The Washington critic., 1888-01-14
MEsTERN JouRNAnlsNf.
Arrival ofthe First Stage Coach Twenty
nine Years Aao

Arrival ofthe First Stage Coach Twenty
nine Years Ago.
When the Denver News was first
ifsued in 1859 the nearest United
States rostofIice was at Fort Laramie.
900 miles north Of Denver The
mails arrived there but once or
twice month. There was no tele-
graph line nearer than the Missouri
River, and to receive information
from "the States" was next to an inn
possibility. About the lst of May
messenger was induced to make the
trip to Fort Laramie, who, after hard
ships and sufferings, returned with
mule load of letters and papers.
Thus the Neics obtained its first 'ex-
changes" Cut off entirely, as il were,
from the outside world, the weekly
Ncus was compelled to rely upon
the events about it for material
with which to fill its columns. OF
this there was abundance. The daily
happenings in the new communities
were numerous and exciting, and
often tragic; the frequent return of
prospecting parties to Denver, bring
ing news of fresh and wonderful dis
coveries; the products of the mines
already worked the arrival of trains
from the East, the continued depar-
ture of disgusted parties, who had ex-
pected to scoop up gold by the shovel
full-these and many similar occur
rences furnished material for a local
paper and made it live and readable
a 1Af Of
new mines, and its vigorous and pains
taking vindication of their richness,
as demonstrated by the returns of
actual workings, were appreciated by
the pioneer community; but it also
aroused the most savage criticism
among those who had returned, and
whose reports that the new dis
coveries were humbug found Gre
dence with Western border-State
editors. The Neios and its statements
were denounced in the most emphatic
and offensive manner in the columns
of many Eastern journals. Time, in
deed, was only required for its vindi-
cation.
1t was during the last days of May,
1859, that the first overland coach of
the "Pike's Peak Express" arrived in
Denver, bringing passengers and
mails. Its advent was hailed with the
widest enthusiasm, and in few
| weeks the line was fully equipped,
coaches ran with great regularity, and
daily communication with the Fast
was assured, much to popular salts.
faction. Still the extent and value OF
the new mines was a matter of doubt,
but an event now occurred which was
destined to settle the question beyond
dispute among the many thousands
who were still sceptical concerning
the richness of the new discoveries.
In one Of the first coaches of the
overland stage line came Horace
Greeley, the veteran editor and pro
prietor of the New York Tribune. He
was accompanied by A. d. Richard
son, then of the Boston Journal, anC
Henry Willard, then of the Cincin
natl Commercial. These gentlemen
visited the new ''diggings" in Gregory
and nelghboring gulches, and at the
request of Mr.. b. d. Williams, ther
superintendent of the overland line
made a very thorough examination
of the workings and their returns. Al
a result they united in a written state
ment of what they had learned an(
seen, which statement, over their owl
signatures, was published in an extr
edition of the NecS on the 1lth day o
June, 1859. This extra was printet
on brown wrapping paper.
The publication of this report cause,
a howl of vindictive denial along th
entire Missouri border. 1t was boldl
charged that the extra edition was
forgery. Mr.. Greeley's visit to tn
West was not generally known
Messrs. Richardson and Willard wer
not then as famous rs they subse
quently became in journalism.
A. ID. Richardson, who becam
famous as u war correspondent, die
by the bullet of a murderous assassin
Henry Willard, once newspaper ma
of no mean ability, was later tn
famous capitalist and financier o
Northern Pacific Railroad fame. TIL
report to which they subscribed thei
names, certifying to the wealth of tn
future Colorado mines, has foreve
identified them with our history
while its printed copy hangs frame
upon the walls of the managers roor
of the Noes Denver News.