The herald., 1895-07-24

1t also accounts for a handsome painting
of Box" done by no less an artist than
Remington himself. that adorns the office
of the owners of the mine,
Meanwhile O'Rourke's Buckeye sweet.
heart had forgotten him and married.
He returned, and the simple country peo-
pie regarded him as veritaple Monte
Cristo. He married Los Angeles belle,
but those who know him best say that,
with all his money, he is still unhappy.
Sullivan died a few years ago. after hav-
ing consumed more liquor than any other
man in the west. For thirteen years the
mine discovered by the mule has pro-
duced thousands Of sacks of high grade
silver. and it seems to be practically ln-
exhaustIble.
The little town of Burke. Idaho, is
named for one of the most eccentric mill
ionaires that ever lived. John NJ. Burke
now known as "the Prince of Occur d
Alene." came west fourteen years ago.
He had $1,000 in cash, and with that he
established a small general store at the
town which now bears his name. Gener-
Gus to fault, he had seen much better
days. During the war he fought with
Pickett, but his loyalty to the ''lost
cause ended with the war.
Grub stake prospectors were plenty in
these days, and Burke advanced goods to
almost every one that asked for credit.
The miners. as was customary in those
days. contracted to give him hall inter-
est in any mine which they might dis
cover.
One day a ragged fellow, who did not
even have pick or shovel, appealed to
him for aid. Among other things that
Burke advanced was gallon of whiskey,
and the friends of the county merchant
frankly told him that he had thrown his
goods away. None of Burke's intangible
resources netted him any income and
the sheriff finally levied on the little store
Burke was penniless and exceedingly de-
spondent. Just as fortune seemed to have
deserted him forever the old prospeutor
appeared with the whisky jug full of
say was made. and Burke and the miner
started for the place where the valuable
samples had been found. They named it
the Morning mine. and it is now worth
$3.50. 000 With the start he got in this
deal Burke branched out as prom otter
OF mining ventures, and at one time was
worth So, 900, 600.
In 1890 he was candidate for governor
OF Idaho and lost by few votes merely
because Idaho is an overw heimigly Repub-
lican state He is without doubt the most
popular man in the Occur d'Alenes, but
he is All inveterate faro player, and this
vice has dwindled his princely fortune
down to about the million mark, although
he is usually credited with possessing
81, 800, 900.
The opportunities in the west for max
ing vast fortunes suddenly has decreased
within the last ten years, but J. j. Brown
OF Spokane is one of the men who made
his before the uoom collapsed. Fourteen
years ago he was country school teach
er in Indiana, making $35 month. He
became tired teaching 'the idea how to
shoot" and went west. The falls of Spo-
kane attracted him and he homesteaded
16O acres. on which the city OF Spokane
now stands. He saw the wolf at the door
many times the first two years, and often
-four. After it was destroyed by fire, in
1883. the boom came, and now Brownsis
worth $5, 000,00 He wants to 20 to con-
gress, but as he is an uncom romisng
Democrat it is improbable that his politl-
cal ambitions will be realized.
Times have changed. however, and
western people are trying to learn the les
sons of economy. An incident which l
witnessed yesterday is an apt illustration
of the difference between now and then.
Leaving my more or less sum ptuous
quarters at the Crazy Horse hotel. walk
ed down to the lake. Somo distance away
from shore | saw man in a boat. He
was fishing.
"Who is that man?'' inquired OF ma.
tive.
"Why. that is Jimmie Crab am, who
owns the Blazing Stump saloon. Five
years ago" continued my informant,
''times were flush and jimmie, who was
making money hand over fist, collected
all the dimes and niokels in the town.
There was about half bushel of them,
and they had been brought in here by
tenderfeet. Jimmie disliked to make any
change less ,han two-bits. so he tied in a
sack all the nickels and dimes and threw
them in the lake. Since the era of hard
times set in Jimmie goes out on every
pie" mt day to fish for that sack of small
silver coins. which he would be glad to
have to buy bread with now.'
This illustrates the western character;
generous, but improvident and a firm be-
lever in the old adage that sufficient for
the day is the evil thereof. '-Cincinnati
Tribune.