Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-27
FIRE IN A MINING CAMP.


o. d. osrdsa.s nsans.i. Aems visited
hy slomeo.
The Mining Gaseste. Of Idaho
Springs. q copy Of which has been
received by TIE ARGUS. under date
OF July "a. contains IN account Of q
FIRE BY which the mining camp of ex-
Sheriff C. D. Gordon was visited.
The Gazette says:
Through Manager McFarlsne We
are enabled to give the particulars of
q recent confagration IN our neigh
boring baliwick. Uteville, - all
know. is situated in . romantic spot
between Max milan gulch and U,e
creek, and some so years ago was
the scene Of much activity. It was
founded and occupied by the discov-
erers of the Slower and other proper
ties in that vicinity and big were the
dreams of wealth. but the old
srastra at the mouth of Ute creek
failed to successfully save the values
in the surface groupings and smelt-
ing was too high; not to speak of
lack of good roads and the cost of
Transporting sacks of ore over
bridgless streams and rocky trails.
SO the cabins we're deserted and
given over to wild varmints. and
Digger Indians. But of late Q change
has occurred. The prince of gold
has kissed the pouting lips of the
sleeping b. auty. the cabins are filed
with new lie. tents spot the dell
here and there, and cap tai set ago.
ing pick, hammer and drill. The
owners of the Big Flat and Black
Lion mines have inaugurated opera
tons that already people that beau
tiful spot hitherto lroDicslly dubbed
.Uteville,' and indications point
with index finger to the certainty
that at 10 distant date Lamar
tine and Freeland will have to
look to their laurels, for there is
child born that promises great
things. A new district has started
that will be some pumpkins and
that not far away. Upun the night
in ques ion, the inha bItants were re-
posing in Morpheus arms. and
silence roasted upon the ridgepole
Of each tent. Not even gentle snore
emphasized the moan of the summer
zephyrs. Innocer ce. peace and con-
tentment reigned. logical resultants
of q supper such as Billy Gable is
wont to dispense to his guests when
he is feeling just right and the
heavens and girls are proPitious
But q spark from the managers
cigarette was slowly Gre ping
through the pine-needle carpet and
a wild cry of agony awakened every
SUM berer. The flames had reached
Gordon's Trilby. and by the time
assistance arrived his habitation
was in flames and he was dancing
around on the outside in decided
deshabille. The village was in dan
ger of total extraction with its speci-
mems of virgin gold and emascuiated
silver. Here came in the presence
Of mind of Pat Morris. Dashing
aside burning EN- ners, he cut the
ropes of neighboring tents and bore
them off triumphantly in his arms.
being ably supplemented by Che
other workers. who saved slabs of
SOW belly and other provender
Quick work was what did the biz.
"After passing a series of re.olu-
tions against cigarettes. the manager
signed 40 iron clad oath to hereafter
confine their consumption to some
of the remoter cannons But as q
Precaution fire company was or
ganized with P. Norris as foreman,
j. e. Kille, ladder lifter;C d. Cor.
don. ladder climber; Joseph Wild,
water rustler; Thomas Convill, ak.
man; W. A. Gable. hospital superin.
tendent and commissnry. Hon. Viii.
liam McEniry. Col. M. ChiIds. Jr.,
j. G. Burns and r. D. McCreery
were elected honorary members"
Ex-Oficer John Mulqueen and
Andy Holman. of this city, were re.
cent visitors at the Gordon camp.
Me-. Mulqueen is out in that coun,ry
for the benefit of his health, while
Mr.. Holman will probably make Col
orado his future home.