History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 20

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* In preparing this sketch I have followed a well written account published in the Colorado "Sun" at Denver, February 28, 1892, probably the most accurate that has ever been given to the public. Lack of codae me eas omission of minor details, but certain facts not contained in the article mentioned have pplebncpeads essential to its completeness.

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awful drama, July 4th, 1883. In 1879 certain parties conceived and executed a plan to establish a rival town at Grand Lake in nearer proximity to the mines. Among them were William Redman-a savage, brutal character-John H. Stokes and others who were not especially interested in the town of Hot Springs. The location of the new town became a fresh cause of malignant dissension. In the year last mentioned, eastern capitalists purchased the Wolverine mine, whose de- velopment gave promise of great value, and, in 1880, E. P. Weber came out as their representative and manager. He also bore a conspicuous part in hastening events to a tragical issue. Out of the mining boom came the founding of the town of Lulu on the North Fork, 12 miles from Grand Lake, which ultimately became a strong ally of Grand Lake in the contest against Hot Springs. Mean- time the town of Teller had been established in North Park, on the north side of the range six milles northeasterly from Lulu, the seat of a mining district with a considerable population. It may be stated in passing, that both Lulu and Teller, as well as that of Gaskill, are now almost wholly deserted.

The Grand Lake people now felt strong enough, numerically, to change the county seat from Hot Springs to their town. The question was brought to a vote and carried in their favor by a small majority. Hot Springs, humiliated and embittered by the act, appealed to the courts, which decided against it. The records and offices were removed to Grand Lake early in 1881. About this time E. P. Weber entered the lists as an aggressive factor, when he and his friends came into violent collision with Bill Redman and his clan, through a dispute over mining property.

Joseph L. Wescott, the first settler, claimed 160 acres of land as a homestead, but was not permitted to file upon it for the reason that the township had not been surveyed. The claimant of the adjoining section, a Mr. Anderson, had sold his improvements to Mrs. M. J. Young. Weber attempted to jump a portion of these claims, causing Wescott and Mrs. Young great annoyance, which, with other aggressions, rendered him extremely unpopular in the town, and he was equally out of favor at Hot Springs.

Among others to settle in the mining town of Teller was John G. Mills, a brave but reckless man who had left Mississippi because of the killing he had done there. He had been well educated, possessed much ability as a writer, had studied law, and served some time as an editor. In 1880 the North Park was claimed by both Larimer and Grand counties. In the election of that year a major- ity of its votes were cast with Grand, and Mills, being a candidate for county com- missioner, was elected. In 1881 a factional quarrel split Teller into two distinct parties, a very large majority being hostile to Mills. His adversaries, supported by the North Park "Miner" published at Teller, and the only newspaper in the county, fiercely attacked him and a wordy and threatening war resulted. Grand Lake, however, was almost unanimously favorable to Mills, which created intense feeling between the two towns. In 1881 a general political disturbance occurred. In the county election Grand Lake came out victorious, re-electing Charles W. Royer, sheriff, W. S. Chamberlin, treasurer, both Democrats, and Lew W. Pollard (Republican), clerk. The superintendent of schools, the county judge (lloyt) and one commissioner also resided there. Royer remained at Hot Springs and ap- pointed Bill Redman undersheriff. Soon afterward the North Park "Miner" blazed with charges of malfeasance, peculation and mismanagement against the Grand Lake officials. This induced the latter to establish a paper of their own-the "Prospector" -edited by Bailey & Smart, who took up their defense. From the beginning of the campaign of 1882 the factional disturbances grew more and more violent. Hot Springs hated Grand Lake because of its rivalry, and Teller hated it through the pop- ularity of Mills in that quarter. The balance of the population were about evenly divided in sentiment. This year a commissioner was to be elected, and also two dele-

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gates to the Republican state convention. A mass meeting was held at Grand Lake which nominated J. R. Godsmark, of Lulu, for commissioner, and J. G. Mills and Charles F. Caswell for delegates to the state convention. As will be remem- bered, Henry R. Wolcott was brought forward for the governorship by Senator N. P. Hill and his friends, and was opposed by Jerome B. Chaffee, as the leader of the Republican party, and chairman of the central committee, consequently E. L. Campbell, of Lake, received the nomination after a heated contest. Mills and Caswell favored Wolcott. Shortly after the mass meeting just mentioned, a small number (only seven, it is said) met at Grand Lake and nominated E. P. Weber and Capt. T. J. Dean as delegates to the Republican convention. Being anti- Wolcott, they were admitted to seats. During the discussion of the Grand county contest, Weber made a speech in which he charged Mills with being a murderer and a fugitive from justice. This was one of the direct causes of the impending crisis in which both lost their lives. Other personal and political outbreaks oc- curred in which most of the principal characters were involved, but it is unnecessary to dwell upon them.

In January, 1883, that fateful year, the board of county commissioners con- sisted of John G. Mills, chairman, Wilson Waldren, of Grand Lake, whose term was expiring (and in whose stead H. B. Rogerson had been elected), and Barney Day. The latter had been appointed in December to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of John Kinsey. In January, 1883, Rogerson resigned and E. P. Weber was appointed in his place. This was a severe blow to the Grand Lake faction, which had no love for Weber. Matters went on from bad to worse, until public feeling reached a very dangerous stage. At length a report was sent broadcast that Weber and Day proposed holding a special meeting for the purpose of oust- ing the county clerk and treasurer, upon an alleged insufficiency of their official bonds, but without notifying chairman Mills. The meeting was held next day but a discussion arose between Weber and Pollard, the clerk, as to its legality, the latter finally refusing to produce the records or to act as their clerk. Weber admitted the informality, and it was at length decided to fix a date for a special session, and the clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Mills thereof. Again the two newspapers broke out in charges and counter charges; other events occurred to inflame the public mind, some arrests were made, etc.

On Monday, July 2nd, 1883, the full board of commissioners met in the office of the clerk at Grand Lake. Many people had arrived from neighboring towns. The clerk (Pollard) being absent, his duties were performed by his dep- uty, Mr. C. F. Caswell. The room was crowded with interested observers. The session passed off quietly. At nine o'clock next morning (3rd) the board re- convened. Mills, however, stated that Mr. Caswell and himself had been retained as counsel in a divorce suit to be tried that day before the county court, and asked that they be excused. Mr. Weber, who had meanwhile become chairman, assented, saying that he and Day would merely look over the assessment schedule and make notes of any matters they might consider necessary to be brought before the full board. Weber and Day, in company with Capt. Dean and E. M. Harman, who acted as their clerk, spent the day in consideration of matters before them. About dusk an order was handed to Sheriff Royer directing him to appear before the board and show cause why his bond should not be declared insufficient. This was the first intimation of bad faith on their part, and naturally led to great ex- eitement among the factions. This was increased when it became kown that orders of like import had been prepared for service upon the county clerk, treas- ttrer and judge, with certain precinct officers, for it then became only too apparent that Weber and Day and Dean had taken advantage of the absence of Mills and Caswell to accomplish their long threatened purpose. Everyone realized that nothing but a miracle could prevent bloodshed.

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We now come to the final act, and, in order that it may be made entirely clear to the icader, quote the description of the battle ground and the events of the tragedy direct from the article in the "Sun" heretofore mentioned, because it is correct in every essential particular :

"Grand lake is, in shape, nearly elliptical. The town site is situated on the north shore. From the shore the land rises moderately, forming a ridge, and descending again extends into a flat expanse. This ridge extends around the west shore of the lake to within about 200 yards of the Fairview house, at that time the leading hotel, owned by Mrs. Young. It was situated on the property which Weber had endeavored to jump. At this place Weber, Dean, Day and many Teller and Gaskill people were stopping. The distance from the hotel to the court house is about three-fourths of a mile. On the town site the ridge mentioned is situated between the road and the lake, but, on turning to follow the western shore, the road crosses the ridge and lies between it and the lake. It has been said that this ridge ends about 200 yards from the Fairview house. It would be perhaps a better description to say that the ascending shore gradually grew more level, thus obliterating the ridge. In consequence, in traveling from the Fairview house toward the town, at a distance of about 200 yards the road began to descend into a hollow, and at an equal distance farther the traveler finds on his left a wooded ridge, and close on his right the lake. On the summit of the ridge is a mass of rocks, and from that rocky point the hotel and surroundings are in full view. At that time in the hollow by the roadside, and touched by the waters of the lake during the spring, was an old claim cabin used as an ice house.

"The Fourth of July, 1883, dawned bright and clear at Grand Lake. It was one of the most beautiful days ever seen in the mountains. Before and after break- fast the guests of the Fairview house were indulging in much revolver shooting in honor of the day. The cracking of cartridges was also heard from all other parts of the lake. Consequently when, about nine o'clock, a sudden fusilade of a dozen or fifteen shots was heard, it created no comment until a man rushed up to Deputy Sheriff Max James, of Teller, who was at the Fairview house, and exclaimed that Weber had been shot. Just where the road commenced its descent Weber was found lying on his face. He had been shot through the right lung. Further on in the hollow Dean was found lying in a pool of blood. He had been shot in the bridge of the nose, the ball lodging in his head; a second ball had completely shat- tered his hip-bone. In addition his head was badly cut by blows from some in- strument, probably the butt of a revolver. At the corner of the ice house, with his head in the lake, was the body of Barney Day. He had been shot through the heart. In the center of the road was a second corpse, afterward recognized as John G. Mills. He had been shot through the head and the brains were oozing ont into the road. The mask covering his face had been burned by the shot that killed him. By his side was a single shot Sharpe's rifle containing an empty shell. His clothing was covered with a suit of ducking, the coat being so fastened by pieces of rope that it would have been impossible for him to get at his revolver which was strapped to him under the ducking. A flour sack with holes cut for the eyes and mouth was drawn over the head and fastened around the neck with a piece of rope. Behind the rock on the ridge was found a rope, and the indentations in the soil showed that several persons had been standing or kneeling there. A trail of blood was found and followed for about 300 yards to the outlet of the lake, where it was lost. In following the trail a second mask, similar to the one on Mills, was picked up, and there were evidences that a horse had been fastened there.

"The bodies of the dead men were removed to town and the wounded taken to the Fairview house. Dr. H. F. Frisius, an able physician and surgeon, happened to be at Gaskill, and he was sent for. Weber never spoke after being placed in bed, and sank steadily till about midnight, when he died. Dean made a strong

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fight for his life, but the severe wounds he had received were too much even for his undaunted pluck and strong constitution, and he died on the 17th following. Soon after the shooting, nearly the entire population of Grand Lake and the visitors were on the scene. There was one notable exception-Undersheriff Redman did not appear." It was afterward made clearly evident that the sheriff, Charles W. Royer, had been with the assassins and had taken part in killing Barney Day. "A mes- senger was immediately dispatched to Hot Springs with the horrible intelligence, which created the wildest excitement." From a resident of Hot Springs I learn the following details. Charley Royer immediately after the murders rode to the springs and had been there an hour or more before the messenger reached the place. He stopped at the house of Walker McQueary, four miles above the springs, and when he rode up to Walker's door his horse was literally reeking with perspira- tion, showing that he had been urged to his utmost speed. Rover talked with MeQueary, who asked him whence he came in such hot haste, referring to the dis- tressed condition of his horse. Royer said he came from Grand Lake. MeQueary then inquired: "What news from that section; what are the county commissioners doing?" He replied that there was no special news, everything was quiet, the com- missioners were holding a meeting, ete. But through it all he exhibited great ner- vous excitement. After resting his horse, he rode on to the springs, where he answered similar questions in about the same manner. An hour or so later eame the messenger from Grand Lake, bearing the details of the fight, which set the town in a fearful uproar. Royer at first endeavored to discredit the report, but soon after became sullenly silent, refusing to talk about it. Another messenger pro- ceeded across the range to Georgetown and there telegraphed the horrible in- telligence to Denver, where it ereated intense feeling.

"At the coroner's inquest very little light was thrown on the affair. Dean made a statement to the effect that the three had reached the ice house when a shot was heard. Weber exclaimed, 'I am shot,' when Day and Dean caught him and were lowering him to the ground, when they also were attacked by three masked inen, and the fight became general. Day's revolver showed four empty shells and Dean's one."

Royer, in his anxiety to conceal the facts, gave a number of theories as to the manner in which the killing was done. All the circumstances indicated that there were from six to nine men in the attacking party, although only three took active part in the shooting. It was also among the theories that Royer stood near the ice house, and that when Day, after being shot by his assailants, ran in that direction, he was finished by a shot from Rover's rifle. Charles H. Hook was charged with complicity in the murders, but he was in Denver at the time, hence the charge was without foundation in fact. That the wounded man whose trail had been strewn with blood was Bill Redman no one for a moment doubted. Long afterward, from information furnished by detectives and others who followed his traces in the hope of a large reward, it was made known that Redman fled to the mountains and was concealed in a prospector's cabin about four miles northwest of Grand Lake, and that his wounds were dressed by a doctor who had been taken from the latter place by Redman's friends and kept there until his patient was able to travel. He was then taken by his brother, Bass Redman, through Middle and Egeria Parks to a hiding place on the northern foot of the Flat Top mountain, where he remained some time and then went further west into the edge of Utah, where an unknown man was killed or committed suicide (which, was never known), and his body left to represent that of Redman. There they left one of the saddles that had been taken away from Grand Lake on the day of the murders, and also a worn out pony. Written in the sand with a stick was the name "William Redman," and the same, serawled upon a scrap of paper, was pinned to the saddle. After caretu investigation the body was found to be that of a man who had wandered to the

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place had either been slain by others or by his own hand, and Redman, passing that way, used it to check further search for himself. He was next heard of in a hiding place between the Yampa and White rivers in the southwestern part of Routt county, where he spent a part of the following winter. In the spring he went north to the Sweetwater mining country in western Wyoming, and thence south through western Colorado and New Mexico into Arizona. His brother, Bass, returned to Missouri.

Although some attempts were made by the district attorney and the courts to develop all the facts of this frightful affair and bring the guilty to punishment, nothing ever came of them.

On the 16th of July, eleven days after the massacre, Sheriff Royer, being in Georgetown, committed suicide by shooting himself through the head, making the fifth victim of the tragedy. He was not a bad man at heart, and was generally popular in both communities. Redman, on the contrary, was a large, muscular man, six feet tall, "with a great deal of the savage in his nature. He was faithful to his friends, but his hatred of his enemies was of a type that caused him to commit the most brutal deeds when an opportunity for revenge presented itself."

Such is the story in brief of one of the most terrible crimes that has reddened the records of our commonwealth. Three county commissioners and their clerk assassinated in the broad daylight of our national anniversary, the sheriff slain by his own hand, the others immediately concerned in the plot fugitives from justice, and all the result of political animosities that might easily have been adjusted by the ordinary exercise of rational judgment.

On the 19th of July, Grand county being virtually without officers, a deputation of citizens from that section, composed of L. C. Pollard, W. S. Chamberlin and C. H. Hook with Wm. N. Byers, waited upon Governor James B. Grant to suggest the names of parties for appointment to the vacant offices. In due course the governor appointed Samuel Moffett in place of J. G. Mills, G. W. Hertel in place of E. P. Weber, and T. Webb Preston in place of Barney Day, and these com- missioners were authorized to select a sheriff.

The county seat was removed back to Hot Springs, December 16th, 1888, as the result of a vote taken at the November election of that year.

In 1800 the total assessed valuation of taxable property in Grand county was $432,707. In the schedule then returned to the auditor of state there were 27,867 acres of agricultural land, 1,843 horses, 9,973 cattle, and 2,208 sheep.

The school census of 1890 shows a total school population of 129, with an en- rollment of 59. There were six school districts and five buildings, the latter valued at $2,025.

The officers for 1800-91 were: Clerk, J. N. Pettingell; treasurer, Wm. P. Farris; county judge, David Bock; assessor, N. N. Buttolph; sheriff, Walker McQueary; coroner, John O. Felters; superintendent of schools, Oliver Neidham; surveyor, L. D. C. Gaskell; clerk of the district court, David Bock; commissioners, Henry Lehman, Frank M. Smith and Frank S. Byers.

The principal route to Middle Park is by a wagon road from Georgetown via Empire and Berthond Pass. It was commenced July 16th, 1874, and the first stage passed over it to Hot Sulphur Springs November 18th following. It was built by a company of which W. H. Cushman was president, and Thomas Guanella, secretary, nearly all the funds being furnished by residents of Georgetown.

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GUNNISON COUNTY.

CAPT. GUNNISON'S EXPLORATION IN 1853-FIRST WHITE PROSPECTORS-DISCOVERY OF GOLD-DRIVEN OUT BY INDIANS-GOVERNOR HUNT'S TREATY WITH UTES- THE LOS PINOS AGENCY-RICHARDSON'S COLONISTS-FIRST CABIN IN GUNNISON- STATEMENTS BY PIONEERS -ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT - WONDERFUL ACTIVITY-AGRICULTURE-FOUNDING OF TOWNS-ANTHRACITE COAL MINES- MARVELOUS DEPOSITS OF COAL AND IRON.

This county was segregated from the western part of Lake by an act of the first General Assembly of the state, approved March 9th, 1877, and its capital located at the town of Gunnison. When thus created it embraced an area of 10,600 square miles. Since then four new counties, Pitkin, Delta, Mesa and Montrose, covering 7,400 square miles, have been taken from its original domain. Its present area is 3,200 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its population was 4,359, an apparent decrease of 3,876 since 1880, largely due, however, to the organization of the four counties mentioned. It is now bounded on the north by Pitkin, south by Saguache and Hinsdale, east by Chaffee and the northerly portion of Saguache, and west by Delta, Montrose and Ouray.

The first explorer of whom we have any authentic record, though he may have been preceded by some of the old guild of hunters and trappers, was Capt. J. W. Gunnison of the U. S. Topographical Engineers, for whom the county, its capital and principal stream were named. This expedition was undertaken by authority of an act of Congress, approved March 3, 1853. Soon afterward Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, directed that a survey be made to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, and that a line be carried through the Rocky Mountains near the headwaters of the Rio del Norte by way of the Huerfano and Cochetopa, or some other practicable pass, into the region of Grand and Green rivers, and so on to Lake Utalı. A digest of this expedition, together with its tragical ending, has been given in Volume I of our general history, at page 133. The party left the Missouri river June 17th, 1853. Capt. Gunnison was killed by Indians at his camp near Sevier lake, October 26th following. The survey was completed and the report thereof rendered by Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith.

In the course of our researches the following narrative has been discovered, and is assumed to be substantially correct. In May, 1861, an adventurous prospector named Fred. Lottes crossed to the western slope and was the first discoverer of min- eral deposits in the district now known as Tin Cup, so designated because, lacking the usual gold miner's pan, he washed out his prospects in a tin drinking cup-which recalls George A. Jackson's discovery of gold on Vasquez Fork in January, 1859, related in Volume I. It has been said that Taylor Gulch was discovered in 1860, but by whom is not definitely known. However, the story runs that Mr. Lottes, with five comrades, went into Texas Gulch and also Ohio Gulch, in 1862, where they

ULWEDON STORE

BRUNSWICK

: RWROATH

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J:S K LOWER,

WATCHES

JEWELRY

MANUFACTORY JEWELRY.

LARIMER STREET IN IMI-70.

WEBB POOLERICO

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made some locations and gave Quartz creek its name. Mr. Frank Fossett, in his history of Colorado (1880), states that in 1861 a company of seven miners from Arizona were surrounded and attacked by a large band of Pinte Indians in a gulch leading into Taylor river. The fighting was maintained three days and nights, and at last all the miners were slain. The remains of men, mules and equipage were sub- sequently found by prospectors, and the locality was thereafter known as "Dead- man's Gulch."

Fossett also relates that Benjamin Graham visited the Gunnison region in 1866. Four years later R. A. Kirker, Benjamin Graham, William Gant, Samuel McMillen, Louis Brant, James Brennan and C. M. Defauch formed an exploring association, and, taking supplies for the summer, prospected among the Elk moun- tains and their western slopes into the Ute reservation. They discovered many galena bearing lodes and a coal vein on Rock creek, which proved to be anthracite. A log fort was built as a refuge and defense against Indians. In 1874 the Indians came upon them, burned the camp and drove the prospectors out of the country. In 1873 Prof. Hayden's U. S. geological survey was made. When, in 1879, a great immigration commenced pouring into the valley of the Gunnison, Prof. Sylvester Richardson wrote that "the Elk mountains were prospected as early as 1872 by bands of men from Denver and Golden and were found to contain large true fissure veins. At various times the prospecting continued until 1879, when the great rush came." During the winter of 1873-74 the Gunnison colony was organized in Den- ver, under a charter, and Professor Richardson elected president of the same. He says: "We went to Gunnison in April, 1874, and located the town, built roads, bridges, etc. Shortly after the arrival of the colony it disbanded, some remaining at Gunnison as ranchmen, others going to the mountains to prospect for mineral. Following in the wake of this colony came the horde of miners, stockmen, etc .; next, Lake City was founded. In 1876 an excitement occurred which built the town of Ouray; next, Tin Cup, Quartz Creek and Washington Gulch were located."

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791