By Darrel Ellis
Sept. 14, 1894
"Bob" the pet lynx belonging to Dr. Lowe has passed "over the range" Saturday evening when he broke his chain and went off on a lark, and while he was indulging his taste to the extent of two turkeys and one chicken, a bullet cut off his earthly career.
Muscatel wine, best in the market at Garrison and Elkins Mancos Saloon.
Ashbaugh's Cornet Band will give a big ball tonight at Davis' Hall. The boys always give a nice dance.
The funeral for William Hyde was very largely attended. At one time Mr. Hyde acted as private secretary for Brigham Young.
Sept. 28
Awful Tragedy! A. J. Sparks has been shot and killed by Captain George A. Jackson. The dead man had been in the employ of Captain Jackson for the past three years. Captain Jackson is at a loss to know what occasioned the frenzy and madness of one whom he had always befriended. (For a less biased look at the death of Jack Sparks and in more detail, see my recent book - The Death of a Miner.)
The La Plata mountains are attracting more attention than any mining district in Colorado. They have become the gold-seeker's Mecca.
Over 10,000 people visited the Canyon City Fruit Day and there was plenty of free fruit for all. It has been decided to repeat it next year and prepare for 25,000 visitors.
Oct. 5
Garrison and Elkins have sold out their Mancos Saloon to Ed Caviness. Steve Elkins will remain in attendance. (Steve Elkins was known as a mountain lion hunter. On a hunting expedition he went to sleep in a barn and fell through a floor and broke his neck. He died in April 1923.
Edward Humiston and freed Britain have completed all their assessments and have broken up camp in the hills for this season. (Ed Humiston married Isabelle Williams. They came to Mancos in 1894. They were married in 1896. Isabelle died of a stroke of paralysis in 1938. Ed passed away in 1943.)
A meteor crossed the southwestern sky Sunday evening about 10 p.m. and was so brilliant it caused the moonlight to dwindle into shadow. To the eye it looked as large as a full moon as it sped across the sky.
Darrel Ellis is a longtime historian of Mancos Valley.
