Idaho Springs siftings., 1903-01-10


and district. 1t was written by the
state historian and pioneer mining
man, General Frank Hall. AS this
is the anniversary of the discovery
of the precious metal in the state,
Siftings takes particular pleasure in
reproducing the article in full;
Idaho Springs Siftings is agitat-
ing a movement for the erection of
a splendid monument to the mem
ory of Captain George A. Jackson,
the first discoverer of placer gold i'll
the Rocky mountains proper, upon
the spot where it occurred. 1t is
suggested that the legislature make
a suitable appropriation and that
local effort be enlisted in the cause.
This idea, which is highly COM
mendable, has been fostered by the
recent discovery of the lode which
is presumed to be one of the princi-
pal sources of the placer gold found
on Jackson bar. Whether the
citizens will join the well considered
enterprise by subscribing the requi-
site funds remains to be developed,
but it is pretty certain that the
state law makers will give it no ma
terial aid at the coming session. We
have had many projects for conf
memorating historical characters
and events, but not one of them has
ever come to fruition.
This proposition appeals to me
with peculiar force because l knew
Captain Jackson intimately and OBJ
tanned from his great store of rem
iniscences historical data of the first
importance. In speaking of him as
the original discoverer of gold in
this country, the distinction must
always be borne in mind that his
find occurred in the mountain divi-
sion and that Green Russell, whose
advent was almost simultaneous
with Jackson S, mined only on the
plains along the Platte and Cherry
creek, prior to Gregory's discovery
of quartz veins and placers in Gil
pin, when he appeared with new
party and opened the gulch which
bears his name.
MEMORIES OF JACKSON.
Jackson was a tall, thin, raw
boned, slab-sided young fellow, a
Missourian by birth, who had no
love for the restraints of towns and
cities. In a large degree he was
self-educated. He was gifted by
nature with a fine rugged constitu-
tion and brain susceptible of cul-
tivation, if given the chance. Until
rather late in life he had few oppor-
tunities for reading and study The
trend of his mind was toward ex-
ploration of the wildernesses of the
West, in which the greater part of
his life was passed. The fact that
wild Indians stood i'll the way of
the free indulgence of his ruling
passing, never deferred him for an
instant. He had his rifle and navy
skies for self protection and he was
a dead shot with all kinds of fire
arms. 1t is my impression that he
never feared anything or anybody.
If called upon to shoot, he shot to
kill, and invariably, like David
Harum, got there fust. -
In my first interview with him l
asked, How did you come to dis
cover gold on Jackson 'bar?" You
see, I had done some sluicing there
in the very early days and was cur
ious to learn the particulars of that
interesting episode. The narrative
ran in this wise, as my memory
serves me:
"Well, you see, l went out to
California with the pioneers of the
Pacific gold craze and there learned
the signs. l left there in 1857, re-
turning to my home in Glasgow
Missouri. In the spring of 1858 l
wandered out to the Rocky noun
tains on hunting and trapping ex-
pedition, and at length struck old
Fort Laramie, which was not only
a military post, but a general rem
devious of the Indians, hunters and
trappers working for one or another
of the big fur companies. Later 1
came down with a party bringing
goods to trade with the Indians at
old John Smiths trading post on
Cha,rv creek In the Dartv were