The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-04
BONANZA STATIONS DREAM,
Wonderful Story of the Finding OF
independence Mine.

the richest man ever born and reared III
Indiana. He is now presumably a 70 fold
millionaire, and any day he feels like e1-
plotting his mines, he may become as rieh
almost as he chooses. An this wealth was
acquired in six years. simply as the result
of following the guidance of dream.
says the Jeffersonville Qnd.) correspond
emit of the Indianapolis News az
Stratton was born in this CITY July q,
1915 in double brick house, in Chestnut
street. between Watt street anu MeiSs
avenue. The structure, IN Its DAY, was
HANDSOME and is still a desirable dwell
ing. His father was Myron Stratton, who
died several years ago He was or Seotcn
descent. a we'll to do boat builder and
carpenter, and served Is years in the
Jeffers1nville city council. Tue mother
was Mary Ann HalStead, a CHRISTIAN lady
who came of a prominent German tandy.
Winfield Stratton had three sisters. Mrs.
Harriet Hamlin of this CITY, whose nus
band was a conductor on the j., M. x l.
road, and who had charge OF the tram
Wia.ch carried the Seymour mob from this
city to New Albany when the Renos were
hanged in 1863; MISS Molhe Straaton, Who
died 20 years ago, and Mrs Jennie Coop,
who. with her daughter. makes her nome
with the millionaire He had no BROTH
erS.
A. the age of 5 Winfield was placed in
school and remained there undl he was
II. He was bright pupil. Cad had an
ap.ness for drawing. When has education
was completed, he was placed IN the ap-
prentieeslip of Christian !<-yn, a carpen-
ter and builder, who Was extensively
known for his correctness as a drAuShts-
man This gave young Scranton chance
to develop his natural talent, and he BE-
anne a master builder and architect in
three years.
Afeer completing his apprenticeship he
went to EddyYiIle. Ia, to visit his sister,
and there he secured employment in a
drug store where he remained for SIX
months. He then returned II this city TO
Previous to this his mother had died.
About une time he Went 10 EddyVtlle his
father married Miss Helen Cline of Scout
County. An estrangement followed and,
finally. in 1872 after a quarrel with mis-
father. Winfield left IetferSouville sud-
denly. He Was heard from at Sioux City,
Ia. where he remained a short time and.
after visiting number OF places, ne went
10 Colorado Springs, Colo. in August of
the year during which s,e left this city.
He had sold his interest IN his father 5
estate to his sister, and when he reached
Colorado Springs ne had $500 hidden in a
beb- strapped around his body. work was
plentiful and he Immediately found em-
pioyment at his trade
Tae grandeur of tie mountains around
impressed him and ne could not resist
desire to investigate them as far as he
might. Cold was then icing found and.
though without experience his aim was
to become a prospactor and locate a mine
that would make him a rich man. Six
days in the weak found 'W.n Stratton
pushing the plane and guiding the saw,
but witch The dawn of Sunday he could be
seen making for tue mountain Businesses
( The oveT1nang11g crsgs a1ere delightful
pictures to his eyes anu the falling waters
music to his ears.
HIS travels were always made without
companion. AT times he traversed the
deepest hoI!ows of the Cheyenne canyons
whose perpendicular walls see the sun
| ligtlt only at high noon. Again his steps
LED him 20 the tJpmost pes, high above
the timber line, searching in his PRINT
tive way for the tndIca-i-us of the yellow
( metal Tired bruised, travel stained,
( night would find him returning 70 his
! boarding house. and ON Monday morning
! he would resume work with his plane and
! He failed to find gold, and without Civ
| ing up his researches, became a cortrac-
! tor. lie worked until the winter Of 1914,
! When a miner from the San Juaa country
! came 10 Colorado Springs HIS stories Of
/ marvellous finds Interested Stratton, Wh0
( mad by this time accumulated $1,000 il
/ cdSl- ana mad bought 4 i1ctle home, nav
{ ing married. Others also listened to the
( Jusa region and. as result. The SPRING
1 of 1874 found company organized, pack
| .ra.n hpted oft, and S/sai1ton and the
! SAN Juan man driving several well laden
I burros toward SilyeNscn. Strattcn had
/ bean so Impressed with the newly fouald
( friends stories that he had placed ais
/ $3.50 in uhe company and had become a
NTH owner The two prospscp5rs pur-
| chased the Yre-aba mime in Cunningham
| gulci and set TO work. The nine proved
failure and Stratton was bankrupt
I However. ne still retained his home IN
| incumnered, aad kept up his courage. He
! Continued his wanderangs IN ~ San Juan
! country during the springs, summers and
| early .4UtunIas. Winter found aim in Col
! orado Springs nursing the fever that
burned Tor gold Every spring found him
again Wibn MS burro On the m0un-atn tIa.l
rn4k:l- his way over swollen streams,
| through deep valleys and climbing hlgh
| HIS. prospecting alone. Ten years passed
| wAs1out d dollar 5 worth of gold being
discovered. He had m5ltgaged his house
and, during .ae winters, with Edrt Of The
proceeds, paid his attendance ii 4 mining
| college, wnere he took a full COURSE of as
! saying w3IA a blow pipe, as be.ttss adapt
| ell to MS prospecting tips After he had
finished his studies ne went to the Nash
! Old mills. 81 breckenridge, Colo, Wtere
ne renna ned s1me ttme. famtlIar.Zng him
seif with ule meut1ods OF working GOLD
| ores BY amalga NATION. There he formed
the acqnaaG7tance of a atthy mine own
e. who c5nsf,1esd to grub stake HIM.
In April, 1891, he fitted out two burros
and started for the Cheyenne mountains
On this trip he was accompanied by q
youth who had. been employed by the
stalker About May Is, the Two crossed
over the divide into the Cripple Creel
country number of claims were stakeo
off on Tendersoot hill. but neither Of
these developed sold in paying quantities
The gold hunters then went to Wilson's
creek, rot far from Battle mountain
and cam9ed there in cary June, Pros
pectinr was resumed, and float ore, run
ming as high as 1000 ounces TO the ton
was discovered Encouraged by the sur
face Indications Stratton continued worl
until about the middle of the month
without finding VEN. when ne became
greatly discouraged. The man who mac
agreed to grub stake" him refused II
assist further, and the assistant lief
Stratton, for fear that he would not bt
able 10 secure his wages His properly