Altman History
Altman was one of many towns that formed around the rich mines of the Cripple Creek District. The town was situated at the highest point in the district and covered most of the hill.
Altman had a central role in the Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894. The Western Federation of Miners Local 19 was based in Altman during the strike. This resulted in many violent incidents in and around Altman as deputies hired by the mine owners made their camp above the town on Bull Hill.
Miners in Altman responded to the threat by barricading the entire town and announcing they had seceded from the country. They were said to have made a catapult that would hurl dynamite bombs at the deputies camp. Colorado state militia would be brought in to restore order. The strike ended after five months, with the miners scoring a major victory over the mine owners.
At over 10,000 feet, Altman was one of the highest towns in the country. When not embroiled in labor conflicts, the town was said to be prosperous. The district was fabulously rich and miner's enjoyed four dollars a day for eight hours work. With at least nine saloons, the entrepreneurs of Altman were all too ready to cater to the miners in their time off.
Much of the town burned in a 1903 fire that was the result of arson. The perpetrators were said to have been attempting an insurance scam when they tampered with the city water supply and then started a fire in the Altman Hotel. Being on a windy hilltop, the blaze quickly got out of control and no water was available to fight it.
The fire burned the entire business district and most of the homes in the town. Losses were estimated to be $75,000 while insurance would only cover $10,000 of the losses. Five men were arrested for the crime.
Altman's post office was established in January, 1894 and discontinued May 20, 1911
Crazed By Whiskey
From the April 17, 1897 edition of The Lamar Register.
An Altman Miner Kills His Best Friend and Shoots two others.
A special to the Republican from Altman last night said: John Cox, crazed by liquor shot and instantly killed his partner, Robert Daly, in McElroy & Coll's saloon in Altman at 10:18 o'clock this morning. After killing Daly the murderer shot at and missed J. C. McElroy, shot at and hit Sam Loschy. then passed through the door of the saloon and shot Harry Miner, breaking his arm; then, seeing the town marshal, Ed O'Brien, coming down the street, he shot at him. O'Brien fired in return, and Cox fell, with a bullet through his lungs.
Cox killed his best friend and shot and wounded two of his close companions. He lies at the town hall in Altman, guarded by Constable J. F. Lemons and attended by two physicians who express his condition as critical, and his chances for recovery slight.
Cox is an ex-convict. A few years ago, probably in 1891, he killed a man in Coal Creek, and was captured by the officers in an abandoned coal mine, from which he was smoked out. He was sentenced to three years in the Canon City penitentiary, and after serving his term came to Cripple Creek in 1893. Here he worked as a miner, and until about two weeks was employed in the Garfield-Grouse mine.
He was preparing to leave the camp when summoned as a witness in the litigation with the Mineral Rock and was held here on that case. Since he left the mine be has been drinking heavily. Until recently he boarded at the boarding house of Mrs. Miner, the mother of one of his today's victims, and he and Harry Miner and Robert Daly were the best of friends and steady companions.
Cripple Creek “The World’s Greatest Gold Camp”
"So thickly were the hillsides and gulches studded with homes, than one can easily say that the Cripple Creek district is one great city, covering thirty-six square miles." Cripple Creek – “The World’s Greatest Gold Camp” uses selected text from a 1903 special edition of the Cripple Creek Times, and over 50 images from various sources to illustrate the importance and magnitude of Cripple Creek during the district's peak years.
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