The Story of Breyfogle

[K. R. Casper, The Story of Breyfogle, Sunset, October 1905]

 

The Story of Breyfogle

            THE phenomenally rich discoveries made during the past few years in the mining camps of Tonopah, Goldfield, Bullfrog and other districts in Nevada, have not only stimulated mining in many of the older camps but have attracted attention to mines that were once found and then lost. The recent display of wealth by a cowboy-miner, and his lavish expenditure of it in Los Angeles and later in New York City, have revived the story that the old Breyfogle mine, which created such a furore in California and Nevada in the early sixties, has been rediscovered.

            A long residence on the desert, together with a close familiarity with what is going on in southern Nevada, as well as a large acquaintance with many "desert rats," as some old-time prospectors are called, does not warrant the belief that the money spent by the cowboy-miner came from the Breyfogle —or any other mine. However this may be, it has caused the questions to be asked: "Who was Breyfogle and where is his lost mine?"

            For several years I have been engaged in trying to obtain data on this subject, but only upon a recent visit to Salt Lake City was I able to get anything authentic, or to meet any one who had known Breyfogle personally. In order that there may be no doubt about the correctness of what follows, it may be well to state the sources from which I have obtained my information. First comes General H. G. Rollins, a veteran of the Civil war, and once a close, personal friend of General U. S. Grant. General Rollins has been much in the public eye on the Pacific coast in years gone by. He was at one time Speaker of the House in the Arizona legislature, then a member of the Assembly in the California legislature, afterward Registrar of the Land Office in San Francisco and for four years Surveyor-general of California,

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            In order that his account may not lose in the telling, I give it as near as I can in his own language. He says:

            "More than a score of years ago I entered a hotel in southern California, travel-stained and dusty from a long trip. Turning from the desk I was accosted by the late Senator Leland Stanford, who inquired where I had been. Out off the desert in the Death Valley country,' I replied. 'Ah!' said the Senator, 'you have been out Breyfogling, perhaps.' After a few moments conversation I was invited to dine with him, which I did. After dinner Senator Stanford told me this story as near as I can remember it. He said that soon after he had been elected Governor, in 1860, a delegation called on him requesting him to pardon one Breyfogle from the state prison. They stated that the man was from Mississippi and in his younger days had been devoted to games of chance on the steamers plying on the Mississippi; that he had come to California and settled in Alameda county, of which he had been elected treasurer, and that at the close of his second term a large shortage was found in his accounts. He was convicted of the crime of defalcation, but it appeared at the trial that he had been as much sinned against as sinning. The real culprit was an attaché of the office and it was more careless management and want of attention to details on the part of Breyfogle than any intended wrongdoing.

            "At any rate, the delegation requesting Breyfogle's pardon had among its members a majority of the jurymen by whom he was convicted, the judge before whom he was tried, and the prosecuting attorney who had conducted the case. The Governor at first agreed to pardon him if he would leave the state, as at that particular time there were many rather troublesome gentlemen in California from the prisoner's section of the country not noted for their loyalty to the Union, nor for the early habits of sobriety to which they had been reared. But the friends of Breyfogle, and he had many, kept pulling at the Governor's heart strings, and he, being a very kind-hearted man, receded from his former offer of pardon upon condition that he leave the state, and granted him an unconditional pardon.

            "Breyfogle was sensitive about what had befallen him, and his native southern pride to be considered a gentleman made it unpleasant to remain among his old friends and associates and in the midst of old surroundings. He started across the country to the east, but whether to join the Confederacy, or to seek a new field in which to repair his fortune, was a question in the Governor's mind, although he inclined to the belief that he really started to join the southern forces. Be this as it may, Breyfogle in due time returned to San Francisco with exceedingly rich specimens of gold-bearing quartz. These were shown the Governor and one of the specimens was given to him, and at the time of this conversation was at his home in Sacramento.

            "Breyfogle made great efforts to raise a company of men to join him in an exploration party to go back to the spot where he had found the specimens and from which he had been driven by the Indians. He finally succeeded and returned with a small party of men. They could not find the place and after hunting for a long while they returned to San Francisco. After a desperate effort to organize another company in San Francisco he at last succeeded and a day was fixed for the new party to start. Breyfogle went to Napa, where he had been living, but whether from too much joy over his last effort in raising another party, or on account of the relaxation which followed his long and persistent efforts, he suddenly died. There is no doubt, concluded General Rollins, that he found rich ore specimens; at least many cool-headed men of the Stanford type had no doubt of the fact, but where he obtained them must remain a mystery until some weary prospector stumbles on the spot from whence they came."

            Another and equally interesting story is told by a man who knew Breyfogle personally and often talked with him. He is also well-known in the mining camps of Nevada and California, in several of which he was a pioneer. Still hale and hearty he resides at Salt Lake, but is carrying on large operations in Nevada. I refer to Joseph Farren, manager of the Glasgow and Western Exploration Company. He is full of reminiscences of the early days, having been one of the pioneers in Virginia City in 1860. He describes with great vividness the excitement caused by the report of the finding of a wonderfully rich gold mine in the vicinity of Death Valley, and saw the specimens which were exhibited in Austin by Breyfogle and a man named Milligan. A company consisting of thirty men was quickly organized in Austin and they went to Death Valley and prospected on the east and north sides of it. Breyfogle did not accompany them. A few of the party found the old Amargosa mine which showed free gold, but nothing resembling that shown by Breyfogle. The party remained out all winter and when they returned brought back with them specimens from the Shamrock, one of the Ione mines which closely resembled those which had been exhibited by Breyfogle. Bill Bowman, who afterward discovered the famous Silver Peak mine, was one of the party. While this expedition was out, two of the party named McBrown and Sears were led away by Indians who stated that they knew where there was a mountain of silver on the southwest of Death Valley. No trace

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of them was ever found. When their companions returned to Austin with the news, E. S. Davis, a prominent merchant there, outfitted George Wilson, a noted Texas Ranger, Jim Gilson and others to search for them but without success.

            On their return journey to Austin, Colonel David E. Buell, one of the searching party, had worn out his boots and substituted a pair of moccasins. This was while the Civil war was at its height and party feeling ran high. These moccasins were put up at auction for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission of the Union army and brought the enormous sum of $2,700—perhaps the highest price for moccasins of which there is any record.

            After the party above mentioned had gone out, Breyfogle and Milligan suddenly disappeared, and it is supposed went south. Other Parties were outfitted in Austin and went in quest of this much sought gold and they were the cause of the discoveries of the Jefferson, San Antonio, Twin river and Belmont districts. One of these parties was outfitted by Governor Blaisdell who returned having found the barrel of a rifle and a saddle supposed to have been Breyfogle's. Mr. Farren says he had frequent talks with Breyfogle—who at this time was apparently between forty-five and fifty years of age—and was not favorably impressed. From all that Mr. Farren could learn he became of the opinion that the Breyfogle mine—if there is one—is somewhere in the Funeral range, which lies partly in California and partly in Nevada and forms one boundary of Death Valley.

            From a personal knowledge of this section I may say that it is very difficult to prospect owing to the scarcity of water, and yet considerable work was done there last winter and very satisfactory results, both in gold and copper, were obtained. Preparations are being made by various parties to explore further this unknown land, this fall and winter. Whether the Breyfogle mine is found or not there is little doubt that other rich finds will be the result of these explorations.

K. R. CASPER.