New-York tribune., 1894-04-29
4 POCKET LIVED WIN FISHHOOKS.

From The San Francisco Chronicle
remarkable story came to light Yesterday re-
Osborne. the mining man OF Shasta County. with a
pickrocket In which he came on immeasurably
best Osborne has Just sailed FOR South Africa in
company with J. G. Petty. The story Is so unusual
as to seem hardly credible but is vouched for In a
osborne arrived here several weeks ago. lie Is
one or me irSt known mining men of california.
the discoycrcr 81 the Gladstone gold mine.
on his way to Johannesburg 10 take charge Of some
mines aud dI not know when he would ga' back
he spent some time here seeing tho sights ana taxi
ing his ease preparatory 10 starting
While here ne sent 10 Reddng FOR SO00 which he
received hy express Much Of this money he car
riel ON his person for osborne is n biz stalwnrt
man. who has been about the world. and is not
when he and his friend Petty out seeing the
sights. Il light fingered man touched him for two
so gold pieces which he had In Of his trousers
rockets This was surprise to Osborne and set
him to thinking. lie had never had anything like
that happen before. and he was much annoyed. lie
said nothing nbou, II At the time. however but set
to work dcvlsng plan for thwarting any similar
In a dim way hc recolcc,ed that he thought some
one had prt hand In his pocket on the night he
lost the coins osborne as is customary among
many mining men. wears substantial corduroy
clothing. ana these are equipped with unusually
therefore he skliifuIy arranged half a dozen big
fish hooks each carefully fastened TO its place and
in such "A way thai they would offer no resistance
To- "A hand being inserted. but the hand would be
grasped by. The barbs while belng withdrawn. Any
one of the hooks would hold ten-pound salmon.
Thus equipped. Osborne again started forth. At
,h. corner Of California ANA krarneY SITS. "A faker
w,s Llthcsomely cxpatiating about his wares and
m. mining man stopped to hear what he had to say
Dcslrous Of testing his invention. he jingled two or
three SO gold pieces careessly in sight and then
dronned n couple Of them Into the yawning
nav below the nshhoots. Then he leaned
hack and became absorbed In the street cor
ner orafory. In a few moments; sure enough.
he fcIt "A hand going down his pocket IL
moved slowly and carefully. but every time the
f,krr said anything to make the crowd laugh at
,rnnt down with more confidence Pretty soon Mr.
rsnnrne fclt that he had at his elbow who was
toin, some deep thinking. He knew this by the com
,notion that had taken place In his pocket lie
Hn1d nothing but hc knew something was going 10
happen 1t did when voice said:
.What in have you got your hand In my
pocko' for?" said Osborne. cheerfuy. why don't
wi can't: rs cauAht" said the man. looking up
wei. come right down here to a policeman lie
will help you take II out" replied the mining man.
and he moved of as he spoke the thief being forced
to ircs, along by the side OF his captor.
"ob didn't get any money. For heavens sake
let me go!" cried the thief
osborne did not care anything about imprisoning
the fellow and Furnishing him further lie declared
he would not have minded II bit II he had lost the
additional gold pieces. All he wanted was to II
his trap would work SO he released the fellow and
let him CO.