STATE OF SOCIETY.
Owing to the breaking out of the war with the Piutes, and to the fact
that the precious metals existed in solid quartz, and, in most
instances, far beneath the surface, where it could only be reached by
means of deep shafts or long and expensive tunnels, many men who came to
the country early in the spring of 1860, left in disgust.
Hundreds of prospectors came in the expectation of being able to find
rich placer-mines, or at least large deposits of decomposed quartz, rich
in gold, which they might wash out with rockers and sluices, as they
were accustomed to wash the auriferous gravel of the California
gold-fields. Being unable to find anything of this kind, except the
ground already taken up and being worked at Virginia and Gold Hill,
these men said that, though rich, the mines were of “no extent,” and
made haste to return to those they had left on the western slope of the
Sierras, in the Golden State.
The Indian troubles greatly assisted many of these men in a speedy
arrival at the conclusion that Washoe was no good country in which to
abide. Few of those who first rushed to the country possessed sufficient
capital to enable them to undertake the expensive works required for the
proper opening and development of the claims they had located, and not
being able to sell a “pig in a poke,” they wanted nothing more to do
with silver mining, while many of those who had the means lacked faith
in the value of the leads discovered.
The business of working silver mines was then new to our people, and at
first they depended much on what was told them by the Mexican silver
miners who flocked to the country. Mexicans were in great demand. The
man who had the word of a Mexican that his lead or his location was
“bueno,” felt that his fortune was made. It has since been suspected
that many of these Mexicans were but “vaqueros” from the “cow counties”
of California, who knew no more of silver and silver mining than a
Digger Indian. They were shrewd enough, however, to keep their own
counsel, and any man who spoke the Spanish language was supposed to have
mined all his days in the richest silver mines of Mexico.
There were, however, undoubtedly in the country many old and skilful
Mexican miners—skilful after the fashion of mining in Mexico—and with
what our people were able to learn of these men, and what they soon
themselves discovered, it was not long before very good work was being
done, both in the mines and in the works erected for the reduction of
the ores. In the reduction of ores much that was of great practical
value was learned from the scientific Germans who flocked to the mines,
men who had had much experience in the silver mines of their own
country, both in mining and in the working of ores. Although rapid
progress was made in mining and milling, in building roads and making
substantial improvements of all kinds, Washoe was a region almost
destitute of laws of any kind, and all carried pistols and knives at
their belts, each man a “law unto himself.”
The people of Western Utah, now Nevada, were supposed to be living under
Mormon law, but the laws of the Saints were distasteful to the Gentiles
and they would have nothing to do with them. They preferred living under
some such “rules and regulations,” as we have seen were adopted at Gold
Hill, in June, 1859, or to settle their difficulties in a fair fight.
Such a dislike had the people to the Mormon laws that they early began
to agitate the matter of a separation from Utah and the erection of a
new Territory out of its western half. Delegates were sent to Congress
to urge this, but nothing was accomplished, and at length the people
took the matter into their own hands and determined to secede from Utah.
A convention was called, and met at Genoa, July 18th., 1859, when steps
were taken for the formation of a “Provisional Government.” A
“Declaration” and “Constitution” were drafted, submitted to a vote of
the people, and adopted. An election for Governor and members of the
Legislature was held, and, December 15th., 1859, this Legislature met at
Genoa, the capital, organized, received the “first annual message” of
Governor Roop, passed a number of resolutions, appointed a few
committees, and then adjourned. This was their first and last
adjournment; they never met again. The silver mines were discovered and
Governor Roop and all hands had other things to think of. The new
population created by the grand rush to the mines so altered the whole
face of affairs that it was considered inexpedient and impolitic to
proceed further in the Provisional Government at that time. The
discovery of silver and the rapid settlement of the country soon brought
the people of Western Utah to the notice of Congress: the Territory of
Nevada was created, and in July, 1861, Governor Nye and a number of the
Federal appointees arrived in the country and set in motion the wheels
of a government that was in accord with the feelings and traditions of
the people. In 1860, however, the Mormon laws were the only laws left to
the people; the Legislature of the provisional government having
adjourned before making any new laws. Having an abundance of “rules and
regulations,” with that ready-reckoner the revolver, laws were not much
missed for a time; besides, all were too eagerly engaged in the pursuit
of wealth in the shape of mines of silver and gold to give much serious
attention to matters political.
Soon after the last battle at Pyramid Lake, prospecting parties again
began to scout out into the wild and then unknown and unexplored regions
lying to the eastward and southward of the Comstock range. Stories of
wonderful discoveries of all kinds in these regions kept the people in
the several mining towns and settlements in a constant state of
excitement. Reports of these new discoveries, greatly exaggerated in
most instances, reaching California, a return tide of miners from that
State soon set in. The marvellous richness of the Ophir and other
Comstock mines continuing, and constantly increasing, capitalists came
flocking back to Virginia and Gold Hill, and it was not long before all
enterprises were in a condition as flourishing as before the Indian
troubles began. With the miners and capitalists also came gamblers of
both high and low degree, roughs, robbers, thieves, and adventurers of
all kinds, colors, and nationalities. Not a few noted and well-known
desperadoes arrived and walked the streets and presided in the saloons
as “chiefs.” It was the ambition of men of this class to be considered
as being “chief” in whatever town they might conclude to infest. Early
in the spring of 1860, Sam Brown, known all over the Pacific Coast as
“Fighting Sam Brown,” arrived at Virginia. He was a big chief, and when
he walked into a saloon, a side at a time, with his big Spanish spurs
clanking along the floor, and his six-shooter flapping under his
coat-tails, the little “chiefs” hunted their holes and talked small on
back seats.
In order to signalize his arrival and let it be known that he was no
“King Log,” Sam Brown committed a murder soon after reaching Virginia.
He picked a quarrel one night in a saloon with a man who was so drunk
that he did not know what he was saying, ripped him up with his
bowie-knife, killing him instantly; then, wiping his knife on the leg of
his pantaloons, walked across the saloon, lay down on a bench and went
to sleep. After this, where was the chief who dared say that Sam Brown
was not the _big_ chief? Sam had then killed about fifteen men,
doubtless much in the same way as he killed the last man. Not long was
Sam chief in Washoe. He took a ride down into Carson Valley, and
stopping at Van Sickles’ Station, near Genoa, took a shot or two at the
barkeeper, then mounted his horse and rode away.
Van Sickles was soon informed of what had occurred, and mounting a fast
horse, with a heavily-loaded double-barrelled shotgun in his hand,
started in pursuit.
He overtook the desperado before he reached Genoa.
Sam no doubt felt that his hour had come, for an enraged ranchman on his
track meant business, as he well knew—it was very different from having
to do with a “chief.” Sam turned in his saddle and began firing, as Van
Sickles approached; but the ranchman was uninjured, and raising his
shotgun riddled the great fighter with buckshot, tumbling him dead from
his horse, just in the edge of the town of Genoa. Thus died “Fighting
Sam Brown”—died with his “boots on;” an end which all “chiefs” dread.
After the death of Sam Brown, numerous chiefs rose up and there were
many bloody fights in regard to the succession. Also, there were many
bloody fights in which the chieftainship was not the mooted question.
Having knives and pistols ever at hand, men of all classes too
frequently used them. The reports of pistols were heard almost nightly,
and in passing along the streets frequent stampedes from the
gambling-houses were to be seen. As innocent parties were as likely to
be killed as the persons engaged in the shooting, those who were not
directly interested in a fight always withdrew when pistols were drawn
in a saloon or gambling-house. At such times they came out into the
street much as a flock of sheep would go through a gap in a fence with a
dog at their heels.
The street gained they turned and stood peeping back. If the war did not
presently begin they gradually ventured to return and resume their
interrupted occupations and pleasures, not expecting an apology from the
gentlemen who had inconvenienced them.
Thus were those not directly engaged in mining, or other productive
industry worrying along.
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