Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-21
THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CAL
FORNIA,

fof nee Duly Register.
The most interesting feature OF the his
tory OF California is the discovery OF gold
This is made doubly interesting in being
related by IN early settler in that State
1t was my privilege, not long since, to
listen to 4 description OF this discovery and
of how, unintentiOnally, the secret OF
which was divulged. | was sitting in front
Of one of the hotels in Sacramento, pre-
paratory to u trip through the gold region,
when a friend OF mine. who lived in the
city, came up with u man somewhat past
the middle age, u friend OF his, who was
an early settler in California Mr.. Clark,
ne said, was preparing for trip through
the gold region. told Mr.. Clark | had
Just completed preparations for similar
trip. and that If it was agreeable to him
would accompany him. He said he was
pleased with the proposition, and further
proposed that il WAS ready We start on
start on the morrow. was ready, 80 the
next day was set for our departure. Early
the next morning we got aboard an eastern
bound train and went to Auburn, some
thirty-fve miles east of Sacramento. Ar
irving i'm that foot hill town We procured
horses and made other necessary prepare
tiOnS for travelling through the mountains.
Before leaving Auburn we concluded To go
trSt to Suffers saw mill, the place where
cold was discovered This was ut the edge
Of the Sierra Nevada mountains, forty
miles northeast OF Auburn, on the north
fork of the American river. Our prepara-
tionS being completed We started.
BY hard riding we reached the
old mill in time to camp
Tor the night. When supper was cooked
and eaten and the blankets were unrolled
tor use we lighted our pipes and lay down
to talk.
As this narrative was intended to be 4
descriptive of the discovery of gold, and
not an account of our trip, l trust the
reader will pardon the DEPRESSION.
And this, said |, Is the place where the
firSt nugget was found.
Yes, replied Mr.. Clark, right here the
discovery was made. lpresume you would
like to hear the story
| signitied my desire to hear it and re-
sumed smoking.
Pit WAS a fitting place for such story.
rs and the mountain river flowed swiftly
II our feet. The full moon, just rising
threw mellowed light on the huge bould-
erS living around us, forming shadows Tor
some and outlining Others distinctly
They had the appearance OF grim
,pectreS left guarding the secret that had
5eep revealed The Shrill yelp Of 4 coyotee
in the mountains hack of us was answered
by 4 similar yelp across the river. Turtle
doves were mourning in their plalntlIe
manner from dozen different points about
rs All nature was proceeding 10 play her
NIGHTLY mart with us alone rs spectators.
well" said Mr.. Clark suddenly, sit
,inu upright and knocking the ashes from
his nine. Il am not much on story telling
fnr Won see NV education in that line was
neglected. But I've good memory ana
can repeat thing that has once been toiu
me. / was not here when they bullt TINS
sow-mil for il was in the summer oil
Fortv-nine that arrived, but they were all
talking about the discovery when came,
md wishing they had been the first to ma
The yellow stuff and that they bet they
would not have 'blowed' the thing, etc 10
Won see heard the whole thing when 1t
Was fresh. But fire up again and give me
your BAG OF tobacco, for | never eoniu zen
4 story unless smoking, and Ill relate the
circumstances between willis
/ complied with his request, anu AFTER
6ning and relighting his pipe, he con-
,inued. c,,;c,r
nia was inhabited by Indians, MeNicans,
and a few whites, Captain Suffer, VINO hau
., fort ON the site of the city of Sacramento
Sant :, narty of men up here to build saw
,n;u 4 man by the name of Marshal was
c,iven charge of the Job. This was wllu
Tss,ion then. These mountains were lull
nfCoIifornia lions and pantherS anu Srlz-
IL and cinnamon bears and Wild eats,
and more COYOTES than You could count
- ,v,s 4 dangerous undertaking 10
brild 4 mill up here, seveh'y-nNe
lies from the fort, but they did 1t. Ana
tbav dino a race from the river Just above
80 down by the mill, to carry the water
-, ,or,;ng Well, one evening the mill
ia race we're completed, and the water
was turned in on trial for the hlSns IN,
next morning Marshall went up 10 !ne ~ II,
tnrned the water of and started down tue
race 10 the mill. About hall way uoS L,
while looking at the stones ana PeoOleS
which the water had overturned anu
,vosbed clear of dirt, he saw something
yellow lying half obscured IN the San la.
| INT or curiosity he picked it up, ana was
struck by its resemblance to gold, gold ne y
t',r,e5 If over and over, and balanced II
-, Re- fingers, and tossed it gently In MS
on ms I'd wondered if it could be gold.
T 4;snu' he Sound a pebble of the same size,
dn Us" was W. surprised at their difference
anu l,..; mis The object that resembled gold
IN "et 80 as heavy as the other. lie
took gold coin from his p pocket ane 'V %as
nared the two. The resem .pI .Io+ w." :,
striking. 1t seemed Impossible an sS;n y
couId be gold, as the idea OF spen a. snI nm
onneared ridiculous. Still the lue" S NJ