The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17
GOLD SEMI-CENTENNIAL
THE ANNIVERSARY. WHICH CALI.
FORNIA WILL CELEBRATE.
A Monument in Honor of James w.
by Him in the Winter of 1913.
Chicago Times-Herald.


Jan. 10. 1898. Some of the leading Califor-
mans, whose memories go back to argo-
naut days, are preparing TO make this semi
centennial brilliant and golden event. In
thus bringing TO mind the past glorles of
California in the goid-producing line it is
hoped by some of those in charge of the
details to create new boom for the mining
interests of the State, which have lam
guished somewhat of late and are now men,
aced by rivalry in the Kiondlke tields.
1t is intended as a part of the programme
of the celebration to lay the foundation OF
a. monument des gnod 10 peIpetuate anu fur
Their extend the distinction of California as
@ state rich in minerals, and to revive some
of the early memories of the argonauts VINO
poured into that golden land IN the winter
of 1S49 and the spring of 1850 after the fame
of California 5 gold fields had become ma
tional This monument is to be composed
OF as great a variety OF mineral substances
produced in the State as is possible. For
the artistic features of the monument it
is proposed to raise fund of $4,000. AS
for the materials, it is assumed that the
ores, building stones, ETC., Will be freely
given by dlnerent counties, communities
and individuals.
The monument for which the foundation
Will U0 1dlQ On JdUs IL Will not DG the Ollly
feature of the proposed observance of this
anniversary, for there is also in view the
establishment of a permanent museum oil
minerals, designed to show not only what
California has cone in this line, but also
what it is likely to be able to do in the
| future California; position at the head Of
| the gold-producing States of the country
has been somewhat jeOpardlzed OF late, ii -
Claimed, by the large god product or COZ
| orauo. Notwithstanding that California re-
mains the god state, recent attention
has been turned from it to COLORADO AMI
Alaska; yet 1iIany old CaAfornans, with
| pardonable local pride, persist IN declaring
| that the rlcn gold tleidS or other Gays on
the Pacific are Dy no means fully ex-
| hauSteu.
| 1t is interesting to note that the exact
! date of the discovery of gold in California
! has been IlXed ofrcIaIly as Jan. ~, lotS. III.
| ii. Bancroft in ms History of California
does not admit the correctness OF TINS otil-
| cial date. "1he 18th of January IS the date
usuaAy given he says, but am salts
/ fed 1t is incorrect. There are but two au-
| thOr1tieS to choose betWeen--MarShall, the
| dlsCoverer, and one Henry w. BIGGER, a
Mormon, engaged upon the Suffer mill work
| at the time. Besides confusion of mind in
| other respects, Marshall admits that he does
/ not know the date. On or about the l5tn of
| day, but it was between the 18th and 10Th,
| whereupon the 18TH has been generally ac-
| cepted. Bigler, on the other hand, was
| cool, clear-headed methodical man; more
| over, he kept journal, in which he en-
tered occurrences on the spot, and it is
from this journal get my date-Jan. "a.
/ 1S4S If further evidence be wanting We
| have 1t. Marshall states that four days
| after the discovery he proceeded to New
Helvetia with. specimens, Now, by refer
| ence to another journal, New Helvetia
! Diary, we find that Marshall arrived at
| Suffers Fort on the evening of the 18th.
Il we reckon the day of discovery as one OF
! the four days allow Marshall one night on
| the way, which Parsons gives him, and
count the 18th one day, we have the oath
| as the date of discovery trebly proved
DISCOVERER OF GOLD.
Historian Bancroft records that James
Wilson Marshall entered the service of John
A. Suffer in July, 1916. Early in the after
noon of Monday, the oath Of January, 1S4S,
while sauntering along the tail race inspect
ing the work. Marshall noticed yellow par
ticles mingled with the excavated earth
which had been washed by the late rains.
He gave it little heed at first, but presently,
seeing more, and some in scales, the thought
| came to him that it was gold. Sending an
Indian to his cabin for a tin plate, he
| washed some of the dirt, separating thereby
/ as much of the dust as Decent piece
would hold; then he went about his bust
ness, stopping a while to ponder on the
matter
/ or twice, quietly, somewhat doubtingly,
Boys. | believe / have found a gold mine:
| / reckon not was the response; no such
t luck. Up DGIlIlcS uGAL UlOIHlHS, dCCOIuIIlS
to his custom. he walked down by the race
to see the effect of the nights sluicing. The
| headgate being closed at daybreak, as
| usual. other motives prompted his investi-
| cation, as may be supposed. and led to
| closer examination of the debris On reach
/ ing the end of the race a glitter from be-
meath the water caught his eye, and bend
| Ing down, he picked from it's Judgment
/ agains- projection of soft granite some six
| inches below the surface, Il larger piece of
| yellow substance than any. he had seen.
| If gold, it was in value equal to about one
| half dollar.
| throb. Could it indeed be gold? Or was it
! only mica, or sulphuret of copper, or other
| ignis fatuus? Marshall was no metallur-
| list, yet he bad practical sense enough to
! know that gold is heavy and malleable, so
| he turned it over and weighed 1t III his
| hand then he bit it; then he hammered it
between two stones. 1t must be gold. And
| the mighty secret of the Sierras stood re-
| veaed'
Marshall, we are told, took the matter
coolly; he was a cool enough man, except
where his pet lunacy was touched. On FUR
Their examination he found more of the
showed it to them, and they collected some
three ounces of it, flaky and in grains the
largest piece not quite as large as a pea,
and from that down to less than a pinhead
in size. Half of this he put in his pouch
and two days later mounted his horse and
rode over to the fort.
It was late in the afternoon of Jan. 2S
when Marshall dismounted at New Helvetia
and entered the office where Suffer was
busy writing and abruptly requested pri-
waite interview. The horseman was dripping
wet, for it was raining. Wondering what
could have happened as but the day before
he had sent to the mill all that was re-
quired. Suffer led the way into his private
room.
Are you alone?'
yes" was the reply.
did you lock the door?"
mo, but [ will If you wish 1t.
81 want two bowls of water" said Mar
shall. Suffer rang the bell and the bowls
ND w
what do you want of all these things.
Marshall?'
TO make scales"
But / have scales enough in the apothe-
cary shop" said Suffer, and he brought
emptied the contents into his hand and held
Ii before Suffers eyes. remarking, II be-
lieve this is gold, but the people at the mill
laughed at me and called me crazy
Suffer examined the stuff attentively and
frally said 1T certainly looks like it; we
will try it" First aquafortS was applied
and the substance stood the test. Next 50 in
and balanced by the gold dust in the other.
Both were then immersed in water, when
down went the dust and up the silver coin.
Finally a volume of the American Encyclo-
pedia of which the fort contained a copy
was brought out and the article of gold
ished
Marshall proposed that Suffer should re-
turn with him TO the mill that tight, but the
latter declined, saying he would be over the
next day. 1t was now supper time and still
drizziing; would not the visitor rest himself
ly and without even waiting to eat he
XyranDpd his about him