The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-23
THE LUCK OF A DESERTER.
strange Story OF How He Recsme a
Millionaire and h Followed.

Along in the SOS a Scotch sailor nam
ed Penny deserted from a man-or-war
on the west coast of South America and
found his way to the interior Of Bo-
liyia. where he worked as a miner and
did odd jobs for a living. In the course
Of time he took up with an Indian wo-
man, and after she had nursed him
through a long and dangerous illness
he married her to show his gratitude.
She r~eciprocated his confidence and af-
lection by leading him to an ancient
mine, which a bee nabandoned and
partially filled at the time of the con-
quest in order to keep it from falling
into the hands of the Spaniards. With
the aid Of his wife and a fellow coun-
tryman named Mackenzie. Penny
cleaned out the rubbish and struck a
vein Of silver hat made him a million
aire. 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 Macken
zfe as his superintendent. some years
later, Penny returned to Scotland and
purchased the estate neal Aberdeen
upon 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
h~abitually arrayed in silks and satins
and wore jewels that were the wonde
Of all the country round. Penny spent
his none like a Monte Cristo," and
the fame of his philanthropy will nev-
er be forgotten by the people of that
region. He brought a son of Mackenzie
to Scotland to be educated and sent to
the best schools. He also adopted a
nephew of the name of Craig, the son
of a village parsOn living neal Aber-
deem. 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 a will
~bequeathing his mines and his millions
to his wife, and commencing to her
care and generosity his two adopted
sons, Craig m Mackenzie Penny.
Shortly after Craig Penny started for
Bolivia with the widow, leaving Mac
kenZie, who was then about Is years
Did. in school. During the voyage. by
some means. Craig induced Mrs. Pen
ny to marry him. and when they ar
rived at Oruro he produced a marriage
certificate, took charge of the property
n dismissed the faithful Mackenzie,
who had been sole of the
mine for many years. Then Mrs. PEN
ny died under mysterious circum-
AGAAANO NAAtNS ASA ~ 81
tempted to keep away doctors and
priests, the old lady, through a SER
want managed to send words to friends
that she needed protection, n before
her death declared that she had been
poisoned. The scandal was hushed with
money, and Penny i've like a lord on
the profits of the mine, of which he
claimed to be the sole owner; but after
a time young Mackenzie learnd what
had tranSpired in Bolivia and started
for Oruro to protect his rights. Being
a British subject, he 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-
ored to a an amicable settlement
of the controversy, under which t.
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 re-
turned to Bolivia, President AlonZo or
ganized a syndicate to buy out both
the heirs for $500. 600 each. He now
controls the mines. and is paying the
two heirs in instanments, while %,
are drinking themselves to death at
ADMINISTRATIONS Record.