Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-28
WON A FORTUNE.
Ben Hatfield, Miner, Leaves Arizona
,.,.Sn o. mn

Ben HATFIELD, MINER, Leaves Arizona
with $4,000.
A correspondent of the ST. Louis
Globe-Democrat, writing from Phoenix.
Ariz., says:
One hundred thousand dollars and a
world of happiness beside! That was
Ben Hatfield's strike in Arizona, and
his story is an argument for those who
put their faith in that indefinable some
thing called luck. 1t was less than
three years of good, hard work intelli-
gently performed, indefatigable energy
and good business sense that opened
the door to Hatfield's happiness. 9th
ers have worked as hard and with
equal intelligence. but without success.
Luck, therefore, seems to be the only
differing factor.
AS a boy Ben Hatfield rode the Mon
tana range, a husky COW puncher.
blessed with good health and fired with
all the ambitions of a sturdy western
youth. OF humble but honorable par
entage, his only capital was his two
hands, a brave heart and a determine
ton to succeed. He was early attract
ed by the rich mineral discoveries in
Montana. and while yet a young man
forsook the range, resolved to WOO
dame Fortune with pick and drill. The
monotony of the few succeeding years
was broken only by the experiences in
cident to the life of every miner and
prospector. That with one exception.
for not all miners have a wedding day.
Hatfield's wedding day was the turn
ing point in his career, though till re-
Gently he did not know it. About four
years ago Mrs. Hatfeld's health began
to fail. AriZona's fame as a mining
field was spreading, but not o rap
idly than the stories of its onderfu
h~ealth-giving climate. With just money
enough to travel on, saved from his
earnings in the Montana mines, n
with a thorough knowledge of the min
ing business from the p~rospector's
standpoint, MI. and Mrs. Hatfield came
20 Arizona. 1t vas December, 1899,
when they found themselves in the lit
tie mining camp of Stanton, away back
in the hills. He went to work at once
for the Mountain Side Milling & Min
ing company, of which George B. Up
tor was general manager, announcing
to his newly made friends that he had
come after 800 900 for himself and
health for Mrs. Hatfield. When they
boarded the train for Los Angeles a
few days ago the eyes of both were
sparkling, for their fullest and fondest
hopes had been realized.
Hatfield was made foreman Of the
mine, and worked in hat capacity till
December. 1900. About the LIST of Oc-
tober, 1900, Hatfield, Upton and Weis-
ling, who was also an employee of the
Mountain Side Milling & Mining com.
pany, made the location of the Orc
Grande group OF mines, only six miles
north of the little town of Wickenburg,
and almost on the bank CT that most
notable of all Arizona rivers, the Has
sayampa There was a well defined
ledge on the Orc Grande, but that
meant little for the owners, who had
p~rospected hundreds of lodges that
looked equally as promising. But a
little copper stain gave them hope and
urged them on. One year last
February the prospect hole. then "a
feet deep, changed its general appear
ance. They had found bright, yellow
gold. and found il in most gratifying
quantity. The discovery was kept quiet
for a time, the n being fearful
that it would prove to be only a little
pocket that would vanish as quickly as
ii came. Weisling, anxious TO make
the best of what seemed TO be a good
thing, sold out TO his partners for 81.
500, which they managed TO scrane TO
getheT. Then came the real mining
Down they went, till every dollar al
their command had gone for steel and