Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-09-13
WEALTHY MINERS.
Men Who Have Made and Lost For
tunes In the Mines.

| Cn1cago Alnlng heView.I
Senator Hurst, of California, is be-
yond doubt the best miner in Amer
lea. Originally from Missouri. he
began in the mountains as day la.
borer. He steadily assembled as fore
man, superintendent, aud owner. He
is to-day the richest man in the United
States. There is not a mining State
or Territory in which he is not own
ing and working some mining prop
erty. He has COCO men in his en-
ploy in this country. He stated re-
Gently that be hadn't lost dollar in
mining for 20 years past, and that he
would much rather be in the mines
than in Washington. His wife's
social aspirations led him to accept
official position.
jim Witchlatch was formerly owner
of the Witchla,ch Union mine, near
Unionville, Mont. lie sold his mine
for sl,S0O,O0O i'll gold. He lost his
stake on Wall street, went back to
Leadvil!e, and in six months made
$4,000, aud los, every nickel of it
in 1888 by the failure of Grant &
Wards bank. Now he has 100000
to his credit in the bank.
The Mary Murphy mine was sold
by the discoverer six years ago for
$4,000. St Louis people bought it.
For three years past the Mary Muir
ply mine has been paying dividend
on s3,OUO,OOO.
Tom Bowen went to Colorado from
Arkansas 10 years ago. He was
broken in health. One night Bowen
won 300 at poker, gave it to pros
pector for a grub stake, and gained
the Little Annie and Golconda as the
result Of his venture. These two
mines have paiu as high as $4,000 Il
day in hard cash. "A conservative es-
innate places the ore in sight at s2,-
100000. To-day Tom Bowen is
United States Senator and the most
popular man in the State Of Colorado.
The rev ard OF perseverance. Joe
Stanley, one of the wealthiest men Of
Denver, and vice president of the
Denver City National Bank, had a
prospect 10 years ago in GlIpin coun
ty. Hi" wife took in washing to buy
flour and bacon while Joe dug his
way zoo feet through barren rock.
He had no capital and couldn't hire
assistance. AT the end Of 700 f et
he struck pay ore and named it the
California mine. A party of Eng
lishmen on tour thron gh the State
gave him 81, 100000 in cash for the
mine. 1t has paid them over s5,000,-
600 in dividends, and is still being
worked.
Governor Tabor is supposed to have
made more money out OF mines in 10
years than any other man in Colorado.
Outside OF 100000 that he had
invested in Denver real estate, his
fortune is all invested in mining prop
erty. At the same time the Govern
or is the heaviest borrower in the
State.
Diamond Joe Reynolds's income
from mines he owns in Colorado is
over 100000 year. His partner,
Col John Morrissey, an 1lishman, is
immensely wealthy, and has over
100000 invested in race horses.
His stables in Denver hold 115 of
them. Three years ago he married a
school-teacher, as he claimed, in order
to learn to read and write. Diamond
Joe lives like prince in a magniti-
cent residence in Chicago.
John w. Mackay, James G. Fair,
James G. Flood, and William S.
O'Brien, who constituted the famous
"Bonanza firm" were probably the
most successful. Messrs. Mackay and
Fair formerly worked in the mines
for days wages, and Flood & O'Brien
kept cheap saloon in San Francisco.
The two latter and John W. Mackay
began buying stocks in partnership,
Mr.. Mackay supplying the "poiEts"
and being, in fact, the brains of the
firm. After a while Colonel Fair
formed a partnership with Mr.. Mac
kay, and this quadruple partnership
became the bonanza firm, Mr.. Mack ay
holding two ffths interest and
Messrs. Fair, Flood and O'Brien one
fifth each. After few years there
was a reorganization and all the as
sociates became eqlaI partners. The
firm has operated, and is still oper.
ating, mines that have yielded over
100000, 900, of which about $780,
100000 was paid out as dividends,
and which are still yielding. 1t has,
besides, done profitable stock and