St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-27
ONE THROW OF DICE.
How an Old-Time California Mill
iOnaire Became q Pauper.


which he nibbles as he shifts from one
saloon to another.
Matthew Mills is the meme of this
strange creature, and, though now feed
ing from the meager hand of charity,
he was at one time, when California
was in the height of her prosperity, a
man who reckoned his wealth to run
into million of dollars, with splendid
prospect of a yearly increase in his in
come. Then Matthew Mills rode about
the streets of San Francisco in turn
out that cost thousands Of dollars. anu
he lived in style that daZZled the quar-
ter of hundred other millionaires con-
tempOraneouS with him.
Now he travels from saloon to saloon
and from free lunch to free lunch, ask
ing aims of whoever comes in his way
when he feels thirsty, and never
asking for the dice-box that
he may see whether he is
obliged to pay for it or not. and when
he is III restful mood he may always
be found in the card room of some cheap
saloon, throwing the dice alone and
muttering to himself excitedly as the
spots turn up. He has mania for
dice throwing, and this peculiar craze
has won for him the title of DiceboX
Mills.
Mills has no confidants nowadays, and
it is only when his thin blood is
warmed by few libations of absinthe
that he will converse beyond the limits
of few words with his companions, and
then he has but one topic, and that is
his early days in California and the sud-
den manner in which he lost his wealth
and came down to the exceedingly low
plane which he has ever since travelled.
Mills was born in New Bedford. Mass,
in 1920. He was sailor in early days,
and at the age of eighteen years had
made two trips around the world with
his father, Joshua Mills, who was the
captain of a merchantmen sailing from
New Bedford. In 1S49 Mills caught the
gold craze, and came around the Horn,
working his passage, and landing in
San Francisco with less than $50 in his
pocket, and $50 In those days in San
Francisco went but very short way
toward lining the stomach OF healthy
man or covering his back.
But Mills was of a speculative turn of
mind, and he went to hardware dealer
who had been an acquaintance of his
father in New Bedford. and proposed
that he let him take a cargo of hob-nailS,
ShOvels, pickaXes, washing pans, etc,
into the mining districts and sell them
on commission. The hardware merchant
fell in with the idea, and few days later
Mills started out for the mines with
half dozen pack mules loaded with arti-
cles that would be of use to miners. The
venture was success. The articles
solu readily and the margin on them
was wide. In few months Mills had
cleared enough money or his venture to
n
Enlistment of the man who mad given
him the start, and they did business
together for two years. When Mills be-
came restless, and sold out his interest
to his partner, he started for the mines
with $4,000 in his pocket. He stopped
az FraZer's Camp. then one of the pros
porous mining camps, and being of con-
vivial nature, he lived happy, careless
existence until his money was exhaust
ed. During Mills stay in California he
had become possessed with passion
for gambling, and whether with cards
or uice the reckless manner in which he
played made him conspicuous figure
i'll the wild communities that Sprang up
among the Sierra NevadaS in those early
days. AS consequence of his reckless
ness he gambled with varying fortune.
until at last the game got the best of
But he possessed lively spirit, and
with pick and pan he set out for the
''diggin's" on a prospecting tour. Good
fortune attended him, and one day,
while bending over spring of water in
remote canyon, he noticed some gilt
tering particles at the bottom. He
scooped up some of the sand, washed it
out, and found that he had tumbed upon
a rich placer deposit. He staked out his
claim, worked week and went back to
the camp with pouch filled with gold
dust.
Once more the cards and dice went
against him. He found himself money
less, and he returned to his diggings in
the canyon to replenish his depleted
purse. The astonishing amount of dust
that Mills had brought back to camp
with him after an absence of but one
week excited considerable comment
among his associates, and when he re-
turned to his claim he was followed by
couple of men, hired spies of man
who represented syndicate OF English
capitalists, and as a result he was Of
fered 100000 for a three-quarter inter-
est in the claim. Mills Immediately ac-
copied the offer, and the mine became
known as the Glittering Placer, at one
time the richest placer mine in the Cali
fOrnia diggingS.
With 100000 to mis- credit, life in q
mining camp did not suit Mills, and he
returned to San Francisco and entered
upon Il career that had never before and
has never since been eQualed for eX-
travagance. He INDUCED his passion
for gambling to the widest extreme,
and his losses, during the two years he
was enjoying an income from the mine
are estimated at between S3,000,000 and
S4,000,000.
One night. after a week of dissipation,
Mills was in Charles Maunce's saloon,
on Market street, at the bar, drinking.
About midnight the party, consisting of
a half-dOZen mine owners. got to Shak-
ing dice for small stakes. AS they
drank the stakes began to increase,
until finally they were throwing out the
cubes against corners of $4,000. Mills
luck was remarkably good, and there
was not aturn of the dice that he didn't
win.
In the party was a member of the
Placer Mining company by
the name of Glaister, who had lost
heavily during the night. At last, as
the dice turned against him and Mills
raked in $4,000 of his money, he be-
came desperate and said:
mills. let's play for stake that's
worth something. You're in luck TO-
night and will probable win, but Pm
going to force grin out of the devil if
can. You own quarter interest in the
Placer mine. own a quarter
interest in the same mine. I'll stake
my interest against yours on two
throws of the dice. I'll either 90 out of
this place richer man or id sight |
poorer"
Mills was in mood to be fayorably
impressed by the proposition, and as his |
luck was good he was confident of |
doubling his interest in the mine. ITS |
a co." said he, ''and we'll draw cuts to |
see who has the first throw" the throw |
fell to Mills. who caught up the box
and recklessly threw the five cnbes out
On the bar. They turned uD four aces
and tray. Mills smiled, and his
friends patted him on the shoulder.
As white as sheet GIaister picked