Tales and Treasures of the California Gold Rush (History and Happenings of California Series)

From the first cry of "Gold!" (was it really at Sutter's Mill?) to the frantic search for a fabled "golden lake," this book tells the saga of the California Gold Rush through scores of fascinating stories and anecdotes. All the essentials are here: how the rush for gold began; where the gold seekers came from, and where they went; how they lived, worked, brawled, and played; and how the 49ers and those who followed them changed the course of California history. But what sets this account apart is its rich store of tales about personalities both famous and little-known: Francisco Lopez, astonished to find bits of gold clinging to the roots of wild onions; Sam Brannan, spreading the news of the gold discovery to bring customers to his store; the obscure thief who lent his nickname to the town of Sorefinger; notorious outlaws like Joaquin Murrieta, Black Bart, and Rattlesnake Dick; a young humorist and his tale of a "celebrated jumping frog; "Fairy Star" Lotta Crabtree; argonauts from aro