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covery of gold in Australia as well as in California. The story goes that an Englishman, named Hargraves, caine one day to the Coloma mill for lumber. He seemed specially in a bad humor, for he was cursing California, and the people, and lauding to 'eaven hevery thing, Haustralian and Henglish. Marshall let him go on for a while without saying a word. Finally he broke out:

"See here, my friend!" if you don't like this country, why do you come here? Nobody invites you. Nobody will cry if you take yourself off. Go home. and dig gold. I warrant you I could find the stuff in Australia.' The speaker, beginning sharply, had gradually, almost unconsciously dropped into a meditative strain.

The man took it up in earnest. Marshall was a great character thereabout; he had found gold in California, and surely he must know if it was in Australia.

"Do you really think so?" asked Hargraves. "I am sure of it," said Marshall.

"If I thought so I would go." And he went. And for the millions of pounds sterling turned by this means into the British treasury, he received from the British government £5,000, and from the Australian government £10,000, while Marshall from his ungrateful country received nothing.

Everybody was busy and cheerful at the Coloma mill on the afternoon of the 24th of January 1848, for the heavy rains which had threatened to destroy the dam during the first half of the month had ceased, and the danger was past. There were several of the Battalion boys here at work in various ways. They had come hither, last from the half-completed flouring-mill at Brighton; and such had been their sufferings during their terrible march from Council Bluff and Santa Fé, as to make the double pine-log-andclapboarded cabin seem exceedingly comfortable, and

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the grizzly bears, and wolves, and wild Indians more companionable than civilized man with his detestable prejudices and tyrannies. Present assisting on the works were eight good Indians from New Helvetia, and because they would not speak when spoken to, the valley people did not like their brethren of the mountains, but called them mala gente, and wanted to kill them.

Weimer and his aboriginal mechanics were industriously employed in the lower part of the race, which by this time was nearly deep enough at that end. Up near the place where the mill-wheel was to be Bigler was drilling into an obstinate boulder. Bennett and Scott were working at the bench; Stephens and Barger were hewing timber; Smith and Johnson were felling trees. Near the men's cabin, and close by where Bigler was blasting, Brown was whipsawing with an Indian. This heathen was greatly interested in affairs, and worked with a will; for he had been told that this machine when finished would saw out boards of its own volition; whereat he had responded that it was a lie. It was as good as a play to see this fellow when the mill was first started run

ning. He was " completely beaten," Bigler says. "He lay on his belly, where he could have a fair view from the bank, but near the saw; and he lay there for two hours watching it. He was taken with it, and said it was wano-Indian Spanish for buenoand wanted to be a sawyer right away.'

Brown and Bigler were amusing themselves, while at their work, by quizzing the doubting aboriginal in the saw-pit respecting supernatural agency in the handling of saw-logs, when they were approached by a young Indian who requested them to get him a tin plate, at once, for Mr Marshall, who was at the lower end of the race with Weimer. Brown jumped off from the log, and brought from the cabin the plate, wondering meanwhile what Marshall could want with the thing. When about to quit work for the night,

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Marshall came up and said, "Boys, I believe I have found a gold mine." The remark produced no startling effect upon his hearers, and Marshall walked off to his house on the mountain-side which he had lately built for himself. Later Marshall visited the men's cabin, and again remarked that he was almost sure he had found gold at the lower end of the race. Then he said, "Brown, I want you and Bigler to shut down the head-gate early in the morning. Throw in a little saw-dust, rotten leaves, and dirt; make all tight, and we will see what will come of it."

The men do as they had been told. And while they are at breakfast Marshall goes down to the millrace alone. After breakfast the men come out, and each betakes himself to his work. Presently Marshall appears, his old white hat within his arm, looking wonderfully pleased. A smile overspreads his face, and the boys know that it means something unusual. Coming nearer, slowly, quietly, yet in heavy depth of tone he speaks: "Boys, by God, I've got it;" and he places his hat down on a bench in the mill-yard. All gather round to see what it is; and there, sure enough, on the top of the crown, knocked in a little, lies the worshipful metal. There is about half an ounce of it, in flakes and grains, from the smallest particle to pieces as large as a kernel of wheat or larger, and though not one of the party has ever before seen gold in its native state, there is no longer a skeptic among them. Azariah Smith draws from his pocket a five-dollar piece, part of his military pay, and compares it with the dust. There seems to be little difference in color or weight; the coin is somewhat lighter in tint, which is accounted for by reason of its alloy. Not a very crucial test, but all sufficient at this juncture.

Led by Marshall, all now hasten down the race, and soon are absorbed in picking from the seams and crevices the precious metal. They conclude that the deposit is rich; and from this time the fever

sets in. Further tests are applied, for trembling doubts will arise, and some is thrown into vinegar, and some is boiled in Mrs Weimer's soap kettle. Enjoining secrecy Marshall takes some of the gold and goes with it to the fort to have it further tested. And when he returns thus he delivers himself: "Oh boys! it's the pure stuff." Then he goes on to relate his adventure: "I and the Old Cap" for so he calls Sutter, "went into a room and locked ourselves up. And we were half a day trying it. And the regulars there wondered what the devil was up. They thougl.t perhaps I had found quicksilver, as the woman did down toward Monterey. Well! we compared it with the Encyclopedia, and it agreed with it; we applied aqua fortis but it would have nothing to do with it. Then we weighed it in water; we took scales with silver coin in one side balanced by the dust in the other, and gently let them down into a basin of water; and the gold went down and the silver up." And he motions the manner of it with his hands. "That told the story what it was," he concludes.

Marshall reported further that Sutter would soon be there, and examine into the matter for himself. Sure enough, next day Marshall entered the men's cabin and said, "Boys, the Old Cap has come; he is up at my house. Now I will tell you what we will do. You know, he always carries his bottle. Let us each throw in and give Henry some gold, and in the morning, when you shut down the head-gate, let him take it down and sprinkle it over the base rock; and when the Old Gent comes down, and sees it lying there, he will be so excited that he will out with his bottle and treat all hands." It was agreed; the salting was done and while the men were at breakfast next morning they saw Sutter, with Marshall and Weimer on either side of him, coming down to the mill. Sutter was dressed with care as became the owner of square leagues, and the commander of a fortress, and he walked with a cane. The men stepped out into the

'mill-yard, and heartily and respectfully greeted their employer, who invited them to join the party in a walk down the race. While on the way one of Weimer's little boys ran on in advance of them, and seeing the shining substance so temptingly displayed, the pest picked up nearly every particle of it, and came running back almost out of breath, and crying, "Father! Father! See what I have found!" Marshall and his men each to heaven breathed a silent curse on that innocent head for having spoiled their fun. Sutter, seeing it, struck his cane into the ground and exclaimed, "By Jo! its rich." The boy had left unrifled the seams, and crevices, and gravel deposits, and the men after all had an exciting time of it goldpicking, Sutter among the rest.

ness.

There is little wonder the statements are conflicting when no one saw it all, and each was able to describe correctly only those parts of which he was an eye witAnd after innumerable repetitions and disputings, confusion arose. Some even denied that Marshall was the first discoverer at Coloma, but this assertion is not worthy of consideration. Then there was a controversy over the first piece found, and what became of it, more senseless than the rest. Sutter, at Litiz, showed me a ring upon which was engraved on the outside his coat of arms, and on the inside. "The first gold discovered in January 1848." And yet it was not, speaking with exactness, the first gold discovered; for Sutter says in his statement that some of it he picked up himself, and some was given him by the men then present. The ring weighed an ounce and a half. Then Mrs Weimer claimed to have had in her possession for many years the very first piece picked up, and which Marshall gave her. This cannot be true, as according to Marshall's testimony the first piece weighed fifty cents, whereas Mrs Weimer's piece was equal to five dollars and twelve cents. It is safe to conclude that the destiny of this first piece is lost to history.