The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-08-19

sible for piece of brass to get into the
race. From the fact that no brass had
been used in the construction of the mill,
and that the piece found had been worn
smooth, they concluded that it was not
brass, and might be gold. On that day
Mrs. Weimer was making soap, and for
this purpose had made lye by teaching
wood ashes. To test the metal found
Mrs. Weimer boiled it several hours in
this I've, and when she removed it from
the I've it was as black as ink. These
facts were stated to me by Marshall,
Weimer and Mrs. Weimer. l went with
Marshall to Weimer's house to see the
first piece of gold found in California,
and then and there the whole history OF
the discovery was talked over by all three
of the persons who participated in the dis.
covery. Mrs. Weimer then showed the
piece of gold. Its weight was 81, or, the
value of the ounce being $40, in other
words, 81 pennyweights. The form oil
the piece was that of long, irregular
pumpkin seed. 1t was still black as when
taken out of the I've, except at one end,
where the incrustation formed by the I've
had been removed.
This discovery was made in February,
l948. The day do not remember. As
soon as this I've test had been made Mar
shall and Weimer went into the mill race
and with wooden bowls washed out some
two or three ounces of gold, and Marshall
carried it to Monterey to ascertain if it
were gold. This was the nearest place
where the means to make the test could
be had.
Col. Suffer resided at his fort, near
what is now the city of Sacramento. He
was Swiss and classmate of Napoleon
III. One evening, when going down the
Sacramento River in a steamboat, Col.
Suffer told me the story of Marshall's re-
turn from Monterey. Col. Suffer said
II was in bed and it was about 2 O'Clock
at night. | heard some one ride up to the
fort, the horse running at the top of his
speed. Then banging at the gate; then
heard the clank of the spurs on the brick
floors of the fort; then pounding at the
door of my room, and when opened the
door in rushed Marshall, shouting: Its
gold it's gold y"
at the time Marshall and Weimer built
the mill at Caloma the labor used was In
dian labor. There were no other white
men besides Marshall and Wemer. Mar
shall was unmarried and had no children.
/ think Weimer had, but do not distinctly
remember.
When Marshall returned from Monterey
to Coloma he brought with him about
three hundred Indians, and took to Web
Der Greek, distant about six miles from
Coloma. There with his Indians he wash
ed out large amount of gold. His part
was sufficient to buy from Suffer the saw
mill at Coloma. In 1849 Marshall and
Jonn Winter owned the mill together,
and they also owned Winters HOTEL
They sold the lumber at $500 thousand,
and the demand was greater than the mi
could supply. paid at the hotel 800 a
week board, without room. Marshall
was then worth more than 100000, but
his generosity was without limit. He
gave to all who asked of him. He had nc
business qualifications, and when SHARP
business men came in and built up the
little town of Coloma, Marshall was soor
traded out of all his property. His money
he had lent where it would never be re-
turned or had been given away.
Then Marshall became prospector fol-
gold mines. Several times | fitted hin
out with mules, men and provisions to &c
prospecting. He knew the country bet
ter than other man at that time, and lee
the way to many rich placer mines; bu
he never found any that were rich enough
for him. Often has he left mines wher,
he could take out six or seven ounces pc
day to each. man to seek an Ell Dorado
where hundreds of thousands could b,
made in week.
Since 1852 l have known nothing o
Marshall, but concur in the opinion tina
it is disgrace to the State of Californi
that she has suffered Marshall to die il
want To Suffer first aud Marshall mex
is California most indebted.
HENRY G. GARDINER.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 1885.