The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-01
MINING EXPERTS.
The General Understanding That
They Were 20 be stuffed and ENhib-
tied ut Denver.

DENVER Sept 6-The exposition now go
ing on here has, in one particular, been fraud
ulcntly advertised, During the summer il
was reported in the mining camps that case
of stuffed mining experts was to occupy Q
prominent position in the exposition building.
This report was widespread, and was very
generally believed by the miners. The num-
Der of stuffed ones to DO exhibited steadily
grew as the rumor Travelled from camp
to camp. First only one expert was
to be stuffed This one was to
be shown as sample OF Colorado
product, as an outgrowth OF tho mineral belt,
and as such justly figuring in the exposition.
Then it was credibly reported that several OF
the most distinguished mining experts in COL
orado had volunteered to sacrifice themselves
for the good of the state, aud submit to tho
disagreeable process Of stuffng and snbse-
quent exhibition, This report was generally
disbelieved; but being repeated, and not ap-
pearing as mining news III the Colorado news
papers, it gradually became an article of faith
among the miners. Tho subject was thor
oughly discussed by the miners gathered
the plan was commended for its wisdom
An obscure miner, an honest man, who
prospected for leads, arrived in llyacinth, my
mining town in the Medicine Bow range, one
night in early July, with peck of argentifcr-
Gus galena from new find He, leaning on
the bar slowly drinking hot Scotch whisky,
listened attentively to the news Of two months
as related by the barkoeper. He listened un-
moved, being of stoical nature; but when
the skillfu compounder of punches said, as
he handed the third hot Scotch over the bar,
sob. had almost forgotten. There is to bea
case of stuffed mining experts exhibited at the
Denver exposition" the hand of the prospector
that was extended graspingly for the inviting
liquor instantly clenched and was raised high
above his head then it came down on tho
rude bar with resoundng whack that
caused the poker-players in the far
corner to look up eagerly as though
they expected fight, and he exclaimed
loudly. That's nice Let us stuff EN- alp
This was new proposition 1t met with uni
versal favor in tho mountains. In one step
this man emerged from obscurity. He was
looked upon as a pubic benefactor The
next day when walking in the streets of Hya-
cnth he was pointed out as the originator OF
the idea of stuftng all the mining experts IN
Colorado and exhibiting then. at the expos
ton. MANY times he was asked to drink by
grateful miners He never declined He be-
came slightly intoxicated, aud his speech was
thick but exceedingly funny That night,
mounted on an old pigcon-hole table that stood
in the corner of "a saloon lie made little Grafton.
Feelingiy he spoke Of the mysterious dlsap-
pearaucc in the eastern states of worthy
citizens He dwelt on the unaccOuntable dis
appearance of butcher, carpenter, and
div goods clerk from his native town lie APP
pcllcd 10 the miners gathered around Inn,
asking if they did not know of similar in
stances in their native towns ana II decent
men we're not suspected of having murdered
these missing persons. Swaying to md fro on
the pigeon-hou table hiS clenched right hand
striking rapid blows into the open palm
of his lett hand he earnestly SAID:
"Gentlcmcn, without any exception, those
men, who were supposed TO be murdered, are
earning their living to-day as mining eX-
ports in these mountains. 1t Is duty We
owe to humanity a. stuff en- all, and aead
word to the world % come to the Denver
exposition and identity the long missing men.
By adopting tbs course we viii dispense the
dark cioud, of suspicion hanging omlnousiy
over hundreds of worldly gentlemen, and re-
lcve ourselves rom SIp" - cN'" .5..
ion y ia" miners tpWAuaeL ne Jlylul ne"s
went fourth from Hyacinth rs froma centre OF
oriyIual Thought Ihdt all the mining experts
in Colorado were 70 la stuffed hnu oAiin,lcu
in glass cases M me Denver cAPoSllpu'
Throughout inc n'~h"iiuS .lio lniilcio MI M
TO economlle. lh.F drank spa m ihIs
looked with Hu3H'i'h Oh an luu hauua' III
one well known instance young placer miner
refused to open Jack pot on four tives, say
ing; ut is risky II get in will stay in. L
might get clnch'd, and then c0ula not 20 10
Denver l hope 10 ma my lohP hilssiuS
grandfather in that case OF stuffed experts,
and 50 clear my Iauh'r OIL the uhJu'. SUI piclVh
of having STUCK . r'E'le ll'' M parent rs
the opening day oi ihe exposition u'eW near
there was n"a'ea'l' "e't'ii oi mining On
pcrts IN the lH"dAS SNlf7. ohe ny one 'i't!
had dlsapptFe'" lhu ''N u''p,I', cio ~ NC NC
suitiuE scheme, me ravens OF the hiiiiIi'S
camps, @ad"i. y N"'''Nv l,lll Ia I I uoii'i
that these meu ''!d H'@;' .l.Ipa 70 bGlifei al"
there pr'pafct ioF Ihiiln' ll No.i'iS wa" wa
said nhont It IN me beaver newspapers, ana
this strengthened lie po'ioi vi 'he unh"pP!
miners,
did not reaiiy hoI'Ne lfl"t ti'o tAPei.S Wei9
to be stunned: hut u ,hoy were, li."t5n1 i
would 80 to Denver 'ih see IL ce,l Hta snNeI-
tOugnct chicken ant turkey pcddIet' VINO,
taking advantage 81 my hnseiSe, carried gu
load of turkeys nom my parhyara, lut9ely
telling my VIE tttt ne had met me III Town
and paid me for the fowls, was lhere.
knew that this dishonest pedaier hau gone
to the Rocky mountains anu showing 'hls,
/ knew that one Of my neIShDors was nut
in fun when he, being merry WIN VINE AT ihe
time, looked knowingly at me, ana tappiis ms
red nose with his index hhSer, ASKED sSI nv IN
cantly, Frank, where Ii ,he rhlihen peuulcI;
and then thruStlnS MS horny thunlD between
my ribs, causing me 10 Jump priskiy, ne
wlnkcd ot1ensi'eiy AZ me anu sao II. '1 ,1
In la
NUM-" and staggered on, noudiilS MS nyaq
sagciy, leaving me drmGinullded. gun l