About the middle of March, P.B.  Reading, an American, now a prominent and wealthy citizen of the State, then the owner of a large ranch on the western bank of the Sacramento River, near where it issues from the mountains, came to Coloma, and after looking about at the diggings, said that if similarity in the appearance of the country could be taken as a guide there must be gold in the hills near his ranch; and he went off, declaring his intention to go back and make an examination of them.  John Bidwell, another American, now a wealthy and influential citizen, then residing on his ranch on the bank of Feather River, came to Coloma about a week later, and he said there must be gold near his ranch, and he went off with expressions similar to those used by Reading.  In a few weeks news came that Reading had found diggings near Clear Creek, at the head of the Sacramento Valley, and was at work there with his Indians; and not long after, it was reported that Bidwell was at work with his Indians on a rich bar of Feather River, since called “Bidwell’s Bar.”

Although Bennett had arrived at San Francisco in February with some of the dust, the editors of the town—­for two papers were published in the place at the time—­did not hear of the discovery till some weeks later.  The first published notice of the gold appeared in the Californian (published in San Francisco) on March 15th, as follows:  “In the newly made raceway of the sawmill recently erected by Captain Sutter, on the American Fork, gold has been found in considerable quantities.  One person brought thirty dollars’ worth to New Helvetia, gathered there in a short time.  California, no doubt, is rich in mineral wealth; great chances here for scientific capitalists.  Gold has been found in almost every part of the country.”

Three days later the California Star, the rival paper, gave the following account of the discovery:  “We were informed a few days since that a very valuable silver-mine was situated in the vicinity of this place, and, again, that its locality was known.  Mines of quicksilver are being found all over the country.  Gold has been discovered in the northern Sacramento districts, about forty miles above Sutter’s Fort.  Rich mines of copper are said to exist north of these bays.”

Although these articles were written two months after the discovery, it is evident that the editors had heard only vague rumors, and attached little importance to them.  The Star of March 25th says:  “So great is the quantity of gold taken from the new mine recently found at New Helvetia that it has become an article of traffic in that vicinity.”

None of the gold had been seen in San Francisco; but at Sutter’s Fort men had begun to buy and sell with it.