The morning call., 1893-03-04
A BOGUS SURVEY.
c. NJ. Lewis Dupes Many
Workingnen.
BORROWS MONEY AND sKIPs.
He Did Not Obtain Much, but 1t Was
Enough to Pay Board and
Lodging.

NCIs Oiu lAaus VIII Hdso " phCh III
blankets and leave you." said Charley Mast
| to his landlord down on Brannan street last
Friday, whereupon the landlord wondered
greatly. for Charley had been a good lodger
for M any years.
This is a surprise party. isn't t?" Mr..
Mast continued, seeing the look of astonish-
ment on the bOniface, but you will be a
great deal more surprised if tell you l have
a Government job.
Sixty dollars a month and a three-year
contract, how is that for highP"
OF course Mr.. Landlord could only con-
gratulate Mast on his good luck and ex-
press his regrets that he was compelled to
lose him.
Next day Saturday. early in the evening
Mast knocked again on the door of his land
lord and when that individual responded
Mast told him that he had changed his mind
and that he was to remain with him for an
indefinite period.
"What is the matter with that Govern
ment job?"
'Oh, never mind about that" sadly re-
piled Charley, and then he went upstairs to
unpack the blankets which he had rolled up
so carefully the day before.
There were just thirty-five such indivi-
duals as Mast in town on that day and all
he found himself in.
They all had Government jobs, put found
no way by which they could commence
work.
1t was all on account of the extremely
peculiar action OF sturdy, thiek-whls skered
individual, whose name is G. NJ. Lewis, and
who has registered frequently of late ut the
International Hotel.
The last time Lewis inscribed his name
on the big book in that hotel was on Feb
No 81.
place he said he came from on that occasion.
Across the street from the hotel there is a
saloon called Kearny-street Exchange,
owned by one Fred Levers.
Lewis commenced to frequent the ex-
change about three weeks ago, and, forming
the acquaintance of the proprietor, he con-
tldentIaily told the latter that he was sur
yeyOr and had big contract on his hands.
Early in March he was to take party to
the Moiave Desert and survey the same for
the United States Government.
Lewis wanted Levers assistance in Sc
curing the men he needed for this expedi-
tlon, which was to extend over three years
time.
Strong, stout. healthy men, used to hard
ship and willing TO work, was what Lewis
desired, and he thought about fifty would be
enough.
Now there are lots of men around, dis
charged soldiers and men out of work, who
are only too glad to have an opportunity to
Ahu cbutbLllS ~ uN, DtCduot lue HlJUIlLN
of them are without money.
so, with the assistance of Levers. the
MoJave Desert surveyor had no difficulty in
securing all the men he wanted.
He engaged thirty-five of them, requiring
OF each one to furnish a clean bill of health
from some physician, and dividing them into
miners, chain-carriers and laborers.
They were to 60 10 work about March 15
he told them. but they were required to re-
port in Levers place on March l, because
hat a haV~ J., l.
ley, where camp was to be established
and the organization OF the expedition was
to be commenced.
The prospect of having to wait there
three weeks did not prevent any of The men
from accepting the terms of Lewis, Which
were 500. $50 and $50 a month wages, ac-
cording TO the kind of work required, and
three years contract.
During the time which interviewed be-
tween the acceptance of the job and March
l, these men frequented Levers saloon
very much ana many of them who had q
little money spent it freely treating Lewis
and the others who were to be with them
on the Mojave Desert.
Some new recruits were added to the
little army and everything was all serene
around the kearny-street Exchange, where
Lewis daily mingled with his men and told
them OF Judge so and So, and Captain this
and that, all of whom were Government Off
GERS connected with the MOjave Desert sur
yey.
Here and there Lewis would borrow
little money. Sometimes it would be only
90 cents, and again 1t was S. but the men
who were to work for him readily helped
him out in that way whenever lie needed it.
Word was passed that all hands would
have TO be at the rendezvous on Saturday in
order that the whole party be taken to the
Government building TO be sworn IN
Nearly eighty men were assem- bled in the
exchange al 2 p. NJ on that day, when
| Lewis came rushing into the place, full of
hustle and excitement.
IAN, you are all here; that's right" said
he. and adding that he would be back in a
half hour, he rushed out again.
He never came back.
Many half hour has passed since, and
Mr.. Lewis much-bew hiskered countenance
has not been seen around the place since
The dupes waited for hours, and finally
dispersed; some OF them regretting the loss
of money and time, and others feeling sorry
only that they had been so gullible.
Levers, the salOon-keeper, also regrets
| the disappearance Of Lewis, because with
him all his victims left and the latter were
large source OF income to the Kearny-
street Exchange, while they made their
headquarters there.
Al the hotel where Lewis Stopped Il was
learned that some months ago three men
were induced by Lewis to accompany him
to Eureka, Humboldt County, where he
promised to locate them on Government
land but when they arrived there they
found that Lewis had no knowledge of any
vacant land, and they were losers to the ex-
tent Of what his fare and board had cost
them during the trip.
Lewis pleaded so hard with these three
men and claimed that he had been misin-
formed only that they gave him money
enough to enable him to return here.
The hotel people think that the pseudo
surveyor Is a swindler on very small scale
only. and that he works his crooked
schemes just to get enough money to eat
and drink.
Some Of the duped Mojave Desert explor-
still han inn