White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-09
lBy II. l.. MILLER.)
PART ThlRTY-FOUR

since the camp was first located, and
only two others of lesser Importance
occurred in Robinson canyon prior
TO 1874. What was probably the
first murder in the county was that
of man named Benefiel, who was
killed by Bill Crary in the early '70s
and the particulars OF witch the
writer never learned.
The second tragedy which startled
early-day settlers was the death of
a man named Powers, which occur
red in 1878. Powers had squatted
on land and built a cabin on Mur-y
creek near the mouth of the canyon
and Just below the present site of
Ely This land had previously been
filed on by George Lamb and II was
pending the making of his final proof
4 10 the government that Powers To-
Gated on part of the ground which
was within the boundaries of Lambs
nIing and on which he later secured
patent rights.
In the meantime Powers had made
some improvements. planting a gar
den aud raising vegetables for year
or two, and he refused 10 vacate
when ordered TO do SO by Mr.. Lamb
One morning the cabin of Powers
was found burned to the ground and
in the ruins was found the charred
body OF the owner. Examination Of
the body showed that Powers had
been shot TO death before the cabin
was burned
II was reported that George Davis.
miner and prospcctor. was a silent
partner with Lamb in the land. and
suspicion naturally pointed TO the
TWO men. but no direct proof was Sc
cured and the men were never ar
rested. as their previous records were
so good that few believed they could
be guilty of such "A crime. The writ
or was personally acquainted with
both men for years and never knew
either one to harm any man.
The one great tragedy of Ely's his
tory occurred in January. 1908. when
three men were killed outright. q
fourth so seriously wounded that he
died shortly afterward. and a fifth
man shot up so that he was confined
TO a hospital for long time. The
victims were all members OF the min
ers' union and all were killed by
John Traylor. in charge OF the Mar
rim mines. as the result OF an alleged
plot by the miners union TO kidnap
xi@mi m,,,,,,., ,,..,,. .,,,.. :, g..
York. had employed Traylor to oper-
ate the mines and also. I believe, a
mill. The property had just started
operations when the miners and mill
men struck for higher wages. closing
down the plant Before the miners
walked out Traylor told them he had
written To Martin advising him 10
increase the wage scale from SO n
day to $40 day. similar advance
living been made a short time before
hy other operators In the district
lie also told the men that he had ad-
Nised his employer that a strike was
unavoidable II the mems wage de
mands We're refused and he asked
that the strike re postponed until he
could receive a reply 10 his letter.
After a short time the men. seeing
that no preparations we're being made
10 resume work and becoming anx-
tous over the shutdown. went to
Traylor With a peremptorv demand
That he resume operations or leave
town. Faced by this threat, the SUI
perintendent went To the office OF
Judge Walker. attorney for the COM
pany. and arranged by telephone to
meet William Lloyd. president of the
miners union. that afternoon at the
offiee of Judge Walker. Traylor be-
union officials copies OF his letters tn
the owner of the property urging
him To raise wages he would be able
10 pacify the miners
The writer happened To be in
Judge Walkers Office when the hour
scheduled for the conference arrived.
St,ut the representative of the miners
Vailed TO put N an appearance. A
short time later either Judge Walker
or Mr.. Traylor called up the head
quarters of the miners union to in
quire the reason for the nonappear-
anee OF Lloyd and was curtly in
formed that the headquarters OF the
miners was at their Office and IL Mr..
TraylOr desired to see them he could
go there. Mr.. Trayior was greatly
disappointed and the matter was
dropped
Late In the afternoon Mr.. Traylor
was sitting on the counter in the
Graham store. the writer also hap
pening to be present at the time when
committee of the miners came in
and demanded to know what he pur-
posed TO 90 about starting up the
works. Mr.. Traylor replied that he
was helpless in the matter and the
miners ENJOYS then served an ultl
'hst Ht SAdft up tnt Iulnt OF
leave town within forty-eight hours
AT the end of the time specified
according TO evidence later presented
oeiore the grand jury which investi-
sa,eo the killings, the miners COM
mIttee engaged two rigs at the Ely
livery stable and started UP the can
yon, being joined just below the Key
stone property by about twenty MEM
bers OF the union.
MIR. Traylor at this time was In
Ely and. desiring to 60 to the mino
and In view OF the threats that had
oeen made by the miners and wish
ing to avoid trouble. he called on
Sheriff William Bassett for protec.
uon. Sheriff Bassett assigned his
deputy. a man known as Big Tom, 10
ACT as guard for Traylor. As Traylor
ana the deputy were driving along
the road to the mine they were stop.
ped by tho miners, who seized the
nridle OF the horse but released the
animal at once on demand Of the
deputy, Traylor ana &ha -A..- -