National Republican., 1885-09-05
MARSIIALL'S DISCON ERY OF
GOLD.
The story Told by u Man Who Was
There-"It's Gold IT'S Gold"
New York sun Correspondence.

bheTe 'otu I'N ebihs
New York sun Correspondence.
see u notice of the death of James W.
Marshall, who discovered gold In Califor-
mia, published IN the Sun. became ac-
quainted with Marshall at ColOma, Cal. |
knew him intimately, and was associated
with him IN business at that place, which is
on the south fork of the American river
Marshall was u native Of New Jersey.
Gold was discovered In February, 1913, by
Marshall and another man named Weimer.
| have forgotten Weincr's first name.
Marshall and Wcimcr built for Col. Sutter
II saw mill at ColOma, and had finished
II IN February, 1913. | am n stock
holder In company which now owns that
saw mill, The mill had been erected at the
head Of bar where the river bends around
It IN the form of the letter L. The mill
race had been cut through the bar, aud
when the mill was started II was found that
the race was too shallow, and for this rea
son the wheel Of the mill was partially
under water. The water was shut of, aud
Marshall aud Wcimcr Went down into the
race to ascertain where II was to he dug
deeper A point about fifty miles below
the mill, they concluded, was the place
which obstruCtcd the flow Of water. Here
Marshall said to Wcsmer "What Is that
which shines just at the toe Of your bootS"
Wcimcr then picked up the shining piece,
and they both thought II n piece Of brass,
They began to conjecture how II was posi-
bic for piece Of brass to get into the race,
From the fact that no lrass had been used
IN the construction of the mill, and that tho
piece found had been worn smooth, they
concluded that II was not brass, aud might
be gold. On that day Mrs. Wcimer was
making soap, and for this purpose had made
lyc by teaching wood ashes. To test the
metal found Mrs. Wcimcr boiled 1t sew
eral hours IN this lyc, and when
she removed it from the lye 1t was
stated TO me 10y Marshall, Wcimer,
and Mrs. Weimcr. went with Marshall to
Wpimcr's house to see the first piece of gold
| found In California, and then and there the
whole history Of the discovery was talked
oyer by all three of the persons who partici'
pated In the discovery. Mrs. WeimGr then
| showed the piece of gold, Its weight was
| 81 or the value Of the ounce being SO, IN
other words, 81 ponnyweights. The form
of the piece was that Of long, irregular
pumpkin seed IL was still black rs when
taken out of the lyc, except at one end
where the incrustration formed by the lye
| had been removed,
This discovery was made IN February
lSlS The day | do not remember. AZ
soon Us this lyc test had been made Mar
shall and Wcmcr went into the mill race
and with wooden bowls washed out som,
two or three ounces of gold aud Marshal
carried il to Monterey to ascertain II Il
were gold. This was the nearest plac,
| where the means to make the test could b,
had.
Col. Sutter resided at his fort, near wha
Is now the city Of Sacramento. lie was I
| Swiss and "A Clussmutp of NAPOLEON Ill
One evening, when going down the Sacra
mento river IN steamboat, Col Suite
told me the story Of Marshall's return from
Monterey. Col. Suffer said; ~ was II
bed, and II was about 2 o'clock at night,
heard some one ride up to the fort, w
horse running at the top of his speed. Thel
q banging ut the gate; then ! heard I'll
plank Of the spurs ON the brick floors OF th
tort; then pounding at the door OF NJ
room, aud when ! opened the door Il
rushed MurBlall, shouting, ITS gold IL
gold y
Al the time Marshall and Welmer hull
the mill at COloma the labor used wa
Indian labor There were no other whit
men beside Marshall and Weimer, MAJ
shall was unmarried and had no children
think Wcimcr had, but do not distinct
remember,
When Marshall returned from MOntere
TO Coloma he brought with him about 81
Indians, and took tO Wehhcr creek, disiaI
about six miles from tulOmu, There, VII
his Indians, he washed Out large amou,
of gold. His pant was sufficient Ia In
from Sutter the saw mill at Coloma.
1919 Marshall aud John Winter owned Il
$ mill together, aud they also owned Winter
s Hotel. They sold the lumber at 5000
thousand, and the demand was great