THE DISCOVERER OF GOLD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 33, 5 December 1884, Page 29

THE DISCOVERER OF GOLD.

(From the Sacramento See.) James Wilson Marshall, who is in Sacramento to-day, was the first discoverer of gold in California, and bis name is inseparably connected with the history of this State. Ho was born in Hope township, Hunterdon County, N. J., in 1812. He learned the trade of a coach and wagon builder, but his early life presents no features of particular interest. When be arrived at the age ot 21 years he caught what is still known in the East as the " Western fever," and he journeyed first to Indiana, then to Illinois, and finally to the Platt Purchase, near Fort Leaven worth, Kansas. Here he purchased a farm, and was prospering, when he was attacked with malaria, and after struggling with the disease for some years, he was told by his physician that he must leave that location if he wished to live. Just at that time people had begun to talk about the fertile valleys and broad rivers of far-away California, and on the Ist of May, 1844, Marshall, with a train consisting of 100 wagons, set out for the then almost unexplored West. After a weary jonrney, full of adventures and vicissitudes, the party reached California in June, 1845, and camped at Cache Creek, about 40 miles from where Sacramento now stands. The adventurers parted here, journeying in several directions, Marshall and a few others going to Butter's Fort, in this county, where Marshall went to work for General Butter. Marshall's life at the fort was an uneventful one up to' the summer of 1846, when the Mexicans, hearing that a large body of American emigrants were crossing the plains, resolved to prevent them from entering California. At this time General Fremont was camped at Sutter Bnttes, near Marysville, and he, joined by Sutter, Marshall and other whites, prepared to defend their countrymen, and what was known as the Bear Flag war was inaugurated. Marshall took a prominent part in all the engagements of that short war. When at last, in March, 1847, the treaty was signed by which the independence of California was secured, Marshall secured his discharge from the volunteer service and returned to Gutter's Fort. Before the breaking out of the Bear Flagwai, Marshall had purchased two leagues of land on the north side of Butte Creek, in what is now known as Butte County. When he arrived here he found that the majority of his stock had strayed or been stolen. He did not waste his time in vain regrets, however, but set about to formulate a plan to retrieve his fortunes. He decided to co into the lumbering business, and fixed upon Coloma, in Amadoa County, as a good location for a sawmill. Sutter was to furnish the capital for the enterprise, and Marshall was to be the active partner. The articles of partnership were drawn up by General John Bidwell. and work was commenced on the mill about August 19, 1847. We now approach the most important event in the life of Marshall. On the 18th of January, 1848, Marshall was superintending the building of the mill race. After shutting off the water at the head of the race, he walked down the ditch to see what sand and gravel had been removed during the previous night. He strolled to the other end of tbe race, and stood looking down at the mass of debris, At this juncture his eye caught the glitter of something that lay lodged in a crevice on a rifle of soft granite. He stooped and picked up the substance. It was heavy, of a peculiar colour, and different from anything he had seen in the stream before. He reflected as to what kind of mineral the specimen could be, and finally concluded tbat it was either mica, sulphurets of copper — or gold ! It was too heavy for mica, was not brittle, as are sulphurets, and remembering that gold is malleable, he placed the nugget on a flat stone and began striking it with another. The substance did not crack or flake off, but simply flattened under the blows, and Marshall was satisfied that he had indeed maae an important discovery. In several days he collected a few ounces of the precious metal and as he had occasion to visit Sutter's Fort in a short time, he took the specimens with him. He informed Sutter of his discovery, but the General was incredulous, and it was not until chemical experiments had settled the question beyond all doubt that he would admit that the mintral was gold. At last all doubts faded, and the excitement began to spread. The news flew over the country like wildfire, and those whites who were then in California went into the quest for gold with great ardor and energy. Additional revelations were made daily, and the news of the discoveries was spread. Tnen came tbe mad rush from the East and the Old World, It was a furious race for wealth. In 1849 every sail- vessel and steamer landing at San Francisco was crowded with adventurers. They knew that gold had first been found at Coloma, and many went thither. Without inquiry or negotiation they squatted upon Marshall's land about the mill, seized his work oxen for food, confiscated his horses, and marked his land off into town lots and distributed them among themselves. From this time on Marshall was the victim of petty persecutions. Many believed tbat he knew of the whereabouts of valuable gold mines, and he was watched closely and badgered because he had not given information. Bobbed of his property^ he became a prospector, but never with great success. The discovery which brought fortunes to thousands and made California a great State, proved his financial ruin, sndsubjected him to endless insnlts and injuries. He became involved in litigation as to the title of his land purchased in 1846 and 1847, and finally lost it all. To-day he is a poor man. He resides at Coloma, near the spot where, 36 years ago, he picked the glittering nugget from the sand. He has received some assistance from tbe State, but never anything commensurate with his deserts.