This Week in Colorado History: Deaths in the 1890’s

This week in 1900, the Colorado state board of health made its biennial report and also presented data from 1893 to 1900. The report found that from January 1 to October 1, 5,608 people had died in Colorado. One occurred in the 100-110 age bracket, 19 in the 90-100 age bracket, 117 in the 80-90 age bracket, and 1233 in the birth to age two bracket. This year, the report showed that three men died for every two women who died, although there were three females under eighteen to every two males under eighteen. The report also noted 1,150 more males had died than females.

The report also noted causes of death. Suicides had almost doubled from 1895 to 1900, with poisoning being the predominant method. In the first nine months of 1900, 63 Coloradans had taken their own lives, with about one third of these unfortunates utilizing poison. However, the report did show “that in comparison with other states in the Union Colorado is particularly free from disease.”

Colorado College was having a wonderful week this week in 1900. First, Colorado College’s football team defeated the Colorado School of Mines team in a Thanksgiving Day game in Colorado Springs, 39 to 0. Over one hundred Golden residents attended the game. “The Colorado Transcript” noted “most of them returned with depleted pocketbooks.” Then, noted Chicago philanthropist D.K. Pearson “announced his intention to make another donation of $50,000 to Colorado College January 1.”

In an odd bit of news, Secretary of State Elmer F. Beckwith was notified by letter this week in 1900 that an entire “colony” of over 100 Connecticut natives would be coming to Colorado as soon as they could secure “detailed information as to business opportunities in Colorado.”