Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-12-11
FROM COLORADO.
IRWIN, A LIVE MINING row N
Three Martinsburg ROys
Take II % RattIing" Ride
Incidents, &C.
IRWIN, Col, Nov. IS, 1880.

Eds. Independent:
AS our winter season is full upon
us and we are necessarily compelled
to suspend operations in our line, we
thought letter from this section
would probably prove of interest to
the readers of the INDEPENDENT
Having the time on our hands we
will try and give you sight of our
town, with few incidents in regard
to ourselves.
Irwin, situated in the western
portion of Colorado, in Gunnison
county, lies peacefully in one of the
gulches or basins of the Elk Noun
tains, at an elevation of 10000 feet
above the sea level. Owing to the
high altitude the air is very light
and pure. Although the mountains
are covered with snow almost the
year around, the climate is very
mild and healthy. The town Of
Irwin has population of three or
four thousand inhabitants. 1t was
laid out one year ago by Richard
Irwin, who, with party of miners,
made their way to this point, despite
the snow and Indians. Here they
discovered some Of the richest silver
mines in the country, some of them
assaying as high as 1000 ounces OF
pure native ruby and wire silver to
the ton. The report of large strikes
here brought to this camp last spring
large crowds of every class of people,
among whom were the writer and his
two companions from the "burg."
We arrived here in the latter part Of
May, but when we had gotten with
in five miles of the town we had to
abandon our wagon and foot the
rest of the way over the snow, which
was eight and ten feet deep. With
our blankets on our backs we started
out and reached Irwin on the 23d
day of May, 1880. The town at that
time was composed of a post-ofiice,
blacksmithshop and six small cabins.
AT present there are no less than
seventy-tive or eighty business
houses, six saw-mills, which furnish
the town with native spruce lumber,
one sampling mill and quartz-mill
nearly finished. So you can see the
town has increased very rapidly in a
few months.
The scenery is grand; surrounded
by high mountains on all sides, some
of them rising at least 1000 feet
above the timber line, and all COW
cred to the depth of four feet with
snow, makes a beautiful picture.
Looking to the north and west we
behold the Castle Rocks and peaks
of the Indian Reservation, the divid-
ing line of which is only O half-mile
distant. 1t is one of the most beau
tiful views the eye ever beheld.
The Indian excitement of a month
ago is dying away somewhat, the
scene of hostilities being about sixty
miles from this place.
Right here | will relate little adj
venture we had a few days ago.
Not having much of a business ma
ture to occupy our time at present,
owing to the depth of the snow, Dave
Shaw, Dave Fitz and myself con-
cluded to 60 over into the reserve on
a bear hunt. So getting blankets
and provisions ready for a two-days
trip, and putting on our snow-shoes,
all being ready, we started. For the
information of any OF your readers
who may not know the character of
snow-shoes, will just explain. They
are made Of strips of board from
twelve to fourteen feet long, five
inches wide and three-quarters of
an inch thick. We had a very lively
time OF it on coming to large hill
or mountain in trying who would
reach the bottom first. Once we
timed ourselves on hill that was
two miles down, and it took us just
one minute and fifty seconds to reach
the base. About equal to the speed
attained by some OF your fast Trains
on the b. and o. railroad. After
travelling about twenty miles, we
came across the game we were after.
Our first impulse was to turn and
go the other way, but seeing that
bruin showed no fight and was try
ing to get away, we opened fire and
brought him to the ground. But
now we had killed him we were in
quandary as to how we would get
him home. A sled was suggested,
and we rugged up one and proceeded
on our way home. Coming to hill
some five miles in length, and it be-