The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-07
Letter from ouraz. Colorado.
OURAY, 0uRAY County, CoIaRApa, /

W nlle ny enlS0m Ste2k, bacon anu
fried onions are being scientifically pre-
pared this Christmas morning by nay man
Friday, as | call him, an old California 19er-
the idea occurred to me, sitting as ! was then
on my wood pile, with short pipe between
my teeth and cogitating mourniilly on the
many queer things II is possible 10 crowd into
a life in a wonderfully short space of time
the idea, | say, occurred to me thas possibly
brief sketch of rude frontier life. descriptive
of these parts, would not he cntirely uninter-
cstng to your civilized readers ia that far dis
tant East, to which the eyes of most of US here
involuntarily. but at times NEST flongingly.
turn, as those of the devout Musselman turn
towards Mecca. Although mv residence here
cannot yet be computed by nenths. still am
looked upon and frequently spoken of as one
of the ''oldeSt inhabitants, though possibly
that may be accounted ZEN rom the fact that
| am the sole resident zE the first structure
ever erected in this raieiag camp. and my in
dividuality, perhaps, Is merged in my domi-
Gle. Some three wears ago two men, now
wealthy residents II New York city, made
their escape frorp captivity and death. and
found refuge sslm their purSueTS, 4 rowing
band of savage Ute Indians, on this very spot.
The Uncomaahgee river runs close to the
place where they then lay concealed, and af-
forwards eSected this mansion | now inhahit.
They we've. obliged 20 subsist solely. for a long
time, o.. Ash, which they managed to catch
with their. hands out of the river. aud III going
to 2ras from the stream on their hands and
knees as they were forced to do for fear of
sheIr enemies, they accidentally discovered
tsvo silver bearing lodcS or veins, which have
siRee proved to he of enormous value. These
they called the Trout and FISHERMEN
mines. which they afterwards sold to San
Francisco Company for $3.50, 600. and they are
now being extensively worked. This incident
gave rise TO considerable excitement on this
side of the slope, and miners and mining men
from all parts. even from Australia, have since
focked hither, until AZ last we have mining
camp with resident population of about
1000. and probably as many more scattered
over the adjacent hills The camp itself Is
situated IN what was once burning crater Of
an enormous volcano. Professor HAYDEN
calls II the Great American AmphifhPatre.
The plateau embraces surface a about three
quarters Of square or round mile. aud i
about g.0Go feet above the level of the sea.
The surrounding elevations and peaks. which
formed the sides Of the crater. are three -
four thousand feet higher, and arr covered
with almost perpetual SnoyS. The iooT Of tbs
crater Is opr town site, ana there Is hut oae
means S4'eertSs OF Iagres~, and thar y through
4, l..gyw canon on he south. though on the
west there Is a siecp and dangerous mule trsal
used by some of the more yeRinresome aud
FEARLESS. We are, therefore, iu what the
French would cali a perfec; carl Z, sac. The
fame of this REGION having reached New \ osk
las, winter and several prominent Colorado
mining men vourhinr for ihe truth vt the Won
derful report. then being circulated concerto
ing The sichue,s uf the grcaf ere bodies that
had bcen discovered. . company was formed
aud Incorporated under she name %; the
Ethan Allan Consolidated Gold and Silver
Mining Company, which purchased group
81 ten mines, lyiuE cont rlouS and inisrsccting
each other within space Of about tIfty square
arrcs. and situated on Mount Snctiels. pEe fsi
the very highest pcaks 81 the Rocky Moua.
tains A. the Company vss formed CBurviy
81 any intimate friends and acquaintance, and
a. the Inducements hsid cot ~ mr iu the shape
of stocks ami bands of the Company werc avn.
ply sufficient. my bc,ng here ia the capacity u
legal advisor and defender az the corporate
interests Ut said Company. j., presume. sat
isinrsaFily accounted fDT. Though sc arriVgsl
ton late IA the SEASON Ca commence aetisc as-
erationS the snaw hcing na~ some eight sesE
in depth oa the surface 81. cur 1uincs. when SEA
spring opens and che work 81 devrlopgn.s., Is
fairly under way, expect, 4 hsi enc gsIsr ~
s,F our reasonable expectations arc vgS5i-el ~
aood the world With silver in tact, a g.run
ful viii ihc prvciegz metal then b,,sSag, 'lsat
a depreciation must cn-sr. aad ~ sassl hack
East. Who ihlnk Yourselves fsrispaic Vhea
yua hays . quarter 81 duitag . yus,f - ,>cts.
sill sudAenly hnd IT, pUFchassssst F-1aex rt,ime-
n g. allauE > nickel. We xil psiY yusl assl
weep i1F yun, has ve cal,s Aelp s.. she Uosssl
5 cryiuE s0s silver and sbug massi,sa ID sap
ply Il. That Is what ~ think iust uoa, bat &
j handy possible thss 1ut niisssof : io a. ~
fach fksag. and y zat Is 81, 30 wca's cosse
up SO beaE.insis ayxt t,Il q ne h,aps g. dor
gsiicn sabcE
include l. - essiaaaie 81 Fcylsilastfas Ug sas
camp atsses 40 ienais-s flss,ltrs I niean, tso,i
bless ~rg.A. ard shey are sersuhs. vvrry u
;hr,n. laink Is i oas huntlr,,si aad st,
wume,t y shoHt fosF thp,lsstuA men. 'Fhes
are 81 heisrs, ! can nFil yas. FAere i . 7aril
ever uigAt IA the seek somewhere IA tss
eNaiEs asd grand hall geasraily oss SrtEryizy
n lkiS, ana everything v-itb bonnet zn3 dr,'s.
"a hss get 90 aislsnd every uue ~ thsm iso@rst
rslsas. last evening. vhtlr Purchasing my
daily saaf d hEead from The lads vha kscGsths
bakery arruss tks rIvcr. she s.lsh - inc fhsi
she "did feel kinder iirsst ost. has. sssu ~.
Mister I've BIN Ia nineteen halls .Inra- hank
Z givin pi-shg, aud hasn'i had mech rgsi She
/ = a casacly dame 81 ahoet 81, has leea d.
y0rccd ihrre times, and has nos about hts
sisnslisS ofers. 80 / saplsosc sc ali sssnn have
a ss>aBinx. tboHgh that uos an unusaai event
Ilar Iuas.. decreed n divorce last Tasrsfsy u
u.nr case and married the lady the same sFrn-
iag tn anoshrr uaA and Il b. hada ssuosl
ready a. take her that wnutd0 haye sgoilfs
the wedding by any means; twsaty uthrr'
would tave iakcn his place. - yua ~ae oui
men are very gallant Hnd lasliss ~ a deriliv,l
prpmIuui. NhenevrT sln bonnet cE . piecs
~ calico i seen ia the street, they inssaatly
become the cyHesHrr ~ al ewes, and cl0;hs,
line sccns sometimes t. have wonderful pos
ers 81 attraction. Evegy og, here mus DO h,-
own domestic work or Is WON'T ls' dome - all
fOG could not hi7e . man or woman O. DO 4
turn foF Yu0 for less than $40 ial. and theH
Il would be great favor and coudeserhs,ou
CA their part
Nv cabin l. considered rafhgs -.-ei}, but s
description Of il viii give yoa a general idea
81 the balance that ~ 90 make ~ fb. town ~
nueay II Is on the west bank oi The ucCm-
pahgrc river, the quality side ~ it is called.
Il is about Is feet wide rs - fee; in depSh,
built of pine logs aud the iHtersiirsS filled With
mud and stones, though daylight COME,
! throagh in q good MANY places. Ga the
ground fioor | have a front room. which ans.
wers for my parlnr sni Office. This j. far.
nished sHp-l{4g There Is a deal table made
OF tolerably smooth loslFsiS. aud large DRY
goods box. partiiioned nj commoliously. aus.
wcrs admirably for a book ease. Then thsFs
are two chairs made If boards, lounge made
OF wicker work with mGttraS- stuffed Win
shayings, four camp stools and wonder 81
wonders. real carpet But this last Is Zoe
utterly utter II Was the former adarurion al
the town WAS fortunate enough % get It III
| third hands II belonged TO a wealthy mine
owners wife, and he having lust made his
pile, had gone TO Frisco to live and spend
1t, and | have succeeded to his carpet. He lei
me have it as u great faynr, though paid him
n small fortune for the same, and 1t might
probably bring about 500 east of the Mis-
sour, but doubt il much. In the rear Of my
I office ! have a Kitchen, not with the modern
/ improvements, by any means Friday has
promised 20 fix things up little for me To-
day, hut It's general appearance IS jttSt simpiy
drfm when ! get Ia work in there. and by thu
time I'm through IL looks ns if It had been
struck by lightning. But then it has stove,
and that together with the stove IN my parlor,
are the bite HOjrs of iny existence. Ii keeps
me busy one half the day ehoPping wood To
keep them going the other half. and it is i'm
possible 10 hire a man to go through that little
performance of manual exercise for you.
This morning, while | was using my little
Ratchet on a pine log, Rev. Mr.. F., the
I Episcopal minister, was one side ut me,
and Dr. Ashley on the other, while Charlie
R. a millionaire mine owner on the river
bank, were all expanding their chests over then
respective wood piles, 80 YOU see have plenty
of good company in my misery, hut that don
seem to help matters much. Ny bed room