The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-23
The Last
Hope Mine
How the Miners Were
Civilized
BY ALAN HlNSDALE

"ln the early days Of the Colorado
ninin' camps" said the old prospector,
lone Of the best payin' holes in the
groun' before 1t run out was the Last
Hope mine. It's name was given 1t
by the man who struck it, who was
much down at the heels at the time
and fully intended that If it didn't re-
Aeve his necessities he would hang
himself to the limb of a tree that ex-
tended directly over 1t. He sold his
claim for 100000 to company and
retires first Off from this herastory.
The president of the Last Hope
hved In the east and sent out a man.
sger 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 Colorado mimi camp. The
cussin' that was going on was just like
fireworks. The saloons did a better
business than the store. Whenever the
wind riz the playin' cards filed the
air like snowstorm. AS for Sunday.
there was no work on that day, but
Instead of services there was gamblin'.
There was a 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 ar
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 'em that
II they would turn out the women
there was in camp he would send for
q carload Of real good, true members
Of the female sex to be helpmeets 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
lo0kfn' 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. a middle aged. con-
scienti0us woman, concluded that It
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 hundred dollars to set up
housekeepin' with.
"The day Miss Bowers arrived with
ahem twelve gals was a screamer. Not
D man would work, and every one Of
'em went to the tavern where the
coach was to unload. While they was
waitin' Ben Higgins. an old Teller who
was leader among 'em, made 'em
speech, remindin' 'em that they
mustn't be I'm too much Of hurry to
wed and that gals liked to be courted.
There wasn't enough gals to go round
BY any means. but any fightin' 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-
spectful, you bet. There's no place
where a good woman is so reverenced
ss where she's rarity. A way was
opened from the coach to the tavern,
and the gals went inside, but there
was sich a howl for 'em that they
come out on to a balcony and stood
there, while the men at an order from
higgins, the old Teller who had spoken
20 'em a short time before, took off
their hats. The gals looked kind Of
funny, as If not KNOWN what to make
Of the reception.
III 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 Of 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
Sights Higgins he goes Off to the man.
ager, and he says: 81
Mr.. Parkhurst, I'm afraid there's
a-goln' to be a commotion In this yere
camp. Why didn't you send for enough
Cor n feedY n
what do you suggest, HugginsT
~.rhe most natural way, the way
the men would take to easiest, would
he to rattle EN-
mir. Parkhurst looked glum. You
forget, Huggins,' he said, that wo-
pan has the right to marry whom she
chooses. To rattle them would be to
give them away without their consent.
That wouldn't do at ALL
well, Mr.. Parkhurst, all I've got
10 say Is that IL somethin' isn't done,
and that pretty quick, there won't be
enough men left to furnish husbands
for this lot of gals
I'm afraid wen have to send the
aoncn back said Mr.. Parkhurst.
"T reckon said Higgins, scratch |
IN his head, we might git the men to
draw lots for chance to git some
pne o. EN-
THAT'S good idea; try It. ~.
HIGGINS went away and called q
mass meetin' Of the suitors. He told |
hem that n dozen mon tnt1st ho cho.