Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-08-04
Colorado Letter.
New York, July 2lst.
CRIPPLE CREEK, MINING CANT,


To THE Thinking few notes
from bran new mining camp might be OF in
trrest to some of your readers, will endeayor
10 say "a few words in regard to this the most
promising camp since the days of Leadyille
Cripple Creek lies at the western base of Pixies
Peak, that grand out post of the Rockies, the
solitary beholder Of so many scenes of violence
aud activity, and now looking down on a sight
new even to his accustomed eyes The peculiar
| name it bears was given to 1t through man be-
ing thrown from his horse and having his leg
broken; this is the simple story which may or
may not be true and which is certainly Of very
| lGtle Importance. 1t is a charming district rs
regards scenic a.trgctions il is really II natural
! Park hemmed in with lofty Peaks tipped with
everlasting snow and clad with dark green
| pines and quivering aspenS. The mineral belt
| included in the district is about by IL miles in
| extent including township 10 south, in ranges
| GO and 40 west, sections ! 10 6 In township lG
south, and range 90 west, and the same sec lions
| IN township l6 south and range 20 west; this
| gives Il territory Of nearly 100 square miles.
The district is sheltered by Pixies Peak range
! on the east and the Sangrc-de- Christie on the
west. The mountains in this basin are smooth
and softly outlined with pleasant valleys and
| gulches at their base. The hillSides are grassy
and gently rolling ana not as Is usual In the
| Rockies. rocky and forbidding
Over the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
| via Canon City has been located the most pic
| turesque and attractive route of all. Leaving
| Canon City, the stage road winds over a pleas
| en-! mesa and through foothills for a short dis.
lance, then the mountains are reached dehling
| through gulch where the jack-rabhits gambOl
| and the lively little mountain squirrels Scamper,
| a beautiful Park is reached known as Garden
| Park of about ten miles in extent plain
| hemmed IN with mountains Of red and white
stone, which colors with the dark green OF the
trees makes a delightful symphony OF color,
yeritable delight to the artist After making q
change of horses, what Is known as the -Four
| Mile Canon" is reached and this will prove
| pleasant sensation to those who have never
| driven through mountain canon before. The
| stage road is NOT wide one hardly wide enough
| for pedestrian in addition to the stage, ana on
| one side arc the rocky sides Of the mountain
| which can be touched with the hand and ell the
other one looks down into the canon perhaps a
| thousand feet where streamlet tears along In
| It's frantic course towards the sea. In the east
| ern states anyone WhO would even suggest
| foot path in similar places mEctG TIE stage
| roads in the Rockies are built, in many cases
would be considered as being afflicted with a
| hopeless attack of iunacy.
| The town of Fremont, Cripple Creek proper,
| has population Of about 1000 inhabitants and
| there are about 5000 more living in tents and
| shacks amOug the hills prospecting. or course
a mining camp in these latter days is not as
| lawess and boisterous as they used to be In
earlier days. but still there is enough drinking
| riOtng and lighting going on 10 shock the nerves
| of people used 10 different order OF society
Dancing houses and gambling hells are running
| day and night and Sundays too, crowded by
multitudes of rude, uncultured miners, and still
| ruder women jostle each other on the streets
| and In the saloons and gambling halls. 1t Is
! not known hon I4ang Of tbs better class OF
| women are residents here but the class whose
manner is frailty are here Of course and make
the shadows here as IN the cities, Wheezy
pianos which have done duty In other places,
| till one would think they were fit only for fire.
wood, do duty here in dancing saloons, thumped
| by blear eyed "snOozers" at SO much per thump.
Men come AMI 90 ~ night, The town is a blaze
Of light, the rays failing on log shantles, tents,
frame houses, wagons, supply teams, the pros
pecter, the s;.aauator and the different groups
of picturesque humanity.
The religious facilities of the camp consist OF
a gospel tent which is doing good service. There
are no silvery chimes to call 10 Worship nor does
one hear deep toned bells. The prospactGr is
not a very religious animal, he is eminenty
practical. A good assay is all the religion he
requires. The bright clear sky and snowy
mountains exceed in beauty any church, his
hard life makes him take religious matters cody
=, iS nil mall ar f'rinnlp
not 50 scarce nor yet so wild, in fact it is the
tamest and most dociie animal known to man
it is meek and humble to fault. 1t Is known
as the Jackass in the east but here it is only the
poor unpretentiOus BurrO. Its chief occupation
! is TO carry bacon, -four and salt to the miners
md to bray It's voice Is about as melOdious as al
old wheezy niano; 1t expends all IT'S surplus en-
ergy on that same voice and is very proud of 1t
;. Nothing will insult a Burro quicker than t
! make low vulgar remarks when it is singing.
IL w. A. SNYDER.