William Lewis Herndon, Herndon, Virginia. City History, Herndon, Virginia. Virginia Schools, Educational Books and library publications. Lardner Gibbon and the Amazon River Valley.

SS Central America.

Captain and Lieutenant William Lewis Herndon;
Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon United States Navy.

Normand Klare's Book ``The Final Voyage of the Central America" has been quoted and reviewed by many sources that can be easily found on the internet a few sites quoting Normand's writings can be found on these links:

BOOK REVIEWS Links:

San Diego Historical Society: http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/94winter/br-final.htm

California Historical Society: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/past_exhibits/shipofgold/story.html

Bowers and Merena QUOTED:  http://www.bowersandmerena.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=2875&universeid=4 94


BOOK REVIEWS and Quotes:

John H. Kimble,
Professor of History, Emeritus,
Pomona College,
Claremont, CA - 
1989:

``I can say that I found your manuscript interesting from start to finish. You have done a great job of research and organization, and I commend you on the accuracy and completeness of your account."

James M. Morris,
Newport News, Virginia -
The Northern Mariner, VOL. III, NO. 1,
January 1993:

``As a model of diligent research and lucid prose, Klares volume belongs in every maritime collection and collegiate library. Laymen and scholars alike will find it a solid investment in time and knowledge"


The Bookwatch,
 Volume 13, number 4.
1992.

"Klare's account reads almost like a novel as it uses eyewitness accounts of the survivors and Klare's research to recreate the circumstances surrounding the Central America's fate. The wreck was rediscovered in 1987: This account adds lively insights into the ships history and importance."


The Bamboo Shoots,
Hsinchu, Taiwan, Msgr.
Eugene Fahy, S.J.,
April 1992.

"The Story literally and literarily covers this gold rush steamship from stem to stern. An outstanding work of research that occupied several years in several countries."


Charles E. Herdendodrf, Ph. D,
Emeritus Professor of Oceanography,
The Ohio State University and Science Coordinator,
S.S. Central America Expedition.
March 21, 1992.

"I have just finished reading your book, The Final Voyage of the Central America 1857, and I want to tell you how much my wife Sandy and I enjoyed your work. Your research has helped fill in many of the gaps in my knowledge of the Central America ..."


Robert V. Schwemmer,
The Branding Iron, Los Angeles,
Summer 1992.

"This well done book will engage arm-chair adventurers and scholars interested in maritime history as well as those interested in colorful history of California Gold Rush era

Sandra S. Mosbacher,
Arcadia Productions, Inc.
San Francisco. July 13, 1992.

"I am returning it [the manuscript] to you [Judith Epstein, Att. at Law] with much admiration for the writer and wondering if the book has ever been published. I would love to read the entire story."


James M. Morris,
The Northern Mariner,
Newport News, VA, Vol. III, No. 1,
January 1993.

"As a model of diligent research and lucid prose, Klare's volume belongs in every maritime collection and collegiate library. Laymen and scholars alike will find it a solid investment in time and knowledge."


Harry Kelsey,
Huntington Library,
April, 1993. V. 4.

"The Author has located a great deal of biographical material. Compiled lists of passengers and crew. Located plans and sketches of the ship, and in fact done all the best treasure hunters usually do as background for their salvage efforts."


Ward McAfee,
Professor of History,
California State University.
Undated.

"Readers interested in a nineteenth - century adventure story stitched with the drama of individuals facing destruction will love this generally well-written book."


John E. Baur,
California State University, Northridge,
 Pacific Historical Review.
August 1993:

"Normand Klare has performed an excellent task in researching the lives of Herndon, his officers, and leading passengers. Among them several California gold era VIPs. Indeed, the footnotes are well worth reading as models of condensed biography..."


Alfred Lustig,
 Thiensville, WI.
July 18, 1995:

 "I thoroughly enjoyed reading your compelling account of the tragedy, and the personal background profiles of the people involved in the saga. "


Steve K. Lloyd,
 Anchorage, Alaska.
March 16, 1998:

I am a  amateur shipwreck historian and a collector of books on historic shipwrecks. I recently purchased and read you book "The Final Voyage of the Central America 1887", which I enjoyed immensely. You succeeded in describing the incredible drama of the actual sinking while educating the reader on the historical context of the Central America's final voyage. I learned more about the California Gold Rush  from your book than I have from any other title I have read.


David Bowers,
Bowers and Merena Galleries,
Wolfebo, NH.

November 7, 2000; November 14, 2000

"I feel as if I know you, but of course I do not. Your book is truly wonderful and I have referred to it quite a bit."

"It was truly a pleasure to talk with you. I am a great admirer of your simply fantastic book. Congratulations in person for a superb job, well done."

You have reached the Official Web site of Author and Historian Normand E. Klare; Author of the Final Voyage of the SS Central America and sister publication: Navy Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley .  The SS Central America, alias Ship of Gold, is a true story of a tragedy at sea that documents through actual accounts of the survivors, heroism and the despair of the crew of a doomed ship.  See how a captain miles at sea and unaware of the tragedy suddenly changes his destined course to find waves of men floating in the sea, clinging to refuge within a vast ocean. An epic true life adventure.

             

NEW: Experience true life adventure in Normand E. Klare's new book title Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley" as he investigates the Amazon and studies earlier accounts of Lieutenant William Herndon's and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon's 4000 mile scientific expedition of the mysterious and treacherous Amazon, retracing their steps from their own journals he readily presents! Be with Lieutenant Herndon as he is assigned the unusual task as a naval officer to map the Amazon River from it's source to its end in the Atlantic Ocean! Share their thoughts as they brave the altitudes of the Andes to the deep mysterious and dangerous savage filled jungles of the Amazon.


Over 20 years of research and collection of actual accounts on both subjects, including personal investigation into the Amazon himself, establishes this as an epic best seller not to be matched.

Normand E. Klare's extensive research on his title ``The Final Voyage of the SS Central America" has been quoted on virtually every book on the subject. The exhaustive research further gathered and analyzed on ``Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley" and displayed diaries from the actual accounts, establishes this title as a ``Great American Classic".

The first edition of ``Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley" is being released at this time only through the Author's own publishing release and also available from Barnes and Noble.

Reserve your copy today! Museums, historical societies, schools, institutions and libraries please inquire. For book packages and specials see Klare Taylor Publishers web site.

The Final Voyage of the Central America The Ship of Gold The Voyage CHAPTER III By Normand E. Klare   While Captain Herndon and his crew sailed from New York, August 20, 1857, on the Central America's  forty-fourth trip, more than four hundred people in the western city of San Francisco purchased tickets for departure, the same date, on the steamship Sonora, destined for Panama and transfer to the Central America at Aspinwall. San Francisco had been several times destroyed by fire. Each reconstruction of the city saw improvement as it progressed from a city of canvas to one of wood, then to a metropolis of bricks, a thriving port city. By 1853 she was called the "Queen of the Pacific." She had 160 hotels, 18 churches, 10 schools, 3 hospitals, 14 fire companies, 19 banking firms, 13 foundries and more. Built over piles in the water were two and one-half miles of streets and twelve wharves. There were planked roads and a few of cobblestones. Around the two major public squares were a large number of elegant and substantial brick and stone buildings with such fireproofing as exterior window-shutters and doors of thick wrought-iron.   By 1854, the United States Mint had opened, streets were lighted with coal gas, and amusement parks, such as Russ' Gardens, were developed where outdoor concerts and other entertainments were enjoyed. Two omnibus lines ran to the Mission district. Population pressures continued. In 1855, more than thirty-one thousand persons and eleven-hundred-fifty vessels arrived from all over the world, leading to the establishment of over twenty-seven foreign consulates by 1857.   And, by 1857, San Francisco proudly included several new buildings of respectable size, housing government, professional and business offices. Riddle's Building, on the south side of Clay Street, between Sansome and Leidesdorf, housed the California Chronicle, published by Frank Soule. The Customs House Block, described as a large and elegant building at the southeast corner of Sansome and Sacramento   ``I Frank Soule, Annols of San Francisco, 494-548. John S. Hittell, History . . . of San Francisco.

TO ORDER BOOKS:

First printing now available: Normand E. Klare's ``Herndon and Gibbon" The First North American Explorers of The Amazon Valley;

And Second printing of ``The Final Voyage of the Central America" Hardback Edition Available Now.


Be sure to indicate which book:
 
1.) The Voyage of the Central America or.
2.) Normand Klare's ``Herndon and Gibbon".

* Quantity orders for schools, libraries, organizations or colleges, send e-mail

Price Hardback Library Edition each is $24.95 (was 37.95) plus 4.25 S&H

Each book richly illustrated: The Final Voyage of the Central America with over 45 b/w historical illustrations, photographs, diaries, actual letters and accounts of passengers and crew; Herndon and Gibbon with 55 b/w historical illustrations, photographs, diaries, actual letters and accounts of the expedition; Many etchings are by Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon himself.

Sale!
 
A great gift and addition to yours or your loved ones Naval Library! Very thorough accounts!
 
Individual books can be purchased for $24.95 (was 37.95) plus $4.25 S&H each; either using Visa or Master Card on Pay Pal by clicking the Pay Pal icon.  Best selling author Normand Klare.

Please also e-mail: admin@pacificwestcom.com to indicate which title and quantity. Book dealers inquires welcome.

See Klare Taylor Publishers web site for special book package prices!

The Final Voyage of the Central America - Hardback Library Edition # ISBN 0-97644-03-0-X .

Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, US Navy - the First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley - Best Seller Hardback Library Edition #  ISBN 0-9764403-1-8 . SEE: KLARE TAYLOR PUBLISHERS WEB SITE FOR SPECIAL PACKAGE PRICES!

 

A historic travel guide of South America, Peru and Brazil: The book Herndon and Gibbon find, follow and display these countries of the world through the eyes of the explorers themselves.

By following the accounts of the explorers own journals, Normand Klare has presented insights to a wild country that even now calls the adventurous traveler.

A epic book that was derived from literally thousands of notes these explorers labored and risked life and limb to compile. Exciting  and informing, this book answers and informs the modern traveler to the culture and characteristics of the people of this wild and untamed land. Notes by the explorers and Klare, present a intriguing look at the environment and effects surrounding the rain forests that can relate to modern day impacts by man.

In High Quality Hardback Library Edition.

Now available, first printing of Normand Klare's   ``Herndon and Gibbon" The First North American Explorers of The Amazon Valley;   And Second printing of ``The Final Voyage of the Central America"  Hardback edition  NOW AVAILABLE!  Limited Quantity Published. These books in new condition are now only available from either this web site,  or the Klare Taylor Publishers main web site. Sale Price each now $24.95 (was 37.95) plus 4.25 S&H Hardback Library Edition. Call 541-821-3778 for Quantity orders.  Rich b/w illustrations, photographs, diaries and actual letters accounts of passengers and crew of the SS Central America. Google these RARE books and see what they are going for used on the internet! A great gift and addition to yours or your loved ones Naval Library! Very thorough actual first hand accounts and in-depth history of this tragedy at sea!  Check for special book package pricing at Klare Taylor Publishers. The Final Voyage of the Central America. Herndon and Gibbon - the First North American Explorers

 

The Final Voyage of the
SS Central America
1857

by Normand E. Klare

The SS Central America carried 491 passengers from Panama towards New York when she was caught in a mammoth hurricane in 1857. On board was a large shipment of gold from California. .

The sinking of the SS Central America in 1857 resulted in the greatest loss of life on a commercial passenger vessel of the nineteenth century. The SS Central America sinking and loss of the ships considerable cargo of gold treasure aboard, significantly contributed  to the financial panic which subsequently rocked the United States. .

The eyewitness accounts of survivors reveal a riveting story of tragedy and heroism. Causes of the disaster, natural and human, are detailed and analyzed. Heroes and heroines are identified, and biographies of the major characters provided.

Rediscovered in 1987, the wreck is now being salvaged by the Columbus-America Discovery Group. This operation has received widespread press coverage and the artifacts will soon be exhibited.
 
 In his writings, Mr. Klare's book ``The Final Voyage of the Central America"  describes and quotes many original documents of the survivors. First published in 1992, the book was written from exhaustive research following actual written accounts of the survivors of the ill fated gold ship ``The SS Central America"  which sank in 1857. .
 
Normand Klare's thorough research since 1976, documentation, and writing skill have resulted in an exciting, yet scholarly narrative quoted and used to construct many other later books on the subject.

A brief history of the Author:

As a World War II B -17 pilot, Normand flew, among others, 34 bombing missions over targets in Germany and France. .

Normand continued his career in Air Force aviation as a Assistant Professor of Air Science at Arizona State University.

A thorough study and research of the events: Best Seller.

Normand's interest in those subjects he has focused upon, came both from his interests as a historian and from family ties to those survivors of the tragedy.

Letters and diaries led Normand to spend over 20 years of research on the many varied actual accounts including travels up the Amazon himself to study and write two books that cover the travels of men that braved the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, periling heights of the Andes and treacherous jungles of the Amazon Valley.

No other books detail the personalities of these men and in-depth study of their travels.

Recognized on the History Channel:

Most recently, Normand was interviewed by the History Channel and he can be seen and heard on their production series:

Histories Mysteries: "Ship of Gold".


Official SS Central America web site of author and historian Normand E. Klare: Author of ``The Final Voyage of the SS Central America" and ``Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, United States Navy,  The First North American Explorers of The Amazon Valley";

You will find no greater adventure, no greater account of human trial and accomplishment in Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley, nor greater exacting accounts of such a historic tragedy at sea than The Final Voyage of the Central America.

Though each book is complete in themselves, when buying the set, It is recommended  that you first read Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, United States Navy, the First North American Explorers of Amazon Valley" as this account fully describes the early thorough education, manner, personalities and fortitude of these men of whom you will become closely and personally acquainted.

Follow then Captain Herndon's commission and events that lead to ``The Final Voyage of the SS Central America". Here you will take into account the human toll of this maritime event that is compared to as the 19th Century Titanic of its time; The sinking of the SS Central America incurring the greatest loss of life aboard a commercial passenger liner to that date.

Normand Klare's compilation of historical records, personal accounts, letters, diaries, maps, photos and historical illustrations taken from accounts of survivors is masterful"

Richard Taylor

Exhaustive Material Shows Promise for Film:

Normand's exhaustive research present such a thorough description that directors will have little problem in making a film production that will be authentic to the time, subject and human drama.

Aside from the numerous and additional unpublished notes compiled on the people of "The Final Voyage of the Central America", Normand E. Klare has compiled from his research and travels a second book title, directly relating to the lives of the people in the first book; all from factual accounts, letters and dairies of those explorers. Lieutenant William Herndon and Lieutenant Lardner Gibbon, United States Navy, The First North American Explorers of the Amazon Valley" is now complete and offers a full documentation of the lives and times of these men.


EXERTS:


"...Angelina Bowly thought that although the ladies were frightened, none lost their composure. "There was fear, but no panic..."

The Last Survivor (Black History): "...For three days and nights, Henry Johnson floated on his door, wondering whether death would come either by starvation or drowning;..."

"He had been picked up by a brig headed for "Rio Janeiro" ;... "

Of Captain Herndon he said "...he would do anything for me, and always wanted me with him..."


Over 20 years of research and collection of actual accounts on both subjects, including personal investigation into the Amazon himself, establishes this as an epic not to be matched.

Library and Museum Title Publications for schools and school libraries and private library.



MORE EXERTS:

Suters Mill and San Francisco Gold -

The Gold Rush Era - Harpers Weekly.

Ureka! Gold Found!

``It was in the first part of January, 1848, when the gold was discovered at Coloma and the adventure began, where I was then building a saw-mill. The contractor and builder of this mill was James W. Marshall, from New Jersey.

In the fall of 1847, after the mill seat had been located, I sent up to this place Mr. P. L. Wimmer with his family, and a number of laborers, from the disbanded Mormon Battalion; and a little later I engaged Mr. Bennet from Oregon to assist Mr. Marshall in the mechanical labors of the mill. Mr. Wimmer had the team in charge, assisted by his young sons, to do the necessary teaming, and Mrs. Wimmer did the cooking for all hands.

Flower Gold: I was very much in need of a new saw-mill, to get lumber to finish my large flouring mill, of four run of stones, at Brighton, which was commenced at the same time, and was rapidly progressing; likewise for other buildings, fences, etc., for the small village of Yerba Buena, (now San Francisco.) In the City Hotel, (the only one) at the dinner table this enterprise was unkindly called ``another folly of Sutter's," as my first settlement at the old fort near Sacramento City was called by a good many, ``a folly of his," and they were about right in that, because I had the best chances to get some of the finest locations near the settlements; and even well stocked rancho's had been offered to me on the most reasonable conditions; but I refused all these good offers, and preferred to explore the wilderness, and select a territory on the banks of the Sacramento. It was a rainy afternoon when Mr. Marshall arrived at my office in the Fort, very wet. I was somewhat surprised to see him, as he was down a few days previous; and then, I sent up to Coloma a number of teams with provisions, mill irons, etc., etc. He told me then that he had some important and interesting news which he wished to communicate secretly to me, and wished me to go with him to a place where we should not be disturbed, and where no listeners could come and hear what we had to say. I went with him to my private rooms; he requested me to lock the door; I complied, but I told him at the same time that nobody was in the house except the clerk, who was in his office in a different part of the house; after requesting of me something which he wanted, which my servants brought and then left the room, Photograph of John Marshall, who discovered gold forgot to lock the doors, and it happened that the door was opened by the clerk just at the moment when Marshall took a rag from his pocket, showing me the yellow metal: he had about two ounces of it; but how quick Mr. M. put the yellow metal in his pocket again can hardly be described. The clerk came to see me on business, and excused himself for interrupting me, and as soon as he had left I was told, ``now lock the doors; didn't I tell you that we might have listeners?" I told him that he need fear nothing about that, as it was not the habit of this gentleman; but I could hardly convince him that he need not to be suspicious. Then Mr. M. began to show me this metal, which consisted of small pieces and specimens, some of them worth a few dollars; he told me that he had expressed his opinion to the laborers at the mill, that this might be gold; but some of them were laughing at him and called him a crazy man, and could not believe such a thing.

Mining Golden Opportunity: After having proved the metal with aqua fortis, which I found in my apothecary shop, likewise with other experiments, and read the long article ``gold" in the Encyclopedia Americana, I declared this to be gold of the finest quality, of at least 23 carats. After this Mr. M. had no more rest nor patience, and wanted me to start with him immediately for Coloma; but I told him I could not leave as it was late in the evening and nearly supper time, and that it would be better for him to remain with me till the next morning, and I would travel with him, but this would not do: he asked me only ``will you come to-morrow morning?" I told him yes, and off he started for Coloma in the heaviest rain, although already very wet, taking nothing to eat. I took this news very easy, like all other occurrences good or bad, but thought a great deal during the night about the consequences which might follow such a discovery. I gave all my necessary orders to my numerous laborers, and left the next morning at 7 o'clock, accompanied by an Indian soldier, and vaquero, in a heavy rain, for Coloma. About half way on the road I saw at a distance a human being crawling out from the brushwood. I asked the Indian who it was: he told me ``the same man who was with you last evening." When I came nearer I found it was Marshall, very wet; I told him that he would have done better to remain with me at the fort than to pass such an ugly night here but he told me that he went up to Coloma, (54 miles) took his other horse and came half way to meet me; then we rode up to the new Eldorado. In the afternoon the weather was clearing up, and we made a prospecting promenade. The next morning we went to the tail-race of the mill, through which the water was running during the night, to clean out the gravel which had been made loose, for the purpose of widening the race; and after the water was out of the race we went in to search for gold. This was done every morning: small pieces of gold could be seen remaining on the bottom of the clean washed bed rock. I went in the race and picked up several pieces of this gold, several of the laborers gave me some which they had picked up, and from Marshall I received a part. I told them that I would get a ring made of this gold as soon as it could be done in California; and I have had a heavy ring made, with my family's coat of arms engraved on the outside, and on the inside of the ring is engraved, ``The first gold, discovered in January, 1848." Now if Mrs. Wimmer possesses a piece which has been found earlier than mine Mr. Marshall can tell, as it was probably received from him. I think Mr. Marshall could have hardly known himself which was exactly the first little piece, among the whole.

Chain of events that brought the gold aboard the SS Central America:


Word of Gold gets out: The next day I went with Mr. M. on a prospecting tour in the vicinity of Coloma, and the following morning I left for Sacramento. Before my departure I had a conversation with all hands: I told them that I would consider it as a great favor if they would keep this discovery secret only for six weeks, so that I could finish my large flour will at Brighton, (with four run of stones,) which had cost me already about from 24 to 25,000 dollars ­ the people up there promised to keep it secret so long. On my way home, instead of feeling happy and contented, I was very unhappy, and could not see that it would benefit me much, and I was perfectly right in thinking so; as it came just precisely as I expected. I thought at the same time that it could hardly be kept secret for six weeks, and in this I was not mistaken, for about two weeks later, after my return, I sent up several teams in charge of a white man, as the teamsters were Indian boys. This man was acquainted with all hands up there, and Mrs. Wimmer told him the whole secret; likewise the young sons of Mr. Wimmer told him that they had gold, and that they would let him have some too; and so he obtained a few dollars' worth of it as a present. As soon as this man arrived at the fort he went to a small store in one of my outside buildings, kept by Mr. Smith, a partner of Samuel Brannan, and asked for a bottle of brandy, for which he would pay the cash; after having the bottle he paid with these small pieces of gold. Smith was astonished and asked him if he intended to insult him; the teamster told him to go and ask me about it; Smith came in, in great haste, to see me, and I told him at once the truth ­ what could I do? I had to tell him all about it. He reported it to Mr. S. Brannan, who came up immediately to get all possible information, when he returned and sent up large supplies of goods, leased a larger house from me, and commenced a very large and profitable business; soon he opened a branch house of business at Mormon Island.


Tax on Gold: Photograph of Sam BrannanMr. Brannan made a kind of claim on Mormon Island, and put a tolerably heavy tax on ``The Latter Day Saints." I believe it was 30 per cent, which they paid for some time, until they got tired of it, (some of them told me that it was for the purpose of building a temple for the honor and glory of the Lord.)

Gold Fever: So soon as the secret was out my laborers began to leave me, in small parties first, but then all left, from the clerk to the cook, and I was in great distress; only a few mechanics remained to finish some very necessary work which they had commenced, and about eight invalids, who continued slowly to work a few teams, to scrape out the mill race at Brighton. The Mormons did not like to leave my mill unfinished, but they got the gold fever like everybody else. After they had made their piles they left for the Great Salt Lake. So long as these people have been employed by me they hav behaved very well, and were industrious and faithful laborers, and when settling their accounts there was not one of them who was not contented and satisfied.
 
Gold Rush: Then the people commenced rushing up from San Francisco and other parts of California, in May, 1848: in the former village only five men were left to take care of the women and children. The single men locked their doors and left for ``Sutter's Fort," and from there to the Eldorado. For some time the people in Monterey and farther south would not believe the news of the gold discovery, and said that it was only a `Ruse de Guerre' of Sutter's, because he wanted to have neighbors in his wilderness. From this time on I got only too many neighbors, and some very bad ones among them.
 
Desaster of Wealth: What a great misfortune was this sudden gold discovery for me! It has just broken up and ruined my hard, restless, and industrious labors, connected with many dangers of life, as I had many narrow escapes before I became properly established.

From my mill buildings I reaped no benefit whatever, the mill stones even have been stolen and sold.

Fortunes Lost: My tannery, which was then in a flourishing condition, and was carried on very profitably, was deserted, a large quantity of leather was left unfinished in the vats; and a great quantity of raw hides became valueless as they could not be sold; nobody wanted to be bothered with such trash, as it was called. So it was in all the other mechanical trades which I had carried on; all was abandoned, and work commenced or nearly finished was all left, to an immense loss for me. Even the Indians had no more patience to work alone, in harvesting and threshing my large wheat crop out; as the whites had all left, and other Indians had been engaged by some white men to work for them, and they commenced to have some gold for which they were buying all kinds of articles at enormous prices in the stores; which, when my Indians saw this, they wished very much to go to the mountains and dig gold. At last I consented, got a number of wagons ready, loaded them with provisions and goods of all kinds, employed a clerk, and left with about one hundred Indians, and about fifty Sandwich Islanders (Kanakas) which had joined those which I brought with me from the Islands. The first camp was about ten miles above Mormon Island, on the south fork of the American river.

 News of Gold: In a few weeks we became crowded ,and it would no more pay, as my people made too many acquaintances. I broke up the camp and started on the march further south, and located my next camp on Sutter creek (now in Amador county), and thought that I should there be alone. The work was going on well for a while, until three or four traveling grog-shops surrounded me, at from one and 8, half to two miles distance from the camp; then, of course, the gold was taken to these places, for drinking, gambling, etc., and then the following day they were sick and unable to work, and became deeper and more indebted to me, and particularly the Kanakas. I found that it was high time to quit this kind of business, and lose no more time and money. I therefore broke up the camp and returned to the Fort, where I disbanded nearly all the people who had worked for me in the mountains digging gold. This whole expedition proved to be a heavy loss to me.
 
The Business of Gold: At the same time I was engaged in a mercantile firm in Coloma, which I left in January, 1849 ­ likewise with many sacrifices. After this I would have nothing more to do with the gold affairs. At this time, the Fort was the great trading place where nearly all the business was transacted. I had no pleasure to remain there, and moved up to Hock Farm, with all my Indians, and who had been with me from the time they were children. The place was then in charge of a Major Domo.

Hills of Gold Abound: It is very singular that the Indians never found a piece of gold and brought it to me, as they very often did other specimens found in the ravines. I requested them continually to bring me some curiosities from the mountains, for which I always recompensed them. I have received animals, birds, plants, young trees, wild fruits, pipe clay, stones, red ochre, etc., etc., but never a piece of gold. Mr. Dana of the scientific corps of the expedition under Com. Wilkes' Exploring Squadron, told me that he had the strongest proof and signs of gold in the vicinity of Shasta Mountain, and furthers south. A short time afterwards, Doctor Sandels, a very scientific traveler, visited me, and explored a part of the country in a great hurry, as time would not permit him to make a longer stay.

Discovery of Gold:  He told me likewise that he found sure signs of gold, and was very sorry that be could not explore the Sierra Nevada. He did not encourage me to attempt to work and open mines, as it was uncertain how it would pay and would probably be only for a government. So I thought it more prudent to stick to the plow, not withstanding I did know that the country was rich in gold, and other minerals. An old attached Mexican servant who followed me here from the United States, as soon as he knew that I was here, and who understood a great deal about working in placers, told me he found sure signs of gold in the mountains on Bear Creek, and that we would go right to work after returning from our campaign in 1845, but he became a victim to his patriotism and fell into the hands of the enemy near my encampment, with dispatches for me from Gen. Micheltorena, and he was hung as a spy, for which I was very sorry.

Gold delima: By this sudden discovery of the gold, all my great plans were destroyed. Had I succeeded for a few years before the gold was discovered, I would have been the richest citizen on the Pacific shore; but it had to be different. Instead of being rich, I am ruined, and the cause of it is the long delay of the United States Land Commission of the United States Courts, through the great influence of the squatter lawyers. Before my case will be decided in Washington, another year may elapse, but I hope that justice will be done me by the last tribunal — the Supreme Court of the United States. By the Land Commission and the District Court it has been decided in my favor. The Common Council of the city of Sacramento, composed partly of squatters, paid Adelpheus Felch, (one of the late Land Commissioners, who was engaged by the squatters during his office), $5,000, from the fund of the city, against the will of the tax-payers, for which amount he has to try to defeat my just and old claim from the Mexican government, before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington. Signature of John Sutter. ``



Recent Developments on Recovered Gold
Promotions Present a Greater Promise:

In promotion of the gold that has been recovered from this gold ship, a replica of the ship has been built and is traveling from port to port. A promotion drive which sells the gold by the purchasers of the coins is now under way.

Book movie rights:

Should you have interest in purchasing film rights to these books, please contact, Richard Taylor, acting agent for Normand Klare, at 541-821-3778; or e-mail me admin@pacificwestcom.com.  A meeting with Mr. Klare to discuss this option can be arranged.

Library and Museum Title Publications by Klare Taylor Publishers.