davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Copyright. 1905, by Joseph b. Bowles.)
The old-time gold brick scheme"
although familiar in name, to almost
everybody. nevertheless is a game OF
whose inside workings few people
have the vaguest idea. Even men
buncoed out of thousand of dollars by
it have been unable to understand or
explain every phase of the play.
The sharpers engaged in this risky
work are careful, educated men; in
fact just the class n would suppose
would keep clear of such danger
Gus and atrocious work.
In my Investigations of all sorts of
bunco schemes, it was many years be-
fore | was able to understand how it
could be possible to sell an intelligent
farmer a gold brick for from $500 to
$1,000.
A man might stop at the same hotel
with a dozen of these confidence men
for six months and never suspect what
was their business, or even that hey
were interested in one another.
Always supplied with money, well
dressed and educated, they disarmed
suspicion, and for that reason were the
more dangerous.
Even while working up a gold-brick
Job. no two of them were ever seen to-
gether.. Nothing would be known OF
their work until some farmer had been
Swindled out Of several thousand dol
lars. The newspapers could give only
a vague account of the affair, because
of the farmers inability to explain
how he had been duped. Besides not
one in ten victims would let it be known
that he had been ld-bricked.
Had | not accidentally discovered
that an old acquaintance was in tle
gold-brick business, and had been for
years, | never should have fathomed
the mysteries of the game.
Having naturally a good physique
this CRATER developed into a magnlh-
cent specimen of manhood. When "a
years of age, be weighed 230 pounds,
was handsome, well proportional and
a fluent talker with the vocabulary OF
A. college professor. After leaving col
lege he was first with a large st. Louis
tobacco house, as a travelling sales
man. While on the road he began
playing poker and eventually neg
iected his business. Later he began
frequenting gambling houses, and this
brought him in contact with the sport
ing element. He lost his position, Il
being without funds or influence to pro-
cure another he had o to gam
bling as a business.
For many years l supposed, as did
many others of his old townsmen, that
he had turned out to be an all-around
sport, a %frequenter of race tracks, a
bettor on baseball games. pugilistic
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Who was the Indian? How had he
come by the gold?
Should they report the case to the
authorities? Neither the CRATER nor
the farmer suggested this course.
Possession being considered nine
points Of the law, they felt no DISPOSE
ton to give up their extraordinary
find"
Finally the CRATER proposed burying
1t in the farmers wheat bin for the
present.
At this point Charlie explained
that under no circumstances did he
call it a gold brick but always a
chunk of gold"
The wheat bin suggestion was fol-
lowed, and after filling the hole and
placing the shovel where it had been
found they carefully concealed the
gold underneath three feet of wheat
in the barn. The farmer now became
anxious to make certain that it was
really gold. The CRATER felt no doubt
on this point, but agreed 1t would be
best to have it tested.
At last che farmer suggested just
what the CRATER had been waiting
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

were fairly staring their eyes out and
specializing as to what the fellow
could be doing and where he came
from.
Having finished filling up the hole
the man cautiously looked around,
then hid his shovel in a -clump of
bushes, and climbing the fence, started
back through the woods near enough
to the blind to enable the hunters to
see that he was an Indian in full buck
skin suit.
When satisfied that the Indian was
safely out Of the way the CRATER sug-
gested as investigation. The farmer,
overlowing with curiosity, vas only
too ready to look into the matter and
the two started for the spot.
OF course the first thing to do was
to procure the shovel and dig. Very
soon they came upon . hard substance
wrapped in a gunny sack. Opening it,
what did they find but an immense
chunk Of what appeared to be gold.
Why should the man have hidden It
il 1t were not gold?
With such & prize In their posses
sion. what course should they pursue?
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Mother very sick; given up to dia
Come Immediately.
(signed) MARY"
Half beside himself, the CRATER
showed the telegram to the farmer, and
said:
See here, l haven't the money to buy
your half Of the gold bar. and | haven't
time to wait to have 1t melted and d.
vided, SO I'll tell you what III do. II
you will give me 1880 you can have my
half"
Naturally the farmer hesitated, IL for
no other reason than to get a better
deal; %whereupon the CRATER showed
him that by accepting his offer he would
be getting $500 the best Of the bargain.
WELL" the farmer said, IF | can raise
$4,000 more than l have on hand, I'll
give you $1,000 cash for your share"
"All right" agreed the CRATER.
Take me to town and settle with me
and I'll start for Massachusetts, on the
first train for the east"
The cash was, Of course, forthcoming.
and would have been had the farmer
been Obliged to mortgage his farm.
Nov, Charlie" said l, suppose l
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

encounters, etc. However, we were
all mistaken.
While | was in the jewelry business
in Chicago he made frequent calls at
my store, and on different occasions
purchased a watch and several dia-
mOndS.
On one of his visits he was accom-
panied by a bright looking fellow with
whom | happened to have a few mo
ments' conversation. In reply to q
question from me rs to the direction
in which they were going next he said
that they had plans all laid for q job
up in Wisconsin.
what are you fellows working
now" I asked.
"The gold brick" he replied.
~Charlie has been working the gold
brick game a long time, hasn't he?"
Eyes; and he is one Of the finest
in the country, No doubt he has
turned the trick for bigger money than
any other gold-brick man In the
world"
A few moments later ! invited
"Charlie" into my private ONCE, and
surprising him with my knowledge Of
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

should step into another Oom and call
the chief of police, and turn you over to
him, what would be the outcome?"
WELL" said he, Il haven't given you
the name of anyone we have buncoed,
and as none of the 'rummies' have
kicked or made any kind of a squeal.
what could they do to me? I'd simply
say that l had lied to you, and that would
end It,"
During the grafter's stay with the
farmer, the Indian had come every night
with letters, which he had left at a given
place under the porch, and taken from
the same place letters from the High
Mark to different members of the gang,
thus keeping them in perfect touch
from first to last.
l asked Charlie what average of fail
ures they had in such a wonderfully
strong play and learned hat something
would urn up to spoil about n in
every five or six jobs.
When asked if he had lost all feel
ing of conscience, he declared that he
was as sympathetic as anybody, except
when it came to selling a gold brick.
When dealing with a rich man, and ona
who was as avarieious as himself, he
had no feeling whatever, and, aside from
the satisfaction of making a bunch of
money, he was glad to see the greedy
old wolf get buneoed.
A small piece had been taken out of
the brass or copper brick, and a sufh-
GENTLY large piece of gold inserted, upon
which to enable the supposed assayer
to place his acid. With the exception
of this small piece of pure gold, the
whole brick was nothing more nor less
than brass or copper.
1t will be remembered that the Indian,
instead of burying the metal in the tim
bered lot, planted" it on the opposite
side of the fence, on land owned by some
one other than the farmer. This gave
the farmer no chance to claim the whole
chunk Of gold, on the ground that 1t
| was found upon his property.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20
Irish Bull.

There are several interesting bulls in
the following serious paragraph from
the Western News, of Galway, Ireland.
of July Is: ITO rob a man of his purse,
and then maltreat him for not having
it, would pass muster amongst pitiless
brutal crimes, but to kill and Stay a
mar to the point of death and then
murder him for not dying quick enough
is one point better in the catalogue ct
human infamy. It is enough to make
Irishmen set their teeth and talk
silently in groups"
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20
Power "a Eniov.

You may think, in looking out upon
the world, that the great difference be-
tween people is that some have many
things to enjoy and others very few;
when you know them better you will
find that a great difference is that
some have great power to enjoy and
others very little.-Rhondda Williams.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20
THE GOLD BRICK GAME.

An Old But Successful Method OF
Swindling Wealthy Farmers -
Plan So Intricate That Few Have
Understood 1.-THE "High Mark"
and His "Gang"-An Indian, a Cit
izen and an Assayer Play Their Re-
spective Roles-A Small Part of the
Brick Pure Gold-Haul of $1,000
for the Gang"
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20
Chr Are

Every dog has hts day, and even =
cur may possess courage.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

The assessment of real and personal
property of the city of Meridian for
the current fiscal year aggregates ST.
743, S47, an increase over last year OF
1868, 81. The activity of the real es-
tate market in hat city is evidenced by
cash transfers recorded for the past
week, which foot up 1859, $3.50, the
largest single amount paid being $751;
900. Values have advanced rapidly
during the past two years, and are aug
menting now more rapidly than ever.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Many towns in Mississippi are agitat-
ing the question of planting shade
trees hat the coming generation could
enjoy the cooling shade afforded by
their branches. 1t is a commendable
work indeed.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Thomas McCraine, a prominent citi-
zen of Franklin county, was shot and
killed by Alec McCraine, a negro, who
later me death while trying to elude
Will Jackson. a quarantine guard, sew
eral miles away. The quarantine guard
did not know that the negro had killed
Mr.. McCraine. He arrested him for
violating the health board regulations,
McCraine stating that he had come
from Mobile, Ala. Jackson was escort
ing his prisoner to the quarantine sta
ton when the latter, making a gun
play, was shot and killed by the guard.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

A number of citizens of Ocean Springs
have organized a Law and Order
League. The law-abiding citizens are
aroused and determined to stamp out
hoodlumism in Dream Springs for good
opd oil
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Secretary Maxwell of the Railroad
Commission has just completed his cal
culation of the railroad mileage in the
State of Mississippi. He gives the
mileage in the State as 3,440.4 ], against
3,l42.2 on the last estimate, which was
in 1902.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Superintendent Whitfield has sent
out the following:
ITO the County Superintendent
view of the fact that the examinations
have been interfered with in many
counties of the State by the quarantine
to so great an extent that many teach
ers have not had the opportunity to
stand their examinations, the State
Board. of Education has appointed Nov.
3 and 4 as another general examination
day for white teachers in the State, and
the 10th and 18th for negro teachers,
for all counties that desire it,"
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

Sid Higgins, a prominent citizen OF
Carroll county, and a resident OF Hem
ingway, accidentally got his arm caught
in a gin, and before assistance could ar
rive his arm was so badly mangled that
amputation was necessary. The shock
was so great that Mr.. Higgins died un-
der the operation. He leaves a wife
and seven children.
The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

There is still a premium on honesty
and integrity in the great old State of
Mississippi. While others may have
gone in a mad chase for pelf, it is graf
flying to note that our citizens still de-
mand the best men for public places.
May it ever be thus.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
Sees Life in BRIGHT colors.

Henry Gassaway Davis, the veneer
able West Nirginian who ran for
vice president on the ticket with Par
ker last year. Is now nearing his
elghty-third year. but he is still a won
ocrfully vigorous man, with a bright
eye. rcsoundlng voice and an erect
frame. lie enjoys life 10 the fun, too.
and always looks on the bright side
OF things The trouble with too
many men" he says. is that they are
cynical and look at life through
smoked glasses Although at my age
| see that much that Is held in estI-
nation fairly admits of sarcastic
treatment. | must say ! have mighty
little taste for the sarcasm. The fact
is, to be a cynic and SO at one and
the same time Is against the nature
OF things"
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
Line 70 Timbuctoo.

Since July the French have estab'
lished steamboat service from Kuli-
koro, In the Western Soudan, 10 Tim
buctoo. distance Of nearly 1000 kill
ometers or 621 miles. Next year the
service will be effected on the Niger
by larger vessels. which win carry
passengers as well as goods. The pres
ent service has been organized by
Lieut.. de Blenec OF the French navy,
with four other officers. acting under
NJ. Ponty. governor OF Upper Senegal
and the Niger. According to NJ. de
Blenec, who is In Paris, Timbuctoo
may now be considered as within the
reach OF tourists, who can get there
in nineteen days from the banks OF
the Seine. One day will be occupied
in going from the capital TO Bordeaux
by rail. eight days by steamer from
the latter place 20 Dakar, one day by
train from Dakar TO ST. Louis, three
days by water to Hayes, two TO Kuli-
koro by train. and thence on TO Tim
buctoo by the new service In four
days-London Telegraph.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
Her Wasted Repentance.

The business woman had to spend
so much money on car fare that she
was not averse TO sitting and looking
ahead OF her while the conductor went
by. One day, however. when she had
ridden up and down and across town
without paying-the conductors had
neglected to collect and II was one
OF her principles not TO force money
on peopie-she concluded to be hon.
est and pay.
Besides. she was obliged TO have a
transfer.
The conductor took her fare with
some surprise, for she had ridden a
mile or two. then said said 10 her:
Madam, you get your transfer on
the corner"
"T'll never be honest again." said
the business woman, as she got OFF,
New York Press.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
INCREASE IN POSTAL RECEIPTS
Report on Business In Large cities Is
Issued by Department.

Washington dispatch: The postal
receipts for the nifty largest cities in
tho United States during September
aggregated s6.5l3.5O0. against s5,907,
203 for the corresponding month in
1904. The report on the subject
shows that Portland. ore, on account
OF the exposition there. had the heav
lest percentage OF increase. Like
wise ST. Louis. Mo-. shows the great
est percentage OF increase and de
crease because OF the high record
made during the exposition a year
ago. The heaviest decrease under
normal conditions was at Dayton. O.
and the heaviest increase ut Brook
Ign, N. Y. with Los Angeles second
The receipts OF tho FIVE largest cities
were as follows: New York. 1891,
7l3; Chicago. si.O95.237; Philadelphia
t446.256; Boston. s4i5.s21: 81. Louis
s2l9,704. New Orleans increased z;
per cent in spite OF the prevalence oil
yellow fever.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
students il serIous TroubIe.
err Thanks cutlcura.

Students at the University OF Ne
vada will be tried for hazing, as the
father OF n freshman has Issued thirty.
two warrants for assault and battery
and has had them served on stu.
dents who maltreated his young son
The freshman refused TO join in the
college yells and he was ducked in
the lake on the campus and subjected
TO other indlgnities. for which his
father now demands satisfaction
from the boys tormentors.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
Analysis Of Medicines open to All.

There is no public demand and
there is not the slightest public nee
essity for a law compelling the publ
cation OF the formula OF proprietary
medicines" says the Committee on
Legislation of the Proprietary Assoc
citation. Every Health Commissioners
and every Pure Food Commissioner
in the country. as well as every pri-
vate physician or chemist, IL he
pleases. has the right TO make an
analysis OF any proprietary medicine
and 10 publish the result and to tell
the public what he thinks, and there
Is nothing in the world to prevent
such action. But that is not what the
agitators for such legislation want
Their object Is to destroy the sale OF
such remedies entirely"
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
uora L Rnllnf Tor Women.

, Mother Gray, a nurse In New York, dis.
covered pleasant herb remedy for womcn's
Ills, called AUSTRALIAN-LEAF 1t Is the
only certain monthly regulator. Cures
female weaknesses, Backachc, Kidney and
Urinary troubles At all Druggists or by
mail so cts. Sample mailed FREE. Address,
Tho Mother Gray Co. Leroy, N. Y.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

I h a I / W a s
laid up four
months. l had
night sweats and
fainting spells
and dropped TO
90 pounds. The
urine passed ev-
cry few minutes
with intense pain
and looked like
blood. Dropsy
set In and the
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
sr.T. o. omo. cIrr o. roLrDo. J.

LUCAS AuNhThs \
FRANK ,. CHENEY makes oath that he IA senior
partner 81 the nnn OF v. J. CHENEY Co, DUNG
business IA the city ~ Toledo, County aud STATE
af1reaaid and that said Arm viii pay the sum ~
ONK HUNDRED DOLLARS for each and every
case Of CATkHRn that cannot DO cured BY tho Of
HAAS CArAhKn cUKK
FRANK y. CHENEY.
sworn "a before me and subscribed IN my pres
enco. this 9Th day ~ Deccmher a y. istG
- A. W. GLEASON.
thAt N0rAHY PUBLIC
Haifs Cntarrh Cure Il taken internally and acts
directly on tho blood and mucous surfaces u tie
system. send for testimonials, free.
~ J. CHENEY q CO, Toledo, q.
Sold By al. Drngrilte 73c.
Take iIara Family Pills for constipation.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
worthIess EdueasIon.

DO YOU remember, or have you for.
gotten already. how much your mind
was overburdcned and cramned wher
YOU were child2 Many Of the things
you were forced 10 learn You forgot as
soon as possible but the time yo'
spent learning them You took IRON
something which might have done Vol
Good nnd which yon imperiectig learn
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
eAsYs AWFUL ECZEMA.

Face Like Raw Beef-Thoueht She
Would Lose Her Ear-HeaIed
Without a Bemish-Moth-
er Thanks Cuticura.
MY little girl had eczema very bad
when she was ten months old.
thought she would lose her right ear
II had turned black. and her face was
like a piece OF raw meat, and very
sore. II would bleed when | washed
her, and had 10 keep cloths on IL
day and night. There was not clear
spot on her face when | began using
Cuticura Soap and Ointment. and now
Il is completely healed. without scar
or blemish. which is more than ! had
hoped for (Slgned) Mrs. Rose Ether
2ol Eckford ST.. Brooklyn, N. ""
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
DAVID 3. HENDERSON IS DYING
Es-spesker Reported In Critical Con
dition IN Dubuque, Iowa.

New Orleans special; Little more
Speaker David u. Henderson 10 re.
ported 10 be In critical condition
In his apartments at the Hotel julien.
He Is suffering from paresis and has
been confined TO his bed the last three
weeks. II Is understood no had q
sinking spell and his physicians are
greatly alarmed. Intimate friends say
the end is not far on. A nurse 10 con
stantly AZ his bedside.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

doctors decided / could not live. My
wife got me using Doan's Kidney
Pills. and as they helped me took
heart. kept on and was cured so thor
oughly that I've been well three
years"
Sold by all dealers. so cents box.
Foster-Milburn Co, Buffalo. N. Y.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
o,a,,,v srlnga tho Business.

Seven million (1,OO000Ol Lewis single
pindcru straight &c cigar now sold annu'
ally. Made OF extra quality tobacco Many
who formerly smoked lOc cigars are now
smoking Lewis Single Binder. Lewis
Factory, Peoria, III.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

Another defect OF the English Ian.
ruage is brought TO light In the state
ment that there are only sixty words
in IL that have no rhymes.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

hundreds OF dealers say the extra
,,,antItv and superior quality or De-
asnce starch II fast taking place OF
ali other brands. others say theS oAn-
-, aeii any other starch.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
rlnker Leadn Mealeyana.

The Rev. T. @. Harper OF Wibsey
the newly elected president o. the
Wesleyan Reform Union, was origin.
ally a Bedfordshlre tinker reared al
Elstow. where John Bunyan was born.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

The announcement Of tho failure OF
a French sugar firm 10 made public.
II takes sand to win out In tho sugar
business.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

A Baltimore man announces that the
ideal salary Is $4,000 a year. Now,
n you can only persuade your en-
ployer.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
ro1lrSa rnn cnLp.

honor and obey ur lords mid mn .ers.
Well. perhaps lo1e Is easy enough put
can superior mind give obedience y
a lesser oncg aud can one honor 4
foolT
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

storekeepers report that the extra
Quantity. together with the superior
susIIty OF Defiance Starch makes u
rsrt 10 Impossible to sell any other
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

Baseball is played on the diamond.
but that 10 no reason why u SHOULDN'T
also DO played on the square.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
Lona survivor pIstInauIshed Son.

The mother OF the late Gen. Walter
O. Gresham is stu living, hale an
hearty at tho age of 9s. five mile
from Louisville, KY. an the san.
house where Gen. Gresham was Dor
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

He who is chased by dog IL apt to
hark his shins.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28
RAISED FROM A pEArH.Bep.
Mr.. Pitts. Once Pronounced lneurable.
Has Been Well Three Years.

Il. Il. Pitts. GO Hathaway ST.. SHOW
hogan. Me-, says: Seven years ago
my back ached and | was so run down
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

See his advertisement In this paper
ana write him to-day for free booklet.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

Ask Your Dealer for Aliens Foot-Eass
A powder 10 rests the feet Cures Swollel
Sore, Hot, Gallons. Aching. Sweating Fee
and Ingrowing Nails. Atall Druggists an
Shoe stores, % cents Accept no substitut
sample mailed FREE. Address, Allen
Olmsted, LcRoy, n. Y.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28

Great words are emotion rendere
objective.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-10-28


person who didn't
iunition is it2
bmpanieS got after
nc Machines that
nee Board made an
were submitted 20
fachincs patented.
hc Insurance Board
'c Insurance Board
4 be Insured, with