Rushing To White Pine, Nevada – Legends of America
The late 1860s in the American West were a time of great upheaval and opportunity, driven by the discovery of precious metals and the promise of wealth. Among the many silver rushes that defined this era, the frenzy surrounding the White Pine silver mines in Nevada stands out for its intensity and the challenges it presented to those seeking their fortune. Originally documented by William Daugherty for the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891, the events of this period paint a vivid picture of the logistical chaos, human endurance, and sheer determination that characterized the Wild West.
The Overland Stage and the Influx of People
In the fall and winter of 1868, the White Pine silver mines became the epicenter of a massive influx of people, all eager to stake their claim and strike it rich. Austin, Nevada, served as a crucial transit point for travelers coming from the west via the Overland Stage. This stagecoach line, a vital artery connecting the eastern and western United States, was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of passengers. The demand for transportation far exceeded the capacity of a single daily line, leading to the emergence of rival stagecoach companies.
Even with these additional services, securing a seat on a stagecoach became a highly competitive affair. Passage had to be booked weeks in advance, and seats commanded exorbitant prices, ranging from $80 to $100 – a significant sum in those days. Desperate travelers turned to any available means of transportation, and every livery outfit in Austin was pressed into service. These makeshift transportation services carried passengers on the grueling 125-mile journey to White Pine, often without changing horses or providing adequate provisions.
Wells Fargo’s Logistical Nightmare
The surge in travel and commerce created a logistical nightmare for Wells Fargo & Co., the premier express and banking company of the time. The Wells Fargo office in Austin was inundated with tons of express matter, including valuable goods and the baggage of countless travelers. The sheer volume of parcels made it difficult to conduct business within the confines of the office.
The express matter, shipped from as far away as San Francisco, California, at a freight rate of 40 cents per pound, faced significant delays. Goods sometimes sat idle for weeks before being sent onward by slow freight teams. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the fast freight wagons from the west could only reach Austin, creating a bottleneck that persisted until the Central Pacific Railroad extended its line to Elko.
The Human Toll on Wells Fargo Employees
The relentless rush of travel and freight placed immense strain on the employees of Wells Fargo & Co. They were pushed to their physical and mental limits, working tirelessly day and night to keep up with the demand. The constant arrival and departure of stages and fast freights disrupted their sleep and personal lives.
Those working in the office were constantly on call, snatching sleep whenever they could, often reclining on cots in their boots and coats, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. The San Francisco office, itself overwhelmed with work, was unable to provide additional assistance, leaving the Austin employees to shoulder the burden.
Despite the hardships, the employees persevered, driven by the excitement of the era and the fortunes being made by lucky prospectors. The agent, G.H.W. Crockett, a seasoned veteran of Wells Fargo, served as a source of encouragement and inspiration, pushing his team to endure the physical strain and sleep deprivation.
Stages, Bullion, and Unwanted Guests
The stages returning from White Pine were typically loaded with passengers and precious silver bullion. They often arrived in Austin in the early hours of the morning, catching the office employees as they dozed off between arrivals. A large fire was always burning in the office stove, providing warmth and comfort to the weary travelers.
With hotels and lodging houses overflowing, passengers would often huddle around the stove, using their blankets and wraps to create makeshift campsites. While the warmth was welcome, their presence annoyed the clerks and porters, who were responsible for guarding the express matter and longed for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
A Clever Solution to a Sleep Deprivation Problem
The night porter, pushed to the brink of exhaustion, threatened to quit. Finding a replacement was impossible, as everyone was eager to make their way to White Pine. Amidst this chaos, news arrived that smallpox had broken out in White Pine. The head clerk, seizing an opportunity to solve the problem of unwanted overnight guests, devised a clever plan.
When the next stage arrived from White Pine, carrying passengers fleeing the smallpox outbreak, the clerk put his plan into action. As the passengers huddled around the stove, thawing out their frozen wraps, the clerk casually remarked to the porter about the foul smell emanating from a pile of baggage in the corner, suggesting that it might be due to smallpox blankets.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The passengers, terrified of contracting the disease, grabbed their belongings and rushed out of the office, tripping over each other in their haste. The porter, left alone in the office, collapsed in laughter. There was no smallpox in the office, but the suggestion, combined with the unpleasant odor of thawing wraps and unwashed socks, was enough to clear the room.
A Glimpse into the Past
William Daugherty’s account, originally published in the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891, offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of life in the American West during the silver rush era. His vivid descriptions of the Overland Stage, the Wells Fargo office, and the resourceful employees who kept the wheels of commerce turning provide a valuable historical record of a pivotal period in American history. Edited and compiled by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2025, the narrative captures the spirit of adventure, resilience, and ingenuity that defined the pioneers who shaped the American West.
Also See:
- Pioneers on the Nevada Frontier (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Nevada Mining Tales (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Pioche Land Jumpers and the Death of Jack Harris (Reno Evening Gazette)
- Violence on the Nevada Frontier (Reno Evening Gazette)