Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-12
Thomas Was q Slayer and He Stayed TIL
He Got His Price.

Portland Newsl
On Saturday there arrived at the Gilman
hotel, in this city, a poorly dressed, cadav
,rous-looking man. about 50 years Of age,
who took 81 room. The new arrival wa.
Thomas Cruise, tho man who had sold the
DrumLummond mine, in Montana for 81, 600.
COO 1t was noticed during the millionaire
presence in the house that he spent no money
that he could possibly avoid. On Tuesday
he left for his house in Montana
A gentleman was met who know Mr.
Cruise well, and he said: Eyes; am vol
acquainted with him. For the past twenty
five years he has been prospector IL
Montana and Idaho, and his present wealth
is due to the fact that he is one of those
fellows that get hold and never let go
Why, it is twenty years since he struck the
mine that he sold for more than 81 500. GOO
In order to develop it he would work for q
while for others to obtain stake for grub
tools and powder. Then he would put in hi:
time On the mine until his funds wert
exhausted.
Finally he struck pay dirt and his en-
thusiaSm knew no bounds, and for two OF
three years before he sold out he made Q
living out of it by extracting a few hundred
pounds of ore and taking it to his cabin and
reducing it to a pulp in q mortar and wash
ing out the gold into a bread pan. You SET
the mine, although rich, could not b
properly developed without capital
"Being of secretive disposition. he had I
door at the entrance of his secret treasure
which be kept locked at all times, and tn,
miners used to facetiously call the placa
+Cruse's prison The story of the great
richness of the mine spread far and wide
and big offers were made for it. Among
those who made an offer for the mine wa
Mackay of bonanza fame, but the hardy
prospector knew full well the value Of his
find, and would not sell until he got his fig
ure Cruise was a slayer from away back
and don't you forget it. Had it been me
would have sold out long ago.
FINALLY an English syndicate commenced
to angle with the lucky prospector, and a
one time negotiations reached such a stag,
that the papers were drawn up and read Il
Cruise, who was also represented by his at
torney. A clause in the agreement wa
read by which the purchasers could buy the
one-sixth interest he retained should they sc
desire. This Jared on the old mans ear
like the false note to an orchestra leader.
az want that stricken out and I'll give
you just five minutes to do so. IL yo'
don't the jig is up sententiously said tn
man who had waited twenty years for
purchaser.
"'Well, but that's mere formality, ant
it's not likely the company will want Il
freeze you out said the representative O
English capital This sort Of expostulatior
was kept up until the hands on the clocl
marked the expiration Of the Hateful fiv'
minutes
"'The jig's up slowly and sternly sail
Cruise.
1And indeed it was, and the failure to &C
cede to the request made by Cruise cost 500,
900 extra, and it was several months befor
he resumed negotiations. Had the claus
been struck out. fve-sixths Of the min
could have been purchased for 81 500 QUO
but when the negotiations were resumes
81, 600, 900 was asked and received for five
sixths of the Drum Lummond mime"