George West, who founded the Colorado Transcript in 1866, published an earlier paper during the first year of Golden’s existence. The Western Mountaineer debuted on December 7, 1859 and ended on December 20, 1860. Fortunately for history lovers, every issue is available to read online.
163 Years Ago
The November 15, 1860 Western Mountaineer offers a wonderful view into life in Golden during the gold rush.
ADVERTISEMENTS
Stores
Davidson, Breath & Co on Washington (“ready made clothing, blankets, boots, and shoes, hosiery and gloves, hardware, groceries, and provisions, and a general assortment of miners’ supplies”) accepted gold dust in exchange for goods at $16 and $18 per ounce.
Loveland offered most of the same items, plus dishes and “woodenware,” but he ran a Cheap Cash Store, and promised “entire satisfaction and cheap goods.”
J.M. Whitemore had apparently had enought: he wanted to trade his large frame store building on Washington Avenue for horses, mules, oxen, or wagons.
Lodging
The Elkhorn House on Ford St. had good stabling and corrals for stock.
The Miners’ Hotel offered comfortable rooms, an abundant larder, and good attendance.
Jefferson House on Washington Avenue offered a pleasant and comfortable retreat, along with a large and commodious stable. It also offered convenient access to a daily line of coaches running to and from all parts of the country.
Services
George West at the Western Mountaineer also advertised his printing services for forms, certificates, bills, ball cards, pamphlets, posters, and programmes. He promised a large assortment of types, borders, rules, inks, etc.
C.N. Belcher on Ford Street offered blacksmithing and wagon repairing in all its branches.
Sponsored Content
It was a common practice at the time for manufacturers to bring their products to the newspaper office, in hopes of generating a favorable review in print. “Mr. Colby of the Denver Soap and Candle Factory has left at our office a box of candles and one of soap.” As a result, the printing office was illuminated at night and the printer’s assistant appeared to be washing his face every other day. “We commend Mr. Colby to the unwashed and unlighted multitude.”
Product Review
Speaking of revolvers, several paragraphs were devoted to a comparison of various handguns, preceded by this paragraph:
We do not propose to enter into a lengthy discussion of the evils of the practice of carrying deadly weapons. Newspapers may protest, clergymen and philanthropists may hurl their anathemas, Legislatures may pass prohibitory laws and the moral confidence-man may insist upon walking unarmed among desperadoes and highway robbers. All these will neither induce nor compel every individual to follow the doctrine of non-resistance. In a quiet village in the moral and respectable East, the necessity for a man to arm himself would not exist except in exceedingly rare instances; but in a terrestrial pandemonium like Australia, or Pike’s Peak, or with the facetious people of Arkansas—who are said to hang every man able to read—-self-preservation becomes the first law of nature.
NEWS
National
The Mountaineer reported initial returns (conveyed via Pony Express) from the all-important 1860 presidential election. The northern states voted for Lincoln, while the south went for Breckinridge. The editor opined that the southern states were unlikely to make good on their threat to secede from the Union.
Society Column
P.B. Cheney, proprietor of the Chicago Saloon, had given an oyster supper for his friends and patrons, which was “eminently successful. Speeches, songs and sentiments were given in the old fashioned style.”
Former residents of New England were planning a Thanksgiving Dinner. A planning meeting was set for Friday night.
Editorial Response
The Denver News was quoted as claiming that Golden residents visited Denver for its warmer climate. The Mountaineer retorted that “they go down to see your people chase each other with 8-inch revolvers.”
Public Service Announcement
A brief article announced that the paper’s junior editor would be journeying to Canon City and would be gone 10-12 days. “The publisher will be left behind, and any fighting that may be necessary will be cheerfully attended to by him during the ensuing week. Visitors will please enter at the front door, and will be thrown from a rear window, to avoid confusion.”
