The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-28

Solol duO SplIuSS, So'
Womack, "the father Of Cripple
Creek" is helpless with paralysis
and penniless at No. 906 Grant ave-
nue., this city.
Tossing feverishly under the re-
straint Of his Affections, 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 a
miners pick again and go forth into
the hills to discover another Cripple
Creek.
Wcmack 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 believe him,
that he knows where there is an enor-
nous deposit of gold ore in the Pixies
Peak region that will rival the great
Cripple Creek district.
Robert Womack's father, now al
most ninety years old, came to Colo
RADIO in the early sixties and engaged
in mining in a small way with vary
ing success. In the early seventies
he came to Colorado Springs and
homesteaded a tract of Government
land south of the city in the Foun-
tain Valley. There the father and
sons, William and Robert. engaged
in the cattle raising business. After
a time they transferred their small
herd to the hills and valleys OF the
Cripple Creek district, but ten years
later disposed of their stock. Bob,
believing that the region possessed
mining possibilities, remained and
did some prospecting for mineral on
his own account. His brother and
father returned to their old home,
south of Colorado Springs.
One day after a few years Of wholly
unrewarded search Bob found traces
of gold in a piece of float rock which
he picked up while riding the range
with his brother-in-law, Theodore
Lowe. Sending Lowe to an assayer
at Denver on a siX-day horseback trip
to have the piece of rock tested, Bob
WSHI Oh dUOuI LIS WI n, illSAS IVA
ing of what was in store for him.
A few days later Lowe came GAL
Looping back into camp, and, watching
his opportunity, handed Womack a
small slip-an ~assayer's certificate
which bore the tidings that he had
expected for years. The piece of
float gave returns of $3.50 in gold to
the ton.
Bright and early the next morning
Lowe and Womack set out from
camp, ostensibly to round up a'bunch
Of cattle, but in reality to visit the
scene of this discovery, in what IS
now known as Poverty Gulch, just
outside of the limits Of the present
town of Cripple Creek. Once on the
ground, 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 1t, exercising the same patience
that had characterized his early
search for the elusive gold. This was
In the winter of 10000. In Janu-
airy, Womack dug a prospect hole on
what is now known as the Ell Paso
lode Of the Gold King property, which
soon developed into n Of the biggest
mines in the great gold camp. A few
days later he struck a bonanza vein
which glistened with sylvanite.
He could not stand. prosperity In
those days. When sober he was mod
esty personifed, but while in Colo
RADIO Springs one day to interest
friends in his new discovery he
thanked up" and disposed of his
bonanza for $500 cash. His mind
fairly crazed by drink and success,
Bob jumped IN his broncho and rode
through the streets, waving his re-
volver in the air and proclaiming his
secret. The next day witnessed n
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 a drop Of liquor
since those reckless days.
Two or three days later, when he
sobered up, Womack returned to the
district, but only to find that the best
mining property had been located
by others. The camp was then lit
orally swarming with humanity. He
staked out a claim or two, but they
proved to be worthless and within a
short time he was compelled to go
to work at day wages again to make
a living. He never complained, how
ever, and many times, after saving
a few dollars, went out into the
other regions of the Pixies Peak
district, intent upon opening up an
other great mineral-bearing area.
One day three years ago, just as
success seemed for the second time
to be within his grasp, he was re-
turning from the hills. Sitting alone
in a seat of a Colorado Midland pas
senger coach, he raised a window,
leaned against the sill and dropped
off to sleep. When he awoke he tried
to lift his arm, but there was no sign
of life in it. He was paralyzed.
Since that time Womack. together
With his aged father, has been solely