The copper era., 1902-06-26
STORY OF JACK FERRIS.
How Cripple Creek District Got it's
 Name.

Cripple Creek, the greatest gold camp in the United States, was 70 named from badly crippled prospect or who was found on one Of the main branches of the creek running through the district.
 It was away back in the year 1871 that a lone prospcctor by the name Of Jack Ferris unpacked bis burro and pitched camp at d place now called Anaconda, right in the heart 0, the Cripple Creek district. Gold was known to exist there a5 far back a. the Pike's Peak excitement in 1859, but no one had ever found what was con7id- cred pay dirt. Jack Ferris went there for the purpose Of placer mining, but after finding eO much gold bearing quartz scattered around came to the conclusion there must be some rich leads near by, so after supplying him. self with the necessary outfit he start ed d tunnel at the west end O. what l. now known as Gold Hill yso named from the first gold being found on it), and was driving directly toward what is now known as the Great Anaconda vein and was closer than ten feet Of the south wall Of the vein when q prema' ture explosion crippled him for life and lost him one Of the great gold mines Of Cripple Creek and delayed the discov- cry Of Cripple Creek for twenty years.
 The tunnel which, was only in about twenty feet, is plainly iu evidence to this day and known as the first hole dug in tho Cripple Creek district. Enough of the timbers are still intact to allow q man to crawl in at the open in. and one can stand erect at the breast. At that time miners used black powder for blasting. Jack had drilled Il hole, put in his powder, in- serted fuse and put q little dirt on top, when looking around for the tamp- ing stick he found it mad been misplaced, so instead he used an iron spoon for the purpose, which many miners often do to this day. He had run t up and down the hole but q few times when it struck fire on the rock and exploded, the charge tearing off his right hand completely, blinding one eye hopeless ly and severely injnring the other. His right leg was broken both above aud below the knee, about half his left foot was mashed to A pulp. Jack was in desperate condition, as he was l.. .,I, h l. ;, nearest neighbor. It was in Scptcm- Der, 1871, when Amos Wright and George Malcom, two typical Colorado COW punchcrs, were hunting up win ter range for their cattle, that they came upon the abode of Jack Ferris.
 Jack $ story is as follows:
 "ImmcdiateIy after the explosion l realized what had taken place and therefore took hurried mental inven- tory of myself Co see about what chance 1 had to remain in the land of the liv- ing. l knew almost instinctiyely that it was desperate case and that I must act at once. So within ten minutes had dragged myself out of tho tunnel, to my camp, not over fifty feet from the mouth of the tunnel. The first thing l did was to tie handkerchief around my wrist and one around my ankle to stop the flow of blood. l then cut up one of my shirts and bandaged my broken leg as best could, tying four narrow strips of board around the broken places. l then made clean cut across my hand and foot, picking out all the small pieces of bone 1 could find. then wrapped them up in lard and poured some turpentine on them.
 My eyes came in last to be dressed and by that tune l was too weak from loss Of blood to go further. was get ting very sore by this time, so l lay down and covered up in half fainting condition and cared but very little when l saw the sun go down that night whether 1 ever saw it raise again or not. It was sOlomn sunset for me. Imagine my feeling, or guess my thoughts, if you can, as lay tho. that clear June night without soul to com fort me or wait on me and no prospects of any. l got very thirsty during the night. but luckily had a bucket of water and Il gallon jug of whiskey within reach. The whiskey, d bottle Of turpentine and q small bottle Of Camphor was my complete line of medicine. l applied externally and took internally according to the quan- tity I had of each. The next morning l lelt it impossible to move, and then bepan to think earnestly of death, but along in the middle of the day l man aged to reach some of my canned goods and crackers. They formed my entire diet for three weeks. and such a three week. It was awful. The only domes- ticated living thiRg I saw during that time was my burro. I saw him prob ably once week. How glad I was to see him! His bray was as welcome as the song birds ot spring. If he would have only stayed close around camp nothing I had would have been too good for him. My eyes seemed to give me more pain than any other wound. My foot and hand would start to heal and then swell up and burst open and small pieces of bono or some foreign matter would come out. They nor my eyes, never entirely healed up till