In May, 1818, gold was discovered in California, at Sutter's Mill, near Sacramento, by James Marshall. The news soon spread over the State, and great excitement prevailed. All classes rushed to the mines. Ships were deserted by their crews. Soon the whole world was electrified by the report that a new Golconda had been discovered. Thousands rushed to the new gold fields from every State and from almost every civilized country. In a little over a year California had a sufficient number of inhabitants to entitle its admission as a State. The city of San Francisco grew up like "Jonah's Gourd." Its streets were soon thronged with daring and reckless adventurers from all parts of the world. Gambling became the daily pastime of the idle and the successful miners, and murder was of almost daily occurrence. Vigilance committees were appointed, and for five years justice was administered in this manner with telling effect. In 1856 law and order was established, and for many years California flourished, and was the great El Dorado of the West in point of mineral wealth, agriculture, and general prosperity.