Iron County register., 1900-02-15


the only reputable and accurate assayer
in or within reach of Palma Sola. And,
having engaged Simpson to make the
said several assays, this pompous in
dividual departed for the ''Esperanza"
prospect in peace and content of mind
in which frame of spirit he did not
leave Mr.. Simpson, assayer and ore
buyer. For very little things often
bring back to us hates and loves and
aches that we fiatter ourselves are
dead within US, lost sight of, and
drowned in the limbo of the past. So
it was with poor Simpson. The sight
of Hadley-Benton brought back to
him, with a sharpness of despair that
cut and tore his very heart-strings. the
thought of what he had beer what he
might have been, and (worst of alp
what he really was now, and what he
would always have to be.
That entire night Simpson spent in
fighting phantoms of the past, mem
ories of his lost and only love, mem
cries of home and friends, the position
and happiness which might have been
his but to his own folly and his traitor
Gus confidant, Hadley-Benton. 1t was
a hard night and hard fight, but
Simpson went to his office exulting next
morning with plans fully thought out
and arranged. His enemy had at last
been placed in his power, and Mr.. Simp-
son proposed that there should be
plentiful settling of old scores.
When Mr.. Hadley-Benton and his
large number of carefully-sealed sum-
Piles from the "Esperarza" reached
Simpsons assay office later that week,
the latter person was entirely and
deferentially at the disposal of the lord
" capitalist, only Simpson preferred
in fact, stipulated--that Hadley-Ben-
ton himself should unseal the samples,
with his own hands. and remain in the
assaying office, so that the entire
process, from grinding the samples down
TO the weighing of the gold residue,
could be carefully witnessed and over
looked by him. For, as Mr.. Hadley-
Benton must realize, assaying such val
liable ore as that of the ''EsperanZa"
was a serious matter, particularly
where, as in the present case, there
were no other assayers to check against,
cepted.
This was quite in ORDER" Mr.. Had
ley-Benton stated, and with his own
hands he undid the seals that he had
placed on the jute sacks containing his
precious samples. and watched POM
pously the while Mr.. Simpson heated up
his furnaces, deftly ground up the
samples. weighed the pulp carefully,
and then poured it into the crucibles
containing his gold fux, first in
sisting that the Englishman test
the flux itself, to prove that it
was absolutely free from gold, so
that any possible sailing" might be
prevented. With all of this Mr.. Had
ley-Benton declared himself content.
The assaying was long and tedious
process, but it was carefully watched
in its every detail by the capitalist,
who announced himself, when the last
button had "blinked,' as being entire
ly satisfied with the proceedings and
methods of Mr.. Simpson. Not button
had frozen; not one had been lost; du-
Dlicates presented the same showing
rs originals; and no matter what re-
turns final partings might give, he
would be satisfied to abide by Mr.. Simp-
sons figures.
The final parting of the silver-gold
buttons was done with the greatest pos
sible care and slowness. And we'll that
It was, for the results given by each and
every assay were so exceedingly high
that Mr.. Hadley-Benton might have
oeen incredulous had he not watched
The process from first to last. There
we're Is different assays on which each
duplicate checked its original: there
was no discrepancy of any sort, and
he total average gave result in gold
If II 2-10 ounces TO the ton!
Would the ''Esperanza" pay to work? |
Mr.. Simpsons results proved that ques- |
ion very conclusively, and Hadley- |
Benton fairly flew to the telegraph |
'tfice where he, after much difficulty |
md serious struggles with the Spanish |
ongue and telegraph clerks, sent a |
,aDiegram to his London directors and |
authorizing them to boom |
ne "Esperanza Gold Mines, Limited"
or all they were worth, to ship out at |
,nce the contemplated stamp-mill and |
yanide plant (cost $150,000), and to
raw upon him for any and all extra
unds desired.
So much for the "Esperanza Gold |
lines, Limited" of London and Mex
co, and so much for poor Mr.. Hadley-
Benton, NJ. p, whose reputation and
rivate fortune were alike lost in the
enture. Because, long after the plant
nd StamD-miE were installed and
more money than l care to name ire
rievably sunk in the 'Esperanza,' it
ras found that the ore of the mine ran,
t very highest estimate. exactly one
enth of an ounce in gold, or not even
Ugh enough to pay working charges.
'ruly poor Mr.. Hadley-Benton;" for
e had taken the samples, watched and
pproved the making of assays there
rom. and he alone it was upon whom
ne wrath of stockholders and directors
I'll when it was discovered that the
was a dead failure, not
, say the greatest swindle of modern
mes.
No one, not even Hadley-Benton him
alf. can account for the matter. No |
ne ever offered any explanations as to
ow such fabulous results were Sc
Ired from utterly worthless ore. Even |
he assayer, Mr.. John Simpson, pro-
.sses himself as lost in amazement at
lie way the ''Esperanza" turned out.
ut, of course, as every one realizes
nd comedies, he had nothing to do |
it'll the matter. and cannot. therefore,
: held responsible. But, all the same,