Evening journal., 1915-11-17
New News of Yesterday
A Philosopher Despite
Adverse Circumstances
n, HOLLAND

II probably would be impossible TO
change the traditional estimate of the
late General John /. Suffer. for that
has become too firmly established TO
make any modification of it possible.
General Suffers name will remain
additionally as that Of the man upon
whose mill race in California the first
discovery Of gold was made in jan
uary. 1s4s. The popular understand
ing has been and still is that General
Suffer was a pioneer who lived from
hand to mouth after establishing him
self in California in a time when Mex
leo still possessed sovereignty over
California. Many persons have pic
tured him as a solitary pioneer strug-
Cling with something like poverty.
General Suffer was a man Of edu-
cation. of very attractive personality,
and. although born in Germany. was
of Swiss parntage, being distinguished
by many OF the characteristics OF the
Swiss. His was a fiourishing business,
and his sawmill was only an incident
TO it. Il is true that the discovery OF
gold upon his place was misfortune.
He gained no benefit from it, but lost
substantially all that be possessed in
California. II was not a day when
law prevailed, but, instead. violence.
and predatory hordes thronged his
place and practically drove him out
of It,
l was talking with several citizens
of California who came to Washing
ton in 1888 about some Of the early
features of the establishment OF gov
eminent in California, and in that
conversation the name of General SUIT
ter was mentioned.
"Sutter had the highest kind OF
courage, for il was both moral and
physical" said one Of these men. "He
fought in such courts as there we're
at that time, and fought persistently
for the protection of his rights. He
spent practically everything he had in
defense of his possessions. / have
heard that his legal expenses cost him
over 100000. but they were practi-
cally fruitless. California, which owed
so much to Suffer, and with some
sense of the injustice which had been
! his lot, granted him a pension, which
was his only means of support But,
although he fought desperately and
constantly, nevertheless no one ever
heard him complain Of his misfor-
] tunes. He knew that the discovery of
gold upon his place had ruined him,
while it had directly or indirectly en-
riched others, but there never was a
murmur from him. H was a true
philosopher, and l can illustrate that
by telling you something that was
narrated to me.
"A friend went to see him at a time
when General Suffer was living in q
house which he himself built on a
small piece Of land which remained in
his possession. The friend was re.
ceived with hospitality and courtesy
He was shown into the house. II was
built of hardened mud, with possibly
some stone. In it were books anC
other evidences of refinement. Tn,
friend was amazed to see the thick
ness Of the walls. He measured then
and found that they were betweer
three and four feet thick, and he ask
ed General Suffer if there was an,
reason for constructing a house o
such massive proportions. In reply
IN general said that there were tn
best OF reasons. for he had learnel
that II the walls Of house we're thre
leet or more thick in summer tn
heat would be kept out, whereas il
winter the cold would be kept out an
The warmth kept in and il was 70
that reason he had built his house il
that manner"
Copyright. 1915. by E. ]. Edward:
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell o
A Millionaire Miner in the Role o
l I,.tdo