Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-08
Letter from Nevada.
IooRREsPoSDENcE OF THE spr.I
WARM SPRINGS, Nye Co., Nevada, /
IL

WARM SPRINGS, Nye Co., Nevada, /
September y, 1872.
lur. EditOP:-Thinking you may not have an
especial correspondent in eastern Nevada, and
believing also that few lines from soourner
in this mineral state would be acceptable to
your numerous readers, venture to write con-
corning matters and things that have seen and
heard since my arrival here lastiApril.
Mining is the most prominent interest of the
state. Eureka, young and enterprisiug
town of three years growth, takes the
lead in the mining operations of eastern Nevada,
it now has population of about five thousand,
all engaged directly or indirectly in the develop
ment of the precious metals from the rich de-
posts contained in the adjacent hills and noun
tains. The different furnaces of the town are
now turning out six hundred thousand dollars
worth of the shining bars per month, which is
equal to S120 for each man, woman and child
of the town. The town contains one bank, sew
eral hotels, many stores, and about forty saloons
and restaurants Main street presents livelier
business scene than that of your Main or Front
streets of Worcester. While the miner is seek
ing for wealth here in this land of Piutes, Sage
different to the mental and moral interest of
his children.
A fine schoohouse has recently been erected
at cost of $4,000, large enough to accommodate
comfortably and conveniently all the children
Of the town. But while wealth is being amassed
here by the shrewd and industrious, morality,
law and order are but slightly regarded; whis-
key shops, gaming saloons and ill-famed houses
are the prevailing institutions of eastern Nevada
In fact, those things are curse and a drawback
on all purely mining communities, the fruits of
which are plainly seen in the thefts, robberies
and murders that are almost daily committed.
Seldom a day passes without fight, when the
knife Or revolver is used without hesitation.
A bloody tragedy was enacted a few days ago,
near where | am now writing. | give some Of
the facts in the case as briefly as possible. One
McMinn had bought of the government a tract
Of land lying adjacent to land of one Sampson.
This Sampson had formerly cut the grass on
the land, but had no legal title to the property
| On the day of the murder McMinn requested
my son, W. H. Tolman, to go with him as
witness while he gave Sampson notice of his
purchase, and showed his title papers from the
land office. On their arrival they lound Samp-
son standing on the lot, armed with a double
barreled shot gun aud a pair of revolvers.
| They approached him in a very cordial and
| friendly manner, and on McMinn's informing
| Sampson of the object of his visit to the prem
ises, Sampson Immediately discharged the con-
| tents Of both barrels of his gun into the head,
body and limbs of his victim, killing him al
most Instantly. He then drew and cooked his
revolver on young Tolman, who, being unarmed,
made good his escape by hasty retreat. Nc.
MINI was very good and industrious citizen;
be leaves young and amiable wife with an in
FAINT child to mourn his untmely death. Samp-
son is now in Jail at Belmont awaiting the action
Of the grand jury.
This Sampson had often been heard to say
that be knew but two statutes TO settle land
claims-one the revolver, the other the bowie
knife. INT,