The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-01
BROWNS PARTNER.

"Chihuahna" Brown came to Pyrites
when the camp was first started. That
was six months before the time Of which
write
Pyrites was typical mining town or
camp" far up in the Rocky mountains.
II had grown in six months from one
log cabin to town Of 1000 inhabitants.
It was rough, unpretentious town, both
as regards its buildings and a large num-
her Of its citizens, but under the duck
suit of the miner there are more honest
hearts, more noble and generous natures,
than will be found in almost any other
calling in life.
With the rush Of miners came rush
of gamblers. Four saloons sprang into
existence in night. Then began the
erection of the most commodious and
pretentious building in the camp-the
Palace dance hall--which was hurried
to completion. 1t looked more like a
barn than palace, but Improved as great
an attraction for the feverish wealth and
pleasure seeking population of Pyrites as
though its walls were Of hncrusta and
its floors Of variegated marble.
1t is a noticeable fact about a new
mining camp that the most high sound
ing titles are applied to the most COM
mon looking structures. The cheapest
place always has the grandest name
For instance, the Delmonico restaurant
was the worst Of all the eating estab-
lishments in Pyrites, and the Windsor
hotel offered the poorest accommoda-
lions Of any hostelry in the place. The
st. James livery stable had nothing bet
ter In the shape of equines than some
broken down stage horses, and the Crys-
tai Grotto saloon was only a board
shanty where scent whisky was sold
for two bits drink.
The cleanest, most homelike eating
mouse in the place was Mrs. McGuire's
restaurant. Bridget Mcclure was
lively, busting Irishwoman, with red
face and hair shade lighter. She was
popular with 'sthe boys" as she called
the miners who patronized her place.
1--WE can always get plenty on our forks
at Mrs. McGuire's," was the usual SEN
hence of praise bestowed upon her estab-
ment.
/, tChihuahuan Brown boarded with
Mrs. Mcclure. He was quiet, retiring
sort of man. No one knew much
about him, except that he once had some
mining property near Chihuahua, Mex
hco There was another Brown In Pyr-
htes. SO he was given the sobriquet OF
s.Chihuahua" to distinguish him from
the other Brown. He paid his board
promptly and was highly esteemed by
Mrs Mcclure, who sometimes spoke of
him as 1.-The widow woman's friend" on
account of his once having loaned Mrs.
Mcclure $500 without security when
the good nasnred Irishwoman first start
ed in business.
Now she was beyond the need of finan-
cial assistance, and was doing -four
fishing BUSINESSMEN a large business
In fact that she had been obliged to
send to Denver for additional help to
wait upon the table. The 'Hhelp" duly
arrived upon the stage and created a SEN
sation in Pyrites. The first general de-
scription was given out by the stage
Idriver, "Fairplay Bill" to deeply in
terested throng of listeners at the Silver
Bear saloon.
She cum upon the stage alongside of
me. :" said Bill There was three girls
for the dance hall besides. When we
got to the first station at Turkey creek
canyon. she asked if she could rideon the
kest with me, she did SO admire the
scenery. took her up beside me on the
box, and you never heard a girl go on SO
about the color of the sky, and the trees
and rocks. and the wild flowers bloom
ing on the mountain side She pointed
ont things to me about the scenery
never see before. never see a girl SO
gone on scenery. She really did enjoy
1t. got SO burned interested hearin her
talk cum purity near slidin the whole
Sutft down the mountain as I CUM
around Dead Mans curve. She's differ
emit from any biscuit shooter ever see
Purity? She's purifier than that nigh
leader o nine, but she don't put on as