[Charles Gracey, Early Days in Lincoln County, Nevada Historical Society Papers vol. 1 (1908)]

 

TOWN OF PIOCHE.

 

EARLY DAYS IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

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CHARLES GRACEY.

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            To the Nevada Historical Society, MISS JEANNE ELIZABETH WIER, Secretary, Greetings:

            When you were here in August, 1908, you expressed a wish that I tell you something of the early days of Lincoln County, since I am an early settler of this county. During the short time you were with us I could think of but very little, but since then your remarks have set me to thinking over the early days, and I have noted down a few things which I remember very well. .

            First, about myself. I was born in 1849 in or near Detroit, and in 1860, at the time of Lincoln's election, I was not of age, although I was old enough to be a soldier. My father gave me his permission to go if I thought best, but urged me to remain at home since two of his brother Robert's boys were Southerners and in the Southern army where I might meet them in battle. As I was then serving time learning the blacksmith's trade I decided not to enlist.

            In 1866, after the war, I came to California and worked for a time in the sawmills of Santa Clara County, but in the winter of 1867 times were dull and I went to work on the Central Pacific Railroad, which was then building through the Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond Sacramento. I was good with the axe, and soon found that I could make more money cutting timbers than I could at my own trade. I followed the railroad as far as Elko, Nevada. At that point there was so much talk in 1869 about the rich silver ore found at White Pine, about one hundred and fifty miles south of Elko, that I made up my mind to quit the railroad and try my luck at the mines.

            At this time the town of Elko was but just begun, and consisted on my arrival of two tents. But as the excitement over the White Pine mines increased, and all the outfitting for the latter place was made at Elko, this town grew very fast. It was, moreover, rather a bad town, as many rough men stayed there for a few days at a time on their way to White Pine. As supplies were constantly being unloaded for freighting to White Pine a watchman was employed to watch the goods. It was here that I learned by experience how little respect existed for human life in this new country. The first watchman was a young man about my own age. He was a nice-looking young man, but sporty, and carried a pistol at all times. As I was loafing in the town waiting

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for the snow to melt off the road to White Pine I became well acquainted with the young man.

            By this time there were several hundred men in the country around Elko cutting wood for the railroad. They came into Elko every night to drink and gamble. Before spring there were several saloons in the town and many women on their way to White Pine. This young man of whom I have spoken liked to try his luck at cards. Money was plentiful and easy to obtain. One night he got into trouble with the woodchoppers over a game of cards and beat one of them over the head with his gun. He evidently had the best of it in the row, but a few evenings later there came into Elko about two hundred woodchoppers, and the word was out that they meant to get even with their enemy, who by this time had been appointed watchman of the town. I was there at the time and witnessed the whole affair. The woodchoppers drank whisky until many of them were drunk. Then they marched around the town and had sham fights and made a great noise. Finally they became loud in their demands for the night watchman, asking that he come out and arrest the disturbers. The watchman, on his part, was sober and very grave. He said to me: "I am not afraid of them, but I would have no show should I go out among them openly, for there are fifty pistols ready for me."

            The disturbance continued for another hour or two, the noise increasing all the time, and about 12 o'clock a pistol shot rang out and then in rapid succession some ten shots more. The crowd began to run wildly in all directions. The watchman seized two pistols, came out of a saloon and stood behind some goods that were piled up on the street. He then emptied his gun into the crowd where it was the thickest. Three men were shot dead and several others were wounded. The woodchoppers ran for their camps located about two miles from Elko, and not enough of them were left in town to carry the dead men from the street. Next day, when visited at their camp by some of the townsmen, not one of the woodchoppers could be found who would admit that he had been in Elko for a week past. Nothing was done with the watchman. The dead were buried and the matter hushed up. The watchman continued with his duties and was not interfered with again as long as I remained there, which was for several months.[1]

            Finding that the snow would not be off the road to White Pine for some time, I took a job of cutting wood for the Railroad Commissioner, Frank Denver, at three dollars a cord. But at the same time Ed Cavence and I made an arrangement with Tom Featherstone, a man from California, whom we both knew. He was to proceed at once to White Pine and locate silver ledges for himself and for us. We were to follow later. We gave Mr. Featherstone two hundred dollars, one hundred

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[1] As the watchman is still living his name is withheld.—SECRETARY.

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each, and he started for the mines. He wrote back wonderful reports about the camp and of his great luck in finding mines. He advised us to come as soon as we could to help him hold these great silver claims, and we therefore made haste as soon as the roads would permit. Arriving at camp we found Mr. Featherstone to be a very shrewd business man, but not much of a miner or prospector, and not altogether honest. He had taken up many claims, but all in his own name. He offered us an equal share in them for an additional eight hundred dollars. Otherwise he said that he would hold the claims. We looked them over and decided that we did not want them at any price, and so left him with his claims.

            Already there was a great rush of men to White Pine. I could see nothing that looked good to me in the way of business, but I soon found a chance to go to work for wages. A corporation, known as the San Francisco Sawmill Company, employed me to go over the White Pine Mountain to the west near a little five-stamp mill called the Monte Cristo and there erect a sawmill. Mr. Cavence preferred to continue prospecting, so I entered into a verbal agreement with him and Gus Gatewood to the effect that they were to go south and prospect, making me equal in all they found. I gave them our mule and two hundred dollars and immediately started out for the new mill-site, while they left for the south. The country then was new, and there were no wagon roads as now. I proceeded to the sawmill site, and after many drawbacks and long periods of waiting, I got the mill started. Lumber was worth three hundred dollars a thousand. Of the owners of the sawmill I knew three—Blakenderfer, Taft, and Shank. I worked for these men from about March to August of 1868.

            On the first of August Mr. Cavence returned from prospecting, and with him came a man called Allen McDougal. They told big stories about what they had found, and the samples when assayed proved to be rich in silver. As silver ore was the only thing desired in those days I was much pleased to hear that it had been found in large amounts. I at once quit the sawmill, went to Hamilton and bought an outfit and wagon. I remember the outfit cost me seven hundred and thirty dollars. We loaded it up and started for Lincoln County, Highland District, the latter named by Mr. McDougal, who was Highland Scotch. Since ours was the first wagon into the country we had to break the road, and we were several days making the trip.

            Arrived in camp we found the balance of the company, which consisted of six in all: Ed Cavence, Gus Gatewood, Chas. Meyers, Allen McDougal, Micham, and myself. I did not like the looks of the mines when I had time to look them over, but did not say much, for I saw that they were all touchy about the matter. After a few days I was told that I was not located in any of the claims and had no interest in

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them, but that Micham had been located and had left, that they had purchased his interest and calculated that I would give them one thousand dollars for the interest, which was the amount they had paid Micham. This was the amount of money that I had on hand, but I did not buy in. They were much disappointed. Times had been very hard with them, and they were all glad for the load of provisions and steel and tools which we had brought in with us. They finally concluded to take me in, provided I would furnish the grub. This I agreed to do, and we commenced to open Highland District, twelve miles west of Pioche.

            I was now located (1869) in Lincoln County and had begun to get acquainted in the county. Some of the names at least in the following narrative will be familiar to many readers. There came to our camp two brothers, Pete and George Miller. Pete was later in politics and held county offices. We were in Stampede Gap, well north in the district. In the southern part were Slaven, Marshall, and four brothers from Arkansas, the Dodd boys, as they were called, also Johnnie Harwood. Marshall was our District Recorder. We met every evening and discussed matters. It was in this way that I learned that sixty miles south and west was Pahranagat Valley and the town of Hiko, and that over there were mills for the working of silver ores; that a man by the name of W. H. Raymond had operated them in 1863, 1864 and 1865, and that he and John Ely had sold out for big money. I learned also that there were mines in Pioche (called Panaca at that time) , and that E. Marten Smith had been there and purchased lead mines and purposed building a smelter.

            Our mines in Stampede Gap did not turn out well because we did not understand the ores. I built a small furnace, and with a large bellows which I had, tried to smelt some of the ores, and succeeded, but the product was small and mostly lead. The expense was great and, as I was the only man in the company who had a cent of money, it was soon exhausted and we broke camp. We all started off to find new fields.

            Coming to the new camp of Pioche, we found great expectations among all classes. E. Marten Smith had sold the Meadow Valley mine to California men who purposed building a smelter at once. A man by the name of Lacour had put in a stock of goods. For prospectors "all broke" and ready for anything that would furnish grub this was great news. The thought occurred to one of our company, Charlie Meyers, that if a smelter was to be built there must be coal to run it, and, said he, "burning coal is my business." We all agreed that he must see the Meadow Valley men about coal. Accordingly the next day he interviewed Charles Hoffman, the head man of the Meadow Valley outfit, and secured a contract for two thousand bushels of coal at thirty

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cents a bushel at the pit. That night there was great rejoicing in camp. It certainly looked as though all of our fortunes were made. Next morning we all assembled at a grove of nut pine and commenced to build two coal pits. We carried the wood on our backs to suitable ground. Meyers made good and proved that he thoroughly understood the coal burning. Our success was great. In a few weeks we had our money, for the Meadow Valley Company was composed of wealthy men, F. L. A. Pioche being one of them. They put things through rapidly. All these things happened in 1869.

            When we got our money for the coal, Ed Cavence and I took my team and started to White Pine for supplies, that being the nearest provisioning point. On our return we fell in with a load of supplies coming in for the Meadow Valley Company, and with the load were some young men of whom I afterwards learned to think a great deal—Thompson Campbell, Dave Newman, John McManus, and James Findley. Hoffman had employed them and was sending them out to work for the company, mostly at office work. When we got back to camp (Pioche) we found that another company had been started and was building a furnace. The company consisted of two men, Raymond and Ely, who started in a humble way, but later figured largely in the camp and the county.

            Still another individual had as much to do with the success of the camp as any other man. His name was Shuber. He was a Frenchman and a metallurgist of note. He had a furnace built on upper Main street, near the Raymond and Ely mine, and worked it with two bellows arranged with double covers and his power was the noble burro. He made a success and proved the values of the ores, but also demonstrated that they were not smelting ores. The Meadow Valley Company spent seventy-five thousand dollars to learn what Shuber proved for seventy-five dollars, not counting his work. Shuber proved his mines, took the small amount of bullion produced and his returns away with him, sold his interests and never returned. He was at work when Cavence and I returned from White Pine.

            In November, 1869, I went over to where the Raymond and Ely people were at work and found Tom Greaves trying in vain to put steel into a pick. Here was my opportunity. I was a blacksmith by trade. I put the steel in and became great in an hour. John Ely was informed of the circumstance. He came to me and said: "Gracey, you are just the man for whom we are looking; you stay here and do our work, and you can board at our camp." Board looked good to me, and I stayed. They were building a furnace and had a threshing machine horse-power to run the blower. A German named Shuner was employed as the furnace expert. After some days of experimenting the furnace was declared a failure. While working at odd jobs I

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had by this time shown that I understood machinery. Mr. Raymond now came to me and said: "Mr. C. P. Hall tells me that you are a machinist as well as a blacksmith." I replied that I was. Said he: "I never expected this furnace to work, but I wanted my partner, Mr. Ely, to be satisfied, which I think he now is. I have a silver mill in Pahranagat Valley. If you think that you could take it down and have it put up again in good shape, I would have it brought over to Bullionville, and set up there. I think that this ore can be worked by the same process."

            I assured him that I could do any kind of machine work, having erected two sawmills in California, and he replied that he was satisfied that I could do the work. "But; said he, "we have no money. If we can take it out of the mine, we will pay you, and it will also make your mines more valuable." I agreed to work without pay if he would furnish the grub. He replied that he could not even do that, but that John Ely, his partner, was acquainted with the Mormons and could get grub from them. Moreover, he did not even own the mine as yet, but if I would promise to stay with him and build the mill he would buy the mine.

            That night around the camp fire were Pony Duncan, Bob Winans, the Burke brothers, Raymond and myself, and several others. All were very glum. The smelter was a failure. No one had any means, and it was, on the whole, rather a dull outlook. After a while Mr. Raymond spoke up and said to Mr. Burke (called Pat Maloy) : "This furnace is a failure. I have a proposition to make to you boys that own this Burke mine. I have a five-stamp mill in Pahranagat Valley. I am willing to pay you thirty-five thousand dollars for the mine, provided you will wait for your money until I can get the mill here and take out the ore." All were very quiet for a time. Then Pony Duncan spoke up and said: "I am willing to agree to that." Bob Winans also agreed to it. The Burke brothers, who owned one-half of the mine, said nothing. Thus we sat for ten minutes and no one spoke. Then "Pat Maloy" asked: "Where will we get anything to eat while you are doing all that?" Raymond replied that John Ely would see to getting the grub. Then said Burke: "It is all right; and Mr. Raymond handed him his silver watch, and turning to me, said: "Charlie, you are a witness that I have bought this mine and that I give him this watch to bind the bargain. Boys, you are all witnesses. This watch is worth sixty dollars. Charlie, we will start for Pahranagat at once, going as far as Bullionville to-night." That was twelve miles from where we were camped. Then Raymond said to Withe Walker, who was attending to camp: " Walker, can you let us have some bread and meat?" Walker put up a loaf of bread and a large piece of boiled beef, and we started out for Panaca, or, as it was afterwards called, Bullionville.

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            Some time during the night we arrived at the place where we later built the mill. Next day we got some teams at the Mormon settlement and started for Pahranagat Valley. Some mining had been done at the latter place in the early sixties, and Raymond had been the moving spirit, but it had proved a failure. About the same time there was a rumor of trouble with the Indians, but more, I believe, of some doubt about the Mormons being loyal to the North, and in 1864 General Connor had been sent with cavalry to look things over. His men had located many claims both in Pahranagat and in the Pioche country, but had done no mining to speak of.  The soldiers and all prospectors had left in 1865, and all the mines had been abandoned until 1868. We arrived in Pahranagat in good time. We took down the mill and made arrangements with residents of the valley to have it loaded on teams as they came in.

            Then we returned to the mill-site, and the miners of the camp volunteered their services to grade for the mill and to build the road. All were promised pay after the mill was started. The building was slow work, but in January, 1870, I got things in shape and ran the five stamps on ore that had been hauled down to the place. In the mean time Mr. Raymond had gathered around him men who had some knowledge of working the ore. The head man was L. B. Sever, an assayer and a good man. There was also a carpenter named Mortimer Fuller, afterwards District Judge. I had considerable trouble with the mill, but finally got it started. The first night I stayed up all night. We drew off the charge from the pans into the settler, and then drew off the quicksilver from the settler and strained it through a sack. In the morning I had the sack full of amalgam. Mr. Raymond came down about 4 in the morning and asked me how things were. I showed him the sack of amalgam. He pinched it and said: "That is good; it squeaks. Gold and silver amalgam is the only one that will squeak." Well, it was a success. The ore was worth three hundred dollars a ton and we were working it to seventy-eight per cent. There was plenty of ore, and in sixty days Raymond and Ely had paid every dollar they owed and were rich men. We had shot off a gun that sounded around the world, but were not aware of it, at least I was not.

            I was chief engineer of the Raymond and Ely for seven years and had sixty stamps running the last five years. In that time the Raymond and Ely Company produced seventeen millions. The Meadow Valley Company did not produce as much. But that mine was also good and produced many millions. When with our five-stamp mill we proved how easily money could be taken out, that was the making of Pioche. Bullion was a great advertiser. People began to flock in from everywhere. Rich ore was found in many places not thought of before.

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            The first trouble occurred at the Washington and Creole. Tom and Frank Newland had made a location above the Washington and Creole mine, which latter was owned by Raymond and Ely. The Newland boys asked for the privilege of starting a tunnel below the Washington and Creole to run through the same which at this time was not considered of much value. Raymond and Ely gladly granted the privilege, for the Newland boys were newcomers and needed encouragement. The boys ran in their tunnel about thirty feet underground, or from the face, and struck the Washington and Creole ledge as was expected. But, contrary to expectation, the ledge at this point was very rich, averaging about three hundred dollars per ton. It proved to be nine feet thick. Before much was known about the strike, the Newland boys went to Ely and Raymond and secured the privilege of taking out ore on the Washington and Creole for thirty days. They then opened up a wonderful bonanza. Everything was satisfactory. Raymond and Ely were pleased that the boys were doing well, and Mr. Raymond said that it would encourage others to dig.

            When the thirty days expired the ground was turned over to Withe Walker, who was foreman for Raymond and Ely. Walker went with the Newlands through the tunnel and saw thousands of tons of rich ore exposed and ready to be taken out. Walker was naturally much pleased, and said he: "I can keep that rattletrap of a mill at Bullionville going now" As the Burke mine was then in a pinch and not supplying the ore as rapidly as needed, everyone wag pleased. Mr. Raymond said: "That ore might have lain there for years or might never have been found." He believed in being liberal. It was the best way, and he took considerable credit to himself for his fair dealings. He was, indeed, a fair man, but he had much to learn and never learned it.

            Well, as I have said, the Newland boys turned the thing over, and every one thought that it was all right. The Newlands went on with their tunnel. But a mountain of ore worth three hundred dollars a ton will worry any one when it is in plain sight and every one is allowed to see it. Before long the Newlands got some of the new men from White Pine to help jump the mine. They built a fort in the night and manned it with men and guns for defense. Then they commenced to take out and ship the ore to Silver Peak, where there was a ten-stamp mill. There was no law in the country, and no one to stop them. It is true that a township had been formed and a justice court provided. The county had held an election and chosen John Kane, a miner, Sheriff. He went up to the fort, but was ordered away. The boys continued to move the ore.

            Something had to be done. Raymond and Ely could do nothing, for they were told in plain words that if either of them set foot in camp

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it would be certain death, and there is no doubt but such would have been the case. Many men were coming from many places, some men of means. There went to Bullionville four young men, polite gentlemanly fellows, all under thirty years of age. They were Michael Casey, Barney Flood, Morgan Courtney, and William Bethers. They said to Raymond and Ely: "We will drive those fellows off if you will give us a written promise that we can have the ground for thirty days." The bargain was made and operations begun.

            I was posted on everything that was going on, but did not know when or how these young men would get possession. That they kept to themselves. This is what was done: I was in a good position to see the whole battle, which was afterwards known as the Washington and Creole fight. These young men got some whisky up to the guard in the fort. At that time there was a pretty good growth of nut pine on the hill above the fort. Here the young men hid. About 3 o'clock there came a shout, and the four young men ran rapidly down the hill, each with a pistol in hand. They drove the others out and away from their arms. I heard the shots and saw one man fall, Snell by name, and I saw Casey take a rifle and knock a man down the bank with it. Many shots were fired and many men were wounded, but Snell was the only one killed in that fight. Nevertheless, I have heard others tell of the same fight and give the number of killed as ten or twelve. But I was an eye witness and very much interested, and I am sure that one man only was killed. I do not remember the number of wounded. The boys who did that piece of work made fifteen thousand each out of their lease of thirty days. Raymond and Ely bought the ore and paid them the money for it.

            This was the beginning of trouble in the camp. During the next year or so there were at least seven men killed in disputes about mining claims. Fights were of frequent occurrence, and many men were wounded, but not more than seven or eight were killed. Two men were killed by an explosion after the big fire in 1871.

            Of the four young men who took the Washington and Creole I will say something further. Morgan Courtney turned out to be a sport and was counted chief of the fighting men. He gambled very heavily. Barney Flood got into trouble and stabbed a man, but did not kill him. To save himself he left the camp and went, I think, to New York. Casey owed Tom Gossen one hundred dollars. When he had deposited his fifteen thousand in the bank he was met there by Gossen, who said to him: "You had better pay your debts." Casey told the banker to pay Gossen one hundred dollars for him. Gossen then reminded Casey that there was interest due him. Words followed, and both drew their guns. Two doors opened from the bank to the street. Each man stepped to a door and shot at the other. Gossen's gun missed, but 

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Casey hit Gossen, who died about a day later. Before his death he left his money to friends with the exception of five thousand dollars which was to go to the man who would kill Casey. Gossen's friends set a watch over Casey so that he could not leave town. Yet they scarcely dared to kill him in the town.

            Casey's friends said that Gossen had shot first. Some of those who saw the shooting said that Casey shot first. One of these was Jim Levy. I knew Levy well. He was a very quiet man and a good, miner and worked every day. Casey met Levy in Freudenthal's store and in my presence asked Levy if he had indeed said that Casey fired the first shot. Levy said that he had, and was ready to swear to it. Casey then commenced abusing Levy. Levy replied in a quiet way: "You can abuse me now while you have your gun with you." Levy had just come from his work in the mine and carried his lunch bucket in his hand. Casey told him to get his gun and come shooting. Levy left the store, went to his cabin, changed his clothes, got his gun and returned. Dave Nagel was on the sidewalk in front of Freudenthal's store watching for Levy to come back along the street, but Levy came through an alley instead that ran alongside the store, and thus surprised Casey and Nagel. The shooting commenced at once. Nagel ran out into the street and fired several shots at Levy. But Levy and Casey had clinched and were on the sidewalk together. I think now and have always thought that it was the beating over the head with a pistol that killed Casey rather than the shots that were fired. Nagel hit Levy in the lower jaw or chin and made a bad scar.

            Casey was now dead, and Gossen was avenged, but Casey's friends now were the enemies of Levy and tried their best to kill him. But he proved to be the most fearless and aggressive in that line that had ever appeared and was soon the terror of all the fighters. When he got the five thousand dollars left by Gossen for killing Casey he was himself no longer. He was killed many years later in Tucson, Arizona. Bill Bethers was shot, I think, in Eureka, Nevada, a year or so later. Morgan Courtney was still around town, had shot one or two men, and was held to be a very bad character.

            I do not remember the exact year, but I was still at the mill at Bullionville when Payson Barnes, one of my millmen, met a man in Pioche who said that he knew me. He sent me his photograph, but Barnes had forgotten his name. He claimed to have known me well in Elko. When I saw the picture I knew at once who it was, and I asked if it was not the young night watchman formerly in Elko. He replied that it was. "Then; said I, "Mr. Courtney will not be chief any more, for this man does not live long in a town that has chiefs." And sure enough, it was not long until Mr. Courtney ordered the newcomer to leave town. The latter replied that the town suited him and he intended

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to stay. " Well; said Courtney, "we can't both stay." The other replied that Courtney was at liberty to go away any time he chose to. That afternoon they met on the main street and both got out their guns, but Courtney was too slow and was shot six times before he had time to shoot. The other man was arrested, but went unpunished, for it was proved that Courtney had made the shooting necessary, and in a few hours the accused was a free man.

            By this time the rich ore supply was exhausted; the wild excitement was no more; money was hard to get. The town became as quiet as any other old town. I find that a bad name is liable to be exaggerated, and thus it has been with Pioche. It was not so bad a town as is now represented. There was some killing, to be sure, but there was also great provocation, and it is a wonder to me that Pioche did not become as bad as some at the present day claim it was. But I was there from first to last, and, while I admit that it was bad enough, it was not as represented later by those who did not know.

            While the excitement continued in and about the mines there were even worse things going on among the law-and-order men who were supposed to keep the bad element down. There was a Vigilante Committee formed which proved to be of no credit to the town. This gang ran the politics. John Kane was Sheriff, but was considered too slow, and Wes Travis was elected in his stead. Mortimer Fuller was District Judge. A court house was built and an indebtedness incurred which has hurt the county more than all the killing that was done. At no time was crime punished, yet all the time the expenses were piled up. The Sheriff's office while Travis had it was considered worth forty thousand dollars a year. All other things were in proportion. Such things need no exaggeration, while the number of poor men who were killed may be magnified to any number that suits the fancy of the teller. The sums of money that were stolen under the name of law need no exaggeration.

            Of the two kinds of men which is the worst: He who rights his wrongs where it is given; or the man who promises to protect you in your rights if you will only elect him to office and put your trust in him, and then deliberately steals everything in sight and bonds you for forty years to come? The story of Lincoln County and the removal of the county-seat from Hiko to Pioche and the building of the Pioche court house I remember very well, but it would be a long story. I leave it to others to tell. It is not a story of which to be proud. It was steal, steal, early and late, and keep on stealing. That was the main point in Lincoln County affairs.

            It is now forty years since I first came to Lincoln County, but I remember very well the main points. I had a very active part in the mining and milling of the ore which produced the millions that were

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taken out. If you think that this account is worth anything, I give it freely and can vouch for the truth of it.

            Yours truly,    

CHAS. GRACEY.

            Written at Eldorado Cañon, Nevada, August, 1908.

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                Note—From letter written to the Secretary, November 27, 1908:             * * * So far as the county stealing is concerned, I think that the men elected supposed that this was the way to play the game, for they seemed pleased at what they had done. All men at that time were trying to make a stake and get out of the country, and could you blame them? Times were not then as now, and the early day men must not be judged by the present conditions, neither must what they did be so judged. I did not blame the men at the time, or since. I have been in Nevada forty years, and I think we have as good men and women in Nevada as in any State in the Union. I am sure that there never were more courageous and self-reliant men in any country.

CHAS. GRACEY."