Evening journal., 1912-06-24
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The First Quartz Gold From
the Golden State
BI Holland


Fernando Wood. thrice mayor OF
New York City, the first time in 1854,
and seven times elected to Congress,
the first time when he was only 2S
years of age, was born in June, 1912,
just one hundred years ago, his
birthday being the very day on which
the administration of James Madison
declared war against Great Britain.
After Mr. woou mad finished his
first term in Congress, from 1S41 to
1S43. he determined not again to en-
ter political life until he had gained a
fortune. the income of which would
be sufficient TO make him independent
Of any emergencies or accidents of
politics He became a shipping mer-
chant, and that vocation he expected
to follow for years; but suddenly
and in the course of one year, he
gained the fortune he had started af-
ter because he was able to take ad-
vantage of the first news which
reached the Atlantic coast Of the dis
covery OF gold In California.
In September. 1S4S, a warm per-
sonal friend of Mr. Wood commune
Gated to him privately the news that
Lieutenant Beale of the United States
army had brought official informa-
ton to Washington of the discovery
Of gold in California. Within a few
days Mr. Wood hod equipped a brig,
of which he was the owner. and
which. fortunately. happened 10 be in
&c In, rrsffh
kind of apparatus and tool which
would be of value to miners.
"Captai said Mr. Wood. to the
master of the brig. Il want you to
get TO San Francisco before anyone
else does. If you do, you can sell
these pickaxes. slaves and other
things for any price you are willing
to ask j"
The captain made the Golden Gate
ahead of all competitors. and the re-
suit justified Mr. Woods prediction.
the whole cargo being sold in a few
DAYS at prices which in the aggre-
gate represented a large fortune. at
least as fortunes we're estimated at
that time
The captain was paid for his mer-
chandise in gold He had to take II
in the form Of dust. nuggets and
quartz. There WAS no other money,
except little Spanish silver. in cir
culation in California AZ that time
One of the prospectors who
bought pickaxes and shovels of the
captain offered TO the captain a
piece of quartz about as big as an ap-
ole. and scanned and specked with
fr r@f1 ~
quartz taken out Of the mines near
Sutter Mills. where gold was first
discovered" he said
The captain made a rough esti
mme of the value of the piece Of
quartz and accepted It in part pay
ment Of the purchase Upon his re-
turn to New York he placed this par
ticular specimen in Mr. Woods
hands. saying. That is the first piece
Of quartz taken out of the California
gold mines. All the gold taken out
of the ground before was in the form
of dust OF nuggets"
"If that is So said Mr.. Wood, II
shall keep this specimen as a memen-
to II is worth preserving. II mist
never be crushed. II is more than a
curiosity. II Identifies an epoch"
This particular specimen of gold
quartz, the first specimen Of Cali
fornia gold quartz TO be brought 10
the Atlantic seaboard. since the cap
tain did not show the other quartz
he had taken in payment for his car
60 until he had given to Mr.. Wood
the cherished specimen, is still in the
possession Of the Wood family II is
carefully treasured by son, Joseph
L. r Wood. who now lives in Europe,
and who occasionally shows II to
those whom he entertains at his home
Copyright 1912, by E. J. Edwards.
All rights reserved
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell Of
"The Letter That Phillips Brooks
Valued Most Of All