Kettlebelly On The Comstock

About the Book

The fabulous Comstock Lode, Nevada's treasury of silver and gold, produced over $300 million dollars in the twenty years of its working.  Virginia City, a city rivaling  San Francisco's  glamour, was  founded  in 1860 after silver  was discovered, mixed with the  gold, and the treasure seekers of the world poured into this remote, windy, and mountainous site.  The wealth that sprang from the rocky ground seemed endless, and a town of wood and brick buildings quickly showed the determination of the people to stay and prosper.

Into this horse and buggy backdrop, the author has created a man who had the strength of character to hold the position of sheriff for twenty years.  Using the growing economy and its setbacks, and the character of the town's people as background, Sheriff Kettlebelly O'Neal settled disputes and jailed law breakers.  He also lived there, had his own life and friends, and found time to get married and raise a family.

The five sequential stories told here are actually fictional creations that reflect the real time line of actual events and conditions.   Hopefully, these tales will give you enjoyment as well as insights into a time of fabulous hopes, spectacular disasters, and unforgettable characters.

About the Author

The author, Larry Tanner, first visited Virginia City in 1951 on his way to attend the University of Nevada. Later his parents moved there to live and he found his way every summer from his residence in the Bay Area to the living Ghost Towns of the Comstock.  He finally moved there in 1981, after his father died, and at his mother's 75th birthday party met, and later married, his wife, Evangeline.  Having been a teacher in California it was natural that while running a small Comstock relic shop he became fascinated with the history of the Comstock and the dissemination of it to the visiting tourists. He then worked at the Nevada State Museum for twelve years before retiring. His interest in Nevada history culminated in these stories.  A second book, covering the boom times and the final days is in the works.