The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-09
LUCKY SCRANTON MINERS
They Unearth q Rich Copper Veia ID
Butte, Mont.
RECEIVED A SUN OF $4,000
Michael Levine. Patrick Mc0uire and
John and James Mary. All Formerly
Of the North End. Are the For.
tunatcs- Story OF the Find.


There returned to Scranton last week
John and James Nary. who less than
two years ago could jingle no more
than a few dollars In their pockets.
but who now possess 81, 1000 each as
their share from the sale Of copper
mine In Butte. Mont.
The two Narys are brothers and.
along with Michael Levine and Pat
rick Mcclure. made themselves rich
In a day. but only after weeks Of toll
and prospecting. All are American
born Irishmen and were. up to few
years ago. residents Of the North End.
which lends additional interest to the
story Of their good fortune.
In justice to the Narys It should be
stated that they are averse to talking
for publications; In fact, they refused
to do so, and the following concerning
their lucky find could only be obtained
in sections from friends whom the
Narys had cautioned against reporters.
Up to few years ago James Nary
and Levine were miners in this re-
gion. They believed the west afforded
better opportunities for hardy young
manhood, and soon left for Utah, in
which state, at Park City, they worked
two or three years in the silver mines.
Finally they went to Butte, where they
continued work as miners and where a
short time ago they, with the other
Nary and Mcclure, unearthed the hid
den vein OF copper, which Is now be-
lieved to be q continuation OF the
vein In the famous Anaconda mine
owned by Marcus Daily, "The Copper
King"
Mrs. Lcvinc's Enterprise.
1t should be remarked that Levine
Is the only married man among the
four prospectors; this fact Is impor-
tant, as Mrs. Levine's energetic quail
ties contributed indirectly to the sue
cess of the undertaking which made
her husband and his three companions
rich men. "Rich," not because $ll,0oO
Is the limit of a mans ambition now
adays, but because that sum Is for
tune to a young man whose laboring
years have been spent digging with
pick and shovel for a few half dollars
per day.
In this connection Mrs. Levine's ener-
gy induced her to keep boarders. She
made a small profit per week and these
sums, along with the husbands and
James Nary's small savings. permitted
the two men to "lay OFF, from work
during certain periods which were
spent in prospecting.
Meanwhile the other Nary (John) ana
Patrick Mcclure, each young and ar
dent. Joined the other two In Butte,
and the four counciled together over
| Leyine's prediction that the rich Ana
conda copper vein extended beyond the
possessions of DAILY, "The Copper
| King" and his associates. While Le-
vines experience told him that all four
might waste a lifetime seeking the
treasure, he presented many arguments
| in support of his belief that the vein
could be found and would develop cop
per rich In quality and great in guam
tity. The result was a compact where
| by the four were to lease certain
claim and share good or bad fortune
alike. The lease was obtained, but a
proviso was made that no rental should
| be paid unless the claim was found to
contain mineral.
Digging for vniu, b'o Ores.
The four then obtained work in the
mines and were SO frugal that their
savings, together with Mrs. Levine's
boarding house profits amounted to
several hundred dollars In April, 1894,
during which month the snow disap-
peared from the hills and the four
Scrantonians were permitted to begin
their chanceful digging.
| For over three months they piled
picks and shovels from morning until
dusk, but with no other evidence OF
their labor than long, narrow, trench
like hole between two high pieces of
ground at the foot of the Butte hills.
| For several weeks friends had dis
couraged them in their efforts, and
they were we'll nigh disheartened them
selves; their combined monied capital
had dwindled to less than $50, and
credit was refused them by storekeep-
ers, who, in that country, are watchful
of customers and place no reliance upon
prospects or hopes.
Early one August morning. and fol-
lowing a decision Of the previous night
to abandon work after the next day,
the first evidence Of the metal was
found. The men had since sunrise been
working In silence. Levine swung his
pick into the earth at a point where the
side and bottom OF the trench Joined
together, but the blow was not followed
by the usual crumbiing Of dirt. nor was
the pick removed until its owner had
tugged at 1t vigorously.
| Meanwhile Levine's exclamation had
attracted the two Nary's and MCGUIRE.
who gathered about their companion
and anxiously awaited his efforts to
remove the pick. When the implement
was loOsened an examination revealed
the presence OF ore.
Many Offers Of Assistance.
The rest Of the story can be briefly
told. The news Of the find was her.
] aided about, and within a few hours
negotiations were opened for leases all
along the direction In which the vein
was supposed to extend.
Capitalists, previously unknown to
the four plucky fellows. loaned them
money to develop their property which
was found to contain gold and silver In
quantities too slight to mine. except
along with the copper.
Repeated offers to purchase the lease
were made. and last spring deal was
made with an individual who was later
ascertaihed to be an agent Of 1.-THE
Copper King" The price agreed upon
was $64, 900. spot cash. which was equal.
ly divided among the four.
Last Wednesday the Narys returned
to Scranton and have since been visit
ing friends and relatives, and only
very few Of the latter and none Of the
former have heard the complete story
Of the find.
ALL ABOUT A NICKEL.