It was late in the afternoon of the 28th of January
when Marshall dismounted at New Helvetia,^^ entered
the office where Sutter was busy writing, and abruptly
requested a private interview. The horseman was
dripping wet, for it was raining. Wondering what
could have happened, as but the day before he had
sent to the mill all that was required, Sutter led the
way into a private room. "Are you alone ?" demanded
the visitor. '* Yes," was the reply. " Did you lock
the door?" "No, but I will if you wish it." "I
want two bowls of water," said Marshall. Sutter
rang the bell and the bowls were brought. " Now I
want a stick of redwood, and some twine, and some
sheet copper." " What do you want of all these
things, Marshall 1 " " To make scales." " But I have
scales enough in the apothecary's shop," said Sutter;
and he brought a pair. Drawing forth his pouch,
Marshall emptied the contents into his hand, and held
it before Sutter's eyes, remarking, " I believe this is
gold; but the people at the mill laughed at me and
' called me crazy." Sutter, examined the stuff atten-
tively, and finally said : " It certainly looks like it; we
will try it." First aquafortis was applied; and the
substance stood the test. Next three dollars in silver
coin were put into one of the scales, and balanced by
gold-dust in the other. Both were then imuiersed in
water, when down went the dust and up the silver coin.
Finally a volume of the American iJncijclopcedia, of
which the fort contained a copy, was brought ont, and
the article on gold carefully studied, whereupon all
doubts vanished.^
'^ Dunbar, Romance of the Age^ 48, dates the arrival at the fort Feb. 2d, and intimates that tiie discovery was made the same mommg. According to Parsons, Marshall reached the fort about 9 o'clock in the morning, having left Coloina the day before, and ])as8ed the preceding night under a tree. On the journey he discovered gold in a ravine in the footiiills, and also at the place afterward called Mormon Island, while examining the river for a lumber-yard site. Life of MarnhUl^ 84. Sutter, however, both in his Diary and in his liem- iniscejicea^ says that Marshall arrivetl at the fort in the afternoon. Marshall himself makes no mention of discovering gold on the journey.
'■'* iSutter's Pers. Re.m.^ MS., 163-7. In my conferences with Sutter, at Litiz, I endeavored to draw from him every detail respecting the interview here
