Gilpin observer., 1905-11-30
An Old Pioneer Tells How the Idea Was
Evolved by The Inventor While Min.
ing in this District.
PUlLMANs EARLY STRUGGLES IN THIS COUNTY

from the east in the early sixties to dig
for gold relates some very interesting
history Of the camp at that time. Bush
was here when the celebrated Geo. M.
Pullman first conceived the idea of the
luxurious Pullman car. In an interview
had with reporter on a Cedar Rapids
paper, the gentleman had the following
to relate, which was published iu the
Journal in an issue OF recent date T.:
at was nearing dusk when, dinner
pail in hand, came down the mountain,
the days toll over. Seated near clump
of brush, hard by the trail, deserted a
figure bent over sheet OF blue print.
1t was George M. Pullman whom saw"
Waiting for train is tedious task at
best, so discovered Thomas Bush last
evening after an hour or two had elapsed
and time with inverse ratio to the clock
seemed to be travelling backward. The
clock indicated a quarter to seven; the
legend on the bulletin board, half after
seven. The psychology of travel drew
together the speaker and companion.
able individual in plain suit and cap.
When travelling people cast aside con-
ventionalities and meet on common
plane. They are attracted one to another
through instinct OF companionship, like
steel to magnet, it being readily admitted,
OF course, that the reviewer OF expert
ences personifies the magnet. A tale Of
pioneer days in Colorado mining camp
u l.
ed to you.
The Placer Fields.
"In the early sixties | shook the dust
OF New England village from my boots
and followed the course Of empire west
ward. From Omaha to Denver | drove
an old prairie schooner in payment for
my transportation and keep, and one
bright morning in early summer landed
on the then settlement on Cherry creek,
with one dollar in my pocket and a rug
ged constitution in my clothing. Denver
but village, or at very best town, did
not appear particularly enthused over
my arrival. The citizens seemingly took
no notice OF me, perchance they did, the
BitSthNcd was lLhb VI a raw
country youth, away from home-'a ten
derfoot il a frontier town'-to use the
parlance Of the plains.
Golden, thriving town in the foot
hills, was the hub in the Rocky Mount
ain Industrial wheel. Partly because my
reception at Denver had been far from
cordial, and Furthermore as my dollar
had long since vanished, set out afoot
for the hills. Arrived at Golden | fell
in with a party of prospectors, and pool.
ing my poverty with theirs, We struck
across the mountains for the placers in
Gilpin county, with "a firm determination
to mend our broken fortunes.
Origin OF Pullman Car.
"One evening while returning to my
cabin from the diggings, | discovered
George NJ. Pullman seated by the trail,
studying in the twilight blueprint
spread before him. In the camp he was
by occupation a miner and carpenter, so
only natural was my query:
"'Plans FOR cross cut in the mine or
for new house 2
Neither = he answered abruptly, re.
suming his contemplation.
Midnight oil was burned in the Pull.
man cabin, and then one day, months af-
terward the proprietor Of that domicile
went east The next we heard was that
an innovation, a luxury in railway travel
had been invented-the Pullman sleep
ing car. Among others, Judge Munster,
who kept shop on Gregory street. hav-
ing landed there in 81, averred that he
always knew George M. Pullman was
man who would do something great,
once he got started
"Although he never returned for more
than two or three days visit, Pullman
for a long time had interests 10 the camp.
The mine he once worked was abandon
ed, for he had found greater wealth. The
old shaft house, a monument to his early
struggles, still stands on the mine site,
at the forks OF the Mountain City and
Black Hawk trails. That is the birth.
place OF the Pullman palace car, for II
WAS there that the idea flashed through
the brain Of the inventor. Death has
since claimed Pullman and his associate
OF western pioneer days, DR.. Harsh. But
Pullman cars will run on, perhaps for.
ever.
"a man is old at seventy, and has run
his course in life, and 80 before return
to New York I am going to visit Bobtail
hill In Gilpin, and once more pause, II
for only moment, on the old cabin
trail"