The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-11
discovery of Gold i'm California

IN looking over my notebook the
otner DAY came across sometime re-.
iatlng to the discovery of gold in Cali
1ornlr which l thought might Interest
your readers, and therefore send if for
your consideration. 1 was upon the
ground shortly after the discovery and
was acquainted with the PRINCIPAL ac-
tp;s tpis. Inc discovery took place exactly
paper and occurred in the following
manner: Capt. Suter was building q
saw-mlll, and had employed two or three
"hlte men as well as number of Indi-
ans. They had dug a race to the river
ana built the framework of the mill. Tn
the evening they had turned the water
lhIo the race so as to sluice out the tail
race. In the morning one of the white
men by the name of Jim Marshall went
down INTO the tail-race in order to find
out how much dirt had been washed
out. His attention was attracted to
some shining Jumps. Not knowing
what they were he gathered up several
OF them and took them to his fellow
workmen for their inspection. One of
these men had some knowledge of met
aus, and at once proceeded to test the
nuggets. He procured some aqua
Iortls, and after applying it pro-
nounced it gold and no mistake.
1t was agreed to keep the discovery
q secret, but Marshall was to inform
captain Suter, who was then at his fort.
some twenty miles distant Marshall
took several of the nuggets in a bag and
started on foot to the fort. OF the
interview Captain Suter gives the
following account: Marshall reached
my place about three O'Clock in the
afternoon. He seemed greatly agitated.
He asked me to 90 into private room.
as he had something to Communicate.
After we were in the room he asked me
to lock the door. l felt uneasy, for the
man looked wild. After l had locked
the door he desired me to place some
thing over the keyhole. Now, Cap
tain, says he, do you think any one
can hear us?' He then pulled out his
bag of precious metal, and, emptying it
upon the table, desired me to examine
it, which did, and pronounced it gold.
Marshall Immediately prepared to re-
turn. | told him to remain all night,
and that L would go up with him.
could not persuade him to remain. The
next morning l started on horseback,
and several miles on my way I met
Marshall coming out of the bushes, all
wet, it having rained hard in the night.
We travelled along together until we
reached the saw-mill, where we found
all hands had quit work and gone to
gold hunting"
1t is singular fact that the same
man who discovered gold in California
was the cause of its being found in Aus
tralia, in which country it was discov-
cred by James Hargrave. England, for
the benefit derived therefrom, by act of
Parliament gave to Hargrave the sum
of $75, 200, while Marshall has never re-
ceived cent from the United States,
not even pension, showing the differ
ence between the two Governments.
Hargrave and Marshall were old ac-
quaintances, and Hargrave had just re-
turned from Australia when Marshall
met him and induced him to return to
Australia and seek for gold. This he
did, and the result was the finding of
richer deposits than in California.
bert N. Hatch, IN Philadelphia Times.