War rumors, fall of Fort Sumter

              San Francisco   April 30/61
Dear Wife,
     I am still here in San Frisco  I have not been very well since I arrived but am very well now  I lost my appetite and have hardly recovered it yet.  I think of starting over the mountains this week   the traveling is getting good it has been very bad  the snow has been 12 feet deep on the Summit since I have been here still a great many have been going over the prospect is very good this Spring in the Washoe mines, but thare is not much selling at present.  We hardly know yet how the times will turn   some think we shall have war here, but the most think  the Troubles East will not affect us for worse, for any length of time, the Bankers charge six per cent by the Steamer on the for Exhange on Eastern cities  We think thare will not be much shipped and will have a tendency to make money plenty  we have the news of takeing  of Fort Sumpter and one poney since we have news twice per week in 8 or days from St. Louis, it is a horrible state of affairs to say the least.  how it will end we don’t know  I think Cala the best off at present