The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-06
GOLD At CRIPPLE creek
Thirty Millions in Ore Already in
Sight.
VERY BADpLACE FOR POOR MEN
Pneumonia Kills Off Strangers by the
Hundred - Chairs Rent Mt Fifty
Cents o Night and Games
Arc "widc Opcu.''


San Francisco. Feb. 5.-John Cam
eron.. the well known mining man OF
this city. has returned from Cripple
Greek. whittier he went six weeks ago.
He reached this city on Monday morn
ing and since that time has been con-
stantly sought after for information
I'm connection with the great Cripple
Creek country. The stories which he
tells of the existing conditions In and
about the new mining camp are of the
greatest interest.
In his opinion Cripple Creek will un-
doubtedly prove In time one of the
most phenomenal gold-bearing sections
in the world there being one property
there which. according to experts. has
actually in sight over $50 O00, 900 worth
uf gold ore.
Despite, however, the promising out
look, ,AIr. Cameron is disposed to re-
gard Cripple Greek at the present mo-
lnent as about the worst place on earth
for poor man. People unaccustomed
to the terribly cold weather of that part
of Colorado are dying by hundreds
from pneumonia and other lung dis
eases. and during the last ten days of
his stay Mr.. Cameron states that the
deaths from pneumonia alone aver
aged ten people per day. Money Is
there in the greatest profusion in the
hands of Eastern people, and the spec
frishtful proportions. Provisions are
enormously high. and gambling Is
being carried On to an extent that is
almost Uncomfortable.
lmediately upon his return Mr. Cam
eron Went 10 the home of his friend.
Lawyer James A. Stevens where he
was seen today.
Yes" said he. ~ have come back
from Cripple Creek. aud | am content
To remain away from there until warm
er weather sets in. IL is undoubtedly
one of the most wonderful gold bearing
sections ever discovered. Just few
days before ] left the owners of the In
dependence mine We're offered by an
English syndicate SIC. .OO0. 600 in cash for
The property. This is not mere hear
say. ! know 1t to be an actual fact.
The Field Is Limited.
I'm my impression, however, the field
Is very limited one. "a nd In COMPARE
lively short time prospectOrS will have
discovered all that there is to be found
In the locality. The two largest mines
are the Independence and the Victor.
and though the possibilities of these
properties are apparently unlimited.
neither one Is working over gang of
hundred men daily. The daily ar
rivals there are almost beyond comprc-
hension. People are coming from all
parts Of this country. from Africa and
Australia. A great majority of them
have money. but the majority have
come with limited means and some
only with a few dollars over the price
which they had to pay for their trans
portation. You can imagine the condi-
tion of affairs when I tell you that the
thermometer averages Is degrees be-
low zero nearly all the time and that
hundreds of these Deoole have never
been Nposd to tn hardshps which such
weather brings.
The houses are chiefly built of board
and canvas. Here and there are some
brick structures. but they are eXcep-
tions. The accommodations are utter
~ inadequate for the demand. and there
are hundreds of people iii Cripple Creek
today who will consider themselves
fortunate if they have been able to Sc
cure the use of chair to sleep in at
cost of 80 cents and 81 a night.
THE cost of provisions is equally
great. No satisfactory meal can be Sc
cured for less than 81. The ground is
covered with snow. and although this
subjects prospectors to great disad-
vantage. their energy is apparently un-
limited. and they are pushing along
with the greatest activity. As all the
ore has to he carried away from Cripple
Creek to he smelted the work in con-
nection with this transportation pro-
vides a great deal of employment. but
there are, as might be expected, hun
portunity to make the cost of the scan
tiest living.
Many Deaths Daily.
As / have already stated to you.
there are a great many people dying
there every day. and the facilities for
caring for the bodies of the dead are
very sadly limited. and the friends OF
those who succumb consider them
selves fortunate if they can secure the
niCst primitive sort of coffin and
grave for their departed.
1.-THE mining speculation,as compared
with that of Comstock days. is COM
parativly insignificant. A fiuctuation
there of an eighth and quarter of
dollar is regarded with interest and an
advance of $40 and S12 per share causes
"a grea: deal of excitement l can re-
member when certain properties on the
ComstOck have been listed in the morn
ing and sold before the close of the
same day for a price several hundred
dollars in advance of the original quo
tation
So far as the reports of the lawless-
ness of the community are concerned. 7
can only say that found them to be
greatly exaggerated. OF course. a
great deal goes on there that would be
considered alarming i'm "a thickly pOpu-
lated center. but on the whole law and
order are preserved.
Inc SafIlDnIs HOUSES run nlpnt anu
day,and the stakes are sufficiently high
and low to accOmOdate the various
classes of the speculative population.
Hotel managers, restaurant keepers
and saloon men are simply coming
money. Beer is so cents bottle. and
the liquor men absorb an enormous
revenue from renting chairs i'm which
they allow men to sleep during the
night.
''As an indication of the extent Of
real estate speculation there i can tell