Zinc Barnes – Rich in Ingenuity
Zinc Barnes, a name perhaps unfamiliar to many, was a character who thrived in the bustling, unpredictable landscape of the American West during the mid-19th century. His story, recounted by William Daugherty in an 1891 edition of the Reno Evening Gazette, offers a glimpse into the resourcefulness, resilience, and often humorous nature of individuals who sought their fortune in the burgeoning towns and territories of Nevada and beyond. Barnes wasn’t a figure of great wealth or power, but his wit and knack for navigating challenging situations made him a memorable figure in the annals of Western lore.
Early Days in Gold Hill
The narrative begins in Gold Hill, Nevada, a town that sprang to life amidst the fervor of the Comstock Lode silver rush. In the early 1860s, Barnes operated a livery business, providing horses and transportation services to the community. He employed Dick Dey as his bookkeeper, a role that would soon become central to a tale of financial misfortune and creative accounting.
As fate would have it, Barnes’s livery business struggled, facing an economic downturn that led to his insolvency. He was compelled to petition the court for bankruptcy. On the day of the hearing, Barnes approached Dey with a peculiar request. Despite his limited understanding of bookkeeping, Barnes asked Dey to "make a showing of some kind" in court on his behalf. Dey, taken aback, pointed out the futility of such an effort, given the clear state of insolvency and the availability of the books and accounts in court.
Barnes, undeterred, offered a piece of advice that would become characteristic of his approach to financial matters: "Go up anyhow, and if you can’t do nothin’ else, charge somethin’ up to sundries." This instruction, laden with a sense of improvisation and a touch of humor, encapsulates Barnes’s pragmatic and somewhat unconventional approach to business.
Dey followed Barnes’s instructions, though the case concluded without any miraculous "showing." This early episode reveals Barnes’s lack of formal business acumen but also hints at his ability to find creative solutions, even in the face of adversity.
A Second Chance in Pioche
Years later, fortune smiled upon Barnes when he made a profit from the sale of water rights in Pioche, another Nevada boomtown. With renewed capital, he ventured back into the livery business. This time, he hired J. F. Hallock as his bookkeeper.
Barnes’s generosity was evident in his easy agreement on Hallock’s salary. However, the question of how to manage the books led to another revealing exchange. Hallock inquired whether Barnes preferred double-entry or single-entry bookkeeping. Barnes, with a practical eye on the potential for future financial troubles, declared, "Single entry will do for me. I don’t want to charge a man but once. It makes a better showin’ in the assets if a man fails."
This statement reflects Barnes’s understanding of the precarious nature of business in the West and his desire to present a more favorable picture in the event of another failure. Hallock, recognizing Barnes’s unconventional outlook, simply asked if he should be guided in closing the books when the time came. Barnes’s response was both pragmatic and fatalistic: "Oh, never mind about closing them. The sheriff will attend to that."
True to his word, Barnes’s second venture also ended in failure. His generosity and reckless spending proved unsustainable. However, even in the face of financial ruin, Barnes displayed a remarkable ability to bounce back.
Prospecting in Arizona and the Journey to Los Angeles
After the sheriff took over his affairs, Barnes used the remaining exempt assets to outfit a prospecting party. He included two down-on-their-luck companions, whom he affectionately referred to as "old stiffs." The group set off for Arizona, hoping to strike it rich in the desert.
The winter months were spent prospecting, but their efforts yielded no significant discoveries. As their supplies dwindled, they embarked on a grueling journey across the deserts toward Los Angeles, with the ultimate goal of reaching San Francisco or another seaport. This journey, undertaken before the advent of the Southern Pacific Railroad, was fraught with challenges and dangers.
One by one, their animals succumbed to the harsh conditions, leaving the men to continue on foot, penniless and exhausted. Barnes, however, retained one valuable possession: a pair of sleeve buttons made from $10 gold pieces. Upon reaching Los Angeles, he sold the sleeve buttons to a jeweler and divided the proceeds with his companions.
He then sent a telegram to a friend in San Francisco, humorously stating, "Just arrived from Arizona. Took breakfast on a sleeve button. Send me some money for steamer fare. Answer." While awaiting a response, Barnes discovered that his companions had landed in jail for public intoxication. Without hesitation, he used his remaining funds to bail them out.
Ingenuity in Los Angeles
With no reply to his telegram and his funds depleted, Barnes was forced to rely on his resourcefulness. He recognized that the people of Los Angeles were fiercely proud of their climate and sensitive to any criticism. He decided to exploit this vulnerability.
Disheveled and tanned from his desert journey, Barnes positioned himself in front of the Pico House, a prominent hotel, and began to deliver a loud soliloquy designed to attract attention. He proclaimed, "It’s a fine climate here in Southern California. A man can live in the climate. I haven’t had anything else for three weeks, and I’m getting fat."
He then recounted a fabricated tale of Irishmen shivering in the surf at Santa Monica, hired by Senator John P. Jones of Nevada to promote the climate. Barnes concluded his rant with the observation that all Los Angeles needed was water, "and that’s all they need in h—."
His performance drew a crowd of tourists and concerned citizens. Alarmed by the potential damage to the city’s reputation, several prominent figures, including Temple, Hellman, Mesmer, and Downey, pooled their money to pay for Barnes’s passage to San Pedro, where he could catch a steamer to San Francisco. They considered it a worthwhile investment to rid themselves of Barnes and his disruptive commentary.
Legacy of a Western Character
The story of Zinc Barnes is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of individuals who navigated the challenges of the American West. While he may not have achieved great wealth or lasting fame, his resourcefulness, humor, and ability to find creative solutions in difficult situations make him a memorable figure in the history of the era. His tale, preserved in the pages of the Reno Evening Gazette, offers a glimpse into the spirit of the West and the colorful characters who shaped its identity.
This account, drawn from William Daugherty’s original article, paints a vivid picture of Zinc Barnes as a quintessential Western character – flawed, perhaps, but undeniably resourceful and resilient. His story serves as a reminder of the human spirit’s capacity to endure and adapt, even in the face of adversity.