History of the big bonanza

by Dan De Quille

It may be of interest to give the particulars in regard to the last-affair, as it will serve to illustrate the manner in which these battles in the mines are fought, and show in what way they are sometimes brought on. The fight occurred at about 6 o’clock in the evening, at what is known as the Waller’s Defeat Shaft of the Justice mine, situated on Gold Cañon, between Gold Hill and Silver City. The battle was between two factions of the Justice Mining Company, contending for possession of the mine. There had for some time been trouble among the trustees of the company, and on the day of the fight the president of the company appointed a new superintendent and instructed him to take possession of the mine.

It was the talk that the old superintendent would not give up the mine, and there were rumors during the afternoon that a fight might be expected, and many were talking about going down to the Justice to “see the fun.” Finally the brother of the newly-appointed superintendent, as a deputy, and accompanied by a number of men, went down to the mine, and had a talk with the foreman in charge about taking possession of the works. The foreman said he was ready to give possession whenever the other came with proper authority, but as things then stood he would prefer to hear from his superior, the old superintendent, before doing anything.

Meantime the newly-appointed superintendent was in Virginia City looking for the old superintendent, in order to show him the dispatches he had received from San Francisco, instructing him to take possession of the mine; but he failed to find him and left the city. About this time the old superintendent, who was in Virginia City, sent a note to his foreman at the mine instructing him to give the newly-appointed officer possession of the works at both shafts—the old Justice and the Waller’s Defeat Shaft.

Before this note reached its destination and before the two superintendents—the old and the new—had met, the men themselves had precipitated the fight. There were with the deputy superintendent twelve men who were to be used in holding possession of the two shafts in case of their being given up by the men in charge. All of these men were armed with pistols, and some of them had been drinking enough to make them feel inclined to have things go about as they wished. They grew impatient on account of the delay in giving possession of the works and presently left the Justice shaft, and started for the Waller’s Defeat, two or three hundred yards distant.

The deputy superintendent had started to go to Gold Hill, when, looking back, he saw his men moving in a body toward the Waller’s Defeat Shaft. Fearing trouble, he turned and hastened after them. When he overtook them they were close to the building over the shaft and were still advancing. It was well understood that there were in this building several armed men, and he ran before his men and tried to induce them to halt.

At the same time a voice from the hoisting-works over the shaft commanded them to stop. It was now growing dark, and the persons in the building could not be seen. As the deputy was still trying to keep his men back, two of them pushed past him and advanced toward the building. One of these raised his revolver as he moved forward, and instantly a volley was fired from the building. Three men fell, two of whom died on the ground, while the third, who was shot through the spine and abdomen, lived but a few hours.

A short parley now ensued. The deputy superintendent told those within the building that he desired to have a talk with them; to tell them what he wanted to do. He said that such work as they were having must not go on; that he did not come there to have a battle with those in possession of the works. He then asked if he might enter the building. A voice said he might come in, if he came alone; but if another man attempted to follow him they would fire on the whole party. The deputy then advanced to the building, and had just raised his foot to step into the door when those inside fired, and he fell dead in his tracks. One of his men ran up to bring away his body and received a charge of buckshot in the breast that laid him dead beside the deputy. During this time several shots were fired into the building by those on the outside, but without effect. After these scattering shots there was an entire cessation of hostilities on both sides, and outside parties—persons not belonging to either faction—were allowed to approach and carry away the dead.

A gentleman who was on the ground through the whole affair, considered the advance of the deputy’s party as being very ill-advised, and quite against the wishes of the deputy himself, as that gentleman did all in his power to keep his men back. Much rashness and hot-headedness was exhibited on both sides. It was said that the reason the deputy was fired on was that as he advanced to the door of the works some of his men moved forward behind him. The dead were carried to a small cabin near at hand, and when they had been decently composed, with handkerchiefs tied over their heads and under their chins, they presented a ghastly spectacle, as they were still in the clothes in which they fell, all of which were soaked in blood. Their shirts were open, and the wounds of those shot in the breast were exposed to sight. To stand in the little cabin, twelve by fourteen feet in size, and see the whole floor covered with dead bodies, one seemed to be on the edge of a field whereon had just been fought some great and bloody battle.

The news of the fight brought not less than a thousand persons to the spot, but all gave the building over the Waller’s Defeat shaft a wide berth. All was dark and silent as the grave within the building. This stillness and darkness seemed ominous. No one wished to venture near it, as all said it was quite certain that the men within would not be taken alive. A guard was placed about the works and all night men armed with muskets patrolled before and around the building.

When daylight came a cautious advance was made, and finally the building was entered. Not a man was found within it. All had escaped some time during the previous night, probably immediately after the last shooting, and long before the guard was set. Though no men were found in the building, there was found a Henry rifle, a double-barrelled shot-gun, three revolvers, and a smaller pistol, together with several powder-flasks and a quantity of ammunition; also, about one hundred cigars, and two demijohns partly filled with whisky—“fighting whisky,” no doubt. An inquest was held by the coroner of Storey County, and the following verdict found: