Telegram-herald., 1890-09-22
eMIGaANTS TAKEN IN.
aany Foolish People Fleecod by Bogus
/ Laad Agents.

iSpeciel Correspon0ence.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1871 was walk
ing along Second street in Seattle few
days ago when / was accosted by an
elderly looking countrynan, who in
quired where he would find certain
bank did not know. but directed him
TO a bank Just opposite where we stood,
and advised him that he could there get
The desired information. While we were
talking a woman came up to join US,
who, it transpired. was the daughter Of
the old man, and the two had just ar
rived from Iowa for the purpose of locat-
ing on government land.
The woman carried in her hand a
crumpled check on the bank for which
they had inquired. held out my hand
for the cheek, and she gave it TO me
without word. It was properly filled
out and indorsed, and called for con-
siderable sum of money. IL probably
represented the savings Of years Of pa
tiant toll, and the people were no doubt
inspired with visions of wealth TO be
easily acquired through judicioas IN
vestInent in western lands. | handed
the check back. with the suggestion that
it be folded and put out Of sight OF the
many people who would be attracted by
the public display of such paper in the
hands of strangers. or ''tenderfeet," as
all new comers are called.
The streets Of these western cities are
constantly patrollod by rascals IN search
of just such settlers" AID the papers
hereabouts have almost daily recitals of
ignorant folks being feeced by bogus
land locators, who lie IN wait for their
gullible victims. These people had no
means Of knowing who / was. and yet
they handed me their check 70 read with
out question as TO the safety of such a
transaction. | could but reflect how
easy il would have been for one OF the
army of confidence men IN this country
TO have volunteered TO show them to the
bank. and either have steered them into
some bogus bank, O den Of partners in
the trade Of robbery, or else have taken
them TO the bank, assisted them in cash
ing their paper and then towed them
into some side street. taken their money
on one pretext or another. and left them
penniless. Il seems TO be waste Of ink
10 print the oft recurring instances Of
tie kind. Some farmers either DO not
read the papers. OF il they read them ap-
pear not TO profit by thu exposures Of
toe methods employed to trap the III
wary.
What wonder that SO many fall into
the hands Of sharks and are dev0ure5s
Even the very doors Of the banks and
governments land Offices in the new
states and territories are surrounded and
shad0wed by men whose only object is
to deceive and rob the unwary immi-
grant and such have not The slightest
difficulty IN marking taeir prey among
the untravelsi and unsuspecting coun-
tTymcn who seek homes IN this far west.
A common method < these gentry is 70
conduct the bor1e seeker 70 the most at
tracavs LEGALITY. and represent il as
government land open TO prescription,
and collect sn sxo1bitant fee Tor services
rendered. when as e mstter q fact tie
land pointed cut IS the private property
e some early settler. and not even Il ths
market st any Trica.
The government saoal7 estsklish hv
ia- & board @ lie kno-rn as ths fool
Eilers. and every intea5iag e7nizrauf
20 any part Of TIE west shoaii - sat-
5act to = pTal .1snaTy exar7snation he-
fore this board. and az who ara fszra
g II incapable g passing a saf.sfactorv