The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-02-25
SALLY RAY, oF LEADYILLE.
4 WAsHERwoTAS WHO Has MADE A FC
TUNE OF 4 MILLION DOLLARS

WAsHERwoMAN WHO Has MADE A FOR
TUNE OF a MILLION DOLLARS
Mrs. Sarah Ray arrived in Buffalo the
other day, from LeadviIle, on her way TO
New York, whittier she has gone for the
purpose Of locating her daughter, Cora. in
school, and arranging for the future care
of little Mexican girl whom she had in
charge. Mrs. Ray has a history, which, if
published, would read like q romance She
had dug in mines, fought in wars with In
dians side by side with her husband, secured
the plains on horseback as a scout and be-
came an expert in the business helped
found the city of Leadville, being the first
white woman who ever dared venture there.
mapped out roads, built houses. took in
washing from the Leadville miners, and is
today in possession Of a fortune that pays
her an income Of $500 year
4 reporter paid her call as she sat in a
Central palace car waiting for the train to
start. He found her occupying a seat facing
her daughter Cora, and around her was piled
numerous bundles Of luggage. She express
ed herself as glad to grant an interview. and
Dleasinsly said: ''Sit down there by Cora
and l viii talk with YOU Cora is a hand
some girl OF about Il summers. and as she
'assented to the proposition the reporter did
not deliberate, but readily took a seat by her
side
Mrs. Ray commenced By saying. with a
hearty laugh Now I'm not going to tell
you how old I am, for / may want TO Get
married again when get to New York
Then she went on to say that she came
1rnN ID I'll
when she was Is, and married a bookkeepeI
named Joseph Ordway Her husband died
year later, and she went TO Leayenworth.
Kansas, from thence to Denver, and finally
in 1876, to Leadviie. In Denver she mar
ried a miner named Frank Ray, but he died
soon after.
She told how in LeadviIe she bTaved the
danger and storms Of winters before there
were buildings to inhabit; how Cora had to
be kept wrapped up in heavy blankets to
keep her from freezing while she pursued
her task Of building q hut; how, when the
place became settled, she saw the land she
had taken up turn into a fortHnp, etc She
owns buildings in LeadvilIe that rent for 8. -
600 a month.
Her career has been q peculiarly eventful
more extended notice than can well be gwen
in single issue Of daily paper. She grew
eloquent as she related her adventures, and
her eyes sparkied as she said:
q saw my old man once sit on a horse
and shoot seven Indians without stopping.
And I've done something like It myself
Young man, she added, with a quiet twin
lIle in her eye, I've shot more Indians than
you've got fingers and toes. You wouldn't
think, to look at ne, would You, that I've
gone cut on the mountain side, UP to my
waist in snow, and stsked out the streets of
Leadviile? But it's gospel truth
She said she didn't know how long She
would stay in New York. Her property in
Leadville-w was attended TO by agents, and she
felt perfectly content to stay away Just as
long IS she felt disposed.
She is now about fifty years old, weighs
about one hundred and forty pounds, and is
rugged and clipper. As she bade the re
porter good day she remarked that she was
happy, and was going to try to make others
so during her remaining years.