Tales of the Colorado Pioneers. Alice Polk Hill

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      TALES

      OF THE

      COLORADO PIONEERS

      BY

      ALICE POLK HILL.

      DENVER.

      PIERSON & GARDNER,

      1884.

      Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by

      ALICE POLK HILL,

      In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

      TO

      JUDGE WILBUR F. STONE,

      GENERAL BELA M. HUGHES,

      HON. ALVA ADAMS,

      AND

      GENERAL FRANK HALL,

      Who have taken a prominent and active interest in the material progress of Colorado, and by many little acts of kindness have given an impetus to my efforts,

      THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED,

      WITH EVERY SENTIMENT OF ESTEEM AND REGARD.

      PREFACE.

      Sept. 13, 1883, Colorado completed the first quarter century of its wonderful history—the Nation’s youngest child; and very large and frisky for her age.

      The barnacles held a reunion on that occasion, and it occurred to me while at the banquet, and listening to the toasts, that incidents in the lives of the brave people who

      “First spied the country out, and pioneered the way,”

      Might make an interesting book, and now was the time to do the work, when the stories could be gathered from the lips of those who had taken part in the “ First Act,” over which the curtain had just dropped.

      Scholarly iconoclasts have annihilated William Tell and his apple by showing that no mention of them was made in Switzerland ’till about two centuries after Tell’s supposed time. The story of Romulus, Remus and the wolf, that so charmed us in our impressible and sympathetic years, is now a fable.

      I solemnly avow that the tales herein related are— “ told as they were told to me! ”

      If I have succeeded in reviving some pleasant recollection for the “ old timer,” beguiling the weary traveler or interesting the general reader, my aspirations have, in a measure, been reached. If I have betrayed confidence or told anything that I ought not to have told—I will graciously accept all apologies.

      THE AUTHOR.

      CONTENTS.

       _____________

      CHAPTER I.

      Gold—Argonauts of ’59—The Dutchman who was Hanged—Auraria—St. Charles—Cottonwood Trees. . . . .17

      CHAPTER II.

      A Retrospect—Coronado—The Name Colorado—The Purchase from France—Capt. Zebulon Pike—Climbing the Big Mountain—The Mistake in Distance—Politeness of Pike and Pursley—Land-Grabbing—Fighting the Indians with Howitzers—Col. Long—Fremont—Discovery of Gold .................................................... 20

      CHAPTER III.

      Denver in ’59—After Dinner Politeness—Newspaper Window Shades. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

      CHAPTER IV.

      Stampeders—D. C. Oakes Buried in Effigy—If He had Only Thought—The Sorrowing Pilgrim—Rogues Patches ....... 27

      CHAPTER V.

      Salting a Mine for Horace Greeley—Young Man, Go West—An Expensive Shave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

      CHAPTER VI.

      Stories Heard at a Pioneer Dinner—The Wind Wagon—The Wreck—The First Issue of the Rocky Mountain News . . 32

      CHAPTER VII.

      The Odd Fellows’ Lodge—Wolfe Made an Odd Fellow—Riding the Goat—The Foot Race……………………………. 37

      8 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS.

      CHAPTER VIII.

      A Tale of Horror—An Exciting Coach Ride…………………41

      CHAPTER IX.

      Reminiscence of a Freighter—He Dined on Beans—They did not Wait to Attend the Funeral—Nick-names—Attacked by Indians—We had a Pass……………………………………….44

      CHAPTER X.

      A Bloody Duel—Great Excitement—A Fight it Must Be—Stone’s Death……………………………………………………..50

      CHAPTER XI.

      The Attack on the News Office —Carl Wood Banished ...54

      CHAPTER XII.

      The Killing of Gantz by Gordon—Gordon’s Capture—The Trial at Leavenworth—A Violent Mob—The Trial in Denver by the People’s Court—The Hanging…………………………57

      CHAPTER XIII.

      The People’s Court—A Startling Divorce Case……….......61

      CHAPTER XIV.

      Uniting Denver and Auraria—An Odd Place of Worship—St. John’s Church in the Wilderness…………………………….63

      CHAPTER XV.

      The Territory of Colorado—Receiving the Governor—Colorado Loyal—An Incident Cited by Judge W. F. Stone—The First Victory in the War for the Union…………………65

      CHAPTER XVI.

      Half of Denver Destroyed by Fire—The Great Flood—The Bath Tub—Viewing the New Topography…………………..69

      CONTENTS. 9

      CHAPTER XVII.

      Indians on the War Path—A Drive for Life—Bravery of Lee Ayres—The Escort to Denver……………………………….. 71

      CHAPTER XVIII.

      The Great Indian Scare of ’64—The Dry Goods Box Rose up —A Guard Placed ’Round the City—How the Scare Originated—She Shoots a Stump—The Marriage in a Fort ……………………………………………………………………….79

      CHAPTER XIX.

      The Reign of Terror Along the Platte—Capturing Spotted Horse……………………………………………………………….85

      CHAPTER XX.

      Mounting the Third Regiment—Battle of Sand Creek—Col. Chivington’s Speech......................................................87

      CHAPTER XXL

      The Cost of Provision—Irrigation in Its Infancy—Hired Help— The Coming of the Railroads…………………………92

      CHAPTER XXII.

      We go to the Mountains—Argo—Conversation with a Ranchman—Golden—He Won the Race—George West’s Duel ………………………………………………………………..94

      CHAPTER XXIII.

      The Changes of Time—Black Hawk—The Bobtail—The Prospector from the Emerald Isle—The “Switch Back”—Hal.’s Coasting Story…………………………………………..101

      CHAPTER XXIV.

      Central—The Stepping Stones for President Grant—A Lynching………………………………………………………….106

      CHAPTER XXV.

      Sunday Excursions—Fourth of July……………………....111

      10 TALES OF THE