Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
BRIGHAM YOUNG ACADEMY MAIN BUILDING AT PROVO

tain persons. one OF them a young man
whom he had known from boyhood. had
combined to deceive and defraud him in
a mining deal then pending After de.
nounclng them. on the mere strength Of
his dream (Which had a most literal
fulfllment, completely justlfylng his
course) he walked up over a mountain
to trace the outcroppings Of vein Of
ore that he had previously located. as
he went he unused sadly, communlng
with himself. and at a certain point sat
down under a tree. He was all alone
The fact that he had been betrayed
by men whom he had trusted, and es-
peclally by one who had been almost as
dear TO him as his own son, was
great sorrow 70 him, and he wept bit
terly as he reflected upon t. Men had
deceived him and only God was TO be
trusted Such was his conviction, and
with this feeling In his heart he was as
founded and overwhelmed TO hear a
voice speaking to him, as II from out
the midday heavens. It gave him to
understand that the Mormon people
were his people that this country had
been prepared for them by the decree
Of heaven, and that they would
remain here and fulfill their
divlr. destiny as predicted
by their martyred Prophet II bore pow
erful testimony TO his soul that II he
ever came to anything good or achieved
any marked success, In mining or In
anything else, Il would be as Nor
mon and not as one OF his peoples OPP
ponents. Trembling In every limb and
almost unable to walk he made his
way back TO camp. From that hour
he was changed man. The death OF
his daughter Minnie, to whom he was
devotedly attached on Dec. 2s OF the
same year-lSS7-saddened him still
more and caused him TO ponder more
seriously than ever upon his past life
ard present and future course,
The parties who had deceived him had
endeavored 10 purchase from him GER
tain claims In Tintic and he had verb
ally bonded his Interest therein for two
weeks for the sum Of $500. On the very
night that the option expired. he had
the dream referred to, followed next
day by the still more remarkable man
Hesitation Of the voice. He refused TO
sell his claims or 10 have any further
dealings with the parties in question
and now proceeded to buy up the re-
mainder OF the ground adjacent TO his
property. He paid $3.50 for II, and about
two years later sold the claims for sl4,-
600 The proceeds OF this sale, added TO
his ranch and cattle business, made
him worth about $4,000. II was the
beginning Of his success In mining. He
located the Humbug mine-the vein
that he was tracing when the voice
spoke TO him-and though II was not
Immediately remunerative, II became
so, and Is today one OF the principal
sources Of his wealth,
In 1896 a rich strike was made In the
Humbug mine, and In few months
Jesse Knight was making money
easy" He now purchased from Mr..
McChrystal and the Fred Auerbach
estate the Uncle Sam mine, paying for
II $4,000. and within the next three
years cleared from that and the Hum
bug property 5000 600. His income from
both now averages $4,000 a month At
the mines he founded the settlement
Of Knightville, probably the only min
ing camp established In the State,
or in the entire West, where there
is not drinking saloon. The absence
Of such an institutlon at Knlghtyille Is
due 10 the fact that there are few II
any drinkers among the miners there
employed (about 100 strong) There
are now forty families In the place, but
when II was founded there were but
twenty. Mr.. Knight at the outset made
an agreement with his employees and
rules were adopted to this effect: He
would raise their wages without being
asked would not run boarding house |
and require them TO patr9nize II. and |
would arbitrarily take nothing out Of |
their wages for hospital funds, in. |
surance fees, or other purposes, desiring |
the utmost freedom and liberty for his /
men IN every sense Of the word. He /
further required that his superintend- |
ents and f0remen ask no man his re- !
llgion or politlcs.ln return for these con- |
cessions he was to be free to summarily |
discharge men who were found spend |
ing their wages for drink and neglect
Ing TO support their families. Any fore
man failing to report such men, II he
knew Of them. was also liable to lmme-
diate discharge. Mr.. Knight insisted 1
upon being left at liberty 10 employ
men who would properly care for those
dependent upon them. and not waste
their substance In riotous living. The
result is peace and temperance and the
absence OF any saloon al Knightvllle,
Out Of the first money cleared from his
mines. Mr.. Knight built a meeting
house for the use OF the miners and
their families living at Knightyllle
and this building Is now used for re-
igious purposes and also as school
house by the inhabitants Of the place.
Deeds for the house were given 10 the
Mormon Church Mr. knight has been
very liberal In donating TO the Church
% which he belongs. and to various
,,her worthy causes. He often lends
money on good security. but is very
.onsiderate towards poor people who
iome to him 10 borrow. and many a
irne he has taken but per cent inter-
st from such when he could just as
veil have had ~ per cent had he de-
handed Il. Many times when he
las bought In mortgages he has re-
uoed the interest thereon from as high
8 is per cent down 10 6 per cent, and
nee, when invited 10 go into an enter
rise that was paying is per cent diyl- .
ends. he refused on the ground that II
'as robblng the poor In order TO enrich
s stockholders :
He believes II 10 be his G
ilsslon TO help the poor and do good a
y means Of the wealth which God has
iven him; for that God gave II 10 him I
beyond question In his mind. mo v
'an," SAYS he. has a right to take ?
loney out Of the earth, the Lords n
ank. and use II extravagantly upon ,
'nssK'" Mr.. Knight practices what Il