The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-14

c@exf-zs~s
RETURN OF THE LOST.
cities Of the west, only to awake when the
white metal becomes a standard money
value and is rated with the precious yell
low gold.
Twas there a few days ago, the first time
since. March %, 1869 Entering the city
by way of the Virginia and Trucker rail-
road, passed up Taylor street and stood
on the corner of C street. What a picture
Of ruin the town presented as compared
with the hustle and hustle of prosperous
mining camp of % years before! L looked
long and earnestly up and down the thor
oughfare and gazed steadfastly upon the
home dotted slope of Mount Davidson.
Ny mind reverted to the farewell / had
taken years before, and the early picture
came upon me in a flood of youthful recol-
lectionS.
Old Time Activity.
The town was much smaller then, but
from a multitude of smokestacks rolled
clouds of somber hue, and each steam
spout pulled and roared out a miners
melody. Beneath the surface of the earth,
from whence rolled volumes of hot air
that condensed and fioated away in white
picks pounding the iron drills and tearing
away the rich ore from the vein of pay
rock.
Massive machinery, with ponderous
drivers, throbbed and groaned as the huge
steel cables raised or lowered group of
miners or a car of ore. Up and down the
ever gaping threats of hot shafts miners
and silver ebbed and flowed. Night and
ha nj
per annum were poured into Jle lap of the
United States to supply an Ever increas-
ing demand and millions of hungry
Threats. Through winter and summer
the earth was made to yawn and give up
her treasures to the tireless and never rest
ing men. 1 saw before me the stream of
vigorous miners coming and going in
shifts TO and from the hosting works.
How little the outside world knew of the
farewells they had taken with their wives
and families before entering the cages to
go into the dangerous depthsl
Many toiler in the earth after one of
these scenes never again saw the light of
day, and mangled body often came to the
surface only to be greeted by weeping
wife and a family of fatherless children.
The Social Aspect.
I remember so well the social aspect of
the thriving city. L recall so often the
good fellowship that existed between the
high and tho low. All sorts and manner
of men made money, and the So per day
miner was as happy in the possession of a
well provisioned cabin on the mountain
side as the millionaire superintendent in
his palatial house on the main street in
the best quarter of the city
The miners union was strong, and the
helping hand held forth to sufferers CON
tanned something moro than a warm
pressure.
All, that was the lifel We knew no
misery, no want, and the oppressed fam
fly was not deserted in misfortune No
miners widow was pointed out as poor
woman who had TO support herself by
endless drudgery." The union was there
70 help her.
The elections, however, were about the
same as elsewhere, and money. the ever
powerful exponent of most any principle.
was used more than the tongue in advo-
eating an issue.
Anecdote of Congressman Bland.
While 1 am telling something of the
early history of Virginia City it will
not be untimely 10 recall little political
story of the celebrated Richard Bland,
known in congress and throughout the
United States rs the author of the Bland
silver bill.
In 1864 Bland, then a resident OF Vir-
GINA City, announced himself candidate
for justice of the peace in Story county,
subject to the approval OF all the voters
IN sight Richard az that time was more
or less friendlywith a politician known as
one Jesse Pitzer, who, By the way. was
the authorized sack bearer of the Demo
cratic central committee.
As q counterbalance 70 Pitzer man
Of the name OF Dick Paddock appeared on
the political scene and announced that
be would clean out the Bland faction
shortly before election. Profanityo OF dis
tinctly western variety was INDUCED in
Guns were more or less part Of everyday
wearing apparel
At that period the vote buying system
was in vogue, and although not generally
looked upon as a scheme that should be
fostered as a good thing for the state il
nevertheless had large army OF devOtees.
With all this there was more or less real
objection 10 il among a certain class OF
people and unless ii was done with a Ger
tain amount Of secrecy the risk was great
and the penalties severe
Paddock. knowing that report Of this
KIND would inJure biand among the bet
ter element. Sp0sad the information that
Jesse Pir-cr had Appropriated $500 ont
OF the Democratic central committee
funds and th2J the same would u used
IL as sting - eiccc Dick Bland
Thu We - signal for some ComstocS
tT]ub'a. o.j Fi.zar. armed with a fou
SEot te--f --rted cunning for Pad
dos else meanwhile GcilEIis blsi
l. Lri -- former. Presently the two
oells.-Eo-l-> met II from, 81 Old Max Wal
Ier'S music hall on c street
Reach For the Hip Pocket.
Pitzer was in q single seat buggy, ana
Paddock was on fook