The Indianapolis journal., 1901-07-09
STRATTON AND HIS MONEY.
How the Cripple Creek millionaire
Made His Wealth.

Denver Special.
The worlds richest carpenter, who
threatens to leave Colorado Springs be-
cause host of mendicants is trying TO tap
his purse. not so many years ago worked
with plane and saw, making doors, shaping
up tables and rounding out chair rungs.
To-day he has more millions than most
people have hundreds-speaking in the line
Of dollars. He started out with a theory
and an ambition to become mining king of
Battle mountain-a comparatively small
puddle in the money stream. His theory
kept him broke" for fifteen years. The
ambition finally landed him. not king of
Battle mountain, but king of Cripple Creek.
the greatest gold camp on earth. For he
was slayer.
Stratton is his name, Winfield Scott Strait
ton. He's the man who discovered the In
dependence mine and sold it for sl0.Oo0,0OO
Now he's sorry. Glad he discovered the
mine, of course, but sorry he sold il. For
the mine has paid for itself in two years.
and the extent of gold deposits yet
tapped no man may say. But there are
other mines. Stratton is developing them
now. developing them on scale never be-
fore attempted in the history of the world.
He expects, from the successes he sees
ahead, to become a Millionaire. Now, a
billonaire-to most of us-is merely a word.
ii really means. Stratton has more than a
conception. He has a tangible hold on the
billions.
And he's still a carpenter Why he
joined carpenters union in his own
town the other day. Yes" he says, Il
once suffered with carpenters. / like the
business and | like the men. L have a fel-
low-feeling for all carpenters. Especially
for those organized to promote their own
interests That's why; when | was vas asked asked
I'm among friends Why, l used to work
alongside some OF those men. regard
the invitation to join the union Is one OF
the honorS of my life.
You see, he's still carpenter. Still wears
the same sized hat he wore when he was
a Journeyman looking for job at modest
remuneration, turning the lathe in the win
ter time and prospecting for gold during
the remainder of the season. That's how
he got his start, prospecting at times when
carpentering was slack. If he'd stayed by
the hatchet and the rule he'd have been
comfortably well off to-day. in contracts
and SUCH for Stratton was a first-class
joiner. AS IL happened he took the gold
fever He worked just enough at his trade
TO keep him in money TO spend in his hunts
When ne had 5000 gathered together he
took the money to a salted mine and sunk
it so deep it hasn't come to light yet.
Didn't discourage him a bit Saved up
some more money and again sunk his hold
lngs. This sort of work for fifteen years.
more persistent trustfulness than Stratton,
the carpenter, served for our lady of gold.
And nnally, the reward. The glorious
discovery of the Independence mine on the
glorious independence day of 1891. This
not in the way of accident either. It's
been so stated, but is isn't true. Stratton
says himself There no random
hat throwing and development of the spot
on which the headgear landed. Nothing OF
the kind. Stratton, the carpenter. was now
become Stratton, the metallurgist. and he
used his head well his hands. He
was armed with a blowpipe, which aided
him in detecting minerals. Besides, he had
experience. man gets to know a good
| deal about this old earth after he has been
courting her assduously for fifteen years.
After the Independence. with its untold
| possibilities, one-sixth interest in the Port
| land adjoining.
Eight years in the possession of the Inde-
| pendence. Then IL was. 'Oh. Mr.. Stratton.
| here's $l0Oo0.000 in cash. If you'd like the
money. we'll exchange IL for the Indepen6-
| ence." This from the Venture Company.
| Londoners. Well, Stratton had taken lit
| tie matter of $500 900 out of the hole and
! SO he took the London money And there
was still in sight s7500,O0o. And to-day.
| says John Hays Hammond, expert, Sc O00. .0o0
| ore reserve is in the Independence. That's
| the kind Of a mine TO find.
Il made d mistake sighs Stratton to-
| day, lin selling" But then he looks over
| the Cripple Creek held-which field he
owns, practically-and thinks he may not
| do so badly. after all. He has a theory
| spent in a year $7,o00000 in support of this
| theory. He has mines in the misnamed
| Poverty Gulch. on Cold and Globe hills and
on Bull mountain. When he gets through
| he figures on being the Monte Cristo of the
| new world. And he's still the carpenter.