The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-09-21
GROVE RISES TO EXPL AIN.
The montana Millionaire" Gives a
Free Lecture Before the
Manhattan Club
He Tells OF His Plans and Pros
poets to n Very Small
Audience.
Says Hs Il . Much Abused Man-ThInks
Grove City win Yet ns
Reality.

Charles Porter Grove. 'ths Montana
millionaire" whose fame has bean spread
abroad By all the Rrsh, newspapers Of the
land. Attempted last nigh, TO clear his rspu-
tntion from the clond that has hung over II
ever since the rress began 10 investigate
hia career. The brilliant "Bluo Dick"
whose schemes have dnzzod tho eyes OF tho
eolorod people of many sts,ss. lectuted at
the Manhattan club 10 an audience OF
twenty people. This leotu's was
given for the sole purpose OF setting him
self right before the oolersd PEOPLE OF Hell
ena and the world iu general. 10 he took
advantage OF the opportunity TO advertise
the wonders of Grove City that was quito
natural. snd only In line with what hs had
been doing slsswhsrs.
Among the audience last night who lis
tenod to Blue Diok's' eloquoncs wsrs sew
sral OF ths men who came ont from Chi
caao 10 develop the great mines At Grove
City. over near Radsrsburg. The hard
ships that these men suffered 10 an old
story and Grove only referred 10 II once.
and that was when . colored man asked
him TO explain his position In that matter.
The meeting was announced to open at
$3.50. but as there only hftssen or twenty
present 10 was not called TO order on time.
While waiting for others to como In Grove
talked In an informal way Of his prospects
10 various individuals who were waiting
for his lecture. One Of his friends asked
him II II were true that his wife had left
him. He said tina. u was falss In every
particular 30 said he expected TO have his
wife here In few weeks and win her their
young baby.
About nine o'clock "Biue Dick" took q
chair In front Of q tabls al the end of the
room. The acting president then intro
dscsd Chgflss Porter q owe. Grove began
bis leosufo BY asking the prssidsns TO read
an article from paper printed In Buffalo
or she Montana millionaire, from . special
Warrington correspondent. This article
was very complimentary 20 Grove. u
spoke In graphic terms of his plans for
bsneiittins the colored race by the sstab-
lishmsnt of Grove City. II told Of the
10 accommodate 200 guests that was In
course Of erection. and of the thirty mines
and 1000 acres OF timber land that the cor
poration owned. An article endorsing
Grove and his plans that appeared In tho
Colored American. published al Washing
ton. was neIt read. II was of the lsme
character as the preceding.
Grove then rose 10 his feet and COM
msnoed his lecture. He spe- hs rapidly.
without much regard for grammar. He
| frequently CALLED himself and the colbrsd
race ''niaqsrs." Notwithstanding his
rough, jerky, rambling sort of speech. he 10
Ell tertaining and keeps the G oss attsntion
OF his hearers. He would begin q subject
and before be was th ough with IL he
would commence another. He began his
lecture By stating thst tho Montana and III.
nos God Mining company was incorpo-
rated in the state Of Illinois. IL anybody
doubted the fact ho ccsld prove i'. He
ntxs said that all the newspapers east
and west had abused him. mia
stated his case and treated him
aha pefully. Considering all that had been
said and done aRasnst him he thought it
was wonder thai ho had got back alive to
Montana. In emphatio tones Grove ex-
claimed, ''Gentleinon. have not dsfrGudsd
DO mNn In America" This remark excited
considerable applause. Continuing Grove
said that his company was organized for
business. ID was formed for the exclusive
benefit of the eolored .aco. White men
would be glad 10 invest capital In tho com
pbny's property, but no stock would be cold
TO white men under any conditions. In
tragic tones Grove burst forth with II
would suiier death before would sell stock
TO a white mani Because vhr2 would
be murdered. That's why" He said no
would lay down his life for his people II
necessary.
Grove said the colored people generally
purpose to elevate them. "lps not the al.
mighty doila' that I'm nfter, no exclaimed.
II want to bring my -sop.e ont Of bond
nge." lie next went on 10 say That people
generally thought that tie sma tsAt men
necessarily had white blood In them.
That's not 40. Do you nso any white
blood In me2" be added. No one did. for
Blu, Dick. as he ssid himself, Is a thor
ouqhbred, black ne nigh."
Here tho sposksr got .own once moro 10
the diaoussion OF the objects of q owe City.
He said he ptorosed 10 have a city devoted
entirely TO tho interests OF colorsd men.
There would bo eolored council. oolorod
officers, and everything wouid be ''oolorSd." !"
| lie even ooloTod his remarks and painted a
town that really would he a delight TO tho
people OF any raos. He told OF his knowl-
edge OF miherooQy and how he
came to know how geld and sil-
yer were "rlainlted." Ho dehod
any mineroloaiat mining man or LAWYER 90
ask him any questions concerning ores and
mining that be could not sogtec,ly snswer.
He said that hO had embraced" the world
with his knowledge OF minerals.
"lIlue Dick" talked OF his bond scheme.
lie held ont at arms length a So share OF
stock aud drew pretty piciu,s from H.
He shid that II was as good ne a check, and
that q man who owned that could NOT be
compelled 10 do anT work, but could cit
bnek aud get csItAin share
from tho profits OF sys'y msn's
work in the mines OF tho oompsny. With
epoh shAIe Of stock h0 threw In town lot
In Grove City. Now does that look like
'frauding9" he asked.
Az the close OF his lecture he invited any
one 10 ask him anv question about his
plhnp or his work. A bg oolorsd man In
| tho back Of tho room hsked him to explain
his position In regard 10 bringing out the
mea from Chicago lAst winter 10 work tho
Grove City property. "Blue Dick" went
Into this al length. Ho told q lot Of things
that had no reference to the matter and
finally got OF tbs subject entirely.
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