Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-08-16
DOWN TO A SPLITTER.
John Skae, the millionaire Reaches
Bed Rock

| The San Francisco papers announc
the arrest for drunkenness Of Johl
Skae-whO at one time was looked
upon as the coming man on the Com
stock. He was thrown into cell in the
City Prison and when the officials who
prospect the pockets of inne oriates
went through Skae's an old broken
knife, ten Shares of Old Wells.F Fargo
and couple of battered quarters was
all that the array amounted to. Skae
began his career in the telegraph Office
at Carson. He was a little, smooth
faced boy, but an expert in his business,
and finally secured place in the Wes-
tern Union office at Virginia City.
During that time the Comstock was
boiling with excitement and each week
some new bubble floated on the top.
Skae was man Of quick perceptions
and made good use of his talents by
reading the dispatches that went over
the wires. Men began to realize that
the telegraph Office WAS leaky, and
cyphers came into vogue. There is a
key to every CIPHER, and it seems that
Skae succeeded in finding the key to
about half of them. 1t was nip and
tuck between the men who could in
vent elaborate cyphers and Slae. The
latter was generally on top, and by
means of his information began to coin
money hand over fist. He was finally
requested to employ his abilities in
some other field. After leaving the
telegraph Office he had to speculate by
guess work and soon got broke. For
a time he carried water about in half
barrels slung on each side of mule
and presently rose to be the President
of the water company. From this he
realized large income, but was not
and continually speculated in
stocks, dealing with a rare dash and
and always in good luck.
He finally made a big combination with
Gen. Livingstone and others, which,
f properly managed, would have jeop-
lrdised the bonanza firm. The firm |
vas short about two-thirds of the Sierra |
Nevada mine, and Skae, Livingstone
md the rest of the pool had the stock.
They began to send the stock up and |
he shorts We're unable to fill by fifty
thousand shares. The insiders had it
n their power to run the stock to any
cures they pleased and determined to
aake the most of 1t. 1t Was on the
rogramme to break the Nevada Bunk.
he conspirators had secret consulta-
ion and some discussion took place as
D what disposal should be iiade of
ohm Mackay. They wanted the scalp-
f the rest of the firm but had nothing
gainst Mackay. The thing was dis
used for several days, when the pool
ecame aware that something was up,
he bonanza firm had filled. Skae had
one back on the pool and hypothetical
is stock to Fair at $40 above the mar
ct rates. He thought it IA smart stroke
ut he did not gain the friendship of
AIR by his treachery and lost that of
he pool. The bonanza firm WAS
gueezed to the tune of five millions,
ut for Skae it would have been ruined.
he money made by Skae in this trans
ction soon went into the swim and he
now a pauper. 1t is not likely that
ne tickle creature they call Fortune
5ll for the fourth time caress her favor
te, or that the opportunities which
kae grasped SO readily will again pre-
ent themselves. Should they do SO,
O man will make the turn more
uickly than Skae.
T.