crossing the Colorado[1] and entering California rumors of gold discoveries caused such desertion that when the expedition reached Williams' rancho on the Santa Ana River less than six men remained, and these were obliged to walk while the few animals left alive carried the baggage. At this place, however, the wayworn and wellnigh starved travellers found hospitable entertainment and were furnished with horses to take them to the coast. At Los Angeles they found stationed Major Graham with a company of United States troops; and thence they proceeded to San Pedro Bay, where a vessel, the Southampton, was ready to sail for San Francisco.
On entering the Golden Gate the Oregon officials encountered one of those wild phenomena which drop in on mankind once in a century or so. Hundreds of men from the Willamette, many of whom Meek last saw in the Cayuse country without money enough to purchase a suit of clothing had it been for sale in Oregon City, were waiting here for a passage to the Columbia, with thousands of dollars' worth of gold-dust buckled to their waists. A fever of excitement pervaded the shifting population of San Francisco which it was impossible to resist; and although neither Lane nor Meek would forsake their trust, they were tempted to fit out for the mines the few men who had remained with them from Fort Leavenworth, on a partnership agreement, and saw them depart for the gold-fields with Nathaniel Lane, before continuing their journey.[2]
Lane and Meek went on board the Janet, Captain Dring. The vessel was crowded with returning Oregonians, and after a tedious voyage of eighteen days anchored in the Columbia. The party to which Lieu-
- ↑ Near Cook's Wells the company found 100 wagons which had been abandoned by Major Graham, who was unable to cross the Colorado desert with them.
- ↑ Meek was to receive half the first year's profit. The result of his venture was three pickle-jars of gold-dust, which young Lane brought to him the following year, and which no more than eimbursed him for his outlay. Victor's River of the West, 480.
