Newspaper List
Beatty Bullfrog Miner – Beatty, Nevada [was called the Bullfrog Miner during first two months of publication – not to be confused with the Bullfrog Miner, of Rhyolite, Nevada]
Inyo Independent – Independence, California
Inyo Register – Bishop, California
Rhyolite Herald – Rhyolite, Nevada

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Latest Entries Made: 08/05/2008

Death Valley, California / Nevada
(General Death Valley Items Outside of Townships)

Note: Newspaper articles quoted will be formatted in Courier New font with white background to simulate newspaper formatting.

Newspaper Articles
1903
Inyo Independent,July 24, 1903
“NARROW ESCAPE IN DEATH VALLEY.”
“Henry Fellows, a well known prospector who arrived recently, had a narrow escape in Death Valley two weeks ago. Fellows lost his burro and attempted to make his way across the desert from Funeral mountains to Panamint range, but lost his reckoning and wandered ten or twelve miles out of the way. His water supply was exhausted, and he had laid down on the sands to die when he was discovered by a passing miner and taken to camp at Anvil Springs. He remained there about a week, during which time he entirely recovered from his terrible experience. Fellows says he has had several trying ordeals in the years that he has been prospecting on the deserts, but this was his closest call, as he literally was in the shadow of death, and had relief been an hour later in reaching him all would have been over. Fellows will go back to the desert in a few days.”

1905
Bullfrog Miner, April 22, 1905
“PICK AND SKULL: WEIRD FIND BY PROSPECTORS IN DEATH VALLEY”
“Three weeks ago H.F. Porch, Oscar Jameson, Chas. Erickson and others stampeded to Death Valley on a hunt for gold. At a place called Hole-in-the-Rock, 10 miles south of Daylight Springs, the party camped. In an effort to level the ground for his blankets under a rock, Hoodlum Jack struck his pick into a skull of a man buried near the surface. The grinning skull parted from the body and adhered to the pick. It was a weird sight and will not soon be forgotten by the party. The lonely grave was repaired and the unknown occupant left to his rest. There was no time for investigation, and it will probably never be known whether friend or foe gave the unknown such a shallow grave.”

Inyo Register, May 4, 1905
“STRUCK HIS PICK INTO A SKULL.”
“Three weeks ago H.F. Porch, Oscar Jameson, Charles Erickson, and others, stampeded to Death Valley on a hunt for gold. At a place called Hole-In-The-Rock, ten miles south of Daylight Springs, the party eamped [sic]. In an effort to level the ground for his blankets under a rock, Hoodlum Jack struck his pick into the skull of a man buried near the surface. The grinning skull parted from the body and adhered to the pick. It was a weird sight and will not soon be forgotten by the party. There was no time for the investigation and it will probably never be known whether friend or foe gave the unknown such a shallow grave. – Bullfrog Miner.”

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, May 13, 1905
“BEWARE OF ARSENIC”
“The water question is discussed in various phazes [sic], usually in reference to the supply. There is one side however which should be watched, no only in this but every other mining camp, the mine water. Many a death in Death Valley resulted from drinking water containing arsenic and other minerals in solution. Post mortems, it is said, in Tonopah, on some of the alleged pneumonia deaths showed unmistakable signs of arsenic.
There is no need in Beatty or this vicinity for any one to drink any but good water, which is here in abundance.
Another good thing is to drop a lithia tablet in water before drinking. The idea is to precipitate to the bottom any alkali, and then leave a little water in the cup.”

Rhyolite Herald, June 16, 1905
"PERISHED IN DEATH VALLEY"
“Prospectors crossing Death Valley have recently found three dead burros; which died in the harness. The burros were packed with provisions, etc., and without doubt belong to some prospector who may have met a similar fate. Lack of water was the probable cause. An old man named Vipon left Goldfield several weeks ago with three burros and it may be that he is the prospector who has perished.
James Cushing, James Mahoney and Will O'Brien returned this week from a prospecting trip in the Funeral range. Mr. Cushing says that the thermometer in Death Valley registered 140 (above) one day during their stay in the valley. The atmosphere was like the hot blast from a furnace.”

Rhyolite Herald June 23, 1905
“REPORTED BY SHORTY HARRIS.”
“Shorty Harris, well known pioneer prospector, has returned from Death valley and reports the finding of four dead men on the desert. The skeleton of one man was found about twelve miles north of Lone Willow. In the hills about 8 miles away, a horse was found running alone, and it is supposed that the animal belonged to the dead man.
At Furnace Creek ranch, Mr. Harris learned of the finding of three partially decomposed bodies between Lee's camp in Echo canon and the Lida C. [sic] borax mine, at the foot of a low hill on the north side of the Funeral range. The presence of the bodies was first reported at Ash Meadows by an Indian, who was attracted to the spot by a band of coyotes and a multitude of flies that swarmed about the remains. The Indian said that the bodies appeared to have been partially buried as there was considerable loose dirt over them, and it is believed from that that [doubled word] the desert travelers met foul play. The fact that these bodies were found close together indicates that the men were murdered.
Some connect these men with the three dead burros found at Salt Creek 35 miles away, the burros having traveled on another day or so before perishing.
Another horror of the desert is reported from Johnnie, a mining camp in that section, two man, raving maniacs, having been picked up on the plains. The unfortunate men were taken to Johnnie where everything possible is being done to bring them back to sanity. It is one of the stages of death from thirst for men to go crazy. The tongue swells up and becomes black, and very often a man made crazy from thirst will undress and wander about naked.
Daylight Springs, says Mr. Harris, ic [sic] going dry and will be exhausted within two weeks. Hole-in-the-Rock it [sic] now dry. There is a new water hole called Salt Well, 12 miles north of Furnace Creek. The water is somewhat salty but does very well for stock.”

Rhyolite Herald, June 30, 1905
“DEATH VALLEY ITEMS”
“Single Blanket Zeke, or the Death Valley sleuth, has discovered the lost Breyfogle mine but is unable to take his friends to take his friends [doubled phrase] to the spot. The other night, after being away for a week, he came in staggering, weak from the loss of blood, with a deep gash in his head and with the wild look of a maniac. In his disheveled hair, mingled with dirt and blood, were flakes of gold. Zeke is still out of his head and the boys haven’t been able to get a line on the location of the find, but they think it is the lost mine, sure, this time, as all Zeke can say to Mr. Fitz Folgle, proprietor of the thirst Dispensary is, “Dry Fogle, Dry Folgle.”
Funeral range is having a revival in the mining line. It has been pretty dead around here for some years, and this sudden resurrection will be welcomed, you bet.
Sandy Boosom had the misfortune to fall off from Coffin Cliff night before last. It laid him out.
There is some talk of establishing a sanitarium at Brimstone Springs. The water is hot and will boil an egg in a jiffy. Some folks think it would be like gettin’ at touch of the hereafter to take a plunge in one of those bubbling broilers. Might be a good place to start a reformation.
For the benefit of travelers who may desire to visit this section without a guide we will say that the best way to get into Death valley from the east is via Devil’s Gap. This is a narrow saddle between two prominent hills of solid rock, known as Pitchfork Peak and Mount Eternity. The road or path is known as Tarantula Trail. The prominent rock on the left, about a mile up the gap, is called Judgment Rock, for it is a fable that whoever passed this point left hope behind, and hundreds of weary travelers who hit this trail some years ago left their bones to bleach upon the desert not far beyond. The Imps’ Cave, where thousands of years ago dwelt the dwarfs, is an interesting stopping place. There is a fable that these people were cursed by their Creator and that they retrograted [sic] instead of advancing, until in these latter days they have degenerated into Gila monsters. There are thousands of them. Then you pass over the Bridge of Sighs in crossing Furnace Creek, which is a steaming, seething stream, but once you dip the water from the channel it instantly becomes cool and refreshing. Fish caught from this creek are cooked and ready for lunch. This is one reason why so many visitors – those who have been here before – bring no meat with them. Along this stream are fine field grasses, and many who come here find it a good place to harvest their wild oats which they have sown in days gone by. Repentance ranch is a favorite road house. The mourner's bench is always in commission.
The air in Death valley is actually embalming.
PHIL SPACE.”

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, July 5, 1905
"SUMMER PROSPECTING."
“During the past few days several very gruesome finds of dead and unknown men have been made on the desert in the neighborhood of Death Valley, where they perished from thirst. Prospectors, especially those who are unacquainted with the lay of the country, should hesitate before starting for there. Many were the emigrants who died from the same cause even in the winter time, and now with the hottest part of the year approaching, it is a hazardous undertaking even if one is familiar with the place where water can be had. It must be pleasant to be in the middle of some unknown desert with not enough water in a canteen to make it swash audible and a great number of miles of sand to be traversed in the glare of the burning sun before it can be refilled. The dead bodies of which four were found recently in a group with eight burros all dead bear out the pleasantry of the above, and a second warning is given to those intending going.
The attention of the summer prospectors is called to the news from the Panamint mountains in another column. Many prospectors are now in that country where there is both wood and water.”

Inyo Register, July 13, 1905.
“The story of deaths in the desert becomes monotonous reading and warnings against the perils of travel there are scarcely less so. If repetition can deter one person against taking the trip unprepared for emergencies, all that has been printed will have gone for a good cause. Therefore we republish this from the Goldfield News:
R.T. Joy, of Goldfield, who recently returned from a prospecting trip in the Funeral range and portions of Death Valley, gives a vivid description of the terrors of that country in the summer, which should be ample warning to the many misguided prospectors now headed for that country without proper knowledge of its topography or proper preparations for the conditions that must be met.
Mr. Joy said: “It is nothing less than foolhardy for prospectors to go into that country depending on their own resources at this time of the year. It is a good country to keep away from. The heat is almost intolerable, and the scarcity of water is another awful drawback. Our party was camped twenty miles from the nearest spring, and you can readily imagine that the greater portion of our time was taken up in getting water for ourselves and animals, and we had little time to prospect.
“Nearly everyday we met one or more parties of prospectors, and almost the first question that they asked us was: ‘where is the nearest spring or water-hole?’ They did not seem to care to look for mineral, and I do not blame them. I heard of several burros being fouad [sic] dead with their packs on, but dtd [sic] not see them myself. That many prospectors will loose their lives in the Funeral range and Death Valley this summer is almost certain. Hundreds of them are scattered all over the country, and the majority are going it blind, without the slightest knowledge of the topography of the country or the location of the springs which are few and far between. From what I saw and heard of the Funeral range I believe it is rich in the precious metals, but it would have to be in the shape of bullion to entice me to return during the warm weather.”

Rhyolite Herald, July 21, 1905
“WHERE ARE TITUS AND WELLER?”
“Morris Titus and Earle Weller may be dead somewhere in the Funeral Range or Death Valley, or they may be wondering what has become of John Mullin and a satchel that contains some of their letters and papers. At any rate, John Mullin and the satchel are safe for the present. John Mullin arrived in Rhyolite Saturday night and told his story.
Some time in June the three men left Rhyolite with two horses and 19 burros on a prospecting trip, enroute to the Funeral Range. After some meandering they found themselves shy on water. It was late one afternoon when they came into the shelter of a steep cliff and fund the ground slightly moist. A small hole was dug but only a little water could be obtained, enough perhaps for the men alone. Titus took some of the burros and started to find water, expecting to pack same back to camp. At daybreak he had not returned and Weller took the rest of the burros and went in search of Titus, instructing Mullin to wait until he returned. The provisions were left with Mullin. Within 24 hours Mullin became terribly worried.
He was then visited by a Mexican who was on his way from a wood camp to Lone Pine. Sixteen days later the Mexican returned that way and found Mullin still at the camp, laying upon the ground. He offered him water and Mullin jumped up quickly, as if awakened from a trance, and drank. The Mexican helped him to the wood camp and secured a team and wagon so that Mullin could return to Rhyolite, the Mexican accompaning [sic] him here. The Mexican reports finding the two horses dead near the camp, the animals having died from thirst. On the trail the Mexican observed a board with writing upon it, but as he is unable to read English he can give no information as to the wording. He thinks, however, that the board was placed on the trail by the two men who are no lost.
Mullin was certainly in bad shape, showing the effect of a dreadful ordeal, but is believed that he was temporarily insane with worry, as there was enough water in the hole near the camp to keep him from suffering with thirst; at least the Mexican so reports it. No attempt has been made to locate Titus and Weller in the mountains, as it was about three weeks after their departure that Mullin landed here with the news. The men hail from Telluride, Colo.”

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, July 22, 1905
“A FAKE STORY.”
“R.P. Reed came in from Furnace Creek in the Funeral Range last week. He states that nothing whatever was known at the Furnace Creek ranch about recent reported find of four dead men and eight burros in Death Valley. This was a yarn which seems to have been concocted in the imagination of “Shorty” Harris, the desert tourist, and discoverer of the famous Original Bullfrog mine. Shorty would receive a warm reception from angry prospectors if he were found in that country. Furnace Creek ranch is an oasis like Beatty with water and timber on the ranch, fruit trees, figs, melons, vegetables and vineyard. It belongs to the Pacific Coast Borax Co. and is on the road to the big Borax mine. C.G. Lent is the manager. The postoffice address is Beatty.”

Rhyolite Herald, July 28, 1905
"JIM RIFF MAY BE LOST."
“Pete Johnson came in Wednesday night from Hole-In-The-Wall, on the north edge of Death Valley and reported that Jim Riff was lost. Johnson and Riff left Rhyolite about ten days ago on a prospecting trip in the Funeral range. They had been gone about six days when both of them became lost in the hills. When their canteens became empty, Riff was exhausted and was unable to travel. Johnson found the camp after some wandering, and after eating a meal and filling his canteen he started back to find Riff, but could not locate him. Johnson went back to camp and then came to Rhyolite. Yesterday morning, Johnson and Paul Wright, Riff's partner, left to search for the missing man. Johnson and Riff were camped about six months from Hole-In-The-Wall.”

Rhyolite Herald, August 4, 1905
“JIM RIFF MAY BE LOST.”
“Pete Johnson came in Wednesday night from Hole-in-the-Wall, on the north edge of Death Valley and reported that Jim Riff was lost. Johnson and Riff left Rhyolite about ten days ago on a prospecting trip in the Funeral range. They had been gone about six days when both of them became lost in the hills. When their canteens became empty, Riff was exhausted and was unable to travel. Johnson found the camp after some wandering, and after eating a meal and filling his canteen he started back to find Riff, but could not locate him. Johnson went back to camp then came to Rhyolite. Yesterday morning, Johnson and Paul Wright, Riff's partner, left to search for the missing man. Johnson and Riff were camped about six months [?] from Hole-in-the-Wall.

Rhyolite Herald, August 11, 1905
“NEWS OF THE DEATH VALLEY WANDERERS.”
“Friends of Jim Riff have given him up for lost. He was followed as far as Death Valley, where his trail was lost, and there is every reason to believe that he has perished.
The finding of three bodies at the head of Death Valley is believed to determine the fate of Earle Weller and John Titus, the companions of John Mullin. The third man is supposed to be Capt. Hargrave of the Bullfrog district.
H.G. McMahon, who returned from Death Valley a few days ago, reports a horrible sight at Furnace Creek ranch, where he saw the remains of a man who perished on the desert. The coyotes have eaten most of the flesh from the bones, leaving little more than a skeleton, housed in clothing torn to shreds and colored with blood. The man was dressed in a khaki coat set with large bone buttons; a blue serge vest and blue overalls. The coat had been removed before death and was not molested by the coyotes. The man's front teeth on both the upper and lower jaws were broken off, as if he had been struck with a weapon or sustained the injury in falling. The coat is a large size, 40 or bigger. The body was found August 1, one and one-half miles from Furnace Creek ranch. There is no clue to the identity of the man.
Mr. Martin, proprietor of the Grapevine ranch near the head of Death Valley, has informed the Herald of the finding of three burros now at his place. One burro was bridled, and th eother two were packed with provisions and clothing. Two coats were found in the pack, one a No. 42 and the other a small one, perhaps 30. In the larger coat were found letters and papers, among which were a letter from T.C. Tridel to Capt. L. Bethune and a copy of a telegram signed by Bethune and addressed to a party in Randsburg. The telegram stated that Bethune would meet the party in Randsburg as soon as possible. An Indian employed at the ranch saw one man and four burros passing that way a day or two before, and the three burros are probably from that bunch. Bethune has a copper proposition near Death Valley. He is believed to be the latest victim of the desert.”

Rhyolite Herald, August 18, 1905
"TIM RYAN THE LATEST VICTIM."
“A letter from Frank McCallister and Fred L. Mason, dated Furnace Creek ranch Aug. 10, tells of the finding of the body of Tim Ryan, a prospector well known in Rhyolite. Ryan's body was found at 2 a.m., Aug. 9 on the trail five miles from the ranch and was buried where found. He was last seen alive 11 a.m., Aug. 8. It is thought he died from effects of drinking poisoned water.”

Rhyolite Herald, August 18, 1905
“No further news having been received from Capt. Bethume [sic], it is believed that he has perished in Death Valley with the many victims that have “gone over the range” by that route.”

Rhyolite Herald, August 25, 1905
“LOCAL PANNINGS.”
“... Mr. Weller, of Telluride, Colo., has been in Rhyolite to investigate the alleged deaths of his son, Earle C. Weller, and his son-in-law, John Titus, whose bodies were reported found in Death Valley. Mr. Weller will remove the bodies to Telluride if he succeeds in locating them.”

Rhyolite Herald, September 1, 1905
“BODIES OF TITUS AND WELLER HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND.”
“After making a careful search, James Weller, of Telluride, Colo., has returned home via Rhyolite, and has given up all hope of ever finding a trace of his missing son and son-in-law, about whose fate in Death Valley there can be no mistake. Mr. Weller had given up the hope of finding the boys alive, but meant to secure the remains and take them back to Colorado for burial. He was unable to ascertain facts regarding the bodies said to have been found in the north end of the valley on July, 1, and which were believed to be the bodies of Earle C. Weller and John Titus. Mr. Weller was accompanied on the trip south by Ed Watson, who returned here with him the first of the week. A.B. Cook joined them at the Furnace Creek ranch. At Grapevine ranch, they found seven of the burros that had wandered there, and at Mosquit [sic] springs they found three dead burros, that were said to have belonged to the Weller-Titus outfit. The trail which the boys took on their fatal trip was followed, and from their observations the party came to the conclusion that the boys had gone down the wrong canon in search of the spring. This canon is very steep, and while it is easily reached from above, the back trail is a difficult proposition for a pack train. The boys separated at that place, hoping to find sufficient water for the burros, although from the seepage there was enough water for the men. It was at this seepage that the Mexican found Mullin, the only surviving member of the prospecting party. Messrs. Weller, Watson and Cook followed the trail of burros far into the valley, wandered over the hills and through the washes, but returned with no clue to the missing men, except that they must have perished. On this trip, Mr. Weller found letters and papers belonging to Judge Bethune, whose disappearance was announced in the Herald three weeks ago.
Earle C. Weller was 25 years of age, weighed 180 pounds and wore a full beard of red whiskers. On his skull is a deep scar by which he may be identified if his bones are found. John Titus was a much smaller man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a short, dark beard. He leaves a wife and child at Telluride, the child being but a babe of ten months. One of the boys carried a combination pocket knife and both were supposed to have had a fair sum of money. They left Telluride April 30 and it is supposed that they died about the 27^th of June.”

Rhyolite Herald, September 1, 1905
“It is reported here that Roy Newton has perished in Death Valley, and that a companion has gone crazy.”

Rhyolite Herald, September 8, 1905
“ROY NEWTON IS HOME AGAIN.”
“Roy Newton and Peter Arzel, who were reported lost in Death Valley, returned to Rhyolite Wednesday evening. So general had the rumor of Newton's death become, that to his friends his appearance was like one coming back from the grave, but Newton assures the boys that there was no reason why the stores were started about himself and his companion. They were at no time without food or water, although both of them were sick while crossing the valley. When the climbed the Panamint range they grew better rapidly and continued on to Harrisbury, their original destination. Parties returning from the Panamint report that the boys were sick and the next man who talked about Newton said he was dead. These Death Valley stories do go some when they get a start.”

Rhyolite Herald, September 29, 1905
“MINER'S MOVEMENTS”
“C.H. McKinnon, who with A.R. Johnson, is prospecting in the Grapevine range, returned to Rhyolite for additional supplies and started on the back track Tuesday. He reports finding a waterbag and some boards in the canyon down which Titus and Weller are supposed to have gone on their fateful trip. They must have passed within a quarter of a mile of the spring they were in search of, but took the wrong canyon. McKinnon and Johnson will go about fifteen miles beyond their present camp. Rock that looks good has already been found but panning failed to show colors.”

Rhyolite Herald, October 27, 1905
"BODY OF RIFF FOUND: LOST IN DEATH VALLEY IN AUGUST, PARTNER GOES TO BURY REMAINS."
“John Stuckey came in last night and reported that his party has found the body of Jim Riff about five miles in a westerly direction from Hole-In-The-Rock. Paul Wright, Riff's partner, will leave tomorrow for the place where the body now is, and will take a coffin in which to bury the remains. Riff was going through Death Valley with Pete Johnson, about the first of August, when their water gave out. Riff gave up and Johnson managed to get to camp, but when he returned to find his partner, the latter had wandered away, probably in delirium and was lost.”

Rhyolite Herald, November 3, 1905
"WALTER SCOTT WILL RECOVER"
"Los Angeles, Nov. 1 - Walter Scott, the Death Valley miner who was thrown from an automobile, is not fatally injured. Further examination disclose no injuries likely to prove permanent. Although severely hurt, the miner will recover."

Inyo Independent, November 10, 1905
“SOUTHERN INYO NOTES”
“About October 22nd a party lead by George Andersen found the partly nude body of George Rifft [sic], a carpenter, near Hole in the Rocks in the northeast end of Death Valley.”

Inyo Independent, November 17, 1905
“THE STUKEY PARTY FROM GOLDFIELD”
“In taking a shortcut by Willow springs, into Death valley, they came upon the body of James Riff, a Rhyolite prospector, who perished not far from water on the 3rd of last August. They felt it their duty to return to Rhyolite to report their gruesome find, and this delayed them several days.”

1906

Rhyolite Herald, January 5, 1906
Summary: Borax Smith's wife dead of apoplexy.

Rhyolite Herald, January 5, 1906
“MYSTERIOUS ‘SCOTT’ IS STILL ON EARTH!”
Summary: Two people, L. Near and Tom Branick has just ventured in from six weeks prospecting in the Panamint and Funeral Ranges. They ran into Walter Scott. There was some evidence that Scott might have been killed, but they spent two days with Scott at his camp. They ventured to say that his mine is on the east slope of the Panamint and not in the Funeral Range. And uh they said here that the camp is located sixty miles from Harrisburg.

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, January 20, 1906
"DEATH VALLEY"
“In a recent letter to the Los Angeles Examiner, S.R. Fail [sic], well known in Beatty, says: The valley is full of sign boards, and if a man uses common sense he cannot get lost.
There is no better winter climate in the world than that of the valley, and it is not as bad as pictured in the summer time. I spent the summer of 1904 there and was none the worse for it; in fact it is better than New York or Chicago in the same season.
There was no occasion for the numerous deaths reported from the valley last summer, as these happened because the men would leave the trails and wagon roads, trying to make short cuts.”

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, May 26, 1906:
“DEATH VALLEY”
“Some hair-breadth escapes and two deaths are already reported to the discredit of Death Valley. Men from Beatty cross that desert every day, but do not confirm these stories.
True there is danger in crossing Death Valley without taking water and the ordinary precautions during the hot season.
Prospectors know the conditions and take no chances.”

Inyo Register July 26, 1906
“OLD WILD ROSE LOCATIONS”
“EDITOR REGISTER -- Mention was made in the Tonopah Sun July 19th of the finding of a notice bearing the name of Ed Hall, on a mine near Emigrant Springs.
As this brings to mind some scenes and events of other days, the writer feels assured that a passing notice of Ed Hall may prove to be of interest to many of your readers.
At the beginning of the civil war Hall was living at the San Emidio ranch, south of Bakersfield, and being of southern birth felt it his duty to return home and cast lot with his people. He served as cavalryman throughout the war, was wounded several times but survived and came back to San Emidio about 1870. He came out to Panamint in the fall of 1874, when he discovered several mines in the first canyon north of Panamint (Surprise) canyon, from which incident the canyon derived its name of Hall’s canyon, which it still retains.
During the summer of 1875 he came out to Wild Rose, making that his headquarters and frequently taking short trips northward. This he kept up through the following winter. He usually had for a companion one Jim Cummings. He was working one of his locations some four miles north of Wild Rose when Irwin, Lent & Co. purchased the Garibaldi mine in 1876, and so continued for some time after, but as the camps went down he went to Darwin and turned his attention to other business. He finally died at or near Mojave, some twelve years ago.
He was one of that type of men that if one could not say of him anything very good, no man could say with truth anything bad. And it was with pleasure that the writer read his name thus linked with early days. Although quiet and unassuming, laying no claim to high birth or distinction, he was in all an American.
M. PAGE.”

1907
Inyo Register, July 25, 1907
Summary: Murder of John Pavlovich at Steinenger Ranch, Grapevine Canyon, Death Valley.

Inyo Register, September 5, 1907
“AN OLD DISTRICT REVIVED.”
“The old Ibex property, which made some Inyo mining history about thirty years ago, has been acquired by the Bush Brothers, of Rhyolite. Their group is situated about two and a half miles from the principal Ibex mine and four miles from the Confidence mines, on the east side of the southern end of the Funeral Range -- approachable from Panamint Valley only by way of Windy Gap -- and is called the Orient. The mines were located a year ago last June, by John Erickson, John Hale and Otto Donnell, of whom the last named died from heat. Checked sample assays of the ore run up to $1000 a ton in gold, silver and copper. The railroad is putting new life in many old localities out that way, and the new owners promise to make things hum thereabouts this winter.”

Inyo Register, September 5, 1907
Summary: Arrest of a Greek man at Steinenger Ranch in charge of murder of John Pavlovich.

Inyo Register, September 19, 1907
“SLAIN IN DEATH VALLEY.”
|”A press report states that Charles Blakeslee, formally of Goldfield, but later a resident of Fresno, was shot and killed in Death Valley on the 6th inst. It is stated that he was on the trail of a desperado for whom a big reward was offered, and was killed while trying to place him under arrest; that officers from both Inyo and San Bernardino are on the trail of the outlaw, whose name could not be learned. No particular locality is given as the scene of this occurrence, which would have been an easy matter if the even had transpired in Death Valley proper. But newspeople generally have the bad habit of designating as Death Valley all of the Amargosa wash, including several contiguous regions. Properly the name applies only to the country lying between the Funeral and Panamint ranges, from where the Amargosa waters turn and run north – when they do run, to the sink.”

Inyo Register, October 3, 1907
Summary: Trial of Argento, a Greek at Steinenger's Ranch, Death Valley, who is accused of murdering John Pavlovich.

Inyo Register, October 10, 1907
“TOO HANDY WITH HIS GUN.”
“It is reported that Jack Keane, one of the original owners of the Keane Wonder before the property passed to the present company operating it and well known here, killed a man in Ireland and got 17 years in the penitentiary for the offense. No details however are procurable and the truth of the report cannot be vouched for. Keane went to Ireland some time ago to visit his old home.
He has been mixed up in several shooting scrapes in this part of the country, only recently having been engaged in an affray of this kind at Ballarat in which he shot and seriously crippled a couple of men. When drinking he usually resorts to his gun on very slight provocation.” – Bullfrog Miner

Rhyolite Herald, November 3, 1905
“WALTER SCOTT WILL RECOVER”
“Los Angeles, Nov. 1. - Walter Scott, the Death Valley miner who was thrown from an automobile, is not fatally injured. Further examination disclosed no injuries likely to prove permanent. Although severely hurt the miner will recover.”

Inyo Register, December 26, 1907
Summary: Jury hung in case of Argentos, who murdered John Pavlovich at Steinenger's Ranch in Death Valley.

1908
Inyo Register, February 20, 1908
Summary: Argentos, the Greek, found guilty in murder of John Pavlovich.

Inyo Register, May 7, 1908
"INFORMATION WANTED."
Summary: Request for information about Thomas Graves, a blacksmith, who worked in the mining camps. Mr. Graves is said to have died months ago in the Death Valley region. His mother is a poor widow and anxious to get news of her son.

Rhyolite Herald, May 13, 1908
“CONQUERING THE DESERT BY THE BUILDING OF RAILROADS”
“(by Robt. E. Rinhart in World’s Work)
Into the desert town of Rhyolite there puffed and pulled one day last autumn and undersized locomotive with its coal tender, or rather oil tank, and half a dozen dust covered coaches, including a private car and several Pullman sleepers. From these coaches disembarked a crowd of prosperous looking men. Otherwise, the train displayed nothing remarkable, nothing nearly so bizarre as the dozen freight cars, the second-hand passenger coach, and the single truck electric car which was to make up the regular “Express and Local” of days to follow. But it was the first train to run over the completed Tonopah & Tidewater railroad.
By all canons of Nevada etiquette, it was proper that Rhyolite should honor the occasion with a “gala day,” fittingly heralded in the press of the land; for, but on the desert, the completion of a railroad to a mining camp surrounded by salable prospects acts as the “Giant Powder No. 1” with a strong dash of “glycerine.” [sic] The first train comes in with a boom whose shock waves are registered in every stock exchange from ‘Frisco to “the curb.” Not for one golden second did Rhyolite and its sagacious promoters neglect the first train over the “T. & T.” There were fireworks and firewater in abundance. A brass band imported from Los Angeles “discoursed inspiring music.” Spellbinder, picked from desert dignitaries and railroad potentates, spun golden, grandiloquent metaphor, about the future greatness of the city -- Rhyolite scorns the appellation “camp” -- till they set going the echoes of the desert hills. A great day was this coming of the “T. & T.” -- just such a day as a hundred desert camps, now forgotten, had riotously celebrated, and such as a hundred other camps, not yet staked out on the Great American Desert, will celebrate again.
But aside from any news value of Rhyolite’s celebration, aside from the fact that the new railroad gave a shorter route by over a hundred miles from Los Angeles to the Nevada goldfields than the Las Vegas road, the completion of the Tonopah & Tidewater railroad was an event of unique significance. That pioneer train, starting from Ludlow, a little sun-baked Santa Fe station in the heart of the Mojave Desert, had picked its way up the great Mojave wash. Skirting the lower end of Death Valley by a bare thirteen miles, it had dragged itself through the long, hot length of Amargosa canyon into the sizzling dry lakes of Amargosa wash. It had passed in the torrid shadow of Eagle mountain where a railroad spur, turning to the west, ran almost to the foothills of Funeral range. When, finally, it brought up in Rhyolite it had traversed one hundred and seventy miles of sand and sun, greasewood and cactus, which had been the haunt of rattlesnakes, coyotes, a few prospectors, and freighters of borax. The initial trip of this desert railroad marked the first successful assault on the last and strongest desert citadel, Death Valley.
For more than a quarter of a century an uphill fight was waged against the desert defenses of Death Valley. One by one, other desert strongholds fell, but the valley of grim names and grimmer traditions jealously guarded its isolation. By flaunting its worthlessness and its bitter hardships, it forbade approach to all save those desert Argonauts who dared its pitiless sun and maddening maze of canons to bring back its Golden Fleece, whose other name is borax.
When borax, several decades ago, was still a laboratory oddity, a precipitate borax was found on the dry lakes of the Death Valley sink. The value of this discovery was fully appreciated, because some chemist had ascertained that borax, in addition to being an aid in smelting and other specific uses, was an exceptionally good soap, especially for hard water.
But in those days Death Valley was a long way from civilization and bore a most unsavory reputation. Early overland emigrants seeking a shortcut had tried the deep valley beyond the long chain of mountains -- later to be dubbed Funeral range -- and had fared badly. Whole parties would become bewildered while crossing the valley’s glaring salt-crystal floor and lost their way to wander into the quicksands of salt marshes and perish, or, sun-crazed and thirst-tortured, to try in vain the many little canons and gullies that radiate from the rim of the sink like the tantacles [sic] of a devil fish. Even desert Indians gave the region an ugly name -- Valley of Skulls. As the years went by, only those nomad prospectors termed “desert rats,” those game-bodied, gaunt-faced men, with queer eyes burning in cavernous sockets, challenged the sweltering solitude of this man-shunned valley.
But, when civilization wants anything, the time is not long until civilization has it. Civilization wanted borax. Up in Death Valley plenty of it has been left by evaporation of boric acid that oozed up through the volcanic ash of the valley or had washed down from the adjacent mountain ranges.
The problem was to freight it by wagon a hundred miles to Daggett or Mojave, a weary, costly transportation. The round-trip consumed a week. Food and water had to be carried every foot of the way. Even special wagons were necessary -- tall-bedded vehicles with wheels seven feet high and seven inches across the tire. Built to order in Mojave, they cost $1000 each. Two wagons, a trailing water tank, and twenty hardy mules made up the primitive “Death Valley Express.”
Casting about for a new campaign of attack on Death Valley, borax traffic hit upon the scheme of some visionary genius and built a graded road, on which traction engines were to draw long trains of wagons over the Kingston range and through the valley to the railroad. The road completed, the project was pronounced a failure. There in the desert the road still lies, a magnificent, expensive specimen of road building, over which not one load has ever passed.
This unsuccessful experiment demonstrated that sooner or later a railroad had to go to Death Valley; the sooner, the less expensive. So the “T. & T.” came about. The original plan, however, was to bring the new railroad up from Las Vegas, around the Charleston and Kingston ranges. All surveys were made over the route and a large gang of graders began work out from Las Vegas.
But at this point the potentates of the Salt Lake railroad and the prospective “T. & T.” had different ideas about future freight rates over the Salt Lake railroad. Without discussing the question at any length, the “T. & T.” people opened negotiations with the Santa Fe railroad and at the same time ran surveys up the Mojave and Amargosa valleys. Then, one night in September, 1906, the grading gang was put aboard a train at Las Vegas and the next day unloaded down at Ludlow, a two house wayside station on the Santa Fe that had previously existed because of some mines seven miles to the south.
Before the week was out a thousand men were grading along the line of the new survey. One year later the “desert rats” of Death Valley, peering from the Funeral range, could see in the distance the toy like outline of the “Death Valley Limited,” a facetious sobriquet given the nondescript train that followed on the heels of the track laying gang. Two years after the Las Vegas exodus, Rhyolite with much enthusiasm and more publicity welcomed the first “T. & T.” train through for Los Angeles.
Jumbled with Rhyolite’s jollification was a handful of desert men, the engineers, superintendents, and foremen who had brought the new railroad through desert canyons around desert hills. They could celebrate the railroad’s completion with the enthusiasm of men who had accomplished a hard work well done; for desert railroad building at its easiest is never play, and it took the ripe experience of many years of desert railroad building to overcome obstacles of the Death Valley route. Given a two hundred mile stretch of country to traverse, from which not one gallon of water nor one pound of food could be levied, the builders of the “T. & T.” in taking care of their 1000 laborers strewn along the survey, had something more than trigonometrical problems to solve.
No Artic [sic] expedition ever moved forward with more organized care than the “T. & T.” crept forward through the sun and sand. The engineers practically built the road from a ten by ten pine board office at Ludlow. From the laying of the first tie to the spiking of the last rail, every detail of the work was executed from this little room. As the steel rails pushed their way up the Mojave and Amargosa washes, the little office, by means of a pioneer telephone line, kept constantly in leash the steel gang at the end of the completed track, the half dozen grading outfits strung ahead for twenty miles, and the surfacing camp ten miles to the rear.
System was carried to the third degree. If the cook at Eagle mountain grading camp had grown intolerable, if the blasters in Amargosa canyon needed powder, or the surfacers needed prunes, the Ludlow office knew it, and powder, prunes, and cook were immediately on the way to the front. Upon a chart in the Ludlow headquarters, every sundown, the movement of each gang was registered -- where it was, what progress it had made that day, and what it should accomplish on the morrow. If the steel gang was crossing a trestle, the chart had the when and where of it recorded. There was twenty-four hours work daily in the ten by ten headquarters; and the road went through without setback.
No labor difficulties bothered progress, even when the railroad passed the California boundary line into Nevada, where master and man often have antagonistic ideas about labor conditions. The laborers were easily handled. Working under the intense desert heat, away from grass, trees and water, develops a peculiar workman. He is a silent, plodding fellow. He is out in the desert because of good pay; because, freed from the calls of the city, even a spendthrift can save money. So he sticks obediently, even grimly, at his task, living for the future, whether it is the prospect of a little home or a week’s spree and then back to the desert. He works, eats and sleeps as methodically as a machine. During that soft, restful portion of the day between the evening meal and darkness, even his attempts at amusement are subdued. Intoxicating liquors are never allowed in camp. Quarreling is unknown. When the shadows grow heavy on the burnt hills, the entire camp rolls itself in blankets and sinks into the intense silence and noiseless sounds of the desert night.
Just why it is called “Tonopah & Tidewater,” might perplex a person looking at the map. The new railroad neither reaches Tonopah nor comes anywhere any tidewater. But it ekes out a passage to Tonopah, with the assistance of the “Brock” road, and has a business acquaintance with the Pacific Ocean at San Pedro, by grace of the Santa Fe railroad. Moreover, “T. & T.” affords fine alliteration.
Prejudiced persons, disposed to sneer at the “T. & T.” might term it a toy. Such a slur would be rank injustice. It is no plaything. In addition to shipping out borax, it has before it the tremendous task of making useful this land of too much heat and too little rain.
And there is little that is toy-like about the Tonopah & Tidewater railroad. It is not difficult, doubtless, to point to greater engineering feats; but at that, the “T. & T.” is no achievement to be scoffed at. To bring a roadbed through the thirteen miles of Amargosa canyon required deep cuts, steep hills, and scores of dizzying trestles, which lift the new railway out of the land of toys; and it cost $50,000 a mile to do it. The world’s interest in the “T. & T.” road, however, is not in the engineering achievement, but in the economic significance that the new railroad affords an entrance to ten thousand, yea, twenty thousand square miles which three years ago might very well have been on the planet Mars.
Though the worth of this reclaimed region can be narrowed down almost to its mineral wealth, nevertheless one cannot fix a just valuation of its ash-heap hills and blistered washes. Hitherto, they have been so inaccessible as to defy careful investigation. Where other desert districts are considering such urban enterprises as irrigation, the land of chuckwallas has just begun to look at itself. Prospectors, it is true, have been “scratching” over the ground for decades but their scratching can be judged for what it signifies in mining parlance.
Death Valley territory is, in fact, a Land of Promise. Great expectations are its chief assets, expectations that should not be doubted despite the fall from grace of the much exploited Greenwater district. Unquestionably, gold, silver, copper and perhaps iron ore are hidden beneath the volcanic ash of this desert. More careful prospecting, now possible through the arrival of the new railroad, will bring them to light.
But Death Valley’s greatest contribution to the world’s wealth is likely to come from mineral deposits other than precious or useful metals. The soil complexion and rock formation, different from that of any other region in the Great American Desert, point to another class of minerals. Borax it has in unlimited quantities. Soda can be added, and what is of far more moment, nitre [sic]. Soda Lake, down near the ruined Mojave fort, on the old Salt Lake stage line, was once worth working for its soda, and is again worthy of business consideration now that a railroad touches its very edge.
Climbing along the jutting east walls of Amargosa canyon, a prospector noted the brick red soil and carried away a specimen. Analysis of this sample brought forth a good showing of nitre [sic]. Further investigation disclosed that the east walls of the canyon and the adjoining foothills were immense nitre [sic] beds, acres upon acres of them. True, it is a low grade nitrate, but nitre [sic] is there just the same, the only deposits of it in this country. The commercial value of the discovery must be determined by the future.
Years may be needed to show the true worth of this desert Land of Promise. Still, the time may not be long. Most desert growth is rapid. A hillside as baldly bare as a city pavement will, after a night’s rain stand transfigured in the morning into a garden field of kaleidoscope flowers, more exquisitely formed and delicately hued than the exotics of a conservatory. Ludlow, headquarters of the “T. & T.” is typical of the magic of desert life. The sun-grilled desert station, comprising a telegraph and ticket office, and a little later Mother Preston’s general store and lodging house, was in a day transformed into a railroad division point. In a year it had complete railroad shops, a large freight yard, and a hundred frame houses.
Had a prospector been asked three years ago what was the most sinister, inaccessible spot in the Great American Desert, he would without hesitation named Death Valley. Today a tenderfoot tourist can penetrate its once forbidding mysteries with as little bother as a trip to Lake Tahoe and with less travel than a jaunt to the Adirondacks. He can bunk in Los Angeles one night and sleep the next at the foot of Skeleton Peak.”

Rhyolite Herald, May 20, 1908
“PERISHED IN DEATH VALLEY.”
“Charles Livingstone is said to have perished in Death Valley. He left Morrison’s ranch to search for his horses and has not returned.”

Rhyolite Herald, June 3, 1908
“ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE DESERT.”
“The body of Charles Livingston, whose disappearance was reported two weeks ago in The Herald, has been found about 17 miles north of Saratoga Springs in Death Valley, within a mile of the old Confidence mill. Mr. Livingston was employed at the Saratoga mine and left the mine April 30 to search for the team of horses which had wandered away. He carried no canteen and simply walked to his death in the heat, which is now much in evidence in that portion of the valley. The body was buried where found. Livingston was a native of Ohio.”

Inyo Independent, June 5, 1908
“FOUND DEAD.”
“Sheriff Naylor is in receipt of a letter from his deputy, R.D. Morrison, at Tecopa, informing him of finding the body of Newton Bare, who left Sarta Springs about April 30th to find some horses that had broken loose. Not returning, a searching party started out and found the remains of the unfortunate on May 11th, about 20 miles from Sarta Spring and within 1½ miles of the Old Conference mill. The deceased was aged about 35 years. The remains were buried where found as it was impossible to remove them.”

Inyo Register, July 2, 1908
"ON A SAD MISSION."
“Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Bodle and Alva Bodle left yesterday for the Steninger Ranch in Death Valley. They received messages urging hast in coming because of the critical condition of Elmer Bodle, who has been ill there.”

Inyo Register, July 9, 1908
Summary: Death of Elmer Bodle, who died at Steinenger Ranch, Death Valley. His remains
were taken to Bonnie Clare, Nevada, then on to Goldfield by rail.

Inyo Register, July 16, 1908
“A B.K. Brockington, a broker, and one time a heavy plunger in the cotton market, is believed to have perished in Death Valley. One of the theories of his disappearance is that he was murdered by Indians in the Panamint country.”

Inyo Register, July 16, 1908
"TABOOSE."
Summary: Details on death of Elmer Bodle at Steninger Ranch in Death Valley.

Inyo Register, July 16, 1908
Summary: Notice of death of Elmer Bodle, of Steningers Ranch, Death Valley.

INYO MAGAZINE, November 15, 1908
"THE MIRAGE"
Summary: Fictional account about two miners from the camp of "Greenwater Spring" having a fight to the death that takes place from the summits of the Funeral Range to the bottom of Death Valley.

Rhyolite Herald, November 25, 1908
“’JOHNNIE BEHIND THE GUN’ KILLS C. KYLE SMITH IN FUNERAL RANGE.”
Summary: John Cyty shoots C. Kyle Smith at the Bell property. Coroner’s inquest held at the Keane Wonder mill. No witnesses to shooting. Cyty asserts Smith was aggressor. Both owned properties close to each other. Friends of both expected trouble for some time. Cyty claims Smith opened fire, striking him in the arm and glancing across abdomen, before returning fire. Cyty and Smith both prominent figures in the Funeral Range section. Funeral Range Cyty Mining Company owned by Cyty, short lived. By Jo, Lee Gold Crest properties owned by Smith. Smith had taken Cyty to court over Big Bell properties and lost suit. Smith relocated property he felt was his, driving tunnel 75 feet. Cyty started work on claim he felt was his at tunnel’s mouth. It was here that shooting took place. T.T. Kelly first man to learn of shooting. He was in Cyty’s camp when Cyty came in, exhausted from loss of blood. Cyty’s left arm pierced through. Kelly then went out to find aid for Smith. Fred Moesser first to reach Smith. Smith had rolled off trail down slope about 20 feet, if not for greasewood bush his body would have gone over 100 foot cliff. Moesser placed Smith on trail and went to Keane Wonder to get more men. Ben Grant remained with Smith until he died. Cyty carried down to Keane Wonder mill, where an auto took him to Rhyolite, placed in the Miners’ Union Hospital. Body of Smith carried to the Keane Wonder mill. Justice of the Peace Frank G. Thisse, of Skidoo held inquest. Body taken to Rhyolite Undertaking Parlor. Hope of locating relatives. Smith native of Virginia, about 40 years old. Smith came to area in early days of Bullfrog excitement. Located several claims in Funeral Range, became recorder of the South Bullfrog Mining District. Considered a good citizen and peaceful. Friend of publisher of the Herald. T.T. Kelley tried to stop Smith from meeting Cyty, but Smith said it was as good as a time as ever. Smith struck with two bullets, one in the left leg and the other through the abdomen and out the back. Cyty is confined to hospital but not seriously hurt. They will take Cyty to Independence as soon as possible, Cyty agreed to go willingly. Cyty makes statement in paper, translated from his broken English. In tunnel doing annual work, hearing someone coming. 4:30 in afternoon. Smith called out insultingly, then started to shoot. First shot hit Cyty’s arm. Cyty pulled .32 caliber automatic from his pocket, safety on, gun did not fire. Cyty ran, while trying to release safety. Fired multiple shots toward Smith, who was out of sight. Cyty didn’t know if he hit Smith or not. Cyty snuck back to his own camp, bleeding profusely. Cyty said that partner of Smith, E.W. Cordes, came to Cyty with a large gun. Cordes made no threats, but it worried Cyty. Cordes made statement to paper that Cyty had been threatening to kill Smith for a long time. Said that Smith had only two cartridges in his gun because he was killing jackrabbits. Smith inquired to T.T. Kelley if he had cartridges, but Kelley had none that would fit. Cordes claimed that he went to Cyty where he was working and that Cyty was pleasant and showed him the mine. Cordes claimed that when he asked Cyty for tools, Cyty became belligerent. Both had guns within reach. Later, Cordes claimed to have dinner with Cyty. Cyty later complained about the big gun Cordes had. Cordes claimed to have left, walking back to camp, when Cyty showed up on a hill and leveled a rifle at him, accusing him of taking tools. Cordes claimed to have then returned to his camp. Cordes learned later of the shooting of Smith. Cordes also claimed to have seen a bottle of chloroform and cotton at Cyty’s camp, wondered as to their use.

Rhyolite Herald, November 25, 1908
“’THOU SHALT NOT KILL’”
Summary: Editorial on death of C. Kyle Smith at the Keane Wonder Mine.

Inyo Register, November 26, 1908
"A SHOOTING AT KEANE WONDER"
Summary: Man named Smith slain by another named Garrett. Sheriff Naylor heading for the camp by the Goldfield route. Undersheriff McDonald went another direction.

Inyo Independent, November 27, 1908
“FATAL SHOOTING SCRAPE AT KEANE WONDER: C.K. SMITH SHOT TO DEATH BY JOHN CYTY SUNDAY AS OUTCOME OF TROUBLE OVER A MINING CLAIM”
“A Rhyolite dispatch to the Tonopah Bonanza of November 23rd, says: A shooting scrape, resulting in the death of one man and the wounding of another, occurred yesterday afternoon near the Keane wonder mine, the participants being C. Kyle Smith and John Cyty.
The trouble arose over ground which was being worked by Cyty and which is also claimed by the Gold Crest Mining Company, in which Smith, Senator Stewart and others are interested. During thd [sic] duel Smith wrs [sic] killed, being shot four times, and Cyty was wounded slightly in the arm and stomach, both scratches. News was telephoned to Rhyolite and Dr. Bowen took an automobile and brought Cyty to the hospital. An undertaker went out and embalmed the body of Smith and it will remain at the Keane Wonder until officers arrive from Independence, California, the affair occurring just across the line in that state.
C. Kyle Smith, the dead man, was a pioneer in the Bullfrog district and was interested in many properties in the South Bullfrog or Keane Wonder district. He was also district recorder for that section. Only recently he returned from a summer’s trip from the northern camps for the purpose of doing the annual work on the ground in question.
John Cyty, the other man involved, is also an old-timer here. He was the original locator of the Bill Bell property and only recently lost control by losing 200,000 shares of stock, worth at the time 10 cents per share at a roulette wheel presided over by Dick Jones in the Stock Exchange saloon.
Smith, the man killed, was widely known over both California and Nevada and has relatives in the former state.
The trouble between Cyty and the Gold Crest company is of log standing and it has been feared for some time that trouble would be the result of the mixup.
Sheriff Naylor and District Attorney Dehy left for the scene of the shooting last Monday morning. They are expected to return this evening.”

Inyo Register, December 3, 1908
"KEANE WONDER AFFRAY - ANOTHER MURDER TRIAL AHEAD: SLAYER IN CUSTODY"
Summary: Participants were C. Kyle Smith and John Cyty. Trouble arose over two pieces of ground worked by both of them. A duel ensued, Smith killed. Cyty was hit in the arm and stomach, scratches only. The bullets which struck him on the arm plowed through the flesh of his forearm but broke no bones. News was telephoned to Rhyolite. Dr. Bowen took an automobile and brought Cyty to the hospital. Undertaker went out and embalmed the body of Smith and will remain at Keane Wonder until officers arrive from Independence. Smith was the pioneer in the Bullfrog District, interested in many properties in South Bullfrog and Keane Wonder District, and also District Recorder. Smith was known widely over California and Nevada and has relatives in California. He was popular where known. Cyty was also an old timer in the area. Original locater of the Big Belle property. Lost control of it by loosing quite a bit of stock. The trouble between Cyty and Smith was long-standing. It was feared for some time that trouble would result. Cyty claims that Smith had a revolver in his hand when he came to the claim where Cyty was working. Cyty waived extradition proceedings and was brought to Independence at the end of last week.

Inyo Register, December 3, 1908
“Frank Sweeney, a prospector, disappeared in the Death Valley region between Clark Canyon and Sheep Creek last August and his remains were found lately in a wonderful state of preservation. He died from thirst.”

Rhyolite Herald, December 16, 1908
“PASSING OF THE GUN MAN.” (Editorial)
“Thank God, those days are passing *** even in the fastness of Nevada!”
Thus writes the editor of the American Mining Review, in the last issue of that live journal, in commenting on the “gun” days of other years.
We make no attempt to excuse or condone the lawlessness of other days. Up to within very recent years one of the show places of a famous old Nevada camp was a row of fifteen graves where lie buried men who died with their boots on, shot down by their opponents in cold blood. This reveals the spirit of the old days. The bad man was the great man.
Recently, when one man shot another in one of the most fearfully rough and desolate sections of the Funeral mountains, on the edge of Death Valley, on the Nevada-California line, twenty-five miles from the nearest camp and two hundred miles from the court in whose jurisdiction the crime was committed, the man who had snuffed out the life of a fellow man was promptly arrested and is being tried for the crime.
This reveals the spirit of the present day.
All the world is not yet awake to the fact that a new Nevada is rising out of the old Nevada, where lawlessness was the order of the day, and the man who was handy with a gun was the real autocrat of camp and desert wilds.
That form of barbarism no longer has any recognized place in the life of any community in the state.
Men may still refer to our state as the “fastness of Nevada,” for within our 109,000 square miles we have, beside vast stretches of the most fertile and beautiful farming lands, great areas of desert and mountain, where perhaps no white man's foot has ever trod, but we are developing a state that will be second to none other in the Union in wealth of mines, in the character of her people and in the swiftness of her progress.
We may still be scorned as the only state in the Union that licenses gambling, and that is considered open ground for the “pony” sports and the brutal “ring” affairs that have been outlawed in other states, but the influence of our schools and churches and the influx of strong and staunch men from every section of our commonwealth, intending to make homes instead of camps, is resulting in better laws and in stricter enforcement of law.
Men, who a few years ago hated the sight of the great desert, and who avoided even such routes of travel as crossed it, are now coming to the state to make their homes here, because they have learned of the opportunities that are open to men of business ability.
We may sometimes recall the pioneer days and think of the romance of fortunes won and lost, and throw a glamor over the tragedies enacted in those days, but we, too, thank God those days are past, and that the day has come when the man with the gun must abide by the law or suffer penalty of law if he fails to justify himself.”

Rhyolite Herald, December 23, 1908
“CYTY BOUND OVER.”
“John Cyty must answer for the murder of C. Kyle Smith. He was bound over for trial by the grand jury at Independence in session last Monday.”

Inyo Register, December 24, 1908
"CYTY HELD FOR TRIAL"
Summary: John Cyty giving preliminary examination before Judge LaMar at Independence for murder of C. Kyle Smith at Keane Wonder that occurred November 21st.

Rhyolite Herald, December 30, 1908
“NO APOLOGY FROM THE HERALD.”
“The Rhyolite Herald has no apology to make for the misdeeds of one J.F. Howell, promoter of the Howell-Little Exploration company, and now lodged in jail at Boston for fraud on account of his mining promotions in the Funeral Range. The Herald does not recall having met this man Howell, and no mention of his alleged rich mines was made in this paper at any time.”

1909
Inyo Register, January 14, 1909
“Death Valley Scotty is supposed to be laying at the point of death in a hospital in Chicago. A double fracture of the skull and hemorrhages may cause his death. He was beaten by robbers and left unconscious in the snow last week. Beofre [sic] leaving his hotel, he was known to have a large amount of money upon his person, but when found had nothing of value was on him. He predicted while in Reno a few weeks ago that sometime he would be attacked and robbed, for everyone knew that he always carried a large amount of money wherever he went.” - Carson News.

Inyo Register, January 21, 1909
“SUPERIOR COURT CALENDAR”
“... Cyty case, murder, March 17th; P.W. Forbes and Ben H. Yandell, attorneys for defendant. ...”

Inyo Independent, March 19, 1909
“Several persons arrived from Rhyolite, Nev., last Tuesday evening called here as witnesses in the case of the People vs. John Cyty. Among the number is R.D. Chamberlain, Ben Grant, E.W. Cordes, Frank Grace, T.T. Kelley and Mrs. Wass. Cyty is accused of killing C. Kyle Smith near the Keane Wonder mine last November.”

Inyo Register, March 25, 1909
Summary: The trial of Johnny Cyty is underway at Independence.

Inyo Register, April 1, 1909
"ILLNESS OF JUROR DELAYS CYTY TRIAL"
No details noted.

Inyo Independent, April 2, 1909
“The Cyty case was resumed Thursday morning and the prosecution closed its case that evening. The defense opened by putting M. Sullivan on the stand. Mr. Sullivan was still testifying when the forms closed this morning and it is not expected that the case will reach the jury before Monday or Tuesday.”

Inyo Register, April 8, 1909
“SIMPLY MANSLAUGHTER: JUDGE TREATS CYTY WITH DISTINGUISHED CONSIDERATION”
“Arguments of attorneys in the Cyty case at Independence were concluded last Friday afternoon. The instructions to the jury were given by Judge Childs Saturday morning, and the case submitted. At 11 that night, the jury reported that it could not agree, and were sent back for further deliberation. It then stood, it is said, 9 for conviction and 3 for acquittal. At 3 o’clock Sunday morning, the court was opened and a verdict of manslaughter was handed in.
Judge Childs set May 11th as the date of passing sentence on Cyty. He will return at that time.”

Inyo Register, April 15, 1909
"KEANE WONDER AFFAIRS: A GOOD MINE INVOLVED BY A BAD BANK"
Partial quotation: “Through the banking messes of T.B. Rickey, the Keane Wonder Mine in southwestern Inyo became involved in the wreck of the State Bank and Trust Company.”

Inyo Register, April 29, 1909
"ARGENTOS VERDICT VOID: TECHNICALITY HELD SUFFIENT FOR A NEW TRIAL."
Summary: Argentos, convicted in the murder of John Pavlovich in Death Valley, had his verdict reversed in the District Court of Appeals in Sacramento. He was originally sentenced to life in prison for his deed.

Inyo Independent, May 4, 1909
“THE CYTY CASE.”
“On Tuesday morning at ten o’clock the matter of passing sentence on John Cyty, who was convicted of manslaughter came up in the Superior Court. Cyty came in accompanied by Attorneys P.W. Forbes and Wm. J. Clark, the latter having been retained as additional counsel for the purpose of aiding in the effort to obtain a new trial or a reversal on appeal. Ben H. Yandell was called to Bishop on urgent business and was unable to be present.
When the case was called the attorneys for Cyty move for a continuance upon the grounds that the reporter’s transcript was not complete and that the law providing for appeal upon bills of exception had been repealed and the new law providing a procedure upon appeal would not take effect until some time in June. The District Attorney said that he had no interest in opposing the motion other than to keep down expense to which Attorney Clark responded that the only expense that would be incurred through granting the motion would be the expense of boarding the defendant in the meantime; that no one was more interested in a speedy hearing of the questions that the defendant had to present than the defendant and his council but that in justice to the Court the latter wished to present those questions properly with the evidence written up and before the Court so that the errors complained of could be pointed out. He expressed an opinion that there was such an error in the proceedings as would necessitate a reversal and suggested that it would be cheaper to give council and opportunity to satisfy the Court in regard to such an error before an appeal was taken than to force the defendant to appeal and put the county to the expense of printing the record on appeal.
The Court took the matter under advisement until one o’clock. In the meantime it had been ascertained that under the new law no transcript would have to be printed and the appeal would have to be taken in open Court so that the case would be disposed of more quickly and at much less expense to the county by granting the motion. When Court covened in the afternoon Judge Childs expressed a doubt of the right of the Court to pass sentence at all in case the motion was granted calling attention to a provision of the new law that if a defendant be not sentenced within ten days after a verdict was rendered a new trail should be granted. Both the attorneys for the defendant stated their view of the law to be that it did not apply to any case in which a verdict is rendered before the new law goes into effect and offered to agree not to raise the question. The motion was granted and the 23rd of June fixed [unreadable] the time for passing sentence. It is expected that all preparation for an appeal will be made by that time and that a motion for a new trail will be made in behalf of the defendant. Should the motion be denied an appeal will be taken and the papers will be sent to the Appellate Court at once. The attorneys for Cyty seem to feel great confidence in their ability to secure a reversal should an appeal be necessary.”

Inyo Register, May 6, 1909
“THE KEANE WONDER TROUBLES"
Summary: T.B. Rickey and D. McKenzie are causing trouble. An injunction was granted that closed these gentlemen out of the legal matter. Rickey has a debt of some $40,000.00 against the mine. McKenzie has a debt of a larger sum, which he traded for from the State Bank and trust companies. H.B. Tate, of Helena, Montana, has advanced the cash to cover Rickey’s claims. From the Bullfrog Miner.

Inyo Register, May 13, 1909
“SENTENCED POSTPONED.”
Summary: Judge John L. Childs of Del Norte County, California, arrived in Independence to pass sentence on John Cyty; recently convicted of manslaughter. It appears that certain acts of the legislature left the jurisdiction of the court for passing sentence much in doubt. The matter will be continued June 23rd.

Inyo Independent, June 25, 1909
“SENTENCE OF JOHN CYTY.”
“Last Wednesday at ten o’clock a.m., the matter of passing sentence of John Cyty convicted of manslaughter came up in the Superior Court, Hon. John L. Childs, Superior Judge of Del Norte County, presiding. When the defendant was called upon to state whether or not he had any legal reason why sentence should not be passed, his attorneys presented a motion for a new trial. It was argued that errors had been committed in the giving and refusing of instructions and in permitting and refusing the introduction of evidence. Counsel for the defendant dwelt at length upon the error which they claimed was made in instruction the jury upon the law of manslaughter. They contended that there was absolutely no evidence of such crime having been committed and that it was therefore improper to instruct the jury upon what constitutes such crime. It was contended that such instruction afforded a base for a compromise verdict where otherwise no verdict would have been rendered, to injury of the defendant. It was also contended that the Court had committed an error in refusing an instruction to the effect that the defendant, if attacked, had the right to stand his ground.
A large number of other errors were complained of, one being the introduction of testimony by one of the witnesses of his opinion that the defendant would have killed him if he had attempted to remove certain tools of his.
Nearly a day and a half was consumed in the argument of the motion which was taken under advisement for a few hours and finally denied. The Court then sentenced the defendant to ten years imprisonment at San Quentin. Notice of appeal was at once given and a stay of execution pending appeal was granted.”

Inyo Register, July 15, 1909
“John Cyty, who was convicted of killing C. Kyle Smith, and who has been confined in the county jail here pending an appeal of his case, was transferred to the jail of Kern county, at Bakersfield, this morning.” - Inyo Independent.

Inyo Register, July 15, 1909
“FAIRLY WELL DONE.”
“The Tonopah Bonanza perpetrates the following:
For the first time in history so far as anyone is able to learn, a terrible storm has swept Death valley, leaving ruin and desolation in its wake.
Yesterday the news was received in Tonopah of the severest storm that has ever occurred in that region of utter desolation so far as vegetation and the such are conccrned [sic]. From what details could be learned, prospectors were racing for their lives to places of safety. Burros have been rendering the days and nights hideous with their pitiful wails and many have met death.
At this writing it is not known whether or not any lives have been lost, but it is generally supposed that many met a terrible fate in the roaring floods that caused Furnace creek to overflow its banks. Residents along the banks of that heretofore pacific stream have been robbed for their homes by the terrible torrent and reduced to destitution. There are absolutely no means of reaching them, and those who have not already perished have a horrible fate to face.
Railroad and telegraph communication has been completely cut off, and the situation is terible in the extreme. It is reported that a snowslide has leveled the greater portion of the Funeral range. Snowshoe Charlie, who has been carrying th emails from Skull creek to Pizen Switch, has not been heard from, and grave fears are entertained as to his safety.
Another report is to the effect that the floods have swollen the Amargosa river to such an extent that people are flocking from their homes which line its banks in terrible confusion. It is also a rumor that an excursion party from Bullfrog is lost, the boat having foundered in midstream.”

Inyo Independent, July 16, 1909
“John Cyty, who is convicted of killing C. Kyle Smith, and who was confined in the county jail here pending an appeal of his case, was transferred to the jail of Kern county, at Bakersfield this morning.”

Inyo Independent, September 24, 1909
“Sheriff Naylor received a letter a few days ago from R.N. Tubb, of Death Valley, informing that a miner and prospector named David Edridge left Panamint on August 26th for Greenwater, where he was interested in mining properties, and nothing has been heard from him since. Eldridge was well acquainted with the country between the two points named, and the only theory advanced by his friends is that he has met with an accident and suffered such injuries that it is feared that he has died from exposure. It is reported that Mr. Eldridge was interested in mining properties with Mr. Brockington, a well known mining man of Southern Inyo.”

Inyo Independent, November 12, 1909
“IMPORTANT MINING SUIT.”
“The attention of the Superior Court has been occupied since Tuesday morning last in an important mining case in which Harold Ashford is plaintiff, and the Keys Mining Company, a corporation, B.K. Bradbury, John J. Sullivan, James Mulligan, Edwin D. Muller et als., defendants.
The action is brought for the purpose of settling the question as to the ownership of a valuable group of mines in the Funeral Range of mountains in the southeastern part of Inyo County. J.W.P Laird, of Bakersfield, and P.W. Forbes, of Bishop, are representing the plaintiff, and Ben H. Yandell and W.A. Lamar, of Independence, are looking after the interests of the defendants.
Several persons have been called here as witnesses, or are parties in the interest, from long distances.
A.Y. Pearl, Thos. H. Hogan and J.W. Flick, of Boston, Mass.; John C. Burke, of Lowell, Mass.; W.H. Craig, of Lead, S.D.; C.H. Morgan, San Francisco; William Key, of Los Angeles and G.E. Wolcott, of Tecopa, are reported as being here in the interest of the defendants.
L.R. Ashford, J.H. Ashford, Ed. Hammond, Chas. Churchill and Edward Teagle, of Randsburg, Cal., were summoned here in the interest of the plaintiff, Harold Ashford.
From what can be learned very valuable mining property is at stake. From the present outlook several more days will be needed in which to question witnesses and get their evidence into the record.”

Inyo Independent, November 19, 1909
“CYTY’S CONVICTION REVERSED.”
“Official notice has been received by attorney’s Forbes and Clark, who defended John Cyty at his recent trial, that the Appellate Court has reversed the judgment in the order of conviction granted Cyty a new trial. Cyty was tried in the Superior Court of this county for the killing of C. Kyle Smith, and on the evidence adduced the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. Cyty’s council based their appeal upon errors alleged to have been made at the trial in the brief official announcement sent by Clerk W.D. Shearer, of the Appellate Court, “Judgment and the Order Reversed” indicates that the fight made by Cyty’s attorneys in his behalf has thus far been successful.”

1920
Inyo Register, September 2, 1920
Summary: Death of George Albright.

1934
Inyo Independent November 16, 1934
“TAPS SOUND FOR “SHORTY” HARRIS, AGED PROSPECTOR”
“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.
He was laid beside the grave of his old pal and friend, Jim Dayton, long a respected pioneer prospector of Death Valley region.
DEAN OF PROSPECTORS
“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.
In deference to his request, he was buried at the “bottom of Death Valley”, beside his partner. He had prospected with Jim Dayton many years ago in search for the yellow metal.
The simple service, when the last rights 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 to the grand old man of the desert, whose stories of early Death Valley, of burro-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.
Arraignments for the funeral ware [sic] made by Wm. Carruthers of Ontario and Supervisor Chas. Brown of Shoshone. The body was taken to Death Valley by Dewy Albright.
Many old timers of the valley were present at the services, including Mr. Zabriskie of Pacific Coast Borax Co. and Bob Montgomery, who originally located Rhyolite and the Shoshone mine, and had not been in the valley for some 30 years.
The burial of “Shorty” Harris went down in history as the first Christian burial in Death Valley, altho there had been many more who were buried there in shallow graves before, without Christian service.”

1952
Inyo Register, January 3, 1952
“VISITOR WRECKS CABIN AT RANCH”
“INDEPENDENCE – In that he failed to show up for a scheduled court hearing, it was assumed here Monday that John R. Woodward, of Palo Alto, would forfeit bail on a charge of disturbing the peace. He had been arrested at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley last Friday night after doing damage to a cabin at the ranch amounting to $237. It was said he broke out several windows and put his fist through a wall. Bail had been set at $100 by Judge W.C. Green.”

Inyo Register, January 3, 1952
“WRIST BROKEN IN FALL AT RANCH”
“DEATH VALLEY – Mabel Grandsaert, an employee at Furnace Creek Ranch, broker her wrist when she slipped and fell Tuesday. She was taken to Southern Inyo Hospital for treatment.”

Inyo Register, January 31, 1952
“PLANE CRASHES ON HUNTER MT., NEAR DEATH VALLEY”
“DEATH VALLEY – Six army men parachuted from their disabled Gruman-Albatros [sic] plane last Thursday evening just before it crashed on Hunter mountain, north of Townes Pass, it has been reported.
It was said the plane went over the valley close to Fernace [sic] Creek Inn about 6 p.m. on one engine. The second engine was said to have “gone out” as the plane neared the Panamint range. It was reported to have been on the way from San Diego to Mountain Home, Idaho.
The six unidentified men “bailed out” of the ship and landed on the desert close to the Panamints. The first man arrived at Furnace Creek Ranch about 1 p.m. Friday, and the last man was brought in by Bruce Morgan, arriving about 3 a.m. None was injured other than slightly from being dragged by their 'chutes after hitting the earth. The wrecked land-sea plane was located the following day by an army rescue ship.

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