ENTERING SOUTH PASS CITY FOR THE GOLD RUSH DAYS CELEBRATION. BUT FIRST A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON. SOUTH PASS CITY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT. WILLIAM BRIGHT, ONE OF THE TOWN’S SALOON OWNERS AND REPRESENTATIVE IN THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE IN 1869, INTRODUCED THE FIRST WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE BILL. IT PASSED AND WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, MAKING WYOMING THE FIRST TERRITORY OR STATE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN COULD VOTE AND HOLD POLITICAL OFFICE. TWO MONTHS LATER, ESTHER HOBART MORRIS OF SOUTH PASS CITY, WAS APPOINTED THE TOWN’S JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE JUDGE IN THE NATION.
IN AUGUST 1861, SAMUEL CLEMENS (LATER MARK TWAIN) PASSED THROUGH SOUTH PASS CITY VIA STAGECOACH WITH HIS BROTHER ORION, NEWLY APPOINTED AS SECRETARY OF NEVADA TERRITORY. MARK TWAIN LATER WROTE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IN 1872: “. . . WE HAVE IN SIGHT OF SOUTH PASS CITY. THE HOTELKEEPER, THE POSTMASTER, THE BLACKSMITH, THE MAYOR, THE CONSTABLE, THE CITY MARSHAL AND THE PRINCIPAL CITIZEN AND PROPERTY HOLDER, ALL CAME OUT AND GREETED US CHEERILY, AND WE GAVE HIM GOOD DAY.”
“SOUTH PASS CITY CONSISTED OF FOUR LOG CABINS, ONE OF WHICH WAS UNFINISHED, AND THE GENTLEMAN WITH ALL THOSE OFFICES AND TITLES WAS FIRST OR FOREMOST; CHIEF; PRINCIPAL OF THE TEN CITIZENS OF THE PLACE. THINK OF HOTELKEEPER, POSTMASTER, BLACKSMITH, MAYOR, CONSTABLE, CITY MARSHAL AND PRINCIPAL CITIZEN ALL CONDENSED INTO ONE PERSON AND CRAMMED INTO ONE SKIN. [FELLOW PASSENGER] BEMIS SAID HE WAS ‘A PERFECT ALLEN’S REVOLVER OF DIGNITIES.’ [THE ALLEN WAS A SMALL REVOLVER NOTORIOUS FOR SOMETIMES FIRING ALL SIX CHAMBERS AT ONCE”, MARK TWAIN WROTE.
CARISSA SALOON ~ BUILT IN 1890
EXCHANGE SALOON & CARD ROOM ~ BUILT IN 1868.
PANNING FOR GOLD 2019.
SOUTH PASS HOTEL ~ OPENED 1868.
FRONT OF EXCHANGE SALOON.
WHERE MOM & I HAD BREAKFAST. LOOK FAMILIAR? IT WAS IN THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE IN LANDER!
DURING THE GOLD RUSH CELEBRATION, TOWN FOLK STILL PLAY BASEBALL BY THE “ORIGINAL RULES” ESTABLISHED IN 1845: THE FIRST IMPORTANT SET OF WRITTEN RULES WAS SCRIBED BY ALEXANDER CARTWRIGHT, OF THE KNICKERBOCKER BASE BALL CLUB, AND PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1845. THESE 20 RULES BECAME KNOWN AS THE “KNICKERBOCKER RULES”. THE “ORIGINAL 20 RULES OF BASEBALL” WERE NOT VERY SPECIFIC AND ONLY 14 ACTUALLY WERE RULES PERTAINING TO THE FIELD AND THE PLAY. ONE SIGNIFICANT RULE, RULE 13, STATED THAT A PLAYER COULD NOT BE PUT OUT BY BEING HIT BY A THROWN BALL.
1ST. Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for exercise, and be punctual in their attendance.
2ND. When assembled for exercise, the President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, shall appoint an Umpire, who shall keep the game in a book provided for that purpose, and note all violations of the By-Laws and Rules during the time of exercise.
3RD. The presiding officer shall designate two members as Captains, who shall retire and make the match to be played, observing at the same time that the players put opposite to each other should be as nearly equal as possible, the choice of sides to be then tossed for, and the first in hand to be decided in like manner.
4TH. The bases shall be from “home” to second base, forty-two paces; from first to third base, forty-two paces, equidistant.
5TH. No stump match shall be played on a regular day of exercise.
6TH. If there should not be a sufficient number of members of the Club present at the time agreed upon to commence exercise, gentlemen not members may be chosen in to make up the match, which shall not be broken up to take in members that may afterwards appear; but in all cases, members shall have the preference, when present, at the making of the match.
7TH. If members appear after the game is commenced, they may be chosen in if mutually agreed upon.
8TH. The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces; but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be played.
9TH. The ball must be pitched, not thrown, for the bat.
10TH. A ball knocked out of the field, or outside the range of the first and third base, is foul.
11TH. Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.
12TH. If a ball be struck, or tipped, and caught, either flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out.
13TH. A player running the bases shall be out, if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base, or the runner is touched with it before he makes base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him.
14TH. A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out.
15TH. Three hands out, all out.
16TH. Players must take their strike in regular turn.
17TH. All disputes and differences relative to the game, to be decided by the Umpire, from which there is no appeal.
18TH. No ace or base can be made on a foul strike.
19TH. A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a balk is made by the pitcher.
20TH. But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck.
THE PLAY-BY-PLAY GAME ANNOUNCER.
TIME OUT CALLED DURING THE GAME FOR THE “PONY EXPRESS” RIDER.
BASEBALL SPECTATORS.
BAKE SHOP ~ SIGH! ~ NOTHING SUGAR FREE.
GOLD PANNING 2019!!!
THIS GAME LOOKS LIKE FUN! GOTTA FIND OUT WHERE TO GET IT OR MAKE ONE
STOPPED OFF FOR A COLD ONE AT THE MINERS SALOON!!
WHAT A WAY TO COOL OFF!
CARISSA MINE & MILL~est.1867. TOTAL PERSONNEL EMPLOYED AT IT PICK OF OPERATION WAS ONLY 24-32 MINERS. THAT SURPRISED US!!
BOB SNOWDEN ~ CURRENT MINE SUPERVISOR.
WELCOME TO ATLANTIC CITY . . .AND IT’S NOT IN NEW JERSEY!!!
HEADING BACK HOME THROUGH SOME BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!!
TAKE NOTE!! THERE WILL BE NO BLOG TOMORROW, IT’S A DAY OF R & R. WE’RE TAKING THE DAY OFF. PREPARING FOR OUR OVERNIGHT TRIP TO CODY, WYOMING AND THE “DEAD INDIAN TRAIL” ON MONDAY.
UNTIL THEN!
LoVe Us!!!