USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Vol. I > Part 21
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The excitement over this became universal, and the indignation
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reached the fighting point. Wood and his followers, alarmed at the killing of Steele and the demonstrations against themselves, fled to the prairie but soon returned, when they were arrested. Many favored lynching, but more moderate counsels prevailed. Wood was put under guard and tried next day before A. C. Hunt, Judge of the People's Court, convened in a large unfinished building just back of the present Lindell Hotel. Mr. Byers was called and gave his evidence, which was fully confirmed by a number of witnesses. Speeches were made by Dr. Casto, Judge Purkins, H. P. Bennett and others, strongly advocating the preservation of law and order, but at the same time giving emphatic expression to the general resolve that such occurrences would be no longer tolerated.
The jury retired for consultation, and took a vote, when it was found that they stood eleven to one for conviction. The solitary juror who would not be convinced, remaining obdurate to the last, the facts were reported to the court, and there being no probability of an agree- ment, the case was referred to the people, by whom it was decided that since Wood had killed no one in this affray, but was a tough citizen on general principles, the best thing they could do was to banish him. Wood mounted his horse, and by order of the citizens was accom- panied by the marshal and twenty-five men to the eastern limit of the city, directed to set his face toward the rising sun, and return no more.
With such a chapter of horrors in mind, including many others not yet related, is it surprising that the people were clamorous for some sort of stable government ?
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CHAPTER XVII.
1860-MEASURES FOR ORGANIZING THE TERRITORY-DIFFICULTY IN SELECTING A TITLE-VARIOUS NAMES PROPOSED-PROGRESS OF THE BILL IN CONGRESS-EFFORTS OF SCHUYLER COLFAX IN OUR BEHALF-OPPOSITION OF THE SLAVEHOLDERS DEFEATS THE BILL-POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN COLORADO-RETURN OF DELEGATE WILLIAMS-CONSOLIDATION OF AURARIA AND DENVER-HEAVY IMMIGRATION- DISCOVERY OF GOLD ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER -CALIFORNIA GULCH-INDIAN FORAYS-THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT-ORGANIZATION OF SOCIETY-D. H. MOFFAT JR .- JOHN M. CHIVINGTON-CLARK & GRUBER'S COINAGE MINT-U. S. MAILS- DISCOVERY OF SILVER.
In January, 1860, there began in Congress a movement, which, though protracted eventually gave our people a fixed and stable gov- ernment. Delegate Williams, though not recognized as one represent- ing a State or Territory, was nevertheless admitted to the floor of the House, but without other privileges than those usually accorded to "lobby members," permitted by courtesy to lay his petitions before the members and privately solicit their co-operation. He had access also to the departments, where he made excellent use of his opportunities for urging upon the Postmaster-General the great need of mail service. On the 26th of February the Post Office committee of the House by vote authorized its Chairman, Schuyler Colfax, to report a measure which he had drawn, for expediting and cheapening the postal service between the Atlantic and Pacific States. It directed the Postmaster- General to advertise for proposals to carry the entire Pacific mail over- land, embracing also proposals for supplying Denver and Salt Lake cities, by branch lines weekly from the main route.
At the same session the Senate passed a resolution, authorizing a
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treaty to be made with the Indians for the lands embraced within the Territory occupied and known as the Pike's Peak region. Its commit- tee on Territories had under consideration and agreed to report favor- ably, a bill to provide for the organization of the new Territory. But there were objections to the name of Jefferson because of a ruling or decision not to name Territories for the Presidents, as there were not enough to go round.
The chief difficulty lay, however, in the unsettled condition of the Kansas-Nebraska controversy. The contest over their admission as states had reached no conclusion ; therefore, until disposed of, nothing could be done for the later applicants. An attempt had been made in the senate to enlarge the boundary of the proposed state of Kansas so as to include the settled portion of Nebraska as far north as the Platte River, but it failed.
As stated, an organic act had been prepared by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories, Senator Green, who had dis- placed Stephen A. Douglas. One of the perplexities which consumed much time was the name to be given the new aspirant from the Rocky Mountains. "Jefferson " they would not have. So the following list was presented to assist the committee in making a selection : "Tampa,', "Idaho," "Nemara," "Colorado," "San Juan," "Lula," "Arapahoe," and-the saints defend us-" Weappollao." "Idaho" was chosen, and so inserted.
The House Committee also having a bill for the same purpose under consideration, wrestled long with a similar difficulty, but solved it by inserting "Tahosa," signifying Dwellers on the Mountain Tops. "Lafayette," "Columbus," "Franklin," "Idaho," and "Colona," the latter by Mr. Colfax, were also suggested. It was understood that either " Tahosa " or "Idaho" would be the permanent title.
Simultaneously, bills for the organization of Nevada, Dakota and Arizona were being digested. During the first week in April Senator Green reported measures for Idaho and Arizona, with the intention of calling them up early in May. The Kansas question was still under
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debate, but it was generally conceded that its admission could not be much longer delayed, when the field would be clear for the other Ter- ritories. Mr. Colfax, then in the first bloom of his remarkable career, manifested enthusiastic interest in our bill, exerting his vast influence not only in this direction, but for the establishment of a regular postal service. With General Bela M. Hughes he called on the head of that department, and induced him to place Denver on the routes to be sup- plied, and then instituted measures for the requisite appropriations to carry it into effect.
One of the great propositions before this Congress was the con- struction of a Pacific railroad, and naturally every Pike's Peaker in Washington felt that if the bill passed, Denver would be named as the terminal point east of the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, it was so inserted in the bill, but stricken out by the committee in advance of its presentation.
Our bill for organization embraced the general formula used for Kansas and Nebraska, and the boundaries were substantially the same as those defined in our Provisional Constitution.
Early in May the bill to organize the Territory of "Idaho" was reported to the House." But here a tornado struck it. Just prior to its introduction, Bingham of Ohio plunged a firebrand into that explo .. sive assembly by reporting a bill to repeal that portion of the law passed by the legislature of New Mexico which recognized the exist- ence of slavery in that Territory, and upon it called the previous ques- tion. The bill passed amid great confusion. The Southerners became so enraged at this new and unexpected assault upon their pet insti- tution as to seek revenge by killing off all the other Territorial meas-
* Schuyler Colfax had been deeply interested in this particular organization from the first. January 24, 1859, he writes in a personal letter: "I have worked up the Territorial Committee (two-thirds bitterly pro- slavery) to recede from their former vote against the new Territory I proposed, and they will now report in favor of it. This is quite a success, as the President (Buchanan) was dead against it, openly and ear- nestly. But the committee, while reporting it, will put in pro-slavery provisions that we cannot vote for. You cannot imagine the devices of the slave power until you look it in the eye and watch its acts. They decided against my name (Colona), which I didn't altogether like myself, preferring 'Montana' or 'Cen- tralia,' but the name doesn't matter."
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ures by tabling them, ours among the number. But it was reported again at the first opportunity and made the special order for the last day of the week. Nevada came next, but was immediately laid upon the table. On Saturday Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania presented " Idaho," but in a somewhat different form, which provoked a long and heated debate, with the result that it went down under the storm of slaveholding opposition. Each measure contained the following pro- viso: "That whereas slavery has no legal existence in said Territory, nothing herein shall be construed to authorize or prohibit its existence therein."
The North was still compromising upon the dominant issue, gain- ing by gradual approaches the main object in view, the restriction of slavery to certain limits. But the thinly disguised olive branch was not accepted. All the bills were shelved, and there remained until the fol- lowing winter. Political elements were in a high state of fermentation. Premonitions of the great contest in preparation were beginning to be felt and understood. The Charleston convention had adjourned, leav- ing the Democratic party torn to pieces by internal dissensions. Three candidates were in the field, and Abraham Lincoln had been nominated at Chicago with an enthusiasm never before witnessed in the history of political assemblies. The foundations of the great deep were broken up by the shuddering of the irrepressible crisis, and in a short time all Christendom felt the shock of our great civil war.
Congress having adjourned without providing any relief for this region, the people were on the verge of despair. The condition of affairs during the early summer had been lamentable. The Provisional government had not been accepted to any extent outside of Denver, and even here it was powerless to enforce its decrees. The chief reliance of the citizens lay in the Committee of Safety. The government had no money, was known to be illegal, and therefore was practically inoper- ative. On the 7th of August a new movement for state organization made its appearance, this time in Golden City. A convention met in Loveland's Hall; Dr. I. E. Hardy was called to the chair, and W. L.
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Rothrock made Secretary. Addresses setting forth the need of a government that would govern were made by G. W. Purkins, W. P. McClure, H. P. Bennett and Albert D. Richardson. Then came the inevitable resolutions to this effect, that, whereas, Congress failed to respond to our appeal for protection, therefore, resolved that we will unite with our fellow-citizens of all portions of the gold region in the hearty support of any just, practical and uniform system of laws upon which the people will agree. Finally, they pledged themselves to unite with the gold region in forming a State government at the ear- liest practicable date. This action distinctly repudiated the Provisional machine.
But the people of Mountain City, more impulsive, went a step further. Unaccustomed to temporizing with public grievances, they met this emergency with characteristic boldness. A delegation of lead- ers assembled in Daniel Doyle's Hall,-which was a saloon where five cent whisky was dispensed at twenty-five cents a glass,-on the 30th day of July, a little in advance of the Golden meeting. Mr. Michael Storms took the chair, and C. C. Post the secretary's table. The speeches were eloquent, and the orators dramatic. The government was roundly denounced for its indifference to the petitions of this great and growing country. The resolutions declared among other things, that after long continued opposition to the Provisional govern- ment they were at last compelled to recognize it as better than no government at all, and therefore would not only lend it their sanction, but support it to the full extent of their power until a State or Terri- torial organization should be provided in regular form. They repudi- ated at one fell swoop all allegiance to the laws of Kansas, and de- clared that they would never submit to be included in that jurisdiction.
A call issued for a convention to be held in Denver, to frame a State constitution, with the added resolve to apply for immediate admis- sion into the American Union, and, as a clincher, meant to be pasted in the Congressional hat, that "we will not cease our applications until such admission shall be granted."
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All these and several other projects of like nature ended in smoke. The politicians having ventilated their sentiments, the ship of state resumed the regular order and drifted on without helm or keel, in the old way.
On the 18th of September Governor Steele issued his proclama- tion for another election of officers, members of the Legislative Assem- bly, etc., to be held October 22d. Notwithstanding the fact that the call neither asked nor contemplated an expression of sentiment respect- ing the Provisional Government, a large majority of the votes cast in Denver declared against it on general principles, but at the same time elected the regular ticket headed by Governor Steele.
September 22d the delegates chosen under the Mountain City call, assembled in Apollo Hall and proceeded to draft a constitution. It would be a waste of time to pursue this threadbare subject further. It is sufficient to say that the various projects soon came to nought through the regular organization by Congress in February, 1861.
The Provisional Legislature met November 20th, received the Executive message, and proceeded to the enactment of laws regular, irregular and special, as in its first session, strengthened perhaps by the more encouraging attitude of the mountaineers, but under a distinct re- pudiation at home, as shown by the popular, though unauthorized vote.
Delegate Williams returned from Washington August 20th, and was cordially welcomed. Though not according to the measure of the popular desire, it is undeniable that he accomplished as much as any representative could have done under the circumstances, which have been explained. He laid the groundwork, so to speak, for a legal organiza- tion, leaving the proposition in shape to be reopened and fully consum- mated at the next session. The bills were presented too late for definite action, if opposed. He succeeded, however, in promoting to an issue by the aid of Mr. Colfax, arrangements for transporting the mails weekly from Julesburg. The coach which bore him to Denver brought also the first instalment of letters and papers, to the infinite gratifi- cation of the people.
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During the last week in March, a mass meeting was held in Auraria to consider a proposition for the consolidation of the two cities. A. C. Hunt presided, with A. Jacobs as Secretary. Andrew Sagendorf presented a resolution embodying the general sentiment to the effect that the twain were, and ought to be declared one, and that henceforth Auraria should be known as Denver City, West Division. The Board of Directors was authorized to change the name on the plat in ac- cordance with this expression, reserving the right to make its own municipal regulations, hold the title to the town site as before, and maintain its organization as a town company. A few days later the citizens of the now united Denver met upon the bond of union, the Larimer street bridge, where the resolutions were ratified, and number- less congratulations exchanged.
Great waves of immigrants poured in during the spring and sum- mer, far exceeding the increment of 1859, unequaled indeed, in the history of the West, with the single exception of the California period. It was estimated in the month of May there were no less than eleven thousand wagons upon the plains moving toward Denver. It will be understood that a considerable proportion were merchandise trains, but a large majority were the conveyances of emigrants, each attended by from three to eight persons. It seemed as if half the population of Iowa, with immense numbers from Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas had emigrated. The processions thronged the principal thoroughfares, with only here and there intervals of a few miles between the companies. Thousands came to this city, but went no further. Some remained and became fixed residents; others engaged in farming; hundreds, resolved to see the mines, took the trails to the mountains where they located or returned, according as the prospect seemed favorable or otherwise.
In March gold bearing gravel beds of considerable magnitude were prospected with satisfactory results, on the Arkansas River below Cali- fornia Gulch, where Kelly's or Cherokee district was organized. A Denver party which left here February 15th, passed through Colorado City, thence by way of Ute Pass to the point named, and assisted in
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the ceremonies. But the ground was frozen, and the pay dirt had to be thawed before it could be washed. Even under this disadvantage some of the miners realized from two to five dollars per day with small rockers. The gold was fine, bright and pure, in thin scales like that found on Cherry Creek and the Platte. This intelligence spread among the settlements, causing the customary stampede. These dig- gings were, as a matter of fact, discovered late in the fall of 1859, the secret being preserved until spring.
About the 25th of April much excitement arose from the reported discovery by S. S. Slater & Co., of very rich deposits in a gulch twenty miles above Kelly's Bar, and which, owing to the immediate influx of a large number of Californians, took the name of California Gulch. Whilst the snow was very deep, the work done indicated that beneath the thick white covering lay one of the richest placers in the Rocky Mountains, which subsequent developments fully verified. The gulch is ten miles in length by fifty to one hundred feet in width, and at the time was filled with clay and decomposed quartz containing gold, the mass when penetrated, being of the consistency of soft mortar inter- mixed with hard quartz, iron pyrites and fragments of volcanic scoria and iron ore. It resembled the decompositions found at the surface of the Gregory, Gunnell and other lodes, and admirably adapted to washing by the same methods there employed. Overlying the pay dirt was a layer of native cement or "hard pan," a conglomerate of cemented gravel and scoria, from six to eighteen inches thick. The water course in favorable seasons was about equal to supplying five or six lines of sluices. Prospected, the material yielded an average of fifteen cents to the pan, much of the product being in coarse nuggets somewhat dis- colored by iron stains, but the finer particles were clean and bright. The discoverers were T. L. Currier, S. S. Slater, A. Lee, Mr. Stevens and two others. During the first season some of the better claims yielded $50,000 to $60,000 each. A number of the largest and most val- uable nuggets known to the country were taken out. When the ex- tent and value of these mines became known, thousands went over and
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formed a great settlement there at the lower end of the gulch. This, with the discoveries in Georgia and French Gulches and other places on the Blue, that were duly reported in the eastern press, caused the large immigration of this year.
Undoubtedly California was the richest placer ever opened in the Rocky Mountains, and produced greater quantities of the precious metal. It was here that Senator Tabor received his primary lesson in the science of mining, though his fortune was delayed until 1879, when the Leadville blanket veins opened their treasures to him.
Returning to the valley once more, on the 17th of May a large war party of Arapahoes came to Denver from an expedition against the Utes in the valley of the Rio Grande, rejoicing in the possession of four or five scalps and a large number of ponies taken from their hereditary foes. They went into camp on the bluffs across the Platte and began a series of scalp dances in celebration of their victory. The following day they were joined by other bands of the same tribe. Anxious to display the fruits of their prowess before the multitude of pale faces, they formed in procession with drums beating and banners flying, and marched into town, where they gave exhibitions upon the public streets to the edification and amusement of the populace. At least one thousand savages were in and about the city at that time. Nor were they always friendly and peaceable, except when overawed by superior force, as here.
Numerous petty depredations were committed upon isolated set- tlers though nothing very serious transpired. From six to ten thou- sand Indians, Sioux, Comanches, Apaches, Arapahoes, Cheyennes and Kiowas hovered about the Arkansas below Pueblo, but no difficulties were reported except when vicious white men furnished them whisky.
It was soon made apparent that the two races could not dwell to- gether in harmony, and that unless the government should take early measures for the removal of the red men, ugly consequences were un- avoidable. June 10th, about five hundred allies composed of the various tribes encamped about the city, set out for a general assault
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upon the Utes in their stronghold, the South Park. Jim Beckwourth and Kit Carson, who had arrived from New Mexico a few days previous, advised them against the contemplated foray, but they could not be swerved from their purpose. On one of the forks of the Platte in the southern edge of the Park they surprised a camp of Utes, killing a number of women and children, and taking four little boys prisoners. The Utes soon rallied, attacked the allies and drove them out in great confusion. On their return the allies, feeling themselves secure from immediate danger, halted beside a spring, and after refreshing them- selves, lighted their pipes for a quiet smoke. But every movement had been watched by their crafty enemies who, seeing their advantage, swept down upon them with savage yells, and by the slaughter that ensued amply avenged the surprise themselves had suffered.
When the allies returned to Denver, as they did in hot haste, they presented about as complete a picture of a defeated and thoroughly demoralized army of redskins as ever was seen. Being present on that occasion I observed with some surprise that there were a great many wounded, and that most of them had been shot in the back with arrows (but few of any tribe possessed rifles or other firearms). A sullen gloom had settled upon the entire encampment, in striking contrast to the rather jubilant spirit which animated them on their departure for the battlefield.
The chief sent for Kit Carson, who promptly responded, when a conference was held in an unfinished frame building at the lower end of Sixteenth street. The great explorer reminding them of his warn- ing, had few words of comfort for them, though listening patiently to their rather lengthy account of their unfortunate adventure. The interview lasted an hour or more, after which the crowd called Carson out and he rehearsed the battles as related to him. In the course of the story he remarked sententiously that when two bands of Indians got to fighting it didn't make much difference to white people which whipped.
The captive children were taken from them by the authorities.
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One was adopted by Richard E. Whitsitt; what became of the others I am unable to state. For some days afterward the dismal lamenta- tions of the women were heard from the tepees down among the cot- tonwoods, bewailing the loss of their braves and the disasters attend- ing their ill-timed expedition.
As the year advanced the elements began to crystalize into dis- tinct charitable, religious, educational, and social orders. The Ladies' Union Aid Society took the initiative, with Mrs. Byers as President, Miss E. C. Miles, Secretary, and Miss F. C. Miles, Treasurer. Jan- uary 2 Ist an informal gathering of Episcopalians occurred, L. Badollet presiding, with the view of establishing a society, and with the ultimate aim of building some kind of a house of worship. After prayer by the Rev. J. H. Kehler, a venerable patriarch in the cause, a committee of thirteen was appointed to make temporary arrangements for holding service the following Sunday, and from this beginning sprang St. John's Church in the Wilderness, now a large and flourishing congre- gation with an imposing cathedral. The first church of this society, a small and extremely modest structure, occupied the corner of Four- teenth and Arapahoe streets, where now stands the Haish Manual Training School of the Denver University.
It is well, perhaps, in view of his subsequent association with his- toric events, to mention en passant that on the 17th of March Mr. David H. Moffat, Jr., arrived from Omaha with a wagonload of books and stationery, and withal quite skillfully engineering a sore footed mule team. The stock was exposed for sale in a not very pretentious build- ing on Ferry street, West Denver, opposite the old Vasquez House. The journalists of the period, delighted with this literary acquisition, took early occasion to scrape acquaintance with Mr. Moffat, and to assure the public through their papers that they would find him a gra- cious and accommodating gentleman.
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