River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-03-13
THE TERRIBLE ESPTNOSAS.
a Memory Of Early Days In Colorado
The Mysterious Murders which Caused
Reign Of Terror In The Mining Camps
a Years Ago.

81 Years Ago.
From the New York Times.
Red Rock Ridge, Col, Feb. 17.-As
sat. last night, in miners cabin,
about half mile below here, in the
gulch-the c.-Jin of a miner who has
trudged and climbed and prospected
these ancient hills for more than 20
years, and, like many others, has fairly
less of this worlds goods than he began
with-the conversation, quite natural
", drifted to the events of "old times"
In the mountains. Ny friend has vast
fund of entertaining incidents relating
to his section, and so, after the usual
pipe-flling and cheering cup, he in
quired if had ever heard of the Espin-
osas. Being comparative tenderfoot,
tthat is, a new conner, and quite unfa
miliar with the stirring occurrences for
which Colorado was in its earlier wears
noted, had to confess my utter igno-
rance of the subject he had preached.
As it proved to be an interesting and
tragic tale, VIII attempt to reproduce
it here; but cannot hope to give it in
the uncouth yet forcible words of the
bronzed old man who related it.
in 1868 the settlement of Colorado
was but years old. The gold excite
ment had brought into the territory,
however, large, hardy, and peculiar
population. Denver (Auraria as it was
originally called from the discovery OF
aItriferous deposits in that neighbor-
hood was but small cluster of shant1es
and tents set up for temporary occupan-
ey. Aside from this there were few
towns. save In Southern Colorado,
where the Mexican element mad drifted
and established insignificant settlements
which could boast of little besides a
name Fresh discoveries OF gold were
being made, however and Russell
Gulch was fast developing what sabse
quently became an important mining
centre at Central, Black Hawk,
and adjacent points. 4 few hardy
pioneers had pushed out be
yond and settled Breckenridge
fairplay, Orc CITY. while down by the
AOOL-Hlll1s AthE cEitl&tttty w tllt idnAlltootS
above, were Colorado City, once the
capital. before it was removed to Col
den; Canon City. Badito, and other
mere specks upon the then almost IN
broken region These were all, at best,
mere landfuls of people, hut all were
earnest, determined, hopeful men. The
search for gold had led them ont from
the Overcrowded east, and they came to
found a future great state.
There was much excitement here
then. both from local and outside causes. +
Rebellion IN the southern states, and
the development of that spirit here had
caused feeling of great unrest and
trouble lurked everywhere. Coufeder
ate plans for acquiring this territory
were fortunately checked by the vigi-
liant Gilpin at Pigeon Ranch. Indians
threatened the borders likewise. and
their depredations finally led to Chiv
ington's awful punishment of this enemy
at Sand Greek. DespeFadoes scourged
the mining camps and larger
towns until vigilance com
mittees took hold and admins
istered the justice that the law could
not. During these troublous days in
1863 an unknown danger came. So
mysteriously did it work that for the
time it fairly paralyzed the mountain
communities. In March nine men had
been found dead along the trails near
Canon CITY. Each man had n bullet in
his head. So nearly similar We're the
death wounds that these mysterious Is
sassinations naturally gave rise to much
speculation And this was increased
when II vas learned that three weeks
before two men had beea similarly
killed in Santa Fc, and also soldier III
Coneios. Thus as far a. could he dis
covered bloody trail had its origin in
the City of the Saints. in New Mexico, F
and reached now as far as Canon City. I
The news of the terrible crimes, OF
course. spread rapidly, but it could
scarcely keep up with their commission.
Along the mountain roads dead bodies
were found, each with the fatal bullet
in his skull. No victim attacked ever
told the tale The rifle that sighted
him carried certain death with its
missile. Miners trudging their
weary way up the noun
tain trails, Transfers with horses and
vehicles, met their fate alike One
singular fact appeared to be this, that
all were killed in the wagon roads or on
the trails; none were ever found of the
beaten paths. OF course, the people
became appalled,. and hardly dared to
venture beyond the reach of immediate
mid. No one could tell from what con
cealment the messenger of death-that
had never missed the mark might IN its
turn reach him. Dread despair pre-
vailed: the fear of an unknown foe pre-
vaded the hearts of those pioneers who
dared face any danger openly. In fact
a reign of terror prevailed. The assas-
sinations became more frequent. Men
would leave their cabins, camps. or the /
mountain cities for remote sections on I
" to be found. perhaps, few days la
ter 10y more fortunate travellers dead, and /
in their skulls the small hole through
which their lives went out.
Finally, a company Of 20 volunteers
was raised in Park County. Their lead
er was man of great bravery, and every
man in the party was ready to lay down
his life to solve the mystery. The first
work this company did was to punish
band of notorious thieves that had been
engaged robhing miners cabins and
fumes. and who were well known. But
this did not stop the dread work OF mys-
FERROUS murders. At Red Rock Ridge
right here, by the way. where | write
this letter-and all along the trail, muir
dered men were found singly and in
pairs And always the same wound. the
same sized bullet. the same trained
hand, evidently. had fired the fatal shot.
A few DAYS later the band of volun-
teers. in securing the neighborhood,
found trail in the lower part Of the
South Park that led toward Canon City
1t was early in the forenoon when the
trail was struck They at once took
IL mp. aud after having tray
eled some distance in the
mountains came about noon upon two
horses feeding This was to them a
strange discovery. a this was not a re
giou where prospecting was then carried
ON Ii was the ork of moment to
conceal themsely Shortly after two
men appeared. They had evidently
made their camp here for the day, for
lust beyond the horses a small fire was
burning, and beyond doubt they were
partaking OF their meal Willy as these
men were they had been taken unawares.
The scouting party had drawn upon
them before they were aware of their
,,vaScnCa Certain that these were the