The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
DON'S CLEVER RUSE.
Madrid Correspondent Offers "A Gold Brick
to America.

However brief may be the glory of
Spanish warships, there is apparently no
statute Of limitations ON Spanish SWIM
dies and prestidigitation. There are oc-
casional limits. however, even To the lat-
ter. one would not suppose that a Span
ish subject at a time when Spain and the
United States were exchanging diplomatic
threats would be so foolhardy, despite
his hereditary tendency to try to sell a
gold brick to an American, especially an
minoisan. Yet such an attempt was
made by one Santiago De Schoa, VINO
gives his address as Madrid, spain,
upon w. NJ. Humphreys, a merchant OF
Alexis, Ill.
The Spanish disciple of Machiavelism,
with characteristic art, unbosoms his
heart to the American i'm a long letter
which purports to come from his prison
cell. and closes his pathetic appeal with
a Cornish hug which gives the whole
game way.
Mr.. DE Schoa says in a letter. under
date of March 30, six weeks after the de-
struction of the Maine in Havana har-
Dor. that he belonged to the republican
faction i'm Spain and was treasurer OF a
horse regiment I'm Madrid. lie says ne
received orders from the chairman OF the
committee to escape and take the cash
box of the regiment with him.. The box,
according In the letter, contained 100000
francs. represented by French bank notes.
Fleeing to the states, the correspondent
SAYS he hid his treasure near Alexis, Tear
ing detection had he deposited II IN a
bank. Learning that his daughter is Ill IN
a spanish boarding school at Toledo, ne
returns to Spain and is captured, tried
and sentenced to "A term OF 10 years III
the Spanish prison In Cuba. lie Is about
TO leave for Cuba as he write. DE Schoa
then goes on To say that he hid his treas
ure in the earth near Alexis ana offers
one-third of the treasure IL Mr.. Hum
phrey will send him transportation for
his daughter and confident" i'm order
that the two may come To America ana
recover the treasure Your correspond
ent also wants "A little money To redeem
his daughters trunk, which Is being held
bv the directrcss of the boarding school
ON his daughters account, and which con-
tains "A plan and description, accurately
taken. of the spot where the treasure
is concealed.
TIL letter is written In ink i'm a beau
tiful hand that indicates that the writer
is a green goods man of no common
degree. The letter. copied verbatim from
the original mailed to Mr.. Humphreys. Is
as follows:
Madrid, March 20, lS9s.
My Dear Sir:
"Some informations about your persons
collected during my stay at your town
and the dreadful situation | am In cause
me to conide a secret To you which |
never did think | should be Obliged 10
ANYBODY whomsopVer. concerning. as IL
does. a matter which cannot but place me
i'm an akwaTd light. But the thought oil
my beloved daughter. a child yet in her
teens, and the only one member that Il
left To me out of my unfortunate family
are the reacons that oblige me TO address
you with the question, whether you vii
be willing to assist me In rescuing a sun
of $50. O00 francs which I was forced e
hide in the neighborhood of your town
about six months ago.
MY motives for acting thus were tbs
following: l was n captain treasurer ol
a horse regiment here, when ! received
orders from the chairman OF the republic
can committee. which faction | belongeS
To. To desert and take away with me tbs
4Oo.ooo francs. the cash box OF my regi
ment contained. The committee augment
ed this money to the amount sof 0o,@
francs and sent me abroad 10 buy arm
and other implements of war for Il. al
they intended promoting a revolution II
order to get the republic proclaimed her
in Spain.
with this view I left for Marseille
where l was 10 expect further particular
; about how TO carry out my mission. bu
on arriving there was Informed Of GU
plot having beer discovered through
; wretch of a traitor. that part OF my asso
, ciates had been arrested and the res
; forced 10 emigrste and that I too hai
TO put myself in safety because the gov
= eminent had solicited my eNtradition an
even despatched a couple OF detective