Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-09-27
Lawson Describes Heinze.

Of Frenzied Finance, describes the
Montana millionaire in picturesque
language. He says in part:
Montana standards are clear enough
in the case OF young mining engi-
neer named Fritz Augustus Heinze,
who, sometime previous to our advent
in Butte, arrived there looking for a
job. Of magnificent physique, ardent,
bold, ambitious, a graduate of the Co.
lumbia school Of mines, Heinze hired
out at a meagre salary to the Boston
crowd who controlled the Boston &
Montana and Butte 4 Boston mines,
and began to make the acquaintance
Of the community in which he was
destined to play so ominous role.
The man was perfect fit for the
eight-cornered hole he found awaiting
him in this western Coney Island. He
had ability akin to genius OF the order
that Wins eminence in bunco and con-
fdence operations; boundlessly ambi.
tious. inordinately egotistic, he was
totally devoid Of mora! perception;
and, utterly needless OF the conse-
quences Of his actions, there was moth
ing he dared not attempt. Heinze
had been but a short time in Butte
before he had acquired throughout
the state reputation for absolute
{eariessness. Among the keepers OF
gambling bells aud bar-rooms he was
reckoned the prince Of good fellows.
Seven nights in the week he could
drink under the table every man
among the licentious company that
irpquented these gilded establish menta
and then sit in at faro game whose
proprietor had never been known to
gut on limit and make him "quit."
Actresses of a certain order adored
him, aud to the ladies OF the red light
district of Butte, Fritz Heinze was the
beau ideal of manly beauty and
heroism. Even in those days, before
ne had made his first strike for for
tune, Heinze's colossal egotism-which
il of the I.must-be.in-the-llm e-light-
when -it-strikes. the grandstand order
had made itself felt; but while hi.
al. I'D / 4
had not then acquired the proportions
that 1t subsequently attained.
This overw-ening vanity is the key
note oi Heinze's makeup, for the coui-
age he sets so much store by is abso.
tu.eiy it's offspring. When the crowd
turns Its back this bold, bad man seeks
I5s shelf Popularity is the breath OF
he nostrils, aud he was cowardly
enough to deny his Jewish origin be-
cause he imagined it would detract
from his distinction.
Men OF the Heinze type soon ac-
quiie all the underground secrets of
tide community in which they live,
and it was not long before the young
engineer knew about the queer reia
lions between the Boston Il Montana
snd Butte 4 Boston properties. His
attempt to capitalize this inside in
formation for his personal benefit at
larger figure chan the schemers
whose game he had dropped to"
thought fair brought on violent row,
snd tue industrious and ambitious
young gentle plated Jew found him
self schemng from the other side Of
the breast works.
As soon as Heinze found himself at
odds with the Boston crowd (this was
before our advent into the copper field,
mind you), he proceeded place him
eelf or two vantage points.
To understand them one must know
tbat in Montana, as in many western
states, the mining law provides that
VIC -" AiOi vi GU - W
follow the vein that "apexes" on his
land wherever it may lead. In some
ways this is good law, but it has
everywhere provided plentiful crop
Of litigation and is an ever fertile
source Of blackmail and trouble where
ever it prevails. According to the old
regulation man stakes out and &C.
Quires title to certain lots OF ground
snd is entitled to mine all the ore be.
nesth that surface, but in Montana
sad in California it is we'll within the
possibilities for man, by acquiring
title to sheep pasture adjoining
valuable mine, to prove that the ore
within his neighbours territory really
belongs to him. 10 the close crowded
district around Butte the outcrop
LAW had provided cause for endless
warfare, but it remained for F. Angus
tus Heinze to utilize to the full its in
finite capacities as q graft producer.
First, he set up an offensive and de-