USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
The advantages of a hose company, so ably demonstrated by the two last fires, soon led to the formation of a fire depart- ment. Nevada Hose Company, No. 1, was organized June 12, 1860, N. E. Wheaton, Foreman; William Barton, Assistant Foreman; H. Hunt, President; W. H. Crawford, Treasurer; M. H. Funston, Secretary. Wheaton resignel a month later, and T. W. Sigourney was elected Foreman. The company numbered forty-seven members.
The next day, June 13, 1860, Eureka Hose Company, No. 2, was organized, W. P. Harrington, Foreman; J. B. Jeffrey, Assistant Foreman; I. J. Rolfe, President; James Monroe, Treasurer; Ed. Muller, Secretary. Thirty-four members com- posed the company. Company No. I raised a subscription among the merchants of Main street, and purchased a l'our- wheel hose carriage of a Sacramento company for $400. Company No. 2 raised $1,000 by subscription on Broad street, and purchased a hose cart. William Barton was elected Chief Engincer, June 26, 1860, and one thousand feet of hose were purchased. A Board of Delegates was organized, consisting of three members from each company. Protection Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, was organized with thirty-seven mem- bers, June 23, 1860. Nevada Hose Company located on Main
86
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
street, and Eureka Hose Company on Broad street. The latter company purchased cart and apparatus of Pennsylvania Company, No. 12, of San Francisco, and changed their name to Pennsylvania Company, No. 2. The hook and ladder company purchased apparatus to the value of $900.
In June, 1860, an election was held to decide between water propositions submitted by Charles Marsh and the Nevada Water Co. It resulted in favor of Marslı by a vote of 442 to 94. The proposition accepted was to build a reservoir of 1,- 200,000 gallons capacity on Buckeye Hill, fifty feet above the highest point in the city ; pipes to be laid in all the principal streets; water to be furnished for fire purposes free of cost; Marsh to have the exclusive right to furnish the city with water for twenty years, except so far as others had already acquired rights. By Act of the Legislature, April 17, 1861, Nevada City was empowered to lovy an annual tax of twenty cents on every one hundred dollars to support the fire depart- ment.
Notwithstanding the fact that the city had three well organ- ized fire companies and an inexhaustible supply of water with a pressure of 150 foet, it again suffered a total destruction of its business houses and public buildings on Sunday, November 8, 1863.
About noon on that dreadful day the alarm of fire was sounded and flames were seen issuing from the rear of the Bed Rock saloon, on the south side of Broad street. The fire com- panies responded with alacrity, but for some unknown reason there was but littlo pressure of water and the hose threw a feeble and almost useless stream. The reservoirs were full and the cause of the failure of water was not known. All the long afternoon did the flames hold high carnival in the doomed city. The fire quickly crossed Broad street and made headway towards Main and Commercial streets. By judicious management the fire could have been kept on the east side of Pine street, but the Chief Engineer was negligent. Bean's Directory says : " Let it pass into history that the Chief Engineer at that time, when his services were needed, was engaged in saving the duds of his strumpet." A stand was made by some citizens at the corner of Pine and Commercial streets, and with a piece of hose attached to a hydrant they prevented the fire from crossing Pine street from Broad to Church strect.
A great many goods were removed to places of safety. The flames were prevented from spreading to the residences on the hills by hard work and the tireless exertions of the citizens. When five o'clock came and the last building had succumbed to the firy embrace of the demon, the citizens gazed npon a broad expanse of smoking ruins, where but a few hours before had stood a fair city, wrapped in the quiet of a Sabbath day. The ground burned over was almost identical with that of the great fire in 1856, and the number of buildings burned was
about 250, lacking but few of the number destroyed at that time. It must be remembered also that the class of buildings was far superior to those burned before, larger and constructed of better materials. Owing to the decline in values since 1856 and to the fact that the loss of merchandise was but slight in compari- sion to that in the former fire, the comparative smallness of the loss, $550,000, will be readily understood. All . the hotels and restaurants, every church but the Baptist, the court house, nearly every business building and a number of residences were burned. The following is a list of the principal buildings destroyed with their value :-
Bailey Hotel. $25,000
Odd Fellows' Hall . 16,000
National Exchange Hotel 25,000
Gas Works. 15,000
Court House and Jail.
10,000
Catholic Church .
8,000
Methodist Church.
5,000
Episcopal Church.
5,000
Presbyterian Church
3,000
St. Louis Hotel. 3,000
U. S. Hotel 4,000
South Yuba Canal Office
3,000
Theater
1,700
Hughes' Sash Factory . 2,700
Hoagland's "
2,500
Armory
2,750
New York Hotel
3,000
Hotel de Paris
1,000
The failure of the water supply was the subject of a great deal of discussion, and the firemen threatened to disband unless the water was given into the entire control of the fire depart- ment.
March 5, 1869, a fire which was prevented from becoming a general conflagration by the exertions of the firemen, occurred on Spring street. A strong wind prevailed and the danger to the city was imminent. Three buildings were destroyed, including the old Union Stables, the oldest building in the city, having been erected in 1850 and been spared by the previous fires.
Upon the nights of August 4 and 5, 1877, a dastardly attempt was made by unknown incendiaries to destroy Nevada City. Packages of matches and gun powder, saturated with kerosene, were laid in many places throughout the city; but the project was discovered and frustrated before any damage had been done. A meeting of citizens was called for the evening of the sixth, at the theater, for the purpose of organizing a vigilance committee. A large number of names was enrolled and a night patrol established. Several suspicious characters were
" warned," and straightway shook the dust of the city from off their feet.
With a system of water works, the construction of which cost over $38,000, with two well organized hose companies, one on Main and one on Broad street, with plenty of hose belong- ing to the fire department and to private individuals, it would seem as if Nevada City should continue to be as free from fire in the future as she has been for the past sixteen years.
Nevada City as it is seen to-day presents a most wonderful con- trast with the collection of shake shanties and canvas buildings that were huddled together on the little flat thirty years ago. Handsome brick structures have taken the places of those tem- porary stores; large hotels open their hospitable doors to far different appearing guests than those who thronged the canvas and rude frame hotels and boarding houses of '50; handsome residences and snug cottages, with neat and tastefully orna- mented yards, have succeeded the scattered cabins of the early days. To the rattle of the dice and the monotonous "Make your game, gentlemen," have succeeded the happy shout of school children and the ringing welcome of the church bell.
Nevada City contains two large and four small hotels, twenty-three saloons, nine grocery stores, four dry goods stores, three clothing stores, four drug stores, one boot and shoe store, two furniture stores, two books and stationery stores, four variety stores, one hardware store, one crockery store, three tobacco stores, three jewelry stores, five restaurants, one harness shop, onc undertaker's establishment, one harness and saddlery dealer, two photograph gallerics, three livery stables, four breweries, one foundry, six blacksmith and wagon shops, four meat markets, one hydraulic pipe manufacturer, one sash and door factory, two lumber yards, one bank, one post office, one Wells, Fargo & Co. express office, two newspapers, one gas works, one water works, six physicians, eleven attorneys, two dentists, two engine houses, two school houses, one theater, one hall, one military company, six churches, one city hall, one court house, one suspension bridge and a great many mining interests that will be ennmerated in another place.
GOLD FLAT.
The early mining of Deer creek and Gold Run has been detailed in the history of Nevada City, commencing in 1849. In 1850 the diggings on the flat were discovered, the run having by that time been pretty well exhausted. In August, 1850, there were four cabins in the run and two on the flat. In April, 1851, there was quite a mining camp on the flat, and by July the miners had come so rapidly that the place became a busy village, with two stores, a butcher shop, four boarding houses, six saloons, the Round Tent gambling house, about thirty cabins and a population of 300. In 1852 the flat was almost abandoned, the miners having gone to seek better places. In
-
RESIDENCE OF A. B. BRADY, GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA Cº, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
87
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
the fall of 1852 the claims were consolidated into large trants and companies began to slice of the dirt. Ame T Laird and J. G. Fordyer cach brought in a doch and the ground was worked off from six to twenty six feet deep The old taila were also worked over. The chief miners were Laird, Allen, Mouroe and Head. The town was all gone in 1553, ail sonw of' thre honses were hanled to Marysville, and the flat was again nearly deserted. A few hours remained and as the quartz leads Ingan to be discovered and developed, permanent settle- meuts were slowly made, until now there are about sixty bones scattered about upon the flat. Most of the settlers are working in the quartz mines, many of whom own promising ledger. The last store kept here was by Armstrong, near the Sueath and Chy mine, from 1854 to 1856. This is the Oak- land School District, and the first school was taught in J B. Byrne's house in 1856, by Mrs. Taylor, and was attended by about twelve scholars. The Oakland School has now a very neat school house and ranks as one of the first in the county. The town is but a mile from Nevada City, and the people do their truling in that place of Grass Valley.
COYOTEVILLE.
Upou the discovery of the t'oyote diggings in 1850 a bust- ling mining camp made its appearance on the lead, just above the old cemetery, which rejoiced in the name of Coyoteville. For several months the population was nearly equal to that of Nevada City, which was in danger of being outstripped by her vigorous neighbor. The consolidation of claims soon reduced the population of Coyoteville, and when the ground was worked out, the once extensive camp became but a suburb of Nevada ('ity, of which it is now a corporate part.
SELBY FLAT.
Lying north of Nevada City muad on the opposite side of Sugar Loaf is Selby F'Int, a place that was quite a village in 1851 and for a few years later. It was soou reduced to the habitation of a few miners who were working in the large claims into which the small ones had been consolidated.
"XOW, YOU GIT!"
In the first year of Nevada's infaney, society was considera- bly mixed; gamblers and ministers, what few there were of the latter, were the only vain erentures who boasted of the luxury of a " biled shirt," and by this distinguishing mark were they known; but as to which of the two classes they belonged was always doubtful, und frequently ludicrous mistakes were made. But few families had at this time settled in the city, and the representatives of the gentler sex were chiefly single luies and of none too good a character. One of these who blessed the city with her presence in 1850 was Mary Mahaffey, who was living with a since prominent violinist.
Stary went to Sacramento and there by her fascinating graces so en lavel the heart of a young man who had embarked in the then speculative business of ranching on Bear river, that he followed her to this city and laid his hand, heart and purse at bor fort After due deliberation a plan was hit apon to secure the pure without the other incumbrances.
It was the day before the dawning of the new year, and it was decided to have the ceremony that evening The uu-0- phisticatel rancher was conducted to a saloon on Connuereial street and introduced to the Rev. John White, who was a no less individual than Jack White, a prominent gambler. White har ou a collar and " Filed shirt," and these evidences of respect- ability, accompanied as they were by the fact that he had in some mysterious way secured possession of a bible, convinced the rancher that a regularly built minister stood before him. And when, upon interrogation as to the denomination he rep- resented, White assured bim that he was a regularly ordained minister of the Episcopal church, his heart Iwat with joy.
Tom Marsh, proprietor of the saloon, assnaned the duties of County Clerk, and issued the candidate for matrimonial bliss a lieruse, for which he charged hun an ounce of dust. The party thien repaired to the faro rooms in the Dawson house, and Tom Henry and Bill Robinson, who tended bar in Barker's Exchange, were selected as a committee of invitation. They evolved the following formula, a copy of which was sent to the choice spirits of the town. The uniformity of title shows the equality that then existed in social circles :-
" Dear Colonel-A rancher from Bear river will be spliced to Mary Mahatley this evening. The business will be transacted over at Dawson's Castle, Parson Jack White bossing the affair. You are wanted for to be there, for Mary would feel bad if you wasn't. COMMITTEE OF INVITERS.
P. S .- No guest will have to kiss the bride if he don't want to. Parties will please leave their firearms and eutting imple- ments at home."
About two hundred men responded to the invitation, and the ceremony was performed with due dignity by the mock parson, the bride being given away by her musical friend. After these solemnities they all passed out into the bar-room to " liquor up." A fine supper was spread and the merry wine went around, for which the deluded husband paid $800 without a sigh. With a few choice spirits the happy pair adjourned to the musician's house. While the serene benedict was enjoying himself in sweet conversation with his dear one, and as the cloek was just trembling on the stroke of twelve, the lovely siren took a shot-gun from the corner and said, "Now you git." He did, and his "love's young dream " went out with the dying year forever.
A PIONEER PRINTER.
Among the strange charneters of Nevada City, of whose eccentricities auch can be said in a kindly spirit, was the well- known printer, Alexander Hunt. " Ales." ns he was familiarly known, was, in truth, an odd genius. He was born in New York State, and was n nephew of ex-tioveruor Hunt of the Empire State. He was early taught the mysteries of the "art. preservative," and became an excellent job printer, and for a long time worked in the office of the New York Herald, when that influential journal was printed on a hand press, To manipulate this machine was the duty of Alex, and he pulled the handle with great dexterity. The most excellent papers that were carly published on this const bear witness that printers were not proef against the seduction of the gold excitement, and Hunt became one of those anomalies, n " forty- niner."
He first worked in the other of the Placer Times, at. Snern- mento, when ". H. Rolfe was editing that spicy little sheet. Alex, was a strong, powerful man, brave and generous, but he would get drunk, as other good printers have done before and since. It was his duty to work the press, and when drunk it was impossible to do this satisfactorily. One day he came in quite overcome with too grent a flow of spirits, and Mr. Rolfe told him to make a still hunt for some seeluded retreat, where he might sober off, but not to return until he had accomplished that end. Alex. was grieved was wounded to the heart at the prospect of an edition of the paper being worked odf' with- ont the press feeling the touch of his skilll'al hnad. In his desperation he decided upon a scheme that would assure a due appreciation of the value of his services. When Mr. Rolfe bad closed his eyes in refreshing shunber, and was just in the midst of his third and soundest nap, the man who was to do the press work awoke him and informed him that the handle to the press was missing. The handle was as important to the press as a clown is to a cirens, and a diligent search was com- menced, first for the handle, and then for Alex. After scouring the infant city, the object of their search was discovered curled up in a corner, with the coveted handle safe in his loving grasp. Both the man and the handle were harried to the office, and the paper was run off in due season. Alex. many a time chuckled to himself over the success of his strategy.
Alex., a short time later, came to Nevada City, which he made his headquarters, working at times on nearly all of the papers that have flourished here. He procured a coffin of suit- able dimensions, and used it as a bed, sleeping in it at night. His home was wherever he could find room to store his funeral habitation. Frequently he would engage four pall bearers to carry him through the streets in funeral procession. During these expeditions he would sometimes lie down in the coffin with all the gravity becoming the chief actor of a funeral, and
88
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
at other times he would sit bolt upright and gaze upon the curious spectators. One night he found a hearse that had been left in the street, and into it he stowed his sepulchral dwelling und retired to rest. In the morning some boys, who caught sight of the coflin in the hearse, were very muell agitated upon finding that it contained what they supposed to be a dead body.
A favorite habit was that of blacking oue boot and white- washing the other. It was his style of war paint, and when ho appenred in thut costume it was well understood that he wns on the war path and would be thoroughly drunk before night,
Notwithstanding his peculiarities, he was kind hearted and generous, well liked by everyone, and there was noue who had not a kind word for Alex. For a number of years before his denth, which occurred in 1874, he was perfectly temperate, and ulthough scarcely able to do any work, lived at the Union Ilotel, where a few duties performed earned his board and clothing. There are few people in Nevada who have not a kindly remembrance of old Alex, Hunt.
TOMLINSON'S CELEBRATION.
During the exciting Presidential campaign of 1860, Bell and Everett Indl no more enthusiastic supporter than O. M. Tomlin- Non, of Nevada City. Tomlinson was an eccentric genius who owned some water power near Sugar Loaf, that he had used in olevating and washing dirt. When his claim was exhausted he commenced the erection of a flour mill. As the fourth of July began to draw nigh the idea of a celebration suggested itself to Tomlinson. He wrote four verses of a campaign song, and each noon drilled his workmen in its execution. Schmidt Schneider, a violinist, was engaged to play the air for the men, while A. W. Potter acted as leader of the choir. The nntune- ful voiees of the workmen grated so harshly upon the musi- cian's ear that he would add his German imprecations to the general discord. At last came the long expected fourth and the dedieatory service of the flour mill was witnessed by a crowd of people. Judge Colburn read the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and then Tomlinson marshaled his host, before whom stood Potter with his baton and Schneider with his fiddle, for the crowning effort of the day. With many dexterons flour- ishes Schneider executed the well known air, "Oh ! Willie We Have Missed Yon," after which was sung with majestic wavings of the baton and ear-piercing discords of the choir four verses, of which the following is the only one tradition has preserved:
To Union true we will be, Brave, brave to wave ; Here on the land of the free And our gift from the brave Why did you stray from home?
I will tell you, they "Pearced " me away, Till tears of fear had never come; They "Bucked" me hard to stay, Till roaring came on the swell, With sound cheerful, cheering, that, For chosen choice was John Bell And Edward Everett.
SILENTLY STEALING AWAY.
In the fall of 1866 a boarder at one of the leading hotels of Nevada City, having exhansted both his credit and money and being firmly convinced that it was much cheaper to move than to pay his board, conceived a brilliant and strategic plan for effecting his purpose. His wardrobe was too extensive to be removed in the ordinary way without attracting attention, and he there- fore secured the services of a friend to stand beneath his win- dow, when night had enfolded the city in her dusky mantle, and receive the articles he would lower to him from above. When the time arrived the strategist peered down into the gloom from his third story window and cantiously inquired, " Are yon there?" "All right," came in muffled tones from below. Article after article was swiftly and silently lowered, and the owner chuckled softly to himself as the invariable " All right" ascended through the night air from the ground beneath. At last all had been safely lowered, and the exultant boarder descended the stairs to find that his effects were in the possession of the landlord, who had in person manipulated the lower end of the transportation line, and whose voice had nttered the laconic " All right " as each article fell into his clutch.
THE "BIG SCARE."
The following occurrence on the night of Jannary 17, 1865, is so well related in Bean's History, that we fecl compelled to copy it :-
"Sheriff K. had received information during the day, from one of his attaches, who had visited the famous locality of Allison Ranch, that the secessionists of that place and Grass Valley contemplated a raid on Nevada. The direful news was whispered abont among the brave and faithful, and the stifled cry of " to arms " passed from mouth to month. The Sheriff was sure his information was correct. The city was to be sacked, the banks were to be robbed, the arms of the Nevada Light Guard were a prize for lawless men intent on raising the standard of insurrection on the Pacific Coast.
" Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, that but an bour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness; Aud there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out of young hearts, and choking sighs, Which ne'er might be repeated; who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes."
Some families were removed to other quarters. It is said a few women and children were urged to flee to the fastnesses of the Sugar Loaf, and complied in the greatest consternation. The Sheriff was indefatigable in mustering forces to defend the eity to the last extremity. He proceeded without hesitation to fortify-himself with old Democratic whisky. The Nevada Light Guard assembled at their armory, and the Sheriff attempted to take supreme commaad, by not allowing a soldier the privilege of going out to bid his wife the last adien. He informed the warriors assembled that, like Jackson at New Orleans, he was going to make the property of the city defend it. Captain Kidd, a bauker, was forthwith, for one, pressed into the service, and harnessed with the military accoutrements of Mark Rhineberger. Now, Rhineberger was slightly less than twice the hight of Kidd, and consequently as the gallant Captain marched to the field of Mars, the cartridge box pen- dant on one side, at every one of his martial steps struck the ground. It was probably such an apparition as is rarely to be met with in the light of day. Yet, as the opportunity had come of dying for one's country and fireside, and glory is sup- posed to be won by expiring with the harness on, and as war harness was scarce, the thought could not be entertained a moment of taking it off, and time would not allow of taking it up. For it was expected the bugle blast for a charge would be heard at any moment. Guards were set, and the measured trcad of sentinels was heard during the suspense of that awful night. The stars shone out as beautifully and bright as if they were not soon to have their light reflected from a mirror of blood. Silent, unconscious witnesses of many a midnight tragedy ! The Court House was surrounded by a cordon of braves, some prepared for the most desperate encounters with sixteen shooters, revolvers, hatchets and knives. The night slowly wore away. No enemy appeared. Judge B-, a dis- tinguished lawyer, took the attache of the Sheriff, who had been in the camp of the enemy, and gave him a searching cross examination in private. He returned, shook his head omin- ously, and looked unhappy. Sconts, armed to the teeth, were sent ont by authority, to examine every foot of ground on the way to Grass Valley, to reconoiter the enemy and return, if possible, to give warning to the beleaguered city. The weary gnards, chilly with night watching, paced to and fro, the points of their bayonets gleaming in the starlight over their heads, while occasional dialogues were spoken, one of which is remembered. A new hand at the trade of death approached an old soldier, both on duty, 'I suppose,' said he, ' Unele Billy, that you have done your share in this bloody business in your time.' 'Yes,' said the veteran, 'I have seen some service." ' You must have killed some men in your long military career." 'I dont know; I have fired in the direction of the enemy ser- eral times,' said Uncle Billy. 'Well, this will be the first time
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.