Rothwell's diary of his homeward trip begins with an account of his travel expenses and a summary of his California experience. He describes the trip by stage and steamer from the mines to San Francisco, his stay in town and the local steamship business. During the voyage Rothwell writes about seasickness, marine life, and sailing conditions. He describes the trip across Panama and voyage home via the Mississippi River. In the back of the volume are short essays on "The Ocean" and "The Whale," as well as remarks on fellow passengers.
Description:
Purchased from John Howell, 1972., Rothwell, of Callaway County, Missouri, traveled to California in 1850, mined for gold, returned to Liberty, Missouri in 1851, and became a member of the faculty of William Jewell College. He wrote a guidebook for travelers to California., and Rothwell's trip to California is documented in his diary, letters, and guidebook. See William Renfrom Rothwell Papers, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, WA MSS 409.
Subject (Geographic):
California--Description and travel., California--Gold discoveries., Mississippi River Valley--Description and travel., Panama--Description and travel., and San Francisco (Calif.)--Description and travel.
Subject (Name):
North America (Steamer), Rothwell, William Renfro., and West Point (Steamer)
Subject (Topic):
Gold mines and mining--California. and Steamboats--California.
