brought with me a couple of howitzers, from which one
night, when these thieves were hemming me in on all
sides, I discharged a shell right over their heads.
The mere sight of it, when it bursted, was sufficient
to give them a very respectful notion of the fighting
means at my command. But though this saved me
from any direct attack, it did not secure me against
having my horses and cattle stolen on every convenient
occasion.” The Captain went on to say, that
he at last brought the Indians pretty well under control;
and that, by promises of articles of clothing, they
became willing to work for him. He took good
care to trust very few of them with rifles or powder
and shot. Nearly every brick in the buildings
of the Fort, he tells me, was made by the Indians,
who, moreover, dug all the ditches dividing his wheat-fields.
These ditches are very necessary, to prevent the large
number of cattle and horses on the farm from straying
among the crops.
On our way to the house, I got the Captain to speak
to the head blacksmith about our horses, after which
we went in to breakfast, when I saw his wife and daughter
for the first time. They are both very ladylike
women, and both natives of France. During the
meal, I found Captain Sutter communicative on the
subject of the discovery of the gold mines, which
I was very glad of, as I was anxious to learn the
true particulars of the affair, respecting which so
many ridiculous stories had been circulated.
One was to the effect that the mines had been discovered
by the Mormons, in accordance with a prophecy made
by the famous Joe Smith. Another tale was, that
the Captain had seen the apparition of an Indian chief,
to whom he had given a rifle (the possession of which
he only lived three months to enjoy, having been trampled
down by a buffalo in the neighbourhood of the Rocky
Mountains, on his way with his tribe to make an attack
on the Pawnees), when the ghost in question told the
Captain that he would make him very rich, and begged
that, with this promised cash, the Captain would immediately
buy a ship-load of rifles, and present one to every
member of his tribe. Such were the absurd stories
circulated. The true account of the discovery
I here give, as near as I can recollect, in the Captain’s
own words.
Captain Sutter’s account of the
first discovery of the gold
His surprise at Mr. Marshall’s appearance
at the Fort
Mr.
Marshall’s statement
The mill-wheel thrown out of gear
The water channel enlarged
Mr. Marshall’s attention attracted
by some glittering substance
Finds it to be gold
First imagines it to have been buried
there
Discovers it in great abundance
Takes horse to Sutter’s Fort
Captain Sutter and Mr. Marshall agree
to keep the matter secret
They start off to the mill
Proceed up the Fork
Find the gold in great abundance
Return to the mill
