Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-20
TOM HIGGINS
TALKS OF OLD
TINE TRIALS
Pioneer of District, Who First
Saw Mule Pass 20 Years
Ago, Has Many Interesting
Memories of Struggle.

Tom Higgins arrived in Bisbee
last evening from the east, where he
has been visiting New Orleans, Baton
Rouge, and other important points
of the Mississippi Valley, and the
south. and win remain in Bisbee for
a few days visiting old associates and
looking over his mining interests at
this point. Mr.. Higgins is accompa-
MED by Mr.. and Mrs James o. Sward
Mrs. Sward being niece of Mr.. Hig-
gins.
Mr. Higgins spoke interestingly OF
the resumption of business in the
east, and says that activity Is rapidly
and noticeably resuming its former
status. Il was agreeabiy surprised in
finding business so generally on the
upgrade throughout the south, and
finding as well every one in most
encouraged state Of mind. Business
is slowly recovering in Los Angeles,
but not so sswiftly as in the south"
Mr. Higgins was one of the first 10
come to the present site of Bisbee, at
that time knwon as Mule Pass. ut
was about this time of the year in
1879 that l came along the trail from
said he last night. There was a
spring near the trail by the old work
ings of the Copper Queen mines, where
went into camp. 1t was lonesome
spot then, there being only four men
in the canyon. The trail which pass
ed through the gulch was formerly
used by Mexican smuggIers, passing
along from Mexico to Tucson, anu
back again. There were three cabins
here at that time, which had been
built some time before.
Il think it was the year OF II that
the Paymaster claim had been located.
This covered the present ground OF
the Copper Queen property, and there
was a cut in the side of the mountain
where some little work had been done.
The original Iocators of this property
let it lapse, and George Warren, after
whom the Warren district is named.
located it with two other claims. The
Copper Queen people secured a foot
ing in the month of May. 1880, and ev-
cry one knows what the history of the
camp has been with the advent Of
this company.
81 made my first location here in
the month of March, $780, We were
not looking for copper at that time,
but were all anxious to find gold and
silver And It was mighty hard to do
business. The strike which took place
at Tombstone, and the burning down
of some Of the improvements, gener-
ally retarded things, and turned cap
itypal to north, into Montana and
other points. Then mining men did
not understand this district, and when
they came down here, and did not find
the lodges distinctly defined, and clean
walls, they generally condemned the
camp and left us to work out our own
destiny. l doubt if | would ever go
through the same long tug of war,
beset with DISC Fragments and hard
ships, and leaving properties and then
relocating them again and again, with
cut thinking very seriously. No ONE
knows what it means without going
through the ordeal. No one visited US
from month to month, and l was iso-
lated in the mountain fastness dream
ing OF success or failures, and won
dering if conditions would ever change
for the better
But the time did not come when he
was paid for all his pTivations and
long waiting, for some of the best
properties owned by the Calumet &
were bought from MIN. He
owns the Higgins mine here. He has
some of the most valuable property
in the city of Los Angeles. and re-
ceives rents which mount into the
thousands every month.
1T is interesting to return to Bis
bee to see the great progress which
is manifest on every hand and greet
familiar faces. / of course love the
surroundings of this great camp, and
feel that the best friends which I
have on earth are right here where ]
pitched my tent and went into camp
years ago."