Christmas in the Mines 1851
From "The Shirley Letters", Louise A. K. S. Clappe
From our log cabin, Indian Bar, January 27, 1852
Imagine a company of enterprising and excittable young men, settled upon a
sandy level, about as large as a poor widow's potato patch, walled in by sky-kissing
hills--absolutely compelled to remain, on account of the weather, which has
vetoed indefinitely their Exodus--with no place to ride or drive, even if they
had the necessary vehicles and quadrupeds, -- with no newspapers nor politics
to interest them, -- deprived of all books but a few dog-eared novels of the
poorest class,--churches, lectures, lyceums, theaters and (most unkindest cut
of all!) pretty girls, having become to these unhappy men mere myths,--without
one of the thousand ways of passing time peculiar to civilazation, --most of
them living in damp, gloomy cabins, where Heaven's dear light can enter only
by the door,--and, when you add to all these disagreeables the fact that, during
the never-to-be-forgotten month, the most remorseless, persevering rain which
ever set itself to work to drive humanity mad, has been pouring doggedly down,
sweeping away bridges, lying in uncomfortable puddles about nearly al the habitations,
wickedly insituating itself beneath un-umbrella-protected shirt-collars, generously
treating to a shower-bath and the rheumatism sleeping bipeds, who did not happen
to have an India-rubber blanket,--and, to crown all, rendering mining utterly
imposible,--you cannot wonder that even the most moral should have become somewhat
reckless.
The Saturnalia commenced on Christmas evening, at the Humboldt, which on that
very day, had passed into the hands of new proprietors. The most gorgeous preparations
were made for celebrating the two events. The bar was re-trimmed with
red calico, the bowling alley had a new lining of the coarsest and whitest cotton
cloth, and the broken lamp-shades were replaced by whole ones. All day long,
patient mules could be seen descending the hill, bending beneath casks of brandy
and baskets of champagne, and, for the first time in the history of that celebrated
building, the floor (wonderful to relate, it has a floor) was washed,
at a lavish expenditure of some fifty pails of water, the using up of one entire
broom, and the melting away of sundry bars of the best yellow soap; after which,
I am told that the enterprisisng and benevolent individuals, who had undertaken
the Herculean tasks, succeeded in washing the boards through the hopeless load
of dirt, which had accumulated upon them during the summer and autumn. All these
interesting particulars were communicated to me by "Ned," when he
brought up dinner. That distinguished individual himself was in his element,
and in a most intense state of perspiration and excitement at the same time.
About dark, we were startled by the loudest hurras, which arose at the sight
of an army of India-rubber couts, (the rain was falling in riversful,) each
one enshouding a Rich Barian, which was rapidly descending the hill. This troop
was headed by the "General," who--lucky man that hi is--waved un high,
instead of a banner, a live lantern, actually composed of tin and window-glass,
and evidently indetded by its maker to act in no capacity but that of a lantern! The "General" is the largest and tallest and--with one
exception, I think, the oldest man upon the river. He is about fifty, I should
fancy, and wears a snow-white beard of such immense dimensions, in both length
and thickness, that any elderly Turk would expire with envy, at the mere sight
of it. Don't imagine that he is a reveler; by no means; the gay crowd followed him, for the same reason that the king followed Madam Blaize, "because
he went before."
At nine o'clock in the evening, they had an oyster and champagne supper in
the Humboldt, which was very gay with toasts, songs, speeches, etc. I believe
that the company danced all night; at any rate, they were dancing when I went
to sleep, and they were dancing when I woke the next morning. The revel was
kept up in this mad way for three days, growing wilder every hour. Some never
slept at all during that time. On the fourth day, they got past dancing, and,
lying in drunken heaps about the bar room, commenced a most unearthly howling;
--some barked like dogs, some roared like bulls, and others hissed like serpents
and geese. Many were too far gone to imitate anything but their own animalized
selves. The scene, from the description I have had of it, must have been a complete
illustration of the fable of Cierce and her fearful transformations. Some of
these bacchanals were among the most respectable and respected men upon the
river. Many of them had resided here for more than a year, and had never been
seen intoxicated before. It seemed as if they were seized with a reckless mania
for pouring down liquor, which, as I said above, everything conspired to foster
and increase.
Of course, there were some who kept themselves aloof from these excesses; but
they were few, and were not allowed to enjoy their sobriety in peace. The revelers
formed themselves into a mock vigilance committee, and when one of these unfortunates
appeared outside, a constable, followed by those who were able te keep their
legs, brought him before the Court, where he was tried on some amusing charge,
and invariably sentenced to "treat the crowd." The prisoners had generally
the good sense to submit cheerfully to their fate.
Towards the latter part of the week, people where compelled to be a little
more quiet from sheer exhaustion; but on New Year's day, when there was a grand
dinner at Rich Bar, the excitement broke out, if possible, worse than ever.
The same scenes in a more or less aggravated form, in proportion as the strength
of the actors held out, were repeated at Smith's bar and "Ithe Junction."
Nearly every day, I was dreadfully frightened, by seenig a boat-load of intoxicated
men fall into the river, where nothing but the fact of their being intoxicated,
saved many of them from drowning. One morning, about thirty dollars worth of
bread, (it must have been "tipsy cake," which the baker was conveying
to Smith's Bar, fell over-board, and sailed merrily away towards Marysville.
People passed the river in a boat, which was managed by a pulley and a rope,
that was strainid across it from Indian bar to the opposite shore.
...Now, however, the Saturnalia is about over. "Ned" and "Choch,"
have nearly fiddled themselves into their respective graves,--the claret (a
favorite wine with miners) and oysters are exhousted,--brandied fruits are rarely
seen, and even port wine is beginning to look scarce. Old callers occasionally
drop in, looking dreadfully sheepish and subdued, and so sorry,--and people
are evidently arousing themselves from the bacchanal madness, into which they
were suddenly and so strangely drawn.
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About Us
The Old Sacramento Living History Program is a volunteer historical
group whose goal is to bring the early days of Sacramento City to
life through historical reenactments, vignettes and strolls on the
streets of Old Sacramento, California.
We present pople from Sacramento between 1849 and 1870, from the
Gold Rush to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Visitors to Old Sacramento are likely to encounter us strolling
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tours of the gold-rush city as well as
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Our members have developed expertise in costuming, weaponry, domestic
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Victorian-era life in America.
New members of all ages and ethnic groups are needed.
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To purchase a walking tour gift certificate, please contact us
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Join the Old Sacramento Living History Program as a re-enactor or behind the scenes helper. We need people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to educate, entertain, and promote a life-long appreciation of our history. To become a member, fill out our membership application, and come to a meeting. General Meetings are held at the Living History Center in Old Sacramento. See our calendar for dates and times. For membership applications
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