The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-07

exchanges By .FfElnntes
In the early days when what i now
the state, OF Nevada was Western Utah
d wcli- known character among the res
dents 81 Carson valley was William
Thorrington, man who was 50 for
tnnate in all his undertakings that he
was Familiarity known fnr and wide
among the valleys lying along the cast
ern base 81 the Sierra Nevada moan
tains as Lucky Bill" Although
Lucky Bill" owned fine ranch at
the upper end Of Carson valley, with
other outlying lands and many cattle.
he was good deal Of a sport and
hpent much 81 his time about tho sta
lions on the overland road during the
season when tho emigrants were
pouring In across the plains. lie de-
lighted In giving luck chance. and
II Is said that he captured his full share
Of the spoils 70 be found among the nm
sophisticated pilgrims from the mother
states
.McMariin's station was q favorite
place Of resort for Lucky Bill" and
other sports during the summer run 81
eastern Suckers A. this station was
situated on tho Carson river d the
mouth on Gold. canyon gwhere the town
Of Dayton now stands), III hnd along
which rich placer mines were then be-
Ind worked, d sport frequenting Il
had tM o strings 70 his bow could work
both the emigrant and the miner.
Lucky Bilia had with him AZ McMar-
Inns IN the spring and summer 81
1858 partner named Hugh Tnte, a
heightened sport well known IN the
mining camps Of California in the
days Of forty-nine, and the pair
captured good deal Of the dust dug BY
tho Gold canyon miners either az poker
or three-card monte. However, the
miners presently refused % bite nj
monte, and poker was then the main
dependence Of Bill and Tate until an
emigrant train rolled in. Then at once
out came three-card monte in NIL It's
glory.
As the emigrants arrived at McMar-.
Inns fresh from the tolls and ter
rors Of the great Humboldt desert they
generally halted there few dnyssto
rest, recruit their stock, do washing,
bake bread, mend harness, repair
wagons and otherwise prepare for tho
last grand effort before rolling into the
land of gold--the crossing Of the Sierra
Nevada range, seen looming up some
twenty miles to tho westward. When
"Lueky Bill and his partner found
good pickings" In big emigrant
train they frequently followed II 10 tho
base Of tho Sierras, working their
games ut each camping place. Ono Of
these camping places WINS Eagle ranch
tnow Kings ranchl, near where Carson
City now stands.
On one occasion Lucky Billn was at
Eagle ranch at timc when big emil
grant train from Illinois was campcd
there. poker game had been ruin
ming in which Bill had taken hand
with his usual good lucik. Presently
nome excitement started that attracted
the attention Of the players and broke
mp tho game. Bill got up and rushed
away, leaving upon the table q stack
Of gold dust and his pocketbook, com
tanning valuable papers and a consider
able amount Of money.
An hour later Lucky BilE' missed
his valuables and returned to the table
10 look for them, but both dust and
pocletbook had vanished AZ soon as
he made known his loss the cry of; "a
thief In campir was raised, and there
was big excitement. but there was
no clew to tho thief no particular per-
aon was suspected. and SO nothing was
done in tho matter further than 70 ut
. ter threats Of hanging the thief in case
of his being found, that being then the
penalty in california for such a crime
Two or three days passed without
anything being heard Of Lucky Bill's''
poc<etbook and gold dust when boy
about sixteen years Of age belonging
to tho Illinois train came to Eagle
ranch and informed parties there that
Dntchman Of the train, travelling with
. DR. Pinigre, had shown him pocket
book and asked him to read some
papers. not being able to read writing
himself. The boy said that In looking
pver the papers he had seen Thorring-
TONS name on several of them.
At this time there were no courts or
officials Of any kind In western Utah,
Carson county having been dismcm-
bered and al its, records removed 10
Salt Lake City. therefore the people
were Flaw unto themselves" when
occasion required. This being the case,
the people about the station called a
meeting and appointed w, s. Cooke,
now justice Of the peace in Virginia
City, .'alcalde 4
Men were sent TO the train to bring
In the Dutchman, the boy being taken
along to point him out, DR.. Pinigre
was. greatly astonished at seeing his
4 man arrested on charge Of theft and
4 would not believe he had taken the
missing valuables The doctor and Q
great crowd from the Illinois train
went up to the station with the Dutch
man and the settlers who had him in
charge, all curious 10 see what would
be done BY the impromptu court.
The alcalde held his court In the
open air, aud as soon as the prisonei
was brought before him ordered him t.
be searched. On his1person were found
both the pocketbook and the sack 81
gold dust The yaluabies were identi
fed BY Lucky BilIr as being his
property. Bill found the dust intact
but some Of the money was missing
and also number Of valuable papers
among others note for 81. 500 on par
ties Ia California
The Dutchman made clean breast
Of It He said that seeing the pocket
book and purse lying forgotten on tht
table hc had taken them Also ht
acknowledged that he had torn up ans