L'or by Blaise Cendrars Page B
Authors: Blaise Cendrars
Tags: Biographical fiction, Fiction, Literary, Historical fiction, General, Historical, California, Gold mines and mining, Sutter; John Augustus, Pioneers
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deliverance of Thebes. Hannibal, the courageous, who led his victorious armies over the Alps and trod the classic soil of Italy, will long outlive the history of Carthage. In naming Athens, one names her divine sons, and the name of Rome is consecrated by the glory of illustrious men. Thus, in future times, when the pen of the historian wishes to trace the origin and foundation of our dear Fatherland, which by then will be one of the most powerful countries in the world, when the historian wishes to describe the suffering and the hardships of the beginning, and recount the struggle for liberty in the West, then one name will shine forth above all others: it is that of the immortal SUTTER!'
53
Speech follows speech.
General Sutter is absent, lost in his reverie.
The thunder of applause sets the rafters ringing in the huge theatre.
Ten thousand voices clamour his name.
Sutter does not hear.
He is fiddling nervously with the ring he is wearing, turning it round, changing it from one finger to another and repeating and repeating, over and over again under his breath, the inscription he has had engraved upon it:
-THE FIRST GOLD -
DISCOVERED IN JANUARY 1848
----
THIRTEENTH CHAPTER
----
54
The beginning of 1855, like the end of the previous year, marks a new triumph for John Augustus Sutter.
On the 15th of March, Judge Thompson, the highest magistrate in California, announces his verdict in the Sutter case.
He acknowledges Sutter's claims as being just and well-founded, recognizes the grants made by the Mexican governors as legal and inviolable and declares that all those immense territories on which so many towns and villages have been built are the personal, intangible and indisputable property of John Augustus Sutter.
This verdict, together with the reasons adduced, amounts to a small volume of over two hundred pages.
55
Jean Marchais is the first to bring news of this verdict to the Hermitage. He finds Sutter engrossed in a booklet on the breeding of silk-worms.
Immediately, Sutter pounces on his frock-coat and brushes it with long, vigorous strokes. In effect, this judgement is directed against the United States; it is therefore necessary to obtain ratification from the highest Federal Court, swiftly and without delay. He has not a moment to lose. Out of a sort of childish vanity, Sutter is eager to reach Washington before the official courier arrives with the verdict. He will present himself to the Court in person.
'What a fine man this Judge Thompson is,' he says, as he dons his handsome embroidered shirt. 'O God, I have never doubted Thee!' he murmurs as he pulls on his boots.
'I thank Thee, I thank Thee,' he pronounces aloud.
Then he buttons up his gauntlets and buckles on his heavy belt with the revolver in its holster. 'At last, they are giving me justice.'
Justice!
He puts on his broad-brimmed felt hat and looks at himself in the mirror.
He is happy and, perhaps for the first time in his life, smiles at his own reflection.
He bursts out laughing at the thought of the trick he is going to play on the official courier by arriving in Washington ahead of him, and delivering the great news himself! 'God, what a bolt from the blue it will be!' I'll cross the Sierra by the mountain tracks; that way, I can see Father Gabriel and tell him the news. Now, there's another good man. How pleased he will be, and Shannon will have to bite his tongue. Those villains had better watch their step, from now on we shall be the ones to lay down the law here. I'll get Bill, Joe and Nash to ride with me, that'll be enough. I can stay with the Mormons en route , and, if I travel through Nebraska, Missouri and Ohio, I'll be in Washington in a flash. My three Indians must come all the way to the Federal capital with me, and we must appear on horseback. Unless the Mormons can take me down the Platte River to catch the train. I hear the railway's reached Des Moines already.
'Ah, they're good souls, good souls . . ."
In his
53
Speech follows speech.
General Sutter is absent, lost in his reverie.
The thunder of applause sets the rafters ringing in the huge theatre.
Ten thousand voices clamour his name.
Sutter does not hear.
He is fiddling nervously with the ring he is wearing, turning it round, changing it from one finger to another and repeating and repeating, over and over again under his breath, the inscription he has had engraved upon it:
-THE FIRST GOLD -
DISCOVERED IN JANUARY 1848
----
THIRTEENTH CHAPTER
----
54
The beginning of 1855, like the end of the previous year, marks a new triumph for John Augustus Sutter.
On the 15th of March, Judge Thompson, the highest magistrate in California, announces his verdict in the Sutter case.
He acknowledges Sutter's claims as being just and well-founded, recognizes the grants made by the Mexican governors as legal and inviolable and declares that all those immense territories on which so many towns and villages have been built are the personal, intangible and indisputable property of John Augustus Sutter.
This verdict, together with the reasons adduced, amounts to a small volume of over two hundred pages.
55
Jean Marchais is the first to bring news of this verdict to the Hermitage. He finds Sutter engrossed in a booklet on the breeding of silk-worms.
Immediately, Sutter pounces on his frock-coat and brushes it with long, vigorous strokes. In effect, this judgement is directed against the United States; it is therefore necessary to obtain ratification from the highest Federal Court, swiftly and without delay. He has not a moment to lose. Out of a sort of childish vanity, Sutter is eager to reach Washington before the official courier arrives with the verdict. He will present himself to the Court in person.
'What a fine man this Judge Thompson is,' he says, as he dons his handsome embroidered shirt. 'O God, I have never doubted Thee!' he murmurs as he pulls on his boots.
'I thank Thee, I thank Thee,' he pronounces aloud.
Then he buttons up his gauntlets and buckles on his heavy belt with the revolver in its holster. 'At last, they are giving me justice.'
Justice!
He puts on his broad-brimmed felt hat and looks at himself in the mirror.
He is happy and, perhaps for the first time in his life, smiles at his own reflection.
He bursts out laughing at the thought of the trick he is going to play on the official courier by arriving in Washington ahead of him, and delivering the great news himself! 'God, what a bolt from the blue it will be!' I'll cross the Sierra by the mountain tracks; that way, I can see Father Gabriel and tell him the news. Now, there's another good man. How pleased he will be, and Shannon will have to bite his tongue. Those villains had better watch their step, from now on we shall be the ones to lay down the law here. I'll get Bill, Joe and Nash to ride with me, that'll be enough. I can stay with the Mormons en route , and, if I travel through Nebraska, Missouri and Ohio, I'll be in Washington in a flash. My three Indians must come all the way to the Federal capital with me, and we must appear on horseback. Unless the Mormons can take me down the Platte River to catch the train. I hear the railway's reached Des Moines already.
'Ah, they're good souls, good souls . . ."
In his
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