Connecticut western news., 1892-03-10
NEARLY A MILLION FOR NOTHING.
Lack of Man Who Located Mine Claim,

Lack of n Man Who Located Mine Claims
 to Please an Approximate Friend.
 J. A. Deneen, of this city, will have his available assets increased nearly q, ,00o, 900 by the sale of six mining claims in Wyoming, which he here tofore regarded as valueless. They are located in the Wood River min ing district, Fremont county, Wy, and were taken up by Deneen and Billy Thompson, an old time pros- pector, in the spring of 1885. About that time Deneen was superintend- ent of large cattle ranch in Wyo- ming, the property of Harry Oel- richs, brother of Herman Oelrichs As Deneen now tells the story, he located the claims as a mere lark, and never expected to realize any thing from them.
 Deneen says that Billy Thompson was frequent visitor at his ranch house, and was continually signing about the wealth that was hidden be- meath the surface in the Wood river mining district, about 300 miles north of Oelrichs' ranch. Thompson be- moaned his fate that he had no one to stake him so that he could strike a mine.
 One day, partly from commisera- ton for Thompson, Deneen in- formed him that he would not only grub stake him, but would accom- pany him on prospecting tour Old Thompson would not accept the proposition unless Deneen would agree to accept one-hah the proceeds of the expedition. They set off to- gether and were gone for several months, during which time the twain located about a dozen promising claims. The expense of holding them all was something moro than Deneen had bargained for, so he re- leased those that gave the least prom. ise and retained six of the claims. Thompson, with the eye of m ex- | perienced prospector, declared that thar was furtun in them claims" Deneen, however, on several occa- sions, was on the eve of releasing his claim to the locations, but he had n superstitious feeling about letting them go. On several occasions De | neen has been offered 5000 for his mines, but he did not think that was sufficient inducement for him to part with them, although he admits that if the offer had been doubled he would have gleefully accepted it. The claims are rich in copper, silver and gold bearing ore, but, as the dis trict has not as yet been developed to any great extent, to properly work the mines would require the invest ment of large capital.
 Recently, however, w. s. Heathly, the agent for an English syndicate, has been investigating the Wood river district, with the result that he was greatly impressed by the rich ness of the claims in which Deneen is a part owner. He made m offer of $50, 900 for the property. This lib eral tender somewhat opened the eyes of John Corbett, the postmaster at Lander, the county seat of Ere mont county, who is acting as De- neen's agent in the matter. Corbett considered that the mines were worth more, and by his able bartering the English syndicate, known as the Lon. don Stock and Mining corporation, has bonded the claims for $l, 920, 900. Thirty thousand dollars has been paid to Corbett to bind the bargain. As Deneen owns a one-haf interest in the claims his share win amount to nearly $960, ,0oo.-San Francisco | Chronicle