The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1908-03-14
FIRST HOSTING
EQUIPMENT THAT REACHED
RAWHlDG and SGT UP FOR
QUEEN reg emit COM RANy

for his veracity throughout California
and every mining camp in Nevada. The
original discovery of auriferous ore
must be credited to James Murray, a
prospector, but the development OF that
rich camp is due to a casual meeting
of Murray and ]. E. Kerr in the smoker
of a train and the passing of a cigar.
This happened but a few short months
ago. at a time when Rawhide was an
unknown, barren waste, and its only
occupants were Murray and one or two
of his associates. The offering of a
cigar in the smoking car evidently was
the initial step which led to the develop
ment of the richest mining region or
Nevada. the state which is pouring out
its millions of gold each month, and
considered the most ample treasure
trove of the present age.
James Murray, or, as he is Familiarity
known to every miner and prospector on
the Pacific slope, Jim Murray, is the
owner of Murray Hill, a group of rich
mines in Rawhide. The story OF the
meeting and the subsequent development
and rise of Rawhide is told by J. Z.
Kerr, a prominent mining man of san
Francisco and Rawhide. The facts OF
the rapid rise and development of Raw
hide as told by Kerr are known to all
mining men, East and West, on the
American continent, and the origin and
subsequent developments will 1urnlsh
interesting reading to all interested in
mines and mining.
Being pressed, Kerr consented, and
told the following story, in a modest
way, without establishment of any
kind, of his meeting Jim Murray, and
what came of it,: TT was on the tram
from Goldfeld bound for San Francisco.
l was riding in the smoker. Near me
sat an old Irishman smoking a pipe.
His pipe and tobacco were both very
loud, filling the atmosphere in the
coach with vile fumes. To abate the
nuisance without offending a fellow pas
senger l offered him one of my Havanas'
the best that is to be had in Goldfield.
He accepted, consigned the offensive
pipe to his pocket. lighted the cigar ana
opened conversation. AS the train sped
On aeon loo rp hic nonoa and OCcuDa-
tlon. By the time the train reached
Schurz, a railway station twenty miles
from Rawhide, l had learned that my
new found friend from the Emerald
Isle was a prospector of more than
twenty-five years experience in the most
prominent mining camps on the slope
and that the country in which his latest
prospects are located Is the most highly
mineralized section of the country ne
mad ever seen. During the conversation
l mad told him that I was an operator
IN mines and mineral properties, and ne
urged and pleaded with me to leave the
Train at Schurz and go with him to his
mines, promising to slow me the great
est ore discovery the world had ever
Aho"h and a feast to the eyes FAMILIAR
with mining properties. l was thor
oughiy impressed with what Murray told
me about his rich find. for his talk pore
.he stamp of truth and sincerity, and
ne was certainly well informed. Schurz
was his destination, but l could not com
piy with his urgent request to accom-
pahy him. much as l desired. because
VI urgent business which demanded my
presence elsewhere.
! promised him. however. that !
"ouid return in three days. / attended
" the most urgent affairs I a on
hand' and took the first train l couio
.a'ch' and. accompanied by H. II. Hun
YER the noted mining engineer OF Call
iorhia and Nevada mining regions. spec
" 10 the station where Murray and
nau parted. Arriving at Schurz. We
ouhd Murray awaiting me at the depo'
~ NJ together we went to the mines
na' was last May. and at that time
.'e was not a house. a human haoi
on' not even a tent. in what Is no"
"h as Rawhide. the richest. liveli
- ana most prosperous mining CAM
an Nevada. with 5000 inhabitanti
-aa - 40 "