ELDORADO 157 



CHAPTER XVin. 



CAPTAIN SUTTER— THE GOLD DISCOVERY. 



Captain Sutter was formerly an officer in the Swiss 

 guard of Charles X of France. After the revolution 

 of 1830 in that country, he came to America and lived 

 for a time in Missouri, emigrating to California in 

 1837. Soon afterwards he obtained the two grants of 

 land from Mexico to which I have referred. His little 

 adobe fort was built as a defense in the event of In- 

 dian troubles, but was never needed for that purpose, 

 as he was a large employer of Indians, and always 

 lived on the most peaceful terms with them. The fort 

 was practically his home, where he lived and enter- 

 tained his friends and guests. It stood alone, as it 

 stands today, (well preserved), two miles from the 

 city. General Bidwell, Sam Brannan and other pio- 

 neer "boys'' who afterwards became millionaires and 

 an honor to the State, were employed there before the 

 discovery of gold. Fremont. Carson, Walker, a host 

 of mountaineers and scientists, all alike found welcome 

 and good cheer within those old adobe walls. It is a 

 pleasant recollection that T passed this historic spot 

 weekly for a number of years, going to and from Sac- 

 ramento and sometimes partaking of its hospitalitv. 

 I last visited it in September, 1900, at the time of the 



