The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-10
STORY OF GOLD
FIND Is BRIEF
Discovery of Precious Metal
In Suffers Sawmill Was
Almost Buried in the
Californian
BY ARTHUR L. PRICE

\ N these days, when the most peni-
tent bigamist can demand a column
or more Of newspaper space in which
to exploit his winning ways or the fib
of a woman can prolong the first
page" value of a morgue story beyond
It's natural life. it is interesting to turn
time backward in its files and find
how the biggest newspaper STORY"
that every broke in California was
handled by the safe, sane and conser-
waited editors of its day.
There should be little dispute over
what was the biggest California news
paper story. The discovery of Cali
fornia, like the birth of a man, was the
most important thing that ever hap
pened; but in the times OF birth or dis
coyery the object is always too youth
full to be interested in the event. Any
way, there were no newspapers when
California was discovered, so that his
toric event can not be called a news
paper story" Maybe the Portola
committee will arrange for its repub-
LEGATION and then we can write up the
discovery.
The fire of April. 1905. was ire
mendous event. the biggest newspaper
STORY" of this generation, but its eff
fects are rapidly being effaced.
There was still a greater story, the
immediate recording of an event which
was of the most momentous import to
49, s+a+a. of on avapt xubicb has con.
tributed more than any single thing
to make California what 1t Is. And
here is the contemporary newspaper
story of it:
From the Californian, San Francisco.
March Is, 1913, page 2, bottom col
umn 8.
Gold Mine Found.-In the newly
made raceway of the Saw Mill recently
erected by Captain Suffer. on the
American Fork, gold has been found
son brought $50 worth to New Hell
vetia, gathered there in a short
time California, no doubt. is rich
in mineral wealth; great chances here
for scientific capitalists. Gold has been
found in almost every part of the coun-
try"
That item was all but hidden in the
paper, and it took a search of the
newspaper index at the state library
at Sacramento. where State Librarian
tematizing the current history of the
state as it appeared from year to year,
to find the note.
The article was placed under an item
had won a race out near the Mission.
So the horse of w. A. Leidesdorff was
of more contemporary Importance than
was the pick of John Marshall. In
fact, Marshalrs name was not men
toned.
But the public did not seem to treat
the discovery as lightly as did the
editor of the Californian. There were
other stories of the discovery published
later. Here is the next:
From the same paper. May 3. 1913.
page 2, column 2.
Gold Mines of the sacramento
From a gentleman just from the gold
region, we learn that many new dis
coveries have very recently been made
and it is fully ascertained that a large
extent of country abounds with the
precious mineral Seven men, with
picks and spades, gathered $1,000 worth
in Is days. Many persons are settling
upon the lands with view of holding
takes the right to gather all they can,
without any regard to claims. The
largest piece yet found is worth So
Next to that story in position was a
tale of our old friend the whale of
Sausalito. who evidently was as merry
wag in As as he is today. The story
told how this whale had "curtailed"
with a sweep OF his tail the rudder of
a boat
But after that even the placid editor
of the Californian grew excited over
the gold discovery. Hitherto he had
stuck 10 his cases. although about that
time there was a change OF manage
ment of the paper. Two weeks later
the Californian was weekly in those
days-Sar Francisco probably could
not support a daily fortnight later
there was a real story about the gold
rush. The item starts quietly enough,
on the staid authority of the gentle
man recently from the gold region"
but soon becomes exhilarating. 1t fol-
lows:
From the Californian" May II. 1913,
page 2.
THE Gold Mine Again-We have
been informed by a gentleman recently
from the gold region that DIGGING
continues brisk, with a great demand
for spades and pickaxes. The ore is
said to become better and more plenty
as the miners advance up the river. 1t
is found scattered over a surface of 80
miles, and we are told that anywhere
within circuit OF that size. one man
can dig on an average of two ounces a
day. and that 1000 men can find en-
ployment without difficulty. Many per-
sons have already left the coast for
that region, and considerable excite
ment exists in our midst. which bids