Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-26
CAPT. sUrrAWs NUGGETS.
Gen. sherman ellis How He Tested
Them with His Teeth.
From the Washington Criet

From the Washington Critic.
Gen. w. T. Sherman has been prom
inently identified with matters affecting
the worlds history independent OF his
brilliant military career in the civil war.
He drew up the first Official report to the
government of the United States of the
discovery OF gold III California. Gold was
discovered in the spring of 1S4S about
sixty miles above the present city
of Sacramento. Gen. Mason was at
that time in command of the
United States forces in California and
acted as Military Governor, with head
quarters at Monterey, the capital OF the
Territory. Gen. Sherman, then a young
Lieutenant of the Third ARTILLERY. was the
Adjutaut OF Gen. MasOn's staff. Yerba
Buena, now the great city OF san Fran
cisco, was but hide trading port of 400
native Inhabitants. AS soon AS gold was
discovered Capt. Suffer went down TO
Monterey with quantity OF samples OF
the precious metal tor tue inspection OF
the military authorities.
zen. Sherman, in conversation with
some friends few evenings since, re.
terred to this important historical event
substantially as follows: Capt. Suffer
brought into Gen. Mason's office several
small packages and samples and spread
them out before Us. The specimens pre-
sented varied in size from fish scales and
split peas up to the size of beans. Gen.
Mason asked il l knew how to test
whether this stuff was gold or
not. / said certainly, and imme-
diately tried my teeth on lump
and made an indeutation, which impress .
ed me that 1t was malieable. l then
sent for hammer and an ak and pounded
several pieces out fiat. This was a crude
out practical test, but we then applied
acids, which verified the fact that the
samples were genuine gold. was at once
sent up to the diggings and made a
thorough examination OF the gold dis
coyeries which were rapidly being found
III new localities and in wonderful
amounts. j returned TO Monterey with u
quantity OF specimen samples and drew
up the Official report TO the gov
eminent, which was signed by Gen.
Mason. This report, accompanied with
quantity OF samples Of gold, was
forwarded by a special bearer OF dis
patches, who WAS no other than Henry
ID. Cooke, recent y the first Governor OF
this District OF Columbia. lie was sent
of in small sailing vessel, with instruc-
tons TO intercept British steamer on
the Southern coast and make rapid transit
TO Washington, regardless OF expense.
We had lot then been advised OF the rati-
hcatiOn OF the treaty with Me Nico ceding
California to the United States, and were
necessarily very anxious taat the govern
ment should possess information of the
discovery OF gold ut the earliest moment"
Thus less tpan forty years ago "Old
Tecumseh's" teeth made the first official
impress, put the first government stamp
OF value on the gold delved from the
mines OF this m dern land OF Ophir. And
II Is a lair presumption that more than
half oftbe 60,00O,000 Inhabitants Of this
Republic, VINO are enjoying its wonderful
prosperity, resulting largely from the
discovery of gold in California, have
beed born since Gen. Sherman indented
tins first gold specimen with mis- teeth.