, 1869-09-25
From Tuesday. rri-YssEly.i
RobInson Turns Up Arain.

years since . man who gave his name a.
G. A. Robinson, made his apPeAranes al
Portland, where be represented that
he had discovered The richest gold mine
in the world, somewhere near the head.
waters of the Columbia. As evidence
Of bis good faith he exhibited some re,
markably rich quartz, which be stated
that be had taken from the newly dis
covered mines. On these representations,
a company, With, We know not how many
hundred thousand dollars capital was
formed and some of the sharpest, shrewd-
est business men ia Portland manifest
est great anxiety to be "let in" on the
good thing. The object of the company
was to work the mine, and quite large
sum was advanced to Robinson to en-
able him to repair to the new FL. Dorado
and arrange preliminaries for holding
the ground and working the mine.
So great was the excitement that the
parties who had invested sent their
friends out with Robinson, for the pur.
pose of protecting their interests and
seeing that no shenAnigan was practiced.
The story of Robinson's discovery leak>
ed out, and scores of anxious adventure
ers dogged his footsteps, determined to
find out where bis mine was and share
in its inexhaustible treasure. He finally,
however, managed to get away from the
Commercial metropolis" and attended
by the representatives Of the capitalists
who had taken stock in the company,
started for the mine. Immediately the
news of his departure got noised abroad,
other parties started from Portland to
follow him, and for a time the Columbia
River was lined with eager, anxious in.
quirers, all seeking to find Robinson. In
company with his party, Robinson cons
tiuued up the River as far as Lewiston,
and then took them up in the noun
tains beyond Florence, where, after wan.
dering about for a number of days, he
disappeared. At first his party supposs
ed he had missed his way, and long and
anxiously did they search for their miss
ing leader. Failing to find him, the fact
dawned upon them that they had been
the victims of a huge "sell," and forth>
with they took the back track, eventual
ly reaching Portland sadder if not wiser
men.
Nothing was heard of Robinson for
several months, when he made his ap<
pearance at San Francisco, the discoV,
erer of mine Of unparalleled richness.
Here again company was fothed for
the purpose of working the mine, and
as in the former case stock was taken
with great avidity. Everything being
arranged, Robinson started from San
Francisco for the purpose of visiting the
scene of his great discovery, and as in
the former case he was accompanied by
a party of gentlemen who represented
capitalists who had taken stock in the
enterprise. When the steamer that
brought them up Arrived off Astoria it
was found that Robinson was very sick,
and here be proposed to land and remain
for few days until be could regain his
health, meanwhile the party would con.
tinue on to Portland and there wait for
him to rejoin them. This arrangement
was carried out, and the San Francisco
party continued on up the River, and
there waited as agreed upon. After
delay of q few days, word came DIP
from Astoria that Robinson had died,
aud that his remains were suitably in>
tered. Nothing remained for the San
Francisco adventurers but to return
home, Providence as it seemed having
interposed between them and the fortune
they coveted.
1t was here supposed that Robinson
had disappeared from the stage of life,
and that the catalogue of his victims was
complete. Not so, for year or two later
be turned up at Washington, where be
obtained the ears Of Cabinet ministers
and narrated to them the story of his
wonderful discovery. Secretary Seward
at that time had just completed his
Alaska purchase, and having q noun
tain of ice on hand, Robinson not un~
reasonably concluded that be would be
willing to invest in q mountain 6f gold.
The willy Secretary listened to Robin
sons representations, and was told that
enough ttessure codld be taken out of
the mine to extinguish the national debt,
This was tempting, but after turning it
over for a time, Secretary Seward de"
clined the offer, thanking Robinson for
the liberality he had exhibited, and ex>
pressing warm interest in his success.
RobinsOn's next dodge was to organize
a company to come out aid WORK the
nina nromisiuo To each individual who
Joined him that be should be q million
aire before the close Of the year Phil
adelphia was the place where be CONS
menced operations in this line, and there
he obtained number of young men who
paid one thousand dollars each down
for the privilege of owning a share in
the greatest mining enterprise of the
age Other recruits were obtained in
New York and elsewhere, that finally