Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-12
MR.. GROVES MINES.
Men Who Went From Chicago Said to
lie In a Pitiable Plight.

A little company Of colored men who We're
induced to go from Chicago to Montana to
take employment under the Montana and
Illinois Gold Mining Company. by Charles
Porter Grove, president Of that company
are reported to be in a pitiable plight
Grove is said to be in this city endeavoring
to induce colored people to take stock in
his mining ventures. recent dispatch to
the Chicago Herald from Helena, Mont,
said A. Wilson of Radersbu.g,a well-known
citizen, was i'm Helena endeavoring to get
supplies for eleven colored dupes whom
Grove located on his mining claims near
Radersburg last fall. The Herald dispatch
says: Just before he started for Helena
a prospector named Richardson. who had
been to Grove City, as Porter Grove calls
the place where his shanties are located.
called on him and told him something must
be done for those eleven men at Grove City
or they would starve to death.
According to Richardson report the
men have scarcely any ming to eat, and, TO
make matters worse. they have no warm
winter clothing. They are living up in the
hills, seven miles from RaderSourg, all in
one shack not lit for animals. There is no
I floor in the shanty, there are no beds, and
the men came to Montana so poorly pre-
pared for winter that they fear to go out
into the hills for fuel, they run grea,
danger of freezing to death. Inc secretary
OF the company, Or. Arthur, is pp~Set 10
have made arrangements with stores al
Radersburg to supply the men with food.
A month ago he promised to be in Raiders
burg and arrange financial matters, but this;
he has not done, and merchants refuse fur
Their credit to the men on the company
account. Grove himself could not get a
package of tacks on credit ct Ra1ersburs.
November IS Grove arrived 1T Radsrsburg
with colony of fifteen culor.j men iron
Chicago. His arrangements with these
men was that each was to buy one share
of stock for s., and ia return Grove would
employ them as miners. paying them sl05
a month. After he had located them Grove
went back east. These rlen had no idea of
mining, but Grove promised lac would put
them in charge of a competent mining man.
Instead he placed at their head William
Howard, his law, also a colored
man and ignorant of mining. Men loafed
around with no tools with which to work
for month or so.
when the first pay day arrived there was
no money, but about a week later there was
received from Grove or some of the officers
of Groves company $40 in cash and $40 in
ly quit and walked into Helena They were
j. Briester, Jacob j. Smith. S. Bramwell
and G. j. Smith. They have been there
ever since. 1t was supposed that Grove or
see that those who remained at the So
called mines were properly fed at least
But this has not been done. While the men
are thus suffering in Jefferson county. Grove
Is In Washington city posing as a colored
millionaire and philanthropist and selling
stock to other colored people in the Mon
tana and Illinois Gold Mining Company at
s. share"
Grove. it is said. has not succeeded in in
ducing many in Washington to buy stock,
because stories had preceded him here that
made the colored people cautious about in
VeSting