The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-03

How a. Couple OF Wen Swim
died some kentucky Farmers Out OF
12O. d

home in the Valley of the Mississippi,
relates a sad tale of the vanity Of hui
man expectations, and the prevalence
everywhere OF moral turpilude. lie
tells the following story Of his expert
cncc, in the hope that il may prevent
others from falling victims TO similar
wiles About six years ago, Alexander
Wilson, IN old claSs-mate of mine, left
our neighborhood and came to Califor-
MIA. For a long time we heard nothing
of him but two Years since he began 10
write 10 his acquaintance ~ home tina.
he had gone into mining extensively,
and was in a fair way Of making a for
tune. Thi, pleased and piqucd all his
neighbors. and while many OF tAem
sold out their farms and left for the
land Of gold. those who remained at
home We're anxious 10 get an interest in
q gold mine. Meanwhile the letters
were coming regularly from Wilson,
until he nj last announced his final tri-
umph, and declared his intentions Of
retu yning to visit the scenes of his child
hood, the friends of his school-days.
etc, and about six months ago he put
in an appearance NJ Hickman, where he
spent some time in circulating around.
As he was very free with his money, the
innocent country people readily believed
that he had struck it rich, while his glow
ing account of future prospects made
them desire TO share his luck. Accord
inc 10 his assertions. the Bank Of Cali
fornia or the Pacific Railroad would be
nothing in 4 few years compared TO his
wealth. He claimed 10 have the richest
mine on the coast, but vas willing to
let his friends have an interest in the
enterprise, rs il was big enough to give
something 10 every body. Thinking
that this was an opportunity which
would offer but once in a lifetime. a
number of the farmers in that vicinity
dubbed together and purchased one
fourth of the Raccoon Ledge, in lnyo
County, and chose Mr.. Garrison as
trustee { represent them in the COM
panv. As soon A. this arrangement
was effected and the money paid in,
Wilson announced that it was necessary
for him TO return To California To at
tend TO some business connected with
the mine, and asked Mr.. Garrison to
accompany him. which invitation the
latter gladly accepted. When they ar
rived here Wilson took the new trustee
to the company's Office at San Francis
co and introduced him to another gen
tleman, who was supposed 10 be the
superintendent Of the mine. This in
dividual informed Wilson that his ar
rival was opportune, a the water had
commenced coming in on the workmen
and nothing could be done until pumps
and machinery were erected, and that
the improvements would aust a con-
siderable outlay. After the subject was
discussed, it was determined that an
assessment should be levied at ones in
order 10 get the mine in working
order again. When news reached
kentucky that the shareholders must
paw an assessment instead of receiving
a dividend. considerable surprise and
dissatisfaction were expressed; but this
wore away under the assurance that the
money would all be paid back, with in
terest, i'm the course IF two or three
months, as the ore was there and moth
ing remained for them to do but 10 cX-
tract the metal. The Kentucky stock
holders paid up their assessments and
Wilson went TO the East 90 purchase
the pumping and hosting apparatus.
Mr.. Garrison remaining at San Francis
co in charge of the company's affairs.
while the superintendent left inyo
county, in order to look after the mine
and see that every thing was in readi-
ness 10 commence operations upon the
arrival Of the machinery. After these
officials had been gone some three
weeks. and no letters had been received
from them, Mr.. Garrison began % feel
a little uneasy, especially rs "a bill for
two months office rent had just been
sent to him, and he could nowhere find
company funds with which To meet the
demand. He settled the account out Of
his own private purse. but not without
some %misgiyings that all was not
right. Although he visited the
Post-oficc daily for q couple Of
weeks longer. he failed % receive any
word from the absent parties. At'ast
he determined 10 20 to independence
and learn the true state of affairs. Upon
arriving there he was Mortified az dis
covering that there was mo- Raccoon
Ledge, and that the men he spoke Of
were entirely unknown in that neigh
borhood-in fact. that he and his friends
had been swindlcd. lie returned 70
once 10 san Francisco, made Inquiries
about the missing operators, and found
that he had undoubtedly been sold.
Becoming convinced that the swindlers
had gone 10 parts unknown, and having
no desire to spend money simply for
tho sake of Furnishing them, he con-
cludcl that the best thing he could do.
under the circumstances, would be %
go back to the bosom OF his family. As
he had not the slightest hope Of rccoy
ING the stolen money, he would no
waste time III an cndclvor % bring the
confidence men to justice, and thus an
other pair Of gracele-s villains are al-
lowed TO run 10 large. Mr.. Garrison