The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-30

NEW YORK, Oct 29.-Two young
Eng1ishmen, of wealthy families, are
| thanking Capt. McClusky and their
lucky stars, for they came perilously
near buying a gold brick. The precious
| bar was to have been turned over to
| them at the Windsor hotel for the con-
| sheraton of $4,000. They came over
here in response to urgent messages
| from Mr. Robert Martin, alias Roe,
alias Norton, who is a person of pleas
ing face and polished exterior, like the
commodity which he sells.
Owing to the opportune interference
/ of Capt. McClusky. chief Of the detec-
| tive bureau, and of a lawyer, the brick
| Is still on the market, and Mr.. Martin
is prisoner at police headquarters.
1t is not the brick which is so re-
| markable, for it was the same old
brazen cheat, but the manner of the
transmutation takes away the breath
of the young Englishmen when they
talk about it. They were under the
spell Of Mr.. Martin for several months,
and 1t Is only by carefully reviewing
the various steps that they realize how
they were induced to come over the
| ocean on their quest for gold. Mr.
Martin. who has been engaged in mod
ern alchemy for years, views the mat
The young men are J. A1gernon
Wood, Of No. Raglan road, Belvidere
Kent, Fl gland, and Reginald Baiss, of
the Marc Belvidere, Kent, England.
Mr.. MAJ lin was formerly Of cell No
8. Tier 8, Sing Sing. N. Y.
Mr. Wood early last July received a
letter at his English home addressed
to his father, Maj. Alexander Wood,
| of No. 10 Great Winchester street, Lon
don, E. c., who had died only few
weeks before. The envelope was post
marked Astoria, Oregon. U. S. A. Mr..
Wood as one Of the executors of his
| fathers estate. opened the letter, which
read as follows:
Dear Major: l arrived here this morning
from the mines In British Columbia where l
left our mutual friend. who Is very well and
prosperous. He requested me to communicate
| would doubtless be anxious to hear from him.
He intended coming on himself this winter
but has been fetching water to his arrasta
nearly faa "a w. No. j., and 1 Which is H named
after you. He feels his success and present
position are entirely due to your kindness
and pecuniary assistance. He is, to my mind
a noble man, and his gratitude to you speaks
louder than words
Our claim is situated on the headwateTs
of the Peace river, the mine adjoining The
walls are Of granite and porphyry and the
ore Is free milling. Last season we cleaned
up nearly 10000 worth Of gold. nearly all
Oh WnlCl ne Is B0DQlnS out Dy me, You are
to take this to the London bank or mint
and realize. Half of this is yours to do with
as you please. The other half you are to re-
turn to me, that 1 may forward it to my sis
ter.
I myself coming out In order to try
and persuade my brother, who lives in France
to return to the mines with me, as I feel
this Is the opportunity of his life. We have
deferred recording our claims CT mining GER
tihoates until we have claimed as much of
the lands around as the laws of British Col
unbia will permit.
He wishes you to send back with me some
trustworthy representative to look after your
interests. but in selecting him caution him
about the importance Of keeping the matter
secret for the present, as We have not yet
registered our claims,
= am going through the Colorado district
to examine the mills, as I intend to take one
Springs, Col, where have arranged to re-
ceive my mail. Let me know the pace Of
appointment where I can meet your repre-
sentative. After securing more perfect ma
chinery we can get four times more gold out
of the mines than with the old-fashioned I'M
plements now being used. Sincerely yours
Edward Martin
Wood to Capt. Mcciusky, II was was
dwnfour ded, but I reoollected that my
father had friend whom he once had
assisted, and I thought that 1t must
be all right, and In response to the let
ter I calbled this message to the un-
known Mr.. Martin:
Maj. Woods son will meet you In
London
am answer to this message I receiv-
ed the following replyi
Will meet you in New York
~ replied, having consulted with
friends
All right. I will stop at the Wind
sor hotel"
Mr.. Wood reached the Windsor hotsl!