Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-11-22
OLD TIMER TELLS INTERESTING STORY
OF INCIDENTS OF BISBE['S EARLY DAYS

One day recently; as stood on the
summit of one of the surrounding
peaks and looked down on the busy
and thriving city OF Bisbee. with its
1900 inhabitants, my thoughts re-
verted to the time, nineteen years
ago when / first saw 1t.
What a eontrasti Then its popu-
iation would scarcely reach thu 400
with Main street, It's principal
little shanties, consisting mainly OF
saloons and dance halls.
The Copper Queen store, the store.
then, as X still is, was tiny low
ceiled structure with hardly room to
turn round In. where one bought the
necessities of life at most exorbitant
prices j. 3. Angus had little
grocery store also. but It was on a
very modest scale. The principal
butcher shop was kept by John Duffy.
a funny Irish chap with sa impedi-
ment in his speech. and an exasper-
ating habit of weighing his hand In
with the meat; but as 1t was only a
waste of time to convince him Of the
error of his ways Tor weights) the
irate housewife, 40 rule, paid for
the hand and went her way. her only
consolation being that he would resell
his hand to the next customer.
THE Can Can" was the most pop
ular restaurant then, and 1t was
about the busiest place in town
for It was headquarters for the
j Bucket Brigade those brave. stall
wart miners and carmen who have
helped to make Bisbee what 1t is. the
( biggest. busiest and best mining twor
! in the southwest. A familiar figure
on the streets In those days was
! George Warren, the discoyerer of the
I Copper Queen mines Always dress
ed in the same clothes, brown knit
! jacket. overalls and a big SLOUGH hat
all so dirty as TO have Yearly LOST
their original color. he could be seer
any fine day summing himself in FROM
Of his little cabin, which was bull
where Joseph Muirhead's residence
was. Although George Warren was
said TO be insane. yet ne seemed quite
harmless, and always had smile and
CHEEKY word for ali he met. / TO
member seeing him at an 'encamp
ment" given by the c. A. RS; still
CARRIED In his usual attire. he was the
jollipst one there. AID caused a good
deal ef mersimeHt by his droll say
| jDgs and comicaf songs. Poor fellow
his memory was mercifully taken
| from him, so he no longer grieved
over his misfortunes After under
going all the hardships and perils oil
a pioneer and prospector, and making
| it possible for others to amass for
tunes. he died hauper, with none tC
ease his last hours, or mourn when
he was gone. No doubt he once had
bright visions of future wealth and
happiness; perhaps he had sweet
heart black in the states" whom he
had left with a promise to return
when he had struck 1t rich" All, he
struck it rich, indeed, bat 1t was for
some one else to reap the benefits
for he- was cheated out of his
Claims and when he realized that
all his toll and prfyations were to
avail him nothing. his reason gave
way, and he became a miserable vaga-
bond. When he died the physician
called for volunteers to prepare him
for burial, but no one offered. so they
hired Mexicans to perform this last
pitiful service, and he was laid away
IN a nameIess grave, and few know
what Bisbee owes to him. Far differ
ent treatment than was accorded Ed
Schieffelin. the discoverer of Tomb
stone. "But that is another story
In those old DAYS the position OF
postmaster was snap. There was g
modest two-story wooden structure
where the library now is: the low
story was post Office and library com
bined, the upper part was church
lodge room, dance hail and opera
house, as needed. During the weel
our worthy postmaster presided ovel
the United States mail and tht
library, and ION Sunday he donnet
ministerial garb aud mounted the pull
pit, ne would seek to lead our way
ward feet into the straight and mar