Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-12

sharon's Election 20 thr senate and the
Great Fire IA virginia City.

e.
'i.' ND~ O- '-7
@al oio"n i 9lAs MINES Oh lLe se~-- 81.
o. the great C0mstocE lode, being ne r.
suit, BIZ Sharon's confidence ia the --s
h1irv oftba roinaa char 1s~-e --.-.st =.
.g-.ta ---.., ~. .....
- O'e ecu ~'-2" ''s
Aa1 oseh "oihea 'pf more t-4A -s- "a
entirely exploded tle idea t-at tee -fea'
Comstock mad petp-aG o.t The wonder
tul change from osr despair among
those who had invested their
cauital ia this s.ecta- X property
- that 81 urarsr.r Id rr. slerlty
immersed The PEOPLE @ the ia-r.e-.ulu
State vgir1 a sci -. 70 deep ana ever. -
ing gratitude " Mr. sre1 and they,
being o. generously o sd tlrn 0f
mind. were 4ucl lel So -ea All him. I'd
Culv awaited caarcl ~ e f~y into Irac-
tcsl or-raIlou their fish -. According
ST. 1874 j1e opportunity presented itself,
or Mare. 2 l-l. tHe term or the Hon,
william 81 stewart. $ Ba.l- II CnnEr--S
frtm t14 state q. Nevada, would expire,
and L.-.s. ature to elect his successor
would lat- o. be CHOSEN q the fall e.ec-
lIau 0i 1854. Dit sharon vas consulted
VITA reference o. desires t bis friends.
and be- expressed great satisfaction on
learning their intention and an entire
willingness to represent the State 10 the
=
legislature favorable 10 his ele-
Tati0n 20 a seat 10 that honorable body,
The political machine " a. accordin ely
set 10 motion anu a thorough canvass Of
The State made. Nominations OF men
favorable 20 the election Ci William
Sharon 10 the Senate were made in tle
several counties " tie stare. and the
political ne'd from Republican stand
point looked as .ere1- az May morning.
ID 3
upon the scene and challenged Mr.
sharon's uudIsputed route 90 a sent in tie
senate. That person was Gen. Thomas
Williams. another millionaire residing 10
LaAiQlnla. a- dld Dir. ~bAr'ns 'ut owning
n large interest ir tue com t0ck. Gen.
Williams had been "a distinguished mem
Der of the bar ln Nevada, and had long
cherished desire 20 occupy a seat in
the United states senate. Being
a sterling Democrat, be irdHlged HIM
self in the pleasing thought that hls
opportunity was now "a hand. lie
entered the campaign with a determl-
nation 90 capture the prize II IA h
ing would avail anything. ~ that sys-
TEN or canyassiBR be succeeded iu arOus-
ing BIT. sharon from the apathy ne was
manIiestog. and bis friends Impressed
upon him the necessity OF prompt action;
Otherwise the Democrats would capture
the Legislature and elect Gen. Williams.
He accordingly Enclosed the strings OF bis
sock" and the political cauldron did
tnen Don. In the large towns and mining
camps 10 the STATE an era 81 prosperity
ana NE enHded"hicn had Deen previously
Unknown u the Oldest lnna3 tenf. and as
TIE day Of election approached Sharon's
managers leit no stone uuturned which
would strengthen or promote bis cause.
ne cay o. election arrived, and the
openness WITH when votes were pur-
chased al -. $40. and even as high az $50
apiece caused dismay to seize the Demo
cratic ranks, ana they abandoned the con-
test. Inc entire republican ticket was
elected, involving an expenditure Of
t320,O0O, which Mr.. sharon promptly paid.
lie voting population of Nevada at that
date did not exceed 10000. This high
price for voters aay astonish the two-d0l-
lar voter aud scheming politician Of viz
tuous Colorado and cause them to reflect
how a man could expend that large
amount Of money Tor an office which paid
only 50, 900 for the term Of SIX years and
ever get DIS money back, but II can be
readily explained now easily Mr.. Sharon
ca y.
The Legislature met on the first Mon
DAY In January, 1875. Mr.. Sharon was
duly elected United states Senator for tie
term Of SIX years. a. d, feeling grateful
AD4 tue bOhDi conferred upon MIN, induced
a majority Of the members who voted for
him to put the money they had cOrruptly
received from him TO secure their election
into the stocks he was then manipulating.
Relying on his integrity Of purpose, they,
lamb-iike, entered the scheme IN the fond
nope Oh further enriching themselves, but,
alas. the pointers these wise Legislators
had received from their newly fledged
Senator proved their own destruction,
for, on the expiration Of the session
sixty days-Mr. Sharon had all the money
back expended on the election, with
large surplus besides. Indeed, 50 fearful
had the clinching process been applied 20
them that many had 10 seek him for
means 10 return 20 their homes.
During The interim Of Mr.. sharon's cleo
ton 10 the United States Senate and the
taxing ~ ms seat therein, Virginia City
was visited with a calamity which came
very near reducing him 70 absolute want.
That beautiful city, which stood almost
IN the clouds, near the summit OF Mount
Davidson, the pride OF the Nevadian and
glory Of the miner. In the month OF No
vember, 1873, was visited by fire which
destroyed buildings and property 10 the
value Of millions OF dollars. The origin Of
this FIRE resemhled IN some respect the
great FIRE In Chicago. In the latter case
the IRE was the result Of kick OF that
famed COW belonging to an humble wash
woman named O'Leary, while in the
former case II originated about $3.50
O'Clock, a. m, in little shanty on A
street, from the upsetting Of a burning