The Kibosh Files

The Gladstone Kibosh was a fake newspaper invented by the editor of the Silverton (Colorado) Standard in 1899. The "Extracts from the Gladstone Kibosh" were hilarious entries on alleged events in the remote mining camp in the San Juan Mountains, introducing us to Demon's Delight homemade whiskey and the Angel of Mercy Saloon, famed for its shin-kicking contests and shell games. We also meet deeply flawed but endearing characters such as James Bowman, the conniving editor who will resort to just about anything -- including extortion -- to win subscribers and advertisers, Dr. Bunion, the corn surgeon/gun slinger, and Deacon Devine, who converts few in Gladstone, while descending deeper into poverty and temptation of saloons. The Gladstone Kibosh, by its nature as fiction, was able to comment bluntly on the darker side of the mining camps -- violence, alcoholism, while poking fun at the harsh weather and economic conditions at the 11,000-foot high town.