Existing comment:
Fate Picks Marshall
New Jersey-born James Wilson Marshall came to John Sutter's fort at Sacramento in July 1845, just a year before the American conquest of California. Trained as a carpenter and wheelwright by his father, Marshall quickly found work at the Swiss pioneer's busy settlement. Following the US takeover, Marshall and Sutter became partners in building the famous sawmill at Coloma.
For just a few moments after finding gold in the mill's tailrace on January 24, 1848, Marshall kept his exciting secret. But the urge to share the discovery proved too much, and he soon shouted the news to the Mormon workers building the mill. Marshall's words echoed across the Pacific to Hawaii and China, down to Mexico and South America, and to all parts of the United States. The gold rush, bringing thousands of restless young men, was on. California would never be the same. |