Historical Clippings Book (HC-12) (520 pages)

ee a ae By AXEL GRAVANDER Alpha and Omega, 2Famed Camps, to Be Recalled July 22 The Alpha and Omega diggings will of course go down in history as the birthplace of Emma Nevada. Her fame and glory belongs to Alpha but Omega will always bask in the reflected lustre. It was however the hardworking miners who built the one-time thriving little towns with the fruits of their labor, reared their children to en and women, many of which has been instrumental in the development of this region, Some of these will undoubtedly be able to go back to their birthplace the 22nd of this month when Nevada County Historical Society leads a caravan to the famous diggings. There isn’t very many left of thei, only a handful in the immediate area, George Legg [s one Miss Gertrude Goyne another, and the two Holland sisters, all of Nevada City. Although some _-hydraulicking still goes on during the winter months when water is plentiful, most physical evidences of the two towns have disappeared, washed down the Yuba with the debris of the mining. Alpha has long been only a memory and Omega, which was the queen community of the region, was erased by the giant monitors. Only the old schoolhouse on Its hilltop is left merry intact. Alpha and Omega were out in the peripheri of the Gold Country, far enough away from Nevada City to make them quite isolated in the good old horse and buggy days. They were therefore pretty much dependent on thelr own resources and ingenuity when it came to diversions and entertainment after the daily grind. And they did fairly well In that regard with Masonic Lodge, the Sons of Temperance, and of course schools und churches, Down the awful steep grade was Washington, where other diversions were to be found in weekly dances and other goings on, Washington was really the general ren‘ous for miners throughout the he ie of the greatest attractions was the race track on Murphy's Ranch, where fuztail mustangs from Sierra Valley, Moore's Flat and the City of Six competed for sometimes big stakes and always with spirlted betting. And Omega had its Ah Suey Chang. _ ‘ Ah Suey was a real character and tradition gives him a nimbus as prince and overlord over the unusually large number of Orientals who had congregated in the triumviral camps of Alpha and Omega and Washington, in which Jast place China Flat by Yuba river was teeming with Chinese. A great number of these had come from the railroad gangs across Bear Valley. Ah Suey was a merchant with a big supply store in Washington, well-stocked for the local trade and capable of outfitting outlying camps, lone prospectors or bigger scouting parties. He was also ready with a grubstake to most anyone and many canny deals brought gold-flowing into his coffers, Ah Suey ruled his princedom from his house in Omega, which in time became known all over the state of California and the lively camps in Nevada. His Omega house was also a “Mecca” for the gambling Orientals, who left most of their clean-ups and hardearned wages at his gambling tables, From Nevada City, Grass Valley, the valley towns, down to San Francisco, from Virginia City and Reno gamblers came singly and in parties, and games lasted some-. times for weeks on end. From all Ah Suey extracted his mite and his wealth was said to be considerable. But his life was empty—he had no sons to worship him when he was gone and to carry his name to further glories. This sad affair could however be remedied. He sent $2,000 in gold to China and his ¢lan there picked out.a wife for him. Her arrival was a gala day in the Washington basin’s history. When she alighted from the stage heavily veiled as befitted a bride-to-be, she was greeted by Ah Suey with fitting Oriental solemnity. or course, everybody in the three camps were there and celebrants had come from far and near. , A Chinese band escorted the wedding party to China Flat, where a splendid spray had been prepared. Not only was there everything the Chinese etiquette prescribes, but the white women of Washington had baked and decne 4.

ee a ae By AXEL GRAVANDER Alpha and Omega, 2Famed Camps, to Be Recalled July 22 The Alpha and Omega diggings will of course go down in history as the birthplace of Emma Nevada. Her fame and glory belongs to Alpha but Omega will always bask in the reflected lustre. It was however the hardworking miners who built the one-time thriving little towns with the fruits of their labor, reared their children to en and women, many of which has been instrumental in the development of this region, Some of these will undoubtedly be able to go back to their birthplace the 22nd of this month when Nevada County Historical Society leads a caravan to the famous diggings. There isn’t very many left of thei, only a handful in the immediate area, George Legg [s one Miss Gertrude Goyne another, and the two Holland sisters, all of Nevada City. Although some _-hydraulicking still goes on during the winter months when water is plentiful, most physical evidences of the two towns have disappeared, washed down the Yuba with the debris of the mining. Alpha has long been only a memory and Omega, which was the queen community of the region, was erased by the giant monitors. Only the old schoolhouse on Its hilltop is left merry intact. Alpha and Omega were out in the peripheri of the Gold Country, far enough away from Nevada City to make them quite isolated in the good old horse and buggy days. They were therefore pretty much dependent on thelr own resources and ingenuity when it came to diversions and entertainment after the daily grind. And they did fairly well In that regard with Masonic Lodge, the Sons of Temperance, and of course schools und churches, Down the awful steep grade was Washington, where other diversions were to be found in weekly dances and other goings on, Washington was really the general ren‘ous for miners throughout the he ie of the greatest attractions was the race track on Murphy's Ranch, where fuztail mustangs from Sierra Valley, Moore's Flat and the City of Six competed for sometimes big stakes and always with spirlted betting. And Omega had its Ah Suey Chang. _ ‘ Ah Suey was a real character and tradition gives him a nimbus as prince and overlord over the

unusually large number of Orientals who had congregated in the triumviral camps of Alpha and Omega and Washington, in which Jast place China Flat by Yuba river was teeming with Chinese. A great number of these had come from the railroad gangs across Bear Valley. Ah Suey was a merchant with a big supply store in Washington, well-stocked for the local trade and capable of outfitting outlying camps, lone prospectors or bigger scouting parties. He was also ready with a grubstake to most anyone and many canny deals brought gold-flowing into his coffers, Ah Suey ruled his princedom from his house in Omega, which in time became known all over the state of California and the lively camps in Nevada. His Omega house was also a “Mecca” for the gambling Orientals, who left most of their clean-ups and hardearned wages at his gambling tables, From Nevada City, Grass Valley, the valley towns, down to San Francisco, from Virginia City and Reno gamblers came singly and in parties, and games lasted some-. times for weeks on end. From all Ah Suey extracted his mite and his wealth was said to be considerable. But his life was empty—he had no sons to worship him when he was gone and to carry his name to further glories. This sad affair could however be remedied. He sent $2,000 in gold to China and his ¢lan there picked out.a wife for him. Her arrival was a gala day in the Washington basin’s history. When she alighted from the stage heavily veiled as befitted a bride-to-be, she was greeted by Ah Suey with fitting Oriental solemnity. or course, everybody in the three camps were there and celebrants had come from far and near. , A Chinese band escorted the wedding party to China Flat, where a splendid spray had been prepared. Not only was there everything the Chinese etiquette prescribes, but the white women of Washington had baked and decne 4.