Where did the phrase "*destination* or bust" come from?

Question

What does it mean, really?

Answer 1

From: Colorado History - Settling Colorado / The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859

Pikes Peak, Colorado

"Pike's Peak or Bust" was the rallying cry painted on the canvas wagon tops, and it was leading the gold seekers to the wrong place. The first gold rushers to Pike's Peak discovered that there was no gold to be found within 100 miles of the peak.

In early May, as the frontier towns swelled with outward bound gold rushers, there was an opposite wave of inward bound disillusioned gold seekers passing through the towns on their way home. Their wagons now had the Pike's Peak slogan crossed out and under it was hastily scrawled:
"Busted by Clod."

Pikes Peak was usually the first landmark seen by the new settlers as they made their way across the praire. Only lucky wagon trains got through without being attacked by marauding Indians. Even large parties with lots of guns and arms were often harassed. No one counted how many prospective miners died en route to Pikes Peak, but the casualties were appalling.

Answer 2

It was emblazoned on the canvas tops of many of the land schooners during the gold rush of 1849... the actual phrase was "CALIFORNIA OR BUST"... in other words... they would either reach california or go 'bust' trying to reach there.

Answer 3

either you got their or your wagon broke and you couldnt fix it and you rand out of money and couldn't make it