Newspaper Clippings, San Francisco Herald, 1869

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, Nev., June 27, 1869.

The Christian Sabbath.

Cheerily peals forth the sweet church bells, and a portion of our cosmopolitan population are wending their way toward the several houses of worship. The ladies are all dressed to their prettiest extent, and although not tricked out in Grecian bend and similar styles of ridiculous fancy so prevalent in more fashionable communities, yet they all look neat and attractive. We have got better looking ladies here, on the average, than you have in San Francisco. The little girls, too, with slim legs and clean white stockings, short frocks and skirts that stick out starchily all around, and neat little hats, with gay ribbons, go switching pertly along together, each with a juvenile parasol held rigidly at a particular angle, regardless of which way the sun shines. To be fixed up this way once a week constitute some of the most important and pleasurable eras of their dear little lives. The men, too, have got their best clothes on, but they don't all get to church. Those who go with their wives generally make the trip, but bachelors and those who go it on their own responsibility are less reliable. Man of them really do start for the church, but can't get past the brewery, especially on a hot day like this, when the most moderate and least excitable thermometer in town indicates 85 degrees in the shade. Men will draw unfavorable contrasts between a dry sermon in a hot, uncomfortable church, when politeness and a sense of religious duty obliges them to stay, whether they like it or not, and a seat at ease, with genial companions, around a gallon of cool lager. The breweries win the day. A very lively game is also in progress at an Irish hand-ball alley, not a pistol shot from where I am writing, and the loud shouts and laughter of the excited players commingling with the church bells pealing. Away down in the bowels of the earth, beneath the very streets and house of Gold Hill and Virginia, hundreds of men are busily toiling by the dim light of candles, amid the drifts and subterranean chambers of the silver mines, toiling for the support of those very churches and their precious congregations. The sound of their picks do not mingle with the church bells ringing; neither do thoughts of them and prayers for their safety enter very often or too largely into the head of the well-fed parson, as with stereotyped devoutness and sanctified attitude he supplicates the Thorne of Grace from his fine pulpit. Should, ball player; sing away, ye holly brewery revelers; blow, steam whistles; rattle, buggy wheels; tune up your fiddles, ye hurdy house musicians, for your evening's work. All these are the evidences and accompaniments of civilization and Christianity. Peal on. Sweet church bells, peal on.

Theatricals, Etc.

Kennedy, the Scottish vocalist, appeared at Piper's Opera House last evening and the evening before. His entertainments, consisting of song and story, tale and ballad, principally of a Scottish nature, are very good indeed, and attract excellent audiences. He closes to-morrow evening. Wilson's Great World Circus performs at Gold Hill this evening and at Washoe City to-morrow evening. It succeeds well wherever it goes. It will be in this city again on the 3d, 4th and 5th of July. Anna Dickinson lectures at the Presbyterian church to-morrow evening before a very large and fashionable audience. Subject: "Nothing Unreasonable." Mrs. Augusta Mina St. Clair lectured, evening before last, at Gold Hill, on the interesting subject of "Whom Shall I Marry?" and last evening her subject was, "My Southern Tour." She did not have large audiences. She is advertised to lecture in this city to-night on the subject of "Woman as Maiden, Wife, Mother." Mrs. E. F. Keach, the well known actress, takes a grand complimentary benefit at Piper's Opera House next Thursday evening. From present indications she will have a crowded house. Anna Dickinson has gone fishing. She and a whole crowd of other pleasure seekers from here and Gold Hill went over to Lake Tahoe yesterday. She will be back in time to lecture to-morrow evening, most likely.

The Mines.

Matters relative to the Crown Point, Kentuck, and Yellow Jacket mines, remain about the same as when I last wrote, as far as new developments of ore are concerned. The drift east at the 1,000-foot level of the Crown Point, has penetrated the west ledge, but nothing satisfactory is developed. They expect to strike it rich in the east ledge when they get to it. All the old hands are discharged, and none but strangers are working in that level, so as to keep all knowledge of operations and developments, at this important point, as far as possible from outsiders. This is not easily done, however. The drift below at the 1,100-foot level is much impeded in progress by the great amount of water encountered, keeping the pump and a 260-gallon cage tank constantly going. Yesterday afternoon, while raising this tank full of water, the crank of one of the hoisting engines broke short off, causing the immediate smashing out of both cylinder heads. Fortunately no one was hurt or scalded. The tank was eased back to the bottom of the shaft without injury.

The Kentuck yields about fifty tons of ore per day, supplying the Sunderland and Pioneer mills. Forty men are employed in the mine at the upper levels. This is only about half as many men as used to work in that mine before the fire, which is still burning.

The Yellow Jacket, which, three or four weeks ago employed 400 miners, now employs only about 60. The air was so hot and foul in the mine, owing to lack of ventilation, that human fresh and blood could not stand it, even on eight hour shifts. Men were continually fainting and being brought out. One of the last laid three hours, insensible, before he could be revived. Jim O'Donnell, the foreman of the mine, was reinstated day before yesterday morning, and Kellogg, who for the last seven months has held that position, is discharged. O'Donnell was foreman for seven years, until Kellogg was put in his place. He is confining his operations to the north mine exclusively, and in three or four days will secure better ventilation by means of a winze connecting the 800 and 900 foot levels. Another winze will also within three weeks connect these levels with the 700 level and bottom of the north shaft, thus affording full and free ventilation throughout the north mine. The old hoisting works over that shaft are being thoroughly overhauled and renovated, and in about thirty days will be running. Before that time the bullion products of the Yellow Jacket will be small; indeed, good, prosperous working may not be looked for under two months. By that time it is to be hoped that the south mine may become available again.

The Imperial-Empire shaft looks extremely discouraging at the bottom. It is 1,160 feet deep, and now develop nothing but hard, black porphyry, with no quartz worth speaking of. The only hope appears to be in the expected good body of ore to be developed in the old Holmes ground, by means of the south drift, which has penetrated 140 feet from the shaft. It will reach its destination in six or seven weeks.

A few days ago an important drift connection was made between the 1,100 foot level of the Chollar-Potosi and the Hale & Norcross 1,030-footlevel. This gives a very powerful draft of fresh air through both mines, a most inestimable blessing to all miners. The current is from south to north, the surface of the Hale & Norcross shaft being higher than that of the Chollar-Potosi. Both mines are in healthy condition and yielding well. The same may be said of the Savage. It is looking exceedingly well throughout.

The Sierra Nevada Company will make their second clean-up for the month on the 30th. The yield for last month was the best ever known in the history of the mine, but that for the present month will be better still. The figures will not be far from $25,000. Another dividend will be declared in a few days. As the entire expenses of the company, including mining, milling, salaries, and everything else, are less than $8,000 per month, it is easily seen that dividends are a natural consequence. The mine and mill, and the general affairs of the company, are exceedingly well managed.

The Gould & Curry yields about fifty tons per day from the old upper workings. The deeper sinking of the Bonner shaft is discontinued, as it has gone through the ledge entirely, and into the west wall. The seventh station is being opened for a drift east, through the ledge, to see what may be found in that direction. The prospect looks dubious.

The Ophir west drift at the 700-foot level has penetrated 390 feet from the new shaft, and has at least 100 feet further to run in order to reach the ledge. It will be in rather an unfavorable part of the mine, therefore rich developments need not be too strongly counted on.

The Virginia Consolidated includes a combination of those unproductive claims on the Comstock lying between the Ophir and the Gould and Curry. The new company commenced operations a few weeks ago by breaking ground for a new shaft on a large lot they had secured between D and E streets, on the south side of Sutton avenue. This shaft is now excavated and timbered to the depth of fifty feet. It consists of two working compartments, each four and a half by five feet in the clear. It is timbered very substantially, the timbers being fourteen inches square, placed in setts four feet apart, and lagged between with three-inch plank. Ross & Co., the contractors for the first 500 feet, are doing their work in a very thorough, energetic, and workmanlike manner. This shaft is a very important one, as developing a heretofore unproductive portion of the Comstock, at a great depth. It is to be most earnestly hoped that this company may "strike it rich."

Preparing.

The various Fire Engine Companies in Virginia and Gold Hill are getting ready for the general firemans' tournament, which takes place in this city on the 5th of next month. Some of the machines are out pretty much every evening trying their squirting powers. One or two are out this afternoon. Which will take the champion badge remains to be seen, although many shrewd predictions are made, and every company is confident. Extensions and all sorts of contrivances are being adopted to increase the power and playing distance of each machine. There will be great and exciting fun on the grand day of trial, and much coin will change hands on the result.

Small-Pox.

This loathsome disease has entirely died out, as far as Gold Hill is concerned, and nearly so in this city. The only instance I know of its existence at the present time, is a very severe one. It is in the family of Mr. Bassett in Six-Mile Canon. The eldest son got it somewhere in this city and took it home. There are seven or eight children in the family, and they are all sick with the disease. Mr. Bassett is out at White Pine.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, Nev., July 4, 1869.

The Glorious Fourth.

The most effervescent portion of our population commenced celebrating last evening, and pretty much all night a popping of crackers and banging of firearms was kept up, variegated with an occasional deep-toned roar from old "General Grant," mounted on the ramparts of Fort Homestead, Gold Hill. It being Saturday night, many could get drunk just as well as not, and so they did. Nobody had to be arrested, however, and the police were lenient. The general hilarity continues to-day, in a subdued degree, out of respect for the Sabbath. From the summit of Mount Davidson proudly floats the Star Spangled Banner, and that same beautiful emblem also waves over the flagstaffs on the mining works, mills, public buildings, etc., throughout Virginia and Gold Hill. The formal celebration of the day will take place to-morrow, and, strange as it may appear, it will be done by citizens of foreign birth. The native born folks tried to get up a regular celebration, but the wrong individuals started it—anyhow, it was a fizzle. Only a few days ago the Miners' Unions of Virginia and Gold Hill, mostly composed of naturalized foreigners, concluded to take the matter in hand and put the celebration through. Accordingly, the procession is to be composed of the Miners' Unions, the Emmet and Sweeney Guards (both Irish companies), of Virginia and Gold Hill, the Canadian Relief Society, and such citizens as may see fit to join in. They will march to Gold Hill and back, and then to Piper's Opera House, where appropriate exercises will take place. The great fun of the day, however, will be the firemen's tournament in the afternoon. It will take place on C street, and is free to all organized fire companies in the State desiring to contend. The first prize is a large silver bullion trumpet, to be given to any eight men of any engine, hose, or hook and ladder company who make the best time with a hose carriage or jumper, carrying 500 feet of hose, to run from Young America Engine House to Knickerbocker Engine House, a distance of 1,452 feet. The second and most important prize will be a silver bullion plate, appropriately inscribed, which will be given as a champion badge, to be affixed to the box of the engine throwing a stream the greatest distance through and from 100 feet of hose. Six engines are entered for this trial, including Liberty Engine, No. 1, of Gold Hill (old Howard, No. 3, formerly of San Francisco), and it will be something strange if there is not a particularly extra amount of fun on that occasion. Each machine will be given eighteen minutes space of time to make the trial, and each will suit themselves in the matter of nozzles.

Supposed Case of Poisoning.

John Baldwin, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen, and a member of the firm of Cooper & Baldwin, keeping the Clipper Gap Hay and Wagon Yard, on North C street, near Sutton avenue, died last Thursday morning at his residence, in a very sudden and mysterious manner, and under circumstances which induced the belief that he was poisoned. He was in his usual health and good spirits the day and evening before, and was about the city as late as two o'clock in the morning, when he went home to bed. About an hour and a half afterward he sent for help, saying that he was very sick. Dr. Kibbe, the nearest physician, came immediately, and Baldwin told him to get a stomach pump and pump him out, for he was poisoned, and knew it. Proper remedies were immediately given him, but he was attacked by a succession of violent spasms, and died in a very few minutes. A post mortem examination was instituted next day and the stomach removed. Some of the doctors tested its contents to-day for strychnine, but found none. The Coroner's inquest will be held next Tuesday. Mr. Baldwin was nearly forty-eight years of age, comfortably situated, and had no cause for committing suicide. While at White Pine, a few months ago, he got run over by a wagon across his breast, and has never enjoyed as good health since as before; he has also been occasionally subject to spasms, from over eating or other derangements of the stomach, at which times he would insist that he was poisoned. I think, therefore, the Coroner's jury will bring in a verdict to the effect that he died from natural causes.

More Poison.

In my letter before last you will recollect that I made mention of a romantic jerker who drank a big dose of chloroform to kill herself, just because her present regular lover gave her a thrashing, out of jealousy. The drug was got out of her directly, and the thrashing apparently did her no good, for she has since given him tangible reasons to be jealous of a miner down at Gold Hill; so despairingly jealous that he up and followed suit with a dose of "cold pizen," last Wednesday evening. He, however, succeeded no better in dying than she did, and was all right again the next day with the exception of a foul stomach. It's her next play, but if they are going to follow this thing up, they ought to use bigger doses. I shouldn't like to be in love that desperate; it's mighty rough on the nerves.

Chance for Poison.

Out on the Divide, between here and Gold Hill, resides with her fond parents a romantic young damsel who has just arrived at that interesting age when all young ladies want to get married—bad. She has smiled on several young men, but finally and most sweetly on a young stock actor, whom I will call George. This gallant and brave preferred lover soon ran off all the rest of them, even in one case by talking duel, and "blood, Iago, Blood." The mother is willing, but the stern old father is not, and has forbidden George the house, or to even be caught in company with his daughter. Two or three evenings ago, through conspiracy with the mother, George got into the house and was evidently enjoying the sweet society of his dear one, when suddenly her furious pap burst in upon them. He drew a big dragoon revolver, and threatened to blast off the croppings of George's cranium. George was as quick as he was, however, and had the old chap covered with the muzzle of another six-shooter before he could bring his big dragoon up to range. Then there was much female screaming and some tall swearing, but it was a draw game, so the old man drew out. Since then he has shut his refractory daughter up in her room, under lock and key. But what's the use? He might as well try to keep water from running down hill, as to keep those two lovers from running into each other's arms. She will crawl out, or George will fish her out somehow.

Mining Items.

The aspect of things in the Yellow Jacket is much improved since my last writing. Jim O'Donnel, the old foreman of the mine, recently reinstated, set his wits to work to produce a draft of air in the south mine. This he has done by sheathing the compartment divisions, or partitions of the shaft up tight, and maintaining the division into the drifts of the mine. Thus, a draft of air sets down through one compartment through the drifts, and up again out of another compartment. By this means he was enabled to work 130 men last week in the lower levels, (the 800 and 900-foot,) where the good body of ore is and extract it at the rate of eighty tons per day. He says he will increase the number of men and take out 150 tons a day this next week. The repairs and renovating of the old north hoisting works will be completed by next Saturday, and they will be started up once more. When the water is all raised from the shaft, a winze connection will be made from the 700 to900-foot or lowest level, thus creating a plentiful supply of good air all through the mine, and a large amount of good ore will be got at.

The drift east at the 1,000-foot level of the Crown Point is in the ledge, but no rich developments are made as yet. An immense amount of water flows from this level. Nothing particularly new or interesting developed in the Kentuck; still getting ore enough out of the upper levels to supply the Sunderland and Pioneer mills. There is some talk of opening the closed drifts and connections of these and the Yellow Jacket mine this next week, as the fire is supposed to be burnt out. Kellogg, who for the last seven months has been foreman of the Yellow Jacket and Kentuck, is now foreman of the Hale & Norcross, taking the place of Wm. Skyrme, who has gone on a visit to his relatives and friends in Wales, England.

The Imperial-Empire shaft is to-day 1,167 feet deep, and sinking in hard black porphyry, with very little water to contend with. Some eighty feet of the shaft timbering, 600 feet from the surface, is being repaired at present. There is a crook in the shaft at that point, from the sagging of the earth. The drift south, at the 1,080-foot level, toward the Holmes ground, has penetrated 140 feet from the shaft, and a branch drift is commenced from it into the Empire ground. The late annual election resulted in Robert N. Graves, Superintendent of the Empire, being also chosen Superintendent of the Imperial. R. K. Colcord, Superintendent of the shaft, and Jeff. McClellan, underground foreman, are both superseded by Dave Monroe, foreman of the Empire—a commendable movement toward economy, which augurs well.

The Chollar-Potosi is looking very well throughout, and yielding about 230 tons of ore per day. A considerable increase of water impedes operations at the 500-foot level drift into the Grass Valley body. A dividend of $20 per share was declared yesterday, payable next Wednesday.

The Virginia Consolidated new shaft is seventy-two feet deep, to-day, and the work of sinking still being energetically prosecuted.

The drift west, at the 700-foot level of the new Ophir shaft, is now in 411 feet, and the face of the drift is still in hard, dry gypsumized rock.

The Sierra Nevada Company had their second clean-up for May last Tuesday. The first clean-up on the 15th ult., was $10,000, but this will exceed it, the amalgam weighing five or six pounds more. The exact result will be known in two or three days. Meanwhile, the mill is pounding away on a fresh month's run, and the ore being worked is at least as good as that of last month. The quantity of this rich ore seems inexhaustible, and later developments, of which I will speak in my next, show it to be even more extensive than has heretofore been supposed. The Sierra Nevada is one of the paying mines of the Comstock, and another dividend is to be declared in a few days. A meeting of the Company is to be held next Tuesday to consider the proposition to divide the stock up into smaller shares.

Theatrical, etc.

Miss Geraldine Warden, formerly of the Lyster Opera Troupe, put in a first appearance last Friday evening, at Piper's Opera House, and to a very slim but enthusiastic and appreciative audience. She has not a very musical, but highly artistical voice, powerful, clear, of great compass, and she presents a pleasing stage appearance, but she comprised the entire entertainment. W. Vazie Simons, F. C. S. L. (Fellow of the Chemical Society, London), who is with her, came upon the stage between the songs, and read, not recited, in most miserable style, from some school book, a piece of poetry called "The Little Vulgar Boy." This was received in silence; but afterwards he came on again, and deliberately commenced a cook book lecture on "The Economy of Food." The audience listened patiently for five minutes, and then started in "guying" him, so that he had to quit before he was quarter through. What the devil does this F. C. S. L. take us for up here? Does he think we never read all about that! The idea of his ringing such dry hash into an operatic entertainment! Well, some folks have got a heap of cheek. He was a success, however, in one sense, for he didn't stay long enough to get a cabbage thrown at him. He wisely refrained last evening. Miss Warden will give her last entertainment to-morrow evening. She had a $50 house last night.

Dan Costello's "Circus Menagerie and Abyssinian Caravan," on its way across the continent per railroad, will exhibit at Reno, July 12th, and in this city July 13th and 14th. After that it will visit Carson, Washoe and other places, and go over to California.

Old Glory.

As I close this letter the rays of the setting sun are shining brilliantly on the flag waving from the tall flagstaff at the summit of Mount Davidson. It looks like a fluttering sheet of flame, only a thousand times more magnificent, standing forth as it does in bold relief against the blue sky, strongly contrasted with the dark, rugged sage-brush covered sides of the big mountain. No wonder large crowds of people are gathered in the streets gazing on that glorious sight. God bless the flag of our country, and the Devil sleep with him who don't like it.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE HERALD.]

All Over.

VIRGINIA, Nev., July 11, 1869.

The grand celebration of the Fourth here by the Miners' Unions of Virginia and Gold Hill, and foreign born citizens generally, passed off admirably. The procession was a good long one, and with the Emmet and Sweeney Guards in the lead, and a good band of music, it presented a very neat and gratifying appearance. They marched to Gold Hill and back, and through the principal streets to Piper's Opera House, where the Declaration of Independence was read, and other appropriate exercises observed. The great feature of the day, however, was the firemen's tournament on C street, of which I gave you the programme in my last. The champion badge for the farthest throwing was won by Eagle Engine Company, No.3. The jumper race for a big silver trumpet was very warmly contested, but owing to some irregularity or misunderstanding, the prize was not awarded, and it was decided by the judges that the race should be run over again to-day. It did not take place, however, to-day, therefore the matter remains undecided.

Highway Robberies.

The "road agents" are at their old tricks again, hereabouts. Only last Thursday night, about eleven o'clock, a Mr. Moore, of Gold Hill, was stopped by a muffled brigand on the Divide, while on his way home from Virginia, and robbed of his gold watch, worth $250, and twenty-three dollars in coin. About nine o'clock last evening William Weir, a dealer in hams and bacon who arrived in town a few days since from the Sacramento River, was stopped by three men at the junction of the two roads just beyond the Overman mine, on American Flat, and relieved of $1,236 in cash, a breastpin, and whatever else he had about him worth taking. He was mounted, and at once rode to Virginia and informed the police. They at once started out, and a couple of hours afterwards arrested three men whom they thought looked suspicious. They resisted, and therefore got used rough. They were taken to the station-house, but were subsequently released, there being no tangible evidence against them. No other arrests have been made.

Mining Items.

Matters with the Yellow Jacket look livelier and more prosperous at present than at any time since the terrible calamity of three months ago, and if that infernal, long-continued fire was only out, things would go on most swimmingly. As I described in my last, the very fair artificial draft of air has been created throughout the 800 and 900-foot levels of the south mine, and last week an increased number of men were put to work, extracting ore at the rate of nearly 150 tons per day. The repairs and refitting of the old hoisting works over the north shaft, are about completed, and they were started up yesterday afternoon, for the first time in a little over a year. The reels are being turned off now, and to-morrow the hoisting of water from the shaft commences. There is about 300 feet of this water to raise which will be done in a very lively manner by means of huge tubs with valve bottoms. When this water is all out, a winze connection will be made from the 700-foot level, where the bottom of the shaft is through to the 900, giving a grand and perfect circulation of air through the entire mine. Large quantities of good ore will also be taken from this old north mine, which is far from worked out. As I stated in my last, the fire was supposed to have burnt out, therefore, it was thought best to reopen the closed drifts of the Crown Point and Yellow Jacket. Accordingly, last Wednesday, the barricade in the 700-foot level of the Yellow Jacket, about 100 feet north of the shaft, was removed thus opening direct communication with the burnt district. A heavy stream of foul gas immediately started out, continuing day after day. Friday afternoon the 700, 800 and 900-foot levels of the Crown Point were similarly reopened, and the effect was shortly perceivable in a large increase of gas through the Yellow Jacket, which soon was accompanied by smoke, and got so bad that Saturday morning the miners were driven out, in fact several were brought out asphyxiated and fainting from the effects of that terrible gas. As soon as possible the 700-foot level was closed again, and the men were enabled to return to work. The reopened levels of the Crown Point were also closed again before noon; the fact that fire and plenty of it, still exists in the east ledge above the 800-foot level, being satisfactorily demonstrated. How long that fire will continue to burn, the Lord only knows. Being hemmed in, and fresh air excluded as much as possible, it burns slowly like a charcoal pit. It has burned already over three months, and may for many months longer. It took nine or ten years to put all that timbering into the bowels of the earth which is on fire now; but it is to be hoped it may not take that length of time to burn out.

The drift east at the 1,000-foot level of the Crown Point mine, has passed through the ledge. Some very good streaks of ore are encountered, but no extensive rich bodies. A greatly decreased quantity of water flows from the level, consequently drifting east at the1,100-foot level below is not so much impeded, but progresses very well. The Kentuck is getting along about the same as when I last wrote, taking enough out of the upper levels to supply the Sunderland and River mills. The reopening of the drifts sent a little gas among the miners yesterday morning, but it is all right again now. One man was made a little sick, that's all.

The Overman yields between forty and fifty tons of fair grade ore per day, and is in a tolerably flourishing state. At the annual meeting of the company, held at San Francisco last Thursday, the following officers were elected: Trustees—M. J. McDonald, David Fay, A. Hemme, Louis Vessaria, W. K. Parkingson; Superintendent—J. A. Myrick; Secretary—Thomas J. Owens.

Sinking deeper in the Imperial Empire shaft is discontinued, in order to make necessary repairs to the timbering of the shaft. The old upper working of the Imperial still continues to yield about fifty tons of good ore per day, but the quantity in sight is limited and cannot hold out many months longer. The drift south toward the Holmes ground is considered certain to strike the extension of the good body of pay ore in the North Yellow Jacket, which dips north. Both the Imperial and the Empire have been in bad luck for some time past, but it is to be hoped the present new administration may develop something good.

The Savage seems to be rather weakening of late, the yield diminishing month by month. There is plenty of low grade ore in the mine, but of the high grade article, which tells the story on the bullion product, only about 8,000 tons are estimated to be in sight—vastly less than was estimated at this time last year. Considerable repairing is being done to the shaft at present. Strong hopes are entertained, by sinking deeper, of being able to strike a continuation of the same good body of ore existing at the lowest level of the Hale 7 Norcross.

The Hale & Norcross. Still flourishes healthy and strong. The upper levels yield small quantities of good pay ore, but the heavy body of rich ore at the lowest or 1,030 foot level holds out better than ever, and bids fair to extend to the center of the earth. The late dividend of $6 per share aggregates $48,000.

The Gould & Curry yields about fifty tons a day from the upper levels. Owing to the breaking of the shaft of the pump engine, a day or two since, the water has raised about one hundred feet above the seventh station, where the drift east through the ledge was being commenced.

The second regular monthly dividend on the Sierra Nevada was payable yesterday. It was only $2.50 per share, and could just as easily been made $10, but the controlling powers very wisely think best to retain a plentiful surplus in the treasury to lay in the winter's stock of wood, timber and stores which, and still maintain the regular monthly dividends. A surface tunnel north of the hoisting works will develop an unexpected continuance of the rich ore existing at the level above, and which is now being run through the mill. A considerable amount of free gold specimen ore is being daily encountered, and this month's run will evidently be even better than the last. At the meeting of the stockholders, held in San Francisco last Thursday, it was decided to increase the capital stock of the company to $3,000,000, to be divided into shares of $200 each.

The Chollar-Potosi is looking exceedingly well throughout, and yields about 230 tons of ore per day with good prospects of increase both in quantity and quality.

The Ophir west drift is to-day in 422 feet from the shaft, and the rock encountered bears an improved appearance, as though the ledge was not far off.

The Coming Circus.

Young America hereabouts, and all the Piutes, little and big, are agog with expectation, and pregnant with brilliant imaginings relative to Costello's grant "Circus, Menagerie, and Abyssinian Caravan," which appears here Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The tent must be a stunner, for they couldn't find a level scrap of ground here to pitch it on without going down by the Gas Works, away below town. They say it covers a whole acre of ground. The Piutes will see an elephant for the first time—a couple of them—a little one and a big one.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, NEV., July 18, 1869.

No More of It.

Since the pretended robbery of William Weir, a couple of weeks ago, things have been pretty quiet in that line, even rumors of those illegal transactions being scarce. People now begin to breathe freer, and travel over the Divide between here and Gold Hill again same as they did before, with renewed trusting not being waylaid and robbed by muffled brigands, armed with Colt's revolvers and double-barreled shot-guns. Indeed it is now pretty generally believed that nine-tenths at least of those many rumored robberies on the Divide, during the past five or six years, are humbugs, got up by sensationally-minded individuals, just for a little cheap notoriety. Nearly a year ago, one adventurous foot-pad was reported to be waylaying stragglers at that point, directing his attention to Gold Hillers returning home from Virginia late in the evening. Thus John Kromer stated that the fellow stopped him and relieved him of two dollars and fifty cents, all the coin he had left after a jolly cruise about Virginia. Two or three evenings after that another man said that that foot-pad had stopped him and gone through him for a dollar and six bits. Now, allowing these two stories to be true, that miserable brigand was doing an extremely poor business—not making whisky money—and I really was inclined to believe them a little from the fact that shortly afterward that poor devil, or some other equally unlucky burglar, tried to get into Hazen's brick store on the Divide, probably hoping to finger a safe full of money. He broke into a blacksmith shop first and got a crowbar and other tools to operate with, and then worked hard all night prying off the iron shutter of a rear window. He dug away the brick work about the hinges, and after much severe exertion, managed to pry the shutter loose. Then he smashed out the inner window and came face to face with about 1,600 tons of barley, in sacks, piled square up before him. He laid down his tools and left in utter, hopeless disgust, and has never been heard of since. Had he succeeded in entering the store he would have found no safe or anything else worth stealing—except barley.

Theatrical.

The latest sensation we have had in the theatrical line, was the "Carter Dramatic Combination," which appeared at Piper's Opera House last Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, having just arrived from the East, per continental railroad. The "Combination" consisted of Mr. Carter and his wife, and they opened with "Lucretia Borgia." Mrs. Carter did Lucretia finely and Carter himself did Gennaro and all the rest of the characters, rendering them very creditably, too. Just let Barrett and McCullough, and all your other comparatively one-horse tragedians or comedians, take a back seat after that: there's talent and concentrated versatility for you. He did work most industriously, and by dint of rapid changes of dress and constant doubling, with considerable stretch of the imagination allowed to the audience, he contrived to represent the full cast of characters in that noted five-act tragedy. Carter is certainly a genius as well as a good actor, and his wife is really a second Mrs. Bowers in Lucretia Borgia at least. They advertised themselves very parsimoniously; therefore they had a slim house. The second night they were actually going to tackle "Ingomar," with Mrs. Carter as Parthenia, and Carter personating Ingomar and all the rest of the skin-dressed barbarians in that popular piece. The idea, however, was a little too whimsical for our critical theatre-goers, and so the combination had only a $20 house. He refused to play to so small an audience, and told them he didn't think Virginia people properly appreciated true talent when they saw it. Next night, at Dayton, he refused to play to an audience of four, and the next night another mean little audience discouraged him at Carson. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are probably at San Francisco by this time, where success as members of some good dramatic company awaits them. They simply failed here in trying to speculate too heavily on too little capital. George Francis Train will be here shortly, to appear at the Opera House. Next comes Tom Thumb and wife, with Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren, and after that something else, probably, to this deponent at present unknown.

The Chollar-Potosi Fire.

The burning of the fine new hoisting works of the Chollar-Potosi Mining Company, and the extensive buildings connected therewith, last Wednesday morning, was the liveliest sensation, in that line, this city has experienced for a long time. It was a little the quickest fire I ever saw. The employees in and about the works were drilled as a regular fire company, with plenty of hose to attach to the pump of the steam engine at a moment's warning, and the alarm was given as soon as the roof, about the smoke-stack in the boiler-room, was discovered to be on fire; but notwithstanding all these precautionary arrangements, the whole thing went as though saturated with camphene. In just exactly half an hour from the time the fire commenced, the whole big building was destroyed, and the frame fell in. Our efficient firemen, with all their excellent machines, could do but little good, except in saving some of the dwellings near by. The entire loss to the company, including the large three-story boarding house near the works, a large amount of timber four hundred cords of wood, etc., is estimated at over $100,000. The amount of insurance was $40,000. Most people were under the impression that the destruction of these hoisting works would interfere with the working of the mine and the extraction of ore, but such is not the case at all. The ore comes from the upper levels, through the old Chollar works and the Potosi tunnel. The new shaft and works were simply used in deeper prospecting and explorations. There were only four men working below, drifting at the 500 and 900-foot levels, and they made their escape by climbing down the ladders of the pump shaft to the 1,100-foot level, and out through the 1,080-foot level of the Hale & Norcross mine, by means of the drift connection made about five weeks ago. These works will probably not be rebuilt at that point, as the shaft was sunk too far west; consequently had passed through to the west wall long ago. It was always a heavy bill of expense to the company, and no particular advantage. They should not sink a new and better shaft, some hundreds of feet further east, down the hill or else combine with neighboring companies in doing so. None of them have sunk far enough east.

Mining Items.

An increased number of men have been worked in the Yellow Jacket mine during the past week, and over two hundred tons of ore per day extracted. The air in the south portion of the mine is better, and daily becoming more so. The winze connection between the 800 and 900-foot levels in the north mine, of which I have heretofore made mention, was completed last Monday, giving good air throughout both drifts. There is an immense body of good pay ore in that part of the mine, which will be got at shortly. That 300 feet of water in the north shaft is being slowly reduced by means of a couple of one hundred gallon bailing tubs. The shaft requires a great deal of fixing, and about forty feet of it, some three hundred feet below the surface, will have to be retimbered. When this water is all out, the shaft repaired throughout, and a winze sunk from the bottom of it at the 700-foot level to the 800 and 900-foot levels below, which will be in two or three months from now, you may look for prosperous times in the Yellow Jacket and a corresponding elevation of the stock. At the annual meeting of the company, held at Gold Hill last Monday, J. B. Winters, Wm. Sharon, D. Driscoll, T. G. Taylor and T. B. Storer were elected Trustees. This new Board then elected J. B. Winters President and Superintendent, F. F. Osbiston Secretary, and Bank of California Treasurer. They voted to donate $2,500 to the sufferers by the great mining calamity and levied an assessment of $10 per share on the stockholders. This assessment aggregates $240,000, and, added to the dividend of $5 per share declared just before the fire and subsequently rescinded, it amounts to the same as an assessment of $15 per share, aggregating $360,000, and aggravating stockholders considerably. They will have to grin and bear it, though, anyhow. They'll be all right in the fall.

Nothing new in the Crown Point. No good developments at the 1,000-foot level, rather an unpropitious circumstance for prospects at the 1,100-foot level when it shall reach the ledge. The upper levels of the Kentuck yield as usual,, and the opening being made into the lower part of the mine, below the fire, through the 900-foot level of the Yellow Jacket, is developing an extensive body of good pay ore.

Nothing new to report in the Overman, Belcher, Imperial-Empire or Bullion. The Chollar-Potosi yields over 250 tons per day. The shaft is still undergoing repairs.

The Gould & Curry yields between forty and fifty tons of $36 ore, from the old workings of the upper levels, daily, with a prospect of an increase in a few days, when the second-station drift is cleared out. Drifting east through the ledge at the seventh station was resumed last Sunday, and good progress is being made.

The Sierra Nevada mill is running steadily on pretty good ore from the surface workings of the mine, and another good clean-up will be made on the 31st, the second one for the month. The amount of this rich ore already developed is fully sufficient to keep up the present highly gratifying monthly receipts for some time to come. Both mine and mill are well managed, and run at a low rate of expense, far within the receipts, allowing a healthy state of finances. Like the majority of the mines along the Comstock, the Sierra Nevada shows little or no pay ore at the lower levels at present, but the upper levels pan out rich.

The new shaft of the Virginia Consolidated is down to the level of the Latrobe tunnel to-day, 164 feet from the surface. The work is being well and energetically prosecuted by Ross & Co., the contractors for the first 500 feet. They run out the excavated rock and earth through the Latrobe tunnel and will continue doing so till the shaft is about sixty feet deeper, using a windlass, when they will get their steam hoisting apparatus at the surface into operation.

The drift west of the ledge at the 700-foot level of the Ophir is to-day 462 feet in from the shaft. No more favorable indications are encountered. The rock works well, and good progress is made.

The Occidental is yielding as usual from the upper levels, and the new tunnel, 400 feet beneath the present lowest working level, is progressing well, the rock in the face being somewhat softer and more favorable.

The Lady Bryan has a good showing of pay ore, especially at the lower levels. The annual meeting of the company will be held August 3d, in this city.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, NEV., July 18, 1869.

No Credit to be Robbed.

What's the use of being robbed or murdered unless you have the sympathy of the public with you? Now, William Weir, the bacon peddler of whom I made mention in my last letter as having been robbed at American Flat, about a week ago, of over $1,200, and everything else worth stealing he had about him, can't get anybody here to believe a word of it. This skeptical community have their own opinion in regard to the matter; so have the police. His story didn't hang together right, and he didn't act just as a man who has actually been robbed always does. Worse than that, when he went back to California and found by the papers that people over here didn't believe he had been robbed, he at once, in a fit of virtuous indignation, went before a Justice of the Peace and made an affidavit that he really had been gone through with by foot-pads, just as we described in the HERALD. If he hadn't sworn to it, there was a chance of folks believing that he truly had been robbed by highway-men, but this affidavit spoiled the whole. It is rough enough on a man to be robbed, without having to swear to it afterwards. Robberies hereabouts, especially on the divide between here and Gold Hill, have been a little too frequent and fashionable, for general and indiscriminate belief. We have seen too many who having lost their coin, etc. "bucking against the tiger," were ingeniously inclined to attribute their loss to some other cause, and in fact make foot-pads on the divide a convenience in the matter, when in reality they came to a divide less irregularly; Mr. Moore, of Gold Hill, who was relieved of his watch, and $23 in coin, a week ago last Thursday night, I honestly believe to be the only case of genuine highway robbery on the divide, occurring this season, and shall continue to believe so unless he swears to it.

Our Railroad.

The railroad between Virginia and Carson, owned and being built by the Bank of California, and misnamed from interested motives the "Virginia and Truckee Railroad," is rapidly being pushed towards completion. The longest tunnel on the route, that near American Flat, about 600 feet in length, is about finished, and that through Fort Homestead and Gold Hill soon will be. The grading being so nearly completed, the tracklaying will soon commence, and the chances are that the cars will be running over it before October. It will be used principally in transporting ores from the mines of the California Bank to Carson River, for cheaper crushing; and how much actual pecuniary benefit it is going to be to the tax-paying people of Storey county remains to be seen; although county bonds have to assist in building the road unless the people should open their eyes some day and repudiate that part altogether. Well, hurrah for the railroad anyhow.

Castello's Circus.

Dan Castello's "Circus, Menagerie and Abyssinian Caravan" has been here. I have seen it, and so will you soon. It performed two nights here, and to the largest houses ever seen in this section. There were nearly or quite 3,000 people present the first night, and about half that number the second night. It could not have raised a paying house the third night. The plain truth, as your readers will see, is, that the thing is terribly overrated. The "caravan" part is a fancy little humbug, and the "menagerie" is confined to a smart elephant, a mangy old camel, and five cages of strange animals, consisting of three little Asiatic lions, some monkeys, a leopard, a pelican, a zebra, a hyena, a harte-buck, a little white bull and two or three other odd things. As to the circus part, that is pretty fair, only consisting of the performing elephant, one or two very good trick ponies, two excellent riders, two or three pretty fair tumblers, no gymnasts or acrobats, a dish balancer, a cannon ball tosser, and not a single individual new feature. It is simply a third-class, charging first-class admission. It disappointed public expectation here sadly, turning out to be literally a "great cry and little wool."

Mining Items.

During the past week the Yellow Jacket mine has flourished exceedingly, with marked improvement in every respect. An increased number of men were employed, and nearly two hundred tons per day of ore were extracted. The air, owing to better ventilation facilities, is pretty good in the north mine. The old hoisting works over the north mine are put in complete order, and started hoisting water from the north shaft last Thursday noon. Considerable repairing and fixing is being done to the shaft, therefore, the water, which is 300 feet deep, will not be gotten rid of under two weeks at least. The winze connection will be made, as soon as possible, from the 700-foot level, where the bottom of the shaft is, to the 800 and 900-foot levels, giving the best possible draft of air throughout the mine, besides opening up extensive bodies of excellent pay ore.

Nothing new and interesting developed in the Crown Point; it still produces no ore. The Kentuck is yielding a little from the upper levels as usual, but preparations are being made to work it through the 900-foot level of the Yellow Jacket, beneath where the fire is still burning, and deeper than it was ever worked before. This is a most excellent arrangement, well acted upon.

The Belcher folks are still drifting about in the bowels of their mine with good prospects, but raising no ore. The Overman produces enough ore to pay expenses, with the aid of an occasional assessment.

The Imperial Empire shaft requires, and is receiving rather more extensive repairs that was anticipated. It will take a month yet before it will be in good fix for work. Meanwhile, neither sinking nor drifting at the lower levels is being done. An assessment of $5 per share, aggregating $20,000, was levied on the Imperial last Thursday—delinquent, August 18th.

The Chollar-Potosi yields nearly or quite 250 tons of ore per day, and is looking well, except at the lower levels. At the annual election of the company, held last Monday, all the old officers were reelected. The number of shares of the capital stock were increased from one share to the foot to ten.

The Hale and Norcross looks healthy throughout, especially at the lower levels, and yields something over a hundred tons of ore per day. About fifty feet of the shafting is being repaired, which rather impedes the ore production at present.

The Savage Company are also repairing their shaft. No new or important developments in the mine. At the annual election of the Company, held last Thursday, all the old officers were reelected, with T. B. Shamp, Superintendent.

The broken shaft of the Gould & Curry pump engine is repaired, and the water in the mine, which had risen to the height of 325 feet, is all pumped out again to-day. Drifting east from the Seventh Station will be re-commenced forthwith.

The Virginia-Consolidated new shaft was 138 feet deep last night, and forty-eight feet farther would carry it to the level of the Latrobe tunnel, which passes within a few feet of it. The rock works easy and over five feet of the shaft are completed per day on the average.

The Ophir west drift has penetrated 425 feet from the shaft at the 700-foot level, with no material or important change.

The most flourishing and profitable mine on the whole Comstock ledge at the present time is the Sierra Nevada. It costs less than $7,000 per month to run both mine and mill, and the monthly yield is over $20,000 on the average. The first clean up for the present month was made day before yesterday. The bullion is not yet refined and assayed, but in quality it is at least fully up to the average. The mill is working away again after its regular old style on the second run of the month, and the huge surface deposit of rich ore shows ample inducements to believe that it will hold out for years. I hear it intimated that the next monthly dividend will be a considerably increased one.

Small-pox.

Morris Gregory, the young actor, is now recovering from a five weeks siege of the small-pox in this city. W. W. Hutchinson died at Gold Hill with this disease, day before yesterday. These are the only cases I know of it, hereabouts.

Fire Department Matters.

The referees of the late firemen's tournament in this city yesterday decided to award the big silver prize trumpet to Young America Engine Company, No. 2, as the victors in the hose carriage race. That company don't like the idea of their having been outsquirted on that occasion by Eagle, No. 3, which machine now wears the champion badge, so they have slug out a challenge to squirt for from $2,500 to $5,000. The Eagles flap their wings defiantly, and reply with a county challenge for smaller amounts. Much is said about various sized nozzles, "give and take," "Open butts," and all that sort of thing, but a match is sure to come out of it. There's fun ahead.

ALF.