The Portland daily press., 1881-02-02
Sally Ray, of Leadville.
A Washerwonan Who Has Made For
tune of a Million Dollars.

Mrs. Sarah Ray arrived in Buffalo, the other
day, from Leadville, on her way to New York,
whittier she had gone for the purpose of locat-
ing her daughter, Cora, in a school, and AZ
ranging 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 Indians side by side with her bus
band, secured the plains on horseback as
scout, and became 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 tc-
day in possession of fortune that pays her an
income of $4,000 a year.
A reporter paid her a call as she sat in a
Central palace car waiting for the train to
start. He found her occupying seat facing
her daughter Cora, and around her was piled
numerous bundles of luggage. She expressed
herself 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 seventeen 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, Pm not going to tell
you how old | am, for l may want to ge, mar
ried again when 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 fifteen, and married book kaeper
named Jose oh Ordway Her husband died
year later, and she went to Lsavenworth,
Kansas, from thence to Denver, and finally in
1876 to Leadville. In Denver she married
miner named Frank Ray, but he died soon
after.
She told how in Leadvile she braved the
dangers and storms of winters before there
were buildings there 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 a hut; how, when the place
became settled, she saw the land she had taken
up turn into fortune, etc. She owns build
ings in Leadville that rent for $1,000 month
Her career has been peculiarly eventful
and exciting one, and one that would bear
more extended notice than can we'll be given
in single issue of daily paper. She grew
eloquent as she related her adventures, and
her eyes sparkled as she said:
81 saw my old man once sit ON a horse and
shoot seven Indians without stopping. And
I've done something like it myself. Young
mai" she added, with quiet twinkle in her
eye, I've shot more Indians 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 content to stay away Just as long
as she felt disposed.
She is now about fifty years old, weighs
about l40 pounds, and is rugged and clipper
AS she bade the reporter good day she re-
marked that she was happy, and was going to
try and make others so during her remaining
wears,