The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-01-25

also a fact that he had never recorded title to
the water rights.
.Rut Comstock nevertheless made his demand
and his bluff convincing. His legal rights were
negligible, II indeed they existed at all, but his
character was such as perhaps might justify
the fame which came to him in this doubtful
manner with the naming of the ColIstock Lode"
The news of the rich strike spread and There
was such wild activity a. only free gold camp
inspire. Claims were located In all directions
few old prospectors had sufficient experience
to trace the richer outcroppings and claim valu-
able ground. But all were placer miners
always they cursed and threw away the heavy
tlue-black deposit which clogged the RIFLES and
carried away their quicksilver. No one recognized
this black stun as the rich silver ore which was
the true wealth Of the Comstocks For this Is
an essential part of the fairy tale that Is the
story Of the Comstock I.ode-Ilot only did the
real discoveries fall to win lasting fame by hav-
Ing 1t named after them but by Il 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 to 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 1t 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 1t went
to that drunken, irresponsible teamster" james
Flnney or Fennimore, "uld Virginia" And here
Is how that came about.
Early In the history of the new camp, the
prospectors gave II the comparatively meaning
1t Mount Pleasant Point until short time later
when a miners meeting decided to give 1t the
official name of Wlnnemucca. henoring the prIn-
cipal chief OF the Piute Indians who lived In
that country. Then Fnney. Happily drunk ms
he had been for weeks since money and whisky
had circulated freely, finished 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 Vir-
glnla TOWN. The name was promptly and gen.
orally accepted. though for years the town was
generally ignored and city finally was APP
pended"
In the meantime Comstock had Induced O'Riley
and Mclaughlin to include the names OF Nanny
penrod, j. A. ("Kentuck'o 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 500 feet Of ground along
what was to become known as the -G0mstock
Lode. Within short time they were taking out
$3.50 worth of gold a day.
Then In July. 1850 Truckee river rancher
happened to visit the new gold camp. He picked
up a piece OF the blue-back ore which was
causing the gold miners so much grief and car
rled 1t away with him to Grass Valley. gold
camp on the west slope OF the Sierras, where
he presented Il to Judge James Walsh lead
Ing citizen Of that camp. Judge Walsh had 1t
assayed and this revealed the astonishing fact
that this blue-back ore ran $4,000 ton In silver
and 81 900 ton In gold.
Walsh did not hesitate moment Accompanied
by Joe Woodwork, a friend he started before
daybreak for the Nevada diggngs 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 ctizenry OF Grass Valley For
news of the rich strike had leaked out and the
rush to the new dIggngs was on.
Walsh bought Comstocks interest In the claim
for $1,000 Later Mclaughlin sold his interest
for $500 Penrod for $780, Osborne for $1,000
and ORiley. who held on longer than any of
the original locaters, for $4,000 And In this
connection 1t might be well to tell OF the later
fortunes Of these men. Mclaughlin became a