The New York herald., 1878-12-30

In possession of what property they left. he,
too, no doubt, knew what discoveries they
had made and their projected plans and pur-
poses for the future. as ronshing it in a
mining camp is not conducive to rcticence. That
he thus able to discover the great quartz vein
which bears his is matter Of little conse-
quence. or that O'Relly and Mclaughlin were the
actual discoverers is Of no moment to anybody now;
he gave his to the lode and there it will in all
probability never pass from history He sim
gular genius. unbnrdened with virtues, sponta-
neousacting being with little conception of the right
wrong abstract principles regulating life. good
natured, liberal in his days of prosperity. and. as
of his acquaintances said yesterday, "a hell Of
liar"
FINDING THr coMsTocK LODE.
Comstock's story Of the finding of the lode is
worth relating, giving as his language does. the
measure Of the man and furnishing picture OF the
circumstances and of his associates, who the
rude instruments Of Providence in laying the fonn
dation of this grand enterprise
The first discovery of the Comstock lode
made III this way:-In the middle OF January, 1859.
l saw some queer looking stun in gopher hole
ran my hand in and took out handful of dirt and
saw silver and gold in it At that time Big John
Bishop and 'Od Virginia were with ME when found
il. They were sitting upon the side OF the hill liod
Hill couple of hundred yards from me. took up
five claims. A couple of weeks from that time and
where the Ophir is now located. found the same
30 work good mine the first discovery: did
not know at the time there lead of that de-
scription there Riley and Mclaughlin working
for me at the time of the opLr discovery. caved
the cut in and went after MY party to take up the
lead and form my company. NANNY Penrod. Peter
Kiley Patrick Mclaughlin, "hentuek, or Osborne,
and myself formed company. With my party
opened the lead and called il Comstock lode.
That is the way they came by their interests gave
them to them. We started to rocking with my
had only small quantity to work with We made
from We to ten and twelve pounds day and the dust
from fn trnt
sters Bank, Placerville, Cal, where did my bus-
for my self for the use of my water to he
pany. also located the Savage claim; showed the
around to old man Savage. l located the Gould Il
Curry; went into the valley and got old Daddy Curry
to come down, and put rim in possession OF it.
owned the Hale Norcross ana kept Norcross
for year to work in that ground. also owned the
princpai part in Gold Hill and leased out Walsh
Il Woodruff; leased to them $50 or 7G0--dort now
remember which. Now will tell you how sold it.
1t has been told it ought be told through
out the United States for my benefit. and it shall be-
sandy Bowers, gave him his claim of twenty feet in
Gold Hill: Bill Knight, gave him his claim: Joe
Plato. gave him his. Joe is dead now his widow is
awful rich. was working this claim the Ophir, and
taking out . good deal of ore; did not know what
the ore was worth, being in the wilderness then,
with road to get out into from Cali
fornia 1t was an awful wilderness! / took several
tons of the and transported IL by OK teams,
to best advantage through the mountains OF Califor
MIA. and Judge Walsh was my agent and helped me.
Now, during this time WIS taking ont large gold
and silver specimens, and took specimen, weigh
ing twelve pounds, and boxed il up and ordered it
sent to Washington city. instructed John AInsser.
lawyer, at washoe. to send it. don't know
whether it reached there or not. wanted Con-
r.ss and the President 10 it, for ii was the first
gold and silver mixed ever found in the United
states.
Virginia City first called Silver City. named
ii at the time gave the Ophr claim its name. Old
Virginia and the other boys got drunk night
there, and "Old Virginia" tell down and broke his
bottle and when he got MP he said he baptized that
virginia-hence Virginia City and that is the way it
got It's name. At that time there were few tents,
rew little hnts and grosshop; that was all there
was camped under cedar tree at that time
I and my party.
ain man that has been through the wars. I was
in the Black Hawk war; with Black Hawk when
ne died. was in the Mexican war, and all through
in the patriot war III Canada. Had three brothers
in it; was the youngest: they all dead now,
am the son Of old Noah Comstock living in Cleye-
Land. Ohio. He has been largely engaged lii the lum
Der and hotel business there. l have been in the
wilderness since a child Was bound to the Amer-
can Fur Company. My boss died, and that the way
got with old Black Hawk. Ny first recollection was
packing traps. Trapped all Canada Michigan
and Indiana; but the Rocky Mountains have been my
home. nave been guide these years and years.
was born in Canada and am now near fifty years Of
age.
HE COMMITS SUICIDE.
Comstock in the flush OF his wealth in "clams'
had ambition TO become merchant. aud invested
considerable money in the usual OUTFIT of store
embracing everything Of human wants and con-
venience from lightning whiskey to pick handle.
He gave unlimited credit. and was popular with his
customers. His goods rapidly diminished. aud his
treasury empty. In tit of disgust he resolved
to quit merchandizing-it not his forte-and
what the whites had not taken he hastily distributed
among the Indians and closed his doors Some time
after this he went to Montana Territory-prospect-
ing agan-and during his stay there wrote the letter
from which have extracted. Though satisfied with
settled him; he got crazy and ended his days by
putting pistol bullet through his head.
CHRISTENING VIRGINIA
companion story to the naming of the great ore
body is that of the christening of the chief city of
the State. and i here contributed by one who was
among its nrst settiers:--
Among the many characters with whom became
acquainted in the early days Of Washoe "old Vir
pinny," he called. What his real name was
never took the trouble TO inquire. when you spoke
OF .'0ld Nirginny every one knew whom you meant
and that was enough. ..Old virginny' was great adj
nirer of enterprise. and wnen building my first miI
he frequently down from Virginia City. and
wond nang around dropping now and then com
plimentary remark, and, as contrast OF What the
past had been and the future ike to be- would
tell story or his early trials. Had noted them
all down then they would now. be very interes ting
Perhaps you do not know how Virginia City received
its name. have the following from .'oid yirginny
himself
Well said he. "AIcIaughlin. Comstock and one
other aud my self nad been working mp Spanish
rayine and got out OF everything eat So one day
concluded TO take trip TO Chinatown near where
silver City stands. down Gold canyon, where
there trading post. We were very hungry
wien we started and knowing we must have a p,eal
before getting back, took coffee pot and frying
pan with Us. Getting along down below. where now
Gold Hill is. Pat espicd a lonely crow, and
made mp minds 20 capture him, which we did.
We then built fre and after pucEing his feathers.
crammcd him into the coffee pot. and think the meal
we made that old black the best one
ever We all reshed IT. and it made the balance
OF journey down the canyon quite easy. Al the
trading post we laid in our -four. coffee bacon and
beans and started 10 Virginia. 1t not Virginia
then, but silver CITY. ComstocK called IL silver city,
but others said IL should be called Virginia city,
after Well We laid in. among other things.
some whskey-we all had liking for
whiskey, and going back, 1ightcned up all the It.
ties except one, that held to. Going along
got into dispute about the of the conten-
plated city-ali Of us a littio sprung. The dispute
waxing when uuIncky boulder hap
pencd 10 be in my way, and over IL stumbled and
away went the bottle. whiskey an1 /. That settled
the question There something omfnous about
il and the place WAS baptized Virginia city"