The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-09-06
LiIaddin i,s california;.
rro,,S,nutjrr psse Metals into Pure Gold W on
derfuI Discovery Half Million of Dollars
Manufactured i'm Two Months Thet0
Pronounced the Best Gold Ever
Iut in NruCibIe.

from the san Francisco Chronicle, Aug III
The following story, as reported 20 uS'
has much of romance in it, but the iuIure
may demonstrate its truth, reVoluuohlZe
commerce. and make the poSSeSSoTS Oh Ule
,,,o,.,,cIIors talismau the vcTitabl7 Midas OF
tbc nineteenth century. 1t IS no less thah
tbc discovery of chemical process, which,
when applied to base metals, transmuteS
them into gold.
Some three months ago q. plain-loolIing
man of American birth presented himself
nj one of our leading banks and deposited
n leather valise on the bankers desk, open
ed and took from it a mass Of dingy metal,
looking halE-lille copper and half-like brass,
and handed it to him. The man of money
examided it curiously, and returned 1t, say
inc he was no judge of mineral substances
and had no time to study this particular
specimen.
oold if he saw it and, if not, would he be
kind enough to send for some confidential
l,crson on whose Judgment he could rely, to
ASSAY and determine the quality and value
Of his metal. The proposition was accedcd
to. One Of our most prominent aSSaNeiS
was summoned, and after examining the
substance and inquiriug with visible excite
,neDt where it came from, and receiving no
satisfaction. departed, taking it with him,
r,rornisiur to report ON it next day at noon.
Punctuallly at the appointed time the three
men met at the bank. The aSsayer pro-
Cluced the metal, which had been run into
the form Of bar, and had all the appear
auce OF the ordinary gold and ingot OF com
merce.
ssThat looks like gold, - said the banker.
e.It is gold" said the assayer, ''ncarly a
thousand fine-the purest L have ever put
in a CTuCible.'
The stranger inquired if the banker was
entirely satisfied of its genuineness.
''Perfcctly, perfectly" was the answer.
EIt is gold. Where did You get it ?'
The answer nearly made him faint. 1t
was a very brief answer yet i'll it were in
volvCd the most mOmcntouS consequences
to commerce. to the vast system of labor
and capital employed i'll the mining enter
prises Of the State, to the precious metal
basis Of trade i'll every land and to the
maintenance even of gOVeTnnentltScn 1t
contained a revolution within itself.
It Is no wonder that the amazing disclO-
s11re almost unnamed the listener. The
stranger quietly said:
u made it myself" and after pause
he added Il can make it by the ton. |
can freight a ship with it within a month
from tie time | have enlarged my present
laboratory as ! am now about to do.
The banker Piled him with questions as
to it's locality, and with prayers to he per
united to visit the scene Of his marvellous
labors. but to no purpose.
His hCarcr sat with impCrturable conntc-
nance until The close Of the bankers ma
ranguc. and then replied:
II viii make you the depository of my
gold You may control its issue, and we
viii together share the power 1t brings
BUt nv process must forcyerremain III my
own hcaIt | shall never reveal it. l VIII
bring YOU in a few days more than you
have now i'm your vaults. My laboratory Is
near the New Park, III a building which
would attract 10 attention, save from It's
dilapidatCd appearance. | was at Work
there during thc most of the past winter,
and have 10y degrees succeeded III making
myself quite comfortable without attracting
attention. | have several ways OF access
to il, and never use the same way twice IN
succession. | admit l have experienced
some fear of discovery and attack; but my
guards arc my dogs, and thcy arc faithful
and silent. There is now more danger than
ever in he increasing volume of my PiOduct
which will need other means of transport
ing raw material and bringing 1t back II
the shape OF gold than this old valise and
my hands.
lie then turned to a convenient table and
wrote Il few lines, which he sealed III an
cnvcIope and handed to the banker.
"Therc is the direction 10 my retreat. |
shall return in a week with more gold, and
if fail to come you may know that some
evil has bCfallcu me. Then come to me"
The banker promised faithful Observance
Of the Injunction, and with many proteSta-
tious of mutual fidelity and good Will they
parted The paper has never been opened,
and the manufacturer of gold has steadily
and punctually rc-appearcd, bringing his
weekly enormous additions to the bullion
Of the bank 1t is said that more than
half million have been manufactured
within the past two months and deposited
IN the bank.
Some of it has been converted into coin
and Uut III circulation. Many Of our read
ers who believe they are handling the pro
ducts Of our gold mines, now daily receive
and pay out this substance, created from
base metals by one OF our most unoLtru-
sive citizens. Some Of it has been run into
the customary fom of bars and, stamped
with the brand and records Of our most ia
nous refinery, has been shipped abroad as
shc basis of exchange for banking insti-
tuition on a colossal scale.
DATE OF CHusT's CRUCTFIXIOS.-A
distinguished German scholar. Herr Caleb,