Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-11-29
Letter From G0ldfieh.
GoLDFIELD, NEVADA,
Nov. 10. 1906.

feel when he goes away on 8 long
Journey that he has left many friends
behind.
Reno is a well known town on the
Southern Pacific Railroad. From this
point it seems 10 me to be the begin
ming of the world. 1t large, -four.
ishiug town, after the manner of
places l had seen before. 1t is the
great supply point for the mining dis
tricts of this section of Nevada, and |
spent day there in comfortable ho-
tel, awaiting instructions as to the
rest of my journey. The place and
the people bear the stamp Of the ill.,
terest centered there. My orders came
to proceed by the fret train to Gold
field, and also telegram to the pro-
prietor of the hotel, signed John Rey'
nolds, to give me the best he had in
the house.
The distance from Reno to Gold
field is about 200 miles, and the train
for Goldfeld now comes through from
San Francisco, with Pullman cars and
every convenience except speed. 1t
was two hours late, and we were from
10 o'clock a. m. until after eleven at
night in reaching Goldfeld-a whole
days ride over the dusty plains and
sunburnt mountains through the stiff
ling alkali dust, with now and then
redeeming spot where water found It's
way to freshen the landscape little.
| confess that the beauties of nature
have always had peculiar charm for
me, the spreading plain as well as the
towering snow capped mountains, but
in travelling into the mining regions OF
Nevada by rail the sutfocatiDg dust,
stirred up by the train, keeps one too
busy trying to breathe to think OF
much else. But still | marked the
various contours and shades of these
bare volcanic mountains, and how old
Father Time had cut them into a
thousand shapes-some rough, lrreg-
ular and distinctive, and others as If
landscape artist had worked them
into symmetry and form.
At last we reach Tonopah, where
are located the first discoveries of gold
and silver which have made this sec
ton of Nevada famous; and taking
on an extra engine TO help climb the
heavy grades, the thirty miles to the
end of our journey are soon rolled Oft
and to me the most pleasant moment
of the past FIVE days and nights was
VIXEN the conductor announced that
we were nearing Goldfeld. Stepping
from the train, we received welcome
such as is only accorded by youth in
the full flush of vigorous health and
success to the old folks from home.
In that moment every discomfort OF
the journey vanished and to him, no
doubt, every hardship Of his desert
life had its recompense.
have met and conversed with a
number Of the first settlers of this
Camp, and while their experiences have
in them much that is ludicrous an
amusing from a distant view of three
and a half years, yet they were accom-
panied with many risks and hardshlps
such as only few of our people would
be willing to take and undergo, even
for gold. One was taking bath in
his tent, standing in tub, when
sudden blast of wind raised the tent
from Its pins and left him standing
solitary piece of statuary in the des-
ert. Another described to me his
Christmas two years ago. A party
started to investigate certain likely
section of the mountain. Dark came
on them just as they discovered anoth-
er party, likely on the same mission,
who had gone into camp. When you
remember that it is bitter cold here
in winter, this camping business is no
picnic. These parties soon came to-
gether in good fellowship. The one
shared their beans and bacon with
the other, who had two ham hook s
and six bottles of whiskey. They sat
about scanty fire and under the in
fuence of inspiring, bold John Bar.
leycorn," talked and sang until tired
nature came, then wrapped them
selves in their blankets for a sleep,
except one old stager, whom the party
informed me was still sitting by the fire
humming song when the daylight
reused them the next morning. Put
ting the remains of the ham bones and
beans into kettle, they prepared their
Christmas breakfast. The bottles were
all empty, except little in one, and
it was under discussion which one
should have it, when the old stager
spoke up. and said: "Boys, let us put
it in the coffee and we will all get
taste" A Shepherdstown boy was
one of this party.
For the first three days of our res.
idence in Goldfeld we were treated
to the winds of the desert and clouds
of dust, which penetrated even the
houses to such an extent as to make
it most disagreeable to a tender
foot. With it, however, the temper.
allure was pleasant, Since then it has
been getting colder, with slight SHOWS
which do not seem to melt, but just
disappear. Everything here is hun
Cry Tor moisture. Ii is so dry that
the cold does not penetrate and is not
felt except when accompanied by high
winds, which, however, l am told is
frequent.
l received through the mail this
morning a copy of the REGISTER. 1t
oon,o I,Ea Tho bonJeboHo IS a., ia