Douglas Island news., 1905-09-13
BEAsLEY's RUBBER
Nome Nugget.l

N~'thAC @NNo6SNs/
The latest enterprise of Gentleman
jim" Beasley is the exploitation of
rubber tree concession in Sierra Leone,
Africa, and when last heard from he
was speeding across the continent to
Boston in a private car, sumptuously
appointed, with plenty of money in his
pockets, and congenial company, it is
presumed. But up to the middle of
last winter Jims pathway was not of
the primrose sort of idle dalliance.
The tickle goddess. which had smiled
upon him so often, frowned, and, Seen
tlemau jim" was not as dapper or as
we'll fed as of yore when he accosted
Capt. Sam Colclough one day last Sep
TENDER in the Palace hotel, San Fran
cisco, and wanted to borrow "fve
spot" on a sole leather suit case. Capt.
Golclough did not want the suit case,
but Beasley got the money, after in
forming the captain that he was not
seating regularly,
With the five dollars in his pocket
and his luggage" Jim showed up at
the Palace hotel once more, this time
to place his name on the register and
secure a room as Mr.. Beasley, of Sierra
Leone.
Then he sent for tailor and had
snit of fine clothes made. and an over
coat. The raiment was sent to the
hotel, the tailor thinking that he had
struck a rich customer in Mr.. Beasley
of Africa, but one day the tailor wanted
his bill, and it was sent to the gentle
manly James, who Indignantly waved
the collector away and told him he
always paid his bills the first of the
month. In the meantime jim worked
the tailor for another suit and had al
Old one refurbished, and the tailor
added to his experience.
In the meantime Beasley was getting
busy. He was now we'll dressed, and
posed as an English gentleman from
Sierra Leone. He became acquainted
with the Portuguese consul in San
Francisco, and had the run of the Office
which he visited frequently when that
f1nctiouary was out. He got parch-
ment which looked impressive, tri-
colered ribbon and sealing wax, stamps
AID things, and soon he held conces- !
son of his own manufacture, from the
Portuguese government, to a large
tract of land in Sierra Leone, on which
he had $1,000 caoutchouc, or rubber
trees.
Then the air in the corridors of the
Palace grew warmer and more balmier
whenever jim talked of his concession,
and swore in a gentlemanly way in
Portuguese, of which he had acquired
q smattering through his connection
with the consuI's Office.
He made friends, for he we'll knows /
how. A San Francisco lawyer, of
means and reputation, was enraptured
by him, and declared that Mr.. Beasley
was the most interesting talker he had
ever listened to; and Jim smiled with
the smile that doesn't come off.
Finally Beasley found his victim in
the shape and form of capitalist of
Portland, Or. He told the capitalist
of his elastic concession in Africa; said
that he lBeasleyj had all the money
that he needed, but was exploiting the
concession for the owners in far dis
tant Sierra Leone. Nevertheless if the
Portland man desired the rubber trees,
upon which, and about which, he
talked like one to the rubber born, he
would have to advance $4,000, one-half
of which Beasley would usein expenses
incurred, for the rubber tree owners,
the other half to be paid to them within
a designated time. And when last
heard from in May last Beasley and
the Portland capitalist had travelled
across the continent to Boston and
New York in their own private car.
How Beasley has Jared since then is
not known, but it is altogether likely
that his Portland capitalist is wiser
than he was few short months ago.