White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-26
fI,y B. 4. MlLLER.)
PART FIFTEEN

taule teams being used to haul the
heavy traffic between the TWO towns.
Willow Creek and Water Canyon,
iust south OF Ward. furnished good
grazing for the oxen. commonly call
ed bull teams, during these years.
The cx drivers were generally known
as bullwhaekers or bullpunchers,
while the drivers OF horse and mule
teams we're called muleskinners.
All freighters in these days made
IL a point to lay over for a day or two
at Willow Creek TO rest up their
teams. and where an ON showed signs
of being played out IL was customary
TO turn IL loose at the springs TO rest
up until the return trip. Oxen turned
loose to Craze and rest up in this
way were known as "sleepers. These
sleepers were, in measure. almost
common property. and IL was not un-
usual for driver who was heavily
loaded To pick up Il rested sleeper
and work ii for trip. no objection
being made by the owner as long as
the animal was left at the place IL
was found when the driver made the
return trip.
The chief freighting outfits at this
time were those of Charlie Coates,
William Ballinger. John Henry, ia
cob Sehallenberger and Mr.. Carna-
han, the last two named being in
partnership for a number OF years,
finally dissolying their partnership In
1873. | believe. when Mr.. Sehallen-
berger took over the teams. while MIR
Carnahan as his share retained a
ranch in which the two were inter
ested. Schallenberger and Coates
about this time pulled of the Toano-
Phoebe line and moved To Eureka.
When he disposed of his interest
in the ranch TO Mr.. Carnahan. Mr..
Schallenberger Immediately bought
the Lowrey ranch. adjoining on the
north. but did not move on II until
the Sos, after which time he made 1t
his home. The writer was we'll ac-
anainted with Mr.. Schallenberger,
who was for years one OF White
Pine county's most respected citizens
both being for a time engaged In the
same business. that of OK team
freighting. hauling timbers from
White Pine mountain TO Eureka for
use in timbering the Eureka mine in
the latter 4Os. Mr. Schallenberger
.at one time owned more bull teams
bhan any man in the state. While he
could neither read nor write. he was
considered one OF the shrewdest and
safest business men in the county
and held more mortgages on ranches
in Steptoe valley and Duekwater. in
Nye county, than any money lender
in the county. With IL all Jake, as
be was best known. was a square
shooter and deseryedly we'll liked
and popular.
In addition to Schallenberger and
Coates AT this time Sam King, Jerry
Ahern. Fred Hayes and a man by
the nickname of Multitude" were all
engaged in bull team freighting
Jerry Ahern gained considerable
wealth in the business and later
opened up a merchandise store in Eu-
reka and later engaged in the same
business at Tonopah. where his health
failed. lie then moved TO Los An
reles and now. having rounded out
his four-seore years. is spending his
last days happily with his daughter,
Mrs. Lee. at Ocean Park. Cal
Multitude" earned his name from
his use of the word on every possi-
bic occasion. Instead of saying "A
large number of bulls he always
said "multitudes OF them" and this
together with the fac, that he could
drive "multitudes" so one string
soon earned him his nickname Mul-
titnde drove the longest string of
cattle on the road. fourteen yoke OF
oxen and five wagons. and was con
sidered the greatest puncher in the
business. Multitude had the repu.
tation OF being able To make a louder
noise with his bull whip than any
puncher on the road. with Jake Schai-
lenberger close second II was com
monty said that when Multitude laid
over for day at Diamond Springs
To repair his town whip. which was
only used IN state occasions. he was
sure on his next trip to rattle the
window panes in Eureka with reports
from his whip
Freight traffic in and around Ham
ilton and Eureka was unusually
heavy from 1872 to 1876. and dur
ms these years about a thousand
oxen and probably three times az
many horses and mules were used in
the freighting Oxen at this time
were, usually branded on the horn
with the initials of the owner. j. s."
Tor Jake Schallenberger, j. A" for
Jerry Ahern, "F. II" for Fred Hayes,
w. b" for William Ballinger. j
II" for John Henry "B. NJ" for the
writer and &C. c. C." for Charles
Coates. commonly known
as the three c outfit.
Coates was well-known character
and mention of his name reminds the
writer of story told OF him and an
other old-time freighter named Bak-
er, who may he remembered by early
readers of the News and who was
best known as "Humpy.' owing to
the fact that he was very stoop-
Baker. who at this time
was engaged in hauling lumber fron,
the Hendrie sawmill, in the Snake
range east of JEFF Davis peak. had
SIX yoke of oxen and two wagons. He
was generally believed to be over
fond of gathering up and using the
sleepers, or oxen left at the various
grounds to recuperate.
Coates. in pulling out for Eureka.
had left a number of sleepers behind
at the different watering places. and
If Nyan Whita Qnarol,tpo fnr thaa.