The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-24

into the walls Cf the CITY eternal. Like
banks of soft violet clouds they are hcaped
against the red and gold Of sunset. Never
could there be "a more beautiful sight.
Seen Il sunset.
And when a few hours later YOU reach
Durango, the smcltar city Of the great
southwest, which lies at he foot Of the
mountains, and see the glare Of its myriad
coke ovens and tho weird CLEAN Of its
smcltcrs lighting up the rugged sides Of
the range, sou can scarcely credit that
those dazzling mountains seen at sunset
gre the weird, tremendous hills ut hand.
wanted TO see the heart Of this mag
nificent range and to visit Ia Plata city,
famous mining camp, so last Saturday
morning a party of four started from Du-
range for q 40 mile drive right up under
the very shadows Of these everlasting hills.
Up, up the range we climbed; then over
the divide and down into the valley once
moro. An occasional pause ut some hos
pitable ranch for fruit or fresh milk was
the only stop We made until we drove
into the city Of La Plata.
La Plata mining camp lies on a gentle
slope in the midst of pine forest Its
rocky walls arc not made with hands, but
rise eternal in the heavens. It's gates are
yawning chasms and dark, mysterious
canyons It's log cabins pine shantics
and tents, its saloons and stables and eat
ing houses are jumblod confusedly to-
gether. Here and there, in front of cabins,
at street corners, at side doors, are the piles
of loosely hcapod stones, surmounted by
rude cross, q stick or the limb of a tree,
which mark located claim. The miners
sit in the open doors or along the shady
side OF the main street
Mother of the Camp.
From a tcnta buxo1n girl chases a hand
some, sturdy young fellow and beIabors
him over the head with "a rolling pin, lust
for fun" The local amateur talent of the
town wends its way to a CT divant dance
hail. where an entertainment for sweet
charity is being rehcarsed. The presses
OF the La Plata Miner are going in log
cabin, and Aunt Sarah Stiles is getting
dinner for the boys.
Mrs. Stiles Is the mother Of the whole
camp. If any OF 1.-THE boys" are in trou-
bile, they 90 TO her She makes the finest
lemon pie in the La Plata country, and
she works IN her mine with a pick and
shovel. She has adopted and raised seven
boys, who arc now strapping fellows. She
thinks nothing of walking to the Ton Of
one of these giant peaks merely for breath
of fresh air. does all her own work and
cocks for every lonely mothers son in the
camp. Cheerful, kindly, brave woman
pfoneerl / shall not soon forget your gen
erous welcome, your little log cabin. the
boughing Of the wind through the pines at
your door, the murmur OF the wild brook
that tumblos down the rayine by your
home, your smile when you said: Lone
somei No. Ncll, I reckon not, Why l
love these mountains. ! wouldn't leave
'em for the whole world -
La Plata City is much more orderly
place than Creole or Cripple Creek. Its
only dancehouse Is closed, and there i
not much gambling However. the spirit
Of mischief * not QuenchCd. The preacher
who declares dancing TO be a scheme of
satan Is not popular in la Plata Last
week thore was one. This wcek-lo. he is
mott His departure dates from a memo
rable night which by common consent is
named the howl " \ number OF vouns,
miners, led by an adventurous reporter ON
the La Plata Miner. went forth with the
Rvowcd intention of bowling the parson
into fits. They yelled, they howled. and
they whoopcd. They made nichu hideous
with blood curding belch and below.
Quiet folk led in dismay before this ava
lanche of noise. and the clergyman depart
ed next day in righteous wrath. The
rival papeC of the town scored he wicked
reporter who led the riot and referred 10
him and his fellow cunSpirators Is $50
ciety coyotes. such Is life in Ia Plata
The Ia Plata Boom.
1t Is less than wear since the La Plata
boom started. Along the banks of the
La Plata river. In all the mountain sides
and gulchCS, are many evidences of the .
seekers after gold having been here many. .
many years ago. In Jhc carly seventies .
rich leads high up ON the mountain sides
were discovered and pro~pccJod. but the
gold was hidden in the ore. and SO this
country was neglected save hv the placer
miners, who IN squads nave been sluicfn-
here and There al the seasons Of the wear .
when it Is possible
Not quite two Years ago the -cdi>covcrv
of the great Columbus mine SET many old .
Prospe'iors 70 thinking of what they had
seen in the Id PlaJaS many wears ago. ana .
anany returned 10 this region.
The Baker contact has brought the IA
Platas greatly TO the notice 81 eastern
capitalists Ii is near timber line in RI,
divide separating two great EuIches and
runs through the range that separates The .
Mancos. streams from the Ii Platas. II
Is wonder The owners are Colonel =
Baker, Charles Mcleod. Frank Movers .
"A. E. birkbride and Howard Graham.
The kaJe lode of the group of mines
Belonging 70 the Allen Mining comranv .
Us one Of the largest and hest ruininr .
snines yet opened up il the Ia Platss. aSit
comprises a mountain Of almost SOLID .
mineral, of which the lowest assay on ans .
rock shows s. 10 The ton ana the high
est $3.50. all o. which IS free milling ore. .