the gold reserves were declining and the number of miners was increasing dramatically. The atmosphere of friendly camaraderie so prevalent a year or two earlier, was all but gone by 1850. Forty-niners who expected to make their fortune in a few days found themselves digging for month after month—year after year— with little to show for the effort. Frustration and depression was rampant.J.S. Holliday, author of “The World Rushed In”: “Thousands of young men who’d never thought of gambling turned out of desperation to make on the turn of a card what the turn of a 1000 shovels full hadn’t produced. To make enough to justify finally being able to say ‘I can go home.’ So they turned to sin, gambling, drinking, those sins. Plus, swearing, violating the Sabbath, adultery—out of desperation, out of disappointment, out of homesickness, out of despair. So these are not ruffians, these are not wild young adventurers. They are honorable husbands and sons and fathers and uncles who are deeply disappointed and deeply pained by the fix they find themselves in. And they turn to gambling and drinking and whatever kind of surcease they may find at hand to break the pain and anguish of failure.” Frustration and disappointment eventually led to crime. Jails, unnecessary a few years earlier, were filled. Hangings became common—almost matter of fact.49er John Bucroft“I take this opportunity of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health. Me and Charley is sentenced to be hung at five o’clock for a robbery. Give my best to Frank and Sam.” Many gave up the dream and went home to the east. Others stayed on—just one more year they hoped. One more year and they’d strike it rich. And there were the occasional lucky strikes well into the 1850s—just enough good news to encourage the masses to continue digging. Most failed every day, but t...
