USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 6
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That Sutter
G. Bridwell
John Townsendy Millian Dieka Isaac Grafie Estwar on Intosh Aufur Fante Genely
exist there, and await his orders, while he, with about eight inen. followed the cmigrant trail (which now had an existence), into California. arriving at Sutter's Fort about the first of January, 1846. He came np the Truckee river, and down the north side of Bear river. In 1841, when General Bidwell's party crossed the mountains, there was no trail.
Castro having given Fremont permission to pass through the San Joaquin valley, soon proved untrue to his promise. and ordered Fremont to leave. The explorer was obliged to fortify himself on Hawks
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LITH, BY C. L. SMITH & CO. OAKLAND. GAL.
CAMP AT DONNER LAKE, Nov. 1846.
.
LITH BY C.L. SMITH & CU OAKLAND. CAL
ARRIVAL OF RELIEF PARTY, FEB. 18TH 1847.
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Peak, thirty miles from Monterey. Castro's forces appeared, but beyond a few mock assaults, did no fighting, so that on the fourth day, Fremont deemed it expedient to avoid actual collision, and slowly marched north toward Oregon. Having passed the border he wus overtaken by Lientenant Gillespie, an army officer, with dispatches, the contents of which, and the existing state of affairs, caused him to return. Passing down the Sacramento valley, he encumped in the Battes, in Sutter County. Fremont, while here, was informed by Mr. Kuright that a party of Mexican soldiers under Lieu- temnt De Arce, in charge of a band of horses, were traveling from Sonomia to the southern country. Fremont immediately sent out a party, which, after passing Sutter's Fort, and without the knowledge of Captain Suttor or any consultation with him, attacked the Mexicans on the Cosumnes rivor, Juno Ilth, capturing the horses and sending Lieutenant, De Arce and his men to report to Castro. The movement wus claimed to bo in defense of American settlers, but the real facts in the cure were that no settler over impored Fremont for aid. All Amer- icius believed or prayed that the territory should come under the control of the United States; they desired, however, the change to be brought about by pencoful mensures. The hunters who usually winterod at Sut- tor's Fort, were the first to rally around Fromont's cump. Satter, having at one time complained of the acts of Fromont, tho latter came down and told the generous old pioneor that if ho did not like what he (Fremont) wus dlaing, ho would sot him across the San Joaquin river, and he could join tho Mexicans. Tuthill, in his " History of California," states that tho party who attacked Lieutonant De Arco wero under tho leadership of Captain Merritt, and that they were the persons who marched on Sonoma, und formod the nucleus of tho " Benr Flag Party." Following this assault on the Mexicans and tho acts of the "Bear Fing Party," Castro retrouted to Los Angeles, and was promptly followed by Fremont. Before any action occurred, the news of the raising of the stars and stripes at Monterey by Commodore Slont was heralded. Then fol- lowod a series of conflicts, mostly of slight importance, the battles in Californin being supplementary to the war in tho East and Sonth. After the war was ended, it became necessary for the conquering forces to appoint a Governor. A contest ensued as to whether Lieutenant Fromont, who had received a commission from Commodore Stockton, or Goneral Kearney, should be the ruler. It was finally ended by Fromont, under orders, accompanying General Kearney on his march eust. At Fort Leavenworth Fromont was arrested, and at Fortress Monroe, a court-martial found him guilty of mutiny, disobedience and disorderly conduct, and he was by its sentence, deprived of his commission, This ended his connection with the army, but did not serve to dampen his ambition, or sully his reputation as one to whom the gratitude of all American citizens is due.
CHAPTER VI.
THE HISTORY OF THE DUNNER PARTY.
Srque of the Tragedy organiz tion and Composition of the Party-The Departure Election of tieorge Donner as ('aletain Hasting's fut-df-Resl at lleno-Ascent of the Mountains Arrival at Donner Lake Snow Storms-Construction of Cablus - Starvation -- " Forlorn Hope Party"- {'aptain lteasin P. Tucker's Relief Farty-The Sufferings at Donner Lake -James F. Keed's Relief Party-" Starved Campe"-The Third Relief Party Heroism and Devotion of Jira, George Donner-The Fourth Relief Party-The Survivors.
[The data for the following narrative have been gleaned Irom "The History of the Don- ner Party," a work from the pen of Mir. C. F. MeGlashan, and published by Messrs. C'rowley & McGlashan, proprietors of the Truckee Republican, to which we refer the reader for further Information on the subject. ]
THREE miles from Truckee, resting in the green Iap of the Sierras, lies one of the loveliest sheets of water on the Pacific Coast. Tall mountain peaks are reflected in its clem waters, revealing a picture of extreme loveliness and quiet peace. Yet this peaceful scene was the amphitheatre of the most tragic event in the annals of early California. " The Donner Party" was organized in Sangamon county, Illinois, hy George and Jacob Donner, and James F. Reed, in the spring of 1846. lu April, 1846, the party set out from Springfield, 111., and by tho first weck in May, Iul reached Independence, Missouri, where the party was increased until the train numbered about two hundred or three hun- dred wagons; the Donner family numbering sixteen persons, the Reed family, seven, the Graves family, twelve, the Murphy family, thir- teen, were the principal families of the Donner party proper. At Independence provisions were laid in for the trip and the line of jour- ney taken up. In the occasional glimpses we have of the party, fentures of but little interest present themselves, out of the ordinary experience of pioneer life. A letter from Mrs. George Donner, written near the jimction of the North and South Platte, dated June 16, 1846, reports a favorable journey of 450 miles from Independence, with no forebodings of the terrible disasters so soon to burst upon then, At Fort Laramie a portion of the party celebrated the Fourth of July. Thereafter the train passed, unmolested, upon its journey, George Donner having been elected Captain at the Little Sandy river, on the 20th of July, 1846, from which act it took the name of " The Donner Party."
At Fort Bridger, then a mere trading post, the fatal choice was made of the route that led to such fearful disasters and tragic results. A new ronte, via Salt Lake, known as Hastings' Cut-off, was recom- mended to the party as shortening the distance by three hundred miles. After due deliberation, the Donner party of eighty-seven sonls (three having died), were induced to separate from the larger portion of the train (which afterward arrived in California in safety), and commenced their journey by way of the Hastings' Cut-off. They reached Weber river, near the head of the canyon, in safety. From this point, in their journey to Salt Lake, almost insurmountable difficulties were en- countered, and instead of reaching Salt Lake in one week, as
anticipated, over thirty days of perilous travel were consumed in making the trip-most precious time in view of the dangers imminent in the rapidly approaching storms of winter. The story of their trials and sufferings in their journey to their fatal camp at Donner Lako is terrible; nature and stern necessity seemed alike arrayed against them. On the 19th of October, near the present site of Wadsworth, Nevada, the destitute company was happily supplied by one C. T. Stanton, with food and mules, together with two Indian vaqueros, furnished by Captain Sutter, without compensation.
At the present site of Reno, it was concluded to rest. Threo or four days' time was lost. This was the fatal act. The storm clouds were already brewing upon the mountains, only a few miles distant. The ascent wns ominous. Thick and thicker grew the clouds, ontstrip- ping in threatening battalions tho now enger feet of the nlarmed emigrants, until at Prosser creek, three miles below Truckeo, October 28, 1846, a month earlier than usual, the storm set in, und they found themselves in six inches of newly-fallen snow. On the summit it was already from two to five feet deep. Tho party, in much confusion, finally reached Donner Lake in disordered fragments. Frequent and desperate attempts were mado to cross tho mountain tops, but at last, battled and despairing, they returned to camp at the lako. Tho storm now descended in all its pitiless fury upon the ill-fated emigrants. Its dreadful import was well understood, as ladon with omens of suffering and death. With slight interruptions, the storm contimed for several days. The animals were literally buried alive and frozen in the drifts. Ment was hastily prepared from their carcasses, and cabins rudely built. One, the Schallenberger cabin, erected November, 1844, was already standing about a quarter of a mile below the lake. This the Breen family appropriated. The Murphys erected ono thireo Inum- dred yards from the lake, marked by a large stone twelve feet liglı. The Graves family built theirs near Donner creek, farther down the stream, the three forming the apexes of a triangle, and distant 150 yards or more. The Donnor brothers, with their familios, hastily constructed a brush shed in Alder Creek valley, six or seven miles from the lake. Their provisions were speedily consumed, and starva- tion, with all its grim attendant horrors, stared the poor emigrants in the face. Day by day, with aching hearts and paralyzed energies they awaited, amid the beating storms of the Sierras, the dread revelation of the morrow, "hoping against hope" for some welcome sign.
On the sixteenth day of December, 1846, a party of seventeen were enrolled to attempt the hazardous journey over the mountains, and pass into the valley beyond for relief. Two returned, and the remaining fifteen pressed on, including Mary Graves, her sister Mrs. Saralı Fosdick, and several other women,-the heroic C. T. Stanton and the noble F. W. Graves (who left his wife and seven children at tho lake
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
to await in vain his return) being the leaders. This was the " For- lorn Hope Party," over whose dreadful sufferings and disaster we must throw a veil. Death in its most awful form reduced the wretched con- pany to seven-two men and five women-when suddenly tracks were discovered imprinted in the snow, " Can any one imagine,"says Mary Graves in her recital, -" the joy these footprints gave us? We ran as fast as our strength would carry us." Turning a sharp point they sud- denly came upon an ludian rancheric. The acorn-bread offered them by the kind sund awc-stricken savages was eagerly devoured. But on thoy pressed with their Indian guides, only to repeat their dreadful sufferings, until at last, one evening about the last of January, Mr. Eddy, with his Indian guide, preceding the party fifteen miles, reached Johnson's Ranch on Boar river, the first settlement on the western slopo of tho Sierras, when relief was sent back as soon as possible, and tho romaining six survivors wero brought in next day. It had been thirty-two days since they left Donner Lake. No tongue can tell, no pou portray, the awful suffering, the terrible and appalling straits, as well as the noble deeds of heroism that characterized this march of death. The oternal mountains, whose granite faces bore witness to their sufferings, are fit monuments to mark the last resting place of Charles T. Stanton, that cultured, heroic soul, who groped his way through the blinding snows of the Sierras to immortality. The divinest onconium-" He gave his lifo as a ransom for many "-is his epitaph, foreshadowed in his own uoble words, "I will bring aid to these fam- ishing people or lay down my life."
Nothing could be douo, in the meantime, for the relief of the sufferers at Donner Lake, without securing help from Fort Sutter, which was speedily accomplished by John Rhodes. In a week six mon fully provisioned; with Captain Reasin P. Tucker at their head, reached Johnson's Ranch, and in ten or twelve days' time, with provisions, mules, etc., the first relief party started for the scene at Donner Lake. It was a fearful undertaking, but on the morning of tho nineteenth of February, 1847, the above party began the descent of tho gorgo lending to the lake.
We live purposely thrown a veil over the dreadful sufferings of the stricken band left in their wretched hovels at Donner Lake, Reduced to the verge of starvation, many died (including numerous children, of whom seven were nursing babes) who, in this dreadful state of necessity, were summarily disposed of. Raw-hides, moccasins, strings, etc., were eaten. But relief was now close at hand for the poor stricken sufferers. On the evening of the nineteenth of February, 1847, the stillness of death that had settled upon the scene was broken by prolonged shouts. In an instant the painfully sensitive ears of the despairing watchers caught the welcome sound. Captain Tucker with his relief party had at last arrived upon the scene. Every face was
bathed in tears, and the strongest men of the relief party melted at the appalling sight, sat down and wept with the rest. But time was precious, as storms were imminent. The return party was quickly gathered. Twenty-three members started, among them several women and children. Of this number two were compelled to return, and three perished on the journey. Much hardship and privation was experienced, and their provisions were soon entirely exhausted. Death once more stared them in the face and despair settled npon them. But assistance was near at hand. James F. Reed, who had preceded the Donner party by some months, suddenly appeared with the second relief party on the twenty-fifth of February, 1847. The joy of the meeting was indescribable, especially between the family and the long absent father. Reprovisioned, the party pressed ou, aud gained their destination after severe suffering, with eighteen members, only three having perishedl. Reed continued his journey to the cabins at Donner Lake. There the scene was simply appalling,-starva- tion and disease were fast claiming their victims. March Ist (accord- ing to Breen's diary), Reed and his party arrived at the camp. Proceeding directly to his cabin, he was espied by his little daughter (who, with her sister, was carried back by the previous party) and immediately recognized with a cry of joy. Provisions were carefully dealt out to the famishing people, and immediate steps were taken for the return. Seventeen comprised this party. Half starved and completely exhausted, they were compelled to camp in the midst of a furious storm, in which Mr. Reed barely escaped with his life. This was "Starved Camp," and from this point Mr. Reed, with his two little children and another person, struggled ahead to obtain hasty relief if possible.
On the second day after leaving "Starved Camp," Mr. Reed and the three companions were overtaken by Cady and Stone, and ou the night of the third day reached Woodworth's Camp at Bear Valley in safety. The horrors of Starved Camp beggar all description, indeed, require none. The third relief party, composed of John Stark, Howard Oakley, and Charles Stone, were nearing the rescue, while W. H. Foster and W. H. Eddy (rescued by a former party) were bent on the same mission. These, with Hiram Miller, set out from Woodworth's camp the following morning after Reed's arrival. The eleven were duly reached, but were in a starving condition, nine being unable to walk. By the noble resolution and hurculean efforts of John Stark, a part of the number were borne and urged onward to their destination, while the other portion were compelled to remain and await another relief party. When the third relief party under Foster and Eddy arrived at Donner Lake, the sole survivors at Alder Creek were George Dou- ner, the Captain of the company, and his heroic wife, whose devotion to her dying husband cansed her own death during the last and fearful days
of waiting for the fourth relief. George Donner knew he was dying and urged his wife to save her life and go with her little ones with the third relief, hut she refused. Nothing was more heart-rendling than her sad parting with her beloved little ones, who wound their childish arms lovingly around her neck and besought her with mingled tears and kisses to join them. But duty prevailed over affection, and she retraced the weary distance to die with him whom she had promised to love and honor to the end. Such scenes of anguish are seldom witnessed on this sorrowing earth, and such acts of triumphant devotion are her most golden deeds. The snowy cerements of Donner Lake enshrouded in its stilly whiteness no purer life, no nobler heart than hers. The terrible recitals that close this awful tragedy we willingly omit.
The third relief party rescued the five last survivors but one; the fourth and last relief party rescued Lewis Keseberg on the seventh of April, 1847. Ninety names are given as members of the Donner Party. Of these, forty-two perished, six of whom did not live to reach the mountains, and forty-eight survived. Twenty-six, and possibly twenty-eight, out of the forty-eight survivors are living to-day, several residing in San Jose, Calistoga, Los Gatos, Marysville, and in Oregon
Thus ends the narrative of horrors, scarcely without a parallel, certainly not in the annals of American history, of appalling disasters, fearful sufferings, heroic fortitude, self denial and heroism. The mind turns with relief from its recital.
CHAPTER VII.
GOLD DISCOVERIES.
Discovery of Gold near Sau Fernando Mission by Baptiste Rouelle in 1841-Slow working of the Mines-Visit of Dr. Sandels-His Opinion of the Country in Regard to its Mineral Wealth- His Advice to Captain Sutter-Pablo Gutteirez finds the Precious Black Sand on Bear River -The Necessity of a Batea-Efforts to Secure Que-Death of Gutteirez and Abandonment of the Search by General Bidwell-Preparations for the Construction of Sutter's Mil- James W. Marshall the Contractor-The Discovery in the Mill-Race at Coloma-The Credit Due to Captain Sutter.
THE finding of gold at Coloma by Marshall was not the real discovery of the precious metal in the territory. But the time and circumstances connected with it, together with the existing state of affairs, caused the rapid dissemination of the news. People were ready and eager for some new excitement, and this proved to be the meaus of satisfying the desire- From all parts of California, the Coast, the United States, and in fact. the World, poured in vast hordes of gold-seekers, The precious metal had been found in many places, but the most notorious of these discover- ies were the following. Baptiste Rouelle, who settled ou Feather river in 1848, was a Canadian Frenchman, and had been trapping many years in the Rocky mountains, whence he had found his way into New Mexico, where he lived for some years and followed placer-quining. From New Mexico he came to the southern part of California at the
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
opening of 1841, or the year previous. At all events, in the fall of 1841, he discovered gold about twenty-five miles north-east of the Mission of San Fernando. The mines were not Anfficiently rich to attract notice, though some pieces of gold weighing an once were fonud; nevertheless, forty or fifty people, mostly from New Mexico of the class called " Greasers," workial there. What little: gold they obtained was disposed of nt Los Angeles for what they could get. Their nveruge wages were possibly twenty-five couts per day. General Bidwell visited the mimms in March, 18445, and although the work had Juan going on for three and a half years, they had scaredly printrated twenty feet into the gohl-yielding gravel bank.
lu the suunner of 1843, there came to this Coast from England, a very lenruud gentleman named Dr. Samlels. He was a Swede by birth, mial rreciveal his education in Lanulon, after which he went to South Amorim and hentenl. Subsequently he sold his place for $189.000, mul romoval to Mexico. Here by mulucky speculation and robbery he was left impoverished munl was compelhal to return to Euglaml. His daughter's hushamul wnsu wealthy ableman, and thereafter Dr. Samlels traveled under the patronage mul unspices of his son-in-law. Soon after his arrival ou the Coast, the Doctor visited Captain Sutter. The Captain always thought there must be mineral in the conutry, and requestal Dr. Sandels to go out into the mountains and find him a gokl mine; the Doctor discouraged him by relating his experience in Mexico, nud the uncertainty of mining oporations, as far as his knowledge extended, in Mexico, Brazil, and other parts of South America. Ile sulvised Sutter never to think of having anything to do with the mines; that the best mine was the soil, which was inexhaustible. However, nt Sutter's solicitation, Dr. Sandels went up through his grant to Hock Farm, and thenee through the Butte mountains up the Sacramento valley us far as the mention of Chico. While passing over the black adobe lud lying between the Butte mountains and Butte creek, which resembled the gohl wash in Brazil, Dr. Sandels remarked :- "Judging " from the Butte mountains, I believe that there is gold in this country, " It. I do not think there will ever be enough found to pay for the " working." Dr. Sandels was Imrried, as the vessel upon which he wns to take passage was soon to sail, and he could not spare the time to pursue his search to any moro definite end.
When General Bidwell was in charge of Hock Farin, in the month of March, or April, 1844, a Mexican by the name of Pablo Gutteirez was with him, having innmediate supervision of the Indian vaqueros, taking care of the stock on the plains, " breaking " wild horses, and performing other duties common to a Californian rancho. This Mexi- can had some knowledge of gold mining in Mexico, where he had lived, and after returning from the mountains on Bear river, at the time mentioned, he informed General Bidwell that there was gold up there.
Whenasked if he had seen it, he answered "no," but explained that there was every sign of it, and that there " was surely gold in the mountains," In emmmmmerating the signs, he mentioned the appear- ance of heavy black sand. General Bidwell proposed that they should go and make the actual discovery of the metal: the Mexican was most willing, but said that he could not do so without a bateu. Hle talked so much about that Mexican mining implement, that General Bidwell was led to coincide with him in the belief that only by means of the batea could gold be extracted from this sand. They went up into the mountains on the north side of Bear river, and Gutteirez pointed ont the very place, the gulch, and the same black sand which he had previously declared showil the signs of gold. Au agrreumut was entered into between them that they should keep the matter a profomul secret, and that some means should be devised fur procuring this wonderful batea. The Mexican proposed that General Bidwell shonhl advance the money for him to go to Mexico for the desired article, but the General was suspicious that this was a plan fur seenring sufficient capital for his return to his native land. So it was decided that the matter shimhl rest for a couple of years, until General Bidwell had saved enough to take them both in a vessel around the Horn to Boston, where it was expected that Yankee ingenuity coubl fashion, from the description given by the Mexican, an instrument of the correct size aml shape to do the work of the Mexican baten. The secret was kept until 1844, when the visit of Sutter and his party to Governor Micheltorena was made. In the last of 1844, or first of 1845. Guttcirez was killed, and with his death the hope of carrying to a sne- cessful issue their discovery died out in the mind of General Bidwell. Had the General knowu that the implement so minutely described by the Mexican, as being of such particular construction as to size and shape, was nothing more nor less than a wooden howl, and that any tin pan or ordinary receptacle would have been of equal service, the discov. ery of gold in this region might have been chronicled four years earlier.
Captain Sutter always had an unconquerable desire for the possession of a saw-mill, by which he could himself furnish the necessary material for the construction of more improved buildings than the facilities of the country could at that time afford. Around his fort, in 1847, was a person named James W. Marshall, who had a natural taste for mechan- ical contrivances, and was able to construct, with the few crude tools and appliances at hand, almost any kind of a machine ordinarily desired. It was to this man that Sutter intrusted the erection of the long con- templated and much needed saw-mill. The contract was written by Mr. John Bidwell, then Captain Sutter's Secretary, and signed by the parties. Marshall started ont in November, 1847, equipped with tools and provisions for his men. He reported the distance of the selected site to be thirty miles, but he occupied two weeks in reaching his desti-
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