In the 1860s Pioche, Nevada was the baddest town in the west; badder than Tombstone, badder than Dodge City and all the rest. It was so bad 72 people died before one died a natural death.This town even has its own website www.pioche.net. In 1873, the Nevada State Mineralogist reported to the State Legislature "About one-half of the community are thieves, scoundrels and murderers and then we have some of the best folks in the world, and I don't know but our lives and property are just as safe as with you. You can go uptown and get shot very easily if you choose, or you can live peacefully. I will send you a paper with an account of the last fight...I was in hopes eight or ten would have been killed at least, as these fights are a pest in the community. Peaceful! Sure, if you stayed out of the way of the bullets."

The most notorious mining camp in Nevada, where the only law was the gun, is the town of Pioche. A William Hamblin made the first discovery of gold and silver in 1863. Fortunately for him, Hamblin had Paiute Indian friends who showed him the site that was to produce $40 million in ore. The town, however, was developed by a Frenchman by the name of F. L. A. Pioche, a banker from San Francisco, to whom Hamblen sold his claims. Of special note is the town's cemetery. It contains the first "Murderer's Row", a section in the cemetery set apart from the rest, containing the graves of over 100 murderers. Most are unmarked. Many relics of the old days remain, including the Lincoln County Courthouse that was condemned in 1933, three years before it was paid for. Pioche-a must see ghost town. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Pioche, Nevada: Here's another article from Desert Magazine about Pioche, They Didn’t Stand A Chance  by Craig McDonald. It may have been merely a piece of mining camp journalism, but either way, its a great story. March, 1972, Page 16. Two photos, but its the text that sells this.

Pioche, Nevada: Here's a Desert Magazine, January 1960, simply titled Pioche .Page 24, written by Margaret Stovall, on page 24. Four photos, and with town boosters claiming they're going to be opening the mines again soon.

Pioche mining activity began in 1868 and increased dramatically when the county seat was moved there from Hiko in 1871. Guns were the only law in Pioche during this period and the town became infamous for its many homicides. The population was more than 7,000 by 1872 with dozens of saloons and red light districts adding to the chaos. Pioche is located just off U.S. Highway 93 north a few miles from Panaca.

Pioche's Sheriff inside Court House
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Court in session
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Horse thief and his Lawyer
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Town jury
Courtesy Dolores Steele

St. John Lodge 1873 - 1973
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Old cabin
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Mine area
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Mine area
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Pioche Boot Hill
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Long rows of graves make up Murderer's Row -- nearly 100 killers of all types -- area fenced off from more respectable occupants of cemetery.
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Ore buckets still hang on the tramline that runs over the graves in Murderer's Row.
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Marker -- Augustine Lincoln -- 1884
Courtesy Dolores Steele