Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-03
BOB INGERSOLL.

HIS Fortune Metted Array la Mining
Speculation
Misfortuncs seem to he attending the foot
steps OF the distinguished orator and in6del,
Bob Ingersoll. A year or two ago he was re-
puted to be man OF great wealth and grow
ing richer, but he has met with reverses
which it is said have almost beggared him.
Mr.. Ingersoll's saDgIine and enthusiastic dis
position led him some time ago to invest his
money In a mining scheme, in which, like
Col. Sellers, he saw millions. The Ivanhoe
mine is in Mexico. 1t is a silver mine, whose
prospects at first were SO remarkably seduc-
tive that the colonel not only invested his
whole fortune, but induced large number of
Others to do the same. A company was
formed with a capital OF $500, 900, with
shares at $25 each Under the influence of
Col IngersolPs eloquence the shares, which
were ssessible, sold as high as $40 each.
Clerks in the departments, men, women and
children of all classes, bought into the Ivan
hoe, expecting TO double and treble their in
vestments in short time. The paid-up capt.
tai of some hundred thousand dollars was
soon ueed in working the mines, and as the
shares were worcestershire stock had to be
sold for what it would bring. The catering
prospects proved to be deceptive, and when a
"horse" or rock
WITHOUT ANY TRACE OF SILVER
was met with, operations ceased and the mine
was closed. The stock Immediately depre-
ciated until to-day it can be bought for less
than eighteen cents on the dollar. That is
the figure at which Ivanhoe is quoted, and
there are no buyers at that The number of
persons who have lost heavily through invest
ments in this stock amounts TO several thou
sand Many like Ingersoll lost all they had
and suffered severely in consequence.
1t is said that in some cases where
women had bought stock, Mr.. lngersoll,
rather than see them lose, purchased the
stock from them for what they had paid. This
procedure, OF course, was very expensive and
before long he was actually poor man. The
failure OF Ingersoll's mine has caused Wash
ington to become a very poor market for
mining stock and very little business is
being done. The burnt child breads
the fire and the gorgeous department clerks
and would be capitalists fight shy OF shares
Mr.. Ingersoll is reported to have another
weight upon his mind, and that is in con-
nection with the star route trials. From
the start he has been the most eager sup
porter of the star reuters. In and out OF
season he has stood by them. Those
who know HIM best say he believed heart and
soul in the complete innocence of the ac-
cused. The testimony given during the past
few days against his clients is said to have
fairly stunned him. His friends say that when
ne gets clear from this suit he will leave the
law and
DEVOTE HIS TINE TO LECTURING,
IN which occupancy he can undoubtedly make
more money than in any other. 1t will be
necessary for him to repair his broken for
tune in order to keep up the style OF living
and hospitality which have made his home
celebrated, and he can do it in
no speedier way than in lectur-
ing. In the meanwhile he is too much of a
philosopher to let the world know either from
his appearance or manner that he is not as
comfortable and prosperous as ever. He is as
genial in conversation and as ready to joke as
he ever was,