Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
A ~FIIER- on WALL STREET.
How m Old Mining Friend Helped Clerk
10 Make Money.

IVES, I'VE BEEN On WALL STREET
Il often. but only once on business, Then
came away much better satisfied than did my
friend, Joaquin Miller. but You must acknowl-
edge my hacker proved much safer friend to
tie to than did his.
Had I time I'd like TO give You a sketch OF
my old friend and partner, Metz, for IL ever
the Lord gave more than the average amount
OF brains to any one man. he certainly did TO
him. Any one nearer my idea Of a real genius.
such as judge Edison to be, never expect to
know.
On the plains. away back in AS, trading with
the Indians for furs, fighting now with the
Sioux against the Pawnees. now with the Paw
nees against his quandam allies; adored by one
tribe for risking his life to save their chief
though q stranger to him the day before;
riding once for miles with party Of hostiles in
hot pursuit and dropping from his horse into
the arms OF his comrades mot however. until
they had received the warningl, though poi
soned arrow had been hanging in his neck long
enough to have weakened even q knight OF the
days OF the crusaders-such were his earlier
experiences while yet scarcely out of his teens
In the foremost of the hardy gold
hunters who explored Pixies Pesk-one Of the
very first to push on again and help develop
the rich veins Of the famous Comstock lode in
Nevada few years later found him. still rest
less. joining small squad of twelve, to walk
their mining tools packed on their bscks) the
600 miles that lay between Virginia City and
the newly found gold fields of Idaho.
There. in the summer OF '66, found him.
Only one other of the twelve had escaped
either capture or death from the red devils who
were contesting the steady advance Of the
gold seekers.
He was one Of the finest shots with q re-
voiver-perhaps the fnest-in the territory,
not only because his aim was true, but be-
cause so wonderful his nerve and so rapid
his movement that his opponent. though start
ing with ever so great an advantage. always
weakened first. have seen him. while on q
keen galop. draw his revoyer and without
Tightening rein, knock off d chlpmunks head
as the spry little animal ran chattering along
q z1gzag fence. have met him fastening up q
trail IN hot pursuit of grizzly, with nothing
but this same revolver. and never knew him
to retreat or to call for aid when the
huge game was overtaken. So brave was
he that he actually could not fear any
one or anything, and SO fertile in resources
that no situation ever found him UMPIRE
pared. A party of three entered his cabin
late one evening with hostile intent.
His revolver lay in his bunk, near which me WAS
sitting reading. AL three of them had their
revolyers drawn and cooked, and cared more, 1
think. to cover him and make him beg than 10
shoot him. No one knew how it was done, but
before their spokesman had finished his first
oath Metz had dashed at them with his re-
volver cooked. All three were shot in their
right arms. and word was sent them the next
day that they could have their revolvers when
ever they chose to call for them.
Learning TO use the snow-shoe soon as the
first snow had fallen in the mountains he
seemingly without any practice, quickly out
sped and outdared the boldest Norwegians
(many Of whom were fellow-workers in the
camp. and delighted to lead where. frequently
even they dared not to follow.
When to such traits was added a practical
knowledge of mines and mining that easily
placed him first, and made his Judgment the
very best, not only among his less educated
companions but also among those experts sent
out by the great eastern companies at enor-
nous salaries and who were often graduates of
foreign mining colleges is it any wonder that
have always held him a peer among his fellow
craftsmen.
Later.-After a few years partnership in the
lumber regions of Pennsylvania, where fate
and the powerful railroad corporations proved
too strong for ever his energy. and prevented
our retiring from business with q plethora of
riches. We drifted apart and when next heard
OF HIM he had, after successful mining ventures
In North Carolina and Georgia. sold a quarter
interest for $4,000 and sailed for Europe to
negotiate the balance.
1t was therefore with some establishment and
more satisfaction that read in tho papers one
morning that the last and greatest sensation
| on Wall street was that a new and unknown
leader had. during the last few days. organized
most brilliant and successful corner in some
leading mining stocks, and to the astonishment
OF the older heads and the CONSERVATION of the
younger had closed out over 5000 600 ahead.
No one seemed to quite understand how il mad
been done, who the prime movers or orig
inators were, or who else had made money.
though il was generally believed that some for
eign capitalists had bought very heavily and
| that Metz had realized very much the larger
| share of the profits.
The following day the feeling was never alb
sent from my thoughts that my former part
| ner, with whom, in the Mines 1 had SO often
shared my last ounce of dust and by whose
| side had for so many years fought, step by
| step, for the success which had come TO him,
was really worth two millions and was one Of
the powers of Wall street. And though l real
| lied the fact that friend Is often to be de-
pended on in adversely who proves q broken
| reed in subsequent prosperity and that the
acquisition Of great wealth entirely changes
dispositions, still felt that / had some claims
| on Metz that time would not have wholly OBJ
| liberated nor his great riches have driven ell
| tirely from his memory.
Drawing a check for 500, which represented
| all my savings, taking days leave from the
Office and offering no explanation to any one.
| took the night express for New York, and
shortly after a. m. walked into NJ. q Office on
Wall street. He was sitting in an easy chair
before a cheerful crate fire, CHANGING over the
morning papers Piles OF scientific journals
some unfinished models and many specimens OF
rock ana quartz gave the office q character of