Page 54 - 2009 DT 7 issues
P. 54
July Sam Clemens, continued from p. 1 a Miscegenation Society in the East.
Sam said that the sack never got to
Desk Schedule the editor of the rival newspaper, The Carson City because it was feared that
8:30 12:30 Virginia City Union. Sam referred to any money raised would be similarly
Rice as, “The Unreliable.” The rivalry diverted. Sam seemed not to care that
Wed/1 G. Fazio L. Arthur was little more than a ploy to sell more it was Orion’s wife, Mollie, who had
P. Herman P. Herman papers, as Sam and Clement were been instrumental in organizing the
Thur/2 G. Wojciechowski J. Barret/ good friends. Ball. Mixing of races, miscegenation
F. Davis was, of course, anathema at that time.
Fri/3 P. Glovin R. Porche It seems that about this time Sam
B. Jackson realized that the mock rivalry
Sat/4 R. Conductor A. Lewis had a limited shelf life and set
Sun/5 D. Langdon P. Kepner about creating a new identity
K. Nelson for himself. There are various
Mon/6 R. Barnette M. Pults theories as to how he assumed
Tues/7 H. Weldon OPEN the pen name of Mark Twain.
Wed/8 G. Fazio D. Powers One unlikely suggestion
Thur/9 R. Barnette J. Barret is related to his excessive
F. Davis drinking. It is hardly likely
Fri/10 P. Glovin R. Porche
P. Boghossian that he would enter a saloon
Sat/11 P. VanDooremaal A. Lewis with a friend and call out
Sun/12 OPEN P. Kepner “Mark Twain” to the barman
Mon/13 B. Jackson OPEN to indicate that a charge for
K. Jackson two drinks should be marked
Tues/14 M. Slagle OPEN up against his name on the
H. Weldon barman’s slate. The more
Wed/15 G. Fazio L. Arthur commonly accepted theory is
Thur/16 G. Wojciechowski J. Barret/ that he simply appropriated
F. Davis the term from his days on the
Fri/17 P. Glovin R. Porche Mississippi when the man
Sat/18 J. Kisosondi R. Conductor
Sun/19 OPEN L./M. Utah measuring the depth of the
Mon/20 S./S. Stenzel M. Pults water with the plumb line
Tues/21 M. Slagle P. Kepner would call out “mark twain,”
H. Weldon i.e., mark two fathoms.
Wed/22 G. Fazio D. Powers Sam was in great demand
Thur/23 R. Barnette J. Barret/ as a wit and raconteur at the
F. Davis many social gatherings in Territorial Enterprise Office
Fri/24 P. Glovin R. Porche the State and was chosen
P. Boghossian as Governor of a mock legislative Not content with antagonizing
Sat/25 K. Nelson OPEN the most influential women in Carson
Sybil Stenzel assembly. In spite of this popularity City and, indeed, the State, Sam
Sun/26 OPEN L./M. Utah he had few real friends. People feared
Mon/27 S./S. Stenzel G. Das the might of his pen, and in the light of compounded his error by suggesting
J. Das his propensity to concoct stories, they that the Virginia City Union newspaper
Tues/28 M. Slagle OPEN did not trust him. had not paid its pledge. Laird, the
H. Weldon It was Gridley’s flour sack which publisher, challenged Sam to a duel.
Wed/29 G. Fazio OPEN was to bring an end to Mark Twain’s Sam was totally inept with a gun,
P. Herman but one of his seconds shot the head off
Thur/30 R. Barnette J. Barret/ sojourn in Nevada. The sack never
got to Carson City, which led him to a bird shortly before Laird’s entourage
F. Davis
Fri/31 B. Jackson OPEN pen an article in which he stated that arrived for the duel. Laird heard the
P. Glovin R. Porche money raised at a ball held in Carson shot and when his second asked what
City in aid of the Sanitary Fund had was happening, he was told that Sam
Changes? Call Sarah at 515-5366 been diverted and was being sent to aid had shot the head off the bird and could
Page 6 FORRC/July/2009