Page 62 - 2006 DT 12 Issues

August Pyramid Lake, continued from p. 1 Winnemucca, daughter of the Paiute
Chief, “Old Winnemucca.” She knew

D e s k S c h e d u l e May 9 , but on his arrival at Carson the Ormsby family and had lived in
th
City, the normal stock of relay ponies their home, where she received an edu-
Tues/1 M/ Slagle J. Geier was gone. He rested a bit and then set cation. Her brother was a participant in
the battle and unsuccessfully attempted
out for Buckland’s Station, 75 miles
Wed/2 V. Sperry N. Kresge to save the life of Major Ormsby. Sarah
away, only to find the rider there was
Thur/3 L. Mills J. Barrett unwilling to risk the journey. Haslam noted that “Brave deeds don’t always
would not be deterred and pressed on get rewarded in this world.”
Fri/4 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray Sadly, there were few good deeds
through three more stations without a
Sat/5 Open Open rest. His ride is one of the great Pony by the U.S. Government in its relations

Sun/6 L. Eaton L. Eaton Express legends. The downside is that with the Paiutes. In the end, it was the
old story of promises made to Indian
it resulted in the only delay in mail in
Mon/7 B. Kinn S. Stenzel the famed service’s history. nations and promises broken. ❏
Tues/8 G. Wojciechowski M. Pults The Paiutes’ victory over Ormsby’s
militia and other raids stirred the de- A note about Pyramid Lake: This
Wed/9 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray spectacular lake was discovered on
sire for vengeance. This time it would
Thur/10 V. Sperry J. Barrett be no 100-odd militiamen. Over 800 January 10, 1844, by an exploratory
expedition led by John C. Fremont and
Fri/11 D. Kavula D. Powers volunteers and a contingent of regular Kit Carson. Fremont’s diary notes that
Army men gathered from Nevada
Sat/12 P. VanDooremaal B. Kinn and California. The Paiutes scattered, they came upon “. . . a sheet of green

Sun13 J. Sacks Open fighting here and there, but avoiding water, some 20 miles broad. It broke
a pitched battle until an engagement upon our eyes like the ocean.” Trout
Mon/14 E. Zachar J. Geier were abundant and the explorers had
on June 2 devastated Indian hopes,
nd
Tues/15 M. Slagle J. Geier with over 100 killed.
Wed/16 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray It became known as
the Second Battle of
Thur/17 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett Pyramid Lake. By
Fri/18 G. Friesema R. Keough August, it was time
to make peace. Chiefs
Sat/19 J. Kissosondi E. Schliepp Numaga and Oderkoo

Sun/20 C. Williams L./M. Utah responded to efforts
by Indian Agent
Mon/21 A. Berg S. Stenzel
Frederick Dodge,
Tues/22 M. Slagle M. Pults followed by success-
Wed/23 V. Sperry D. Powers ful negotiations. The
fighting ceased. Fort
Thur/24 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett Churchill was then
Fri/25 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray built between Carson Pyramid Lake
City and Fallon to protect settlers in
Sat/26 J. McManus Open
the area. It was garrisoned for several a feast. Fremont named it after not-
Sun/27 B. Saperstein L./M. Utah years before being abandoned. Some ing the pyramid-shaped rock, jutting
Mon/28 E. Schliepp J. Geier ruins of the fort can still be seen. In an up near the east shore. The setting is
ironic aftermath of the war, fighting completely unlike Lake Tahoe, with
Tues/29 D. Schoengold J. Geier broke out again in the Bannock War its forests and mountains—Pyramid
Wed/30 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray of 1878, with the Indians losing more Lake is in the desert, shallower and

Thur/31 R. Keough J. Barrett of their traditional territory. warmer. If you want to visit, the lake
The tragedy of the Pyramid Lake is 33 miles northeast of Sparks on
War and the Paiute story has been Nevada Route 445—and it’s on a Pai-
Changes/fill-ins? Call L. Dickey, 515-5363 covered in the writings of Sarah ute Indian Reservation.

Page 6 FORRC/August 2006