Gold Rush • The Saloon
A Professor Chalkdust and Miss Lucy Adventure • Part 4
This twelve-part serial follows the unexpected adventures of Oxford professor Emerson Caldwell Chalkdust and new teacher, Victoria Ann Curly, whom he volunteered to mentor. Both get far more than they expected thanks to a magical encyclopedia set. I will post chapters every other day until it is complete.
In the previous chapter, the Professor and Miss Curly found themselves in San Francisco days before the Gold Rush was to begin. The Professor pawned his watch for money, and a dressmaker found a suitable dress for Miss Curly and provided them with advice.
Start at the beginning here:
After a short walk, they arrived at the Market Street Saloon and found a table as far from the others as possible. The professor placed the encyclopedia on his lap, out of sight. They ordered some dinner and began to discuss what to do.
“I know this is a shock, but after thinking about it, I can only come to one conclusion,” the professor said gently. “I am convinced that the encyclopedia brought us here. I was reading an entry about the California Gold Rush, and instantly, we were in San Francisco in 1848. Right before gold was discovered. The two must be linked.”
“It seems so, but that is impossible,” Miss Curly replied.
“And yet, here we are. If the impossible happens, then it must be possible. As unimaginable as it seems.”
“Even if the encyclopedia had magical powers, why would it bring us here?”
“I can only speculate. But I think perhaps it wants us to do or see something in this time.”
Miss Curly was getting irritated at the professor’s calm.
“Like what? It makes no sense.”
“We agree on that. But since nothing else makes more sense, I suggest we visit Sutter’s Mill tomorrow. At the very least, we can rule that out.”
The professor sighed.
“I truly am sorry for getting you into this situation.”
“It is not your fault. Let’s just focus on finding a way back.”
They picked at their food for a while, trying to make sense of what had happened. Eventually, they gave up on dinner and went to the nearby City Hotel, where they got two rooms and tried to get some sleep.
The next morning, they met in the hotel lobby at daybreak. The professor suggested they have breakfast in the hotel dining room before they set out for Sutter’s Mill.
“Did you get any sleep, Professor?” Miss Curly asked.
“Precious little, I am afraid. My mind would not shut off.”
“Mine either.”
“It was to be expected, I suppose. I spent most of the night rereading the Gold Rush entry in the encyclopedia, hoping for anything that might help. Unfortunately, I did not find any answers.”
“I know the basic history of the Gold Rush,” Miss Curly said. “Gold was discovered, and the news caused a huge migration to California by people seeking riches. They were called the 49ers since most arrived in 1849.”
“That is correct,” the professor said. “People came from all over the world. But getting here was difficult. It took six months to cross the country by land from New York via the Oregon Trail. Ships took equally long, having to navigate all the way around South America. Eventually, a train was built across Panama to cut the journey time in half.
Right now, there are fewer than 1,000 people we would refer to as Americans — people of European origin — in California. The main residents are Native Americans, followed by Californios—people of Spanish or Mexican descent. But California’s population will soon swell by three hundred thousand people.
Over the next four years, approximately two billion dollars worth of gold will be discovered. However, very few of the prospectors will get rich. Some will increase their wealth a little or break even. Many more will simply spend all of the earnings from the gold they find on expenses. It will be the local merchants who actually get wealthy. They will charge outrageously high prices for everything. As much as $25 in today’s money for an egg, and $100 for a pound of coffee. Prospectors will need to find a fortune in gold because it will cost a fortune to live. Wells and Fargo will build a banking empire starting here in San Francisco. John Studebaker will grow rich by making wheelbarrows and use his wealth to begin building automobiles. Levi Strauss, a sailmaker, will realize the need for sturdy work pants and invent Levi’s jeans.”
They finished breakfast, and the professor said, “I will go to the livery stable and rent a horse. It is quite a distance to Sutter’s Mill. It would take far too long to walk.”
“I’ve never ridden a horse,” Miss Curly said.
“Fear not, I had equestrian training as a youth. You will ride with me. All you need to do is hang on. You should stay here, and I will return for you. The stable owner may not like the idea of two riders on one horse, but we have no choice.”
Continues in Part 5 on Saturday.
Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
I think my dad had a Studebaker or two. I have banked at Wells Fargo and owned Levi's, too. AND all four of my kids graduated from UNC Charlotte, whose mascot is--you guessed it--a '49er! I guess I'm a Son of the Gold Rush.
I enjoy so uch your imagination coupled with historic facts.