The Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California

By Anthony Belli

"Not content with having drunk up our brandy, these scoundrels rifled our saddlebags where we had a bottle of quimagogo. One of the damned gringos drank it all, thinking it was port; the bottle held enough to kill three horses. When we saw they had gulped down this medicine like wine, I assure you we would have been terrified had we not been secretly enjoying a mood of vengeance."

— Vicente Perez Rosales, Chilean 49er

The California Gold Rush stands as an unparalleled epoch in human history. Herbert Howe Bancroft aptly described 1849 as an "era" compressed into a single year. The momentous events ignited by James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Coloma triggered a remarkable distortion of time, space, and human behavior on a global scale. The western slopes of California’s majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range became the stage for a dramatic influx of people from nearly every corner of the world. Britons, Mexicans, Chinese, Kanakas (Pacific Islanders), Peruvians, Irish, French, and Italians all converged upon the ancestral lands of the Miwok and Maidu indigenous peoples. Further adding to this tapestry of humanity were individuals hailing from Nicaragua, Spain, Australia, and a diverse array of Americans – both white and black – alongside those arriving from Argentina and, significantly, Chile. This unprecedented surge of migration rivaled the scale of the Crusades, marking the California Gold Rush as one of the largest mass movements of people in recorded history.

California, newly under American control, began forging its unique identity from this vibrant mix of races, religions, and cultures. This diverse foundation continues to shape the state’s distinctive society and culture to this day. Where else could one simultaneously celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Christmas, a Native American Pow-Wow, and the Chinese New Year without ever leaving state boundaries? Therefore, a true understanding of the Gold Rush demands more than dry textbook accounts. The authentic story of California’s Gold Rush is best captured in the words and experiences of the 49ers themselves, those who toiled in the Sierra foothills as world-altering events unfolded around them.

The Chilean presence left an undeniable mark on California, extending far beyond a mere scattering of place names beginning with "Chile" or its Americanized variant, "Chili." In El Dorado County, tangible evidence of this Chileno history can be found in the remnants of mining camps such as Chile Bar (now submerged beneath Folsom Lake) and Chili Bar north of Placerville, alongside other historical sites like Yomet, Pekin, Spanish Flat, Kanaka Town, Johntown, Hangtown, Garden Valley, and Chile Hill. Chilenos played a significant, albeit unintentional, role in the infamous naming of Hangtown, contributing to the lore of its Main Street oak, now joining the ranks of other notorious California hanging trees in Jackson and Second Garrote.

It was also Chilean miners who sought justice for the murder of one of their compatriots, leading to the hanging of Richard Crone, also known as "Irish Dick," who met his end on Placerville’s lesser-known hanging tree, which once stood near the intersection of present-day Coloma and High Streets. The Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California left an indelible mark on the landscape and the history of the region.

News Of Marshall’s Discovery Reaches Chile

The news of James Marshall’s groundbreaking discovery first reached Valparaiso, Chile, with the arrival of the brig JRS on August 19, 1848. Captain G.L. Hobson, a merchant based in Valparaiso, recounted the challenges of his voyage, noting that half of his crew had deserted ship in San Francisco upon hearing the tantalizing news. He reported that California’s goldfields were so abundant that a fortune could be made simply by picking gold directly off the ground. Initially, these extravagant tales from California were met with skepticism.

However, just ten days later, the arrival of the schooner Adelaida, carrying $2,500 in California gold, dramatically altered Chile’s trajectory. Foreign merchants, particularly those from American and British colonies, were the first to react. Within two weeks of the Adelaida’s arrival in Valparaiso, a group of 45 English-speaking businessmen boarded the Virginian and set sail for California, eager to capitalize on the burgeoning gold rush.

This sudden exodus of "gringos" had immediate economic repercussions for Chile, prompting many of its young men to take notice. The rush from Chile was officially underway. The Chilean Foreign Office initially issued passports to experienced miners who could afford their passage, while others secured temporary positions as ship crew. Soon, every vessel was filled to capacity. By June 1849, the Foreign Office had issued over 6,000 passports, demonstrating the scale of the emigration. The Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California was gathering momentum.

As the allure of gold intensified, Chileans from all walks of life – adventurers, prostitutes, and everyday citizens – began departing for California. The initial wave of English-speaking "gringos" who had left Chile were now establishing businesses in San Francisco, importing goods from Chile, including food, mining supplies, explosives, and even prefabricated homes. By the close of 1849, a staggering 92 out of 119 ships of Chilean registry were abandoned in various states of disrepair in San Francisco Bay, effectively crippling Chile’s Merchant Marine fleet. Yet, any lingering doubts were quickly dispelled as each ship returning to Chilean harbors was met by throngs of people clamoring for "News from California!" The consistent reply was the same: Gold! Abundant gold! Nuggets the size of boulders!

Chilean harbors were soon overflowing with ships packed with 49ers, primarily from the East Coast of the United States. One captain recalled witnessing 300 ships in a single day, noting that 12 originated from his home port of Hamburg. The Chilean economy experienced a boom, with prices skyrocketing and brothels struggling to accommodate the sudden influx of young male clientele. Even the remote residents of the Juan Fernandez Islands found themselves at the center of a Gold Rush boomtown, besieged by 49ers who had recently rounded Cape Horn. Chilean businessmen invested heavily in ships to address the transportation crisis caused by the overwhelming demand. However, this seemingly foolproof plan soon soured as ship captains, like their crews, abandoned their vessels in San Francisco Bay to pursue their own fortunes in the California goldfields. The Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California had unintended consequences for the Chilean economy.

Contributions To Mining

The majority of Chilenos arrived in California in late 1848, predating the massive influx of 49ers from the United States. They represented the most experienced mining personnel in California at that time. They generously shared their expertise with the newcomers, teaching them how to dig shafts, follow leads, pan for gold, and identify the most promising locations. They introduced specialized tools such as the "corvo," a long, slender, curved knife used to extract gold from rock crevices, and the "poruna," a hollowed cow or steer horn used to pour sands when testing for gold in water-scarce environments. They also taught the miners "aventamiento," or dry washing methods. To improve ore crushing, they enhanced the Mexican arrastre by adding a stone wheel, renaming it the "Chili Mill."

However, the violent undercurrents of American culture soon manifested themselves with the arrival of the 49ers. Despite the valuable mining knowledge imparted by the Chileans, the American 49ers quickly turned against them, perceiving them as competition. The Americans, feeling that California belonged solely to them, believed that anyone not a U.S. citizen was effectively stealing their gold. As a result, Americans frequently drove non-Anglos from their claims. This situation worsened by late 1849, as mining land became scarce and the easily accessible "free gold" dwindled. Unlike most non-Anglos in the diggings who passively complied and moved on when confronted by Americans, the Chilenos, often well-educated and from affluent families, were proud and earned a reputation for fiercely defending their rights and standing their ground against the "gringos." The Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California brought skilled miners but also sparked conflict.

This perceived arrogance further fueled the animosity of the American miners, who attacked Chileans with impunity. Murders, whippings, beatings, and mutilations became common tactics employed by Americans against Spanish-speaking communities. This brutality fostered deep resentment among the Chileans, who viewed the "Yankees" as cowards. As one account notes, "Chileans and other aliens in the area had no better luck. While preparations were being made to welcome in the New Year at Calaveras with a bloody sacrifice (referring to the Battle of Chile Bar incident) similar things were going on in Stockton, Sonora, Hangtown, Sacramento, and in San Francisco to celebrate the holiday by mass violence against aliens."

As Ramon Jil Navarro observed in 1852, "The California of 1849 and 1850 is not at all like the California of 1852. Those earlier years were abnormal in almost every aspect, what happened then has little or no significance in terms of the excellent relations that exist today between Chileans and Americans. California in those years was without government, without fixed laws, without society, and without established traditions. It had no predominant religion."

The brutal treatment of non-English-speaking individuals, regardless of their race, became a hallmark of Gold Rush "justice." While racial hate crimes certainly occurred, the majority of violence stemmed from American miners seeking to eliminate competition, irrespective of race, initially through warnings and then through force. Similar to the Chinese, many Chileans retreated from the mines, settling in San Francisco and establishing successful businesses. Others ventured into politics, becoming judges, legislators, and Congressmen, with their families becoming prominent and wealthy figures in the burgeoning state. Even in the face of adversity, the legacy of the Chilean Crusade for El Dorado in California persevered.

© Anthony Belli, 2003, updated January 2023.

About the Author: Anthony M. Belli is a California native residing in El Dorado County’s Sierra Nevada region. With a law enforcement background, he was the youngest police chief in Oregon history. Today, Belli is a respected historian, writer, and lecturer specializing in the California Gold Rush and a member of the El Dorado County Museum’s research staff. He has appeared on numerous television programs, writes for Lost Treasure Magazine, and authored the book Mysteries of Tahoe – Lost Treasure.

Also See:

California Gold Rush

James Marshall

San Francisco

California – The Golden State

Sources:

Beilharz, Edwin A. and Lopez, Carlos U.; We Were 49ers!; Ward Ritchie Press; Pasadena, California, 1976.

Boessenecker, John, Gold Dust & Gun Smoke; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; New York, New York, 1999.

Gernes, Phyllis L.; Hidden in the Chaparral, Self Published; Garden Valley, California, 1982.

Holliday, J.S.; The World Rushed In;  Simon & Schuster, New York, New York, 1983.

Hughey, Richard; Placerville and Vicinity – Part 9; Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, November  23, 2001.

Hughey, Richard; Hangtown: The Navarro Account; Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, December. 7, 2001.

Sioli, Paolo; History of El Dorado County; Cedar Ridge Publishing, Georgetown, California, 1998.

Witter, Daniel; Chileans Chased Dream of Gold, Appeal Democrat; Marysville, California, August 6, 2002