Silver Mining in Colorado – The History Behind the Story By Donna Schlachter --with Giveaway

Modern-day Silverton, Colorado

Denver and Rio Grande work train on the westside of Marshall Pass. Colorado Historical Society

When most people think about opening up the Wild West, they picture cowboys, wagon trains, and, of course, the gold rush. And all of those would be true and very important to the reasons why folks left the relative comforts of the East—that being everything east of the Mississippi—to head into the Great Unknown.

Typical mining town in the mountains

Sure, there were many other reasons for the Westward Migration, including the promise of cheap land—or land at all, since so many lived in sharecropper or tenement situations in the east. There were also those scoundrels on the run from the law, and in the years just prior to the setting of my story, 1880, the country went through a civil war. So folks headed west in hope of maintaining slaves, in hopes of escaping slavery, and simply in hopes of escaping the whole war thing.

A rail bicycle invented to travel the miles of underground tunnels

Some were adventurers, like Becky’s father, who simply couldn’t let a horizon stay in front of him but wanted to see beyond every mountain and every body of water separating him from “over there.”

The Colorado Gold Rush started in 1858 and lasted until around 1861, and brought thousands of miners, ancillary workers such as drovers, liverymen, blacksmiths, prostitutes, saloon keepers, and swindlers. However, apart from a few areas such as Cripple Creek, which saw its biggest mining deep into the 1890s, most of the gold petered out as quick as it was found.


An interesting tidbit is that silver was discovered because so many were looking for gold. Exactly twenty years after gold was first discovered, silver was found in the area of Leadville and covering a three-hundred-mile swath from the San Juan Mountains to the Foothills west of Denver.


Robert Campbell, in the book, learns of this find, and heads for southwest Colorado, intent on getting in on the ground floor of silver mining in the area. Little did he know that the wealth he counted on would evaporate less than fifteen years later when the government stopped minting silver dollars, a decision that increased gold prices and sent silver prices into the basement.

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About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, she writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been published more than 30 times in novellas and full-length novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, and Christian Authors Network; facilitates a critique group; and teaches writing classes online and in person. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

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Tragedy on the Tracks

by Linda Farmer Harris

I enjoy historical reenactments whether they're Medieval, Civil War, Heritage Celebrations, or Western Shoot-outs. I like being transported back to olden times. Jerry and I are members of SASS - Single Action Shooting Society. Our SASS identities are Lin Penlady and Jeremiah Prophet. We have lots of opportunities for period dressing.

SASS - Elk Grove 2012

I love trains, too. Put reenactments and trains together and that's definitely a win-win for me. In August, for our 49th wedding anniversary, Jerry's brother, Phil, honored us with tickets to "Tragedy on the Tracks" a Railfest Murder Mystery Train event presented by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

This interactive, on-board Murder Mystery Train, was written and performed by the Historic Narrators of the D&SNGRR. The play is based on an actual 19th century Colorado murder at the Bowen's Ranch and Bitterroot Mine.

Historic Narrators of the D&SNGRR

The murder occurred in 1811 on Bowen's Ranch just north of Cascade Canyon. At this time, the railroad was being constructed in the remote wilderness area between Durango and Silverton, Colorado. Bill Bowen's Ranch was a well-known stopping place along the Animas Toll Road. Bowen's store carried staples and supplies for prospectors and travelers. He added a rooming house and saloon when construction started on the railroad to Silverton. Bill and his wife, Jane, also operated the Westminister Hall, Silverton's first saloon. Jane was the town's first madam.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch deep in the mountains, the women who came to live and serve the travelers and prospectors soon discovered there was one way in and no way out. Things at the Ranch turned sour when Bill hired John Haley as the Ranch accountant and partner. Although business was booming, the books didn't reflect the revenue. Haley was drinking up the profits. Bowen also suspected Haley was embezzling from him.

That fall day the store and saloon were filled with customers. Haley and Bowen argued, it turned into a fist fight when Bowen threw Haley and his wife off the Ranch. Haley refused to leave, vowed to find a pistol and return.

Haley returned, hand in pocket. Bowen seeing the bulging pocket and, fearing for his life, raised his own gun and shot an advancing Haley three times. Mrs. Haley came at Bowen from behind with a butcher knife. Customers subdued her before she could strike him.

In a twist to a typical self-defense murder, Bowen stepped over Haley's body, walked out the door, rode to Durango, and turned himself in to the sheriff. In another twist to the story, none of the witnesses stayed around to testify that it was self-defense, including the "sporting women." Mrs. Haley was the only person left to answer the Sheriff's questions. Bowen was not charged in the death of John Haley.

Historic Narrators of the D&SNGRR - less one

Players left to right: Sheriff, Mr. Bowen, Conductor, Mrs. Bowen's Nephew, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Haley, Sporting Woman and alas, Mr. Haley.

The play's capture of the events and translation to the train instead of the Bowen Ranch was well done and worth a re-play next year. I recommend the adventure.

Lin and Jerry Harris taking part in the interactive 1811 murder mystery

Have you been involved in historical reenactments? Do you go to renaissance festivals?

Blessings,

Linda Farmer Harris

Lin and her husband, Jerry, live on a ranch in Chimney Rock, Colorado. She writes historical fiction for adults and children. Her enjoyment of genealogy and family history adds unique elements to her story. 

Her novella, The Lye Water Bride, is included in the California Gold Rush Brides Collection (Barbour, 2016)