Stories of the Humboldt Wagon Road / Andy Mark.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mark, Andy, author.

Series:

Transportation

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Roads--California--Butte County--History--19th century.

Roads.

Butte County (Calif.)--History.

Butte County (Calif.).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (153 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Charleston, SC : The History Press, 2020.

Summary:

Before the completion of the transcontinental railroad, there was the Chico and Humboldt Wagon Road, meant to connect California with the burgeoning mining industries of Nevada and Idaho. The ambitious plan to make Chico a major Northern California transportation hub was spearheaded by John Bidwell and began in earnest in 1864. The road opened new areas to mining and logging and provided opportunities for less scrupulous characters. Stagecoach robberies, murders and shootouts were just some of the misfortunes that occurred on the road, along with the dangers nature provided--snowstorms, perilous terrain and grizzly bears. Author Andy Mark offers a glimpse of what it was like for nineteenth-century travelers and settlers on the route of the Humboldt Wagon Road.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction: A Description of the Road

1. 1860s: The Road to the Mines

Overview

A Brutal Killing in the Desert

The "Mad" Rush for Black Rock Silver

Stage Robbery Near the Big Summit

Tollgate Violators, Human and Otherwise

They Knew How to Party at Camp Jones

2. 1870s: A Postal Route Established

Flirting in the Mountains

The Condition of the Road

Livestock Celebrate New Year Early

Bizarre Murder on the Road

A Curious Case, Indeed

The Soap Man Gets Robbed on the Big Summit

Accidents Along the Road and at the Mills

Harrowing Escape at the Sutton House

Tragedy on the V-Flume

Forest Destruction and Climate Change

3. 1880s: The Road Charter Expires

Harrowing Snow Stories

Mining for Gold Was No Holiday

The Racquette

Dashing Through the Snow

Dead Man's Hill

Billy Boness Still in the News

Scary Bear Stories

Sometimes It Was Better to Walk

Frank Mickey's Wild Ride

A Christmas Miracle

Shootout Near the Big Summit

Thrilling V-Flume Rides

The Hoisting Works

Put Your Head in the Hat

Tragedy Strikes the Cussick Family

The Government vs. Sierra Lumber Company

4. 1890s: Clashing Over Road Maintenance

Washington's Birthday in Forest Ranch

More Accidents on the Road

Another Scary Bear Story

Lizzie McGann

J.H. Shuffleton Dukes It Out in Print

Attempted Rape on the Big Summit

Mattie Warfield Has Close Call, Eventually Runs Out of Luck

Don't Mess with Earnest Bilby Collins

Runaway on the Tramway

Mountain Men on City Bikes

Epilogue

Appendix 1: Truth or Fiction

Appendix 2: Grand Views from the Humboldt Road

Notes

Bibliography

About the Author.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781439669785

1439669783

OCLC:

1150151387