The True Story  

            The several articles that have appeared in your late issues, relative to claim jumping on North Silverheels, in which I am made to appear rather prominently, may call for an explanation from me.  The flatulent letter written by the Hon. Chief Justice Malpuss, of Como - the enterprising individual who runs a news and peanut stand in said town, and who was unfortunately appointed a justice of the peace, after having failed of an election before the people - would not receive any notice from me, were it not that this justice-grinder and mine jumper endeavors to explain his position by misrepresenting things. 

            For the information of Mr. Malpuss, allow me to state that the article that appeared in your issue of the 2^nd was not written by me, but that the same expresses the sentiment of the people of Tarryall mining district, and I will venture to say that not a single miner or prospector can be found in said district who will approve of these blackmailing schemes. 

            I would also call his attention to the fact that it matters not as to who reached the top of the hill first.  This will cut no figure in the case, as none of the claims were jumpable, according to existing laws of Colorado, or laws of congress. 

            The honorable J.P. is trying to make it appear that a claim now belonging to the Como Iron, Coal and Land company was jumpable, from the fact that he and his “pard” received two hundred dollars out of the treasury of the company for doing about fifty dollars worth of work on said claim last summer. After being discharged by Wm. J. Curtice, then manager of the company, who found them to be perfect “drones” and “idlers,” and too lazy to have around, they take this method of “watching points,” as they say, and jumping claims, to gratify their petty spite. 

            These industrious claim jumpers should also recollect that soon after their discharge from our employ, the Como Iron, Coal and Land company was incorporated, under and in virtue of the laws of Colorado, and that Curtice, then acting manager of the company, employed five or six good, efficient to work and develop the company’s property. The records of the company will show that they have expended in development  

on Iron lodes Nos. 1 ,2, 3 and 4, the sum of seven hundred dollars during the summer of 1881. Evidence of this fact are of record in the office of the county recorder of Park county, and is of itself  prima facie evidence of title. Of the foregoing amount expended on the company’s properties, the only amount virtually lost to the company was the money  paid to the peanut vender and his “pard,” for doing nothing. 

            The Como Iron, Coal and Land company mean business and these “shysters” are, no doubt, speculating as to the amount of money in the treasury, with a view to levy blackmail. 

            Allow me to suggest to these possible blackmailers that the sudden imaginations of immense deposits of wealth are buried in the ground so deep, that all the muscle and elbow grease of these “beats” will never reach the hidden treasure. 

            The working capital of the company will be used for developing their property and no tribute will be paid  to blackmailers. The miners of  Tarryall mining district invite prospectors, as the territory is hardly half explored, but the hard-fisted miners and prospectors will run out all thieves, schemers, swindlers and claim jumpers, who come to the district to interfere with the legitimate claims of old residents. 

            These “two poor men” who struggle around in the dead of winter to locate and jump claims, by planting location stakes in he snow banks, should remember that ”man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” 

            They may also have read of the early days of California and Colorado, and how claim jumpers were served in those days. 

                                                                      Geo. W. Lechner