It had to have been a letdown last week when you read that three young local men had perpetrated the heist at the train depot, but it must have been a terrible shock to the community to find their own had done it. We'll now proceed with a tale of a different color.
In 1873, George Bauer met a man by the name of Carl Schultz while working on the railroad between Denver and Salt Lake. Carl, who knew very little English, relied on George during the summer and fall for conversation and especially when payday came around.
Carl was born in Germany in the early 1800s, and later decided to come to America because he wanted to keep his sons from becoming part of the Kaiser's military. His wife was pregnant and unable to travel, so Carl waited for the delivery. When it occurredm both his wife and baby died in childbirth. During the delay, his oldest son was drafted into the Kaiser Elite Guard. Since he was never heard from again it was assumed he had been killed. About 1860, John took his son and three daughters and headed for America.
Now he was with George Bauer after a long summer and fall on the railroad and Carl knew he must get money to his family who were living in Del Norte, Colo.. After obtaining what provisions they could carry on their backs, George and Carl left from Provo, Utah. There were other men who were anxious to make it to the La Plata Mountains because they had heard glowing stories of rich gold deposits. Carl and George traveled with six of these men since traveling in numbers was safer.
As they traveled east the weather became worse and by chance they came upon an Indian village. It was there that the great friendship between Chief Ouray and George began. Chief Ouray warned Carl and George of the deep snow and blizzards ahead in the mountains and they took that into consideration as they moved on.
A few days later the six men Carl and George were traveling with became reckless, quarreled among themselves and used their guns so needlessly their ammunition was running low.
Carl and George saved their ammunition by hiding it in their clothing. They became fearful of the actions of the other six men and one dark night slipped out of camp during a heavy snowstorm.
Chief Ouray had told Carl and George to head north to avoid the mountains and the heavy snows of the San Miguels and La Platas where the gold was supposed to be. For long days they plodded through heavy snow and built warm shelters for the nights. George felt it was a miracle they both survived in good health.
George would later learn their six companions were members of the ill-fated Packer party in which Alferd Packer cannibalized his companions.