Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-11


service he had done Smithers in opening his
ewes to the mercenary character Of Miss Riga.
doon. Smithers could do no less than ask him
to dianer. That evening they went to the the
atre together, and the next day to the races on
the Unlun Course. In short, they became We
ry intimate, and Smithers, after having dis
missed the false Gel, sine from his thoughts,
blessed his stars for making him acquainted
with an ;g eeable companion. il man of the
world, and Il true friend. Flasher taught
Smilhers to de ;pse economy, got HIM horse,
dog cheap for five hundred dollars, bought
tickets in his name for all the ratfies going, and
went with him to every place OF amusement at
his cxpeIs'.
Flasher was engaged in a very tonrishing
business, according t, his own account; but
he soon developed very singular mania tor
.obtainiug his friends autographs. He required.
however, something more than mere autographs;
il was necessary that they should be appended
to little slips of paper called checks, or some.
thing figured OH the backs OF written docu.
ments, all having reference to sundry sums OF
money TO be converted to the use OF tie aiore-
said Augustus Flasher.
Going on at this rate, it is not at all surPri.
sing that, after the laps. of a good many months,
Smithers should receive a notice from the bank
one morning, that he had overd: Town his ac-
coun.. At the same time several tradcs-pco.
lie presented their little bill" a commercial
term for very long accounts, with polite re.
quest for immediate payment. Smlthers sent
lis horse to Tattersalls, and then learnt for the
fist time that he was badly spawned, and not
worth fifty dollars. He few to his friend Flash.
er's, and found that gentleman was out of town.
Several other Intimate friends, whom he had
Obliged at various times, were conveniently alb
sent when he hailed. After desperate strug-
gle to recall some Of the scattered fragments
OF his fortune, Snithers in despair fed from the
imperial city.
Some months after his departure, the follow.
ing appeared in one Of the Philadelphia papers:
Among the bold adventures who were a.
mong the first to explore the auriferous soil Of
California, young man by the name Of Sam
uel Smilhers is particularly distinguished. Fore
seeing the profit to be derived from the union
of strong will and undaunted perseverance,
he has plunged boldly into the valley watered
By the Sacramento, and there has employed
huselfi, digging SO success ully, that he has
been literally heaping up gold. We are assu.
II ed that he has detached blocks wei CHING more
iii N eighty pounds 1t is estimated that the
Young and adventurous Smithers, has, in three
months o,ly, auaSsel m"re than twenty mil
io.,s OF HE precious metal"
This notice, copied Into the New York pa
pcrs, was the town talk Tor a week. 1t soon
reaches, the eyes of Miss Crrstlne i,lgaduon
aud Mr.. Augustus Flasher, who were holn as
founded ut tie intelligence.
Some tinl. Later tIe New Io:k Herald con-
t;.insd the following:
"Wuudrrs will never cease. Young Smith.
ers, forucrly OF this city, bat now i'll Cal''or
ml, is undoubtedly Inc richest ma;I III the world.
Astonishing as it may appear, he has found
blocks of gold weighing four hundred polnds.
-Four hundred pounds the Imagination recels,
ustouudcd, before the prodi- Of this
fact 1t is unquestionably true, however. that
Snithers possesses not millions bat bilious
Satisfied with his success, he is about to aban.
don mining and return to New York to spend
IA mere conventional phrase, for his purse is
bottoinless) what he has acquired by his indus.
try and enterprise. 1t is said, moreover, aud
here perhaps romance invades the province of
sober history, that he returns to New York with
the intention of marrying young lady, the sin.
cerity oil whose attachment he once doubted.
1t is certain that he will neither meet with re
fusal nor evity Happy Smithersv'
Later yet the same journal stated
"Samucl Smi,hers, Esq, the celebrated Cal
iforniau, arrived in town to-day, and astounded
those who knew his wealth, by the simplicity
of his attire, and by engaging board at the Pig
and Whistle in Chatham street, instead Of on"
of the crack hotels. 1t is true, as we before
limited, that he has love affair OH the tapis.-
More it, our next edition"
Smthers was smoking his cigar quietly in
his hotel, when the door of lis Ioom opened,
and Augustus Flasher rushed into his arms.
"My dear fellow-welcome to New York.
forgive you for running away as you did,
Allow me 10 congratulate you. All! wc shall
have many good time together. Bu' business
before pleasure. You know am indebted to
YOU in the sum of five thousand dollars. You
call that trhe know-but it was something
to me at the time you advanced it. Here it is
in current bank notes. Just count 'em and see
il they are all right"
Smithers did so, and put them in his pocket
with an Indifferent air.
A few minutes afterwards, the waiter brought
him large sealed package and Il note. He
opened the latter, and read as follows:
"Dere, dere Mister Smithers,- always To-
4 .;,I Ic ont