Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-04
JAMES ". MARSHALL.
The Monument Erected TO His Xsn-
DRY Unveiled at ColOma.
PIONEERS AND NATIVE SONS
United in Doing Honors at the
Grave Of the Discover Of Gold
The Ceremonies.


The Ceremonies.
The Legislature at its session three years
ago, appropriated S.. 900 for the purpose of
erecting monument to the memory of
James w. Marshall, the discoverer of gold,
over his grave at Coloma.
The bill provided for three Commission
ers to carry out its provisions, and Governor
Bartlett commissioned Senator Caminetti
of Amador, Senator Gessford of Napa and
J. n. Miller of Sacramento. The Com
mission met and organized by the election
of Caminetti as President and Miller as
Secretary. Senator Gessford, owing to his
removal to San Diego resigned. and George
Hofmeisler, of Plaoerville, was appointed
to fill the vacancy.
Designs and bids were called for and the
most eminent sculptors and marble-work-
ers in the State put in designs. The one
selected was by F. Marion Wells, and it
called for the full amount of the appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Wells performed the work in supe-
rior manner, and it stands forth to-day a
credi. to himself and the Commission, and
an honor to the State of California.
Marshall, in accordance with request
made some years prior to his death, was
buried on the summit of Marshall Hill, on
his own land, which is within the town
limits of the village of Coloma. From the
vine trellised side Marshall had often sat
in the door of his cabin as the shades of
evening closed in upon the little spot in
the American river few hundred yards
below, where he had made the wonderful
discovery which had made fortunes for
thousands, peopled the Pacific slope, but
which had never benefited him in the least.
The latter years of his life he lived in
comparative obscurity at little town called
Kelsey, and one day being missed in his
accustomed haunts, an investigation re-
vealed the fact that he had died alone in
his cabin from exposure and the necessaries
of life.
Can storied urn, Or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the feeting breath?
Or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of Death?'
The monument consists of a bronze
statue of Marshall, eleven and one-half
feet in hight, on granite base thirty feet
in hight, making the entire structure forty
one and one-half feet in hight, and SO
prominent that it can be seen from any
portion of the valley of Coloma.
The statue represents Marshall in the
dress of the period. He is facing the river.
In his right hand he holds golden nugget,
while with his left index finger extended
he points to the exact spot where the ever
memorable discovery was made. The
statue is grand in proportions, workman
ship, and the design quite historical.
THE UNWILLING.
PLAcERvILLE, May Sd. - Coloma and
Placerville were IN holiday attire to-day.
Early in the morning vehicles of every de-
scription, from dog-carts to skin hands,
began pouring into both towns from every
part of Ell Dorado county and other neigh
boring counties, and by 10 o'clock fully
thousand people had arrived and they were
still coming in.
A great crowd was at the Placeryille de-
pot to welcome those who came up on the
regular train from Sacramento. A hun
dred or more teams stood in readiness to
convey the arrivals to Coloma, where the
monument to James W. Marshall tine dis
coverer of gold in California, stood ready to
be unveiled.
The visitors were given glimpse of
quaint and romantic Placerville before
starting for Coloma, ten miles distant.
The drive was superb, the weather being
perfect. ColOma was reached at 1:3O
o'clock. A great crowd was waiting there
too, which, together with those who came
over from Placerville, made about 8 500 in
ALL
After short rest in the town the ascent
OF Marshall Hill, upon the apex of which
stands the monument was made. The
procession of teams up the winding road
presented novel and pretty picture.
Little time was lost by those having the
ceremonies in charge. A canopied plat.
form just to the rear of the big monument
was reserved for the speakers and distin-
guished guests.
Among those who were there were Gov
ernor Waterman, Senator A. F. Jones, Sen.
ator A. Caminetti, ex-Mayor Eugene J.
Gregory, of Sacramento, Secretary of State
Hendricks, Past Grand Presidents NJ. A.
Dorm and Charles w. Decker, of the N. s.
w, Past Grand Lecturers, L. G. Branch
and w. H. Mclaughlin, and Past Presi-
dents Charles Cunningham and Charles II.
Turner, of the same Order; Assemblyman
Mailer. Senator Fraser P. S. Lawson, Geo.
Hofmeister, Mrs. Caminetti, Mrs. Beckman,
of Sacramento, and others.
Senator Caminetti, who is one of the
Commissioners to whom was intrusted the
work of erecting the monument, was mas
ter of ceremonies.
After prayer by Rev. James Curry. of
Placerville, Prentiss Carpenter welcomed
the visitors in brief but eloquent speech.
Senator Caminetti then turned the mon
ument over to Governor Waterman. as the
representative of the State. Mr. Caminetti's
speech was substantially as follows:
Amid the scenes now historical, around
which dwell the memories that bear many
of you back to the days
When you unlocked the golden ore
In gulch and canyon dark,
we have assembled to dedicate to the mem.
DRY of James w. Marshall this monument
of the offering of grateful commonwealth.
Fathers of California, you and your
comrades who have gone before, were the
last of the race of pioneers who centuries
ago emerged from the mysterious East and
following the star of empire westward
gradually awoke the slumber of ages. Still
seeking the boon of life that somewhere,
sometime, sooner or later, must unlock the
hidden treasures of freedom, on they
came until America was reached. Hope
still led them onward with never resting
ardor, counting neither perils nor hard
ships. Constantly pursued by the arbitrary
power they were endeavoring to avoid thew