Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-01-31

rOttlng AWAY. n fuan "no cIorhou III
tho store at the time II was SO strange
ly locked up has told the writer all
that Is known OF the affair The store
is located ut President. not far from
Clapp's residence. II was tho only
store for several miles around, and
the country people came long distances
TO trade. The business done was light,
because the country is very sparsely
settled. there not being house In sew
oral miles. Still, there was some busi-
ness all the time, and Il is not thought
the store was closed on account OF the
light trade. 1t would DO moro like
Clapp to keep it open for tho benefit OF
the public. although he lost money by
SO doing. This seems TO have beon the
spirit that moved him In tho building
OF so many miles OF free ronda He
had partner in his store. and II theto
was any trouble between the two men
1t was not apparent One morning no
came into tho store and said to the
clerk:
"a have bought out my partner In
the store and am now sole proprietor.
Nail up all tho windows and doors and
give me tho key. Wo will not soil any
more goods"
The clerk did rs no was instructed.
and the store remains In that condition
to-day, with the goods rotting on tho
shelves inside Clapp is not man
who tells his affairs TO anybody. but
quite the reverse. and. understanding
him thoroughly In this respect no one
is likely to ask him any questions in
regard to the closing OF tho store. and
1t is not likely that any one will ever
know any more about II than is known
now. which is practically nothing.
Although Clapp has spent hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars In building
roads from President the place con-
sists virtually OF one house. and that
the house In which he lives. There
are perhaps half dozen cheap houses
in the vicinity. together with the bar
ricaded store, but the only house OF
value is Clapp's residence. This
is an ordinary-appcaring country
house. frame. painted white. and
two stories high. 1t is old
fashioned. even 10 the porch
extending along tho front, and
has the appearance Of house that
coat not over $1,000 to build. Il is a
house. however. that cost many thou
sand dollars - how many nobody
knows The house stands on The bank
OF the river. in very conspicuous To-
callty. and Is sure TO be noted by tho
traveller along tho Allegheny. There
Is a collar under the entire house. and
the masonry In tho walls Is something
marvellous Clapp will show an occa-
sional visitor over the house, but In
his ordinary moods no is not particu-
lar 10 crafty anybody's curiosity
about II. Indeed. II he suspected any
caller OF any curiosity in the matter
ho would not be permitted 20 SEQ the
house under any circumstances TO
nll questions rs 10 tho cost OF the
house he has ono formula: "This
house Is all paid for" He Ia ;nown to
have told one visitor that ths masonry
In the cellar walls cost him $40, 600.
Clapp's love OF plenty OF pure water is
seen In this house. where therc Is run.
ming spring water in every room. The
water Is brought down from the hills
back OF the house, by asystem Of pipes,
and the supply is mover failing, winter
or summer.
1t was said that Clapp refused to
sell or lease any part OF his big tracts
OF land. This Is not literally true.
or his 5000 acres he did some time
ago lease 200 acres TO IN oil man. A
well or two was put down on these 200
aces. and tho result was satisfactory.
These wells test" rs the term Is, a
large scope OF territory. aud prove 1t
TO be good for oil purposes. Notwlth-
standing this he refuses to sell or lease
any more. and regrets that he gave
this lease. The result OF these wells
has brought oil men down on Clapp
by the hundreds to secure leases, but
he refuses TO lease or .ell on any
terms. Tho Standard Oil Company
offered him $750,o00 for part OF his
President tract, but no declined TO ac-
cept Il. He will put no price on the
whole or part OF 1t, but simply says IL
isn't for salo or loase. 70 ono mans
inquiry as to what he would do about
giving him small lease somewhere.
he said:
"Well. I'll tell you. I'll do for you
just what did for n Titusville man
who was here to see mo this morning"
What was thatP"
Nothing.
Oil men have given up all hope OF
getting any thing from Clapp. and
have left him to guard his hidden
mine OF wealth. lie has said that
when oil gets TO be ten dollars bar
rel he win open II up himself. but this
means 1t will never be opened up while
he Is alive. st Louis Globe-Demo-
crat