Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-05

s ~"o1s n mai VINO cfefKed IN
the store at the time it was so strange
~ locked up has told the writer all
That Is known OF the affair The store
10 located at President, not far from
Ciapps residence. II was the only
store for several miles around, and
the country people came long distances
70 Trade. The business done was light,
because the country Ia very sparsely
settled. there not being house In sew
eral miles. Still, there was some BUSH
ness all the time. and It is not thought
the store was closed on account OF the
light trade. 1t would be more like
Clapp to keep it open for the benefit Of
the public, although he lost money by
SO doing. This seems to have been the
spirit that moved him in the building
Of so many miles OF free road. Ho
had a partner in his store, and If there
was any trouble between the two faen
1t was not apparent. One morning he
came into the store and said to tho
clerk:
81 have bought out my partner in
the store and am now sole proprietor.
Nail up all the windows and doors and
give me the key. We will not sell any
more good"
The clerk did as he was instructed,
and the store remains in that condition
to-day. with the goods rotting On tho
shelves inside Clapp is not man
VINO tells his affairs to anybody, but
quite the reyerse. and. understanding
him thoroughly in this respect, no one
is likely to ask him any questions in
regard TO the closing OF the store, and
1t is not likely that any one will ever
know any more a5ou. it than is known
now, which is practically nothing.
Although Clapp has spent hundred.
o. thousands OF dollars in building
roads from President, the place con.
sists virtually OF one house, and thai
the house in which he lives There
are perhaps half dozen cheap house;
in the vicinity, together with the bar
ricaded store, but the only house o
value is Clapp's residence. Thi;
is an ordinary-appearing country
house, frame. painted white. anf
two stories high. 1t is old
fashioned. even to the porcf
extending along the front, ant
has the appearance OF house tina
cost not over $1,000 to build. 1t is
house, however. that cost many thou
sand dollars - how many nobod,
knows. The house stands on the banI
OF the river. in very conspicuous 10
caiity, and is sure TO be noted by tn
traveller along the Allegheny. Their
is a cellar under the entire house, an
the masonry in the walls is something
marvellous Clapp will show an occa
sional visitor over the house, but il
his ordinary moods he is not particu
lar to crafty anybody's curiosit
about it. Indeed. If he suspected an
caller Of any curiosity in the matte
he would not be permitted 20 see tn
house under any circumstances. 7
ali questions as to the cost OF tn
house he has one formula: "Thi
house is all paid for" He is known t
have told one visitor that the masonr
in the cellar walls cost him SO, 90,
Clapp's love of plenty of pure water
seen in this house. where there Is rur
ming spring water in every room. Tn
water is brought down from the hill
back of the house, by a system of pipe
and the supply is never failing, winte
or summer.
1t was said that Clapp refused I
sell or lease any part of his big ira C
of land. This is not literally tru'
OF his $. 600 acres he did some tin
ago lease 200 acres to an oil man.
we'll or two was put down on these q
&C es, and the result was satisfactor
These wells test. as the term is.
large scope OF territory, and prove
to be good for oil pu poses. Notwit
standing this he refuses to sell or lea
, any more. and regrets that he ga'
this lease. The result of these wei
has brought oil men down on Clap
by the hundreds to secure leases, b
, ne refuses to lease or sell on al
= ] terms. nc VII NoAIpctt
offered him $3.50. 600 for a part of
. President tract, but he declined to a
, cept it. He will put no price on Il
Whole or part of it, but simply says
ism for sale or lease. To one man
q inquiry as to what he would do abo
giving him small lease sOmewher
: he said;
! We'll, I'll tell you. I'll do for y
; lust what did for Titusville nj
: who was here to see me this morning
q What was that?"
: Nothing.
: Oil men have given up Sill hope
+ getting any thing from Clapp. IA
have left him to guard his hidd
= mine of wealth. He has said tn
. when oil gets to be ten dollars b;
n rel he will open it up himself. but Il
= means it will never be opened up VIII
= he is alive. st. Louis Globe-Den
= crat
e The Exact Locality Described.
!, Two of the seedlest-looking tram
. that you could possibly meet in 10