File:The pioneers of '49. A history of the excursion of the Society of California pioneers of New England (1891) (14803209873).jpg

Identifier: pioneersof49hist00ball (find matches)
Title: The pioneers of '49. A history of the excursion of the Society of California pioneers of New England
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Ball, Nicholas
Subjects: Society of California Pioneers of New England
Publisher: Boston, Lee and Shepard
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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salt lake, which is perhaps a remnant of theocean which formerly covered the country. The men gathered in the smoking-room, wherewe got acquainted and indulged in social chat concerning the days of 49, when we went hunt-ing for the glittering gold which proved only a glittering generality to so many. The forenoonwas passed in learning where each one was located, and in telling reminiscences of minino-life, of adventures, and of the fun that lightened toil and hardship. In a newspaper letter Captain Thomes gives a pretty fair idea of what the older membersof the party thought and felt: — A few old travelers like myself overlooked the passengers, mentally pronounced them allnice people, and then retired to the smoking-room, and thought of the first time I visited TRAVEL THEJf AMD .WOW. California, in 1843, as a sailor boy on board of the ship Admittance, of Boston. I neverexpected to cross tlie continent in special trains and sleeping-cars in those days; but it is ilir;*^iliHuy^w?e«^
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COPTfilCHTSa I8a9 such luxurious traveling that I prefer car riding to being driven around the deck, off CapeHorn, in a stiff gale of wind, a foot of ice and snow on the jilanks, and the sails frozen as hardas boards, and the captain and officers yelling themselves hoarse endeavoring to make us 8 PIOMEERS OF 49. poor boys understand that we had not gone to sea for fun. In the cars I make the porterswork, while I sit still, and look out of the windows, and read when I feel like it or answerquestions from fellow-passengers about.California; for this is my sixth visit to the GoldenState—twice around the cape, and four times overland. New scenes momentarily greet the watchful eye; long stretches of the country as Godmade it, interspersed by the towns and cities made by man. About noon we halted fifteenminutes at Buffalo, and a little later crossed the Niagara River just above the WhirlpoolRapids, even more wonderful than the falls of which we just catch glimpses, as we steamslowly over

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