Morris tribune., 1880-05-06
The Discovery Of Gold,

Albert n. Hatch, of Edgemont, Pa,
writes the following to the Philadelphia
Press: "In looking over my notebook
the other day I came across something
relating to the discovery of gold in
California which I thought might inter.
est your readers, and therefore send it
for your consideration. I was upon the
ground shortly after the discovery, and
was acquainted with the principal act
ors. The discovery took place exactly
thirty-two years before the date of this
paper, and occurred in the following
manner: Capt. Suter was building a
saw-mill and had employed two or three
white men, as well as a number of
Indians. They had dug a race to the
river and built the framework of the
mill. In the evening they had turned
the water into 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 metals, and at once proceeded to test
the nuggets. He procured some aqua
fortis, and, after applying it, pronounced
1t gold and no mistake. It was agreed
to keep the discovery secret, but Mar
shall was to inform Capt. Suter, who
was then at his fort, some twenty miles
distant. Marshall took several of the
nuggets in bag and started on foot to
the fort. Of the interview Capt. Suter
gives the following account: Marshall
reached my place about 8 o'clock in the
afternoon. He seemed greatly agitated.
He asked me to go into a private room,
as he had something to communicate.
After we were in the room he asked me
to lock the door. I felt uneasy, for the
man looked wild. After I had locked
the door he desired me to place some
thing over the key-hole. "Now, Cap
tain," says he, edo 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 I did, and pronounced it gold.
Marshall Immediately prepared to re-
turn. told him to remain all night,
and that I would 60 up with him. I
could not persuade him to remain. The
next morning I 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.
"It is singular fact that the same
man who discovered gold in California
was the cause of its being found in
Australia, in which country it was dis
covered by James Hargrave. England,
for the benefit derived therefrom, by
act of Parliament gave to Hargrave the
sum of $4,000, while Marshall has
never received q cent from the United
States, not even pension, showing the
difference between the two Govern
ments. Hargrave and Marshall were
old acquaintances, and Hargrave had
just returned 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 find
ing of richer deposits than in Cali
| fornia."