Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-02
Romance Of a Gold Miner
Tommy Cruise, lTi1llonnire.

Tommy Cruise, Mf1lfonafre.
The story Of the hunt for eold is ever q story OF
toll and pEivation. often tragedy For the who
poverty.
Colonel Thomas Cruise whose death at Tho age Of
~ AZ Helena, Mont, Is announced OF the
lucky few who leaped from poverty af1uence thirty
years He discovered and developed the Drum
Inmmon gold mine, north OF Helene, sold Il to
English syndicate for N5Ool0o. retaining one-sixth
interest and shared IN the profits Of ,sooOooo which
the mine has produced
Mr.. Cruise was 20 years old when he left County
Cavan. ireland. 20 seek his fortune in the mining
camps OF the west He roamed around various dig
gings in California. Nevada and Idaho blew into
virginia City Mont, in 1855, when Alder Gulch
at the height OF its glory and later struck the pIacers
around Helena, where fortune smiled upon him.
FsclIeness OF Luck.
Drum Lumnon drew its name from, the locality in
ireland where Cruise was born. Before Il had a name
had romance redoient with the ill-luck OF the
original finder lie was a little wirv Frenchrnar
L. r. IIiIderbrand who drove an express wagon
IN Deadwood long after Tommy Cruise put Drum
Lumnaon on the mining map In the very early days
hoderorand prospected IN Montana stumble on the
mountain eide caused him to chip off piece OF
boulder which rich In gold quartz that his eyes
popped IN the excitement OF riches in sight He sud
ms partner besap 20 look for The lead from which
In an unfortunate moment TIildcrbrad and his part
ner undertook to roll out OF the the boulder
which gave them clue 70 wealth BY one Of those
queer eapers Of blasted luck which prospectors fear
the boulder moved too quickly and rolled over and
crushed the OF Hderbrands partner Being with
out money and needing medical treatment they LETT
the place. trudged TO Helena where the partner was
put under the OF Doctor ana HlIderbrand went
bill
Some ten years later FEiderbrand nti At outs with
his luck. and weary Of roaming reached the spo.
where the boulder sent his hopes sxyard The boulder
had the appearance Of old acquaintance but the
saLrouneinss were changed 70 a hewnderins extent
Before his eyes monster hosting plant raising
rich ore from shaft hundreds feet In depth while
In the guich huge stamp mill was at work The
boulder occupied place Of honor in front OF a
building Hiderbrand touched IT, patted II affection
asely ana tears filled his eyes Presently through
the mist Of his tears he read the sign Drum Lummon
mine discovered by Thomas Cruise"
Fortune Changes Front,
During the period OF development when hard luck
pressed Cruise to the verge OF abandonment one
advised him to strike Sam Ashby for a couple OF
hundreds Ashby was money-lender in. Helena who
knew how to sweat the coin when put at work n
good security cruse put the matter OF loan up TO
Ashoy All he got however, a fine line OF free
advice coupled with the money lenders assurance
that he would rather throw paper money into the
furnaces OF his satanic majesty than loan it such
"a shiftless fellow"
Years after when cruses day OF prosper.ty osme
one Of the early visitors TO the Thomas Cruise Saw
ings bank" just started in Heiens. was Sam Ashby
The fortunes OF Cruise and Ashby had been reversed
Cruise was flush. Ashby empty Of pocket cruse la
his woud-be customer to the door and in the undsr
scored language OF the west assured that customer
that ne Would rather throw his into the
naces OF his satanic majesty than loan It TO such "a
shiftless fellow a. Sam Ashby
soon after his bank was started. At the age of 3,
Cruise decided that he had enough capital to support
Vile Miss Margaret Carter, sister OF the late
United States Senator Carter became Mrs Cruise the
wedding IN 1885 was the greatest social event IN the
history Of Montanas capital II was celebration for
all the population Cruise arranged for an Oman house
and free drinks with every saloon in Helena TRAIT,
ton has II that the whole population Of the town
got drunk at the brideeroom's expense and it took
all - mnT.a 1850
The amboree was the greatest aver pulled or N th
treasure state; no one has attempted to rival the
The joys OF welded life were OF short au,at,on
Mrs Cruise died within year. leaving baby daughter
on which the father avished hts affections ana means
Linked with Omaha People.
What Count John A. creighton was to Omaha
Thomas Cruise was 10 Helena. Every public enter
prise, promising Industry drew his support. he
nevolent anc charitable movements commanded as
sistance from his purse He the chief contributor
70 the building OF the Catholic cathedral of Helena
which was dedicated on Christmas day The Afetho-
dist hospital the Young Mems Christian association
and the Young Woman's Christian associaflon ah,y~,
In his bounty and his lberaiity supporting the.o
cal club kept Helena on the base bali map
The career Of Mr.. Cruise linked in many WAYS
with the actve lives OF several former Omaha resi-
dents year or two before Cruise struck Alder
aulc, Patrick GuInett Mrs 0urnett ana three young
children. started from Omaha with A. bullteano An a
caravan which occupied six months 10 covering the
distance 20 virginia City Mont Cruise and the CUR.
netss probably became acquainted there In suhse-
quent years when the Gurnetts became ranchers n
the Missouri valley south OF Helena Cruses poverty
as prospector was frequently relieved BY the food
reserves OF the Gurnett homestead. Frank j. Iange
son Of an Omaha family OF pioneer grocers is the
active manager Of cruse's savings bank and has
been confidential associate and adviser Of the million
aire for years past Another Omaha man Harry
cotter. married cruse's daughter Mary. who died
year aso last November. cTusa and cottsr ala not
pull together and the death OF the daughter widened
the breach which eontnued 70 the gold miners end