Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-02
IN CLOSE QUARTERS.
An Authors Adventure I'm the
Far West

-
Far West
Early in 1889 Chas. Collins wrote
book about then.unknown Colorado and
Pixies peak, in which he gave q glowing
picture of the whole region. This book
had q good deal to do with stimulating
emigration. After the rush to Pixies
Peak had been going on for come time,
Collins, with the late A. d. Richardson,
sent out for that place. Collins kept
distributing his books all along the line
and collecting his subscriptions at the
ranches previously canvassed, until,
after some DAYS OF travel. both began to
be aware OF the fact that a great many
of the emigrants, who had gone out
weeks before, seemed to be returning.
Their wagons no longer bore the bold
inscription, "Pike's Peak or Bust" bu:
it was transformed to this effect, Pixies
Peak Busted" The two travellers, un'
aware oil the depths OF chagrin ard sig,
nificance behind this, thought little oil
it until they had tyaversed about one
half the route-301 miles from st. Jo-
seph. Here was famous stopping
place, known as Jack MorIow's ranch, a
place where Collins and Richardson had
determined 10 put up that night. Col
Inns, who was we'll acquainted with Nor
row, got some distance ahead OF Kich.
ardson, in whose wagon, besides himself
and driver, were number OF emigrants,
also bent on trying the new country.
Collins, as 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 Tor the most violent aud bitter execra.
ton. Collins was about to toss one oil
his books 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 cut and mingie with
the crowd and find out what was the
matter. In a few minutes the driver
returned with face white as ghost,
and told Collins that the miners were OIL
fering reward OF s., 900 for the bodies OF
Collins and Richardson, dead or alive.
Having heard that they would be
along that wav, they had come to q stop
At Morrow's ranch, and secured couple
of ropes. intending to hang them.
Collins quietly slid down from his
buggy and sauntered ont to the edge OF
the crowd. Here he heard himself and
Richardson denounced in the most I'M
sparing manner. Seeing there was no
time TO loose, he instructed the driver
To take another route, while he himself
circled around the crowd until he reach
cd some tall grass, when he took to his
heels. After running for more than a
mile, he stopped. Like flash the ques-
ton crossed has mind, Where was Rict-
ardson? He turned around anu struck
across diagOnally for the old route, on
reaching which, some distance from
Morro~'s ranch, he presently met Ricn-
ardson's team moving along leisurely.
1t required but an instant for Collins to
inform him of the true state OF sfiairs,
hearing which he was not less frightened
than Collins himself. The result was
that they struck of'on new route, and
finally reached Denver without further
adventure. Denver was then settle
ment OF about LOCO inhabitants, all hv..
ing in tents. Soon alter their arrival
there the two pre- empted l2O acres CT
land each. Becoming disguised after
ward, they threw up the land again. To
this day Collins brings his fist down On
his knee and says, with an emphatic air
of comic regret: "Anl, fools that We
were, this land is now the heart OF the
town, and sold in less than ten years al
,erward for 81 COO per acre"