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Jesse James "might" be dead again...



Item # 613927

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June 16, 1881

THE ELK MOUNTAIN PILOT, Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colorado, April 20, 1882 

* Rare ghost town title
* Jesse James killed


The top of the front page has: "Death Of Mr. James" which is actually a fascinating, tongue-in-cheek report on the death of Jesse James. The first paragraph notes: "We are once more pained to announce the death of Hon. Jesse James. We speak of him as Hon. Jesse James because it is possible he may not be dead yet, and we should not desire any personalities raked up in case he should be still at large. The regular semi-annual death of Jesse James has been a cause for national sorry for some time..." with much more, the entire account taking over three-quarters of a column. It is signed: "Bill Nye's Boomerang". 
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.
Four pages, rejoined at the spine, nice condition.

Category: The Old West