New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-07
COLORADUS NEW WEALTH.
cu,p,crreIsTrCs OF LFADvILLE.

CHARACTERISTICS OF btADNll'hb
THE REIGN OF THE ADVENTURES oYER-sALooNS'
GAMBIING-HOUsEs. DANCE-HAILs AND VANITY
rne,rRrs-Goop ORDER PRESERVED And PROP
FRTY sAFE-GREAr REyERsEs IN FORTUNE
trpov STAFF CORRESPONDENT or TUE TRlBuNEl
LrADynIE. Col, June 9.-Ihe people VINO NJ
rived in Leadyillc during the excitement OF the
Winter and early Spring were of very miscellane-
ous character From the san Juan country In South
western Colorado from the Black Hills, from Utah.
Nevada and California came the veteran prospec-
tors whose familiar faces havo been seen i'll every
new mining camp west Of the Missouri River. They
arc the same rough, reckless, goOd-heGrted men 50
admirably described by Bret Harte, as ready to
fight over a game of cards share their last dollar
with friend in distress as they were IN the early
days in California or few years later in Nevada
They never feel at home in n civilized community,
and the restraints of law vigorously enforced are
uncomfortable to them. These men, who have given
to Western mining life SO much Of its charm when
seen from distance by the aid OF some OF our most
delightful sketch-wTers, but who are looked upon
as little better than Wild beasts by sober-gOng re-
spectacle people from the East when brought INTO
contact with them, threatened at one time to get
the Upper hand of Leadyille, as they did when the
discovery of the Comstocls Lode brought them by
hundreds and thousands into Virginia City. But
its rich deposits spread rapidly IN the East and
attracted hther too many who were accustomed 10
live in wel-ordcred communities and to respect and
obey the laws. to allow any class of rough, devil
msy-care miners and adventures to rule the new
settlement One or two threatening demonstrations
were promptly and vigorously checked by the local
authorities sustained 10y strong pubic sentiment,
and so general good order has been preserved, the
laws have been we'll executed, very few men have
died in their boots" and vigilance committees
have been unnecessary.
In spie of the restraints by which they have been
surrounded the nomadic Adventures oil the mines
have left their stamp upon Leadyille and some OF
IFS institutions. The saloon whlskey-shoP,
pambliag-horse dance-hall aud variety theatre, IN
which the same men their prototypes sOnght re-
freshmen and amusement in other camps, were
tr,nSplauted here and for a few months did a
houTishng business. Times are dull with them
now, for no small number of Their patrons have
found the surroundings Of Lcadviile uncongeniaI
and have gone in search of new excitement beyond
the great range in the Gnnnison country and IN
the prospect camps that are sprnging mp in every
direction from Leadyille. BY next Winter they
will find this place of city and less OF camp
than II now is, aud therefore less attractive.
The drinking saloons of Leadyllle, of which there
are between ninety and u hundred, are OF every
grade from the gayly painted and brilliantly lighted
bar-rOoms with their wonderful piles OF crystal COB
lets and long rows of cugass dccanters, to the low
grog-shop in a log cabin, with it's pine counter,
eartn floor and three or four black bottles. pre-
sumo that there is place In the United
States where the number of saloons and bar-rOoms
Is greater in proportion to the population, or where
Oh account of the climate, Incorporate habits are
more frequently fatal. General good order Is
maintained in and about the whiskey-shops. and
fights are not more frequent than they are in East
eTn cities.
The rambling-houses are q feature Of Leadyille,
as they are of every other mining camp. Although
there are State laws and city ordinances Iorbiddng
gambling, no effort is made to enforce either. The
doors of these places stand wide open day and
night, and everything is done to attract the notice
of passers-by just as if the business was
legitimate one, protected by law There is no pre-
tence of elegance in any of the gambling-houses
which have visited III Leadviile. there is in
those Of Eastern watering-places and in large
cities The inside of most of them is destitute of
paint or plaster. The tables are plain pine ones and
are surrounded by wooden chairs. The floors are
covered with tobaccO- uice aud mud, and the pat
rons arc mostly roughly clad miners. who play a
small or a large game rs money is plenty or scarce
with Them In prominent place IN each saloon
there is a bar winch Is always well pdtronZcd; in
the larger places there are two bars. One-half or
one-third OF each gambng-house Is separated from
the remainder by "a low railing and is set apart for
keno Around the sides of the remainder are tables
upon which are played faro, high ball poker rouge
Of poir hazard etc. In the of each place pr-
vate room Is partitoncd of for tho accommodation
of persous who wish to " fight the tiger i'm phi
yatc In the public room the play Is generally for
comparatively small SUNS chips are sold Tor from
- a.it. ,sfrl Ina i.4ts sTglV
I'm The daytime the gambling saloons Of LcadyI!lc
are almost deserted, but AT night and on Sundays
they are constantly thronged.
similar in character to the gambling saloons are
the variety theatres of Leadylle and they are pat
Tonizcd by the same class 81 men. considerable
norton of the theatre building in each Is
MED bv pamin g-tabes and through this room the
entrance to the theatre itself. The interior OF the
auditorium is destitute of OTnamentation and the
performance which begins ut o'clock IN the even
ing and ends or O'Clock in the morning, drcary
to the last degree. line chief attraction seems Ia b.
the society of the dancing-gris who have access 10
the boxes, of which there are great number, ana
sDeud most of the evening In them. sunday Is the
great holiday of the week, when the miners from
distant camps flock into town to make their weekly
purchases. No kind Of business rs suspended except
that of mining. Stores of every kind are open all
day aud trade is very brisk The theatres have day
| performances, and some extra amusement Is pro-
yided for tho entertainment OF the people. Last
Sunday it was fight between cinnamon bear and
Arkansas dogs and the amphitheatre where II took
Mace was crowded 10 overlooking. In contrast
With the general disregard of the Sabbath the
services of the three or four churches that have
been already established and whose influence will
certainly grow until marked change has taken
| place in The customs of the city.
| While the pioneers of the mining camp have left
their impress upon the character of Leadyilie the
! refined educated, law-abiding people VINO have
| come here from the East have Kept control OF
things, and made the city remarkable Tor the good
order that is maintained and the general safety Of
life and property OF those whose first experience
| in mining camp has been obtained In Leadyllle
larger proportion are men of education or former
wealth than ever assembled at any other mining
centre In the early days of ITS history OF the young
and most entcrprIsIng men who are III business,
holding positions about the mines or prospecting
- a fey fresh Dl