Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-07-05
Plate Ann REI.r PRESENTATIONS.

ter shop Of the Company, to witness the
presentations which are described as
follows. A spread of wine aud beer
craced one side Of the shop, and the
driukables were p~rofusely dispensed
unto whomsoever Of the company pres
en-, there was thirst and a conscience
void of ,ea.o,al pledges. The best Ha-
vana cigars were also among the enter
tanning distributables of the occasion.
At half pas, four o'clock the family por-
ton of Mr.. Charlton H. Beckwith, one
of the beneiciaries Of the day were con-
Quoted into the shop and seated, with
other ladies, at one corner OF the room.
Charl,on's wife and two daughters cou
sti,ute his family. Their appearance
was the signal for formal ceremonies TO
begin. Mr.. Ross mounted a small plat
form which was placed At the side OF
the table containing the gifts and called
the meeting to order. Mr.. Tom Peachy
and the "Beckwith boys as they are
Familiarity named, also took their places
on the rostrum. Mr., Ross stated the
object Of the m~eetiug-;o present the
retiring Superintendent and Foreman Of
the Chollsr Potosi with testimonials Of
regard aud esteem from workmenin the
mine, aud from members OF the Fire Co.
with which Mr.. Charlton Beckwith has
been connected. Mr.. Peachy was then
introduced, and be delivered to Mr..
Harvey Beckwith the tea set designed
for him, in a speech full Of high com
pliment TO the recipient, which mani
tested very warm friendship on the part
OF the speaker toward the retiring Su-
periutendent, and which, undoubtedly,
fully expressed the sentiments of the
Subscribers to the testimonial. The
present was a service of silver plate;
consisting Of a fine tray;a trio OF de-
canters, properly deposited in a silver
castor; a wine pitcher; II water pitcher,
all lined with gold. The tray bore the
following inscription ITO Harvey
Beckwith, Superintendent Of the Chol-
lar-Potosi mine, this testimonial is pre-
scented by the employees Of the company,
as a token Of their esteem. Virginia,
Nevada, July, 1861" On each piece Of
silver ware is engraved the blended iu-
itial letters, "H. B." In accepting this
gift, Mr.. Harvey Beckwith made a speech
Of a half hours length, which was
mainly historical, which was listened
to with the closest attention; only in
terrupted by outbursts Of applause. He
commenced by stating that he had when
it was FIRST suggested to him, objected
to the programme so far as it involved q
gift to him. If the miners, with whom
mis- brother Charley" had been more
Immediately and intimately associated,
desired to procure n present, a testimo-
NAL % their foreman, he would be
pleased at such a proceeding, and to
the extent that he might do so consist
emily and with propriety, he would
aid in such a movement. But for him-
self, he preferred not to be made the re-
cipieut of a testimonial from the work.
men, aud for two reasons: II would
make too great a tax upon the miners;
and he thought that at least a vote OF
thanks from the Trustees Of the mine
should DE his testimonial, on retiring
from the SUPPLEMENTARY, ifhedeserved
ANY. He had presented these objections
and for several days thereafter had re-
manned under the belief that they had
been valid, and that the miners had not
been assessed on his behalf. It trans
PRED, however. that despite his sincere
remonstrance, il had been determined
tha, he, a, well as bis brother, should
be a'''parsy Of the second part" on this
occasion. All that he had said should
not be taken as any indication Of reluc-
:ancc or lack of grateful appreciation
on his part, now that the gift came
with more than volunteer good nature.
I, is easy to say Il thank you but he
believed that the heart Of q grateful
man a, such a moment rarely found,
even in those most ready of speech, a
full, aud to the recipient, a satisfactory
expression. Yet thank you,' thank
you be would say, with all the emphs-
sis he could command. Mr.. Beckwith
then gave a sketch Of the history Of the
Chollar-Potosi mine, since be had assun-
ed charge of it. When be 6rss came to
the niue he encountered and expert
enced many and great difficulties. The
wages Of labor were reduced, and be
had to bear the bruut of such a move
meat, though in it be only acted rs the
faithful and agent and servant Of the
Board of Trustees. At Il time on this
account i, was not deemed safe for him
to go into the mine, or.certain portions
of 1t, as His life was threatened. This,
as was afterwsrd explained, had no ref
ereuce to any miners present. It re-
ferred TO some three OIL, four persons who
formerly worked in the Chollar por.
ton of the mine. When he came
TO the mines it was believed BY
many TO have been ''worked out" and
it certainly was not under a very sys-
tematic course of development. Let the
condition in which it is to-day speak Of
the improvements that had been neces-
sarily made to reach the place Of a
Dividend paying part Of the great
Comstock. The men he saw before him
were those to whom the principal credit
Of this rise in the value Of the mine
should be given. Mr.. Beckwith noted
the fact that he had had to deal with
comparatively poor paying rock-rock
averaging from S25 { S27 per ton; and
that the getting out Of the Chollar-
Potosi rock cost about one-half (S4 4s
per toni what it cost in the Savage and
other mines. He eulogized the Chollar-
Potosi miners, as the best set Of work
men on the lead, rs the result quoted
proved. He had always found them
prompt, faithful and efficient. And,
moreover, they had ever manifested a
generous disposition toward their fell
low laborers. If one was injured in the
mine, the purses Of all the others were
readily opened to relieve the sufferings
of the unfortunate, and to care for his
family if he had one. Never would these
workmeu have permitted such neglect
as the Trustees Of the 0phir manifested
toward Dixon, who was killed in the
Ophir mine, and whose grave to this day
is unmarked by any suitable sign, even
Of a burial spot. [Cries Of " shame."1
This matter bad been presented to the