The herald., 1895-02-10
TIN CUP CAMP
Where Bad Men Were Buried
9 in Their Boots
I TIE OLD FRONTIER DAYS
When Prospectors Made Their Millions
in Few Months
Romance Of Pretty Liz and Johnnie Clark in
the Early Days Of Colorado
Mining.
TIE OLD FRONTIER DAYS

continental divide, at the head OF
Taylor Park, in the northeast corner of
.Gunnison county, Colo. Gathered with a
few good men were all the notably bad
characters. They came from the Black
Hills OF Dakota and from Tombstone,
Arizona. They got in there by some
means and lived by any means except
manual labor.
The camp, a rich one, covered district
extending from Taylor Range on the north
TO Gold Hill on the south, distance of
forty miles, varying in width from two to
ten miles, the hills on either side being
rich in indications of silver, with just
gold enough to make the search for for
tune an earnest one. Tin Cup was the
headquarters of this great mineral belt,
where gathered with the thousands of pros
pectors in the Spring of 80 were many of
the noted dad men, of the West Six
shooters were as plentiful as blackbirds in
an Illinois cornfield, and were pulled
with deadly effect. The survivor of IA
shooting scrape generally furnished
the corpse for a funeral within u week
from the time he ''got his man."
As the killing was principally among
the killer element, the better portion of
the community were perfectly willing to
let the good work go on. That it went
on rapidly was evident from the rapidly
filling graveyard, located just on the
hill, but a block from Main street, to
avoid loss of time in putting away the
men whose boots went with them.
The prospectors, being lucky in their
finds, brought them into Tin Cup Sun
days for supplies-liquid, solid and mixed,
as well as to find buyer for an interest
in their newly discovered location, to aid
in the development necessary to define
the vein into a paying proposition; Tay-
lor Range, on the west side, was silver in
carbonate form, cut midway of the park
by Bertha Gulch, where free gold was
found in paying quantities enough to
keep hundred men at work and a half
dozen saloon keepers on the jump to
supply the wash as essential to the
miner as water to the sluice box.
Mountains rose to an apex of some three
thousand feet, which gradually increased
in height until the apex was reached
some six miles to the south. 1t was on
this apex, known as the Hog-Back, that
the Anna Dedrika was found, mine
which from the surface was rich in high
grade ore. Across the valley from this
location was found, first, the great Gold
Cup mine, then the Jennie Mack, and
finally the great Tin Cup mine.
OF all these mines, and scores of Others
John Clark was the discoverer. To find
mine was as easy for Clark as for a duck
to sleep on water. For years he struck
nainee whenever he got broke, which was
always the result of his sales, When Clark
was not down in the town of Tin Cup,
drinking and having time as he called
it, he could be found on Gold Hill or
Anna Mountain, location stake on his
shoulder and pick in hand looking for an
other lead He found the Dedrika and
sold it for 5000. Six hours in dance
house. the night after, Clark was in a con-
dition to find another mine or quit eat
c. L. la1, ~
located the Tin Cup, mine which gave
John ]. Mastin of Kansas City, Mo-, "a
million dollars, Clark share being four
weeks hurrah in Tin Cup, never to be
forgotten by the people of that day.
He imported Pretty Liz, " one of the
a board house with canvas roof, hired
band and installed pretty Liz" as man
ageress of the Palace.
In four weeks Clark was busted plum
ger Pretty Liz" forsook him, and he
again became Clark the prospector.
generous when in funds, that none, even
Of the worse-those who would not
hesitate to hold a man for few dol
lars-would not rob Clark, knowing they
would get it all in the regular channels
of trade in a very short time. He
claimed man was foo! to carry gun,
and proved it by recounting scores of in
stances where the possession of a gun
would have been death to him.
Clark felt hurt in being shook. by
pretty Liz" He worshiped her.
While not blaming her for dropping him
still he felt grieved, and determined to
win her again.
He made a tour among the gang, who
Clipped in to aid him in his determine
ton to find mine which would again
bring Pretty Liz" to him.
Placing his supplies in his cabin on
Gold Hill, he began again his search for
hidden treasure. Two months passed
when Clark turned up in Tin Cup, the
most reticent,- sober man in the camp.
{ When accosted as to the cause of his great
change, his only reply was: Boys, I've
struck it bigger than ever andI'm going to
hold onto It," A few days later Tin Cup
was thrown into state of excitement by
the sudden arrival in camp OF General
: Bearce and George DAILY, two of the best
known mining experts in the country,
who had come over from Leadville in
response to a letter from Clark, whom
they knew well enough to be sure he had
Q good thing when he said he had.
Headed by Clark the experts started for
Gold Hill, followed by scores of men willing
to do anything to get an extension on
anything Bearce and DAILY would take
hold Of. A rest and meal at Clark $
cabin, when he took the party to his new
And, which, fully protected by location
certificates and work, he had given the
title Of Carbonate Queen. For three
months Clark acted as super N,tendent of
force of men who put the mihN IN shape
TO invite inspection of capital.
Offer upon offer was made to Clark for
the mine, which had in 70 feet ofSdevel-
oprnent defined true vein of carbonate
ore, high in silver, lead, and some cold
All offers were refused and Development
continued. The first shipment of fortr
tons sent to Denver Melted $37, 900, which \
caused furore in mining circles, every-}
body wanting all or portion of the mine.
Finally, under advice of Messrs Bearce
and DAILY, Clark agreed to sell. Claim
patented and details perfected brought
christmas time near, when Clark came
into camp.
Everybody felt that good times were at
hand, Tor Clark had a fortune and was
was sure to spend it. His first night in town
spent at the dance house of "Pretty Liz
the next night the same. Clark kept open
house for everybody, but he refused to
indulge even in the mildest dissi patton.
The third day Clark seemed extremely
hrppy, inviting everybody down to the
taiice house for that evening, assuring all
L happy surprise.
Ats O'Clock the house was crowded to
such an extent that qtadrille could
barely squeeze around, when from q side
room came Clark and pretty Liz" fol-
lowed by justice of the peace, who,
with due solemnity united the twain in
marriage. Everything went for the rest
Of the night, for week in fact. Clark
was anxious to take t'g ht''e aw'v to
hut r4f Z,