Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-25
WHY A MONUMENT!
Who Was the First Discoyerer of Col
in California?

WHY a MON UMENTs
Who Was the First Discoyerer of Gold
in California?
The Portland Oreqonian published an
editorial under the heading "Why Men
ument?" in which it was argued that
monument should not be erected to Mar
shall because he had discovered gold acct
dentally and not as the result of scientific
research or investigation Thereupon
Stephen Stats writes the following to The
Vest Shore:
'In the Oregonian of October 4th we
find an article under the above caption.
We also ask why monument should be
erected to the memory of james W. Mar
shall as the first discoverer of gold in Cali
fornia? For from the facts of the writer's
own personal knowledge Marshall was not
the first discoverer of the precious metal
on the American fork of the Sacramento
river. Marshall having been the con-
tractor for the erection of mill on the
American river, and the gold having been
discovered while that mill was In course of
construction, Marshall has been given
credit for that discovery. whereas one
Charles Bennett, resident of Salem, was
in fact the first and original discoverer.
Bennett came to Oregon in 1914 and made
his home on the present site of Salem, and
remained there until early in the spring
of lS47. He was well known and is still
remembered in Salem, being at one time
proprietor of the 'Bennet House after his
return from California.
"The writer of this article in an adj
dress before the Pioneer Association of
Oregon, in 1887, made the declaration and
claimed that if any, all credit was due to
Bennett, citizen of Salem, for the first
| discovery of gold in that auriferous region,
the American fork of the Sacramento
river.
"Some of the facts about this discovery
we will here present to your readers.
Early in the sprlug of lS47 the writer, in
others, left the Willamette valley and
went to California. A short time after our
arrival in California Captain Suffer made
| a contract with James W. Marshall for the
erection of a mill. Bennett was employed
by Marshall to assist in its construction,
and on the mill nearing its aompletion
water was turned through the race to clear
it Of all distractions twas then the shin
ing particles first glistened to the sight of
man. Bennett, whose ever eager eye was
cast in all directions, first beheld the shin
ing dust He it was who first reached forth
his hand and grasped the glittering mass
to ascertain its composition. All was ex-
element. Bennett and Marshall rushed
to Suffers Fort to counsel with Suffer.
After day or two's consultation Bennett
started to Monterey with about an ounce
Of the metal to have it tested. He re-
turned to the Fort with the full assurance
that it was gold. The ounce of gold was
held in the palm of our hand before and
after it was tested.
"Now, Marshall, has always been cred
tied with being the first discoverer of gold
in California, but had it not been for Ben
net, in all probability that auriferous re-
gion would never have yielded up its golden
revenues to the enterprising Yankee Ben
nets searching eyes was the first to behold
the dust glistening in the mother earth,
where it had been embedded for centuries
He it was who exhibited the first ounce OF
gold to the wondering gaze of the Califor.
mans. We claim for Bennett, a citizen OF
Oregon, the credit of being the first discov-
erer of gold in California. Well do we re-
member the time, when, with sparkling
eye and enthusiastic hopes, he exhibited
the shining gold to our astonished gaze
Bennett has gone the way of all earth he
met his death with that true bravery fol
which he was noted, while fighting to pro.
tect the settlers on the frontier. If a
monument is to be erected let it be in
Salem, to the memory of Bennett.
Ia the Oregonion article referred to we
find the following This discovery of gold
by Marshall did not reach San Francisco
until May, 1848.' This must be an error
we were in company with Bennett in March
184S, in Yerba Bnena, now San Francisco
and the gold was with us, and it was dis
cussed by few of the then residents O
the place; among whom we might mention
Sam Brannan, who established the frs
trading post at Suffers Fort after the dis
Of gold b a9d xt aur Hh9 the Summer
of 1913. We write these things from
memory, but the facts are well fixed in oul
mind. We well remember the time wher
the first little sail boat started from Sar
Francisco to the Embarcadaro at Sacra
mento for an investigation of the facts O
the discovery of gold, and also the excite
ment that peryaded among tie people OF
its return.
"The first gold from California wa,
brought to Portland in 1S4S by the brig
Sabine, Captain Crosby, the gold being il
possession of the passengers. We were
among them, and we can never forget the
excitement and curiosity manifested by the
people on its first presentation to theil
sight. We well knew Captain Suffer il
1887. He was then a practicing physician
in Westport, Mo. On our arrival in Cali
fornia in 1S47 he received us with kindly
courtesy, for which his memory will evel
be held by US in high esteem"