Gulch became a temptation he could not resist. Determining to try his future in the Rocky Mountains, on August 13th, 1859, he landed in Denver, at the end of a journey by muleteam of over a month's duration.

The last half of this trip was very discouraging, as hundreds and thousands of men and teams were met returning discouraged, having found. nothing, and decrying the whole Pike's Peak country as the veriest humbug. But Mr. Witter pushed on, determined to see his venture through to the end. In October of the same year (1859), he went, by way of the pass at the head of the Fountain, to Tarryall, in the South Park, where an interest in a placer-mine was purchased and mining commenced and carried on, until the claim was worked out.

Mr. Witter was here, as at home, in demand by the public, which readily recognized in him the possession of those peculiar qualities that make the useful man of affairs. He was elected judge of a miners' court at Tarryall. Upon the organization of the new Territory of Colorado, in 1861, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives from what is now Park and Summit counties, and assisted in forming the laws of the new Territory, which were the foundation. of the present Revised Statutes of the State.

Like many others who came to Colorado for the temporary purpose of retrieving their fortunes, Mr. Witter soon became so attached to its de

lightful climate and so fully convinced of the future great possibilities of the country, that in 1862 he determined to make it his home; and in the spring of that year he brought his family across the plains, driving a team with a light wagon from Ottumwa, Ia., and establishing his home at Hamilton, in the South Park, near the present town of Como.

The main objective point of his purpose was reached on August 14th, 1862, when he was admitted to the bar of Colorado. About the same time he was appointed by President Lincoln to the office of United States Assessor for the Territory of Colorado. He removed to Denver in the fall of 1862, and has remained there ever since. He held the office of assessor of internal revenue for several years, until it was abolished by law. ing this time he was chairman of the Territorial Republican Central Committee for several years, and was for four years a member of the National Republican Central Committee.

Dur

The first act of Congress enabling the Territory of Colorado to become a State was passed in March, 1864. Under it, a convention was held in July of the same year, and a constitution formed, which was submitted to a vote of the people in October following. State officers and a member of Congress had been nominated, and were voted for at the same time. Mr. Witter was the Republican candidate for Governor, and Colonel J. M. Chivington for Congress; and both were

elected by large majorities. But, owing to the Mexican vote in the south going almost wholly against the new State, the constitution was defeated, and there were no offices to be filled by those elected.

Of late years Mr. Witter has de

voted himself steadily to the practice of law, making a specialty of cases in which the title to public lands is involved, and has built up an extensive practice, which extends throughout the State and adjoining Territories.

YET another of the active men who have developed the natural resources of Colarado and made Denver what it is, is Silas S. Kennedy, who for the past twenty years has been a resident of the west. He is of Scotch origin, but American born, and first saw the light in Park county, Ind., in 1837. Soon after he removed with his parents to Clay county, in the same State, where his boyhood and early manhood were passed. His education was acquired in the common schools of the county, and an academic course in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville. At the age of twentyfive be erected what was known as the Vigo Woolen Mills, and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, a business, however, which continued but a short time in consequence of the mills being consumed by fire. Mr. Kennedy rebuilt the mills but immediately sold out and started for Colorado. He landed at Greeley, in that State in 1870, and soon after ereeted the Greeley Flouring Mills.

During his residence in that place he was made trustee of what was known as the Greeley Colony, In company with two others he became bondsman for the late Mr. Meeker, the Indian agent, who was massacred by the

Indians.

Mr. Kennedy also engaged in banking in Greeley for a time, and his residence in that place continued for a period of ten years, when in 1880 he removed to Denver, and in company with others built the Crescent mills, now in active operation.

For the past seven years Mr. Kennedy has given his principal attention to mining and the real estate business. He is vice-president of the North Denver Bank, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Mining Stock Exchange. His mining interests have been confined chiefly to theSmugler Group," in company. with ex-Governor Eaton. This property produced teluride gold, and the total amount realized to date is $600,

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is an earnest and general supporter of the public schools and other interests connected with the public good. He is a Republican in politics, and recently received the nomination for representative to the Eighth General Assembly of Colorado, but this election having been made by a minority faction of the party, he was defeated.

Mr. Kennedy has recently erected a very handsome residence in Highlands, one of Denvers most beautiful suburbs, where, with his wife, whose maiden name was Hayes, and a large family of children, he finds relief from business cares, and enjoys the results of his successful and useful labors.

A. N. TowNE,

"HAVING determined to explore a portion of the country drained by the Yellowstone, for the purpose of discovering gold mines and securing town-sites, and believing this object. could be better accomplished by forming ourselves into a regularly organized company, we hereby appoint James Stuart captain, agreeing, upon our word of honor, to obey all orders given or issued by him, or any subordinate officer appointed by him. In case of any member refusing to obey an order or orders from said captain, he shall be forcibly expelled from our camp. It is further understood and agreed, that we all do our equal portion of work-the captain being umpire in all cases, sharing equally the benefits of said labor, both as to the discovery of gold and the securing of town-sites."

This was the form of agreement

made on the 10th of April, 1863, by a party of brave and resolute men, who knew there was danger ahead for them, and who passed through some of the severest ordeals and most dangerous adventures recorded in the long history of Indian warfare and of whom more than one never came back to tell the tale. The names signed to this agreement were as follows: James Stuart, Cyrus D. Watkins, John Vanderbilt, James N. York, Richard McCafferty, James Hauxhurst, Deewyer Underwood, Samuel T. Hatiser, Henry A. Bell, William Roach, A. Sterne Blake, George H. Smith, Henry T. Geery, Ephraim Bostwick. One other man went with them-George Ivesbut as he did not overtake the party until the next day, his name does not appear upon the list.

It is indeed a service that the Historical Society of Montana has per

formed to American history by including in Vol. I of their "Collections" the journal of this tragic and daring expedition, as kept by Captain James Stuart, with profuse explanatory notes by Hon. Samuel T. Hauser, who was with the expedition, and Granville Stuart. From that authentic source we take an outline of the expedition, given below, perforce omitting much, because of space, and in more than one instance crowding days of danger and labor into a few lines, but culling enough to show the fate and fortunes of the expedition, and the calibre of the men composing it. Where quotations are given, unless otherwise specified, they are from the journal of Captain Stuart.

They penetrated into the wilderness, with varying fortunes, from their start on April 9th until the 27th, when indications of danger made their appearance. "After we camped, I went back into the hills about a mile to look for buffalo, but, in place of them, I found fresh tracks of twelve horses going up the river. I suppose it is a war party of natives; and, if so, I expect they will visit us to-night in search of our horses." The expectation was only too well founded. "About an hour before sun-down, while lying around camp resting after the fatigues of the day, we were startled by hearing several guns fired in a clump of cotton-woods across the river, and immediately afterward we saw about thirty Indians fording across. They came on a run, vocifer

ating 'How-dye-do?' and 'Up-sar-oka'-which latter means 'Crow Indians,' in their language. By the time they were fairly in camp we had our horses all tied up and every man prepared for emergencies. They first inquired who was our captain. I told them, and asked which was their captain. They showed me three-one big and two little ones. The large chief told me to have my men put all our things in the tents and keep a sharp look-out, or we would lose them.

"I then gave him a small piece of tobacco to have a grand smoke; and I also found that one of them--a very large man with a big belly-could talk the Snake language; and he was. at once installed as interpreter. They (the interpreter and chiefs) sat down. in a circle and requested the pleasure of my company. I complied with the invitation, and our party stood guard over our horses and baggage, while I smoked and exchanged lies with them. It would take me a week to write out all that was said, so I forbear. Meanwhile, the other Indians began disputing with each other about who should have our best horses. I requested the chief to make them come out 'rom among the horses and behave themselves, which he did. At 8 p.m. I put on double guard, and at 10 p.m. all but the guard retired to rest.

"The Indians, however, wandered around camp all night, like evil spirits. And such a night's sleep as we had! Every few minutes some

body would have to rush out of his tent and capture something that the Indians would steal out from under the tents in spite of the guard, and this, too, when it was bright moonlight all night. One thing is certain, they can discount all the thieves I ever saw or heard of; in short, they have to be seen to realize their superiority over all other thieves, either white, red or black, in the world. At daylight I aroused the party, and we proceeded to ascertain our losses, which were too numerous to mention, everybody having lost something. In case we stood them off without a fight, I thought it best to pack up and go about eight miles before breakfasting, for I knew that before we could get something to eat we would probably have half the village to watch; and judging from their last night's haul, that would be too good a thing for the thieving scoundrels.

"As soon as we began to pack up, they at once proceeded to forcibly trade horses (always taking much the best of the bargain) blankets, etc., and to appropriate everything they wanted. I saw that the time had come to die or do; therefore, I ordered every man to be ready to open fire on them when I gave the signal. With one hand full of cartridges and my rifle in the other, I told the Indians to mount their horses and go to their camp, telling them that they were thieves and liars; in fact, calling them everything mean that I could think of under the pressure. I or

dered them to leave instantly, or we would kill all of them. They weakened, got on their horses and left."

Mr. Hauser interlines a note at this point, showing that Captain Stewart was altogether too modest in describing an episode that Mr. H. calls "One of the most daring acts ever performed by man." He continues: “At daylight, about 3 a. m., we all began saddling our riding horses, in accordance with the orders of the evening before, but, unfortunately for the programme, the Indians forcibly prevented one even bridling a horse. Seeing his plan thwarted, our leader instantly formed a new one, without manifesting any surprise, or in any way showing any evidence of being disconcerted. Passing close by me, he said, in an undertone: Tell the boys there's going to be trouble-to be ready-keep a close watch, and do as I do, and for their lives not to fire until my gun goes off.' With this he went to work in

the most unconcerned, indifferent way imaginable, lit his pipe, and moved around quietly, giving directions here and there about packing, breakfast, etc., interspersing the directions with his dry, witty remarks; doing nothing to excite even one suspicion as to what his plans were. In the meantime I had passed his words around, and the Indians evidently concluding they had things their own way, were changing their lariats from their horses to ours, and quarrelling with one another about