Diary 62-3: June, 1887 - preliminary transcript

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-- This was at 5 PM, according to Mr CW Friend, the State official meteorologist --

My Pamphlet Completed 1887

Wednesday June 1, 1887

Clear, temperate and a most lovely day -- To Carson on the morning local train at 7:20 -- Att'y Gen'l Alexander got his banquet speech remodeled for me by 11 AM & I took it to the State Printer that being the last of the "copy" for my pamphlet -- PM I was there & read proof, completing my work at 4 PM -- Home on the evening train -- About town awhile, dinner, etc -- Bed 12 -- My pamphlet will be printed and bound forthwith -- Will probably be published next week -- 1200 copies --

Wife Big Earthquake

Thursday June 2

Cloudy & cooler -- Bed till noon, getting up my sleep & rest -- PM about town -- At 8 AM I telegraphed as follows: State Printing House, Carson City, Nevada. "By Alf Doten, small letters parenthesis under head Bowers California" -- Alf Doten -- Wrote & sent letter to wife by evening train, also copy of SF Post -- Bed at 12 --

Friday June 3

Same -- At 10 minutes to 3 this morning was very summarily awakened by a smart shock of earthquake -- Lasted 3 or 4 seconds, & vibrations seemed to be from west to east -- Shook down a little plastering in this & a few other buildings, rang

Big earthquake

the corporation House bell 3 taps -- Many were of opinion that the vibrations were

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from SW to NE -- Any how most of the pendulum clocks, which were only ones stopped, swung north & south -- The clocks in the 2 banks, Nev and Cal on C street, opposite sides of the street stopped simultaneously at 12 minutes to 3 -- Anyhow beyond a little ceiling plaster falling, there was little or no damage, from it throughout the city -- Many people who got out of the International and other sleeping places did not go to bed again -- No harm was done in the grocery stores,

Big Earthquake

throwing down shelf goods & destroying the same as in Dec 26, 1869 -- the last big earthquake here -- Pickles, sweet oil, whisky, olives, pepper sauce and other shelf goods piled up in a (genuine) "smash" or "cocktail" on the floor -- Two firewalls of brick buildings on B st fell then, This shock, like the other was felt principally in the upper levels of the mines, and not noticeable at much depth -- This shock was felt very generally throughout the Pacific coast, stronger in Carson, Dayton, Reno, etc, than here, but doing little harm anywhere -- Threw goods off the shelves in Silver City and Dayton, -- also in Carson -- On this occasion, I got out

Lew Johnson's Nigger Troupe

of bed, pretty lively, same as did the lodgers in the International, Fredrick House and other big bricks -- dressed and went down town -- Noticed Gillig's thermometer stood at 49 degrees -- Found lots of people on the streets to chat with about the earthquake -- Didn't go to bed again -- till about noon -- when lay down in my clothes, on the bed, & slept 3 hours -- Evening was at Pipers Opera House an hour,

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seeing performance of Lew Johnson’s "Mamma's Black Baby - Boy Combination".

Colored minstrel crowd 6 men & 2 women - very good indeed - 1/2 a house - Bed at 1

Dovey cold 1st pamphlet rec'd Harlow $12 Keno Home Beefsteak

Saturday June 4

Cloudy, cool and blustering - Sent letters to WC Dovey, State Supt Pub Instruction and J C Harlow State Printer, Carson by evening train. Put a couple of items into the Evening Report - Evening at room - Bed 11 -

Sunday, June 5

Clear & cool - 44 deg by Gillig's thermometer - Staid at home all day, kept fire, did sewing- Dined at home on nice sirloin beefsteak cooked with green peppers and an onion - delicious - Rec'd by mail today 1st copy complete of my pamphlet - 44 pages - all will be bound complete during the coming week -Evening down town - Played $1.50 worth of keno and won $12 pool - Bed 12 -

My Pioneer Enterprise Editorial Frosty

Monday June 6

Clear cool and pleasant - PM, letter to wife, - wrote some items for Enterprise Evening I wrote review of my pamphlet, editoriall* for Enterprise - Was about town at 1 o’clock, read proof of my editorial in the Enterprise – Bed at 2 - Frosty last night – Hurt plants -

Tuesday, June 7

Same - About town & house - Bed at 12 - 50 degrees -

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Wednesday June 8

Same -- Letter from Taylor, Foreman of State Printing office, rec'd this morning says none of the pamphlets will be ready before next Monday -- Bed 12 -- Weather cold & threatening -- 45 degrees --

Cold Old Pike 52 yrs old

Thursday June 9

Clear, cool, blustering and disagreeable -- Below 60 deg -- by Gillig's thermometer -- Accomplished nothing today -- Bed at 11 -- My next roomer George W Allen "Pike" will be 52 yrs old tomorrow morning -- Born in Jacksonville, Jackson County, Ohio -Moved to Missouri when 16 yrs old -- Unmarried -- been a (runner) of the Comstock

Friday June 10

Same -- more pleasant -- Busy at home all day fixing up my newspaper file political scrap book, etc -- Evening down town awhile -- Bed 2 --

Public Schools Picnic Lassoing Horace Greely

Saturday June 11

AM clear, warm, pleasant -- PM & evening cloudy cold & blustering -- At room all day, mostly, at odd jobs -- PM down town awhile -- Big picnic of the Public schools over to the Bowers Mansion in Washoe valley -- 8 flats & 4 coaches left at 7:20 AM, but for some reason 10 flats and three coaches returned to Va, all fully crowded -Big crowd welcomed them home at 7 PM -- Bed at 12 -- My sketch about lassoing

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Horace Greely which I wrote for the Enterprise a couple of months ago was set up tonight, so I was on hand & read proof -- It is to appear tomorrow -- Many carriages

Jim Garrity Bill Mooney dead

went from here with people to the picnic, via Ophir Grade & across Washoe valley -4 car-loads from Gold Hill & as many more from Carson and Reno -- Must have been about 3,000 people there -- Met James Garrity, brother to Nelly, this evening down town -- He is employed at the Reno Reduction works & up on a short visit -- to return tomorow - Bed at 1 -- Bill Mooney livery stable keeper B st died at 4 AM today --

Sunday June 12

Morning a light rain and snow storm for an hour or two -- Rest of day variable and pleasant -- but somewhat cool -- PM down town -- Dined at the French Rotisserie (Allen

Chaumond Killed

& Chaumond's) About 10 oclock news came of a bad accident on the Geiger Grade about a mile north of town -- Chaumond thrown from a wagon and killed -- Billy Allen his partner started out at once with a team to see about it -- Found it a fact -- Old Chaumond was brought in as soon as possible to (Bonbore's) undertaking place -No bones broken, or any other injury except to top of head and right face & forehead where bad bruises were perceptible -- Skull not fractured -- evidently died, from concussion of the brain -- having been thrown out of wagon & killed immediately --

Chaumond Killed Horace Greenly Sketch Published

1887