Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-18
RARNUM's GOLD SCHEME.
An Interesting Incident of the California
Gold Excitement in 1S49.


Hon. G. ID. Gilman, now a member of
the general court of Massachusetts,:
preached New York very early in the
morning. and, beng an entire stranger,
accepted the friendly offices of the pur-
ser of the steamer, who took me to the
Clinton hotel, then kept by Simeon
Leland, afterward of the Metropolitan
hotel.
After breakfast Mr.. Leland kindly
took me in charge, to assist me In pro-
curing a costume more BETTING an ap-
pearance In New York than my Cali
fornia outfit. Among the places visited
In this tour Of reconstruction was Love.
joys hair-dressing rooms, Mt the corner
Of Beckman street and Park Row.
Here, n everywhere the talk was Of
the wonderful news from California
"While still under the hands of the
barber and sleepily listening to his
freely-given news upon the exciting
topic of the day, saw Mr.. Leland ap-
preaching me, accompanied by a fine
looking, frank, open-faced man, who
advanced buttoning on his collar, with
his gingham necktie hanging over his
arm as if he had no time to lose. Mr..
Leland introduced him to me by a name
which at first had no significance for
me, though its fame had already reached
the islands of the sea as that of the
great moral Snowman. Said he, cour-
teously:
81 hear that you are just from Cali.
fornia, the first passenger to arrive from
the land of gold. That is very interest
ing. You can tell us all about it. May
l ask if you have had any conversation
with any one on the subject since your
arrival?' replied that had only just
landed, and had no opportunity to talk
about the matter. 'Ah, very good, very
good! said he. Then please don't, let
me beg of you, till you have seen mo
again. Mr.. Leland has kindly promised
to call with you ut my office. If you
will write California" on your card
the door-keeper will admit you ut once
He bowed and took his leave.
"Engrossed by my own interesting
concerns, I did not think to ask any
questions of Mr.. Leland about my in
terrogator. and learned nothing more
of him till we found ourselves at the
door of Barnum's museum. We were
conducted to the private Office of the
redoubtable proprietor, who, politely
seating us, proceeded ut once to bust
ness.
"Well, sir. you know we all want to
know the way to California nowadays.
By what route did you Gomez"
"Across the Isthmus.'
"'Ah, very good! Then you can tell
us all about mule travelling. A very
interesting route. Cuts the journey
short. Some danger, of course. Did
you go out by the same route?'
81 went out around the Horn, sir
"Ah, that's good! Many of our peo-
pie will want to go that way. Cheaper
route. OF course you know about min
ing?"
81 have not been In the mines my.
SELF replied.
"'Oh! All! Well, you understand the
process, no doubt, and know all about
the life there. You've heard it talked
about?'
"a replied that had not .heard much
else talked about for the last six
months.
81 thought so! thought SO! You're
just the man we want, sir? Just the
very man! Now, here's my plan, sir.
I've got a plan, sir, which can not fail
Of success, and which will prove highly
remunerative to both of us, sir. This
city is wild with excitement, as you
know; just crazy with the idea of gold
in California. Thousands are seeking
for information about how to get there,
what to do, where to find the gold.
Now for my plan. I've had a specimen
lump of gold prepared, weighing TWEEN
ty-fve pounds. No sham, sir-real gold.
You can depend upon it; I can bring
you all the certificates you want to con-
vince you of the fact
But 1 interrupted, twenty-five
pounds! 1 never heard of so large =
piece being found
Mr.. Barnum seemed slightly taken
back at this, and asked what the
largest piece had heard of. 1 replied:
Seven ounces; but it had not reached
San Francisco when left
"'Seven ounces! exclaimed he.
Why, that is too small. Every man
who is going out expects to pick up
rocks of it! Seven ouncesl Well, well!'
HE looked COMPOUNDED for a mo-
ment; then throwing back his Shout
ders as If to shake off his disappoint-
ment, he rallied to his well-arranged
plan. well, sir, I'll tell you what we
can do. You prepare a short lecture on
the subject, to be delivered in my lecture
room-not over fifteen minutes long, bet.
ter ten-and then be prepared to answer
questions they'll be sure to come thick
and fast) about the different routes, the
mining, wages, means and cost OF living;
just how to do it, you understand. We
will have a small table on the stage,
with my twenty-hve-pound lump Of
gold on it. AS you are talking you can
handle it. just pass your hand over it
now and then-and-and-I wouldn't
have you tell lie about it for anything,
Mr.. Gilman-but if-you see-they get
the idea that that's the kind of Jumps
they may find, fortunes made, and
we'll share it.
MY reply sprang involuntarIly to my
lips: 'Butwh a perfect humbug that