proximate, he was sensible and skilful; in the obscure
and remote, he was utterly lost. In temper it was
so; with his companions and subordinates he was
free and friendly; with his superiors and the world
at large he was morbidly ill-tempered and surly.**
He was taciturn, with visionary ideas, linked to
spiritualism^ that repelled confidence^ and made him
appear eccentric and morbid; he was restless, yet
capable of self-denying perseverance that was fre-
quently stamped as obstinacy.*^
Early in the afternoon of Monday, the 24th** of
'^For example, Bigler, who worked under him, says of him, Diary , MS., 57, *An entire stranger to us, but proved to be a gentleman;* and again, 72, ' in a first-rate good humor, as he most always was. ' He was a truthful man, so far as he knew the tmth. ' Whatever Mr Marshall tells you, you may rely on as correct,' said the people of Coloma to one writing in Hutching^ mag.^ ii. 201. This is the impression he made on his men. On the other hand, Sut« ter, who surely knew him well enough, and would be the last person to malign any one, says to the editor of the Lancdster Examiner: * Marshall was like a crazy man. He was one of thoser visionary men who was always dream- ing about something.' And to me Sutter remarked: ' He was a vei^ curious man, quarrelled with nearly everybody, though I could get along with him.' Pera. If em., MS., 160.
^^ Passionate, he was seldom violent; strong, he was capable of drinkinff deeply and coming well out of it; but he did not care much for the pleasures m intoxication, nor was he the drunkard and gambler that some have called him. He was not always actuated by natural causes. Once in a restaurant in San Francisco, in company with Sutter, he broke out: 'Are we alone?' ^Yes,' Sutter said. ' No, we are not,' Marshall replied, * there is a body there which you cannot see, but which I can. I have been inspired by heaven to act as a medium, and I am to tell Major-Greneral Sutter what to do.' But though foolish in some directions, he was in others a shrewd observer. Sutter, Pers. Rem., MS., 160, and Bidwell, Cal. I84I-8, MS., 228, both praise him as a mechanic; and though in some respects a fool, ho is still called ' an honest man.' Barstow's Stat., MS., 14; S. F. Alia CaL., Aug. 17, 1874. To dress, naturally, he paid but little attention. He was frequently seen in white linen trousers, buckskin leggings and moccasons, and Mexican sombrero.
^*The 19th of January is toe date usually given; but I am satisfied it is incorrect. There are but two authorities to choose between, Marshall, the discoverer, and one Henry W. Bigler, a Mormon engaged ui>on the work at the time. Besides confusion of mind in other respects, Marshall admits that he does not know the date. * On or about the 19th of January, ' he says, Jfittchinfjn* Mcujazine, ii. 200; * I am not quite certain to a day, but it was between the 18th or 20th. ' Whereupon the 19th has been generally accepted. Bigler, on the other hand, was a cool, clear-headed, methodical man; more- over, he kept a journal, in which he entered occurrences on the spot, and it is from this journal I get my date. If further evidence be wanting, we have it. Marshall states tiiat four days after the discovery he proceeded to New Helvetia with specimens. Now, by reference to another journal, N. Helvetia Diary, we find that Marshall arrived at the fort on the evening of the 28th. If we reckon the day of discovery as one of the four days, allow Marshall one
