Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-01
Gales ano Sketfbes.
THE ANGEL or EVANS GuLrH.
By RALPH BAYARD.

carbonate discoveries at Leadyille, Col,
obtained circulation. So rose-colored
were these reports, that the outside world
discredifed them for time, iDclining 10
the belief that the three lines Of Pacific
Railways and few land spectators were
responsible for the hue and cry. But as
the days passed by, persons came down
from the new mining region with tangible
evidence of its richness. and the Leadville
excitement grew in public favor az rapidly
as did the Black Hills excitement in 1879
Prospectors who had washed their first
pans of '.pay dirt in the American River
Valley in 1919. and grown gray and cyni-
cal, building slnice-boxe- and ''old toms''
in every mining camp Of note in California,
Oregon. Nevada. Idaho Montana. Dakota.
Colorado and ArizpDa. since that period.
caught the Leadville fever and fastened
to the new Mecca. Especially severe
<were the ravaoes Of this lever in the small
lead mining towns OF southwestern Mis-
souri,, and many were comparatively de-
populated.
When the sensational runors Of Colora-
do caroonates reached Joplin. Mo. the
first man to give them credence was an
expert miner Paul johnson by name.
Nine years before he had crossed the plains
TO the Sweetwater gold fields. Wyoming
Territory, found little or no gold. and
barely escaped being scalped by the Sioux
Indians but at the time of which write
he felt the old desire TO prospect return in
fall force, forgot the hardships and priya-
tons II would entail, and conjured up
bright visions of the treasures 10 be re-
vealed bv his pick and shovel in the third
range of the Rocky Mountains. His family
was small, comprising only himself and
daughter Jennie, bnxom little miss Of 10
summers. who busted herself in keeping
their small cottage neat and homelke and
teaching the summer school in neigh Dor
ing district three months out of the II.
Frankly. father, do not like the idea
of going to Colorado" said Jennie when
the subject was preached. We are do
ing quite nicely here. and then--and then
John and are 10 be married Christmas
sure. you know"
Nonsense. my child" replied the
sturdy old minor. noting his daughters
bushes; 1--WE will always remain poor in
this humdrum place. and as to John Pur-
dy, he can accompany US. and You can
wed him Christmas. New Years. or any
day there may be enough good dollars in
our common purse to pay the preacher
While JEANNE was averse TO the propo-
sition of her father concerning the Colo
RADIO venture, she bluShed sweetly at the
marriage proviso, and readily consented
to Withdraw all opposition in case John
would accompany them. Paul johnson
and John Prudv worked side by side in
the Harris mine. and that afternoon. when
the former proposed that they emgrate to
the new silver fields, the latter willingly
asscnted. His earnings We're scant Sl2 y
was quite out OF the question. lie was 26
years old, strong, weather-bronZed and
handsome. and con jsciured that he could
succeed in the Carbonate Camp with love
as the chief incentive. So it was speedily
arranged that Paul johnson and the lovers
should remove to Leadville. A fortnight
later the trio bid an everlasting goodbye
TO the Missouri lead mines. They reached
Denver by rail. at least six weeks too
early in the season. for the spring sun had
only begun to melt the snow in the noun
tain canyons and gulches. and travel
through these natural highways was re-
plete with difficulties and dangers. Be
ing anxious To push forward. however. a
party at adventurous persons was formed.
and the South Park toll road taken up
Storms--hrst of rain. then sleet and snow,
prevailed from the outset but the silver
seekers were firm in their purpose. and
after seven trying days of travel Leadville
was arrived ut. Its population did not
exceed 10000. it being simply co.,
lection Of cabins and canvas tents. which
gave shelter 10 sprinkling of all ma
tona!ites of the earth, excepting the
Chinese. Two elements of society pre-
dominaied-ihe honest and dishonest-apd
no go-between classes were recognized.
A man either toiled with pick in the car
Donate belts, kept general store aud
boarding house. or was a saloon keeper
and gambler. There was an absence of
law and order. and blood was she'd with
that universal recklessness which has
characterized all frontier settlements and
mining camps
The journey from Joplin had about de-
pleted the treasury of tho johnson party.
and It was necessary that the two men
should first seek employment in the mines
and earn the means essential to the stalk
ing of claim and its development. A
cabin of unhewed logs was erected ut the
foot Of Oak street. Jennie installed ~ its
mistress. and Paul and John found work
at the Myers smelter. Every SUNDAY
Paul and John made prospecting trips out
from camp. and one day in July they
Treasury Hill. At that point an outcrop.
ping Of the precious mineral was found,
and in such quantities rs to give promise
Of a rich bed underneath. \ cabin WAS
built u stones throw from the new discov-
cry. the old one IN Oak street finding
ready sale. and before the first week in
August the little party was in new quar-
tiers.
A spot more bleak. barren and forbid
ding than the head of Evans Culch can
not be found in all Colorado. II is lust
at timber line, above which vegetation
ceases to grow, and the few dwarfed and
stunted pines are sere and yellow through
out the year. Three sides of the basin are
hemmed in by the overhanging walls of
gray granite, and the fourth is bsthed bv
the Gun no, to exceed five hours day
when the days are longest in the summer
months. TWAS in this basin that the new
cabin was erected. and more desoste
site for n home IL would be difficult to
conceive. Jennie was adverse to inhabit- |
ing it. but the two prnspectors were
weslth.mad. and would hare To-
Gated on the edge of volcano