The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
WOmack, DiScOvererO OF Camp,
Now Poor and Helpless.
SOLD RIGHTS FOR A SONG
In wild Moment He Let AIl-cOmers
I'm on His DfscOvery-COnHden
Expects Day to Come When He VIII
Be Able 40 Tap Another Stream OF
Gold that VIII Yield Millions.


mack. the father Of Cripple Creek" IS
helpless with paralysis and penniless. at
sS Grant avenue, this city.
Tossing feyerishly under the restraint
OF his afiiction. Bob Womack lies day
~ and day out. praying for the day that
Se shall be made whole. when he shall
be able 10 shoulder a miners pick again
and go forth into the hills 20 discover
another Cripple Creek.
Womaek confidently expects the day
70 come when he will be able 10 tap an
other stream OF gold that viii give 10 the
world millions. He declares. and his
friends believe him. that he knows where
there Is an enormous deposit OF gold ore
in the Pixies Peak region that viii rival
the great Cripple Creek district
Robert Womack's father. now almost
ninety years old. came 60 Colorado IN the
early SOS and engaged In mining in a
small way with varying success. n the
early '70s he came TO Colorado Springs
and homesteaded a tract OF government
land, south Of the city. in the FoAntain
Valley.
Embarked I'm Cattle Raising.
There the father and sons, William and
Robert. embarked in the cattie-raislng
business. After a time they transferred
their small herd 20 the hills and valleys
OF the Cripple Creek district. but ten
years later disposed Of their stock. Bob.
believing that that region possessed min
ing possibilities. REMAINED and did some
prospecting for mineral OF his own ae-
count His brother and father returned
10 their old home south OF Colorado
Springs.
One day. after a few years Of wholly
unrewaTded search. Bob found traces Of
picked Up while riding the range with
his brother-in-lsw. Theodore Lowe. Send
ing Lowe 70 an assayer at Denver. on
a six-day horseback trip. 10 have the
piece OF rock tested. Bob went on about
his work. little dreaming OF what was
In store for him
A few days later Lowe came galloping
back into camp and watching his oppor-
tunity handed Womack a small Slip-an
assayer's certiicate-which bore the It'd
ings that he had expected for years The
piece OF float gave returns of so in gold
TO the ton.
Again Visit Discovery.
Bright and early the next morning
Lowe and Womack set out from camp.
ostensibly 20 round up a bunch Of cattle.
but IN re@iity 20 revisit the scene OF their
discovery in what is now known as Pow
erty Gulch. just outside OF the limits OF
the present town Of Cripple Creek. Once
on the ground again. Lowe expressed the
opinion that they were on wild goose
chase end went on about his ranch work:
but Bob was persistent and staTcd with
1t. exercising the same patience that had
characterized his early search for the
elusive gold. This was in the winter OF
Iso0-ol. In January Womack dug a pros
pect hole on what Is now known as the
El PasO lode OF the Gold King property.
which soon developed into one Of the
biggest mines Of 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 modesty per
sonihed. but while IN Colorado Springs
one day 20 interest friends IN his new
discovery he ''tanked up" and disposed
Of his bonanza for $500 cash. HIS mind
fairly crazed with drink and success.
BOD Jumped on MS pEunco ana rput
through the streets, waving his six-shooter
in the air and proclaiming his secret. The
next few days witnessed one Of the big
gest rlshes 10 the scene OF his discovery
that the Wes, has ever seen
Never Touched Liquor After.
Il 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 sob.
cred Up. womack returned to the district.
but only to find that the best mining
property had been located by others. The
camp was then literally swarming with
humanity He staked out claim or two.
but they proved 20 be worthless. and
within a short time he was compelled 70
go 20 work at day wages again TO make
a living. He never complained, however
and many times after saving a few dol
lars went out into the other regions Of
the Pixies Peak district. intent upon
opening another great mineral bearing
area
One day. three years ago. Just as sue
cess seemed fOr the second time 70 be
within HIS grasp. he was returning from
the hills. Sitting alone IN a seat Of a
Colorado Midland passenger coach, he
raised a window, leaned against the sin
and dropped OF to sleep. When he awoke
he tried 10 Eft his arm. bat there was
no sign OF life IN IL. He was paralyzed.
Since that time Womack. together with
his aged father, has been solely dependent