Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-28
CARNIVAL FOR CRIMINALS
Of All Kinds, the Rush of the Worst
Outlaws Being So Great.
HOW THE CAMP WAS FIRST BOOMED
Hy the President of a Railroad Company for
His Own Benefit.
POLICE PROTECTION AS YET UNKNOWN
rsrEcIAL rELrGRAN 70 TIE prs2ArcH.


DENVER, Feb. 27.-THE DISPATCH cor
respondent has just returned from Creede.
lie no longer fears to visit the
place of eternity presided over by
MephistopheleS For ribald scenes
and excitement in general the new
mining camp at Creede must certainly
excel hades. Years ago, when Leadyille and
Butte, Mont, were first discovered, it is al
legged that there were exciting times. The
report is with foundation. Both were
PRAYER meeting camps in comparison to
CIeede
Creede began to attract the attention of
the san Luis Valley, then of Denver, OF
Colorado, of the West, and later of the
Influx Of prospectorS
The general foundation of Creede is
termed a birdseye porphyry or cyolite,
Kind of trachyte The veins are found lying
between walls of porphyry and trachyte
Had it not been for the interest that d. II.
Nofatt took in the camp it would never
have been made prblic. Moffatt was the
President of the Denver and Rio Grande
Railroad, and thought it cheaper to have his
ores transported by rail than going to the
ANl'tli~t Vi lihNillS llIF bTtS DY Mdp-
Oh to Wagon Wheel Gap or Del Norte.
Money Not an Object at All.
The present winter has been an extremely
mild one in Colorado Southern Colorado,
oSps ciallv, has been very fortunate in this
respect. Thanks TO this state of weather.
those interested in claims about Creede tried
20 give the rev camp notorietv, and money
was not spared in advertising the camp.
Eastern papers were requested to send men
and write up the camp, money being no OBJ
iect. In this the management of the Den
Yer and Rio Grande Railroad Joined heart
lly, and as a result there are over 10, 900 peo-
pie in C-eede today
The location OF the camp is most romantic
Il is situated down in sulch, surrounded
on all sides by high mountains The early
portion Of the present week THE DISPATCH
correspondent boarded 4 Rio Grande train
There were three sections, each containing
over ten cars. There were two people to
every berth, while in some instances three
people crowded into 4 berth. Creede was
reached the next afternoon.
= striking Picture at the Depot.
The frs. thing that attracted the atten-
tl0a Of the writer at the depot was the
point of q knife sticking out of miners
chin. In an argument with another miner,
2 knife had been called into requisition.
There WAS a large crowd present, including
the deputy sheriff Every one viewed the
little tiff good naturedlv. There are almost
thousand houses, and only one has reached |
the dignity of two stories They are built |
viii plain blanks. At the present time I
there are 90 saloons, doing business night |
aud dag. They consist of one and possibly
two rooms, the front part being devoted to
the bar, while the rear is filled with rou-
lette, keno and faro tables At all hours,
,-srb- l,a,- Al Al
lo@eSt specimens of humanity. Such acts |
and scenes would not be permitted to exist |
in any respectable community.
In the ailevways (there are no streetsl |
tin-horn blackleg cappcIs and she'll gamblers 4
have their little stands. Innocent prospec-
tors are robbed in broad daylight, and if |
they should be foolish enough to
demonstrate, a revolver is thrust at their |
heads
Police Protection Is Not known.
Such thing as Dolice protection is I'M
known. Probably owing to the presence of |
Bob Alasterson, the town marshal. there |
have been no killings vet He is bigger |
man than the Governor of Colorado, for /
peaee. In years time he has killed more
men than any human being, SO far as
known. In an interview Bob said "We
would be powerless should there be an out
break. These mugs are on their good be-
hayior, because they are afraid of one an
other There viii be a break pretty soon,
and there'll be music in the air
Ia at night that one fully appreciates
Creede. Saloons and dancehouses are then
in full blast, and especially the latter The
halls are about 90 feet long and about Is
feet wide, with private boxes attached The
butterflies that sing and dance are not
young and charming. Where they come
from is what mystifes the average denizen.
They certainly would not be allowed to live
anywhere else.
When fairly well dressed stranger en-
ters he Is generally compelled to set 'em
up at the point of gun. Everybody wears
q belt which includes a dirk and gun.
Drunken men come out of saloons and dis
charge their weapons promiscuouslv
The camp is located upon school lands.
and all the present sites are occupied by
squatterS. Yesterday, Governor ROatt ar
rived there to dispose of these lands to the
highest bidder. This mears that man who
locates claim and made impro vements
would be compelled to turn over his prop
erty to the highest bidder
When the Fun viii Begin.
The sale was continued again to-day,
every official of the State being present
It will be when the purchasers of these lots
try TO take possession that the fun will
t'NiiISuNC- 4he squdItefS plant -FOUR tree
stumps upon their lot, place boards across,
have asmall bench in the middle, cook their
own grub, and, with brace of reyoIyers
snd Winchesters, endeavor to hold their
own.
Long before the time announced for the
sale people were hocking to the place. the
men from the camps and the visitor.
The squatters, the women, children and
stray dogs all crowded around the platform
The scene of action was q large rac,nt |
space. 4 small tent was ordered for the ac-
commodation of the land board officials. ]
man in the crowd wanted to know whether
il lot was occupied, the present occupant
would have to move with the snow on the
ground. The Attorney General answered
that the lots, in the great eyes of the law
and State, were vacant.
At present Creede resembles town under I
mob law. Every man who had a weapon
seemed bent last night on discharging il 7
Sometimes he pierced the ceiling of saloon
or gambling den or Knocked the light out.
Building if by Magic. g
At dawn to-day the squatters were at /
work on their buildings on the land to be ,
sold They kept at it until the hour of the !
sale was at hand. New houses were going I
up as il bv magic. A man coming in to-day I
is liable to get lost tomorrow. He wakens {
up and secs almost a new town, and the
people are coming in by hundreds 1t has
been agreed that should purchasers at
tempt to overbid squatters gentle tap on
tie head would suffice.
The spiritual lie OF settlers has been at Q
tracing the attention of the religious peo- |