A Sportsman 15 



up that business in Boston in view of continuing it 

 in San Francisco. He had insured it against loss, 

 but upon being left behind rescinded his insurance 

 to save the premium, concluding, as he should take 

 passage on the same ship with his family, that in 

 case of shipwreck resulting in the loss of his goods 

 he would probably with his family be lost also, and 

 have no advantage from insurance. When the ship 

 conveying him and his family and goods was entering 

 the Golden Gate entrance to the city, it struck on a 

 hidden rock, and sunk beneath the water a total 

 loss, although all the passengers and crew were safely 

 landed. Poor Mr. Bragg shed tears as he related to 

 me his tale of sorrow, and I expressed much pity 

 and sympathy for him; what became of him after- 

 wards I never knew. 



San Francisco, at that time, was a bustling city of 

 some 30,000 inhabitants, and it was the flush period 

 of the State, when money was plentiful, as well as the 

 comforts of life. The latter were expensive, but 

 money flowed freely and business was driving. Open 

 gambling was at its height, and one could go through 

 the centre of several blocks in the large gambling 

 halls by crossing the streets. These saloons were 

 ornamented with spacious bars, from which the 

 plungers were supplied with free drinks, and soft 

 music was dispensed with free hand. Side tables 

 were supplied with free lunches, and all possible aid 

 was extended to the sturdy miner, with his bag of 

 gold dust, to induce his belief that the true Eldo- 

 rado had been finally reached, and that he was a 

 prominent stockholder and director in it. 



The awakening was sometimes abrupt when he 



