Truckee gold coins

[lastleg]

Someone sent me an e-mail with reprints of vintage O'Sullivan photographs from the 1860s and 70s. I was
scrolling the pics and got to one of a boat on the Truckee River in Nevada. The caption stated that O'Sullivan
was going down the river and hit the rapids and almost drowned. He made it to shore but lost his wallet that
contained $300 in gold coins. This account was verified by historians.

This guy was one tough Irishman who started his photography career in the Civil War making photos of the
carnage. After that he went all over the western frontier with his photo wagon taking pictures that are now
famous.

 

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[Hoppus]

No wonder he almost drowned....$300 in gold coins in his wallet? How the heck did he hold his pants up?

 

[maipenrai]

Hmmmm, did they even use wallets at that time, or just a coin purse?

 

[lastleg]

It was some kind of purse. The ones I have seen are too small. Anyway true gold loss stories with the location are scarce.

 

[maipenrai]

Can you post the photographs?

 

[lastleg]

That's the one.

 

[LuckyThirteen08]

Hmmmm, did they even use wallets at that time, or just a coin purse?

Its not a purse,Its a satchel,Indiana Jones had a satchel ~~The Hangover~~

HH John

 

[lastleg]

It was on his person in the water - satchel no, purse no, saddlebag no, wallet yes.

 

[Connecticut Sam]

No wonder he almost drowned....$300 in gold coins in his wallet? How the heck did he hold his pants up?

He lost his pants and his underwear. What a sight he was.

 

[lastleg]

No, no lost pants, no lost underwear, just lost gold coins. Still in the river probably.

 

[wreckwriter]

Diving in rapids is going to be a good trick. Neat find never the less, worth looking into further I think.

 

[lastleg]

Downstream from the rapids is where it would have settled and slowly covered with rock/silt.

 

[wreckwriter]

Downstream from the rapids is where it would have settled and slowly covered with rock/silt.

I would think that would depend on a few variables like water depth, length of rapids, any deeper pools within the rapids, etc. Certainly that would be best case scenario and worth a look.

 

[maipenrai]

Wasnt there a photo posted before? Guess it got deleted for some reason.

 

[lastleg]

Yes there was the photo I saw posted. No idea why removed.

 

[Connecticut Sam]

Because it show the Captain naked.... Gross.

 

[maipenrai]

someone keeps wasting my time, checking out new replies!

 

[lastleg]

maipenrai I found the link (I hope it works) Tucson weekly: The life of Timothy H. O'Sullivan.

It has lots of authentic How the West Really Looked photographs.

 

[maipenrai]

Thanks Lastleg, some interesting photos, although none about the Truckee, and there were at least a couple that seemed to be faked, but still, very interesting.

 

[Connecticut Sam]

I believe the coins are not in the same spot. Good luck.