Cañon City record., 1902-07-24
JUDGE MACON TELLS
OF 0LDEN TIMES


In an interview with a Denver
paper the other day Judge Thoma.
Macon tells some interesting things
about the early days in Canon Citv.
He said:
Il landed in Canon. City in 1859
and found Just two families there, but
there were residences enough TO ac-
commodate population of 2,OOO.
There were stores and dwellings, some
fine looking ones of stone and Others
of logs, commodious and warm The
Missourians had scattered through the
state, some to California gulch. some
TO Fairplay, and so on to the various
mining camps in the mountains.
'In the winter they came down to
Canon City and built good substantial
homes and stores When the war
broke out the Missourians-who are
back TO enter the army, and when l
got to Canon City it was a deserted
village There was a blacksmith by
the name oil Rudd. who is still living
there, and a man named Wilson, who
was social, moral and political out
law.
My wife and 1 took our pick of
one of the stone houses and settled
ourselves comfortably. She had
brought a piano with her and it
proved the attraction of the place
The Ute Indians used TO pile by the
hundreds into town and would go al
most crazy with delight when she
played un it
''The winter following Father Dyer
came to town TO preach a revival. An
Englishman across the river named
Catlin. and old Jim Smith, who lived
on Hardscrabble creek, came down
to the meetings as there was nothing
else going on.
IF you have never been to re-
vival you don't know what the real /.
thing Is. The scheme Is TO work on
the emotions of the people, first by 4
preaching and singing, after which |
the exhorting begins and the sinners /
are urged TO come TO the mourners' |
bench.
Zone night after Father Dyer had /
been eShorting for some time, and /
matters seemed pretty dull, he began
to move about among the people, put
ting his hands on those who seemed
to be in a state of indecision, praying
that they might be saved. He came
too old mar Catlin, who was leaning
his head on the bench in front of him,
sound asleep.
- How do You feel, brother, = eS-
claimed Father Dyer, slapping him
ON he back.
q" Feel shouted the old man, rudely
awakened, using most blasphemous
word. I feel worse and worse all the
time,'
"A few seats back on the same aisle
sat Jim Smith, who had been asleep
and snoring half an hour. Father
Dyer reached him in time, and bring
ing down his hand in his customary
way, he asked: How do you feel
brother:'
" Bully, you bet" he yelled.
This was more than the fervor of
the house would stand for and the
meeting broke up, and not sinner
reached the mourners' bentch. though
the place was full of them
Il remember once when Bishop ,
Randall came down there and We en-
tertsined him at our house. He WAS
much interested in the Indians He ;
had been out from Rhode Island but
a short time and was not yet hardened
to the ways OF the wilderness. Jack,
a yong Ute, who was usually spOkes-
man for Chief Ouray, who. though he
could talk English perfectly, prefer
red TO use Jack as an Interpreter, was
hanging about the house and Bishop
Randall asked him if he werc
Christian.
- Yes said Jack.
- How many wives have You got =
" oh, me have lot women, just
like Mormon - me Mormon, ans
wered Jack proudly, which shocked
the bishop exceedingly.
new METHODS OF