The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
"SALTING" THE CHRYSOIITE.
Gold Mine UnIOaded on Tabor for 3d.
500 Was Worth $1O,OOO,OOO.
Denver Times.

The true story of the sailing of the
Chrysolite mine was related to me by Aug
ust Richie. one of the discoveries of the
Little Pittsburg. / believe 1t has never
been published, but it is going to be- Richie
had conveyed his interest in the Pittsburg
to Tabor, but remained as superintendent
of the property for some time after the
transfer. Chicken Bill owned an interest
in an adjoining claim, since known to fame
as the Chrysolite. which he desired to unload
on Tabor. The wealth of the Pittsburg had
already become known, but Chicken Bill
had little confidence that the rich ore bod
les extended into his claim. He had gone
down below the levels in which it had been
uncovered in the adjoining claim without
discovering any values, and he shrewdly
calculated that the deeper he drove the
shaft without proving the continuity of the
Pittsburg vein, the more difficult it would
be for him to sell the property, or secure
money to develop it. But Chicken Bill was
resourceful, and he didn't propose to permit
the little circumstance of the absence of
mineral in the shaft to defeat his scheme
for making a raise. Bleeding the old
man" was considered perfectly legitimate
in those days, and Bills conscience re-
manned dormant while he put up the job
to unload his interest in the Chrysolite
upon him.
Bill had been a good friend to Richie in
his adversely. and had never asked a favor
in return. Hence he felt licensed to appeal
TO him in this emergency. which he did
with complete success Going over to the
overlooking ore bins of the Pittsburg one
day. he asked Richie to give him a few
shovelfuls of the rich ore that had just
sponded Richie, take all you want of tia
wagonload if you like" Bill assured him
that few shoverfuls would answer every
purpose-and it did Tabor wouldn't agree
to purchase Bits interest until he had
made a personal examination and sampled
the ore. No objection was made 10 this
reasonable proposition, and the assays from
his own samples proving that the mineral
was quite as rich as the Pittsburg, and
sngularly like it he speedily closed the
deal and paid Bill for his interest
Tabor put a force of men to work upon
the property and within a fortnight one of
covered on Fryer hill was uncovered. When
Chicken Bill stopped sinking. the bottom
OF the shaft, which he had so skillfully salt
ed with the borrowed ore from the Pitts
burg. was within few feet of bonanza.
Subsequently the property was capitalized
for $40 600 900, and its total yield proved
that the Capitalization was not excessive
Nearly that amount of values has since
been taken from 1t. Chicken Bill received
the paltry sum of 81 500 for a holding that
would have made him millionaire had he
not preferred to trick Tabor into buying IT,
Another odd phase of the story, as related
70 me by Richie, is that a few days after
Bill had sold his interest Tabor approached
Richie and informing him of his purchase
suggested that he would let him in on the
ground floor, and sell to him half the in
terest he had bought of Chicken Bill for
what il had cost him.
OF course. Richie knew all about the salt
ing of the mine. and had full knowledge of
the amount realized by Bill but he as
sumed innocence, and asked Tabor what he
would take for the half of the purchase.
Tabor named the price paid for the whole
but Richie declined the proposition, saying
he believed he had about all the mining
property on Fryer hill that he wanted. It
was doubtless the fact that at that time
neither Tabor nor Richie had much, If any
more. confidence in good values being dis
covered in the Chrysolite than had Chicken