The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-08-17
4 ooLp-REoioN STONY.

4 ooLn-REoion STONY.
he AAvsatsrss "a Hoaanss e n. ~.
AlnaaA van Zanal
Tho presence ct the Palace Hotel q
Ferdinand Van Zandt. one Of tho rioh-
ct mine owners in the country, re-
called to the memory Of local mining
men HE remarkable adventures. FL
team years ago he was in Leadville
without cent; in the phrase Of the
times he ''slung beer" Now he II
worth millions, il sole proprietor Of
the Blue Bird Mine a& Butte, and Il
son-in-law Of Sir John Lubbock.
Van Zandt was tho scion Of . Knick-
erbocker family possessed Of . great
deal more pride than n0Ps1' cash. Or
even collateral. When 6eaAville was
the second Pixies Peak Of the West
the young man left his home and
started for Colorado. He arrived at
Leadville In q destitute condition; he
did not possess enough 70 purchase
sleeping room. There was constant
stream Of men flowing to and from tho
gold mines; and. after working In .
mental position for awhile, Van Zandt
left with q party for the mountains.
As partner in his poverty he took .
young man no better equipped for the
rough life of miner than he was
himself, but the two remained to-
gether through all privations. and the
companion is now superintendent Of
tho Blue Bird mine.
For two years they worked together.
but luck was against them. and all
they got from their hard labor waS
just enough to keep them alive. They
were joined by q young man who pos
sessed some money and knowledge
of the country. With his assistance
Van Zandt was able to find . more
favorable location, and the men began
to save something.
Six months after the arrival Of the
stranger he was chosen to 60 to New
Mexico to gather mining statistics.
He was not to be gone more than
three months, and promised Van
Zandt that he would return to the
camp when his mission was accom-
plished. The stranger rode away, and
the months multiplied to q year, but
he never returned. Then Van Zandt
determined to hunt him up, or at least
learn his fate. All the money the
partners had was gathered together
and taken by the young man to aid in
the search for the stranger. Van
Zandt Travelled into New Mexico and
after some time was successful In
discovering the trail Of his friend.
In q few weeks he came to the
end Of the trail and found his
friend had been murdered. Van Zandt
spent a month at the scene of the
crime and succeeded in finding tho
slayers Of the stranger. He had the
men arrested, but time passed and
there was no chance Of the case com.
ing to trial. Four Mexicans were in
the prison and Van Zsndt decided they
were all guilty OF the murder. He
worked up . feeling against the mon
and headed small party which broke
open the Jail and hanged the gang.
Van Zandt then returned to Lead
vile. There he was engaged by .
syndicate to 60 to England to secure
funds with which to stock q farm.
Valuable letters were given to the
young man, and he was we'll received
in London. Among the prominent
people he met was Sir John Lubbock,
whose daughter he married. She had
q great deal Of money in her own
right, and her young husband made
good use Of it. Sir John was very
much opposed to the match, but the
young people were determined, and,
after Withdrawing objections. the Bar
onet proved very venerable father
fn-law. Van Zandt brought his wife
TO this country. He purchased the
Blue Bird mine, which he got very
cheap. 1t is now clearing 600, 900 q
m0nth.-Sdn Francisco Call.