The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-01
MONTE-CRIsTO LIKE ROMANCE.
Connected with Bolivian silver
Mine.
From the Chicago Record.


From the Chicago Record.
Along in the SOS a Scotch sailor named
Penny deserted from a man-if-war on the
west coast of South America and found
his way to the interior of Bolivia, where
he worked as a miner and did odd jobs
for living. In the course of time he
took up with an Indian woman and after
she had nursed him through long and
dangerous illness he married her to show
his gratitude. She reciprocated his conf
dence and affection by leading him to an
ancient mine, which had been abandoned
and partially filled at the time of the
conquest in order to keep it from falling
into the hands of the Spaniards. With the
AID of his wife and a fellow countryman
named Mackenzie, Penny cleared out the
rubbish and struck a vein Of silver tina.
made him millionaire The mine is stiu
operated and is one of the most profit
able in South America.
After having developed the property and
organized his affairs with Mackenzie as
MS superintendent, some years later
Penny returned to Scotland and purchased
the estate near Aberdeen uDon which his
parents had lived as laborers. His Indian
wife could neither read nor write. and
could not speak or understand a word Of
English, but was habitually arrayed in
silks and satns and wore jewels that were
the wonder of all the country around
Penny spent his money like a Monte
Cristo' and the fame of his philanthrophv
will never be forgotten by the people Of
that region. He brought a son of Mac
kenzie to Scotland to be educated and
sent him to the best schools. He also
adopted nephew of the name of Craig
the son of a village parson living near
Aberdeen. Penny insisted that both
should adopt his name, and, as he had no
children of his own and no prospects of
any. promised to make them his heirs.
When he died suddenly he left viii
bequeathing his mines and his millions to
his wife, and commenting to her care
and generosity his two adopted sons,
Craig and Mackenzie Penny.
Shortly after Craig Penny started for
BOLIVIA with the widow, leaving Macken-
zie. who was then about IS years old. in
school. During the voyage, by some
means, Craig induced Mrs. Penny 10 mar
ry him. and when they arrived at Oru~o
he produced a marriage certificate took
charge of the property and dismissed the
faithful Mackenzie, who had been sole
manager of the mine for many years
Then Mrs Penny died under mysterious
circumstances. Although her husband
attempted to keep away doctors and
priests, the old lady through a servant
managed to send word to friends that she
needed protection, and before her death
declared that she had been poisoned The
scandal was hushed with money, and
Penny lived like a lord on the profits Of
the mine, Of which he claimed to be the
sole owner; but after a time young Mac
kenZie learned what had transpired in
Bolivia and started for Oruro to prote t
his rights. Being British subject he
placed his claims in the hands Of Thomas
H. Anderson, United States minister 10
Bolivia, who was in charge of British in
terests, and the latter, with the aid Of
DR.. Alonzo, recently president of Bolivia
endeavored to arrange an amicable settle
ment of the controversy, under which the
two boys were to have equal shares in the
mine
When Mr.. Anderson returned to the
United States at the end of his term of
Office he brought young Mackenzie Penny
with him in order that he might complete
his education in Washington; but after a
time, when the boy returned to Bolivia
President AlonZo organized a syndicate 10
buy out both the heirs for $500. coo each
He now controls the mines. and is paying
the two heirs in instruments, while both
are drinking themselves to death at Anto-
fagaSta.