Popular Post Jim McCulloch Posted July 8, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2019 ... the first of the 49'ers from the eastern US states, Australia, England, and Mexico were now beginning to arrive in the California gold fields. Hopes were high that they would "see the elephant," an allusion to participating in a truly spectacular, life-changing event. The California Gold Rush, from 1849 to 1857, was one of the most significant world-altering events in modern history. While metal detectors have replaced gold pans and rocker boxes, those of us who pursue "the elusive yellow metal" are the brethren of those intrepid 49ers. A post-gold rush ballad states "... and I often grieve and pine... for the days of old... the days of gold... the Days of 49..." I hope you all "see the elephant." HH Jim 14 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Just finished reading the Majors book once again...If you could not be there then might as well read about it! must have been nice to walk along and pick up nuggets as big as potatoes with your hands. Could you imagine having a detector back then? strick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB_Amateur Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, strick said: Just finished reading the Majors book.... Could you give more detail, strick? Sounds like something I'd like to read. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OFS Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Gold-Major-William-Downie/dp/1614740887 strick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 4 hours ago, strick said: Could you imagine having a detector back then? They didn't have GPS, cell phones, google earth, X coils, trail mix, rain coats, dentists, doctors, or this forum and me to keep them in line. It's a wonder any of them survived much less succeeded. My fathers family came out to Ca. in 1851 from Bangor Maine and started the town of Bangor in Butte county. Thus all the family since has been cursed with the prospecting disease. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaskaseeker Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 I read this book probably 20 years ago, just thinking about the gold these folks were finding is unbelievable, they were not talking about ounces, they were talking about POUNDS...Geo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swegin Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 And a lot miners found nothing also. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacky Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 You can also download a free pdf version here https://archive.org/details/cihm_02753 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry in Idaho Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 We are the modern day Prospector. Same kind of thinking person, same desire, same determination. Different tools of the trade though. We traded in water canteen for a Yeti full of cold gatorade, the dried fish/nuts for Energy Power Bars, the mule for an ATV, traded in the map for GPS, traded in the pan and eye piece for a detector. Those folks we men and times were mean/lean. Yes, I'm one spoiled bad ass pussy. But at least I still get the urge to find the next one. Thanks for the reminder Jim. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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