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This edition continues the historical background on the Top Ten feature. I hope you like it. This post ran on September 1, 2018
Top Ten Things Not to Do During the 1849 California Gold Rush
10 If you are near the gold rush, do not sell everything to go mine for gold. If you do, at best, you will break even. At worst, you’ll find that you have blown your life savings chasing a dream. (Seems you could have found a better way to blow your money, Farquharson. You could try self-publishing.)
9 If you are near the gold rush, do not move that stake at the corner of Tiny the WWF champ’s claim. If you do, at best, Tiny will let you put it back. At worst, Tiny figures you are jumping his claim. (No use even putting up a fight, Farrin. I would just lie there. Tiny is bound to lose interest sooner or later.)
8 If you are near the gold rush, do not hide your gold under the straw mattress on your cot. If you do, at best, the lump will keep you awake. At worst, sadly, that’s the first place a thief will look. (Well, now you need to start over, Farrs. With any luck, you get that gold dust back in another six months of panning.)
7 If you are near the gold rush, do not describe someone to his face as a sourdough. If you do, at best, the person is too new to know that a sourdough is someone from Canada who has come to California in search of Gold. At worst, the person might take exception to being called dough. (Might as well take it back, Farson. Looks like he is mighty angry.)
6 If you are near the gold rush, do not wear your Amiri jeans to work. If you do, at best, you will attract many stares. At worst, the Levi-Strauss salesperson might decide a gunfight is in order. (I guess you didn’t realize that Levi’s are the official jeans of the gold rush, huh, Favian. No worries, just buy a pair and all will be forgotten.)
5 If you are near the gold rush, do not announce any discoveries of gold. If you do, at best, you’ll have more friends. At worst, the mob scene that will transpire is more than you can handle. (Your claim needs to be defended, Fedyenka. But do you really want to shoot someone?)
4 If you are near the gold rush, do not complain about the cost of food. If you do, at best, you’ll be told to go elsewhere. At worst, the cook may decide that serving you requires a higher reimbursement and raise his prices again. (Funny, Felix, but you are the only one paying more for everything.)
3 If you are near the gold rush, do not think you can set up a get-rich-quick wagon and tool rental business. If you do, at best, all your tools will be rented out, and you’ll need to get more. At worst, none of the devices will be brought back, and the rentals do not cover the cost. (This was not how it was supposed to work, Fergus.)
2 If you are near the gold rush, do not drink whatever is in that bottle in the saloon. If you do, at best, you won’t go blind. At worst, you might lose track of time and wake up three weeks from now broke and homeless. (Imagine if you’d had enough money to buy two bottles, Fiacre. You might not be with us right now.)
1 If you are near the gold rush, do not pan for gold. If you do, at best, you won’t find any. At worst, you might pull a couple of specks out of the sand, which will cause an extreme attack of gold fever. (Well, that does it, Fidelis. You are hooked. See you in a couple of years when your money runs out.)
Fiction Favorites 
Hi, John! Happy Monday! Thanks for these great tipps. But i think platinum is the better decision for making money. Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you, Michael. Wishing you a good week. 😊
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Thanks, John! I hope you will also have a wonderful week! Best wishes, Michael
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😊
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2 makes it sound like people were drugging each other to steal gold.
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More like homemade firewater.
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#10 made me laugh, John. Fortunately, I was never attracted to get rich quick schemes. Regards to Tiny.
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Thank you, Dan. Tiny says Hi back
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Make sure he knows I’m a supporter.
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He wonders if you are a wrestler, too. (say no)
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No, just a fan.
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😀
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I enjoyed the list John and the great “names” of course.
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They were very unusual. Thanks, Tom. 😊
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I learned something: never knew what a sourdough was! Good tips all around, especially about the rental business!
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Thank you, Noelle.
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Yes, John, in the Gold Rush one had to be very careful with gold.
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Careful with everything. Thanks, Daan
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When we were in New Zealand on holiday we went gold panning for a morning… back breaking and not a speck to be found… except for the tourist company who organised it lol.. Great list..hugsx
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I panned for gold at Knott’s Berry Farm back in the 60s. Very fun.
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I love this bit, so true! “(Seems you could have found a better way to blow your money, Farquharson. You could try self-publishing.)”
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Unfortunately, very true.
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Don’t I know it!
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😀
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Those folk back-in-the-day should have read this post. I’m pretty sure they did every one of these.
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That’s why we have a list of what not to do. Thanks, Jacqui. 😀
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I’ve panned quite a bit. Never found anything, but it’s kind of fun.
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Me too.
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Ha! That #10 comment about self-publishing cracked me up! Good ones, John!
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Thanks, Jan.
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I never knew what I sourdough was. Just thought it was really good bread, lol.
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Ha ha ha. 😀
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I had to laugh at number 10: “….that you have blown your life savings chasing a dream”….”Seems you could have found a better way to blow your money….. You could try self-publishing.”
I remember watching the Swedish TV series Nybyggarna (The New Land) about Swedish immigrants to the United States. Two of the immigrants, two young guys, decided they wanted to be part of the California Gold Rush. They ended up with gold (its a long story) but when they sold it at the bank they were give counterfeit dollar bills, so they ended up with nothing, and one of them died in the desert.
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Such a sad tale, Thomas. Imagine working that hard for nothing.
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Yes it was sad, but it probably happened to a lot of people. They didn’t find anything or were cheated out of their gold.
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So true.
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Good list, as always, John. When I taught 4th grade, we studied the Gold Rush. One of the concluding parts of the unit was to go to a nearby river to pan for gold. My teaching partner and I spraypainted a lot of rocks gold in advance so that the kids could find some “gold.”
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What a fun event. I’ll bet the kids were thrilled. Thanks for sharing, Pete
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Colorado has more than it’s fair share of gold (and silver) rush stories. And they are pitifully heartbreaking. Tough times those rushes were but they seemed to capture a lot of folks attention. As the west was being settled, you were either a miner or a farmer. And both jobs were tough.
Great list of Top 10 Things Not to Do, John. I always enjoy these posts.
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Thank you, Monika. So glad you enjoyed. 😊
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Sourdough! How the hell did that one come about? 😉
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Seems I remember the Klondike was where sourdough starter came from. Eventually, all miners were called sourdoughs. When I originally did this post, I had a reference that was probably obscure and could have been inaccurate, who knows? Anyway, I can’t find it today.
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All good and too funny. There is surely a good explanation. 😉
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Since my Mom was born at Victoria Falls, BC, maybe she told me the story. 😀 Kinda doubt it though. Sure wish I could find where that came from. I know I had it back in the day.
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Oh ho! So that’s why you’re so fabulous! You have some Canadian blood 😉
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