Hugh Pendexter

“ There was ever the risk of staging a dramatic incident when the town or city was on fire or under water. Then again the “cities” of '52 were deserted in '53; and prosperous centers of '53 were in the discard in '54. I am indebted to W. A. Chalfant, historian of Inyo County, California, for data concerning Joaquin Murieta Carrillo as originally appearing in the old Overland Monthly. The description of the El Dorado gambling saloon may be found in Annals of San Francisco, an invaluable source for all that pertains to the city up to the spring of '54. ”

“ This was necessary not only for San Francisco, but for the whole territory covered in the course of the story. Quartz mining was booming in '54, whereas confidence in it was just being restored in '53. Originally I had the telegraph aiding in the search for Gilbert, but this wouldn't do for '53.
“Floods as well as fires had to be carefully plotted. The hero must not arrive in Sacramento when the place was awash. But in landing him on a dry levee invited the risk of having him burned up in Frisco. ”