Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/56



It was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  28th  of  January when Marshall  dismounted  at  New  Helvetia,^^  entered the office  where  Sutter  was  busy  writing,  and  abruptly requested a  private  interview. The horseman  was dripping wet,  for  it  was  raining. Wondering what could have  happened,  as  but  the  day  before  he  had sent to  the  mill  all  that  was  required,  Sutter  led  the way into  a  private  room. "Are you  alone ?" demanded the visitor. '* Yes,"  was  the  reply.  "  Did  you  lock the door?"  "No,  but  I  will  if  you  wish  it."  "I want two  bowls  of  water,"  said  Marshall.  Sutter rang  the  bell  and  the  bowls  were  brought.  "  Now  I want  a  stick  of  redwood,  and  some  twine,  and  some sheet copper."  "  What  do  you  want  of  all  these things, Marshall  1 "  "  To  make  scales."  "  But  I  have scales enough  in  the  apothecary's  shop,"  said  Sutter; and  he  brought  a  pair.  Drawing  forth  his  pouch, Marshall  emptied  the  contents  into  his  hand,  and  held it  before  Sutter's  eyes,  remarking,  "  I  believe  this  is gold;  but  the  people  at  the  mill  laughed  at  me  and ' called  me  crazy."  Sutter,  examined  the  stuff  atten- tively, and  finally  said :  "  It  certainly  looks  like  it;  we will  try  it."  First  aquafortis  was  applied;  and  the substance  stood  the  test.  Next  three  dollars  in  silver coin  were  put  into  one  of  the  scales,  and  balanced  by gold-dust  in  the  other.  Both  were  then  imuiersed  in water,  when  down  went  the  dust  and  up  the  silver  coin. Finally  a  volume  of  the  American  iJncijclopcedia,  of which  the  fort  contained  a  copy,  was  brought  ont,  and the  article  on  gold  carefully  studied,  whereupon  all doubts  vanished.^

'^ Dunbar,  Romance  of  the  Age^  48,  dates  the  arrival  at  the  fort  Feb.  2d, and intimates  that  tiie  discovery  was  made  the  same  mommg. According to Parsons,  Marshall  reached  the  fort  about  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  left Coloina the  day  before,  and  ])as8ed  the  preceding  night  under  a  tree.  On  the journey  he  discovered  gold  in  a  ravine  in  the  footiiills,  and  also  at  the  place afterward  called  Mormon  Island,  while  examining  the  river  for  a  lumber-yard site.  Life  of  MarnhUl^  84.  Sutter,  however,  both  in  his  Diary  and  in  his  liem- iniscejicea^  says  that  Marshall  arrivetl  at  the  fort  in  the  afternoon.  Marshall himself  makes  no  mention  of  discovering  gold  on  the  journey.

'■'* iSutter's  Pers. Re.m.^ MS.,  163-7. In my  conferences  with  Sutter,  at  Litiz, I endeavored  to  draw  from  him  every  detail  respecting  the  interview  here