December 1, 2011

Nevada's Online State News Journal

.

Nevada History:

 [Nevada's First Nugget, Alta California, May 17, 1880]

NEVADA'S FIRST NUGGET.

__________

How Her First Piece of Gold was Dug Out With a Butcher- Knife.

            An interesting correspondence has lately passed between Eliot Lord, of the United States Geologic Survey, and John Orr, the first discoverer of gold in the State of Nevada. Under the supervision of the Director of the Geologic Survey, a history of

THE COMSTOCK DISCOVERY

And mining developments on the east slope of Nevada, is being prepared. Mr. Orr, at present residing at Duncan's Mills, Sonoma county, has in his possession the first gold nugget known to have been found in Nevada, and the inquiries of Mr. Lord have been in relation to the circumstances of its discovery, and the possibility of securing it from Mr. Orr, by donation or purchase, for the collection of minerals in the National Museum, at Washington. In conversation with Mr. Orr, a day or two ago, he stated the facts relating to the discovery. He started with a large train to come across the plains in 1849. Unusually severe weather was encountered, the roads were bad and they were compelled to spend the Winter at Salt Lake. He left for California on the first wagon train from Salt Lake in the Spring of 1850, but the desert was not crossed until the last of May, because of high waters, and the fact that their road had to be cut through the snow until the Humboldt was reached. Orr had a partner named Nick Kelly after whom Kelly's Ravine is named, and in the company was also one William Prouse, now living in Nurb City, about 40 miles southeast of Salt Lake. Prouse had worked in mines in this State before gold was discovered in Coloma, and was a good prospector. One early day of May, 1850, the train stopped on the edge of what is now known as Gold Caņon, near the Carson River, to let the animals feed on some bunch grass found growing amongst the sage brush. Prouse at noontime took a milk-pan, and going down to the gulch, began washing dirt, in

A FEW MINUTES GETTING COLOR

To the value of a few cents. Orr then named the place Gold Caņon, still retained. Orr was keeping a rude chart of the country travelled over, taking bearings only north and south, and estimating the distances travelled every day. Gold Caņon was marked on the chart, which was lost by Mr. Orr in 1855, while returning East to be married. The train soon after resumed travel, going to the head of the Carson Valley. There was met a party of seven, who had left the train at the Sink of the Humboldt, intending to go in advance to California and select good locations for the remainder of the party. They had been unable to cross the country, and had been lost in the snow in the mountains four or five days, unable to find the divide to Hangtown, and seeking Carson to recuperate. A stay in Carson for three weeks followed, when Orr, Kelly and several others returned to Gold Caņon and resumed prospecting. Kelly and Orr went up the caņon until a little fork was reached, when work was begun. The party had few tools, and

ORR HAD NOTHING BUT A BUTCHER KNIFE.

            While Kelly was working, Orr noticed a very narrow place at the fork, where the water barely covered a slab of slate rock. Idly he examined it, and noticing a small crevice near the edge, drove the butcher-knife into it, breaking out a piece. The water running over it washed away the underlying dirt, and in a few seconds Orr discovered a golden nugget where the rock had covered. It was quickly removed and afterward found to weigh $8 25. This was on the 1st of June, 1850, nearly thirty years ago. Prospecting was continued, and though gold dust was found in several places throughout the caņon, Orr's was the only nugget found. The party lacked tools, and provisions, and being bent on reaching California, abandoned the caņon and arrived at Leek Springs July 4th, 1850. Orr offered the nugget to Kelly, who refused to accept it; and as it was the first piece of gold he ever dug, Orr, for a few years kept it as a souvenir on that account. Of late years enquiry as to the

FIRST DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN NEVADA,

And the settlement of the discovery upon Mr. Orr and his nugget, have induced him to state that the nugget is not for sale, nor will it be donated to any museum. He has four grown sons, and will keep it for them, to be passed down as an heirloom. Mr. Lord writes that the survey in their contemplated work will acknowledge the first discovery as stated above.