The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-24

There is a long story of an eventful
life between those two dates. The name
inscribed above them is the name of
Gen. John Augustus suffer. whose mill
race on the bank of the Sacramento was
the source of all the mighty stream of
gold that has flowed from California. He
Who is now first only in this very hum
BILE community where all others are
equal made he discovery that shook the
financial centers of both hemisphereS,
won half a continent to civilization, and
created bonanza kings to be senators and
their wives to be the envy Of the most
decOIlete and distinguished society
abroad. Buried along with those wac
adhered war, and would not fight GA
any account, he in his lifetime wore
sword In the armies Of three nations.
Once in the possession of land now
worth a hundred million of dollars, he
lived the last sixteen years OF his life de-
pendent on an allowance from the State
of California. He made millions and
died a penSioner.
He was always q Wanderer. Born IN
Baden in 1903, he graduated from the
military college at Berne It the age of
twenty aud enlisted in the Swiss guard
of the French army, the successor of
were so faithfully buIchered in the mar
bic halls o. Versailles thirty years be-
fore. After seven years service he
changed his cOlors and entered the Swiss
army, where he served four years. Then
be put of the uniform and shortly after
came TO this country. In 1887, 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 a trading vessel, with
which be sailed to Sitka and the Seal
Islands ap towards Behring's Sea Turn.
ing southwark after some profitable
trading be arrived in the bay of San
Francisco July ID, 1889. The appear
ance Of the country pleased him and he
decided to remain.
He made a settlement some distance
up the Sacramento River, built grist-
mill, tannery and a fort, founded a
ing an Alpine murmur in his ears, New
HelvetIa. His restless energy was still
unsatisfed. He took a commission as
captain in the Mexican service and af-
forwards served as q magistrate under
the same government He took no &C
tive part IN the war against this cOun-
try, and after the annexation he was
alcalde, Indian commissioner and a
member of the California constitutional
conven ion.
In I848 came the discovery that en-
riched the world and impoverished
him. Marshall, a laborer, digging out
new race to Suffers mill, picked up a
curious lump of something yellow,
which Suffer at once recognized as gold.
The miIl-race was never finished. The
Lob frIr cd Job 70 ~
tious purpose and set out to dig himself
a fortune. The miller bought himself
shovel and went forth to take toll of the
yellow sand. The stream that was to
turn the wheel became suddenly worth
more than any grist that it could grind.
The sequel is well known. The rushing
tide of Argonauts overwhelmed the lit
tie colony of New HelVetia and washed
away Suffers imperfect title to his land.
He made brave fight and a long one.
He laid claim to thirty-three square
leagues of land, including that on which
the cities of Sacramento and Marysville
now stand. After long delay the CON-
missioner of public lands allowed the
claim and after more delay the Supreme
Court of the United States reversed the
decision. Then General Suffer carried
his CAIN before Congress, to go through
who take claims there. He was still
prosecuting itin 1871. when he happened
to come to Lititz to drink the whole
some waters of its spring. The quiet of
the place and the peaceful life of its peo-
pie appealed to the restless old man,
who was beginning to get tired of his
long battle, and be made his home
there-"until get my claim through"
he said.
He was at Washington, still getting his
claim through, when death overlook
him in 1880. His MOravian neighbors
made room for him in corner of their
burying- ground, although, as he was
not member of their congregation, he
could not be buried with the trombone.
When a MoraVian dies, at whatever
hour of the day or night, man mounts
the tower of the quaint, squat church
and blows doleful signal on a from
bone. The trombone player also
marches at the head of the funeral pro
cessiOn, playing solemn music.-Phil-
adelphia Times.