Newspaper Clippings
This page is created for Cerrillos, Madrid and surrounding area as a time capsule of past events from newspapers and advertising. Additions are welcome - send to info@cerrillosnewmexico.com.
Jan. 7, 1882
Los Cerrillos, N. Mex.
Birth Of A City - A "You-Are-There" style piece by Jane C. Sanchez
This mining camp 20 miles south of Santa Fe became a full-fledged town last week in an unusual series of firsts. In Cerrillos' first election Tuesday, Mr. D.D.Harkness and Mr. Bud St. Clair were elected justice of the peace and constable respectively.
Fifty men completed a temporary railroad siding Thursday. The completion of Cerrillos' first permanent home and the birth of its first baby caused great excitement Monday. The first wedding in town took place on Wednesday. In spite of all the excitement during the week, New Year's Day was comparatively dull. The only claim jumped was the Spiegelberg Brothers' Bourbon Mine. The town is booming. The streets are choked with traffic. Ore wagons compete with wagons carrying lumber for new buildings. Burros loaded with prospecting equipment weave in and out, dodging the wagons, or balk while their cursing owners make futile attempts to remove them from the crush. Dust is everywhere. Hotels are jammed. Harkness' Cerrillos House and Uptegrove's Tabor House have more business than they can handle.
New mineral strikes are being made every day. Last week's most significant was a six-foot coal vein a half-mile east of town. Established claims are expected to pay off handsomely when the new smelter opens February first. North of town, the Capital Mine is working three eight-hour shifts. The Aztec at a depth of 75 feet shows a well-defined lead of galena (lead sulphate and silver chloride). P.S. McCarthy's Autocrat Lode assaysover 50% copper and $50 to $200 of gold a ton.
George Holman, owner of the Cash Entry, hopes to obtain eastern capital to start working his mine again soon. It is rumored the owners of the Mina del Tiro are trying to raise funds to buy one of the powerful new pumps. The Mina, probably the oldest metal mine in the United States, is believed to have been worked by Indian slaves before the Revolt of 1680. The lower part of the workings has been flooded since Spanish times, and mining experts think that if the mine could be de-watered much rich ore could be taken out.
Placer claims along the Galisteo River south of Cerrillos are showing up nicely. The Leni Loretta is netting as much as $3.20 a yard. A year ago, hardly a claim had been registered in that area. Now not a square inch is available.
Mine operators are bringing in new machinery and changing old from one claim to another. Mr. Hall's dry-wash machines are being changed to entirely dry claims, and W. George Day has ordered another Jordan machine. Reliable sources state tha placer owners in the district are trying to lease one of Mr. E.S. Bennett's patented Dry Placer Amalgamators. The Bennett machine was reviewed in the November 1, 1881, Mining World, and is causing excited comment in mining circles. This portable dry-washer works by force of gravity and amalgamation, and is run by a 10 horse-power engine. According to the Mining World, the capacity of this amazing machine is 1,000 cubic yards of gravel a day a hitherto unheard of volume. Even better, it will run on as little as six inches of water. Numerous small water jets pass the pay dirt over 30 amalgam plates, which catch that precious metal. Cost of treatment is .10 a yard. Figures based on the Mining World's analysis indicate that on an average placer producing two ounces of gold a ton, the machine will gross $7,000 a day. Dry Placer Amalgamators must be leased, as Mr. Bennett will not sell.
A bit of excitement was provided New Year's Day by Mr. Robert Clark, who jumped the Spiegelberg Brothers' Bourbon Mine. Many Cerrillos people are ready to witness for Mr. Spiegelberg, the former owner, who claims he has done his assessment work.
In spite of claim jumpers and lack of capital, Cerrillos continues to boom. Dan O'Leary will open a pharmacy here when there is a building to put it in. There is a rumor that Cerrillos will have a library and a newpaper by spring. W.H. Nesbitt says that soon he will expand his saloon to include a billiard table. Mr. O'Mara plans to open his Placer House in about six weeks.
F.H. Mitchell, the grocer, completed his new house, the first permanent residence in town, just in time for his marriage last Wednesday to Miss Fanny Estus, whose family runs a restaurant here. The whole town turned out to celebrate its first wedding. The reception at the Tabor House lasted till dawn, with much ringing of bells, banging of gold pans, and a full-dress drill put on by the hook and ladder company.
The telephone line will begin operating tomorrow, and improvement of the road from Cerrillos to San Pedro is scheduled to begin soon.
Excerpts from this you-are-there piece, which was assembled primarily from items in the Sant Fe Daily Democrat, January 1-7, 1882. were published in the Albuquerque Tribune in January, 1966 in Howard Bryan's "Off the Beaten Path".
SF Daily New Mexican
1881 May 10
The Mina del Tiro mine, near Carbonateville, is a bone of contention, a number of persons laying claim to it. On Friday last a number of miners went to it and “locked it up,” in which condition it now is. Who were concerned in the work is not known.
SF Daily New Mexican
1882 September 27
Development work is being pushed in earnest upon the Big Bonanza mine in the Cerrillos district with gratifying results to its owners, Judge Prince, Herlow, Alexander et al.
Los Cerrillos Rustler vol.1 no.19
1888 November 30
[Thanksgiving] Quite a large party of our town people gave Rev. J.W. Jackson a surprise pound party Wednesday night. The surprise was complete, but could not equal the appreciation and pleasure which both the visitors and their bundles of nice and the useful were received. One of the larger bundles contained a fine turkey and bore the compliments of Messrs. Green, Kennedy, Kelley, Ames, Greenwood, Board, Hurt, Bonner and Anderson. Such little acts of attentive sociability are of the most appropriate character and will bear often repeating.
Recurrent ads in Los Cerrillos Rustler
1888 to 1891
Cerrillos Cheap Store - M. Tannenbaum To The Front!
With additional Store Room I am now prepared to accommodate the public with every known variety of Stapel and Fancy Groceries, At small advance over prime cost. My prices will be at all times uniform, Alike To All, without discounts, or any Hocus-Pocus Methods To Deceive in Prices. I especially invite attention to my assortment of Dry Goods, Embracing all the Fabrics of standard uses in every family. These are especially desirable goods. Imported Pongee, French Satine Chalilles, Lace Curtains, Away down in prices. In these specialities we are the leaders. M. Tannenbaum.
Los Cerrillos Rustler vol.1 no.20
1888 December 7
Paul, Of Pedro; Bill Allen, the day boss, went to shaft No.2, the other day and called down: “How many of yees are ye down there?” The answer came up, “three.” “The half o’ yees come up on top,” he called back. They came. Drinks on Bill.
Los Cerrillos Rustler vol.1 no.20
1888 December 7
Los Cerrillos Rustler Published Weekly at Cerrillos, N.M., by A. M. Anderson Editor. – The Rustler is unavoidably late this week on account of the editor’s three days trip to Golden and San Pedro.
The Cerrillos Rustler vol.II no.26
1890 January 10
A quiet wedding took place at the residence of Mrs. W.J. Jackson, Tuesday evening, when two of our most estimable young people were united in the bonds of matrimony. The contracting parties were Mr. E.B. Ames, of the McKenzie Supply Co., and Miss Emma Jackson, daughter of our former Methodist pastor, and choir leader in that church. The ceremony was performed at 8 o’clock in the evening, by Rev. I.N. Crutchfield.
Ad in The Cerrillos Rustler Vol.II No.26
1890 January 10
A.L. Kendall, Notry Public. Office at J. Weltmer & Co’s. News Depot [Mary’s Bar building]. All notary work given prompt attention and careful execution.
Ad in The Cerrillos Rustler Vol.II No.26
1890 January 10
Tabor House C.W. Uptegrove, Prop’r. Conveniently located and every attention given to the accommodation of guests, both transient and local. When in Los Cerrillos give the Tabor House a call.
Church Register of the Cerrillos ME Church
1890 March 1
Baptisms – Minnie S. Williams, for Harry Scranton & Jessie Scranton; Louie E. Adams, Bertie Adams, Ora Adams, for Cyrus Adams & Orfenia; Mable E. Lamb, for Mr. Lamb & Abigal Lamb; James N. Stone, for James N. Stone & Mary, by Rev I.N. Crutchfield.
The Cerrillos Rustler Vol.III No.15
1890 October 24
Mrs. Utt, who has long been a demented woman of Cerrillos,was removed by the authoraties to Santa Fe, this week.
The Cerrillos Rustler vol.III no.18
1890 November 14
A.M. Anderson, of the Cerrillos Rustler fully armed and equipped for hunting, was in the city yesterday. – Las Vegas Optic, Wednesday. This was on the same day that the Galisteo ballot box was stolen, so please bear in mind that the editor of this paper had nothing to do with it.
The Cerrillos Rustler vol.III no.11
1890 October 3
Miss Nellie Armbrewster, of New Albany, Ind., will begin a term of school in Cerrillos, at the school building, Monday. – Miss Nellie Armbrewster, of New Albany, Indiana, will open school at the public school building in Cerrillos, Monday, October 6th, 1890, and would be glad to have the patronage of the parents of the children of Cerrillos. Terms, $2.00 per scholar per month.
The Cerrillos Rustler, v.III no.44
1891 May 8
Ellis Travis, a coal miner it is reported while at the Peacock coal bank [future Madrid] found three very valuable diamonds this week.
New Mexican, cited in The Rustler v.III n.47
1891 May 29
Mr. James Allan, of Chicago, brother of J.D. Allan, and who is interested in the turquoise mines at Bonanza, came in from camp yesterday in company with Mr. C.G. Storey, who has had charge of the mine for the past year. Regular shipments of turquoise are made monthly to Chicago and New York, and the popularity of this article for jewelry makes it easy to dispose of their product at good prices.
The Rustler v.III n.50
1891 June 19
The home talent comedy at Hurt’s hall last night had a good full house and rendered the best of satisfaction, affording two good hours of solid enjoyment. In Early Vows, everybody did his or her part to perfection, or more nearly so than was expected. Miss Harkness and the Judge were lustily applauded, while the pretty and natural acting of Miss Phania Uptegrove and Messrs. Whited, Muralter and Brady fairly captured the audience. But “That Rascal Pat,” was the cause of the most merriment. The farce was well played and most of the audience had pains in their sides when the curtain dropped. Pat was a typical Irish “monkey,” in the person of F.C. Keys, and the balance of the characters, Mrs. G.W. North, Mrs. Davis; Messrs. Griswold and Whited, were natural and did good acting. The receipts were $88.50.
The Cerrillos Beacon Vol.1 No.1
1891 June 20
The renowned Cash Entry, which was first discovered in 1878, developed by its locators, and was later purchased by Mr. Wilson Waddingham, is now one of the most famous mine all New Mexico. For ten years this mine did not ship a pound of ore, during which time steady development by sinking and drifting was carried on by its energetic manager, Mr. E. Huhn. During all this time no ore was taken out of the mine except what fell in stripping the vein. The main shaft has reached a depth of 700 feet, while there are several others from 200 to 350 feet in depth. The ore in this mine assays from $40 to $5,000 per ton. In the latter part of 1890 a concentrator of an hundred tons capacity was erected on this mine, to reduce the ores of all grades, since which time steady shipments of lead, silver and zinc concentrates have been made to Colorado smelters with lucrative returns. It requires a constant force of fifty to sixty men to operate the mine and concentrator. The mine plant is said to be the finest and most complete anywhere in the west.
The Cerrillos Rustler, v.III no.52
1891 July 3
The daily mail stage between Cerrillos and San Pedro will begin making daily round trips again Monday, leaving Cerrillos at 7 a.m., and San Pedro at 1:30 p.m.
The Rustler, v.IV no.26
1891 October 30
E.M. Cunningham, L.D. Sugar, Randolph Kelley and some more of the boys, are killing off the antelope pretty fast arond Cerrillos. There should be some law to prevent this wholesale slaughter of game.
The Rustler, v.IV no.26
1891 October 30
Last night at the store of J.H. Gerdes & Co., The fellow claimed to be from the Indian Territory. He walked into the store, laid his overcoat down on top of another coat on the counter and when Charley Way was busy, picked up his coat with the other one wraped inside of it. Dr. Bishop, who happened to be in the store, noticed the sneak and calling Way’s attention to it, marshal [Zed] Crutchfield was sent for and he was taken in charge. Jimmie Thomas, the above, was tried today by Judge Kendall and sent to Santa Fe for 90 days.
The Rustler, v.IV no.30
1891 November 27
Best coal oil 25c per gallon Uptegrove’s.
SF Daily New Mexican
1894 December 12
Deputy Sheriff Juan Delgado reached the city this morning with Manuel Acuna, a member of the Cerrillos Evans gang, arrested in Albuquerque yesterday morning charged with highway robbery. Sheriff Cunningham, upon hearing that Acuna was in Albuquerque, telegraphed City Marshal Fernoff to hold him as a warrant had been sworn out against him before Police Magistrate Armijo. Acuna took out a writ of habeas corpus upon which he hoped to be released and he was successful, and Judge Collier on the hearing decided that he could not be held on the showing made. As soon as he was released, however, Mr. Delgado, who was in the court room, arrested him on the warrant obtained before Armijo and he was promptly brought to this city and lodged in jail. He will be given a preliminary hearing within the next day or two.
SF Daily New Mexican
1895 March 1
Cerrillos In Mourning
Impressive Exercises Attending the Funeral of the Dead Miners – The Inquest.
A message from Cerrillos to the New Mexican says the funeral of fourteen of the victims of the White Ash mine disaster occurred this morning. The bodies of the others are being interred this afternoon, save in the case of Jones and Eathorn, whose remains have been sent to their home in Pennsylvania. All business is suspended and the dwellings and stores houses are draped in mourning. Great crowds attended the funeral.
The services at the Catholic church were presided over by the Vicar General Fourchegu, assisted by Rev. Garnier. Sister Victoria was among those present from Santa Fe. At the Methodist church Rev. Adams officiated. The local lodges of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias paid due respect to those among the dead who were members of these orders.
The taking of evidence before the coroner’s inquest commences to-night. There is a disposition to make the investigation very thorough.
Cited in SF Daily New Mexican
1895 January 7
On January 1 the telephone rates for conversation between Cerrillos and Santa Fe, Allerton and Bland were fixed at 50 cents. Written messages to and from Santa Fe will hereafter be transmitted by telegraph, the charge being 25 cents for ten words and two cents for each additional word in the body of the message. – Cerrillos Rustler.
SF Daily New Mexican
1895 March 30
Gov. Thornton and Mr. Mr. J.W. Akers returned last night from a three days’ trip to the mines about Cerrillos, Dolores and San Pedro. They examined the new gold leads lately opened on Cunningham hill and pronounced them very promising. A number of good strikes have been made thereabouts. There is considerable activity on the south slope of Ortiz mountains and in the San Pedro and Golden district, while the placer mines in the Dolores region also continue to yield well. The Lincoln-Lucky is making regular shipments to Pueblo smelters.
Cerrillos Rustler. [cited in SF Daily New Mexican
1896 January 22
Chris Wiegand, with a gentleman interested in the project, will be down from Las Vegas next Tuesday or Wednesday for the purpose of organizaing a company to build a first-class telephone line from Cerrillos to San Pedro via Dolores, the Gypsy Queen mine and Golden. First-class instruments and a metallic circuit will be used if the plan is successful. The cost will approximate $1,000, of which a considerable amount, we are told, will be taken at the points reached by the line. Cerrillos business men will undoubtedly subscribe liberally, as also will Las Vegas people.
SF Daily New Mexican
1896 May 5
{from the Cerrillos Rustler} It is said the turquoise mines near Cerrillos, owned by the American Turquoise company, which in this case is only another name for the Tiffany jewelry house, have produced turquoise during the past eight months at the rate of $22,000 a month. This is probably no exaggeration, but the exact figures are difficult to obtain. Superintendent McNulty is not very talkative at any time and when turquoise is spoken of his silence is thick enough to be cut with a knife. While we would like to know more about these great mines which are furnishing the greater part of the world’s supply of these stones, we can not but commend Mr. McNulty upon his ability to attend quietly to his part of the work, leaving others to follow up with a brass band.
Cited in SF Daily New Mexican
1896 May 23
{from the Cerrillos Rustler} H.S. Lutz, agent for the Santa Fe company, F.C. Alley, Wells-Fargo agent, and Chas Carruth, mail clerk on the D.&R.G., all of Santa Fe, came down from the City of the Holy Faith Wednesday on wheels [bicycles], making the run in one hour and thirty-three minutes. They returned by train the same night.
The Cerrillos Beacon Vol.1 No.1
1891 June 20
The renowned Cash Entry, which was first discovered in 1878, developed by its locators, and was later purchased by Mr. Wilson Waddingham, is now one of the most famous mine all New Mexico. For ten years this mine did not ship a pound of ore, during which time steady development by sinking and drifting was carried on by its energetic manager, Mr. E. Huhn. During all this time no ore was taken out of the mine except what fell in stripping the vein. The main shaft has reached a depth of 700 feet, while there are several others from 200 to 350 feet in depth. The ore in this mine assays from $40 to $5,000 per ton. In the latter part of 1890 a concentrator of an hundred tons capacity was erected on this mine, to reduce the ores of all grades, since which time steady shipments of lead, silver and zinc concentrates have been made to Colorado smelters with lucrative returns. It requires a constant force of fifty to sixty men to operate the mine and concentrator. The mine plant is said to be the finest and most complete anywhere in the west.
The Cerrillos Rustler, v.III no.51
1891 June 26
Geo. R. Wyllys knows something of the dentists profession and in early mining days in Cerrillos he did most of the tooth pulling for the boys. He got a grudge against Upetgrove on some grounds and, after having camped on his trail for some time, was delighted one day when “Upty” called on him with an aching tooth. He seated him in a chair and went to work in as rough a manner as he thought could be stood, allowing the old pair of cast iron forceps to slip repeatedly from the tooth, and, after he thought as much punishment had been administered as the patient could stand, he gave the tooth a good pull and brought it out. Uptegrove got out of the chair, spit out a mouthful of splintered bone and blood and grasping the whilom dentist by the hand remarked: “By Grit, Wyllys, that was a smooth job. I never had a tooth pulled so easy before in my life.
The Rustler v.IV n.5;
1891 August 7
The school directors are in a quandary, remarks L.G. Jones. As two of the directors himself and Tony Neis desire to employ a young lady just budding into rosy womanhood. The ladies of the district all clamor for the employment of a male teacher, while Harry Kinsell and Brigham Young are willing to compromise on a man as ungly as sin or a woman not less than 100 years old.
SF Daily New Mexican
1896 September 26
Alex Allen has made a rich strike of ore about one-fourth of a mile southeast of the Cash Entry Mine, which carries lead, silver and copper to the value of about $100 to the ton, and at grass roots is seven inches wide.
SF Daily New Mexican
1896 October 24
The following named persons, born in other countries, appeared before Judge Laughlin in chambers yesterday and were made full-fledged citizens of the United States: William Ash, Charles Shanks, James L. Richardson, Dominick Domingo, James Rolango, Fidel M. Aidel, of Madrid; Arthur Boyle and John Didier, of Santa Fe.
SF Daily New Mexican
1897 August 28
The Santa Fe Juniors and Madrid will cross balls at Madrid tomorrow. The following are the names of the players: Santa Fe – Fred Swoop, Campaynoli, Romero, Tafoya, Ricardo, Perez, Alarid, Kirschner, Yanni, McKenzie. Madrid – Brown, Densman, Garcia, Polonio, Downy, Pardee, Sanchez, Alarid, Celso.
SF Daily New Mexican
1897 June 8
Fred Aira, an Italian miner who came to St. Vincents hospital with a broken leg on the 13th of last month, was discharged today by Dr. Crosson and returned to Madrid.
SF New Mexican
1898 November 22
Alec Adams, the turquois mining man, went north to his home at Crete, Neb., this morning, over the narrow gauge. He is well pleased with the local mining outlook.
SF New Mexican
1900 January 8
Land Transactions. Oliver P. McKesson and wife to Alexander Adams, one-half of five-eighths of the Gem Turquois claim near Cerrillos; consideration, $100.
Las Vegas Daily Optic
1924 November 17
Albuquerque Coal Co. Official Held Up By Two Men - Robbed Of $30
Albuquerque, N.M., Nov. 17. – R.A. Kistler, an official of the Albuquerque and Cerrillos Coal company, was held up by two men in an automobile when he was enroute from Madrid, N.M., to Estancia, N.M., Sunday evening. He was robbed of $30 in money and some personal belongings.
SF New Mexican
1930 July
Plan Big Celebration For Madrid On Fourth
Every year the mining camp at Madrid has a big Fourth of July celebration, but this year it will be bigger and better than ever. The Mining company and the Madrid Employes club together will have the regular Fourth of July celebration and the homecoming celebration in anticipation of the return to work of former employes who will come back to work at the re-opening of the mines this summer.
This is the ninth annual celebration of the glorious Fourth and it is sponsored and financed by the Albuquerque and Cerrillos Coal company and its employees, through their own organization, the Madrid Employes club.
There will be something doing every minute from sunrise until midnight and preparation are being made to accommodate the biggest crowds that ever gathered for any celebration in New Mexico.
