Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-06-03
Gold i'm California.

.lHUi.
REMARKABLE CAREER OF GENERAL
JOHN A. SUFFER-, THE PIONEER
THE siERRAs TO PENNSYLVANIA -
& A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE, WITH
LIGHTS AND SHADES OF FRONTIER
EXPERIENCES.
Ae philadelphia Times.
In the quaint little Marovian villag,
of Litz, Lancaster county, Pa, live
John A. Sutter, known throughout
this and other countries as the discov
erer of gold In California. Few mer
have ever experienced such extremeI
of fortune, achieved SO much agains
equal disadvantages, or suffered al
great measure Of injustice as Gener
nj Suffer. The record of his life would
read more like q thrilling and highly
improbable romance than the actuaI
experiences Of flesh and blood hero
and while he remains with us the de,
tails of his very remarkable career
should be gathered from his own lipt
and put IN permanent form for the in
formation Of posterily. Nothing II
intended by the pre- sent sketch but tc
give the barest outline Of the old he
ro's wanderings. hardships and nota-
BILE achievements, by virtue Of which
he is justly entitled to be accounted 0
national benefactor.
A representative of the Times lately
invaded the hallowed precincts Of old
Litz In search Of this pioneer of civili-
cation, and found him living with his
wife in q neat but modest little house
just opposite the principal hotel of the
village. He is short and stout, a little
lame with rheumatism, but erect and
quite frisky yet. in spite Of the weight
of more than three-score years upon
his shoulders. His bead Is bald. cave
patches of snowy hair on either side,
and his face adorned with snowy
whiskers, military moustache and
goatee of the same color. He enter
tains strangers In courtly way. Is
hospitable to the very limit Of his re-
stricted means, and talks California
as long as there Ia listener within
ear.shot. The following facts In his
history are collated from the conver-
sation had during the call alluded to.
General Sutter Is by birth n Swiss.
In 1880 he was al officer In the French
army Of Charles Y, but after the revo-
luton In July of that year he emigrat-
ed 10 America, apparently In quest of
adventure, fame and fortune. He first
settled In the western part Missouri,
but finding that part of the country
too tame. moved further west, and, In
1880, renched California, then under
Mexican domiplon. Too years later,
in accordance with the Mexican laws
regulating the occupation and settle
ment of lands, he received n formal
grant Of eleven leagues near the juno
ton OF the Sacramento and American
rivers. In 1S45 a further grant Of
twenty-five leagues was made, In con-
sideration Of valuable civil and militia
ry service rendered by this most enter
prIslng settler to the Mexican govern
ment. These servlces-weie evidently
of high value. He had been commits.
stoned to guard the northern frontier
and to represent the government In
afiording security and protection to lite
Inhabitants against the incursions ol
Indians aud marauding bands OF
hunters and trappers who visited the
valleys for the purposes OF plunder'
For his own protection and to carry
out the spirit Of hls instructions he
built, al his own expense. a fort on
the first grant, surrounded II with o
high wall and mounted cannon upon
It. New Helvetla was the name he
gave to the original eleven leagues
which he settled, and upon which he
built Fort Sutter. and the further
grant Of twenty-five leagues, adjoin'
ing the first-named tract, was called
Sobrantc (surplus.)
Between 1916 and ls4s this child oI
torture reached the summit OF hi'
power and glory. He was the mill
tary commander Of his district aud IN
the Indian agent Of the territory
literally monarch Of all he surveyed
His landed estate comprised, In round
numbers, l60. 900 acres. He had sub
jugated Wild indiana and peopled the
wilderness with faithful adherent'
and sturdy workmen. AT the magic
Of his commanding voice, bouses
shops, mills, and other evidences o.
civilization had sprung up about him
His growing crops epread up ane
down the Sacramento valley for mlle'
and miles, and his horses aud cattle
sheep aud swine covered o thousand
hills. Contrast this ruler OF an 'm
plre all hls own with the humble den
lien Of Litz; say that the discover,
Of gold In California In 1913 was th'
direct cause Of 80 sad q downfall i; ant
that the momentous event occurred OF