The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-05-14


Detroit. Mich. and in 1866 left the east
and made his way TO the sawmills of
Santa Clara county. in California The
following year he was working with /.
the Central Pacific railroad. then build
ing through the Sierra Nevadas beyond 4
Sacramento. as he found that he could 4
make more money with an ak than /
with the tools of his own trade of /
blacksmithing. He followed the rail- T
road as far as Elko. New. when in 1865
he heard so much OF the silver ore
found at White Pine that he made up
his mind to try his luck in the mines /
AT this time the town of Elko had
just been started and consisted of two
tents. but as the excitement over the
White Pine mines increased. and since
all the Quitting was made at Elko.
this town grew fast. 1t was rather a
bad town. as many rough men stayed
there for a few days at a time on their
way to White Pine.
A Waterman was employed to guard
the goods being constantly unloaded
for shipment to White Pine. and the
first Waterman was a young man with
discretion and quick pistol. Since he !
was still living at last accounts his
name is withheld. While Mr. Gracey
was loa fing in the town he became well
acquainted with the Waterman. who
one night had a quarrel with wood
chopper over a card game and in the
fight the Waterman beat the woodchep-
per severely with gun.
A few evenings later the woodchop-
pers stormed the town two hundred
strong with the intention of getting"
their enemy. the Waterman. Sham
fights and noisy disturbances were
made. while shouts went up for the
Waterman to come and arrest the dis
turbers. The Waterman, sober and
grave. said to Mr.. Gracey: Il am not
afraid of them. but I would have no
show should l go out among them
openly, for there are nifty pistols ready
for me-"
However. as the noise continued until
actual shooting commenced the watch
man with two pistols appeared on the
scene where the crowd was the thick
est and promptly killed three men and
wounded several others.
The woodchoppers then ran for
their camp about two miles from Elko
and not enough of them were left to
carry the dead from the street and no
woodchopper would admit when ques-
toned the following day that he had
been in Elko for week.
Mr. Gracey arrived in White Pine in
due time and secured work at a saw
mill, where he remained from March to
August of 1868 while "grubstaking' a
Mr.. Cavence, who was prospecting in
the Highland district of Lincoln county.
Mr.. Cavence returned from prospect
ing the first of August with samples
rich in silver. and this, added to the
description of the country decided Mr.
Gracey to make the trip for himself
Buying an outfit for $3.50 the trip was
started, and within few days they
arrived at the Highland districts
named by Mr.. McDougal who was q
Scotch Highlander. This was the first
wagon in the country and all roads Nhat
to be broken.
The camp at Highland consisted Of
six men-Ed Cavence. Gus Gatewood
Charles Meyers, Allen McDougal. Mr.
Micham and Charles Gracey-who com
menced to open the Highland district
These men We're located well to tn,
north in Stampede Gap, while farthe
to the south. Slavin, Marshall, fou
brothers named Dodd and Johnny How
ard worked. Marshall was the distric
recorder and the men met every nigh
to discuss the events of the day. Thu
Mr. Gracey learned of the camp o
Hike. sixty miles to the south in tn
Pahranagat valley. where a man name
w. H. Raymond had been working
silver mill during 1863, 1864 and 1861
when he and John Ely sold out for
large amount of money. He learne
also that there We're mines at Pioch
(called Panaca at that time) and tina
Il. Marten Smith had been there pun
chasing lead mines and that he pun
posed building sinelter.
The mines at Stampede Gap did ne
turn out well because they did not vi
derstand the ores, although they bui
small furnace and tried to SINE
them. The hand bellows and cru6
furnace did not permit profit to
made, although lead bullion carryin
some silver was really obtained. The
started off to find new fields and tris
their fortunes in the new camp of p
oche, where they found high expect;
tions. Mr.. Smith had sold the Meade
Valley mine to California men, wi
purposed building a smelter at one
A man named Lacour had put in
stock of goods, selling on credit, al
for prospectors broke" and ready 4
anything that would furnish grub tn
was good news.
Mr. Gracey and his partners secur
a contract from the Meadow Vail
mine officials for two thousand bushe
of charcoal at 80 cents a bushel at t
pit Charles Meyers did the burnir
/. while the others carried the nut pi
on their backs to the pits, where cha
coal Of good quality was produced a
sold. The money was promptly fort
coming since the Meadow Valley col
pany was composed of wealthy m,
F. L. A. Phoebe being one of them, a
Mr.. Gracey and Ed Cavence took tn
team and journeyed to White Pine
supplies, that being the nearest pl
visioning point.
On their return they fell in with
outfit bringing supplies for the Mead
Valley company. and with the lo
were some young meIf who afterws
became we'll known in Lincoln cou1
Thompson Campbell. John McMan
James Findley and David Newm
Hoffman had employed them, mos
for office work. and was sending tn
ont m work for the cofppany Arriy