Techatticup Mine, Nelson, NV

April 23, 2006

 

"Always Vigilant"

A View Backwards into the History of the Queho Posse, Chapter 1919,

 

E Clampus Vitus

 

On the Occasion of the Tenth {or X } Anniversary

 

Of the Formation Doins of the Posse

 

Let us remember the past, and celebrate it, for it is right and proper that we do so

 

As called for by Noble Grand Humbug

 

Jeff "Conman" Hayden

 

And dedicated to the late, lamentated

 

Stan "The Man" Wolf

 

First Humbug of the Queho Posse

 

Written, composed, compromised, comported, composted, and committed to paper by

 

XNGH Mark "The Obfuscationist" Hall-Patton, Clamphistorian

 

A View Backwards into the History of the

 

Queho Posse Chapter 1919,

 

E Clampus Vitus

 

 

To which is appended a review of the prehistory of clamperdom in Nevada, and a view of the elder days and elder attempts to found previous chapters in the wilds of the southern lands.

Produced for the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary Doins of the Queho Posse Chapter 1919 of the ancient and honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, April 21-23, 6011 [2006 in the vulgar calendar]

 

As ordained by

 

NGH Jeff "Conman" Hayden

This keepsake is dedicated to our first NGH and founder, Stan "The Man" Wolf
Who well and truly believed in caring for the widders (in his case, six of them).

This keepsake is the product of the adept, addled, apropos, approved, and applauded Clamphistorian

Mark "The Obfuscationist" Hall-Patton, XNGH, DS3

 

Nihil obit: St. Vitus

Imprimtur: St. Vitus

 

The fine print- If you can read this, it isn't fine enough!

There is placed within this keepsake, a number of errors, omissions, misstatements, and outright fabrications, should you, the reader, so locate them. If you do not, they do not exist, for at the Caterpillar says, "A word means exactly what I want it to mean; no more, and no less."

The History of Clamperdom in Southern Nevada

 

Pre-history -

 

The wonders and glories of the ancient and honorable order of E Clampus Vitus was known in the state of Nevada by at least 1860. It was in this year that the Red Bluff Beacon notes the existence of a lodge of the order in Carson City. An article in the Territorial Enterprise from February 18, 1860 notes,

 

	"During the past week, there has appeared around town several posters, making the announcement, 
	that the Ancient and Honorable Order of E.C.V.'s would meet on last Monday night.  We inquired 
	the meaning of the cabalistic words, E.C.V., was told to inquire diligently around town and we 
	might possible become enlightened.  We accordingly kept out eye open.  Saw several strange and 
	mysterious salutations by parties in the street.  Thought that maybe a project was on foot to 
	get up a filibustering expedition against the Mormons!

 

	While in doubt about the matter, our attention was attracted by two men, who seemed interested in 
	a poster.  Upon drawing near we overheard the following conversation.  "You have heard of the 
	F.F.V.'s," said No. 1?  "Yes," said No. 2.  "Well, said No. 1, "you see language is progressive.  
	The F.F.V.'s have become an obsolete and defunct institution. The E.C.V.'s - or Elite Circles of 
	Virginia, is now the phrase used in polite society."  "They are coming here" continued No. 1,
	"to monopolize all the offices, like they did in California."  "If that is the case," said No. 2 
	(a slab-sided Yankee) "I am down on the E.C.V.'s!"  Perhaps he was on the right lead, and "prehaps" 
	he was not."

 

Obviously, even it its earliest days in our fine state, our brethren could not suppress a bit of frivolity at the expense of the credulous fourth estate. None-the- less, Clampers had established their presence, one which would be felt throughout the state.

 

In 1863, the November 4 edition of the Gold Hill News noted ECV activity in the area, and by 1869 a lodge was formed at Reno. In 1871 there is evidence of a lodge at Unionville, and in 1875, one at Winnemucca.

 

By far, the primary proponent of the order in early day Nevada had to be the first man to serve as United States Senator from the state, William Morris Stewart. Stewart, one of the two namesakes of the William Bull Meek/William Morris Stewart Chapter 10 of E Clampus Vitus, located in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area in California, was a typical miner/politician. He was born in New York, but made his way west in 1850.

 

He first settled in Nevada City, trying his hand at mining, but later decided that there were easier ways of separating men from their hard earned money. Accordingly, he became a lawyer in California in 1852. By 1854 he was the state's attorney general. Moving to Virginia City in 1860, he founded the Winnemucca Lodge #1 of E Clampus Vitus in that community. He was actively involved in the organization of the Nevada territory, serving in the territorial legislature, and as a member of Nevada's Constitutional Convention in 1863.

 

When we became a state in 1864, he was elected Senator, running, correctly, as a Republican. He served as Senator from 1864 until 1875, and again from 1887 until1905, a total of 30 years. He made and lost three fortunes, but never gave up. He was in Rhyolite and Bullfrog during the early twentieth century mining boom of 1906-1910.

 

He was a clamper for most of his career, and between his terms in the US Senate was named by the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Lodge of E Clampus Vitus, according to his biographer Ruth Hermann in her book Gold and Silver Colossus; William Morris Stewart and His Southern Bride, to establish a State Grand Encampment in Nevada, an appointment noted in the Carson Free Lance (a newspaper which had nothing to do with today's "G-sting" court cases) for November 30, 1885.

 

Stewart was active in promoting clamperdom in the state during these years. With his return to the US Senate, this effort fell to others not nearly as devoted to the cause, and the order faded until the advent of the Julia C. Bulette chapter in 1963.

 

This was the first chapter to be chartered after World War II by the Grand Council of E Clampus Vitus. Though chapters had been chartered in the early years of E Clampus Vitus Redivivus outside the geographical confines of the golden state, most notably in New Mexico (Quivera Chapter #4) and Washington (District of Columbia, not state), these had not continued.

 

The Julia C. Bulette chapter was created by a group of Nevada clampers headed up by Louie Beaupre, Marsh Fey, and John DuFresne, who figure in the first southern Nevada attempt below. They even got a petition from the Nevada State Legislature, sign by Governor Grant Sawyer, to present to the Grand Council in support of the effort. The new chapter was chartered by the Grand Council in June 1963.

 

Robert Throckmorton and the first Southern Nevada attempt

 

Bob Throckmorton was a local schoolteacher and principle of Vegas Verde Grammar School, former president of the Unitarian Fellowship of Las Vegas, and co-founder of the local chapter of the ACLU. He was also an avid reader, and in 1963 he read the article which appeared in the April 10 issue of the Las Vegas Review Journal, which piqued his interest.

 

It was by a Bob Richards and was entitled "E Clampus Vitus Chapter Would Heat Up Vegas." Throckmorton thought this was a great idea, and penned a letter to Louie Beaupre, then NGH of the Julia Bulette Chapter in Virginia City. Interestingly, the letter was originally sent to Julia C. Bulette in Virginia City, which somehow meant it would got to the City Clerk's office, at which time it was actually given to John DuFresne, at the time the VNGH of the chapter.

 

It should be noted, and was in some of the correspondence between Throckmorton and DuFresne, that Julia Bulette was a new chapter and the only one chartered outside of the confines of the state of California. While indeed there had been earlier chapters, such as Quivera in New Mexico, these were not active at this time

.

Julia Bulette was only three years old, and DuFresne suggested the Throckmorton should become a Clamper first, perhaps in a nearby chapter. Throckmorton wrote to Leo Cline, the GNR of the Squibob Chapter, who immediately suggested he write to the Julia Bulette chapter, which had sent him to Squibob in the first place.

 

Throckmorton was not dissuaded by this series of good but circular advice. He wrote back to DuFresne, and was sent a doins notice to the July 3-5, 1964, doins in Virginia City. He attended, braving the PBC parade down the main street of town on Saturday morning (with a dead fish around his neck and diapers on), and became a member of the order.

 

He was never able to get a chapter going in the south, but stayed active in clamperdom. When the current chapter was being formed, Throckmorton was one of the early members, becoming the first Clamphistorian in 1996. He orated at the formation doins at Larry's Hideaway, and at the Elk's Club Candlelights in 1997. PBCs from the Elk's Club will probably remember kneeling during the oration on the Egyptian Goddess of Beer, an event more noted for its endurance, rather than educational, qualities. Because of health issues he had to step out of the role (which has since been held by XNGH Mark Hall-Patton), but still lives in Las Vegas and will speak at extraordinary length to anyone who asked about the early efforts to found a chapter in the south.

 

Dan Stark and the Death Valley Scotty Outpost

 

Many years later, in 1986, yet another wandering clamper decided a chapter was needed in the south. His efforts, though unsuccessful, would pave the way for today's Queho Posse.

 

In 1986, Dan Stark, then an officer with the Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069, began working in southern Nevada. He decided a chapter was needed for the area, and started to agitate for one. Lobbying the Grand Council, including such luminaries as then-SNGH Dale Turney, then VSNGH Ron Cox, and then-SNGR Sid Blumner, Dan began the long drive for a southern Nevada Chapter.

 

By 1988, the effort had progressed to the point that the Death Valley Scotty outpost could hold its first doins. This was duly accomplished, with a one-day doins being held at Cashman Field. Many PBCs were enlightened, and the outpost appeared on its way.

 

At the same time, Stark, who was later to serve as fourth Humbug of the Queho Posse, and is currently a Procter, was the Colonial Administrator for the Billy Holcomb Chapter, and was working with Bob Stragnall who was creating the Lost Dutchman outpost. The Death Valley Scotty outpost seemed poised to become a reality when circumstances changed.

 

In January 1989, Stark moved back to California, and left the fledgling outpost in other hands. The new group did not keep up the effort, and the Death Valley Scotty outpost faded into memory. Those with shirts from the first event saved them as souvenirs of a valiant effort, and wondered when southern Nevada would finally be released from its long journey in darkness.

 

The Light Shines - The Queho Posse arises

 

In 1995, six southern Nevada clampers were brought together under the auspices of the Julia Bulette and Snowshoe Thompson chapters to form a southern Nevada chapter. Led by Stan Wolf, these included Don Franks, Pete Sarty, Ron Radcliffe, Dan Briley, and Ken Vinson, then VNGH of the Snowshoe Thompson Chapter. The first organizing meeting was held at the Flame Restaurant in Las Vegas.

 

Out of this meeting came the chapter known widely as the finest in all clamperdom, the Queho Posse. The organizing party quickly dwindled to four, with the departure of Radcliffe and Briley, but the intrepid band was not to be dissuaded. Instead, they plunged forward with little logical, or sober, thought.

 

They held the first official organizing meeting on July 22, 1995. Six more local clampers agreed to become part of the effort, and the small contingent secured the official sponsorship of the Julia Bulette and Snowshoe Thompson chapters. A copy of the Grand Council's Guidelines were presented to Wolf, and the effort began to feel possible. A sheepskin was developed, with a badge design created by Pete Sarty, and hats were made. Representatives of the fledgling group attended the Great basin Alliance, and the Death Valley Forty-Niners Veterans Day Parade in Death Valley. They met with support, or so they thought, and decided it was time to hold a doins.

 

Larry's Hideaway at Cheyenne and Rancho was selected for its fine cuisine and notable lack of overt temperance beliefs. April 20, 1996 was chosen for the date, and notices sent. Among those who became involved at this doins was the author of this treatise, who learned of the event from XNGH Glenn Thornhill while at a De La Guerra Y Pacheco doins in California. Contacting Stan Wolf, I was directed to the site, and found a convivial group.

 

132 redshirts and 27 PBCs attended the formation doins. The event, though it ran relatively smoothly, did encounter a few glitches, including the fact that nearly the entire wait-staff was female. They were kept from the Hall of Comparative Ovations, and the outpost was well and truly begun.

 

In May, Stan Wolf and Ken Vinson went to Grand Council to plead for official recognition as an outpost. With Dan Bowers by his side, Wolf did not screw up too badly, and after a 20 minute grilling, the outpost was recognized.

 

The outpost grew over the years, with many stumbles and more great leaps. One of the first "opportunities" we were given was to cook for the Slim Princess chapter at Death Valley on June 15, 1996. Being young and foolish, we accepted the offer as a way to build our financial coffers.

 

Unfortunately, it was, as Death Valley is want to be, miserably hot. While we survived, this brought an end to the Queho Posse as a roving cook crew. In the fall, we held our first three-day doins at the Walking Box Ranch between Searchlight and Nipton.

 

The posse continued to grow. Bob Throckmorton, of the early efforts, became the first Clamphistorian, but had to step down for health reasons in 1997, when Mark Hall-Patton (your irrepressible author and omniscient voice of historical accuracy) took over the role. In 1997 as well, there was an internal disagreement, which led to many new members deciding to not attend. This was truly unfortunate, but the Posse persevered.

 

Pete Sarty also took on the mantle of HMFIC (Head MF In Charge) from Stan Wolf for a few months in that year, but with the dissension, the sponsoring chapters insisted he retain the title. During the next three years, Wolf led the chapter, culminating in his presiding over the Charter Doins of the new Queho Posse Chapter 1919 at the Techatticup Mine in Eldorado Canyon, September 22-24, 2000, a site located by Dann "Nnad" DeBoer, later Humbug of the chapter, but at the time barely a redshirt.

 

Since then, we have clamped throughout southern Nevada, raising markers and plaques to many significant historic locations. Our form was designed by "Wanderin" Jim Crowe, who was later allowed to rise to the exalted ranks of XNGH earlier this year. We have as well worked jointly with other chapters, such as Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 on the Nipton doins in 1999, the Floating Whang Chapter on the first sailing of the Queho-st Gaurd in 2002, and the six-way at Datelan, Arizona in 2002. It should be noted that it was only through the efforts of the dyslexic sixth Humbug of the chapter that the Gaurd was so appropriately named.

 

The Chapter has had the following humbugs during its existence:

 

		2000		Stan "The Man" Wolf
		2000-2001	Don "MGD" Franks
		2001-2002	Mark "The Obfuscationist" Hall-Patton
		2002-2003	Dan "Mr. Procter Sir" Stark
		2003-2004	Doyle "Loanshark" Jensen
		2004-2005	Dann "Nnad" DeBoer
		2005-2006	"Wanderin" Jim Crowe
		2006-2007	Jeff "Conman" Hayden

 

The Queho Posse Chapter 1919 is named for the posses that searched unsuccessfully for the last renegade Indian of southern Nevada, Queho. Queho, whose last attributed killings occurred in 1919 (hence the chapter number), was found near where this doins is being held in 1940. He had been dead for about six months. While many posses had tracked the renegade, none had found him. He had lived for twenty years while on the run, subsisting off the land and people who left food for him.

 

Our chapter is named for the many posses who proved singularly incapable of locating the fugitive. Our motto, "Always Vigilant" commemorates their efforts and adjures to us the need for a constant effort on behalf of all unfound poor blind candidates wandering in the deserts of southern Nevada, waiting for the enlightenment which can only be had through a passage through the horrendous Hall of Comparative Ovations and an introduction to the ineffable Staff of Relief.

 

Let us never forget the history of our chapter, nor those who have made us what we are today. Let us be Always Vigilant in our duty to widders and orphans, and to the history of southern Nevada. At this, our tenth anniversary doins, let us hail Stan Wolf, and all other fallen brothers of the order, and look toward our future with naught but trepidation and, in the case of our Boulder City brethren, follicle challenges.

 

What sayeth the Brethren?

 

Satisfactory!

 

And so recorded.

 

A Listing of the Events and Doins of the Queho Posse, ECV, Chapter 1919, created by XNGH Mark Hall-Patton, for the enlightenment and elucidation of the masses - without rhyme, reason, rhythm, rotundity, or rationale

 

1996
4/20		Formation Celebration, Larry's Hideaway
6/15		Cook Crew, Slim Princess Doins, Furnace Creek
11/1-3		Walking Box 1 (Searchlight, NV)

1997
4/12-13		Spring Mountain (1 day)
5/31		Las Vegas Elk's Club Candlelight 1
7/19		Widder's Ball, Henderson Eagles
8/16		Las Vegas Elk's Club Candlelight 2
10/3-5		Amargosa Valley

1998
4/18		Nelson's Landing (1 day)
10/2-4		Walking Box II (Searchlight, NV) (including Centennial Parade) dedicated plaque for centennial, 
			but did not install

1999
4/24		Lake Mead Marina (1 day)
10/8-10		Nipton (Joint with Billy Holcomb), plaque

2000
4/15		Boulder City Elks Club (1 day)
7/22		Sam's Club Candlelight
9/22-24		Charter  Doins, Techatticup Mine, plaque
9/24		Demotion of Humbug, Stan Wolf  [rise of the MGD]

2001
3/30-4/1	Searchlight, place Centennial plaque from 1998
4/2		Demotion of Humbug, Don Franks, by resignation [rise of the Obfuscationist]
3/16-18		Joint with Holcomb HEMMHERHOID
11/2-4		Goodsprings, Pioneer Saloon, plaque

2002
1/26		Demotion of Humbug, Mark Hall-Patton [rise of Sid's permanent PBC]
6/15		Joint Doins w/ Floating Whang Chapter, Callville, under Lake Mead, plaque
10/11-13	Six Chapter Doins, Datelan Air Base, Dateland, AZ, plaque

2003
1/14		Demotion of Humbug, Dan Stark [rise of the Loanshark]
6/21		Lake Mead Queho-st Guard Doins II, the Trio of Terror, plaque
8/9		Santora's Watering Hole dedication, bar plaque
10/3-5		Von Schmidt Doins, Pahrump (including Town Parade), dedicated plaque, but did not install
12/9		Family Night, Santora's

2004
1/20		Demotion of Humbug, Doyle Jensen [rise of the Dyslexic]
4/16-18		Gold Point Doins, plaque
6/12		Queho-st Gaurd's Third Sailing, the Drowned Towns Tour, plaque
9/24-26		Rachel Doins, plaque
10/2		Pahrump Harvest Parade
12/7		Second Annual Family Night, Santora's

2005
1/18		Demotion of Humbug, Dann DeBoer [rise of the Wanderer]
3/18-20		Joint Hemi with Billy Holcomb and Matt Warner, Old Spanish Trail, plaque
4/22-24		Santa Fe Saloon doins in Goldfield, plaque
5/14		Las Vegas Centennial Helldorado Parade
6/11		4th Annual Sailing of the Queho-st Gaurd, Prohibition and the River, plaque
7/4		Boulder City 4th of July Parade and picnic, family event
8/19-21		Joint Vituscan run with Billy Holcomb, Eldorado Canyon
9/30		Pahrump Harvest Parade 
10/21-23	G. F. Colton and the Duplex Mine, Searchlight, Nevada, plaque (1st Queho Comitatus 4x4 run)

2006
1/17		Demotion of Humbug, Jim Crowe [rise of the Conman]
2/3-5		Boomtown History conference, joint "Dad" Fairbanks Spring plaque
4/21-23		Techatticup II, outpost's 10th anniversary, Queho's Cave plaque (2nd Queho Comitatus 4x4 run)

[planned]
6/10		5th Annual sailing of the Queho'st Gaurd, Elwood Mead, plaque
7/4		Boulder City 4th of July Parade and picnic, family event
10-13/15	Six chapter doins, California City, Boron plaque

 

ECV, Queho Posse Chapter 1919

 

Plaque list, with location, in order of dedication

 

Searchlight, Nevada
	Located at corner of Michael Wendell Way and Cottonwood Cove Road in parking lot of Community Center
	Dedicated October 4, 1998
	Erected March 31, 2001

Nipton, California
	Located in parking lot in front of Nipton store
	Dedicated October 10, 1999
	Joint plaque with Billy Holcomb Chapter

Techatticup Mine
	Located at mine site on Nevada Highway 165, east of Nelson, NV
	Dedicated at Charter Doins of Queho Posse, September 24, 2000

Pioneer Saloon
	Located at saloon, on Spring Street, in town of Goodsprings, NV
	Dedicated November 4, 2001

Callville, Nevada
	Located in Lake Mead
	Dedicated June 15, 2002
	Joint plaque with Floating Whang chapter

Dateland, Arizona
	Located in Dateland, Arizona, at Dateland Store
	Dedicated October 13, 2002
	Joint plaque with Lost Dutchman, Billy Holcomb, Squibob, Matt Warner, and 
	Peter Lebec chapters (6-way doins of 2002)

Trio of Terror (Mouse, Ahvote, and Queho)
	Located in Lake Mead
	Dedicated June 21, 2003

Alexey Von Schmidt and the Von Schmidt Line
	Dedicated October 5, 2003
	Awaiting installation

Gold Point, Nevada
	Located near old post office in Gold Point, Nevada
	Dedicated April 18, 2004

Drowned Towns of Lake Mead
	Located in Lake Mead
	Dedicated June 12, 2004

Rachel, Nevada
	Located off Nevada Extraterrestrial Highway 375 at Day Store in Rachel
	Dedicated September 26, 2004

Old Spanish Trail
	Located at Hamilton Ranch Road on Arizona Hwy 91, in Littlefield, AZ
	Dedicated March 20, 2005
	Joint plaque with Billy Holcomb Vituscan trek

The Santa Fe Saloon
	Located at saloon on Franklin Street in Goldfield, Nevada
	Dedicated April 24, 2005

Prohibition and the River
	Located in Lake Mead
	Dedicated June 11, 2005

G. F. Colton and the Duplex Mine
	Located at the Duplex Mine off US Highway 95, near junction of Nv. Hwy. 164
	Dedicated October 23, 2005

Dad Fairbanks and Fairbanks Spring
	Located next to Fairbanks Spring at Ash Meadows State Park
	Joint Plaque with Billy Holcomb and Boomtowns History Conference
	Dedicated February 5, 2006

Queho's Cave
	Located at the Techatticup Mine on Highway 165 east of Nelson, Nv.
	Dedicated April 23, 2006

 

The plaque as placed at the Techatticup Mine in honor of the 10th anniversary doins of the Queho Posse.

 

Queho's Cave

 

In 1940, Charley Kenyon and Art Schroeder located a cave above the Colorado River, about twelve miles northeast of this spot. In it were the remains of southern Nevada's last great renegade, Queho, who had been dead about six months. Queho had grown up in the Eldorado Canyon area, and was responsible for a string of murders between 1910 and 1919. After the last killings, he continued to live in the area for another 20 years. The bones were identified by physical characteristics, and artifacts found in the cave which were known to have come from various murder victims.

 

Placed this 23rd day of April, 2006

 

By the Queho Posse Chapter 1919,

 

E Clampus Vitus.

 

Satisfactory!

 

On the next few pages are some articles which have appeared about the Queho Posse Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, and a reproduction of the flyer for the first three-day doins held by the outpost, for the elucidation and historical enjoyment of the brethren.

Return to thePlaques Page

 

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