The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-08
A LAND OF MYSTERY.
The Weird Stretch of Country Tapped BY
the Neyada Southern Road.

The Weird Stretch of Country Tapped BY
the Nevada Southern Road.
One of the most peculiar and inter-
estiHg places on the American conti-
nent is just being opened up by a
Nevada railroad. The section lies
across the diagonal line that forms the
southern boundary of the state of Ne
vada, spreading into California and
reaching almost to the line of the At
lantic & Pacific railroad The old
'49-ers passed through this section dur
ing the California gold excitement
Many persisted from thirst, and the re-
mains of their wagons. such as the
tires and other iron parts, may be
found strewn about the valleys Near
Resting Springs man by the name of
Lee has a ranch, an Indian wife and
family of eight children. Not far from
there is what is believed to be the
famous Gunsight mine. One of the
pioneers, in passing through that sec
ton. picked up piece of lead almost
pure, and made a sight for his gun
with it. 1t was so rich that when he
told the story in civilization prospect
ors started out to locate it. The fact
of the similarity of all the valleys led
many astray and they persisted from
thirst His description of the spot APP
piled to SO many spots that no one has
ever been able to locate the mine, but
the present owners believe they have
found it.
The valley adjoining that which Is
the route of the Nevada Southern is
called Pahrump. 1t Is the principal
one of them all for gold and silver and
lead mines. Up in the valley, which is
one of those dry, barren sand gulches
between two perpendicular walls of
rock, is the Mesquite stamp mill On
one side is the keystone gold mine,
from which ninety thousand dollars
has been extracted. Up at the head of
the valley is the Montgomery gold dis
trict. Several miles above the mill are
the Pahrump springs where hardy
pioneer has settled in a beautiful little
oasis and reared family. Those wlfo
have visited the family say that away
off there. imprisoned by canyon walls
and sandy deserts. is the m ost beauti-
full woman in the west She Is one of
udtufe quceuS, anu Her ldiic lor
beauty is spreading quite rapidly since
grim civilization set his foot in the
Pahrump valley. The Pahrump valley
has not been noted for its civilization.
A band of renegade Indiasls-a mixture
of the Mojaves, Chingowayras and
Flutes, all of which inhabit that coun-
try-have settled in it. They once had
a chief, and when he died his son was
the candidate for the chieftainship
The tribe did not want him and would
not elect him, so they went without
head, but not for long. Tccopa stepped
into the Job and has since held 1t. and
is looked upon as the chief. Chief
Tecopa's attire consists of plug hat
and an old striped shirt. Once in
awhile he wears trousers but very sell
dom. When Mr.. Blake went there
Chief Tecopa said that he owned all
that country, and that his consent was
necessary before any railroads could be
built. His consent could be bought
with a plug hat and red striped shirt
These being promised over a pipe,
Tecopa allowed the white chief to pro-
ceed with his railroad. Denver Re
publican.