The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-01-23
BALDWIN AND HEARST
Both Their Fortunes the Re-
suit of Chance.

Baldwin and George HarSt made thelr
fortunes in mining operations Is going the
rounds Of the press:
Lucky Baldwin made his first big
strike in most accidental way. He was
not a miner and kne nothing about
mines," said man from San Francisco,
who keeps tab on the doings of men OF
millions. "He kept livery stable in San
Francisco and made considerable money.
He always liked horses. They were his
hobby then just as they have been since,
when he made himself well known
through his successes OH the turf.
"Some mining man owed Baldwin sew.
eral hundred dollars for horses on livery
bill or something and couldn't pay him.
One day he offered Baldwin lot of stock
In the Ophir mine, which was near the
mines IN which Flood. O'Brien, Fair,
Mackay and others were interested.
Ophir stock wasn't worth anything
only few cents a Share-nor were the
other mines near 1t worth much then.
Baldwin accepted the stock In payment Of
the debt and threw II In his safe, thinking
that he might get something out Of It
some day. He had about 1000 $50 shares.
zone morning he woke up and found
himself a millionaire. The Comstock
mines had gone up and Ophir went up
with them-just because It was close to
them. The stock which had cost Baldwin
lew cents share were worth hundreds
Of dollars share. He had sense enough
to sell out at the proper time.
"George Hearst's first strike was also
accidental, although he was a practical
miner. He was superintendent Of mine
down In Arizona, where the men who con.
trolled the company simply wanted to
keep lot Of men at work for the purpose
Of selling the stock at a profit. They did
not think the mine was worth anything.
They kept up the bluff as long as they
could, but finally the bottom dropped out
Of the stock, and they sent Hearst word
TO stop work and take the men to Los
Angeles to be paid Off.
"Hearst told the men they were to quit
work that night and get ready to abandon
the mine at once. In a spirit Of hilarity
the men decided to celebrate by putting In
just one big blast. Hearst did not object.
and they put In blast calculated to tear
things to pieces. They set It off just at
quitting time and stood back to watch the
effect. The blast tore out tons Of rock
and dirt and made the place look like an
earthquake had struck It.
"Then the men went and got their sup.
per and prepared for an early start over
the desert next morning. Hearst was too
much of a miner, however, to leave with.
out examining the rock that had been
torn out by the blast. He found what he
knew was very rich vein of ore. After
collecting a few samples of quartz he
walked up to the little camp and joined
the rest in preparing for the journey. He
said nothing about his discovery.
"The men were paid off in Los Angeles,
and Hearst went on to San Francisco,
where the president Of the company paid
him about S., 900 that was due him. That
night he went into faro bank and won
5000 more. Next day he called on the
president TO settle up few small matters.
and when asked what he was going to do,
said he was going east for while to visit
the folks.
"'By the way he said, 4 think ] might
do something with some Of that Arizona
mine stock In the east. ] wouldn't mind
trying, anyhow
UThe oresident thought the idea a GOOD