Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-05-09

~ -
Here is an interesting story from the
Chilean Times: John James MagO,
quiet, middle-aged man, has had n
career as romantic as that of Monte
Cristo. Mago is now Guatemalan
millionaire who lives nine months
of tho year in Paris. Twenty years
ago he was poor English collector
of insects in Guatemala, and also
acted as the British Vice Consul at
San Jose.
One day Commandante Gonzalez
ordered Mago to appear before him.
MagO sent word that he would come
in short time. This incensed the
commandante, and he sent file of
soldiers after Mago, and when the
insect collector appeared, he ordered
seVenty-fve lashes to be laid upon
his bare back. This was done very
thoroughly, and, when il was fin
iShed, Gonzalez shouted:
"Give him twenty-five more for
luck"
When MagO recovered, which was
only after careful nursing, as his
back was badly cut up, he made a
formal complaint to the British
Government. The result was that
Guatemala was ordered to punish
Gonzalez, and to pay Mago $500
(ElO0l for every lash he had re-
ceiVed. In default of this English
cruisers would shell San Jose and
other coast cities.
Guatemala readily punished Con
zalez, but tried hard to evade paying
$50, 900 to Mago. The British, how
ever, were ineXOrable, and the poor
collector was made comparatively
rich man in one day. AS he had
more coin than anyone in the cOun-
try at that time, President Barrios
went into partnership with him.
Mago became one of the largest
coffee planters, and also secured the
contract for building docks in the
ports. No one can land or leave
one of those docks without paying
toll to Mago, while he also levies a
tax on all freight. He also owns
valuable mines and tracts Of timber.
His fortune is estimated at El ,OOO,-
600, all due to one hundred lashes on
his back.
He LET HIS REPUTATION Go
1t isn't often that one finds among
the mountaincers of the Southwest a
hero of the highest type, but they
DO exist, and year or so ago / met
one, says Detroit Free Press writer
/ had been in his neighborhood fol
three months, and / knew that he
had killed man or two, and had the
reputation of being the gamest mar
| in, hn
tremeiy handy with gun, too, anC
everybody gave him wide bertf
whenever there was prospect fol
row. One day, however, he go
into n difficulty with q man from al
adjoining county, and when tht
shooting began he cut and run like
whitehead, leaving the field in pos
session of the other party. TIVE
days afterward l met him on tn,
road, and we talked about the late
disturbance.
was rather surprised at the wa,
you acted" said, as mildly as
could, for even then had no wish t,
stir him up
{" reckon most folks wuz," he re
piled briefly.
KNOW tney were anu lney uOn'
: understand it; neither do l."
"Well," he said half apologize
ally, | reckon jist run, and tina
: wuz all thar wuZ to hit"
"There was more than that yo
| lost your reputation by it,"
t "Mebbe | did, colonel" and h
D swallowed lump in his throat
r but that thar fellar has seven littl
1 children dependin' on him, am
r kinder had an idea jist afore pulle
e trigger that mebbe could get alon
better without my reppertation tha
they could without their daddy
d so | run"
q He stopped as if uncertain whi
e to say next, and | took him by tn
hand and shook it with a vigor thi
@ | knew he appreciated by the loo
o that came inN, his ewes.