Chileans In California

Samuel Brannan's famous announcement in San Francisco that gold had been discovered on the American River took place on May 12, 1848. One of the ships in San Francisco harbor at the time was the J.R.S., a brig out of Valparaiso, Chile, Alfredo Andrews, captain. At the time gold was being purchased in San Francisco for $8 to $10 cash per ounce ($14 to $16 per ounce in trade for merchandise). The supercargo on the J.R.S. had just sold his cargo of merchandise for $4,000 and he offered to purchase all of the gold brought to him for $12 per ounce cash. How much gold he was able to buy is unknown, but the ship remained in port for six weeks and it is thought that he probably accumulated a great deal. In Valparaiso gold was worth $17 an ounce and in Europe $18 an ounce. By the time that the J.R.S. sailed for home on June 14, 1848, the younger members of its crew and most of San Francisco had left for the gold fields.

The J.R.S. reached Valparaiso on August 19, 1848. Andrews and his crew were the first to bring news of the discovery to Valparaiso. Rumors spread rapidly through the city, but the news did not gain wide credibility until other ships and newspapers confirmed the rumors. By September, however, a flow of eager gold seekers began boarding ship in Valparaiso for California. By the end of the year it was difficult to find a berth of any kind on any kind of vessel. All elements of society joined the flow of people to California. Those who could afford the expense of the trip went as individuals, partnerships were formed, and wealthy entrepreneurs financed parties of laborers who agreed to work for wages. Gold had been mined in Chile for centuries and many of the Chilean argonauts were experienced gold miners.

The flow of Chileans began arriving in San Francisco before the end of 1848 and consequently they were well ahead of the wave of 49ers who were just beginning to leave the eastern part of the United States. By in large the Chileans were young, single, uneducated, and did not speak English. The majority of them headed for the gold fields as soon as they could. Because many of them knew what they were doing they managed to occupy some of the better placer claims and began extracting respectable amounts of gold.