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 Throughout the Americas and Europe the
most astonishing reports were received from the gold fields of
California.
General Smith writing from Panama January 7, 1849, says that none of the
accounts received were exaggerated; that there had been brought to
Valparaiso and Lima before the end of 1848, gold valued at $1,800,000;
that the British consul at Panama had forwarded 15,000 ounces. ($240,000)
across the isthmus, and that the commander of the Pandora, Royal Navy,
informed him that the truth was beyond the accounts he had heard. General
Smith was also informed that hundreds of people from the west coast of
South America were embarking for the gold fields. In a subsequent letter
he says that he has learned from many sources that there was a great
emigration of people of all nations to
California
and that many are going off with large quantities of gold. He says that on
his arrival there he shall consider every one, not a citizen of the United
States, who enters on public land and digs for gold, as a trespasser and
shall so treat him.
On the 12th of April 1848, the Pacific
Mail was incorporated with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars, and
contracts were entered into for the building of three steamers; the
California,
1050 tons, the Oregon, 1099 tons, and the Panama, 1087 tons, the
California
was completed first and sailed from New York October 6, 1848, under
command of Cleveland Forbes. She carried no passengers for
California.
Meanwhile the reports from
California
of the extent of the gold fields, and the marvelous quantities of the
metal obtained by men unskilled in mining and without capital were
received in the eastern states and in Europe. In November 1848 came
Lieutenant Loeser of the 3d artillery, with dispatches from the military
governor of
California,
confirming the most extravagant reports from the gold fields, and bringing
tangible evidence in the shape of a box filled with gold dust.
The
gold was placed on exhibition at the war office and the president embodied
Mason's report in his message to congress December 5th. The entire
community went wild with excitement. Mason's report with the president's
endorsement was published in the principal newspapers throughout the
world. The "gold fever" was on and from all parts of the world companies
were fitting out for
California.
From Sonora in Mexico, thousands of men came overland, while from the
coasts of Chili and Peru as many more came by sea.
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