Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-06


Johnston party entered what Is now
called Iowa Gulch. and the Stevens
crowd tried their luck in another
snlch TO the left. For IL time neither
party had any success. The Stevens
crowd became hungry and n man
named Slater started for the cache.
lii his absence Abe Lee BEGAN To
pan some worthless looking dirt II
Kill time. and one of his companions
dcrisivcly called out:
We'll, what have YOU got?"
I've got California right hero in
my pam" he answered.
Ills companions ran I'M to no
shown, and found that he had made a
phenomenal strike. The pistol shot
brought the other party to the spot,
claims were stakcd and new mining
district was born. II was named Cali.
| fornia Gnlch. in honor of Abe Lees
remark, and in sixty days contained
forty thousand people.
| Like the miners of Washoe. those
OF California Gulch were worried nj
most 10 the point of insanity nv n
heaNy sand that clogged their sIuice
boxes It was silver, but they didn't
Know H. In ten years they cleane |
| UP twenty-five million dollars in gold
ANA throw away probably one hun.
! ured and twenty-five million dollars
IN that worthless" black sand. The
placers were finally exhausted and
| me camps of California Gulch were
AL deserted, excepting four or five
ioS cabins that never became tenant.
less. In 1876 the first ton of carbon
ne ore was hauled by oxen to ST.
LOUIS, and the year following three
hundred tons made the long Journey
across the mountains anu plains.
ihen shelters were built at Lcndville
ana the greatest ca"bonite camp III
me worlds history was fairly launch.
ed upon its remarkable career.
In 1856 shallow prospect hole on
Mount Pisgah, Teller county Colo.
was sailed, and an attempt made to
unload 1t upon bunch of tcnderfeet
from New York and iPttsburg. ItI
didn't work. If it had the tendcrfeet
would have had wealth thrust upon
them, for that sailed prospect hole
is now the mine shaft of one of the
biggest producers of the well known
Cripple Creek district.
Forty years ago Lcvi Welty squat.
ted on the land where Cripple Greer
new stands, and for Il quarter of n
century the site of the famous gold
camp was COW pasture. Welty was
bought ont by the Wumach family.
who perfected the title, but who sold
out to others about 1888 or 1889.
.owcVer. Bob Womach, afterward
known as Lucky Bob" had taken IN
a tract in ReQuia lNsch, where he con.
lihued in the cattle %psiness. putting
IN his spare moments, when not rid.
ing on the range, prospecting. He was
typical cowpuncher, riding like II
centaur and drinking "Toas light.
ming" by the gallon. Finally he built
himself cabin in Poverty gulch AMI
dug a prospect hole on what is now
known as the El Paso lode of the
COD King mine. He liked the looks
Oh II, and went to Colorado Springs,
where he succeeded in inducing Dr.
j.. +. Grannls to go and see what he
thought of it,
Not many days later five men wan.
dered INTO Poverty gulch. They look
ea AT the holes the others were dig.
SinS. sand the place was no good
and started for other fields. They
had gone only short distance when
one Oh thelr burrows suddenly became
lame. so they decided to 20 into camp
u.
the men went 10 the creek and began
panning dirt. He didn't get much
cclor; but it doesn't take much TO
encourage n prospector, so tho marty
decided TO remain. Then they set ia
work to build cabin. DURING its
construction one of the men fell from
the roof, alighting on dog. breaking
his own arm and the dogs leg. Count.
ing the burro, that made three Grin.
pies In the budding camp So 1t was
named Cripple Creek.
1t became the fashion for Colorado
Springs and Nanitou people to 60 to
Cripple Creek Ind stake claim. One
VINO went because everybody else was
going was Winfield Scott Stratton.
Net having three dollars and fifty
cents for stage fare, he walked. He
picked out claim that suited him.
although practical miners said 1t was
no. good. He was carpenter by
trade, tramp by occupation and
drunkard by choice. So his shaft
advanced slowly. One day he went
10 senator Wolcott, told HIM he had
a good prospect kut no money, and
oiiered to deed an undivlued one-half
interest for three hundred dollars
and TO spend every cent of the money
In developing the mine. The sen.
ator was practical mining man. and
regarded STATIONS Independence
mine as huge joke. my dear fel.
low he said, Il am sorry for you, but
wouldn't give three cents for the
whole thing"
Suatton worked little and held
10 MS claim. Finally his landlady
Turned him out because he had never
PAID her cent. But for the good
nature of two Irishmen who took him
IN and shared their cabin and food
with him it is hard to guess what
would have hecnme of him