The Meeker herald., 1917-08-11
The Last
Hope Mine
How the Miners Were
Civilized
b ALAN HlNsDALE

"ln the early days Of the Colorado
mimi camps" said the old prospector.
lone of the best payin holes In the
groun' before 1t run out was the Last
Hope mine. Its name was given 1t
by the man who struck 1t. who was
much down at the heels at the time
and fully intended that II 1t didn't re-
lieve his necessities he would hang
himself to the limb Of n tree that ex-
tended directly over 1t. He sold his
claim for 100000 to company and
retires first of from this here story.
1.-THE president Of the Last Hope
lived In the east and sent out man.
ager from that region. Mr.. Parkhurst.
among other things, at home had been
superintendent of Sunday school.
Naturally he didn't like the appear
ance OF a Colorado mimi camp. The
cussin' that was going on was just like
fireworks The saloons did better
business than the store. Whenever the
wind riz the plnyin' cards filed the
air like a snowstorn. As for Sunday.
there was no work on that day, but
instead OF services there was gamblin.
There was q few women In the camp.
but they was worse'n the men.
"Mr. Parkhurst looked the ground
over and sized up the situation What
that camp needed was wives. He nr.
gued that men without the restrainin'
influence of women would naturally
turn into wild animals, and he resolv.
ed to send for some girls. He called
the miners together and told EN- that
If they would turn out the women
there was In camp he would send for
a carload Of real good. true members
OF the female sex to be helpmects for
'em. The miners agreed. and Mr..
Parkhurst wrote Miss Amelia Bowers.
who had succeeded him as head Of his
Sunday school. to come out with
dozen of the best behaved and best
lookin' young women she could pick
up. Her influence was far more need
ed In the west than where she was.
Husbands would be provided.
Miss Bowers. middle aged. con-
scientious woman. concluded that 1t
was her duty to accept the situation
and proceeded to collect dozen young
women who would rather get married
than work. She also shipped several
hundred Bibles and hymn books. The
company paid all expenses and give
each gal a hundred dollars to set up
housekeepin' with.
"The day Miss Bowers arrived with
them twelve gals was screamer. Not
a nun would work, and every one OF
'em went to the tavern where the
coach was to unload While they was
Do n.A vhn
was a leader among 'em, made EN-
a speech, remindin' 'em that they
mustn't be In too much Of hurry to
wed and that gals liked to be courted.
There wasn't enough gals to go round
by amy means. but any fghtin' for 'em
would spoil the whole business. If
the men behaved right another lot
would be provided: If they didn't those
who had come would go back.
"When the coach drove up to the
tavern door there was yell. Some of
the gals was on top. and they was
mighty good lookin'. Them miners
hadn't seen a nice woman In years
some of 'em-and they wasn't used to
such beauty. 1t was like angels comm
down from heaven. The men was re-
spcctfu, you bet There's no place
where good woman Is 80 reverenced
as where she's rnrity. A way was
opened from the coach to the tavern.
and the gals went inside. but there
was sIch howl for EN- that they
come out on to a balcony and stood
there, while the men Mt an order from
Higgins, the old Teller who had spoken
to 'em a short time before, took OF
their hats. The gals looked kind OF
funny, as IL not KNOWN what to make
of the reception.
"If the manager had sent for
enough gals to go round In the first
place there wouldn't likely have been
any trouble. As It was. several If the
most desperate men each saw among
the lot gal he wanted, and some Of
'em wanted the same gal. The gals
hadn't more'n gone back into the tav-
ern before there was half dozen
fights Huggins he goes of to the man.
ager and he says:
"'Mr. Parkhurst, I'm afraid there's
a-goin' to be commotlon in this yere
camp. Why didn't you send for enough
for feed?
what do you suggest. HuggfnsT
1.-The most natural way, the way
the men would take to easiest. would
be to rattle EN-
"Mr. Parkhurst looked glum. You
forget. Huggins,' he said, that a wo
man has the right to marry whom she
chooses. To rattle them would be t.
give them away without their consent
That wouldn't do at ALL
"'Weil. Mr.. Parkhurst, all I've go
to say is that II somethn' isn't done
and that pretty quick. there won't b,
enough men left to furnish husband,
for this lot OF gals
"'Im afraid we'll have to send tn,
women back said Mr.. Parkhurst.