USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume I > Part 88
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What was the first public recognition of woman in the practice of medicine in the state was the appointment of Dr. Mary Barker Bates to the staff of the Women's and Children's Hospital, about 1885.
Since this time honors have come thick and fast, and most of the hospitals of the state have women in staff positions. The State Medical Society has further- more made amends for its early coolness by repeatedly electing women to im- portant offices in the organization. .
A woman's clinical society, organized in 1896, still exists with a considerable membership.
NATIONAL AND STATE HONORS
Since 1906 the American Medical Association has honored many Colorado physicians with appointments to its various boards. Notable among these are :
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HISTORY OF COLORADO
Dr. W. W. Grant, chairman board of trustees ; Dr. H. T. Pershing, executive com- mittee, section on nervous and mental diseases Dr. Hubert Work, member judicial council; Dr. F. P. Gengenbach, secretary, section on diseases of children; Dr. G. A. Moleen, secretary and later chairman, section on nervous and mental dis- eases ; Dr. J. R. Arneill, vice chairman, section on pharmacology and therapeutics ; Dr. Hubert Work, chairman of the house of delegates.
In 1914 Dr. Henry Sewall was elected president of the American Climat- ological Association and vice president of the Association of American Phys- icians. Dr. G. B. Packard was chosen president of the American Orthopedic Association, and Dr. Robert Levy president of the Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society. Dr. Leonard Freeman was in 1914 elected vice president of the Western Surgical Association, and Dr. Gerald Webb president of the American Association of Immunologists.
In 1916, for the first time in the history of Colorado, the organized medical profession was consulted in the choice of appointments to the State Board of Health. Governor Gunter asked the county and state bodies to present twelve names, six republicans and six democrats, from which choice could be made.
In May, 1898, the American Medical Association held its meeting in Denver, the first the association ever held in this region of the Rockies.
The Colorado State Committee of National Defense (Medical Section) ap- pointed in 1917 is as follows :
Dr. W. W. Grant, chairman; O. M. Shere, secretary ; A. C. McGruder, Crum Epler, John W. Amesse, Thomas E. Carmody, R. W. Corwin, Leonard Freeman, Josiah N. Hall, Edward Jackson, Cuthbert Powell, Henry Sewall, David A. Strickler, H. G. Wetherill, S. Poulterer Morris, E. F. Dunlevy, G. W. Holden, E. E. Kennedy, C. F. Meader.
GENERAL HOSPITALS
The general hospitals in the state in 1918 are as follows :
TOWN NAME
ESTABLISHED
BEDS
Alamosa, Red Cross
15
Alamosa, Alamosa Hospital
19II
15
Aspen, Citizens'
1890
20
Breckenridge, Summit County Hospital.
IO
Boulder, Boulder Sanitarium
1896
100
Boulder, U. of C. Hospital.
1898
75
Canon City, Fremont County: Hospital
1885
52
Canon City, Dr. Graves' Hospital
1900
35
Cañon City, Goodloe
1908
20
Colorado Springs, Beth-El
1904
75
Colorado Springs, Isolater
1905
25
Colorado Springs, St. Francis.
1887
150
Cripple Creek, Teller County Hospital
I901
29
Cripple Creek, St. Nicholas
r895
20
Denver, County Hospital
1879
500
Denver, Children's Hospital
1910
35
775
HISTORY OF COLORADO
TOWN
NAME
ESTABLISHED
BEDS
Denver, Cottage Home
1886
15
Denver, Dr. Mckay's Hospital
.. .
Denver, Mercy
1900
150
Denver, Mount Airy
1903
20
Denver, Park Avenue
1898
25
Denver, Sand Creek
1892
250
Denver, Steele Memorial
1885
75
Denver, St. Joseph's
1873
234
Denver, St. Luke's
188I
140
Denver, White Cross
1902
IO
Del Norte, St. Joseph's
1907
30
Delta, Delta Hospital
1912
IO
Durango, Mercy
1884
54
Englewood, Molkery
190I
18
Fairplay, Park County Hospital
1880
IO
Florence, Sheridan
1903
25
Fort Collins, Larimer County Hospital
1895
I5
Georgetown, St. Joseph's
1880
15
Grand Junction, St. Mary's
1895
35
Glenwood Springs, Garfield County Hospital.
1904
30
Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs Sanatorium
1905
40
Greeley, Weld County Hospital.
1904
26
Greeley, Greeley Hospital
1904
30
Gunnison, Gunnison County Hospital.
Lamar, Friends'
1908
50
La Junta, La Junta Sanatorium
1908
67
La Junta, Santa Fé Hospital
1884
45
La Junta, Valley Hospital
1909
12
La Jara, La Jara Hospital.
1912
4
Leadville, St. Luke's
1905
15
Leadville, St. Vincent's
1879
IOO
Littleton, Littleton Hospital
1912
15
Longmont, Longmont Hospital
1907
25
Loveland, Sutherland's
1898
40
Monte Vista, Monte Vista Hospital
1913
I5
Montrose, Montrose Hospital (private)
19II
IO
Ouray, St. Joseph's
1884
24
Paonia, Paonia Private Hospital.
1914
5
Pueblo, Pueblo County Hospital
1906
25
Pueblo, General
19II
80
Pueblo, Minnequa
1880
216
Pueblo, Fairmount (general)
1913
30
Pueblo, Quarantine
1903
16
Pueblo, Sacred Heart
1903
200
8
La Junta, City Hospital
1906
30
Fort Collins, Fort Collins Hospital.
...
Denver, St. Anthony's
776
HISTORY OF COLORADO
TOWN NAME
ESTABLISHED
BEDS
Pueblo, St. Mary's
1882
125
Pueblo, Woodcraft
1896
150
Rifle, Rifle Sanatorium
1907
10
Rocky Ford, Pollock
1906
12
Rye, Idylwild
1904
12
Salida, Denver & Rio Grande R. R. Co.
1883
50
Salida, Red Cross
1901
65
Silverton, Miners'
1909
22
Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs Hospital
1905
15
Telluride, Telluride Hospital
1890
30
Trinidad, St. Raphael's
1888
125
Victor, Red Cross
1902
21
Windsor, Windsor Hospital
1909
IO
STATE SANATORIA
These are the Sanatoria for tubercular patients in Colorado :
NAME LOCATION SUPERINTENDENT
ESTABLISHED
BEDS
Boulder Tubercular, Boulder, Dr. H. A. Green
1896
100
Eben-Ezer Merch, Brush, Rev. J. Madsen.
1904
45
Phoenix Lodge, Canon City, Mrs. Nettie G. Sheldon.
19II
3
Cragmore Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, M. L. Whitney
1905
55
Glockner Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, Sister Rose Alexius
1889
200
Idlewild Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, L. L. Shardlow
1912
IO
Nob Hill Lodge Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, Florence E. Standish
20
Star Ranch in the Pines, Colorado Springs, Alice L. Witkind. 1903
60
Sunnyrest Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, Sister Ida Tobschell
19II
24
Union Printers' Home, Colorado Springs, John C. Daley
1892
210
Crawford, Colo. Pinons, Crawford, R. W. Southworth.
1913
...
Agnes Memorial, Denver, Dr. G. W. Holden.
1904
150
Mrs. Lare's Tent Sanitarium, Denver, Mrs. M. W. Lare.
1901
33
National Jewish Hospital, Denver, Dr. S. Simon,
1899
150
Oakes Home, Denver, Rev. F. W. Oakes
1894
160
Sunlight Sanatorium, Denver, M. W. Page
1902
24
Swedish National Sanatorium, Denver, Dr. C. A. Bundsen.
1908
37
Jewish Consumptives Relief Society, Denver, Hermann Schwatt.
1904
140
U. S. Naval Hospital, Las Animas, George H. Barber.
1907
250
Mount Calm Sanatorium, Manitou, Sister Mary Clare.
1890
50
Evangelical Lutheran Sanatorium, Wheatridge, Rev. John Schlerf 1905
36
Modern Woodmen Sanatorium, Colorado Springs, J. S. Rutledge 1909
230
COLORADO AS A HEALTH RESORT
It is to the medical fraternity that Colorado owes the continued exploitation of its wonderful climate as a remedy for tuberculosis and kindred diseases. Among the most important developments along these lines are the humidity charts
777
HISTORY OF COLORADO
of the late Doctor Denison. The following is a condensation of these important contributions to the curative powers of the Colorado climate :
Winter Denver St. Louis Chicago1 Cincinnati Phila. New York
Relative humidity . 57 85 72
78 81
77
Absolute humidity ...
10 16
IO
20
17
20
1 Isotherm about 5° lower than that of Denver.
Spring Denver St. Louis Chicago 2 Cincinnati
Phila. New York
Relative humidity 56
81
64
67
75
68
Absolute humidity . .
20
35
20
30
3I
24
2 Isotherm about 5° lower than that of Denver.
Summer Denver St. Louis 3 Chicago Cincinnati + Phila. New York
Relative humidity 5I
75
71
64
83
69
Absolute humidity . .
37
66
52
59
75 57
3 4 Seasonal temperature about 5° higher than that of Denver.
Autumn Denver St. Louis 5 Chicago Cincinnati " Phila. " New York
Relative humidity .
50
71
69
64
83
69
Absolute humidity ...
19
37
29
37
39
33
5 6 7 Seasonal temperature 5 to 7° higher than that of Denver.
Dr. C. T. Williams on "Aero-therapeutics," in the Lumleian Lectures in 1893, says concerning Colorado: "With regard to the actual results of the climate it undoubtedly produces great improvement in 75 per cent of the cases of phthisis generally, and in 43 per cent it causes more or less complete arrest of the tuber- culous process."
.
MILITARY RECUPERATION CAMP
Colorado was during 1918 selected by the federal government as the location for a "recuperation" camp, and a total of nearly a million dollars is to be expended in its establishment. The site selected is on what is known as the Gutheil farm at Aurora, a suburb lying just east of Denver. To this point all soldiers who, during service, become afflicted with tuberculosis or can be benefited by the climate are to be sent for restoration. The citizens of Denver subscribed the sum of $150,000 in order to purchase the land for the government. At this writing it is believed that the government will depart from its original purpose of making this a hospital of 1,000 beds for strictly tubercular patients and erect the hospital to accommodate 5,000 beds, the plan being to make the institution of reconstructive character, where new and interesting processes will be used to rehabilitate wounded soldiers and make them fit for civilian callings.
COLORADO DOCTORS IN WORLD WAR
The following is a complete roster up to March I, 1918, of all Colorado physicians who have volunteered for medical service in the army of the United States :
Cañon City-Hart Goodlee.
.
Cedaredge-Louis Clifton Belton.
Colorado Springs-Lloyd Raymond Allen, George Wm. Bancroft, James
778
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Horace Brown, Brunett A. Filmer, Alexius Mador Forster, Henry Williamson Hoagland, Tom Ray Knowles, Philip Albert Loomis, Alexander C. Magruder, Homer Clifton Moses, George Laird Sharp, Charles F. Stough, Gerald Nertram Webb.
Delagua-Edwin Dalp Burkhard.
Del Norte-Arthur Blaine Gjellum, Harry C. Miller.
Delta-Winfield Scott Clelland.
Denver-James Rae Arneil, Wm. Mathews Bane, Amos L. Beagler, Wm. Calvin Kennerdell, Mordecai R. Bren, Alpha J. Campbell, Fred Howard Car- penter, Phillips Maurice Chase, Charles Bernard Dorset, William Edmundson, Ray Lawrence Drinkwater, Charles Arthur Ellis, William Chris Finnoff, Harmon Lonzo Fowler, Harold Gould Garwood, William W. Grant, Josiah Newhall Hall, Eugene Hattis, John Claudius Herrick, Arthur Junius Holmquist, Thomas Mayes Hopkins, Louis Hough, Clarence B. Ingram, Jr., Walter Addison Jayne, Samuel Fosdick Jones, William Wiley Jones, Robert Lapinski Kaegel, Wallace Gaw Kent, Robert Levy, Arthur Jackson Markley, Henry Richardson McGraw, Francis Hector McNaught, Bert Menser, George Kingsley Olmsted, Robert C. Packard. Cyrus Long Pershing, Cuthbert Powell, Charles Andrew Powers, Miller E. Pres- ton, William Alexander Sedwick, Harry Summers Shafer, Carl Wilson Slusser, Arthur William Stahl, Chauncey Eugene Tennant, Thomas John West, William W. Williams.
Durango-Aleck Franklin Hutchinson.
Englewood-Hubert Greiger.
Floresta-Fred Foster Stocking.
Fort Collins-Curtis Atkinson, Albery Whipple Rew.
Fort Logan-John William Amesse, John R. Hall.
Fort Morgan-Elwyn Ray Clarke.
Frederick-James Harold Leyda.
Gibsonburg-Albert Griffith Eyestone.
Golden-John P. Kelly, Earl Wallace Kemble.
Glenwood Springs-William W. Frank.
Grand Junction-James Melville Shields, Arthur George Taylor.
Greeley-Oscar F. Broman, Edwin Winslow Knowles.
Hayward-Charles John Harbeck.
Henderson-Albert West Metcalf, Jr.
Hotchkiss-W. Claude Copeland, Walter Haines Lewis.
Ideal-Jesse Daniel Wilson. Ignacio-Gerry Sanger Driver.
Kremmling-Justin John Young.
La Junta-Ernest G. Edwards.
Grand Junction-Frank Noble Stiles.
Ludlow-Walter Leigh Barbour.
Billiken-Carl Campbell Fuson.
Olathe-Charles Edwin Lackwood.
Ouray-Lawrence Clark Cook.
Pyrolite-William Benjamin Lewis.
Pueblo-Elridge Stevens Adams, Charles Walker Streamer, Charles Wm. Thompson, Philip Work.
779
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Rocky Ford-Cary R. Pollock. Somerset-James Richard Earle. Sopris-Arthur Ernest Gill. Stoneham-Floyd Clinton Turner. Strong-Aubert Durnell.
Telluride-James Willboarn Sylvester Cross.
Trinidad-John R. Espey, Caleb W. Presnall.
Walden-Charles H. Fiecher.
Windsor-Paul S. Wagner.
Woodmen-Harry Toulmin Lay.
Boulder-Cyrus Watt Poley.
Colorado Springs-Lewis Hugh McKinnie.
Denver-Alexander Bismark Terrell, Leonard Green Crosby, Samuel F. Jones, Nicholas Anderson Wood.
Fort Morgan-Robery Craig Bowie.
Golden-Joseph Robinson Hood.
Paonia-Augustus Frederick Erich.
Denver-Edward Francis Dean, Ranulph Hudston, Oliver Lyons, Harold George Macomber, Lewis Marshall Van Meter.
Grand Junction-Charles Wesley Reed.
Johnstown-Orien Asbury Grantham.
Lamar-Clyde Thomas Knuckley.
Silver Plume-William Elizabeth Drisdale.
Steamboat Springs-Frank Joy Blackmer.
Victor-Charles Edward Elliott.
Trinidad-Frederick Joseph Peiree.
Buena Vista-Victor B. Ayers, Angus Alexander MacLennen.
Cheyenne Wells -- Carleton Orr Booth.
Craig-Morrow Duncan Brown. Crawford-Oscar Allen Duncan.
Denver-George Wm. Bancroft, Benjamin William Carlson, Harold Gould Garwood, William Arthur McGugan, William Roberts.
Grand Valley-Fred Henry Miller. Hotchkiss-W. Claude Copeland.
La Junta-Harvey Ellsworth Hall.
Ordway-Charles Alexander Roberts. Pueblo-Eugene Harold Brown. Segundo-Ortus Fuller Adams.
Colorado Springs-Omer Rand Gillett, Edgar Marcella Marbourg:
Delta-Earlscourt Grant Shaffer. Florence-Vardney Amon Hutton.
Denver-Albert Warner Dewey, William Donaldson Fleming, Horace G. Wetherill, Augustine Santini Cecchini, George Bennette Lewis, Joseph Brenald Salberg, Elbert Byron Swerdfeger. McClave-Edward King Lawrence. Oak Creek-Joseph Aloysius Kelly, Julian C. Kennedy. Ordway-James Edgar Jeffery.
Plateau City-William Victor Watson.
780
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Pueblo-John Frederick Howard.
Trinidad-Archibald Joseph Chisholm.
Colorado Springs-Louis Gordon Brown, Will Howard Swan.
Denver-Harold Emerson Farnworth.
Longmont-Samuel Byrd McFarland, Vivian Russel Pennock, Willard Justin White.
Pueblo -- Thomas A. Stoddard.
Salida-Charles Stephen Phalen.
Sugar City-Charles Waxham.
Denver-Raymond Earl Peebler, Arthur James Offerman, Harry Silsby Finney.
Central City. Clarence Mauritz Froid.
Colorado Springs-Louis Gordon Brown.
Lamar-Lanning Elbridge Likes.
Pueblo-Thomas A. Stoddard.
Salida-C. Rex Fuller.
Steamboat Springs-William Kernaghan.
CHAPTER XXXIX
THE PRESS OF COLORADO
BRINGING THE FIRST PRINTING PRESS TO THE NEW GOLD REGION-GREELEY VISITS THE CAMP-THE FIRST EXTRA-BYERS SECURES CONTROL OF THE NEWS- CHANGES IN CONTROL-PATTERSON BECOMES EDITOR-THE TIMES IS FOUNDED- THE REPUBLICAN-THE TRIBUNE-PIONEER PUBLICATIONS IN THE MINING CAMPS-FOUNDING THE CHIEFTAIN AT PUEBLO-THE STAR-JOURNAL-THE BE- GINNING OF COLORADO SPRINGS NEWSPAPERS-ON THE WESTERN SLOPE-IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY-IN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY-NEWSPAPERS OF THE PLAINS- GREELEY TRIBUNE-FORT COLLINS PUBLICATIONS-GUNNISON'S PAPERS-OTHER COUNTY AND CITY PUBLICATIONS.
FIRST PRINTING PRESS IN GOLD REGION
Gold dust and little nuggets carried in goose quills by miners returning from Colorado by way of Omaha to the East were the inspiration for Denver's first newspaper.
W. N. Byers, then a resident of the little village of Omaha, saw the gold, talked with the miners and became impressed with the importance of the Rocky Mountain region. In 1858 he had heard the reports from the Pike's Peak country and had decided to set out for the new Eldorado at once, but was prevented by an accidental gunshot wound that almost proved fatal. In the meantime, being familiar with the Platte River route to the West, and having encountered several men who had returned from Pike's Peak, in the autumn of 1858 he prepared and published his Pike's Peak Guide.
One day in the winter of 1858 someone who entered Byers' office in Omaha suggested that it would be a good idea to take a printing press to the new coun- try and print the news of the discoveries at the point where the discoveries were made.
Byers was instructed to purchase the press and the necessary material. Al- though he was wholly inexperienced as a newspaper editor and publisher, Byers resolved to join in the enterprise. He went to the Town of Bellevue, nine miles south of Omaha, and at that time larger than Omaha, and there bought a print- ing press. Carting it to Omaha, he made a test of it and found that it worked satisfactorily. Some of the type was set up and two pages were printed. Every- thing was in shape so that a paper could be printed without difficulty when the proprietors had selected a settlement in which to publish their paper.
Associated with Byers in the enterprise was Thomas Gibson. They were ac- companied by John L. Dailey, an experienced practical printer, who afterward became one of the proprietors .. Dr. George C. Monell of Omaha had an interest
781
782
HISTORY OF COLORADO
in the venture, but he disposed of it before the party arrived in Denver. He returned to Omaha, while all the others proceeded toward the goal of their am- bition.
Thomas Gibson, the active partner of Byers, was from Fontanelle, Nebraska. Those who accompanied the outfit were W. N. Byers, Thomas Gibson, John L. Dailey, Robert L. Sumner, Edward C. Sumner, I. Sansom, P. W. Case, L. A. Curtice, James Creighton and his brother, Harry Creighton, Harry Gibson, H. E. Turner and "Pap" Hoyt.
BYERS' JOURNEY WEST
In an address delivered at.a meeting of the Colorado pioneers in 1899 Byers gave the following account of the journey :
"We left Omaha on the eighth of March about the time the frost had begun coming out of the ground. We encountered a great many difficulties, but on the last day of March we reached the banks of the Platte River, opposite Fort Kear- ney.
"I was wagon boss, and I used a little ingenuity in distributing my train along the road, apprehending that my party might object to crossing the stream, which was then running high, if an opportunity to confer was given. So I got the first wagon into the water before the drivers of the others had a chance to protest. I had learned never to camp on the near side of a stream. The others were very indignant, but I pushed them all in successfully without giving them a chance to compromise ; whereupon each became still more opposed to the proceedings.
"The heaviest wagon got into a sink-hole of quicksand and we did not reach the other bank until dark. There was no road on the other side, but we man- aged to get through the night. If we had not crossed the river that evening we would have been, as matters turned out, delayed several days, for the next morn- ing the river was full of floating ice that did not disappear for nearly a week.
"We located a camp at St. Vrain so as to give some of the men a chance to prospect. I then went on in advance and reached Denver April 17th, finding the people were a good deal more anxious about the arrival of the newspaper than had been reported.
"At the beginning of the second day I sent a messenger on horseback to hurry up the train, and two days later it arrived. One of the wagons stuck in Cherry Creek at Blake Street, so we did not get across until after nightfall. I immedi- ately drove over to the little office I had secured. Old Uncle Dick Wooton had built a log cabin which contained a little attic, and this he had offered to me. There we set up our press and began setting type.
FIRST PAPER IN TERRITORY
"We improvised a shelter under the roof to protect the press. This was a sort of tent. The clapboard roof of the building was covered with snow, which, as it melted, ran through upon us. Before the first issue of the paper was made a little dodger was struck off for a man who had lost a horse and a dog.
"This was the first printing done in this territory.
"Now, there was another paper came out that same evening called the Cherry
783
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Creek Pioneer ! When I was at Fort Kearney I heard that a man named Mer- rick had preceded us by some days. He did nothing until we arrived and then he became very anxious to print a paper, too. He got a log cabin and started to work. The result was to get out a paper the same evening. The citizens con- stituted themselves a committee to see which of us got out the first.
"The consensus of opinion was that we came out twenty minutes ahead of the other. This paper of Merrick's was issued only once. The next day he hunted up my partner and sold his outfit for some flour and bacon."
It was the news of another enterprise that prompted Byers to such haste from Fort Kearney to Denver .: Someone who had come up from the South told of an outfit bound for Denver from St. Joseph. After that it was a race for the goal, and J. L. Merrick won the race without knowing it. He arrived in Denver on April 13th, and rested on his laurels until rudely awakened on the morning of April 17th by the information that rival publishers had entered the settlement.
Again a race began, but this time Merrick was the loser. An interesting fea- ture of the contest was the posting of bets among the gamblers on the outcome. From Uncle Dick Wooton's "palatial" store building they hurried to Merrick's cabin and back again. They urged on the contestants to accelerate their work, jested, drank "Taos lightning," and enjoyed the affair immensely.
When Byers rode into Auraria, on the west bank of Cherry Creek, he en- countered discouragements that would have daunted a less determined pioneer. Hard times had come upon the settlement. Easterners who had rushed to Colo- rado, consumed with the gold fever, became disheartened when they found what mining meant. The result was an exodus almost as large as had been the influx of gold-seekers a few months before.
The enterprise had been launched for the purpose of apprising the world of the new discoveries. The returning Easterners told pitiful tales of woe, and were so blue that they represented conditions much worse than they really were. Byers, however, had seen the gold in the goose quills, and had heard the other side of the story from miners who had succeeded.
In spite of the business depression he founded his paper, and it succeeded from the start, although it passed through strenuous times in its early career.
THE FIRST EXTRA
Colorado's first and most important extra edition of a newspaper advertised authoritatively to the world Colorado's gold discoveries. It was issued soon after the founding of The News, and was one of the most notable events in the history of Colorado up to that time.
Horace Greeley, the celebrated editor of the New York Tribune; Henry Vil- lard of the Cincinnati Commercial, and A. D. Richardson, the noted correspon- dent, who afterward wrote "Beyond the Mississippi," and who worked for a time on The Rocky Mountain News, visited Denver and the gold camps and signed a statement verifying the reports, then greatly discredited in the East, that substantial gold strikes had been made in Colorado.
The statement appeared in an extra edition of The Rocky Mountain News published on Saturday, June 11, 1859. It appeared on brown wrapping paper for lack of news print.
GENERAL WILLIAM LARIMER'S CABIN. BUILT IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF NOVEMBER, 1858
A BUILDING ERECTED IN NOVEMBER, 1859, BY THE OWNERS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, AND WHICH WAS THE HOME OF THAT NEWSPAPER UNTIL LATE IN AUGUST, 1860
From a photograph made in 1900. (Reproductions from pictures of some of Denver's pioneer buildings.)
.
785
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Describing the trip to the gold region that resulted in the famous extra, Rich- ardson says:
"From Denver to the foot of the range seemed only a stone's throw, but we found it fifteen miles. The only well-defined spur is Table Mountain, which rises 500 or 600 feet from the valley with symmetric stone walls. It looked down upon two little tents, then the only dwellings for miles; but in the intervening years it has seen a thriving and promising manufacturing town under the broad mountain shadow.
"At its base we found Clear Creek, greatly swollen, so we left the coach, saddled the mules and rode them through the stream amid a crowd of emigrants, who sent up three hearty cheers for Horace Greeley. The road was swarming with travelers. In the distance they were clambering right up a hill as abrupt as the roof of a cottage.
"It seemed incredible that any animal less agile than a mountain goat could reach the summit ; yet this road, only five weeks old, was beaten like a turnpike; and far above us toiled men, mules and cattle, pigmies upon the Alps. Wagons carrying less than half a ton were drawn up by twenty oxen, while those de- scending dragged huge trees in full branch and leaf behind them as brakes.
"We all dismounted to ascend, except Mr. Greeley, still so lame that his over- taxed mule was compelled to carry him.
"Mr. Greeley, Henry Villard and myself spent two days in examining the gulches and in conversing with the workmen engaged in running the sluices. Most of the companies reported to us that they were operating successfully. Then we joined in a detailed report, naming the members of each company and their former places of residence in 'the states' (that any who desired might learn their reputation for truthfulness), and added their statements to the number of men they were employing and the average yield of their sluices per day. We endeavored to give the shadows as well as the lights of the picture, recounting the hardship and perils of the long journey, and the bitter disappointment experienced by the unsuccessful many ; and earnestly warning the public against another gen- eral and ill-advised rush to the mines. Little time is required to learn the great truth that digging gold is about the hardest way upon earth to obtain it; that in this, as in other pursuits, great success is very rare.
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