Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-17
RECORD
BREAKER
SCOTT
The Man Who Discovered
Famous Gold Mine In
Death Valley

That Walter Scott, the cowboy who
has been throwing gold about at a
rapid rate, really has a gold mine is
beyond question, and it is believed he
found the old Breyfogle mine one day
when he was herding cattle. Breyfogle
went crazy on finding the righ outcrop.
The gold is there and in abundance.
At that time Scott did not know
much about gold. He found some Of
the stuff and put it in his pocket.
Later he showed it to some of the other
cowboys and they told him it was
good gold. Then he went with the wild
west show and drew from Buffalo Bill
big salary. After he left the wild
west show money was not so plentiful
and Scott bethought him Of the gold
and headed for the wilds.
About eight years ago Scott packed
out his first burro load Of ore from
Death Valley. He realized $3.50 from
it. He got back to New York and
hunted up a banker whom he met while
in the show business and started in
to raise money on the mine so that
he could put up a stamp mill and other
machinery. This banker is his present
partner-President Girard Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce Bank, of New York.
Girard invited the man Of mystery
over to his club, the Knickerbocker,
and before the conference was finished
Scott had $4,000 in cash TO 60 back to
California with. Scott calls the mine
the "Knickerbocker Group" in honor
of Girard's club.
The main ledge is 40 feet wide. The
ore, called strawberry quartz, runs rich
in free gold, the values probably aver
aging $4,000 TO the ton. The Knick-
erbocker group lies high on the Funeral
on the east side Of Death !
valley, so to reach II II is necessary to |
cross Death valley. Scott pays his
miners higher prices than they get
anywhere else. They do not envy him
his wealth for he is liberality iself and
spends with a free hand. All men are
equal in his sight and the best Of cham.
pagne is none too good for them all.
II was not long ago that the man
Of mystery was in New York and got
In hurry to come back to California.
He wanted TO see his wife, and the
regular train did not start soon enough :
For him so he chartered a special and
came through on the Santa Fe TO Dag.
gctt. Then he took notion TO como
over to his mine before coming TO Los
Angeles where his wife lives. A little
ater he turned up at Los Angeles with
SlSOOOO in greenbacks. Mrs. Scott was
very glad 20 see him but when he threw
lown about $l75,OOO and told her that
ne was going up to town for awhile,
he was very uncomfortable with all
he money.
On July Scott went to the Santa
'e offices and offered to pay $50 min.
lte on the time of a special train to
jhicago. He said he wanted to estab.
ish worlds record on transcontinen.
al time. He was offered a special
Of a Pullman car for $4,000,
II with dining car for $4,000. He
ook the higher offer. Then he went to
'arstow. Later in the day the railway !
ffeials received telegram from Scott (
t BarstOw saying;
"Will pay you $500 for the special
you will engage to make the trip
45 hours. will pay you $40 for
very minute you clip off that time,
ou to forfeit $40 for every minute you
xeeed the As hours"
A reply was sent to Scott that every
Hort would be pledged to make the
zip in AS hours but that no guar.
ntee could be made. If steam and
eel would hang together the distance
ould be covered in that time or less. T
nd as Scott had to take the chances !,
bolts and rivets standing the ter.
BILE strain and the railway that of
.nding its equipment safely the com.
any thought the chances were about
!1al.