Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-04-30
BILLY"
A True Story Of Unrewarded Hero and Unknown
Philanthropist Of the Desert.
(Contributed.)


gorial courtiers of cloud reyeling in
a rich riot of gorgeous colorings,
was majestically retiring behind the
snow-capped peaks of the California
Sierras.
Here and there across the long
stretches of the desert valley arose
billow-like clouds of sand, stirred
into action by the patient toiling
feet of the animals of the many
homeward bound pack trains. and,
waited hither and thither by the re-
freshing evening breezes.
Like scouts on the TANKS of an
advancing army the dogs of the out
fits kept vigilant watch, ever and
anon, amid wild shouts of encour-
agement from their masters, giving
quick and energetic, but alas, always
unsuccessful, chase to some stray
jack rabbit, sitting in fancied Sc
curity beneath the sheltering sage
brush.
The frowning mountains in the
fast waning light, seemed very like
bands of restless spirits, ceaselessly
changing raiment from golden yell
low shot with bronze. to blue-gray,
to copper dark hued bronze with
here and there CLEAN of gold or
a shaft of carmine. then to an in
deseribably rich shade of green
blue bronze, till it would appear
their taste for wonderful colorings
being satiated, they don the sombre
black uniform of the silhoueted mid
night guardians of the plain.
1t was in the midst of such set
tings as this that, travel-stained and
weary, not so many years ago, there
came down from the mountain fast
nesses of Candelaria, to the Their
new mining camp of Tonopah, Ce
lestial, short of stature, bowed O.
back from the burdens of man,
years hard labor, but. with tn,
heavenly fire Of charity shining fortl
from his quiet almond eyes.
With truly oriental shrewdness ht
cast his eyes about for a good bust
ness location. and shortly, a suit
able place having been found. tn,
camp was richer by one "Chink'
restaurant; a restaurant that knew
not short change" and wherein, 1
the table appointments and servic,
were not of the Delmonican order
the stranger, be he miner or CAPT
, talist got his moneys worth; tn
food was well cooked and invariabl
clean, and, let me say in passin
that invariably clean" means some
thing in a new camp.
Tonopah prospered the mine
were rich and the prospects richer
from poverty to riches but steI
. a matter of twenty-four or seventy
two hours, and where but a fe'
short months before had been ban
: rem stretches of sagebrush. sprinkle
sand. and the only sound the CT
!. of the occasional coyote, there aros
in this desert valley, embelted b
grim. forbidding, jagged mountai
: peaks, the busy hum of a boomin
4 camp
; The roar of the constant blastin
e was as if heavy bombardment wa
4 In progress, by day the air was rel
! with the sound OF many hammer
e the rattle of the heavy wagons an
1 the crack of the mule-skinner's viii
! as with infinite skill and dexterit
d he guided his team of twenty null,
d around the most tortuous trails an
Z rounded generally on but tv
i, wheels. the all but impossible co
3 ners.
y BY night. the lurid glare of coun
q less gasoline torches were as
= many beacons to guide the wea
way of the prospector, foot-sor
y, returning from his hard days lab
under the burning sun of the desc
TO his Mecca, the nearest thirst pa
, Tor The click OF the roulette whe'
the occasional shrill cry keno
the rattle of the piano, the crack
notes of some poor WORKOUT co
cert hall artist. numbering the late
n popular ballad the blare Of I
e. dance hall trumpets. each sound
n the call of pleasure. In It's own Z
~ culiar way. 60 be waived aside
an accepted, according To the partlcul
,k personal bent of the individuals y
&c made Mp the crowds that swarm
!" the street.
~ Was noe the wealth ~ Mid
n. within the grasb Of every one vi
ae nat stocks going np bg leaps a
~ honnds twenty-five yes a huuds
be poiut a day Mon e,ekonlng ~
daily profits ~ The tens and ~
IA sNaa