Death Valley Scotty: A Chautauqua...
A delightful Sunday afternoon was spent back at the Minden Mill for another exceptional performance by David and Gayle Woodruff.Steve and I have been enamored with the natural beauty of Death Valley for decades and while the human history is incredibly rich and diverse, there is one man, in particular, who left an indelible mark on this 3.4 million acre (5,270 square mile) National Park. We were excited to have an opportunity to learn even more about this desert legend.
For over an hour, we were captivated by the Chautauqua Performance of inscrutable Death Valley Scotty and his benefactor Bessie Johnson. No one is more closely tied to the mysterious lore of Death Valley than Walter E. Scott. His tales of fabulous gold mines, dangerous desperados, and opulent desert castles placed him and Death Valley on the front pages of newspapers for over fifty years…and kept historians endlessly occupied trying to sort out the truth from his tall tales.
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Walter Edward Perry Scott (1872-1954), was a prospector, performer, and con man made famous by his many scams involving gold mining and the iconic mansion in Death Valley, known as Scotty’s Castle. Running away from home at the age of 11, he found work in a variety of places, at one point ending up in Death Valley..png)
Scott was an accomplished horseman. In 1888, a talent scout for Bill Cody discovered Scotty and hired him to work as a cowboy with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Although his engagement with the show lasted for 12 years, it was only seasonal employment. When not fully engaged with the show, Scott would return to Death Valley and pick up odd jobs. His connection with the area became so well known that eventually, Death Valley Scotty became his nickname.
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Scotty took Mr. Johnson on a grueling trek by horseback through Death Valley. He figured a few days in the desert would be too much for the city slicker, who was in ill health due to a near-fatal train accident in his youth. Surprisingly, Johnson loved Death Valley so much that he stayed for nearly a month, and his health improved dramatically in the dry, sunny climate.
Although he never saw Scotty’s mine, he realized he was most certainly being swindled. Mr. Johnson did not seem to mind. He had found riches in the desert far more significant than those that glitter. Besides, he had taken a liking to the eccentric desert rat. The two men began a lifelong friendship that would change the history of Death Valley forever.
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Over the next ten winters, Albert Johnson often returned to Death Valley. His wife, Bessie Johnson, began accompanying him and Scotty on their desert expeditions. Mrs. Johnson suggested they build something more comfortable for their vacations to “get away from the rattlesnakes and scorpions.” Plans for a home were then begun.
Recognizing a good story, Scotty told everyone he was building the two-million-dollar home with profits from his gold mine. When questioned by the droves of reporters who visited, Mr. Johnson agreed that Scotty owned the place and said he was “Scotty’s banker.” Scotty also became the tour guide, regaling visitors with the great stories that endeared him to Albert.
One of the biggest surprises for me was the fact that Scotty had a family. In 1900, while in New York City, he met Ella Josephine Milius, whom he later called "]ack." They married 6 months later. Scotty seldom lived with his wife, but she bore a child in 1914. Upon his father's death, in 1954, son Lieutenant Walter P. Scott said, "I believe the story of a mine is a myth. It's my theory that all of Death Valley Scotty's wealth came from Albert Johnson, his long time friend." He also said that he had not seen his father for any great length of time, though he had lived at the Castle for a month during his youth. "Very few people knew I was the son of Death Valley Scotty. I have found it more of a hindrance than a help during my Navy career."
There was so much more to this presentation than I can begin to share. As usual for one of the Woodruffs' events, we were on the edge of our seats, not wanting the history lesson to end.
Robert Carter said of Death Valley Scotty, “He knew exactly how to make himself the center of attention, and he liked being there. He would have been magnetic at ten paces – right up close he was positively mesmeric.” I can say the same thing about David Woodruff's performance... positively mesmeric! Wow.
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