Leonard Kip

At the age of twenty-two, young New York native Leonard Kip had already completed a law degree and established a practice in Albany, New York. However, as the extraordinary news of gold discoveries swept the eastern newspapers in late 1848, he elected to abandon his practice and take a chance at the gold fields of California.

After arriving in San Francisco in late 1849, Kip made his way through Sacramento and eventually reached the diggings. He would spend only two months prospecting on the Mokelumne River, where he experienced average success, before returning to Albany and resuming his law practice in 1850.

During his brief adventure in California, Kip sent home sketches of his experiences for publication in the local newspaper. Upon his return, the articles were compiled and originally published as a pamphlet in 1850. In the following excerpt from...