The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-24
Miles of San FranciscO'S Streets
Hung With Golden Banners.
JUST so YEARS AGO
Gold Was First Discovered at
Suffers Mill.
History of the Discovery is Re-
told.

of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee
of California, which began today IS not
likely to be surpassed for many a year
to come.
The entire state has gladly responded
to the appeals of the miners, pioneers
and native sons and daughters and
from now on until the close of the car
nival week, San Francisco will be the
mecca toward which all travel west OF
the Sierras will be turned. Nor can the
line be drawn at the eastern border of
the state for from Nevada, Utah ana
the country as far east as Denver, men
who first found fortune in the placerS
of California have already returned
here to assist in the exercises cOnmeTn-
orative of the fiftieth anniversary OF
the discover of gold by Marshall at
Coloma near the old fort erected by
Gen. Sutter.
But the participants in this week Of
gaiety are not confined to the OLD
timers. 1t is the younger element, the
children of the men of '49 that by their
enthusiasm and monetary contributions
have assured in advance the success OF
one of the most unique and character-
iStic demonstrations ever projected IN
any part of the Union.
The jubilee cOlors have been flung to
the winds, and for the first time the
city breeZeS play with gorgeous pan
ners of yellow and gold
Decorators commenced work at an
early hour Saturday, and by noon to-
0dY In6y uI1Q given NAL net 81 ACGL q
most festa1 appearance. AS far to the
westward as Kearny street the brilliant
buntings tapped and futtered, and they
seemed to lend to what sunshine there
was what little warmth it contained
Out Market street from the ferry to
Van Ness avenue, down all the side
streets from Market to Mission, and
from Second to Eleventh; over Mont
gOmery, as far as the line of march
shall lead and back again over Kearny;
UP one block on every street that runs
west from Market, and out one block
on every one that runs nOrth-that is
the plan of decoration; the yellow and
gold is the burden of it all, as it is on
the main thoroughfare, but the nation
al colOrs will have the place Of honor
The jubilee fever has seized John Chi
naman. John Chinaman is going to
run outside the traditions of his race
for this once, and he will sacrifice two
of his cousins in order that the grand
marshal shall have mounted Chinese
for his aides from their division.
The organization having charge of
the Chinese division is known as the
United Parlor of the Native Sons of
the Golden state. There are two floats
in their section, and various characters
in the history of China are portrayed by
suitably cOstumed CelestialS; every
man in the Chinese section carries a
banner or instrument or weapon of
some sort.
Next to Monday, the biggest day will
be Saturday, the 29th. On that day
the children sill have their chance. The
opening exercises of the Miners fair
viii be held and grand parade OF
miners, Including all the floats used in
the big parade of today, will add to the
gayety e tie occasion.
On JaUlary "a, 1s4S. 50 years ago.
gold was discovered by James w. Mar
SHALL a mechanic from Pennsylvania
in his mill-race at COlOma, on Sutter' S
creek Then, Minervahke, state
sprang into existence whose subsequent
history is an integral part of that of
our glorious Union. Her inspiration
dates from that day
John A. Sutter, the son of a French
speaking Swiss, was born in Baden,
Germany, in 1903. He came to New
York in 1884, soon went to Missouri and
three years later QS3O was fastening
on his route, by way of the Oregon
trail, arriving finally at Fort Vancou-
Yer, in British Columbia. After sailing
to the Sandwich Islands and passing
through exciting adventures, he reach
ed Yerba Buena, now San Francisco
on July ?, 1899. He was, at last allow
ed by the Mexican governor, AlVaradO
to settle in the Sacramento valley
agreeing to build and maintain a fort
and thus permanently established him
self on the American river. about two
miles above it's junction with the Sacra-
mentO. There he erected what was
subsequently known as Suffers
Fort with a colony in the beginning
OF three whites and eight Kana<as. and
located the Mexican grant of land that
he had obtained at the junction of the
American and Sacramento rivers. en-
bracing the site of the present city of
Sacramento.
The fort is now little more than a
memory. The adobe walls were pulled
down and used in making Ievees or fill
ing in city lots, and the only relic left
standing is the main building of the in
terror 80 by 64 feet square and two
stories high.
During the large emigration to Cali
fornia in 1916 many people settled in
the valley of the Sacramento under
protection of Suffers Fort. There be-
ing a large demand for lumber. Gen.
Sutter decided to build a mill and for
that purpose entered into a contract
with Marshall.
Soon after the mill was built Mar
shaH was walking along the mill race
one morning when he saw numerous
Shsten1ng particles among the sand
ana gravel. One larger than its fellows
he picked up and. after a c1IrsoTv ex9 =
animation, was induced to gather 9th
ers along the banks. It was gold
Ihe two men intended to keen this
glorious good fortune a secret. but there
was boarding house for employees at
s suffers mill Marshall had fO0IisbI1-
given to Mrs. Weimer the cook q T1iace
or the gold, and she had placed it in a
hellle OF boiling lye to see what effect
would be produced on the shining stone
and a few days later there were over
4s2O0 people IN the vicinity busilv at
work with all kinds of Implements 1fa-
ging and washing.
There was wild excitement and
scramble, and the entire world ba9s1
sending its hosts of adventures TT-o
hundred and fifty thousand of the villa
Sst DraVest, most intelligent men ever
beIOre seen gathered in a small sectiOr7
OF country, with great many of the
most reckless and dangerous ctarac-
Iers on earth. There was more nerv-