The times., 1897-07-25


to city OF nearly 100000 inhabitants in
less than two years.
Fabulous fortunes We're made in few
months. These were acquired, however,
not by hard work at tie mines, but by
floating bogus companies when the fever
was at its height. There was no placer
mining, and before the reef could be made
profitable immense machinery had to be
carried over hundreds of miles OF rough
country. But the gold was there, and the
output last year equaled that OF any other
country OF the world
The United States had its next great
epidemic OF gold mining fever early in
1883. when the discoveries in Lower
California created intense excitement along
the Pacific coast. The Santa Clara dis
trict, to which the crowds rushed, was
about 40 rules south OF San Diego and
forty west of Resanaga. During March,
1853, an average of 600 inen reached the
mines each day. The town of Ensanada
was practically deserted by males
one OF the first workers washed out
$4,000 worth of gold in four hours near the
hancho Real del Castillo The pan deposit
was mainly OF black sand, from which the
gold was easily extracted by the aid of
amalgamated copper plate. 4 Mexican
digger took out 81 300 in two days In
the space OF eight feet square.
The price Of provisions during March az
The diggines was tremendously high. Five
collars was paid for fifty-pound sack of
Hour ard S3.50f for a ten pound sack Gf oat-
meal Drinks were 2 bits Go cents each.
it was in this same year, during the sum
mer or 1883. that Nc. ;Creede, who killed
himself last Week, discovered his famous
Holy Moses mine In Colorado, and other
rich deposits, which attracted thousands to
Tie widest regions about the Willow Creek.
There the town Of Creede was subsequently,
built.
Meantime prospecting had been going
on In the Cripple Cree district of Colorado,
anu IL was to this vicinity that the
next grand rush Of areonauts was des-
tineu 10 be directed Bob Womack q
cowboy, was the first to find ore In
Poverty Gulch. He took it to ColoTa do
springs late in 1890, and the float was
FOUND to yield S240 to the ton Edward
de La Vergne, T. F. Frisbie and Dr. j.
r Grannis then put up the Broken Box
ranch on Cripple Creek, located a claim
under the name of Eldorado. This was
the first claim registered in the district
Next NJ. c. Lackford located the Blue
Bell in squaw Gulch, and Bob Work.
Denver barber, located the Rose Maud,
which slowed ON one of the earliest
ASSAYS no less than $4,000 per ton
In July. 1s91. the Buena Vista and the
Gold King mines Were located. When
the Buena Vista wa sold to Count Pour
tails and Z. c. Parrish, of Colorado Springs,
the attention of the entire country was
called to the Cripple Greek gold fields,
and the rush began. Over the wind-swept
Rocky Mountain tops or waist deep through
tbe showi in the gullies the determined d body
OF treasure seekers poured upon the dis.
trict, and claims were staked in all direc-
tions.
From Mineral Hill to the creek bed the
mountain sides were covere with claims.
as was all the ground un both sides Of the
lines, regardless of the cha racter Of the
rock.
Many harships were endured at Cripple
creek In these early days of its popularity,
ana to such as were successful the life was
q rough and distasteful one a best.
One of the wealthiest men at Cripple
Creek at the end of 1893 was Winfield s.
stratton, Who was accounted to be worth
from S15, 600. 600 to S25, 900, 900. He had
tired LIS luck in all the camps In the
state OF Colorado, and Was one of the
Hrst TO enter the Cripple Creek district.
at that time he had no money at ALL
After prospecting around he had made
up his mind to pack up his traps and go
back to hisold work as carpenter when
he discovered the yellow metal on piece
OF float picked up ON ground owned by
Dick" Houston. the Indian scout, and the
Father of Cripple Creek
1t was the morning of July 4. and STRAIT
ton called the claim he located the In
dependence. He had at that time no
great hopes Of the claim. but few weeks
later the assayels told him that the rock