American History Tellers

California Gold Rush | Digging Deeper | 4

9 snips
Feb 1, 2023
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ANECDOTE

Night Of The San Francisco Fires

  • A San Francisco mother wakes at night to fire alarms and frantically wets blankets to save her home.
  • Despite heroic efforts the wind shifts and entire streets burn, showing the constant fire danger in early Gold Rush cities.
ANECDOTE

Tent Store In Weaverville

  • Sarah Royce and her husband opened a general store in Weaverville after mining failed them.
  • With few builders available she sold goods from a tent and used her daughter Mary to comfort lonely miners.
ANECDOTE

Laundry Pays Better Than Mining

  • A widow from Michigan turns to laundry services to survive in San Francisco and quickly finds eager customers.
  • Miners readily strip their shirts off in public rather than do their own washing, proving high demand.
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