Gilpin observer., 1904-01-21
DEATH OF W. Z. cozENs

came TO Jte 'l'iNeS can itStoH ei''' y
1859 and settled iu the Gregory mining
district. Under the so called organic
ton of Arapahoe county, Kansas, by or
der of Gov. James w. Denver. Jach Kel
er appointed Mr.. Cozens his deputy for
the gold region. Arapahoe county en-
braced about all the country OF which
anything was known. When the terri
tory of Colorado came to be organlz d
under the act of congress of February,
1861, a general election was held, when
Jesse L. Pritchard was elected sheriff of
Gilpin county, and he appointed Mr..
Cozeus his chief deputy. In 1852 Prit-
chard resigned, having been appointed
major of the Third regiment Colorado
Volunteers by Gov. j John Evans, Cozens
served out the unexpired term, when
he was elected sheriff, and continued in
that Office for SIX years, by viture of sue
cesve elections.
He was one of the bravest and most
admirable men in all the chief elements
of his character in this country has ever
produced. Entirely fearless in the dis
charge of his duty there were many
times in the course of his career when
his courage was tried to the utmost. In
all my experience of the turbulant period
which marked the early settlement of
Colorado, | have never known but one
parallel, and that was Gen. D. j. Cook,
formerly marshal of the city OF Denver
and subsequently sheriff of Arapahoe
county.
The two frequently operated in the
pursuit and capture of desperate crimi-
nails. l was intimately acquainted with
Mr.. Cozens and witnessed many of his
most daring deeds. l saw him defend
prisoners he had captured, and und r
the law was bound to protect, agans.
vast mobs of men bent upon lynchiug
them. Some of these episodes have been
published in the Post, one of them in the
edition of Jan. l, this year. therefore it
is unnecessary to repeat them here. But
the iucidert following which illustrates
his resolute determination never to leave
the trail of criminal he was sent to ap-
prehend, has never been published.
10 1865, if | remember correctly, a
horse thief escaped from the old rick
ETY. log Jail in Central City and fled to
to Leporte in Larimer county, where he
stole horse and plunged into the
mountains, evidently bound for the wild
erness of the North Park. Cozens fol-
lowed him to Leporte, and striking the
trail pursued it until his horse fell ex-
hausted, then continued on foot. There
were no settlers in that vast stretch of
country Having no provisions he nearly
perished for the want Of food, but when
the pangs of hunger became well nigh
unbearable, he bucked his belt to the
last hole and kept on. As his STOMACH
cried out for relief he showed his gloves
into the empty space beneath his belt
and continued on his way until he found
his man in the North Park. His horse
had also given out and being unable to
secure another, he had fled on foot.
When Cozens came up with him he was
nearly dead from hunger and fatigue.
Cozens. brought him back to Central
City, where he was tried, convicted and
sent to the penitentary. The great
sheriff as We all knew him, never allowed
prisoner or any number of them to es-
cape from his custody when Cnce within
his grasp He was different from any
other individual of his time.
Possessed of happy disposition, he
sang the songs of the borderland, laugh
ed, told funny stories, was little pro-
fame at times, but rarely touched liquor,
and resoutely opposed gambling. 1t
was impossible to praw him into the re-
cital of auy Of his remarkable adventures
in the capture of criminals for publica.
tion in the newspapers. He never blus-
tered or boasted of his deeds, and, al
though known as one of the most ex-
traodinary men in his line of duty, no
incident was ever colored or elaborated
for the hearing OF the multitude. When
desperate was to be taken he started
after him alone, frequently travelling dey
and night. into regions where no white
man lived. And he always returned
with his captive.
About thirty years ago he purchased
ranch in Grand county at tho head OF
Fravsr river, then known as The Hay
stacks" and began making improve
ments for permenant home. About
three years later his term as sheriff OF
Gilpin county having expired, and his
business affairs being defnately settled
he removed from Central City to the
new home and started "A hotel. This
place was known far and wide for the
excellence OF its hospitality. All tourists
to and from Grand Lake and Middle