The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-16
From the New York Press.

There was recently buried in the pic
turesque Washoe valley of Nevada wom-
an whose life story is far stranger than
anything in fiction. She was Lady"
Bowers, widow of Sandy Bowers, one of
the pioneer m~illionaires of the golden west.
t1ef funeral was an impressive one, being
attended by many gr.zzled old miners.
their children and grandchildren, who had
been taught to revere the lame of the
woman many of the young generations
had never met.
The history of Lady" Bowers began
forty years ago. At that time John A.
MackaN was still in the d:ggings at Down
leVlile, where he married the widow Bry-
ant. mother of Princess Colonna; James
q. Fair was mining at Angela camp;
Flood and O'Brien were unknown IN the
financial world: John p. Jones was a
Calltoril1a sheriff, and former Senator
William M. Stewart was still a lawyer IN
small practice.
Mrs. Bowers was then the wife of n
Mormon, from whom she was divorced
when she met Sandy Bowers, a miner,
poor in riches, but wealthy in hopes. They
married and lived in a l.ttlc log hut, Sam
dS working in a nearby mine and his wife
dong washing for the camp. Between
them they managed to buy five feet apiece
IN a bit of property near Gold hill. This
property subsequently, became the scene
~ S'N " liS IlC SiIlkt IN llc west.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Bowers awakened II
day to find themselves m~ill.onaires.
Then the curious admixtures in their dis
positions cropped out. Both were VI
humble origin, and their newly ACQUIRED
wealth sent them to extremes of ~extrava-
gance and charity. They built a large
house, which was christened Bowers
MANSION" and the former washerwoman
~abrogated to herself the title of lady
without going to the trouble Of purchasing
a patent of nobility abroad.
Her Mansion Near Carson.
"Ihe mansion was built at the foot of
a high hill near Washoe lake, about ten
miles from Reno and six from Carson. the
state capital. The grounds were watered
by one of the warm springs which abound
IN Nevada. All the door knobs and hinges
OF the mouse were massive and of solid
silver. The doors were heavy carved wal
nut. and much Of the woodwork of the
rooms was brought from Scotland, Lady"
Bowers native country. What was then
q most imposing editice would not now
excite comment except for the extraya-
CANT use of silver bullion. Some idea of
the magnitude of the Undertaking NAV he
gained when it is remembered that 1t was
before railroad days and all the material
We're hauled TO that out-of-the-way place
by mules and oxen.
Priceless statuary and pictures adorned
the rooms, and III the large drawing room
was a bronze piano with mother-of-pearl
keys. The library was loaded with rare
books and curios, and Sandy denied his
wife nothing for which she expressed a
desire, and the more they cost the better
he liked it.
Like Children in a Toy Shop.
There was no arrogance in all this dis
play, nor in the assumption OF the title
Lady" by Mrs. covers. They were like
two children turned loose in a candy store
with permission to buy what
they wished. Though fond of glitter and
show eneir greatest happiness consisted in
doing good to their less fortunate neigh
bors. Sickness and distress were eagerly
sought out and Mrs. Bowers, In the cold
est winter weather, might be seen wading
through the snow drifts of Bullion ravine
and Slippery gulch laden with packages
and bundles of good things, followed by
Sandy with medicines and wines for the
sick and d%isconsolate. Sandy was not a
drinking man and was said never to have
taken a drink Of spirits in his life. His
hospitality was ideal. He was cordial and
handed, always gentlemanly, though
. man Of most limited education. He WIS