Evening star., 1940-03-10

instances, at least, and particularly
so in the case of the old Mades
Hotel which was three-story
frame building and easily could have
been moved elsewhere.
This famous hostelry stood for
many years at the southwest corner
of Pennsylvania avenue and Third
street NV. and was closely identi-
fed with the life of Gen. John Au-
gustus Sutter, in whose millrace gold
was discovered in California in 1848.
Not by Sutter, but by one of his en-
ployes. John w. Marshall. However,
it was this event that led to the
great scramble for wealth, particu-
Iarly in 1849, anG also contributed
greatly in encouraging emigration
to the Far West, ultimately resulting
In the admission of California to the
Union on September 8, 1850.
At this time, Washington went
gold crazy along with the rest of the
country, and glowing reports pub
lished in the National Intelligencer
resulted in formation of party for
the purpose If going to the gold
fields. 1t was agreed at the meeting,
held in hall on E street NV, that
the party should organize on the
principle of military corps, fully
uniformed and equipped, and drilled
as light infantry. The armament of
each member was rifle, pair of
pistols, a bowie-knife, belt hatchet,
a bag of stockings and pair of
blankets. Members paid in $500 each
and with a stock cash capital of
about $25,000 the expedition was
most completely fitted out.
Held Key Positions.
Key positions in the party were
held by j. Goldsborough Bruff, pres
ident and captain; Gideon Brooke,
vice president; Benjamin B. Ed
monston, treasurer; A. H. Parish,
secretary; Henry Austin, surgeon;
Alexander Garrett, ensign, and
James Foy, blacksmith. William H.
Dietz, George A. Young, John Cam
eron, William Jewell, jr., and Ed
ward D. Slye we're members of the
Board of Directors and the following
were privates: Thomas Williams,
John M. Farron, H. j. Queen, George
Byington. j. T. Coumbe, John T.
Dom, Washington Lewis, w. N.
Barker, David Fowble, j. M. Marden,
Stephen Culverwell, Joseph Murphy,
William H. Lloyd, Robert Slight,
thomas j. Grifiths, Oscar B. Queen,
Richard j. CulverWell, L. A. lar
della, Henry Vermillion, Columbus
Mcleod, Thomas P. Kingsbury,
Charles G. Morley, Laurel, Md;
John Bates, Stephen J. Cassin, Will
liam Truman, James A. Ennis,
William Pope, Richard Washington,
Westmoreland County, Va; j. H.
Barker, C. G. Alexander, King
George County, Va; H. Carter
Dorsey and F. P. Windsor, Alex
andria; W. P. Hilleary, Charles
Bishop, F. N. Magruder, John v.
Ennis, j. I. Ennis, James Shaw,
Josiah B. Hills, Thomas B. Scott,
Isaac E. Owen. D. R. Wall, Charles
Fenderich, James Wardell, Augustus
B. Capron, Laurel Md; William
Franklin, Charles Reed, Josiah c.
willis, B. j. Burche, Joseph G. Reilly
and Matthew M. Tapprell.
An old account says: "The COM
pany left here Monday afternoon,
April 2, 1849, and were escorted to
the railroad depot by the Washing
ton Light Infantry, their departure
being witnessed by a multitude of
friends"
Report of Departure.
The National Intelligencer pub
hshed an account of their departure
the next day, saying: "The scene
was in a high degree affecting. The
pioneers proceeded to Pittsburgh,
where wagons, tents, etc., were pro-
cured and a steamer was chartered
to take them to st. Louis, the cargo
having been insured. An odometer
was purchased at St. Louis and at
tached to the wheel of wagon by
which the travelled distances were
measured. A diary of events, me-
neurological observations, etc., was
kept by the commander. Numerous
Indians were encountered on the
route, among them the Pawnees,
Sioux, Cheyennes, Crows, Shoshones
or Snakes and the Piutes, or as they
term themselves, the Pi-u-tahs."
Capt. Bruff was a native Wash
ingtonian, having been born in one
of the "Six Buildings"-2107-21l7
Pennsylvania avenue NV. He was
for many years a draughtsman and
designer in the architects Office,
Treasury Department.. In 1867 he
Joined the Association Of the Oldest
Inhabitants and became actively in
terested in its afftirs, serving as