The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-29
Ne MADE MIS- MILLION,
@alden Reward OF a Long Struggle
With Poverty in a
Mine.
David Sw'ickheimer, Seven Years
Ago, Went Prospecting in
Colorado.
80 "Grub Stnked" William Barlow, Got
-a Interest in Il Ciaim-uis
WiFe's Luck.

The State National bank of Denver
paid 81 100000 in a lump lately to David
Swickheimer. Behind this statement there
il an almost Incredible story of how a
poor man in seven years, through shrewd
ness and perseverance,, suco.eded in secur-
ing to himself this and a still larger sum
of money. rays the Denver correspondent
of the Boston Advertiser. About seven
years ago David S%wiokheimer took his wife
to tho 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 Arizona. Here he
opened a small saloon, which was patron
lied by the miners. The business, how
ever, was not very profitable, and Swick-
hsin1sr was already looking around for
pastures new when the first ray of fortune
shown down upon him.
In tho ordinary course of events there
came along at this. time a poor prospeotor
named William Barlow. After many vieis-
STUDIES he at length succeeded in locating 4
claim "up' on Dolores mountain, now
known as Newman hill. harlow and Swick-
heimer became good friends, and one day
Barlow asked the saloonkeeper to grub
stake" him with a sufficient sum to put \
drift or tunnel into the claim. swickhei-
mer, it is stated, did not Immediately COM
ply and many days wore spent in talking
over the possibilities of the claim, for, like
most men in that part of the country,
awickhoimsr knew something about min
ing.
However, after examining the mine care
fully, Swickheimer decided to share his for
tuuss with Barlow, and he took u half in
tsrest in the claim. A few hundred dollars
had to be expended in driving n tunnel
through the hill, and sftor this was COM
pleted a contact vein betweon porphyry and
Limestone was struck. The ore was found
to be fairly rich, averaging $40 a ton in sill
yer and gold.
Notwithstanding this apparently good
streak of luck the miners were in sore dis
treas TO dispose OF their product. Tho mine
Was situated fosty miles from tho railroad,
aud to convey the ore to tha derot across
the La Flats mountains in bullock wagons
ineint u Goa. OF more than the ore would
pay them when 1t Ind been reduced. Con-
stGuently the mine did not than look like a
paying lnstitution, but David swiokheimer
WAS not the man to lose heart at the first
disappointment. He sold his saloon and
PUT all h,s money into the further develop
ment of the mine,
1t WAS weary work for many a long day
far Swickheimer, Barlow and three hired
miners. ~Swlokheimer had not n dollar loft,
md Barlow had just what lac had at start
~'ng-nothing but his claim. Tho partners
were IN despair. and the three hired men
were threatening ali sorts of vengeance il
their wages were not forthcoming.
All this time Mira. Swiokheimsr had been
patiently Watching tho efforts of her hus-
band TO strike n still richer vein OF ore in
order that he might realize a paying profit
after conveying 1t over the LaPlatn noun
tains to thu smelling works ut Pueblo. The
ore alresdy developed had to be dumped