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THBCalifornia Gold Rush, 1848-1849 Diary of Dr. Edwards Hall Written During Journey West Aboard the Pacific
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United States
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Hall, Edwards. Dr. (1818-1898). Noted New York physician and original member of the New York Academy of Medicine. Pocket Diary, approx. 3 x 4.5 in., pre-printed with date blocks for the year 1848, spanning approximately mid-August 1848 through March 7, 1849.
Hall's early pioneer diary provides detailed and colorful description of the voyage "'round the horn" aboard the ship Pacific, which is best known for the removal of its captain from his command mid-voyage.
Edwards Hall was born in New York on October 16, 1818, to Rev. Nathaniel and Hannah Emerson Hall. After graduating Hamilton College, Hall served as assistant to the New York State Geologist, Ebenezer Emmons, and traveled with him through the Adirondacks in 1840. Then, after graduating from the Albany Medical College in 1844, he was appointed the resident physician in the Children's Hospital on Blackwell's Island, N.Y. News of the gold rush in California struck a cord with the physician, however, and in a December 19, 1848, diary entry he writes, "Resolve to go to California." He wasted little time following through on this resolution, as he set sail from New York for San Francisco on January 22, 1849, in the company of his brother aboard the ship Pacific.
The early pages of the pre-printed diary are filled with mostly pencilled notes about everyday things such as money he has lent to others, quotes that he finds interesting, train schedules, or other "Memorandum." This portion of the diary was recorded while he lived in New York City. Starting with the pre-printed block for February 7, Hall has scratched out the date, recorded "Jany 22nd" - the day he set sail around Cape Horn for San Francisco - and begins to record his journey. The diary then covers everyday until March 7, 1849, when the ship arrived at Rio de Janeiro. The "Miscellaneous" section found near the end of the diary includes a partial list of passengers on board the ship including their ages and home states. The last page of the diary holds a list of latitude and longitude coordinates from July 1849. The majority of the diary which records his journey is recorded in ink.
Dr. Hall's diary is filled with a wonderful variety of observations and remarks, and paints a rich picture of life on board. He notes the food which was mostly deemed unsatisfactory. He remarks upon the uncomfortable nature of the accommodations, including the lack of fresh air in the cabins and the fact that cabins would get very wet during storms, with his brother at one time even putting an umbrella up to keep off the rain. Hall shares descriptions of the scenery, interactions with other vessels, practical jokes, amusements on board ship, ways he passed the time, and descriptions of his dreams. Notably, he also describes the increasing dissatisfaction with the captain.
On February 3rd, 1849, Hall writes for the first time of widespread dissatisfaction among the passengers, "Much dissatisfaction among the New England conf. & others on account of deprivation special complaint tonight was that the cabin was insufficiently lighted & that the Captain refused any redress. Whereupon a meeting was called instant and a committee appointed to draft a memorial of grievances. I find that there have been frequent inquiries for this report today, but no report is forthcoming." Tensions continue to rise with Captain Tibbetts displaying regular "ill humor," and by March 7 Hall notes that "The feeling of Indignation against the Capt is universal and the most quiet passengers are now the most difficult to be appeased." On this his last entry in his diary, though, Dr. Hall reflects moreso on the wonder of the scenery unfolding before him as the ship neared Rio. "The scenery is very wild and desolate and one could hardly image that a large city was to near by. The mountains are sparsely covered with trees and evergreens which relieve the scene a little of its barreness and rugged aspect."
Ultimately, Captain Hall J. Tibbetts was removed from command after the first-class passengers complained as a group to Gorham D. Parks, U. S. Consul at Rio de Janeiro, that Capt. Tibbetts was insane and of foul temperament. A new captain, George T. Estabrooks, assumed control of the ship Pacific and completed the journey from Rio to San Francisco. Dr. Hall arrived safely in California but did not remain there. In 1851, he returned to New York where he resumed practicing medicine and later married Margaret M. Chambers of Trenton, New Jersey. They had two daughters. Dr. Hall went on to become a President of the Trustees of Rutgers Female College, an original member of the New York Academy of Medicine, and was a founder of the Chinese Sabbath School in New York.
Condition
Cover page of the diary is detached, but remaining pages are bound. Diary has become detached from the leather outer cover. Outer cover has expected wear.
All teeth on the combs are present and intact. Excellent condition.
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