Steamboat Pilot & Today

Editor's note: Longtime Pilot & Today columnist Jean Wren, who compiled The Way it Was, has died. Her contributions will be sorely missed. The Pilot & Today will be reprinting a selection of Jean's previous columns.

July 6, 1921

What had been planned by the Mount Harris Athletic Club as the most elaborate Fourth of July celebration in this part of the state Sunday and Monday was a big success though seriously interfered with by heavy rain. Races and other events had to be postponed until the track was in shape, as did Monday night's athletic events.

On Sunday night there were again heavy rains; by Monday forenoon the roads were almost impassable.

By afternoon, the track was too heavy for races but there was some good rough riding and two baseball games.

At 8 o'clock the ring events were started in an open-air arena. The six-round match between Raney of Yampa and Knapp of Colorado Springs was tame, Knapp having the Egeria Park rancher so outclassed that there was little of interest.

Having been knocked down several times, Raney decided he had had enough.

During the last few rounds of the next match the men were fighting in the rain. Other events had to be postponed until Tuesday as the entire county was soaked in a regular downpour. Many motorists had difficulty getting home.

Tough new auto laws

It is now illegal for a child under 15 years to drive an auto on any state or county road in Colorado according to a new highway traffic code passed by the state Legislature that became operative last Tuesday.

The first comprehensive code the state has had now states as a law that speed limits are as follows: on normal highways, 35 miles an hour; on mountain roads, 20 mph; and on mountain curves, 12 mph.

In addition, the vehicle must have at least two lights, one in the front and one in the rear so as to illuminate the license plate. Also, a rear red light must be used on all automobiles.

Brittle silver from mine

Dan Stukey this week brought to Steamboat 20 sacks of rich ore from the Dead Shot mining claim. Heavy with brittle silver, the ore, in part, was mined 22 years ago when the mine was leased by Mr. Stukey and his present partner, Archie Warkin.

At that time the mine was the property of George Bratton, an old colored prospector who died several years ago. The Dead Shot is now under lease and bond to the Tom Thum syndicate.

In 1899 several shipments were made from the mine when it was necessary to haul the ore either overland to Rawlins or to Wolcott. Though a fair profit was realized, work was suspended awaiting railroad transportation which never came.

Happenings here

and there

"Doc" Marshall of Yampa won first money in the bucking contest at the Fourth of July celebration at Eagle and was second in the bucking and roping at McCoy.

H.W. Hitchens of Trull, who in 1891 raised the first oats ever grown in Routt County, tells of a freeze in July 1892, which was much more severe than that of July 2 of this year. Foot-high oats were leveled, but a good rain followed and his crop made 50 bushels to the acre.

A defective flue started a blaze at noon Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harwig on Sixth Street.

The fire department soon extinguished the blaze. Mr. Harwig is now putting in a new brick chimney and a new roof on the building.

On their return Saturday from a fishing trip on Snake River, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fletcher were accompanied by Mrs. Oliver of St. Louis who came to Steamboat to spend a week and to consult a dentist.

A merry-go-round outfit has camped on the lots across from the post office and is furnishing much amusement for the little folks.

Something of a sensation was caused when it was learned that two young ladies employed at the Cabin Cafe had eloped with a couple of traveling men whom they had known only a few days. The quartet left by auto early Tuesday morning, supposedly for Utah. One of the men, who represented the Calumet Baking Company, is said to already have a wife.

C.N. Smith was in Oak Creek last Thursday selling insurance.

Bring your turkeys and chickens to Greene for the best prices.

Lawrence Wren and family planned to go to Walden for the Fourth of July celebration but got no further than Rabbit Ears Pass when a snowstorm drove them back.

Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Baer and Miss Alma Baer, Mrs. Charles E. Baer and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Stukey spent the Fourth at Walden. They had planned a pleasant vacation, but heavy rains interfered.

Slides on the road between Steamboat and Fish Creek, now under construction, gave grief to autoists this week, many cars becoming stalled.