Queen by a landslide -- and $500

Barbara Lenore Teuber's grandmother Lillian Anne Richards was indeed crowned Queen Virginia I in 1903 having won the popularity contest by a landslide.

Though she wasn't crowned queen until July 2, 1903, the results of the ballot count were printed in the June 16 edition of the Evening Report, but I'm a bit miffed as she beat out Mary J. Muckle who is family after a fashion.

Mary was not Lillie's toughest competitor though. The competition really came from Georgie Beckert's corner.

The results are as follows:

Lillie Richards 12,854

Georgie Beckert 4,901

Lizzie Kitson 740

Mary J. Muckle 547

Ella Robertson 344

Gladys Jones 125

I'm not sure, and probably only one person is, that the contest wasn't a bit rigged.

It was a fund-raiser. Money was collected -- 5 cents a vote -- and though Georgie led the last few days, an envelope with $500 -- 10,000 votes -- for Lillie sealed the deal.

The Evening Report doesn't say who the envelope was from, but we can imagine 22-year-old Lillie having a beau, or a loving father. The queen contest raised a $1,011.95 -- their contribution to the carnival's cost. From that, $300 was given by the carnival committee for the queen's costume and the opera house was selected for the coronation ceremony.

The Evening Report in its attempts to spur competition said, "The coronation robes of the queen in point of splendor would make "Solomon in all his glory" look like a tramp ... To see your favorite so magnificently arrayed should stimulate you to risk bankruptcy in the attempt to have her win the regal crown."

The race was a tight one when Georgie entered the race. Lillie had been leading right along since votes first were tallied May 19 when she beat out Katie Blake and Mamie Tannahil 25 votes to 20 each for the others. It was decided by the carnival executive committee May 15 to select a queen by popular vote. Ballots were on sale in all businesses.

Married women were not allowed to enter.

Georgie entered the race May 28 with 20 votes, by then Lillie had a 326 vote lead. On June 1, Georgie narrowed the gap claiming 265 votes compared to Mary's 277 and Lillie's 406. The next day Georgie took the lead 495 to 426. June 5, Lillie was back on top 682 to 675, but then June 8, Georgie overtook her 1,141 to 882. On June 9, with five days of voting remaining, Georgie led 1,231 to 1,102.

By June 11, Georgie was ahead 2,271 votes to Lillie's 1,104. She held the lead from then on. If a Florida election isn't enough of a reminder, history just goes to show you it's not over 'til it's over.

Of tally night, the Evening Report said "The National Guard Hall, where the final canvas of votes took place, was crowded to suffocation with spectators, while the streets in the vicinity were densely thronged with people anxiously awaiting the results. ...

"After the result of the count was announced the band, accompanied by a large crowd of people, proceeded to the residence of Miss Richards where she was serenaded and notified of her election and the dignity and grace with which she received the congratulations of friends on her elevation to regal honors, showed that she was qualified in every respect to preside over the carnival festivities ..."

The newspaper report makes it sound like Lillie was then living in Virginia City and not Nevada City, but the state's online census Web site: www.nevadaculture.org though it cooperated for the Muckle investigation, wouldn't play along for an investigation on Richards. Use the surname field for the best results, was the tip from the reference desk at the Nevada Library and Archives.

Mary Muckle, 19 or 20, at the time had six siblings and a father who worked as a stone cutter. She lived with her mother and father, Thomas and Elizabeth and siblings Agnes, George, Thomas and William on the west side of Stewart Street in Virginia City. A few years later, George married Stella. They had three daughters, Shirley Muckle Andreasen, Ruth Muckle Elkins and Dorothy Muckle Obester. My aunt married Dorothy's son Jim. Family after a fashion. My aunt said Dorothy also ran for the title as queen in the 1930s. I guess I'll head off on another investigation.

On a side note, it seems the July 4th carnival in 1903 was third in a series following carnivals in Carson City in 1901 and in Reno in 1902. Wonder what happened in 1904?

Kelli Du Fresne is features editor for the Nevada Appeal.