The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-09

With that one loud, rolling e1-
plosion. which echoed from rock
20 rock and from hill to hill the
Walker River Indian Reserva-
tion was thrown open.
For days prospectors, at the rate OF
about ESQ daily. had been arriving at
Hawthorne, Schurz and other points
near the line OF the reservation, wher6
they anxiously awaited the explosion
OF giant powder which was the signal
agreed upon FOR announcing that the
hour OF IL o'clock noon, Monday, oc-
tober %, had arrived, and that the rich
mineral lands OF the Walker River In
dian Reservation had now, by procIa-
nation or the President, passed from
the control OF the Indians and were
open TO entry and settlement by the
citizens OF the United States
Prospectors came in from all diree-
tions and in all sorts OF conveyances.
They came by train, by automobile, by
stage coach and by wagon; they came
on horseback, on muleback and on foot.
They even made the grand rush into
the reservation on the backs OF burros,
which. Grated like pet dogs, had been
shipped into Hawthorne by express.
Hen Of all ages, boys OF all ages and
rvonen.-here the least said about ages
the better-pscked their little outfits
and tramped to the sceno OF the ex-
element.
The hills were dotted with the tents
~E<-
called TentvilIe sprang UP at Haw-
thorne at the southern end OF the lake,
from which point the greatest rush was
made and which is the principal out
fitting station.
It was generally believed that the
Indians knew where many good mines
and prospects were to be found, and
each mans ambition was TO secure the
cooperation OF the redskins
Many q prospector squandered HIS
money in ways common to every new
mining camp and was at his wits end
10 rcplenish his stock.
A clever ruse which was an effective
means Of securing fresh funds was
adopted by several, and the willy pros
pectors kept the wires hot with mes
sages similar to the following: Have
got Indian. Send two hundred dollars
at once"
Accompanied by Hiss Evalyn Find
lay OF Hawthorne, I started Monday
forenoon for Cat Creek, at which point
it had been arranged to explode the
giant powder which was the signal for
the opening of the reservation.
The beautiful Walker Lake, smiling
and glistening in the warm sunshine,
never looked more bea utiful than on
this day as we slzirted its shores to
reach the designated point for the
firing CT the signal
"Jake" as Guard
We had rot proceeded far before the
way was blockaded by an Indian po-
iiceman, who rode his horse directly
across our path. and, selling the bride
rein, commanded US to halt
Our most persuasive entreaties were
futile: and, with an unanswerable
''Umphl" and a determined shake of
the head. the Indian refused 70 budgs
or 70 allow rs to proceed. We had
about given Up in despair. when
said:
Say. Jake. you see him box? Him
box al big giant powder. big noise,
big gun-yoa sabe? We take him box
him on, big noise. whoop, big signal.
open reservation-you sabe. Jake?"
Still Jake proved obdurate, but he
showed signs OF yielding.
I tackled him along another line.
Jake. you sabe spaper, newspaper.
lie write him story: big paper-you'
sabe Call, San Francisco Call? Me
write him big story, all reservation--a
you ssabe, Jake?r -
At that his stolid face showed that;
a ray Of understanding had penetrated
the solid breastworizs of his whisky
befuddled intelligence. and. with< an
''Umphf, guess him. all right, you sge,p,
he refined his horse 10 one side sand
gave US free right of way.
II was not generally known that the
twenty-five pounds OF HercEies giant
powder. with caps and fuse ~ as snugiy
stored away in our wagon.sand that we
had been deputized TO take it to Cat
Creek, where Robert z. Lovegroye. i'm
charge of the Indian reservation, and
the direct representative OF the Govern
rnent, was TO IRE II off.
The horse we drove was of the balIv
variety and frequently took it Into his
head to go backward instead OF for
ward.
After delivering the powder 10 the
deputy sheriff, who spread il on the
GROUND "a thaw out. We prepared to
posfte turn OF mind and concluded to
60 away back and sit down. Before
we eot him under control he barely
missed backing over the giant powder
TINS opening the reservation an hour
before schedule time and sending the
assembled prospectors weeks or years
shead OF time TO the beautiful city
where the streets are paved with gold
Instead Of starting them on post
haste chase to dig for the precious
metal IN the. rock-ribbed mountains of
the reservation
Mad Rush Begins
Exactly on the stroke Of II the sig
nal was fired by Mr.. Lovegrove. and
amid q cloud OF dust and with a wild
a,..--,L <ta mad rara for fhe rfcl7 r7fr1-