The unnamed Narrator is an educated man from the East Coast who speaks in standardized English. He expects straightforward answers and quickly grows frustrated by the colorful, colloquial storytelling he encounters in the West. He considers himself culturally superior to the locals he meets at the mining camp.

Simon Wheeler is an aging, bald-headed bartender at a tavern in the mining settlement of Angel's Camp. He possesses a tranquil countenance and speaks in an unhurried, monotonous regional dialect. Rather than directly answering questions, he traps listeners with elaborate, seemingly endless anecdotes.

Jim Smiley is an enthusiastic and cheerful resident of a California mining town who possesses an absolute obsession with gambling. He accepts wagers on virtually any event, ranging from the behavior of birds on a fence to the health of the local parson's wife. He collects an assortment of odd animals to use in his betting schemes.

The Stranger is an unnamed traveler who visits Angel's Camp. He presents himself as an ordinary man with no special skills, observing the local customs with a detached curiosity. He actively challenges local betting assumptions and operates with a cynical, opportunistic mindset.

Leonidas W. Smiley is a young minister and a former acquaintance of the Narrator's friend. His potential presence in Angel's Camp serves as the primary reason for the Narrator's visit, though asking after him yields only stories about a completely different man.

The Narrator's friend corresponds with the Narrator from the East Coast. He provides the specific request to locate a long-lost acquaintance, setting off the chain of events that traps the Narrator in a rural tavern.

Andrew Jackson is a decrepit-looking bulldog owned by the local gambler. Despite his sluggish appearance, he possesses a specific, highly effective technique for winning dog fights by latching onto the hind legs of his opponents.

Dan'l Webster is a frog caught and trained over several months. He resides in a lattice box and receives extensive instruction in leaping long distances and jumping high into the air.

Parson Walker is a local minister in the mining town. He delivers enthusiastic sermons and cares for his sick wife, unintentionally providing material for the town's betting culture.