Tag: Virginia Mining District
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McComas’ Destination and Why He Undertook The Journey
His Destination Descriptions of the events which led up to the attack on the McComas family frequently state that their destination was Pyramid City. Similarly, they will include the information that the journey was necessitated by a telegram, received by McComas at Silver City, which urgently requested his presence…
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The Myth of McComas and the Pyramid Gold and Silver Mining and Reduction Company
From the New Southwest and Grant County Herald of June 17, 1882: Col. J. B. Price, of N. M. [ sic] Mail and Transportation Co. notoriety,* has brought a suit against Col. Amos Green to establish his right to a one half interest in all of the mining property of the latter…
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The Smoking Gun
The Rules Of Practice For The Supreme And District Courts Of New Mexico, in effect at the time of McComas’ arrival, mandated that any attorney relocating to New Mexico Territory from another State or Territory, and wishing to resume practice, had first to be admitted to the New Mexico Territorial…
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Chapter 30 contd. The Myth of McComas and The Shakespeare Gold and Silver Mining and Milling Company
There is one thing of which we can be absolutely certain – Hamilton C. McComas did not come to Grant County to carry out legal work for either the Boyles or the Shakespeare Gold and Silver Mining and Milling Company (or, as more vaguely referred to by Simmons, citing Janaloo…
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CHAPTER 29 – William G. and John Boyle
William George Boyle We were unable to find any definitive description of the familial link between William G. and John Boyle; in his family genealogy John Boyle makes no mention of a William G. Boyle.²² William George Boyle was born in Londonderry, Ireland, around 1828, and had arrived in California…
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Chapter 28 – The Companies
The machinations of the various companies operating in the Virginia Mining District between 1879 and 1882, and with which James B. Price and William and John Boyle were associated, are almost impossible to describe in complete detail; some transactions were not entered into Grant County records, whether this was simply…
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Part V – Shakespeare
Part V has over 200 references, a number of which include detailed and fairly lengthy footnotes. It is important that these notes are read, especially those relating to Hamilton C.McComas and John and William Boyle, as they contain both important corrections to existing writing on these people, and information…
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Chapter 25 – A Last Hurrah!
The Ralston City – Gila River Railroad As well as the many references to transporting water from the San Simon or Gila rivers to Ralston, there are also several references to the planned construction of a railroad from Ralston City to the Gila River, most notably by Arnold and…
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CHAPTER 24 – Visitors From Pinos Altos
Who, When, and Why Perhaps one of Ralston City’s more reliable claims to fame is the fact that it was directly responsible for the founding of what is today the Grant County seat – Silver City. Many will be familiar with the famous exclamation of “Well (or Hell) boys! If…
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Chapter 23 The Great Diamond Hoax contd.
Philip Arnold and James B. Cooper On November 19, 1870, the Weekly Arizonan reported that “Messrs. Cowper and Arnold” had arrived at Tucson the previous week from the Burro Mines. They were en route to San Francisco and carried with them not only news of the mines at Ralston, which…
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A Peculiar Resemblance
The Lincoln Gold Company In the January 30th report on the issuing of the Pyramid Range prospectus, Marmaduke Sampson, author of the piece and Financial Editor of the London Times, revealed – and invited explanation of – a number of similarities found between that prospectus and one which had been…
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Harpending Goes to London – Part II. His version of Events
Mr. Morgan Since there is little or no information on Harpending’s movements in London, the exact sequence of his actions is impossible to describe. What we do know is that Harpending’s own account of this period, as given in his memoirs, is so full of “errors” that it should be…
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CHAPTER 22 – Mr. Harpending Goes to London – PART I
This is a key chapter as the events described in it are important to both the proposed stock float on the London Stock Exchange, and for the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 – the two being directly related. It is a long chapter, and will be published in several installments.…
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Letters From George D. Roberts – Part II
George D. Roberts to “Mr. A. Harpending”, San Francisco, Nov. 7th, 1870 This item is not a letter per se; rather it is a formal note whereby Roberts gives official authorization to Harpending to proceed with the sale of the stock of the New Mexico Mining Company: Mr. A. Harpending.…
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No Mountain Of Silver At Ralston
M. L. Power to G. D. Roberts, Esq., Ralston, Grant Co. NM, Sept 7, 1870 This is the last of the three letters written by Power of which we have copies. This one we reproduce in full. We feel that it needs no subsequent commentary as the second and third…