The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10

to Colorado Springs en- route to Dem
Yer and out OF q dangerous country
thousand men OF Sheriff Bowers for
three months last summer.
STATIONS SUCCESS.
w. s. Stratton is quiet, retiring and
not at all like the men who are sup
posed to be the ounders OF a gold
camp. He has always had a weakness
for mines. but as most of his invest
ments were purchases Of mining stock
limited to the amount Of his savings
he never expected any remarkable
gains. He was Industrious and ener-
getic, and struggled along from his
birth In 1913 in Jefersonville, Ind, until
1872. when he removed to Colorado and
took his first lesson in gold gambling in
the San Juan country.
His ignorance OF the mineral was
proven by the fact subsequently dis
closed that there was not the faintest
coloring in the ground unloaded on him
as q gold mine. The lesson cost him
$4,000, representing the savings of ten
years. Having purchased the alleged
mine. which was not even sailed" to
deceive him, Stratton determined to
abide by his new acquisition, and he
auQ u partner eQudIly NeFudut spent al
entire winter above the snow line re-
mote from the home of anybody dig
ging n blasting. In the spring STRAIT
ton n his assistant came down from
the clouds with less money and flesh
and turned their heads eastward, de-
claring that they would not again be
taken in on the assertions of their best
friends.
But the gambling fever had entered
STATIONS system. and another year
$1,000 Ill., g. 49,
the course of the river washing the
placers with Indifferent success. In the
winter he was in Leadville and wan
dered over to Breckenridge, said to be
a good field for a man of
Evidently Stratton did not fill the bill,
for again he had recourse to his trade
and a mechanics wages to keep HIM
self alive.
He got about $4,000, which he invested
in the San Juan country in the very
property which had taken his last cent
a few years before and which he had
abandoned. So little was thought of the
property that no one had the temerfty
to touch it, and Stratton by SOM
streak of bad luck again. was induced
to relocate the mine under h name
of the Black Crook. A pocket was
struck and Stratton took out something
like $500. This development brought
the partners an offer of 500, for the
mine. which Stratton refused to accept,
as he decided that his luck had turned.
and that he was OF the highway to
wealth. Two days later the mine petered
out.
NEEDLESS OF WARNING
Disguised with this experience. Snat-
ton went back to his saw and chist.1.
He was in Colorado Springs when the
first news Of the discovery of Cripple
Creek came down from the hills, and
he went into the camp with a revival
Of hope. He knew scarcely more than
he did on his first attempt, but he was
full Of discrimination, and something
told him to go ahead and prospect on
the amp that at the time was so widely
advertised as the greatest mining swim
die Of the age. D~isregarding all warn
ings, he entered the district, and knew
so little OF the appearance of mineral
that he was the only man who staked
q claim on what was recognized as
the outskirts of the mineral belt. So
close did he come to entering upon
barren territory that now 1t is evident
that his location was on the very edge
of the mineral bearing rock.
Fortune smiled on him and he was
the first n only man who discovered
surface outcroppings where he planted
his stakes for the Independence mine.
that Is now appraised at S., 900, 600. But
he had q close call in his dallying with
fortune. for the coy dame almost played
him foul. He was leaving the camp in
another fit of disgust when he stumbled,
and, kicking at the rock that threw
him. he knocked off a chunk OF what
appeared eve to his inexperienced eye
as good ore.
first location in the camp on Gold Hill,
just above the present Anaconda prop
erty, which became a dividend payer
from the start. From the day that
Stratton, with renewed confidence, be-
gan to operate on his wv account he
thrived. Following the float up Raven
hill, he struck the Independence. The
nearest assay Office was in Colorado
Springs. and there was no communica-
ton the camp and the town.
A messenger was found to make the
trip of twenty miles through the noun
tains, and the first valuable specimen
from what was universally pronounced
the fake" district yielded rich returns.
The report was received on the 4th of
July, 1891. and the discoverer, being
Of a patriotic nature. dubbed the two
claims the Washington and the indie
pendence.
cipal mine, Stratton has acquired by
purchase almost all the property of any
value in his vicinity, and now owns the
Washington, Portland No. 2, White
House No. /, Wilson contact. Madison,
Ashland, Smuggler No. 2, Maggie, Cor
rigan Chief, Blanche placer, Caledonia,
Lost Annie. Lowell, John A. Logan and
a half interest in the Black m
During the last year Mr.. Stratton has
had a revenue of $675,000 from the In
dependence alone. after allowing for the
stoppage of three months occasioned by
the great strike. This year 1t is esti-
mated that his income will be at least
81, 500. 900.
Stratton has not appeared to the out
side world as yet owing to the pressure
of his business affairs, which keep him
occupied in the camp. His only invest
ment outside of Cripple Creek has been
a fine residence in the aristocratic part
of Colorado Springs, where Stratton the
carpenter was as well known as the
milkman in his daily rounds.
The Parts That Do Not Grow Old.
Philadelphia Record.
In his work on the senile heart DIR. Bal
four tells US that there are two parts of the
human organism which. if wisely used.