Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-12

Reno. New, Aug 12.-FTom cowboy, |
at $40 per month and found" to be the
possessor, at the age Of Sc, of a for
tune estimated at from 10 to II mil
lions, is the achievement of George
Wingield. Incidently Wingfeld has
Just refused to accept a seat in the
United States senate, rendered him
by the governor of his state to bridge
an interim Of several months. In
his polite note of declination Wingfeld
said that he felt he could be Of more
service to Nevada as a private citizen
than as a United States senator
Along in the early nineties he diff
fered from some hundreds of other
knights of the range" of his locality
only in wearing his gun attached to
swivel-ring hung from his belt, in
stead of using the regulation holster;
and in that he did not spend quite
all of his wages for saddles and hat
bands.
In 1903, when Tonopah was a crude
mining camp, Wingfield rode in one
day and tried to borrow 500 at the
newly established bank. II CHANGED
that George S. Nixon, later senator
whose unexpired term Wingfield has
refused. was serving the bank as clerk,
and listened TO the application of the
dusky plainsman. Wingfield had some
mining scheme which he wished to
develop up to the selling out stage.
Nixon laughed
The bank couldn't loan money on
such an indefinite proposition he said
Wingfield started to walk out, but
was called back by Nixon, who, like
all Nevadians, dearly love a chance.
The banks funds can't be used for
such a purpose" he reiterated, but
I'm willing to grubstake you person
ally to couple of months prospect
ing"
1t was quickly arranged, after the
manner Of the country, the grubstake
= being fixed at 5000 Wingfield must
have found a buyer for his prospect
all right. for within a few weeks he
b again sought out Nixon and rendered
=.
Nixon suggested a banking partner
ship. which was arranged. and resulted
in bringing a fortune to Nixon mere
ly in the detail of handling the subse.
quent financial transactions of the ex,
cowboy.
Within five years from the date OF
the Tonopah episode, Wingfeld was
rated a millionaire.
The big opportunity came with the
J collapse of the Goldfield consolidated
i that treasure-tTove which for a half
dozen years had poured its colder
stream of uncounted millions into tn,
/ Golfers of its owners.
Straining every financial nerve, stalk
{ ing every dollar he owned and coul,
1 borrow, he took over the CONSOLIDATED
:. and began anew its development.
{ Wingfield and his hackers Won
Il Wingfeld proved himself a financie
as well as miner. He went to Ney
u York and organized a syndicate wit
= millions of capital for the purpose c
: merging and developing on a Iarg
, scale the numerous rich mines of til
- Goldield district
- About the time the company wa
nicely organized the discovery wa
g made by the Wall street Napoleon
- that the untutored cowboy had maj
. aged to retain full control of the gre.
- properties. The most diplomatic an
- suave of the coterie was sent to 4
n duce Wingfield to step aside and aIIo
- a fnancier of worldwide note to a
- sumo the presidency.
~ You Will admit, Mr.. Wingfeld tn,
=, this man is better able than yoursg
- TO handle the intricate financial q
=. tails Of this merger" pleaded Il
- emissary.
I'll admit nothing Of the kind d
clared Wingfield. I'll be president
,-s therell be no merger" He was electe
he Now he owns an interest I'm abo
81. everything in Nevada, not to menti,
bs large investments in California al
"a other states.