The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07


Nevada; and James Finney, harmless
but worthless drunkard who drifted to
the embryo mining metropolis, where
he became known as "Old Virginia" be-
slowed his sobriquet upon the most
productive of the big bonanza mines,
as we'll as upon Virginia City. The
fate of all these men was grewsome.
Comstock went crazy and committed
suicide; Finney drank himself into the
grave; O'Riley died in an insane asy-
lum; and Mclaughlin did odd jobs
around the camp for a while then
went to California, and finally died in
the poorhouse
The greatest of present day American
mining camps is Cripple Creek. 1t
might have been discovered years
sooner if certain capitalists had not
been too shrewd for their own good
In 1886 a shallow prospect on Mount
Pisgah was "salted" and an attempt
made to unload it on some wealthy
Pittsburgers. The tenderfeet didn't
bite. IL they had. they would have be-
come multimilionaires for that salted
prospect hole became the entrance to
one of the biggest producers of the
Cripple Creek district.
Cripple Creeks Story
The discovery of Cripple Creek is
accredited to Bob Womach. better
known as Lucky Bob" He was a
cow puncher, but dug a prospect hole
on what is now the FL Paso lode of
the Gold King mine, and succeeded in
enlisting the interest of Colorado
Springs parties. Before they really
knew whether they had a mine, or only
an unsightly hole in the ground. five
other prospectors drifted into Poverty
gulch. They didn't like the looks of
the place, and started off for fairer
fields. They hadn't gone far when
they were brought to a halt by the
sudden lameness of one of the burros, so
they went into camp intending to wait
day or two until the beast got better.
In the interim. the men prospected
through the neighborhood. and found
just enough color" to encourage them
to stay longer. So they decided to build
cabin. 1T was nearly finished when
one of them fell from the roof, alight-
ing upon a stray dog. The dogs leg
and the mans arm Were broken.
Counting the burro, that made three
cripples in the embryo camp. That is
why this great gold mining camp was
handicapped with the unpoetic name
Cripple, Creek"
When the great Roosevelt tunnel was
christened two years ago, designed to
double the life of the mines by drain
Ing the water from the lower levels.
some one called attention to the fact
that Lucky Bob" Womach, the dis
coverer of the camp, was the only one
of the early arrivals who failed to
profit by those golden days OF the 90's.
He still lives in Colorado Springs, do
ing odd jobs and running errands-but
one or two removes from want or
charity.
Just eight years ago. Jim Butler
started out from Belmont, Nevada, to
seek his fortune-as he had done many
times before Most prospectors prefer
the companionship of burro on their
peregrinations. but Butler was a large
man. with a large appetite and large
ideas, so he selected a mule as better
suited to his wants, his size and his
expectations. 1t was well he did So
for even then his supply of grub" was
too soon exhausted, and one night he
went into camp fully decided that he
must hit the trail for home in the
morning.
However, the mule had plans of its
own and when Butler awoke in the
morning his burden bearer was gone
Although as cheerful a prospector as
ever traversed the wilderness Butler
knew that his finish would not long be
delayed unless he found the beast that
he must rely upon to carry his food ane
life" to trace the tracks of the deserter
The chase was long, and hot and hear
breaking; but the mule was found al
last, grazing contentedly upon a patel
Of bunch grass that grew beside the