News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-11-04
Born February %, 1908,
at Kandern, Baden,
Died June Is. 1880,
at Washington, D C.,
REQULESCAT IN PACEM.


There is long story of an eventful
life between these two dates. The name
inscribed above them is the name of
General John Augustus Sutter, whose
mill race on the banks of the Sacramen-
to was the sourse of all the mighty
stream of gold that has flowed from
California. He who is now first only in
this very humble community where all
others are equal, made the discovery
that shook the financial centres of both
hemispheres, won half continent to
civilization, and created bonanza kings
TO be Senators and their wives to be the
envy of the most decollete and distln-
guished society abroad. Buried along
with those who abhorred war and would
not fight on any account, he in his life
time wore sword in the armies of three
nations Once in possession of land now
worth hundred million of dollars, he
lived the last sixteen years of his life
dependent on an allowance from the
State of California. He made million
aires and died a pensioner.
He was always wanderer. Born in
Baden in 1908, he graduated from the
Military College at Berne at the age of
twenty, and enlisted in the Swiss Guard
of the French army, the successors of
that famous band of mercenaries who
were so faithfully butchered in the
marble halls of Versailles some thirty
years before. After seven years service
he changed his colors and entered the
Swiss army, where he served four years.
Then he put off his uniform and short
ly came to this country. In 1888, with
six companions, he went across the plains
to Oregon and down the Columbia
River to Vancouver, whence he sailed to
the Sandwich Islands There he got an
interest in trading vessel, with which
he sailed to Sitka and the seal islands
up towards Behring's Straits. Turning
southwark after some profitable trading
he arrived in the Bay of San Francisco
July 2, 1889. The appearance of the
country pleased him and he decided to
remain.
He made settlement some distance
up the Sacramento River, built grist-
mill, tannery and fort, founded a
colony and called it, for the sake of
having an Alpine murmur IN his ear,
New Helvetta. His restless energy was
still unsatisfied. He took a commission
as captain in the Mexican service and
afterwards served as a magistrate under
the same government. He took no ae-
tive part in the war against this country,
and after the annexation he was Alcade,
Indian Commissioner and a member of
the California Constitutional Conven-
ton.
In 1848 came the discovery that en-
riched the world and impoverished him.
Marshall, laborer digging oIt new
race to Suffers mill, picked up a curious
lump of something yellow, which Suttel
at once recognized as gold. The mill
race was never finished. The laboreI
turned his pick to a more ambitious
purpose and set out to dig himself
fortune. The miller bought himself a
shovel and went forth to take toll of
the yellow sand. The stream that was
to turn the mill wheel became suddenly
worth more than any grist that it could
find. The sequel is well known. The
rushing tide of Argonauts overwhelmed
the little colony of New Helvetta and
washed away Suffers imperfect title to
his land.
He made brave fight and long one.
He laid claim to thirty three square
leagues of land, including that on which
the cities of Sacramento and Marvsville
now stand. After long delay the Com,
missioner of Public Lands allowed the
claim and after more delay the Supreme
Court of the United States reversed the
decision. Then Gen. Sutter carried his
claim before Congress, to go through
the tedious experience of most persons
who take claims there. He was still
prosecuting it in 1871, when he hap
pened to come to Lititz to drink the
wholesome waters of its spring. The
quiet of the place and the peaceful life
Of its people appealed to the restless old
man, who was beginning to get tired of
his long battle, and he made his home
there-''untll get my claim through"
he said.
He was at Washington, still getting
his claim through, when death overlook
him in 1880. His Moravan neighbors
male room for him in a corner of theil
burying- ground, although. as he was not
a member of their congregation, he
could not be buried with the throm-
bone. When a Moravian dies, at what
ever hour of the day or night, man
mounts the tower of the quaint, SQUAT
church and blows a doleful signal on
thrombone. The thrombone- player also
marches at the head OF the funeral pro
cession, playing solemn music.