Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-05-17
THE LEADvILLE FEVER.


Rough Experiences of Two Hoosier Boys.
MADISON, IND, April 24.-About
three weeks ago Messrs. William Con-
way and Bert Abberger, both young
gentlemen OF spirit and industry, babe
farewell to their friends in this city and
started for the gold-sprinkled regions
of Leadville, Col. They went to pros.
pect for situations, rather than scratch
the face of mother earth for the precious
metal. They arrived safely in Denver,
and after pausing there q few days
started for teadville. When they had
gotten half way to that fabulously pros
porous city, they met q gentleman
whose word they could rely upon, and
from him learned that it was absolute
folly to proceed further; that the place
was overrun with young men, thou
sands Of whom could not get away, and
that the place was so unhealthy that
many were dying. Our young friends
concluded to steer clear of Leadville,
and turned their steps to other fields.
They visited Pueblo, Bowlder City,
Canyon City and Webster. Their ex-
penses in these towns were so great that
they found their finances slipping their
fingers and no prospect of striking
paying "lead." Accordingly they re-
turned to Denver. Here they figured
on the cost of returning to Madison, and
found they had only about money
enough to buy provisions on the route.
A railroad man took an interest in the
boys and said he could assist them east
ward nearly 500 miles if they would get
into an empty box car and allow him to
lock them in. The boys agreed to this,
and supplying themselves with a bottle
of water and q loaf of bread. crawled
into the old car and were locked in safe
". At various stations along the
route hundreds of men in the same
condition were elected from the
train, but Madison's I" flag was still
there" though displayed conspicuous
ly. At Alkaline, $40 miles east of Den
yer, the car was opened and they hadto
trust to luck in pursuing their home
ward journey. Fortunately next day
they slipped into an empty freight car
going east, and rode to Kansas City.
Two hundred miles beyond that point
the car they were in was left over night
tout in the cold world" on the prairie.
In the gloom of the night they boys
were aroused by a frightful noise, and
on opening the door found they were
besieged Dy horde Of cayotes, yelping
and growing, while their eyes CLEANED
like lire in the moonlight. Next morn
ing locomotive hitched to that part of
the train and took it to Kansas City. At
that place Bert got sick, and Will de-
vised plan to get him TO St. Louis.
He put him on q stack of wheat sacks
on boat, and they travelled from Kan
sas City to St. Louis, 476 miles. At. st.
Louis Bert had his overcoat stolen from
under his head while resting in the de-
pot. Will gave him his own coat and
they took another freight car for North
Vernon. They perched themselves just
in the rear of the SLENDER" and after
the train got under way found it very
situation, for the sparks
and cinders from the locomotive rained
upon them. burning their hands and
iaces and filing their clothing as full of
holes as sprinkling-pot spout. They
had little basket with them contain
ing towels, handkerchiefs, combs, etc,
covered with paper. The sparks set
IRE to the paper and it was roaring in q
lew seconds. It had to be sacrificed,
and the boys tossed it overheard. AZ
Ter numerous difficulties and hardships
hey reached North Vernon yesterday,
and last evening boarded train for
Madison. The adventures of the boys
in detail would fill . volume and prove
interesting reading.-Cincinnati Com