Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-22
LETTER.

= CpuEl IOE AAOHAW U91H8t8-A m&U&m
o DistinctiOn-The 'sBell.Mule''
OF the Republican Party-Death
Of James McCeIe.
AUSTIN, New, June 20, 1879.
EDITOR SENTINEL: At intervals ever
since the disastrous cloudburst Of last
August, our townsfolk have been. erecting
barriers for the better protection Of life
and property in case Of q recurrence Of
that calamitous event. There is scarcely o
stone front on Main street but has its doors
and windows arranged with movable barri-
cades to prevent the ingress Of the prop
erty-destroying foods; also, in addition to
the aboye-named economical and sensible
~preventives, most all Of the awnings are
fitted up in such al ingenious manner as
to allow the posts, by a slight pressure, to
be moved out by the flood, while the avn
ing above remains intact. To a great cx-
tent Austinites have benefited by their sad
experience Of last year, and are much bet
ter prepared to fight the ~cloudburst season
than ever before. In one respect, how
ever, our city fathers have failed to dis
play that good sense and judgment which
they have always been credited with Dos
sessing, and that is RS regards the grading
of the cente Of Main street. Immediately
after the flood last year there was strong
talk Of immediate action being taken to so
reduce the center Of that street as to fur
nish q sufficient channel for the passage OF
the torrent, and in this way save the bust
mesa fronts for the entire length of Main
street, the only avenue that has ever suf-
fered materially from the onset Of the
emptying clouds. As yet, however, no de-
cided move has been made in that direc-
ton, and to-day Main street. instead Of be-
ing lessened, is p~erceptibly elevated to what
it was at the time we were last visited by
our most destructive element. On the
Afternoon Of Thursday, the 18th, we had
an extremely severe rain storm; the water
flowed quite copiously down its old channel
on Main street. and the side streets fed the
center so extensively that the habitues on
either side Of the line of action were very
considerably alarmed. Barriers were placed
in position, and although it was con-
coded to be eaily for a flood. there were
very few persons who failed to express
it az their opinion, that the threatening as
poet Of the sky was equally as portentous
as had ever been Witnessed, az a forerun-
ner of any OF our previous calamitics. For
tunately, however, after an hours conflict,
the elements subsidized, and no material
damage was sustained as far as could be
ascertainod.
The death Of our highly esteemed towns
man, the late j. H. Burgess, was the signal
for a rush for distinction. and the vacancy
in the Board of County Commissioners
tlong term), OF Lander county, which po-
sition he has previously filed for one term
in an acceptable and honorable manner +;
and to which Office he was again elected
last November. The aspirants to the Office
were; first. G. II. W. Crockett; then came
Tom. w. Triplett, next Allen A. Curtis,
and last, and probably least, Charles Steb-
bins. l might say in explanation that Mr..
Curtis could hardly have been termed an
ofice-seeker; at any rate his taking posi-
ton in the field was brought about chiefly
through the earnest request Of very many
OF our most prominent citizens; and he
only allowed himself to be considered an
applicant, with the understanding that he
intended to exercise his, by no means
dwarfish, charitable powers. and that the
compensations Of the office should be do
mated to the widow of the late j. H. Bur-
CESS. This magnanimons conclusion and
tuteutiou Ou tic part VI MI. CuTtfb Odu
very little effect, upon the firmness and
obduracy Of the other aspirants, this was
particularly noticeable in the case of
rriplett; he stuck and hung with the te-
nacity of a bulldog; and, through several
powerful ministers, who made it a business
necessity to be in Carson at hat time. and
interviewed i Exc lleacy. TT plett's com-
mission as County Commissioners for the
unexpired term was finally signed by the
Governor on last Tuesday, the 18th in
slant. The pomposity Of Tom over the
outcome, which he, however, endeavored
to smother, is only exceeded by that of the
would-be retained 'bell-mule" of the Re-
publican party in this county, General
Jack Williamson, when he avails himself
of an opportunity to sign himself "Chair-
man Lander County Central Committee. "
Upon the occasion of this remarkable Chi
biographical display. he never forgets to
doff his hat to himself, as much as to say
to those within cycling distance. PPM GEN.
eral Jack, the 'bell-mule' bold just see
where l am to-day? Somehow, though,
it seems to be the popular opinion that the
mules playful and kitten-like trickery will
not win for him in the future quite SO
much as it has in the past. Citizens OF
both parties join in the conclusion that
Allen A. Curtis was the man for the posi-
ton of County Commissioner, as they are
certain that his professions of charity as
to the donation Of the e~mOluments Of the
Office, were sincere aud honorable. But
then there are very few persons who are
aware of the amount Of leverage that was
brought to bear upon his Excellency in
this connection. Everything may have
been fair. square aud above board, but
il don't smCn like il
Mr.. Z. C. Darrell, our gentlemanly and
obligiug Express clerk, has been down
with a fever, but he is now reported as
approaching conyalescence. and
We hope to soon see Ed. about again and
able to don his blue shirt and corduroys
and sling bullion and smaller express mat
ter with his wonted sprightliness.
Doctor Wixom, whom in my last epistle
I mentioned as suffering from an aggra-
vated attack of rheumatism, is once more
atioat aud intends shortly to undertake his
European trip.
The announcement OF the death Of James
McCole, after a bi ief illness, on the morn
ing of the 10th instant, filled the hearts Of
his many friends to overlooking with I'M
feigned sorrow. He was a prince among
good men a quiet, ~large-hearted miner.
| scarcely think we can offer any higher
friend han to say, ''As to honesty, the sun
ne'er outvied him ; as a friend, he was as
true as STEEL" "CRAlKEY."
POStDOneJ.