The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-10-28
OUI Colorado letter.
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence,
LEADv1LUE, Col, Oct. 81, 1882.
The people who arrived in Leadyille
during the excitement of the early dis
coveries were of very miscellaneous
character. From the San Juan country
in southwestern Colorado, from the Black
Hills, from Utah, Nevada aud California
came the veteran prospectors whose fa-
miliar faces have been seen in every min
ing camp west of the Missouri river.
They are the same rough, reckless, good
hearted men, so admirable described by
Bret Hatte, as READY to fight over game
of cards or share their last dollar with a
friend in distress as they were in the early
day in California or few years Later in
Nevada. They never feel at home in
civilized community, and the restraints
OF law vigorously enforced are uncom-
Portable to them. These men, who have
given to western mining life SO much of
its charm Shen seen from distance by
the aid of some of our most delightful
sketch-wfiterS, but who are looked upon as
little better than wild beasts by sober 60
ing, respectable people from the East
when Brought into contact with them,
threatened at one time to get the upper
hand of Leadville, as they did when the
discovery of tbs Coflstock Lode brought
them by hundreds and thousands into
Virginia City. But the carbonate camp
was too nc5essiblei the fameSs,ot its rich
deposits spread too rapidly in the East
and attracted hither too many, who we're
accustomed to live in well-ordered COM
munities and to respect and obey,the
laws, to allow auy.clnss of rough, devil
may-care miners and Adventures to rule
the new settlement. One or two threat
enihg demonstrations were promptly and
vigorously checked by the local authori-
ties sustained by a strong pu%lic senti-
ment. and so general g5od order has been
preserved, the laws have been we'll exc
cuted, very few men have "died in their
boots" and vigilance committees have
been unnecessary.
In spite of the restraints by which they
have been surrounded, the nomadic adj
ventureIs cf the mines have, left their
stamp upon Leaiville aid SOME Of its in
stitutions. The whiskey shop, gambling
house, dance hall and variety theatre, in
whicbithe same men or their prototypes
sought refri shment and amusement in
other camps, were transplnnted here and
for few months did fourlshing bust.
ness. Times are dull with them now, fol
no small number of their patrons have
found the.turroundings of Leadville un
congenial and have gone in search of new
excitement. The drinking saloons o
Leadville, of which there are more than
one hundred, are of every grade, from
the gayly painted and brilliantly lighte,
bar rooms, with their wonderful piles o
crystal goblets and long rows OF cut-glas
deeantefs, to the low gIug-shop III d lo.
cabin, with its pine counter, earth fuv
anl three Or four black bottles l pre
sumo that there is no place in the UAite,
States where the number of saloons an,
bar-rooms is greater ~ toportion to tn
population, or,Where, on account of th,
climate intemperate habits are more ire
quently ati. General good order i
mriatlil Ell in and about they whsle,
shops, and fights are not moro frequen
than tL,y are in E.stIu citits
That distance l,iiis enchantmtnt" i
daily proven iu this mining country
Men get uneasy, and not content Will
what they iind close at hand, they hea
of scme camp fGr away in iLe mountains
where wonderful discoveries are beinj
made; fabulous stories are told; aud l.,
matter how well they may be doing. ih-,
sell ont and rush for the new field l.
more than nine cases out Of ten they fiji,
themselves sold, the new cau.p hum
bug, the stories told OF it all mauumo
tur,d, and are glad 10 get back TO th,i
old quarters Hundreds are low return
ing TO Leadyille, that have been seeking
richer fields IN New Ngxlcoi Arizona. Da
kotG, Idaho, San Juan and Gduuison
bu. have failed to find them. The chnru
that attracted them lost its power nul
proved tie truth Of that other saying
nbout "a fool aud his money" II is thi
wild fevrfish seeking after tie big chanc,
with all lis attendant excitemeuts, tha
tnins so mary Of those who enter the uu
cert in field of rospecIing.
II is impossible TO say very much il
favor OF the climate Of Ltadgllle. Al
elevation OF five thousand or six lhvus
aud feet seems to have lIaciug, iuvis
Grating effect upon people who have live,
near tie sea level, bat at ten thousau,
feet most people fiud the air too rare I,
live in with comfort. Those who are un
aeclmated suffer from headache, bleeu
ing At the nose, wdbeiUlness, shortless q
breath and exhaustion after very little yx
ertion. Cursumptivsa aud those sun, 1
, ing ireIn bronchial or heart disease IN
= sure to have .Aeis symptoms aggr~Y-.e