOR]
INDIANS CONTINUED
TO DIE FROM DISEASES

THE WHITE MAN HAD INADVERTENTLY
INTRODUCED AMONG THEM,

BUT NOW THOUSANDS MORE
WERE BEING KILLED DELIBERATELY.

[MAN]
"THE BOLD VOLUNTEERS
CREPT ON THEM BEFORE DAY

"AND KILLED ABOUT
NINE MEN,

"THE BALANCE ESCAPING.

"THE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN REMAINED,

"TRUSTING THAT AN AMERICAN

"WOULD NOT MURDER
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

"IN THIS,
THEY WERE MISTAKEN.

"THE AMERICANS
SEARCHED AROUND

"AMONG THE HAYSTACKS
WITH A HATCHET

"AND SPLIT
THE CHILDREN’S HEADS OPEN.

"IN THIS WAY,

THERE WERE OVER 40 WOMEN
AND CHILDREN BUTCHERED."

[NARRATOR]
THE TOWNS OF MARYSVILLE
AND HONEY LAKE

PAID BOUNTIES
FOR INDIAN SCALPS.

SHASTA CITY OFFERED $5.00
FOR EVERY INDIAN HEAD

BROUGHT TO CITY HALL,

AND CALIFORNIA’S STATE TREASURY

REIMBURSED MANY
OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

FOR THEIR EXPENSES.

"IT WAS OF NO
UNFREQUENT OCCURRENCE

"FOR AN INDIAN TO BE
SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD

"OR A SQUAW TO BE RAPED
BY SOME BRUTE.

"SUCH A THING
AS A WHITE MAN

"BEING PUNISHED FOR
OUTRAGING AN INDIAN

"WAS UNHEARD OF.

"IT WAS THE FABLE

OF THE WOLF
AND THE LAMB EVERY TIME."

GENERAL GEORGE CROOK.

[NARRATOR]
THERE WERE SOME 150,000
INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA

BEFORE THE FORTY-NINERS CAME.

BY 1870, THERE WOULD BE
FEWER THAN 30,000.

IT WAS THE WORST SLAUGHTER
OF INDIAN PEOPLES

IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

[SABRINA]
"AND NOW, MY DEAR,

"ALLOW ME TO ASK,

"ARE YOUR MOST SANGUINE
EXPECTATIONS REALIZED,

"OR AT LEAST BEING SO?

"OR DO YOU FIND THINGS
VERY MUCH EXAGGERATED?

"WOULD YOU ADVISE ANYONE
TO GO TO CALIFORNIA?

"THERE ARE MANY ANXIOUS
TO HEAR FROM YOU

AND LEARN
THE PROSPECTS."

SABRINA.

[NARRATOR]
EVERYTHING HAD GONE WRONG

FOR WILLIAM SWAIN.

HE’D SPENT THE WHOLE
COLD, RAINY WINTER

IN A CLAUSTROPHOBIC CABIN
ON THE FEATHER RIVER.

IN THE SPRING,
HE AND HIS PARTNERS

MOVED TO FOSTER’S BAR
ON THE YUBA,

ONLY TO BE KEPT FROM PANNING
BY A HEAVY SPRING SNOW MELT

THAT TURNED THE CLEAR STREAM
INTO A ROARING BROWN RIVER.

"FIVE MONTHS, RAIN,"
HE WROTE,

"FOUR MONTHS, HIGH WATER,

AND THREE MONTHS,
ALMOST TOO HOT TO WORK."

DAY AFTER DAY
WITHOUT SUCCESS TAXED HIM,

BUT SO DID HIS FEAR
OF RETURNING HOME A FAILURE.

[HOLLIDAY]
PRIDE IS A POWERFUL FORCE,

THE PRIDE THAT KEPT
SO MANY MEN IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY WANT TO GO HOME.

"BUT I CAN’T GO
UNTIL I’VE GOT SOMETHING

"TO PROVE MY SUCCESS.

"THEY’VE BEEN READING
ABOUT SUCCESS BACK HOME.

"I KNOW," SAYS THE MINER,
"HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FAILING.

"FAILURE IS THE MOST COMMON
FACT OF LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.

"THEY DON’T KNOW THAT.

"HOW CAN I
GO HOME A FAILURE

WHEN THEY EXPECT ME
TO COME HOME A SUCCESS?"

SO THEY STAY.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"DEAR SABRINA,

"MY SPECIFIC ANSWER
TO YOUR KIND QUESTION

"IS THAT MY EXPECTATIONS
ARE NOT REALIZED.

"WE HAVE BEEN UNLUCKY,

"OR RATHER,
BY BEING INEXPERIENCED,

"WE SELECTED A POOR SPOT
FOR A LOCATION

"AND STAKED ALL ON IT,

"AND IT HAS PROVED
WORTH NOTHING.

"I MOSTLY REGRET
THE NECESSITY

OF STAYING HERE LONGER."

[NARRATOR]
BY THE SUMMER OF 1850,

WILLIAM SWAIN
HAD BEEN AWAY FROM HOME

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

ALL HE HAD TO SHOW FOR HIS TREK
ACROSS THE CONTINENT WAS $500--

NOWHERE NEAR HIS GOAL
OF 10,000.

THEN HE GOT A LETTER
FROM HIS BROTHER.

[GEORGE SWAIN]
"DEAR WILLIAM,

"KEEP YOUR
COURAGE UP.

"IF YOU FAIL THERE,

"YOU ARE NOT
TO BLAME.

"YOU HAVE TRIED YOUR
BEST TO DO WELL,

"AND IF YOU CAN’T
DO IT THERE,

"YOU ARE BETTER OFF

"THAN MANY WHO
HAVE GONE THERE
WITH THEIR ALL

"AND LEFT
NOTHING BEHIND
TO FALL BACK ON.

"YOU HAVE SOMETHING

"AND FRIENDS
WHO WILL MEET YOU

"JUST AS CORDIALLY
UNSUCCESSFUL
AS SUCCESSFUL.

"TO TELL
THE PLAIN TRUTH,

"I WISH
MOST SINCERELY

"YOU WERE
OUT OF THAT--

"IF YOU ARE ALIVE--

"AND AT HOME,

"NO MATTER
IF YOU HAVEN’T

"GOT A SINGLE MILL.

YOUR BROTHER,
GEORGE SWAIN."

[NARRATOR]
REASSURED BY
HIS BROTHER’S LETTER,

IN NOVEMBER,
SWAIN LEFT THE DIGGINGS

AND HEADED
FOR SAN FRANCISCO.

BY THE TIME HE PAID FOR
HIS PASSAGE HOME BY SEA,

HE HAD NO MORE CASH
IN HIS POCKET

THAN WHEN HE’D LEFT YOUNGSTOWN
18 MONTHS EARLIER.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"NOVEMBER 6, 1850,

"SAN FRANCISCO.

"DEAR FRIENDS,

"IT IS A LONG TIME
SINCE I HAVE WRITTEN HOME.

"I HAVE GOT ENOUGH
OF CALIFORNIA

"AND AM COMING HOME
AS FAST AS I CAN.

"I REMAIN, AS EVER,

"YOUR SON, BROTHER,
AND HUSBAND,

WILLIAM."

♪ OF ALL THE COMRADES
I HAD THEN ♪

♪ THERE’S NONE LEFT NOW BUT ME ♪

♪ AND THE ONLY THING
I’M FITTING FOR ♪

♪ IS A SENATOR-TO-BE ♪

♪ AND THE PEOPLE CRY
AS I PASS BY ♪

♪ "THERE GOES
A TRAVELING SIGN" ♪

♪ "THAT’S OLD TOM MOORE,
A BUMMER SURE" ♪

♪ "FROM THE DAYS OF ’49" ♪

♪ OH, I MISS THE BOYS
AND ALL THE NOISE ♪

♪ AND THE GOLD
THAT ONCE WAS MINE ♪

♪ IN THE DAYS OF OLD,
THE DAYS OF GOLD ♪

♪ THE DAYS OF ’49 ♪

♪ IN THE DAYS OF OLD
WHEN WE DUG UP THE GOLD ♪

♪ IN THE DAYS OF ’49 ♪

[NARRATOR]
WITHIN A FEW SHORT YEARS,

THE SURFACE GOLD IN CALIFORNIA
WAS ALL BUT GONE.

MOST OF WHAT GOLD REMAINED

COULD NO LONGER BE RETRIEVED
BY A SINGLE MINER

WITH A PICK
OR SHOVEL OR PAN,

NO MATTER HOW HARD HE WORKED.

IT LAY AT THE BOTTOM
OF RIVERS,

IN VEINS OF QUARTZ

THAT COULD ONLY BE REACHED
BY DEEP SHAFTS,

OR HIDDEN IN HILLSIDES
FROM WHICH IT HAD TO BE BLASTED

BY POWERFUL STREAMS
OF WATER.

BIG MACHINERY
REQUIRED BIG MONEY.

CALIFORNIA’S GOLD FIELDS WERE
SOON CONTROLLED BY INVESTORS

WITH HEADQUARTERS
IN SAN FRANCISCO

AND WORKED BY MINERS

WHO NOW LABORED
FOR A WEEKLY PAYCHECK.

AS DISCOURAGED FORTY-NINERS
HEADED HOME,

SOME PAUSED TO PAN FOR GOLD
IN PLACES THEY HAD BYPASSED

IN THEIR HURRY
TO CALIFORNIA.

OTHERS FANNED OUT
IN EVERY DIRECTION.

THERE WERE NEW STRIKES--
IN IDAHO,

OREGON,
NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA,

LAST CHANCE GULCH IN MONTANA,
PIKES PEAK IN COLORADO,

AND IN NEVADA,
THE GREAT COMSTOCK LODE.

AND WHEREVER GOLD
AND SILVER WERE DISCOVERED,

THE PATTERN SET IN CALIFORNIA
REPEATED ITSELF.

AMERICANS RUSHED IN,
TOWNS SPRANG UP,

AND INDIAN PEOPLES--
THE APACHE AND PAIUTE,

THE SHOSHONE AND COEUR D’ALENE,
CHEYENNE AND NEZ PERCE--

FOUND THEMSELVES OUTNUMBERED
IN THEIR OWN LANDS.

"STEALING BEGAN."

"LAND, CATTLE,
HORSES--

"EVERYTHING BEGAN
TO DISAPPEAR.

"THERE IS A SAYING

"THAT MEN WILL
STEAL EVERYTHING

"BUT A MILESTONE
AND A MILLSTONE.

THEY STOLE
MY MILLSTONES."

JOHN AUGUSTUS
SUTTER.

[NARRATOR]
JOHN SUTTER HAD EXPECTED

THE GOLD RUSH TO MAKE HIM
RICHER THAN EVER.

INSTEAD, IT RUINED HIM.

SQUATTERS TOOK OVER
HIS LAND,

CREDITORS DOGGED HIM,

AND HE BEGAN
TO DRINK HEAVILY.

FINALLY, SOMEONE
BURNED DOWN HIS HOUSE.

SUTTER MOVED EAST

AND HAUNTED WASHINGTON
FOR YEARS,

SEEKING COMPENSATION
HE SAID HE WAS OWED

FOR HAVING OWNED THE LAND

ON WHICH GOLD
WAS FIRST FOUND.

HE DIED IN PENNSYLVANIA,

STILL WAITING
FOR CONGRESS TO ACT.

BUT SUTTER’S RUIN WOULD
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

NANCY GOOCH
HAD COME WEST AS A SLAVE,

WAS EMANCIPATED WHEN
CALIFORNIA ENTERED THE UNION,

AND GOT A JOB
AS A COOK AND WASHERWOMAN.

SHE MANAGED TO EARN ENOUGH

TO BUY THE FREEDOM
OF HER SON AND HIS WIFE

BACK IN MISSOURI.

THEY CAME WEST

AND EVENTUALLY BOUGHT THE SITE
OF SUTTER’S SAWMILL

ON THE BANK
OF THE AMERICAN RIVER,

WHERE THE GOLD RUSH
HAD BEGUN.

[WILLIAM SWAIN]
"ABSENCE FROM MY FRIENDS

"HAS GIVEN ME A TRUE
VALUATION OF THEM,

"AND ALSO IT HAS
TAUGHT ME TO APPRECIATE

THE COMFORTS
AND BLESSINGS OF HOME."

[NARRATOR]
WILLIAM SWAIN HAD FOUND

NO GOLD IN CALIFORNIA

AND HAD GONE HOME
AND STARTED FARMING AGAIN

AS IF HE’D NEVER
BEEN AWAY.

HE AND HIS WIFE SABRINA
HAD THREE MORE CHILDREN...

AND SWAIN EVENTUALLY BECAME
THE BIGGEST PEACH GROWER

IN NIAGARA COUNTY,
NEW YORK.

BUT IN THE EVENINGS
ON HIS FARM

WHEN THE WORK WAS DONE,

HE NEVER TIRED
OF TELLING HIS WIFE

AND HIS CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN

ABOUT THE GREAT
ADVENTURES HE HAD HAD

CROSSING THE COUNTRY

WHEN IT AND HE
HAD BOTH BEEN YOUNG.

FOR OVER A DECADE,

GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN
THE SOLE CORPORATE SPONSOR

OF THE FILMS OF KEN BURNS.

WE’RE PROUD OF OUR ASSOCIATION
WITH KEN BURNS AND PBS.

IT’S ALL PART OF
GM’s COMMITTMENT

TO SHARE
THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

THROUGH QUALITY
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN
MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT

FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
FOR THE HUMANITIES.

BY THE CORPORTATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO YOUR PBS STATION

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.