The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-14
TOLD or 4 DEF.iEL TER.
Good as u Miner. Broker, md ~ Politician,
Hut Haste Mnde Waste.

DENVER. Dec. 1.-THE brief despatch to THE
Sun saying that Eli G. Bettis OF the Denver
Stock Exchange had become n defnulter and
had fled from the country. reierred to n man
OF moro than ordinary interest. Bettis hogan
life in this State as minor. He was OF mo-
dunn height well built. and as strong us n
giant. Moreover. he was intelligent and cner-
getic. When ordinary men got So 80 day for
swinging tho sledge Belts could get $3.50
without question. lie was n driver in sinking
shaft or running a drift such as may infre-
quently be found
One day. however no drove a little too fast.
A blast went or and fired Belts out OF the
holo with his face and body full OF debris and
his right arm destroyed. They picked him up
ana got a surgeon. and after a few weeks
Belts was as we'll as ever except for his arm
He could not drive drill any more however.
and people thought that q great misfortune
for timo: afterward they thought it good
luck. and now they do not know whether it
was good or bad. This much seems certain
II he had kept his arm he would have kept a
good name.
When Dettls recovered from the effects Of
the blast he began to use his brains instead
of his muscles. and his brain proved to be
much like his muscles. He began dealing in
mining stock as broker with success Then
Chaffeo county. He still kept his eye on the
mines Of the State. however. and when every
body was going wild last winter over the finds
at Cripple Creek and Creole he chose the gold
camp Of Cripple Creek for his operations.
At Cripple Creek he WAS one Of the leading
Denver and Eb Smith Of Leadville were the
hackers. and tho Rondehush brothers were
hG sns snd GS I p best IN
line in Colorado. was the prosnector and gen
eeral supsrintendent OF good deal of tho work
STANDARD Mining CompanY. n concern that
owned some excellent claims. and soon be-
came one Of tho most prominent men in the
Two stories will illustrate, somewhat the
mans Character: Belts boarded ut the Ciar. .
OF pine. muslin. and paper. was one OF the
handsomest and most somiortH b hotels
inss we're ee' ei Sss One day Belts Hotieed
that the young woman who waited on his table
seemed TO be III: and questioned her about It.
Seadaehes Thereas he hired GssS i?pGrou
Thorn ali driving This was not a single in
hSe,eri t Gne accused him of sinister
Then f. c. Gard. editor Of the C,7sher, got on
had terms with the crowd and roasted them.
uted. was like an arsenal. Every man in it and
a couple, Of friends Of tho editor were OH
guard lneTo were reviewers enough TO 90
around. and three Winohesters besides The
editor expected to- be attacked. and with his
men was waiting for chance to shoot some
body; knowing this. Belts went down TO the
insuled and defed the whole outfit in the
most aGgravatirg fashion. but not man Tor
the whole outfit dared attack him.
Eventually. rs The Sun has told. the valua-
Sh s the nsns 81 hs M as ns
Company by, the engineering OF Mr.. /. p.
Exchange; l!ondebus h had sufficient conf
dence in Bettis to make him secretary Of the
new company. with Its capital OF 10000
shares of 50 each. Thereat Belts bought a
came plunger. He repcated the experience
OF the days when he was a miner sinking a
shaft. In those days he was in too great
hurry to reach to lode. and shot away an arm
was in too great a hurry to get rich, and threw
away, a right good reputation. When he got
caught on the wrong side OF the market he
used. IL is charged. the money OF others until
he could nolonger dance to the music. Then
he fled.
1t was characteristic Of the man that he took
his own instead Of another mans wife when
he ran away.