Early days in California : an autobiography written for my grandchildren.
August 15, 1922
Charles R. Stetson
Going to California...
The California discovery of gold by Marshall at Coloma --- in 48 started a rush and excitement called the California Gold Fever, and thousands from all lands rushed to the new El Dorado. In 1851 my father decided to try his fortune and closed out his little farming business and started for the new land. In 1852 my oldest brother, James, who had just completed his trade of tinsmith caught the fever and joined our father in the mines. In the fall of 1852, I was left to care for our little farm of from eight to ten acres, and to assist my mother in caring for the family, which then consisted of my brother Riley, a younger brother, John, about five years of age, and two sisters, Sarah and Angeline. Sarah was then about thirteen years of age and Angeline about ten years older.
In 1853 I had thought much of going to California and talked it over with my cousin Julius and we decided if we could in any way raise the means we would also join the gold seekers. Up to this time I had not informed my mother and, as I expected strong opposition from her, I delayed it until I could see a chance to make my way without drawing on our home finances. In the meantime Julius had talked it over with his father and he had reluctantly consented to his going, provided he could have the proper companion, and he, knowing our great friendship, decided if I would go he would consent to Julius going. Then came the earnest and most delicate part, to get my mothers consent. So after arranging with Julius and his father that he would advance me one hundred and fifty dollars on my own note, unsecured, I took up the subject with mother, and after telling her my plan to sell the horse, cow, hay, lease the little farm, and put in a good supply of wood, she, to my surprise, consented, but I could see the tears beginning to flow. She said "promise me one thing, that you will urge your father to return just as soon as he can without great loss. It is hard for me to let you go, but I believe it will result in our all going out there, or all being united here again." So we went to work in earnest, getting things arranged. I gave my personal note for the one hundred and Fifty dollars and we prepared to start on the early steamer from New York, the Star of the West, the historic ship which tried to relieve Fort Sumner at the beginning of the Civil War.
At this time I was seventeen years of age and my cousin was sixteen years old. We had prepared our water proof bags, in which we packed the little necessary articles of underclothes and a cake my mother had baked and sealed in a tin box for the absent ones in California.I remember the morning I left I had to pass up a slight grade, where the road took a turn that obscured the view of my childhood home. So after kissing and saying the usual good byes, I started for the depot, where Julius and I had arranged to meet, and as I got the turn in the road, I turned to take a last look at the old home, and there on the front steps stood mother and sisters waving a last good-bye. I brushed aside a tear and braced myself for whatever the future should have in store. We reached New York the following morning, where we remained three days until the steamer was ready to sail, via Greytown
The voyage down to Graytown was without incident, other than sea sickness, the sight of Eastern Cuba, and flying fish. At Greytown, we boarded small river boats for Castello Rapids, where we were delayed for a few hours, awaiting the arrival of the boat to cross Lake Nicaragua to Virgin Bay. We spent the time visiting the old castle, erected by the early Spanish settlers as a defense. We found the Rapids were artificially made to aid in its defense, and that the castle was held by a few half-naked Nicaragua soldiers, very untidy, and with old discarded flint-lock muskets, which did not impress us as a very formidable defense. Soon the whistle blew and all boarded the steamer San Carlos. We soon entered the lake and commenced to journey across the lake and arrived at Virgin Bay the next morning. We landed from surf boats, it being very rough. After landing, it was all bustle and hurry to get mules to ride the twelve miles that intervened between Virgin Bay and the Pacific or San Juan del Sur. The seven hundred passengers were strung out over the distance of twelve miles and did not all arrive at San Juan until the following day, where we found we must delay for two days, as our steamer The Brother Jonathan had not yet arrived. The steamer Pacific was substituted and it took that time to get in stores and prepare for the voyage. We passed two volcanoes which could be seen from the steamer deck as we crossed the lake. Just before we sailed, the Jonathan arrived loaded with returning miners. They informed us that the mines were practically worked out and advised us to return, as it was foolish to continue on, but I think few, if any, heeded the advice.
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