The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-11-20
GENERAL SUFFER-.
Romantic Story of the Man who Discover
cd Gold in California.


cd Gold in California.
The name inscribed here is the name
OF General John Augustus Suffer, whose
mlll-race on the banF of the Sacramento
was the source of all the mighty stream
OF gold that has flowed from California,
says correspondent describing grave
IN the Morayian burying ground at Lit
'tz, Pa. He who is now first only in
this very humble community where all
others are equal made the 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 distinguished society
abroad. Buried along with those who
abhorred war and would not fight on
any account, he in his lifetime wore
swords IN the armies of three nations.
Once in possession Of land now worth
SlOO, 900, 600. he lived the last sixteen
years Of his life dependent on an allow
ancc from the State Of California. He
made millionaireS and died a pens oncr.
lie was always a wanderer. Born in
Baden in 1903, he graduated from the
military college at Bernc NJ the 40 of
twenty and enlisted in the Sw IS guard
Of TIE French army, the success, Is of
that famous band of merccnar.os who
were so faithfully butchcrcd in the
marble halls OF Versailles thirty years
before. After seven years service ho
changed his colors and entered the
Swiss army, where he served four years.
Then he put oil his uniform and shortly
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 ai.ed to the
Sandwich Islands. There he got an in
terest in trading vessel, with which he
sailed to Sitka and the seal islands up
toward Behring's sea. Turning SOUTH
ward afcr some profitable trading, ne
arrived in the ba7 of San Francisco July
2, 1889. The appearance CT the country
pleased him and he decided TO remain.
He made a settlement some distance
up the Sacramento river, built grlst-
m H. tannery and fort, founded a
colony and called it, for the sake of hav-
ing an Alpine murmur in his ears, New
Helvetia. His restless energy was still
unsatisticd He took commission as
Captain in the Mexican service and af-
forward served as a magistrate under
| the same Government He took no
active part in the war against this
country, and after the annexation be
was alcalde, Indian Commissioner and
member of the California constitutional
convention.
In 1S4S came the discovery that en-.
riched the world and impoverished him.
Marshall, a laborer digging out new
race to Suffers mill, picked up curious
lump OF something yellow, which Suffer
at once recognized as gold. Tho mill
race was never finished. The laborer
turned his pick to a more ambitious
purpose, and set out TO dig himself q
fortune. The miller bought himself q
shovel and and went forth to take toll
of the yellow sand. Tho stream that
was to turn the mill-wheel became sud.
denly worth more than any grist II
could grind. The sequel is well known.
The rushing tide of Argonauts over
whelmed the tile colony of New HcIve
tia, and washed away Suffer- lmpcrfec
title to his land.
He made brave fight ard long
one. He laid claim to thirty-threC
square leagues of land, including tina
On which the cities of Sacramento anC
Marysville now stand After long de
Law the Commissioner of Public Lands
allowed the claim, and after more de al
the Supreme Court OF the United State
reversed the decision. Then Genera
Suffer carried his claim before Con
grcss. to go through the tedious eX
perence of most people who take claims
there. He was still prosecuting it il
1871, when he happened TO come Il
Lititz to drink the wholesome waters o
its spring. The quiet of the place anC
the peaceful life of its people appealed
to the restless old man, who was be
ginning to get tired of his long battle
and he made his homo there-"untIl
get my claim through" he sad.
He was AZ Washington, still gettin!
his claim through. when death over
took him in 1880. His Morayian
ne ghbors made room for him in cor
ner of the burying ground, although
as ne was not member of their con
gregation, he could not be buried wit.
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 a doleful signs
on a trombone. The trombone-playC
also marches mt the head of the funers
PROCESSION, playing solemn music
Philadelphia Times.
Scotch adie Wif