News of Gold Reaches San Francisco

He, too, went to work and, being an excellent prospector, he was of great service in teaching the newcomers the principles of prospecting and mining for gold.

Continuing Gold Discovered in California,
our selection from Mining in the Pacific States of North America by John S. Hittell published in 1861. The selection is presented in four easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Gold Discovered in California.

Time: 1848
Place: Sutters Mill in Colomal, California

Mr. Humphrey had not been at work more than three or four days before a Frenchman, called Baptiste, who had been a gold-miner in Mexico for many years, came to the mill and he agreed with Humphrey that California was very rich in gold. He, too, went to work and, being an excellent prospector, he was of great service in teaching the newcomers the principles of prospecting and mining for gold — principles not abstruse, yet not likely to suggest themselves at first thought to men entirely ignorant of the business. Baptiste had been employed by Captain Sutter to saw lumber with a whipsaw and had been at work for two years at a place, since called Weber, about ten miles eastward from Coloma. When he saw the diggings at the latter place, he at once said there were rich mines where he had been sawing and he expressed surprise that it had never occurred to him before, so experienced in gold-mining as he was; but he afterward said it had been so ordered by Providence, that the gold might not be discovered until California should be in the hands of the Americans.

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.

The next number of the Star, bearing date April 1, 1848, contained an article several columns long, written by Doctor V.J. Fourgeaud, on the resources of California. He devoted about a column to the minerals and in the course of his remarks said: “It would be utterly impossible at present to make a correct estimate of the mineral wealth of California. Popular attention has been but lately directed to it. But the discoveries that have already been made will warrant us in the assertion that California is one of the richest mineral countries in the world. Gold, silver, quicksilver, iron, copper, lead, sulphur, saltpetre and other mines of great value have already been found. We saw a few days ago a beautiful specimen of gold from the mine newly discovered on the American Fork. From all accounts the mine is immensely rich and already we learn the gold from it collected at random and without any trouble has become an article of trade at the upper settlements. This precious metal abounds in this country. We have heard of several other newly discovered mines of gold but as these reports are not yet authenticated we shall pass over them. However, it is well known that there is a placer of gold a few miles from Los Angeles and another on the San Joaquin.”

It was not until more than three months after Marshall’s discovery that the San Francisco papers stated that gold-mining had become a regular and profitable business in the new placers. The Californian of April 26th said: “From a gentleman just from the gold region we learn that many new discoveries of gold have very recently been made and it is fully ascertained that a large extent of country abounds with that precious mineral. Seven men, with picks and spades, gathered one thousand six hundred dollars worth in fifteen days. Many persons are settling on the lands with the view of holding preëmptions but as yet every person takes the right to gather all he can without any regard to claims. The largest piece yet found is worth six dollars.”

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