The Osceola times., 1884-01-19
FORTUNE IN DIRT HEAPS.


sank Account "Out of Dust an Dirt"
Philadelphia Times.
Can you tell me where John Spriddal
ives?" asked Times reporter last even
ing of two boys on Rising Sun lane.
"No, sir" was the reply. "He don't live
around here"
''IIe is colored man AMI has some
tl,ing to do with ash-dunps and"
''Oh, Bill, he means Niger Dick said
the other boy, "and he l'ves there, point
ing to a small Louse, from which came
forth faint light. But you'd better
not 20 in, unless you want to be ct up.
lie keeps blood-hounds and bull. dogs to
glard him and his money after night
| He's awful rich. Why he owns morn
! lily houses and has piles an piles of
money besides" continued the boy in a
voice filed with awe.
"How did he make his fortune?" was
asked.
"Oh, he found most of it in pick in over
ash-dumps-that is. hen his men did; he
| las about regiment of men work'n for
! him and they find diamonds an gold an
/ icwclry an greenbacks, an Niger Dick
| keeps it all in his house and that's why
he has the dogs and | tell you they're
/ lerociousw
Notwithstanding the forest allowed
| dangers of running the canine gauntlet,
the reporter penetrated the abode of the
owner of this fabulous wealth.
After passing through large lot, which
| appeared to be a potatoe patch, he reach
oJ the dwelling without adventure other
| than the barking of several vicious little
ours at his heels during the tip. The
outside of the dwelling gave no promise
cf the reputed riches, within being sim
! ply an unpretentious white washed
|hanty, through the chinks in the door of
which streamed the light. A knock at
he door was answered by an invitation
to "Come in The rich man was seated
1t the supper table, which was laden
With corn bread and bacon,
"NIGGER DICK" At HOME.
Does Nig-that is, does Colored Rich
'rd live here?" was asked.
'Yas, sah' vas, sab. I'T Niger Dick
leastwise that's what they cal me, tho
my name is Spriddal, sahl John Sprd-
,ial, take cheer. Git up dar chile, and
| gib dat gentleman da cheer 'Scuse me
lor not risin', but Pm troubled wild de
heumatiz-rhcumatiz in bof my feet
An' ter what sab, am ter tribute dis
,ocial wisit?'
"lti is said that you have realized nice
| little fortune out of the ash-dumps of
which you have had charge and | would
| like to learn something of the busi-
ness"
"Yas; sah see sah. Thinking OBJ
lat line yo'sef, sah?"
/ On being assured that he saw in his
/ visitor no prospective rival IN the profits
of his business Dick continued: well,
7ah, Pve follyd de profession about
ip'teen year and hev done tol'able well
In lat time | hev scraped togedder eight
pr nine little properties and hev some
little savin's in de bank-all out of dust
m diit. The way de business is done IS
lis: You hearn Of some one dat owns
ground dat he wants filled in. You goes
10 him and asks, Can ! hab charge of de
pumpP Ii don't cost him nothin' and
lou must see to keepin' de dump level
and only the right sort ob dirt is put in
Den goes TO de men who is haulin' ash
and other like things dat is always be-
n moved away and tells dem dat dey
ain dump at my dump. Den gets my
men and what is hauled there is careful
. ly picked over, and what we gets out is
~ pay for superintendent de job. | pay
my men one dollar day mostly, but.
sometimes work 'em on shares. Almost
everything is found in desc carloads Of
lirt. I've found money an iewelry-
-ich as breast-pins, lockits, charms and
! sleeve -buttons-an silver money an
| greenbacks. A short spell ago found a
icn-dollar bill in some ashes But the
/ rincipal thing is rags, bones, brass, bet
| lies, tin-cars, old boots. and shoes and
| de like, and dey all pays well. / sells
/ dem to dealers. For wagon load of tin
| ems gifts $3.50. Old boots and shoes is
! NoItn Ten CeDts u UdrTtl.
WHERE OLD BOOTS AND SHOES co,
What is done with the old boots and
: oes?"
II don't know dat, sab, | sells dem
Il wn by Gray's Ferry road, but could
n bber larn what was done wild dem dar.
p5 tin cans is sold 70 a place where de
der is melted off end then they 90 to
the clinical works. The rags bring me
jfOm one to ten cents n pound. So, YOU
s,-e, out of the five dumps | have charge
60, The business can be made 10 pay liv-
iV' for a plain, unassuuin' family like me
and the children
How many men do you employ at
each dump"
From three to ten, It's accordin' to
Il rickins'I, - s
And are they mostly oolored men?'
NO, sah!" was the indignant response;
"lcy is mostly Italians and sich trash.
Good night, sab; look out for de dogs.
lIcre, you, SAM 90 wild de gintloman an
Keen de dops off