The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-01-11
DusKY DUDES AT THE MINES.

Brought to Montana by "a Negro Hustler
Who Calls Himself IA Millionaire.
Charles Porter Grove, who sly les him
self the "Montana millionaire mine
owner" is the most widely advertised
colored man In the far west. says the
Anaconda Standard. lie sprang into
prominence not very long ago at Lex
ington, Ky, by marrying wealthy col
ored bell of that city. The wedding
was an exceedingly swell affair, not
withstandiug the fact that the Lexing
ton papers pronounced Grove an adven-
turer. Invitations TO the weddirg were
pie of the town, and more than 200
guests assembled at the marriage fete.
Indeed, Grove created such a sensation
that press dispatches contained an ex-
tended reference to him and his mar
riage. kilograms were also sent 10 the
principal cities in Montana asking If
Grove was known In the state and If he
was what he claimed to be. No one
seemed 10 know much about Lin, except
Ing that colored man by the name of
Grove had been In Helena several times
during the past ten years and claimed
to be Interested In mining matters. Sew
eral Of the state papers contained refer
ences to the pseudo Montana millionaire,
but very few could place the man. 1t
has recently transpired, however, that
Charles Porter Grove is quite well known
at Radersburg, mining camp eight
miles from Toston, Jefferson county, and
also in several other mining camps of
the state, but very few knew him by
that name. He was always called and
signed himself Charles Portcrgrove,
running his middle given name and sur
name together. He owns two mines, or
rather prospects, at II ldersburg, on what
the miners of that camp have sugges-
lively christened Coon Ridge.
Some time ago Grove stocked these
two properties for So 100000 and ST.
100000 respectively. He then went to
Kentucky, spent money like a prince
and soon had the colored population of
Lexington bowling and scraplng at his
feet and lmportuning him to sell them
some of his mining stock. The sche me
worked to perfection. He couldn't
write out stock certificates fast enough
to supply the demand, aud soon found
himself the pcssesser of more money
than he had ever hoped 10 acquire. The
Coon Ridge mine may be all that ne
claims for them, but If they should
prove TO be worthless there'll be some
fun around Radersburg. Grove ar
rived in camp with his bride and 4
colony OF Kentucky colored men. The
arrival of the party created consider
able excitement In the camp and no
little amount of sport. The sixteen i'm
ported descendants of Ham were at
tired nprlnce Alberts, creased trousers,
silk shirts with frlled bosoms, silk
ties and patent leather shoes, while
each dude sported gold watch and
gold headed cane. Each one, also,
was possessed Of mammoth Saratoga
trunk Allied full of hne clothes. When
asked what he intended doing with the
dude delegation Grove said the gentle
men had been sent out by the purchas-
ers of his mining stock to work the
mines on Coon Ridge. This statement
was greeted with hearty burst of
laughter from the old time miners and
even Grove himself had all he could do
to keep his face straight 1t is reason
able to suppose that when the Montana
millionaire gets through bleeding his
colored Kentucky admirers they will
have paid pretty dearly for their wild
cat mining experience.