Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-01-12
jim wARpNER or IDAHO

JIM wARDNER OF IDAHO
Gave q Name to Two Towns, Lost Four
Fortunes, and After Another.
Jim Wardner. Of Idaho and all
over" said q visitor in Chicago from
the Pacific slope, Ought to be some
where In New York city at this very
minute. for 1 heard be had left for
the East on prospecting trip, just be-
fore got down from Skaguay. Ward
ner Ii q genius that cannot be downed,
and besides having one town named
for him In Idaho and another In British
Kootenai, be has made and lost four
fortunes In mines. and is now starting
In on his fifth. At least. his fourth
10 gone. and he only makes a fortune
when he happens to be out OF one. His
last venture was big. but 1t went
wrong. He had two steamboats, on the
Kootenai, and started the town Of
Wardner, which went with boom.
and jim started to win million.
'"There was q rival town across the
river. but they had to depend on Jim's
steamboats, for their stuff. and. nat
urally. under the circumstances.
Wardner had the bulge on Steelton.
the name Of the other town. One day,
when everything was coming Jims
way. both Of his boats went on the
rocks aud sunk. and Jim wasn't yet
In a fix to replace them. In other
words II busted him. and he got out
Of 1t the best he could, which was to
go or to Toronto and trade his town
site for a stock Of goods. These. to
the extent Of $4,000. he carried up TO
Lake Bennett and started with 1t down
the river for Dawson. Evidently Jim's
luck wasn't on the water. for his boat
load Of stuff was wrecked. and he only
saved enough Of II to bring him In
$1,000. when. II he had had luck. his
$4,000 would easily have been sold
for 100000 at the usual Dawson
profit. That sort OF things would have
knocked out most men. hut Wardner
went right on. and now. | understand.
he has got something to present to the
notice Of capitalists better than any.
thing he ever struck.
His black cat farm was one Of the
things that gave him n reputation for
wealth. This was farm on an island
In Puget sound. where he raised. ac-
cOrding to his representations to an
Eastern Journalist, such vast numbers
Of black cats that their fur brought
him In fabulous revenue. or course,
it WAS a fabric Of the fancy. but the
story was told everywhere, and Ward
ncr's black cat farm was one OF the
features Of the coast-on paper, at
least.
Another story is told on him Of a
time when he was between fortunes
and wanted to get to New York for a
grub stake. He was at Vancouver, and
AS he couldn't swim, nothing was left
him to go on but the land, so he struck
the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He
stated his case to the agent and asked
him to telegraph Mr.. Shaughnessy, the
general passenger agent at Montreal,
to the effect that Mr. Wardner was at
Vancouver. and unless he got trans
portation he would have to walk. The
obliging agent sent the message and
asked: Shall l issue the transporta-
ton" Later the agent received re-
ply: Don't let Mr.. Warlner walk
and that same night Mr.. Wardner was
flying Eastward OH Canadian Pacific
train. Arriving at Montreal Wardner
went TO Shaughnessy to extend his
thanks. and when the general passen-
ger agent saw him he threw up his
hands.
"'How did you get here 50 soon?' he
asked.
lover the Canadian Pacific. Of
course responded Wardner.
But how? Didn't the agent get
my telegram?
Yes. and It said: Don't let Mr..
Wardner walk. and l didn't smiled
jim
"'Great Scott" exclaimed Shaugh.
messy. that telegraph operator left out
a period. The telegram should have
read: Don't Let Wardner walk"
Then Wardner gave Shaughnessy
the haha. and Shaughnessy gave
Wardner u dinner and Wardner didn't
have to walk on to New York. either
He's great chap. Is Jim Wardner, and
he'll be on top again by and by, see II
he lsn't"-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Taiiow Candles with Red Wine.
In a.