The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-13
HISTORY OF A RICH MIN e.
How Prospector Waited Twenty years
for a Purchaser.
Portland lOreeonl News

How a Prospector Waited Twenty years
for a Purchaser
Portland (Oregol) News.
On Saturday there arrived at the Gilman
Hotel in this city, plainly or rather poor
lY dressed, demonstrating man, about
so years of age, who took a dollar.room.
Soon thereafter 1t was whispered that the
new arrival was Thomas Cruise, the man who
had told the LummoDd Mine, in Montana,
for 81, eco, 600. Half of this amount is said to
be deposited in the First National Bank in
this city, and the other half in a Montana
bank.
1t was noticed during the miIIionairs's
presence in the house that he spent no money
that he could possibly svoid. On Sunday
be asked where the Catholic Church was,
and, Instead of hiring a carriage and travel
ing as becomes q man of so much wealth, he
truiged on foot to the church aud back. On
Tuesday he left for his home in Montana.
Yesterday gentleman was met who knew
Mr.. Cruise well, and he said: Yes, 1 am
well acquainted with him. For the past
twenty-five years he has been 3 prospector
in Montana and Idaho, and his present
wealth is due to the fact that he is enc of
those fellows that get hold and never let co."
"Why, it's twenty years since he struck
the mine that he sold for more than q million
and hats. In order to develop 1t he would
work for while for others 70 OBTAIN stake
for-erub, tools and powder. 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 fhr three or
four years before he sold oat he made liv-
ing out OF it. How Why, by extracting a
few hundred pounds of ore and taking it to
his cabin and reducing it to pulp in a NOR
tar and washing it out in bresd-pan. You
see the mine, although rich, could not be
properly developed without capital"
Being of a secretive disposition, he had
door at the entrance of his hidden treasure
which he kept locked at all times. and the
miners used 10 call the place Cruises pris
on"
''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 mire was Msckay, of Bonanza fame,
but the hardy prospector knew full we'll the
value OF his find, aud would not sell until he
got his figure. Cruise was slayer from away
back, and don't you forget 1t. Had it been
me would have sold out long ago.
FINALLY an English syndicate commenced
to angle with the lucky prospector, and at
one time negotiations reached such q stage
that the papers were drawn up and read to
Cruise, who was also represented by his at
torney. A clause in the agreement was read
by which the purchasers could buy the one
sixth interest be retained, should they SO de-
sire. This Jared on the old mans ear like
q false note to an orchestra leader"
II want that stricken out. and I'll give
you just Eve minutes to do so. Ifyou don't
The Jig is 1p," sententiously said the man
who had waited twenty years for a pur-
chaser.
well, but that's mere formality, and
it's not likely the company will want to
freeze you out" said the representative of
English capital. This sort OF expostu!ation
was kept mp until the hands OF the clock
marked the expiration of the five fatefui
minutes.
'"The jig's up," slowly and sternly said
Cruise.
"And indeed it was, and the failure to ac-
cede to the request made by Cruise cost
500, 900 extra, and il was several months be-
fore he resumed negotiations. Had the
clause been stricken out five sixths of the
mine could have been purchased for 81, 800
/ 600 but when the negotiations were resumed
I 81 Coo, 900 was asked and received for five
sixths of the Drum Lummond Mine"
The mine Is situated about three miles
| from Butte City. Montans. and is probably
the richest gold-producing mine7 inilths
! world.