The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1908-04-25
Fought for His Claim.

For forty-eight hours Edward Miller
held the fort at what Is now regarded
As one Of the richest properties ever
discovered In Nevada against band OF
indolent, selfish interlopers, says the
Pacific Miner. The property is locat-
ed at Rawhide, and Miller. in his fight
with the would-be raiders, was en-
trenched behind garrison OF sacks of
the richest ore ever mined In that
camp Of sensational things. Some OF
the ore was valued at tens Of thous-
ands Of dollars per ton, and it is doubt
full II ever warrior was entrenched
behind bulwarks containing such
riches since warfare began; but at
the end Of the forty-eight hours, during
which time he held the mob In abey-
ance, all the while being without water
and provisions, the fearless and in
trepid Miller was compelled to hoist
the flag Of truce and capitulate to the
enemy.
There is material for lurid and
spectacular drama in this fight for the
control Of rich mineral property.
Miller, the man who held the fort until
overcome by exhaustion, is one Of the
hardy band of fearless prospectors
who have done so much for Nevada
during the past seven years. He be-
longs to that class which build cities
and states and which blazes the path
way Of civilization in the arid and for
bidding wastes.
With Ave Other men Miller located a
claim In what Is now known as the
famous Rawhide district. There was
not much on the surface to tndi-
cate the great value which the property
contained. In Nevada Nature has
placed the rich things down out OF
sight, compelling those who reach
them to give something In labor and
skill for what they will reap. Millers
partners worked a short while and
gave up the job as being a worthless
one. Miller was not so easily discour'
aged. He was a typical prospector
willing to work fer the success he felt
could be achieved.
He persevered when the rest gave VI
in disgust. lying awake nights in his
tent, sometimes wondering where the
next sack of -four or side OF bacon was
coming from. for he was not a man OF
means and his credit was not any toe
strong from long prospecting without
success. Miller never lost faith in hi:
Judgment, though. and just when th'
prospect appeared most dismal, sin
gle blast revealed more wealth in tn
claim than the hardy. courageous pros
pector had ever seen before at on
time.
Then the news that Miller. the lionel!
miner had struck 1t rich, sprea'
through the camp like wildfre. His In
dolent and worthless partners. the mel
who quit In disgust. saying there wa
nothing OF value in the claim. were tn
first to md their way to the wonderful
discovery. They wanted their share
the wealth which Miller had made pc.
sible by his courage and persIstenc,
but Miller could not see the matter Il
that light and held them In abcyanc
until, tired and exhausted, he wa
/ forced to capitulate.
Miller may get all that he is entitle'
. to. and the people and courts OF Ne
yada should see to 1t that he does. II
is one OF the men who have helped 4
make Nevada great in recent years, 10
he struggled and plodded along agains
great odds while his partners waste
their time In Incidence and id!encss.