Shorty Harris Death Valley Ballarat Panamint Beatty Museum and Historical Society Touring Topics
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RECONNOITERING
IN THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA & GREAT BASIN |
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Great Basin Research |
Essay
- Historical People
Diminutive
Demise - Last Years and Death of Shorty Harris
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In 1997 I was asked by the Beatty Museum and Historical Society to write up an article for their newsletter outlining the last years and death of one of Death Valley's most colorful characters and prolific prospectors - Frank "Shorty" Harris. It was published in the January-February 1998 issue. This is the story. |
Diminutive
Demise
(The
Death of Frank "Shorty" Harris)
by
David A. Wright
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"While the sun sank slowly into the purple haze that filters over Death Valley at twilight and taps sounded in the clear air of this mysterious land he knew so well, "Shorty" Harris, miner, Good Samaritan and friend to all who knew him, was laid to rest in a dusty grave on the valley floor last Sunday afternoon." -- November 16, 1934 Inyo Independent |
So
said the November 16, 1934 Inyo
Independent,
the historic tabloid of Inyo County, California, commenting at the
gathering of humanity in the land of the dead. They came from far and
near to bid farewell to the "Short Man" of Death Valley,
whose life has been celebrated and chronicled here in past issues.
Now we examine his death, for his tomb can be easily visited upon
today. Shorty Harris spent much of his life at Death Valley, but his
last months were spent in the shadows of the mighty Sierra Nevada
Range, about 100 miles northwesterly of his beloved stomping grounds.
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"‘Shorty’ Harris, dean of all desert prospectors, died at the age of 74 years in a cabin at Big Pine, where he had sought rest and health following an illness about a year ago. He passed away in the restful sleep that he had sought." -- November 16, 1934 Inyo Independent |
Harris
was quite active during his last days, but he had a penchant to keep
searching for the end of the rainbow nearly up to the end.
In the year 1933, Shorty underwent three major operations. Then in the wintertime of that year, another incident nearly killed him. If one scrutinizes a photo of his residence in the old adobe schoolhouse at Ballarat published in Harris’ autobiography in the October 1930 issue of Touring Topics, one cannot help but notice the rear portion of the side wall having a serious tilt, it being propped up by what appears to be a 4"x4" piece of lumber. It may have been that particular wall that prompted a telegram sent from Trona, 27 miles south of Ballarat, stating:
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"Wall fell on me. Hurry. Bring doctor. Shorty Harris." |
That
telegram was sent from Trona in Shorty’s behalf as he lay under
the rubble of an adobe wall for more than 2½ days without
medication or pain relief. While in his cabin, he had pulled on a
wire protruding from the adobe wall and brought it down upon himself.
Those who came to Shorty’s aid thought that surely this would
be the end of Shorty’s life, even planning for his funeral as
he was being dug out. But Shorty had other plans for the time being,
and was planning his next trip as he lay in his hospital bed.
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"I’m loosing a thousand dollars a day lying here. Why, that ledge --" |
Shorty
recuperated in the home of William Curuthers, friend and author.
During that time, erroneous news of his death was broadcast over
Associated Press that Harris had died. That brought scores of people
to pay their last respects, including one man who was a partner with
Harris in Leadville, Colorado.
After Shorty recovered, he returned to Ballarat. Doctors orders were to rest for three months.
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"I’m loosing $5,000,000 a day sitting here. Soon as you’re rested, we’ll start. You’ll be in shape by day after tomorrow, won’t you?" |
That
day after tomorrow brought an expedition by Harris and Curuthers up
Hall Canyon in the Panamint Range behind the Indian Ranch . That
canyon rises nearly perpendicular up the face of Telescope Peak from
the Panamint Valley floor. The two climbed for seven hours and
covered a distance of about 3½ miles, but returning, Harris
collapsed. Both of them stumbled down the mountain and Shorty
stumbled again. Curuthers grabbed him literally by the seat of his
pants before we went headlong over a cliff. After a long period of
time, Curuthers managed to get Harris back to Ballarat. Shorty was
unconscious most of the way. The next morning, it was expected that
Shorty would be found dead, but instead they found him chopping
firewood.
Curuthers claims it was to him that Shorty uttered the famous words found inscribed upon his epitaph:
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"Here lies Shorty Harris, a single blanket jackass prospector." |
On
a Saturday morning of November 10, 1934, Shorty got his wish when he
gave up his last breath. He spent his last days at Big Pine,
California, about 120 miles by today’s road from Ballarat. He
was laid to rest the following day at the spot he wished next to Jim
Dayton.
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"The simple service, when the last rites were pronounced, was beautiful in the quiet solitude of the great valley. Chaplain Henry of the C.C.C. camp at Cow Creek, officiated at the open-air burial service. One hundred and fifty C.C.C. boys were present, bowing their heads out of respect for the grand old man of the desert, whose stories of early Death Valley, of burrow-prospecting days, have been chronicled far and wide by writers of national repute. The body was lowered in the grave exactly at sunset and more than 300 people stood quietly at attention as taps sounded. ... The burial of ‘Shorty’ Harris went down in history as the first Christian burial in Death Valley, altho [sic] there had been many more who were buried there in shallow graves before, without Christian services." -- November 16, 1934 Inyo Independent |
It
took over a year before the monument found today adorned the dual
graves of Shorty Harris and his friend, Jim Dayton. It required
approval of the then adolescent Death Valley National Monument to
give permission for a stone and bronze memorial for Harris. Finally,
on March 14, 1936, the monument was dedicated.
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"MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT DESERT GRAVES - ABLE ADDRESS GIVEN BY REV. J.J. CROWLEY "About two hundred people were present, including Colonel White, Superintendent of Sequoia National Park and Death Valley National Monument, friends of Shorty and Jimmy, and desert-lovers from all over California, at the dedication of the memorial at the graves of Jimmy Dayton and Shorty Harris in Death Valley last Saturday afternoon. Acting Director T.R. Goodwin of the Monument opened the program with an explanation of the history of the spot, Jimmy's death there in 1898 and Shorty's desire to be buried by his side. He thanked Supervisor Charles Brown, who had donated the bronze tablet in memory of these pioneers, and had given Shorty a home in his latter days. Supervisor Brown spoke briefly on his happiness in the tribute now being paid to Shorty. Mr. Goodwin read telegrams from absent well-wishers whose hearts were gladdened by the occasion. Albert Stovall, who had worked side by side with Shorty in the old days, related three characteristically humorous anecdotes of the diminutive miner and told of his affection for Jimmy Dayton, whom Shorty called "the best friend I ever had." William Caruthers, writer, friend of Shorty's and of that lamented lover of the desert men, Harry Carr, told of his respect for Shorty, and of how he hoped some day to publish his notes on this lovable soul. He pointed out that Shorty had spent his life looking for gold, but that today, when this group had gathered to pay him tribute, he had found true gold. Father Crowley, Catholic pastor of Inyo county, gave an address ‘in Memoriam.’ Col. White thanked all who came and showed how the Park Service had found in Death Valley the generation of miners that had succeeded Shorty and Jimmy, and through good roads and memorials such as this endeavoring to render accessible and perpetuate the grandeur of the valley and to assure the miners every protection in their labors. Mrs. Brown, assisted by Harry Gower, Superintendent of the Pacific Coast Borax interests in Death Valley, then unveiled the tablet ..." -- Inyo Register, March 19, 1936 |
Unlike
the majority of those of the dead that lay in the shadow of the
Valley of Death, the name of Shorty Harris is known by most with even
a rudimentary knowledge of Nevada and California history. Unlike
Harris, who walked in the peace and tranquillity of Death Valley in
the trailing dust of many a burro, modern adventurers trail dust from
under air conditioned Explorers, Outbacks, Blazers, and Pathfinders;
many of these easily find their way to Harris’ now only
relatively "lonely" grave, situated 20 miles south of
Furnace Creek Ranch.
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Shorty would have loved it that way. |
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©
1997 David A. Wright
All Rights Reserved
REFERENCES:
Newspapers:
Inyo
Independent,
[Independence, CA] November 16, 1934
Inyo
Register,
[Bishop, CA] March 19, 1936
Books:
DESERT
PADRE: THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF FATHER JOHN J. CROWLEY 1891-1940,
©1997, Brooks, Joan
EXPLORER’S
GUIDE TO DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, THE,
©1995, Bryan, T. Scott and Bryan, Betty Tucker
LOAFING
ALONG DEATH VALLEY TRAILS: A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES,
©1951, by Caruthers, William
PETE
AGUEREBERRY: DEATH VALLEY PROSPECTOR & GOLD MINER,
©1982, Pipkin, George C.
Periodicals:
HALF
A CENTURY CHASING RAINBOWS -
Touring
Topics
[American Automobile Association of Southern California], October
1930
Other:
Transcribed
verbal notes from trip December 20, 1997 and other research notes by
D.A. Wright
©1997,
2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 D.A. Wright
All Rights Reserved
Revised:
