The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-19

also fact that he had never recorded title to
the water rights.
"But Comstock nevertheless made his demand
and his bluff convincing. His legal rights we're
negligible, If indeed they existed at all, but his
character was such as perhaps might justify
the fame which came 70 him in this doubtful
manner with the naming of the Colhstock Lode"
The news of the rich strike spread and there
was such wild activity as only free gold camp
can inspire. Claims were located III all directions
A few old prospectors had suhicent experience
to trace the richer outcroppings and claim vau
able ground. But all were placer miners.
always they cursed and threw away the heavy
tlue-black deposit which cloggeG the rifles and
carried away their quicksilver. No one recognized
this black stuff as the rich silver ore which was
the true wealth of the Comstock.' For this Is
an essential part of the fairy tale that is the
story Of the Comstock Iode--llot only did the
real discoveries fail to win lasting fame by hav-
ing 1t named after them but by u queer turn
of fate they also failed to recognize the real
source of fabulous wealth which might have been
theirs
And there is another angle 20 this story which
has to do with the naming Of the town that
sprang up there, "the greatest mining town upon
the continent" 1t might appropriately have been
named for either Mclaughlin or O'Riley or even
for the spurious godfather Of the source Of its
greatness-Comstock. Then again It might have
been named for another man who was soon to
appear on the scene--Judge James Walsh But
that honor fell to none of them. Instead, It went
to that drunken, irresponsible teamster," James
Finney or Fennimore. ''uld Virginia" And here
is how that came about:
Early in the history of the new camp, the
prospectors gave 1t the comparatively meaning
less name Of Pleasant Hill. Some of them called
II
when a miners meeting decided to give 1t the
official name of Wnnemucca, hoIoring the prin-
cipal chief Of the Piute Indians who lived in
that country. Then Finney, Happily drunk as
he had been for weeks since money and whisky
had circulated freely, finished a nights revel
by falling at the door of his cabin and breaking
his bottle Rising to his knees, he waved the bot
tie neck and shouted 7 baptize this ground Vr-
ginia Town. The name was promptly and gen.
orally accepted, though for years the town was
generally ignored and city finally was ap-
pended"
In the meantime Comstock had induced O'Riley
and Mclaughlin to include the names of Nanny
Penrod, J. A. (.'Kentuck") Osborne and his own
in the location notice which they had posted
on the scene of their rich strike. The claims of
these five, men covered 1,500 feet Of ground along
what was to become known as the Comstock
Lode Within a short time they were taking out
$3.50 worth Of gold a day.
Then in July, 1859. Truckee river rancher
happened to visit the new gold camp. He picked
up a piece of the blue-bIack ore which was
causing the gold miners so much grief and car
ried it away with him to Grass Valley, a gold
camp on the west slope Of the Sierras where
he presented It to Judge James Walsh, a lead
ing citizen Of that camp. Judge Walsh had 1t
assayed and this revealed the astonishing fact
that this blue-black ore ran $1,000 ton In silver
and $1,000 ton In gold.
Walsh did not hesitate moment. Accompanied
by Joe Woodwork, a friend, he started before
daybreak for the Nevada diggings and only by
driving the mule, which they had packed, and
themselves to the limit of their endurance did
they reach the Washoe district ahead of the
greater part of the citlzenry of Grass Valley. For
news of the rich strike had leaked out and the
rush to the new diggngs was on
Walsh bought Comstock's interest in the claim
for $1,000. Later Mclaughlin sold his interest
for $500. Penrod for $500, Osborne for $500
and 0'Riley. who held on longer than any of
the original locators. for $4,000 And III this
connection II might be well to tell OF the later
fortunes Of these men. Mclaughlin became a