Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-11-23

sented. The shrewd Israelite occu-
pies many Of the finest stores, and the
Acknowledged" Orientals are here in
hundreds. Nay, even their wives are
here in numbers, and of course the
laundry business 10 altogether in their
hands.
Times was, am informed. and but a
few months ago. when good suit OF
clothes wQuld expose its wearer to in
suit, and when the ''rough and ready"
in dress as in language was alone toler-
ated. But now il is one OF the most
cosmopolitan Of places. and no variety
or eccentricity of dress seems to attract
even a passing glance. New York,
Paris, Canton, and Mining Camp styles
are equally worn AMI equally unnotic-
ed; and am satisfied that the South
Sea I.lander in full national costume,
or the citizen Of Borioboola- Cha, mi
nus the warm underclOthing with which
the cxhuberant fancy OF Dickens adorn-
ed him, might equally promenade these
busy streets and scarcely be noticed
by those whom he met.
But what do all these busy people
do? Well, some work in the mines
some sell goods in these many stores
some drive these big. heavy wagons
that at times fill up the streets, with
seven or eight yoke Of great, quiet OK
en- attached to each; some stand
or sit round, looking for ''chances"
and some-in fact, 1 fear good many
are swindlers in mines crock sharps''
they are called bere). watching and
waiting for prey. In fact the swindles
in mines have been SO many, and the
swindlers so prominent and numerous,
as, in the minds of many, to have made
the wonderful richness OF the Black
Hills o myth, besides casting reproach
upon all their citizens and business
men. I had heared SO much of the
methods Of these rogues and sharpers
that took some trouble to inquire in
to them, and think that paragraph or
two on the subject may amuse, if not
instruct your readers.
OF course all the old tricks Of sailing
mines we're known to these fellows, and
and ripest development. Burying gold
bearing rock where it would afterwards
be accidentally" come upon; "plant.
ing" rich specimens that had been
passed through "sluice. hex" 80 as to
cover the free gold and give them "na-
tive" look; and all such simple methods
were used, worn out, and abandoned.
Charging" the bedrock itself with
gold, either by mechanical or chemical
means, came next in order; and the
intending purchaser was then brought
into the mines, and permitted to use
the pick or sledge himself, and, carry
ing off the specimens that he had tax.
en- from the "bed-rock" with his own
hands, the assayer was eable-honestly
toto give him certificates that made
him ready investor in q worthless
claim.
But when all these tricks became
known, the inventive faculty of the
sharper had to be still further set to
work. Then came the confederate
tricks, which of late have been the fa-
vorite means employed. They are play.
ed somewhat as follows: The leader
for the time is one who in
some way has become acquainted
with q party who is known to
be looking for "a good thing" He de.
votes himself to this individual, some-
times for weeks or months, with the
greatest assiduity. He claims to be the
owner of valuable mines and locations,
none of which he wants to sell. In
fact, he does not care to sell to his
friend. After a time, however, some
late very rich "find" is spoken of.
The head sharper may have even a
small interest in it, but his interest is
not for sale. The owners of half the
claim. however, "need money" and
will sell their interest for 1000 or
$10, 900. But the purchaser is advised
by ''his friend" that this is too much.
"While perhaps really worth that, or
even much more, it ought to be got for
two-thirds Of that price," he will "see
what he can do" He does "see," and
by great effort manages to get bond
on the one-half interest for thirty days
at Sc, 900 or $1,000. He has got pri.
rate bond himself for $500 or 500 for
this is his customer, and his must be
the lions shair of the plumber, and the
difference between the thousands and
hundreds is only a fair compensation for
his trouble. He informs his friend
that he has got this extraordinary
chance, and will turn it over to him
purely out of friedship; but sit is so
valuable, so wonderful bargain
that, if his friend does not buy it he
will" OF course his friend looks into
it. He is permitted to get his own
specimens, and take them to his own
assayer,-an honest man, this, but his
office and workshop open to every
dropper-in. Some Of these are procur-
ed to "salt" the assays, and when the
assayer's attention is otherwise
attracted for q moment, fraction of an
grain of gold-dust is dropped into the
crucible. When we know that
the fifth part of q grain OF
gold in an ordinary assay would show
over An ounce to the ton, we see how
easily this little scheme will work. OF
course the rock "asssys well"; of course
the sale is made; the purchasers friend
sells his friendship for Indifference be.
tween 1000 or 81 900, the price paid,
and $500 and 500, the real cost OF the
interest to him; and one more swindle
is charged to the Black Hills, and
its honest mines and miners ara in.