The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-03-17
DESERTER'S RICH FIND.
bow He Struck Vein of Silver Tha'
Made Him a millionaire.

MADE HIM dltIlioudLEe'
Along in the sos Scotch sailor
named Penny deserted from man-of-
war on the west coast OF South
America and found his wey to the in
terror 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, AMI after she had
nursed him through long and dan
gerous illness he married her to show
his gratitude. She reciprocated his
confidence and affection by leading
him to an ancient mine, which had
been abandoned and partially filed at
the time of the conquest ia order to
keep it from falling into the hands OF
the Spauiards. With the aid of his
wife and fellow countryman named
Mackenzie, Penny cleaned out the
rubbish and struck vein Of silver
that made him millionaire. The
mine is still operated and is one OF the
most profitable in South America.
After having developed the property
and organized his affairs with Mac
kenzie as his superintendent, some
years later, Penny returned to Scot
land and purchased the estate near
Aberdeen upon: which his parents had
lived as laborers. His Indian wife
could neither read nor write, and
could not speak or understand word
of English, but was habitually ar
rayed in silks and satins and wore
Jewels that were the wonder Of all the
country round. Penny spent his
| money Ikea "Monte Cristo,,s and the
! fame of his philanthropy viii neyestS
forgotten by the people Of Sss region.
He brought a son .oSa Mckenzie to
ssassss aes teI aEd sent him
to fkebeT schools. He also adopted
a nephew Of the name Of Craig, the
son ofsaa village parson living near
Aberdeen. Penny insisted that both
should adopt his name, and, as he had
no children of his own, and no pros
pect of any, promised to make them
his heirs.
When he died suddenly he left q
will bequeathiry his mines and his
millions to his wife, and commencing
to her care and generosity his two
adopted sons, Craig and Mackenzie
Penny. .-
Shortly after G aig Tenny started
for Bolivia with the widow, leaving
Mackenzie, who was then about Is
yesrs old, in school. During the
voyage, by some means, Craig in-
duced Mrs. Penny to marry him, and
when they arrived at Oruro he pro-
duced a marriage certificate, took
charge of the property and dismissed
the faithful Mackenzie, who had been
sole managerial the mine for many
years. TheI 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 pro-
lection, 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 time
young Mackenzie learned what had
transpired in Bolivia and started for
Oruro to protect his rights. Being a
British subject, ne placed his claims
in the hands of Thomas H. Anderson,
United States minister to Bolivia. who
was in charge of British interests, and
the latter, with the aid of DR.. Alonzo,
recently president Of Bolivia, endeav'
cred to arrange an auicable settle
ment of the controversy under which
the two boys were to have equal shares
IN the mine. When Mr.. Anderson re;
turned 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 time. when
the boy returned to Bolivia, President
Alonzo organized syndicate to buy
ont both the heirs for S500,0 each.
He now controls the mines, and is pay
ing the two heirs in instsllments, while
both are drinking themselves to death
ar Antofa on sta. William +. Curtis. ip