Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-06-23
ANcIRNT HIsTonE

ooeos VI A4NyS Aot CNeh +1AOeV9 hoAAS -
these are referred to directly by US, this
evening, We have an ancient history Of
our own. we thank you-in two respects.
Go up into Judge Burbank's Court while
the Burnitg Moscow VS.. the Ophir is on
trial, and you viii appreciate our assertion
and learn .thehasis Of our statements. In
the first place, Professor Silliman has
taught our domestic experts-as he has
informed the world-that there was, ages
and ages since, a vast chasm at the point
where the Comstock now sprawls his Le-
viathan proportions. Up through this
awful jaw of earth there was an innumer-
able host ofhot springs sputtering up the
metallic products Of the center furnace Of
the globe. Almost as "ancient as the
sun" are these roek-ribbed mountains,
whose country composite form the enclos-
ing sides Of the silver gulf that upheaved
and crystalized beneath US. But the aged
history to which we would specially
allude, is one contradictory in its terms.
Man is said to live by his thoughts and
deeds-not by his mere length of human
existence. Then what an age is written
in the past Eve or six years for Nevada.
1859 does not, in the abstract, seem long
ago to any of US; it is but step in the
past. Yet listen to that witness as he
tells, with imperfect recollection-"it is a
long time ago." he says-of his digging a
prospecting hole where the Imperial now
is, and running six foot cut on the ever
lasting and all-embracing Chollar grounds.
Then hear him describe the appearance Of
the country and the condition Of affairs
generally at that time. This must have
been centuries since. This conviction is
instructive, spontaneous, irresistible.
Such changes! Why, when pioneer
witness shall say, by and by, I" that was
before the Comstock or Penrod lead was
you will stare at his middle
aged countenance, disbelieying his words
for himself and convinced that he is speak
ing, at least, from his great-great grand
fathers tradition-legacy. Before the Pen
rod was discovered-that is before the
eagle learned to scream above the surging
waters. It must be! And, in accordance
with this adhering fallacy of the mind in
respect to time in these regions, it is no
wonder that the stories of the pioneer
witnesses are decidedly musty. There is
no one among them that has a fit appear
ance to correspond with their distant
relations" except old man Morris, who
lived in a stone cabin of his own construc-
hon, on the Gold Hill groupings, and who
has the veritable countenance and beard Of
Ancient Mariner. An out
rage of incOngruitysg is perperated
upon our feelings, when a man like
comstock presurnes to come upon
he stand, and swear that he is
what he is, the diseoverer and sponsor
If the Prince Royal silver lead Of the con-
inent. Then here comes chap you once
new in California, worthless in character
md penniless in purse. He is now dressed
% kill, and he Aourishes into the witness
.hair with the inimitable sweep of hum
ired- thousander. Whether you're envi-
Jus or no, you again experience the sense
Of the fact that here is a change that re-
CURED q revolution Of the entire planetary
system around an unknown sun. That
however, is an incidental help to the pre-
Vailing impfesion. Now, listen atten-
lively to days detail of the Times"
herein 1859. One chapter will suffice.
Your hair will sensibly commence turning
gray. On the 4th Of July, 1859, full one
men reached this place and COM
nenced prospecting in Gold Hill and Vir-
,lnia. 1t is the date of the first real set
Element, whatever may have formed and
furnished here before. Then, Sam. Beard,
md Caperton. and Endicott, and Kinch,
became masters of the situation in the re-
ZION of the Savage. In those days Hal.
Clayton was the only lawyer IN the Terri
:ory this side of Salt Lake; and his prac-
ice was not very extensive, as most diff
.ulties were settled outside of trial, and, Of
course, in the absence of any regularly
instituted tribunals of justice. Only one
awyer in the Territory which is now the
State of Nevada! That must have been
years since. Now, every man
that has private servant has two to six
lawyers. Then, the same sort of person.
age had two derringers and a. six-inch re-
volver. On reflection, the difference
doesn't seem so great but at first blush
it strikes one with . faith in antiquity.
What fools there were in those far-off
days. Men who, like Bennett Of the I'M
perial, stuck good series Of notices here,
and then went of prospecting in Silver
City, and finally sold the silver egg-hying
hen for tribe to invest all in a quarry of
but porphyritic pebbles. Then.
hear the accounts Of the works, seven
hundred feet underground. Breasting-
works, galleries and slopes a half mile in
extent, and millions Of tons Of ore drawn
from one little claim Of 1900 feet in north
and south dimensions. Sixty millions of
doIlars yielded directly to the treasury Of
the world, and actually only FIVE years
and ten months old. Impossible! It's
20, nevertheless. Not ancient history,
after all.
The AssAss1SArIoN1srs STILL AT WORK.
With the single exception Of John Tyler,
who speedily proved q traitor, the Demo-