Two Quarto letters (ca. 11 x 8.5 in). 2 & 2 pp. Brown ink on beige wove paper with the printed letterhead of the “Office of Geo T. Conaway, Town Recorder and Superintendent of Water Works.” Fold marks, but overall very good letters written in a legible hand.

Interesting collection of two original autograph letters by an early resident of Canon City, Colorado, talking about a dramatic train wreckage in Colorado Springs, the lure of high wages, and a recent job offer from cowboys.

The author, W. S. Osburn (ca. 1866–?) arrived in Cañon City in the autumn of 1890, staying with his uncle, Geo T. Conaway (ca. 1846–1898), who served as town recorder, superintendent of Water Works, and an employee of the Ajax mines. In 1891, Osburn married Nellie Brenton and later moved to Victor, where he became a successful merchant. In February 1901, his wife died in a dramatic runaway accident at the age of 33. The following month, Osburn accidentally killed a friend’s four-year-old son when a gun he was handling discharged.

In the letters, addressed to his brother George T. Osburn, the author recounts his arrival in Cañon City and shares a detailed eye-witness account of a train wreckage, which destroyed a car and severely damaged a freight engine. He enthusiastically reports on the high wages in the area and carefully compares earnings for workers in Leadville, Pueblo, and Cañon City. He also shares an exciting offer to work as a cook for a group of cowboys, weighing the opportunity while expressing his eagerness to begin working. The rest of the letter includes vivid impressions of the region’s mountain scenery and a mention of his Aunt Addie L. Conaway, who would later become a successful businesswoman and boarding house owner in Colorado.

Overall, historically interesting collection of two original letters from a job hunter in Canon City, describing his dramatic journey to Colorado Springs, the appeal of high wages, and a job offer from cowboys.

Text of the first letter:
 “Dear brother I have arrived here safe and sound in the city of Canon last thursday after noon half past three o'clock. I went Uncle George's office and was in there quite a while before he came in and when he came in I said helo Uncle George and began to laugh. but he did not know me for quite a while he studied a good while be fore he could place me, well George I wrote to you a bout having a reck on the road coming out here I will explain it a little better now. when we pulled in Colorado Springs thursday morning the train stoped there 20 minets for breakfas and while out train was stopping there a freight train came around the curve like double geared hell and runed in the rear end of our train and knocked hell out of our train busted one car all to peaces and busted the engin all to hell on the freight cars. it did not kill any body but bruised several up very badly. I happen to be standing on the steps when it happen + just as it strucked I saw it + I jumped about ten feet.Uncle George, Salary is $100 hundred dollars per month write soon address: W. S. Osburn Canon City Colorado (Fremount Colorado).”

Text of the second letter:
 “Well George I will tell you a little aboute this country what I havent seen a great eal yet Uncle George has not bin living here in town for the past four years that is his failmy he has bin staying here his self he is in the same buisness yet as he has bin. his wife is trouble with the asmey and she has bin living with her folk out on the ranch for her health she is some better now then she has bin she is as fine a woman as I ever saw I never met with finer People than they are. Uncle Geo has bought a fine house + lot here in town for $1500 will move this week in town for to live. Georges wife folks live 35 miles from here out through over the mountains in a large valy. Geo + I went out Home last saturday with a top wagon and came back yesterday and brot a load of goods with us. and the finest ceanerys a man ever saw I be leave I saw the finest mountains + seanrys so nice that a persen cant tell how nice it is if a persen would write and tell what he can see and how this country is the folks back there would swear it was a dam lie I havent saw one half of it. I can stand in the valy where every thing is nice and green and look a croos to the mountains where thay are just covered with snow. it looks so funy to me thay are just thrashing in the valy now it is as worm and nice a persen can stand around in his shirt sleaves + stand and feed a machene and see snow. I have saw all kinds of mountains rocky + snowy + green mountains some as fine a ceanrys every a man would wish to look at. I havent went to work yet and not likly to get to work this week for Geo wants me to move his things to toun and help Aunt Addie set up house keeping the wages is very hi out here and so is every thing. See I want to get to work as soon as I can. I stoped at Pueblo as I came out about 6 hours and thay pay good wages there. the waiges here runs from $35 to 40$ per month washing + board - in, and at Pueblo thay pay from $2 up to $2.50 cents per day but a man has to pay his expences out of that and on fouther west to Leadville Colorado the waiges is higher there thay pay $9 per day for a teamester to drive two horse + to drive four horses thay pay $9,50 cts per day that is four horse team, and a persen can get Board from $20 to $25 dollars per month at that rate a persen can make from $50 to 60 per month. I was ofered $90 per month yesterday to go with the cow boys and cook for them and if I give them sadisfaction thay would give $95 this is clear thay stand all expences and it is dam easy work and I can have a pony + saddle when ever I want it I would not promest for sure if i would go or not for I had promest Geo to help move as he is wery but I think i will go next week for a while and try it and if i don't like it i will quit.”