Tombstone epitaph., 1890-07-26
NO. 4
HE DISCOVERED BRASS.
How q Scientific Superintendent Knew
 Too Much for Ills Own Good.

How Scientific Superintendent Knew
 Too Much for lis Own Good.
 The Cousin Jack gold mine in FL dorado County, Cal, was at one time prosperous claim that paid it's owners large monthly dividends and gave every promise of 9 still more profitable future.
 The owners had considerable trouble with their superintendent, burly Cor nish miner, whose love of alcoholic stimulants and predisposition to fight were a source 6f constant annoyance. As often happens in gold mines the vein was ''pockcty," bo-ng very rich in some spots and barren in others.
 It was while running through one of these barren streaks that Big Jim," the superintendent, became involved in dispute with the owners as to the proper course to pursue to find tho pay chute again. Jim was very ugly, and the owners, as was always the case when ''horse" was encountered, were them- selves far from amiable. The outcome was that Jim received his cO1ge the day following and new ''super" was in de- mand.
 No one about the camp being avail able, l, being one of the parties inter- ested, set off for San Francisco in search of the man we wanted. I found him sooner than l expected. He was not practical miner, but had, he said-and his letters of recommendation seemed to back up his statement--a thorough scientific knowledge of gold ores, was anexpert chemist and assayer-in short, was almost.ready to state that he could make the mine profitable whether the gold was in the rock or not.
 l forthwith engaged the services of this man of science, and we were soon at the mine, where Mir. Jackson, my new acquisition, was duly installed as super intendent. We had paid Big Jim" $50 month, but Jim was only practical miner and not scientist, so we could not. in all conscience, offer MT. Jackson less than fifty-dollar advance on Jim's salary.
 Look here," remarked one of the partners to me one day after our new su- perintendent had been with us about week. II don't think that that new scientific mining expert of yours knows any more about mine than Piute h. dian." l was obliged to admit that myself had grave doubts on the subject.
 MT. Jackson obtained some remark able assays from rock that wouldn't show ''color'' in the pan, and when I sought to pin him down to any definite question as to the value of ores he gave evasive answers. He was certainly an expert at lodging questions if at noth- ing else.
 In the meantime Big Jim" had begged hard to be taken back, promising all manner of good conduct.
 q don't know nothin' about them air assa-s," said he, ''but yer kin bet yer life I knows good rock when I sees it.''
 Jim was sparticularly V severe on our new superintendent, claiming that he (Mr. Jackson) couldn't tell gold mine from a brass kettle. In this Jim was right, as the sequel will show.
 Shortly after this MT. Jackson came rushing over to the cabin one morning with number of bright pieces of metal in his hand Was it possible, thought l, that rich pocket had been foundP
 ''What's the matter, JacksonT I asked.
 You've got the richest mine in the world, sir," said he. Look at these bits of metal. They were knocked down at the last blast. I've tested them and they're nine hundred fine at least"
 ''Why, you tarnation fool" broke in voice over my shoulder, that's brass"
 It was Jim who spoke. He had evil dently put up job on our new superiu- tendent, though where he got the Jumps of brass from l never learned. He was soon back in his old position, however, and MT. Jackson was seen no more in those parts. l haven't heard ot or from him since. The Cousin Jack" paid well for about d year after that and was then abandoned. N. Y. Herald.