Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-02-20
he STRUCK IT RICH .
g. John to be a Millionaire in New Mexico.

The Kansas City Star few days ago
published startling information, to the
effect that ex-governor st. John had
suddenly become millionaire, and it is
proving bitter pill TO his political enc
mics, who have thus far learned the
news. For several months past it has
been known that Mr.. St. John was one
Of five owners of a prospective silver
mine near Socoro, New Mexico. Dur
ing the heat of the excitement about
the alleged sell out, St. Johns mining
interests were considered by his enemies
rs a convenient reserve channel held for
the purpose of accounting for the dem
ocTatc Doodle he was charged edwith hav-
ing received. Subsequently it became
apparent even to the saints enemies
or what is the same, his neighbor's and
townsmen, that the silver mine actually
existed. II was learned that the com
pany was composed of st. John, his
brother-in-law Mr. G. w. Parker. and
partner in law Mr.. /. o. Pickering, with
two capitalists in New Mexico. The
digging began several months ago and
its progress has been of absorbing inter-
est to the envious natives, who would
consider the feeling Of any good luck to
st. Johns lot a personal misfortune TO
every citizen in the community. As
work progressed and no silver was found
the town people who kept posted con.
cerning repeated disappointments by
means Of gossips, experienced undis-
guised satisfaction. Suddenly it was
learned that the shaft had reached a
strong current of water.
This strong evidence of the presence
Of silver squelched the general satisfac-
tiOn in OlatIe and excited the interest
Of capitalists everywhere. But the
striking of the vein of water was fol-
lowed by long weeks of fruitless digg-
ing. To avoid or get around the water
IL was necessary 10 tunnel for SO feet
on level. This tunnel was within fifty
feet of completion aud the Olathe end
of the company, including St John. was
getting hard up. Mr.. Pickering, it is
reported, had mOrtgaged his property
To raise money to pay the expense Of
digging, and Mr.. st. John was appar-
emily on his last legs, financially.
IT a bombshell had exploded in the
town IL would not have caused more
excitement and envIous CONSERVATION
than the following telegram, which
reached Mr.. st. John Saturday from his
brother-in-law who is at the mine:
Come Immediately. Struck it rich
IN the tunnel"
The saint did not go, but his legal
partner, Mr.. Pickering did. Further
reports by telegraph indicate that
rich vein of silver has been reached
within fifty feet Of the proposed end Of
the tunnel. s.. John has indirectly in
timated that he is practically a million
aire now and will be able next year to
buy political party and run it in his
own back yard il he feels so disposed.
The news of the saints sudden acces-
sion TO great wealth is creating excite
ment In Olathe, now that the facts have
been ascertained to be true beyond all
doubt.
Mr.. St. John Is TO leave on n southern
lecture tour, projected for the purpose
of raising money to get the precious
metal out If the ground. The pcrsecu-
ted saint is already trying to sell his
house in Olathe and strike for more
congenial climes.