Cañon City record., 1908-10-01
FRONTIER SKETCHES


One of the earliest pioneers in Col
orado dating as far back as the for
ties was old Bill Williams, who lived
in shack down on the FOntaine Que
Bouille. He was a curious combin-
alton OF the man of culture once
who had degenerated until he was
but little above the Indians, with
one or the other of whom he habitu-
ally lived In 1S4a he became at
tached to Kit Carson's band of guides
and scouts who were guarding the
United States officers of engineers
engaged in running the boundary
lines between Arizona, New Mexico
and Old Mexico. E
Williams was a skilled hunter and
ter killing a fine young elk and gar
aTloching the game, he cut out one
or two of the shorter ribs for his
super that night and hung the car
cass up on a sapling, out of reach of
the wolves. There is no twilight in
that weird land. The sun simply
sets and presto! 1t is dark. So not
in the least uneasy, Williams made
his horse secure, cooked his elk ribs,
toasted some army hard-bread he had
brought along and having salt and
coffee he was enabled to make out
most excellent meal After this,
lighting his pipe he sat comfortably
on his blanket and took his ease. He
picked up a stone about the size of
one-third of a brick which seemed
unusually heavy. 1t was evidently
some kind of ore or mineral. Williams
had just heard of the first discovery
of gold at Captain Suffers fort in
California. by George" said he to
himself, what II this should be
gold?" But not having the slightest
idea 1t was, he put the lump into
one of his saddlebags5 pockets. That
night he was taken very i'll with
mountain fever and began doping on
sage tea
Meantime Lieutenant Derby who
was in command of the militry part of
the expedition became uneasy about
Williams for he had been absent for
60 hours A Coco-Maricopa guide
with the party was famous as a trail
greater knowledge of the country
Derby and Kit Carson we're explor-
ing than any other member of the
party He soon located Williams
camp and many of his belongings.
The fire was still burning. Williams
in his delirium had wandered up the
mountain side, filling his saddlebags
with this heavy ore-like rock. Der
by's army surgeon was used to such
cases and took his patient in hand,
gave him a hot bath at a natural
warm spring and poured quinine into
him. In a weeks time the fever
was broken and the old man, weak as
q child. was clear-headed and on the
road to recovery. The surgeon was
not only an excellent man in his pro-
fession. but a geologist and botanist
as we'll. Four or five days after he
began to recover, Williams asked a
soldier to empty out his saddlebags.
The doctor carelessly picked up
specimen. and as he examined it be-
came deeply interested
Williams" said he, when the two
were alone, where did you get those
pieces we found in your saddlebags"
Il picked them up at my last camp
or somewhere about it. Why?"
DO you think you could find the
place again." asked the doctor.
Why should ! want to find 1t
again." inquired Williams
Because" said the other, impress
sively. you have discovered the rich
est gold deposit in the world! Those
rocks in your saddlebags are almost
solid gold. They are certainly S5
per cent pure. You have between
$4,000 and $1,000 worth OF gold right
here"
Williams repacked his rocks care
fully and Wells, Fargo & Sos. agent