The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-06-28
A PoOl and his Money.

the Carson Appeal, viii recall
what a famous resort Bowers
Mansion used to be IN the flush
times, some fifteen years ago.
Sandy Bowers made some lucky
turns in Grown Point and Belcher,
and, almost before he knew it,
was worth q cool million, and
some say more. lie believed that
money was made to use, and 80
purchased some property near
Washoe lake, and built his man
sion. II was by far the most pre-
tentious dwelling that ever had
been thought of in Nevada, and
when people saw the broad and
solid masonry going up they won
dered il 1t would not bankrupt its
builder. After the house was fin
'ished, Bowers went to Europe for
upholstery and furniture. The
house cost about 100000 to
build, and the furniture cost about
as much more. II was u simple
proposition with Bowers TO have
everything in sight, regardless Of
expense. He had about him some |
bad advisers In those days, and
they led him to all sorts Of extrav.
agance. lie was opcn-hcarted and
liberal as the day, and the mansion
became a favorite resort. lie was
never happier than when he had a
big crowd dancing in his parlors,
and drinking his champagne. lie
gave grand suppers, balls and re.
ceptions, and the bigger the crowd
the better he liked 1t.
This sort Of thing went on for
years, and presently Bowers reach.
ed the bottom Of his sack. Grad.
ually the property passed out Of
his hands. 1t went little by little,
but II went all the Same, nnd nual.
ly Sandy Bowers died In poverty
and left q widow known as the
"Washoe Seercss," good, kind
hearted, genial old lady, who
makes living by revealing the
future, and is looked upon as q
wonderful medium by the Spiritu-
alists. After his death, the glo-
ries Of the mansion departed, and
at the present time 1t is uninhab-
tied.
A reporter visited the place not
q great while ago. The gate was
tiod up, and tho unbroken road
showed that no carriages had
been driven through 1t for many
q day. A stroll over the ground
showed that they were really do
serted by everything except the
birds and jack.rabbits. The dan
cing-hall was empty, and the old
bath.housc, supplied with water
from the hot springs, had beer
turned into q sort Of hosiery b,
wayfaring tramps, who, at the ap
proach Of foot steps, crawlcd on
and betook themselves to thu
hills.
A rattlesnake lay coilcd on th'
. edge Of the masonry. Unabashe'
/. by human presence, he continued
basking In the sun, and wore tn
+ air Of party who knew his rights
0 Lizards dartcd In and out Of th
}. crcvices of the stones, and moi
4 tied toads, with bellies Of alder
= manic patterns, sweated and swc
9 tered In the grass, the growth Q
l. which no lawn. mower had eve
u worried. The house had kcT
/, pace with the premises In the ma
Q ter Of decaying. The doors wer
i all nailed up, and any one steppin
on the porch would wager an
II amount that the building was eml
9 ty. Each tread was multiplied ii
I, to a score Of echoes which onl
10 empty houses responded to.
.. peep through the windows shove
nothing but unexpected floor
d bare walls and ghostly white cei
70 ings. Bowers had built a hs
70 pond when he was flush. and, nc
forgetting that scenery was SOM
Q thing, placed an island in the Gel
N ter. This was covered with o d.
y. lightful growth of willows. whic
r, swept the water with truly pictu
,f esque effect. The fish, snakes an
IN turtles held possession of thi
1t spot, aud seemed oblivious of II
10 trusion.