Show man WT who V ho discovered gold in in california BY BURR EVANS james W T marshall arshall lA who discovered gold in california wednesday january 1848 at coloma on the south fork of the american river in el dorado county had a great dislike of having his photograph taken and also of giving anyone his signature his picture herewith is a copy of a copyrighted photograph that is claimed to be one of a very few if not the only genuine one in existence the manner in which the said photo was obtained is as follows judge william pitt 34 A ija ja yv LUcu carpender an early day miner of smiths flat a mining camp eleven miles southeast of colonia coloma who was a partner like friend of marshall arshall Al for thirty five years knew of his aversion to having his photo taken and had tried in various ways a number of times I 1 to get marshall arshall Al to sit for his picture but he always refused marshall arshall INT like many of the old time miners would make a trip from the mountain mining camps to sacramento the state capital and as was the usual about once a year for two or custom would go on a jamboree three da days ys and most likely go 90 broke one morning in the later GOS carpender met marshall on J street in sac sacramento strictly consulting mining sil ning engineer san francisco calif sober and flat broke just after a three days round of joy and so dry that he just had to get a drink in some manner without belittling himself after greeting his old time friend and pard judge carpender he made it known that his dryness was beyond control and requested a temporary loan of four bits to invest in a pint flask the meeting happened to be in front of a photographers and carpender perceived it was an opportune time to obtain the long sought photo so with a half dollar in his hand as a tempting inducement he told 11 marshall arshall to step into the photograph shop and have his picture taken and the half dollar would be his marshall arshall 11 said hed be daid if he would but after carpender said a all 11 right and started on up the street marshall mara called him back and consented to have his picture taken and also to write his signature in order to quench the over overpower power ing thirst and brace up it can be noted in the photo that his hair is not combed and his tie is aar awry y but his eye is bright and clear and his mouth is firm which by the way is somewhat like abe Lincol ns when judge carpender passed over the great divide at smiths flat february 1916 he left the photo with his son A bert carpender who had it copyrighted gated and presented an enlarged copy of sai same ne to the smithsonian institute at washington D C judge carpender had dispensed justice at placerville erville old Hang town the county seat of el dorado county for forty years up to the time of his demise marshall passed on to the ne next t material existence of which he be was satisfactorily convinced august 1885 at the mining camp of kelsey which is four miles east of coloma |