The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-09-09
Thomas Norton, Cook, Receives
$4,000 For Mining Property
Near the Knob.
WALKED FROM COBRE TO ELY
Was Robbed i'm Railroad Station OF
All The Money He Had-H0w
He Got His Start.

Thomas w. Norton, cook at the
Royal cafe, arrived in Ely March
10th last, after walking from Cobre.
Today he is worth $4,000 and has
made his wealth out of local mining
properties. His story is one of which
the principal features are determina-
ton, privation and frugality.
On the 7th of last March Tom ar
rived in Cobre from Salt Lake. 1t
was a bitter cold day and Norton
sought cover in the little passenger
station. AS it was early in the morn
ing and daybreak was not due for
an hour or so he half snoozed on a
bench in one corner of the room. He
heard someone approaching him but
was so worn out that he paid little
heed until crack! and he rolled over
on the floor. Unable to pull himself
together he dimly realized that some
one was going through his pockets
and after removing what wealth he
had in one trouser pocket.rolled him
over taking no care in performing
the trick, and went through his other
pockets. When Norton came to he
was penniless. He was even worse
off than that as his railroad pass to
this city and some life insurance
papers We're also missing. The thug
had made a clean job of it but was
cOnsiderate enough to refrain from
committing murder.
Tom knew there was no hope out
in that unsettled section of getting
back his belongings, SO he waited
until the sun arose and then struck
out on foot for Ely.
"All the money l had when he
went through me-" said the cook to
the writer, as he told his story in the
kitchen of the cafe the other night,
twas $65. 1t certainly wasn't very
much wealth, | know, but it was big
loss to me. I started to count the
ties and"
(And he paused o minute or SO as
he grasped frying-pan in one hand,
a creased dauber in the other and
started to fry "twO-over-easy.")
Il knew | had hard trip before
me as there were 40 miles staring
me in the face. The first night |
spent with an Italian and started out
bright and early the next day. 1t
was rather late sthat night when |
fell in with young Greek foreman
who had only one man under him.
I was feeling pretty well physically,
however, and at | o'clock the third
day hiked into this town.
81 was pretty tired, all right, but
| went to work in this place that
night for Louis Alexander, the Greek,
who later skipped out much to the
sorrow of his creditors. I've been
working every shift and have saved
my money, until now l have signed
the papers closing the contract with
Fulmer & Hueller for my claims
For three weeks Norton camped
on the side of one of the hills that
surround the copper camp, and when
he saved money enough he invested
in a cabin at one end of town. He
continued to save money and one day
saw an opportunity to purchase two
claims near the Knob, the purchase
price being $500. He gave his SON
in-law, Charles G. Raney, one-half
interest in the property and the two
erected building with the intention
of starting saloon.
Since then he has worked steadily
in the restaurant awaiting an oppor-
tunity to dispose of the valuable
claims Raney went to Salt Lake
and while in that city met Falkner &
Hueller, who had arrived from Den
yer where they are in the wholesale
liquor business. They also represent
a New York mining company. Raney
explained what he had, the result be-
ing that he sold his claim to the
two men for $4,000. They asked
for figures on Norton's mine and of
fered him $4,000, which he gladly
accepted. They have paid him 1,OOO
and he will get the remainder next
Saturday, when he will meet the
parties in Salt Lake.
I'm going to Salt Lake Tuesday
or Wednesday," he said, 'and get
the rest of my money!
"And then what are you going tc
do" asked the writer.
A smile lighted up his face as he
replied:
"Then my little girl and I will take
vacation. Well make trip tc
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Other
places and have a fine time. I've
got a mighty fine daughter who has
just passed her seventeenth birth
day."