Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/68



pose. They had  promised  Sutter  to  stand  by  him  and finish the  saw-mill;  this  they  did,  starting  it  running on the  1 1th  of  March. Henry Bigler  was  still  there. On the  7th  of  April  Bigler,  Stephens,  and  Brown presented themselves  at  the  fort  to  settle  accounts with Sutter,  and  discuss  preliminaries  for  their  jour- ney with their  comrades. The 1st  of  June  was  fixed upon for  the  start. Sutter was  to  be  informed  of their  intention,  that  he  might  provide  other  workmen. Horses, cattle,  and  seeds  were  to  be  bought  from  him ; also two  brass  cannon. Three of  their  number  had to precede  to  pioneer  a  route;  eight tmen  were  ready to start  as  an  overland  express  to  the  States,  as  the loved land  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  then  called. It was not,  however,  until  about  a  month  later  that  the Mormons could  move,  for  the  constantly  increasing gold excitement  disarranged  their  plans  and  drew from their  numbers.

In the  mean  time  the  thrifty  saints  determined  to improve  the  opportunity,  that  they  might  carry  to their  desert  rest  as  nmch  of  the  world's  currency  as possible. On the  1 1th  of  April,  Bigler,  Brown,  and Itephens set  out  on  their  return  to  Coloma,  camping 'fifteen miles  above  the  flouring  mill,  on  a  creek. In the morning  they  began  to  search  for  gold  and  found ten dollars'  worth. Knowing that  others  of  their fraternity were  at  work  in  that  vicinity,  they  followed the stream  upward  and  came  upon  them  at  Mormon Island, where  seven  had  taken  out  that  day  $250.® No little  encouragement  was  added  by  this  hitherto unparalleled yield,  due  greatly  to  an  improvement  in method  by  washing  the  dust-speckled  earth  in  Indian baskets and  bowls,  and  thus  sifting  out  also  finer  parti- cles. Under an  agreement  to  divide  the  product  of

•Tho seven  men  were  Sidney  Willis  and  Wilford  Hudson,  who  had  first found gold  there,  Ira  Willis,  Jesse  B.  Martin,  Ephraim  Green,  Israel  Evans, and James  Sly. In regard  to  the  names  of  the  last  two  Bigler  is  not  positive. Diarif of  a  Mormon^  MS.,  76. See also  Mendocino  Democrat^  Feb.  1,  1872; HUtdVs Mining,  14;  Sherman^ 8  Menu,  i.  r)l;  Gold  Dia.,  ArcoutU  bi^a  Mormon^ in  Hayes*  Col,  Mining,  iii.  8;  Oregon  Bulletin,  Jan.  12,  1872;  Antioch  Ledger^ Feb.  3,  1872;  Findla'a  StcU.,  MS.,  6;  Rom'  Stat.,  MS.,  14.