January, 1848, while sauntering along the tail-race
inspecting the work, Marshall noticed yellow particles
mingled with the excavated earth which had been
washed by the late rains. He gave it little heed at
first; but presently seeing more, and some in scales,
the thought occurred to him that possibly it might be
gold. Sending an Indian to his cabin for a tin plate,
he washed out some of the dirt, separating thereby as
much of the dust as a ten-cent piece would hold ; then
he went about his business, stopping a while to ponder
on the matter. During the evening he remarked
once or twice quietly, somewhat doubtingly, " Boys, I
believe I have found a gold mine." '*I reckon not."
was the response; "no such luck."
Up betimes next morning, according to his custom, he walked down by the race to see the effect of the night's sluicing, the head-gate being closed at day- break as usual. Other motives prompted his investi- gation, as may be supposed, and led to a closer exam- ination of the ddbris. On reaching the end of the race a glitter from beneath the water caught his eye, and bending down he picked from its lodgement against a projection of soft granite, some six inches below the surface, a larger piece of the yello\V^ sub- stance than any he had seen. If gold, it was in value equal to about half a dollar. As he examined it his heart began to throb. Could it indeed be gold ! Or was it only mica, or sulphuret of copper, or other ignis fatuusi Marshall was no metallurgist, yet he had practical sense enough to know that gold is heavy and malleable; so he turned it over, and weighed it in his hand; then he bit it; and then he hammered it between two stones. It must be gold ! And the mighty secret of the Sierra stood revealed I
Marshall took the matter coolly; he was a cool enough man except where his pet lunacy was touched. On further exammation he found more of the metal.
night on the way, which Parsons gives him, and coant the 2$tbi.0Qe day, we
liave the 24th as the date oi discovery, trebly proved. MuT, Cjm., Vol, VL 8
