Diary 76-02: February, 1900 - preliminary transcript

up to the standard -- Evening mail I sent a 2 page letter to Wm Nelson of SL Tribune, remonstrating about the small sum of $10 allowed for my New Years Nevada write up -- Was at Arlington late -- Bed 1 --

Friday Feb 2

Same -- Sent letter to Van Duzer -- Got one sub -- Bed 12 --

Saturday Feb 3

Same -- Letter from & to Van Duzer -- The Magazine has been received by subscribers, but not by the bookstores --

Sunday Feb 4

Cloudy & colder -- Letter from and to Van Duzer -- Extra session Cal Legislature during last week -- Caucus yesterday nominated Thos Bard Rep, for US Senator -- will be elected -- Billy Armstrong was a true honest friend of mine -- Rec'd 7 copies Magazine from Van Duzer today --

16 -- Silver Trees -- Hon J P Jones with Magazine Richard Miner -- Van Duzer -- Zero Anniversary Cape Nome Rush

Monday Feb 5

Clear & fine with sharp N winds -- The pine trees on the tops of the Sierra, west of Carson were heavily coated with frozen snow this morning, from the clouds and storms up there yesterday & last night -- much snow fell up there with only a few flakes down here -- Those trees in the morning sunshine looked like solid silver -- peculiarly beautiful

sight -- Postal card from Sears Roebuck Co said fiddle box, etc would arrive tomorrow -- Sent 3 page letter to J P Jones by evening mail, with January Magazine -- Strong letter -- he much stand in -- Bed 12 -- Met Richard S Miner, lawyer, Bridgeport, Cal, at Postoffice today -- knew my cousin Frank Doten well -- very lively vivacious companion -- in on business in US court --

Tuesday Feb 6

Cloudy -- variable -- cold N wind -- PM strong S wind & clouds of dust -- sent letter to Van Duzer -- thermometer at daylight this morning 20° above zero -- Quite a difference from a year ago -- Bed 12 -- clear & moderate again --

"Pirates of Penzance" -- 2 Inches Snow at Va -- 1900 Pearl Dempseys Violin Case etc arrive -- $5 "China the Shadow on the World"

Wednesday Feb 7

Clear & cold but pleasant -- The "Pirates of Penzance" local amateur co from Va, about 50 young men & women with friends & relatives -- over 100 in all came down in excursion train of 2 coaches this AM & left with about 20 more, with another coach for Reno at 10 AM, to play in Reno tonight -- benefit of Wheelman's Club, Reno. Returned after show was over -- $1.50 round trip from Va or Carson -- the fiddle box for Pearl Dempsey's fiddle arrived by WF & Cos express today, and I took it to the Dempsey residence -- the music, box of rosin etc inside -- whole cost, expressage et al, $2.42

Box alone 99 cts -- Violin & case may be said to cost $5.00 -- so Tim relates at $17 -- Bed 1 -- cold -- 2 inches snow fell at Va last night --

Thursday Feb 8

Same -- Bed 12

Friday Feb 9

Same -- Evening attended lecture of Hon F X Schoonmaker in "China, the Shadow on the World" -- One of the best lectures and orators I ever heard -- at Methodist church -- plum fully crowded -- no more get in -- 1st of series of 3 lectures -- Joaquin Miller next Tuesday -- Uncle Fred Dangberg, Carson Valley rancher was my lecture companion --

18 -- To Sears, Roebuck & Co for Pants, etc -- $3,187 Wife At Dempsey's Home -- First Gun of the Campaign Joaquin Miller Arrives & We Affiliate -- Extra Magazines Arrive -- Sent Some to Ed Boyle

Saturday Feb 10

Same -- warmer -- PM wrote & sent letter to Sears, Roebuck & Co ordering pair of pants $3.20, pocket knife, 47 c and "Consumers Guide," the big catalogue of the house -- 15 cts to help pay the postage -- Total $3.87 -- postal order inclosed -- also ordered a tailoring tape measure 12 c and registered the letter, 8 cts making 20 c more or whole cost $4.07 -- The measurement of pants I stated "short and stout" -- height 5 ft 8 inches -- weight 207 lbs -- waist 46 inches, seat, 52; knee 23; bottom, 20; leg inseam, 29 -- Also sent letter to wife -- Evening I visited Tim

Dempsey's family -- the girls played piano & new violin for me, and I played violin and sung -- old lady Brannan and her little grandson there -- Had very pleasant visit for about hour & a half -- Bed 1

Sunday Feb 11

Same -- Rec'd brief note from Van Duzer with 6 copies Dec & 6 January Magazine -- I sent 6 Jan to Col E D Boyle, Gold Hill, his wife having a fine piece of poetry in that number -- At morning train -- 9:50 AM -- I was introduced to Joaquin Miller, just arrived from Reno & Cal -- walked with him down to State Capitol, looking for Sam Davis -- couldn't find him -- Then

Joaquin Miller -- Wm Nelson on century Problem -- 1900 Gen'l Rob't M Clarke Death -- Telegraph to SL Tribune

Doc Benton took Miller in his buggy out to State Prison to show him the prehistoric tracks, etc -- Lost him after that -- long gray hair and whiskers -- quiet pleasant gentleman -- Bed 1 -- Letter from Nelson of Tribune, Salt Lake, with clipping from Tribune on the Century Conundrum -- Nelson is on opposite view from me on it -- Gen'l Rob't M Clarke died at 2:15 PM in San Francisco -- Evening session of the telegraph office only being from 5 to 6 PM Sundays the news did not arrive till too late for me to telegraph story to SL Tribune in accordance with instruction of last June 13, so I went to RR depot and did it from there -- press telegram -- saying that [Clarke] was 64 yrs old, native of Lancaster, Ohio -- came here in 1865 -- engaged

in practice of law -- was connected with most important mining and land cases and prominent in politics -- prostrated and nearly died last June from stomach and heart troubles -- Immediate cause of death paralysis from apoplectic stroke -- leaves wife and 2 grown children and a brother, Major W G Clarke, here. This is about what I telegraphed to the Tribune -- Doc Benton took Miller out to Sam Davis' ranch & back after got back from State Prison & he went up to Va on evening local -- To speak there tomorrow evening

20 -- Col E D Boyle -- William Nelson 3 page -- Gen Clarke Matt Callahan -- Joaquin Miller's Lecture -- Ex Gov Blasdel Jimmy Kneebone -- My Separation of a Year Ago

Monday Feb 12

Clear & pleasant -- wrote letters to Col E D Boyle, Gold Hill, T R Hofer Jr, Gardnerville, Matt Callahan, Washoe City, and wrote a fine three page letter to William Nelson, mostly on Century Conundrum -- Put the three first mentioned letters in mail for tomorrow's disposal but held Nelson's letter for tomorrow evening mail --

Tuesday Feb 13

Variable, very blustering from S & W and threatening storm -- Evening mailed my 3 page letter to Nelson of SL Tribune -- Remains of Gen'l Clarke arrived by the morning train & taken to his residence -- funeral tomorrow -- Ex Gov Blasdel came from San F with Clarke's remains -- Had quite a talk with him, and saw him off on the evening train, returning to SF -- also met Jimmy