The morning call., 1890-05-04

size. 1t Is designed to convey a faithful like
ness OF Marshall in his rough miners costume
gold nugget as he took it from the sands be looks
the typical miner and pioneer With his left
hand he is pointing downward to indicate the
spot from whence was taken the few grains of
gold that thrilled the world, and brought men
by thousands to the then comparatively unknown
region OF California. His head is surmounted
by SLOUGH baf, and hts feet are encased 10 pair
OF boots into which his pantaloons are loosely
thrust Breathing the spirit OF til great West
utiammeIed by custom and typical OF his class,
he appears without the hi1drance Of coat and
vest, clad as to his body only IN flannel shirt
tue sleeves OF which are turned slightly back TO
allow freer play 10 the action OF his arms. Ii Is
striking Inquire, and apt1y tells the story OF the
event that did more Than all else to lay the foun-
datiOns for CalifoTnia's future greatness.
The pedestal upon which the statue stands Is
OF granite The base is square. and from it rises
shaft, on the summit OF which the statue rests
1t measures thirty feet ten inches from summit
to base. The stone from which it is made was
quarried from the hillside near where IL stands
On one side of the shaft Is carved miners pick
and shovel, while upon the reverse side are a
number of carpenters tools. The latter are in
tended to illustrate the trade AT which Marshall
worked in his earlier years. and at which he was
employed when lie made his startling lind. The
base from which the shaft rises bears upon The
front panel the single world Marshall" while
that facing north bears the inscription: Erected
by the State of California in memory of James
w. Marshall, tile dlscOverer OF gold. Born Octo-
Der 8, 1910; died August TO- 1885. The first
Coloma, January 10, 1s43."
inscribed on the panel looking south are the
words: Commissioners or The State-O. Cami.
netfl, j. ID. Miller, q. Hoffmeister Iand Ii. c.
Gesf0rd."
LIFE HISTORY OF MARSHALL.
1t was in the little town OF Hope, Warren
County, n. j., that james w. Marshall first saw
the light, and here II was that he attended the
common school ana lived no doubt much the
same as did the other boys with whom he was
associated. OF restless turn OF mind however
he was not content TO spend his mature years 10
his native home and at the age Of % he started
al linz an f0p d Knt,,
the city OF Leayenworth, kans. After ten years
spent in farming his rovlDg spirit returned and
In 1874 he emigrated TO California which was
still wilderness, and entered the service OF
General John A. Suffer. Tie Mexican war CON-
ing on he enlisted and fought TO the close, when
be entered into business with General Suffer at
Coloma, town whose name he was to make
historic. II was here, by accident that he made
the wonderful discovery In January, 1S4S. which
little that he died In poverty. His first find was
practically his last. for as prospector be was
without success, He wandered over large
failing In the quest, he at length returned
TO his mountain home, where be remained until
his death In 1885. The spot, associated as IL
was, with the greatest event OF his long life was
always dear to him, and II was at his own re-
quest that be was buried at the spot now made
beautiful by the sculptors AIT. His fame has
grown with The years, and, although neglected in
his life, thousands delight to-day 10 do honor to
his memory. The negect-for 1t was neglect
that allowed him 10 die In poverty and obsclr.
ity-weighed heavily upon him in his later years,
and To a friend IN q moment of despondency he
wrote In tone of bitter complaint that he mad
profted nothing by the great wealth he had
given to the world.
He was In many things eccentric, and while
loved by his friends was not OF nature calcu-
lated to achieve what the world calls success.
he was the hrst to give to the world the It'd
s w sna s whc s was to e Sy
While others. more fortunate than he, amassed
their millions, he plodded on to the END In poy-
ties OF his friends