The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-03-14


There Is, OF course, q great deal Of
speculation even In what Is called legit-
innate mining. For instance, a proprie-
tor sinks a shaft on his own account,
and, as he goes down deeper and deep
or, his ~sprospects" look well, and he
accordingly increases his valuation Of
the mine. But appearances are some-
times deceptive, and, notwithstanding
the ~carbonates found in the "drift" or
dirt near the surface. there Is not always
a sure silver bed underneath. But on 40
pearances there is always more or less
speculation. A case occurred here last
week which illustrates the uncertainties
of this kind Of business. The Deer
Lodge shaft, owned by three Leadville
men, had been sunk 1870 feet. and on
Friday afternoon the miners were work
ing in p~orphyry and iron, and the indi.
cations were good. A party Of capital
lists visited the shaft about noon, and
considered 4 proposition Of the owners
TO buy u half-interest for $4,000. They
were TO deposit the money at the Lead
Vile Bank before 8 o'clock that after
noon or lose the bargain. A few min
utes after 8 O'Clock one Of the owners
of the mine calmly entered the bank and
inquired II the money had been depos-
tied. lie received an answer in The
negative, whercupon he threw his hat
up in the air and executed a breakdown
before he astonished gaze OF the bank
people. Being asked the reason for his
strange antics, he paused in his contor-
tions and said
"Waal, gentlemen. ! kinder think
them air fellers got left this ere time.
A half Of the Deer Lodge Just at this
precise minnit i worth 100000
II appears that about < o'clock the
men down IN the mine struck mineral.
Specimens were hurricdly sent up the
shaft to the owners, who quietly went
down town and caused them 10 he as
saved, the result showing silver worth
500 Il ton. Tie only fear then was
that their offer of 5000 for half of the
mine would be accepted. But the capi-
talists ~overreached themselves that time,
sure enough.
The Little Chief Mine, lately sold 10
Farwell x Co., Writ Dexter, NIX. Fair
bank. George c. Walkcr. and other
Chicago parties, was Originally opened
by the miners-pat Finetty and the Dill
Ion brothers. One Of the billions was
sharp enough TO buy ont Fincrty for 4
comparatively small sum-Si.OOo. | un-
derstand. Having 50 much ready cash
in his possession, Finerty felt ricn, and
made a trip down 10 Maine where the
old folks lived. There he visited until
his purse ran low. when he returned TO
Leadyille in time To see his former prop
crty sold for halt 4 million. He Il now
around town and often lamen;s his hard
luck, although | understand he has scy-
eral new prospects which are regarded
~ promising.
George Fryer, proprietor OF the Tom
tine Restaurant Oh Chestnut Street,
prospected about 4 year ago on a low
hill lying between ray-Horsc and
Evans Clutches, and finally opened q
shaft neal the center. One day, in des-
pair Of getting any thing for bis pains,
he offered a fourth interest for $40, but
could find nobody 10 accept his PROPOSE
ton. Ten feet deeper he struck a vein
of ore, and soon afterwards sold out for
$4,000. That mine is now the famous
Little pittsburg, worth several millions,
and Fryer is disconsolate. for all the in
tercst hat he retains in his original dis
covery is the fact that he has given his
name 20 Fryer Hill, where are located q
dozen Of the mos. valuable mines in the
camp. Instances Of this kind might be
multiplied, and columns Of the Tribnnc
might be filed with similar romances in
real life.
Mining il very much like a lottery, cx-
cept that prizes are more frequent and
Of larger amounts than are % be found
in any Of the common lottery schemes.
IL has been compared 10 gambling in
stocks or produce, but the differences i
that when one man on the Board Of
Trade makes a lucky deal there arc a
dozen who lose, while here in the
mountains Nature j. the only losing
party in the speculation. One mans
good fortune does not make Others poor.
And l may add that the day Of great
strikes Is not by any means past. Every
day one hears Of new mines with valna-
bic veins Of mineral being opened up,
and l0w-born laborors springipg into
wealth and notoriety. 1t Is q great
country. Meanwhile, Leadyillc i grow
ing into a queer, projections village
city, with balloon hotels and barn lodg-
lighthouses. a local paper has COM
pared ii in appearance TO Chicago after
the fire. Certainly, so far rs desolation
and dreariness Of landscape and liyeli-
ness Of business are concerned, the
comparison may be drawn without any
sacrifice Of truth.-LeadriHc Cor. Chtcd-
90 Tribune.