The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-09-14
Money W si,isE

I Nhhttd, ~ bsie9s hsust saa Sta Ns
. college professor, name unknosn, bon
uptpoun. uissips ~ years, discorerer
the richest Einc aud lead miaes in u
world, heir 10 . vss, fortune. This is ID
strange want sdp OF certsin wealthy pi'
nser mine owners OF the Missouri'kshss
lead and Einc mining district; Il u, 1
brief, the story OF 4 man, q stranger. VII
22 yesrs ago came into southeastern ks
sss. aud through profound knowledse Q
geology ana miusralosy OWNED nsture'
hisrosIyphics 10 rock and soil. Stake
or the most fertile lead and xiuc tield ye
discovered, desisnsted the exact spot
where lay hidden vast vaults OF miners
wealth. revealed his secrets 10 one msn =
and then departed.
Durine the years that have passed tino'
tnst stranger. stood where the little eitl
OF Gslens. Kan has since been built. ovei
$50. 900, 900 worth OF lead aud zinc ore bsl
been added to the worlds mineral wesltl
90 . result u bis visit 10 Kansas. Hs
paved the way whereby many men hsv,
become rich. He caused an urinhsbiied
country 10 become the home OF thousandt
OF prosperous people, but their prosperity
be never shared he disappeared and leii
no sign.
The story OF this stranger Is both sllur.
ing and pathetic, and yet it is so faithful
10 fact. thst the Historical society Of Kan
sss has hled il among the important re-
cords OF the state.
Col. w. u, Stone, the Oldest pioneer OF
Gslens, and one OF the widest known and
most successful lead and xno mine opera
tors in the United States, is the man to
whom the "discoverer Of Galena" told his
geological secrets.
Col. Stone relates the following strange
story OF the discovery OF the Ksnsas lead
and zinc fields fields that during the last
siX months have become the Mecca Of zinc
miners 10 every part OF the world;
In April, 1877, !, in company with sew
eral msrshsls and deputy marshsls. was
near Joulin. Mo-, in pursuit OF cattle
thieves.
The excitement increased until 1000
men, more rather than less assem- bled
each day on the slope below our camp.
|, myself, became imbned with the spirit
OF things. and while the msrshsls we're
away in pursuit OF the cattle thieves ]
would often join the tbrong Of fortune
hunters. 1t was during my second trip
down the slope that | first saw the man
who bss fSured so much in my destiny.
His hsir was dark, and yet stresked with
gray. | believed him to be a man who
bad seen at least 90 years OF life aud just
10 much Of SORROW.
/ asked him where he lived, and be look
ed away and began talking OF the pros
poets OF finding ore where the men were
When he spoke OF the geological forms
lion Of the place, where the greater part
,i the work was being done. realized
10 . moment that be was o man Of high
,ulture. His language was pure and beau
,iful. He seemed. moreover. to be pro
ound scholar. especially along the liue Of
zoology.
He expressed the opinion that they we're
liggirg in the wrong place to find min
,rsl. He seemed very positive in his
'iews. Do you know. said he. that this
country has . regular geological formation
md the rocks and minerals are in place
lere Just ss much IS they ere in the great
amps OF the Rocky Mountsins2
This is not the place to dig. he said r.
her ippulsively. l know the place to
liz. and il is quite distance from here.
Can you prove 10 me that this district
Iss q regular geological iormstion? in
Iuired. A formation by which veins may
,e traced aud the location OF minerals be
nore accurately determined?
can. was the lsconic reply.
How much viii you chsrge me2
sked.
Would S5 be too much9 be inquired. hes
Istingly.
l was thunderstruck. | expected him |
o say ct least 500, and perhaps much
,ore. told him that / would gladly
i've him So to show me where the iorms
ion WAS plain st the surface.
We agreed upon plan. and soon after
for the night, be going to Jop-
10, Mo-, and l to Baxter Spring, Kap.
We we're several hours 10 mskiDg the
lsces where be was positive that mineral
~ in rich deposits. When we came to
be edge u the woods and looked oil 10
'ard the west We saw the men st work.
paid him the IS and be thanked me ss
be we're satisfied. although be acted With
adherence when spoke to him Of mon
, matters.
On the following day made arrange
rents 10 purchase 80 acres OF land along
be big flint vein or dixie, and on the sec
I'D day ! sgsin met the stranger in the
rowd. told him Whist had done In re
ard to buying the land, and be said: II
i'll make you rich. It will bring fOr,une
, many. Itold him tbst ! bad decided to
i've bin 80 interest with me 10 the prop
rty. At this be turned away bis head,
nd when be sssin looked st me there
ere tears 10 his eyes.
Sir. be said. do not care for mooey,
do not even care Tor lie itself Ooce
bad . home-s splendid home. | had
family "a wife and two beautiful dsusb
re. held the chair Of geology in one
/ the presiest upiyer,i,ies in Amer.cs. !