The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-31
FAMOUS. CAMP IS
IN HARD LINES
BuIIfrOg Was at One Time the
Greatest District in All
Nevada.
SCHWAB COULD NOT
PUT ORE IN GROUND
Fortunes Made and Lost Over
Night in Section Near
Death Valley.

Local people interested in the Bull
frog. New, district can hardly convince
themselves that the famous old camp Is
down and out This was among the hrsI
camps brought TO life during the resur-
rection period of the Sagebrush state.
following in turn the discovery of Cold
field lust as Goldfield followed ronopah
There were all indications desired ON
The surface TO make Rulifros one OF me
coming noted sold producing sections OF
the world. The surface was fairly paved
with gold but il failed 10 go down IN
commercial quantities. On hundred
different groups beautiful quartz fairy
peppered with the yellow metal coald
he seen outCropping on all sides Hun
dreds of thousan ndS OF dollars were spent
within few weeks for prospects, and
many fortunes have been expended since
ON futile development.
Town Was Built Up.
Railroads we're built across the deserts
To the heart OF the camp, and hand
some stone structures were erected
Banks, saloons gambling and dance
halls Hourished and waved great. En-
10 Rhyolite. built handsome home and
Office building, so certain was THIS noted
Nevada pioneer of the district and It's
future.
BuIfroe was discovered by Shorty"
Harris, and he called the first town Bull
frog owing he said. 10 the abundance
OF the frogs along tho Amargosa river.
Tho town Of Bulfroe did not last long
\ strong wind came along one night,
picked up the tents and carried them
around the point Of the mountain to a
small tent settlement known as Rhyo-
lite. The awakened inhabitants of Bull
frog followed their tents and remained 10
heip make Rhyoite great Nothing was
left in Bullfroe but huge piles OF beer
bottles and discarded tin cans.
Suit Case Was Bank,
The town of Rhyolite needed hank.
and a young fellow happened 10 land
I'm the town when the need was the great
est. His assets were a working knowl
edge of the banking business and dress
suit case filled with the usual extra sup
PLY of linens. That suit case became
Dnnk. and he began solving the money
s;rineency by accepting large checks
which no one could cash, issuing 10 the
owners his personal checks for smaller
amounts. These checks were readily ac-
cepted by everyone until the young
banker could secure a safe and coin.
Reports differ as 10 the amount of money
me secured on deposit while the suit case
was his only safe, but IT was close to
100000 in few weeks.
Fortunes Made and Lost,
During the heat CT the excitement sa-
looms began arriving from somew where
over the deserts. and within few hours
bar was rigged UP, piano and hddlcs
huge frcieh,ing wagons. roulette and faro
outfits were installed and the game was
on. Rhyolite was the boom camp OF the
state. IL was blisterne hot during the
summer and cold ana cheeress through
ou; tire winters. but many Salt I.akers
bravcly stuck TO their posts and for
tunes were made and lest over night.
Beer was the official drink OF the camp
Water was brought In from Beatty In
whisky barrels that had not been prop
erly cleaned, and by the time one re-
moved the unfortunate flies from the
LIQUID he was willing 20 restrict It's use
to washing purposes, II was a great old
camp. perhaps one OF the last which the
west VIII see with all the old fashioned
trimmings Of the true western mining
Gigglnes
Camp Lacks the Ore.
They say Bullfrog is down and ou; u
may come back. but il will mol be an
easy matter to Interest capital there
any more. Everyone was of the opinion
That when Schwab. the steel magnate,
purchased the Shoshone. the camp was
certain. But IL takes more than millions
and reputation 10 make a mine; 1t takes
ore,