Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-04

deserted noIe ne ana Pat worked a
long time, without getting better pay
than had been found by the former own
ers, and were about to give up and go to
the plaCers al DogtOwn, on the Walker
river. when they had the good fortune 10
cut into mass of decomPOsed black sui,
phuret of silver filled with glttering
spangles of free gold. The grand mining
discovery of the age was that moment
made-the great Comstock silver lode
was found!
Thompson informed me that he saw the
pit from which they were taking out the
silver and gold, on the ground OF the
Ophir Mining company, and II was at
the point where the first hole was dug,
in accordance with the directions given
by Mrs. Bowers. and the same that was
pointed out To him by the miners on Six
mile canyon, while the first owners were
still at work. Mr.. Thompson always as
serted, and doubtless firmly believed,
that TO Mrs. Bowers alone was due the
credit of the discovery of the Comstock
lode
Snow Shoe Thompson's account of the
virtues of the peep stone is borne out by
what is related Of 1t by Lyman Jones, an
old timer on Gold canyon, and the man
who built the first house in Virginia
City; whose wife was the first white
woman who lived in that town, and
whose daughter Ella was the first white
child seen in the place. Mr.. Jones says
he remembers TO have seen the peep stone
used by Mrs. Bowers when she was living
at JOhntown. He says that on one oc-
cRsion her peep stone was the means OF
procuring a Mexican most unmerci-
ful" whipping, and OF the recovery Of a
lot of stolen gold dust.
Joe Webb, a miner then working on
Gold canyon and a man well known to
all old time Nevadans-had a sack Of gold
dust stolen. The Washoe Seeress was
consulted, and in turn she consulted her
peep stone After looking into the stone
for a time, she said she could see the
thief She named a certain Mexican
working on the canyon, as the man who
had stolen the gold.
The "boys'-a lot of agreeable good
natured six footers-made a social call
on the Mexican named there were then
quite a number Of Mexicans on Gold can
yon), and gently informed him that he
was found out" and must disgorge. The
Mexican stoutly denied the theft. The
boys" however. told him that Mrs.
Bowers had seen him in her peep stone,
and the peep stone never lied. Looking
into the peep stone, she had seen him
"gobble the sack" and make of with it.
As the miraculous Highland pebble could
not lie, the Mexican was told that he
would be whipped until he produced the
sack of dust.
The boys" then went at the fellow,
and gave him terrible whipping. The
Mexican held ont bravely for a time, but
concluding that he would be killed If he
did not give up the gold, he finally
weakened" lie guided the party OF
lynChers to small cedar tree standing
on the banks OF the Nigger rsvine just
cast of where Silver City now stands;
and there, at the root of the tree, with
his own hands dug up the sack Of stolen
dust.
The gold recovered, the Mexican was
told that he must at once leave the camp.
He was not only willing, but quite anX-
ious TO go. He said he did not want TO
live in a place where they had such
d-d things" as they kept there in
Johntown." If still alive, the Mexican,
doubtless. has to this day wholesome
dread of all peep stones.-Dan De Quille
IN Overland Monthly.