THE DOWNS, THE ROCKIES -- AND DESERT GOLD

by Helen Downer Croft ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 21, 1960

Mines and men, mountains and desert, boom towns and ghost towns are the background for the story of the author's husband and his brother, Roger and Malcolm Downer, and their experiences in Colorado and Nevada. Their English father made a lucky strike in the Hardscrabble Mining District in 1872 and continued to follow the gold and silver runs until he settled in Ouray; the boys grew up knowledgeable in ways of ore extraction and processing and established themselves as assayers and chemists in 1906 for over 35 years. Accompanying the history of the Downer family (the author was a judge when she married Roger) is the long line of spectacular performances from the Comstock, to Tonopah, Goldfield and other lodes, of heroism, hardships, failures and successes; of Goldfield and its colorful life, its flood and fire, thefts and tragedies, Father Dermody and his influence; and, consistently, of geology and mineralogy. A personal interest in, and appreciation for, this area of mining gives the book a definite local value as well as an appeal for those whose interest is in mining history.

Pub Date: Jan. 21, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Caxton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1960

Categories: NONFICTION