The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-22
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

ga reader of Mark Twain's description OF
frontier lire in that admirable book, 'ROughlng
It, could to-day witness many of the scenes
therein so picturesquely described paralleled,
If he made a trip TO COlorado's now famous
mining camp of Cripple Creek" said j. e.
Morse of Springfield. ILL.,. yesterday. "The camp
is crowded full of sturdy miners. who are await
Ing settlement of the deplOrable strike which
is doing the place great injury. To wear high
hat is almost an insult. and the capitalist and
miner are alike attired In sensible and suitable
clothing for the rough travel OF the mountains.
The apt allusion to Creole year ago, 1T Is day
all day in the daytime and there is no night in
Creede,' is applicable 10 Cripple Creek or In
fact any of the actual mining camps In Colo
rado The gambling rooms ana dance halls are
well represented 10 Cripple Creek and are
source of novel interest to the 'tenderf0Ot.'
They are TO be found full 10 OVERLOOKING morn
Ing noon and night, but the midnight hour is
the mos interesting to the casual observer At
that hour men can be seen by the dozen lying
curled up asleep In their blankets on the
floor, while others are drinking, playing
faro, craps or any other speculative
game. AS soon as faro table is deserted it is
quickly monopoIiZed as sleeping quarters.
Even the piano, II there is one In the room. is
not exempt from the attacks of these free
sleepers. They crowd under the Keyboard and
cozily curl themselves up out of the way of
anybody. 1t must not be understood that
there is not an abundance of fairly good ac-
commodation for those who can pay for it at
Cripple Creek, but the lack Of the necessary
funds is the trouble with many, and the streets
are alive with mendicauts at present who
stop the passer-by and solicit aims to buy
something 10 eat. The prospect OF the early
completion OF two railroads Into Cripple Greek
have given real estate a decided upward ten.
dency in price. A four-lot corner that could
has been easily purchased a couple Of years
ago for dollar or TWO is now held at $4,000
and business lots on the main avenue are held
at pric es ranging from $500 to $1,000 each.
One sin gular feature about Cripple Creek as a
mining camp Is that the principal mining men
of the district are those who never before stuck
a pick In the ground
"The history of William McGarrafan and his
famous claim are familiar 10 most Caifor-
nians," said Z. A. Mcconnell of Washington
yesterday. II was at home few days ago
when the doors OF Providence Hospital, which
has sheltered many men and women Of ro-
mantle history, were opened TO this man, whose
life and trials have excited the sympathy and
awakened the wonder of all Washington for
more than generation. Bowed with the
weight OF years, staggering under the load OF
excessive disappointments, broken IN health
ana will, his indOmltabl spirit crushed at last.
he is now an inmate of that institution. 1t is
fifty years ago, l believe, when McGarrahan
acquired by purchase California rancho under
Mexican title, protected. or supposed TO be,
by treaty. At hat time 1t was not thought o
be Of any particular value, but subsequently
very valui BILE quicksilver deposits were diseov
cred and a corporation entered upon the land
claiming possession under other titles. This
corporation had Influence and power and
McGarrahan had no recourse but to
courts and afterward TO Congress. Year
after year he has sought what he be-