Mohave County miner., 1915-04-17
Men Who "Grub-Staked" Stratton.

Another aged prospector who says he grub-staked Winfield Scott Stratton has just died This one was at Grand Junction. The last one to go was a negro at Denver. Now, is the memory of Coloradoans so short that they have forgotten Leslie w. Popejoy and his suits against Mir. Stratton in the life time of the millionaire? He it was who "grub-stake Stratton. The names of Stratton, Popejoy and William Fer nay went on the stakes of the Washing ton and Independent claims. MT. Stratton was busy contractor in this city, either working at erecting houses or looking for jobs in that line. He was not out in the mountains prospect ing every summer, the type known as 'Desert Rat," but occasionally went on trip camping and looking around. Nearly 20 years before Cripple Creek, he had been in the San Juan and work ed some claims. In the spring of 1891 he was boarding on East Pikes Peak ave- nue, near his shop, and at the house was Leslie Popejoy, plaster contrac- tor, and a young fellow from Kansas City named Fernay. There had been considerable talk of rhyolite finds in the mountains back of Cheyenne, and Stratton and Fernay decided to take a trip up that way. They loaded a jack with camp outfit and went over on Beaver creek. The grub run out in about week and they left the jack and walked back to town, coming down through South Cheyenne canon. Here they remained few days, and for the first time heard of the gold finds that Bob Womack had made, at what soon became known as Cripple Creek.
 Leslie Popejoy supplied the grub that they carried back. MT. Stratton was quite able to have bought it himself, but everyone knows how the chances on preliminary gold hunting are cut up, so that the loss hurts no one. Stratton and Fernay walked back into the hills and got the burro, and then came out on the old Seven Lakes road. There they met James R. McKinnie, a con- tractor in lathing work at Colorado Springs. You see, they were all in the building line, and building was slow in Colorado Springs that spring, so they had time to go prospecting. McKinnie was driving, and the men with the burro followed him to Poverty gulch. It was McKinnie's second trip up here.
 Young Fernay got sick and came back to town, and never was very active in the mining that was done. MT. Stratton stayed week on, that side of the camp and then moved his outfit over on Wilson creek, where he made the locations that created his wealth. While there still were the merest prospects he bought out the interests of both partners. Fernay always was satisfied, and had reason to be, for MT. oUl dCCOll COOh Sdl Ol Illlll WIlcll uG IllduG a rather poor finish in life. Popejoy later on sued and got some sort of a settlement, whether he deserved it or not.
 Time weaves many romances around the successful miners, most of which are not so. Also develops many liars seeking some sort of glory by connect ing their names with the famous ones. But the facts in Strattons experience are well known by such men as James F. Burns, J. R. McKinnie, James Doyle and others who were camped and work. ing alongside of him in 1S91-92 when he was developing his great property There were hundreds of men coming and going into Cripple Creek camp that year, and many of the pretenders may have known Stratton and even worked with him, but they did not "grub-stake' him.-Colorado Springs Telegraph.
 vceun, Associated PIavars