The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-08
THE GREAT MINING CAMP.
The Unprecedented Rush for Leadvflle,
Col.-Precious Metals in Abundance
Strange Scenes of Miners Iife.

A year ago Lcadville. Col, was a de-
serted mining camp. To-dayit contains
several churches and three theatcrs. and
is the most bustling, exciting spot IN
America. Although distant twenty
miles from any railroad, hundreds are
pouring into the place daily. and the SUR
rounding country is filled with eager
searcherS for the precious metals which
are found everywhere i'll abundance.
Writing from Leadville, Il correspondent
of the Louisville COuricr-JOurRdt says:
u think am fully justified in saying
that new strikes are being made daily.
Prospect holes on the mountain sides for
miles around are rs thick as cherries
upon tree in full fruit. Daily there
comes to town some happy individual
whose pick has struck into the precious
stuff. The streets are full of men who
are ready to buy claims and prospects,
vet there is so great risk in buying that
all are cautious and wary. Hourly,
aye, constantly, the ripple Of talk goes
from center to circumference and back
asain-talk of mines, claims, prospects,
strikes, prices paid and received. Every
one nearly is interested, or seeking to
become so, in claims. The demurc-
looking individual that looks ut YOU
over his gold spectacles, seeming calm
and unconcerncd, is anXiouSly waiting
news from his claim up Big Evans,
Little Evans or Stray Horse gulch. The
clerk who is yonder measuring Il rod of
ribbon is in his thoughts measuring the
distance from the surface to the deposit
on his claim. That man reeling in
drunkenness along the streets has just
come in from his claim. So it goes.
Everybody is interested, and hence
everybody is excited over the news to
be gathered Nor is the mining excite
ment confined to this district. Car
bonateville or Ten-milc, kokomo.
Granite, Eagle River, the Gunneson and
many other places within 4 radius of
forty miles of Lcadville come in for their
share of the excitement. Reports are
constantly coming in of rich strikes at
each of the places. But Lcadvlile is the
center. From this place 90 the pros
have prospercd This makes Leadville
the wonder, and puts it far ahead of any
camp known in the past or present. 1t
is impossible to give Il correct or definite
idea of the camp. 1t must be seen to be
known. Though thousands of letters
20 from here daily, both to the press and
individuals, and each writer strives to
tell those behind what it is and what
it is like, vet every newcomer is sur
prised, and in no instance that has come
under my observation has the camp
failed to far exceed expectations.
Take out the ringing Of the church
bells and the small percentage of the
population which attend church, and
there is no Sabbath in Leadville. The
saw-mills turn out Just rs much lumber,
the blacksmith fires are just rs hot, us
much and more money is won and lost
ut gaming, rs many goods are sold on
the Sabbath rs on week day. In truth,
in passing through the town on the Sab
bath, if the street leading by the churches
is not taken no imagination could tor
ture it into a Sabbath day. There is the
same whirr and buzz as on other days: /:
or, if there be 4 difference, it is on the in
crease, for Sunday is the day that many
miners come in from the mountains to
do their trading. In justice to the car
penters, l should mention that | have
noticed that not great many Of them
thus desecratc the Lords day; but it
does really look as if nearly all who have
come here have neglected to bring the
fourth commandment with them.
The universal inquiry is, will
this rush continue, and, if so. how
long? Shrewd men hold their bus
inesS we'll in hand, so that if the
crash should come their lamps will
be burning. One thing is beyond doubt,
and that is that the mountains are full
of carbonates, and l now do not doubt
that the richest discoveries are yet to be
made, and that the half has not yet been
dreamed Of. In addition to the silver
discoveries, gold has been found in its
very richness up to the California gulch
(the memorable gulch of the 1860 excite
ment). Capitalists have taken hold of
it, and the indications now are that dur
ing the coming summer many gold
leads will be found. AS long rs these
discoveries are made Lcadvilfe will
thrive; beyond this | will not attempt to
prophesy, for the longer | stay here the
more bewildered and puzzled am l. The
enterprise here is astonishing. New
houses are going up, rs with Il magician's
wand, in all parts of the camp. \ street
that was familiar yesterday presents a
wholly different appearance to-day. and
yet there is 4 cry for more houses, more
room, etc, etc. | succeeded in getting
m Office on Chestnut street, after wait
ing and watching two weeks. 1t was
rented before the house. was built, but
the party failed to take it, and | hap
pened to apply at the nick of time
much to the discontinue of two or three
applicants, who came hour later than
I. My room is l0Xl2, and am consid-
cred extremely fortunate in having to
pay only forty dollars per month for it.
am still in receipt of letters asking ad-
vice about coming here. can only say
what / have said before. There is IN
abundance Of mineral, and strikes are
constantly being made. One coming
here may become rich in week, and he
may fail. 1t depends upon his fortune
in striking mineral. There is absolutely
no room for clerks, bookkecpers, etc.
Men ofenergy and will, who are willing
to work in the earth, can find work to
do in hunting for mineral. though it is
proper to say that the stoutest men have
to become Injured to the climate before
they can do much labor. On account of
the raritied air, a walk of one hundred
yards eNhausts the breath, so tender
foot Ca name for new-comcrs) is lily
prepared for labor until he is accli-
mated.
"Mortalityis not so great here as l Iex-
pected to find. \ visit to one of the So
looms at midnight would justify a con-
clusion of a fearful MOI tality. Hundreds
sleep on the wet, cold floors, without
cover or comfort. 1t has been my Won
der that they do not die by the score. |
believe that such would be the case in Il
damper atmosphere.
Il am acquainted with Chicken Bill
most remarkable character. lie has
found more paying deposits than any
other one man, but he always sells out