USA > California > Amador County > History of Amador County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 10
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"As an officer of the Govt. it was my duty to report to the Govt. that Capt. Fremont arrived, Genl. Micheltorena dispatched Lieut. Col. Telles (afterwards Gov. of Sinalo) with Capt., Lient., and 25 Dragoons, to inquire what Captain Fremonts business was here; but he was en route as the arrive only on the 27th, from this time on Exploring,
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Hunting & Trapping parties has been started, at the same time Agricultural & Mechanical business was progressing from Year to year, and more No- tice has been taken, of my establishment, it became even a fame, and some carly Distinguished Travellers like Doctor Sandells, Wasnesensky & others, Cap- tains of Trading Vessels & Super Cargos, & even Californians (after the Indians was subdued) came and paid me a visit, and was astonished to see what for Work of all kinds has been done. Small Emigrant parties arrived, and brought me some very valuable Men, with one of those was Major Bidwell (he was about 4 Years in my employ). Major Reading & Major Hensley with 11 other brave men arrived alone, both of these Gentlemen has been 2 Years in my employ, with these parties excellent Mechanics arrived which was all employed by mc, likewise good farmers. we made imediately Amer. ploughs was made in my Shops and all kind of work done, every year the Russians was bound to furnish me with good iron & Steel & files, Articles which could not be got here likewise Indian Beeds and the most important of all was 100 1b of fine Rifle & 100 1b of Canon powder and several 100 1b of Lead (every year) with these I was careful like with Gold.
"June 3d 1846. I left in company of Major Read- ing, and most all of the Men in my employ, for a Campaign with the Mukclemney Indians, which has been engaged by Castro and his Officers to revolu- tionize all the Indians against me, to Kill all the foreigners, burn their houses, and Wheat fields ctc. These Mukelemney Indians had great promessess and some of them were finely dressed and equiped, and those came apparently on a friendly visit to the fort and Vicinity and long Conversations with the influential Men of the Indians, and one Night a Number of them entered in my Potrero (a kind of closed pasture) and was Ketching horses to drive the whole Cavallada away with them. the Sentinel at the fort heard the distant Noise of these Horses, and gave due notice, & imediately I left with about 6 well armed Men and attacked them, but they could make their escape in the Woods (where Sac. City stands now) and so I left a guard with the horses. As we had to cross the Mukelemney River on rafts, one of these rafts capsized with 10 Rifles, and 6 prs of Pistols, a good supply of Amunition, and the clothing of about 24 Men, and Major Reading & another Man nearly drowned.
"June 16th 1846. Merritt & Kit Carson arrived with News of Sonoma beeing occupied by the Amer- icans, and the same evening arrived as prissoners Genl. Vallejo, Don Salvador Vallejo, Lt. Col. Prudon & M. Leese, and given under my charge and Care, I have treated them with kindness and so good as I could, which was reported to Fremont, and he then told me, that prissoners ought not to be treated so, then I told him, if it is not right how I treat them, to give them in charge of somebody else.
"Capt. Montgomery did send an Amer. flag by Lieut. Revere than in Command of Sonoma, and some dispatches to Fremont, I received the Order to hiss the flag by Sunrise from Lt. Revere, long time before daybreak, I got ready with loading the Canons and when it was day the roaring of the Canons got the people all stirring. Some them made long faces, as they thought if the Bear flag would remain there would be a better chance to rob and plunder. Capt. Fremont received Orders to proceed to Monterey with his forces, Capt. Montgomery provided for the upper Country, established Garri- sons in all important places, Yerba buena, Sonoma,
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HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
San Jose, and fort Sacramento. Lieut. Missroon came to organize our Garrison better and more Numbers of white Men and Indians of my former Soldiers, and gave me the Command of this Fort. The Indians have not yet received their pay yet for their services, only each one a shirt and a pre. of pants, & abt. 12 men got Coats. So went the War on in California. Capt. Fremont was nearly all time engaged in the lower Country and made himself Governor, until Genl. Kearney arrived, when an other Revolution took place. And Fremont for disobeying Orders was made prissoner by Genl. Kearney, who took him afterwards with him to the U. States by Land across the Mountains. After the War I was anxions that Business should go on like before, and on the 28th May, 1847, Marshall & Gingery, two Millwrights, I employed to survey the large Millraise for the Flour Mill at Brighton.
" May 13th, 1847. Mr. Marshall commenced the great work of the large Millraise, with ploughs and scrapers.
"July 20th, 1847. Got all the necessary timber and frame of the millbuilding.
" Augt, 25th. Capt Hart of the Mormon Battaillon arrived, with a good many of his Men on their Way to great Salt Lake, they had Orders for Govt. Horses, which I delivered to them, (War Horses) not paid for yet. They bought provisions and got Blacksmith work done. I employed about Eighty Men of them, some as Mechanics, some as laborers, on the Mill and Millraise at Brighton, some as laborers at the Sawmill at Columa.
" Augt. 28th, 1847. Marshall moved, with P. Wisners family and the working hands to Columa, and began to work briskly on the sawmill.
" Septr. 10th. Mr. Sam'l Brannan returned from the great Salt Lake, and announeed a large Emigra- tion by land. On the 19th the Garrison was removed, Lieut't Per Lee took her down to San francisco.
" Novr, 1th. Getting with a great deal of trouble and with breaking wagons the four Runs of Mill- stones, to the Mill Sit (Brighton) from the Mountains.
"Decembr. 22. Received about 2000 fruit trees with great expenses from Fort Ross, Napa Valley and other places, which was given in Care of men who called themselves Gardeners, and nearly all of the trees was neglected by them and died.
"January 28th, 1848. Marshall arrived in the eve- ning, it was raining very heavy, but he told me that he came on important business, after we was alone in a private Room he showed me the first Specimens of Gold, that is he was not certain if it was Gold or not, but he thoughtit might be; immediately I made the proof and found that it was Gold, I told him even that most of all is 23 Carat Gold; he wished that I should come up with him immediately, but I told him that I have to give first my orders to the people in all my factories and shops.
"February 1th. Left for the Sawmill attended by a Baquero (Olimpio) was absent 2d, 3d, 4th, & 5th, I examined myself everything and picked up a few Specimens of Gold myself in the tail race of the Sawmill, this Gold and others which Marshall and some of the other laborers gave to me (it was found while in my employ and Wages) I told them that I would a ring got made of it so soon as the Goldsmith would be here. I had a talk with my employed people all at the Sawmill, I told them that as they do know now that this Metal is Gold, I wished that they would do me the great favor and keep it seeret only 6 weeks, because my large Flour Mill at Brighton
would have been in Operation in such a time, which undertaking would have been a fortune to me, and unfortunately the people would not keep it secret, and so I lost on this Mill at the lowest calculation about $25,000.
" March 7th. The first party of Mormons, em- ployed by me left for washing and digging Gold and very soon all followed, and left me only the sick and the lame behind. And at this time I could say that every body left me from the Clerk to the Cook. What for great Damages I had to suffer in my tannery which was just doing a profitable and extensive business, and the Vatts was left filled and a quantity of half finished leather was spoiled likewise a large quantity of raw hides collected by the farmers and of my own killing. The same thing was in every branch of business which I carried on at the time. I began to harvest my wheat, while others was digging and washing Gold, but even the Indians could not be keeped longer at Work, they was impatient to run to the mines, and other Indians had informed them of the Gold and its value; and so I had to leave more as & of my harvest in the fields.
" April 18th, 1848, more curious people arrived, bound for the Mountains. I left for Columa, in Company with Major P. B. Reading and Mr. Kembel (Editor of the Alta-California) we were absent 4 Days. we was prospecting and found Silver and iron or in abundance.
" April 28th. A great many people more went up to the Mountains. This day the Saw mill was in Operation and the first Lumber has been sawed in the whole upper Country.
" May 1th. Saml Brannan was building a store at Natoma, Mormon Islands, and have done a very large and heavy business.
" May 15th. Paid of all the Mormons which has been employed by me, in building these Mills and other Mechanical trades, all of them made their pile, and some of them became rich & wealthy, but all of them was bound to the great Salt Lake, and spent there their fortunes to the honor and Glory of the Lord !
" May 19th. The great Rush from San Francisco arrived at the fort, all my friends and acquaintances filled up the houses and the whole fort, I had only a little Indian boy, to make them roasted Ripps, etc. as my Cooks left me like every body else, the Mer- chants, Doctors, Lawyers, Sea Captains, Merchants, etc. all came up and did not know what to do, all was in a Confusion, all left their wives and families in San Francisco, and those which had none locked their Doors, abandoned their houses, offered them for sale cheap, a few hundred Dollars House & Lot (Lots which are worth now $100,000 and more) some of these men were just like greazy. Some of the Merchants has been the most prudentest of the whole, visited the Mines and returned immediately and began to do a very profitable business, and soon Vessels came from every where with all Kind of Merchandize, the whole old thrash which was laying for Years unsold, on the Coasts of Sonth & Central Ameriea, Mexico, Sandwich Islands ete. all found a good market here.
"Mr. Brannan was crecting a very large Warehouse, and have done an immense business, connected with Howard & Green; S. Francisco.
" May 21th. Saml Kyburg erreeted or established the first Hotel in the fort in the larger building, and made a great deal of Money. A great Many traders deposited a great deal of goods in my Store (an Indian was the Key Keeper and performed very
UNION LIVERY STABLE. F.HOFFMAN. ..
RESIDENCE, RANCH LIVERY STABLE OF FRANK HOFFMAN, JACKSON, AMADOR COUNTY, CALA.
45
BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH OF GENERAL SUTTER.
well) afterwards every little Shanty became a Ware- house and Store, the fort was then a veritable Bazaar. As white people would not be employed at the Time I had a few good Indians attending to the Ferry boat, and every night came up, and delivered the received Money for ferryage to me, after deduc- tion for a few bottles of brandy, for the whole of them, perhaps some white people at the time would not have acted so honestly.
" May 25th. The travelling to the Mines was increasing from day to day, and no more Notice was takeu, as the people arrived from South America, Mexico, Sandwich Islands, Oregon etc. All the Ships Crews, and Soldiers deserted. In the beginning of July, Col. Mason our Military Governor, with Capt Sherman (Seeretary of State) Capt. Folsom Quar- trmstr, and an Escort of which some deserted, and some other Gentlemen, travelled in Company with the Governor,
" As we wanted to celebrate the 4th of July we invited the Governor and his suite to remain with us, and he accepted. Kyburg gave us a good Diner. every thing was pretty well arranged. Pinkett was the Orator. It was well done enough for such a new Country and in such an excitement and Confusion. And from this time on you know how every thing was going on here. One thing is certain that the people looked on my property as their own, and in the Winter of 1849 to 1850. A great Number of horses has been stolen from me, whole Manadas of Mares driven away and taken to Oregon etc. Nearly my whole Stock of Cattle has been Killed, several thousands and left me only a very small Quantity. The same has been done with my large stock of Hogs, which was running like ever under nobodies care and so it was easy to steal them, I had not an Idea that people could be so mean, and that they would do a Wholesale business in Stealing.
"On the Upper Sacramento, that is, from the Buttes downward to the point or mouth of feather River, there was most all of my Stock running and during the Overflow the Cattle was in a many bands on high spots like Islands, there was a fine chance to approach them in small Boats and shoot them, this business has been very successfully done by one party of 5 Men (partners) which had besides hired people, and Boats Crew's which transported the beef to the Market at Sacramento City and furnished that City with my own beef, and because these Men was nearly alone, on account of the Overflow, and Monopolized the Market.
" In the Spring of 1850, these 5 men divided their Spoil of $60,000 clear profits made of Cattle. all of them left for the Atlantic State; one of them returned again in the Winter from 1850 to 51, hired a new band of Robers to follow the same business and kill of the balance of the few that was left. My Baqueros found out this Nest of thiofs in ther Camp butchering just some head of my Cattle. on their return they informed me what they have seen, in the neighborhood of the same Camp they saw some more cows shot dead, which the Rascal then butch- ered. Immediately I did send to Nicolaus for the Sheriff (Jas Hopkins) as then at the time we had laws in force ?!? after all was stolen and destroyed the Sheriff arrived at Hock farm I furnished him a Posse of my employed Men. they proceeded over on the Sacramento to where the thiefs were en- camped. as the Sheriff wanted to arrest them they just jumped in their Boats and off they went, the Sheriff threatened them to fire at them, but they was all, and laughing they went at large.
"One day my Son was riding after Stock a few miles below Hock farm, he found a Man (his name was Owens) butchering one of our finest milch Cows (of Durham stock of Chile, which cost $300.) He told the Man that he could not take the Meat, that he would go home and get people, and so he has done, and he got people and a Wagon and returned to the Spot, but Owens found it good to clear out. Two brothers of this Man, was respectable Merchants in Lexington, Mo. and afterwards in Westport well acquainted with me, he came one day in my house and brought me their compliments, I received him .well, and afterwards turned out to be a thief. How many of this kind came to California which loosed their little honor by crossing the Istmus or the plains. I had nothing at all to do with speculations, but stuek by the plough, but by paying such high Wages, and particularly under Kyburg' management, I have done this business with a heavy loss as the produce had no more the Value like before, and from the time on Kyburg left I curtailed my business considerable, and so far that I do all at present with my family and a few Indian Servants. I did not speculate, only occupied my land, in the hope that it would be before long decided and in my favor by the U. S. Land Com- mission; but now already 3 years & two months have elapsed, and I am waiting now very anxiously for the Decision, which will revive or bring me to the untimely grave.
" All the other Circumstances you know all your- self, perhaps I have repeated many things which I wrote in the 3 first sheets, because I had them not to see what I wrote, and as it is now several months I must have forgotten. well it is only a kind of mem- orandum, and not a History at all, Only to remember you on the different periods when such and such things happened.
" I need not mention again, that all the Visitors has allways been hospitably received and treated. That all the sick and wounded found always Medical As- sistance, Gratis, as I had nearly all the time a Physi- cian in my employ. The Assistance to the Emi- grants that is all well known. I dont need to write anything about this.
" I think now from all this you can form some facts, and that you can mention how thousands and thou- sands made their fortunes from this Gold Discovery produced through my industry and energy, (some wise merehants and others in San francisco called the building of this Sawmill, another of Sutter's folly) and this folly saved not only the Mercantile World from bankruptcy, but even our General Govt. but for me it has turned out a folly, then without having discovered the Gold, I would have become the richest wealthiest man on the Pacifie Shore,
J. A. SUTTER."
James C. Ward, who visited Gen. Sutter in 1848, says of him :-
" A Swiss by birth, he held during the reign of Charles X. the rank of captain in the French army. He purchased the buildings at Ross, just north of Bodega, of the Russians, and as he proposed to set- tle the wilderness to the north of the Bay of San Francisco with European immigrants, the Mexican Government made him a grant of eleven leagues of land on the Sacramento river. After landing he camped, surrounded by hostile savages, in the open plain where the fort was afterward built, and the next morning, after dressing in full uniform, he went, accompanied by his Indian servant, both well armed, to the Indian village in the woods near by. The
46
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
savages were informed through the interpreter that he came to them as a friend, and if they would help him a little with their labor, he would make them presents.
" The Indians were set to work to make adobes, of which the fort was built. It is a parallelogram in form, with two bastions. In the middle of the square is a building two stories high, containing four rooms, and a counting-room upstairs. A black- smith shop, mill for grinding corn, serape manufac- tory and dwelling are around it, built against the walls of the fort. At one time he had a well-drilled foree of thirty Indians within its walls, with guards posted night and day for its defense. No one reached it without being fed and lodged.
" I passed the evening of my arrival, after supper, in his company. His manners are polished, and the impression he makes on every one is very favorable. In figure he is of medium height, rather stout, but well made. His head is round, features regular, with smiling and agreeable expression; complexion healthy and roseate. IIe wears his hair eut close, and his moustache trimmed short, a la militaire. IIc dressed very neatly in frock coat, pantaloons and cap of blue, and with his gold-headed malacca in hand, you would rather suppose him prepared for a saunter on the Boulevards than a consultation with Simplon, his Indian alcalde, about hands required for the day's work, or ox-teams to be dispatched here and there."
CHAPTER XI.
THE KING'S ORPHAN.
His Observations in the Sacramento Valley in 1843-Indications of Gold-Life at Sutter's Fort-Indian Gourmands-Won- derful Fertility of the Land.
IN 1843 a young Swedish scholar visited Sutter's Fort, and made observations which are now highly interesting. He had been educated at a Government institution, and, on that account, was known as one of the " King's Orphans." One of the requirements of the school was that the pupil, after receiving a gratuitous education, should travel in foreign lands, write out his observations and discoveries, and de- posit them in the library of the institution. In pur- suance of that duty, the young Swede found his way to California, made drawings of the Golden Gate, the town of Yerba Buena, and the old Presidio, vis- ited and described Sutter's Fort, and, on his way home, died at New Orleans. His papers fell into the hands of Col. T. B. Thorpe, who reported them to the Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California. While examining the country surround- ing Sutter's Fort, in 1843, the " Orphan " wrote :-
" The Californias are rich in minerals. Gold, sil- ver, lead, oxide of iron, manganese, and copper ore are met with throughout the country, the precious metals being the most abundant."
Describing Sutter's establishment, the Swedish traveler said :--
" It has more the appearance of a fort than a farm- ing establishment. It is protected by a wall ten feet high, made of adobes, or sun-dried briek, having a turret with embrasures and loop-holes for fire-arms. Twenty-four pieces of cannon, of different sizes, ean be brought to defend the walls. Against the walls
on the inside are erected the store-houses of the es- tablishment ; also, a distillery to make spirits from the wheat and grapes, together with shops for coop- ers, blacksmiths, saddlers, granaries, and huts for the laborers. At the gate-way is always stationed a ser- vant, armed as a sentinel. I arrived at the estab- lishment in the morning, just as the people were be- ing assembled for labor by the discordant notes of a Mexican drum. I found Captain Sutter busily em- ployed in distributing orders for the day. He re- ceived me with great hospitality, and made me feel on the instant, perfectly at home under his roof. The magical sound of the drum bad gathered together several hundred Indians, who flocked to their morn- ing meal preparatory to the labors of the day, reap- ing wheat. The morning meal over, they filed off to the field in a kind of military order, armed with a sickle and hook.
" Breakfast was by this time announced for the family, which was served up in an out-house adjoin- ing the kitchen. It consisted of wholesome corn- bread, eggs, ham, an excellent picee of venison, and coffee. In the rear of the fort is a large pond, the borders of which are planted with willows and other trees. This pond furnishes water for domestic usc, and for irrigating the garden. The want of rain is the greatest evil that befalls the country. In the front of the fort there are inclosures for horses and cattle, and places to deposit eorn and wheat. The manner of threshing was conducted on a most patri- arehal plan, the grain being strewn upon the floor and then trodden out by horses or cattle, which causes it to be much broken and mixed with the earth, and almost impossible to clean.
" The raising of wheat, corn, horses, and cattle, constitutes the principal business of Captain Sutter ; but he has realized considerable income from the sal- mon fisheries of the rivers, the fish being unequaled in flavor, and found in the greatest abundance. He also organized extensive hunting and trapping expe- ditions for the skins of the beaver, otter, clk, deer, and antelope, but in this he was greatly interfered with by the Hudson Bay Company, who sent their hunters upon his grounds. He complained to the proper authorities, but they paid no attention to the matter. His enemies, not content with thus injur- ing him, informed the suspicious Mexican Govern- ment that Captain Sutter was concocting revolu- tionary plans, and that he encouraged deserters and other disorderly persons to live at his settlement. Captain Sutter replied to these charges by stating that he had received the grant of his lands on condi- tion that he should obtain settlers, the principal por- tion of whom he expected from Europe. To make amends, he had encouraged all the stragglers in the country to floek to his eentral position, and they be- ing chiefly unmarried men, and some rather lalwess spirits from the mountains, they soon formed a very independent set of men, and were quite competent to defend themselves.
" The Government at Monterey was not satisfied with this explanation, and urged on by envious neigh- bors, it was prompted to send to Captain Sutter a committee of investigation. The Captain was so en- raged at the indignity that he treated the committee with great contempt, and said he could defend him- self against any force that might be employed against him. Whereupon the Government at Monterey threatened to send a military force, but thought bet- ter of the matter when they learned the character of the men Sutter had about him, and the Russian armament he had mounted on the walls of the fort;
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SUTTER'S FORT IN 1846.
but they annoyed him with lawsuits, and, after a great deal of difficulty, he was acquitted of any treasonable designs against the Government.
" The Hudson Bay Company having destroyed his trade in furs, he retaliated upon them by erecting a large distillery, with the product of which he se- eretly purchased from the hunters of the Company the greater part of their furs, and managed to make more by the operation than if he had kept up a large hunting establishment of his own.
" Mr. Sinelair, a partner with Captain Sutter in farming pursuits, and a Mr. Grimes, have large and produetive farms on the American Fork. Mr. Sin- elair is from Scotland, is a very interesting gentle- man in conversation, and possesses great enterprise in business. He was a hunter for many years among the Rocky Mountains, aeting as a elerk to one of the Hudson Bay Company's expeditions. He treated me to a rural breakfast, and, in accordance with his old habits, broiled his meat on a ramrod stuck up be- fore the fire. The limpid and beautiful river near which his home is situated, is made doubly attractive when compared with the sultry plains in the vicinity, upon which good water is not always to be ob- tained."
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