The Washington bee., 1899-03-11
THE ISABELLA GOLD MINI.
Richest Strike in Mining His
tory the World Has
Ever Known.
PRODUCES SOLID GOLD.
The Story Reads Like a Fairy Tale
But There Is Proof in
Abundance.

"Isabellaw .Isabellar' is the only
| cry heard in Colorado. One hears IT
everywhere, for it has forced itself
into every abode, into every walk and
occupation of life. In the mining
camp the interest is lurid; in the rail
way office, in the store, on the street,
among rich and poor, the one word
Isabella" brings up vivid picture
| of untold wealth to even the feeblest
| imagination.
The cause of all this is the unheard
| of, the unparalleled strike which has
revealed great, glittering chunks,
| streaks-aye. feet-of solid gold.
One cannot convey in words the ex-
| tent of the richness of this great find
as it is reported. 1t reads too much
| like a fairy story to be credited. and
| it might be safe to assume that be
| levers in the truth Of this wonderful
reality, produced by Natures magic
wand, are very gullible. But it can
| not be cOntTDverted, for here Is a vein
| of the shining metal $50 feet long and
three feet wide, and it almost daZes
one to attempt to predict how much
| more may yet materialiZe. 1t is the
| richest 1ind-it cannot be called ore
that the world has ever known.
The Isabella mine of Cripple Greek
has undiSputed possession of all this
wealth. Even the 'gOb-stuff," or
what one may choose to refer TO as
low-grade ore, will run anywhere
from 81 900 to $4,000 per ton. The
readers imagination may be enliv-
ened as to the possible profit of this
mine when it is found that gold ore
at SO q ton, when found in sufficient
quantities, is considered bonanza.
All the land where Cripple Greek
now stands belonged to the Pixies
Peak Land and Cattle Company, and
they jealously guarded it. There was
one homestead on it when Robert
Womack began prospecting in 1891.
Complaint was made to the owner of
the ranch that the lives of range rid
ers and of cattle were endangered by
the many holes that Womack was per-
sistantly digging over the property.
He did not quite like the formation,
however, and was about to give up
his work, when one day he picked up
a rock to throw at an obstinate steer
that was roaming in the vicinity of
his claim. The weight of the stone
amazed him. With another rock he
quickly broke it open and he found
the inside fairly glistening with gold.
He lost no time in getting it assayed,
and found it $500 per ton. The news
of this strike caused prOspectOrs to
come in crowds from all parts of the
State
Colorado Springs was only twenty
miles distant, and the whole surplus
population soon emptied itself into the
COW pasture. Mining men did not be- I
lieve in it, and Denver let it pass. The
district has had hard battle with !
scepticism and incredulity, and it is
proud of its we'll earned laurels. In |
any event, the name of Robert Wo- |
mack is more intimately connected |
with the early gold discoveries of the |
district than any other. He gave a |
number of his claims away and sold |
others for mere song, and he is now |
not worth a penny. while those he as |
sisted are living in ease and atfiuence |
He endured many hardships that |
others might profit thereby, and he |
should have some substantial evi- |
dence of the gratitude of this active, |
bustling city of Cripple Greek, now so |
full of business and enterprise, but |
first called into life by Robert Wo- |
mack.
The Isabella mine consists Of about |
twenty different lodes situated Oh the |
richest portion of Bull Hill. on the |
north slope of the prominence The |
twenty claims contain about 155 acres. |
Joining the ground on the east is the |
well-known Victor mine, which has |
paid since its organization as a stock |
company $1,250,000. and is still pay
ing dividends at the rate of 100000 |
every three months. or 30 cents per
share. The principal producer of the
Isabella group until recently has been
the Buena Vista. which is now opened
up TO the depth of seven hundred feet.
Very little ore has been stopped on the
long vein below the five hundred foot
point.
The Buena Vista was located by
Sam DOugherty. Il stone mason of
Colorado Springs, in September. 1891.
In doing his assessment work he m
covered n vein and chute. but it was
badly broken up. He decided q one-half
interest in the property in November
of the same year TO Billy Steele and
John blair. The consideration was
that his partner should sink an addi-
tional twenty feet.
November 81. 1891. Count James
Pourtales. then resident of Colorado
Springs but now of Germany. paid
$4,000 for the lode The sale created
big sensation among mining men
throughout the State and country
and as it was the first big deal CON
summated in the new camp. Cripnle
Creek received great deal of adyer-
tising from it. Investors reasoned
that the new camp must be a wonder
and they We're right
Soon after the purchase Count pour-
tales interested J. J. Hacerman tbon
the silver king of Colorado. who was
receiving hundreds of thousands of
dollars in dividends each month From,
his famous Mollie Gibson silver mino
at Aspen. The Isabella Comnanv vras
incorporated and a large ACREAGE srr'
rounding the Buena Vista was toI,on
in. either by cash purchases or hr
shares in the new corporation F-an
| els T. Freeiand, one of tbo h.
known mine managers in the co,ntrS.
was appointed to take CHARGE Of .Sc
| Isabella ground. eie