Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-03-23
GOLD MINERS NOT Rlcu
IL Is Only the Spectators, "a a r.,
Who Make the Fortunes


nave remained wealthy. The snaos
ator or syndicate schemer, who
mains ut home and takes none Of N.
hardships, is the one who becomes
millionaire. In the early Cos nr,,
oector from Virginia. commonly know,
among miners as "virglnny," dlscor
.red rich mine in Nevada and Nj
aame was given to Virginia City. A,
other prospector, named Comstock d.,
covered another rich mine further n,
he gulch, and the district was callad
he "Comstock Lode" Both men died
poor, after being swindled out of the,
rich finds"
Then came a number of millionalres
whose fortunes were built upon tbs
misfortunes of these men.
A decade later four men unearthed
bonanza" which is an Italian sailor,
phrase for fair wind" These two
mines yielded about S2O0,000,00 and
developed four bonanza kings
Flood, Mackay, Fair and O'Brieu
These were shrewd enough, however
10 hold on to their fortunes, some Of
them relaxing their grip only when
death claimed them.
A few years later two prospectus
named Richie and Tabor discovered
rich mine In Colorado near the noun
tain village of Leadville. Tabor was
postmaster, and also sold to other min,
srs -four, bacon and whisky at extreme.
" high prices. After getting out few
hundred thousands Richie sold to Ia.
Dor for $50000t. Tabor then uncoy,
cred several millions, with which be
built opera hous,s and hotels. He was
elected to the United States Senate.
and lived a life of eXtravagant ease,
Domestic difficulties came upon him,
and he settled orincely fortune upon
the wife from wlom he was divorced,
Later, financial tl,uble came upon him,
and to-day he is Prospecting in Arizona
with pick and slDyel.
Nearly a decad' later a prospector
named Creede (klDwn In the West az
Harvey discovered a rich mine In
Southern COLORADO and called II
"Creede." After liking out three OF
four millions he out and went to Los
Angeles. He, too, was Victim of do,
nestle trouble andtecently committed
suicide, although here was nothing
dishonorable in hi actions so far as
has ever been learIrd.
A few years lateri prospector known
as Crazy Bob W,rnack located sew
eral claims in Poverty Gulch," under
the shadow of Pills Peak. Mining
experts had passed Ger the ground and
had given 1t out astheir wise dictum
that it was impossible from the forma,
ton Of that country for gold to exist
there Bob Wornak thought other
wise, and gave mics to his friends
who would prospect hem; other claims
he sold for supplies md small sums Of
money. Finally hesold his only re.
naming claim for afew thousand dol.
lars. He was now rch and wanted no
more. This claims tlrned out millions,
and Poverty Gulc" became Cripple
Creek, the richest mining district In
the United States Il in the world at
that time. All of thoe to whom "Crazy
Bob Wornack' ha1 given claims for
small sums becamt millionalres, and
Bob again became poverty stricken.
And now he has dropped from view. If
living. perhaps Bob will turn up In the
Klondike!
Such is the romano and poverty OF
rich strikes in the fT West.
However, these mining booms settle
the waste places ant rid the more civ.
ilized sections of tleir idle, immoral
and criminal elemat. In mining
camp there Is generally ten of this class
to one thrifty, homes man. After the
prospectors come the spectators, then
the thieves, CANDLES and confidence
operators. Those win strike it rich re-
turn to the cities AM become promi
nent men. The othes remain, and in
time evolve societ. which disowns
It's ancestry.-Chicago Times Herald.