For The New Gold Regions

The gold fever is again abroad in the land. It has broken out in this State, and is increasing in volume, new victims falling before it day after day. We have already spoken of the new field now exciting the cupidity and love of adventure of the people; near the head-waters of the Missouri and Columbia rivers. This existence of gold in this region has been suspected for a long time, and about three years ago a party from that country arrived at St. Louis, bringing gold with them, though it was said to be of an inferior quality, being, if we remember right, only about thirteen carats fine. The then prevalent Pike’s Peak excitement overshadowed all rival gold fields, and little was then thought of the new regions notwithstanding they were said to be very prolific in the mineral, such as it was. Subsequent discoveries seem to have confirmed the previous impressions of the abundance of the metal, which also appears to be much finer in quality than first reported. Hence the new mania for gold-hunting.

We have already mentioned that a party of Davenporters were preparing to start out for this land of promise. On Sunday afternoon, the last of the party started on the steamer Northerner for St. Louis. In addition to the persons we have already mentioned, Messrs. Joseph Milner, Peter Dedrick, and A. Casteel are now on their way to the gold regions. We wish them all abundant success and ample rewards for their enterprise.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 29, 1862, p. 1