The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-02-24

ceeding 100 feet in depth. II at least one OF
their tunnels was stood on end 1t would now be
known what the Paymaster is good for, say at
the depth Of o Thousand feet, provided that
works will figure in the working of these mines
ut no distant day, and then the tunnels VIII
perhaps DO used as now, to run out the ore 70
some point accessible to teams. Their partiality
to tunnels can no doubt be accounted for from
the fact that the mines are situated high up on
the mountain. the sides Of which are very pre-
cipitous, in many cases inaccessible to teams.
Their heads may be level after all In the course
pursued. the wisdom or fallacy Of which will
come to the surface in the course of o few years
Building is not very lively here about now, a
few houses bsing in course Of erection and
others receiving the finishing touches,
Thos. F. Ward, the discoverer Of the Pay
master. the mine that first brought this section
into prominence, and after whom the town and
district Of Ward was named, died here on the
18th inst, after but few days illness. HIS
des h was n surprise to many, as 1t was not gen.
orally known that he was seriously ill up to
the time of his death. The subject of this
sketch was o native of New York, and at the
time of.his death was thirty-three years of age
Mr. Ward was recognized by those who knew
him best as man possessing talents of no mean
order. and withal genius in his way. His
funeral was largely attended and every respect
shown him that was due to one to whom we are
indebted for the discovery of this mineral
section. Ward has followed prospecting for the
past twelve years, making illness of 1t, in the
main meeting with prospectorss disappoint-
ment. He WIS the locator Of the "Grand Prize"
In COrnucopia District, and had some claim on
1t ct the time of his death. Tom, like many
others, left q "girl behind him" in Pennsslva-
mia. with whom he has carried on correspond
ence and who has been waiting for his return all
these years. She has been rewarded for her con-
stancy with the prospect of waiting until life's
close before she can ever hope to meet him for
whom she has sacrificed SO much. There is
something peculiarly hard touching the almost
inevitable fate Of the prospector, who has
braved every danger, surmounted every OBJ.
stscle that pluck and endurance could over
come, in the hope that he would sometime be
rewarded, and be able to provide for those he
holds most dear, to behold him at last, baified
at every point, sink under the strain and fill a
lonely grave far from childhoods home and
those for whose sake it WAS he mainly endured
30 much. Such was the fate of Ward. 1t ia but
one instance in thousands where men have gone
forth buoyant with the hope that they are to be
the lucky ones to stumble upon hidden fortune,
In lieu of pursuing the slow but more certain
course adopted by others who seek fortunes that
are not hidden. How often these searches
lengthen into years we all know but too we'll;
how often they end in utter hopelessness we
also know. Wards reward consists almost solely
In name, the name given to this town and
district, he having sold all his interests here in
10 for $3.50; i'll health forcing him to part with
q property that would ere this have amply
compensated him for the long years given up to
prospecting. s.