Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-05-06
ARIZONA ADJUSTMENT.

ARIZONA ADJUSTMENT.
A Fair, Square Game, but IN Unlucky
Deal.
San Francisco Paper.l
AS related BY Morte George: cat
the time Of the big fire at Tombstone
l was dealing faro for Bill John son
in the Palace saloon. He moved most
OF his thines and didn't lose much.
"'I've got . thousand insurance.
said Bill. Il didn't lose more'n Eve
hundred. but they toll mo you always
get what you insure for. I.'s like q
lottery; you buy policy. and, it
you're buroed out you draw a prize.
They say its dead square game, and
| played her up to the limit to win.
Vickers, the agent who sold me the
policy, sent to San Francisco for spe.
oial adjuster to fix the thing up, 90 As
to BE- sure and have everything all
right
"Three days after the FIRE, the Id.
iuster arrived. His name was Viii.
liam Henry Harrison Benton. He
was . nice-looking, smooth>spoken
man, not very large. He looked some
like Jay Gould. saw Gould At
HALEY, Idaho. two years ago, and be
talked and acted q good deal like
Benton. Well, Benton stayed around
for a week or 80, and 6oally told Bill
he WAS ready to settle, and We three
went into one Of the poker rooms 10
Bills new saloon, to talk it over.
"'Now, Nj. Johnson said Benton,
I've figured up tho value of your fur
niture and fixtures that were burned,
and find they amount to $3.50 63.'
"'But l thought I'd get the whole
,housand,' said Bill.
"'Oh, mop said the adiuster, sbe.
cause you saved the balance of the
stuff. We only pay you for what's
burned
"'Guess you're right, said Bill.
"'Then there's the depreciation to
come off,
''Whas's thst?' asked Bill
"'The wear aud tear-the difference
between old and new. You had the
furniture four months. and I'll figure
tho depreciation down low, say 40
per cent.-that's only 10 per cent. .
month";
"'Isn't that q good deal?' said Bill.
III I'd had it year, I'd been worse
off than nothing
"Bentou smiled and replied, NO,
that's very reasonable. There's an
adjuster named Beard, at Denver,
whom We call old Depreciation
who'd have made it GO per cent. a.
least
"Don't send Tor Beard said Bill.
Let her 60 at forty
$50, taking of the depreciation,
that's el43.75. leaves your actual loss
just $2l588.'
"Bill looked over the figures, drew
. long breath, and said, That's cor
rect. Will you paw tho money here,
or send it from San Francisco?'
"By the way asked tho adjuster,
what rate did you pay?'
ga hundred and twenty dollars for
the thousand answered Bill, and it
seemed to me rather steep
THAT was reasonable, said Ben
ton, very reasonable. Now. thera's
another little opposition
"Spring FER, said Bill. III say
right here that johnson was one of
the coolest aud eamest men ever
met-nothinR could startle him.
"'Did you ever read the adjuster's
clause?' continued Benton, pointing
to some fine blue print On the policy.
"'No, what's thatP' asked Bill.
"'That provides that you shall paw
the expenses of the adjustment, be-
cause Tombstone 10 so far from San
Francisco.
"'That seems reason able,' said Bill.
ayes. that's only right said Ben.
ton; and il makes it escier for the
companies. I've made up my bill OF
expenses, and here it is:
Fare from saa Francisco to Tomt.ton.
Hotel and other expenses. ten days. 50 %
Ten days time. at $40 day. ............2 0G 90
Less amont Of loss ais sc
Balance due the company from you.
~ eSeu................ ........... .tl5O 70