Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-01-14

milk. Among SO many desperate men
it was a matter of no small difficulty to
earn the title Of "chief." and though
aspirants were numerous, it almost
always happened that about the time
one of them had killed his sixth man
and issued his proclamation, some dis
aster would befai him, and then he
would be carried gently over on the side
hill and planted.
The great mining companies, too. fell
to disputing the titles to valuable claims,
and maintained hired gangs and armed
desperadoes to watch their several inter-
ests. Frequent collisions occurred be-
| tween these hands and casualties were
numerous. In short, for long time
| during its balmy days, Phoebe furnished
its little graveyard with an average OF
one corpse day as the result of knife
and pistol practice in its streets and bar
rooms.
Gentle reader, after this lengthy intro
duction has it occurred to you to ask
what manner of man must be the sheriff
of tie neighborhood above described?
His name is W. s. Travis, and he is
stopping at Barnum hotel with his wife
and two little children. He is one of
the principal owners OF the two stage
lines which run from Winnemucca, on
ON the Central Pacific road, and from Salt
Lake City to Phoebe. His term of office
has nearly expired. yet he shows few
marks of rough usage. During short
acquaintance the writer has found him a
pleasant companion and a very enter
tanning talkei. He says that Phoebe is
no longer what it use to be. The best
lodges are mined out to such depth
that the expense of keeping them clear
Of water eats up all the profits. Divi-
dends are thing of the past. Work has
been stopped in many mines, capitalists
have lost faith in Phoebe ore beds, men
are out of work. times are dull, and, what
is sure sign of decay in mining camp.
the gamblers are leaving for other
parts. A short time ago fourteen
prisoners escaped from the Phoebe Jail
and the sheriff had short season of eX-
element hunting them up. The people
out West are oil good travellers, and when
they know the sheriff is after them they
occasionally make immense records in
the war of time. In 1872 an Idaho sher-
if rode from Boise City to the Rio
Grande river after an Ascending official
who had only day the start of him, and
at the end of the 900.mile ride the sheriff
was still six hours behind. Mr.. Travis
caught one of his escaped prisoners in
Oregon, another in California. two in
Cheyenne. one in Denver and others OF
points intermediate. Then as everything
was quiet once more. he concluded to
leave the mountains for the winter. No
place is less congenial to an enterprising
Western man than mining camp that
has commenced to ''go down" and Mr..
Travis. Influenced perhaps by the nu-
merous reports of active operations &C.
curing on Missouri soil, decided to pass
the winter months in st. Louis. Since
arriving here, he has looked about town
industriously, and processes to be we'll
pleased. He has proper admiration
for a fine horse, and relates his expert
ence Of the Broadway sale.stables with
immense good humor. He would hardly
be content to remain in this part OF the
county, however, but will return to Ne
vada il the spring. Probably some new
excitement will spring up by that time or
a new strike will be made in old Ely dis
trict that will set things booming again
and afforda'sr'-- ..tlzens of Nevada re.
turn o. the pleasant scenes they espe-
cieiiy enjoy.