Description

Every few decades an event occurs
which fires the imagination and appeals
to the adventurous in spirit. Such a
phenomenon was was the 1849 discovery
of gold in California. It inspired gold
fever, an emotional excitement that
made men leave farm and trade to
venture over perilous routes into an
unknown country. Fabulous wealth
could reward the daring.
Prince Edward Island newspapers
were full of the news: "A piece of gold
weighing 38 oz. and valued at $1400
was found near Stockton"; "Gold is
found everywhere in amazing abundance";
"The stories we hear of
California bring Sinbad, that Arabian
Ulysses, freshly back to our memories.
We are reminded of the loadstone
island which drew all the nails out of the
vessels that approached it. Only
California has a yet stronger magnetism
. . . ."