Newspaper Clippings, 1884 - "From Eastern Nevada"

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 16, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Austin's Grand Democratic Ratification -- Chinese Lanterns and Piute Bonfires --Democratic Conundrums -- Local Eloquence -- More Trouble Threatened - -A Discolored American -- Honest Sentiments – The Democratic Raid on the Postoffices -- Civil Service Reform Needed --Delilah St. John -- Ben Butler -- Local Incidentals.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, November 13, 1884.

The brilliant example set by the Democracy of the East and elsewhere, celebrating the grand success of Cleveland and Hendricks, fired up the emulative ambition of the Democrats of Austin to go and do likewise, so last Monday evening they celebrated in very good style, with the material assistance of their Republican brethren. They borrowed the Republican torches, cannon, cars, etc., and sailed in for a good time. Democratic places of business and residences had their windows illuminated with candles, and long rows of Chinese lanterns adorned the porches, while flags, little and big, fluttered everywhere, reminding one of old times in Gold Hill and Virginia. Bonfires blazed along Main street, and a big pile of sagebrush burning on the hillside south of town was much enjoyed by a large assemblage of Piute squaws, bucks and papooses, who huddled around it. The spunky little Republican cannon belched forth saltpetered thunder from its brazen throat, and the National Guard band of fourteen pieces -- all Republican – did up the music in fine style. About 7 o'clock hostilities commenced by the formation of the grand torchlight procession, and marched up town, the band, in full uniform, playing Dixie. Behind the band came quite a number of men carryfing torches and transparencies, and escorting a crowd of small boys representing the young Democracy of the Toiyabe range, hurrahing for Cleveland and Hendricks as often as their small piping voices would allow.

ALL ABOARD.

They marched gallantly up Main street to Upper Austin and the Manhattan mill. There they boarded a train of flat cars, with more Democrats and Republicans, and the mill whistle loudly tooted as they went rolling carefully along down through town. There was much hurrahing, and the band played "Dixie" in a most inspiring manner. Why is it that this peculiar old negro minstrel ditty, adopted as the war tune of the Southern Confederacy, is the only tune considered sufficiently expressive of Democratic patriotism on this festive occasions? Perhaps it is in favored recognition of the Solid South as the true backing of the Democracy, yet one of the transparencies bore the legendary inscription of "We know of no North, no South, no East, no West." Another transparency asked "What's the Matter with Cleveland and New York?" -- a very pertinent and knotty conundrum, rather troublesome to solve. Still another transparency bore the perhaps prophetic motto: "Blaine and Logan the Coming Men."

THE EXERCISES.

The train of flats came to a halt in front of the International, and when the band rested from playing Dixie, Hon. H. T. Creswell being loudly called for, appeared on the balcony. A guard of honor stood on each side of him, holding a fancy canopy of flags and things over his head, like the representation of Joss in a Chinese temple, giving fine effect to his ponderously prophetic words. Said He: Our Republican adversaries tell us that we are a little too hasty and previous in thus celebrating the election of Cleveland and Hendricks, our proud Democratic standard bearers as President and Vice President of these United States, but I have investigated the matter and do not think so. After twenty-four years of starvation on the outside of the public crib, is it any wonder that we embrace the earliest moment to celebrate our hard-won success? No, we are not too fast. Cleveland and Hendricks are elected, and I predict that they will be inaugurated on the fourth of next March, and there will b a good and prosperous administration. Good night." Prolonged cheers and applause rewarded him, and after some more Dixie by the band James Egan, a rising young Democrat with no small degree of oratorical talent and general ability, was called forth beneath the pagoda. He said: "There is a great cry throughout the land for Cleveland and Hendricks. The whole nation joins in a grand hallelujah for Cleveland and Hendricks, and it is no wonder that the Democrats should, on this proud occasion, give a jubilee of praise to the God who made them. Republicanism is a thing of the past, as is also the political career of James G. Blaine." Then he recited a very clever parody on the "Burial of Sir John Moore," and retired amid the hilarious plaudits of his audience. Both Creswell and Egan got off many other good things and were bountifully applauded throughout. The band having performed their contract for the evening, marched off up street playing Hail Columbia and every patriotic piece they could think of to disinfect their horns of Dixie, washed out their mouths with lager, and the evening's jubilee came naturally to an end. The Democracy, however, threaten to give us a second jubilation Saturday evening if Cleveland is not counted out by that time.

AN ANOMALY.

The most outspoken, disloyal American in Austin is a colored man, or, as he claims, a "nigger." He says openly that he is a secessionist, that the South was right in every respect, and that he is just as much of a rebel as Jeff Davis or any other man of the Southern Confederacy ever was. When one considers that the terrible civil war between the North and the South was solely in behalf of the colored race, it is hard to realize that one of that race can give utterance to such ungrateful sentiments, and honest human charity can only suggest that he is not of sound mind. The other evening our friend Baudle, who is of a moralizing disposition and somewhat peculiar in his expressions, after hearing the aforesaid colored man express himself, waxed indignant and relieved his mind as follows: "I can hardly believe that I hear my ears aright. Was it for such monstrosities as him that we all fought, bled and died among the malarious everglades of the Chickahominy and on the seething ramparts of Lookout Mountain? Send him to the sugar-cane morasses of the South, where he belongs, here to work' neath the broiling rays of the refulgent sun and the resounding blows of the slave-drivers' whip. He ignores not a damn who made him free, and deserves not the orgies of American liberty. Yet this colored man is educated and intelligent. Education is the foundation of all human liberty, but in his case language is inadequate to express my indignation at a damn fool negro who thus outrages and nullifies his own procreation in the eyes of all true Americans. Words totally fail."

HUNGRY DEMOCRATS.

Already we hear the note of preparation throughout the land of the Democracy preparing to make a general raid after all the Federal offices, from Superintendent to internal revenue bung-starter, all in gleeful anticipation of the change to a Democratic Administration. Even in Austin half a dozen good old Democrats have already put in their applications for the appointment of Postmaster. And in anticipation of a change, anyhow, even if Cleveland did not win, one enterprising Republican wrote to Blaine about it some weeks before the election. A righteous Congress, whether Democratic or Republican, should as soon as possible pass a civil service reform bill, placing all such offices beyond the baleful influence of political changes. A faithful public servant in that line should be retained so long as he fills his position in a perfectly satisfactory manner, and no such true and faithful servant should ever be subjected to fear of losing his position through any possible change in political administration. None should ever be discharged, except for just cause, and not for politics.

ST. JOHN.

What do our temperance friends think now of the politico-prohibition gospel according to St. John? How do they admire the result? Do they prefer Cleveland and undoubted Democratic enmity to their cause to Blaine and equitable Republican rule, with possible chances in their favor? In jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire, how do they like the fire as a matter of cool preference? It is a clear case but for St. John the Republican party would have won in New York and the nation. St. John is the male Delilah who has betrayed the proud Republican giant Samson into the hands of the Philistines. The Democrats never fool with such cold water side issues. They always take their whisky straight, and vote as they drink -- straight. Vale, St. John. Don't burn him in effigy, same as they have done in Kansas, but put a string around his neck, with a big stone to it, and drown him in a pond of cold water. He is a sick kitten.

INCIDENTAL REMARKS.

Ben Butler should be bottled and kept corked up forever, except as a Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He would make an excellent Democratic President -- with a Republican Congress.

A man who has only been in Austin three or four years -- only since the flood -- aspired to office at the recent election, but was snubbed by the ruling antediluvians on the ground that, although he was sufficiently able and popular, he had not been here long enough. Yet certain able antediluvians, who got away with nominations for office, got badly beaten in the election. "What's the matter now?"

We pay out money freely for the benefit of foreign missions, and to support ministers abroad, yet starve our own hardworking local home preachers -- not in Austin, but elsewhere.

Several pretty lively fights have occurred as a punctuating wind-up of the election, so to speak, and now Austin has settled down to her bed-rock equanimity for the next two years, or until next election. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . November 23, 1884.

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Political Bets, Spoils and Fancies -- The Silver Viscount and Depression -- A Heavy Milling Run -- The Mines -- Manhattan Civil Service -- A Stage Driver in a Bad Fix -- A Boom in Red Paint -- St. John -- Donkey Rabbits -- State Prison Warden.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, November 20, 1884.

During the past week Austin has been but little convulsed with politics, and people generally have quietly settled down to the realization that Cleveland is elected. Bets of hats, clothes and other substantials, have been paid, and even considerable amounts in the way of coin bets have changed hands. There are many, however, who do not give it up yet, and will not until the National Committee of either party shall officially render their final decision in the matter. The opinion has gradually gained ground among Republicans that Cleveland will make a pretty good President after all, especially with the assistance of a Republican Senate. Others, again, bitterly declare that the New York ex-Sheriff and hangman will as soon as he gets seated in the Presidential chair, proceed to politically hang all the Federal officers throughout the Nation, even to the last poor trembling Postmaster; that, notwithstanding all his published sentiments and protestations, he will be obliged to yield to party pressure and divide the spoils of office among his hungry constituency. When one reflects that there are about 40,000 Postmasters in the United States, and that there are at least ten applicants for each postoffice, or 400,000 in all, it is easily seen that Cleveland's time will be pretty well occupied for a year or two in considering so many applications. The friends of Nasby all sympathetically rejoiced with him in having at last secured his long coveted Post office at the Confederate Crossroads. Yesterday, one enthusiastic Democrat, speaking of the congratulatory messages now pouring in from all parts of the county to Cleveland, said: "Even the Queen of England sends him her congratulations." Another Democrat thoughtfully remarked: "Well, I hope they won't re-establish slavery."

SILVER DEPRESSION.

The present largely increased discount on silver, and corresponding depression in that staple product of this State, is an important subject for consideration and discussion. It is plainly to be seen that if this disastrous state of affairs continues, the effect will be to hang up our mill stamps and put a check upon silver mining. Here in Austin, where the mines are exclusively silver, the discount, including expressage, exchange, etc., amounting to over $200,000 a year, is a very serious drawback. If that amount could be turned loose in dividends it would make a very material difference. Various causes are assigned for the depression in silver. Some are of the opinion that the impending change in the political administration has no small influence in the matter. Capital is proverbially timid and apprehensive, and capitalists prefer to watch and wait the result of important political changes, and their possible financial influences and bearings. Speculation may have something to do with it, and also overproduction. Railroad building has been overdone and received a check, which operates detrimentally upon the iron interest, and all industries connected therewith, and this in turn affects the silver interest.

MINES AND MILL.

The present run of the Manhattan mill has been almost continuous since the 3d of January last, and bids fair to continue until Christmas, when there will have to be a stoppage for repairs and to allow an accumulation of ore from the various mines. The supply has held out thus far pretty well, but is beginning to run short. Considerable rich ore is still coming out at various points, and there is a good showing of ore to be extracted, but more extensive openings and explorations have to be made, and when the mill stops, the mines as well as the mill will be put in condition for another long and prosperous run.

MANHATTAN CIVIL SERVICE.

In the mines, mining works, mills and general service of the Manahattan Company, are miners, engineers, millmen, machinists, business men, and other employees, who have been constantly in the service of the company, in its various and extensive departments, for nearly twenty years. These men, being found well adapted to their respective duties; faithful and efficient in the discharge thereof, have been carefully retained, irrespective of their political proclivities, and the result is seen in the perfect working of the entire system in the most advantageous and economical manner for the benefit of all concerned. All hands, from quill-drivers to dump pickers work harmoniously and everything is under the most admirable system and management. The civil service of the United States could not be better or more sensibly conducted.

A CHILLED STAGE DRIVER.

A few evenings ago, just before the election, the Belmont stage came in at the usual time, about 8 o'clock, passing quietly down the street, but not stopping at either the Postoffice to deliver the mail, or at the express office to deposit three bars of bullion, worth about $3,000, which was on the buckboard. The driver sat up on his seat, but apparently took no notice of anything, and let his horse take his own course. Colonel Ellis was addressing a large audience, and there were bonfires on the street. The sagacious horse sheered past the fires, but somehow missed his own stable and went on to another, further down street. It was a sharp, cool evening, and the driver was discovered to be speechless, unconscious and completely chilled and stiffened with the cold. He was taken to the warm barroom of the hotel, where, after some hours of rubbing and doctoring, he was brought to his senses. The last few miles, crossing the summit of the Toiyabe range, his bottle of whisky failed to keep him properly thawed out. He was all right again next morning and drove back to Belmont, where he has been employed since, driving on that end of the route.

PAINTING THE TOWN RED.

This newly-invented popular expression has taken practical effect here, and several of our business men have been getting their stores and places of business painted a sanguinary red. Nothing but red will do. Even the Piutes have evidently "caught on" to the idea, and now bedaub their faces with red paint more liberally than ever. A fat squaw, with a yellow dress, a blue handkerchief on her head and her face painted a blushing red, looks gay. Should Blaine be elected the price of red paint would go up like a boom in stocks.

TAILINGS.

One exasperated Republican has cut St. John out of his Bible. He says he don't want to read any more about him now that he's got into politics and made such a bad mess of it.

Ed. Gundry, formerly of the Comstock section, with two other miners, went down into Reese River Valley, some ten miles from here, the other day rabbit hunting. They found plenty of the long-eared donkey variety running about in the sagebrush like sheep, and after three or four hours' shooting they came home bringing twenty-seven fine fat fellows.

The only Democrat in Austin who is not an aspirant for the Postoffice, wants to be State Prison Warden, under the impression that it is a Federal office. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 30, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Thanksgiving Feastivities and Amenities -- Political Speculations and Propositions -- Legislative Views -- Old-Time "Prairie Schooner" Outfit --Cassidy's Injustice to Reese River -- Telegraph, Railroad and Odd Fellow Personals -- Vesuvian Sunsets -- Shaken Confidence.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, November 27, 1884.

Thanksgiving Day is always well observed in this section, and to-day has been no exception to the rule. Austinites are not famous for attending church any more on this day than on Sunday, but when it comes to eating turkey, plum pudding and all that sort of thing they stand in with the most consistent unanimity. Plenty of nice fat geese, ducks, chickens and other eligible birds came in from the ranches, and those who had more powder and shot than coin had only to step out into the hills or valley half a dozen miles or less in order to shoot a plentiful supply of rabbits, sage-hen and other small game for the Thanksgiving feast. Even the Chinese feastingly observed the day, eating plenty of hog done up in all sorts of Celestial culinary styles, and respectfully refraining from shooting off any fire-crackers. Work was suspended in the mines and mill, the day was fine, much friendly visiting was done and numerous unfortunate bachelors and other single persons who had no invitation to dine elsewhere found plenty of the traditional turkey, chicken pot-pie and similar Thanksgiving outfits at the restaurants. The ball of Lander Post, G.A.R., is progressing to-night at International Hall, as a wind-up to the day's festive observances, and is well and appropriately attended.

POLITICAL.

In view of the recent most vigorously partisan campaign, it is somewhat amusing to note the perfectly philosophical equanimity with which the result is accepted. There seems to be a sort of settled conviction on the part of Republicans that the country is safe, anyhow, and that the man who was elected President by a 1,147 St. John majority will bear in mind that he literally won by a scratch, and not attempt to run things too exclusively for the benefit of the Democratic party. The Presidents and all precedents of twenty-four years past are all well borne in mind, and the loyal American element which has defended and preserved the integrity of the proud old Republic of the Stars and Stripes still remains just as strong, watchful and determined as ever, tried and true, and regardless of present politically experimental complications. The Republican North and the Solid South must dissolvingly blend, and join hands for mutual interest, and that truly American party which shall best maintain and advance the prosperity and integrity of the grandest, purest and best Republic God's sun ever shone upon, will be the reigning power and loyal safeguard of our country's future.

LEGISLATIVE.

Perhaps it may be through the chastening influence of adversity, but it is quite noticeable that the men elected to the Legislature throughout the State are among the best that could be selected, and fully up to the average, if not superior, to previous Legislatures. The Democrats certainly are considerably in the minority, yet in view of the great Republican sweep throughout the State in the recent campaign it is all the more complimentary to the few winning democrats, as indicative of their personal ability and popularity. Dennis and Smyth, the two Democratic Senatorial hold-overs from the "Great East," are both gentlemen of acknowledged ability, and the rest of the Senate is composed of good, square, sensible men whom we all know, and can trust to do able and honest duty by the State with credit to themselves and their constituents. We send three first-rate Assemblymen from Lander, and have no reason not to consider the rest to be equally as good, consequently the material interests of the State are not liable to suffer at Carson this Winter.

AN OLD TIME OUTFIT.

Last Monday quite a little sensation was created by the arrival and passage through town of a fourteen-mule team with three big wagons -- a leading wagon and two "back-actions." The wagons had lofty sides and high rounded canvass roofs, and two spare animals were hitched on behind with a light saddle horse for riding and herding purposes. There were big barrels lashed to the sides of the wagons for water transportation when crossing desert places, and the whole arrangement reminded one of the huge "prairie schooners," freight and emigrant wagons of the old early times in this State before the Central Pacific Railroad brought longer trains and no greater prosperity. This old time outfit belongs to John Fitzgerald, who was along with it as chief manager and navigator , accompanied by "Belly -Aching Joe" and another man as "helpers," and came from Winnemucca, where Fitzgerald has been engaged in freighting to Silver City and other points in Idaho and vicinity for the past eleven years. Railroads ruining his usefulness and profit, he is now on his way to Arizona, where he will follow freighting or sell out. On board his wagons he had about 11,000 pounds of barley, hay, flour and provisions for the route, going as light as possible, and taking the road easy in order to get his team through in good condition. His usual load, hauling from Winnemucca to Silver City, was 30,000 pounds, with sixteen animals and four wagons, but he left one wagon behind, not caring to take it along to Arizona. He will pass through Belmont and probably shape his course down the Muddy to the Colorado, following that river to the most advantageous turnout into the land of the cactus, the horned toad and the scalp-coveting Apache.

CORRECT.

That item about the general crookedness and possible extent of Reese river which recently appeared in the Reveille and has been so extensively copied of late, is very correct. The river averages from two to several feet in width, runs across the valley continually from side to side, and irrigates more good land than any other stream of its size in the world. It is so crooked that no fish but an eel can swim up or down it with any sort of comfort, yet it is a very serviceable river. Congressman Cassidy's ungrateful slur about there not being any rivers in Nevada was out of place and uncalled for, and it is hard to say how much that may have influenced his defeat. Had he gone in for boring artesian wells to increase its water supply and its navigation and fish propagation facilities, he might have made a better mark in the sagebrush world and been sent back to where, in his place, the Woodburn twineth, or will soon twine.

MISCELLANEOUS

Frank Jaynes, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, was here a day or two since, arranging matters connected therewith, and F.W. Dunn, Superintendent of the Nevada Central Railway, who was recently taken home East to die, also came in very unexpectedly on a business visit. Frank Jaynes' scalp looks older than Sharon's and Dunn is evidently not "done gone" yet. Our "roseate sunsets" still hold out, and as long as the supply of volcanic eruption dust from Japan and Vesuvius holds out in atmospheric suspension they may be indefinitely continued.

George Henning, Grand Patriarch of the Odd Fellows in this State, in company with Grand Master J.T. Williams, were in Austin Tuesday. They have been visiting the various Lodges in the State, and report things prosperous in the Order.

Republicans here as well as elsewhere want to know what right our National Committee had to humbug Republicans throughout the country by sending forth that telegram to the effect that Blaine was elected, when they didn't know any more about it than a Democratic yellow dog. Such nonsense makes people lose both money and confidence.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday December 7, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Turkey Talk -- Christmas Amenities and Liberalities -- Lander County Assessment Collection -- A Healthy Showing -- Revival of the Naiad Queen-- A Recompilation of the Laws of Nevada -- A Discouraged Fighter -- Heel-and-Toe-- Etc

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, December 5, 1884.

Since the election times have subsided into a state of dullness not at all agreeable to saloon keepers or anybody else. Thanksgiving Day had somewhat of an enlivening influence, yet it was only for the occasion. Everybody found plenty of nice turkeys for sale at four-bits a pound and chickens at forty cents, but they ate them all up, for none are to be seen hung up by the legs for sale any more. But these good American birds are speedily to be found when required, and will flock into town by the wagon load from the ranches very shortly, among the other

PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS.

George Lammerhart, an old-time Comstocker, formerly with Mark Strouse in the meat market business almost next door to the ENTERPRISE office, is in the same business here, and has a corral on Main street near the geographical center of the town, where he has a large herd of big turkeys fattening for Christmas. And they furnish lots of fun for the small boy, who is happiest when he can see about sixty of them roosting on the fence at a time and all noisily responding in gabbling concert to his gentle whistling, sly screeches and hawk imitations. Their excited gabbling can be heard all over town. Carloads of toys and Christmas goods of all descriptions are being opened and arranged for sale at the variety stores, and notwithstanding the tightness of the time and scarcity of coin, the chances are that fully as large quantities of Christmas goods will be sold this season as ever, and perhaps more. It is a noticeable fact on the Comstock, as well as here, that when times are the hardest and people the poorest everybody seems to feel all the more hilarious and inclined to be festively liberal in the observance of the Christmas and New Years holidays.

A HEALTHY SHOWING.

The success of the tax collector is always a good indication and criterion of the prosperity of any community. The payment of taxes shows very significantly the degree of confidence taxpayers have in the public welfare and substantial prospective value of property. And so in this isolated community and sparsely settled country the collection of taxes this year has been exceedingly successful, only about two per cent. of the entire assessment roll now remaining uncollected. Of the $2,496 delinquent, nearly half is on the Battle Mountain and Lewis Railroad and the Victorian mining property -- dead or in litigation. This, in reality, leaves only two per cent delinquent on a tax roll of $75,000. This can hardly be excelled, and probably not equalled, by any other county in the State. It certainly shows well for old Lander county.

AN OLD MINE REOPENED.

The Naiad Queen, one of the oldest mines in this district, abandoned long years ago from superabundance of water, lack of proper facilities for working, and other natural causes, has recently been relocated, and is being reopened in good and promising shape, by Nye, Samson & Co., some of the oldest and best experienced miners in the Lander Hill ore belt. The Naiad Queen is situated a few rods in the rear of the Manhattan mill, and directly beneath the bed of the main ravine, or Pony Canyon. Its former owners and developers worked it to the depth of about 175 feet, more or less, and had a very good-sized and promising ledge of ore, but, as before stated, having too much water to contend with, and lacking the proper facilities for working, they could not make it pay, and were finally obliged to quit. The present proprietors have erected very neat and effective steam hoisting works, and are pumping, clearing out and repairing the old incline, preparatory to a well organized raid upon the long neglected and abandoned ledge. Thus it is that old mines, abandoned by the early settlers and locators, occasionally, even yet, find men of judgment and experience, with sufficient enterprise and ability to reopen and develop them.

COMPILE THE LAWS.

The compiled laws of Nevada, as set forth in two volumes, did very well for a first attempt, but could be very materially improved upon. The compilation has proved to be a very great and valuable convenience, yet that it can be very greatly improved upon is a fact which has become more and more apparent. What is now needed is another compilation of the laws by competent persons revising and correcting the first, and reaching and embracing all legislative enactments down to the present time. The expense would not be great, the State can afford it, and it should be done -- by the most competent, faithful and experienced authorities.

THE PHANTOM SLOGGER.

Said he: "Yer may think I'm drunk, but I ain't. I've had a drink er two, but I know what I'm about 'n don't you forget it. I'm a fighter from Yankee Blade, Battle Mountain or h--l. You see my hands, thorny and hard from mining, milling or any other honest work, but when a feller gets up and goes for me, I jist naterally gets up and goes for him. I always used to think that I could wallop them champions of America, Europe or the world, but one day a feller comes down to see me right in the middle of a first-class match in at Martin's store, where I was havin' things all my own way, like Sullivan. He was a hard hitter, as I soon found out, but when it come right for him to be hit, he never was there. He reminded me of one of them 'ere "dippers" that you shoot at along the seashore, and that dive at the flash. When I struck out for his nose I hit over his head or past his ear. His head was never in the right place, and when I lunged past him, he would take me over too d--n slick. I kept at him till I was nearly dead, but never got in one good lick. He must have been a slogger from h--l or some other outside seaport - a sort of phantom ghost, as it were – nothin' to hit at, but hell on the return. I'm discouraged, and never feel happy only when I git tight and meet Tom Cheggs. Then we have it, for he's as big a damn fool as I am, and never sets hisself up for a fighter unless he's drunk. I wish he could meet that feller l found, some day."

TERPSICHOREAN.

We have two or three lots of dancing teachers working up the fantastic heel and toe accomplishments of our spry citizens, and now comes a handsome young lady from Carson, on the same layout. The way she is making numerous Austin lads sashay around and tumble to the racquet is amusing to contemplate.

To-morrow evening there's going to be a terpsichorean social for the benefit of the Episcopal Church. It is sure to be unanimously attended and a grand success.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Zero Speculations and Suggestions -- Warm Houses -- Good Mud -- Experience in Selling a House -- Somebody Handicapped -- Something About Concentration -- Experience of a Boston Company Therein -- Ho, Joe! Manhattan -- Legislative.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, December 13, 1884.

The coldest night thus far this season has chilled the Austin thermometer down to ten degrees above zero. Now, how confoundedly indefinite that sounds -- down to ten degrees above zero. Not more than ninety-nine out of 100 intelligent folks know what zero means, except that it is something colder than freezing, and the hundredth one has an indefinite idea that it is simply a short, handy name for the freezing point. Why couldn't old Farenheit have adjusted his thermometer on this last-mentioned proposition? He is dead, and some friend of his ought now to rise and correct his thermometer. Anyhow, Winter seems to have started in, and snow covers this section of the State, with promising indications of plenty more to come. Serene is he whose home lodgings are inside of a good brick or adobe house. Mud, baked or raw-dried, makes the most comfortable dwelling -- cool in summer and warm in Winter. Austin contains more good, solid little mud houses for her population than any other town in the State, and right about now every one is fully occupied. Rents are high enough and no houses for sale at low figures. This reminds me of a festive little incident in the way of

SELLING A HOUSE.

Last Spring our mutual friend Spykens had a house intrusted to him for sale. It was not a good time of the year for selling houses, but he started in to do the best he could on the proposition. He offered it for one-third of its value, and went after everybody he thought had any spare coin or disposition to buy. After much speculative wear and tear of shoe leather in that respect, he found an eligible and willing customer. But he was in bad luck. When the customer called to take a look at the concern, a mutual lady friend, who lived near by, feeling interested in the matter, called also. They went through the house, and Spykens tried to show and represent things to the best advantage, but found himself most wofully and unexpectedly handicapped by the lady neighbor aforesaid, who would keep chipping in with a fluent string of incidental remarks and observations: "Yes, that' so, Mr. Skerry, this house is in a good location enough, but it's not a new house, by any means. The floors are in a pretty fair condition, but look at the walls and ceilings. It has to be papered throughout."

"Yes," interposed Spykens, "but it wouldn't cost much to do that, and make the house just as good as new."

"I know; but even then it's a cold house for Winter and always was, and just look at the furniture -- all worn out."

"But I'm not trying to sell anything more than the house to Mr. Skerry -- the furniture is not for sale."

"Oh! Well, anyhow, Mr. Skerry, before you conclude this trade, just go and take a look at that little adobe next to our house. I think they'd sell it, and it would be so much better than this."

Spykens smiled very grimly as he showed the party out; trying to remember a few words of the Lord's Prayer. Then he looked in the glass and soliloquizingly consoled himself thusly: "Smile, old son, smile. You used to think yourself some on a horse trade, but how are you on selling houses? As Farmer Treadway would remark: 'This is one time, my son, where you got your fork in where there wasn't any guano.'"

But Spykens, although thus unwittingly handicapped, was not entirely cast down. He felt philosophically amused, as it were, at the style of the incident, and subsequently, when he had not the aforesaid lady neighbor to assist him, succeeded in selling the house to another party.

THE CONCENTRATOR.

One of the most prominent objects in the milling or mining line here in Austin, is the queer looking big brick, stone and wooden building at the upper part of town, near the Manhattan mill, popularly known as "the concentrator," or more properly the Boston mill. It is the largest building in town, being sixty or eighty feet wide, 100 feet or so long, and of various hights, with a central cockloft towering above, like a cupola on a country Court-house, a turret on a monitor, or a hump on a camel's back. This milling concern was built in the early days of the Reese River District, by a company of Boston capitalists, who had become the happy owners of the Naiad Queen mine, near by. They had it to work the ores from their mine, and it cost over $100,000. And it was filled with machinery for the concentration and reduction of ores, devised by George Krom, a very ingenious Boston mechanic and inventor. Much of the machinery has been removed, but there is still enough left on the eight floors of the spacious , lofty, building to impress the soul of most anybody with a curious degree of wonderment. Numerous little jigging machines are thickly crowded together, with a wilderness of belt and pulley attachments, and from floor to floor are series of elevators, revolving screens, more machines and things indescribable, little and big. The most practical impression to any practical mind upon square inspection of all this vast amount of concentrating machinery, is that there is too much of it; that the whole concentrating arrangement was too multifarious from the start; that the machinery would bear concentrating to begin with before introducing any ore. Naturally, its career was short. It failed to concentrate, or its measure of success was too costly. Anyhow, the fun didn't pay for the powder -- too much money was spent above ground on this mill for financial success in the mine. The Boston Company got discouraged and the result is that the mill or concentrator is now owned principally or altogether by the Manhattan Company, and the mine is relocated by other parties, as mentioned in my last letter.

TAILINGS.

There has been but little serious sickness among the Piutes about here of late, but last evening I heard the howling Indian doctor sending forth his intermittent yells from the south hillside, so probably somebody is sick over there. He sings out "Ho, Joe!" after a style that would be at once recognized and approved by any of the Nevada county, Cal., men.

The Manhattan mill will probably shut down and take a rest on the 20th instant. This is in order to make a general cleanup, requisite repairs and allow an accumulation of ore for another good run.

The next grand source of excitement looked forward to is the convening of the Legislature at Carson. Great expectations are indulged in by many. Much good may come out of Nazareth. Anyhow let us hope for the best.

ALF. DOTEN.