The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
lDrdwn from a photograph

standing over six feet in height, and he
has massive shoulders and powerful arms
for boy of % years. He is painter by
trade, and coming to this City shortly
before the strike, he at once Joined the
union, and proved himself to be an active
member during the times of trouble. If
there was any committee or missionary"
work TO be done, Jumbo was in the front
ranks. He was also the warden who
guarded the door when the strikers were
meeting, and no spy upon the union en-
tered While Jumbo was IN the hall.
As the strike progressed and the times
became worse Purvine's purse, like the
others, became alarmingly fiat. When the
grass became SO short that he knew not
lettr from his old father back in Mon EFT
th at contained joyful news as we'll as the
following clipping from a Monet daily
newspaper:
The name of Buster" Purvine is familiar to
every one in Monett. 1t will be remembered
at the mention of this name that Cluster" was
rustier OF odd jobs OF painting, etc. Beeom-
ing disguised at the monotony of odd jobs,
'Buster" became imbued with the idea of ad-
venture over year ago and lrft his natal nest
1or pastures green and fresh, in the wilds OF a
western Lie. Not as an adventurer after the
wild West fashion, but longing desire had
seized him to look for work in other locali-
ties Buster left Monett and went to Vinita
and remained there short time follow
ing his regular vocation of odd jobs.
Not realizing his ideal at Vinita, he
storm, tall grasses and wild jungles, until he
reached the high and rugged lands of Colo
rado: .1S Here he wandered from place to place
still in search OF employment. At last "Buster"
came to his fountain of wealth.
few months ago he pitched his tent on
Cripple Creek soil and, un like the Arab of old,
concluded to stick his stake. News has at last
been received Of Clusters" unsurpassed luck.
He has struck it rich. The little bit of ear tn
that "Bustei" concluded to adopt as his own
has turned out to be bonanza. Gold In an
unlimited quantity has been found on his
claim. And the once Buster of odd jobs has
become the happy possessor OF 500, 900 gold
mine. Long live our favorite Buster"
To say that Jumbo was delighted is put
ting it mild, and in his glee he told how
he became possessed of the valuable Grip
pie Greek claim. AS indicated in the clip
ping, Purvine was of a rowing disposition,
and after several years at public school he
started out to see the world at the early
age of IL wears. Since then he has roamed
all over this country and Canada and has
been in every State and Territory in the
United States except five. He made sew
| eral visits to his home at Monet, but
never stayed long. In his wanderings
Purvine has been in many strange situa-
| tions, and being union IAN in principles.
he has been through half dozen labor
| strikes. A few years ago he travelled ex-
| tensively through Texas, the Cherokee
Strip and the Oklahoma district. In the
latter he served as shotgun messenger
on the railroads to protect Uncle Sam s
mail trains from road agents. He was
then wearing Deputy United States Mar
| shal's badge.
When reduction was made in the force
of deputies Buster as he was then
called, was cropped with 100 others, and
he paid another visit to his Missouri home.
Shortly after the gold fever broke out in
Colorado, and Purvine was one of the
multitude that rushed to the new fields.
In the latter part of last July Purvine took
up miners claim in the Cripple Creek
district, and, fortunately he has kept up
his title to the claim. For the lack Of
funds to develop the property Puryine