The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-31
Aladdin In CellrornIa.


tonne commerce, and make the DOS
SCISSORS OF the marvellous talismnn the
verltable Midas of the nineteenth cen.
tury. 1t is no less than the discovery of
chemical process, which, when apple |
to base metals. transmutes them into
god-pure, shining, veritable gold. The
rumors OF the diamond discoveries in
Arizona have somewhat precipitated the
disclosures of the facts we are about to
relate, and though ut the risk of break
ing faith with our informant, we consi-
der his statement too important to be
withheld from the public.
Some three months ago, d plain look
Ing man, Of American birth, presented
himself at one of our leading banks and
solicited an interview with the manager.
Inc manager was very much occupied
with his cares, over-burdened with offers
OF paper for discount, and harassed with
| the prospects of losses on loans. for
which he held collateral in the shape of
mining stocks. seemingly desc ending on
his hands. He surveyed his supposed
customer, and almost before the first
words OF salutation had fallen from the
newcomers lips, he said:
mo, sir; can't do it. Very sorry, but
have gone beyond our limit to nccommo.
date our own customers. Doing no.
thing on the outside to-day, at any rates. {"
Ine stranger made no reply, but de-
posted leathern valise on the bankers
desk, opened and took from it mass of
dlngy metnl, looking half like copper
and half like brass, and handed it to
him. The man Of money examined it
curlously, and returned it, saying he was
no Judge OF mineral substances, and had
no time to study this particular speci-
men.
The stranger asked him if he would
know gold if ho saw it.; and, if not,
would he be kind enough to send for
some confidential person, on whose judg.
ment he could rely, to assay and deter
mine the quality and valne of his lump
OF metal. The proposition was reluc-
tai tly acceded to. One of our most
prominent assayers WINS summoned, and
after examining the substance and in
Quiring, with visible excitement, where
IL came from, and receiving no satisfnc-
ton, departed, taking it with him, pro.
mIslng TO report on it the next day by
one at noon. Punctualy ut the ap-
pointed time the three men met ut the
bank. The assayer produced the metal
which had been run into the form of a
bar, and had MI the appearance of the
ordinary gold ingot of commerce.
That looks like gold," said the
banker.
1T is gold" said the assayer, NEARLY
thousand fine-the purest have ever
put in crucible"
The stranger said nothing. The others
piled him with questions concerning the
source from whence it came. He civilly
but firmly declined to furnish any in.
formation, requesting them, as q further
test OF its genuineness, to send it to the
mint, in this city, for coinage. 10 this,
they assented, and the bar was sent, with
other bars, to the mint. It was there
again submitted to the tests usual in
such cases, and the next day it's value
was returned in double eagles-some-
thing more than S8,OOO-which was
placed to the credit of the now decidedly
interesting stranger. For nearly week,
nothing was seen of him or heard from
him. The banker was in fever of ex-
cItement. He could think of nothing
but the owner of the gold. He ran over
all the mining news of the public press
for some record of strike in the gold
prodnclng districts; and, if the truth
must be told, he waited for some intelli-
gence OF an audacious robbery of the
treasure-bo1 Of an up-country stage or
OF the rifing of some bank or assay
office, in which his new. friend should
play prominent part.
So we'll satisfied was he of the correct.
ness OF this latter conjecture that he was
about advertising the possession by him,
under peculiar circumstances. Of large
quantity Of refined gold, when the de.
positor appeared, bringing with him q
much larger piece of the same metal as
formerly, which, with some ceremony
and dignity, he submitted for inspection.
This was done, and then the stranger
inquired il the banker was entirely salts
fed OF its genuineness. Perfectly.
perfectly" was the answer, "where did
you get it?"
The answer nearly caused him to faint.
he sat for few moments like one in q
trance. His ears were filled with strange
sounds. His eyes grew dim. His hands
trembled nervously, and his heart beat a
queer tattoo which alarmed him for his
personal safety. It was very brief an
swer, yet in it were involved the most
momentous consequences to commerce,
to the vast system of labor and capital
employed in the mining enterprises of
the State, to the precious metal basis OF
1 t~1 IL