The morning call., 1891-09-06
MANY YEARS LABOR,
THEN MUCH WEALTH.
4 Determined Fight Against I'll Luck
BRINGS Its Reward.
A Wife's Faith in Her Husband Induces Her
to Sink Money Drawn in a Lottery,
and 1t Brings Success.

The State National Bank of Denver paid
S1,00o,000 in a lump lately to David S@ick-
heimer. Behind this statement there is an
almost incredible story of how poor man
in seven years. through shrewdness and
perseverance, succeeded in securing to him.
self this ana still larger sum Of money.
About seven years ago David Swickheimer
took his wife to the little mining town of
Rico, which is situated In the southwest
corner of the State of Colorado, almost on
the border lines of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA. Here he opened small saloon, which
was patronized by the miners. The bust
ness, however, was not very profitable, and
Swickheimer was already looking around
for pastures new when the first ray Of for
tune shone down upon him.
In the ordinary course of events there
came along at this time a poor prospector
named William Barlow. After many vicis-
STUDIES he at length succeeded in locating a
claim cup" on Dolores Mountain, now
known as Newman Hill Barlow and
Swckheimer became good friends, and one
day Barlow asked the saoon-keeper to
GRUB stake" him with sufficient sum to
put drift or tunnel into the claim. Swick-
heimer, it is stated, did not Immediately
comply. and many days were spent in talk
ing over the possibilities OF the claim, for,
like most men in that part Of the country.
Swckheimer knew something about mining.
However, after examining the mine care
fully, Swckheimer decided to share his for
tunes with Barlow, and
He TOOK HALF INTEREST
In the claim A few hundred dollars had
to be expended in driving a tunnel through
the hill, and after this was completed con-
tact vein between porphyry and limestone
was struck. The ore was found to be fairly
rich, averaging $40 ton i'll silver and gold.
Notwithstanding this apparently good
streak of luck, the miners were in sore DIS
tress to dispose of their product. The mine
was situated forty miles from the railroad,
and to convey the ore to the depot across
the La Plata Mountains in bullock wagons
meant a cost of more than the ore would
pay them when it had been reduced. Con-
sequently the mine did not then look like a
paying institution, but David Swickhelmer
was not the man to lose heart at the first
disappointment. He sold his saloon and
put all his money into the further develop
ment of the mine.
1t was weary work for many long day
for Swickheimer, Barlow and three hired
miners. Swickheimer had not dollar left,
and Barlow had Just what he had at start
ing-ncthing but his claim. The partners
were in despair, and the three hired men
were threatening all sorts of vengeance if
their wages were not forthcoming
All this time Mrs. Swickheimer had been
patiently watching the efforts Of her hus-
band to strike still richer vein of ore in
order that he might realize a paying profit
after conveying it over the La Plata Noun
tains to the smelling works of Pueblo. The
ore already developed had TO be dumped
outside the mines for the reason already
stated. that the cost of handling it lett no
margin of profit
MRS. SWICKBEIMER
Saw nothing before herself and husband
but utter ruin. One day she bought lot
terry ticket. This was in 1886, aud she was
wonderfully fortunate, drawing prize of
5000.
Many women with her experience would,
under the circumstances, have induced their
husbands to abandon their mining schemes
and settle down to some slow but sure bust
ness enterprise. Not so with Mrs. Swick-
heimer. She handed her winnings to Mr.
Swickheimer to be used in the development
of the tunnel The ore maintained during
all these developments about the same grade
of values, not better nor worse. and the
vein continued strong and well defined.
Notwithstanding this. 1t was never OF such
a quality that it could be transported to the
railroad and reduced with profit.
The $1,000 soon gave out, and the miners
appeared to be again at the end of their
tanned they felt certain if they could only
hold out The old "Aelp" refused TO work
longer, so three other hired men. who were
willing TO work for one month without pay,
were secured. These were anxious times
for Barlow and Swickheimer, and the lat
ter's wife had begun to rue having thrown
her 5000 into the hole"
Swickheimer and Barlow encouraged each
other, and the pair of them encouraged their
men. And that their belief that better
vein of ore would at length be struck was
well founded was proven in about two
weeks after they had recommended opera
lions for the third time. At last they struck
ore that would pay for shipment, and from
that day to the present time the value of the
enterprise" ore has ranged from $50 to
$500 ton. Shipments varying
FROM 5000 To $4,000
A carload were made to the Pueblo Smelt-
ing Company. All the ore was placed in
bags aud transported in bullock wagons
across the mountains-a distance of forty
miles-to the Denver and Rio Grande Rail-
way.
There was no more ill-luek after this, and
one year ago last April David Swickheimer
was rich enough 10 pay William Barlow
$4,000 in gold for his half interest in the
vein and $4,000 in gold for his share of the
ore that was then lying on the dump, and
which has been here referred to- Swick-
heimer had it all his own way now, and he at
once began negotiating with the railroad
company to extend its line to Rico. The re-
suit was that Contractor Otto Mears began
to build a loop line from Durango, on the
Denver and Rio Grande Railway, and it Is
now completed to within three miles of Rico
David Swickheimer, who, few years ago
was a small saluon-keeDer. is to-day the
President of the Ri National Bank. He
owns a great many houses here. and two or
three blocks in Pueblo. The President of
the State National Bank is reported to have
said to gentleman recently that if every
derositor save David Swickheimer were to
Withdraw his deposit there the bank would
continue to do very good business.
This mine, which was so successfully
Developed by Mr. Swickheimer, was sold
two weeks ago for, 81, 900 cash. Mr..
SwekheImer took out $500, 900 worth of gold
and silver in two years and half. Mr..