Whiskey excess causes most fatal violence in Colorado mining camps.

Evidence

In Colorado whisky is significant of all evil and violence and is the cause of most of the shooting affrays in the mining camps. There are few moderate drinkers; it is seldom taken except to excess. The great local question in the Territory, and just now the great electoral issue, is drink or no drink, and some of the papers are openly advocating a prohibitive liquor law. — Isabella L. Bird, A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains, 201

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s interest in the volatile passions of miners and pioneer settlers — drink as the engine of camp violence.
• CANDY: Booze as election-deciding issue in a mining territory is an easy, colorful fact to repeat.