A rush and a commotion in the street outside gave evidence of some tragic event which had occurred, or was about to take place. Men were running from all directions; some with guns, pistols and weapons of various descriptions and calibre, from a bean blower to a mountain howitzer, and all appeared to be concentrating their forces toward a certain grocery store, in front of which were a number of men who were hopping, stamping, and jumping around upon a pile of straw. All were evidently in the last stages of “jimjams,” for they all swore that they had seen a big rat, while others again, who seemed more quiet and composed, maintained that, although they hadn’t seen him, yet they were positive that they smelled him. Yes, it was true, for soon its body was found in the straw, horribly mangled, so much so that its countenance was unrecognizable, but its tail was, and that told the tale of its species. It had sponged its way up from San Francisco in the straw of a crockery crate, and thus ended the career of the first rat that arrived in Hangtown, on or about March 1, 1850.
The arrival of every ship into San Francisco brought its full complement of rats from various parts of the world. The consequence was that, by the fall of ’50, the chief towns near and convenient to San Francisco were overrun with this species of animal. During a walk through the principal street in Sacramento in the evening, after the business of the day was over, they could be seen in swarms, and in some localities it was even difficult to walk along without stepping upon the innocent creatures. On one sidewalk in particular, in J street, I think, upon which were piled sacks of grain and produce of various kinds, could be seen rats by the thousands, of all sizes and nationalities, crawling in among, through, and over these sacks in every direction; through tunnels, down shafts and drifts, in true miner’s style, and from their sleek, healthy
appearance they had evidently struck it. They were different in nationality, which was evident from their choice in the selection of food; for instance, in among a pile of sacks containing cabbages, were the Dutch species of rats, brought over in some ship from Holland. There was no mistaking their birthplace, for scraps of Bologna sausage were scattered about, and the scent of Limberger cheese was perceptible. Upon a pile of sacks containing corn, was seen a number of very healthy corpulent chaps who appeared to be engaged in debating some important question. They were probably of English stock, and were holding a debate upon the corn laws. Upon a pile of sacks which were filled with wheat, was seen a large number of rats of all sizes and descriptions: some with long tails, some with short, and some with no tails at all. They appeared to be engaged in a fierce warfare over some very important question, and were scratching, biting, pulling and hauling each other around in a most vicious manner. A closer observation evidenced the fact that these were the true American species, and were wheat brokers “on ’change.” There was no mistaking the nationality of those rats prospecting among the stack of potato sacks beyond, for standing erect upon the top of it, in a very striking attitude, with its paws up in Yankee Sullivan style, was a huge rat, its long tail carelessly thrown over an immense potato in front of it, and in imagination we heard it remark to its companions around it:
“Now, me lads, bring on the b’ys who’d be afther jest treading on me foine tail, thin!”
A pile of mats containing rice was honored by the presence of a lot of Chinese rats. The style of eating, and the manner of handling the chop-sticks was an evidence of this fact.
The time was now near at hand when the semi-civilized conditions under which the earlier emigrants had been living, were to be changed; for there was quite a large emigration on its way from Missouri, Texas and other States west of the Mississippi, and among them were some of the most desperate characters of the frontier. The first arrivals of the emigrants created no little degree of excitement among the younger portion of the community, especially from the fact that it was learned that a number of young ladies were on their way to the mining regions, and would probably pass through the town. About this time, which I think was in August, ’50, quite a large number of miners were at work in and near the creek, along
