Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-27
CALIFORNIA GOLD DISCOVERY.
JAMES W. MARSHALL ENTITLED TO
THE CREDIT.
Interesting Data just Published by the
Historian of the Society of
California Pioneers.

|
discoverer of gold in California. since then
new light has been thrown upon the sub.
ject by the Themis of this city. One of the
editors of the Thennis is Win. J. Davis, The
historian of the Sacramento Society of Cal.
ifornia Pioneers, and the article will there.
! fore have more than ordinary weight in
the controversy. In fact, it seems TO en-
tirely settle the question. and We reproduce
it in full:
Periodically the claim is made that
James w. Marshall was not the discoverer
of gold at Coloma. 1t would consume all
of the space in our present issue to but
briefly refer to the various claims that have
been made. The discovery was made in
January, 184S, and at this late day the
claims of another and new candidate are
urged. Recently the Portland 0regonian
published an editorial headed, why a
Monument" and in it argued that Mar
shall was not entitled to recognition, in
that his discovery was the result of acct
dent and not of scientific investigation.
The publication was followed by an article
by Stephen Stats in the West Shore, wherein
he claims that Charles Bennett was the
original gold discoyerer.
That Bennett was one of the men en-
ployed in the construction of the mill and
race. way at Coloma will be admitted, as
well as that he was one of the first to see
the newly discovered gold. We have, how
ever, the statements OF three of the other
men who worked there, and who were
present at the scene of the discovery, and
they concur that the credit is justly due to
Marshall. These men were entirely disin-
terested. We can dismiss the criticism of
the Oregonidn. that credit is not due be-
cause Marshalls discovery was accidental,
as somewhat absurd, for most important
discoveries were purely accidental If
Bennett had any claim to the discovery, it
is strange that during the forty one years
that have elapsed since the discovery no in
timation has been made Of it until now,
particularly when so much has been pub
lished on the subject, and so long after his
death and the death of Marshall. We NAV
well regard the claim of Marshall as being
settled, not only by the positive and al
most uncontradicted evidence of those in q
position to know the facts, but also by the
operation of the statute of limitation.
We have had in our possession for some
years report of an interview we had with
Philo West, formerly of this city, but now
residing in Yolo county. The statement
has not before been published. In it Mr..
West speaks of Bennet's connection with
the gold discovery. and his statement in
that regard is in the main corroporated by
accounts of others published years ago.
To us Mr.. West stated that he arrived at
Coloma, early in October, 1S4S. from
Oregon. When he arrived there all of the
parties who had been on the ground at the
time of the discovery were still there, and
frequently conversations were had relative
to the incidents connected with the dis
covery of the gold in the tail-race of the
mill. Mr.. West stated that as it was then
represented, three men-William Scott,
Charles Bennett and Marshall-were work
ing in the tail-race from which the water
had been turned, throwing out stones,
when the first piece of gold was picked up.
No one knew if the material was gold, and
the fact was not definitely ascertained
until late in February or early in March,
1S48. When it was found that the SUBJ
stance was gold dispute arose among the
| three men named as to which one had first
discovered it, and being unable TO agree
and determine to whom the piece belonged,
they mutually agreed to present it to Mrs.
?. L. WINNER, the only woman then
in that section of the couAtry. After the
discovery Bennett determined to go below
and have the metal tested, and collecting a
small quantity proceeded to Suffers Fort,
| ostensibly to have a set of blasting tools
made by the blacksmith, but really with
the intention, if the substance proved to be
| gold, TO procure grant of the land from
the military government. After leaving
| the fort he proceeded To Y erba Buena NOW
San Francisco), and stopped about a store
kept by E. H. Won Pfister, to whom he ex-
! hibited the dust, and asked him if he could
| test it. Won Pfister replied that he was not
acquainted with metals, but that there was
man in town-Isaac Humphreys-who
was skilled in that line, and who had
worked in the Georgia gold mines. Ben
net was introduced 10 Humphreys, who
| after an examination, pronounced the sub
stance gold. but was unable TO determine
its value. An understanding was then ar.
rived at between Bennett and Humphreys
that they should enter into a partnership
to mine for the gold and purchase it from
| Others; and that Bennett should endeavol
to procure the land grant, and for that pur
pose he proceeded TO Monterey, the theI
seat of Government of the country. Hum
phreys gave him letter TO a jeweler a
| Monterey, who was something of an as
saver, requesting him 10 assay the dust anC
determine at what price it would be safe t
purchase.
Bennett went to Monterey, but failed t.
secure the grant. He, however, had tn,
assay made, ano the return was that it wa
a safe bay at $13 or $14 per ounce: that i
was certainly worth more than that, Blu
that it was impossible to determine tn
exact value with the limited means for as
saying then at hand in the town. Return
ing to Yerba Buena, Humphreys aud Ben
net set out for the mines. The forme
suggested that they go direct to Coloma, b.
Daylor's ranch, and avoid going to Suffer-
Fort, but Bennett explained that it wa
necessary to go 10 the fort to get the drill
ing tools. When they reached the fort
early in March, they found the men q
work as usual, on the mill and race, an
no attempt at gold-gathering had BEEF
made, save that some of the men had col
lected small quantity each, with no ide
of its value Humphreys set about con
structing appropriate implements for wash
ing out the gold, and proceeded to work
The others made rockers patterned after hi:
and the first mining was commenced. Nj
West states that when he arrived at Colon
no one could fix the date OF the discovery
but it was placed in January or early i
February. 1t was further stated that Ber
nets idea in getting the drilling tools wa
to blast the powders and procure fror
| ldCm eOANs 90 LIZ PPCSSN VIZ -AeeeA NeAiAA
from hem.
1t will be seen that Mr.. West states ths
dispute arose among three men as t
which was the owner of the first gold, an
that Bennett was one of the disputant
However that may be, the statements {
the others that were there unequivocabl
accord to Marshall the credit, and thei
statements in that regard agree as to tn
circumstances. The Oregonidn states the
"this discovery of gold by Marshall did nc
reach San Francisco until May, 1S4S."
its correction that the news reached ther
before, the writer in the West Shore is col
rect, for the first published announcemer
of the gold discovery appeared in the Cal
tornian on March Is, 1S48. 1t was as fo
lows:
, GOLD NINE FouND.-In the newly-made race
way of the sawmill erected by Captain Suite
on the American Fork, gold has been found !
| considerable quantities. one person brougt
thirty dollars worth TO Sew Helvetia, gathere
there in short time. California, no doubt,
| rich in mine raj wealth. Great chances for SC
entifc capitalists. Gold has been found in a
most every part Of the country.
That Suffer and Marshall at the yer
outset endeavored to secure an exclusiv
privilege TOD operate the mines, is evi
denced by the following letter, which wa