Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-04

OF all when the farmer meet the miner in
changed the earths produce for the wealth of
its bosom. while the debris from the mines slept
IN rock-walled canyons or swept harmlessiy BY
tne nelds OF waving grain in broad canals to
sleep eternaiiy IN the bosom of the Pacific:
when all would recognize in San Francisco a
mighty womb wherein the resources of the State
should mature in gigantic wealth. to go out
TO the world the glory of California, then
could the Native Son take by the hand the
Native Daughter ne loved best, and gathering
around them the fruits of their union, kneel in
thanksgiving TO the Father of the Universe,
while throughout the land the peans of glad
ness would be rolling on from Sierra's snow
capped mountains to the sandy shores kissed by
the waves of the Ocean of Peace
ANOTHER POEM
Hon. C. B. Swift, an old pioneer, read
poem written by himself for the occa-
sion, and the feeling with which he re-
cited it moved the vast audience.
MARSHALL.
The tranquil earth swept on its mighty course.
Bearing restless world thro' silent space,
Unconscious of the strange celestial force
That nerves epochs to their appointed place.
Or that an empire lay the Golden Gate,
Entomb'd in wilderness in torty-eight
Peace reign'd where late was heard the mar
tial tread
OF arm'd battalions on the Rio Grande:
The beaming light that shone where glory led
Was dawning O er the conquered land.
Commerce and trade resumed their wonted
sway,
And lilies bloom'd on the field of Monterey.
The Pathfinder had mapped his wond rous trail
ACROSS the trackless plain and mountain
crest
But few believ'd who heard his mary 'lous tale
What 1liads were rising in the West.
The rude vaqueIo his cigarette inhaPd.
Indifferent whether peace or war prevailed.
And still the golden fields of Cortez's dream
Remained myth; his fleets explore in vain;
his futile search but sery'd poets theme.
Tho arm d with the will and power of Spain
His last hope sank meath the Mississippi wave.
Aud perish'd on De Soto's lonely grave.
No hero bearing an immortal name
With noble deeds continent had stirr'd;
simple artisan unknown to fame,
From yonder mill-race spoke the magic word
whose echoes, ringing thro' every zone,
Awoke the Roman Pontiff on his throne
Coloma DER thy scenic beauty shines
The sun. whose rays Humid thy golden birth
Round the Sierra waves his banner pines
Ger the proudest State that adorns the earth
The seulptor's art hath well reveal the rest
millwrights pick unlock the Golden West
To you gray veterans of forty mine,
Whose path across the span of forty wears
Is lind with monuments, this enduring shrine
Will bring grand memories your state reyeres
And the future pilgrim to the Golden Gate
VIII LIT his hat to the man of forty-eight.
PIONEER GRAFTON.
P. s. Lawson, President Of the Sacra-
mento Society of California Pioneers, was
the next sp eaker. He spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: We have
met here to-day. to unveil this monument to
the memory of James w. Marshall the discoy-
erer OF gold in California.
James Wilson Marshall was born in Hope
n ~ Ch in lnrafn dow n -
day of October, 1910. When he was old enough
he was apprenticed by his father to learn the
trade OF coach and wagon-making. When he
become OF age, like many young men, he found
home dull place, and, desiring a change, he
started out for the great West, after working in
several States and not finding any place desira-
Bile 70 settle in. In the meantime, having
heard of California" MI. Marshall determined
to go there.
In the spring of 1874, May list, he joined a com
pany of emigrants with about one hundred
wagons that was made up at Fort Leavenworth.
After enduring many hard ships he arrived at
Fort Hall. Marshall left the train there and
joined another company of about forty men,
who started for California by way of Oregon on
horseback, and packing their provisions. At
that time the Indians were very troublesome.
Although being small party, they were not
molested in the least by them.
Arriving in Oregon safely, and stopping there
during the winter OF 1874 and 1915, i'll the spring
of 1S45 he started for California by land, arriv-
ing at Shasta in the month of June and reach
Ing suffers Fort, in what is now known as Sac
ramento City, in July. 1915. Marshall immedi-
ately engaged to work for General Suffer, and was
still working for him when the Bear Flag war
broke out in California between the Mexicans
and foreigners" as the emigranis were then
called. Mr.. Marshall joined q company that
was made up in the vicinity of Suffers Fort for
the purpose OF relieving the garrison at sonoma.
The company was composed of Americans,
Frenchmen, Englishmen, Swiss, Poles, Russians,
Prussians, Chileans, Germans, Portuguese. Paw,
nee Indians and native Indians.
fellow-citiZens, Just picture in your minds
what an odd looking company it must have
been. will venture to say, for the number it
contained, you could not find harder class of
men on earth. or more determined Injured to
all kinds of hardships, hunger and thirst, get
ting their food most of the time as they marched
on their journey-and they were armed with
weapons as diversified as were their rationale
ties, including the grim old hunter with his
long rifle, the farmer with his double barrel
shotgun, the Indian with his bow and arrow
and tomahawk, and others with horse-pistols
revolvers, sabers and ship cutlasses Well
might Mr.. Marshall, on looking at this army as
it marched along, say If General Castro
whips this crowd he can beat all the world-he
will whip all nations and languages"
But though the Bear Flag army was queer
one to look at it was composed of aseffeciive
body of lighting men as could be collected
The party p proceeded towards Sonoma and on
their way picked up piece OF news which
quickened their desire to meet the enemy They
learned that few days previous four white
men, traVellng peacedDly through the country
had been attacked by a number OF Mexicans on
the ranch of General Vsjias wife's mother.
The owner of the ranch had done all she
could to protect them, but in vain-the barbar-
Gus captOrs had taken them away and murdered
three of the four mutilating their bodies hor-
ribly.. 1t may be imagined that this news did
not slacken the advance of the relief party
They hurried forward and reached Sonoma in
time to save the garrison. This was Mr.. Mar
shalrs first experience in the Bear Flag war, in
which he actively continued until it was merged
in that of the Mexican war between Mexico and
the United States During the time Mr. Mar
shall was in the army he had many narrow
escapes, some while standing on guard aud
others 10 battle. When ON guard one night
some distance from camp, there were several
small bushes several hundred yards off
Whilst walking forward and back en- his beat
he noticed one OF them seemed to be getting
nearer, and he concluded to watch after
while, he found when walking from the bush,
after an hour or so, the bush got up within fifty
or seventy yards of his beat. He made believe
he had not noticed he turned all at once and
fired his rifle it, this reused the camp, and on
examining, they found dead Indian who had
intended to shoot Marshall with his bow and
arrow as soon as he got within an easy distance,
SO as to make sure of his victim. At another
time, he was on guard il the morning just be-
fore daylight, he noticed the singular move
ment of three or four horses: upon given sig
nal the camp surrounded the horses, and found
an Indian by the side of each horse, who were
reconnoiteriag their camp. In March, 1877 Mr.
Marshall received his honorable discharge from
the army. He returned to Butte creek, known
at the present time as Butte county, where he
had large ranch stocked with cattle which,
during his absence, had been stolen or strayed
away, and he again returned to New Helvetia
as Sacramento was then called. We now find
Mr.. Marshall entering into partnership with
General Suffer in the sawmill and lumber bust.
ness After good deal of travelling around in
the mountains he finally settled in the place
called by the Indians Culloomach.
Mr.. Marshall, after collecting tools and ma
chinery, with carpenters, millwrights and
number of laborers, started with several
wagons loaded with provisions and full equip
ment for the sawmill. On arriving at the mill
site with the men and material Mr.. Marshall
surveyed out the mill-race. It was superin-
tended by Mr.. Weimer, who was in charge of
the white men and several Indians who would
throw out during the day large stones and
loosen up the earth, so when the headgste
would be open at night the water would wash
away the loose earth and small gravel 1t was
the custom of Mr.. Marshall 10 shut the head
gate In the morning and inspect the work, then
give instructions to the men for the day.
On the eventful morning of the 18th day of
January, 1SiS, Mr. Marshall shut the gate and
proceeded to inspect the work as usual in doing
so he noticed something glistening in the water
which he instantly stopped and picked up, To.
use his own words his heart jumped into his
throat, for he was positive 1t was gold, which
He Immediately put the piece in his pocket.
Thus was the great and momentuous discovery
of gold in California FIRST made and the greatest
event of the nineteenth century was set on foot
Anew days after the discoverery he went down
to Sacramento to impart the news to General
Suffer. On Suffers taking the gold in his
hand he exclaimed to MIR. Marshall: II know