Newspaper Clippings, 1884 - "From Eastern Nevada"

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Tuesday……….June 24, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

The Reese River Deluge—Railroad Communication Cut Off—An Untimely Drought—Tilden's Vindication and Vindicators—Their Inconsistent Yet Characteristic Blunder—Harmonious Wedding—"Bowers"—Good Beer—A Sensational Kick—Trout Fishing with Mushroom Results—The Coming Fourth—Educational—Sagebrush—Kites—Ben. Butler.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., June 21, 1884.

The Long continued and copiously rainy season had the effect to finally flood Reese River Valley fearfully and wash away an extensive section of the railroad, cutting off our mail, passenger and freight facilities for several days. In fact had it not been for the telegraph we would have been totally cut off from all communication with the outside world. During the last four or five days some real stern hot Summer weather has set in, accompanied by a sudden drought, there being no rain for two days, and causing the river to drop on itself so that the railroad could be mended and trains run over it again. Day before yesterday about a dozen cars got through from Battle Mountain with freight, the first for about two weeks. This sudden drought and hot weather created a very lively demand for beer and other cooling irrigants. The amount of such beverage required to keep the old Reese River pioneer's clay properly moistened is astonishing. Yesterday and day before we had some light thunder showers in the afternoon, and this afternoon a cloudburst is confidently anticipated.

DEMORALIZED

The entire Democracy of Austin, from Coffee to Creseenzo are bowed down in the sackcloth and ashes of disgust and demoralization, since the absolute refusal of old Sammy Tilden to be nominated and elected President. They staked their whole political pile on him at their recent State Convention here, enthusiastically swearing eternal fealty to him dead or alive. They declared that he was swindled out of his election eight years ago by an eight to seven fraud, and that he must now be vindicated by a grand unanimous re-election. The Democracy apologize for their neglect to thus vindicate him four years ago on the ground that he refused to have it. He did not really believe he was fairly elected four years ago, neither did they. Then affecting to believe so now is merely a measure of popular Democratic enthusiasm through which they hoped to win. "Whom the gods would destroy they first made mad," and our Democratic friends in this convention did so many mad things and made such mad blunders, that they have been mad ever since and willing to be destroyed. The worst blunder was the snubbing of Senator Fair. When he was placed in nomination as delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, a friend arose and expressed an earnest hope that this convention would not make the same blunder that the Republicans had in similarly rejecting two of their best men, Mackay and Jones, by refusing to send them to Chicago. But they deliberately and cold-bloodedly did snub our Uncle Jeems, on the ground that he was not a Tilden man, and now that Tilden has declined they are madder than ever to know that they slaughtered Fair, and destroyed all future chances at his plethoric sack, all to no purpose whatever.

MATRIMONIAL.

Last Friday evening Fred. O'Brien married Miss Mary Crosswhite, of this town. Fred. was formerly a good Comstocker, and played the tuba, or mammoth Ramshorn, in Rippingham's brass band. He plays the same in our excellent local band, and, being a first-class musician as well as a first-rate fellow generally, he has plenty of good friends. About fifty ladies and gentlemen were present at the wedding, and the band came and serenaded; and there was lots of good singing and good things to eat and drink, and everybody went home happy. His brother musicians all wish his married live may be one long harmonious tune, with happy variations and no discords.

"BOWERS."

This is a name given by our miners to the poorest class of their ore. Those working on tribute, especially, sort their ore very carefully, breaking it with a small hammer on an anvil and distributing it into three or four piles. The first-class may be worth $2,000 per ton; the second, $400; third, $125; and the rest is thrown out as waste. This third or poorest grade then all call "Bowers," or, more properly spelled, Bauer's. I asked a tributing ore-sorter the other day why such a peculiar name was given to that class of ore. He said: "You see, after the milling, discount and other drawbacks are taken out of it, what little there is left goes for beer; so we call it "Bauer's." By way of further explanation, I will state that Gus Bauer is the well-known brewer of Austin, and brews the only genuine lager beer in this state. The delegates to the Odd Fellows' Grand Lodge from your section all pronounced it the true business, and would drink nothing else.

A REAR ATTACK.

A couple of our most prominent and orderly citizens got into a spat the other day about the collections for the coming Fourth of July celebration. Mean words passed and one kicked the other. The kicker was arrested on charge of assault and battery, and to-day a jury trial before Justice Weller was the result. The strongest point in evidence hinged on whether the victim told the other to kiss or kick him, and two witnesses swore that he said both. So the jury immediately gave in a verdict of not guilty. The trial was a very funny one, with a crowded audience, and for lively interest came fully up to the Democratic Convention.

FISH STORIES..

Down at Ledlie, on Reese river, half a dozen miles from here, a large salmon of the land-locked variety is reported to have been caught and placed in a small pond for people to look at. It came up the river from the Humboldt, and its weight has been variously estimated by sundry veracious persons at from thirty to 180 pounds. If that fish is not killed soon he will weigh a couple of tons before the Summer is over. The other day Uncle Isaac James, Bob Boyle and Billy Ohugemar went down to the river fishing. It was a hot day, but they sat under the shade of the mushrooms along the banks and fished very comfortably for four hours without getting a bite. Suddenly Bob waked out of a sound snooze and excitedly shouted: "Look here, boys ! I've got him ! One of them bit fish from the Humboldt ! Lord, how he springs my pole. See that, now." Just then his pole snapped short off in the middle. Bob rushed frantically and grabbed the piece with the line to it. Then he followed up the line till he found his baited hook stuck fast in one of those big mushrooms, not having been in the water at all. Bob's exploit waked up Uncle Isaac, who pulled in his line and found he had forgotten to bait his hook. Billy crawled out from under his toadstool, rubbed his eyes and hitched up the horses to the buckboard, saying he thought 'twas about time they went back home. Then they borrowed an ax, and in ten minutes loaded their vehicle with choice mushrooms, and treated their friends freely to them when they got back home to Austin, declaring that was what they went after. They report mushrooms standing so thick in some of the fields along the river as to completely cover the ground, like a great white scab.

LOCAL REFLECTONS.

Quite a snug little sum of money has been raised for the celebration of the coming Fourth in true Austin and Gold Hill style.

The closing examination for the term of our public schools is progressing, and the pupils are acquitting themselves very creditably. The schools will close for a two month's vacation next Thursday.

A Blaine and Logan Club will be formed here after the Fourth.

Kites of all sizes and degrees of meritorious construction are seen floating in the air on favorable days. The heathen Chinee is the boss kite-maker.

Sagebrush is used to a considerable extent as fuel, especially by the Piutes about town. And as it burns it sends forth upon the atmosphere a very di-stink-tive, original or aboriginal smell.

If the present weather indications hold out, the chances for a good crop of cloudbursts during the season will be excellent.

Louis Loustalot, of the Lafayette restaurant, looks as much like Ben Butler as a twin brother. And he is a Democrat, but he swears that if the party nominate old Ben he won't vote for him. He says he has run a restaurant too long to admire a man who steals spoons. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 9, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Austin's Fourth of July -- Goddesses -- Cannon -- The Old Stiffs -- Cousin Jack's View of the Situation -- Wood River and Coeur d'Alene Returns -- Cloudbursts -- Senatorial -- Etc.

Correspondence of the Enterprise .

AUSTIN, Nev., July 6, 1884

The greatest of all American National days was celebrated here in properly glorious style day before yesterday. We had the conventional procession, oration, poem, reading of the Declaration, music by the band, benediction, etc. -- same as they did in thousands of other communities throughout the Republic. Yet our procession differed from all others in that our Car of State was a genuine railroad car, drawn by a locomotive. This style of team, named "Mules' Relief," is special and peculiar to Austin. It also hauled another car filled with children and people of all sizes and ages, and the decorations were elaborately fine and tasteful. The Car of State, with its crowd of little girls, ranged in seats one above another, and all dressed in white with red and blue sashes and ribbons and each waving a gay little flag, reminded one of a grand, lovely bouquet of rosebuds, surmounted by a sweetly, blooming young rose, representing the Goddess of Liberty. And it was a real, live, human, happy bouquet, representing the home paradise of earth as well as the kingdom of heaven. I sometimes wonder if each succeeding generation of little girls is really prettier than the last, and, anyhow, feel disinclined to consider even the possibility that this huge car-load of sweet, pretty little misses can ever grow up to be wrinkled, snuffy-nosed, vinegar-faced matrons, or vicious, snaggle-toothed old mothers-in-law. Manhattan Hose Company had a duplicate goddess, and the boys, in their neat uniform, marched like a guard of honor, and as festively proud as did the numerous gay companies of the old Virginia and Gold Hill Volunteer Fire Departments in the blooming and booming days, when the Comstock goose hung high and nobody cared a dern for expense. They used to run half a dozen or more goddesses sometimes. We are noways short of goddesses here, but comparatively short of companies to parade them.

INCIDENTALS.

Owing to the strategy of Lieutenant Governor Laughton in getting our time-honored big cannon away for exhibition in Carson, the little gun cast at the Manhattan foundry had to do the national saluting on this occasion. It is of the bull-fyste order, little, but willing, and the artillery boys running it fed powder into it by the hatfull, then got out of the way and pulled the string. After each discharge they had to hunt up the gun, but they managed to keep it bouncing pretty regularly while each salute lasted. Of course everybody stuck up their flags. In fact I think there were about seven flags displayed for every man, woman and child in Austin. Ranchers, with wives and families, were in from the surrounding country, and the Piutes had on their best holiday rig. But this kind of a celebration does not suit our hungry Piute citizens half so well as a barbecue or a high-toned Chinese funeral. Professor Bristow's oration was a most worthy effort, and Mrs. Vollmer read Longfellow's poem, "America," very acceptably. Hon. H. T. Creswell read the Declaration just as well as anybody can, and all who knew it was not his own original production encouragingly applauded him as he waded through his laborious task. The band and the military did themselves and the occasion high honor, and we all feel justly proud of them. It is seldom that a celebration passes off anywhere as smoothly and satisfactorily .

THE "OLD STIFFS."

Lander Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, showed interestingly in the procession, but not strong in point of numbers, like the Reese River Pioneers. The ball of the Pioneers in the evening was very well attended, but almost entirely by comparatively juvenile people. Thanks to a complimentary invitation from the society, I was present for a time, but had to quit because so few could come up to my style of dancing. Even the old veteran, John Frost, although the chief in the manipulation of mining pumps, is just nowhere in dancing pumps.

"COUSIN JACK"

Laid down his pick and was "on top" that day. All the miners, of whatever nationality, that could be spared, had a holiday, and with their imposing numbers and honest substantial appearance formed a materially interesting feature of the procession. And Cousin Jack entered into the spirit of the occasion as enthusiastically as any native born citizen. Said he: "You see the old country was obliged to separate from the new, because ee was gettin' to big for 'er. Good thing 'nuff for both of 'em; 'ooray for the Queen and the Heagle hennyow. Coom in 'ere old son, thee'll be called on for a song next. Just look at the bunch 'o Gold 'Illers 'round the table in the corner - Old man Luke, Billy Benny, Simmons, Bawden, George Laity and Joppa Bennetts - 'Eres to the lads; 'eres to the old Comstock; 'ooray for the Fourth!" Cousin Jack's rich voice rolled forth in melodious chorus, responsively to many a "worthy call," during the last two evenings, but to-day being Sunday, he considers the celebration over, and will go to work with all hands as usual to-morrow.

RETURNINGS.

Harry Bluett, formerly well-known on the Comstock, returned to Austin the other day, from a six months' visit to the Wood River country. He talks as if he was glad to get back, though he says he had a pretty good time and saw lots of good people, found many old Nevada friends and was well treated generally. The Minnie Moore mine at Bellevue and the Elkhorn and Parker mines at Ketchum were the best mines he saw to support those towns, and Hailey seemed to derive its chief importance and support from being the county seat of Alturas county. He does not, in fact, seem deeply impressed with the present and future prospects of the Wood River section. He saw also hundreds of returning prospectors from the Coeur d'Alene. they were all on foot, and sore footed at that, packing their blankets and glad to get somewhere. They were unanimous in denouncing Coeur d'Alene as a pretty tough humbug. The only returning traveler from there who had any good word to say for the country and the mines was a Chicago drummer who retained money enough to pay railroad fare instead of walking like the rest. Harry has concluded to send for his wife and make his permanent home in Austin.

PROGNOSTICAL.

All weather indications go to show that a big old time cloudburst may be looked for most any day during the next two or three months.

If John Mackay wants to be the next United States Senator for Nevada, he will be, if not, you have another man in the western part of the State who is well deserving and capable, and can be Senator if he likes.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday . . . . . . . . . . July 13, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Completion of the Austin Street Railway Through to the Manhattan Mines—Steepest Railroad in the World—Plunger Pump—Busy Scenes—The Doctor Called For—Water Reserves—Something About Soapsuds—Fruit and Vegetables--Butterflies, Etc.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., July 10, 1884.

Aside from the general interest we all take in the troubles and trials of the Democracy at Chicago, one of the most important items of local interest, so far as this community is concerned, was the completion of the Austin Street Railway this day from the Nevada Central depot, at the mouth of the canyon, below town, through to the Paxton incline on Lander Hill, away above town. This is the highest point in the mines or mining works of the Manhattan Company desired to be attained at present, by the locomotive, although a few hundred yards more road will be constructed to a point opposite the Lander shaft, where a very steep tramway and stationary engine will elevate wood and supplies and lower rich ores, to and from the aforesaid shaft, where the most elevated and efficient works of the company are carried on. The railroad depot of the Nevada Central is about half a mile or thereabout below town, where Pony Canyon opens into Reese River Valley, and the entire length of the narrow gauge road belonging to the Austin Street Railway Company to the Paxton incline is something over two miles. The height surmounted is between 800 and 900 feet, or over 400 feet to the mile, constituting it the steepest plain railroad of its length in the United States or the world. The mill of the Manhattan Company is 500 feet higher than the Clifton or Nevada Central depot, and the Paxton incline works are 300 feet still higher. This new section of the railway, from the mill to the mines, has been surveyed and contemplated for some time, but has been made a practical reality only within the past two months. Winding around the steep hillsides, with the unprecedented up-grade described, it passes right among the principal mining works of the company, and will prove of great practical utility in the matter of transportation. Its completion and the passage of the locomotive through to the Paxton terminus this afternoon was made the occasion of local congratulation. The whistles of the mining works tooted a noisy passing salute, and the surface employees drank sundry kegs of cool beer brought up by the locomotive, direct from the brewery. Your correspondent incidentally had the honor of being the first and only through passenger over the entire length of the road. It is now and forever too late for any one else in the world to brag of this. The climbing capabilities of the famous locomotive, which is appropriately named Mule's Relief, are limited only to the height of the mountain it may be desired to climb.

THE BIG PUMP.

The ten-inch Cornish plunger pump mentioned in a former letter as being put into the Frost shaft is now nearly ready for work, and will probably start into practical operation in the course of a week or ten days. It consists, in fact, of two pumps, from the Sierra Nevada new works, near your city. The ponderous pump-bob, from the Woodville works, Lower Gold Hill, is in position ready to connect, the powerful engine in place, and about half the pump rod is in. This is of Oregon pine timbers, ten inches square and in sections of from thirty-seven to fifty-two feet in length, very substantially spliced and strapped together. This pump will have a stroke of eight feet, and raise the water from a perpendicular depth of 570 feet. With nine or ten strokes a minute it is expected to raise 10,000 gallons an hour, and keep the entire system of mines at this point drained with perfect ease working half the time, or twelve hours in twenty-four. Under the direction of the old engineering manager, John Frost, all this heavy work has been mostly managed thus far without an accident or blunder. As for Superintendent Curtis, he is to be found everywhere in the thickest of the fray, making himself useful as well as ornamental, in the mines, in the mill, on the cars, surveyor, engineer, brakeman, shift boss and general roustabout.

A RUN FOR THE DOCTOR.

As we were returning from the mines, in passing a small house just above the Manhattan mill, a woman came running out waving her hands, and directly the locomotive came to a standstill. With tears flowing down her cheeks she shouted, "Oh, please won't you tell Dr. Hammond to hurry up here quick? My little girl is dying." Engineer Hale responded with a prompt touch of the lever, and away went the gallant little motor at a lively rate of speed for about a third of a mile, stopping in front of the drug store, where fireman Rice found the Doctor, who sprang on board, and in just seven minutes from the time the weeping mother spoke, the motor had performed its impromptu errand, and the Doctor was by the side of her afflicted little one.

LARGE BOX OF WATER.

Near the Frost shaft a pretty good sized tank, or reservoir, for water pumped from the mines has been recently constructed. It is twenty-eight feet wide and fifty six feet long and ten feet deep, and its full capacity is 118,000 gallons. This is intended for supplying the fire department hydrants down town and for door-yard irrigation, street sprinkling and all that sort of thing. There is another reservoir of smaller size near the mill, heretofore used for the same purpose, but this new one is over 200 feet higher, with that much more pressure.

AGRICULTURAL.

The fruit crop from California is fine and very abundant. It would be cheap, were it not for the costly freight. In fact, a fellow feels as though he was eating freight instead of fruit, and the cost lies heavy in his stomach as well as purse. The vegetable crops about town and on the ranches are splendid, and so are the grain and hay crops. The sagebrush never looked more verdantly luxuriant, and flowers of all styles of beauty and limited degrees of fragrance cover the hills and valleys. But among all the vegetable productions of this State, I have not yet seen any of that peculiar husky vegetable so plentifully and universally known over in California as

SOAPROOT.

I was mentioning this circumstance to Mr. Dadd, the other day, and he agreed with me that such was the fact; he, one of the oldest pioneers, had found none here. He considered it an important element of prosperity which was lacking, and had felt lonely without it ever since he left the old California diggin's. Says he: "When I was minin' jest below Dutch Flat in the Spring of '52, me and my partner was out in the hills one day and we found some green shoot growin' that he said was wild mustard. We gathered a lot, and next biled it with some bacon for dinner. It tasted fine, and we both took in a pretty good feed of it. But in less'n an hour we commenced to bloat up and swell and feel like we was going to bust. Next thing we got to frothin' at the mouth, and was afraid we was pizened. We didn't feel sick any, but mighty oncomfortable. The white froth jest rolled out of us, and directly we dropped on it that it was young soaproot stalks we had been eatin'. For over three hours the soapsuds jest biled out of us by the wheebarrow-load and was knee-deep all over the cabin. Jim had a small mouth and bad delivery, so it served him wuss than me, for--- Yes, thank ye, don't mind if I do take a little beer."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Butterflies are very numerous throughout Austin, and all the juvenile whites and Piutes are after them with little hoop nets, bunches of sagebrush, old jackets and all sorts of contrivances. It is not safe or pleasant to be a butterfly.

The disease which has recently become so prevalent here, is professionally stated to be epidemic influenza, appearing and developing locally in the throat, but affecting the entire system.

The farmers down in the valley have commenced cutting their hay. In some places along the river they will have to use boats, or wait till next season.

Stillwater Thompson and other Piutes have fitted themselves out with new linen dusters and whatever than can pick up, and gone to Wadsworth to a big fandango.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 20, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Cheerful Republicans -- Eight to Seven -- Political Fallacies and Speculations -- Ben Butler -- Lice and Worms -- A Reese River Ranch and a Cattle Branding Circus -- Dangerous Horns and Lively Dodging -- Indian Strategy -- A Barbarously Trimmed Steer -- A Point in Fattening -- Winter Still Lingers, Etc -- A Notable Visitor -- The Elephant -- An Artful Dodger .

Correspondence of the Enterprise.

AUSTIN, Nev., July 17, 1884.

"Hurrah! for Cleveland," has been the popular cry here since the great Democratic National Convention at Chicago concluded its mountainous labors and brought forth two such small mice as Cleveland and Hendricks. But the Republicans do the hurrahing over the proposition, and the disappointed Democracy enthuse not over them worth shucks, so to speak. They were nominated on Friday, "Hangman's Day," and the proper head of the ticket being blunderingly hung on to the tail, the defective outfit will be more easily strangled by the Republican rope next November. After waiting eight years for "vindication," it would have been at least decent to have placed the only active survivor of the "eight to seven fraud" at the head of the ticket. And it does not always follow that in order to carry New York for the Presidency a New Yorker must be nominated. Surely the Democracy should learn wisdom from disastrous experience and defeat in that respect during the past twenty years. McClellen in 1864, Seymour in 1868, Greeley in 1872, Tilden in 1876, and in 1880 Hancock, who was more of a New Yorker than anything else, was also defeated. Our sagacious friend Spykens, who sets himself up for quite a political sharp, considers this simply a strategic movement in favor of Blaine, and that Ben Butler is at the bottom of it. Old Ben worked all sorts of roots to become Governor of Massachusetts, was defeated year after year as often as he tried it on, but at last succeeded, even as the cockeyed old warrior hopes to eventually succeed in. becoming President of this great American republic. And Spykens predicts that the Democratic party will nevermore achieve success till they nominate and elect old Ben Butler for President.

LOUSY.

Hopkins, agent for the ENTERPRISE in this burg, has more lice than anybody. He has a large plum tree just loaded with them. A few big blue flies, somewhat smaller than humming birds, lighted on the tree, and four days after he found the green leaves perfectly alive with small green lice, hatching out from flyblows. On some of the branches they swarmed in huge clusters like bees, and in a few hours began changing to worms of various sizes and degrees of variety, devouring the leaves and sapping the twigs. He found the most effectual remedy was to trim off the limbs and burn them. His plum crop will be omitted this season. Several old Reese River pioneers who saw this affluent display of lice declared with tears in their eyes that it reminded them of the good old times. This seems to be an unusually good year for lice and worms in garden vegetables, trees, and even in grain fields. But the glorious old sagebrush, with its aromatic smell, and pungent, griping taste, is proof against all such creeping vermin, and flourishes in triumphant luxuriance and aboriginal beauty.

REESE RIVER RANCHING.

The other day I took a little ride out in the country, to Rooker and Soule's ranch in Reese River Valley, some sixteen miles from here. A friend, interested in beef culture, was with me and told me all he knew about the country -- more than I knew or could take note of myself. We passed Billy Jones' and many other notable ranches, also numerous miles of wire fences, through various stray streams and mudholes, and were hospitably received on arriving at our destination. It is principally a stock ranch, although a considerable portion of it yields heavy crops of hay. The erratic Reese sinks at this point for about ten miles, reappearing in full volume through some heavy springs just above Jones' ranch . Plenty of water is found half a dozen feet below the surface, and a handsome, very effective windmill, of the Althouse pattern, with pump and capacious tank, supplies all the water needed for the cattle and horses. A well of excellent, soft, cool water for domestic use is also near the house. Joe Porter, an old resident, has charge of the ranch, and Mrs. Wilbur is housekeeper, her husband being employed on the ranch.

CATTLE BRANDING.

After a very enjoyable dinner, or noon lunch, we went out to the corral near by and witnessed the interesting operation of branding a small drove of cattle which were brought in from Smoky Valley the day previous. Quite a number of Piutes, as well as white men, were employed, and some of the cattle being rather wild, some very lively, as well as dangerous, sport was experienced. In fact at times it looked much like a Spanish bull-fight. Three or four adventurous whites and Indians would be in the corral at a time trying to lasso an animal, yet all the while on their guard, ready to run for the fence in case of an attack from some belligerent cow or steer. Especially was this the case after an animal had been thrown and branded. The lasso being cast over his horns, he was speedily bowsed up to the "snubbing post," and another rope being dexterously cast around the hind legs, the unfortunate brute was speedily stretched out backward and thrown upon his side. Then the big branding irons heating in the fire just outside of the fence were passed in and made to burn large lettered devices upon the side and shoulder, and a peculiar clip with a sharp knife was taken from each ear. Then came more fun, for the moment the lassos were removed, the panting, infuriated animal sprang to his feet and went for his fleeing tormentors. Away they ran for the bars, climbing rapidly out of the way, leaning over and kicking their heels hilariously in the face of the snorting, pawing brute so savagely shaking his horns at them.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

Jack, one of the Indians, was a little out of luck, or time, on one occasion. J.. furious steer, with smoking sides and bleeding ears, got after him so closely that, having one of his hands crippled, he could not climb out of reach soon enough. But, quick as a flash he dropped on his side and rolled close up to the bottom of the fence, where the animal could not easily reach or injure him with his horns before his companions attracted or drove him away. It was simply a well-known dodge, understood by all old bullfighters, and very cleverly executed.

PECULIARLY BARBAROUS

It looked rough and barbarous enough to thus throw, burn and mutilate the poor beasts, but still further cruelty was reserved for the largest and oldest animal in the herd. He was a great slab-sided, raw-boned, long-horned old steer, a brand-scarred veteran, and evidently a pioneer. They seared his hide deeply with the seething brand, lopped his ears and even cut off his tail, and he stood it like a philosopher, but when the operator took an ax and whacked away at his horns to knock them off close to his head, he bellowed and struggled wildly. It was decidedly a brutal job, but said to be necessary, for that the animal never could get fat with those horns and that tail on him. After he was allowed to get up he cleared the corral of his tormentors directly, being evidently desirous of getting even on somebody, and feeling like a defeated and sore-headed political candidate. In fact he made himself so viciously obnoxious that he had to be turned out of the corral before the circus exercises could be concluded.

LOCAL NOTES

Day before yesterday we had a violent snow, hail and rain storm, which left the mountain tops well whitened, and next morning a heavy white frost covered the awnings, roofs, etc., along Main street. Rather cool and refreshing for the middle of July.

United States Mint Director, Hon. H. C. Burchard, arrived on the train last night. He is on his return to Washington from a visit to the United States Mints on this coast, and visited Austin, for the first time, in order to collect statistics of mining operations, mineral and bullion production, etc. He visited the mines and mill of the Manhattan Company, and will visit other localities on his way eastward, leaving here to-morrow morning.

The agent for Cole's big white elephant circus also arrived last night, and has been decorating the town with gay pictures and handbills to-day. The show is to appear here August 13.

The big Cornish plunger pump of the Manhattan Company, mentioned in my last letter, will start into operation next Saturday or Sunday.

When the Piutes left for the big fandango at Wadsworth, the other day, a dark-complexioned young man about town, who wanted to go in that direction and had no coin to pay his fare, rigged himself up as a squaw and passed along without any difficulty. The Piutes enjoyed the joke and didn't give him away. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 30, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Reese River Valley, Topographically, Agriculturally and Hydropathically Considered -- A Very Peculiar River -- Nevada's Isolated Mining Points -- Reese River Architecture -- Immense Deposits of Roofing Material -- Political Ruminations -- Health Problems -- A Pump from the Comstock -- A Bloody Tongue Episode -- A Gagged Official -- Gone to Lake Tahoe -- 601 -- Circus – Moon.

Correspondence of the Enterprise.

AUSTIN, Nev. , July 26, 1884

In my last letter I did not record quite all the notes and observations taken on my recent trip through the principal agricultural and cattle cultural range of this section, so here we have a little more on the subject:

REESE RIVER VALLEY

Is about 150 miles long, its mouth intersecting Humboldt river and the Central Pacific Railroad at Battle Mountain, some ninety miles from Austin. Like most Valleys it is widest at the lower end, but at this point, and for forty miles above, it averages about six or eight miles in width. It is a treeless expanse of territory, monotonous, with gently indulating sagebrush wastes and occasional alkali patches, yet embracing vast ranges of excellent pasturage and broad wire--fenced tracts of good haying and agricultural ground, especially bordering along the river. White sage, the best Winter feed for cattle and sheep in the country, is abundant in many places along the borders of the valley on either side. Some of the creeks or mountain canyons, which open into the valley, also contain good pasture ranges and agricultural lands, where excellent potatoes and other vegetables are raised, also sundry fine fields of alfalfa. One would naturally suppose that in this fertile valley, supplied with pure, soft river water, trees should line the banks of the stream, yet not even shrubbery is to be seen. Various parties have made attempts to establish shady groves and orchards, but their trees all died, owing probably to an overplus of alkali or other detrimental element in the soil. This total absence of trees makes the valley look much more barren than it really is.

REESE RIVER.

It seems like a burlesque to call such an insignificant, uncertain stream a river. Where not obstructed by dams, it is, generally speaking, but a few yards or feet in width, and its volume of water is decidedly an indefinite, unknown quantity. Only about once in ten years, for instance during a season of extraordinary wetness like the past Winter and Spring, this stream becomes of sufficient magnitude to flow from its source continuously through to its intersection with the Humboldt -- 150 miles. During ordinary seasons it is not to be seen flowing one-third of that distance. Opposite here is a section of it which holds good from Jones' ranch, where it rises to the surface through large springs, to Wiggin's ranch, a distance of twelve miles, to where it abruptly sinks. The old emigrant and stage road across the continent at this point crosses the valley, and here the weary pioneer emigrant found good water and good feed for his suffering cattle and horses. Above Jones' is a section of ten miles where the river flows under ground. It is a fine, fertile section, and water is naturally found in abundance by sinking a few feet most anywhere -- soft, pure and cool. Above this ten-mile section to its mountain source, a distance of about forty miles, the stream is continuous and flows in the light of day. Trout, suckers and catfish are found in it, the latter being planted there some years ago.

ISOLATED.

Viewed from the valley, the mines of Austin, or Lander Hill, look like an isolated strike, so to speak. They were found through being on the old overland emigrant line of travel, and from the distance show no marked, natural configuration, or prominent mineral formation or outcrop to distinguish them from the general characteristics of numerous similar localities to be seen all along the Toiyabe range. A large amount of prospecting work is observable at various equally eligible points, but with no satisfactory result. Perhaps, however, equally as good or better mines may be eventually discovered at various neighboring points. The rich mines of the Comstock, Eureka, White Pine and Pioche are similarly and unreasonably isolated. The mines of Como are also remarkably isolated, but they never paid the tenth part of any per cent on the money and labor invested.

ARCHITECTURAL.

The houses of the numerous ranchers along Reese River Valley are not of the Grecian or Doric order of architecture, but rather of the Greaseran or Adobic style, being composed of adobes or sundried mud bricks, like the old houses of native Californians and Mexicans. These Reese River adobes are made about eight inches wide, a foot long and four inches thick, from the best of alkali mud, and form the walls and partitions. The roofs are rather flat, and made of willow poles covered with sagebrush, and good, stiff mud slapped on top three or four inches thick. It is immensely cheaper than shingles, is this mud, for it is proof against water, snow, fire or frost. Should the roof happen to leak a little at any point, some time, a shovelful of mud will stop it perfectly and effectually in no time at all. These houses need no painting, but are of a delicate light slate-color all over -- it would be like painting the lily. The doors, floors and windows form the only expense in building Reese River residences, but they are tastefully fitted up inside, and are among the most comfortable houses in the world. This alkali mud roofing is found in natural deposits a mile wide and a thousand feet deep all over the valley. There is enough of it to roof all the cities in the world. What a fine chance for an enterprising speculation.

POLITICAL.

Politics begins to convulse this section considerably, and quite frequently three or four or five citizens, responsible or otherwise, are to be seen at a time earnestly discussing the various merits, demerits, availability and chances of the respective aspirants for nomination by either of the contesting political parties. Jones seems to have the inside track as his own successor to the United States Senate, and Stephens, Woodburn, Powning and Foley are favorably mentioned for Congressional Representative. Congressman Cassidy has made a good record for himself, not being backward in expressing his views on any of the political questions affecting this State or the nation generally. Austin, at the last State election, gave a majority of 22 for Governor, but 3 Republican majority for Lieutenant Governor, 2 Republican for Congressman and 33 Republican for Supreme Judge, therefore can be counted Republic an by a small majority. Lander county, however, went Democratic for all the State officers except Treasurer, Uncle George Tufly coming out 26 ahead. On this subject of political points, our mutual friend Spykens says the new Democratic platform reminds him of the 2nd Chapter of 2nd Peter, in the New Testament, the 19th and 22nd verses of which read as follows:

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for of whom a man is overcome" of the same is he brought in bondage. "

"The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

SANITARY.

Thus far the Summer heat in this section has not been oppressive, in fact not quite up to the usual standard by half a dozen degrees, to-day being the hottest of the season -- ninety degrees. It would seem like healthy weather, yet there is considerable sickness prevailing in the form of sore throat, influenza, etc., with a few fatal cases resulting. This is evidently a sympathetic community, so to speak; when one person gets sick the whole town follows suit. Three or four months ago everybody had the measles, and now it is the influenza; cholera morbus or something of the sort may be expected next.

THE BIG PUMP.

The big Cornish plunger pump of the Manhattan Company got started a little on Monday afternoon for the first time, and next day went into active service, working just as smoothly and regularly as though it had been successfully running for six months, and it continues doing so. With a ten-inch pump column it raises the water at two lifts 570 feet, draining all the mines to the depth of 200 feet below the present general workings. It took over fifteen tons of counter-weight ballast in the balance bob to stand off the wiight of the pump rod. The engine is of the horizontal style, seventy--five--horse power capacity, with Putnam valve gearing, and three feet stroke. Its foundations, including the pit for the bob, are of the most massive and substantial character possible. The pump has an eight-foot stroke, and can raise 15,000 gallons an hour, although it is now running at about half that rate, nothing more being required at present. A commodious building is now being erected over the whole plant, and when all the carpentering is completed the works will be the best of the company, and compare favorably with the best in the State. The credit of adopting, procuring and placing this effective pumping proposition is due to Superintendent Curtis, and his views and plans have been most faithfully and well carried out by Chief Engineer John Frost. It gives all needed facilities for draining the mines and working hundreds of feet below the present lowest plane of operations more economically than ever, adding much to the prosperity of the company and the resultant benefit of the community generally.

TONGUE AND PEN.

Day before yesterday a well known and popular gentleman, who evidently has not got wholly weaned from his schoolboy habits, while writing in the discharge of regular official duty, inadvertently drew his pen across his mouth or tongue, spitting out the ink, as usual. It was a steel pen, and one side of it was defectively sharp. He hardly knows himself how it was done, but a deep gash was made into his tongue, which bled profusely, a blood vessel having evidently been cut. He had to calI on a surgeon, who applied powerful styptics and a big wad of lint. Never was a poor fellow in such a queer fix. There were times when he was obliged to speak, but his mouth was too full for utterance, and the moment the impediment was removed his tongue bled more copiously than ever. He has scarcely eaten anything for two days, and could only drink a glass of beer occasionally by sucking it through a reed pipe-stem. The last two nights he has been compelled to sleep with his mouth jammed full of lint and a bandage tied across to keep it in place. Today the bleeding has ceased, and the wound is evidently healing, but he is still apprehensive, and swears that never, never again will be use his tongue for a pen-wiper.

CHIT-CHAT

Superintendent Curtis, of the Manhattan, has gone with his wife and two or three lady and gentleman friends for a two weeks' vacation at Lake Tahoe. They proposed stopping at John McKinney's place, on the other side of the lake, and are doubtless having a good time at that most enjoyable of all Summer resorts.

Private picnic parties are frequent, though there are no shady groves to go to, yet the shade of a buggy, by the side of a stream of water, with green grass or pig weeds to sit on, is better than nothing, and then there's the ride there and back. The grand picnic excursion of the Miners' Union down the valley to Vaughn's ranch, next Saturday, promises to be a very successful and enjoyable affair. The cars run directly to the grounds, and there are some willows and grass and a clear, running brook. Even grass widows are popular at an Austin picnic.

A day or two ago two suspicious characters, called "Wild Bill" and the "Broadcloth Gambler," were notified to leave town, because they were thought to be connected with a recent attempt at burglary. They left.

Cole's Circus is the best billed of any ever appearing here, and the Piutes are in a maze of wonder and delight, contemplating the gorgeous galleries of magnificent pictures, covering whole sides of buildings. Every Piute, little and big, will be present when the show opens.

Again comes up the popular dispute as to whether the present new moon is a dry or a wet one. The established rule is that when it tips up so that the old Indian hunter can't hang his powder horn on to the lower point, it is a dry -- or a wet one -- or both -- I forget which. Anyhow it is a correct and reliable rule.

ALF. DOTEN.