Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-28

the widest gold lead ever struck In this coun-
try. There were sixty feet OF solid gold
producing quartz. asuyinr from 800 TO $500
TO the ton IL was a find that made Edmund
Dantes take second place Ia run for luck. and
would have turned the head OF many a man
less fortunate than Cruise. Not 40 with him.
He knew better than any one the value and
future OF this property and he was willing
10 wait until the golden foodeates were fairly
opened. The mans nerve was best ssown
when be went TO the ground one day and
found four touEh-lookinE prospcctors kecp ing
guar
An who sent veg hereT"
Locating a mine" said the leader a big
fellow, now living near Helena and known
/ as Nervous johnson.
An who sent yes here"
johnson grew soCahe then and told Cruise
lu confidence the names OF three well known
Helena capitalists who had organized Syuii-
cate TO jump tie property Mine jumping in
the west Is a dangerous business. but there
are no conscientious sCruules attached pro-
NiinC the jumper wins IL he loses he Is
an object OF contempt
Cruise said nothing more 10 the hired men,
but stuck a long siN-shootcr iu his boot
leg ana went over to Helena. He walked
down Main street until he met the leader Of
the syndicate. After they had exchanged
the time OF day Cruse's hand dropped slowly
down TO the SiN-shooter and remained there
81 understand 90 he said. that there IS a Job
to jump me mine an I Just thought Ia
come In town TO say that every man who
started Ii will find Grape on his door before
the job is finished
SALE OF THE NINE.
Nothing more was said and when Cruise re-
turned the next day the jumpers had lifted
however before Cruise enjoyed the fun
frution Of his toll He was not dRzed by his
good fortune and he well knew the value Of
his ind. Various local syndicates were or
~ r. pod v.HFv 49,
named the Drum Lummon, after the county
IN ireland where Cruise was born. Times,
however, grew easier for Cruise could borrow
money on the strength Of his discovery. He
did not blow this in, as many wary and
hopeful miner would have done but chose TO
wait until it came In lump. He built
small ten-stamp mill. which he was working
while the deal which eliminated in the sale
Of the mine was being planned.
This sale is still talked about when old
mining men get together. It was the first
investment OF English capital in Montana
mines and was brought about by smart men
smart enough to make themselves wealthy
on comml sSions Of the sale. One Of the ahlest
was Colonel Sam Word. then living in
Virginia City. He was Just the man to talk
TO the foreign investor because he knew the
country and could tell about II. Hugh Nc
Quad, editor Of the Helena Independent.
was let irto the deal because he was close TO
cruise and supposed TO have influence with
hin. Colonel w. c. Child. who killed him
sell In Helena three years ago because OF
financial troubles. was also let in as were
several others who happened to be friends
OF the promoters. Each made from $40 900
TO 5000 600 out OF the sale
When the local pipes were laid Colonel
Word brought the attention of London
capitalists TO the mine. Experts were sent
over 10y Mr.. Al Chadbourne. the famous
London mining broker reports were sent from
Montana TO London and back again and
offers were made TO Cruise and refused II
was long and trying pull to get hold Of the
mine. t1e value Of which had been well de-
termined by this time. Cruise held on for a
much larger sum than the mine with its
great vein was really worth
The end came al lagt when Cruise came into
Helena one evening with compromise propo-
sition. whiah was accepted The purchase
was closed In the back room OF a bank and
when the meeting adjourned re stuffed a
check for 100000 in the pocket Of his worn
Jumpers with the agreement that be should
receive stock IN the new company 10 the
value OF 81 $50 600 at the par value OF s.
saare. The Drum Lummon was sold and
Cruise has never since ceased kicking him
aelf for selling it so cheap. At the same
time he was lucky enough to sell his hold
inE9 when the stock reached the top figure
SO share.