what characteristics does Harte give the setting

The setting of this story is Roaring Camp, and it is a settlement town in 1805. Harte definitely gives the setting a rough feel. He tells us that death is a regular occurrence in the town as is eviction from the town. We are also told that the town is just about completely filled with men. The town's only woman is a woman named “Cherokee Sal," and even she is described as "coarse" and "sinful." Roaring Camp is not a nice place to be. The men that are there are hard men, and many of them are former or even current criminals. Of the 100 men that are in the town, only a few off them are described. Readers get a bit of info about a gambler named Oakhurst, and we are told that many of the men are missing smaller body parts.

The strongest man had but three fingers on his right hand; the best shot had but one eye.

In general, Roaring Camp is not the place for the faint of heart, which is why the camp's transformation once the baby is born is so powerful.