When the sucker finally gets his claim stake planted, he begins to use his pick to start digging. When the view shifts to a wide shot, the claim stake has moved away from the cliff.
The history in the cartoon is chronologically muddled. When the dog is in the hospital, the doctor announces that gold was discovered in Virginia City. But Gold was discovered in Alder Gulch, which lead to the founding of Virginia City. So, gold could NOT have been discovered in Virginia City. The Gold was discovered first, and only then was Virginia City founded.
The history in the cartoon is chronologically muddled. When the dog is in the hospital, the doctor announces that gold was discovered in Virginia City. Then when the dog goes to a saloon, another dog burst in exclaiming that gold was found at Sutter's Mill. But the gold discovered in the Virginia City was found in Alder Gulch in 1863, while the gold discovered at Sutter's Mill was found in 1848 (which lead to the gold rush of 1849). The cartoon should have had the announcement of gold found at Sutter's Mill, then Alder Gulch (Virginia City).