Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-09-18
NO. 16
The Sinking water sIin.~..

John \. Farnsworth writes TO the BoZc
man Courier as follows, in relation to Mr.
Wefmore and the Sinking Water mines
am certainly as well posted in regard
to Mr.. Wctmore and his:ctions rs anyone,
having induced him to leave his home in
the States and start with me for his mines.
We intended that our party should consist
of six persons all told. Sorcy against
Mr.. Wctmorc's will it numbered eleven,
and the probability that we would be over
hauled bya large party before we could
reach the mines. Before leaving the States
MIR. w. told me positively that hc would
rot go to the mines if a crowd followed him,
and gave as his reasons that he had two
very intimate friends whom he desired 10
take to the mines, but that they were sllolt
of funds and unable to Outlit and sinlt
with him; that if he went to the mines
with crowd, in Il very few days thou
| sands would pour in and locate every foot
| OF ground weeks before his; friends could
| arrive from the StaeS.
| On July 11tl wcmct party of twenty
| Three men. vino had followed us from
! Miles City: ard tits beyond the shadow
OF Il doubt that from this time Mr.. Wet
more had but two objects in view, namely
| to lead the crowd as far from his mines
| ~ l'''@@'oIS. dlt ic ~ away I'LL
harmed. Had I been in Mr. Wetmorc's
situation | should have done differently
than he did. lie made an agreement to
take every one to the mines, provided thai
;iic'- would remain behind and permit him
to go to the mines and consult his part
ners, and then he would return and con-
duct the party 10 the new Ei.lOradO
This he did not do, but instead sent
them on Il wild goose chase" and he
started back, ostcnsibly to bring his FAM
lily West. | think Mr.. Wctmorc's better
course would have been, after discovering
the party of twenty three that had followed
him, to have refused point blank TO pro
coed any further, and left them in II manly !
way. However am more willing to cX- /
clisc him, as lie feared bodily harm in case |,
he did not fellow the wishes of the crowd. !
and he chnse the former method TO get |!
away. Had he made any money out of
the stampede, and gone off III sIch a man. |
ner. | would condemn him at once, but !!
while | know of NY own knowledge that /
he has had the very best opportunity to
make Scvcra! thousand dollars. | do know /
positively that he has nat made one penny |
over and above The expense of his outfit !
and very economical living for his i;ln- !
ily.
Mr.. Wctmorc has good business talent /
and could have made, in the same length |
OF time, with far less labor than he has ex-
pended on the stampede, more money and
much better fare than lie has received. For
several years Mr.. WetmoIc had charge of
Il station Oil the Northern Pacific railroad,
and fulfilled his duties to the entire salts
faction OF the officers of the road. and.
when lie resigned his position. wasa prime
tavoritc both with the officers and c!n
ploycs of the entire line. and bears today
with them an excellent reputation.
In consideration Of all the facts is it not
a little premature 10 publish him :is Il
liar" thief and viilain:' viii it not be
soon enough to do SO when st.ci, is proven
to be the case beyond doubt: 10 the pub
tic at large simply ask that Mr.. Wctmorc (
be treated witt. the same justice that a
prisoner arr;i@nc.i nj the bar would re- ,
ccivc-tl,at he be considered innoccn: until
clearly proven guilty. And l say most
that, as yet, no man knows
10 positive certainty that he did not dis
cover mines.