Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-10-12
Rx IoHN MUNRO


guIch, near Virginia City, In Mon
tana, or on the banks of Grass
hopper creek, near Bannack, is an
unmarked, forgotten grave that
contains the bones of a man who
persisted, friendIess and alone, by
his own hand more than half a
century ago, but whose name VIII
live In the history Of the west as
long as civilization endures. That
man was Comstock, a first owner
of the famous C0mStOck lode at
Virginia City, New, which has
produced more than $3.50, OOO, 900 in .
gold and silver.
Comstock realized only Sl1 900 from
the famous mine that bears his name,
and which became the most widely
known mining property in the world.
In q few months he had lost every
dollar he had, and discouraged and
disappointed at having allowed the
greatest strike in mining history TO
slip through his fingers, he wandered
off into the mountains on prospect
ing trip.
Finally reaching Montana, this man
who a short time before had in his
undisputed possession wealth enough
to have made him the richest man
Of his time in America, sat down on
the side of a creek, and placing his
pistol to his temple, blew his brains
Tossed Away Vast Wealth
Comstock, had he risen to his OPP
portunities, might have flashed across
the skies of Paris and London, the
greatest Spectator Of the century,
running printing presses night and
day to supply. the demand for STOCK
in Nevada mining claims Tor miles
around Virginia City. AS it was, he
believed when he sold out that he
was getting more than his interests |
were worth. Others who followed him |
undervalued opportunity Also and |
yielded in time to the old law OF the |
survival of the strongest but none I
could give again so much Tor so little /
as did Comstock.
ComStock was not the real dlscoyerer
of the Comstock lode. Two brothers,
Hosea and Allan GroSh, sons Of a
Pennsylvania UniverSalist minister,
found rich silver ore on what after
wards was known as the Comstock
lode about 1855 or 1856 and realized
that thew had made rich discoveries
But they had no capital and were
forced to spend most of their time at
placer mining to get enough gold to
buy food, in the meanwhile neglecting
the rich quartz deposits
There is a story to the effect that
a stockman and trader named Brown
had agreed to supply them funds to
develop their monster vein. Selling out
his store, he was about to join them
when some deSperadoes murdered him.
Then Hosea GroSh crushed his foot
by a glancing blow Of heavy pick,
and q month later he died IN their
rude cabin from blood poisoning AL
Ian decided to cross the Sierras to
California to raise money with which
to mine and mill the rich quartz ore
they had found Overcome by terrible
mountain storms, he managed at last
to reach a mining camp, but died
there IL days later
Enter COmstock
When Allan Grosh started on his
fatal journey, he cast about for some
one to leave in charge of his effects.
most available man. 1t is said that 4
a written contract was drawn up, by
which ComStock was to have one
fourth interest in one claim for keep
ing it from being jumped in the abb 4
Sence of GroSh, and was to live in the II
rough stone cabin that had been built.
GroSh, who was a well educated and h
well equipped prospector, did not take
Comstock into his confidence or tell
him anything of what he called the
monster vein" 1t was said that GroSn
aid his aSsaying tools and memoranda
If their discoveries before COmStock 7
anne to the cabin, but long after his g
l6dJIl, WIlen Ills lCAIS oCddC4lCQ III &
yain for evidence to bear out their
claims in court, little could be found. b
There were so many claims made Il
alter as to what really happened the h
spring that it is impossible a
o tell the true facts. The story gen. "
rally accepted Is not the one told u
" Comstock, but concerns two Irish Ii
ToSpectors who were down on their
O'Riley and Patrick Nc
Aughlin. They took up an unpromis- Il
ng looking claim for placer, but could rC
My make 50 a day out of it. Then tc
hey decided to start digging a trench D,
traight up the hill from the bottom II
+ the giIich to cut through some h
lard blue clay and yellowish gravel v
hat they had noticed. er
The Big Strike O
At a depth of four feet they came
pom a deposit of dark, heavy soil W
hitch sparkled with minute flakes of "
old Running for a gold pan, one Of st
hem tested the dirt. The pan held of
lany dollars in gold They had dis De
overed the top Of the famous Ophir d
aim, the north end Of the Comstock WI
'de. ar
Just as they were finishing the last co
eanup for the day Comstock aD- lei
cared. He had been looking for his OK
st horse and now galloped down the &C