Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-02-18
PIoJs BROTHER BIxBY AND HIS sHoRs

! There as trouble among the Methodist brethren down East. 4 large number
 ot them put money in a mining venture,
 and it has vanished as If by magic, with
 no possibility Of their ever realizing as
 much as cent. postage stamp. or
 all ''gu.lible" people in the world mem
 bers of Christian churches are the
 easiest gilled.
 Colonel Bixby who IS not unknown in ] Arizona. organized a company about
 four years ago which he called the
 isabella Silver Mining Company"
 Knowing that he could not dispose of
 the stock in the usual way, unless it was iayorably reported upon by some well
 known and reliable mining man, be con ! celved che brilliant idea Of placing 1t ! among tle brethren. This was done by attending Methodist conferences. and ! first interesting the ministers, who in l turn laid the scheme before the mem bers uf their Gocks. In order to lubri-
 cate the machinery at the outset the nb-rul and sacacious Colonel, gave oI. t. right S50O0 du stock to endow the
 Methodist Episcopal University of
 AthGls, Tennessee IL worked we'll The Christian Advocate, the official organ of
 the church, came out strongly in favor
 ot the mining scheme which was to
 make all tue ministers rich and al the
 same time put their college squarely on
 its feet. An office was opened in New
 Go-k. The fever began to rise: and
 shares which were not worth half as
 much as the paper upon whIci they
 were printed, rose to Sl0; SJ0Oo0 was
 taken in New York city alone. 1t was
 given oIt that the stock would pay 1
 dividends soon. but no dividends were |
 forthcoming. After long and patient |
 waiting the brethren concluded they
 would inquire into the affairs Of the Is- abella Silver Mining Company. 4 com mittee wss appointed to visit the mines and report. They visited inc mines (others Lad been bought and the capi- tai stock mad been doubledl, but when they arr,vsd on iLe groqnd they could tell Do more abJEi The value of the property tLau they cOGld tel about the inhabitants or tue noon. Bixby's superintendent Was there and of course posted taem. He told them that the mine was good and thu. all that was necessary was little more cash for de- and that a few more of the same sott ought Co be bought on a more Liberal hasIs"" The committee re- turned home and told what they had heard iu Arzoua. The proposition was considered, after which the brethren renewed theirfaith. and backed .t with their money. Dr. Newman, of New York, gave S2,O0J on the llst deal. A Brooklyn minister put in every cent be had in tue world and then borrowed s7O0 more and added to it. Bixby still lad charge of the stock. which confined 70 sell for SD a share; but 1t soon be- . gan to % down. Business men would Iot torch 1t at any price. Finally the bottom dropped out entirely, B;xby B etires a rich man, the brethren have lad their experience and the mine is Abandoned.
 But tins is not the first Arizona mine T which has been largely fioated among {. he brethren. The Presbyteriaus were be pioneers n the business. 4 late sadins Doctor Of Divinity of San Fran isco and Los Angeles was V, n active worker with the breth- u sn East, where he put in his U acati0us q, good effect, he having had H large of rich churches iu Chicago, San lsky, Ohio, and other Eastern cities. " e was well fitted to i'll his calling. O .e was ais- ably assisted by the manag- VI .g editor oi the Presbyterian organ in :. an Francisco. These worthies, how U Ter, were not gulled into subscribing '' ock, bUt received stock free for thelr '' VII use, and to sell among the brethren. |" 'e know of enc reputable minister of -' le Presbyterian church who sunk SG,- " 70 in the ~vill eat schemes" They not ! lly sold mining stock but mining 'N ains as well. On one occasion the ed Ill or Of the Christian organ went East .--, - .th power Jo sell certain mines in Il Jmbst0n', Dut before he arrived at his ,'- the Tombstone fellows Id uud wha. they called "an other mine," N- ,tfel their christian editor, and told 00 n Co sell .t. Ee did sell it to Sandus- Se
 parties for Sl0,0o0 cash. It is very W Ubttul whether there was any lode at '. One oi the principal investors ~ g me ont to look after tue mine, which U" d.i not find, but learned the facts as ,i a owe stated He was a man of means .o' q honorble But un ihe representa- II, IDS of the ministers, he was induced 'n take hold and induced enough, others ''' lst of whCu were poor laboring men, iuyes-, to make up the purchasing p' lee. When he learned how be had 'H, an deceived, it so grieTed him, not for . at he had lost, but for the losses. of ir p'' poor men whom he had, through the :, se representations ot christian minis
 8 oi his own church, induced 10 sub ~ ihe to ,he fund. that Le was taken '-' k ia San Francisco and for three uths Was not expected to survive. \, nee biNhy lhas been exposed 1t is quite '-' ely We shal hear ot 20 more christian ( lI-t-rs investing in mines and mining |, ck far some tune to come. l,,
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