The record-union., 1891-12-21
A PIONEER'O STORY.
The Men Who First Dug for Gold
About Grass Valley.
Cy. Mulkey, the Turfman, Revisits the
Scene of Eis Early-Day Mining
Operations.


on Saturday, on q business trip, it being
his first visit to that locality since the
summer of IS49 His visit revived the
recollections Of his pioneer experience,
and though the weather was unfavorable
for outdoor investigation, he spent some
time in endeavoring to fix the natural
landmarks with which he was once IA
miliar, and succeeded IN locating the
ground in which he and his companions
had prospected and worked for gold in
1S49, and according to the interesting
history which he has given to the Grass
Valley Union, they were the first white
men that ever entered that region, and
he was the first to find gold. Mulkey's
narrative in connection Herewith in SUBJ
stance is as follows:
He arrived in Oregon from Mis-
souri, in I847, being then but l6 years of
age. In lS4S. on the report of the gold
discovery, he came down to California
with a large party. They divided into
different companies, and he went with
one party to point on the Middle Fork
of the American River, which was about
three miles above what is now known as
Ford's Bar. Late in the tall they re-
turned to the valley, and pitched their
street, Sacramento, but there was no
town there at that time. From thence
the members of the party went to San
Francisco, and after time came up to
Benicia and from thence went over into
Napa Valley, going into winter quarters
q few miles below the present site Of Cal
istoga.
The intention was to return to the
mountains the following season to work
on the \ orth Fork ofthe American River,
as they had learned from acquaintance
that there was probability of better dig
gings. In the spring of 1849 they re-
turned to Sacramento, secured their
stock, and went up TO Marysville and
outtitted with provisions, the intention
being to 60 from there direct across the
country to the North Fork of the Ameri-
can. The party consisted Of seven per-
sons, Houston and Benjamin Crisp, from
Texas; John and Tom Davis, and their
brother-in-law ElishaBedentt, ,fromHenry
County, Mo-. Madison Mccullough and
Cy. Mulkey. from Jackson County, Mo.
They were all young men, but the two
latter were boys, aged respectively 19
and II years.
After leaving Marysville, then known
as Nye's ranch, they reached this vicin-
ity about the 18th day of April, lS49, and
made camp in what is now known as
Boston Ravine. Before reaching camp
they came through a piece of fiat, moist
ground, in which there was a growth of
willows, and in which number of bears
were discovered, of which they spent
some time in hunting. From the de-
sSription given this must have been the
valley of the branch of Wolf Creek east
Of Pike Flat. The party went into
camp for the purpose of recruiting their
animals, intending to remain several
days. They were camped on the south
side of what is now known as Rhode
Island Ravine, and in this ravine they
thought they would prospect out of curl
osity, and to their surprise they soon OBJ
tanned coarse gold, one piece of which
proved to be worth over $50.
Mulkey took out the first pan of dirt,
which was obtained by crevicing with
knife. The result of the few hours pros
pecting was SO encouraging that they
gave up the project Of going to the North
Fork of the American, and continued
work on the ravine, where they made for
the time they remained from $50 to 500
day to the man, working not more than
five or six hours day, and working the
soft rock and dirt in pans, and only going
o few feet from the surface.
There were no other white men in the
country that they knew of, and the In
dians did not make their appearance, but
one day, early in July, an Indian, who
knew of their presence, piloted two white
men into camp. These aScertained of the
discovery of good diggings, and immedi
ately sent out word, and within five or
six days, Mulkey says, there were at
least 200 who came in to prospect, among
the first to arrive being Phillip Thomp-
son and William Doty, two Oregon trap
pers, who brought Indian wives and fam
lilies with them.
About the 18th Of July, 1S49, the original
party left, as there was but little water,
their supply of provisions nearly ex-
hausted, and they believing that they had
worked out all the ground that would
pay well. They went to Sacramento, and
after obtaining another supply of provis-
ions wenti north to Feather River. where
they again found good diggings.
Mulkey tells a well-connected story,
which bears every impress of truth,
which goes to prove that he and his COM
panions were the first white men who
ever visited this region, and he claims to
have washed the first pan of dirt that
yielded gold. In all publications that
have ever been made concerning the dis
covery Of gold in this vicinity, no earlier
date is given than the fall of 1S49, there
fore the Mulkey party can claim the
right of discovery.
The first corners did not give any name
to the location, but Mulkey says that
Mccullough, who visited the camp in 1850,
told him that the place went by the name
of Boston Ravine.
Mulkey says that he yesterday identi-
fed the location where they first found
gold, and that it is in Rhode Island Ra-
vine, above its junction with Wolf Creek
where the hill comes abruptly down to
the ravine.
OF the original party Mulkey and Nc
Cullough are living, the latter at Butter
Creek, Umatilla County, Oregon, and
probably John Davis, who is supposed to
reside somewhere in California. The
others have long since passed over to the
silent majority.