The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-21


ness sometimes attributed 70 Cripple
Creek; granting its unique position as
one OF the few-renafning comparatively
new frontier and mining camps, the town
appears to be weIl-reguIated- There is
not, for instance. IN spite Of the enorm-
Gus crowds here this week. any more vice
seemingly nor any more trouble than
YOU viii find in town in Kansas OF It's
size or quiet day. IN other words, Grip
pie Creek is not as bad as it has been
painted
Tt has been related Of Horace Greeley
that once ne asked a young protege who
had gone west how he liked Texas.
Wen. the young man replied, there
are only two things lacking.
What are they2" inquired Greeley.
Good water and society" the young
man said. TO which Greeley made reply:
That's al hell needs"
Cripple Creek has the water. for It
comes down in abundance from noun
tainsides. hut it IS rather short on society.
b. this, I do not mean there are no
people with social inclinations IN the
town. but rather that il is so new that
social functions and social matters in
their broader sense do not seem 70 OBJ
tain. The population. OF course, Is cos
mopolite. and every man meets his fellow
on his own level So far as that Is con-
cerned, the town is Utopia But the elite
OF the town ten years ago didn't have
very much 10 entitle It 10 that distinction.
and II doesn't put on many airs herein
Colarcd Springs it does. For instance.
the millionaire bank pesident of today
was a laborer ten years ago. The big
financial man and mfne-owner Of now was
then q carpenter; or a plumber, or
stage-driver. The broker who would
take high place with his family elsewhere,
perhaps, on account Of his wealth. was
probably camp-cook or something ten
years ago. II is too close to former life
for there to be social stratas; hence what
I mean By the lack of society.
The history Of how gold was discovered
in the district IS Of interest This IS the
way an old-tiIner tells Il;
In 1890 Bob Womack. who may he
looked upon as the discoverer Of Cripple
creek. came up from the Springs. with
Nessrs. Bryan and Frisbie. The district
was then occupied by cattle ranches, and
* was known as good feeding ground
They built cabins and sunk shafts and
prosecuted work IN the search for vel
low metal Assays were made and ire
mendous returns given. but they were
not believed. It seemed like a dream
from the Arabian Nights. and not as
though il could be true. The fact that
so many men had passed over the ground
made people doubt for, they argued II
there was gold in the silent hills, why
should il not have been discovered long
long years ago.
Bat ore was shipped out in gunnysack
lots. and the test of fire applied. but even
then people doubted. Visions Of the for
MGR Pisgah excitement fitted before
their turned heads
But the work Of the determined men
bAran TO attract attention. and in $3.50
probably q score OF men were at work
driving tunnels and sinking prospect
holes. with Indifferent success and with
no announcement whatever. or assist
ance of any kind on the part OF those
who lived outside Of the great hills
In october. 1901. a few coarse nuggets
Of gold were washed in SQuaw guleh and
were carried into the city of Florissant
They were placed in the hands OF T. b.
Pvles. resident Of that town. He placed
The tfuv treassre in bottle and took the
train for Denver, and the next morning
the state vas startled by the announce
rpent that one Of the richest gold camps
I'm the world had been discovered People
rushed into the new Eldorado BIS the
hundreds and the thousands II was an
extremely cold winter. Shelter from the
weather was almost impossible. The
ground was covered with snow, and
many returned disappointed and speak
Ing vyosds calculated 70 disparge the
rev camp. But nevertheless. from the
middle OF October to the first day of jan
uary s200oo5 worth of gold was found,
mostly in nugget form
Then the Victor mine, a small hole in
the ground sent out q small shipment
and w. :. Stratton. who had located on
Battle mountain occasi ually sent 81 or
81 rounds Of ore 10 the market Had it
not been for the placers just northwest
Of town the camp might have failed az
the most critical moment in its history.
As long as gold was taken out there the
naonle STAYED. but money was scarce
Everybody came prepared 70 stay or
move when the bottom fell out Of the eN-
element.
W. s. Stratton is the big man Of this
district. he owns the Independence mine.
and several others Tt is Independence
which has brougt him his wealth how
ever. Ten wears ago Stratton was a poor
-,--,srt.,- IN f-.lo-a,7o Strings He would