Newspaper Clippings, 1884 - "From Eastern Nevada"

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . April 30, 1884

A LOST BUT TOUGH LITTLE BOY

Out All Night in a Violent Snow Storm, and Found Next Day Under a Sagebush, Chewing Gum.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., April 27, 1884.

Saturday afternoon being tolerably pleasant, the family of Richard Husband, living in the upper part of Austin, together with a few friends, went over to Marshall Canyon, a mile or so south of town, on a sort of picnic excursion. Little Dicky Husband, about seven years of age, with some of the other children of the party, after a while strayed around the hillsides and ravines in search of wild flowers, and somehow he got separated from the rest and they came in without him. Search was immediately made, but he could not be found. There being indications of stormy weather, the women and children returned to town, and, the alarm being given, quite a strong party of men started out to assist in the search for the missing lad.

ON TRACK.

They met an Indian, who told them, in response to their eager inquiries, that he had seen a little white boy running along a hillside away to the southward, crying, and when he went toward him the little fellow was frightened and ran faster, screaming with terror. Snow was then falling, and although they found his track and followed for a mile or so, they soon list it in the gathering darkness and increasing snow. They followed on in the same direction among the foothills of the Toiyabe range, and all night, in one of the heaviest snow storms of the season, they wandered over the rocky slopes and through steep ravines, with no success whatever. When daylight came the snow was several inches in depth, and

THE STORM STILL RAGING.

Scattering themselves over the country in all likely directions the eager searchers pressed onward, hoping to find the little wanderer still alive. Meanwhile, other parties from town, on foot and on horseback, also started out to assist in the search, for by this time the alarm was general. The mother of the little boy was nearly distracted, and could hardly be restrained from also going forth out into the wild storm and deep snow to look for her darling.

RESCUED AND ALIVE.

About 9 o'clock this forenoon a portion of the first searching party suddenly saw what they were after. The little fellow stood by a large sagebrush on the hillside not far distant, but when he saw them he dodged down out of sight. Hurrying thither they found him crouching down on the ground beneath the sheltering bush, with both hands in his pockets, and apparently all right, except somewhat cold and uneasy, but on recognizing some of them he expressed his gladness to be found. He said when he strayed out of sight of the other children the evening before, and thought he was lost, he ran as hard as he could along the first path he could see and did not stop till he got to where they found him, and crawled under the sagebrush, out of the snow, completely exhausted. One of the men noticing that he was chewing something, said: "What are you eating sagebrush for, bub? Are you hungry?" "No," stoutly replied little Dicky, "I ain't a eating sagebrush,"

I'M A CHEWIN' MY GUM,

And I ain't hungry, neither." The lost little boy was carried triumphantly homeward, and is apparently not injured at all, except that he is pretty well tired out, and his little feet are sore. The place where he was found is within a mile and a half of Big Creek, over ten miles from Austin, therefore this youngster may be considered a tough, hardy specimen and not easily killed.

OTHER ITEMS.

A damp, heavy snowstorm prevailed last night and all day to-day, and this evening it bids fair to continue for another twenty-four hours. The sleighing is splendid, but nobody cares to enjoy it. Indeed the beautiful snow has become boringly wearisome.

As stated in my letter of the 11th instant, the Manhattan mill will start up for another long and prosperous run on the 1st of May. In fact the furnace will be lighted to-morrow, but it takes three or four days to get that huge old Stedefeldt furnace arrangement properly heated up for regular work.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday. . . . . . . . . . May 11, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Spring Sproutings—Pastoral Notes—The Domestic Ranchers and Horace Greeleys of Austin—Unfortunate Trees—Manhattan Mill Matters and Personalities—Another Prosperous Run Inaugurated—Mining Operations and Rich Ruby Silver Ore—Enterprising Miners—The Big Pump—West Point and Miscellaneous Points.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., May 9, 1884.

The present moon commenced wet enough, but has dried out finely since. We have had three days, now, without any snow or hail squalls, encouraging us to presume that the mythical backbone of Winter has been broken for the last time, so far as the present Spring is concerned. Nobody weeps to see the genial sunshine, and especially bare ground once more, and the grateful sagebrush, resurrected from its frosty winding sheet, is sprouting and greening forth in spicy fragrance upon the breezes of Spring. Babbling brooks are somewhat scarce about here, and so are babbling birds, except turkeys, hens, ducks and other domestic fowls, but the chances are not good that the numerous locusts and poplars which embellish Austin homes will be all leaved out and verdant by the 10th of next month, when the Democratic State Convention meets here.

AGRICULTURAL.

Throughout the Reese River section, as well as the rest of Eastern Nevada, the farmers have been, and still are, very busy putting in their crops, and more hay, grain and potatoes will be raised this season than for several years past. This refers to the valleys and creek bottom lands, but let it be also known and appreciated that the home domestic ranchers are not idle. They are at work, and the chances are that there will be more spading up of door yards and back yards for agricultural and floricultural purposes than for several years past. And about now it is that the locust trees are receiving their regular annual trimming. For some unaccountable reason, it has become a general, unmitigated observance throughout Austin to keep the locust trees, particularly, well headed down, and therefore it is that this variety of tree looks scrubby and subdued. In fact, the habit has become so chronic that in many instances, where the old tree trimmers have methodically disregarded last year's growth, the trees grow shorter and shorter, and consist of merely dwarfed trunks and discouraged, stubby limbs, with no hope of heavily extensive foliage. Owing to this arbitrary trimming observance, all the trees in town put together would not furnish half enough shade for an old-time Comstock picnic. Not so, however, with "garden sass." Everybody with a door-yard which will justify it buys vegetable seeds by the quantity and sows the same liberally, regardless of expense or limited territory. The Austin domestic rancher allows that he who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, does tolerably well, but if he can make seventeen beets grow where there is only room for one, he knocks spots out of the two-bladed grass man. Our genial County Assessor, Alex. McCafferty, who has got married and settled down, is deeply absorbed in Horace Greeley's famous book on farming, and out of the seven loads of good dirt he has had hauled into his door-yard he expects to realize seven loads of cabbages, to say nothing of his beds of hominy, pearl barley, sage and other farinaceous shrubs, of which he is very fond. He is very liable to find that in agriculture it is sometimes easier to assess than to collect.

THE MILL REVIVAL.

The Manhattan mill started up again last Monday for a long and prosperous run after a judicious rest since February 20, principally for much needed repairs and renovation from its previous run of sixteen months. The whole concern received a thorough overhauling, and sundry advantageous improvements have been introduced. Meanwhile some of the well known old employees were given a welcome chance for rest and recuperation. Charley Durning, the long time Superintendent, put on a boiled shirt and store clothes and took a cruise down to San Francisco and other sections of the golden land of sunshine and flowers. James Sullivan, the manager of the Stedefeldt furnace connected with the mill, laid off on his laurels and fixed himself up for another run of five years, if required. But Jimmy Robinson, the ore receiver, weigher and sampler, took a wider range. He went to the Sandwich Islands. There he gorged himself with bananas and yams, hobnobbed with King Kalakaua, admired Daggett, roamed among the orange groves and taro patches and was happy. And the trip to and fro across the blue Pacific was glorious. The salt sea breeze thoroughly chlorinated the rich ore dust which has so completely filled and saturated his system during his sixteen years' run in the mill, and he came home to resume his old post as efficiently as ever, for another sixteen years. The other old hands are in place, and the mill, machine shop, foundry and other concomitant arrangements all fall in to work together harmoniously and prosperously.

MINING MATTERS.

While the mill was resting and recuperating, the mines were not at all idle, by any means. The regular ore resources were actively developed, and new work pushed ahead at all eligible points, new stopes opened up and plenty of ore accumulated, assuring an indefinitely long run of the mill. Some very rich ore has been taken from the lander shaft of late, and the munificent yield still continues. Some specimens of the beautiful ruby silver, a foot thick and worth $3,000 or $4,000 a ton, from the Lander, were brought to the office of the company, near the mill, a day or two since, and are on exhibition. If that little vein was only a few hundred feet wider, it would very perceptibly decrease the price of silver in the financial markets of the world. But that's the grand trouble here; these exceedingly rich veins are limited to a very few inches in width, and although very reliable in the matter of continuity, vary exceedingly in the matter of size and situation. A five or six-inch bonanza is liable to break off suddenly at any time, yet the old-experienced miner knows very well that he has only to drive east, beyond the break, to find the continuation. But he may have to drift far enough to break him before he gets through. Nevertheless, the numerous chloriders, tributers or leasers, like old California gold-diggers, prefer to take their chances, instead of hiring out for "day's pay," and some of them make nice little piles by so doing, while others, of course, merely subsist along, year after year, and with the assistance of the company.

THE PUMP.

The big Cornish plunger pump being put in at the Frost shaft is one of the most important improvements in that line yet adopted in these mines, and will most assuredly prove to be so. As mentioned in a former letter it is a ponderous, double affair, from the Comstock. The large excavation for the powerful pump-bog is slowly but substantially being filled with the requisite masonry for the anchor bolts, etc., and some of the big bed timbers are in place. Another month will make a well advanced showing. Each department of the work is in very competent charge, and when done, all will be well done.

WEST POINT.

The West Point cadetship would seem to be a hard point for the Commissioners at Winnemucca to decide. Yet should they decide in favor of our Austin boy, Robbie Eames, who was not behind any, at last accounts, nobody here would object. It will have to be an exceedingly smart and meritorious lad that will beat young Eames. And the young man that succeeds not only here, but at West Point, will simply be made for life. What grander prestige could a truly American youth desire than simply this one cardinal point of success?—West Point.

SUNDRY POINTS.

Wiggins' weather predictions never fail. They are sure to come true somewhere or somewhere else. And so, too, with the Washoe Bowers Seeress. She predicted that Reno would be destroyed by fire in the latter part of April or the first of May. But it was Wadsworth that was destroyed instead. She wasn't forty miles out of the way, which is more than Wiggins can brag of generally. The insinuation that our Washoe Seeress was subsidized by the insurance companies in this matter is both mean and unjustifiable.

It is politically pleasant to hear that the Republican delegates to Chicago go unpledged, although not uninstructed. They are good, square, sensible men without exception, and in the case of Blaine is not nominated on the first ballot, and a dark horse is required, he might be found in Austin. But modesty forbids any suggestions on my part.

Cassidy's speech in Congress on April 1, relative to the retirement and recoinage of the trade dollar, and the silver question generally, was one of his best efforts, and very creditable to a representative from Eastern Nevada and the Pacific Coast. It had a decidedly Jonesy ring to it, and, by-the-by, Jones himself is liable to express himself on this exceedingly interesting subject before long.

Local politics in this section do not boil just yet, but will in due time, when I will try and give you the true inwardness of the matter and the various points of interest at stake.

The World's International and Cotton Centennial Exposition at New Orleans will be most worthily represented by Colonel C. C. Thomas, whom we all so long and favorable know, in behalf of our young and ambitious State. It has been suggested that he should commence calling in Nevada mineral contributions at an early date. The richest and most beautiful specimen of silver ore from this State at the Denver Exposition was from Austin, and Austin is prepared to send something even finer and better to New Orleans. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Tuesday. . . . . . . . . . May 27, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Thundering Humidity—A Surplus of Rain—An Austin Alarm—Hopeful Chances—Political Whisky—No Proxies Wanted in the Coming Democratic State Convention—The Next President—Local Politics—An Old Forty-Niner Passes By—Some Well-Known Visitors—Festival Doings—Floatings—Dollars.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., May 23, 1884.

The rattle and the roar of heaven's artillery has considerably commingled with the busy racket of the hammer and the saw during the last two or three days, especially in the afternoon, and quite a perceptible flavor of excitement has disturbed the chronic equanimity of Austin's population. Heavy thunder storms have prevailed every afternoon for a week, but Tuesday afternoon a small waterlogged cloud dumped its contents against the summit sagebrush sources of this canyon, and pretty soon torrents of dirty water came rolling down. The Manhattan mill whistle tooted the alarm, and everybody knew what it meant. Miners got out in a hurry, and there was a rush from all quarters to see the flood come down. But, bah ! it wasn't much of a flood after all. Nothing to be compared to the famous cloudburst floods of August, 1874, which swept away the Postoffice and other buildings, and again in August, 1878, when the Reveille office was washed down stream, and both sides of Main street generally wrecked. This time two or three pretty good-sized streams of water sloshed drunkenly down the street, doing no material damage, but considerably interesting the crowds of Piutes—bucks, squaws and papooses—who lined the sidewalks beneath the protecting awnings. The main sewer of Gold Hill would easily carry twice as much of a flood. But that is about three times as big as Austin's Main-street sewer, with five times steeper descent. And the old Reese River Pioneer shook his head ominously, and hopefully said to Johnny-Come-Lately, with a tinge of disappointment, "Oh, no; this ain't nothin'. Jest you wait till August, the proper time for 'em, and we'll show you a cloudburst that'll make yer eyes bug out. Don't smile, sonny; we'll show you the true racket yet."

PREPARATORY.

Most of the hammering and sawing before mentioned was in putting up barricades against the anticipated flood. All along both sides of Main street everybody have their floodgates ready to slip in across their doorways, three or four feet high above the thresholds, and planks always at hand to nail across any other vulnerable point. Yet all this hammering and sawing is not on account of floods of water, but some of it is preparatory to furnishing floods of whisky for the thirsty Democratic throats which will constitute a part of the Democratic State Convention to meet here on the 10th of next month. Sundry new saloons are being opened and fitted up in good style for the reception and entertainment of those delegates, and carpenters, painters and whitewashers find busy employment. But it is desired to be particularly understood that all delegates elected should by all means come, and not be mean enough to send proxies. Proxies don't drink; proxies don't roll the festive billiard ball; proxies don't run faro or even restaurants; there's no nutriment in proxies. One Matt. Canavan is worth three dozen proxies. If the Democratic party expects to achieve any success in Austin through this convention, every delegate must come in person, and with money, but no proxies in his pocket.

POLITICAL.

The chances are that before my next regular letter the Chicago Convention will decide who is to be the next President of these United States. Blaine's chances are too good for success, and Arthur's chances are not good enough. Grant's recent misfortune in stocks, and the resultant announcement of a desire on the part of personally admiring friends to make up another purse to put him on his feet again, does not meet with general admiration, as looking too much like making him a sort of popular mendicant. And the old Chief himself would doubtless rather be left out of the contest, yet should he be nominated he will be elected, even though, perhaps, Austin should go against him. Will the sable caballo be Edmunds, Washburne or Ben. Butler? We shall soon know. Ah ! but should Blaine be nominated just think of how that book of his will be criticized and politically banged over his unfortunate head. "Would that mine enemy would write a book," would come smilingly into the minds and voices of his opponents, and they would hilariously remark: "Here we have him." So, even if Blaine gets beaten in the nomination, his book will be finely advertised and make him rich.

LOCAL POLITICS.

Of course, is a matter of not pronounced excitement at present, but all sorts of rumors are floating in the air, as for instance, to the effect that Mr. Wren, of Eureka, wants to be United States Senator in place of J. P. Jones, and that M. D. Foley, of Eureka, would like Cassidy's place in Congress; also, that Fred. Hart, the well-known and popular young journalist, is coming over from San Francisco shortly to run the Eureka Leader, which they own, in their political interest. Political aspirations, locally nearer to where I am now writing, will be subject to future notice and critical consideration, on both sides of the political proposition, in due time.

ONE OF THEM.

A genuine old Forty-niner passed down Main street day before yesterday. Most people who saw him merely considered him a queer-looking old duck, but there were many, like myself, who fraternally smiled as we recognized one of the typical old boys. The old California gold miner was unmistakably written all over him. He was a short, square-built old youngster, with full grizzled hair and beard that had seen no other trimming than his old shears or knife could do since he came into the land of gold in the days of old, and his dilapidated brown felt hat had a peculiar jaunty old mash over the larboard side of his head that only belongs to and is accomplished successfully by his kind. One trousers' leg was in his boot, and the other wasn't, and no overcoat obscured the old gray flannel shirt he wore. His trusty old double-barreled shotgun—sudden death to thousands of quail, jackass rabbits, deer, etc.---was slung under his left arm by a bit of baling rope across his right shoulder, and an old briar-root pipe was in his mouth. He led a quiet-looking sorrel horse, well packed with a canvas tent, cooking utensils, pick, shovel and other practical utensils, and the independent, dam-yer-eyes swing of that blessed old-time gold digger was refreshing to contemplate. He cast a sort of practical glance at the street and buildings as he went along, same as he has in passing through hundreds of towns, many of which have died in the long ago, but he was not worrying his old noddle very much as to his night's lodging. He looked straight down the grade toward Reese river, and thought only of a place to picket out his horse in good feed, and where he could set up his little old hotel and camp for a day or two. He had got out of California by way of Bodie; had cruised around through the eastern part of the State, almost to the Utah line, seen and prospected the reputed rich gold mines of Osceola, and was now pointing his weather-beaten old pioneer nose straight toward the Golden west—to God's country—the genial land of sunshine and flowers, the grape and the fig, where he can always live easily and comfortably amid glorious surroundings, pleasant reminiscences, and die happy. Pass along, old boy, may your old briar-root pipe always smoke freely amid peace and contentment.

PERSONAL.

William Hardy, well-known as a thoroughly experienced mining and millman for numerous years on the Comstock, was here a few days ago, and took a good look at the mining and milling situation generally, and very practically, as he might be expected to do. He found considerable rich ore in the mining depths, and proved the method of ore reduction; in short he left with a good impression of Austin and its bullion resources.

Bishop Whitaker arrived night before last, and has renewed acquaintance with many old personal friends. He attended the strawberry festival given by the ladies of the M. E. Church last evening, and will go to Belmont to-morrow, to return next Monday and stay a few days in Austin. The festival last evening was a grand success in every respect, financially and all other ways, the hall being crowded and everybody enjoying it. Strawberries two-bits a box.

FLOATINGS.

The Piute bucks here in Austin always carefully protect their hats against the heavy rain showers, by tying barley sacks over and around them, but their linen dusters have to take it.

The numerous big failures in the East are simply terrific, but it is remarkable that most of them promise to pay about ninety cents on the dollar-equally remarkable that they don't do it.

The item going the round of the papers about how our big millionaires made their first dollar is well enough as far as it goes. But how about the spending of their last dollar? Ask Jim Keene, and, a few years hence, ask some of the rest. Yet the item speaks of none that got their first dollar before they were ten years old. Bah ! how slow. Hundreds of smart boys have gobbled their first dollar, got into jail for it and built railroads afterward. No one can safely bet on the outcroppings or outcomings of fortune. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . June 11, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

The Grand Odd Fellows' Visit to Austin—Some Sweet Singing-Sagebrush Hospitality—Reese River Extension Railroad Troubles—Devilish Ham—Uncle George Tufly—Five Thousand Dollar Rock—Educational—Hurrah! For Blaine—Torchlight Procession and General Rejoicing—Stray Notes and Observations—The Coming Saloon Bonanza—Etc.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., June 6, 1884.

The weather throughout this section has been principally rainy for the past few weeks, but one of the principal sensations of the last few days has been the Annual Convention or meeting of the Grand Lodge of the Odd Fellows of this State. The parade on Thursday of the Grand Lodge, escorted by the Encampment and Austin Lodge, No. 9, preceded by our local band in full uniform, was very fine, and the exercises at the Methodist Church peculiarly interesting. Some neat and felicitating speeches were made by H. T. Creswell, Grand Master W. J. Smith, D. O. Adkison, George H. Morrison and A. D. Rock, and the singing by the choir was the best I have ever heard on such an occasion.

AUSTIN'S SWEET SINGER,

Mrs. Prisk, fairly exceeded all her former efforts. She is endowed with a clear, rich soprano voice, of remarkable purity and power, and her solos were given with bird-like sweetness and effect. It will be borne in mind that Miss Wixom, the "Emma Nevada" now achieving such magnificent success in the operatic circles of Europe, grew up from childhood here in Austin, developed her wonderful powers as a singer, and from here went forth to her triumphant career in the musical world. By many, Mrs. Prisk is considered to possess nearly or quite as fine a voice, in some respects, only requiring proper cultivation and opportunity to give it full effect.

ROYALLY ENTERTAINED.

The fraternity of Austin did their level best to entertain their brethren from the rest of the State, and succeeded most admirably. They gave them the best of everything to eat and drink, showed them everything of interest and tried hard to get up an old time cloudburst, being perfectly willing to have half of the town washed away if it would conduce to the sensational entertainment and novel pleasure of their guests; and this morning a couple of flat cars, fitted up with seats, took them down the steep railroad grade from town to the depot at Clifton, from whence they took their departure on the regular train for their respective homes at 2 o'clock A. M. A large assemblage of their brother Odd fellows, friends and townspeople cheered lustily as they left town, and they cheered lustily in response. Our people feel very grateful for this fraternal visit, and would be happy to have it repeated every years.

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

Owing to the copious rains and melting snows Reese river has, within the past two weeks, succeeded in running through to a connection with the Humboldt at or near Battle Mountain, something it has not achieved since the spring of 1874, ten years ago, when it thus wildly flowed for two months. And, as I have before stated, according to the statement of Mr. Dadd, George Watt, Alex. McCafferty, John Leutjens and other veracious Austin pioneers, trout and sturgeon, as big as saw logs, came up the river from Humboldt Lake. But now the rise in this famous river comes as a special and unwelcome calamity, for it has washed away the railroad in one place, about half way between here and Battle Mountain, and threatens other points. In fact, it has interrupted mail and passenger communication to a limited extend, and but for the most active exertions on the part of the railroad company, the interruption would be really disastrous.

Last Monday night, when the Odd Fellows were coming up, they were detained at the washout five hours before the track could be fixed, so as to allow them to pass over and onward. It was very rough on the brethren to be thus cast away, as it were, a long distance from home or any reliable source of supply in the shape of food or drink, and there was, consequently, a considerable amount of skirmishing after anything to be found in the shape of eatables or beverages. Somebody found a nice basket of lunch, which George Stewart had lain in, and confiscated the contents for the benefit of the crowd without waiting for George to do so. There were lots of deviled ham sandwiches in the outfit, and they were not slow in being placed where they would do the most good. Uncle George Tufly got a bite, but here's what he says of it: "Oh, Dot Pilly Rogers, der gay poy from Elko, he gifs me der pread fon der sandwiches, und eats all der devilish ham himself."

AN INVERTED RIVER.

Uncle George rather likes Austin and the people generally, for he has crowds of friends here. Sayd he: "Ph shingo! Der sageprush looks pully, unt der hills is shust so green as Carson, but vot a tang queer river is dot Reese. Vay down to Paddlemountain it's no pigger as a Tutch prewer could dhring; but it kits pigger as you kits up to it, vhere it ought ter git schmaller, unt blays hell mit der railrote. Der tam schtream was pilt der wrong end up hill. Dots vots der matter."

RUBY SILVER.

But Uncle George goes home happy in the possession of one of the richest and prettiest specimens of ruby silver ore to be found in these mines, presented to him by the Manhattan folks. It weighs about three pounds, and will assay over $5,000 to the ton. Fifty American dollars couldn't buy it now, and Uncle George exultantly shows it to his envious contemporaries, telling them how much better he is appreciated than they, and how a man of 300 pounds responsibility and true moral goodness will always be favored before any ordinary human shrimp.

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

By special invitation I visited the public schools in this town the other day. The school building is principally of brick eligibly situated in the upper part of town, and consists of four departments—high school, first and second grammar and primary—employing four teachers. The average daily attendance is about 200. The high school, conducted by Professor S. D. Bristow, Principal, has an average attendance of about thirty-two scholars and among the higher branches taught are algebra, geometry, rhetoric, chemistry, physiology, etc. There are some very bright youths in this department, and their achievements on the blackboard, in both figures and writing, were very creditable, and their ready and generally correct replies showed evidence of very careful and judicious training. The first grammar department, conducted by Professor J. B. Cowden, has forty-eight scholars, and a very good degree of advancement is noticeable in the various students. In the second grammar department, Miss Kate T. Gallagher, teacher, there are sixty-nine scholars, and in the primary department, Miss Fannie J. Work, teacher, fifty scholars. The scholars are ably managed, and creditable advancement is the result. The rooms are well lighted and ventilated throughout the building, but certain improvements in construction could be advantageously made. No such degree of interest or effort in the management or conduct of the scholars is manifested here as is seen in the Reno, Comstock or Carson schools, parents, guardians or even the Trustees rarely visiting the schools. This is complimentary, as showing the implicit degree of confidence reposed in the teachers, all of whom are talented and well qualified for their respective positions. As for the scholars, they are generally smart and intelligent, about as much so as those of other parts of the State. To say they are not would be a reflection upon their parents and their home management

HURRAH ! FOR BLAINE.

The nomination of Blaine this day was the occasion of a high degree of excitement in Austin, as no doubt it was to a greater or less extent in other parts of the nation. An eager crowd gathered in front of the telegraph office, reading the result of the various ballots posted in the window as fast as received, and when the final announcement of Blaine's success came, the glad news spread like wildfire, and directly the steam whistles gave a startling salute. Up went flags, and down went the beer into many a rejoicing throat, and scores of hilarious revelers were soon shouting and hurrahing for Blaine. At dark the brass band, in full uniform, marched with numerous citizens up to the Manhattan mill, where a train of six flat cars was fitted up,, and as the shades of evening gathered the train slowly moved down the track through town and up again, the "Mules Relief" locomotive being attached. Four large iron baskets of fire blazed from posts on the cars, and the crowd of citizens on board bore lighted torches and waved the old Stars and Stripes, as the band played "Hail, Columbia!" and other patriotic American airs. And mounted on the end car was a lively little cannon, which belched forth small thunder at frequent intervals as the train moved along. It was a brilliant and novel sight, and a sort of wake to the dead hopes of the Democracy. Now let them trot out their old Presidential corpse, Sammy Tilden, and we'll bury him so deep that the sound of the resurrection trumpet will never reach him. After passing down and up street this torchlight procession on wheels dissolved and dispersed, but much jollification was kept up the rest of the night.

STRAY NOTES.

The old pioneer says no white man ever saw Reese river so boomingly high before. It really is quite a sizeable river in this vicinity, but gets much absorbed and attenuated before reaching the Humboldt. It is of the catfish or sculpin style, more head than tail.

I know most of the delegate members to the Grand Lodge personally, and all seemed to have grown older in the last two or three years except D. O. Adkison. He looked about as old fifteen years ago, on the Comstock, as he does now. Like a Chinaman's donkey, after reaching a certain degree of age, he can get no older.

The other day, on the street, Uncle George Tufly offered to pick up any man in the crowd and carry him up stairs, and then wanted to get a bet of $100 that no two men in the crowd could carry him up stairs.

The next sensation in this mad whirl of public excitement will be the Democratic State Convention here on the 10th—next Tuesday. The recent Democratic primaries in Austin elected delegates not favorable to Cassidy for Congress. So Matt. Canavan will find himself perfectly at home here, if he feels Congressionally inclined. The saloons are all doing a fine business now, and look forward to the coming convention as a big bonanza.

ALF DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Saturday. . . . . . . . . . June 14, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

The Democratic State Convention—Too Short, Sweet and Unprofitable—Uncle James Gets Set Down Upon—A Friendly Crime—Auriferous Veal Barbecue—Local Sagebrush Minstrelsy—The Beautiful Rain.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., June 12, 1884.

The Democratic State Convention, like a political cloudburst, as it were, has visited Austin, passed away, and the staunch old town comes out bright and smiling from the portentous episode. The visitation was short and sweet, and unanimously enjoyed while it lasted. The popular objections to it were its brevity, unanimity, numerous proxies and its consequent degree of unprofitableness. Only fifty-seven out of 111 delegates coming to a political convention—in an expectant town—is a grievous wrong. True, the delegates spent considerable money, yet they did not show any very remarkable degree of Democratic recklessness in that desirable respect, although the boys stood up to the bar manfully with them whenever they slung out any inducements. Of course there was much financial nutriment in it, but had it lasted three days instead of one, it would have been three times as profitable. There is getting to be too much Republican unanimity in these Democratic Conventions—also too many proxies. It hardly pays to fit up new saloons for the occasion.

THE CONVENTION

Ran through all its business on Tuesday evening, and the delegates departed by railroad or private carriage before next morning. It was like a circus in some respects, having its ring-master and its clown. And it was also some like a Congress. Its "Websterian" representative or prototype was the ponderously eloquent Cresswell; its Clay, John H. Dennis; its Calhoun, Sadler, of Eureka; its Douglas, Canavan, of Storey, and its "fiery Rupert of Debate," Hagerman, of Reno. Colonel Jerry Moore looked out of place, and reminded one of the old story about the little story who accidentally got among a lot of crows, and his fate will be similar. Colonel Hardesty, of Elko, carried his head nearly a foot higher than any of them, and had the least to say. He is just half an inch taller than Dunphy, the other great cattle man of this section. How is it that most of the great cattle kings or bovine rulers of the sagebrush, whose domains and cattle and sheep cover thousands of hills and numerous valleys, monopolize more of the public lands than anybody, are Democrats? The platform and resolutions of this convention have been published for the public edification. As Colonel Ellis, of Carson, read one plank after the other, each prominent [… line missing] applauded, even to that peculiarly significant one opposing any division of the public school funds or sectarian purposes. The regular biennial Democratic arrangement of the Republican party, the nomination of Cassidy for Congress, and Sewell for Justice of the Supreme Court, by acclamation, and everything else passed off harmoniously till it came to nominations for the six delegates to the National Convention at Chicago. Then came

THE ONLY WRANGLE.

Senator Fair was placed in nomination as a delegate. Captain Matt. Canavan had already been given a special acclamatory nomination, and it was proposed to compliment Senator Fair the same way. Somebody filed a demurrer, others demurred and argued, and the hitch became a remarkably vigorous wrangle. One delegate got in a remark about worshiping the golden calf, meaning Fair, and another delegate ambitiously, yet inconsistently, claimed himself to be the auriferous juvenile ovine referred to. Explanations, appeals from decisions of the chair, points of order, and all sorts of parliamentary rackets were tumbled up, and the wrangle rolled forward into wearisome monotony. The Chairman, G. W. Baker, of Eureka, proved himself a trump, and all hi rulings were sustained. Fair's real friends insisted that this being a Tilden and Hendricks Convention, his name should be withdrawn, he having in times past expressed his opinion that Tilden was not capable or suitable man for President. The Storey county delegation unanimously opposed Fair's nomination for this reason, and as a matter of justice to him, considering that he would himself object to being pledged or in any way bound with the other delegates to the support of a man he would not have for President. This useless and exceedingly detrimental wrangle was finally brought to a close by a ballot, in which Fair was left away out in the cold, and with nobody to thank for his being thus injudiciously slaughtered in the house of his friends.

LOCAL TALENT.

The first regular entertainment of the Savannah Minstrels was given at International Hall evening before last, and was well attended. The company consists of about a dozen Austin youngsters, including three young misses, two of whom are very small in stature, but are really possessed of no small degree of musical and artistic ability. They appeared in songs and character acts very creditably, and all hands did very well in their burnt-cork variety performance. Master Willie Howard, the leading minstrel, is a genuine colored youth of about fifteen, born and raised in Austin, and in song, dance and general acting exhibits a remarkable degree of talent, and a natural adaptability for that line of business.

WEATHER.

Much rain fell yesterday; in fact, the clerk of the weather gives us each day our daily rain, and the sagebrush never looked greener or more flourishing.

ALF. DOTEN.