Nebraska advertiser., 1881-02-10
Sally Raw. OF LeadyiIle.


Mrs. Sarah Ray arrived in Buffalo,
the other day, from Leadville, on her
way to New York, whittier she has gone
for the purpose of locating her daugh-
ter, Cora, in a school, and arranging
for the future care of little Mexican
girl whom she had in charge. Mrs
Ray has history, which, if published,
would read like a romance. She has
dug in mines, fought in wars with In
dians side by side with her husband,
secured the plains on horseback as a
scout, and became an expert in the bus
mess; helped found the city of Lead
vile, being the first white woman who
ever dared venture there. mapped out
roads, built houses, took in washing
from the Leadville miners, and is to-day
in possession of a fortune that pays her
an income of $4,000 per year.
A 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 bun
dies of luggage. She expressed her.
self as glad to grant an interview, and
pleasantly said, '.Sit down there by
Cora and | will talk with YOU" Cora
is handsome girl of about II sum-
mers, and as she assented to the propO-
sition 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 l am, for | may
want to get married again when L get
TO New York
Then she went on to say that she
came from the north of Ireland to New
York city when she was 15, and mar
ried book-keeper named Joseph Ord
way. Her husband died year later,
and she went from Leavenworth, Kan,
from thence to Denver, and finally, in
1876, to Leadvllle. In Denver she mar
ried miner named Frank Ray, but he
died soon after.
She told how, in Leadville, she braved
the dangers and storms of winters be-
fore there were buildings there to in
habit; how Cora had to be kept wrapped
up in heavy blankets to keep her from
freezing, while she pursued her task of
building a hut; how, when the place
became settled, she saw the land she
had taken up turn into fortune, etc.
She owns buildings in Leadville that
rent for $4,000 month.
Her career has been a peculiarly
eventful one, and one that would bear
a more extended notice than can be
given in single issue of daily paper.
She grew eloquent as she related her
and her eyes sparkled as
she said:
Il saw my old man sit on horse and
shoot seven Indians without stopping.
And I've done something like it myself
Young man." she added, with a quiet
twinkle in her eye, I've shot more In
dians than you've got fingers and toes.
You wouldn't think, to look at me,
would you, that I've gone out on the
mountain side, up to my waist in snow,
and staked out the streets of Leadville?
But it's gospel truth"
She said she didn't know how long
she would stay in New York. Her
property in Leadville was attended to
by agents, and she felt perfectly con-
tent to stay away just as long as she
felt disposed.
She is now about fifty years old,
weighs about one hundred and forty
pounds, and is rugged and clipper.
As she Dade the reporter good day she
that she was happy. and was
going to try to make others so during
her remaining years.