bothered
at all
since it was deserted. We found pots, bowls, ladles, bows and arrows, some animal skins almost completely dried up, some well preserved. Those remains must be hundreds and hundreds of years old. You can tell by the way the pottery is painted.
âIâve tried to get funds for expeditions from the Denver Historical Society and the Smithsonian, but so far all Iâve gotten is a letter of introduction to a young Englishman, a fellow named Collier. An explorer of sorts, I take it. Weâre expecting him any day.â
At that, he seemed to remember my presence once more.âHaving you here will be a big help to us,â he said. âWelcome.â And just like that he was gone.
I anticipate meeting the young Englishman. Iâve never met an Englishmanâold or young.
As a backdrop to the savage elements that would unfold on Mesa Largo at the famous Eagle City Shootout in the spring of â92, there were scientific and humanitarian advancements being made in the little mining town of Mumford Rock, ushered in by pioneers of the new age, as exemplified by William Blankenship. Almost single-handedly, Blankenship was bringing Progress, Profit, Sane Business, Capitalism, and a deep and abiding appreciation of Mother Nature to Mumford Rock . . .
The Mumford Rock Weekly
AUGUST 13, 1891
MUMFORD ROCKâA Chinese road builder exploded in his coffin on Saturday afternoon at the train station at approximately 3:00 P.M . shortly after the 2:45 train arrived from Denver. The force of the explosion destroyed the coffin and the wagon the coffin was resting in, and broke a window at the train station. The road builder, who is unidentified at this time, and probably will remain so, was apparently awaiting shipment to Denver. No information was available as to the corpseâs intended earthly destination.
Mr. William Blankenship, summoned to the scene by a by-stander,explained that the situation was not unusual in warm climates when a corpse is removed from ice and placed in a coffin, if that coffin is airtight and the weather is hot. The local temperature reached ninety-seven degrees Saturday.
Mr. Blankenship also explained that with modern methods, a kind of chemical drying can be effected with a corpse to prevent any such occurrences. Mr. Blankenship is part owner of Modern Mortuary Science Services, Inc. The so-called drying method he described is also known as embalming and reached widespread use among the armies during the War Between the States as well as during the time of ancient Egypt among the general population.
Mr. Blankenship noted that this incident underscores the need for modern funeral methods in Mumford Rock. Mr. Blankenship further noted that Mumford Rock, with the help of his company, will become known as the Home of the Modern Method.
The
Mumford Rock Weekly
is interested in other verifications of exploding corpses. Such may be dropped by this office on Fourth Street, in writing.
BUMPY
Mr. Merriwether hired me, Zack, and Mr. Cobb Pittman, the one with the catch dog, to drive a freight-wagon load of Navajo blankets and eleven head of cattle up to Leesville. He give us two pack mules and two extra horses. Zack has made the run a bunch of times. I ainât, and Mr. Pittman ainât, but him and Zack went together on some of the big cattle drives back when they used todo that, and so thatâs how Mr. Pittman got on this little job with us.
The trail goes up to Thorpeâs Ferry and then west toward the north side of Mesa Largo before it breaks off north. It was my first real cowboy job.
We followed the river northeast until we got to the ferry, which is run by a Mormon bishop who had three or four wives before the new polygamy laws, but he wadnât there. Heâs got a Mexican works for him. We got everything across in two trips, and took the trail west then north.
Everything went smooth the first day, and the first night for supper we had cornbread, bacon,
at all
since it was deserted. We found pots, bowls, ladles, bows and arrows, some animal skins almost completely dried up, some well preserved. Those remains must be hundreds and hundreds of years old. You can tell by the way the pottery is painted.
âIâve tried to get funds for expeditions from the Denver Historical Society and the Smithsonian, but so far all Iâve gotten is a letter of introduction to a young Englishman, a fellow named Collier. An explorer of sorts, I take it. Weâre expecting him any day.â
At that, he seemed to remember my presence once more.âHaving you here will be a big help to us,â he said. âWelcome.â And just like that he was gone.
I anticipate meeting the young Englishman. Iâve never met an Englishmanâold or young.
As a backdrop to the savage elements that would unfold on Mesa Largo at the famous Eagle City Shootout in the spring of â92, there were scientific and humanitarian advancements being made in the little mining town of Mumford Rock, ushered in by pioneers of the new age, as exemplified by William Blankenship. Almost single-handedly, Blankenship was bringing Progress, Profit, Sane Business, Capitalism, and a deep and abiding appreciation of Mother Nature to Mumford Rock . . .
The Mumford Rock Weekly
AUGUST 13, 1891
MUMFORD ROCKâA Chinese road builder exploded in his coffin on Saturday afternoon at the train station at approximately 3:00 P.M . shortly after the 2:45 train arrived from Denver. The force of the explosion destroyed the coffin and the wagon the coffin was resting in, and broke a window at the train station. The road builder, who is unidentified at this time, and probably will remain so, was apparently awaiting shipment to Denver. No information was available as to the corpseâs intended earthly destination.
Mr. William Blankenship, summoned to the scene by a by-stander,explained that the situation was not unusual in warm climates when a corpse is removed from ice and placed in a coffin, if that coffin is airtight and the weather is hot. The local temperature reached ninety-seven degrees Saturday.
Mr. Blankenship also explained that with modern methods, a kind of chemical drying can be effected with a corpse to prevent any such occurrences. Mr. Blankenship is part owner of Modern Mortuary Science Services, Inc. The so-called drying method he described is also known as embalming and reached widespread use among the armies during the War Between the States as well as during the time of ancient Egypt among the general population.
Mr. Blankenship noted that this incident underscores the need for modern funeral methods in Mumford Rock. Mr. Blankenship further noted that Mumford Rock, with the help of his company, will become known as the Home of the Modern Method.
The
Mumford Rock Weekly
is interested in other verifications of exploding corpses. Such may be dropped by this office on Fourth Street, in writing.
BUMPY
Mr. Merriwether hired me, Zack, and Mr. Cobb Pittman, the one with the catch dog, to drive a freight-wagon load of Navajo blankets and eleven head of cattle up to Leesville. He give us two pack mules and two extra horses. Zack has made the run a bunch of times. I ainât, and Mr. Pittman ainât, but him and Zack went together on some of the big cattle drives back when they used todo that, and so thatâs how Mr. Pittman got on this little job with us.
The trail goes up to Thorpeâs Ferry and then west toward the north side of Mesa Largo before it breaks off north. It was my first real cowboy job.
We followed the river northeast until we got to the ferry, which is run by a Mormon bishop who had three or four wives before the new polygamy laws, but he wadnât there. Heâs got a Mexican works for him. We got everything across in two trips, and took the trail west then north.
Everything went smooth the first day, and the first night for supper we had cornbread, bacon,
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