“This price indicates great expectations, as Mr. Gansl is the agent of the Rothschilds and Mr. Latham of prominent British capitalists. A party of miners will go to the mines with tools and provisions for the winter’s work and the extraction of gems will begin. The stones are to be brought to San Francisco and cut here.” But that was nothing compared with what followed, when the last party returned from the fields on October 6. Previous to that Deacon Fitch had cautioned the public more than once to go slow on the diamond craze. But thereafter even he joined the procession joyously. Witness this: (From the Bulletin, Oct. 7, 1872.) “The Diamond Fields--About the 20th of August a party of fifteen men left this city to explore the diamond fields about which there has been such a furore of excitement. Amongst them were the following well-known gentlemen: G. D. Roberts, General John W. Bost, M. G. King, M. G. Gillette, Alfred Rubery, John F. Boyd, Dr. C. Cleveland, E. M. Fry, Chauncey Fairfield and Chas. G. Myers. “The members of the expedition returned last evening. They experienced no trouble with the Indians, but had a very tedious march to the fields and thence home. The heads of the party declare that their explorations more than confirmed the original report of Janin of the extent and richness of the deposits and they exhibited specimens which they say they secured with their own exertions with but little labor. This party went merely to explore and prospect the country where the diamonds and rubies were said to abound and not for the purpose of working. They say that active operations could not be carried on when they were there, as the altitude is great and the ground covered with snow. The specimens they brought back are similar to those previously exhibited in this city and they number 286 diamonds of various sizes. “Mr. Roberts says that if they had been deceived they are the worst deceived and cheated men who ever lived. They surveyed 3000 acres of land and propose to keep secret the exact locality until the company receives a Government patent. The implements used by them seem to have been ordinary jackknives--an improvement on the boot heels of the original locators. If so much wealth can be turned up by such primitive means, what might be accomplished with shovels and pickaxes? The report of the party renewed the excitement and little else is talked about on California street but diamonds and rubies. A meeting of the trustees of the company was called for 2 p. m. and further developments will be awaited with interest. A fact that is so easily demonstrated as the existence of diamonds in that country should not be longer one of doubt and suspicion.” Of course, everything was closed down for the winter. But every holder of the company’s stock figured on being a millionaire at least by the early spring, from the proceeds of his diamond field adventures.