The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13
LIKE "CoAL-oIL JOHNNY"
An ILLINOIS sPENDTaREFT WHO
SEEMS TO HAVE MONEY TO BURN.
How James Il. Berry Is Fast sauan-
dering Fortune i'm the Town
Where bryan Was Born.


of this town two years ago. has come back
with a roll of bills as big as a county map.
He declares he is millionaire. He wanted
10 prove his claim the other day, and,
leading a train of startled villagers to the
Mount Vernon Bank, he put through the
teIers window a bunch of New York drafts
tied up with a piece of binder Irvine. The
teller took the bundle under Amusement
uending Geographic inquiry. Mr.. Berry
called around in the afternoon, wadded
$1,000 into his trouser pocket, left the bal
ance on deposit, tossed 81 to the boy who
had held his horse, and came back to
salem and his bride-a blooming country
girl whom he had married the day before
and housed in the whole second floor of
the biggest and best hotel in the place.
The people who fed Berry, tramp, are now
sending up cards to Berry, millionaire. This
is the story:
once upon time there lived rich and,
prosperous doctor in a little New York city.
This mans name was Berry His ancestors
came to GloversvIlle in the very early days.
The father was doctor the son became
doctor. The second doctor had all the prac-
tice for miles around, and he grew TO be
rich. His family lived in ease and luxury.
The boys did as they pleased. ard there was
no necessity for them to work. The doctor
expected one or all of them ~ grow up and
succeed 20 the practice which had been
handed down among the Beriys He did
not believe in boys beginning too soon, and
he let them romp and rove until they be-
came of age. DIR. Berry then went into the
pasture and tried to put bride on James.
James rebelled, refused to reform, TO settle
down, and he aud the father had serious
quarrel. The father stuck to his position in
the fight, and the boy stuck to his. There
was no alternative but separation. James
hacked his goods in a pillow slip and started
out to see the world. He did not have a
cent He took to the railroad ties.
HIS FIRST ARRIVAL AT SALEM.
Mr.. Berry fell in with a crowd of Amer
lean tourists afoot The company started
west living in the free and open air ana
eating every once in awhile. They did not
care for beds and Berry explored the nay
stacks for resting places all through the
great West and Northwest His mind was
fancy free. He wandered whence the wind
Usteth and elsewhere His raiment was
mottled, wind-beaten and wondrous to be-
hold. and up and down his features there
rambIed whiskers of brownish hue. He
had no cares in the world, but walked, and
walked, and walked-save when he discoy-
cred a freight car that had door Wlde
open for him. This life he kept up Tor
tyyenty-five years drifting into Salem two
wears ago without cent and prospect
of getting one before night He begged
around the village, and the next morning
made the round again, protesting TO De an
expert in the trimming OF grapeVlneS. A
big pruning knife was his only stock IN
trade. but as the Salem vineyards were
ripe for the primer Berry was put TO work.
Berry soon found that " ork did not agree
with his strong constitution, and he Dor
r0wed g from a generous man. and with
his dangling over his back was last
headed due west.
Berry came back to Salem few days ago
and SSlen has made as mitch of the return
as il did OF the coming of William j. Bryan
TO his birthplace. He swept into the viii
lage behind horse which he brought with
him in a special car from the East There
was a young woman in the buggy WIN
him. a young woman deeked with mowers
and with long RIBBONS strea ~ fbe OUT fo pcs
came to the front the pair dashed
straight to the courthouse and disappeared
into the precinct from which no man comes
single. The clerk wrote the license and did
the work and forthwith Mr.. and Mrs. Berry
went to the Park House and wanted to
buy temporarily all the house for their own
use Mr.. Berry told the amazed landlord
that there was nothing too good for him
and he wanted the best, even though he
had to send 10 st. Louis to get it. The
landlord hardly knew what to do, despite
the fact that Berry had roses in his but
tonhole and no necktie. Berry gave MS
orders like a man in boiler foundry and
asked the whereabouts of the generous man
who two years ago had loaned him 81. "A
lad piIoted him down the street and with
the iavishness of an Egyptian prince. Berry
Unrolled $1,000, slapped it on the bar and
upon the water did return.
This was shock enough to the town to
have the marshal call out the volunteer fire
department.. The fame OF Berry spread
There was rush of villagers to the hotel
and Berry began to tell the story of his
fortune. 1T may be true. He says he was
touring through the West short time ago
when a wandering William like himself told
him over the cans of the breakfast table
he
named Berry in GloVerSville. The cOmpaJ-
Ion related that money had been lett by
the man for a son whom he could not To-
cate. Berry knew at once that he was the
long lost son and he determined to visit the
scenes of his boyhood and get the money.
Berry was longer in getting East than be
would have been had he patrontzed regu-
lar passenger trains. Force OF hahlt ana
other things made 1t more agreeable Tor
him to cling TO the bumpers. with now and
then dash of luxury in being buried under
a foot of grain in transit. Berry told the
brakemen and conductors that he met en-
route that he was going home to get a
fortune but he looked so little like man
in that occupation that he was treated
without the slightest consideration. He was
several weeks making the trip, off and on.
HIS RETURN TO SALEM.
Berry had no trouble with the admins
traitor of the estate and was soon in the
possession of his share of the money. He
says there was nothing pleasant in Glow
ersville due to the unpleasant memories he
at once and to visit the towns in southern
Illinois through which he had passed in
other days. and which bore his chalk marks
on the gate posts. 1t occurred to him that
he would like to make one dash in Glovers-
Vile so he stopped long enough to get a
new suit. to buy diamonds for his shirt
'front.' fingers and neclStie, and To pur-
chase as fine horse as he could find. These
prcliminaries over, he chartered a car hired
a valet and d hostler and then started at
once 10 Mount Vernon, the next town TO
Salem. to begin life as a high-rolling man
IN society. The was set out al Mount
Vernon the other day, and in a few hours
me people for miles around We're coming
10 see the man who had come with the in
Jtn1on OF trying TO spend an enormous in
come in a place where extrava gance is a
crime. Berry introduced himself To every
body relating the story OF his life with
great gustO. He went straight to the bank
and. 1t is said. handed the man at the win
dow certified check for SIS, 600 1t was too
much 10 be paid in full at sight. but later
In the day he was given an installment on
some drafts that he presented and this
WAS the beginning of his life a million
aire as he understands il.
Berry bought the most expensive buggy
ne could find to go with the horse he
brought with him. The buggy is a bright
green. His hostler held the reins, and his
instructions We're to stop at the gin mills
IN rotation. 1t cost him $50 TO get through
FIRST rlu 2 botr