The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-12-08
MAGICIAN HERRMANN'S DONKEY.
He Strayed Away in Mexico With SAL
900 His Back.

A familiar figure about the New
York exchanges nowadays is that OF
Professor Herman, the necromancer.
He is not a spectator, but q regular
pIunger, and bears his losses and gains
with equal equanimity. For man
who can coax unlimited coin from an
empty hat the eagerness he displays in
puts and calls" is the subject Of
much comment. y few days ago he
was caught short" and over bottle
of wine shortly after he told the fol-
lowing story of one black Friday in his
existence:
Its cold world after ALL" he said
sometimes we're up and sometimes
down. The downest time | ever had
was back in the seventies in Mexico.
The Peruvian war was in progress and
gold was out Of sight or only seen at
bio premium. Ny mania for specula-
ton took possession of me, and with the
remnant of a fortune of S2i, 900 l in
vested in English and American gold.
| was in Mexico at the time and in
tended reaching South America with
my treasure by the way of Panama.
Travel through Mexico to the frontier
on burros. n distance Of some nun
dreds of miles, with 81 900 is neither
safe nor pleasant. Every bush in
Mexico contains not an officer for con-
science to fear, but 4 robber. | was
intimately acquainted with President
Diaz at the time, and on my repre-
sentation TO him of my enterprise and
my fears for the safety of my cash he
provided me with an escort of twenty
one soldiers and an officer. They sup
posed the pannicrs strapped to one
little donkey contained nothing more
than my wardrobe.
Mime. Hermann was in special
charge of the donkey with the valua-
BILE baggage, and her instructions
were to watch it as she would her
chance for heaven. We camped each
night and iourneyed by day, making one
or two daily rests for refreshments
Nv hopes of untold wealth during
the Journey were as high as the Rocky
mountains, and l could scarcely con-
tain my spirits. Everything went
well until we had nearly reached Cen
tral america, when one day the ami
nal with the treasure was missed.
Nine. Hermann forgot him during
al fresco lunch, and he had scampered
off with the treasury. The cold dew
sparkles on my forehead yet when
recall that day. My heart stood still.
As for Nine Hermann, she just faint
ed-nothing more. | had to tell my
secret to the guard, and everyone
started out into the wilds of Mexico in
search of the lost donkey. Hours
passed and no tidings came of the OBJ
iect sought. How thought of Joshua
and wished, like him, | could have
prolonged that day. Then came the
harassing doubts maybe one of the
Mexican soldiers would find the don
KEY and forget to come back with him
and his burden. AT last, toward dask,
ten miles away, the donkey was found
grazing away with $21, 900 on his back.
Fancy the picture. His return was a
kind Of a 'prodigal-son-homeward-
bound-affair," and the professor lit q
fresh cigarette.
We'll, how did yeu come out? Did
you win or drop" queried a Herald
reporter.
We'll, multiplied the original fig.
ure by two in week afterward," an
swered Hermann, with q quiet
chuckle, land brought the donkey
back to the United States and pen
stoned him during his life. High liv.
inc and idleness Killed him."
The health to the memory of the
the dead donkey at Herrmann's re-
quest was drunk standing.