Replacing a smaller five-stemp mill built in 1867, the ten-stamp Gila mill was competed in 1869 to treat ores coming from Reveille, due to a convenient local water source. It closed for a while, but reopened in 1875 to treat Gila Silver Mining Company ore. It ran until 1879, and reopened in 1881 when it was started by the Continantal Silver Mining Company, but by 1884 was idle again. After discoveries at New Reveille, it began chomping ore once more in 1904, operating sporadically until 1948.
-Preserving the Glory Days, Shawn Hall
FROM NYE COUNTY
From the Silver Bend Reporter of June 6th we extract the following:
BULLION FROM REVEILLE. A small lot of bullion was received by Cahil Bros. during the week from the Rutland Mill, Reveille district, amounting to about 500 ounces, valued at near $500.
-Gold Hill Daily News, June 9, 1868
REPORTED SALE
We learn that the San Francisco and Reveille Mill and Mining Company have sold their property, including mines, or interests in mines, in the Reveille District, for thirty odd thousand dollars. Jerry Schooling has been here several days on this business, and left for Reveille yesterday.
-White Pine News, June 22, 1870
We have promised the following letter from Reveille:
"A sale has been recently effected of some of the most valuable mines in the district, to a New York company, who have also purchased the very excellent 10-stamp mill situated in the valley west of the Reveille range of mountains about 8 miles from the mines, built by Messrs. Schooling & Mason. The mill has been running some seven or eight days—day time only—and I learn they have already extracted from the rich ore taken from their (the New York company's) mines some ten or eleven thousand dollars worth of the precious metal. We have the actual result of this run, and our correspondent has over-estimated it. I question whether there is another mill and mining property in Eastern Nevada which has had sub flattering results so shortly after commencing operations. The ore crushed must have averaged over $100 per ton. The mill owned by the New Yorkers is the only mill within a hundred miles of the District, excepting the little mill at Hot Creek, about forty miles distant, which, for some reason, is not in favor with the miners here, as they pass it and take their valuable or high-grade ores to Austin or Belmont, for reduction. The miners here complain some because the mill-owners of the Reveille mill will not crush ores for them." - Sojourner
-White Pine News, Treasure City, July 17, 1870
The Gila mill, at Reveille, has closed down, it is said, for the lack of ore. But where nobody is admitted to a mine it is difficult to tell what they have in it. They have produced too much bullion already to stop entirely now.
-Pioche Record, March 14, 1876
GILA MILL TO START UP
The Belmont Courier, of the 11th instant, says: The Gila mill, at Reveille, we understand is to start up on the 1st of December, on ores from the Gila mine. There is sufficiency of ore out to keep the mill employed for three or four months and in the meantime there may be developments made to keep it steadily running.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, November 15, 1876
STATE ITEMS
"Old Brin" still lives.
Considerable sickness at Tuscarora.
Salt scarce at Gila. Mill shut down.
-Pioche Record, September 27, 1879
No doubt you are wondering just who "Old Brin" might be. Well, he's a bear. And although it has absolutely nothing to do with the Gila Mill or mining or ghost towns, I will include his story here because it's interesting and you can use a bit of culture.
Old Brin. [Truckee Republican.]
"Old Brin" is monarch of the Sierra. He has reigned undisputed for some-thing near a score of years. Undisputed? No ; he has had dozens of battles, but has always been victorious. Great massive traps of hewn logs, securely pinned together, have twice or thrice enclosed him, but be rent the huge timbers asunder like a Sampson, and escaped. A mammoth steel trap caught him by the foot, and finding he could not get loose otherwise, be gnawed off the foot. To this event be owes his name of clubfoot. He killed his man some years ago, and that too, without any provocation. A hunter had been visiting some traps, and returning, on snow shoes, happened to glide past a hollow log wherein this monster bear bad his winter quarters. Old Brio darted out, and fairly tore the trapper's skull in two. Ever so many hunters have shot at and wounded him. One man claims to have put twenty-four Henry rifle balls into his body. This man says Henry rides cannot kill Old Brin. The hunters who assemble at Webber Lake September 15 should remember this fact. No gun bearing cartridges containing less than 75 grains of powder should be brought within range of this beast. His haunts are well known, and the hunters are liable to meet him face to face. If so, it will be apt to be a deadly encounter. Unless Old Brin is killed, it will be two to one that he kill some of his pursuers. He will not wait to be attacked. He will not give any one the opportunity of pursuing him. He is King, and runs from neither man nor living being. His record is that when he met a man, a wagon load of people, or a band of hunters, either on foot or on horseback, he stood his ground or assumed the aggressive. He has scattered many a pack of blood-hounds and has fifty times compelled hunters to take refuge in trees. He is noble game. Whoever kills him should be prouder of Old Brin's hide than be would be of the championship of the world. Some of the best shots in California will be on the track of this bear during the forthcoming month, and the result is awaited with interest.
-Gold hill Daily News, August 28, 1879
Numerous hunters have taken a shot at him, and he is supposed to have about a peck of bullets stowed away under his tough old hide. He has been trapped several times, but the total destruction of the trap has always indicated that Old Brin had been there. He in turn contrived to entrap one hunter some years ago, and sent him to the happy hunting grounds with his head crushed like a walnut. The weight of this champion bear is variously estimate at from 1,500 pounds to 1,500 tons, the latter estimate coming from those who have happened to be his nearest eye-witnesses. The unconquered old best fears neither dog, man, nor the devil, but the fiat has gone forth that he must be exterminated and effectually squelched forever.
-Gold Hill Daily News, September 2, 1879
Old Brin. Tomorrow the hunters meet at Webber Lake en masse to advance upon "Old Brill," the bear that has for years defied the world. He has not yet heard of the raid, but will be "thar" when they arrive. He is estimated as equal to several hundred bear power, and will thaw bullets as an appetizer. Five or six hundred Nimrods will try to kill him. Fun is expected, particularly if he gets iu the first lick.
-Nevada State Journal, September 14, 1879
The Virginia nimrods are fast returning from the Webber Lake expedition. They don't like to be asked about "Old Brin."
-Reno Evening Gazette, September 23, 1879
The Tomb of "Old Brin."
John Rosser, of Sierra Valley, who was in Virginia yesterday with a lot of venison, told an Enterprise reporter that "Old Brin" is dead and he has seen his tomb. lie says: "Last Sat-urday afternoon while hunting far up in the main Sierra, at the head of a deep and densely-wooded canyon, I came upon a sort of a cairn of small stones erected against the face of a large perpendicular rock. Painted on the face of this rock with what seemed to be a composition of pitch and gun-powder was the following inscription: "Here lies Old Brill; Killed September 10, 1858, by Kettle Belly Brown. I had to do it—case of self defense." This settles it.
-Reno Evening Gazette, October 10, 1879
Well, the date certainly doesn't match up, but what the heck. And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
The Gila Mill has shut down on account of bad roads.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, January 8, 1880
SINGING FOR TAILINGS.
Governor Adams Using His Canary-Like Voice to a Good Purpose.
Last November Governor Adams purchased at auction for a song the personal property of the old Lemmon mill, says the Eureka Sentinel. When he was here recently he made arrangements with "Scotty," the well-known teamster, to haul it to Reveille to his Gila mill. Yesterday 31,450 pounds of the freight were loaded up, and Heyworth started with a part of it and "Scotty" followed with the rest of it Saturday. - The Governor has several thousand pounds of tailings from the Gila mine, which will go over $30 per ton. The freight is composed of a White furnace, which will be put up at the mill for the purpose of roasting the tailings.
-Reno Evening Gazette, June 25, 1883
The Gila mill is running constantly on ores from the mines of Reveille District, Nye county. Norris Bro. made another shipment of two bars of silver bullion on Wednesday last, valued at $2,396. It is expected that the present run will last five months. The mines are looking splendid.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, June 3, 1887