White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-13
(By B. r. M1l.l.F.R.)
PART ONE

cred in Nevada was found by the In
dians away back in the sos along the
old overland. stage road In what Is
now White Pine county. During the
early sos an overland stage station
was located four miles south of
Cherry Creek, in what was later
called Egan Canyon. this station be-
ing established by Major Egan. Indi-
an fighter of old Fort Ruby. at that
time the first station west OF Egan
The Egan mill, run by water power
from Egan creek, was one of the first
ii not the very first. built in Nevada.
The mill was built by Michael j
C'Connor, Mr.. Donohue and a Mr.
Kelly. These men, Notwithstanding
the high cost of mining and of mill
construction. made considerable
money In fact. II was reported that
the gold shipped from Egan Canyon
virtually financed one of the old-time
banks OF San Francisco. known as
Donohue, Kelly &Co. San Francisco
was then comparatively village and
supply point for the territory south
cf oregon City. Ore.
Egan Canyon, like many other old
time White Pine camps, has had
many ups and downs. and was vir-
tually abandoned when the overland
stages ceased TO run after the Central
Pacific railroad was completed in
1867 Nothing more was done in the
way of mining development al Egan
unin along In the carly '70s. when
the same banking company. having
been successful with its surface op-
eralions. believed that with rail trans
portation only 100 miles distant deep
er development would be profitable.
The company then drove the Egan
tunnel. tapping the water In the un-
derground workings. and uncovered
immense bodies OF rich ore. y Dig
stamp mill vas erected and. under
the management OF General kosen-
Grams. the company milled about
$3.50, zoe worth of ore before the vein
pinehed ont in 1875 or 1876
The writer spent some time IN
Egan during the fall OF 1874. at
which time the mine and mill were
in full operation and making regular
bullion shipments by Wells, Fargo &
Cos express over Woodruff & En-
ners stage line to Humboldt Wells
(now WellsD. New. Egan at this time
was known "a "ohe-man town
from the fact that Pat Leagon owned
the only store. only saloon only
boarding house. nearly all the room
ing shacks. the townsite, the water
ranch at the mouth of the canyon.
This ranch was purchased along I'm
the SOS BY the late Charles Green
and IL has been known ever since as
the Green ranch.
Mr. Green. who was well and ia
yorably known for many years In
White Pine county. ran for the lower
house OF the legislature in 1876. the
election resulting in tie vote with
l. NJ lDoel Ellison of White River.
To avoid the expense Of a special cleo
iion the candidates agreed To shake
dice for the honor the throw being
won by Mr.. Green who was again
elected to the assembly In 1850. After
serving his term in the lower house
Mr.. Green retired from politics until
Gao. when he made The race for the
state senate and defeated III. A. Com
ins by the narrow margin of eight
votes In both branches of the legis-
lature he served the county with abil
ity and integrity and Justly ranked
as one OF the foremost citizens of the
county.
The writer. who was personally ac-
QuaInted With Mr. Egan, was induced
to come TO Nevada I'm the spring of
S14 through information given him
by the major at Gold Hill Deep
CreekD. Utah. Major Egan. at that
time 10 years OF age. was carrying
mail. paid for by private contribu-
iions. on horseback between Deep
Creek and Salt Lake City. a distance
OF about zoe miles Deep Greek at
that time was quite lively, but not so
much owing TO mining activity as to
the fact that liquor was plentiful and
there was n lively speculation in
townsIte lots
Ii was here that the writer first
met Tim Finnegan. who shot and
killed Mr. Houston, night watchman
at Ward. In 1876 Finnegan was not
considered bad man while sober
hut, like many others, when drunk
was rather free in the use of gun
II was Finnegan who. ono night in
Fred Snivcly's saloon at Deep Creek.
shot Bill Saxton in the heel. Saxton.
by the way, was a nephew OF the late
Mr.. Saxton who was associated with
the Mckinley people in developing
Robinson Canyon tnow Ely through
the operations OF the Canton Mining
Company In the early '70s
Egan Canvon was virtually desort-
ed from 1875 or 1875 until about
$50, when the second boom hit
Cherry Creek The Donohue-Kelly
Company resumed operations with
bartholomew O'Connor. brother OF
Michael j. Oconnor, as general man
ager and Frank Hallowell as super
ihtendent. The company spent about
S1)0.0oO trying to find the lost vein,
hut without success
Tho question OF the first discovery
OF gold In Nevada IL somewhat dis
puted as To locality. and the writer
does not pose as an authority regard
ing the matter. merely giving his YER
sion or the facts as told to him after
he settled in the state In 1874. Some
say that the first discovery was made
by the Moiave Indians In Eldorado
Canyon. on the Colorado river. in the
extreme southeastern part OF the
state, short distance north OF old
Fort Mojave The first real mining
OF consequence for both gold and sill
yer In Nevada was unquestionably
done by the Mojave tribe In the sos.