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Show 92 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. these, and more, were taken from the belts of dead warriors on the battle field of Sand Creek, and from their tepees which fell into our hands on the 29th day of November, 1864. What of that Indian blanket that was taken, fringed with white women's scalps ? What says the sleeping dust of 208 men, women and children, ranchers, emigrants, herders and soldiers, who lost their lives at the hands of these Indians. Peaceable! Now we are peaceably disposed, but decline giving such testimonials of our peaceful proclivities, and I say here, as I said in my own town, in the Quaker county of Clifton, State of Ohio, in a speech one night last week, I stand by Sand Creek. I have heard that I was arrested, tried and cashiered. No, no; that was not the game; that would have given a fair opportunity to present both sides of the case. Just what my enemies, and the enemies of Sand Creek, and the enemies of the fair name of the people of Colorado did not want. And now, while I am peaceably inclined, I will stop talking on this subject." CHAPTER XXI. HIGH PRICES. Denver was not o'erflowing with milk and honey in its infancy, as those can attest who had sufficient heroism to remain and possess the land. Flour, at one time, brought $20 a sack. As late as 1867, by reference to a book of home expense kept at that time, we find that eggs were never less than $1.00 per dozen; butter, anywhere from 85 cents to $1.25 per pound; common calico, 25 cents a yard, and the plainest calling cards $1.00 a pack. Farmers received good prices for their produce. One ranchman, residing on Clear Creek, raised potatoes among other vegetables. On one occasion he brought two hundred pounds of potatoes to market, which, at 50 cents a pound, brought him in the snug little sum of $100. This money he invested in cows, and that night drove home three cows in place of the two bags of potatoes. |