The Winslow mail., 1898-01-08
THE wHIMS OF FORTUNE
Few DISCOVERIES of Rich Mines Re.
main Wealthy

Few DISCOVERIES of Rich Mines Re.
main Wealthy.
Few discoverers of rich gold mines
have remained wealthy. The specula-
tor or syndicate schemer, who remains
at home and takes none of the hard
ships, is the one who becomes a mil
lionaire. In the early '6Os a prospector
from Virginia, commonly known
among miners as "Virginny," discov-
cred a rich mine in Nevada and his
name was given to Virginia City. An.
other prospector, named Comstock, dis
covered another rich mine further up
the gulch, and the district was called
the "Comstock Lode" Both men died
poor, after being swindled out of their
rich finds"
Then came a number of millionaires,
whose fortunes were built upon the
misfortunes of these men.
A decade later four men unearthed a
'bonanza," which is an Italian sailors
phrase for "fair wind" These two
mines yielded about $2OO,OOO,OOO, and
developed four bonanza kings
Flood, Mackay, Fair and O'Brien.
These were shrewd enough, however,
to hold on to their fortunes, some of
them relaxing their grip only when
death claimed them.
few years later two prospectors
named Richie and Tabor discovered
rich mine in Colorado near the mount
ain village of Leadville. Tabor was
postmaster, and also sold to other min
ers -four, bacon and whisky at ex-
tremely high prices. After getting out
a few hundred thousand Ritchie sold
to Tabor for $500,00O. Tabor then un-
covered several millions, with which
he built opera houses and hotels. He
was elected to the United States Sen
ate, and lived a life of extravagant
ease. Domestic difficulties came upon
upon the wife from whom he was di-
vorced. Later, financial trouble came
upon him, and to-day he is prospecting
in Arizona with a pick and shovel.
Nearly a decade later a prOspectOr
named Creede Cknown in the west as
southern Colorado and called it
"Creede." After taking out three or
four millions he quit and went to Los
Angeles. He, too, was a victim of
domestic trouble and recently commit
ted suicide, although there was nothing
dishonorable In his actions so far as
has ever been learned.
A few years later prospector known
as "Crazy" Bob Womack located sew
eral claims in Poverty Gulch," under
the shadow of Pixies Peak. Mining
experts had passed over the ground
and had given it out as their wise die
tum that it was impossible from the
formation of that country for gold to
exist there Bob Womack thought ON
erwise, and gave mines to his friends
who would prospect them; other claims
he sold for supplies and small sums
of money. Finally he sold his only re-
naming claim for few thousand dol
lars He was now rich and wanted no
more. This claim turned out millions,
and Poverty Gulch" became Cripple
Creek, the richest mining district in the
United States or in the world at that
time. All of those to whom Crazy
Bob Womack" had given claims for
small sums became miliOnaires, 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 romance and poverty of
rich strikes in the far west.
However, these mining booms settle
the waste places and rid the more civil
lized sections Of their idle, immoral and
criminal element. In a mining camp
there are generally ten of this class to
one thrifty, honest man. After the
prospectors come the spectators. then
the thieves, gamblers and confidence
operators. Those who strike 1t rich
return to the cities and become promi-
nent men. The others remain, and in
time evolve a society which disowns
it's ancestry.