Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-03
A Talk With CalifOrnlans.

"CoMR out to our coast, boy" said big
child OF San Francisco, the other day;
land ye'll give you something to write
about"
For instance?"
"Well tell you the story of Paul
Beales"
who was Paul Beales."
Paul Beales was bank cashier at or near
Williamsport, Penn, along about the year
'49. In those days there were no express
companies, and once month, or once a
quarter, Paul Beales, like all the bank
cashiers of interior Pennsylvania, had to
go to Philadelphia to adjust his balances
with the bank which corresponded with
his own. Paul started one day from Will
Transport with $4,000, which he was to
take in person to the Farmers and Me-
chanics' Bank, and he arrived in Philadel
phia next day noon. He was a temperate,
virtuous respected married man, popular
with everybody and well-to do.
But on this occasion Paul Beales was
possessed with the devil of postponement,
and being tired of travel he did not GO
promptly to bank, but lounged about the
hotel till evening. Then he felt the other
demon of recklessness, that never came
before come to him and suggest that he
make night of it. In few minutes he
was in gambling saloon, and had
shortened his account some thousands of
dollars.
The next morning the bank received
three-fourths of the money from Williams
port, by an anonymous hand, and Paul
Beales was missing. They searched for
him, high and low, in vain. 1t was believed
that he had been murdered, and his widow
put on mourning while all his community
grieved for him,
About that time there arrived in Cali
fornia one Daniel Clarkson, a choking,
atfable man, with little money but big will
and he plunged at once into mining and
business. He was honest and popular,
and every man, woman, and child soon
learned to love him. He was married,
after some years, to Pacific woman, one
who was dead shot with pistol, and had
all the virtues that bloom beyond the
Sierra Nevaaas, and in course of time we
had nominated Daniel Clarkson for
Anunyamenta or Mayor of the city of San
Francisco.
While he was walking one day on Mont.
gomery street. man from Pennsylvania
stepped up to him suddenly and putting
out his hand said:
Paul, how do you do?"
Fright we'll, thank you,, sir" exclaimed
Daniel Clarkson; but after pause
you have mistaken me for some one
else"
Excuse me-" said the man, "but was
sure had found Paul Beales, of Williams
port, Pennsylvania"
Daniel Clarkson continued on down the
street; pretty soon he came to deguerreo-
type saloon, before the door of which,
conspicuous in show. case, hung a por-
trait Of himself, the most popular man in
San Francisco. Bearded and grown older,
and with that look of philosophc thought
which wise experience gives, he made the
prompt resolve to buy picture of Daniel
Clarkson and send it to the Mayor of
Wiliamsport, to inquire if he resembled
in any manner the missing Paul Beales.
This, perhaps, was the madness which
lets out murder; but, confident and self.
possessed, the fugitive cashier did it. The
Mayor and his friends unused over the
picture, and saw resemblance, but at last
concluded to abide by the decision of the
widow of Paul Beales. She had been
waiting all those years, hopeful that the
deeps Of time would give up their secret
some day and when she saw the picture
of Daniel Clarkson she recognA,t her
husband, and fell fainting to the floor.
At that day a wretch subsisted il Cali.
fornia who earned his ignominious bread
by Matchmaking the citizens in the columns
of vile print. He began by calling Dan.
iel Clarkson q bank-robber and thief
and said he was fine figure for an Anun'
yanenta He filled his paper with the
name of Paul Beales, and the whole city
looked UP astonished to see its most re-
spectacle merchant malgned in this way
If Clarkson had killed the blackmailer he
would have been justified on every side
Not so. He protested that he had always
heard of Paul Beales, and so solemnly did
he aver this that not one of his friends
wavered in his support. But the printing
wretch grew more cicumstantial with
every issue, and at last the friends of the
merchant said:
"Clarksop, you must go back to Will
Transport and show yourself You must
face this thing. We believe you, and will
see you through"
He said, with all checrfulnesss, that he
would take the first steamer, and so he
did, accompanied by many supporters, and
cheered as the ship left her dock by a
great crowd He left behind him in San
| Francisco two hundred thousand gold dol
t lars worth of property.
As the ships company was crossing the
, Isthmus of Panama, on mules Daniel
, Clarkson was missing somewhere on the
way, and for three years he disappeared
anew. At last they found him working
| in candle factory in Cincinnati, dressed
, like laborer, and poor and desperate
: The California boys put him on his feet
, They said: :,
"Glarkson, there is only one way to dc
3 this thing Begin at the beginning, anc
return to Williamsport and to your wife.