Morris tribune., 1881-02-03
A Ruined Palace in Nevada.

From the Carson Appeal
All residents of Nevada will recall what
famous resort Bowers Mansion used to be
in the flush times some fifteen years ago
Sandy Bowers made some lucky turns il
Crown Point and Belcher, and almost be.
fore he knew it was worth cool million
and some say more. He believed that mon
ey was made to use, and so purchased some
property near Washoe Lake and built his
mansion. 1t was by far the most preten-
tious dwelling that had ever been thought
of in Nevada, and when people saw the
broad and solid masonry going up they
wondered if it would not bankrupt its build
er. After the house was finished the Bow
ers went to Europe for upholstery and
furniture. The house cost about 800, 00(
to build and the furniture about as much
more. 1t was simple proposition with
Bowers to have everythingin sight "and--
the expense. He had about him some bad
advisers in those days, and they led him in
to all sorts Of extravaganza. He was open
hearted and liberal as the day, and the man
sion became favorite resort. He was
dancingi in his parlers and drinking his cham
payne: He gave grand suppers, balls, and
receptions, and the bigger the crowd the
better he liked it,
This sort of things 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 it went all the same, and finally Sandy
Bowers died in poverty, and left widow
known as the "Washoe Scores, "a good kind
hearted, genial old lady, who makes liv-
ing by revealing the future, and is looked
upon as a wonderful medium by the Spirit
ulists. After his death the glories of the
mansion departed, and at the present time
it is uninhabited. z.
A few Sundays ago an Appeal reporter
visited the place. The gate was tied up,
and the unbroken road showed that no car
riages had driven through it for many day.
A stroll over the grounds showed that they
were really deserted by everything except
birds and jack rabbits. The dancing hall
was empty, and the old bath house supplied
with water from the hot springs, had been
turned into a sort of Hostelrie for the way
faring tramps who, at the approach of foot
steps, crawled out and betook themselves to
the hills. The fountain, which in bctte,
days had sent jets of silver high in the air,
and showered its spray upon the grass when
the wind was high had evidently not been
in state of activity for years. A black
snake lay coiled on the masonry. Una
Dashed by human presence, he continued
basking in the sun, and wore the air of q
party who knew his rights. Lizards darted
in and out of the crevices of the stones, and
mottled toads, with bellies of aldermanic
patterns, sweated and sweltered in the
grass, the growth of which no lawn mower
worried. The house had kept pace with
the premises in the matter of decaying.
The doors were all nailed up, and any one
stepping on the porch would wager any
amount that the building was empty. Each
tread was multiplied into score Of echoes
which only empty houses respond to. A
peep through the windows showed nothing
but unexpected floors, bare walls and ghast-
ly white ceilings. Bowers had built a fish
pond when he was flush, and not forgetting
that scenery was something placed an island
in The centre. This was covered with q
delightful growth of willows which swept
the water with truly picturesque effect.
The fish, snakes and turtles held possess
sion of this spot and seemed oblivious of
intrusion. The water was perfectly clear,
and from the bottom curious vegetable
growth was discernible, which was in it.
self a sufficient attraction to repay visit.
The weed was fine and green, and arose in
such heavy masses that half the pond was
filed with it.