Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-18
A STRANGE STORY.
The Eccentricities of tie Patentee of
Artificial Stones.


The announcement made few DAYS
ago of an agency being started in this
city for the sale of Thorpe's Patent
Stone, a really wonderful invention, re-
calls to mind a singular experience
with the patentee of this remarkable
invention that occurred year ago.
In July, 1873, gentleman who is now
connected with the editorial staff of the
Signal, was living in Louisville, Ky.
One evening a large corpulent, red
faced, jolly looking old man, apparent
ly about go years old, came to the same
house where the Signal man was dom
ic1led, to enquire for board. Being
rather rough in appearance, the land
lady hesitated somewhat In answering
the inquiry favorably. The stranger
OWNED the cause at once and with a
jolly good-natured laugh, ran his hand
down deep into pocket and drawing
out roll of greenbacks amounting to
several thousand dollars, told the
astonished landlady that he would pre-
fer to pay the board for himself and
family for six months in advance, if
she could give him change for thous-
and dollar bill. OF course he was soon
placed in the best room in the house.
1t turned out that the rough, unso-
phisticated looking old man was no one
else than Col. J. B. Thorpe, of Califor-
MIA, the patentee of the artificial stone
that half of the western cities are built
of, and man of great wealth and most
eccentric peculiarities. A day or two
later The ColonePs family arrived. 1t
consisted of a half dozen large trunks
and delicate, frail little girlish look
ing woman not more than 90 years old,
who was bis wife. They never spoke Of
their past history. Col. Thorpe was
quick-witted, smart and very dissipated.
He treated his wife with Just about the
same consideration that father would
young child. They lived in true
western border style, plain and simple,
but layished money on everything
and everybody around them. The
old Colonel would sit around
in his shirt sleeves, his feet
encased in socks, no shoes, a
chair in front of him, a big milk punch
or pineapple cocktail near at hand,
the young wife sitting on a low stool,
reclining with elbows on his knees, and
in this way they would sit for hours at
a time, delighting the entire household
with most marvellous stories of border
life and adventures. Thorpe had tray
eled around the world, and his stock of
anecdotes and hairbreadth escape ad-
venture was complete. Being a fine
narrator, he could entertain his auditors
for hours without either being tired.
He was very profane, but as tender as
cnllQ. One uay he wUuld b6 suffer
ing from mania G-p0tu, his condition
bordering on the delirium tremens,
and the very next would be the same
jolly old cuss as when himself, going
on with his fun at the liveliest possible
rate. Everything he saw that pleased
him he purchased, and everything that
did not suit him he wanted to shoot at.
Whenever anyone would displease him,
Or he would see particularly ugly
man he would remark with the most
perfect nonchalance and abandon: If
[ could catch that id rascal in Cali
fer'ny I'd revolver him just for the fun
of the thing!" and he spoke as though
he really meant it. Thorpe spent his
money with the most reckless profaga-
CIV. The boy that BACKED his boots
always got dollar on week days and
ten on Sundays. He would never
think of giving newspaper boy less
than fifty cents for q paper, and very
frequently as much as two or three
dollars. The strange genius, and he
was truly a genius, remained at the
house several months. He sold the
rirbt to ,,ro tbo Stopo1 tho Stato for
$26, 900. One afternoon he was taken
quite i'll, and for week his life was de-
SPARED of. AS soon as he recovered
enough to leave his bed, he left the
house without saying a word to a soul,
left the city very mysteriously, not even
telling his wife where he was going, or
bidding her good bye. He did not
leave debt or an enemy, but left con-
siderable money for his wife's use. A
thorough search was made for him,
but no trace could be found. Tele-
grams were sent everywhel by the grief
stricken wife, but no response came.
A month later Thorpe turned up in
Ohio, and sent dispatch for his wife
to join him. 1t was never explained,
but there was not doubt that the poor
old fellow had continued his spree and
had been roaming around over the
country in his wild delirium. When
his wife left the Signal man lost all trace
Of the strange couple, until early this
spring, when it was learned that they
had gone to Europe. This is only one
brief chapter in the life of a remarka-
bic man. Thorpe's artificial stone is
used over the civilized world. his being
the first practical and paying patent
taht was ever issued