Richland beacon., 1880-09-25
IN CLOSE QUARTERS.


Early in 1850 Chas. Collins wrote book
ahCu; the thcn-unknown Colorado and
Pixies peak, in which he gave 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
trlijuting his books all along the line
and collecting his subscriptions at the
ranches previously canvassed, uE--,
after some days of travel, both began to
be aware of the fact that great IN nv
Of the cmigrants, who had gone ut
weeks before, seemed to be return. .ng.
Their wagons no longer bore the ,old
inscription, "Pike's 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-3U0 miles from st. Jo-
seph. Here was famous stopping
place. known as Jack Morrow's ranch, q
place where Collins and Richardson had
determined to put up that night. Col.
lins, who was we'll acquainted with Nor
low. got some distance ahead of Rich.
arlson, in whose wagon, besides him
self and driver, were q number of emf
grants, also bent on trying the new
country.
Collins, rs he drove up to Morrows
ranch, was considerably surprised at
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-
tion. Collins WAS about to toss one Of
his hooks to Morrow, who came forward
hastily when he saw him, and, getting
up close to him, he said, in voice
husky with suppressed excitement:
collins, git !"
"What do you mean?" 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
babe his driver get out and mingle with
the crowd and find out what was the
matter. In q few minutes the driver re-
turned with face white as ghost, and
told Collins that the miners were offer
ing a reward of $4,000 for the bodies of
Collins and Richardson, dead or alive.
Having heard that they would he
along that way. they had come to 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
the crowd. Here he heard himself and
Richardson denounced in the most un-
sparng manner. Seeing there was no
time to lose, he instructed the driver to
take another route, while he himself
circled around the crowd until he
reached some tall grass, when he took
to his heels. After running for more
than mile, he stopped. Like flash
the question crossed his mind, Where
was Richardson? He turned around
and struck across diagonally for the ole
route, on reaching which, some distance
from Morrows ranch, he presently me-
Richardson's team moving along leis
urely. 1t required but an instant fol
Collins to inform him of the true state
of affairs, hearing which he was not les.
frightened than Collins himself. The
result was that they struck off on a new
route, and finally reached Denver with
out further adventure. Denver wa.
then settlement of about 1000 inhab
itants, all living in tents. Soon afte
their arrival there the two pre-emptet
120 acres of land each. Becoming dis
gusted aftsrward, they threw up tin
land again. To this day Collins bring
his fist down on his knee and says, will
an emphatic air of comic regret And
fools that we were, this land is now tn
heart Of the town, and sold in less thai
ten years afterward for 81 900 per acre.
KEELY, the motor man, of Philade