Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-11
came the terrible raid of the Arapahoes

came the terrible raid OF the Arapahoes
upon the mining camps. At this time
the traces Of the rich deposits were
still being found, and men dared all for
the golden reward held before them.
Out Of seven men who lay scalped and
mangled in the cabins of Miners De-
light at one time, three had died upon
the trail Of the sparkling blue
quartz. That same blue quartz
was what united the miners and or
eanized the force that took the track Of
the savage foe, and on Papoagie creek
inflicted on him defeat that long
abided in the memory Of the Arapahoes,
treacherous though it is. In the fight
fell Black Bear, one Of the principal
chiefs Of the tribe, and with him many
Of the brayest warriors. The chieftain's
squaw and son were captured, watching
over his dead body. The miners had
no quarrel with women, and the devo-
ton Of the red wife exciting their admi-
ration, they placed her on one of the
best of the captured horses, and bid
her and the chieftain's heir seek
their tribe. Four hundred miners
were in arms on this occasion,
and they were led by stutter-
ing Colonel Bill Smith, a gallant
frontiersman, who now, clad in his blue
shirt, has found grave among the rich
hills he was so eager to defend. Among
those who met their death on this occa-
sion while following the fatal blue
quartz was young James Irwin. He
fell pierced with almost countless ar
rows, and when found was still alive.
lie spent his last breath telling Of one Of
his companions whom he had seen the
Indian in pursuit of. Search was made.
and the body found more full, if possl-
bic, Of arrows than that Of the gallant
fellow whose last breath had procured
it Christian burial.
Amid such scenes Of blood the grasp
Of the unseen hand was at its strong
est-eyen followed willingly its beck
oning fingers and counted danger as
naught. And now. when the rifle and
revolver have forever left the plck-axe
and spade, the latter bids fair to un-
earth the hand so long hidden and fJrce
it to loosen its clasp upon the treasures
it has so long guarded.
The French company that are making
such extensive preparations for the de-
velopment oc the placer mines Of the
Atlantic and Miners Delight districts,
in this county, have finished their main
ditch. They have broken ground on
one that will bring water distance Of
four miles from mountain lake to re-
inforce the natural stream out Of
which their main ditch is taken.
A survey has been made for an
other ditch, to be put through next
spring, fully as large as the one now
finished. This will also receive its
water-supply in part from the noun
tain ditch Just mentioned. \ ditch
thirty miles in length Is in contempla-
ton by this company in the next year.
1t will scale the hitherto inaccessible
heights Of the Upper strawberry Pa
Gers. and open a most valuable region.
The placer mines, on the Sgeetwater,
will also probably be looked after next
year by this company, their extensive
hydraulic machinery giving them ad-
yantages not hitherto possessed by
miners Of this section, in which the un-
comfortable How of water has been the
chief drawback. The company will
likely do some little work this fall at
washing.