[Albert S. Evans, Letter from White Pine, Alta California, March 18, 1869]

 

LETTER FROM WHITE PINE.

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[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ALTA CALIFORNIA.]

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TREASURE CITY, March 13th, 1869.

            Editors Alta: Yesterday there was hardly any snow left on the ground on Treasure Hill, but this morning it commenced snowing furiously, and in three hours and a half six inches had fallen. Now clearing up.

            David Youngblood, formerly of Virginia City, died here of pneumonia on the 8th, and two more cases, which are likely to prove fatal, are reported.

            There is lively opposition here now in the stage business between Elko and White Pine. Wines & Co., carrying the Union Express matter, now land their passengers here within twenty-four hours from Elko, and yesterday I got a letter by that line which left San Francisco at 3 P. M. on the 9th, as the postmark and date show, and was delivered in Treasure City at 2 P. M. of the 12th, or in one hour less than three days. This is the best time I have ever known made.

            A rich strike was made in the Phoenix mine, on Chloride Flat, yesterday, and similar developments are being made in other claims in the vicinity.

            The finest ore I have yet seen, outside of the Eberhardt, was taken a day or two since from the Colleen Bawn (a private claim), on Bromide Flat. It is almost solid silver. The workmen in the Governor Bross (square location), on the same flat, last evening, blasted through the limestone into the spar and "got the color" at once. They think they are nearly down into the main deposit of rich ore, which is known to run through their gravel. Work is carried on night and day, and the reverberations of the blasts can be heard every hour in the twenty-four, echoing through and through the hills. There is no let up; one gang succeeding another day in and day out. There is so much work to be done that it is hard getting men at any price, and they are as independent as lords, quitting on the slightest pretext.

A White Pine Incorporation.

            The Larcombe Silver Mining Company — capital stock, $280,000, in1,400 shares of $200 each; Trustees, Jos. Mandlebaum, W. M. Jenson. J. S. Fried, Jos. Larcombe, Chas. Kohn; place of business, Treasure City; J. Fackenan, Secretary, has just been incorporated here.

Road Agents.

            These gentlemen have already made their appearance here. Two evenings since a well-known citizen, while coming up from Silver Springs to Treasure City, was stopped by two men, who called out, "Halt! Throw up your hands!" He replied, with quiet humor, "Why, of course I'll hold 'em up; but I have got the best of you, for I haven't got a d—d cent about me! " One of the robbers, recognizing his voice, called out, " Why, ——, that is you, is it? Well, you can go on; you ain't the man we want!" and he went on. Another man, going from Hamilton to Swansea, in the cañon running from Hamilton to Silver Springs, was attacked, and half a dozen shots passed between the parties. No one was hurt, but the citizen got a bullet or two through his clothes, and got off with his valuables. Both these affairs took place after nightfall at points in the cañon not much frequented at this hour.

The Pogonip.

            As I write, at 2 P. M., the Po-go-nip is coming down upon us again, for the first time in two weeks, and the storm is setting in with redoubled violence.

Yours,

EVANS.