Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-07-06
Discovery of Cold in California.

somelY printed yoi3me entitled - the Romances
OF the Age, or the discovery of Gold in Califor-
MIA 1t details the events connected with the
early discovery auriferous treasures in our State,
throwing around the Lardy pioneers who at that
early day made California their home pleasant
halo OF romance, and investing golden
shores with something OF 4 poetic atmosphere.
The story OF Gen. John i. Sutter Is indeed 4 ro-
nance in itself. and told by the graphic pen
o. Mr. Dunbar. is fraugit wiki stirring interest.
native Of Switzerland, and connected with
QUO Of the best families in that ancient little Re-
public young Sutter entered the military service
Of France, captain, where he remained until
he vas thirty years OF age. Resigning his COM
mission he emigrated to America, landed in New
York in July. 1894, settled in st. Charles Mis-
souri,, where he proposed 10 found colonytof
Swiss. Abandoning this enterprise he struck
for the wilds Ct New Mexico. explored the great
territory west Of the Mississippi returned to St.
Charles in 1896, but remained only L short time ;
for meeting some trappers and hunters who had
t.ayersed Upper California. and who gave him
glowing accounts of the scenery and climate, he
resolved to visit it end make it his home In
company with Capt. Trip of the American Fur
Company, he visited the Rocky Mountains, made
horseback journey across the continent, and
riTed at Fort Vancouver in the winter OF 1o3S-
ten years before the discovery of gold. As there
was 10 land routes from Oregon TO California in
winter, he took passage in Hudson Bay Com
pany vessel for Honolulu, hoping to find a ship
10 take him to California. After waiting there
five months he shipped as sapercarEo on board
an English vessel chartered by an American, and
bound for Sitka Having disposed of his cargo.
he sailed down the Pacific coast, encountered
heavy gales, and the vessel was driven into the
bay of san Francisco in a distressed condition.
They anchored opposite Yerba Buena NOW San
Francisco) July ID, 1889 An officer came
aboard who ordered the vessel to leave for Mon
,Itc IF ti,a
sent the vessel back to Honolulu, waited on Gov.
Alyarado, and expressed wish to establish a
small colony on the Sacramento river The plan
was approved, and armed with passport, SUIT
Ter proceeded to prospect for his future home.
Mr. Duabar say-:
Capt. Sutter, thus empowered, returned to
Ierba Bucua. a settlement then containing
scarcely fifty inhabitants. Icchartered schoon-
er and several small boats from the firm of Lcssc,
Spear L HacLiy, three American traders, who
hal been located at this point several years.
jacob ?. Lcsse WAS the frs; American settler in
Verbs Hacna. He settled in that place in 1898,
hayiac cnigra.cd from Pennsylvania and as
true and entcrprisiug pioneer stands prominent
in the history of California at that period
Captain SUtter could find no at Ycrba Bn-
who had seen the Sacramento river, and
who coali guide hin 10 its mouth. They only
knew that large stream cmptieI into one of
the connecting bays living in a northerly direc-
company, consisting Of ten whites ffon;iersmen
Of American, Irish and German birtl-and eight
kanaaas given hi!a by the NiHg of the Sandwich
Islands. Passing through san francisco and
SuisGa bays, they found, after cieh, day search, /
the mouth Of the Sacramento. Ascending the |
river to point ten mics below the present site
of Sacramento city, they encountered party Of
two hundred warriors, who exhibited every
mark Of hostility. Fortunately several of these
Indans understood Spanish, and Capt. Suffer
sool sorthcl them with assurances that there
were no NeXcaHs against whom they were par
ticulariy spcrjted and host'lc-in lis party.
lie explained to them that he came to settle in
their country and trade exhibited his agricul-
turd implements and commodities OF traffic,
which he II ID prepared for the purpose and set
forth the advantages OF treaty. Pleased with
these kindly and peaceful demonstrations. the
Indians became pacifed and the expedition was
allowed to proceed, accompanied by the two In
ditus who spoke Spanish. and who guided them
to the mouth Of the Feather river.
Having ascealcd this river some distance, sew
cral of the party became alarmed at the sur
rounding dangers aud insisted upon returning.
Capt. Sutter consented to return to the mouth
ot the American river. where, the 10th
Of August, le5a, he caused his effects to be
landed on :ac south bank Of the American river,
a short distance from where the city of Sacra-
men'o now stands. Having landed his effects,
CAptaia Sl.ier informed his party that any feel
ing iisaiee;cl were 1T liberty to leave. be being
resolved to remain 1t all hazards. But three of
the partv-ah hitrs--letermiued TO 60, and being
pat in possession Of the schooner. to be returned
to her owners At Yerba Bueua they left on that
day Capt. Su:ter fixed upon this locality as his
permanent headquarters, ana he soon commenced
10 build the fort, afterwards famous as Suffers
Fort
The colony was prosperous. Sutter sent hides
TO Ier3a BGeaa, aud furnished the Hudson Bay
Company and wandering trappers with supplies.
In. lSil he went to Monterey. where he cor
daily received by General Avarado, and from
whoa he received large grant Of land eleven
leasues) uader the title of New Hcyetia.
Returning inland he continued to occupy and
possess the land and extend the boundaries OF
his little settlement In 1914 emigrants began
10 f;ul their way to California. 10 whom Capt.
SUiter rendered important service. The narra-
tive SAYS:
The following incident was related TO me by
Suffer-. 1t exhibits something Of the terrible
harlshis TO which emigraa;s TO the Pacific
shores were subject:
\ solitary emigraHt was just able 20 reach
Sl.:crs Fort, and report that lis companions,
some distance back in the country. were dying
of starvation. Sut:er immediately caused a
number OF his bes; mules 70 be packed with sup
plies and despatched under the guidance of two
lniians aud the messenger. They arrived among
the starving immigrants in time to saye the most
Of them. but just As they about 70 move
forward another party OF tamished immg grants
unexpectedly arrived. In their frenzy they seized
upon all that remained of the supplies sent by
Sut.cr. killed his mules and ate them then they
killed the two Indians and ate them. Said SUIT
ter with much feeling, - they eat my fine Indians
all up. After eating numbers OF their COM
panions they fell exhausted and lifeless the
remaining portion Of these wretched immig grants
haaiiy arrived at Suffers Fort where they were
supplied With all the necessarieS OF life and
maintained until their health and strength were
restored Year after year Sutter exercised this
in0A'hcent hoeraliiy and kindness, never looking
for or accepting any reward
With his subsequent history Caifornians are
eensF''iy familiar, bat it may not be amiss to
produce Tue most memorable incident of his life
as wei as the most memorable event of the
time
The DISCOVERY Of GOLD.
The sAw-lnill was completed in January 1s.s
ana they had just commenced saving lumber
waen on the night OF February I'd. ls4s. Mar.
shalt appeared at Sutter's Fort, his horse in a
foam, and himself presenting a singular anneor-