The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-19
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

Joe GAVIN, one of the leading citizens of
Cripple Creek, Colo, who is known from one side
OF the continent to the other as a dead game
sport" is a the Palace Hotel
Mr.. Gavin owns the finest saloon and the big
gest faro game in Cripple Greek. He was for
merly at Leadville and be fore that at Virginia
City, New. At different times he has contributed
his share to building up the leading mining
camps OF California, Montana, Idaho, Utah,
Nevada, Arizona and Colorado, so he knows q
good prospect when he sees it.
81 suppose there is not another mining dis
trict on earth that has SO much gold in sight
and easily available as Cripple Creek" said
Mr.. Gavin last evening. "The entire country
in that vicinity seems to have it-placer and
quartz.
''The work of development is going on con-
stantly, and where proper knowledge and
facilities are applied there seem to be very few
disappointments and no failures. All the bust
ness men of Cripple Greek are making money,
but most OF them are getting excited over the
mines and 1t is hard for them to keep at their
own business where the chances for making
fortunes in the mines appear so alluring.
s'The distance from Colorado Springs to
Cripple Creek is only about forty miles, but it
takes four hours to make the run, for it is all
the way uphill. You remember that Sutro
used to talk about Bill Sharon's 'kwooked
wa1lwoad' from Reno to Virginia City; we'll,
that road is straight as compared with the
line from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek.
But we are used to it and don't fret on that
account The people there live well--as well
as any place on earth, and the place is growing
right along. Just now houses are rather
scarce, but they are building night and day
and will be able to accommodate the hundred
and odd thousand of people wht are expected
within the next six months"
Mr.. Gavin was asked in regard to the special
train which the kilograms said he and Bat
Masterson were about to run from Cripple
Creek to Ell Paso for the purpose of witnessing
Stuarts big fstic carnival.
''Well, you see, it was like this" replied Mr..
Gavin. The railroad folks wanted us to take
charge OF the excursion, because we know all
the boys, and I said I'd stand in if they would
give US vestibule train, with a big car in the
middle, from which we could remove the seats
aud put in bar, wheel and faro game. The
railroad people were willing enough, and it
would have been go If those Congressman in
Washington hadn't passed that law against
Fitzsimmons and his crowd. After that, with
those Government Marshals and the Texas
Rangers prowling around, saw it was no use;
so declared myself out of the scheme and
came on to San Francisco. They wanted me to
hang on, but / said, 'No, thank you; Uncle
Sam deals game that l don't care TO buck
against"
General Superintendent Fillmore of the
Southern Pacific Company is what is known as
three-ply diplomat. Aside from being ex-
ceedingly clever in bringing things around to
conclusion that best suits himself, he is one
of the most approachable men in the yellow
building at the corner Of Montgomery and
Market streets.
Following is sample of Mr.. Fillmore's capac-
lty to say the wrong thing at the right time.
ADnlirant for fir1 oh hrnpZy WQVl-Mr
Fillmore, am very anxious to take a trip with
my wife and three children to Salt Lake. All.
ali. how about passes?
Mr.. Fillmore-Are you married man
Applicant Shifting the right leg to the left
knee)-Weli, somewhat. But testing aside, Mr..
Fillmore, you know, I suppose. of that little
turn did the company some years ago over in