The Bonanza King
Page 78
Fifteenth Amendment ratification celebration in, 271
living conditions at, 72, 75, 84, 127, 138, 205, 230
mine share price drop and, 296–97
population of, 110–11, 127, 364, 428
President Grant’s visit to Comstock and, 379
railroad construction in, 265–67, 269, 270, 309
smallpox epidemic in, 248
transportation monopoly in, 337
violence in, 112
water supply in, 314
Gold Hill News, 167, 220–21, 244, 296, 297, 307, 314, 326
gold miners, 1
alcohol (whisky) use by, 32, 33, 50, 86, 87, 163, 365
American imagination on, 32
anonymity of, 34
beards and physical appearance of, 32
benevolent societies and fraternal organizations and, 39–40
California’s impact on, 35–36
crimes and justice for, 32, 58, 286
death and funerals of, 40
desire for regular letters and newspapers for, 31
diet of, 49
express companies for gold dust and, 31
Fraser River, Canada, gold rush and, 36–37
gambling by, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, 34, 66, 72, 127, 138, 163, 164, 365
hiring out for wages by, 41
living conditions for, 33, 49
majestic grandeur of California and, 34–35
morality and religious traditions in, 33–34
native Indian populations and, 35, 78–79
opportunity to work one’s way into mine ownership by, 76–77
physical exertion and limited returns for, 31
poor conditions and disease endured by, 31–32
prostitution and brothels and, 33, 164, 365
gold mining
abundant water needed for, 27, 28, 49
business opportunities ancillary to, 30–31
claim rights in, 28–29
density of gold and, 28
difficulty of extracting gold from quartz in, 53–54
Fraser River, Canada, gold rush and, 36–37, 39, 42, 75
as a gamble, 29–30
hydraulic approaches to, 35, 41, 171, 172, 278, 290
initial lack of regulation of, 14–15
lack of stigma for failures in, 31
land damage from, 35
long toms (troughs) in, 28, 29
mercury used in, 28, 55, 60–61, 109
miner’s process in, 29–30
mining districts formed for, 28, 57, 62, 99
native Indian populations and, 35, 78–79
physical exertion and limited returns in, 31–32
Pioneer Quartz Company by-laws on, 54
placer techniques in, 27, 28–29, 35, 42, 49, 50
river-turning technique in, 30, 37
rockers used in, 4, 28
sluice boxes used in, 28, 29, 35
underground mining (“drifting”) in, 41, 45
vagaries of, 30
Gold Rush
Brannan and start of, 14
California citizens’ departure for, 15, 22
discovery of gold at Sutter’s Fort and beginning of, 13–14
dreams and hard reality of, 21–43
Fair and, 211
Fraser River, Canada, Gold Rush’s impact on, 36–37
impact on California of, 16
initial skepticism about, 14, 17
Mackay’s awareness of early reports on, 22–23
migrants’ sea and overland journeys to, 23–24
newspaper report about miners’ daily earnings in, 16, 18
newspaper reports on successes and failures in, 24
New York City departures in rush to California and, 19–20
New York City newspapers on, 15–16, 18–19
poor Americans and pull of reports on, 21–22
President Polk’s mention of abundance of gold in, 17
rumors and newspaper stories about, 14, 15–16
rush to goldfields at beginning of, 15
San Francisco’s excitement about, 14
San Francisco’s rapid expansion during, 21, 25–27
shipbuilding boom and, 23
U.S. Mint’s assay of gold from, 19
worldwide pull of, 23
gold standard, 309–10, 320
Goodman, Joseph T., 36, 153, 298
Goshute Indians, 91
Gould, Alva, 69
Gould, Jay
background of, 394–95
death of, 417
gold supply and, 279
Mackay on, 400
Mackay’s alliance against, 402–3, 412–13
Mackay’s decision to oppose, 396–97
Mackay’s negotiations with, 413–14
Mackay’s ownership of competing companies and, 397–400
Mackay’s transatlantic cable war against, 402, 403–4, 408–10, 411, 415
near monopoly of telegraph business by, 395
physical appearance of, 393
“pooling agreement” and, 388, 396, 397
reputation of, 393–94
wealth of, 381–82, 394, 398
Gould & Curry claim, 105, 247
description of operations at, 177–81
financing of development of, 124–25
first claim in, 69
Grosh’s claim to, 175
Hearst’s ownership of shares of, 77, 181
incorporation of, 124
management of, 182, 222, 277
mill connected with, 136, 149, 177–79
mining operations in, 113, 143, 156, 157, 176, 177, 178–79, 181
one-ledge legal theory at, 176
ownership changes in, 299, 311, 334, 354
ownership disputes about vein of, 113
productivity of, 85, 86, 136, 149, 156, 158–59, 174, 179, 183, 194, 202, 316
rumors about demise of, 181–82
safety issues in, 216–17, 250–51
share price of, 141, 142, 149, 155, 157, 159, 173, 174, 179, 296, 381
size of, 179–80
speculation and perceived promise of, 85, 86
Virginia City employment related to, 158
Virginia City fire’s threat to, 354
Walsh’s purchase of, 69
working conditions in, 315
Gracey, Robert, 39
Grant, Ulysses S., 383
Civil War and, 134, 191
Coinage Act and, 309
Comstock mine visited by, 379–80
Gould and Fisk’s attempt to corner gold market and, 279
Mackay on compliments from, 380
Sutro’s tunnel project and, 234–35
party thrown in Paris by Louise Mackay for, 375, 376–77
greenbacks
Civil War and, 134, 187
distrust of, 134
gold and silver supporting, 135, 187
Ralston’s fortune in arbitrage of, 182
Treasury reforms needed for, 309
Grosch Consolidated Company, 175–76
Grosh, Allen and Hosea, 52, 175
Hale & Norcross mine, 125, 214–16, 228–32, 242–45
Bank of California’s loss of, 279
cage at, 215–16, 217
confinement of miners at, 228–30, 242
factions battling for control of, 232
Fair Shaft in, 214–15, 219, 220, 228, 230, 231, 232, 268, 283, 292
Fair’s management of, 211, 214–15, 219, 221, 242
the Firm’s management of, 249, 267–68, 289, 299, 302, 315
floods in, and loss of value, 289
Hayward at, 277
hopes for new exploration at, 231–32, 241
Mackay and, 242–43, 249, 272, 283, 290, 302, 315
Mackay-Sharon clash over, 245
mills used by, 231, 245, 249, 268
mining operations at, 215, 218, 231–32, 271, 283
new shaft construction at, 214–19
partnership with Mackay to seize control of, 243
–45
productivity of, 158, 197, 200, 219, 267–68, 272
public loss of confidence in, 242, 296
safety issues with death at, 251
Savage mine’s sharing of ore body with, 295
share price of, 228, 229, 230–31, 232, 241, 242, 244, 268, 274, 296
Sharon and, 228, 231, 232, 241, 243, 244, 245, 249, 280, 299
Hallidie, Andrew Smith, 322
Harrison, B. Augustus, 62–63
Hart, William, 59, 60, 61–62
Hayes, Rutherford B., 382
Hays, John Coffee “Jack,” 100–102
background of, 100–101
militia for Williams Station reprisal and, 101–2
Hayward, Alvinza, 186, 189, 203, 214, 276–78, 280, 289, 290, 294, 296, 297, 298, 303, 430
Hearst, George, 429
background of, 63–65
Gould & Curry claim and, 77, 124, 125, 181
Homestake mine and, 378
Idaho mines explored by, 237
mines owned by, 69n, 416–17
Ophir shares sold by, 77, 88, 92
Rising Star mine, Idaho, and, 237, 240
Washoe Diggings and, 63, 67, 69–70
Hellman, Isaias W., 417
Hirschman, Adolph (’Dolf), 168
hoisting machinery, 171, 214, 301, 307
air circulation and, 304
air compressors for, 325–26
cage and compartments in, 215–17
Con. Virginia mine, 325–26, 353–55, 361
cost of, 121, 190, 204, 254
Ericsson caloric engine for, 107–8
fires and, 257–58, 262, 353–56, 357
horse, 197
incline in, 306–7
Mackay’s knowledge of, 23
safety issues with, 251
smooth and speedy descent in, 316
steam, 143, 156, 192, 199, 200–201, 208, 215, 219, 235
Houseworth, Valentine A., 69, 194–96
Houseworth Claim
Kentuck mine title issues and, 195
Mackay and Walker as heirs to, 196
Walker’s pursuit of quitclaim for, 196
Howland, Louise Meyer, 165, 193
Hughes, Thomas J., 70
Hungerford, Ada, 164, 167, 209, 379, 405
Hungerford, Daniel E.
background of, 100
mining stock speculation by, 166–67
move to Virginia City by, 164–65
move to San Francisco by, 167
Williams Station Indian massacre reprisal and, 101–2
Hungerford, Marie Louise
early life in Virginia City of, 164–65
first marriage to Dr. Bryant, 164–68, 193, 208–9, 210
second marriage to John Mackay. See Mackay, Louise
hydraulic mining, 35, 41, 171, 172, 278, 290
Idaho Territory mines
Comstock’s interest in, 175–76
investor interest in, 157, 189, 237
Mackay’s investment in, 240–41, 397, 416, 426
immigration. See also Irish immigrants
cholera in New York City and, 17–18, 22
Imperial-Empire mine, 241
Indians, ban on, as mine workers, 29
Indian tribes. See also specific tribes
anti-immigrant resentment among, 91
gold mining and culture of, 35, 78–79
Washoe Diggings mining and, 47–48, 50, 78–79
Williams brothers’ kidnapping of two Indian sisters and, 90–91
Williams Station massacre and, 90–92, 101, 102–3
International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), 431–32
Ireland
Mackay’s birth in, 5–6
Mackay’s return to, 285–86
potato crop failure and Great Hunger in, 11–12
poverty of tenants in, 6
Irish immigrants
cholera among, 22
discrimination against, 7, 12
education of children of, 10
Fair family as, 210–11
famine in Ireland and, 11–12
Mackay family as, 6–7, 9–11
New York City slum life and, 8–9
potato famine and, 11–12
poverty of, 6
as unskilled workers, 6–7, 11
Jay Cooke & Company, 321
Jessup, John, 58, 112
Jewell, Edward and William, 253, 254, 258
Johnson, W. B., 203
Jones, John Percival, 267, 297, 298
Crown Point mine and, 274, 275–77, 278, 280, 289, 294, 296, 307–8
mine fires and, 254, 259, 262, 263, 297
Nevada’s senatorial seat and, 295, 298, 379, 386, 398
Petaluma Mill and, 303
Juárez, Benito, 209
Keene, James, 397
Kennedy, Alec E., 75, 103
Kentuck mine, 194–98, 254
development loan for, 196–97, 198, 201
fires in, 254–64, 296
Houseworth Claim and flawed title to, 195–96
incorporation of, 196
lack of early mentions of, 194
Mackay and Walker’s ownership of, 194–98, 200–201, 208, 212–13, 214, 422
mining operations in, 197, 208
productivity of, 200, 214
safety issues at, 252
share price and dividends of, 200, 213, 214
Sharon’s ownership of, 213–14
steam-powered hoisting machinery in, 200–201
vein discovery and value of, 198
Killaha, Richard, 63
King, Thomas Starr, 164
Kirby, Joe, 59, 60
Knight, William, 56
Kustel, Guido, 240
Lake, Myron C., 233
land rights. See also mining claims
grazing agreements with Indians and, 91
Mexican Californianos’ loss of, 35
Washoe and Northern Paiute tribes in Utah and, 50
Larkin, Thomas O., 16
law enforcement
vigilance committees for, 164, 285–86
violence and shootings in Virginia City and, 111–12, 138, 163
laws and legislation. See also mining law
California-based banking corporations under, 182
company debt liability under, 347
company’s claiming two separate ledges under, 176
Gould’s use of, to control public corporations, 394
mine corporate governance and, 175
mining taxes and, 336
proposed ban on California capital in, 126, 127
silver coinage under, 309–10
Sunday law proposal and, 126–27
lawsuits
against Mackay for “unlawful intimacy,” 379
mine owners’ use of, 106, 136, 175–76
one-ledge theory and, 176–77
against Sharon, by woman companions, 407
Lee, Robert E., 139, 191, 192–93
Lent, William, 237
lifting pumps, 218–19
Lincoln, Abraham, 184
assassination of, 192–93
Civil War and, 140, 187, 191
distrust of paper money from, 134
election of, 122, 123, 151
Emancipation Proclamation by, 140
long toms (troughs), in gold mining, 28, 29
Mackay, Anna Case, 431
Mackay, Clarence (son)
adult life of, 419, 420, 424
birth of, 322–23
business dealings of, 425, 427, 430
childhood of, 402
marriages of, 426, 430–31
memorial to father from, 432
Mackay, Ellin (granddaughter), 165–66, 432
Mackay, Eva Bryant (daughter)
children of, 421, 422, 430
early life of, 165, 166, 193, 209, 248
European trips of, 284, 285, 302, 323, 383
hip operation of, 285, 301, 302
later lif
e and death of, 430
Mackay’s adoption of, 282
as Mackay’s stepdaughter, 272, 281–82
marriage of, 404, 405, 421–22
return to Virginia City by, 316, 323
brother Willie’s death and, 424–25
Mackay, Idaho, 416
Mackay, John
EARLY LIFE, 2, 5–11
early years in New York City of, 9–12
education of, 10, 168
first job as newsboy, 10–11, 128, 201, 384–85
Five Points slum background of, 8–11, 384, 414
immigration to New York City by, 6, 7–8
Irish birth of, 5–6
shipyard apprenticeship of, 12, 17, 21, 23, 128, 201
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
daughter’s hip operation and, 285, 301, 302
daughter’s marriage and, 421, 422
European vacations of, 284–85, 301–2, 315, 387, 388, 390, 413
Fairs’ divorce and, 389–90
Mackay’s death and burial and, 427
Mackay’s obituaries and, 427
Paris move and residence of, 366–67, 375, 377, 382–83, 393
San Francisco residence of, 319–20, 323–24
shooting of, 419–21
son Clarence’s birth and, 323
son Willie’s birth and, 272–73
son Willie’s death and, 424–25, 426
as special ambassador to Russian coronation, 390–91
MINES AND BUSINESSES
awareness of early stories about gold discovery, 22–23, 24
Belcher mine and, 287, 380
boardinghouse and office rooms used by, 206, 363, 386–87
Buck Ledge claim work of, 90, 113, 121, 135, 148
as Bullion mine superintendent, 236–37, 242, 267
Cedar Hill mine ownership by, 171–72, 173
Comstock Lode work of, 73–74, 75
Con. Virginia mine and, 291–293, 299–300, 310–11, 316–17, 320, 324–25
decision to leave Downieville and trek to Gold Hill by, 43
decision to sail to California by, 23
Dewey’s dispute with, 372–74, 379
Downieville mines and, 37, 39–41
early mining jobs of, 128
food and provisions in camp and, 77
Gold Hill mine and, 45–46
Gold Rush and, 36
Grant’s visit to Comstock mine and, 379–80
Hale & Norcross mine and, 242–43, 245, 249, 272, 283, 290, 302, 315
Kentuck mine and, 194–98, 200–201, 208, 212–13, 214
learning of mining techniques by, 29, 121–22
Mackay known as “Bonanza King” in, 336
Mackay’s wealth from, 364, 367, 381–82
Mackay’s insistence on clean, orderly work zones in mines and, 128
Mexican mine work of, 113–14
as Milton mine superintendent, 169, 170
mining taxes and, 336, 337
multiple jobs held simultaneously by, 90, 114
Nevada Bank of San Francisco and, 338, 340, 341, 351, 410–12
Ophir mine shares of, 158, 329, 362