The Argonauts of California: being the reminiscenses of scenes and incidents that occurred in California in the early mining days

by Charles Warren Haskins

As we advance to the north we find that the gold deposits in the ravines and cañons are much deeper, and although gold upon the bed rock can be had in great quantities, being in some cases taken out by the pound, yet the net profits are very small, owing to the great expense in working. For instance, in Cœur d’Alene gold mining region the gravel upon some of the richest creek bottoms is from 20 to 30 feet in depth, while upon the bed rock there are rich deposits from which very coarse gold and nuggets have been taken by the pound. Yet the great disadvantage and expense of working many of these places in consequence of the amount of water to contend with, as well as the want of sufficient fall of same, make them unprofitable.

In the Caribou County, creeks were discovered of fabulous richness, yet such is the depth of gravel, in some cases upwards of 60 feet, that the expense of working in many instances exceeded the income.

We find, also, as we proceed to the north, that the ancient river beds are of greater extent and much richer, the mountains also being higher and more rugged. The placer mining, on the other hand, is confined to a smaller area, gold being found only in a few of the principal, or larger, creeks and ravines.

It is evident, therefore, from this fact, as well as from the general appearance of the hills, that those natural forces, such as volcanic and glacial action, which wore away the high mountain peaks to their present altitude, and which broke down the ancient river channels throughout the central portion of the mining regions, were of much greater force and of longer duration. And it is for this reason, also, that we find the washed gravel and particles of gold which they contained scattered over a larger area of country upon the surface.

It was the general opinion among the early miners that where placer mines existed would also be found rich quartz ledges, and where rich quartz ledges are found there must, for similar reasons, be good placer mining. This is true only of the central portion of the mining regions, where the quartz ledges have been thrown down and broken up, and is not true of other sections, for we find farther north, among the high cliffs and rugged peaks which have not been worn down by these natural forces, quartz ledges containing free gold, in many cases of great value. Yet no free gold, or at least but very little, can be found among the ravines or cañons below them.

It has been often said that the early miners were a very superstitious lot of men and firm believers in luck, even more so than any others; but this is a great mistake, for observation shows us that all grades and races of men are afflicted to a greater or less extent with this peculiar mania of belief in the efficacy of signs which give warning of coming dangers, as well as prognosticate good luck or a change in conditions. Those who are believers in this mysterious change in circumstances termed luck are close observers of such signs, and before commencing their operations or enterprises will first consult the oracle to see if the signs are favorable.

Among the mining classes in early days, the Germans were firm believers in the potency of signs, although many Americans and those of other nationalities were not far behind them, the main difference between them being that the former had no hesitation in acknowledging such a belief.

In early mining days it was generally believed that success in mining was entirely owing to luck, and this is the common belief at present among portions of the mining classes, as well as those engaged in other kinds of business. For this reason the so-called signs are intently observed, which will indicate what the future or result of any work or enterprise is to be. From the observation of others, as well as our own experiences in the operation of many of these omens, it is very conclusively shown that in many cases such circumstances do occur, or such effects result, as were previously suggested by the signs; but reason teaches us that there can be no possible connection between the mere fact of a dream, or of the occurrence of any certain events and any subsequent effects. As a consequence such future effects can have no other explanation than that of coincidence, although we must admit that the future events very often constitute a mysterious phenomenon. Many instances might be mentioned as an evidence of this, while again numerous cases of a similar nature could be brought forth as reliable evidence of exactly the reverse. Of this latter class of effects the believer in lucky signs takes no note, since they are of a negative character, and have, therefore, no value.

An acquaintance of mine was realizing from his ravine claim about $20 daily, and upon his way to his cabin one evening he picked up a horseshoe which he took to his quarters and hung upon a nail, with the remark that his claim in future was “just agoin’ to pungle”; and sure enough, for about two weeks following it did “pungle” at the average of $50 per diem.

A short time after another miner, a near neighbor, found, upon his way home from work, two horseshoes, which were hung up in his cabin for luck, and strange as it may seem, instead of his claim increasing in its daily pay, in a few days it ceased paying entirely. Of course, the only explanation for this phenomenon, as one of his friends told him, was that in finding two horseshoes he overdid the business, for one offset the other. Another acquaintance accounted for the catastrophe by saying that very probably one of the shoes was a mule shoe, and consequently all good luck was kicked out.