Burkholder, P: Ghost Towns of the Rockies

Rocky Mountain ghost towns are filled with chilling, but captivating stories. Horace Tabor (in 1879) was said to be the fifth richest man in the United States; he wore night shirts with diamond-studded buttons. But in the silver panic of 1893, Tabor lost his fortune and was reduced to working for sixty-five cents a day at the time of his death. South Pass City, Wyoming, was the home of the women's suffrage movement. It was here that the first woman was sworn to a political office. The Carissa Mine poured millions of dollars into South Pass and by 1873 there were 4,000 residents--it was a bustling place. Today, South Pass lies abandoned and desolate, with less than seven residents living year round. Read about Annabelle Stark, of St. Elmo, Colorado, a local who still is believed to haunt the hotel. Olive Oatman was captured by Indians near Gila Bend, Arizona, and held in captivity for years before her brother found her. This is a handy guide of rags-to-riches stories and silent hardships. The ghost towns depicted appeal to travelers, archeologists, artists, historians, anthropologists, and individuals from all walks of life.