The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-09-17
IN CLOSE QUARTERS.

A. Awthor's adventure IN the Far Vest
Early in 1859 Chas. Collins wrote book
about the then-unknown Colorado and
Pixies peak, in which he gave a glowing
picture of the whole region. This book
had good deal to do with stimulating
emigration. After the rush to Pixies
peak had been going on for some time,
Collins, with the late A. d. Richardson,
set out for that place. Collins kept dis
tributing his books all along the line
and collecting his subscriptions at the
ranches previously canvassed, uEn,
after some days of travel, both began TO
he aware of the fact that great m ny
Of the emigrants, who had gone nit
weeks before, seemed to he returning.
Their wagons no longer bore the sold
inscription, pixies Peak or Bust, but
it was transformed to this effect, pixies
Peak Busted The two travellers,
unaware of the depths Of chagrin and
significance behind this, thought little
Of it until they had traversed about one
half the route 800 miles from So. Jo-
seph. Here was famous stopping
place, known rs Jack Morrow's ranch,
place where Collins and Richardson had
determined to put up that night Col.
Inns, who was well acquainted with Nor
Tow, got some distance ahead Of Rich
ardson, in whose wagon, besides him
self and driver, we're number of emil
grants, also bent on trying the new
country.
Collins, as he drove up TO Morrow's
ranch, was considerably surprised al
the sight. The place was everywhere
swarming with miners and emigrants,
all excited and savage about something
or another. There was loud talking
everywhere, and loud threats against
somebody, who in every breath came in
for the most violent and bitter execra-
ton. Collins was about to toss one Of
his books to Morrow, who came forward
hastily when he saw him, and, getting
up close to him, he said, in n voice
husky with suppressed excitement
collins, git
"What do you meanP" said Collins,
excited.
"Git out o here quick, said the ex-
cited ranchman, as he waved his hands
and disappeared.
Collins, now thoroughly aroused,
thrust his book back under his seat and
bade his driver get out and mingle with
the crowd and find out what was the
matter. In a few minutes the driver re-
turned with face white as a ghost, and
told Collins that the miners were offer
ing reward of 50, 900 for the bodies Of
Collins and Richardson, dead or alive.
Having heard that they would be
along that way, they had come to a stop
at Morrow's ranch, and secured a
couple of ropes, intending TO hang them.
Collins quietly slid down from his
buggy and sauntered out to the edge Of
Z buo CIOWus hcIS no hehIu iluubcu huu
Richardson denounced in the most un.
spar1ng manner. Seeing there was nc
time to lose, he instructed the driver tc
take another route, while he himself
circled around the crowd until ht
reached some tall grass, when he tool
to his heels. After running for mor'
than mile, he stopped. Like hasl
the question crossed his mind, Wher,
was Richardson He turned around
and struck across diagonally for the olt
route, on reaching which, some distance
from Morrow's ranch, he presently me
Richardson's team moving along leis
urely. It required but an instant 70
Collins to inform him Of the true stat
Of affairs, hearing which he was not les
frightened than Collins himself. Tn
result was that they struck off on nev
route, and finally reached Denver with
out further adventure. Denver wa
then settlement of about 1000 inhah
itants, all living in tents. Soon afte
their arrival there the two pre-empte
100 acres Of land each. Becoming dis
gusted afterward, they threw up tn
land again. To this day Collins bring
his fist down on his knee and says, wit
an emphatic air of comic regret An(
fools that we were, this land is now III
heart Of the town, and sold in less tina
ten years afterward for 81 900 per acre,
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