Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/74



Roads there  were  none  save  the  trails  between  larger settlements. With the  sun  for  compass,  and  moun- tain peaks for  finger-posts,  pew  paths  were  marked across the  trackless  plains  and  through  the  untrodden woods. Most of  the  gold-seekers  could  afford  a  horse, and even  a  pack-animal,  which  was  still  to  be  had  for ^ fifteen  dollars,^^  and  thus  proceed  with  greater  speed to the  goal,  to  the  envy  of  the  number  that  had  to content  themselves  with  wagons,  which,  though  white- covered and  snug,  with  perhaps  a  family  inside,  were cumbersome and  slow,  especially  when  drawn  by  oxen. Often a  pedestrian  was  passed  trudging  along  under his load,  glad  to  get  his  effects  carried  across  the  stream by some  team,  although  he  himself  might  have  to breast  the  current  swimming,  perchance  holding  to the  tail  of  some  horse. There were  ferries  only  at rare  points:  Charles  L.  Ross^^  had  left  for  the  mines the last  of  April,  by  way  of  Alviso,  and  crossed  the strait of  Carquines  by  Semple's  ferry  at  Martinez. At this  time  he  was  the  only  person  on  the  boat. When he  returned,  less  than  a  fortnight  after,  there were 200  wagons  on  their  way  to  the  foothills,  wait- ing their turn  to  cross  at  the  ferry."

In the  general  eagerness  personal  comfort  became

^^ One  rider  rented  his  animals  at  the  mines  for  $100  per  week. Brooks crossed to  Saiizalito  with  four  companions  who  were  attended  by  an  Indian servant to  drive  their  six  horses  laden  with  bagj^ge  and  camp  equipments. Vallejo, HUt. GaJL^ MS.,  iv.,  points  out  that  Sonoma  reaped  benefit  as  a  way- station.

^'^Experiences of  a  Pioneer  of  1847  in  Calif omia,  by  Charles  L.  Ross,  is  the title of  a  manuscript  written  at  the  dictation  of  Mr  Koss  by  my  stenographer, Mr Leighton,  in  1878. Mr Ross  left  New  Jersey  in  Nov.  1846,  passed  round Cape Horn  in  the  bark  WhiloHy  arriving  in  Cal. in April  1847. The very  in- tcreriting information  contained  in  this  manuscript  is  all  embodied  in  the pages of  this  history.

dren, families who  had  left  their  homes,  and  fi;athered  in  there  from  down  the coast. They had  organized  a  committee,  and  each  man  was  registered  on  his arrival, and  each  toi>k  his  turn  in  crossing. The boat  ran  n\ght  and  day, carrying each  time  two  wagons  and  horses  and  the  people  connected  with the 1. Some of  them  had  to  camp  there  quite  a  while. After a  time  somebody else got  a  scow  and  started  another  ferry,  and  they  got  across  faster.'  Rosi^ Experiences, MS. ,11-12. *  Semple  obtains  from  passengers  some  $20  per  day, V and  hah  not  a  single  boatman  to  help  him. Only one  man  has  offered  to  re- main, and he  only  for  two  weeks  at  ^25  a  week.'  Letter  of  Tj^hin  to from  Son  Jos6,  May  26,  1848,  in  Doc. Hist.
 * *They having  collected  there  in  that  short  time — men,  women,  and  chil-