The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-08-21
EARLY DAY TRAC-
fDY AT CARSON


Ghost Cities of the West in which
is mentioned some of the acts of "the
bad man. No mention is made of the
sIaying of Sheriff Blackburn by Bill
Mayfeld, in some respects the most
sensational homicide committed in the
early days. This tragic event occurred
in the ST. Nicholas saloon, Carson City,
about the first of December, 1861. |
have thought il strange that Mark
Twain in his book, Roughing 1t, =
makes no mention of it. He must have
been in Carson City at the time, or,
certainly during the exciting scenes
Immediately following. Mark had much
to say of Sam Brown and others, but
nothing of Bill Mayfeld; and Shinn,
in his .'Story of the Mine says moth
ing about this sad and unfortunate act
OF lawlessness.
By accident the writer happened to
re an eve witness. T say by accident,
| for | was not in the habit of frequent
| ing such places. As it would seem too
| bad for Bill to drop from sight and
memory and lose his place in history,
| shall try to write the events as | saw
them occur. NAV here state the diff
Guilty between Bill Mayfeld and Sheriff
blackburn was fair stand-up hight.
The sheriff was not acting in his oui-
cial capacity in an attempt TO arrest
a. will be seen further on.
Wells. Fargo & Co.'S bank was To-
Gated south of the Ormsby house three
or four doors: the st. Nicholas saloon
was located on the corner across the
street.. north from the Ormsby house,
the United States surveyor general $
office was located still further north,
in a frame building standing on the
west side of the street, as far north
a. where your postoffice now IS.
had been to spend the evening
with tbe assistant cashier of the bank
and had started homeward to the sur
vevor generals Office. which ] usually
made nv stopping place. In passing
the saloon two Young men came out
One of them made the remark, Let :
leave, they are both shooting cusses' .
This remark excited my attention and
| thought | would step in to see what
might be going on. ! had never peen
in the place. On entering, | observer
/ the bar stosa on the left side, the stove
ON the right--both in the front part OF
| the building. The room was large and
| the back part occupied by two billiard
tables. On entering, | first noticed the
billiard part of the saloon was well
filed with men, all standing and very
qiiet. II occurred to me this meant
4 mething unusual. | stepped behind
the stove, no one being there, and from
which point could better see.
7 noticed two men standing at the
corner of the billiard table nearest 70
lac, engaged in a lew conversation. A
murder had been committed in Cali
fornia and the murderer had escaped
into Nevada, and the Nevada officials,
as a matter of course, were on the
lookout for him.
The first remark I heard was made
by the one who afterwards proved to
he Mayfeld and was as follows: "If
won knew where he was YOU would be
fraid to arrest him. To which the
other in the controversy, who after
wards proved to be Sheriff Blackburn,
replied, "T would not be afraid TO ar
rest him, or to arrest you Mayfeld
immediately responded. "Do YOU think
am afraid of you. If you do, I will
show vou'' At the completion of the
remark. Afayfeld whipped back the
ShffI VI us SOidfCi > VNtIfVdts
drew his bowie, plunging it into the
officers breast. 1t NAV fairly be said
Mr. Blackburn saw what was coming
and was in the act of drawing his gun
the knife was the quickest.
Instantly every one in the house
rushed for an exit. I saw Mayfeld rush
cut at the front door. slowly followed
bv Blackburn with pistol in band. un-
steady in gait. his pistol weaving from
side to side, hut. fortunately. was not
discharged otherwise some one besides
Mayfield might have received it's con
tents
| Just in front of the bar close to it.
Blackburn fell dead. This all trans
pired within one minute after my en-
trance into the saloon.
Soon couple of men, both strangers
to me. came in and stood over the dead
man. loosenipo his garments. when I
saw the CHASTITY wound.
| Mavfeld made his escape that night
was not apprehended for a couple of
| days afterwards. Was found in n stable
| in a manger. covered with hav. and
was taken to prison.
| The prison consisted of small build
ing situated about half a block west
| Cf the middle of the west side of the
public plaza. Threats were made to res
ere him. in fact, it seemed to be seri-
ously intended. Strong gnards were
placed to defend the Jail II was SAID
the governor, James w. Nye. shoulder
ed his gun and took his shift with the
others. As soon as bossihle Mayfield
was taken to the penitentiary, down at
Abe Currv's stone quarry, there to
await trial Such are nv reeolleetions
of the staying of sheriff blackburn
WILLIAM EPLER.
County Survevcr Of Humboldt County
from 1891 to 1865. and member from
| Humboldt Of the first constitutional