Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-04

truly named rocky mountains. The only vege-
table growth comprised stunted frs and pines
with here and there bastard cottonwood
Through the forests prowled beasts of prey, and
also beasts to be preyed upon. They were \
thousand miles from their base Of supplies, and
the bare means of subsistence were scarce aud
uncertain. Log huts Of the most contracted di-
mensions served as shelters, and raw hide or
perhaps the bare ground, as a resting place
Their household utensils we're Few, and how even
those ever got here seems a mystery. \ rude
shelf IN one corser cf the cabin contained them
all, as well as their sclut stock Of provisions \
few stone hastily piled M aud daubed with mud
served for a chimney, and the style Of cookery
would have given S0ycr some new IDEAS in the
culinary art. Flour and bacon formel the sta
pie Of their Diet EterspeIsei with al occasional
bean or a dried apple by way Of sauce. FIRE.
quently, even this limited stock had 10 be car
ried for miles On the miners back, after he had
succeeded in obtaining IL On credit from some
man who Wls fortunate or unfortunate enough ~
have it for sale Thev worked bard and obtain
ed. in most cases, but scauty returns for their
labor. Now and ;hcn some lucky fellow would
strike a rich pocket and having filed his own
rom Il, would leave for 4 more c0ngenial home.
Most Of the miners came from the three States
Of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Here and there
was 4 waiffrom some more eastern locality stray
Dutchman who had wandered far from Vater-
land, and who had brought his sour krout with
him; a lean Frenchman who certainly couldn't
have come here to improve himself in the pol te
arts, ami a nasal Hebrew who could make money
where Gentle would starve 10 DEATH
Such is but a faint picture Of some Of the
earlier features Of Colorado life and people
They commenced by being sclfsacrifciug, and
ii .I 10 all
ers | would almost az soon meet a mild, even
tempered highwayman as q genuine fifty miner,
particularly if the latter had ever been in the
vicinity OF my present residence. ! should be
sure 10 have something that belonged 10 him or
at least that he woIld claim as such.
Taken in the bulk, have never met a more
intelligent body OF men in the same or similar
rank Of life III any part Of the world. Out Of
hundreds with whom have had intercourse Of
some kind, | have never met one who could not
read and write Many Of them are gentlemen
of polished educ ton and refined manners.
OF course, in the early days Of Colorodo, q
don't mean q the country itself, Tor uuioub,ed-
~ II is old the rest Of the world but Of its
settlemeat,) amusemeuis were scarce, and such
as could be resortcI 20, were usually Of frci-
be nature, TO correspond with the character Of
/ the population One iayori,e mode Of diversion
was to place key Of powder at the head Of the
/ principal street. (this was fer streets we're
built,) lay a train 90 the other extremity, and
| ignite with view 10 a general explosion. Quiet
citizens who nigh he disposed % demonstrate
against being blown up in this summary man
ner, were aweI by the ready revolyers Of the
convivial party, preferring TO take their chance
Of sudden exit by means Of &, neral combus-
ton, rather than by q mole minute dose Of pow
| der, especially when Trcflced by a bullet So the
d 81 D.
erybody meie happy except those who were so
foolish and nervous IS 70 be made unhappy.
It is natural that mining men who are SO de-
pendent upon yiiilnous sa.Jpetre ior their egit-
innate operations, should sometimes peryert il To
other uses. aud perhaps il is equally natural
that those who are not so dependent should en-
terrain some slight prejudice agails. It's promi--
cuous use in the public highways
When class Of men, accustomed 20 the
/ largest liberty known 10 the civilized lands,
found a still larger area Of freedom. 10 is not TO
be wondered al that they indulge iu some ex-
cesses that would sound strangely DO the ears Of
those who are only familiar with long established
and well regulated institutions. Even the forms
| Of Justice underwent some wonderful changes,
and justice herself added deafness and dumb
ness to her traditional Kindness. on one ocaa-
zion the sheriff finding q refractory law breaker.
quietly clOt MN o. prey eut any furfutI EreiClGs
Of the peace The wound dii not prove mortal
and the culprit suffering under tie double effect
Of rem0rse and cold Lead, Threatened dire cx'er-
limitations to the representative of the law. lie
didn't Ike 90 he suot -tb0ut having some salts
faction, and that seemed the reaiicst method OF
obtaining 10. But the sheriff entertained q iif
fereut view Of the matter. lul u.t knowing how
unreasonable his victim might prove when con-
vslescent. and 70 prevent auy further illegal
proceedings ca his part, be-, 10 defence of the
law and Of himself. took the man out iu the
most INVESTIGATIONS manner, and tenlerly
hanged him 90 the nearest tree. before he had
timeto recover from his previous injury - as
10 dangerous 90 the peace % the neghb0r-
hood. There was 10 excess % ici tape in those
days, but perhaps hemp was more plentiful than
wholes me. 40 any rate be prevented that III
dividull from doing any further harm
But all these things are changed row, and
reason has suTplant,d reyoNers, peace has
taken the place ~ powder Occasional y you
may sc a man who places his dependence on
earnal weapons, tu. they are more often carried
for show than USE. Daring nearly two years
residence, / have never seen au occasion when /
did not feel as secure from harm rs / would
have been on the Great Bridge, AMI I am salts
fed that less number OF hlgraut crimes Is
committed here than DO most other parts Of the
world. Perhaps one rea-ol ior this is that the
people have not Vet forgotten the reserved 'orce
that may be brought into service at any moment,
and that trees have not yet become so scarce but
one can be found on which % hang a specimen
Of human fruit.
CGUR Du Ror.