The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1909-08-21
EARLY DAY EUREKA HISTORY
The Richmond Co. Then Shipped
Its Bullion at the Rate of
$1,000 900 a Month

ONsAA
the early history of Eureka:
Like a leaf torn from the pages of the
history Of Nevada. and recalling wildly
the halcyon days Of the old mining
camp Of Eureka. that is now experience.
ing a revival aud whence will be sent to
the Mining Congress a wonderful col.
lection OF rich ores, is a little book that
lies on q desk through the courtesy of
AL Pape. a well known travelling man
OF San Francisco. The book is an old.
faded Wells. Fargo & Co. express re.
ceipt book, its first date being Eureka,
May %. 1885," the last date in the book,
July 81, 1876 1t is q record OF bull.
lion shipments as receipted for by
Cooper" the Wells, Fargo agent at
Eureka In 10. and sent out from the old
Richmond Silver Mining Company.
Some time ago Mr.. Pape visited the
old Richmond mine, and in c~uriously
looking about the property in one of the
old office buildings kicked aside a pile OF
rubbish. The pile contained four little
books. about six inches in length by three
In width, and he picked up one Of them
out OF curiosity. One proved to be an
express receipt book containing a record
of the shipments Of the old Richmond
for about three months Of the year 1875.
the other three books showing a lead
output for six months of s35. 000. 900, this
being In the year 1870. Mr.. Pape was
at once impressed with the fact that
while the present residents Of Nevada
have heard much OF the output Of some
Of the old mines of the State. few Of them
have had an opportunity to check up the
actual production figures. The books
supplied that want. and the record there
written was Of such interest that Mr..
Pape sent the three lead record books to
the Nevada Historical Bureau. and the
other he will place on exhibition at vari-
Gus points. 1t will probably be with the
Eureka exhibit in the Mineral Palace, to
help remind Of the past greatness of the
famous old camp.
A Stream of Bullion
Some of the shipments recorded are
Of interest. and starting with the irst
receipt. dated May IS. 1875, they run
along in this manner:
"May IS. received of the Richmond
s. NJ. Co, 8 bars of bullion. valued at
$l2. 02s. 02. addressed Moritz Mayer. San
Francisco. May 90. 8 bars of bullion.
value $40. 500. 90; May %. 8 bars bullion.
value 81. 225. 81; May 80. 4 bars bullion,
value $7.453 oS; May 81, 6 bars bullion.
value $Ii .59i al; June 2. 8 bars bullion.
value s.. 348. So; June 8. 6 bars bullion,
value si4. 02i "a; June 0. A bars bullion.
value ss,032 0s."
Aud so on to the end OF the book.
July 81. 1875. the record runs. showing
that the mine was sending out bullion a
little more frequently than every other
day, and at the rate Of more than $780,
600 per month.
When one remembers that the power
drill was not in use those days. that all
mine equipment was crude as compared
with the machinery and tools of to-day.
that the waste from the mill of 1875 is
fair milling ore for the mill of to-day,
he can realize that the productive rec
ord Of Richmond. for instance, is not
very far eclipsed by that of any prop
erty in the country to-day.
Arouses Old Memories
For the "old timer" that little express
book will let down the food gates Of
memory. Perhaps some Of them will
the Wells Fargo agent at
Eureka during those times. q man who
accepted grave responsibility in caring
aud transporting a river Of silver
and gold across the desert wilds, and
whose identity is submerged in that mo-
signature Cooper" through
the pages of the book. Then there is
story revealed in the pages.
The first shipment of which record is
given was consigned TO Moritz Meyer.
San Francisco; the next few to Daniel
Meyer. San Francisco, and then the
on June s, suddenly change
to NJ. Meyer. New York. Is there Q
story Of frepzied stock manipulation
here. brother leagued against brother,
resulting in a sudden change Of the seat
control Of this startling wealth pro.
ducer from the shores Of the Pacific to
within the sound OF the murmur of the
of the Atlantic? Was there not
some excitement in Eureka, and on the
stock exchanges when it was noised
that the Richmond ON June s shipped
worth $l4. 900. and on the next
day followed it up with another ship
ment valued at over $1,000?
Those little books hold a golden key,
and pity it's that reposing with them in
a State museum cannot be companion
containing all the related stories
of wealth aud poverty. Of greed and
passion and charity aud self. sacrifice.
of hardships bravely endured. of hero-
ism and british cowardice-the story Of
a race Of men and women whose lives
and deeds shall be handed down in the
folk lore Of the West to generations yet
unborn.