The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-29
OMENs OF GOOD AND EVIL.
A String of Short Stories of Supersti-
tion as to Signs.
I'LL luck Pursues Finders of Rich Mines
The Fatal Thirteen-Opals, Mir or
Breaking, and Other Things Supposed
TO be Hoodoes.

The Fatal Thirteen-Opals, Mir or
Breaking, and Other Things Supposed
TO be Hoodoes.
(From the Chicago Chronicle.)
There is a superstition among the
miners of the West that all discoveries of
rich properties come to bad end, yet the
quest for gold outcroppings continues,
and no one has overlooked good indica-
tions through fear that they would bring
him i'll luck. 1t is true that many OF
those who have made important discov-
cries subsequently, met with misfortune
1t is recorded that the finders of forty OF
the richest mines of the world have died
of violence, twelve being shot, three en-
gulphed in their mines, and the rest I'M
accountably disappearing. George H.
Fryer, of the Fryer Hill mine, committed
suicide. Two years before his death he
was worth million yet the authorities
buried him. The discoverer of the STAN
dard mine in California was killed by
an avalanche; Col Storey was killed by
the Indians; William Fairweather, of
the Alder Gulch mines came to his death
through riotous living. The owner of the
Homestake mine turned highwayman.
He was shot dead. John Horner, of the
Horner mine, finding himself penniless,
shot himself. "Doughnut BILL sold
Eureka and ''Nine-Mile Clark were
killed in barroom rows, and Montana
Plummer, who found one of the richest
mines in the world, die on the gallows.
Dutch William the discoverer of gold
in Caribou, British Columbia, after
whom the famous William Creek was
named, died a pauper and Marshall, the
discoyerer of gold in California, was a
pensioner of the State before his death
There is young man in New Or
leans, descended from good family and
well supplied with all that heart could
desire in the way of money, who has
great repugnance to the number thirteen.
He refuses to live in a flat if it has thir-
teen anywhere concealed in the street
number or has that designation in the
building His office was in building
having thirteen floors and he promptly
moved out, in spite of the protests of
friends. He refused fine Christmas
turkey because it weighed thirteen
pounds. 1t happened recently that he had
occasion to visit his bank and draw out
a small sum for expenses. 1t was at a
time when banks were having troubles
of their own, and he was a trifle shaky on
that account. He strobe into the bank
at the side street entrance and walked
down the corridor of the banking room.
As he walked he mechanically COM
menced to count the number of windows
whereat tellers were stationed. He am
bled along carelessly until he nearly
reached the man with whom he was to
do business. Suddenly he tossed his head
in the air and looked keenly about him.
Then he walked back in the direct ion
whence he came and using his index fin
ger as pointer began to make an accu
rate count of the windows He almost
jumped in the air when the total was
made up.
Holy mackerel!'' he shouted, as he
tore over to the waiting teller. Here,
give me my stuff. Heaven, Just think of
It'll have been putting my cash in a
bank that has thirteen windows for tel
lers. Here, l want to check out my bal
ance. just tell me what it is and I'll
L
putting my hard earned dollars in a bank
with that hoodoo number it makes me
cold. Here, give up the coin and let me
out before / lose 1t in a tar hole or some
other old place" He got his money and
started for the nearest door with it. AS
he reached the door policeman entered
and blocked the way so that the man
could not pass. He glanced up at the stall
wart form in disgust, and was Mortified
to see number Is blazoned on the officers
star. ''1t's no use," he muttered, as he
turned back and made out a deposit
check. Take it back. If I carry that
dough out on the street I'll get run over
by engine No. 13 or lose the wad. I
guess I'll have to chance it here"
A young man in Detroit confesses to a
superstition as to the wearing of opals,
but contrary to the general belief, he at
tributes much of the good luck that has
cheered his pathway of late to the gems
in scarfpin. 81 am superstitious about
them" he said the other day. "The
first day l wore this ring met Mr.. Hard
up, who had always before this run across
the street whenever he saw me approach
ing. To my surprise, he stopped, smiled
and extended his hand. BY the way he
remarked, isn't there little obligation
between us?' l replied stifiy that there
had been for three years. 1t had passed
my mind he said, easily 1T just &C.
CURED to me- With that he took out a
large wallet and presented me with three
bills of large denomination. tell you it
was like finding the cash.
II went to the office, and there was a
letter saying that our mine, which, with
it's constant assessments, had been a
nightmare, had struck paying ore and
that the stockholders were in favor of
selling out at a great advance to syndi-
cate. picked up the paper, looked at
the stock quotations and saw that zinc
had gone way up. Photographed to my
agent to sell my stock, and was good
gamer thereby. Man came in and bought
lot in my subdivision. First [ had sold
in six months. Telegram came from
Lansing Supreme Court had reversed the
decision of the lower court in case of
mine, and, by George, was winner Of
long fought case. Next week an impor.
tant event happened in the family
81 suppose it was boy9" was sug-
gested.
'sNo, sir; two of 'em. am the happy
father of two as buxom, fat boys as you
ever saw. Raphael's cherubs aren't in it
with them. Supersititous about opals?
7 cho11id COW ami T wear them every