Diary 61-5: February - preliminary transcript

Wednesday Feb 23

Clear, somewhat blustery -- Went to Carson & reported as usual -- Evening came home -- Bed at 1 -- Frank B Mercer who has been in as "local" on Enterprise since Jan 1st

Willie Nicoll, Enterprise "local" Another big snowstorm

left of Monday to take similar position on Reno Gazette -- Willie Nicoll is local on Enterprise -- A Gold Hill boy -- used to go to school to my wife -- Don't think he will amount to much as a local --

Thursday Feb 24

Big snowstorm -- A little sunshiny in morning but before I reached Carson met snow coming down lively -- Snowed all day pretty heavily -- reported as usual -- Homeward had only 4 passengers, myself included -- D B Lyman, Ed Harris, and a woman -- We bucked into several snowbanks about the Am Flat tunnel -- Had to back down to the

Bucking into Snow

Haywood switch, a mile and leave 2 big carloads of lumer, after which we got along pretty well -- Va at 8:45 -- Evening about town some -- also at Enterprise office reading proof -- Bed at 2 -- clear and freezing hard -- Met Ike Stith on the morning train, bound for Hawthorne -- Have met him several times of late -- He was the "preferred" lover of Mary McDonald my Como School marm but I don't think he ever got into her right -- Anyhow he knocked me out and somehow said I was right and [ ]

Old Clemente Columbet's Daughter Very Cold 9 degrees below z

Friday Feb 25

Clear & cool -- Went down to Carson & reported as usual -- Home at 7:20 -- a little delayed -- As I left Carson I was introduced by Miss Theresa Tufly and Miss Maggie Cavanaugh to a friend of theirs on the train, Miss Columbet -- So I did the agreeable to her all the way up -- About 18 or 20 yrs old -- Pleasant young lady -- Her father was Clemente Columbet of the Warm Springs ranch, Alameda County, not far from Baker's Landing, where I was several numerous years ago -- We had quite a long talk over folks we both knew -- Read proof at office, & bed at 2 -- Clear & dam cold -- 9 below z in Carson last night --

17 below zero Dan Supplants me

Saturday Feb 26

The same -- clear & pleasant -- Snow melted rapidly -- mud in middle of street, & a foot of snow on each side -- Reported session as usual -- Lasted till nearly 5 PM just time for me to catch the train for Va -- At the Enterprise office getting in report, etc -- Dan De Quille to go on Monday, after a --(sheet)-- off for 2 yrs -- By orders of John W Mackay -- who is 1/2 proprietor of the concern -- Bed at 4 -- --( )-- report 11 below zero last night -- At Brunswick mill, on the river reported 1 deg -- No sort of doubt of it -- Bed at 2 -- Not very cold -- thawy --

Cold Weather Reno

Sunday Feb 27

Clear -- like a spring morning at Va -- Very cold & freezing at Carson -- Been down to

Zero during night -- Morning train to Reno -- got there at 12 N -- Folks all right -- PM at home -- Evening down town -- at Depot Hotel etc -- Saw the electric lights for 1st time in my life -- About a dozen of them in saloons and hotels & 2 or 3 in street -- Bright white light transcending all others -- Evening made the noon look yellow, and gas lights & coal oil lamps looked like "pumpkin lanterns" -- Home & bed at 10 -- 4 deg above zero tonight -- Has been down to about 1:20 below Z or more --

"Methusalem" Dan on Local

Monday Feb 26

Clouds and sunshine -- 4 deg above zero and in both Z and my work went on as usual -- Rose at 7 AM -- Left for Carson at 8 on local train -- Reported as usual -- The Assembly holds its first evening session tonight -- At Va I went to Opera House & saw the burlesque opera of "Methusalem" by the Pyke Opera Co from San Francisco -- Jennie Winston leading lady -- Bed at 2 -- Not very cold -- thawy -- Dan DeQuille on local today --

1887 Pioneers' Banquet at Carson

Tuesday March 1

Cloudy and Springlike -- Thawy -- Went to Carson as usual -- Sent up my report by evening train conductor -- Staid to the Pioneer reception and banquet -- Big lot of the "Old Boys" arrived in the down train -- Met by Legislative Committee with brass band, escorted to the State House -- Hon Bob Briggs of White Pine acted as master