There have been numerous stories told in regard to the amount of money received by Comstock for his interest in the Ophir mine and other mining property on the Comstock lode at Virginia City, some of which are far from the truth. The sale made by Comstock to Judge Walsh is recorded in the books of Virginia mining district and is dated at the "mining village or settlement known as Ophir," August 12, 1859. I make the following extract in regard to the amount to be paid and what was eventually paid: " For and in consideration of $10 to me in hand paid, and for the further consideration of ten thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars to be paid by James Walsh, according to the provisions and terms of an obligation executed by him to me this day/I have bargained and sold," etc.
The description of the property sold is as follows : " One undivided one-sixth part of 1400 feet, said 1400 feet being now worked by myself, Penrod, Osborne, McLaughlin, Riley, and other owners, and known as Comstock & Co.'s claims, and owned jointly by myself, James Gary and others our associates ; also, one undivided half of 200 feet of mining ground being worked by the California Company at the present time under an agreement made with me ; also, all my right, title, and interest in and to certain mining claims at Six-mile Canyon digging's, being the claims known as the Caldwell claims ; also, one-half the water-right known as the Caldwell Springs, situated on the hill above the said village of Ophir, and being the springs supplying the workings on the first-mentioned 1,400 feet the present owners in said 1,400 feet being only entitled to the use of said water so long as they continue to be owners ; also my recorded title, to a ranch on which the aforesaid village of Ophir is located, together with the springs on the lower part of said ranch. Also, the surface-diggings on the first-mentioned 1,400 feet and one-sixth of all improvements, animals, arastras, and all other property belonging to the company working the first-mentioned 1,400 feet." If Comstock had a ranch recorded which covered the site of Virginia City, the page containing such record must have been one in the old book of records of Gold Hill district.
At first all claims located in Virginia district were recorded at Gold Hill. September 23, 1859, Pat McLaughlin, one of the discoverers of the silver, sold his interest, one-sixth, in the Ophir mine for $3,500. Peter O'Riley, the other original discoverer, held on to his interest in the mine longer than any of the original locators, and received for it about $40,000, with back dividends amounting to four or five thousand dollars. Osborne received $7,000 for his ground. V. A. Houseworth, the recorder at Gold Hill, who had traded for one-fourth of one-sixth interest in the mine, sold that interest to Judge Walsh, in September, 1859, for $3,000. All of thesemen supposed at the time that they were obtaining a big price for their interests in the mine. They knew nothing about silver-mines and feared that the deposit discovered might suddenly " peter " out. November 30, 1859, E. Penrod sold to Gabriel Maldarnardo, a Mexican miner, his interest in the 100 feet of ground segregated to himself and Comstock, at the time the Ophir mine was located. The deed given on this occasion is quite a curiosity It shows that the legal genius who drew it up was determined to corral all that was in sight in the way of " tenements, hereditaments " and " appurtenances." It reads : " For and in consideration of $3,000, to him in hand paid, this day, E. Penrod has remised, released, and quit-claimed, and by these presents do remise, release and quitclaim unto said party of the second part and his heirs and assigns forever, all his right, title, and interest in and to the undivided one-half of one hundred feet of a certain Quartz Lead known as the reserved claim of Comstock, Penrod, Co., on the original location of the said company at Virginia City, near then head of Six-mile Canyon, in Virginia Mining District, said Territory of Utah, said claim known as the Spanish claim, together with all and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, dues, and profits thereof. And, also, all the estate, right, title, interest, property, possession, claim, and demand whatsoever, as well in law as in equity, of said party of the first part, of, in, or to the above-described premises, and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtences, to have and to hold, all and singular the above-mentioned and described premises, together with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, to his heirs and assigns forever."
This tremendous document held the property, and Maldarnardo soon after coming into possession of it, erected two small smelting-furnaces and began working the ore of the mine after the Mexican fashion. The furnaces would hold but about fifty pounds of ore each y yet he managed to melt out a considerable amount of bullion gold and silver mingled. The bullion, as it came from the furnace, was worth about $2.25 per ounce. The blast for the furnace was furnished by means of a common blacksmith's bellows. It was a slow process, and was soon abandoned, though quite a number of cakes of bullion of considerable value were shipped to San Francisco during the time the furnaces were in operation. Peter O'Riley, one of the discoverers of the Comstock lode, as has been stated, held his interest in the Ophir mine, longer than any of the original locators, and realized nearly $50,000. He seemed to be "fixed" for the remainder of his days. Being a man used to roughing it all the days of his life, his wants, both real and imaginary, were few. Had he placed his money at interest he could have taken his ease all the rest of his days. But he built a big stone hotel in Virginia City, and then allowed persons to persuade him that he was a great man, a man of financial genius, who should make himself felt in the stock-market. As he could neither read nor write, he was obliged to find persons to do that part of the business for him. He and his assistants then speculated until one day "poor old Pete " found himself with pick, shovel, and pan, on his back, again going forth to prospect ; as we have seen Comstock wandering in unrest through the wilds of Montana. A short time before he sold his mining interests in Virginia City, Comstock was smitten by the tender passion and made a venture in the matrimonial time. It appears that a Mormon from Salt Lake, a little sore-eyed fellow named Carter, landed at the diggings one day with his wife and all his worldly effects on board of a dilapidated wagon, drawn by a pair of sorry nags. The man said he desired to go to work, and if he could find employment would take up his residence in the diggings. Comstock looked upon the fair features of the wife, and his susceptible heart was touched his soul went out toward her as she sat there in the end of the little canvas-covered wagon, mournfully gazing out from the depths of her calico sun-bonnet. Having charge of the Ophir mine, as superintendent, Comstock hired the man and set him to work, being determined to keep the woman in the camp. The Mormon pair made their home in their wagon, and in the course of a week or two it was observed that Comstock spent most of his time in the neighborhood of the vehicle, was all the time hanging about it. Finally he was one day seen seated upon the wagon tongue, smiling upon all nature, with the Mormon wife engaged in combing his hair. The next morning both Comstock and the wife were missing. The hair-combing had meant business showed the sealing of a compact of some kind. The pair had made a bee-line for Washoe Valley, where a preacher acquaintance of Comstock's one of the old settlers of the country married them after the manner of the " Gentiles." The next day Comstock and bride went to Carson City, and while there receiving the congratulations of friends, the Mormon husband suddenly appeared upon the scene. There was for a time a considerable amount of blowing on both sides, Comstock producing his certificate of marriage and asserting that it was the right he stood upon. Finally, to settle the difficulty, Comstock agreed to give the ex-husband a horse, a revolver, and $60 in money for the woman, and so have no more bother. This was agreed to and Carter took the "consideration " and started off. After he had gone a distance of two or three hundred yards, Comstock shouted after him and told him to come back. When he had returned, Comstock demanded of him a bill of sale for his wife, saying that the right way to do business was " up and up ; " he wanted no " after-claps " didn't wish to be obliged to pay for the woman a dozen times over. Carter then made out and signed a regular bill of sale, which Comstock put in his wallet and then waved the man away.
In a few days Comstock had business at San Francisco. He left his bride at Carson City and started over the mountains. When he had reached Sacramento, word was sent him that his wife had run away with a seductive youth of the town, and that the pair were on their way to California by the Placerville route. Comstock was all activity as soon as this news reached him. He engaged the services of half a dozen Washoe friends whom he found at Sacramento, and all hands hastened to Placerville, where they waited for the runaways, who were on foot, to come in. In due season they arrived and were pounced upon. Comstock and his wife had a long talk in private. At length Comstock made his appearance and told his friends that it was all right, there would be no more trouble, as his wife was sorry for what she had done and would now live with him right along and be a good wife to him. All congratulated " Old Pancake " upon having brought his affairs to a conclusion so satsfactory Wishing to bring forth his wife and have her tell his friends how good she was going to be in the future, Comstock presently went to the room in which he had left her. No wife was there ! While Comstock had been talking with his friends and receiving their congratulations, his wife had climbed out of a back window and was off again with her young lover. " To horse ! to horse ! " was then the cry, and soon Comstock's friends had mounted and were away. Not a moment was to be lost if the fugitives were to be captured, and the pursuit began at once, Comstock himself was not idle. He went forth into the town and offered $100 reward for the capture and return of the runaways, He also went to a livery-stable and hired all the teams about the establishment, sending forth upon, the search all who could be induced to go. Most of those who accepted teams went off pleasure-riding, and would not have disturbed the runaways had they found them. One man who went out on the search, however, was a California miner who happened to be in Placerville "dead broke." He wanted the reward, and when he started out he meant business. The next day this man walked the runaways into Placerville in front of his six-shooter. Comstock was delighted, and at once paid the man the $100 reward. He then took his wife away to a secure place in the upper story of a building, and locked her up in a room in order to have another talk with her.
Meantime, his friends had charge of the young fellow who was making a business of stealing Comstock's wife. They shut him up in a room at the hotel where they were stopping, and placed a man over him as a guard, until they could consult together in regard to what was to be his fate at least this was what the young fellow was given to understand. Soon after dark the guard told the young man that it had been decided to take him out and hang him. The guard pretended to regret that they were going to be so rough with the young fellow and finally told him that if he could manage to escape it would be all right. " Now," said he, " I am going out to the bar to take a drink and if I find you here when I come back it will be your own fault." The young fellow was not found nor was he ever seen in the town again. By practicing eternal vigilance, Comstock managed to keep his wife that winter, but in the spring, when the snow had gone off and the little wild-flowers were beginning to peep up about the rocks and round the roots of the tall pines, she watched her chance and ran away with a long-legged minei who, with his blankets on his back, came strolling that way. Mrs. Comstock finally ceased to roam; she came to anchor in a lager-beer cellar in Sacramento.
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