The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-12-04
Daa,h d D. N. GaIger.

Or. Davidson M. Geiger net his hath
.ast Friday rs the result OF a shocking
accident. Shortly before nom Friday
nc went to the house OF j. 4. Ltidy,
lbout four miles east OF town, AMI Aoi
us saddle horse, saving lie was going
up to the Poieta mine on an errand.
About two O'Clock Ia the afternoon his
lorse came back sa1dIe1 but riderless.
As soon as MIR. Leidy got home lie
started out to sec what hal happened,
Ind drove up to the Poleta and back
without findIng him. AS it was by that
time long after dark he had to give up
the hunt until morning. Early Satur-
day morning Mr.. Leidy again started
out, and within half a mile OF Mr..
Geiger's cabin found the missing man
lying dead in the ROAD. From the indi-
cations il was obyioas that Mr.. Gei5er's
horse-a big animai-had taken fright
at a dead horse lying in the road,
and had shie1 SO suddenly that the
rider was thrown to tie ground and
dragged about fifty yards before his loot
came out OF the stirrup. His ri ght leg
was broken above the knee and a severe
confusion appeared OF his right temple.
He was buried Sunday, Rev. Nicola e
preached a short funeral sermon ut tila
Academy chapel.
DIR. Geiger had an eventful life. Born
in Angelica, Genesee county, New
York, in 1872, he took up the study OF
medicine at an early age. While yet II
young man he ranked as one of the
leading physicians OF New York city.
When the Mexican war broke out ht
went into the army, and served his en-
listed term, at the close settling in
Illinois, where he married. In 1852 he
came across the plains, his family going
by Panama. He engaged in mercian-
dising and mining in plumas county,
and in the Comstock excitement went
to Virginia City in 1859. In 1853 he
built the ia nous Geiger grade between
Virginia and Reno. This was the great
thoroughfare toa connection with the
overland roa | until tine V. Il Z. railroad
was built-and two of the V. d Il. en-
Virginia I'VE the grade. His
from this enterprise were said to be
81 800 a month for over ten years. In
the '70's he went into merchandising in
Wadsworth and Mason Valleys in 70
built a grade between Bridgeport and
Bodie, but this proved Il failure. In
1886 he came to this valley and located
a body of land east OF the river opposite
this town, and began the construction
of a canal. Owing to faulty surveys ii
great deal OF work WAS wasted before a
satisfactory course was adopted, and the
later ditch yet remains diminished. Ac-
customed to handling large sums OF
money in more prosperous times, Mr..
Geiger passed his last days in very re-
duced circumstances. He has received
a Mexican war pension OF $li a month.
He was an active member OF the Pres
| OtGtI idl u WiiiiC llNtiS III II
ginia. The surviving members OF his
family include his vile, who lives in
Virginia City three daughters, two OF
whom, Miss Irene Geiger and Mrs.
Mark Averill, reside in Virginia and
the third, Mrs. G.. L. Anderson, is in
New Whatcom, Washington and a son,
Chas. w. Geiger, of this place.-Inyo
Register.
The career of D. NJ. Geiger, which
ended in a little Mono county mining
town, is a type OF the lives of many pio-
ne9rs who dill yeoman's work in the
development of the Coast. The hazards
of legitimate mining are SO great that nc
man who has made a fortune in one
mine can tell whether he may not sink
it in another. Geiger did much to help
the working of the Comstock lode by
the road which still bears his name.
He was n man of great force, and though
he lost several big fortunes, he never
lost courage and self-respect. At che
time of his death he was manager OF a
great irrigation project which in a few
wears will make the desert blossom.