Tommy Luck is an Indigenous American infant born into the lawless environment of Roaring Camp. Orphaned immediately after his birth, he becomes the communal ward of the rough prospectors. A quiet, contemplative baby with thoughtful gray eyes, Tommy brings a profound sense of hope and order to the chaotic men. He inspires them to reform their habits, clean their homes, and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding their settlement.

Stumpy is a prospector who originally sought refuge in Roaring Camp to escape the legal fallout of having two previous families. Because of this domestic background, he steps in to assist Cherokee Sal during her labor and subsequently takes on the primary parenting responsibilities for her infant. He imposes strict rules of cleanliness and order on the normally unruly camp to ensure the child's well-being, demanding respect from the other men.

Kentuck is a rugged, filthy prospector who views clothing as a second skin to be sloughed off only through decay. Deeply accustomed to the rough habits of frontier life, he initially attempts to hide his softer emotions behind gruff language. A brief, tender interaction with the newborn initiates a personal transformation, leading him to wash daily and embrace a nurturing disposition despite his embarrassment.

Cherokee Sal is the lone woman living in the rough gold prospecting settlement of Roaring Camp. An Indigenous American woman viewed with a mix of contempt and detachment by the camp's men, she endures a painful labor without the support or care typically afforded to expecting mothers. Her isolated presence highlights the harsh, male-dominated environment of the 1850s California Gold Rush.

The Expressman serves as the vital connection between the isolated Roaring Camp and broader 1850s California society. He runs errands for the prospectors, fulfilling their requests for high-quality baby supplies from larger towns like Sacramento. As an outsider, he provides an objective perspective on the camp's bizarre transformation, spreading tales of their newly adopted domesticity to neighboring settlements.

Parkhurst is one of the prospectors living in Roaring Camp. Steeped in the camp's culture of reckless irreverence, he initially attempts to organize a burlesque church service to christen the newborn infant. His casual approach to the sacred highlights the men's usual lack of decorum before the camp's earnest transformation takes hold.

Sandy Tipton is a resident of the camp whose typical frontier behavior is interrupted by the newborn's arrival. Initially focused on gambling and intending to cheat at cards, he is momentarily distracted by a surge of sympathy for the laboring mother. This brief moment of empathy demonstrates the earliest signs of the men's dormant compassion.

Cockney Simmons is a prospector whose distinct dialect sets him apart among the residents of Roaring Camp. As the men begin to embrace tranquility and order, he vocalizes the community's collective awe. He openly marvels at the newly peaceful atmosphere that settles over their previously rowdy settlement.