The San Francisco call., 1896-02-05

are scarce, and The CALL is pleased to be
aoie TO produce newsy one fresh from the
mining district sent by William l.. Ken
nedy, one OF the best known characters IN
TINS City and State. He writes as follows:
CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo, Jan. 80. 1896.
From 5000 feet above sea level send you
greeting. In the greatest gold-mining camp
on earth am satisfactorily located with the
brightest possible pros poets for money-rnaking
Imagine town, or rather city, of 20 600
persons, with surrounding territory contain
Ing some 10000 more, and then you can form
some idea OF the great crowds of people who
push their way along the narrow sidewalks OF
the few short streets which help form the city
OF Cripple Creek.
The name of the town was gained by an nc
cident which happened a cowboy few years
ago while herding cattle. His bronco threw
him into q gully and broken leg resulted.
owing to the absence OF skilled doctors the
cowboy became cripple.
Although buildings spring up as by magic,
they are not built fast enough to accommodate
the rapidly increasing population. Many of
the new arrivals are unable to secure lodgings
and 1t is O common sight to see men lying
asleep on barroom floors. The hotels have
signs posted up which read as follows: "Per-
sons who desire to sleep in chairs will apply to
the porter-charges, so cents"
Eating is comparatively cheap, while room
exc rents.for 81 per week. Water sells at 25
cents per barrel. and wood, which is the prin
cipal fuel, costs % cents an armful. could
not refrain from telling the old chap who
DrOuSHGln IaSI AfInIu1 lnAJ IA sooner nave
his graft than license to steal. He only
grinned in response. The saloons run all
night, and gambling runs in every saloon.
There is no great mystery in the geology OF
Cripple Creek, but 1t is a surprise that so many
true fissure veins exist and that nature has
been so lavish in the deposition of rich ore.
Each new vein now discovered means i'm
mediate wealth for the owner. There are
many streaks OF ore found which run over
hundred thousand dollars to the ton.
The miners of this district are a hardy class,
tlfN civ Ac
payday arrives they hurry to town in order to
nave what they call a good dme''-a grand
old drunk. On such occasions the nights are
made hideous by drunken laughter and
maudi1n songs. The squeaky violin gets in Its
voice OF the ever-pFesent concert-hall siren.
AND one Is lulled to sleep by the tune of "And
the Band Played On" which comes floating
through the air from some adjacent ''free and
easy" Yet with all the bad whisky, bad
women and worse men, there are few fights
this quiet state of affairs.
The notorious Jim Marshall, who is credited
with being the most expert pistol shot in the
West, is the Town Marshal, and the hard char
sooner face his satanic majesty than look into
the cold gray eyes of Jim Marshall. He rules
the camp with iron hand. person found
with revolver on him is heavily fined, and it
is doubtful if miner in the entire district car
rieS one
The city of Victor, four miles distant, where
the famous Independence and Portland mines
are located, is quite the reverse as regards law
ana order. Murders are frequent, while savage
fights are of daily occurrence.
In closing | might add that Cripple Creek
has its Press Club-about forty-eight members
All the Denver papers have represen tatives
here, as have also many of the large Eastern
papers. w. L. KENNEDY.