The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-24
FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO.
How Gold Was Discovered in Cali
fOrnia and the Fever Which En-

From the Baltimore Sun.

sued.
From the Baltimore Sun.
The gold found on the Yukon is from
the same mountain range that yielded ;he
fabulous wealth to California, and the
rush to this new sold field naturally re-
| calls the similar scenes which took place
on the Yuba river nearly a half century
ago. The existence of gold in California
had been known in a vague sort of way
for many years, but the discovery which
led to the gold fever of 1S4S and 1919 was
made by j. w. Marshall at Coloma Mill
on the afternoon of January "a, 1S4S. Mar
shall had built saw mill on a little
stream running from the foothills of the
Sierras. A party of men were working
with the mill while Marshall was at the
lower end of the race. A young Indian
came to the mill and asked for a tin
plate for Mr.. Marshall. The men sent
the plate, wondering what Marshall want
ed it for. About nighfall Marshall came
up and said: Boys. I believe 1 have
found gold mine" The next morning
the headgate was shut down, and while
the other men were at breakfast Mar
shall went alone to the mill race. A little
later he Joined the others, carrying his
old white hat within his arm He placed
his hat on a bench in the mill yard, say
ing: Boys, I've got it," All gathered
around the hat to see what he had got
1t was little pile of gold, about half an
ounce, on the crown of his hat. It was
in particles ranging in size from a mere
speck to pieces as large as a grain OF
wheat. Every test the men knew of was
applied, none of them ever having seen
gold dust before. Some was put into vine
gar, some boiled in a soap kettle. The
whole party went down to the mill race
and all devoted themselves to picking the
bright metal from the gravel, the sand
and the seams. This was the beginning
of the gold fever in 1S4S. This little pile of
gold on MaTshalls old white bat attracted
to the golden coast such a congiomera-
ton of humanity as had never been gath
cred in one land since the confusion of
tongues at the foot of the Tower Of Ba-
bel. There were various routes to the gold
field. California was then further from
the Eastern states than TIE Klondyke is
to-day. Thousands went from New York,
Baltimore and other eastern ports in sail
ing vessels around Cape Horn, taking six
months for the journey. others went
across the Isthmus of Panama, taking
ship on the other side. Some crossed Mex
leo, and others, without enough money
to pay the passage by sea or too impa-
tent to wait for the winds, went on foot
or in wagons across the trackless prairies
and through the unknown wilds and unex-
plored passes of the Rocky mountains
Many of these persisted on the journey
OF the thousands who went for gold only
a few found it, or if they did, they squan-
dered or gambled 1t away and came back
poorer than they went.
From Bancroft's history of California
the following account of the results of
Marshalrs discovery is taken:
After this the world came fiocking in.
The region around Marshalrs mill soon
swarmed with gold-seekers. Two thous-
and diggers were at work there with
knives, picks, shovels, sticks, tin pans
wooden bowls, willow baskets and era
dies, picking crevices, scraping rocky
beds, Kidding gravelly sand and washing
dirt for the metal. Shortly after there
were four thousand upon the ground. If
we include natives, who were mostly en-
ployed by white men. 1t was then dis
covered that all about in the vicinity Of
Marshalls mill gold abouDded. Virgin
placers were found on Feather river. on
Deer creek and Yuba river. New discov-
cries followed in quick succession and
added fuel to the flame. Every gulch and
ravine was prospected and there was
scarcely a spot where gold was not,
though not always in paying quantities.
Finally the fact became apparent that all
along the base of the Sierra, on every
afiuent Of the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin, from one end Of the great valley Of
California to the other, almost every riv-
ulet, gulch and canon was rich in gold.
Some $1,000 persons" writes one who
deals largely In exaggerauon, on the Sth
Of November, 1s4s, ARE drifting up and
down the slopes Of the great Sierra. OF ev-
cry hue, language and cline, tumultuous,
confused as a flock OF wild geese taking
-
leaves strewn on the atmospheric tide by
the breath of the whirlwlnd. All are In
search Of gold. and with eyes dilated to
the circle OF the moon rush this way and
that as some new discovery, or fictitious
tale OF success may suggest"
Says another writer IN a letter 20 the
New York Journal Of Commerce from
Monterey, under date OF Aug. 20. 1913: AT
present the people are running over the
country and picking II out Of the earth
here and there. Just as a thousand hogs
let loose In a forest would root up ground
nuts. Some got eight or ten ounces a
day. and the least active one or two. They
make most who employ the wild Indians
TO hunt II for them. There Is one man
who has sixty Indians IN hls employ; his
profits are a dollar minute. Tho wild
Indians know nothing OF rs value, and
wonder what the pa.efaces want 70 do
with Il, and they win give an ounce OF Il
for the same weight Of coined silver, or
n thimble fun OF g.ass beads, or n glass OF
grog And white men themselves often
give an ounce Of g. which Is worth at
our mint SIS or more. for bottle Of brandy.
bottle OF soda powders or plug OF to-
bacco"
Then streams began 10 form in every
quarter; inland streams and ocean cur
rents; social tncklings and oOzings from
scattered ana FAR distant homes gathering
into rivulets and expanding into human
rivers. increasing IN strength and volume
az they ncarcd that worshipful gold.
Bands OF dovotees were organized for
piirrimaRoa, in which chrlsiendom and
uurnn11u fnIrhf faIn alike In which All