Tag: California

California, located on the west coast of the United States, is renowned for its diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and significant economic influence. From the sun-kissed beaches of Southern California to the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, the state offers a range of natural beauty. The state is home to iconic cities like Los Angeles, known for Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and San Francisco, famous for its tech innovation and the Golden Gate Bridge. The state’s economy is one of the largest in the world, driven by sectors such as technology, agriculture, entertainment, and tourism. With its rich cultural diversity and pioneering spirit, California continues to be a land of opportunity and innovation.

The Battle of Wingate Pass – February 26, 1906

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The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906
The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906

The so-called “Battle” of Wingate Pass, which occurred on February 26, 1906, in the rugged terrain of Death Valley, California, was not a genuine conflict but a staged hoax orchestrated by the infamous con artist Walter Edward Perry Scott, better known as “Death Valley Scotty.” This incident stemmed from Scotty’s elaborate schemes to defraud investors by promoting nonexistent gold mines in the desert. What followed the event was a chaotic sequence of retreats, media scrutiny, arrests, lawsuits, and jurisdictional disputes that exposed the fraud and led to short-lived legal repercussions. Below is a detailed chronological account of the events leading up to the “battle,” the incident itself, and the immediate aftermath, with a focus on the court actions that unfolded in the weeks and months following.

Background on Death Valley Scotty

Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)
Walter Scott (1872 – 1954)

Walter Edward Perry Scott (1872–1954), famously dubbed “Death Valley Scotty,” was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and rose to prominence as one of the American West’s most colorful con artists. Scotty began his career as a performer in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1890s, where he honed his skills in showmanship and tall tales. By the early 1900s, he had relocated to California and began promoting himself as a wealthy gold prospector with secret mines in Death Valley, often flashing rolls of cash (later revealed to be “upholstered” with newspaper) to lure investors. His schemes involved “grubstakers”—investors who funded his expeditions in exchange for shares in supposed riches. Scotty’s charisma and exaggerated stories attracted figures like Chicago businessmen Albert M. Johnson and Edward A. Shedd, who invested $2,500 for a two-thirds stake in his fictional mine. However, as investors demanded proof, Scotty’s deceptions escalated, leading to elaborate hoaxes to maintain the illusion. His persona became synonymous with Death Valley, and he later lived at the opulent Scotty’s Castle (built by Johnson), perpetuating myths of hidden wealth until his death.

Events Leading Up to the “Battle”

Newspaper cartoon of "Death Valley Scotty", around 1905
Newspaper cartoon of “Death Valley Scotty”, around 1905

By early 1906, Scotty’s investors were growing suspicious. New England mining promoter A.Y. Pearl had introduced Scotty to Eastern bankers and businessmen eager to inspect his claimed gold properties in Death Valley. They insisted on an evaluation by Daniel E. Owen, a reputable Boston mining engineer based in Nevada. Fearing exposure—since Scotty had no real mine—he persuaded his associate Bill Keys (a prospector and half-Cherokee Indian) to allow the group to view Keys’ modest Desert Hound Mine as a stand-in. Still anxious that Owen would deem it unworthy, Scotty hatched a plan for a staged ambush to make the area seem too dangerous for further exploration.

On February 23, 1906, the party departed from Daggett, California, equipped with two wagons, mules, horses, provisions, and whiskey. The group included Scotty, Owen, Pearl, Albert M. Johnson (president of the National Life Insurance Company of Chicago), Scotty’s brothers Bill and Warner Scott, Bill Keys, A.W. DeLyle St. Clair (a Los Angeles miner), and Jack Brody (a local desert character). Keys and Brody were sent ahead to prepare the ambush, possibly with help from an Indian named Bob Belt. The party camped at Granite Wells on February 24 and proceeded toward Lone Willow Spring the next day, leaving Bill Scott behind to guard extra animals.

Description of the “Battle”

The hoax unfolded on February 25, 1906, as the group approached Wingate Pass near Dry Lake. Shots rang out from behind stone breastworks (five of which still exist today as historical remnants), simulating an attack by claim jumpers or bandits. An ex-deputy sheriff from Goldfield, Nevada, reported being ambushed earlier, causing his pack train to stampede, adding to the chaos. Scotty fired two warning shots, startling the mules and tipping Owen from his wagon. Then, a rifle shot from the hidden assailants struck Warner Scott in the groin, an accidental injury likely due to the ambushers’ drunkenness (possibly Bob Belt). Scotty galloped toward the “attackers,” yelling for them to stop, which inadvertently exposed the ruse to the suspicious Owen.

The “battle” was brief and one-sided, with no return fire from the party. Panic ensued, and the group retreated hastily to Daggett, abandoning provisions in the desert. Warner was rushed to Los Angeles for medical treatment, where he survived after surgery. The staged nature became evident through Scotty’s over-the-top reaction and the lack of pursuit by the “ambushers.” The event involved real bullets, turning a planned scare tactic into a near-tragedy due to poor execution.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Immediate Events Following the “Battle” (Late February to March 1906)

The group’s return to civilization sparked immediate chaos. Los Angeles newspapers sensationalized the story, with Pearl initially claiming it was a genuine fight against four outlaws who were “claim jumpers” guarding Scotty’s mine. However, Owen, suspecting foul play, reported the true details to the San Bernardino County sheriff and the press, asserting that Scotty had orchestrated the ambush in an attempt to kill him and cover up the fraud. This led to a public unraveling of the hoax, as investors like Johnson realized they had been duped—though Johnson would later reconcile with Scotty and fund the construction of Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley.

The sheriff’s investigation uncovered incriminating evidence: abandoned provisions at Scotty’s “Camp Holdout” and a witness statement from the Nevada lawman who spotted Keys fleeing the scene. Media coverage intensified, portraying Scotty as a swindler and the “battle” as a farce. Scotty, ever the showman, initially denied involvement but soon faced mounting pressure.

Court Actions and Legal Proceedings (March to April 1906)

The legal fallout began swiftly. On March 14, 1906, just over two weeks after the incident, the San Bernardino County District Attorney issued arrest warrants for Scotty, Bill Keys, and Jack Brody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Scotty was arrested in Seattle on March 24 and released on $500 bail. He was rearrested two days later on March 26 but again released. On April 7, Scotty pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault in San Bernardino County Court and was freed on $2,000 bail.

Meanwhile, Warner Scott, seeking compensation for his injury, filed a civil lawsuit on or around April 1906 in Los Angeles County Court against Walter Scott, Bill Scott, Bill Keys, A.Y. Pearl, and a “John Doe” (likely Brody or another accomplice). The suit demanded $152,000 in damages for his wounds and related suffering.

Keys was apprehended on April 10 at Ballarat, a mining camp near Death Valley, and pleaded not guilty before being jailed in San Bernardino. On April 13, Scotty, Pearl, and Bill Scott were arrested once more and briefly jailed in San Bernardino. However, they were released the next day after a successful habeas corpus petition challenged their detention.

The cases collapsed on April 27, 1906, when all criminal charges were dismissed by the San Bernardino County Court due to a jurisdictional error: the “battle” had occurred in Inyo County, not San Bernardino County. Inyo County authorities declined to pursue the matter, possibly due to lack of evidence or interest. Scotty later boasted that he had moved a county boundary marker to create this confusion, though this claim remains unverified.

Warner eventually agreed to drop his damage suit on the condition that Scotty pay over $1,000 in medical bills owed to Dr. C.W. Lawton in Los Angeles. Scotty consented but never paid, leading to a default judgment against him—though he had no attachable assets at the time. This unresolved debt would resurface years later, culminating in Scotty’s 1912 contempt-of-court jailing and public confession to the hoax, but the immediate 1906 proceedings ended without convictions.

Broader Implications and Legacy

The “Battle” of Wingate Pass marked a turning point in Scotty’s career, exposing his deceptions to a wider audience and costing him most investors—except Johnson, who ironically became his lifelong patron. The event highlighted the lawlessness of the California desert frontier, where jurisdictional ambiguities often allowed scams to evade justice. While no one was ultimately prosecuted in 1906, the hoax cemented Scotty’s legend as a colorful charlatan, and Wingate Pass remains a footnote in Death Valley lore.

Participants of the Battle

Albert Mussey Johnson

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William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley - Photo NPS

William Franklin Keys

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Curtis Howe Springer

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Curtis Howe Springer was a charismatic radio evangelist and self-proclaimed doctor who founded the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort in California’s Mojave Desert, operating it as a fraudulent health retreat from 1944 until his eviction in 1974.

Early Live

Curtis Howe Springer
Curtis Howe Springer

Curtis Howe Springer was born on December 2, 1896, in Birmingham, Alabama, though verifiable details about his childhood remain scarce due to his propensity for fabricating personal history. Springer often embellished his background, claiming to have served as a boxing instructor during World War I, campaigned against alcohol alongside politician William Jennings Bryan, and worked at a school in Florida. He also asserted attendance at a college in Chicago and possession of multiple advanced degrees, including an M.D., Ph.D., and N.D., some purportedly from nonexistent institutions like the “Springer School of Humanism” or the fictitious “National Academy.” In reality, no records exist to confirm any formal education or medical training, marking the beginning of a lifelong pattern of deceit.

By the 1910s and 1920s, Springer had emerged as a prohibition crusader and self-proclaimed Methodist minister, despite lacking official ordination. He transitioned into roles as a radio evangelist and lecturer, blending Christian gospel with health and hygiene advice. During this period, he worked as an insurance salesman before fully embracing his persona as a “doctor” and promoter of dubious remedies.

Rise as a Radio Evangelist and Quack Practitioner

In the 1930s, Springer traveled extensively through the Midwest, delivering sermons and selling homemade elixirs and cure-alls, often without disclosing ingredients or efficacy. He positioned himself as “the last of the old-time medicine men,” hawking products like homeopathic treatments for hair loss, hemorrhoids, and other ailments in exchange for “donations” to his ministry. His charisma propelled him onto the radio waves, following in the footsteps of figures like Aimee Semple McPherson and Father Charles Coughlin. By the mid-1930s, he was broadcasting from Chicago, falsely presenting himself as a licensed physician and promoting “miracle cures” that promised to make listeners “internally, externally, and eternally clean.”

These claims drew scrutiny; a 1936 paper by the American Medical Association, titled “Nostrums and Quackery and Pseudo-Medicine,” debunked his practices. Undeterred, Springer relocated to Pittsburgh and continued his radio empire, eventually syndicating shows to over 300 stations in the U.S. and abroad at its peak. He emphasized Christian doctrine intertwined with physical fitness, mental alertness, and spiritual soundness, while selling products such as Antediluvian Desert Herb Tea, Acidine, Hollywood Pep Cocktail, Manna, O-M-R, RE-HIB, Zy-Crystals (containing Epsom salts and salt from Soda Dry Lake), Mo-Hair, and F-W-O. In the early 1940s, he retired to Los Angeles, where he sought a permanent base for his operations.

Establishment and Operations of Zzyzx in the Mojave Desert

In 1944, Springer discovered the remote site of Soda Springs (also known as Fort Soda Springs) in the Mojave Desert, about 200 miles east of Los Angeles. On September 13, 1944, he filed mining claims under the General Mining Act of 1872 for 12,800 acres of federal land, intending to “mine” salt crystals but with no genuine mining plans. He renamed the area Zzyzx (pronounced “zi-zex”), claiming it to be “the last word in health” to ensure it appeared last in alphabetical listings.

Springer transformed the barren desert into Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort, starting with tents and expanding through labor from homeless men recruited from Los Angeles’ Skid Row, whom he paid minimally with room, board, and promises of redemption. Facilities included a two-story hotel called “The Castle,” concrete cottages (“Zycott” housing), a dining hall, lecture room, chapel, library, office/recording studio, pool house, goat shed, diesel generator, subterranean rabbit chambers, an artificial lake named Lake Tuendae (falsely claimed to mean “where the waters come together” in Native American), and a private airstrip called “Zyport.” He installed diesel-powered boilers to heat the naturally cold mineral springs from the Mojave River, creating imitation hot springs for “healing” soaks.

The resort operated as a Christian health retreat for nearly 30 years (1944–1974), accommodating over 100 guests nightly. Visitors followed a regimen of detoxification, special diets (including on-site-grown rabbit meat, goat’s milk, fruits, and vegetables), abstention from alcohol, smoking, and quarreling, sunshine exposure, and daily sermons. Springer promoted it via his radio broadcasts, newspaper ads, a newsletter called The Elucidator, and a free shuttle service using buses and an eight-door Chevrolet from Los Angeles. Fees were on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for lack of funds, though large donors received land parcels—a practice that later proved illegal. He dubbed the main road “Boulevard of Dreams” and erected eye-catching signage along the highway. At its height in the 1950s and 1960s, Zzyzx was a bustling oasis, blending snake oil sales with salvation.

Legal Battles, Eviction, and Downfall

Springer’s empire unraveled in the late 1960s amid complaints from dissatisfied customers. In 1968, he was arrested by the California Department of Public Health on 65 counts of false advertising and misrepresentation, pleading guilty to eight counts of false advertisement and mislabeling. The American Medical Association condemned him as the “King of Quacks” in 1969, leading to a conviction, fine, and 60-day jail sentence.

Concurrently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) investigated his land use, suing in 1967 for $34,187 in damages and back rent, deeming him a squatter for failing to conduct actual mining. His sale of land parcels to donors violated federal terms. On April 11, 1974, U.S. District Judge Francis C. Whelan ordered his eviction, granting just 36 hours to vacate. Springer fought the decision but lost, marking the end of his 30-year desert venture.

Later Life and Legacy

Following eviction, Springer retired to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continued advocating for Zzyzx through writings, including a 1984 editorial titled “The Legal Rape of Zzyzx” in the Baker Valley News. He died on August 19, 1985, at age 88, never regaining his desert domain. (Note: Some sources list his death as January 19, but August aligns with verified records.)

Zzyzx was nearly demolished but was repurposed in 1976 as the Desert Studies Center, a research outpost for California State University campuses, focusing on ecology, climate change, dune formation, endangered species like the Mohave tui chub, and even Mars rover testing by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Today, remnants of Springer’s era—abandoned buildings, signage, and the Boulevard of Dreams—serve as historical curiosities in this now-academic haven, underscoring his legacy as a masterful con artist who turned public land into a profitable mirage.

William Franklin Keys

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William Franklin Keys (September 27, 1879–1969) was a rugged American frontiersman, rancher, and miner who became a notable figure in the history of the Mojave Desert, particularly in what is now Joshua Tree National Park, California.

William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley - Photo NPS
William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley – Photo NPS

Early Life and Background

William Franklin Keys was born on September 27, 1879, in Palisade, Nebraska, to parents of Russian descent. In the early 1890s, his family relocated to Nebraska, where a young Bill began his journey into a rugged, self-reliant life. At age 15, he left home to work as a ranch hand, smelter worker, and miner, honing skills that would define his later years. His early adventures took him to Arizona, where he served as a deputy sheriff in Mohave County, and to Death Valley, where he befriended the colorful prospector Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott. Their association led to involvement in the infamous “Battle of Wingate Pass,” a swindle that added to Keys’ reputation as a tough frontiersman. By 1910, Keys arrived in the Twentynine Palms area of California, drawn to the harsh yet promising Mojave Desert.

Life in the Mojave Desert

In 1910, Keys took a job as custodian and assayer at the Desert Queen Mine in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. When the mine’s owner died, Keys was granted ownership of the mine as payment for back wages. In 1917, he filed for an 80-acre homestead under the Homestead Act, establishing the Desert Queen Ranch. He married Frances May Lawton in 1918, and together they raised seven children, three of whom tragically died in childhood and were buried on the ranch. The couple built a self-sufficient life, constructing a ranch house, schoolhouse, store, sheds, a stamp mill, an orchard, and irrigation systems, including a cement dam and windmill. Keys supplemented ranching with mining, operating a stamp mill to process ore for other miners and digging for gold and gypsum. His resourcefulness made the Desert Queen Ranch a symbol of early desert settlement.

The Wall Street Mill Dispute and Shootout

On May 11, 1943, a long-simmering feud with neighbor Worth Bagley, a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, culminated in a fatal confrontation near the Wall Street Mill in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. The dispute centered on a property line and Keys’ use of a road that crossed Bagley’s land. Bagley, resentful of Keys’ access to the road for hauling ore to his mill, had posted a threatening sign: “KEYS, THIS IS MY LAST WARNING. STAY OFF MY PROPERTY.” On that fateful day, Keys, aware of the serious nature of such threats in the untamed desert, stopped his car to assess the situation. According to Keys, Bagley ambushed him, firing first. In self-defense, Keys returned fire, fatally shooting Bagley. Hours later, Keys turned himself in to authorities in Twentynine Palms, claiming he acted to protect his life.

Trial and Imprisonment

Keys was charged with murder and faced a contentious trial. The desert community was divided, with some viewing Keys as a hardworking homesteader defending his rights, while others saw him as an aggressor in a property dispute. The court convicted him, and he was sentenced to ten years at San Quentin Prison. During his incarceration, Keys utilized the prison library to educate himself, maintaining his sharp mind, which had been honed by years of navigating the desert’s challenges. His time in prison was marked by resilience, as he adapted to confinement with the same determination that had sustained him in the harsh Mojave.

Exoneration and Later Life

Keys’ conviction sparked controversy, and his wife, Frances, sought help from Erle Stanley Gardner, the renowned author of the Perry Mason novels and a frequent visitor to Joshua Tree. Gardner, moved by Keys’ story and convinced of his innocence, took up the case through his “Court of Last Resort,” a project dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions. Gardner’s investigation highlighted inconsistencies in the trial and supported Keys’ self-defense claim. In 1950, Keys was paroled, and in 1956, he received a full pardon, largely due to Gardner’s efforts. After his release, Keys returned to the Desert Queen Ranch, where he lived quietly until his death in 1969. To mark the site of the 1943 shootout, Keys placed a stone inscribed, “Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys, May 11, 1943.” The original stone, vandalized in 2014, is now preserved in the Joshua Tree National Park museum, with a metal replica at the site.

Legacy

Bill Keys’ life embodies the tenacity and resourcefulness of early desert settlers. His Desert Queen Ranch, now part of Joshua Tree National Park, is preserved as a historic site, with park rangers offering guided tours from October to May to share his story. The ranch, with its array of buildings and mining equipment, stands as a testament to Keys’ ability to thrive in an unforgiving environment. The 1943 shootout, while a tragic chapter, underscores the challenges of frontier life, where disputes over land and resources could escalate to deadly confrontations. Keys’ exoneration, facilitated by Erle Stanley Gardner, highlights his enduring fight for justice. Today, the dirt road where the shootout occurred is a tourist attraction, and Keys’ story remains a compelling part of the Mojave Desert’s history.

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Mary Edith Fly

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Mary Edith “Mollie” Fly (c. 1847–1925) was a pioneering American photographer who, with her husband Camillus “Buck” Fly, documented life in Tombstone, Arizona, during its 1880s silver-mining boom. Born in the U.S. and raised in San Francisco, she married Buck in 1879 and moved to Tombstone, where they established Fly’s Photography Gallery. Mollie managed the studio and boarding house, taking portraits of residents while Buck captured historic images, including Geronimo’s 1886 surrender. Despite personal challenges, including Buck’s alcoholism and their separations, Mollie ran the studio solo after his 1901 death until 1912. She donated their negatives to the Smithsonian and retired to Los Angeles. Inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989, Mollie’s work preserved a vivid record of Tombstone’s frontier era.

Mary ("Mollie") Goodrich Fly was a photographer who married photographer C.S. Fly in San Francisco. They arrived in Tombstone, Arizona Territory in December 1879 where they established a photography business and boarding house.
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Early Life and Background

Mary Edith McKie, known as Mollie Fly, was born around 1847, likely in the United States, though details of her early life remain scarce. In the late 1850s, her family relocated to San Francisco, California, where she spent her formative years. Little is documented about her education or how she acquired her photographic skills, a rarity for women in the mid-19th century. Mollie married twice; her first marriage to Samuel D. Goodrich ended in divorce after two years. In 1879, she married Camillus Sidney “Buck” Fly, a photographer, in San Francisco, marking the beginning of their shared professional and personal journey. The couple later adopted a daughter, Kitty Fly.

Arrival in Tombstone and Establishment of Fly’s Photography Gallery

C. S. Fly's Photography Gallery, Tombstone, Arizona
C. S. Fly’s Photography Gallery, Tombstone, Arizona

In December 1879, Mollie and Buck arrived in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, during its silver-mining boom, when the town was rapidly growing into one of the American frontier’s last boomtowns. They initially set up a temporary photography studio in a tent, capitalizing on the influx of miners, merchants, and adventurers. By July 1880, they had constructed a 12-room boarding house at 312 Fremont Street, which included their permanent studio, known as Fly’s Photography Gallery, at the back. Mollie played a pivotal role in managing both the boarding house and the studio, especially when Buck was away on photographic expeditions. As one of the few female photographers of the era, she took studio portraits for 35 cents each, capturing the diverse faces of Tombstone’s residents, from miners to merchants.

Role in Recording Tombstone’s Events

Mollie’s contributions to documenting Tombstone’s history were significant, though often overshadowed by her husband’s more publicized work. The Flys’ studio was strategically located near the site of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, one of the most iconic events in Old West history. Buck was an eyewitness to the shootout, which occurred just outside their studio, and reportedly disarmed a dying Billy Clanton while armed with a Henry rifle. Curiously, no photographs of the gunfight’s aftermath were taken, possibly due to threats from the Earp faction, though Mollie and Buck’s studio captured portraits of many key figures in Tombstone, including founder Ed Schieffelin and surgeon Dr. George E. Goodfellow.

While Buck gained recognition for his photojournalistic work, including the only known images of Geronimo’s surrender in 1886, Mollie ensured the studio’s continuity. She managed operations during Buck’s absences, producing photographic postcards, such as one captioned “Arizona Prospectors, Tombstone,” which offered rare glimpses into the town’s daily life. Her work, though less credited, helped preserve the visual record of a bustling frontier town marked by saloons, stagecoach robberies, and mining ventures.

Challenges and Resilience

The Flys’ personal and professional lives were fraught with challenges. Buck’s heavy drinking led to their temporary separation in 1887, and by the late 1880s, Tombstone’s economy declined as silver prices fell and mines flooded. In 1893, the couple attempted to open a new studio in Phoenix, but the venture failed, prompting their return to Tombstone a year later. They separated again in the late 1890s, with Buck establishing a studio in Bisbee, Arizona, where a fire at the Phelps Dodge Mercantile Company warehouse destroyed many of their glass-plate negatives. After Buck’s death in Bisbee in 1901, Mollie ran the Tombstone studio solo for another decade, demonstrating remarkable resilience. In 1905, she published a collection of Buck’s photographs, Scenes in Geronimo’s Camp: The Apache Outlaw and Murderer, preserving his historic images of Geronimo’s surrender.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1912, Mollie retired after a second fire destroyed her studio in Tombstone in 1915. Recognizing the historical value of their work, she donated the surviving negatives to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. She then moved to Los Angeles, California, where she lived until her death in 1925. Mollie’s contributions as a pioneering female photographer were posthumously honored in 1989 when she was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame.

C. S. Fly's Photography Gallery, Tombstone, Arizona on fire 1912, Photograph by Mary "Mollie" Fly
C. S. Fly’s Photography Gallery, Tombstone, Arizona on fire 1912, Photograph by Mary “Mollie” Fly

Mollie Fly’s role in recording Tombstone’s events was integral to preserving the town’s legacy as “The Town Too Tough to Die.” Through her management of Fly’s Photography Gallery and her own photographic work, she captured the essence of a volatile frontier era, contributing to one of the most comprehensive pictorial records of early Tombstone. Her perseverance as a woman in a male-dominated field and her dedication to her craft ensure her place as a significant figure in Arizona’s history.

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Atolia California – San Bernardino County Ghost Town

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Atolia, California, is a ghost town in the Mojave Desert near Randsburg in northwestern San Bernardino County. Once a bustling tungsten mining hub, Atolia’s history is tied to the discovery of tungsten and its critical role in global industrial demands, particularly during World War I.

Atolia and mine in the Mojave Desert, circa 1908 postcard.
Atolia and mine in the Mojave Desert, circa 1908 postcard.

Origins and Discovery (1904–1906)

Atolia’s story began in 1904–1905 when prospectors Charles Taylor and Tom McCarthy discovered veins of scheelite, a tungsten ore, east of the Randsburg gold mine. Initially, miners in the nearby Randsburg and Johannesburg areas struggled with a creamy white substance called “heavy spar” in their placer gold operations, which was later identified as scheelite, a calcium tungstate mineral (CaWO4). In 1905, McCarthy found a 40-pound chunk of tungsten ore, sparking interest in the region’s tungsten potential. The Atolia Mining Company was established in 1906, funded partly by financier Bernard Baruch and operated by the Atkins-Kroll Company. The town’s name, Atolia, is a contraction of the surnames of two key figures, Atkins and DeGolia, who also oversaw the construction of a tungsten mill in 1907.

Boom Years and World War I (1906–1918)

Atolia’s growth accelerated during World War I (1914–1918) due to surging global demand for tungsten, a critical component in hardening steel alloys for armaments. The town became the world’s largest tungsten producer, with the Papoose Mine leading global scheelite production from 1908 to 1911. Ore grades in the Atolia Mining District ranged from 3.5wt% to 8.5wt% WO3, with some veins, such as those in the Papoose and Mahood mines, reaching up to 15.3wt% WO3. The value of tungsten ore skyrocketed from $6 for 30 pounds to over $1 per pound, fueling economic activity.

By 1916, Atolia’s population swelled to over 2,000. The town boasted a vibrant community with four restaurants, three general stores, three rooming houses, four pool rooms, two stationery stores, an ice cream parlor, a garage, three butcher shops, a dairy, a movie theater, a schoolhouse for 60 pupils, and a saloon named the “Bucket of Blood.” The Atolia News, a weekly newspaper edited by Erwin Lehmann, began publication in May 1916. The Randsburg Railway connected Atolia to nearby towns, facilitating the transport of goods and people.

A notable event during this period was the 1916 shipment of tungsten ore to Germany via the German cargo submarine Deutschland. With English naval blockades cutting off Germany’s tungsten supply, Atolia’s ore was transported under guard from the town’s depot to Barstow, then to Baltimore via the Santa Fe’s California Limited, and loaded onto the Deutschland for delivery. This operation underscored Atolia’s global significance during the war. However, the town also faced challenges, including illegal activities. In an undated raid, San Bernardino County Sheriff McMinn targeted Atolia’s gambling dens, confiscating a faro wheel and significant quantities of alcohol, aiming to curb its reputation as a “frontier town of ’49.”

Decline and Post-War Period (1919–1922)

The end of World War I in 1918 led to a collapse in tungsten prices, severely impacting Atolia’s economy. The Atolia Mining Company shipped no tungsten ore from 1920 to 1922, and the town’s post office closed in 1922. Many residents left, and businesses shuttered, leaving Atolia a shadow of its former self. The nearby California Rand Silver Mine, which saw a silver boom in 1919 with production exceeding $3 million in 1921, temporarily overshadowed Atolia’s tungsten operations.

Revival and Later Years (1923–1940s)

Tungsten mining resumed in the 1920s, with the Union Mine, the district’s chief producer, reopening in 1924. Production increased significantly, reaching nearly $250,000 in 1925 and surpassing that in 1926 and 1927. Between 1923 and 1939, the Atolia Mining Company sold over $3 million worth of ore, demonstrating the town’s resilience. During World War II, Atolia’s mines were reactivated, but open-pit methods and heavy machinery replaced thelabor-intensive underground mining of earlier years. Mining continued sporadically into the 1940s and possibly as late as 2007, though the town itself remained largely abandoned.

Geological Context

Atolia’s tungsten deposits are associated with hydrothermal vein systems in the Atolia quartz monzonite, an Upper Jurassic orthoclase-biotite tonalite. The mineral assemblage includes high-grade scheelite with quartz, carbonates (calcite, dolomite, siderite), and minor pyrite, stibnite, and cinnabar. The deposits were influenced by the Garlock Fault and subparallel fracture zones, part of the San Andreas rift system, which facilitated the intrusion of Mesozoic granites and the formation of lode deposits. Scheelite’s weathering resistance, similar to quartz, also led to placer tungsten deposits in the region. From 1904 to 1950, Atolia produced nearly 90% of North America’s high-grade tungsten, totaling over 20 million pounds.

Legacy and Current State

Today, Atolia is a ghost town with remnants of its mining past, including open shafts, a few headframes, and a ball mill, located just off Highway 395. The Union #1 Mine’s headframe, a 100-foot-tall structure built in 1916, was a notable landmark until it collapsed and burned in a fire on October 27, 2014, alongside a pickup truck found in the debris. The site is marked by private property signs, and visitors are cautioned about open mine shafts. Atolia’s story reflects the boom-and-bust cycle typical of mining towns, driven by global demand for a critical resource. Its historical significance is preserved through photographs and records at the Rand Desert Museum and geological studies of the Atolia Mining District.

Conclusion

Atolia, California, rose from obscurity to global prominence as a tungsten mining hub, driven by the demands of World War I. Its brief but vibrant history, marked by economic booms, international intrigue, and eventual decline, encapsulates the transient nature of resource-driven communities in the Mojave Desert. Though now a ghost town, Atolia’s legacy endures in its contribution to North America’s tungsten production and its place in California’s mining history.

Atolia Town Map

Town Summary

NameAtolia California
LocationMojave Desert, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude35.3147387,-117.6170878
GNIS1660280
Elevation3,280 Feet
Population2,000
Post Office1906 – 1922, 1927 – 1944

References