Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-09
srRATroN OF CRIPPLE CREEK.

A Story of Good Luck That Was All
the More Welcome After Hard Luck.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
With letter of Introduction from T. c.
Parrish. one of the most agreeable of Col
oradoans, we went down Battle mountain
in search of the only man in the world,
believe, who is the sole owner of a bonanza.
The stories told about Mr. Stratton sound
like fairy tales, which they are.
1T was just luck and mighty good luck
at that" says one Colorado Springs man.
'Stratton was a carpenter by trade. When
the Cripple Greek excitement began he
walked up the mountain to save stage fare
threw his hat on the ground, planted a
stake where it fell, and drew a prize"
Nothing Of the sort" retorts a clever
banker. ''Stratton has been a miner for
years. All the money he made in carpen-
try he put into prospecting. and was thor
oughly acquainted with the practical de-
tails of mining. It's business like every
other industry. Stratton had taken a course
in assayfng at the Colorado College, and
was we'll read In mining before he located
the Independence. His success is due to
pluck. patience and intelligence"
Born in Indiana in 1913. w. 8. Stratton
moved to Colorado in 1872 Having saved
$1,000 in working at his trade, he was in
duced to invest it in an alleged mine that
proved to be fraud After trying placer
y,
ton betook himself to Leadville. then to
Breckipridge, but with poor success Re
turning to his original venture. the aban-
doned Yrehata. in the San Juan country
Stratton relocated 1t at the Black Crook
and actually struck a small pocket of ore
While 1t was in sight he wanted to sell the
mine for $1,000. His partners objected be-
cause they thought they had struck it
rich" The pocket came to an end, and
then this wise carpenter-miner swore unto
himself that he'd never have another part
ner If he could help It. Hardly camp in
Colorado but was exploited by Stratton.
Among the first to investigate Cripple
Creek, he discovered on Gold Hill gold by
the aid of blowpipe. Locating the Gold
King. Stratton disposed of his interest for
small sum, experimental at several points
with partners, who at last gave him up in
despair. leaving him master of the field
Sending some rock to Colorado Springs to
be assayed, Stratton located two claims
along the edge from which he had taken
the sample. 1t was the morning of July 4,
1891. What mere natural than for good
American to name one claim Independence
and the other Washington:
Though the sample aSsayed showed 1891
in gold, not another bit of rock could STRAIT
ton get to show up well. Experts said his
claims were worthless; his friends shook
their heads with pity. On worked STRAIT
ton, borrowing money when he had a
chance, never losing heart. At last he
struck good ore in the Washington. He
soon after sold it for $4,000, receiving &c.,
600 in cash.
What happened next? few days after
the Washington sale gold vanished like an
iridescent dream, and the mine reverted to
him for non-fulfillment of contract Since
then the lost ore chute has been relocated
Debts and work on the Independence soon
ate up the 10000 received as part payment
on the Washington. As Stratton found
very little ore his friends begged him to
desist. He replied that he'd die first He
felt sure there was great ore chute near
by, and he'd find it or perish in the at
tempt.
IT'S a long lene that has no turning. One
day Stratton. the hermit sent a load of
boulders lying on his property to be tested
at the stamp mills. They yielded S12 to the
ton. From the spot where the first assay
was taken began the ore chute which has
been followed ever since growing richer
day by day. Experts who pitied Stratton
for being such a persevering fool now de-
clare the Independence to be the richest
mine in the world so far as developed.