HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



39 



country had done, from its volcanic formation and 

 peculiar geological features, that they might be found 

 to exist in considerable quantities.* 



As is 'often the case, chance at length accomplished 

 what science had failed to do. In the winter of 

 18478, a Mr. Marshall commenced the construction 

 of a saw-mill for Captain Sutler, on the north branch 

 of the American Fork, and about fifty miles above 

 New Helvetia, in a region abounding with pine timber. 

 The dam and race were completed, but on attempting 

 to put the mill in motion, it was ascertained that the 

 tail-race was too narrow to permit the water to escape 

 with perfect freedom. A strong current was then 

 passed in, to wash it wider and deeper, by which a 

 large bed of mud and gravel was thrown up at the 

 foot of the race. Some days after this occurrence, 

 Mr. Marshall observed a number of brilliant particles 

 on this deposit of mud, which attracted his attention. 

 On examining them, he became satisfied that they 

 were gold, and communicated the fact to Captain 

 Sutler. It was agreed between them, that the cir 

 cumstance should not be made public for the present ; 

 but, like the secret of Midas, it could not be concealed. 

 The Mormon emigrants, of whom Mr. Marshall was 

 one, were soon made acquainted with the discovery, 

 and in a few w r eeks all California was agitated with 

 the starling information. 



* See Farnham's Adventures. Wilkes's and Fremont's Narratives, 

 and Emory's Report. In 184G, Eugenio Macnamara, a Catholic priest 

 and Missionary, obtained a grant of a large tract of land between the 

 San Joaquin and the Sierra Nevada, the Cosumnes and the Tulares 

 in the vicinity of San Gabriel, from Pio Pico, governor of the Califor- 

 nias, for the purpose of establishing upon it a large colony of Irish 

 Catholics ; but the grant was not ratified by the Central Government, 

 and the project was not carried into effect. There is no evidence 

 that Father Macnamara was aware of the existence of gold in the 

 valley of the San Joaquin. 



