The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-06-17
NEgADA'S FIRST NUGGET.
HOW HER FIRST PIECE OF GOLD WAS DUG
OUT WITH a BUTCHER KNIFE.

Alta California: An interesting cor
respondence has lately passed between
Elliott Lord, of the United States geol-
ogieal survey, and John Orr, the first
discoverer of gold in Nevada. In con
yersation with Mr. Orr, day or two ago,
he stated the facts relating to the diseoy-
cry. He started with large train to
come across the plains in 1919. Unusu-
ally severe weather was encountered, the
roads We're bad and they We're compelled
70 spend the winter at Salt Lake. He
left for California on the first wagon train
from Salt Lake in the spring of1S50, but
the desert was not crossed until the last
of May, because of high waters, and the
fact that their road had to be cut through
the snow until the Humboldt was reach
ed. Orr had 4 partner named Nick Kel-
~, after whom Kelly's Ravinc is named,
and in the company was also one William
Prouse, now living IN North City, about
forty miles southeast of Salt Lake.
Prouse had worked in mines in this
State, before gold was discovered in
Coloma, and wN good prospector.
One early day of May. 1850. the train
stopped on the edge Of what is now
known as Gold Canyon, near the Carson
river, to let the animals feed on some
bunch grass found growing among the
sage brush. Prouse at noontime took Il
milk-pan, and, going down to the gulch,
began washing dirt, III few minutes get
ting color to the value of a few cents.
Orr then named the place Gold Canyon,
still retained. Orr was keeping a rude
chart of the country travelled over, taking
bearings only north and south, and esti
mating the distances travelled every day.
Gold Canyon was marked on the chart,
which was lost by Mr.. Orr in 1855, while
returning east to be married. The train
soon after resumed travel, going to the
head Of the Carson Valley. There was
met party Of seven, who had left the
train at the Sink of the Humboldt, in
tending to go III advance to California
and select good locations for the remaind-
er of the party. They had been unable
to cross the country, and had been lost
in the mountains four or five days, IN
able to find the divide to Han8town, and
seeking Carson to recuperate. 4 stay in
Carson for three weeks followed, when
Orr, Kelly and several others returned to
Gold Canyon and resumed prospecting.
Kelly and Orr went up the canyon until
a little fork was reached, when work was
begun. The party had few tools, and
Orr had nothing but butcher-knife.
While Kelly was working Orr noticed
a narrow place at the fork, where the
water barely covered q slab Of slate-rock.
Idly he examined it, and noticing a small
creyice near the edge, drove the butcher
knife into it breaking out Il pie2s. The
water running oyer ii washed away the
underlying dirt, and in a few seconds
Orr discovered a golden nugget where
the rock had covered. 1t was quickly
removed and afterward found TO weigh
$8. %. This vas on the 1st Of June, 1850,
nearly thirty years ago. Prospecting
was continued, and though gold dust
was found in several places throughout
the canyon, Crr's was the only nugget
found. The party lacked tools and pro-
visions, and being bent on reaching Cali
fornia, abandoned the canyon, and arriv-
ed at Leek Spring July 4th, 1850. Orr
offered the nugget to Kelly, who refused
to accept it, and as it was the first piece
of gold he had ever dug, Orr for q few
years kept it as . souvenir on that &C.
count. Of late years inquiry rs to the
first discovery of gold in Nevada. and
the settlement OF the d;;,scoverv upon Mr..
otE an. =. MS nugget, have induced him to
state that the nugget is not for sale, nor
viii it be donated to any museum. He
has four grown sons, and will keep it for
them, to be passed down as an heirloom.
Mr.. Lord writes that the survey in their
contemplated work viii acknowledge the
first discovery, as stated above.