Southwest Sierra Then & Now - #27

Lining up the parade in Cumberland (north and adjacent to Alleghany) Sept. 9, 1907. From the Helen Armstrong Collection, courtesy of Underground Gold Miners MuseumFinal installment of The Daily Union Sept. 11, 1907 coverage of the Admission Day Celebration held in Alleghany. Mrs. L.P. Woodberry, wife of the manager of the Red Star Mine, expressed the sentiment of all Alleghany towards H.L. Johnson, owner of the Tightner Mine, in an original song. She was the soloist, aided by a chorus, and the song brought forth such wild enthusiasm that it is worthy of printing in full, as follows:

There is a big mine way out in the west ---

The Tightner, the Tightner.

Funded by capital, backed by the best,

Go it, Tightner, go;

Headed by wisdom that knows no bounds,

She’s making a wonderful show.

And others are longing to share the lot

Of the Tightner, big Tightner Mine.

Chorus

Johnson, Johnson, wonderful man is he;

Gives all his spare change to Alleghany;

He keeps the ball a-rolling in our community.

He pays off the miners

To dig out the shiners

To the glory of the Tightner mine.

He founded when all had abandoned the quest ---

The Tightner the Tightner.

And he worked night and day,

So the mine’s here to stay;

Go it, Tightner, go.

And of the man we all are proud,

Be it high or low,

For Goldfield now is not in the race

For it we’ve set, and we’ll keep the pace.

We advise you, kind friends, keep an eye on this place ---

The Tightner, the Tightner.

It has entered the race.

And it will set the pace.

Go it, Tightner, go.

The racecourse is long, the world it included,

And all who would start in it to go

Must train with us here for many a year

At the Tightner, the big Tightner mine.

No man living is dearer to the hearts of Alleghany residents than H. L. Johnson, and the song naturally struck a responsive chord. The genial, unassuming mining man afterwards mounted the platform and told of his surprise, but said that he appreciated the “joke” as he termed it.

There was no dearth of sports during the afternoon and the dinner hour had arrived before the entire program was concluded. The double-hand drilling contest commenced at 1 o’clock and lasted an hour. Four teams were entered and each drilled for fifteen minutes. The contest was a pretty one and all through the boosters cheered their favorites on. The rock was exceptionally hard flint granite, making arduous work for the drillers. Murdock Morrison and Otto Rohrig put down a hole of twenty-two inches. Thomas and James O’Neill, Allison Ranch born and raised young miners, who came to Alleghany from Grass Valley, were next and made twenty-three inches. Frank McLaughlin and Ike Ostrom of Alleghany drilled twenty and one quarter inches. Andy Fitzerald and Mike Coughlin were the last to drill and their hole measured eighteen inches. The O’Neill brothers were declared the winners and given the $50 purse. The judges were E.S. Brindle, L.M. Cortez and Stephen Walsh. Considerable money changed hands on the contest.

The big racing event of the day was the 100-yard dash for a purse of $50 between Charles Schaffer of Forest City and S. W. Weiland of Pennsylvania. Betting was spirited and several hundred dollars changed hands. Weiland taking all bets offered. He won the race, but Shaffer led him a merry chase. William Morrison and Llewellyn Davis ran two 100-yard races, each winning one, and both being very close. Lewellen Davis beat Tommy Evans in 100-yards, Evans having fallen when about halfway. In the free-for-all 100-yard sprint Tommy Evans brought home the money. The fifty-yard race for married ladies was won by Mrs. H. Brainerd. S.W. Weiland raced against a horse ridden by George Cambell, going fifty yards, turning around a stake and back to the place of starting. The horse won, but Weiland was very close up. He slipped and fell, which prevented him from winning. The fat man’s race was warmly contested, but was won by Harry McCoy of Forest City. The other entries were: Andy Fitzgerald, John Armstrong, and Jo V. Snyder. Armstrong fell in a heap, but the others managed to reach the tape. It was a 100-yard dash. The fifty-yard race for boys between Miller of Forest City and Mohler of Pike City was won by the latter. Walter Rowlands and Llewellyn Davis captured the three-legged race, while A. Moore and Henry Kinkle came in second.

During the afternoon there was a parade of the Horribles, which caused much merriment. Philip Buhl carried off the prize for the best sustained character.

The grand ball at night was the finish of the three-day celebration. It was a brilliant affair and was held in the new pavilion, which is over the Bradbury and Penberthy stable. The building was erected by H.L. Johnson and is sixty-four feet long and thirty-three feet wide. The interior of the hall was nicely decorated and suspended from the ceiling was a prominent piece reading: “California 1850-1907”. Enchanting music was furnished by the Wisconsin Orchestra of Forest City, while Patsy Morris acted as caller. At midnight a fine supper was served at Harry Benson’s Alleghany Hotel.

About the author: As a kid in 1975, Rae Bell (aka Pauline) moved with her family to the Ruby Mine area located between Alleghany and Downieville. She and her husband have lived in Alleghany proper since 1992. If you have news or suggestions to share, please send an email to: raebell44@gmail.com