228 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



Thirty armed Americans soon arrived from Mormon 

 Gulch, and the whole American population were on 

 the alert all night. 



" At last accounts there were two or three hundred 

 Americans at Sonora, under arms, and others were 

 hourly arriving. On Monday the excitement had 

 somewhat abated. Hundreds of the Mexicans and 

 Chileans were packing up and leaving for Stockton. 

 Many of them disclaimed having had any intention 

 of resorting to arms, and all were evidently more or 

 less frightened at the aspect of affairs. It appears 

 that the Mexicans who took part in the disturbance, 

 were led on by some hot-headed Frenchman, lately 

 arrived from France, of the Red Republican order. 

 They found, however, that the majority of the Span 

 iards were not disposed to join them, and it is sup 

 posed that the whole affair will blow over without any 

 very serious consequences. The affair will probably 

 be a severe blow to business, for the present, in So- 

 nora." 



The Stockton Times has a letter from Sonora, giv 

 ing the details of this difficulty. The foreigners said 

 they were willing to pay four or five dollars per month, 

 but that the amount demanded was utterly beyond 

 their power to pay. They made this statement at an 

 interview with the Governor. The letter goes on as 

 follows : 



"During the discussion, an American who wished 

 to get out of the crowd, began elbowing his way from 

 the place where he stood, when a Mexican or Chilian, 

 in front of him, drew a pistol. In a moment a dozen 

 revolvers were out, and a precipitate retreat was made 

 by the foreigners. No shot was fired, but the Mexi- 



