MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Local book author Andre LaBouyer will be presenting a book event on May 4th in Downtown Marysville at Skip Music Café, launching a 111k novel set in “Marysville” at the 1858 State Fair (the event was here in Marysville that year- the novel is historical fiction and a reasonably accurate fictional portrayal). Other authors will be there along with poets and history presentations. There will be gold panning, Sourdough Slim performing (hard tentative), and possible reenactors.

In the venerated year of 1850, California would enter the Union as the 31st state. Soon, the State Fair would be inaugurated (1854), and this would take place within the bustling city of San Francisco. It made the ‘rounds’ to a few other towns (San Jose, Stockton and Sacramento); and consequently, “The California Gold Rush Exposition” landed in Rancho San Marcus in the year, 1858. The Northern State Development Society created a marvelous ‘Pavilion’ structure on the Piazza Cortez in the downtown section of the city. The showcase building was in the shape of a Roman Cross (according to popular opinion), with elegant and stylish ‘borrowings’ from classical architecture. Its dimensions were 150 feet by 75 feet, with adjoining wings (each at 40 by 60 feet). It featured a prodigious multitude of double-doors (24), with twelve elegantly designed large windows, and a prominent dome that would grace the crown of the building. Interestingly enough, all of the conventional State Fairs would be held in Sacramento from 1859 going forward (albeit, this one, “The Gold Rush Exposition;” was in the city of note)

Josiah Omaha Steele is our sixteen-year-old protagonist. The young adventurer is from Manhattan, and is travelling to California via a steamship (which includes a 47-mile jaunt by rail via the Isthmus of Panama). Josiah is reluctant to mention to fellow travelers that his family owns the largest shipping corporation in the world (Steele, Harbinger Magnate, Inc.), and how the company is interested in developing new mining technology and methods for works within the Parson Bar Watershed on the nearby Yumai River.

While riding the stage coach from Sacramento to Rancho San Marcus, several interesting developments will unfold. For one thing, he discovers that many horrific murders have recently taken place in the local region; and these crimes likely obfuscate the discovery of a large silver strike somewhere in the Utah or New Mexico Territories. Furthermore, the coach is filled with several mysterious players; all of them hoping to procure a coveted vendor booth at the Gold Rush Exposition (note: a leading Exposition official is set to be murdered while riding on this journey from Sacramento). The only thing known for certain is that Josiah is scheduled to meet with an individual named Chang Ho Lee in the downtown section of the city. This itinerant Chinese Businessman is going to provide insight into the many recent deaths; and hopefully, have a few thoughts on the hydraulic mining enterprise for the nearby tributary. Furthermore, the young man has heard rumors of an elusive map, which shows the location of this so-called magnificent strike (somewhere in the Territories just east of California).

Unfortunately, just after Josiah’s arrival in Rancho San Marcus, he is mistaken for an accomplice to a shady ruffian who has been engaged in mayhem at the sprawling Jonas Augustus Ranch just south of town. Josiah’s woeful arrest (and soon to be prosecution) is going to turn into a nightmare, and will produce a number of sordid developments. In addition, Chang Ho Lee (and two of his offspring) are going to present a few stunning revelations of their own. These offerings, and the unexpected developments surrounding the ‘Gold Rush Exposition of 1858,’ will pull Josiah into a web of misfortune and violence that could hardly have been imagined. Indeed, this is somewhat surprising since the Golden State Exposition would typically be a time of exuberance and celebration.

Herein, lies a truly odd tale of murder, mayhem and kidnappings; a few cryptic markers alluding to an extravagant gold and silver strike; chess and card demonstrations that instigate a vicious brawl (and help to spark a grand conflagration that causes horrific damage); corruption at the highest of levels, with each player fomenting their own unique terms of malice and greed. All of this is here, and much more.