The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-13

metals into gold. Volumes have been
written Of the searching of the alchem,
lists for the philosophers stone, as that
elusive agent was called. Every age
has seen It's quack Cagliostro who pre-
tended to have found this, secret, and
for counterfeit schemes, Within the
past decade fortunes have beer. lost
upon the famous sea water swindle,
thousands being staked upon the foolish
1antic's salt brine. Within the same
period the notorious swindle of shifting
base metal casts in a specially con
golden eagles has sbeen worked to the
sorrow of dozens Of victims. There is
something about the mystery Of the
chemist $ art that makes unusually
hard headed men lay aside their ordin-
airy business caution and gulp, down the
cheats of seeming experts in this sci
enee. Such a crooked scheme cost
some business men 100000 in St. Louis
not SO very long ago. = ~
4 A shrewd Game:
The story of the cleverly operated
game is told by Professor: Brigham S.
Young, Of the faculty of Northern uni
versity, at Ada, Ohio. Professor Young
has national reputation as an analy
tical chemist and is frequently called
upon to make examinations for CONNER
cial purposes. Recently he was waited
upon by q wealthy resident of. St. Louis,
ing liquid Of great density and of
heavy specific gravity. This liquid he
asked to have analysed in order that it
might be reproduced in large quantities.
:" If you succeed in duplicating it,
said the visitor, 1T will mean a million
dollars to you. .,,,s $50.
!, Such. a fee is not ordinarily received
by even the highest priced chemists and
it whetted the curiosity of, the profess
upon knowing the ingredients. He was
told that the composition of the liquid
was secret that had died with its in
ventor. Two years before the St.
Louis man had been waited upon by a
stranger who was evidently for
eigner. He introduced himself as a
Mexican chemist who had been en-
ployed for many years in a professional
In. this way he. had perfected him
self in metallurgy and thru series of
tests had hit upon the liquid as a won
gold from 5tailings -: or mine refuse.
| It was vastly superior, he, declared, to
all, of the proc esses then in use and
was 'cHedp DeyonQ .DeHe1. = I ne UNI
claimed millions in the refuse heaps
about the gold mines 1of the country
I could readily, be- bought and vast for
tunes awaited those lucky. enough to
+ share the secret. The ST. Louis man
thought that he. was exercising rare
| precaution when he refused to accept
! the statement Of the Mexican as en-
tirelY true and insisted upon some pract
teal demonstration Of thet workings of
the process. q. 81: =. -
..~,. " Entirely willing. ~.
The visitor hpppasr r I'D to, BE- entirely
willing. that-the, most rigid examination
might be had and every test made be-
fore remuneration was even discussed.
The meg hnnt invited q number ofbusi;
ness Sgsociats s to join il the xsa F
was arranged. Mines Nine were rS Visited it dam an
"tailings secured for the purpose
The result was astounding, as the tests
fully. substantiated4 the Mexican :
promise Of success. In picking up the
fine particles Of t:sIflourN'A gold, the
hardest strain upon all processes, Il
worked admirably. = - =. :..:., o., =.
Returning to st. Louis company
was. organized to exploit the patent
foated before the. eyes ,of the speeula
tors. !; The. Mexican: refused to max,
known the formula for. the wonderful
liquid, but proposed to his partners t,
put it in place Of safety, where in til,
event Of his death. II might, be secured
aud the, business carried on. -: He tolt
them that he had not sconfded@ it ever
to his wife. Accordingly, a safe, de
! post box was rented, at one Of tn,
. trust companies, with the understanding
that: the box was not to be, opened saw
by both jointly. In the box was de
posted q sealed envelope which. TIL
chemist asserted, contained the :preciou
formula. He was paid a certail
amount as a bonus, and given ,1arg
amount Of the stock, which was in :,
few years to ma e the STANDARD Oh
securities look like ~ cat &. minini
fha5 ;d vas snnaaa as,,d that IL
cents 2 gallon. The oh emist drew upo
his associates for more money to begi
. the manufacture OF Che stuff and Ies
tablished a laboratory. & , 5:7..5,, 4
.. The Mexican Fell Dead. s.; z,:5..
AT this point death interviewed ian
carried off the Mexican, who fell dea
I while ascending the steps to his Office
After his burial his widow was waite
:, e, her. she found TIE key tosthe d
d post box and went with the presiden
!; to- secure the formula When the Ell
3 velope was brought cut and opened u
d was found to be- empty. I; $ The dea
man had deceived thennl. s|T hinkin
I that this was done out of an excess q
caution, and never dreaming that sther
was tcro0ke dness,s 4 81 oot. those engage
a the snsfsTpsare aa sseysa t. h z
Z gaining Of 5heir foltunss.s s = = 6. )