152 ElyDORADO 



prosperity in commercial and agricultural lines, and 

 from which her governors, senators, bankers and rail- 

 road builders have come. 



At the time of which I write no obtainable evidence 

 could be had either of the extent or genuineness of the 

 grants claimed under Mexican authority, and men de- 

 siring to make homes on what the^^ had a right to re- 

 gard as public land refused to recognize individual 

 claims to vast tracts until adjudicated by the lawful 

 authorities. This led to serious trouble. What is 

 known as the "squatter war" at Sacramento in 1850 

 was the result of these conflicting interests. Dr. 

 Charles Robinson, afterwards governor of Kansas, 

 and one of John Brown's warmest adherents in the 

 border troubles, was the leader of the settlers, and was 

 severly wounded during the fight. The settlers had 

 erected buildings on some vacant lots in the outskirts 

 of the city where some of them were torn down by a 

 gang employed by the speculators. They (the settlers) 

 at once armed themselves and fortified their remain- 

 ing buildings. The city was declared under martial 

 law. The settlers determined to hold their ground 

 against all comers. They received reinforcements and 

 a conflict seemed imminent. The Sheriff, with a small 

 force ,attempted to storm the place and serve a writ of 

 ejectment. The Common Council had passed an or- 

 der imposing a heavy fine upon any one who should 

 survey land within the city limits, except the City Sur- 

 veyor himself. This was regarded as a high-handed 

 outrage upon individual rights and had much to do 

 with bringing about the collision. During the day the 

 settlers left their quarters and marched through the 

 town to the number of about fifty. They were in mili- 



