The Somerset reporter., 1890-09-25
SENATOR JONES' GRUB STAKE.

A thousand Dollars He Loaned . Miner
brought Him Miiiions.
Senator Jones, Of Nevada, is one Of
your self made mon. He commenced life
poor. But year old when his parents
came from Herefordshire, England. he
has made his way to the top by dint Of
hard work and The exercise OF consider
able shrewdness. Like Senator Sanders,
Of Montana, who made his first ten strike
out Of claim he staked out in grave
yard, Senator Jones first streak OF luck
was purely accidental, as nearly all
streaks Of luck are.
The story goes that when Jones was In
California he stumbled across his pile In
the following remarkable manner: BE
lived in a certain county that Bret Harte
made famous-Tuolumne, the veracious
chroniclers assert-and during the gold
excitement kept small grocery store.
He did thriving trade; prices were high
In those days In California, and after q
few years Jones had smassed few thou
sand dollars. Up the mountain a piece
lived solitary miner. He was poor, had
tho reputation Of being shiftless, but de-
spite the report was always busy.
One day he called on Jones
"Say, Jones, think I've got a bonanza
in that claim Of mine,- said the poor
miner.
Jones smiled. He had heard these
stories before He knew how great ex-
pectations were frequently never real
led. limo, labor and money were usu-
ally wasted on what looked like some
thing rich, but that developed into
snares; so Jones merely smiled.
Its big thing" persisted his visitor,
and he proceeded to explain what the
claim WAS and his reasons for being 50
sanguine. After several hours talk the
miner asked for An advance Of 81 1000
with which to buy tools and food. Jones
deqnurred. A thousand dollars was a
big enough sum, saved, as 1t had been,
with much trouble and labor. But after
all 81 900 cut no figure in comparison
with the profits Of good mine. Jones
finally told the miner he would see what
could be DONE
After nightfall and the Cinnamon en-
ployed in the neighborhood had taken
their departure Mr.. Jones allowed tha
embers Of his fire to die out When
satisfied no one was about he scraped
away the ashes, raised the stone on
which the fire was built and weighed
out the necessary gold dust to make the
81, 900. These little precautions were al
ways taken in that region, where ever
robbers were more plentiful than fort
unes.
Tho tools were bought, Jones lending
the money and the miner promising him
one-third Of the profits of the mine. Fol
months the solitary miner labored, but
no did not strike the lead. He grew
wan and hollow eyed, and occasionally
dropped in to see Jones. The latter had
by this time abandoned all hope Of eve
seeing his money again.
"There's no gold up there" he would
inform the exhausted miner.
eyes, there is" insisted tho Inter, ii
| could only strike it."
Affairs were now becoming desperate
with the hopeful but penniless man
One day he called on Jones and, afte
coughing alphabetically, asked for som
. meal and bacon. He knew he woul'
be successful eventually with his search
> but provisions were out. Jones smiles
again.
ats like throwing 1t in rat hole,
no cheerfully observed as he dug out
side Of bacon and gathered up sack Q
corn meal for his lucklees partner. Fo
four months nothing was heard Of tn
: old fellow, and Jones presumed he ha
Q either gone away or had died at his POI
s up the gulch. Both suggestions wer
n erroneous The miner dashed into th
. store ono day irradiated with Joy. H
d had really struck his bonanza. TIL
mine was sold for $1,000, 900, and, faith
fui 20 hi; his fi,,srssssaise .he henes4 ,nine
=, gave Jones one-third Of it. Senate
= Jones' prosperity dated from that tint
: Cor. Pittsburg Post.