The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-02
EBENSBURG, PA, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1897

car, while George Washington Thomp-
son sat gazing out of the window at
the miserable adobe houses of the Ari-
zona town.
Who will say that il was not the hand
of fate that brought the words of the
old cattle,nan to so abrupt an end, just
as the note of warning was upon his
lips? Surely, when all of this sad tale
is told, there will be none to say that
any mans hand had aught to do with
the undoing of George Washington
Thompson. Twas fate, and fate alone.
Next day he reached his destination,
and entered upon his work of investiga-
ton with as much earnestneSs as an
other man would who knew what he
WAS about. George even imagined that
he did know what he was about.
There may have been an evil glitter
in the mineowner's eye as he led George
down to the river to show him the mill
site. 1t was hot day-an Arizona hot
day The water was clear and cool
and extremely inviting, and, though
George had been repeatedly warned that
he could never hope to do business in
Arizona if he was once seen drinking
water, the stream seemed to tempt him
as it bubbled and gurgled along. Watch
ing until his companions back was
turned to him, he fell upon his knees
at the waters edge and drank his fill.
In Phoenix, where he stopped for
few days on his way back TO the city,
George was regarded as very imPor
tant perSonage. This may have been
due to several causes.
Yes" said he, speaking generally To
group of natives in the hotel office,
I'VE shall eHpend something like half
n million on the property at once, in
order to see what ii is likely to be worth.
If it shows up at all as We expect there
will be no stop in the work, aud after
we get railroad in, then we will soon
have the waterworks and the mill go
ing. A million will cover the W hole pre-
liminary work, / think
These few statements, in connection
with the fact which George, in an un-
guarded moment allowed TO leak out,
that Cecil Rhodes was one of the back
ers of the enterprise, and that the
Rothschilds would also have an interest
in the venture, seemed to heighten the
respect for George until it amounted to
reverence almost.
Seeing how matters stood, George
then rather reluctantly admitted that
he had given up the management O:
one of the South African mines in order
to give his personal attention to this
new work
The report prepared by George for his
hackers proved a great surprise for
even the most sanguine among them.
One day, some weeks after Georges
return, there was a meeting in the pIi-
vate office of bank 1t was private
meeting, and even George himself was
not asked to be present. a report was
10 be considered. 1t was not Georges
report.
Gentlemen" began a pompous old
financier, as he arose, holding in one
hand formidable-looking document.
while he gently stroked his luxuriant
whiskers with the other, II have here
the report of the expert sent by the
Bonanza Mining & Milling company to
confirm the report of George Washin"
ton Thompson. As president of the 10
nanza Mining & Milling company it
becomes my privilege TO acquaint you.
the members of said Bonanza Mining "
Milling company, with the contents of
this report. Before doing so. however.
| wish to remark-merely BY way of
preparing you for what may follow
that George Washington Thompson
here he paused and surveyed the MEM
bers of the Bonanza Mining & Milling
company as though to see if all were
prepared to receive the remark-''is the
worst liar 1 ever knew!'
Entirely overcome by the effort thus
far expended, the president of the Bo-
nanza Mining & Milling company was
obliged to sit down at this juncture and
the secretary was called upon to read
the report of the expert.
George Washington Thompson must
have felt keenly the position in which
he found himself after the disorgani-
sation of the Bonanza Mining & Mil
ing company, for he shortly thereafter
went to San Diego, and from there soon
came report that he had joined the
church.
Not long thereafter. however, came
rImors of a scandal. The church ex-
PEELED him. He had been teaching a
Sunday school class that Paul was n
bold buccaneer who sailed the seas
plundering rich-laden vessels, and that
Johh TIE Tdptlst once trleu 90 INTEREST
certain wealthy merchants of Carthage
in a snide mining deal over in Gale
donia.
Poor George! His is, indeed, sad
story, and though he has amassed a
vast fortune in the real estate business
people seem to lack confidence in him to
some extent. Even his statement that
the prince of Wales and party will come
over and join him on a rhiDoceros hunt
in Alaska next summer is discredited.--
San Francisco Argonaut.