The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-10
SAILOR PENNY.


q Nv. L. Curtis in Chicago Record.) /.
Along In the SOS Scotch sailor
named Penny deserted from a man-of-
war on the west coast--of SOUTH America
and found his way to the interior OF
Bolivia, where he worked a. q 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
refrigerated his confidence and affection
by leading him to an ancient niue, which
had been abandoned and pSTtislly 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
Q fsllow-courtryman named Mackenzis,
Penny cleaned out the rubbish and struck
q vein Of silver that made him a million
aire. The mine Is still operated, and IL
one Of the most profitable IN South
America.
After having developed the property
ana organized his affairs with Mackenzie
as his superin tendsnt, some years later.
Penny returned to Scotland and pur-
chased the estate near Aberdeen, upon
which his parents had lived as laborsrs.
His Indian wife.could neither read nor
write, and could not speak or understand
q word of English, but was habitually
arrayed In silks and satins. and wore
Jewels that were the wonder OF all the
country ronnd. Penny spent his money
like Monte Cristo," and the name Of
his philanthropy will never be forgotten
by the the people Of that region. He
brought son OF Mackenzie to Scotland
to be educated and sent him to the best
schools. de also adopted q nephew of the
name Of Craig, the son Of 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 will
to his wife. and commencing to her care
and generosity his two adopted sons,
Craig and Mackenzie Penny.
Shortly after Craig Pepny started for
Bolivia with the widow, leaving Maoken-
Gle, who was then about IS years old, in
SCHOOL. DutlDR tuo NOydkcs W soG Q
means. Craig induced Mrs. Penny to
marry him. and when they arrived at
Oruro. he produced q marriage certif-
cate, took charge Of the property and dis
missed the faithful Msokenzie, who had
been sole manager OF the mine for many
years. Then Mrs. Penny died under
mysterious circumstances. Although her
husband attempted to ksep away doctors
and priests, the old lady through q SER
want, 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 lord on
the profits of the mine, Of which he
claimed to be the sole owner; but after q
time young Mackenzie learned what had
transpired in Bolivia ana started for
Orurio to protect his rights. Being a
British subject, he placed his claims In
the hands Of Thomas II. Anderson,
United States minister to Bolivia, who
was In charge of British interests. and
the latter, with the aid of DIR. Alonzo.
recently president Of Bolivia, endeavored
to arrange an amicable settlement 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 oom-
plete his education In Washington, but
after q time, when the boy returned to
Bolivia, President Alonzo organized a
syndicate to buy out both the heirs for
$500, 600 each. He now controls the
mines. and Is paying tbs two heirs In
instaliments, while both are drinking
themselves to death ct AntofagAstA.