New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-08-06
Gigantic SWindie Upon American Cap.
itAlists.

For some time past it has been
quietly talked among friends of the
parties Immediately interested that
most extraordinary swindle has been
perpetrated upon Mr.. Gordon Mckay,
of sewing-machine fame, and some of
his immediate friends, by natives of
Brazil, who succeeded in decciving
one of our mining experts into the be-
lief that gold existed in certain sec
ton of Brazil in fabulous quantities.
1t appears that some time ago Prof.
Mills, q brother of Hiram +. Mills, en-
gineer of the Essex Company, of Law
renee, was employed as mining engi-
lneer by Don, Pedro for the Brazilian
Government. Prof. Mills il a chemist
and metallurgist of high repute and
the associate of Agassiz. While explor-
ing and surveying the interior of the
Brazilian Empire, the professor was
wonder-strnck and delighted by the
frequent discovery of gold. found in old
mounds of great extent in area, and
which had formerly been worked for
the precious metal. The professors
.supposition was that the primitive
methods applied to secure the metal
only revealed slight portion of what
might be obtained by modern appli-
ances. On his return to this country
his wonderful information was impart-
ed to some capitalists, of whom Mr..
Gordon Mckay was a ruling spirit. A
stock company was formed, and, it is
said, the capital invested was $500, 900,
of which Mckay owned more than
one-half, and, it is said, the balance
was held in New Bedford and New
York. Prof. Mills was again sent to
the new Eldorado for the purpose of
making surveys and soundings that
would make his assurances dOubly
sure, and, If success was achieved, to
bond the land and secure proper title
deeds.
The professor went earnestly at work
with corps of assistants, and it is the
supposition that among his assistants
were certain shrewd spectators, native
to the country. Be that as it may, the
professors success was more than sat
isfactory. A thorough survey was
made Of the huge mounds OF debris,
lines and cross-lines were duly made,
and at their respective intersections
excavations were made, and the much
coveted metal was in nearly every in
stance forthcoming. The land was
bonded, and the title deeds passed into
the hands of the American company.
The next move was the importation of
the most approved American hydraulic
machinery with which to thoroughly
wash and scour every particle of the
huge piles of debris. Orders for the
machinery were given and filled at
enormous expense, and the same was
shipped to Brazil. Whether the ma
ciinery was the cause of discovering
that gigantic swindle had been per-
petrated upon the shrewdest capitalists
of this country, or whether the fraud
was discovered before the beginning of
operations, we do not know; but there
was q sudden. collapse, and as sudden
an effort to keep the matter quiet.
Gordon Mckay has twOO or three warm
friends in Lawrence who were con-
.yersant with his plans, among whom
was one of the most eminent engineers,
who was importuned to 90 to Brazil
and conduct the mining engineering of
the new company. At first he was
agreeable, then hesitated, ut the urgent
requestOf family and friends, but finally
consented to go, and was aboutto start,
when the swindle was exploded, lessen
ing the strength Of his assertion that
Gordon Mckay would soon be the -ich-
est man in America. The suggestion
is that Prof. Mills was accompanied by
native sharpers, who {. sailed" tho
land he just surveyed, and, upon his
return. assisted him in his second sur
yey, and, knowing his points for exca-
walton, anticipated his movements and
relieved him from disappointment in
his fondest hopes. The survey, made
after the formation of the company
ana return Of Prof. Mills, cost some
$25, 600. and the many thousands ex-
pended in introducing machinery and
buying the land can best be told By
hose who paid the bills. Il is believed
that Prof Mills was strictly cOnscien-
ti0us and honest in all his transactions,
but was the unfortunate tool in the
hands Of sharpers 20 swindle few of
our keenest capitalists. Resson Herald.
APLANTERi il Ascension made
loo pounds q sugar @ u i1Scrs.