The Nevada Democrat., 1861-11-26
LETTrR FROM wAsHOE
VIRGINIA CRY, NoY. 10th, 1851


ED. DEMOCRAT AS communication
completely shut off by telegraph, shall under
take to write you a few lines, which l shall
send through Wells, Fargo & Co., or over the
Henness Pass on snow shoes! You may have
heard before this reaches you, that Sheriff John
L. Blackburn, formerly Of Nevada county, was
killed by VIM. Mayfeld, at Carson, on Mon
day evening last. The facts OF the case aS
summed up after hearing both sides OF the af-
fair. are az follows: Blackburn got Information
that Henry Plumer was in the vicinity Of Car
son, (Which possibly might have been true, but
have reason to doubt it, and had made
search for him but without effect. knowing
that Mayfeld was friend of Plumer, he met
him at the st. Nicholas Saloon and charged
him (Mayfeld) with secreting Plumer' lie sald
he had not, and had not seen nor heard oil MIN
in the Territory. Blackburn then called him a
liar. and told him II he denied the charge again
he would 'blow the top of his head off" and
Immediately went for his pistol, but before ne
could draw it, Mayfeld stabbed him three times
about the stomach with bowie knife, killing
him almost instantly. Mayfeld then made his
escape-crawled into hog-pen, about fifty
feet from where the affray occurred, and re-
mained over night. The town was thoroughly
searched for him that night, but he was not
found. Yesterday morning reward of $4,000
was offered by the citizens, and 81 900 appro-
priated by the Legislature for his apprehension.
Had Mayfeld left his old quarters he might
have escaped but he simply changed them
and was taken this morning by Thos. j. An
drews. Under Sheriff, who, Of course, pockets
snug little sum. Mayfeld has many warm
friends, who will do everything in their power
to clear him. May6eld has heretofore borne the
name Of peaceble, quiet, and law-aoiding
man, with many generous qualities.
Sheriff Blackburn was buried this afternoon.
wife, child, relatives and friends are left to
mourn his untimely decease.
George Downey has so far recovered as to
be able to resume his duties as jailor.
Col. Peter H. Nolan, who was once before
the good people of Nevada, as a candidate for
Marshal, Just called on me and wishes me to
tell the Nevadans that he is about to start for
Dixie with 80 good fighting men-jafst IKE
himself!
OF the Vermiion Ledge, Ironsides Co.,
feel like speaking at great length, but will not,
as it is not really worth the powder and fuse.
Sufficient investigation has now been made TO
convince the most skeptical that the drift was
"peppered" by some unscrupulous cusses, who
feared not God, nor did they let me Gin with
itp Think how ingenious they were Poor
Frank Clements; how he was pittied and pet
ted, when the water gushed forth upon him
and he was dragged out by the shaft almost in
senible, looking very much like wet cur, as
L u. Il da1
on every side by friends and Ophir ore. (O He
didn't know it was Ophir oh, no, for he told
me so, without any unnatural exertion, when
last saw him. So well was l convinced Of
the truth OF his saying that | "nailed" five feet
more in the "Ironsides" Gold and Silver Min
ing Co. What noble name is that "Iron-
Sides" ain't it? And what "russelling" there
was once upon time, to get feet in it. The
panic was huge everybody invested their sur
plus scads-from the gambler with one lung to
the typo with one shirt. Tis too true, and
weaken as l pen it. Yes, and so did "Uncle
Ike" May the silly knaves who did the "salt-
ing" (who they are / cannot tell, but rumor
says il was Brigadier General Thomas d.
Johns and Bniamin Franklin Clements,) get
their just deserts, when they enter that ''bOurne
from which no traveller returns" because they
did MT let some one Sin with it" who had sense
enough to "sell out" when the stock was up,
and make a little money for himself-ne for
instance. But enough the Vermilion is about
making its last struggle; in fact, if it was not
for "Old man Ellis" the ship Ironsides"
would be dead, dead dead.
One word about the Zouave Gold and Silver
Mining claim, and will close out for the pres
ent. This claim is situated about mile from
Virginia, and is undoubtedly one Of the richest
ever discovered in this Territory. The ledge
is large and well defined, and exceednly rich
in gold an silver. 1t lays near, and runs par
alel with, the POtosi.
The snow on an average is about two feet
deep-weather awful cold--wind blowing like
fury, and taking it all in all, disagreeable is no
name for the weather here just now.
Yours, LEMONS.
P.S. VIM. S. Marley, formerly Superintend-
end or Agent of the Pony Express, has been
appointed by the Governor to fiji the vacancy
occasioned by the death Of Sheriff Blackburn,
and George May, formerly Of Nevada, was ten.
dered the office Of Deputy under him, to-day,
and has accepted.