Diary 76-08: August, 1900 - preliminary transcript

naturalized as an American -- has been consorting with an anarchist crowd there -- worked at mechanical occupation -- went to Europe about 2 months ago, for the purpose of killing Humbert -- glorifies in his success -- A Hanck, one of the early business men of Virginia City, and recently sole proprietor of the International Hotel, died in San Francisco yesterday --

Electric Power Wires Through to the Comstock Jerry Blossom Dead -- Hard Times Clothing Archibald Skillman Dead -- Hot Spell -- Alfred --

Wednesday August 1

Clear and warm -- 90º -- good air stirring -- Busy at room -- Bed 12 --

Thursday Aug 2

Worked at room all day and part of yesterday repairing & fitting up the old coat & vest I wore when I came up from Reno to the Legislature nearly 2 yrs ago -- Weather same as yesterday, clear & warm --- 90º

Friday Aug 3

Same -- more breezy -- 88º -- About noon, I sitting in chair, front of Arlington Alfred passed a time or two and finally spoke to me, and I told him of a grip that had come on train from Reno & was at Express office -- must be for him, although agent wanted to deliver to me -- same name -- but care of Prof Ring -- so he went & got it all right --

Bessie -- To Bessie -- Alfred -- Rabbit Fecundity -- 1900 Cooler Weather -- Cold Nights

Saturday Aug 4

Same -- 85º -- Got nice 4 page letter from Bessie -- at home in Reno -- Bed 12 --

Sunday Aug 5

Same -- Breezy & cooler -- 85º -- PM wrote & sent 2 page letter to Bessie -- didn't see Alfred all day -- guess he must attended base ball game at the race track -- Bed 12 -- cold night --

Monday Aug 6

Same -- cooler -- 76º -- Quite a change in the weather -- For last two months or since commencement of hot weather I have had lower half of my window wide open day and night -- all of the time -- Rather cold last night, so that when I rose this morning at 7, I put down the window for first time -- too cold to sit and write by -- Opened awile in PM, but closed again in evening, & all night -- Bed at 12 -- cold -- Weather feels like Fall of the year --

Wife's cold-blooded letter -- Big China War On Last $20 -- Cool August Weather -- Alfred First Early Frost -- Alfred

Tuesday Aug 7

Same -- Letter -- 3 page today -- from wife -- most cold-blooded of all I ever received from her -- Only one inference or conclusion for me to make from it -- The greatest war of the world is now on in definite shape --China against all other nations -- The allied forces marching upon Pekin

from Tien-tsin had big battle yesterday, in which the allies lost 1200 killed, and the chinese 3 or 4 times as many -- Bed 12 -- Started in on my last $20 today --

Wednesday Aug 8

Same -- breezy and cool -- Fall weather has apparently set in -- Was at morning train, 10 AM -- looked in at Circe's Carson Exchange and saw Alfred, and had a few minutes general talk with him -- Then he went to Prof Ring's office, and I went my way to Arlington, to dinner, room, etc -- worked at room most of the day -- Bed 11 -- cold --

Thursday Aug 9

Same -- Light frost last night or this morning, nipped tomato vines, pumpkin leaves, etc -- 1st of season -- Saw Alfred pass down street today -- Worked at room all day, fixing shirts, etc -- Bed 12 --

Frosty Nights!!! -- Dr F B Harris Dead -- Frost -- 1900 Big AOUW Picnic -- Pioneer Items -- Alfred -- Bessie Leaves

Friday Aug 10

Same -- another light frost last night -- Daily temperature about 75 to 85 degrees -- Busy at room fixing up my shirts -- PM about town -- Bed 11

Saturday Aug 11

Same -- another light frost last night -- A big picnic excursion of the workmen from the Comstock passed through for the Steamboat Springs this

morning -- 7 coaches & commissary car -- All crowded -- must have been fully 500 men women and children -- happy lot -- Was at depot when they returned, about 6 PM -- met several of my old Comstock chums -- Quite a number went from here on train -- and many drove down over the Geiger Grade -- all rigs employed -- Va brass band, Glee Club, & base ball Club were along -- Very good time at Springs but facilities too limited -- not expansive & versatile enough -- PM I was at Prof Ring's office getting some items from the old Pioneer register about Dr Harris, Sam Baker, etc -- Bed 11:30 -- Met Alfred on my way to Ring's & we had pleasant talk together for five minutes -- Says Bessie leaves for Cal Monday morning -- The allied

The China War -- Fitzsimmons Whips Rhulin Mint Assaying Department Changes -- Frosts and Drought

forces started advance upon Peking, the Tein-Tsin about a week -- Been doing some good fighting, and now China wants to make peace -- US Government sent ultimatum last Thursday, demanding free communication with our legation at Peking, immediate cessation of hostilities against legations, full protection for them and all foreigners, restoration of order etc, etc -- Gov't anxiously awaiting reply as war may not be averted -- At Madison Square Gardens, New York, last night, Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out Gus Rhulin in the 6th round -- Hetrick connected with the assaying department of the Carson Mint, fifteen or twenty years ago, arrived here

last Wednesday, to take charge of the assaying in place of Paris Ellis resigned -- Ellis has gone down to the Eureka Cyanide works on Carson river to be the assayer there -- working the tailings of the old Eureka mill, by the Cyanide process, successfully --

A Trip to Reno -- Bessie Leaves -- 1900 Good letter from Wife -- Alfred Visits Lake Tahoe

Sunday Aug 12

Same -- warmer -- Took morning local train at 10 AM for Reno -- Excursion rates, Sunday, $2 round trip -- 1/2 regular rates -- Arrived at 11:40 -- went up home -- found Bessie, wife and Sam at home -- Brief chat with them, hunted up some of my writings, especially "Wood's Creek in Forty-Nine" and left on my return to Carson at 1:35 -- arriving at 3:30 -- About town, etc -- Bed 11 -- tired and unhappy -- Bessie leaves for Cal tomorrow morning --

Monday Aug 13

Same -- Received a letter from wife, dated Sunday PM, after I had left for Carson, in which she apologized for any apparent inhospitable treatment, regretted my short visit, and removed the bar to my coming home to live whenever I saw fit. Very different from her cold blooded letter of last Tuesday -- PM I was down to Prof Ring's office for an hour -- Went to see Alfred but only met him for a few minutes, as he was going out somewhere -- Ring took him and Frank Peterson, his office boy, over to Lake Tahoe, with his own team yesterday -- Alfred enjoyed the trip very much --