gold was taken to these places, for drink- | He told me likewise that he found sure ing, gambling, etc., and then the following day they were sick and unable to work, and became deeper and more indebted to me, and particularly the Kanakas. I found that it was high time to quit this kind of business, and lose no more time and money. I therefore broke up the camp and returned to the Fort, where I disbanded nearly all the people who had worked for me in the mountains digging gold. This whole expedition proved to be a heavy loss to me. At the same time I was engaged in a mercantile firm in Coloma, which I left in January, 1849 — likewise with many sacrifices. After this I would have nothing more to do with the gold affairs. At this time, the Fort was the great trading place where nearly all the business was transacted. I had no pleasure to remain there, and moved up to Hock Farm, with all my Indians, and who had been with me from the time they were children. The place was then in charge of a Major Domo. signs of gold, and was very sorry that he could not explore the Sierra Nevada. He did not encourage me to attempt to work and open mines, as it was uncertain how it would pay, and would probably be only profitable for a government. So I thought it more prudent to stick to the plow, notwithstanding I did know that the country was rich in gold, and other minerals. An old attached Mexican servant who followed me here from the United States, as soon as he knew that I was here, and who understood a great deal about working in placers, told me he found sure signs of gold in the mountains on Bear Creek, and that we would go right to work after returning from our campaign in 1845, but he became a victim to his patriotism and fell into the hands of the enemy near my encampment, with dispatches for me from Gen. Micheltorena, and he was hung as a spy, for which I was very sorry. By this sudden discovery of the gold, all my great plans were destroyed. Had I succeeded with my mills and manufactories for a few years before the gold was discovered, I should have been the richest citizen on the Pacific shore; but it had to be different. Instead of being rich, I am ruined, and the cause of it is the long delay of the United States Land Commission, of the United States Courts, through the great influence of the squatter lawyers. Before my case will be decided in Washington, another year may elapse, but I hope that justice will be done me by the last tribunal-the Supreme Court of the United States. By the Land Commission and the District Court it has been decided in my favor. The Common Council of the city of Sacramento, composed partly of squatters, paid Alpheus Felch, (one of the late Land Commissioners, who was engaged by the squatters during his office), $5,000, from the fund of the city, against the will of the tax-payers, for which amount he has to try to defeat my just and old claim from the Mexican government, before the Supreme Court of the United States in Wash It is very singular that the Indians never found a piece of gold and brought it to me, as they very often did other specimens found in the ravines. I requested them continually to bring me some curiosities from the mountains, for which I always recompensed them. I have received animals, birds, plants, young trees, wild fruits, pipe clay, stones, red ochre, etc., etc., but never a piece of gold. Mr. Dana, of the scientific corps of the expedition under Com. Wilkes' Exploring Squadron, told me that he had the strongest proof and signs of gold in the vicinity of Shasta Mountain, and further south. A short time afterwards, Doctor Sandels, a very scientific traveler, visited me, and explored a part of the country in a great hurry, as time would not permit him to make a longer stay.ington. A Sutter Unfortunately for Gen. Sutter, he had one failing his heart was too large and confiding. The men who shared most largely in his princely hospitality and confidence, were the first to take advantage of it, by stealing away his possessions. His generous nature taught him to feel that all white men were honest-but he did not find them so ;-a mistake to which is attributable his present impoverished circumstan ces. Now, when he should be enjoying the fruit of his long and enterprising labors in peace, he is annoyed with contentions and lawsuits innumerable-simply in trying to hold his own! Even the quiet and pleasant Hock Farm-his homestead -(a spot which is ever sacred to the heart of an American) was sold, not long since, under the hammer of the sheriff. Recently, however, it has been redeemed, at a great sacrifice. And this is the man to whom we are so much indebted for the gold discovery. May God forgive us Californians, for our shameful indifference to the Old Pioneer. cluded to seek a location in the mountains and erect a mill, to supply the valley with lumber. Some time in April, 1847, I visited New Helvetia, commonly known as the "Fort," where I made my resolution known to John A. Sutter, sen., and requested of him an Indian boy, to act as an interpreter to the mountain Indians in the vicinity of the American river-or Rio del los Americanos, as it was then called. At first he refused, because, he said that he had previously sent several companies, at various times, and by different routes, for that purpose, all of whom reported that it was impossible to find a route for a wagon road to any locality where pine timber could be procured, and that it was the height of folly to attempt any such thing. Capt. Sutter at length, however, promised me the desired interpreter, provided I would stock some six or eight plows for him first, of which he was in immediate want, which I readily agreed to do. While I was employed upon this job there was much talk at the Fort concerning my con The following is Mr. Marshall's account templated trip to the mountains; and of his discovery of the gold : Being a millwright by trade, as there was a ready cash sale for lumber, I con Messrs. Gingery, P. L. Wimmer and McLellan having resolved also to take a trip, with the same object in view, came where I was working, and asked me where I expected to find a road and timber, and I promptly gave them my views and directions. They departed, I believe in company, but finally separated, and P. L. Wimmer found pine timber and a road, on what is now known as the Sacramento and Diamond Springs road, and about the 12th of May, Gingery and Wimmer commenced work, about thirteen miles west of the (now called) Shingle Spring House. On the 16th of May, having completed my work for Capt. Sutter, I started, with an Indian boy, Treador, and W. A. Graves, (who is now residing in Butte county, and who had assisted me in my work, and heard the conversation between myself, Gingery, Wimmer and McLellan,) accompanied me for the purpose of seeing the mountains. On the 18th of May we entered the valley of Culluma [Coloma]; and on the 20th Gingery joined our company. We then traveled up the stream now called Weber creek-the Indian name of which is Pul-Pul-Mull-to the head of the creek; thence higher in the mountains until we arrived at the South Fork of the American river, where it divides into two branches of about equal size; from whence we returned by Sly Park and Pleasant Valley to the Fort. was completed, and about the 27th of August we signed the agreement to build and run a saw-mill at Culluma. On the third day (I think) afterwards, I set out, with two wagons, and was accompanied by the following persons, employed by the firm of Sutter & Marshall, viz.: P. L. Wimmer and family, James Barger, Ira Willis, Sidney Willis, Alex. Stephens, Wm. Cunce, James Brown, and Ezekiah Persons. On our arrival in the Valley we first built the double log cabin, afterwards known as Hastings & Co.'s store. About the last of September, as Capt. Sutter wanted a couple of capable men to construct a dam across the American river at the grist-mill-near where the Pavilion now stands-I sent the two Willis', as the most capable; (Wm. Cunce being in feeble health, left about the same time ;) and I received Henry Bigler, Israel Smith, Wm. Johnston and Evans in return; and shortly afterwards I employed Charles Bennet and Wm. Scott, both carpenters. The above named individuals, with some ten Indians, constituted my whole force. While we were in the habit at night of turning the water through the tail race we had dug for the purpose of widening and deepening the race, I used to go down in the morning to see what had been done by the water through the night; and about half past seven o'clock on or about the 19th of January—I am not quite certain to a day, but it was between the 18th and 20th of that month-1848, I went down as usual, and after shutting off the water from the race I stepped into it, near the lower end, and there, upon the rock, about six inches beneath the surface of the water, I DISCOVERED THE GOLD. I was entirely alone at the time. I picked up one or two pieces and examined them attentively; and having some general knowledge of minerals, I could not call to mind more than two which in any way resembled this The report which I had made on my first-sulphuret of iron, very bright and brittrip having been fully confirmed by observ- tle; and gold, bright, yet malleable; I then ations on the second, the co-partnership tried it between two rocks, and found that On my arrival I gave Capt. Sutter an account of my trip, and what I had discov. ered. He thereupon proposed to me a partnership; but before we were ready to commence operations, some persons who had tried, in vain, to find Culluma, report ed to Sutter that I "had made a false representation, for they could find no such place." To settle matters, Capt. Sutter furnished me with a Mission Indian, who was Alcalde of the Cosumnes tribe, as an interpreter and guide-trusting partly to the Indian's report, as to the propriety of the proposed co-partnership. it could be beaten into a different shape, but not broken. I then collected four or five pieccs and went up to Mr. Scott (who was working at the carpenter's bench making the mill wheel) with the pieces in my hand, and said, "I have found it." "What is it?" inquired Scott. "Gold," I answered. "Oh! no," returned Scott, "that can't be." I replied positively,-"I know it to be nothing else." Mr. Scott was the second person who saw the gold. W. J. Johnston, A. Stephens, H. Bigler, and J. Brown, who were also working in the mill yard, were then called up to see it. Peter L. Wimmer, Mrs. Jane Wimmer, C. Bennet, and J. Smith, were at the house; the latter two of whom were sick; E. Persons and John Wimmer, (a son of P. L. Wimmer), were out hunting oxen at the same time. About 10 o'clock the same morning, P. L. Wimmer came down from the house, and was very much surprised at the discovery, when the metal was shown him; and which he took home to show his wife, who, the next day, made some experiments upon it by boiling it in strong lye, and saleratus; and Mr. Bennet by my dirertions beat it very thin. Four days afterwards I went to the Fort for provisons, and carried with me about three ounces of the gold, which Capt. Sutter and I tested with nitric acid. I then tried it in Sutter's presence by taking three silver dollars and balancing them by the dust in the air, then immersed both in water, and the superior weight of the gold satisfied us both of its nature and value. About the 20th of February, 1848, Capt. Sutter came to Coloma, for the first time, to consummate an agreement we had made with this tribe of Indians in the month of September previous, to wit:-that we live with them in peace, on the same land. About the middle of April the mill commenced operation, and, after cutting a few thousand feet of lumber was abandoned; as all hands were intent upon gold digging. In December, '48, Capt. Sutter came again to Coloma, and some time in that month sold his interest in the mill to Messrs. Ragley & Winters, of which new firm I became a member. The mill was soon again in operation, and cut most of the lumber of which the town of Coloma was built. The first piece of gold which I found, weighed about fifty cents. Mr. Wimmer, having bought a stock of merchandise some time about May or June, 1848; and Mrs. Wimmer being my treasurer, used four hundred and forty dollars of my money to complete the purchase; and among which was the first piece of gold which I had found. Where that went, or where it is now, I believe that nobody knows. J. W. MARSHALL. This is the unvarnished statement which the writer received from the lips and pen of Mr. James W. Marshall himself; and being unacquainted with him personally, I went to several gentlemen in Colomaamong whom were several old pioneers still resident there-to ascertain, if possible, whether or not Mr. M.'s statements were true and trustworthy, and the answer invariably was, in substance, "Whatever Mr. Marshall tells you, you may rely upon as correct." I moreover read the affidavits of several of the men who were present when the gold was discovered by Mar. shall, and which affidavits were affirmatory of the facts which are stated. There is another fact I wish here to mention, that it may be recorded in the remembrance of the English, as well as the American public. It is this: Mr. Hargraves, the discoverer of gold in Australia, was mining in Coloma in the summer of 1849, and went to Sutter & Marshall's mill for some lumber; and as he and Marshall were leaning against a pile of lumber, conversing, Mr. H. mentioned the fact that he was from Australia. "Then why," replied Marshall, "don't you go and dig gold among your own mountains? for, what I have heard of that country, I have no doubt whatever that you would find plenty of it there." "Do you think so, indeed ?" inquired | cine in sickness; or pay for the funeral of Hargraves. "I do," was the answer. "If I thought so I would go down there this very autumn," was Hargraves' reply. He went; and with what result, the millions of pounds sterling which have since poured into the British treasury can give the history. Mr. Hargraves, for this discovery, received from the British Government the sum of £5,000, (or twenty-five thousand dollars,) and from the Australian government £10,000, or $50,000, making $75,000. Mr. Marshall is almost denied the credit of the discovery, by some unprincipled persons, and his reward from the United States Government is, alas! what? At and a-dog-and such is all that I expect, judg- ....... .... Myself Individually,.................... Ask the records of the country for the reaWere I an Englishman, and had made my son why; they will answer-I need not. discovery on English soil, the case would have been different. I send you this in place of the other. Excuse my rudeness in answering you thus. I remain, most respectfully, J. W. MARSHALL. Is this, then, the reward befitting the dignity and gratitude of a great nation and people-like our own-for that disevery foot of land which he possessed, covery which has poured hundreds of milhe would not have, but for the daily char-lions of wealth into the laps of the people ity of comparative strangers, even a cabin and the treasury of our country; and, in in which to lay his head to rest at night- addition to giving us the stability conseand, is this, kind readers, gratitude?—our quent upon the establishment of a metallic gratitude? to the man by whose instrucurrency, (which is the desire and envy of mentality a new age-THE GOLDEN all nations) has spread prosperity across AGE-has been inaugurated. the broad acres of every State in the Union? while the individual who has been In August last, anxious to obtain an excellent portrait of Mr. Marshall, I jour- the cause of this, is allowed almost to neyed to Coloma for that purpose; and, starve of hunger and exposure in our although Mr. M. cheerfully gave every in- mountains! Who, then, is there among formation in a very simple and straightus that does not feel his cheek glow with forward manner concerning the history of shame at such ungrateful neglect? Let the country and of the men who figured in him answer, for he needs our pity. If the it around Coloma, at an early day, he could Executive ear is closed against a fit reward not be prevailed upon to allow his likeness for such an important service, let you and to be taken. After returning to this city, I, gentle reader, put our hand into our own a letter was penned to him, urgently ask-pocket, and if we find it empty, let us deny ing for it, and the following answer was received, which, while it denies the request, will also show the just bitterness of his spirit at the treatment he has received : : ourselves some little luxury, if needs be, that we may yet, in some measure, wipe out the disgraceful stain from our history, by seeing that James W. Marshall, the discoverer of gold in California, has at least a fertile farm which he can call his own, and where he may spend his remaining days in comparative ease, without Coloma, Sept. 5th, 1857. DEAR SIR:- In reply to your note received three days ago, I wish to say that I feel it a duty I owe to myself to retain my likeness, as it is in fact all I have that I can call my own, and I feel like any other poor wretch-I want something for self. the humiliation of dependence upon stranThe sale of it may yet keep me from starv-gers, after the benefit he has conferred ing; or, if may buy me a dose of medi- upon our country, and the world. |