The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-18

GOLD MINR IN THE ARA very artful
man in a small way is Mr.. Charles A. Robson.
Highly respectable in appearance, suave in
manner, eloquent but usually reserved, in
speech, and about fifty years of age, Mr.. Robe
son, not long since, turned up in Boston. He
came thither as stranger, but he soon made
many friends. One reason for this, besides the
advantages named, probably lay in the fact that
he asked no favors. After time, it leaked out,
no one could exactly tell how, that Robson was
the owner of gold mine of fabulous wealth in
Oregon. Some adventurous person questioned
him on the subject, but he evaded its discussion
with graceful and careless ease well calcu-
lated to fire curiosity and establish confidence.
On other occasions, Mr.. Robson professed
annoyance that his secret should have been
limited at. He admitted it was true that he
had such mine, nay he was not unwilling
to show to particular friends specimens of the
ore. Beyond this, however, he begged that he
might be spared further debate. The specimens
Were shown, and they were magnificent. No
more handsome fragments of auriferous red
sandstone quartz were ever seen. They REPRE-
sented, Mr.. Robson incidentally observed. a
probable value in his mine of hundred mil
lions of dollars. 1t is not surprising to hear
that on this hint the solid men of Boston smoke
Here was a scheme worthy of the Hub of the
Universe, BETTING the city that held Gilmore's
Jubilee. The fortunate owner of this new
Ophir increased the number of his respectable
acquaintance apace. They gave him nice
oupPoto Nv dihcIo, uIONe IllIl proudly DehluQ
their fast-trotting steeds and otherwise evinced
their appreciation of modest opulence The
upshot of it ALL as the reader anticipates. was
that large number took stock in the Robson
mine-parted with, of course, with infinite re-
luctance by the proprietor, and that, while
fraction of the money was put in the hands of
directors to expend for machinery and other
improvements, most of the cash found its way
into the pocket of Mr.. Robson. The directors
actually went out to San Francisco. Robeson
coolly accompanying the party, with the pur-
pose, as was understood, of guiding them di-
rectly to the mine.
Arrived at the Golden City, tickets were
bought to go on to Portland, and, on the morn
ing the steamship was to sail, Robson coolly
managed to give his companions the slip So
adrOit was he in this that the whole party. with
the exception of himself, went on board the
packet, the Ajax, and were carried off to Port
land, while Robson, as is supposed took the
railroad and made for the East. The renre
sentatives of the solid men of Boston will re-
turn, no doubt, in good time, and make their
way to the three-hilled city, wiser if sadder
men. The moral of this may be expressed in
terms somewhat like the precautionary adj
monition of Mrs. Glasse: "First catch Your
hare" said that worthy dame, and First, see
your mine," may judiciously be suggested to
those who, like the dupes of Robson, are
tempted into golden speculation. In the mean
time, tits to be hoped that the enterprising op-
orator may fall into the hands of justice, since,
apart from the wrong inflicted on particular
victims, such rogueries as his have tendency
to inJure legitimate mining projects, to which
capital and confidence are alone essential to
bring about results of genuine and solid profit