The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-16

lItimes in that three hours than in
any hours Of our lives. The engine
reminded me, as it was climbing
} sIskyward, OF Satan taking our Lord
TO the top Of high mountain, to
show Him the Kingdoms OF the
earth. 1t is a navel Of twentieth
century engine ering. OF course, il
lis not SO iiercely direct in height as
!, Pixies Peak, but the tunnelIing, the
bridging Of yawning chasms and
canyons, and the comrounding of
loups 80 a. to conquer the grades,
are perfectly astounding When
approaching the verge of cliffs from
one thousand 10 fifteen hundred feet
high, it really seemed as though the
Iron horse himself would cringe and
shudder at the sight. Men and an
limals seen below looked like small
dolls and toys. But the road bed, (,
rails, engines, and machinery are
of the very best. The engines that
draw two cars weigh one hundred
and ninety thousand pounds, or
ninety-ive tone. Out Of an abund-
anoe Of care and precaution, every
trestle and bridge is provided with
a double set of timbers. The grade
keeps climbing, affording magnii-
cent views, until point about two
miles above the sea level is reached
and then it gradually descends till
it reaches Cripple Creek. In Grip
lple Creek, and the surrounding
camps and country, there are now
living about fifty thousand people.
Ten years ago there was nothing
there, not a hut, nothing but hilly
COW pasture with few branded cat
tie scattered about. One could have
bought a thousand acres Of the land
for fifty dollars. Cripple Creek 3
an Incorporated city of twenty five
thousand people with blocks OF fine
brick buildings, theaters and banks.
\ We met Bruno Hobbs, young
man born in Dubois county, and he
lis Vice President and Cashier of
"The Bank Of Cripple Creek" In
ten years this has become one OF the
greatest gold producing regions in
the world. The COW pasture has
disappeared, and the populous city,
with several splendid electric and
steam car lines, has taken its place
while from under that sod millions
Of dollars Of gold have been dug.
, Over one hundred millions Of dbl
lars Of gold bullion have been taken
, out there in ten years. Dividends
paid on mining stock there has been
nearly twenty million dollars in ten
years. Last year the dividends
!, were more than seven and one hall
millions OF dollar. The deeper the
mines 60 the richer the old ore be-
comes. Leading miners claim that
in reality they have only scratched
the back Of the hills yet, and that
in fifty years from now the real
wealth OF the mines will appear.
Winfield Scott Stratton, Jeffer
sonvllle, Indiana, carpenter, was
the man that made Cripple Creek
and it made him.
For fifteen years he pursued
evasive fortune in gold mining
through the mountains Of Colorado
Footsore, weary and penniless, year
after year, he returned to Delver OF
Colorado Springs, to turn his hand
to his trade after his money was
gone. But every time he got q
stake he returned to sink t in pros
pecting. On the first Of July, 1891
he said to al associate, 81 guess !
am a Jonah. | am tired OF cold
pork and beans, and Of sleeping on
the ground with the sky for a roof
ard now that my money is gone,
III work my way to Jeffersonville,
Indiana, and stay there, and live
a carpenter" Still he say he was
haunted by premonition that he
would strike it rich. His wife,
whom he had neglected 80 many
years, had, at the previous March
term Of the Clark County Court,
been granted divorce on account
of his abandonment. This had
bothered him and caused him to
want to return to Indiana. 1t was
on the morning Of July A, 1891
} that he slipped his little bundle Of
J duds on to the handle Of his miner
pick, and, throwing the pick handle
on his shoulder, turned his steps
Iup along Bull Hill, with his face
toward Colorado Springs. ! was
told that he trudged along an hour
Ior more until he came TO where the
little town Of Victor is now located,
,it,,k thar fhavo xx-nc M btt n n a III