The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25
Gold DisCOverer Now Poor and
 Helpless
FOUNDED CRIPPLE CREEK
Sold His Right for Song and in Wild Moment Let All Corners in
 on His Great
 Discovery.
From the Washington Post.

| Colorado SprlngS.-RoDeft Womack, the father of Cripple Creek" is helpless with paralysis and penniless in cottage at 906 Grant avenue, this city.
 But there, tossing feverishly under the restraint of his affliction, Bob Womack lies day in and day out praying for the day that he shall be made whole, when he shall be able to shoulder miners pick again and go forth into the rock-ribbed hills to discover another Cripple Creek. Womack confidently expects the day to come when he will be able to tap another stream of gold that will give to the world millions. He declares and his friends be- lieve him, that he knows where there is an enormous deposit of gold ore in the Pikes Peak region that will rival the great Cripple Creek district.
 Robert Womack's father, now almost 90 years old, came to Colorado in the early sixties and engaged in mining in a small way with varying success. In the early seventies he came to Colorado Springs and homesteaded a tract of gov ernment land south of the city in the Fountain valley. There the father and sons, William and Robert, embarked in the cattle raising business. After 8 time they transferred their small herd to the hills and valleys of the Cripple Creek dis trict, but ten years later disposed of their stock. Bob, believing that that region possessed mining possibilities, remained and did some prospecting for mineral on his own account. His brother and father meanwhile returned to their old home south of Colorado Springs.
 First Traces of Gold.
 One day, after few years of unreward- ed search Bob found traces of gold in piece of fiat rock which he picked up while riding the range with his brother in-law, Theodore Lowe. Sending Lowe of O-da back trip to have the piece of rock tested. Bob went on about his work. little dream ing of what was in store for him when his companion returned.
 A few days later Lowe came galloping back into camp and watching his oppor tunity, handed Womack a small slip-an assayers certihcate-whieh bore the tid- ing which he had expected for years. The piece of float gave returns of $250 in gold to the ton
 Bright and early the next morning Lowe and Womack set out from camp, ostensi- bly to round up bunch of cattle, but in reality to revisit the scene of their dis covery in what is known as Poverty Gulch just outside the limits of the pres ent town of Cripple Creek. Once on the ground again, Lowe expressed the opinion that they were on a wild goose chase, and went on about his ranch work.
 But Bob was persistent and stayed with IL, characterized his early search for the elusive gold. This was in the winter of 1900-01. In January Womack dug a pros pect hole on what is now known as the Fl Paso lode of the Gold King property. which soon after developed into one of the biggest mines of the great gold camp. A | few days later he fired a blast into bonanza vein which gllstened with syl- vanite.
 Could Not Stand Prosperity. | But he could not stand prosperity in those days. When sober he was modesty | personified but while in Colorado Springs one day to interest friends in his discovery, he "tanked up,2 and disposed of his bonanza for $500 cash. His mind fairly erazed with drink and success, Bob jumped on his bronco and rode through the streets, waving his six-shooter in the air and proclaiming his secret. The next few days witnessed one of the biggest rushes to the scene of his discovery that the west has ever seen.
 It is said to Womack's credit that he has never touched drop of liquor since those reckless days.
 | Two or three days later, when he so- ! bered up, Womack returned to the dis | trict, but only to find that the best mining 1 property had been located by others. The i camp was then literally swarming with | humanity. He sta<ed out claim or two, | but they proved to be worthless, and | within a short time he was compelled to 1 go to work at day wages again to make a living. He never complained, however and many times, after saving few dol lars, went out into the other regions of l the PiSe's Peak district, intent upon open ing another great mineral-bearing area. One day three years ago. just as success seemed for the second time to be within | his grasp. he was returning from the hills Sitting alone in seat of a Colorado Mid l land passenger coach, he raised a window. | leaned against the sill and dropped off to | sleep. When he awake he tried to lift his arm but there was sign of life in | it. He had been stricken with paralysis
 Since that time Womack, together with his aged father. has been solely depend- ent upon faithful sister, Miss Elizabeth Womack. who has been forced to run a | boarding house to make a living for her | father and brother
 Pay Rock Passed Over.
 There is an interesting side light on | Womack's discovery of gold in the Grip pie Creek district. Search for the metal in that region dates back almost to the ' arrival of the first white man. Repeated trials were made prior to 1901 to find
 pay rock" but so cunningly had the storehouse of wealth been concealed that even the most expert miners were de- | ceived There are thousands of Colorado people who remember the mad rush to Mount Pisgah, at the foot of which the city of Cripple Creek is now situated, in April. 1885. A rich deposit of gold was found at that time, but 1t had been placed there by human hands. The ground had | been salted.
 But there was gold in untold quantities | within a stones throw of the place where this piece of knavery had been practiced
 Many who rushed there during the SIount | Pisgah excitement pitched their tents l on the very sites of what are now some | of the biggest mines in the world Many | an old prosepctor examined the outcrop- | ping at that time and one was even con l ldent enough to run a tunnel into the hill directly over the spot where one of the richest deposits in the district has