The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-22
OLD JIM BEATY'S NINE.
FOUND DEAD IN THE GRAVE HE DUG.
Jim Beatty's Melancholy Experiepce nj
Eagle City, Idaho-The Fortune Which
lust Eiuded His Grasp-starved
to Death.
IEagle City Cor, N. Y. Times.l

IEagle City Cor, N. Y. Timesl
Old jim Beatty Icame in here with the
big rush last spring. He was out o.
money when he got into camp, and, as h'
could not pick up gold in the streets, b,
went crazy. His insanity was Of the harm
less kind. He was quiet, and never
troublesome. Sometimes he seemed to for
get TO eat. All the other unfortunate
were always hungry. Whether -four wa,
SO or 500 a barrel made no difference,
They had to feed Old Jim would go arounC
looking pale and weak, with his joint
working loosely and his clothes daily
growing too big for him, but he never
asked for anything. 1t was known that h,
had nothing, and that he was not right II
the head, but everybody took 1t for grant
ed that somebody else was feeding him.
One day several of the men were discuss
ing the best means Of ridding the camp Of
the beats when bystander said they hat
better not touch old Jim. He did no harm
and he never asked for grub. 1t wa
agreed that he should not be molested
Then.somebody expressed a curiosity t
know how and where he got his meals. N,
one in the crowd knew anything abou
him. One of the men said be would max,
1t point to find out. Perhaps the old fel
low was starving. Just then old Jim cam,
along, walking feebly, and looking weary
and haggard. One OF the boys asked him Il
he was hungry. aud he went of into Ions
and weird story about discovery that hi
had made. The boys gathered around hin
and listened, plying him with questions
occasionally.
"Gentlemen," he said. I've got -laiu
up the creek here ways that will max,
us all rich. Haven't said anything about
It, for wanted 10 make sure. dreamed
it all out one night when was asleep OF
the mountain. II came to me just as plaiI
as anything. | know there's gold there
and want to get you boys to help me G
little with It and we'll divi lie. There's {
mountain OF 1t with just crust ol rock OF
the outside. II l can get through the crust
that is all / want. I'll run tunnels all
through II, and you can help yourselves
Touched" said one of the boys, point
ing to his own head, and the rest Of the
crowd nodded.
"I've located IT ALL" said old Jim slow.
ly, "but can't seem to do much work on
1t. Pm getting too old. Can't you help
mo a bit"
The old man appeared to be almost gone,
and one OF the men handed him flask Of
liquor, OF which he partook sparingly.
Then another offered some bread, and he
devoured 1t with wolhsh avidity.
"Ips q shame to let an old timer like lin
starve in that way" observed young
and stalwart prospector. "Leps ill him
up"
They took him to cabin near by and
made him a meal, and when he had slept
while they gave him more TO eat Then
they told him TO come there when ho was
hungry and they would see about his mine.
Two or three days later a party OF them
went with him 10 bis gold noun ain, as he
called It. IL was just like thousands OF
others, with no more sign OF gold In Its
composition than OF diamonds. But they
humored him with his notion. They fed
him and gave him strength, and told him
TO dig away. They would help him after
while.
Every day the old man would set out %
his work with some cheery remark He
had got almost to tho gold. One or two
days more would reveal It. Then he be-
gan TO bring homo handfuls Of earth and
rock and gravel 10 be examined. The boys
looked at the stuf patiently and said 1t
appeared promising. After awhile he
grew discouraged and said they would
have TO help him. He knew IL was there,
but be feared he could notreach it Aday
Was set ou'which two OF the men were I'd
20 With him and 500 what he had accom-
piished. This satish 81 him, and he start.
cd oui happy. That night he failed 10 ap'
pear. me next day came and went with
ant him, and the mon began 10 wonder
WHARF hs was. On the third day two Of
thsm volunteered TO 90 out and search fol-
him. They found tho place at last where
hs had been digging. A cave in had 90
cured, and oldJim was In there beyond q
doubt. They got others to help them, and
after little patient digging they cams
upon the old fellows body. He bad beer
killed in his first drift .I1
Fu nerais arc expensive in this country
and mono TOO elegant atbest Itwasagreet
that funeral would dohtm no good. They
left him in the hole he had dug, covering
u up once more. and on big stone which
vas rolled in place on tho mountain sid
they scratched tho inscription; "old jim
Bsstty's nina" | ilE
"aH