FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VIRGINIA CITY, NV — July 9, 2025 —
In a stirring tribute that stopped Virginia City in its tracks, the 601 Vigilance Committee and Silent Riders came together to honor the life and legacy of Ash Allen with a funeral procession that brought the spirit of the Old West back to life. Locals and tourists alike stood in reverent silence, many with hats over their hearts, as they witnessed a scene seemingly torn from the pages of a classic Western.
The procession began at the historic Fourth Ward School. Six men dressed in all black, wearing long frock coats and red bandanas, led the solemn march. Shotguns in hand, they stepped in time to the mournful cry of a lone bagpiper whose notes drifted like smoke through the Comstock wind.
Behind them, two riders sat atop a mule-drawn wagon carrying Ash’s casket, adorned with fresh roses. The casket was flanked by twelve 601 brothers walking in step, forming a sacred honor guard around their fallen comrade. Two drummers followed behind, keeping time with a slow, steady rhythm—each beat a heartbeat of respect.
Immediately after came a black buggy wagon from the early 1900s, carrying Ash’s family, followed by another red-and-black buggy adorned with white flowers symbolizing purity and peace, carrying the wives of the 601. Trailing behind, a throng of Silent Riders walked shoulder to shoulder, dressed in black and bearing long rifles and shotguns. Their silence said what words could not.
The procession made its way slowly down C Street, halting briefly outside the Bucket of Blood and Red Dog Saloon—two beloved haunts where Ash spent many cherished moments in his final years. Tourists and townsfolk gathered along the boardwalks, cell phones raised not for novelty, but reverence. The sound of drums and bagpipes echoed off the wooden storefronts, silencing all but memory and mourning.
At the cemetery, the service opened with a prayer from Wes Francis and a heartfelt eulogy delivered by Ed “Gus” Fincel. Tears fell freely as the crowd remembered a cowboy, a brother, and a man who left a lasting mark on the Comstock.
The service closed with a final salute from the Silent Riders and 601 brothers—a coordinated shotgun send-off, two rounds each, into the open sky. Smoke lingered as if reluctant to leave, much like the spirit of Ash himself.
May God bless Ash Allen and his family. And may the world never forget the sacred power of a true Western farewell. What Virginia City witnessed today was more than a funeral—it was a resurrection of honor, brotherhood, and tradition.
Media Contact:
Hunter Hampton
Trail Boss
601 Vigilance Committee
www.601vc.org
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