The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-04
COLORADO'S DAWSON CITY
Located Where Ereer1On Once Starv-
I'd and FrOZe.

Conon City, Col, Jan. 3.-Ten miles south
of Canon City is the new Dawson City 10
which 200 men, women and boys have
focked during the past month to be in on
the gold find. B. I. Dawson, B. y. Daw-
son, I. F. Dawson, ]. B. Hannum and
D. w Bonewitz, all of Canon City, own
the Copper King. The original claim was
staked out out on January last by b. y.
Dawson, who decided that it was likely
copper prospect. Work progressed all last
summer, but no developments encouraged
the miners TO believe that they were ever
to be great capitalists.
The miners were preparing winter quar-
ters and laying in a stock OF wood. The
ruggedness of the ground did not leave
sufficient level for decent wood pile, so
they put in a shot of dynamite TO blow
hole out of the side of the mountain.
Right at their feet was about pretty
a display Of gold ore as ever delighted the
eyes Of man. Gold stood out in pellets
from the granite, and glistened in the light
of their fire like frost on the coat Of
Sunday school Santa Claus.
They sank another hole, carefully in
serting a second cartrige, sent another
out all over the rock and the face Of the
shaft shown with yellow light.
Hastily packing several hundred pounds.
they prepared for a trip TO the nearest
town. where they could procure the ser
vices Of an assayer. Next day the as
saver reported that the rock ran at the
rate of S6.41s to the ton. When one I'M
derstands that ten dollar ore in free gold
Is a paying proposition, the result may be
ina gined.
One ton meant a moderate fortune; ten
tons implied a competence. and a hun
dred tons would pass the million mark.
Dawson's town site is the exact location
where General John c. Fremont made
his fatal stop fifty years ago. L was the
Christmas Of 1S4S while exploring for q
railroad across tn continent, that he
camped IN the Greenhorn range. His party
mules.
Snow fell that night to the depth OF %
feet and the little army was snowbound.
They could neither advance nor retreat.
relief expedition Uas determined upon
by the General. and a forlocn hope. COM
prising three trained scouts. was sent in
hope Of reaching Taos. y. N. $50 miles TO
the southeast. through an unknown coun-
try.
One OF the scouts died on the way. and
the other two reached their destination
after terrible hardsnips. For two weeks
they crawled on their hands and knees
through the snow. Just as they were OF
the point Of sinking an accidental shot
brought dawn q deer. Before clis they
had eaten their peIts and leather boots.
Meanwhile the Pathfinder and 2 remnant
Of his party struggled back 70 Santa Re.
On the first after the big ind va. made
known Two score OF persons were dropped
by the stage az the town site. and then
came in quick succession pack animals.
saddlehorses and private conveya1c=s de-
livering miners and investors from neigh
boring towns. on the third day three
lines OF stages were in operation between
Canon City and the gold fields. and before
the close OF the third day there vas 4 -own
Of fifteen houses. including three saloons.
and a restaurant, In full operation BY
the end Of the week this nucleus had in
creased IN twenty-five houses
A Winchester guard had been es,ab-
ushed around the Copper King shaf-.a7d
no one vas PERMITTED even 20 gaze into
The ten-fo5t hole. he contents OF which
served as a basis for the excitement The
committee raised the blockade ard CD
tanned Gre Specimens we're sent OF Den
YER. Pueblo md Leadv5Ie, widely se7er-
a,ed 50 there could b. 10 COLLISION n
manipulating returns TIE results were
most satisfactory. and now 5, remains
fer The camp &c prove is value uy the
acuaI tesc % development
AL the mining world % Colorado hung
upon the report. though wiSeacres refuse
YET 10 believe that gold exists IN more than
Pockesy quantities for they cauao; COZ
vince themselves cha- ia geological for
masi0a carries more thsz stray particles
q the precious metal.
The frankness with which a I7-year-.,d F.
girl refers 70 herself as ~ cd maid :
certainly amusing. 4!