Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-10-24
A DESERTED MANSION.
now SANDY BowERs' OLD HOUSE IS GOING TO
DscAY-rHB DEPARTED GLoRIEs OF
ONCE FAMOUS RESORT

famous resort Bowers Mansion used to be in
the dash times some fifteen years ago. San
dy Bowers made some lucky turns in Grown
Point aad Belcher. and almost before he
knew it, was worth cool million, and some
say more. He believed that money was made
to use and SO purchased some property near
Washoe Lake and built his mansion. It was
by far the most pretsntious dwelling that had
ever been thought Of in Nevada; and when
people saw the broad and solid masonry go.
ing up, they wondered if it would net bank
rupt its builder. After the house was finish.
ed, the Bowers went to Europe for upholst-
cry and furniture The house cost about
500, 600 to build and the furniture cost -
much moro. II was . simple proposition
with Bowers to have everything in sight land
d the expense" He had about him. some
bad advisers in these days and they led him
into all sorts Of, reckless extravaganza.
APoPULAR RESORT.
He was opcnhearted and liberal as the day,
and the Mansion become favorite resort.
He was never happier than when he had a
big crowd dancing IN his parlors and drinking
his champagne. He gave grand suppers.
balls and receptions, and the bigger the crowd
the better he liked it. This sort of thing
went on for years, and presently Bowers
reached the bottom of his sack. Gradually
the property passed out of his hands, it went
little by little but 1t went all the same and
finally Sandy Bowers died in poverty and left
a widow known as the "Washoe Seeress;". a
geod, kind hearted, genial old lady who makes
a living by revealing the future, and is looked
upon as wonderful medium by the spirit
uasts. After his death the glories of the
Mansion departed, and at the present time
it is uninhabited.
VISIT TO THE SPOT.
a few Sundays ago an APPEAL reporter Wis
tied the place. The gate was tied up and the
unbroken road showed tina: no carriages had
driven through it for many day. A stroll
over the grounds showed that they were real |
ly deserted by everything except the birds
and jack rabbits. The dancing hall was empty
and the old bath house supplied with water
IOul tu0 udO UCOA tutuCN iuto q |
tort of hostlerie for the vayfaring t-amps,
who, at the approach of footsteps crawled out
md betook themselves to the hills. The trees
40 longer pruned or cared for, had begin to
assume the form and look of the natural pro-
lnc,ion, and called to mind the lines from
Hoods Haunted House;
'The very yev Formally had trained
To such rigid pyrAmdal stature,
For want OF trimming, had almost regained
The ruggedness of nature"
The fountain which in better days had sent
is jet of silver high in air, and showered its
pray upon the grass when the wind was high,
lad evidently not been in state of activity
or years. The upper basin was as dry as
imekiln, and the lower one was in but little
,etter condition.
The fountain was adry-neglect. and time
Had marred the work of artisan aud mason.
The efts and croaking frogs begAt of slime,
Sprawled in the ruined basin.
At the approach of the scribe a number of
he last named croaked lugubrious acknowl-
dgement, which, if the language Of reptiles
means anything, was palpable hint to take
walk. A black snake lay coiled on the edge
# the masonry. Unabashed by human pres
nee, he continued basking in the sun, and
vore the air of party who knew his rights.
lizards darted in and out Of the crevices of l
he stones; and mottled toads with bellies of
ldermanic pattern. sweated and sweltered in {
he grass the growth Of which No lawn NOW {
r had ever worried. Il
THE HOUSE {
The house had kept pace with the premises 1
a the matter of decaying The doors were {
II nailed up; and any one stepping on the S
orch would wager any amount that tho build.
lg was empty. Each tread was multiplied &
1to score of echoes which only empty hous- I
. respond to. peep through the windows
howed nothing but uncarpeted floors. bare t
als and ghas'iy white ceilings. G
The cent,sdc along the threshold crept, q
The eobweb hung across n may tange. Ic
And in its winding sheet tina magcot slop..
In every nook and angle. i
At this point Heod would have paused had S
e boen "dong' Bowers Mansion. He 9
ould have slowed away his note book. pack v
away mis- rhyming materials in valise. t
I'd turned his old Pegasus out to grass with a
slap on the flank. No heraldic banners bla-
med with lions rampant orducal crowns or bar
nisters hung upon the walls, no tattered bat y
0 flags, whose rents were their glory, aud
hose every scar and crease was enriched
ith the memory of heroic advance and gal. d
nj roeistauca ,,non fields Of blood and yalor |