Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-05

/ up for good sum. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars was the sum paid by Clarke fol
what DAILY could have had for $1,000
| Meeting DAILY on the streets a few weeks
| later Clarke suggested the propriety OF
/ the Anaconda Company purchasing his
water rights. The announcement as
/ founded DAILY, and when Clarke placed
/ the price at 100000 Marcus nursed his
wrath for n few days and paid over the
money. The loss OF $4,000 coupled with
Clarke's part in the DEAL ranked in
Days bosom. So, when Clarke was NOM
mated for Congress in 1858 DAILY rose in
his might and smote him with an ava
| lanche Of adverse votes. To this circum-
stance Thomas III. Carter owes the sue
cess Of his first plunge in Montana poll
tics.
At various times in the last ten years
Clarke reciprocated and Daily retaliated.
When the State capital fight came up for
definite settlement, three years ago, Ana
conda was the chief rival of Helena.
Anaconda is Days town. and he cham
pioned it with all the means at his COM
mand. Clarke took up the fight for Hele-
ma. Helena won out. and DAILY was
knocked out Then Clarke jubilated. Now
IT is Days turn to wax glad.
tlSAIAhL > CAlNLEh.
Clarke is co years of age. He was born
on a farm near Connellsvlle. Fayette
county, Pa, on January s, 1899 His father
was John Clarke, and his mother Mary
Andrews, both natives OF Pennsylvania.
His grandfather, also John Clarke, came
10 Pennsylvania, shortly after the Revo-
luton. from County Tyrone. in the North
Of Ireland. As a farmers son, the boy
.
trict school in the winter. At II, being
especially fond Of books. he was sent 10
the Laurel Hill Academy. his fathers
idea being TO fit him for the law. He re-
NAMED at the academy three years, and
then taught school for a year.
In 1886 his father removed to Iowa,
where he had bought a farm in Van
Buren, county. Once settled in the new
home, William was sent 90 the academy
at Birmingham. Ia, TO finish his prepara-
ton for college. This he did in a year.
and in 1851 he entered Mount Pleasant
University to take up the study Of law.
Although his father could afford to give
him college education, he was not, in
sense a wealthy man, and the son knew
that once out of college, he would have
to make his own way in the world.
He remained a student at Mount Plea
SAINT for two years. He was a hard work
err and acquired knowledge rapidly, so
that the progress he made was rapid.
But during those two years news came
10 the university, every now and again.
of new gold discoveries I'm the country
further west. First, the news came from
California. then from Colorado, and final
Is from Montana. OF course the stories
that hoated IN upon the campus of the
wonderful gold finds were usually eXag-
gerated, but they had thar effect on the
young law student. Tho more stories OF
the gold-field he heard, the less interest
ing TO him the law became. And so it
happened that the young law student.
with only year behind him and an eX-
animation for admission TO the Iowa Bar,
turned his face toward the West. He had
little money, and when he reached West
ern Missouri he had none. In fairly
good education he had some capital, how
ever, and school teachers were scarce.
When his money gave out he got job
at school teaching. He kept at this from
the fall OF 1859 through 1851. In 1862 hay-
ing saved some money, he purchased an
emgrant wagon and an OK team. With
these ne set out across the plains. He
disposed Of his outfit at South Park Col.
and went 10 work for a mine-owner in
Central City.
KOl NDlNti W The 0AMIS.
One day in 1868 man rode into the
Central City camp with story of rich
discoveries Of gold at Bannack City,
Mont. Young Clarke knew the bearer OF
the news, and believed the story, Win
some discount, having learned that all
stories OF fabulously rich finds OF gold
should be discounted. Accordingly he
persuaded the owner OF the Central City
mine to abandon his claim and join him
and three or Tour other miners on q
prospecting tour in Montana.
AT the end of a journey Of siXty-fye
days the party reached Bannack, and the
next day Clarke happened 10 hear that
on the following night party was TO
stampede" TO Horse Prairie. few miles
away, where the rich mines were sup
posed to be. Although he had no invita-
tion, Clarke joined the stampeding party,
reached Horse Prairie in alfety, ana
staked out a claim. AT the end or
years hard work the young miner had
accumulated $500. With that sum he
abandoned the mines forever as a claim
worker. With unusual foresight he saw
more money in business, in the barterlng
OF merchandise for the gold that others
took out of the earth.
With this 81 80 he bought a load OF
provisions in Salt Lake city, and sold
them az an amazing profit. Ia the winter
OF 1866 he repeated the venture with equal
success in Virginia City. In the spring
OF that year he opened a general store at
Blackfoot City, a new mining town, and
from everything he sold he realized large
profits. The following fall he noticed
that tobacco was a scarce article in the
Montana mining camps. He saw money
in bringing in a supply. Disposing OF his
store. he mounted horse, rode TO Boise
City, Idaho bought all the tobacco he
could at $50 pound loaded It on a
wagon, and sold 1t in Helena at 81 a
pound.
During the years that Mr.. Clarke was
growing rich as a merchant and banker
he did not lose interest in mining. In 1872