Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-05


dollars, bought tickets in his name for al
the raffles going, and went with him t.
every place of amusement at his expense
Flasher was engaged in a very -four
ishing business, according to his own ac
count; but he soon developed very sin
gular mania for obtaining his friends au
tographs. He required, however, some
thing more than mere autographs; it wa
necessary that they should be appended
to little slips of paper called checks, o.
something figured on the backs of writ
ten documents, all having reference tc
sundry sums of money to be converted
to the use of the aforesaid Augustus
Flasher.
Going on at this rate, it is not at al
surprising that, after the lapse of gooo
many months, Smithers should receive q
notice from the bank one morning, that
he had overdrawn his account. At the
same time several trades.people presented
their "little BILL" a commercial term for
very long accounts, with polite request
for immediate payment. Smithers sent
his horse to Tattersalls, and then learnt
for the first time that he was badly spa
vined, and not worth fifty dollars. He
flew to his friend Flasher's, and found
that gentleman was out of town. Seve.
raj other intimate friends, whom he had
obliged at various times, were convenient
ly absent when he called. After a des-
parate struggle to recall some of the scat
tered fragments of his fortune, Smithers
in despair fed from the imperial city.
Some months after his departure, the
following appeared in one of the Phila-
delphia papers:
"Among the bold adventurers who
were among the first to explore the au-
riferous soil of California, young man
by the name of Samuel Smithers is par
ticularly distinguished. Foreseeing the
profit to be derived from the union of a
strong aud undaunted perseverance,
he has plunged boldly into the valley
watered by the Sacramento, and there
has employed himself;in digging so suc-
cessfully, that he has been literally heap.
ing p,gold We are assured that he has
detached blocks weighing more than
eighty pounds Itis: estim&ted that The,
young and adyenfur Snitherss setlass IN
three months only, anlassed more than
twenty millions of the precious metal"
as This notice, copied into the New York
papers, was. the town talk for a week. 1t
soon reached the eyes of Miss Celestine
Rigadoon and Mr.. Augustus Flasher, who
were both much astounded at the intelli-
gence. .a
Some time later, the New York Her.
aid contained the following:
Wonders wifi never cease. Young
smithers, formerly Of this city, but now in
California, IS undoubtedly the richest man
in the world. Astonishing as it may
appear, he has found blocks Of gold
weighing four hundred pounds. Four
hundred pounds the imagination recoils;
astounded, before the prodigioushess of
this fact. 1t is unquestionable true, how:
ever, that Smithers possesses not millions
but billions. Satisfied with his success;
he is about to abandon mining and return
to New York to spend Ia mere conven-
tional phrase, for his purse is bottomlessl
what he has acquired by his industry and
enterprise. 1t is said, moreover; and here
perhaps romance invades the province of
sober history, that he returns to New York
with the intention of marrying d young
lady, the sincerity of whose attachment
he once doubted. 1t is certain that he
will neither meet with refusal nor levity.
Happy smithers
Later yet the same journal stated:'
,"Samuel Smithers, Esq, the celebrated
Californian, arrived in town to-day, and
astounded those who knew his wealth,
by the simplicity of his attire, and by en-.
gaging board at the Pig and Whistle in
Chatham street, instead of one of the
crack hotels. 1t is true, as we before
hinted, that he has love affair on the
tapis.-More in our next edition"
Smithers was smoking his cigar quietly
in his hotel, when the door of his room
opened, and Augustus Flasher rushed
into his arms.
&c Ny dear fellow-welcome to New
York. l forgive you for running away
as you did.-Allow me to congratulate
you. All! we shall have many good
time together. But business before plea
sure. You know I am indebted to you
in the sum of five thousand dollars. Yor
call that trife / know-but it was some
thing to me at the time you advanced it
Here it is in current bank notes. Jus
count 'em and see if they are all right"
Smithers did so, and put them in hi
pocket with an Indifferent air.
A few minutes afterwards, the waite
? brought him large sealed package AM
note. He opened the note, and read a
follows:
J, HDere, dere Mister smithers,-l al
ways loved you-so i did-and mos
cried my Is out when you desarted m
and went oph without Never SO much a
biddia' me good Bi. But we wont spek
!. of troubles emmy more. You've com
! back and we'll be very happy--won
! we? But for fere as you sheuld thin thin
me mersenry send you theu Nmon'