Arizona miner., 1866-06-27
DISCOVERY OF COLON cALIFoRNIA.


 DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA.
 A most interesting lecture, upon the dis covery of gold in California, and the early history of that State, was lately delivered in New York, before the Travellers Clpo, oy its President, E. E. Dunbar, Es4 It is rec ported in a late number of the Sacramento Union. and we should be glad to copy 1t ID full had we the necessary space. Mr. Dunbar gives his facts in an entertaining way, and has added a valuable chapter to history General sut.er. Colonel beese and other pioneers in California were present at the delivery of tbe lecture.
 Mr. Dunbar, besides being pioneer in California, was one of the first settlers m Arizona. More than ten years ago he came here as superintendent of the Ajo copper mine. in Pima county, and be is -ell renem- bercd in the lower country as an active, en- terpri,ing and intelligent man who did much to promote the best interests of the Territory. He is President Of the Continental Bank Note Company, of New York, as well as Of the Travellers Club We must now be con tent with single extract from his addre=~ "I will now narrate the circumstances s'- tending the actual discovery of gold, as tod me by Suttcr himself It will be remember ed that Sutter had sent Marshall to superin~ tend the building of his saw-mill, near Cole ma, on the south fork of the American nVeF, about forty miles ea.t from the fort. On the night of January 2s, lsIs, Marshall appeared at the fort, all bespotted with mud, and evil dently lsbOring under excitement. He inn mediately requested Captain Sutter to go with him into a room where they could be alone. There he lay on the table pouch containing about an ounce of yellow grains Of metal and told Captain Sutter that on the previous night he had let water run through ! the mill-race tO clean out the loose dirt, ssd that then be found the shining particles, which be believed to be gold. Sutter, having a bottle of nitre among his stores, applied the test, and the discovery of California gold was
 made sure. On the next day Sutter and Marshall went to the mill-race and found the Indian laborers busily employed is gathering the particles of gold. After some investiga. tiOn Sutter became convinced that gold in considerable quantities could be found, and he therefore begged the laborers to keep at their work and hold their peace for six week., or until the completion of his saw and grist tlill and the planting of seed for his croI~. But whisky promulgated the great secret. \ teamster whom Sutter had dispatched to the saw-mill with supplies returned to the fort the nett day with n few particles Of the precious metal, and dfSclosed ;o a Mormon dram-seller what he had learned, the Mor- mon having irst pied him with whisky until he had become communicative. Then the tidings of the great discovery travelled in seyen-ieagued boots.
 "The day or which gold was discovered | proved to be an uIaucky one for Sutter and his interests The immediate effect was the desertion of all bis laborers. The mills were abandoned and became dead loss. There
 was no more planting, no more gathering oi crops. Sutters property was respected for a time; but when the great food of imsigra- tion poured into California, in the years ls4g and 1850, hordes Of the newcomers, like Goths and NaBdals, entered upon his lands, cut and sold the wood, appropriated the grass, stole his horses and mules, and butch cred his cattle, hogs and sheep
 Cp to the first day of January, 1852, the so-called settler, under the pretence of pre- emption claims, had occupied all of sstt.r's ia"us WHICH were capable oI settlement, and the squatters employed uDprinciple9 lawyer 70 sustain them in their trespass and adyo- cate their pretended rights. Moreover, the united States Supreme Court finally nullifed Sutter's second land grant Under this mon stroa. injustice sutter was made poor man.
 Marshall still dwelIs at Colorna. near the spot where be made the discovery of gold. He has . small farm and vineyard. and de- votes himself principally to the latter, taking much pride in raising fine grapes His speci- ineSs 0s the fruit took the prize a. the last Fair of the California Agricultural Society, of which he IS an active member He holds a very respectable position in society"