The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-11-12

Tricks to Sell Mines and Deceive the Pur-
chasers-Oard Playing and Digging

1t is not strange that there is gamb-
ling in these "camps," for to most of
those engaged in it mining is simply
gambling. Many a man tells me, 81
have put into the ground every dollar
| could save, but never made dol
lar from it yet. My turn will come
some day." 1t seems no worse to them
to risk everything on the throw of a
card than on the thrust of a spade.
By night they repeat in the saloons
their occupation by day in the mines.
Gamblers in cards claim that these
spectators might as we'll lose their
money to them as TO other gamblers in
stocks. 1t is hazard everywhere, and
the air is impregnated with speculation
as with ozone. Only for the few who
have the capital TO purchase all know
ledge. to compass all risks, to furnish
all machinery, and endure all delays,
can it become legitimate business
Such ones may possibly, be as safe in
this mining business as in anv other
Yet the keenest may be imposed.
on. An old California miner told me
of an expert assayer, who had avoided
every snare. He had the habit of TAX
ing into the mine he was to test, bags
in which he carefully deposited the
specimens he found, tying, labelling
and sealing them, then carrying them
in the cars to his own home His re-
ports gained implicit belief, hence the
greater desire to deceive him. A man
once followed him to the train with
$50. and bribed the porter of the sleep
ing car, into whose charge the bags
had been committed, to leave them
with him for half an hour. He then,
by means of fine metallic syringes in
jected into the bags certain solutions,
chlorides, l think, of gold aud silver,
and returned them unopened to the
porter's custody. The assayer, unsus-
piciOus, tested every sample in bulk to
| find the amount of silver and GOLD, and
made very sanguine report. On the
strength of this the mine was bought
of those whose agent the injector was,
and placed under charge of the asssyer.
As soon as work was begun the latter
found, with horror, that he had been
imposed on. For weeks, as my inform
ant told me, he drove on, with his hair
standing on end, determined to strike
some new lead, which should Justify
his report. .At length, much lower
down, he "made find,' which exceed
ed his first claim, and then he was sat
is6ed.
The gamblers, like the miners, are
not unfrequently of college education
from fine Eastern families. They are
not wholly bad. Their plans have mis-.
carried, their capital is gone and
they are cast on their wits for living.
Other men have preyed on them, they
turn and prey on other men. But my
friend, who is pastor of the little
church around the corner, tells me that
for the last two years he has had from
two to twelve gamblers at his Sunday
evening lectures.
"Why don't you come to us some
time to help pay your salary?" said
one of them to him. 81 never ask any
one to help pay my salary; that is a
purely voluntary matter"
A few days later it was found that
the little church needed repairs, awe
want new paper and fxtures," he said
to the gambler. "What can you do
for us ?" "Draw up paper and leave
i. with me- In a short time the pa
per was returned, with 1925 pledged
by the gamblers and S25 added by a
Jew. When all had been paid in and
the Improvements were made the con
tributors turned out to see their work
They may have builded better than
they knew-Salena (HaSs.) Gazette.