Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-06-20
JUNE 20. 1885.
A Montans Bonanza.

On Saturday there arrived at the Gil
man hotel, in Portland, a poorly dressed,
cadaverous-..ooking man about fifty
years Of age, who took a dollar room.
The new arrival was Thomas Cruise, the
man who had sold the Drum Lummond
mine, in Montana, for III GOO, 900. IT
was noticed during the presence Of the
millionaire in the house that he spent
no more money than he could possibly
avoid. On Tuesday he left for his house
in Montana A gentleman who knew
Mr.. Cruise well, said to a News reporter
eyes, l am well acquainted with him.
For the past twenty-five years he has
been a p%rospector in 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's twenty years since he struck the
mine that he sold for more than a mil
lion and a half. In order to develop it
he would work for a while for others TO
obtain a stake for grub, tools and pow
der. Then he would put in his time on
the mine until his funds were exhausted.
Finally he struck pay dirt and his en-
thusiasm knew no bounds, and for two
or three years before he sold out he
made a 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 a mortar and washing out the gold in
a bread pan. You see the mine, al
though rich, could not be properly
developed without capital. Being of a
secretive disposition, he had a door at
the entrance of his secret treasure.
which he kept locked at all times, and
the miners used to facetiously call the
place 'Cruse's prison. The story of the
great richness Of the mine spread far
and wide, and big offers were made for
1t. Among those who made an offer for
the mine was Mackay Of bonanza fame.
but the hardy prospector knew full well
the value of his find, and would not sell
until he got his figure. Cruise was a
slayer from away back, and don't you
forget it. Had it been me I would have
sold out long ago. Finally an English
syndicate commencedt to angle With the
lucky prospector, aad at one time lnego-
tiations reached such a stage that the
papers were drawn up and read to
Cruise. who was also represented by his
attorney. A clause in the agreement
was read ty which the purchasers could
buy the one-sixth interest he retained
should they SO desire. This Jared on
the old mans. ears like a false note to
an orchestra leader.
I@want that stricken. out and I give
you just five minutes to do SC. If you
don't the Jug is up sententiously said
the old man who had waited twenty
years for a purchaser.
We'll, but that's a mere formality, and
its not likely the company will want to
freeze you out said the representative
Of English capital. This sort of expost.
ulation was kept up until the hands on
the clock marked tho expiration Of the
fateful five minutes.
1.-THE jig's is up" slowly and sternly
said Cruise.
And indeed it was, and the failure to
accede to the request made by Cruise
cost 100000 extra, and it was several
months befor he resumed negotiations.
Had the clause been struck out, FIVE
sixths of the mine could have been pur-
chased for 81, SOC, 900, but when negotia-
tons were resumed 81 600, 900 was asked
and received for ive-sixths of the Drum
Lummond NINE" The mine is situated
about three miles from Butte City,
Mont. n1rr