Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-07-22
Benjamin D. Maxham's Dramatic
Career.


ured prominently in the west during
the exciting times incident to the
gold fever of the early titties, and
his reckless but successful plungcs
at faro brought him great notoricty
as gambler.
In later years he has sought a
retired, respected life, but he made
no secret of his early vocation, and
enjoyed telling OF his former career.
He never Wanted his wealth, and
his widespread charity was barrel,
known beyond his fellow church
workers and intimate friends. He
became Il trustee in the first Presb>-
terrain church and was for several
years president of the Nincland
National bank
Born IN Pomtret in 1921 AlIXham
when small boy ran away to sea,
SO the story runs. Tie deserted the
ship upon landing in Brazil and
worked his way back home. After
leaning photography he went west
to seek his fortune. He established
miners supply house in Virginia
City, handled gold dust for miners,
conducted Il banking business and
ran faro bank.
IL Lad millions of dollars worth
of gold then, said Markham when
relating his experiences, land irc-
quently won or lost $4,000 at a
nights sitting. One evening | no.
tlced that my watchdog put his head
to the brick flooring of my cstab-
lishment and growled. He did so
again and on the third night grew
suspicious and put my ear to the
spot. Click, click, click, were the
sounds that reached me. Robbers
tunneling for my bank, thought |.
Then figured upon Il scheme to tiN
them. My place was located upon
hill sloping towards Il river, about
200 yards distant. The next day |
walked along the river bank and
discovered the opening to the tun-
mel. Early that morning drew Il
straight line from my house to the
tunnel entrance, and about midway |
between bored several holes about !
ten feet deep. These filled with
powder. .At about midnight, when
the sounds of digging were again
heard beneath my house, touched !
off the fuse and tremendous ex.
plosion followed. never heard /
that clicking noise again. Those .
robbers, who would undoubtedly .
have murdered me. had dug a tan .
mel which turned out to be their
grave. a couple of men were
missed from the town, but nobody
in Montana ever knew their fltc
except mvseIt.' {
Markham conducted freight and
stage line bctwecn Virginia CITY and
Cheyenne. In IS5, he broke every
faro bank in frisco and then cstub-
lished faro banks OF his own. four
teen years ago his wealth WAS est.
mated by himself to be about ST.
coo,ooo. Capitalists in Ninelanl
believe that his fortune, which con.
ssts mostly OF municipal bonds,
cannot be much less than IS ,ooo, 900
now.
SOU I'll WOODSTOCK
Henry French returned from Bos.
ton Monday, having been absent
three weeks visiting his sister, Mrs.
Willard.
Mrs. Storrs returned from Barn
ard Tuesday, where she had been a
week visiting the scenes and home
of her childhood. She returns to
Omaha this fall.
Mrs. l. & Kendall went to Boston
Thursday to spend three weeks
with her sister, Mrs. o \ Willard.
MIR. and Mrs. Joel f Day from
Townsend visited at James Sleep
er's from Thursday till the first OF
the week. Mrs Day is 4 sister of
Mrs. Sleeper.
DIR. Logan was out Monday to
visit patients, who are much better.
Mrs. Lavinia .jaquith was very sick
Sunday. Her home is with Mrs.
Marcia Ralph.
Mrs. Ellen Rice retained home
Sunday after four weeks stay ii
West Woodstock with Mrs. S Win
slow.
Mrs. Fred Thomas and two little
girls from Massachusetts are at the
for few weeks. rhc
title girl OF eight years l., an expert
IN the bicycle and rides very n'ajes-
ically.
WEST " OODSTOCk. t
Miss Minnie Merrill is to teach in
}rattleboro the coming term, having ,
| position in the seventh grade o!
he schools.
Mrs. Hattie Bowen Is sicl, at her t
'rother's, L. +. Rogers.
Chas. Woods is again at work
ncnding our ways, work having I
'een discontinued owing to his III
less. {
Mr.. and Mrs. Elmore of Montpc-
icr have been visiting ut MIR. Che
lels for few DAYS.