The Nevada Democrat., 1860-06-20
LETTER FROM wAsHoE.
YRaNIL CRY. June Oh


meut on the part of the fsrces under Col. Hays,
would furnish me with a subject both interest
ing and pleasant From present indications,
however, no such theme will be afforded me
not but that both volunteers and regulars have
been ready and even eager to furnish it, but
the Indians, true to their system Of warfare,
have declined, although in vastly superior num-
bers, to give them any chance of showing what
material they were made Of With the excep-
tiOn Of a couple of brushes between some scout
ing parties, and in which the Indians were
worsted, our men have been unable to overtake
WinnemuCk Jr., he having to Their great dsap-
pointmeut, broken up his camp at Pyramid
Lake, fed to Mud Lake, and then to parts un-
knewn. In consequence of this, the volunteers,
not being prepared to undertake campaign Of
several weeks, If not months duration, have
been compelled to disband and return home,
leaving only the regulars on the ground at
Pyramid Lake. In the skirmshes mentioned
above, the volunteers lost four men, killed,
Capt. Story, of the Virginia Company, being
one, also, two of his men named Phelps and
Cameron, and man named VIM. Allen was
killed the next day after this fght. Four reg
ulars were wounded and Andrew Hasey of Ne
vada, was shot in the hip l am happy to say,
however, that his wound is not dangerous he
has just becu brought in, and is in the hands Of
friends who will give him every care.
On their march to Pyramid Lake, the com.
mand found the bodies Of forty of the men who
were killed in the fight Of the 18th of May. and
performed the mOurnful task of burying them.
ln spite Of their advanced state of decomposi-
tion, they identified several--among Others,
Maj Ormsby, VIM. Spear, and the amented
Meredith. Only three of The bodies were on
the spot where the battle was fought, Mr.. Mere
dith being the last they found, showing him to
have been the hindmost in the retreat. The
others were scattered over ten miles of country
aud were killed in the rout They gathered the
remains of Major Ormsby aud Mr.. Meredith and
escorted the latter TO Virginia City this after
noon. They will be forwarded to Nevada by
his brother.
II il difficult, when man does not wish TO
make false predictions, TO hazard anything like
a decided opinion as to the future Of any new
mining country. have been here nearly three
months, and the changes during that period
have been such, that man looking at the mere
surface OF things, would not hesitate to pro-
nouncc washoe very sick institution. When
arrived here every mans hopes were high !;
men who never had the least experience in min
ing, who in fact, were hardly able TO distinguish
quartz from granite, were to be seen about Vir-
ginia City with their pockets literally full Of
rocks, exhibiting indications, CHATS the term
here,) and spreading themselves largely on the
richness OF their claims, telling you that they
would not take less than $50 per foot that
they considered themselves worth all the way
from ten to hfy thousand dollars, etc. This
In the simplicity of their hearts were candid in
their assertions, the other who didn't believe q
word Of it, but hoped to make hay whilst the
sun was shining On the other hand, there
were men Of experience and judgement, (and
Nevada. am happy TO say, was well represent
ed in this respect) who were well posted as to
what was good and what was worthless and
who took good care not TO cucumber them
selves with any claims which did not have an
intrinsic value. II was perfectly apparent to
any man with half an eye, that the bright Wis
ions Of the first named class were doomed to be
agLtuGHy dimmcd. The Indian hosilities may
have somewhat precipitatcd the crisis, but it
was nevertheless Inevitable. Men who were 80
destitute that they did not even have the nee
essary change TO buy their daily bread, could
flourish in a place like this, only so long as The
race of Bugeaters lasted. Now. even before the
war, this species Of animal was getting terribly
scarce, and to-day they have absolutely disap-
pcared-nothing being left of them but a few
fossil remains. / cannot say that feel much
moved at the wailings and lamentations OF these
people, caused by this sudden disappearance Of
their favori te game. Theirs was only pleas
ant dream from which they have awoke to Gnd
themselves face to face with the stubborn facts
that their pockets have collapsed, that flour is
worth $40 per cwt. and that credit is unknown
in this part Of the country. This is as il should
be the country has enough which is real and
substantial to recommend it to capitalists with
out the aid Of humbuggery. The present de-
preston will have the good effect Of sitting the
genuine from the bogus, and Of driving dealers
in wild cat TO more respectable business.
l apprehend that no sales Of any consequence
will hereafter be effected until some reduction
works are erected in this country. Now, that
the fever of speculation is over, men Of means
will not be willing to invest large sums unless
they have a certainty that their Investments
rest on a more solid basis than mere tpecula-
ton. My conviction s, that the real silver
mines Of Washoe vii! come up fully to the ex-
pectatioos OF their owHers, and that Geld will
be opened TO men Of capital, such as California
never yet has offered.
Several Of the principal owners along the
Cemstock vein are now in San Francisco max