Newspaper Clippings - Volume 65

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EVENING CHRONICLE VIRGINIA CITY, NEV.

FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 1890

A SUCCESSFUL TEST.

Nevada Mill Electric Motor Plant Accepted.

It is the Largest in the World -- The Power Generated Transmitted 2,300 Feet.

A final test of the Brush electric motor plant that operates the Nevada mill, was made last Sunday in the presence of Evan Williams, Superintendent of the Nevada Mill and Mining Company, and engineers Messrs. Petit and Ross, the latter taking copious notes of every detail of the working of the plant. The result of their observations were submitted in writing and the plant was formally accepted yesterday.

The plant is the largest in the world and the cost is $100,000. It consists of six dynamos of 100 horse power each, placed on the Sutro tunnel level of the Chollar incline, 1,630 feet below the surface. These dynamos are operated by Pelton wheels placed on the same level, the wheels being driven by a volume of 187 inches of water contained in an iron pipe ten inches in diameter, leading from the surface tank to the point of discharge 1,630 feet below.

The electric power generated by the dynamos is transmitted on copper wires to the surface motor room, 2,300 feet distant from the dynamo chamber. The test proved that sixty-three and a half per cent of the power generated in the dynamo chamber is landed on the surface motors -- which is three and a half per cent, more than the contract between the Brush Electric Company and Nevada Mill & Mining Company specifies.

A total of 450 horse-power is required to operate the mill, which is equipped with sixty stamps, sixteen pans, ten settlers, two agitators and three sulphuret pans. Of the 450 horse-power required to operate the entire mill, the Brush electric plant furnishes 380 horse-power, the surface Pelton wheel on which the volume of water required to operate the Sutro tunnel dynamos is discharged prior to passing down the incline, furnishes the auxiliary power of 70 per cent. The mill has been in constant operation, propelled by the electric motors, for above three months, during which it has moved with the precision of the finest clock-work.

A short time prior to the starting of the Nevada mill last November the Brush Company sent from its principal place of business in Cleveland, Ohio, Horatio S. Conner, one of its most skillful electricians, to ascertain if there were any defects in the electric plant that caused its failure to fill the contract with the mill company. Mr. Conner proceeded to thoroughly overhaul the entire plant, from the dynamo chamber to the surface motors, and after a test was satisfied that the reason the plant did not fulfill the specifications of the contract with the Nevada Mill Company was due solely to the incompetency of the electricians who had charge of it during the first test.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by Jannyp
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TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Friday Jul 18, 1890

ALONG THE RAILROAD.

Pastoral Sagebrush Views and Romantic Mountain Scenery -- Reno and Carson Amenities and Improvements -- River Resources and Reflections -- Painless Dentistry.

A pleasanter and more satisfactory ride, for either business or pleasure, cannot be found in this section than over the Virginia & Truckee railroad between here and Reno -- comfortable seats, plenty of room, good companionship, no horse to take care of; in fact, cheaper than owning your own team. And as for scenery all along the route, you have plenty of it, from sagebrush rolling barrens, river and lake views to the deep wooded ravines and snow-crowned peaks and slopes of the grand old Sierra Nevada, along the eastern base of which the railroad skirts for numerous miles, amid broad fields of waving grain and luxurious alfalfa.

THE RIVERSIDE CITY.

Reno never looked more naturally attractive with fine, costly residences, grand shade trees and beautiful shrubbery. It seems to be an off year for fruit, but many well loaded orchards indicate that there will be no famine in that respect.

Another fine three-storey brick hotel is nearly completed next west of Killeen's, opposite the new railroad depot, and still another choice brick building is being put up near by. Other building work goes ahead elsewhere in the town, and, although everybody, as usual, growls about hard times, yet Reno continues her slow, but sure, advancing prosperity. Rents are not cheap, and empty houses are not plenty. The destructive conflagrations of last year were but a temporary interruption. The re-building has been a very decided step in advance, and it is even now proposed to reconstruct the destroyed reduction works. This could be done to very good advantage and at much less expense than at first, as the dam and water arrangements remain intact; the grading is all there, and much of the reduction apparatus did not have its availability totally destroyed. The great wooden building itself can be rebuilt cheaper than at first, and with a better understanding and more experienced management the works can be made to pay.

The dark, flashing Truckee rolls joyously through the town from beautiful Lake Tahoe to historic Pyramid Lake, and the Reno Board of Trade will finally contrive a plan to perfectly utilize the grand water power now running to waste and alkalian demoralization.

PASTORAL VIEWS.

The air is redolent of fresh-mown clover and timothy, and huge haystacks are looming up all through the valley. Cattle and horses are rolling in an affluence of good feed, the various small streams and brooks dance merrily down from the mountains, Washoe lake is higher and more overflowingly extensive than ever before, and the perch, bass and carfish are all happy.

CARSON AMENITIES.

During the Winter months Carson City is simply and officially the State Capital and Federal headquarters, but at this season of the year she is, by common consent and natural beauty the picnic city. Broad, clean streets, abundant shrubbery and long lines of grand shade trees proclaim and adapt her as such, and the Capitol square is the most beautiful spot in the State of Nevada.

And the historic old river itself is not altogether a burlesque this season, by any means. It has fallen somewhat from its high state of a few days ago, but will run Sam Longabaugh's approaching wood drive, and continue to drive all the mills steadily until next Winter furnishes a renewal of water resources and irrigation dam propositions. The flats at Empire again show green pasturage above the turbid waters, and the web-footed cows swim voraciously across the meandering river branches and sloughs to get at the esculent grasses on the green isles of the Empire sea. The mills along the river are all running full blast on Comstock ore, and the dams all stood the floods splendidly, except the old Merriman dam, which got considerably dilapidated and needs repairing.

NATURAL DENTISTRY.

The river has had a thorough flushing out from the floods, and the baneful salivating effects of the quicksilver and chemicals from the mills, causing the trout to lose their teeth, is at least temporarily checked. All of which reminds me of a little dental operation I witnessed a few days ago in a C street butcher shop. George Williams was suffering fearfully from an aching tooth, one of the few old snags he has left, and which has not allowed him to drink a drop of cold water for the last three years. He managed to get a clove hitch with a stout string around the rebellious tooth and handed the ends to Tom Cara. Tom tied a loop, caught it on a meat hook and made a lively "bit o' scruff" with his ponderous fist at George's nose. Away went George, backward, leaving the tooth dangling from the hook -- a fact he did not notice until he got through nursing his nose -- felt no pain from the tooth whatever. And now Tom has quit his music business and is having an office sign painted to start in as a "painless dentist."

ALF DOTEN.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by Jannyp
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TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Tuesday July 22, 1890

UNPARALLELED KILLING.

Patrick Crowley Brains a Fellow Miner in the Depths.

An Inexplicable Affair -- Terror-Stricken Witnesses -- A Non-Plussed Engineer -- A Ghastly Sight -- A Down Deep Demon -- Always Bore a Good Reputation -- Etc.

Twenty-five years ago, as well as memory serves this reporter, John Glavey and Owen McCabe were working on the same shift in the Yellow Jacket mine. McCabe was a wiry, industrious, indefatigable little worker, and Glavey was a pussy, inert fellow. McCabe always wanted to make a big showing of work on his shift, and Glavey was indifferent. To prick Glavey to some point of exertion McCabe constantly taunted Glavey with the charge of laziness. Smarting under a renewed and particularly lively reminder to get a move on him, Glavey turned like a flash of lightning upon his partner and drove a pick clean through his body. In course of time he was acquitted of wrong-doing.

From the killing of McCabe down to the act that horrified this community Sunday night a quarter of a century has passed. Men of all nations, differing in religious beliefs, in political opinions, set against each other by manners, customs, religious and political observances, frequently entangled in national brawls, and even occupying positions of antagonism, have worked side by side, day by day, night by night, year in and year out, way down in the depths, and but one feeling has ever possessed their minds: protection, mutual care and solicitude for one another's safety.

Pistols and knives have been laid aside "on top," each feeling the utmost confidence in the manhood and integrity of the other while in the depths -- weapons to be resumed upon returning to the surface. Innumerable encounters have been formulated underneath in the heat of discussion; but always settled "on top," and each man watching zealously for the safety of the other for a good scrap at the wind-up.

This feeling, this masonry, has been so well understood that when miners "fall out," and matters looked serious, it has been a common remark to say: "Oh, wait till they get on the same shift, and they'll make it all up."

AN UNDERGROUND TRAGEDY.

At 11 o'clock Sunday night Patrick Crowley, James Hoban and James W. Shaughnessy were lowered to the 600 level of the Savage mine. William Nicholls, shift boss, told the engineer, Sumner Golding, to keep them at the 600 level until he took the south cage and joined them. He went down to the 600, joined the men and was lowered with them to within five feet of a floor on the 1200 level that extended across the shaft to catch whatever earth and rock would be excavated by the men engaged at work in repairing the shaft. While descending from the 600 level to the 1200 level Nicholls reprimanded all the men on the shift alike about not enough work being done. The cage stopped and Crowley got off first and entered the station. Nicholls followed him and spoke to him. Shaughnessy and Hoban, who were waiting for their orders, were looking at the platform beneath the cage, which had been cleaned by the previous shift. Immediately following the words of Nicholls, which were not understood by them, they heard a crushing blow, and upon looking around, just a few feet back of them in the station, they saw Nicholls stretched on the floor of the station. Shaughnessy jumped for Crowley and caught him, saying "What have you done?" Crowley pushed him back, and assuming a threatening attitude, said, "You son of a b--; what is the matter with you?" Hoban then got on the cage, closely followed by Shaughnessy, who immediately rang three bells -- meaning the surface. But Crowley followed them on the cage, and when it had ascended about 30 feet he grabbed Shaughnessy, and pushing him against a wall plate of the shaft, he managed to ring a stop. Crowley wanting to throw Nicholl's body down the shaft, dead or alive, and then claim it was accidental.

SOME STRATEGY.

Hoban said he felt very faint, and wanted to go to the 600 level first -- where he knew there were some men working -- to get some water. Crowley said he didn't want any water, but after more or less coaxing he agreed to let the cage be rung to the 1100 level.

A SILENT CONSULTATION.

On the 1100 level they got off the cage and remained there nearly half an hour. Shaughnessy and Hoban are as silent as the tomb or Wm. Nicholls, about any conversation that may have occurred during that time. Both men were frightened out of mind, and to believe them, both men simply knocked their knees together while Crowley stared at them.

AN EXCITING PERIOD.

Crowley finally asked Shaughnessy and Hoban to return with him to the 1200 level, and Hoban said he wouldn't go back for the world. Crowley then got on the cage and rung himself down to the 1200 level, where Nicholls lay. As the cage descended with Crowley, Hoban and Shaughnessy started up the ladders. Both men were weak, very much excited, and the ladders in poor condition for climbing. They climbed about 150 feet and came across a platform in the air-shaft, up which they were climbing, and could go no further. In desperation, Hoban reached to the southwest corner of the cage shaft, and got the bell-rope in his hands and gave three pulls, signifying to hoist to the surface, and as the cage neared their position he pulled the rope for a stop. Meanwhile, he had tied the rope around a bolt, so that Crowley couldn't ring a stop. The men then got on the cage and rung themselves to the surface.

THEY HAD SOME LUCK.

As soon as they commenced to raise Hoban cut the bell rope with an ax that was on the cage, and which was probably the instrument with which Nicholls was killed.

The peculiar orders of the bell puzzled the engineer. Mr. Golding, and it was suspected there was something wrong in the shaft. Billy Burns, the top carman, held the bell rope in his hand constantly, and by word of mouth transmitted the signals to the engineer. The men in the shaft did not pull the rope hard enough to ring the bell, and but for Mr. Burns their orders would never have reached the surface, and this story might be descriptive of three accidental deaths.

AT LAST ON TOP.

As soon as Shaughnessy and Hoban reached the surface they breathlessly told of the killing, and Superintendent Keating was immediately apprised of the fact. The police were soon notified, also, and a party was made up of James Weir, Luke Quinlan, Thomas Pearce and James Grant to go down the shaft and arrest Crowley. The descent was necessarily slow, on account of the bell rope having been cut and tied around a bolt, and the party didn't care to get beyond communication with the surface.

THE ARREST.

Arriving at the 1200 station officer Weir asked Crowley if he would get on the cage, and he said "Yes," and got on with his back to the officer. He was raised to the surface, changed his clothes, was handcuffed, taken to the jail and locked up without the least resistance.

DROPPED DOWN THE SHAFT.

The party then returned to the 1200 level without the officer in search of the body. They found a plank had been removed from the platform in the shaft, and suspecting the body had been thrown down the shaft, ropemen were sent for, and a rope hoist was soon rigged up and men were lowered slowly to the bottom of the shaft -- 100 feet lower -- where they found the body. By means of a couple of hoists to the 1200 level, and then one to the surface the party returned.

FRIGHTFUL WOUNDS.

The body was taken to Brown's undertaking rooms, where it was viewed by hundreds yesterday. The wounds are simply indescribable. If Shaughnessy and Hoban heard but one blow, and saw none delivered, Crowley must have used his ax again after returning to the 1200 level, because there are three well-defined ax cuts on Nicholl's head -- cuts that could not have been made by falling down the shaft. The left side of the head was all crushed in, and there was nothing left from which to recognize a human face on that side, excepting the fact that it lay at the end of a human trunk.

WILLIAM H. NICHOLLS

Was born and raised at Chacewater, Cornwall, England, where he married a sister of William Pearce, foreman of the Hale & Norcross. Five children have been the fruit of their marriage, and Mrs. Nicholls is now reported enciente, and very ill. He has resided on the Comstock about 11 years. He was a man who seldom drank liquor, and was of very industrious habits. He has a brother (Edward Nicholls) working in the Savage on the same shift, but in a different part of the mine. He has a mother in the old country and two sisters and three more brothers in this country.

Deceased was a member of Comstock Council No. 1. Order of Chosen Friends, from whom his family will receive $3,000: Triumph Lodge No. 7, K. of P.; Virginia Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F.; Virginia Miners' Union, and Cara's cornet band.

PATRICK CROWLEY

Came to Virginia City about three years ago from San Francisco, where he has brothers and sisters and other relatives living. He has been working steadily since he has been here. He is a man about 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighs about 220 pounds and is aged 29. He has been a member of the Emmet Guard for two years. Those who say not a word of the killing say that he is a very quiet, unobtrusive man, who will stand a josh as well as any one.

An ENTERPRISE reporter called at the jail yesterday and asked Crowley if he had any statement to make of the killing. He simply said "No; I have nothing to say."

Taken to Carson.

Owing to rumors of preparations for a lynching, the Sheriff had some extra officers on duty during the evening, and deemed it prudent to remove Crowley to Carson out of reach of violence as soon as B street was sufficiently deserted to permit conducting him to a stable without attracting attention. At 10 o'clock special officer Sabin led Crowley handcuffed to Peterson's stable which had been closed for some time. There a team stood ready, and as soon as the prisoner entered the carriage, in which Chief Tally and Sheriff McCullough sat, the doors were thrown open and the horses were started towards Carson at a rapid gait. The secret had been so well kept that none but those engaged in the removal knew anything about it.

AN ALARM.

At exactly 10 o'clock the horses dashed out of the stable, and five minutes afterward the Corperation bell rang an alarm. As no one at this time knew of the removal an immediate rush from all directions was made to the jail, where it was supposed that an attempt was to be made to take out the prisoner. As the crowd gathered a carriage dashed through to the Emmett Guard armory, where some arms were given to the occupants, who at once turned and were driven towards Carson. No one seems to know why the bell was sounded, as the prisoner was off quietly and safely, but the belief is that it was to direct attention to the Court-house and delay possible pursuit. The alarm may have been a wise precaution, but though there was plenty of talk about the bloody consequences should an attempt be made to lynch Crowley, no one indicated any design or wish to join in attack upon the authorities. There was, however, a very pronounced feeling against him, and the sudden congregation of excited men, many ready to take offense on either side of the question of summary punishment, might have brought on the trouble that the removal to Carson was intended to prevent. As to the propriety of the precaution taken by the Sheriff there was but one opinion, but the wisdom of the alarm is not apparent.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by Jannyp
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TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Thursday August 14, 1890

COMSTOCK AMENITIES.

Peculiar Noises Among Sleeping Roomers -- A Long-Winded Alarm Clock -- Sheep-Dip for Nightmare -- A Lively Rescue.

The Douglass building is one of the most popular structures for business and sleeping purposes in this city. What is not occupied for saloon, office or club-room arrangements is fully and completely utilized by a pretty good class of roomers, especially on the second and third floors. The entrances from B street, as well as from C, furnish ample facilities for ingress or egress at all times, and away in the past midnight and dark morning hours somebody is liable to be moving about.

In fact, there are rumors of ghosts with veiled faces and forms having been heard or seen gliding mysteriously through the passages. Yet no one in that comfortable dwelling is afraid of ghosts. Harmonious peace pervades the establishment, and the general rule long since squarely promulgated by the festive proprietor is always carefully respected: "Gentlemen, quarrel in your rooms, if you take a notion, but no fighting in the hallways or on the stairways."

The roomer who gets home after midnight, in compliance with the early-closing law, and plays his banjo or fife awhile before going to bed disturbs nobody but himself, and so long as he don't get into the wrong room he is all right. One roomer who wants to get up early but doesn't wake easily, procured a fine alarm clock six months ago. It makes a peculiar noise, a sort of cross, as it were, between a buzz-saw and a coffee-mill, and it is gauged to run half an hour unless the sleeper reaches out and shuts the racket off by jamming a button or otherwise demoralizing it. But this man has an ear for music, and got to waiting for it to subside or get through, about which time he would get started off into the most refreshing nap of his life. He has lost his job through it, and is now studying out some sort of a scheme to make the thing a perpetual self-winder.

The other night the proprietor, who frequently sleeps in the building, heard a stranger noise than usual, and bounced out of bed to see about it. The noise came from a room near by, and sounded as though somebody was strangling to death or being murdered.

He banged at the door and gently shouted: "What the devil's the matter? Got the death rattles or the jim-jams?"

"Ugh! ugh! Come quick! Ugh, ugh! Ah, wah, wah! Ugh, hoo, oo!"

But your door's locked: where's the key?"

"Ugh! Wow, wow! Ugh, ugh! It's on the inside. Come quick!"

"All right my son, you just keep your key on the inside and go on rasslin' with the devil; I'm going back to bed. Stop that thing now, or I'll raise your rent."

The noise ceased, and next morning they met and explanation were in order.

"No use you telling me about your having a fit of the nightmare. I know what it was, you'd been gorging yourself with 'sheep-dip.' Can't fool me -- not for Joe. Been there and know all about it. 'Sheep-dip' straight, according to the unmistakable symptoms. But young feller you just quit that now, its hung onto you too long. Must have thought yourself an infernal alarm clock."

ALF DOTEN.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by Jannyp
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Evening Chronicle.

VIRGINIA CITY, NEV.

JOHN H. COLEMAN Manager

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1890

LAST NIGHT'S GLOVE SCRAP.

The Keogh-McCormack Performance on the Opera House Stage -- Two Hours' sparring and Nobody Hurt -- Sanguinary Windup.

Last evening at Piper's Opera House the puglilistic match which has stirred up the sporting inwards of this Comstock community for the last five or six weeks, materialized into a culimination on the stage of Piper's Opera House in the presence of very appreciative audience including, of course, numerous delegates and candidates from all parts of the State, gathered in for the Republican State Convention today. Most of them eagerly deny that they were present, but, --. The match was for $500 a side and the gate receipts, together with champion honors of the great occasion.

PRELIMINARY EVENTS.

First in order came a very lively and amusing three-round scrap with full-fledged boxing gloves, between Matt Brannan and A. Kelly of Carson. They did splendidly, exhibiting excellent sparring proclivities with frequent knock-downs, at one time the light-weight, Kelly, being knocked into a whirling acrobatic summersault, lighting neatly on his feet again as he came down and fighting ahead, not noticing the slight interruption. This was really the most brilliant and lively contest of the evening.

A rattling little boxing bout of three rounds followed between two boys in their teens, who stood in well and showed that they were not altogether green hands at the business.

The next was a match against time between the light patience of the audience and a long, heavy wait not on the programme. This was a draw, terminating at 11 o'clock, when Keogh and McCormack came on the stage and entered the ring.

THE PRINCIPAL EVENT

Of the evening was now inaugurated. Both men were in first-class condition and stripped like Spartan gladiators. McCormack was ten pounds the heaviest but not as well muscled and built as Keogh. They were ably seconded by James T. Brady, E. Harris and T. Gore for Keogh and Matt Brannan and Al Needham of Carson for McCormack. James T. Brady, who seconded Keogh, has got a pretty good reputation of his own as a pugilist, having been principal in several prominent well-fought battles. He was formerly second to Heenan and has had much experience in both training and sparring. Both principals were well handled throughout. In the absence of Dominic Briden, the chosen referee, by reason of sickness, Alfred Chartz consented to act as referee, and all was now ready.

JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.

The referee having read the prize ring rules aloud, like the riot act, he told Keogh and McCormack to step out and shake hands, which they did, gazing upon each other in a pensive manner, thoughtful, but smiling, as though reflecting on the possibilities of participation in the financial emoluments of the outcome.

THE CONTEST.

At 11:15 precisely they squared away forninst each other with stern eyes and revolving fists properly protected by warm gloves, as though they intended to hit each other. They failed oftener than they succeeded, and changed their intentions frequently and rapidly, doing little or no damage, and retiring promptly to their corners when time was called.

There were thirty rounds of contention in all, but as all were similar to the first, extending very monotonously through the space of two mortal hours, it is not necessary to bore the readers with the uninteresting details, but speak of all the rounds collectively up to the last two. Many very clever blows were given and received, and McCormack got in three or four times as many as Kehoe, but as an offset Kehoe showed the best elusive and dodging capabilites. Several times when McCormack launched forth a blow that would have shoved his fist through the head or body of his antagonist, the head or the body was not there, or the fist hit where it glanced off harmlessly. At one time Kehoe incautiously left his right eye in the way and got it hit so that it became somewhat discolored, otherwise he showed no punishment. McCormack bled a little from his left ear from a hard side-winder in that locality, but did not show much other injury.

Keogh did all the aggressive fighting, with McCormack seemingly studying the defensive yet getting in the most blows, Keogh carried the war into McCormack's corner all the time and frequently rushed him to the ropes, at one time almost throwing him over and outside the ring.

When they came up for the 29th round McCormack was seen to be bleeding from a scalp wound on top of his head, the blood trickling down over his neck and back. Keogh says this was caused during the severe clinch in the previous round by McCormack's head coming in contract with one of his (Keogh's) upper teeth, ripping a small hole in the scalp. Be that as it may, owing to the intense redness of McCormack's hair it was not easy to tell whether it was his scalp or his hair that was bleeding.

A SANGUINARY CONCLUSION.

This 29th round commenced with hard hitting on McCormack's part and directly there was a fierce clinch which would not break away at the command of the referee, both combatants clinging desperately to each other. McCormack fiercely butting Keogh with his head in the forehead, chin and face, African style, while Keogh strove to crowd him away. The referee actively interposed to make them break away, forbidding any more of that sort of business and warning McCormack against it especially the butting proposition. When finally separated both men were covered with McCormack's blood, and as Keogh bowed forward going away McCormack struck him a fierce parting blow on the back of the head. Tumultuous cries of foul came from all parts of the house, but the men went to their corners and were called up for the thirtieth round.

This was the last, and both men being viciously angry, directly there was desperate clinch and more fierce butting from the bloody head of McCormack, who, apparently, was wildly reckless as to what he did. The police had to assist the referee to part them, and the fight was awarded to Keogh on the ground of foul fighting by McCormack, amid much confusion and excitement.

The decision was generally approved as just and correct.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by Jannyp
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