The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-07-16

man who knew him in Alaska and
from whom the writer has secured
much of this data, stated that Pitt
man arrived In Dawson with exactly
TO cents In his pocket, and this was
at a time when bacon and bean sand
wiches were selling at SO each. The
next day after his arrival he was en-
ployed as an attorney in a big mining
suit. but was denied the right to
practice before the gold commission
er, even after he had passed his ex-
animation, because he had not served
three years as an apprentice in the
solicitors Office In Canada.
Disguised with the unreasonable
regulations of the Canadian govern
ment. Pittman temporarily fdrsook
the law and worked with his own
hands as a miner for over two years.
Leaving Dawson, he proceeded to
Nome, just after that famous camp
was discovered. and he helped organ
ize the consent" form of govern
ment for the miners. The part he
played In bringing order out Of chaos
resulted in his election as the first
district attorney of that section. Re-
aliZing that the new district attor-
ney occupied a position fraught with
extreme danger. the authorities as
signed three deputy marshals for
duty in the court room to protect the
district attorney while he prosecuted
cases.
Those who we're in Alaska at the
time said that although at
tempts we're made to assassinate Pitt
man and that plots were
Matched. the district attorney failed
at any time to show the slightest
sign of nervousness. Then Congress
passed a law which resulted In many
undesirable persons coming or being
sent to Alaska, individuals who
brought about conditions resulting in
Rex Beach writing his famous novel.
THE Spoilers" Pittman then be-
came the attorney for the miners and
others who owned mining claims.
Upon his last trip to the States.
where he appeared before the circuit
court at San Francisco, which court
had Jurisdiction In the cases. he heard
of the strike" made at Tonopah,
and for those not familiar with the
nomenclature of mining, strike" in
mining can a discovery. When he
heard OF the wonderful find. Pittman
finished his legal work and proceeded
I'd this new Ell Dorado. The train In
those days ran as far south as Soda
vile. from which point II was neces-
sary to stage 1t into the new camp.
This ride took eighteen hours with
three changes of horses. When he
arrived at Tonopah he became inter-
ested in the mines and rapidly ac-
quired one OF the largest practices OF
any lawyer In the State. He had CIV
en- but little thought to politics. With
a number OF friends he journeyed to
Reno to witness the Jeffries-Johnson
prize fight. and while there he accept
ed the nomination for the United
States Senate on the Democratic tick
ct to oppose the late George s. Nixon.
Nixon was popular and had num-
and knew everybody in the State. At
ter Pittman's nomination he APP
approached Senator Nixon and sug-
gested that the loser abide by the
popular vote of the State. so that
there might be no suspicion of cor
ruption of the Legislature. This was
the first time In the history OF the
United States that such a proposition
had been made. Pittman was de-
feated, but the Legislature was Dem
ocratic by three on Joint ballot.
Friends urged Pittman not to stand
by the agreement, because they
charged that Nixon's friends had
spent considerable money in the fight.
Pittman not only refused to heed
these pleas, but went before the Leg
islature and urged the Democrats to
vote for Nixon, stating that any other
action would destroy the theory OF
popular kOfcT niuCht. Ahc
of the Legislature followed his ad-
vice. with the result that every Dem
ocrat voted for Nixon. Then both
the Senate and Assembly passed a
Joint resolution congratulating Pitt
man on the high stand he had taken
in the matter.
Two years later. while Pittman was
addressing the Democratic State con-
yention assembled to elect delegates
to the Baltimore convention. news
came that Senator Nixon was dying.
Mr.. Pittman expressed the hope that
Senator Nixon would win his fight
against death. After Senator Nixon's
death Judge Massey was appointed by
the Governor. elected as a Republic
can, to serve out the unexpired term:
Judge Massey had occupied positions
of trust in the state and had made
many friends. The fght was a bit
..- IL wou claan cut throughout.