USA > Colorado > Colorado pioneers in picture and story > Part 25
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was in them, chopped up the coach wheels, remarking that they wanted to do the United States as much damage as they could, then mounted their horses and proceeded on the road towards Denver.
McClellan and Williamson returned on foot to Buck- skin Joe, over the short trail via Montgomery, where their story was told, and a party organized at once to pursue the fugitives.
After several days' raiding along the road, when near to Central City, the guerrillas retraced their course, and one night camped in the thick woods of the canyon, about a mile above where Webster is now built, and while some were cooking, others playing cards, a party of twelve or fifteen from Gold Run, under the leadership of Jack Sparks, came suddenly upon them and fired. killing three and wounding the leader, Jim Reynolds, in the arm. The party scattered in the greatest confusion, and took to the bushes, leaving all their arms, plunder and camp equipage on the ground. One of the slain was the next day beheaded, the ghastly trophy placed in a sack and carried to Montgomery by a doctor of the party.
Two days afterwards one of the band was captured alone, and several days afterward all except two were captured and taken to Denver by Lieutenant Shoup, with a detachment of the First Colorado Cavalry, Governor Hunt, then United States marshal, and Wilbur F. Stone. assistant United States attorney, of the Park County forces. At Denver the prisoners were turned over to the military authorities.
Colonel Chivington, commanding the district, ordered them to Fort Lyon. They were placed in charge of Cap- tain John Cree of the Third Colorado Cavalry. When near the head of Cherry creek. in Douglas County. the prisoners, as afterward reported, attempted to escape, and were all killed by the troops in charge of Captain Cree.
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The troops returned to Denver, leaving the bones of the robbers to bleach and whiten on the plains.
While following the guerrillas to their fate the train has arrived at Como.
NAMING FAIRPLAY
Arriving at the hotel, we were ushered into a large, square room. called the parlor. The only articles of fur- niture visible were a round table, as large as King Ar- thur's, and a few chairs. When the proprietor became aware that I was gathering material for a book. he kindly brought in the pioneers to see me.
One of them told me of the naming of Fairplay. "In 1859," said he, "certain parties made a discovery of rich placer diggings in the South Park, at or near what is now called Hamilton. These diggings were so rich that it was said one ordinary laborer could dig a pound of gold per day. The name Tarry-all was given by the discoverers, who laid claim to all the valuable ground, or, to use a frontier phrase, 'gobbled up' everything, so that later comers could not secure any mining ground without pay- ing exorbitant prices for it. By reason of this the place was called 'Grab-all' by those who failed to get a show in the diggings.
"The disappointed fortune-seekers subsequently pushed further on along the middle branch of the Platte and there made other valuable discoveries. Among the number were four men from Central, then called Gregory, who, having heard the fabulous stories in circulation re- specting the new mines, clubbed together, and loaded a mule, that belonged to one of the men, with all their earthly possessions, and started for the new mining camp.
"They had stopped at the above mentioned camp and panned out considerable gold, making one of the men, by the name of Hill, banker. Their provision gave out and
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Hill refused to let them have money to buy more, which immediately aroused their suspicions.
"One of the party, a man named Tom Payne, laid their complaint before Reed, Mills & Company, who had a provision store. They called the miners together to arbitrate on the subject, and after patiently hearing the evidence. it was decided that Mr. Hill must weigh the gold and give every man an equal share. While they were talking around the camp fire Hill plunged out of the cabin into the dark, and the miners started in quick pursuit, keeping track of him by the cracking of the grass and dry branches under his feet.
"Finding it impossible to escape them, he made a wide circuit and entered his cabin, where they found him in bed, covered up head and heels. They dragged him out, took the gold dust, and, in the presence of the ar- bitrators, weighed it and gave each man his portion. Hill refused to receive his, but they held him, and while he struggled in resistance, they put the money in his pocket.
"James Reynolds, who afterwards became a notori- ous guerrilla, stood by, with his hands in his pockets. quietly watching the transaction. When finished, he ex- claimed : 'Thar, b'gad, if one is the devil and t'other Tom Payne, they shall have 'Far play!'
"Shortly after this a committee was appointed to draft rules for the district and give it a name. Captain Charles Nichols, John Reed and Sydenham Mills were the committee. After drafting the rules, it was agreed that Mr. Mills, being the oldest miner, should give the name. He had taken an active part in the incident above narrated, and with his mind strongly imbued with the idea that everyone in that camp must have justice, named the town 'Fairplay.'
"Yes," said Mr. Stansell, "that is how the name was given, and hearing it related brings to mind a romance
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that occurred there a year later, which I will tell you. It is now called
THE LEGEND OF FAIRPLAY
"In the summer of 1860 a solitary man was industri- ously at work sinking his 'prospect hole' and trying to reach bed-rock, when suddenly there appeared at the top of his shaft a man, rifle in hand, who remarked, 'I have you at last.' The miner looked up from his work, recog- nized the individual at the top, and responded, 'Yes, you have, but you will give me fair play, won't you?' To which the other replied, 'Yes; meet me at sunrise to- morrow, at a certain point,' designating the place. The man in the shaft said, 'I will.' Whereupon the one on the surface swung his rifle over his shoulder and walked off.
"The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, and at sunrise the two met, without friends, surgeons or the usual parade of meetings 'of honor,' and, with their rifles, took positions fifty paces apart, and commenced the com- bat. At the first fire the miner fell, mortally wounded. The stranger deliberately shouldered his rifle and walked away, no one knew whither. The miners buried the dead man at the spot where he fell.
"The explanation of this tragedy was subsequently learned to be this: The two men had formerly resided in Texas, and had been comrades since boyhood ; had played, studied, traveled, planned, enjoyed and suffered together until their attachment had strengthened into the love and trust of brothers. One of them had a sister who seemed to him an angel of truth and innocence. He was proud of her beauty, and introduced his friend, hoping that these two, the dearest upon earth to him, might love and be united as husband and wife.
"She fell a victim of his wiles, and her betrayer fled
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the country. When the brother learned of the perfidy of his friend, he took a solemn vow to devote his life to avenging the wrongs of his sister. Arming himself, he started in pursuit of the fugitive, and for three years tracked him from place to place, without success, until he came upon him as above narrated."
BRECKENRIDGE
We spent an hour or so very pleasantly at Como, and enjoyed our dinners, for which the stimulus of the pure, bracing mountain air admirably fitted us.
Taking the Breckenridge branch, we immediately commenced the ascent of a succession of hills. Everyone sat in the open car and laughed and chatted and apostro- phized the wonderful scenery.
As our train followed a groove in the mountain side, we looked down upon a green, exquisite little valley. several hundred feet below. A silvery stream wound through it, almost circling in its course a town. In pro- portion, as we mounted higher and higher, the houses diminished in size, so that this charming spot, surrounded with pine-covered mountains, seemed to us a fairy-land. I went to work building all sorts of air castles about it, but the conductor shivered them all by telling us it was the deserted mining camp of Tarrv-all, one of the kind that spring up in a day, like ".Jonah's gourd." and wither away as rapidly. This was the first dead town we had seen. and we thought it a rather attractive corpse.
The mountain sides were all aglow with rainbow- tinted flowers. and it seemed that we were being literally "carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease."
At Boreas. the summit, the train stopped long enough for us to gather bouquets and look down the valley of the Blue river, over which nature has thrown a beautiful
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blue mist, like a veil-the effect was enchanting. In our scramble for flowers I thought of Linnæus, of whom it is said that whenever he discovered a new flower he thanked heaven for the sight.
While arranging our flowers, George T. Clark, a "barnacle," joined our party. He was on his way to Breckenridge to look after some mining property, which brought up the subject of gold and prospecting.
He said that gold was first discovered on the Blue. near where Breckenridge now stands, in the summer of 1859, by a party of prospectors, one of whom was William Iliff, in later years the wealthy "cattle king." Since that time many millions of dollars have been taken out of the Summit County mines.
At Rocky Point, where we reach the acme of scenic glory on this line, the town of Breckenridge commences to play "Bo-peep" with the admiring tourist; first on this side and then on that, we see it-making another turn, a full view is obtained.
The pretty little frontier town seems only a stone's throw distant, but the train, as if in a frolicsome mood. with no other aim than to intensify our interest in the play, dashes away, making a short curve and surprises the town from another point.
The sudden change of temperature from the plains to the mountains forced us to don our heavy wraps, in lieu of which a gentleman put on his gossamer overcoat for warmth, and his linen duster over that for style. The gossamer hung below the duster, forming a border of black, which gave him the appearance of a bill distributer for a minstrel band. But he was dressed to life in good humor, which is, after all, the most becoming garb a man or woman can wear. We stopped at the Grand Cen- tral. an excellent hotel. Our party retired early, so as to be ready to ramble freely and extendedly the next day.
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Immediately after breakfast I started out to find a gentleman to whom I had a letter of introduction.
"You want items," he said. "Ah, I see-and they have sent you to me because I am a sort of bookish fel- low and have been a quill driver."
The man who thus spoke had a handsome head, well set on broad shoulders, a large soulful blue eye, and I wondered what trick Fortune had played on him to turn his hair as white as the snow-drift, for his face was yet young.
"You must see Judge Silverthorn; he loves to talk of the old times. He came here in '59. and was judge of the Miners' court. He is a diminutive man, almost dried to a crackling, and has such a strange, weird look that you couldn't help wondering to what age or order of human beings he belongs. His hair and beard are grizzly gray, and he chews continually .. When he tells a border tale his little keen eyes twinkle with humor and intelligence, then he goes into convulsions of laughter and kicks up his feet until he resembles a jack-knife half open-forming a picture altogether grotesque. But he is the soul of honor and goodness, with a heart so large that it is continually running over with kind deeds and com- forting words.
"His wife, who died recently, was called the mother of the camp. the good Samaritan to all in trouble and distress. How the boys loved her! She always spent her winters in Denver, and in the spring, when we heard Mrs. Silverthorn was coming, we put on our snow-shoes. met her at the top of the range and brought her down on a sled. That was fun, let me tell you. With loud hurrahs. and hats tossing wildly in the air. we heralded her arrival.
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DUELS
"There is nothing like a frontier town for thrill- ing events. We have had some very remarkable duels here. About twenty years ago two gentlemen, who were in every respect valuable citizens, quarreled about some trifle-I've forgotton what, but it resulted in a challenge to mortal combat. We were all greatly distressed, for . they were good fellows, and we made every effort to pacify them, but without effect. They agreed to fight with hatchets, thirty paces apart. Mr. Bressler, that handsome blacksmith across the way, sharpened the hatchets, and the work was well done; they were as keen- edged as razors. The gentlemen practised so earnestly that almost every tree around the town received a scar from their weapons. The evening before the fight was to come off one of them received a letter from his mother, in which she informed him that his antagonist was the son of her dearest friend. and she hoped the boys would love each other like brothers. This letter brought about a reconciliation, and they are still living. both filling prominent positions in other States.
"Well," said he, "I started out to tell you about a duel, but that was a 'drawn battle' and doesn't count. Speaking of 'drawn battles,' I can tell you one that beats that one all hollow.
"Two fellows were mining over here in Galena Gulch. and they had a dispute about a girl. which re- sulted in a challenge. It was left to a meeting of the Miners' court to determine the manner of fighting. The miners had no confidence in their courage, and it was decided that they should stand back to back, walk off fifteen paces. then right about face and forward march. shooting and continuing to shoot until one was killed. or their revolvers emptied.
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"At the appointed time they met and were placed back to back in the presence of the entire population of the gulch. When the order was given to walk fifteen paces, they started off bravely. Upon reaching the line, instead of turning to face each other, they both walked on as fast as their legs could carry them, clear out of the country, probably thinking : They Continued to Walk
" 'He who fights and runs away
Will live to fight another day.'"
The conversation of this gentleman was a marvel of loquacity, and the friend with me, being familiar with the early incidents of the place, lost no opportunity in jogging his memory.
THE STAGE RIDE
Now arose a debate whether we should go to Lead- ville by way of Como or Frisco. We were informed that the coach left for Frisco every morning, and the road was level and smooth, through the prettiest valley that ever was seen.
The stage ride-that decided me. Mr. Smith, a walk- ing embodiment of common sense, and the "brake and balance wheel" of the party, gave us the advice that Punch gives to people about to get married-"don't." But he might as well have said "do," for we immediately engaged passage in the stage, and I commenced to plan for myself a seat with the driver; for drivers are said to be living, breathing, talking encyclopædias of western lore.
Promptly at the appointed hour the horn blew ; we gathered our traps and were soon on the veranda of the
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hotel. But where was the coach? We anxiously looked about for one of those gaily decorated affairs, like the chariots in the circus, where the driver and some favored passenger sits on top, entirely oblivious of who or what is caged in the box below. We waited. At last a fine looking man, in natty suit, broad brimmed hat, and bran new kids, politely inquired of us if we were going to Frisco. We replied in the affirmative. Whereupon he tipped his hat, and said, "Allow me to assist you into the coach." To our utter amazement "the coach" was a large three-seated spring wagon, painted in black and "old gold," and strikingly suggestive of an undertaker's rig.
I bounced to the front seat, eager that my chat with the driver should not prove a delusion also.
The pleasant-faced landlady invited us to come again, and the porch was crowded with new-made friends, who waved us good-by until we were out of sight. It was perfectly delightful to be treated that way; we felt at peace with the world and ourselves.
The driver swung around town gathering up his load. and when the last "all right" was given, he counted noses and found he had nine passengers. "A little too thick for comfort." said he. "but some of them will stop at the first station."
"How long have you been in this country, driver ?" I ventured to inquire.
"Oh, I've been driving over these mountains, off and on, for over twenty years."
"I expect you have had many adventures ?"
"You bet," he said.
I told him that I was gathering Colorado stories, with the intention of writing a book, and asked him to relate an adventure. He meditated awhile and said :
"I was driving a stage in the San Juan country sev- eral years ago, and among the miners at a little town
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called -, where I always stopped for the night, was a young man named Robert L -. We called him Bob. because we liked him. He was an honest, hard-working chap, and as handsome a fellow as ever trod sole leather. One day Bob struck it rich, and with his face all beaming he told me he intended to start back home on my coach the next morning, to marry the girl he had been engaged to for seven years. 'I have served like Jacob of old,' he said, 'and I am at last to be rewarded. The old man oh- jected, because I was poor, but now I have made my little "pile," and the hours don't go fast enough. I would like to fly to her, for during all the long, weary years she has been watching and waiting for me.' It was enough to make anybody feel glad just to see him and hear him talk.
"When we started the next morning his heart was full of joy, and he was cracking jokes and making the crowd merry. About three o'clock in the afternoon we reached a little stream that was heavily wooded, when several men, with their revolvers cocked, rushed out of the underbrush and commanded a halt.
"They compelled Bob to throw up his hands, and commenced searching his pockets. He had his dust in a buckskin vest worn under his clothing-there was $10,000 in it.
"When the robbers found it. Bob sprang to his feet and said, 'I have worked for that money with the hope of marrying the girl I love: if you take it. you will destroy my happiness forever.'
""'We'll destroy you if you don't hand it over.'
" 'I'll never do it,' said Bob.
"Whereupon they blew his brains out. One searched him while the others stood with their pistols drawn on me and the other passengers.
"After getting the vest, they put spurs to their horses and were soon out of sight. To this day no trace of them
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has been found. Poor Bob-the villains had spotted him. I never drove over that road again; couldn't stand to pass the place."
The driver's voice grew husky and his eyes moist. Suddenly the horse to the right gave a plunge, and the driver gracefully curled his whip over his head and brought it down upon the flank of the refractory animal.
"You have handsome horses," I said, "what are their names ?"
"Astronomy and Deuteronomy, 'Omy' and 'Duty' for short. Omy is always frisky when she starts out, but she soon breaks down. When it comes to the home-stretch, Duty knocks the persimmons every time."
Through the Fire
There was no more time for talking, for we were drawing near a "fire in the mountains."
The sight was grand; the long red tongues of fire were twining and lapping around the lofty pines up to the very top, and fly- ing off in flags and sheets above.
We began to feel their warm caresses, for the wind was in our direction. The flames had closed back of us, cutting off all retreat, and onward we must go.
I hoisted my sun umbrella to keep off the sparks. Ve- suvius couldn't hold a candle to them. The "whole re- gion 'round about" seemed on fire. My umbrella was re- duced to a skeleton.
Finally we all curled down in the bottom of the wagon "like breakfast bacon in a frying pan," except the driver, for he had to bend his energies to keeping the frantic horses in the road; as it was they traveled consid- erable zig-zag country. He would occasionally tell us to "keep cool." But it was a difficult thing to do under the circumstances.
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We were a sorry looking outfit when we arrived at Frisco. O my! and "Duty" were minus mane and tail, and cooked in spots. It was a burning shame.
The driver's face was so black with smut, he looked like a coal heaver. He said, "That takes the eyebrows off of any fire I have ever seen, and as soon as I can as- A Burning Shame certain the origin I will send you full particulars. It will illuminate your book."
We invested in cold cream and anointed our faces until they looked like balls of butter in the sun. The facetious landlord remarked that we were the first cremated people that ever ate at his table.
MINING IN SAN JUAN
Taking the cars for Leadville, I was surprised and pleased to find among the passengers a number of suc- cessful mining men. As the San Juan country has for years attracted attention because of its fabulous wealth, I became quite interested in their stories of prospecting there, way back in '61, when it was known as Baker's Park, Baker being the first man to enter the country.
"It was in the winter of '61." said Mr. Curtis, "that a young friend of mine, knowing that I had some money. whispered to me of a 'new find' in the San Juan country, and said if I would 'go in' with them they would start immediately for the new Eldorado, build roads, lay out a town and by spring be ready for work. It was impressed upon me that 'mum' was the word. However, it leaked out as all such matters will, and there ensued a regular scramble for that country. Their provision and money gave out, and not finding a 'color,' they returned heaping abuse on the diabolical swindle.
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"Speaking of the first rush to the San Juan country." said Mr. Cy. Hall, "I was at that time mining in Califor- nia Gulch, but when I heard of the new discovery I grew dissatisfied with my 'pannings out,' and became restless for richer diggings. Distance lends a power of enchant- ment to a miner. He is always ready to follow any will- o'-wisp that happens to present an attractive story of rich mines found in some inaccessible country. It would be wasting breath to say, 'stay where you are,' for they won't do it. I know how it is. I've been there. I was doing well enough in California Gulch, but I heard such a world of talk that I clubbed in with some boys and fol- lowed the last excitement.
"Arriving at a point within a mile of where Durango now stands, we laid out a town, built seventy-five houses. and in a few weeks there were five hundred people there.
"Snow fell from three to four feet all over the coun- try, and didn't melt an inch the whole winter.
"Many of us went there with our pockets full of glit- tering dust, but we all had to face starvation. We ate the oxen that carried us over, and even the entrails that had lain in the sun for days; lived on bullrushes for months. Those that went out hunting invariably got lost and starved to death.
"When the winter broke up everybody that could get away, went.
"I returned to California Gulch, suffering greatly on the way from hunger and cold, for moccasins and a blan- ket were about all the clothing I had.
"Arriving in sight of the cabin of my old partner, I called to him to bring me a hat and a pair of boots, I had a blanket, and I wanted to make a respectable entrance into the camp.
"Refreshed by my adventure I resumed mining in the old place with renewed vigor and determination."
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"I can tell a story that will overtop that," said the Hon. Charlie Hall.
"In the winter of '61 I was attacked with the San Juan fever, and three of us strapped our provisions and blankets on our backs and started out to capture bushels of hidden gold. Our objective point was the present site of Ouray, the distance being comparatively short on an air line, we laid in a small supply of rations, which were exhausted after a few days out, and our luxuries during the remainder of the time consisted of a buffalo robe, leather pants and ants. We first ate the buffalo robe, singing the hair to a powder, which we ate, but when we came to masticate the skin, we found it as tough as a door mat. That lasted a day or so, and we then com- menced on our boots. We went for the stew made of them with appetites that knew no limits. My leather trousers were the next thing tackled. We cut them into strips and ate with as much avidity as the Neapolitan would his long, luscious macaroni.
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