in every building by the hook and ladder boys was deemed the signal for the arrest and staying of the flames on this line. In vain, however; the wind heretofore blowing towards the levee, increased to a gale and changed to the north, thus turning the fire broadside on, and in five minutes it had spread to “M” street. That portion of the city was built in 1849 entirely of wood and was as combustible as powder. At this time W. R. McCall & Co.'s building caught on the roof, sealing the fate of all to the levee, the entire length of the city; the flames extended, soon wrapping the Orleans hotel. The building all around were blown up with the rapidity of magic, carts standing ready with 25-pound kegs of powder each. The "Union" office next fell; the proprietors saving two presses, type and paper sufficient for a few days' supply. The families on the line below K street were busy removing their valuables and furniture when. the flames crossed the brick barrier and swept with remorseless fury down and across, licking with its forked tongue from street to alley, apparently shriveling the wooden buildings with a single breath. The inmates of the hospital, seventy in number, were taken in season to the levee, and from thence to a suitable house by Drs. Briarly and Williams. The city market filled with hay and the hospital were the last on the line of the fire; the citizens effectually stopped its further progress. The number of lives ascertained to be lost were six, while many were seriously injured and are under the care of physicians, on board steamers, some of whom may die. Every assistance possible was proffered by the captains and agents of the steamers, whose vessels were soon crowded with females."

When I viewed the site of the city at 5 A. M., when the fire had nearly ceased, the smouldering embers were throwing up huge clouds of smoke and lurid flashes, bringing a feeling of desolation to the hearts of all who witnessed the sickening sight. The losses were estimated at $5,000,000.

On the evening of the 4th of May, 1851, a great fire occurred in San Francisco.

"In less than five minutes after the dreadful cry of fire the whole city was illumined by the lurid glare of the flames. The entire force of the fire department were promptly on the spot with their apparatus and put into the most effective service. Fortunately for the lower part of the city, there was but little air stirring and a slight misty rain had fallen during the day and evening, which checked the tendency of the fire to spread towards the bay. Had it not been for this the mass of sparks falling upon the roofs of the frame buildings on the east side of Montgomery street must have extended it to the whole lower part of the city. These buildings were covered with men provided with wet blankets, buckets of water and everything necessary to extinguish the flames should they communicate to the roofs. The records of the different courts in the old City Hall on the east side of the Plaza were removed, but thrown into the utmost confusion. In the midst of the excitement a gentleman well known to the community as the former keeper of the Sacramento House, rushed to the scene of the disaster and shortly afterwards returned to his place of business. He was immediately seized with alarming symptoms and in a few moments breathed his last. Pronounced by his physicians to having been caused by congestion.

of the brain induced by undue exertion and excitement. The losses sustained were estimated at $7,000,000."

Other destructive fires occurred at Marysville, Sonora, Stockton, San Diego and in the agricultural districts; an immense amount of property, being destroyed. In the cites the damage was repaired with astonishing rapidity, but some individuals were utterly ruined, the results of years of labor being swept away in a single night.

CHAPTER XX.

FOES, FRUITS AND PROGRESS.

The year 1855 was known as the grasshopper year. At times the light of the sun was obscured by clouds of "hoppers" filling the atmosphere. Their appearance continued for several weeks, and during the time nearly every green thing was eaten or destroyed by them. Grain fields and fruit trees in many instances were ruined. The course of their flight was westward and they finally disappeared in the ocean. One curious feature during their appearance was that they became the food supply of the Indians. The Indians would dig funnel shaped holes, to the depth of two or three feet in the earth, when bucks, women and children would form extended lines, and with willow bushes and old sacks drive the "hoppers" into the holes. Then they would fill their sacks and carry them to their rancheries for food. They were regarded as a great luxury, to be eaten raw, cooked, or dried. It was a curious sight to watch them, day after day gather sack's full in that manner at my ranch on the Con

sumnes.

It has been suggested that grasshoppers (a species of locust) eaten with wild honey, was what constituted the diet of John the Baptist while sojourning in

the wilderness. However, what we eat is largely a matter of taste, habit, or education.

Sometimes, at certain seasons of the year, a green worm, two or three inches in length, made its appearance in great numbers. These were gathered up and eaten by the Diggers. It was hard to determine which was most appreciated, the "hoppers" or the worms.

These Indians were very poor material for missionary work. They seemed incapable of making any progress towards a better or higher condition of life, physical or spiritual. Neither precept or example changed or impressed them in the least degree. If any advance is ever made by them towards civilization it will be by taking them in training schools. After fifty years of missionary labor in forcing with the whip, the stocks, and the fetters, they sank back into their original condition of vice, ignorance and degradation.

For half a century or more the padres pursued a system of oppression, under the name of christianity, that depopulated the country of its primitive inhabitants without leaving any testimonials of benefits conferred. The commonest needs of civilized life were not supplied them to mitigate the rigors of despotism. Humanity lost nothing by the close of the so-called patriarchal age on the Pacific Coast.

The highest intelligence, or, more properly, cunning displaved by these savages, is in trving to obtain sufficient food to supply nature's demands. When acorns and other similar foods fail, they have a method of stalking deer or antelope that is very successful. An Indian will clothe himself in the skin, head, and horns of a deer, and so well imitate the form and motion of one of these animals as to deceive the most timid and