ELDORADO 293 



rcinaiiulcr of the way on mule back over narrow, dan- 

 gerous mountain trails." 



On our passenger list aboard the riiiladelphia were 

 thc' names of the entire Democratic delegation from 

 California on their way to Philadelphia to attend the 

 national convention. They had also taken rooms at 

 the "Aspenwall." Many of them were gentlemen who 

 had been conspicuous in public affairs, and they con- 

 tributed not a little to break the monotony of our long 

 delay on the Isthmus. Ex-Governor John Bigler. 

 Judge Hastings (afterwards Supreme Judge), "Dave" 

 Bull, ex-Sherifif of El Dorado county — a brave and 

 popular young man. six feet and a half tall and who, 

 both in California and Utah, had a remarkable career 

 — and J. C. }{atch, a leading politician of Sacramento 

 City, were among the best known. We had also as 

 fellow passengers the family of General Sam Houston, 

 the hero of Texas Independence, and, after its annexa- 

 tion, a Senator in Congress. J\lrs. Calahan, wife of 

 the proprietor of the Golden Eagle Hotel at Sacra- 

 mento, w'as also a passenger. That popular hostelry 

 was erected in 1853, when 1 became one of its original 

 guests. It is still the leading Hotel in Sacramento, 

 and political headquarters for both the Republican and 

 Democratic parties. 



The national convention of 1856, to which I have 

 alluded, resulted in the nomination and election of 

 James Buchanan for President. Governor Bigler was 

 appointed ^Minister to Chili, and it is worthy of note 

 that while in that country he saw for the first time, 

 what was known as Lucern or Alfalfa, and. thinking 

 that if it were adapted to the climate of California, it 

 would be a useful product, he procured a small cpian- 



