Return to San Francisco, — Purchase a lot on which to erect a house, — Condition of the streets, — Opinion of the climate, — Caution, — Voyages,— Land purchase, — Price of lumber, — Arrival of the brig, — Difficulty with an upstart, — Difficulty of getting up the river, — Trouble with the men, — Go up the Sacramento, — Purchase a steamboat, — Preparations for going down the river, — Description of the crew, — Fears excited, — Reach the brig, — Conclude to improve the steamer, — Return to San Francisco, — Condition of San Francisco, — Villanous outrage, — Entire absence of justice, — Hypocrites,— Downfall of nabobs, — Effects of intemperance, — Miserable scoundrels calling themselves lawyers, — Description of a California court, — Summoned as a witness, — Decision, — Murders and robberies on the increase, — Inefficiency of the Municipal government,— Vigilance committee organized, — Trial and execution of Jenkins, — Pusillanimous wretches object to these noble fellows.
I remained only a short time at Sacramento and returned to San Francisco, to await the arrival of a brig which was daily expected. And as our shanty was rather incommodious and out of the way, we concluded to purchase a lot and put up a coop, just large enough to shelter two of us. The streets were in a deplorable condition; scarcely any part of San Francisco, (except on the narrow sidewalk), that was clear of mud, which, in many places, was over knees in depth. It was with much difficulty that carts could be drawn along with only one or two hundred pounds weight. Being the rainy season there was no chance for the mud to dry.
I had frequently heard of the beautiful climate of California, but if this is a sample of it, I prefer Nova Zembla, at once. From November until May, it is one continued series of hard gales, and rain, with a tremendous current continually running down the bay. And during what is called the summer months, from May till October, after 10 o'clock A. M., a cold, deathly wind comes in through the heads, which makes it necessary to put on a thick pea-jacket, and in many cases a fire is by no means uncomfortable. At night two good blankets are indispensable to keep you from freezing, and a sheet-iron case to prevent being devoured by fleas and rats. Also a sharp look-out or you will have your skin taken off by some smooth-faced rogue.
I had some misunderstanding with a man concerning: a CD CD bargain, and on perceiving his drift, named the matter to a friend who gave me the following advice: " If you wish to escape with one breath of life, whatever your trouble may be. don't go near one of those despicable wretches, called lawyers." I find that I have unconsciously slipped from the indicative to the imperative mood. So, if you please, we will go back to the lot, on which we intend to build the small house. My companion, Capt. B., had selected a location, containing about 8000 feet, for which he agreed to pay twenty-eight hundred dollars. The pretended owner seemed to be a very conscientious man, saying that he could get a much larger sum for it, if his conscience would allow him to ask it.
Now was not he an honest man? Well, we agreed to take it and pay him his cash in ten days. So we got a little lumber together, for it could be purchased then for the very liberal sum of nine hundred dollars per thousand feet! We calculated, that when finished, our house would be about the size of a common camboose house, with very much the same inside finish. On the third day after the commencement of our mansion while Capt. B. was busily employed on the premises, a gentlemanly looking fellow came up to him, and demanded what right he had to build on his premises? " I have purchased the lot," said B. " Of whom, pray?" " Of a man named Ross." II Well, sir, I am the owner of this property and you must move your traps very quick." He had got hold of the wrong chap if he undertook to frighten him.
B. replied civilly, that he should see the man from whom he had purchased the lot, and if he was not the legal owner he then would leave it. The fellow was satisfied with this, and went off. Capt. B. went immediately to Ross, and very quietly told him the story about the man who claimed it, &c, adding, " Now, if you don't pay me three hundred dollars damages immediately; I'll haul you up before the Judge in five minutes." The fellow began to turn pale, and to stammer out some kind of excuse. Capt. B. was determined. The villain paid over the money and here the matter ended. Subsequently, I found it to be a common occurrence for one man to sell another's land, or rather, what another man claimed.