Home > The recent killing of Jesse James... The death of Charles Darwin... From a silver mining ghost town in Colorado...
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The recent killing of Jesse James... The death of Charles Darwin...

From a silver mining ghost town in Colorado...



Item # 610626

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April 27, 1881

THE ELK MOUNTAIN PILOT, Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colorado, April 27, 1881  A quite rare mining town camp newspaper which lasted about 5 years. At the turn of the 19th century this title was resurrected in nearby Crested Butte. The only holdings of this title from Irwin noted in Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) by any institution have since been purchased by us.
Irwin and the camp of Ruby were founded in 1880 about 9 miles west of Crested Butte in central Colorado. The discovery of silver the previous year brought people to the town by the thousands. Within 6 months the town grew from about 50 to over 5000. In its prime, Irwin was described as a wide open bristling town with hotels, sawmills, stores, churches, dance halls and saloons. Today there is basically nothing left but a few minor structures.
Various news and advertisements of the day, most with a mining theme. Reports on page 2 include 3 interesting tidbits on the recent killing of Jesse James, including: "Jesse James has climbed the golden stairs, (?) to interview those he has sent before." and "The papers throughout the country are publishing the picture of Jesse James and no two of them are alike." and also: "We have not heard of any one taking up a subscription to erect a monument to the memory of Jesse James." Just above the Jesse James reports is another notable mention of the death of Charles Darwin.
Four pages, light browning to the margins, generally very nice condition.

Category: The Old West