The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-11
TOOK THE BAIT.
Details Of the Latest BuncO of
Two kansans.
Surely Thought Gold Could Be
Got From Gold Fish.
LOOKED FOR SHARPERS
Registered From Washington to
Avoid Being Sought.
Scientific individual interested
Them and Then -.

The two Topeka farmers who were
fieeced out of $500 in New York may
| have given assumed names for they are
not known here by the names given,
James P. Simpson and John H. Will
Jams.
The story of how they lost their
| money, however, is thrilling to say the
least.
Following is the narrative as pub
lished in the dispatches:
when we arrived in New York last
Tuesday said, in substance. Farmer
Simpson. the older of the two meither
was apparently over 35 years of age),
we went to Broadway hotel and reg
1stered under assumed names, giving
our residence as Washington, d. C. We
did this so that it might not be known
that we were farmers and thereupon
tracked wherever we went by some
smooth tonguod rogue. We spent all
Wednesday morning seeing the sights
A VENERABLE OLD MAN.
lille sitting in the hotel parlor on
wednesday afternoon we noticed an old
man of venerable appearance absorbed
in huge volume from which he oc-
caSionally took notes in strange char
acters. He had an air of great wisdom
and from our observations we took it
that he was probably some celebrated
scientist. We thought no more of him,
however, and on Thursday morning we
ing in front of one of the glass tanks
filed with gold fish when our attention
was attracted to a figure that we i'm
mediately recognized as the venerable
gentleman we had seen in the hotel
parlor the day before. He still carried
his book and his eyes were bent with
deep earnestness on one of the smaller
but most brilliant fishes in the tank.
Then he suddenly exclaimed:
To think of the simplicity of it,
Well, though it was the work of a life
time, it certainly has been rewarded be-
yond my most extrayagant Dreams
Then he began to humble and chuck1e
to himself in a manner that made US
all curiosity to know the occasion of
the cause of it. He started back sud
denly and, eyed me in a suspicious
manner. Then, looking about him to see
that we were the only ones in hearing,
he whispered:
my life's work has been rewarded
and now am on the road to princely
wealth. I have discovered the secret of
the goldfish's color. Further than that
I have discovered that through the pc
culiar chemical process of the gold
fish's digestion seven grains of pure
gold are made and dissolved in his
body each day. The dissolution is
effected by the scintillation of color.
These discoveries 1 made a year ago.
and since then 1 have sought day and
night for a process by which seintilla-
ton could be impeded and entirely
plished through the aid of liquid air.
By my process seintillation is stopped
completely. and without any injury to
the fish, the gold becomes incrusted IN
the scales and fins. and a little fisn
which, when proper facilities for breed
ing are obtained, costs practically moth
ing can be transformed into nugget
of gold in a few weeks
HE TALKED SCIENCE.
HE seemed SO sincere and inter-
spersed his explanations with such con-
vincing scientific phrases and refer
ences that we were deeply impressed by
what he said and accepted his invita-
ton to visit his laboratory on South
street. We were soon in ramshac exile
building. the lower portion of which
was taken up by a large fish market
He led us up two flights of tumble
down stairs and into small back
room; which, with the exception of a
deal table and two broken chairs, was
entirely bare. Unlocking a closet, he
brought out an assortment of strange
" contrived little boxes and bottles, q
small bowl containing a half dozen
goldfish and a. gas burner and tube,
which he attached to fixture just
above the table. He asked us to be
seated and then busted himself in ar
ranging the apparatus. There was such