HE destruction of San Francisco in 1906 occasioned the loss of many unique and interesting documents relating to the early history of California. The shock of the fire and earth quake caused the death of several pioneers who helped to make that history. Moreover, in the opinion of the author, a number of existing books describing events occurring in the fifties are both incomplete and inaccurate. Therefore, this work is a modest effort to supply these deficiencies before it is too late. Many liv ing witnesses of incidents related have been consulted and all available sources of original authorities diligently investigated. The names of these persons and authorities will be found at the end of the volume.