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Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead
Part One
By Brandon Thorn
Art by Loston Wallace, Allen Nunice, and Paul Daly
Preface
Howdy! Welcome to the first of three articles
covering the midwestern city of Denver as it stands in
the Deadlands universe, circa 1876. Jam-packed full
of tasty tidbits (and, of course, a hefty helpin' o' meat)
on the people, places and problems to be found in the
Queen City of the Desert, "Things To Do In Denver
When You're Undead" is bound to add some
atmosphere to your Deadlands experience.
Or, at least, make good paper for the outhouse.
This first article covers Denver's background,
from an introduction by one of Denver's (un)lawful
locals to a lesson in local history, and on to what it's
like during '76.
The next two articles will further set the stage for
running adventures and campaigns in Denver.
Number two relates the many important people and
places of the city. The third article, intended for the
Marshal's eyes only, details information behind the
scenes, including the uglier side of the people and
places discussed in the second article, and ideas for
throwing the posse into the middle of things.
With that in mind, make yoruself a seat, get
comfortable, and read on...
Welcome To Denver, Partner
Hey there, fella! Glad to see yer finally awake.
Yer lucky I showed up when I did. That gunslinger
woulda pumped ya full o' lead if he'd had another
second or two. I guess mah gunshot spooked ya, eh?
Thought ya were one wit' the new bullet-filled guy?
Well, don't ya worry, feller; I made sure that fool
trigger-head's already on 'is way to the mortician.
By the look of yer suit, the broken spectacles
hangin' on yer nose, and yer amazin' way wit' people,
I'd say yer new to ta town. The fact that yer still layin'
in the dirt has kinda clued me in, too. So gimme yer
hand, and let me help ya up.
Anyhows, mah name is Ted Irvings, "Slick" to
mah friends. I've been a deputee for the Denver
Police Department for a couple weeks now, and
happened ta stumble 'pon you layin' here. From the
looks of it, I'd guess you just got off the latest Tinhorn
Express, seekin' yer fame and fortune in the West.
Ya need ta tighten up yer guts, partner, if yer
plannin' on amkin' a stay of it out here. Denver's no
place for the weak of heart. There are lotsa things ya
don't know 'bout this here city that could end up gittin'
ya kilt. Denver ain't the place it's made out ta be in
the papers.
If ya thought that feller was bad, jus' wait 'til ya
meet a few o' the locals.
All Rails Lead To Denver
Yer lookin' a little pale ag'in, mister. Don't worry;
I'll git ya wherever yer goin' nice and safe-like.
The Denver House? I can git ya there in no time at
all. If ya'd just follow me, we'll be thar in two shakes
of a lamb's tail.
Eh? Naw, the conductor musta givin' ya the wrong
directions. It's over this way.
Well, now that we're on our way, lemme fill ya in
on the real Denver. As the sayin' goes, "all rails lead
to Denver." Never heard it? Ya must be behind the
times, partner. Things out here are changin' faster than
the time o' day. Fer the worse if'n ya ask me, and the
railroad is just the beginnin'.
-1-
Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead
Colorado has been a big lure fer miners lookin' ta
make 'emselves a fortune fer some time now, but it
wasn't 'til recently that things really got outta hand.
Ya see, since the Ghost Rock craze hit, Denver's
become a bustlin' boomtown. Bein' bout as far west
as ya can git by train, it's become the major stoppin'
point between the East Coast and The Maze. Miners,
gunslingers, scientists, teamsters; ya name it, and yer
sure to find someone who fits the bill. These days,
practic'ly everyone in teh city is jus' passin' through.
Trains are constantly zoomin' in an' out of the city,
bringin' with 'em people and damn near anthin' else ya
kin think of. Trouble 'cluded.
We've also been havin' our share of problems with
the Injuns. The Souix 'ave been causin' trouble 'round
here lately, and even the Rev's redskin lackeys
occasion'ly git in on the action. Not ta say all o' 'em
are bad, 'course, but I'd keep a keen eye on any that ya
happen ta spot.
Then, 'course, there's the war. Denver's stuck
betwickst the North and South, and both 'ave decided
Colorado's theirs. The Union's got the power here,
what with the Pinkertons and the Marshals, but the
Rebs have been doin' their best ta keep the situation
messy.
Thanks ta the army skimrishes and the transients,
Denver's gotten itself knee-deep in crime, violence
and corruption. Us police do our best ta keep the
situation under control, and the Marshalls and
Pinkertons occaisonally decide ta dirty their hands,
too, but it's a losin' battle. Doesn't help that half the
law is as bad as the crooks.
Speakin' o' shootouts, watch yer step; ya almost
walked over 'ole Jeb Williams. The mortician woulda
been none too pleased if ya messed 'im up any more
than he already is. I'm surprised he didn't git 'im when
he got yer buddy; Jeb never was one for soap an'
water, but that smell is jus' a lit'l too much.
Aw, shucks. There ya go lookin' sick ag'in.
The Silver Lining
It's not all bad, though. Denver's still one of the
greatest cities I've ever been ta. There are plenty o'
ways to make yerself some cash, you can find jus'
'bout anything your heart desires in the shops and on
the streets, the entertainment scene is... well,
entertainin', and, 'course, there's no better place than
Denver ta hitch yerself a ride out West.
If cash is what ya need, jus' take yerself a looksee
'round the city. The Police Department kin always use
some new deputees, if'n yer into that scene... which
I'm perty sure you ain't. The rail barons are always
lookin' fer some hard workin' fellas, as are the
teamsters and cattle drivers. 'Course, there are many
more ways ta earn a livin' partakin' in the shadier side
o' things, but bein' a deputee and all, I'm not gonna git
into that.
If goods n' services are what ya want, Denver's
got it all. Hop Alley, Denver's Chinatown, has really
grown over the last couple years, and is the perfect
place ta pick yerself up imported goods or a bit o' the
exotic. Thent here's the various shops and businesses
'round town, all of which are sure ta have somethin'
yer lookin' for... 'specially if ya've got the cash or
connections. The 'ole natorious black market's really
thivin' in Denver these days, and if ya can't convince
a storekeep ta open up his storeroom fer ya, it's a sure
bet ya kan find what yer lookin' for on the streets.
If I were ya, I'd go and git me some new
eyeglasses, ta start.
As for excitement, there are more than enough
saloons in Denver ta keep any man intoxicated fer a
good, long time. Bar fights are, 'course, frequent, and
guns are often fired... but at least it's all in fun. If
small-time card games and darts jus' don't tickle yer
fancy, the gamblin' halls are always eager ta reach
into yer pockets.
Oh... what was the last bit I was gonna bring up?
Ah yes; travellin' West. The reason yer in Denver, I
bet. Well, wagon trains are always takin' off this way
and that, and most are more than happy ta take ya
along with 'em. For a price, of course. Then ag'in, if
ya happin' ta be plannin' yer own lit'l money-seekin'
expedition, there are even more people lookin' ta find
someone ta ride along wit'.
What did ya say? Ya want ta know 'bout the
wierder stuff, eh? Well, if ya insist...
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
There are more strange rumors 'bout things in an'
outta Denver than I've heard most anywhere else. The
Epitaph, that amusin' tall-tale tellin' paper, has even
decided ta set up shop downtown. I dunno what ya've
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Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead
read 'bout Denver in there, but there are some stories
I've heard mahself that ya might be interested in.
Good ol' Police Chief McCallin, shot down by a
gang o' bank robbers a month or so ago, is said ta be
back for revenge. The ghost rock-powered train that
decided ta blow up a few months back has been seen
steamin' 'round outside the city, finishin' it's route.
And there's always the big snakes that ranchers say
keep eatin' their beef. Throw in stories 'bout hordes o'
walkin' dead, monstrous grizzlies, and were-thingies
int he night, and ya've got yerself quite a jumpy
buncha people.
My Lord! Behind you!
Oops. Didn't mean ta make ya faint.
Guess I won't be doin' that joke agin' any time
soon.
Epilogue
Anyone awake in that? Hello? HEL- Oh, yer
back.
I'd really 'preciate it if ya'd stop doin' this. Yer
attractin' attention.
Anyhows, partner, we're almost there. I'm sure
you'll be jus' fine handlin' yerself in Denver wit' all
the knowledge I've learned ya today. Jus' remember
the golden rule of survivin' in Denver; "never trust
anyone."
Yeah, so ya've heard taht one before. What can I
say.
Now that ya've got yer balance back, jus' head on
down that alley over there; the Denver House is right
on the other side.
Don't worry, it's perfectly safe.
No, I didn't see any shadows moving down there.
Nor did I hear a gunshot. I thnk yer jus' lettin' yer
imagination git ta ya.
What?
I take offense at that! Of course you can trust me;
I'm with the law. Do ya think I would 'ave warned you
'bout not trustin' anyone if I wasn't ta be trusted
mahself?
'Course not. Now git goin'.
And have a nice day.
-3-
Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead
Denver: Queen City Of The Plains
Compared to the other major cities of the late 19th
century, Denver was little more than an whiney infant
back in '76. Denver's origins date back to 1858, when
the first mining camp was founded at Cherry Creek.
The actual city, previously a collection of smaller
camps, wasn't even founded until April 1860.
What follows is a compressed historical account
of Denver from its beginnings through 1876. The
Reckoning, the Great Quake, Indian uprisings and the
continuance of the bloody Civil War have all had their
share in shaping the Denver of Deadlands.
Gold Fever
Until the California Gold Rush hit America,
Colorado was of little interest to anyone other than
the Native Americans who lived in the region and the
few trappers who decided to make their living there.
The ground was too arid for farmers and a treaty with
the natives made back in '51 assured them that no one
would settle their land. Other than Fort Laramie and a
few other military posts, Colorado was little more
than an expanse of desert between the east and west.
Rumors of gold found by California-bound
prospectors at Ralston Creek in 1850 quickly spread
east, but few braved the long journey to Colorado. In
1857, soldiers led by Major J. C. Sedgewick were
passing through the area when an Indian scout by the
name of Fall Leaf chanced upon a few nuggets of
gold in an area long Cherry Creek.
With Ralson Creek in mind, a prospector named
William Green Russell began planning an expedition
to Colorado. In June of 1858 the party, now
numbering over one hundred, reached the junction of
Cherry Creek and the South Platte. Their finds were
small, and after some fruitless exploration in the area,
most of the party left. Russell and a few others stayed,
however, and quickly stumbled upon a larger find at
Dry Creek's connection to the South Platte. Placer
Camp, as it had been named, temporarily held the
prospector's interest, but they soon left north in the
hope of better finds.
Shortly after the Russell party departed, more
gold-seekers from Kansas, having heard of Fall Leaf's
find, happened on Placer Camp. They settled down,
and were soon joined by others. When the Russell
party returned, having no luck to the north, a dozen or
so cabins had already popped up around Cherry Creek
and the South Platte.
Although many small towns were created in the
surrounding area, most only existing in the eyes of
their creators and inhabitants, two in particular paved
the way for the future city.
The town of Auraria, founded by members of the
Russell party and others from Lawrence, Kansas, was
created in November of '58 on the southwestern side
of Cherry Creek. A few days later an armed party led
by William H Larimer, Jr. jumped a mostly-
abandoned site across the river from Auraria. To
verify their claim, they quickly created the Denver
City Town Company. The two sites became rivals
overnight, both fighting for the same resources and
businesses that would keep them alive.
Denver Is Born
The first major business to locate itself in the area
was The Rocky Mountain News. Its founder, William
Byers, initially located the newspaper in Auraria, but
soon moved to the dry Cherry Creek riverbed
between both towns to keep everyone happy.
-4-
Things To Do In Denver When You’re Undead
The biggest upset to Auraria came when Denver
City won the bid on Leavenworth and Pike's Peak
Express, bringing the first stagecoach connection to
the area. Businesses, especially hotels and saloons,
quickly sprang up around the terminal, hurting
Auraria even more.
More people began flowing in to the area in '59,
again drawn west by the prospect of gold. With no
farms or industry in the area, many people made
money off of transporting goods from back east, and
shysters found a great place to earn a little cash.
Auraria, hurting badly from lack of business and
population, finally merged with Denver City on
April 6, 1860, creating the combined city of Denver.
Although only a couple of years old and having few
farms and no industry, Denver now boasted a
population of almost 5000.
Trouble, Trouble and More Trouble
The next few years turned out fairly bad for
everyone in the Denver area, both Native Americans
and settlers alike. The Arapahos had long used the
area around Cherry Creek as a campground, but had
so far only objected slightly to the intrusion. They
continued to mingle and trade freely with the settlers
up through the early 1860's. There were few problems
between the two groups at first, but as the city began
to grow, so did the problems.
Then, in late 1860, the Civil War began. Denver,
still in Kansas Territory, had little in the way of local
law support. With the outbreak of the war, the already
mostly lawless city suffered even more from
gunfights and killings. Most of the locals were from
the North which helped to keep incidents down, but
the fear of war was still present. To make matters
worse, much of the local military, having previously
been a major part of the law in the area, was now off
fighting elsewhere.
As the war raged on, the government did their
best to settle the dispute between the Indians and the
locals. Talks with the Native Americans began in
1860 in the hopes of gaining control of the Denver
area and northeastern Colorado. A new treaty was
finally signed on February 18, 1861, but many of the
chiefs involved declined to sign. Ten days later
Congress proclaimed the area Colorado Territory,
solidifying its claim to the area despite Indian protest.
Although the natives were generally peaceful,
fearful settlers kept the tension between the two
groups high. Bad hunting, both due to government
intervention and over-hunting by settlers, drove many
of the Native Americans to aggression. Attacks on
wagon trains, hunters, and farms kept the two groups
at each other's throat.
On April 19, 1863, things got even worse. Late at
night a fire started in the middle of downtown,
destroying most of the business district. Brick
buildings quickly replaced the ruins. A little over a
yearlater, Cherry Creek flooded, destroying much of
the city along its banks, including the Rocky
Mountain News building (which was, of course, built
on the riverbed itself) and City Hall. The paper
resettled eslewhere, and damaged buildings were
rebuilt, but many people were left homeless for
months to come.
When the Reckoning hit, spewing forth all sorts of
evil into the world, tensions between the Native
Americans and Settlers again reached a high point.
The whites blamed the Indians for the strangeness,
and the Indians blamed the whites for angering the
spirits. Open war broke out between the two groups,
which the government had little control over thanks to
the Civil War.
In a desperate move on the settler's part,
Colorado's Third Cavalry, commanded by Colonel
John M. Chivington and currently stationed in
Colorado, readied for action. Despite the Cheyenne
and Arapaho's neutrality towards the settlers, the
cavalry made a surprise morning raid on a large camp
at Sand Creek where many Indians from both tribes
were staying. No one in the camp was spared.
The atrocity escalated the battle between the two
groups, spurring already-angy natives to all-out war.
In the following week a tribe of Arapahos led by the
previously pacifist Chief Niwot razed nearby Boulder
City. As time wore on, the fighting weakened, both
sides running low on war supplies, but Indian raids on
mountain settlements and mining camps continued.
Denver was in a bad situation with little hope for
salvation. If guerrilla attacks from angry Sioux
weren't enough, Denver was beginning to feel the
pains of not having any railroad connections with the
rest of the continent. After much debate, locals
decided that the railroad situation was, at the least,
something they could change.
-5-
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