The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-09


pie took Us for rich mining promoters.
He expressed the opinion that they were
digging in the wrong place 10 find miner
al He seemed very positive in his views.
DO you know said he that this coun-
try has a regular geological formation,
and that rocks and mineral are in place
here just as much as they are in the
great camps in the Rocky Mountains?
Even though mineral has been found here
only In pockets there is one law govern
ing all deposits, and things have not oc-
cured here by chance as most people sup
pose.
I'VE separated after talking FOR per-
haps two hours. On the following day 1
net him again in the crowd, and we sat
down together as before. / noticed that
his eyes were red as II from weeping and
his face seemed very sad. He did not
talk much, but looked away, as IL to avoid
my gaze. It was evident that ne had sus-
tanned great grief, and 1 determined &c
know more Of his history. At this time
l SAID but little, and he soon arose and
walked away from the crowd. After a
while he returned, and this time It was
quite evident that he had been weeping.
He sat down beside me, and / asked
MIN IL h had received "a, news 81 ON
home. At this he looked away, and made
no reply. I could not get him to reveal
even so much as 8 IggcsuJn as 10 his
past. excepting only as his scholarly con-
Yersation proved him to be a man of great
learning.
g." This is not the place to dig he said
rather impusively. 1 know the place TO
dig. and it is quite a distance from here
" Can you prove to me that this dis
trict has a regular geological formation p
l inquired. A formation by which veins
may be traced and the location of min
erals be more accurately determined
" 1 can was the laconic reply.
'At this time a belief came to me that
the man was trying to enthuse me with
his mining talk for the sole purpose of
obtaining money from me. l therefore
resolved to be cautious. / asked him IL
he would show me where rock was in
place in the district, and where myself
might trace an absolute geological forrna-
ton at the surface. After studying a mo-
ment he replied that he would.
4" How much will you charge me?' I
asked.
Again he studied, turning his face
away. Suddenly he arose and started 10
leave me. His actions were very strange.
He had not gone further than three or
four yards when he turned shortly about
and came back to me.
Would s. be too much?' he inquired
kcsitatlngly.
Il Was thunderstruck. l had expected
him to say at least $780, and perhaps mucn
more. l told him that 1 would gladly
give him s. to show me where the forma-
ton was plain at the surface.
4" Shall We go now, asked.
No. he replied. This whole crowd
would follow US. These people are watch
ing our movements. They consider them
to be of Importance. Let us meet tomor-
row at some place in the woods, and then
keeping out Of sight of these men, we
can see the rock in place. l am going
to Joplin tonight and shall return at any
time that you may specify
az am going over to Baxter springs,
I said and expect TO return on tomorrow
mornings stage
'''In the woods of yonder,' he said, you
will find a little deserted log cabin near
the stage road. When you get to the
cabin have the driver let you out. / shall
conceal myself. You will find a little path
leading down a ravine from the cabin.
Take that path. If you are alone. I shall
whistle to you-if not / shall remain quiet
=
after separated for the night. he going to
Joplin, Mo, and TO Baxter Springs, Kan.
ION the following day. as agreed, left
the stage at the lonely cabin in the woods,
just to the east of where Galena has since
been built. 1 was alone. | found the lit
tie path that the stranger had asked me
to take. The woods about IL were then.
as now. quite dense. and 1 moved with
some care that l might not lose the path,
which seemed to be travelled but little.
At last 1 heard a whistle. and answered
ii. Below me in the path stood the stra1-
ger.
Are you afraid to so through this
wood with me?' he asked. looking me d.
rectly in the eye. The idea of fear on
this occasion had not before come to me,
but his words seemed so queer that ]
rather took them as omlnous Of evil. ]
put on a bold front and replied emphatl-
Cally:
Afraid! No. why should I be afraid
I'm armedv
I'VE walked on saying nothing. !
simply followed whore he led. After
winding about for perhaps thirty minutes
l came 10 the conclusion that the stranger
was a fraud-that while he was very wise
he was at the same time very dishonest
AT last he paused a; a large flint rock
bowlder
"Observe this rock closely he said.
| Here begins our formation. Let Us 60
s;raish: on to that other rock yondsr.'
| When We reached the second rock the
| stranger pointed out third one still far
| Their on. and in direct line WITT the two
| we had just examined. We went n the
| third rock and there was s:!i a fourth,
| fifth and sixth beyond-all In a direct line
| They were clhso together. almost forming
| a natural stone fence. TIE groupings
! were as plainly discern.ble a. the rows OF
! corn in a field. Il was a vein "a place
and We traced il for more than h-lf d
! mile.
AS we went along the stranger became
! greatly animated and mere and .hers
| pointed cut places where ne was sure ricA
deposits OF ore could be found. / des;g
anted these places by throwing Up lttlC
piles Of rock. and thus We went on. he
telling all the while Of the possibilities OF
the country. he did not speak a. one
guessing. but as one knowing. His word.
| carried convection.
I've were several hours IN marking the
! -nla.as 49, D - 1872 --E.