The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-08-14

Continued from page one.)
the Bullion King not knowing what
danger and suffering they were up
against. The next day Mrs. Ropelrs
body was recovered, brought down
and given Christian burial. A most
estimable lady, loved by all who
knew her.
The mine has not been worked for
number of years. Col. Buck one
of the old owners was killed in u
railway accident on Long Island,
thirty years ago. He also owned the
Gunnison News Democrat and was of
the firm of Haverly, Boucher & Buck
that owned ranches and other in
terests in the Gunnison country.
Jack Haverly was of minstrel fame,
while Mr.. Boucher was a bachelor
newspaper man from Easton, Pa.
Col. Buck sent out N. P. Babcock to
edit the News Democrat, and Frank
Tanner to be manager of all of the
interests. Mr.. Tanner afterwards
married Joe Bixby's daughter, Miss
Ida Bixby, and he died only about
year ago at Cochran, Colorado, where
he was in the constructing business
Joe Bixby had the first jewelry store
in Gunnison, afterwards moved to
Glenwood Springs, and is still living
at his old home in Michigan. Mrs.
Tanner l think lives in California.
The Ruby Chief and Howard Ex-
+one;o, x,ary ,romipept Trwin mines
in the early sos were located in '79
by James Brennan, Charles Defe-
baugh and Frank Ritchey. They
were grub staked from Leadville by
Howard Smith, young capitalist
from Iowa, who came over to Crest
ed Butte and built smelter, and
also acquired large coal land holdings
which afterwards became famous as
one of them; and afterwards a COM
pany was formed by himself, VIM.
S. jackson, Col. D. c. Dodge, DIR.
VIM. A. Bell and Gen. VIM. J. Pal
mer of Colorado Springs, all Rio
Grande railroad officials.
The Ruby Chief mine was worked
in the sos by Charley Defebaugh
with some success, at least much
silver high grade was shipped and
the cause of the SHIFTING down l do
not recall. Do not think any great
depth was attained. 1t also suffered
disaster of fatal snow slide at one
time, one or two miners being killed.
remember climbing up to Howard
Smiths house in Crested Butte one
early morning in 1881 and offering
him Sl5O.O0O for the Ruby Chief, rep
resenting Boston syndicate. He
told me to go see Defebaugh and
when did he turned the offer down.
1t is my opinion that when these
owners got out eventually they did
not realize anything out Of the mine.
1t was afterwards owned by Capt.
]. V. Taylor and M. A Hawkes. of
Chicago and S. C. Robinson of Crest
ed Butte Capt. Taylor is dead.
do not know the whereabouts of Mr.
Hawkes. if living, S. C. Robinson at
the moment is in critical condition
of health at the Soldiers Home at
Santa Monica, due to age and other
infirmities. James Brennan, one of
the locators and for whom Lake
Brennan was named, died ten years
ago in lonely camp in British
Columbia. Frank Ritchey, if living,
is on his hanch at Castle Rock. Colo,
and Charley Defebaugh died in
Cripple Creek eighteen years ago.
He was working on the Ell Paso mine
at the time for Supt VIM. Balm
bridge. Mr.. cambridge worked for
Defebaugh on the Ruby Chief in
1880 and is now retired on a beauti-
full orange grove in California.
Howard Smith is still living in Chica-
60 With his good wife they were
the leaders of social and church life
in Crested Butte in the early days.
Mr.. Berryhill of San Francisco, now
owns the Ruby Chief and golden
opportunity is being lost if it is not
being worked at the present time.
Yours truly,
L. f PHILLIPS