Diary 77-09: September, 1901 - preliminary transcript

Saturday Aug 31

PM cloudy, breezy & colder -- Sent page letter to wife evening train -- Bed 11 -- blustering cold cloudy & threatening -- Leon M Hall passed up to Va this morning from San F -- Met him a few minutes at the train -- During the past week most of the campers and outers got back to Carson -- Met Guy Walts formerly of Reno, and good companion of Sam, at the RR depot -- Been out to Marlette Lake with Billy Cann et al & now comes from Reno on his way to Gardnerville or Genoa where his school opens tomorrow for the term -- Has his wife there -- Met old Lyman Jones this PM -- was very drunk & got into a row at the Arlingotn, almost got me in too --

Sunday Sept 1

Variable, cold & blustering SW wind -- Wrote much on the electric part of my Govt job -- At room most of day, busy -- Bed at 11 -- calm & still -- Fall weather -- it commenced on time, yesterday --

Monday Sept 2

Same -- Fall weather -- AM attended US Circuit court an hour -- PM wrote on my job -- Evening colder -- had to put on thick vest & coat -- Bed at 11 -- cold & clear & still -- In Va Report this evening I read of death of my old time Comstock Friend Bill Lee -- Think was about 70 years old -- The open

Great Duck Shooting -- Bronze Ibex -- 1901 I Revisit the Old Comstock -- Kinkead Interviewed Bill Lee Buried -- Late Train

season for ducks, geese, etc commenced yesterday and everybody that had a gun was out shooting, especially over at Washoe Lake and on Carson river -- great slaughter of the birds -- Ed Yerington showed me two bronze ibex, a good sized bird of the snipe variety -- very beautiful -- all black or bronze -- very long bill & red web-footed -- 1st I ever saw --

Tuesday Sept 3

Clear cool, very pleasant day -- job as usual -- Bed 11 --

Wednesday Sept 4

Same -- Took PM local train to Va, arriving there at 7 PM -- Found Leon M Hall, whom I expected to meet & consult, had left on evening train for San Francisco -- About town awhile meeting old friends, etc -- Bed at 11, Room 27, Douglas bldg --

Thursday Sept 5

Same -- AM about town on information items etc -- At noon interviewed Jas H Kinkead at International on Comstock mill and mining matters for about 20 minutes - PM met lots more old friends & acquaintances about town -- Bill Lee's funeral took place from [Conboie's?] undertaking place -- Morning train derailment near Walley's Springs, 7 miles above Reno -- Arrived back to Carson at 5:45 -- Bed at 11 -- John L Considine, editor & proprietor

138 -- Considine Change in Va Papers -- Leon M Hall President McKinley Assassinated!!!

of the Virginia Evening Report has leased the Va Evening Chronicle from

the McCarthy estate & taking possession today as editor, etc -- putting George Warren of the Chronicle (reporter etc) in his place on the Report -- quite a sensational change --

Friday Sept 6

Clear, blustering & cooler -- About 2 PM came telegraphic news of the attempted assassination of President McKinley Shot at Pan American Exposition Buffalo, N.Y. by Fred Nielson a confessed polish anarchist from Detroit. One shot in breast & other in stomach -- Assassin immediately arrested, giving reason that he was simply doing his duty -- At 6 PM bullet had been extracted from breast and he was resting easily, but considered fatally wounded. Great excitement and prisoner threatened with lynching but held safely for investigation -- Bed 12 -- Sent letter this evening to Leon M Hall 331 Pine st, Room 9 San Francisco, Cal. 1 page --

Saturday Sept 7

Clear cool & pleasant -- News from President McKinley occupying all public attention -- Still living at last accts, with poor show for recovery --

Jas M Leonard -- Wife and Harrison Gray -- 1901 Frost -- Sam's Salary $1,000 a year -- President's Condition

Sent letter to Jas M Leonard Sutro this morning, asking if the new mill of Co is named the "Leonard mill" -- Recd brief letter from wife, inclosing one to her from Harrison Gray, San Leondro Cal Aug 30 saying that Rozzie was much worse, stroke of paralysis whole right side,

head to foot, also attack of Bright's disease -- right leg badly swollen and right arm useless -- near to death's door -- Showed letter to Jewett Adams by wife's request -- Bed 11 -- colder -- Wrote & sent page letter to wife by evening train -- Frost in the early morning wilted tomato & cucumber vines, etc -- Sam's regular salary in the University is fixed at $1,000 a year --

Sunday Sept 8

Same -- Telegrams say Prest slept 4 hours this AM, and his condition is very encouraging and satisfactory to his doctors -- 1st bullet hit his breast bone and glanced off without penetrating -- second entered 5 inches below left nipple & 1 1/2 inches to left of median line, passed through stomach & lodged in muscles of back -- They sewed up the two holes in stomach with silk thread, and will locate and extract ball with assistence of X ray -- Mrs McKinley is with & attending him -- Met Billy Cann at morning train going to Va -- says has found negative and will send me picture of Gold Hill -- this evening sent page letter to wife -- Bed 11 -- Strong frost

140 -- Wife -- Frost -- Jas M Leonard -- Tribune $1.64 Wm Nelson -- Jas H Kinkead -- Landlady on a Drunk Commercial Writing up Govt Report -- Leon M Hall Gould & Curry Mill Photo

this morning nipped squash & potato vines, etc --

Monday Sept 9

Same -- Worked figuring on my job -- PM visited Supt Colcord at Mint & got items from him -- President improving -- Bed 11 -- letter from Jas Leonard

Sutro today --

Tuesday Sept 10

Same -- Sent page letters to Leon Hall and JH Kinkead about photos, also to Wm Nelson, SL Tribune, relative to my "string" for August -- I made good commencement this PM on writing up pencilling, my Govt report -- wrote 2 pages -- Bed 11 -- President seems to be getting all right but my landlady must be on a drunk -- Had to take care of own room, since Friday last --

Wednesday Sept 11

Same -- President able to take beef tea nutriment & getting better fast -- Emma Goldman and other Anarchists arrested - Sent letter to Leon Hall, San F for items -- Rec'd photo of Gould & Curry mill from JH Kinkead -- Wrote much on my job -- Bed 11:30

Thursday Sept 12

Same - warmer - Have about completed pencilling my report and this PM began the final writing of it -- completed one page -- Bed 11 --

Friday Sept 13

Same -- Worked hard on my job -- Got 2 letters from SL Tribune business dept about my pay, rendering defective account and inclosing $1.64 in postage stamps not enough -- About 6 PM President McKinley was reported by San

President McKinley Dead -- Roosevelt Sworn In -- 1901 Leon M Hall with Pictures -- Bill Cann Presidents Dying Words and Incidents