Vol. 2, No. 20
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August 15, 2005
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
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Jedediah Smith – A Mountain Man’s Legacy and Mystique Lives On!
Is This His Weapon? Found Where Smith Is Known To Have Been
by Donald J. Cook
If you were to ask anyone to name a Mountain Man of the early 1800’s, the person mentioned most often would have to be Jedediah Smith. He is probably the most famous of all the grizzled individuals who were exploring the West for fur and adventure between 1820 and 1830.
He is credited with being the first American to cross the Continental Divide and rediscovering the South Pass. He was also the first American to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Due to his efforts, the coastal trade route between California and Fort Vancouver located on the Columbia River, was initiated.
His expeditions and adventures were many and dangerous. Indians were always a threat (he died in 1831 during a Comanche ambush on the Santa Fe Trail). Many of his routes were often blocked to prevent passage or to allow for an ambush.
During one trek in the spring of 1827, Jedediah found that the Mexican Governor of California, suspicious of his activity, had blocked his return route to Oregon. This is of particular interest to we Nevadans, as he was forced to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains over Ebbetts Pass and proved that one could safely traverse the Great Basin Desert through Nevada. His route more or less follows what we know as US Highway 6.
This is where a portion of his colorful legacy continues today. According to The Journal of Jedediah Smith, on May 27, 1827, “Passing across a deep ravine and ascending a high point I could discover the plain. Thence N 13 miles the snow decreasing gradually until going down a high and steep hill it entirely disappeared and I came into a valley where there was some good grass. A valuable horse gave out and was left in the snow. I also lost my Pistol.” (242)
242 On this momentous day, Smith follows the headwaters of the Mokelumne (his “deep ravine”) and still approximating the path of Route 4, crosses the Sierra through Ebbets Pass to add another distinction to his remarkable accomplishments by becoming the first American to cross the range. He then turns north and begins the eastern descent by Kinney Creek and presumably makes his camp on Silver Creek, in a valley now containing the ruins of an old silver mine.
In 1997, Mr. Don White, now deceased, was cutting firewood in the vicinity of Highway 89. The area was open for such activity due to a recent burn over. While looking down at his chainsaw, Mr. White discovered something in the dirt. That “something” was a very old percussion pistol. (See attached photos)
Because of health and personal issues, Mr. White never researched the possible origins or history of the piece. Mr. White, while in failing health, gave the pistol to his friend, Kimberly Maxwell in 2002. Mr. White passed away in January 2003.
Subsequently, the Maxwells began actively researching the history of the pistol. It is a .36 caliber weapon with a Schaller percussion lock. Schaller was a German lock maker who exported their products to gun makers in Pennsylvania; such practice was common during that period. Consistent with the belief that this is Jedediah Smith’s lost pistol, it has been conjectured that the weapon’s barrel obstruction is actually the powder charge, wad and round bullet. The practice of keeping your weapons loaded while in hostile territory was said to be common among Mountain Men.
The Maxwells have shown the pistol to both the Jedediah Smith Society in Reno and the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. According to their attorney, Mr. Louis M. DiDonato, both groups believe that it is reasonable to assume that this is in fact, Jedediah Smith’s missing weapon and as such, could be worth approximately $50,000.
Continued efforts to acquire any additional provenance are underway. In the meantime, this unique piece of history is available to interested parties by contacting the owner’s representative, Mr. DiDonato.
As the saying goes for old buildings, “if these walls could talk”, just imagine what tales of adventure this old relic could pass along!
(ed. note: Don Cook is a travel and free lance writer making Reno his home base. He promises to keep us up to date on future findings regarding this delightful tale.)
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