Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-08-17
LAKE BIGLER.

That Is what we always write it and
call it. Bigler is one of the most beau
tiful lakes in North America. 1t was
named Bigler by the California pio-
neers in honor of John Bigler, one of
the earliest and most famous of the
Governors of the Golden State, and so
it remained and was known far and
wide until the coming on of the civil
war. Then it was that some narrow
minded bigot, dominated by a degree
OF far-fetched hate and downright lit
tleness seldom witnessed in this or
any other country, suggested that the
name be changed to that of "Tahoe,"
and all because Ex-Governor Bigler
happened to be a Democrat. Most of
the Republican papers took up the
new appellation and soo the:magnif-
cent lake was extensively known by
the unwarranted and senseless name
Of Tahoe, a name signifying nothing
in particular. We are glad to see that
sturdy going Radical, Mighels, of the
Carson Appeal, rising above partisan
and personal prejudice and striking
out firmly for the original Bigler. Mr..
Mighels IL now "doing" the lake and
its surroundings in a series of interest
Ing sketches for his paper. From one
of the latest of his articles, written
amid the many inviting scenes of that
most attractive Summer resort, we
copy the following characteristic para
graph:
Many years ago an emigrant party
came this way along, and with them
for guide, counselor and friend, an In
dian chief. His name vas Falling
Leaf-a man of amiable and ~deciduous
nature, no doubt-and when he had
piloted them to this virtuous little
sheet OF water, they appropriately
named it in his honor. 1t remained
for some pale face with less OF good
reason for his choice of names to in
vent the dub-dub "Tahoe" for this
bigger pond. Washoe, If 1t means any
thing, means q purified Indian. Ia
hOe-or, as the Boston tourists call it,
Tah-hoe means an Indian squaw in
mourning, with Burgundy pitch TRIM
med with chimney SCOT ON her hair,
and the other parts of her physical
economy in proportionate cleanliness.
Old John Bigler-of whom 1t Is but
Justice tn say hat at the close Of a
career of office-holding OF many years
he died in absolute penury-is the
man ia whose honor this Lake was
named. The attempt to slight him and
slur his character by turning up the
nose Of q sage brush Legislature at his
uupoetical name and the substitution
therefor OF .'rAhoe," seems To me like
the weakest. s~illiest, spitefnlest way OF
airing BUR Black Repubiicanism l ever
heard OF. When Old Nourse stood up
in the Nevada constitutional Conven-
ton. solitary and alone, and o tn
strike out the word "white' from our
all sorts Of q Constitution. he was
hooted out of sight and hearing; but
when . cheap patriot wanted to inimor-
talize his loyalty by finging a gratui-
tous insult at that harmless war Demo.
crat and execrator OF Copperheads old
John Observation-Disclosures most famous
Governor-s'Tahoe" was a sop that was
grateful to the most sensitive %stoniachs.
AS between the fixed, tangible and
honorable memory of Governor John
Bigler and the senseless jargon and
vapld a~ffectation of "Tahoe," am for
the name OF the white man who was
twice elected to the Governorship OF
California, and not for the Indian with
the tarred head and stick punctured
sars. That's the kind Of . Radical l
am.