The Parker post., 1916-02-12
REPORTER
IN ERROR
is THE CLAIM OF w. A. DRAKE,
REFERRING TO A STORY PUB
LISHED IN A RECENT ISSUE OF
THE POST.

In the last issue OF The Post there
appeared story of mining deal i'm
which the name of W. A. Drake, gen
eral manager of the Santa Fe COM
pany, was mentioned in an incident
connected Herewith. The article in
question was published in good faith,
under the belief that the details as
given by our informant were correct.
1t now appears, however, that Mr..
Drake takes exceptions to certain
matters stated therein as being er-
rOneous, so in Justice to him, we
publish his criticism as made in the
following letter, written by him from
Prescott and dated the 7th instant:
My Dear Flanagan
81 note copy of the Post of Febru-
ary 5th and read with interest what
you entitle, Manganese Mine Sold,
and that is a very readable story.
l dislike very much to write anything
which conflicts with such a pleasing
narrative.
81 really think that Mr. Schellenger
is the only one who comes through
| this affair and may be called the
winner, and I am truly glad. that he
made sale because of any action of
mine or the party with me, and l am
thinking of bringing action for a COM
mission. Ask him if he. will stand
for it,
While our party was at Parker we
were SO fortunate as to meet a citi-
zen who apparently was native
when that part of the world was or
iginally built, and, as We were search
ing for information, we were honored
by conversation with this gentleman.
He seemed so willing to tell all about
it, and as our particular quest at this
time was for information concerning
manganese ores, We listened with
much interest to an historical essay
on that particular subject. I regret
that We did not consult Bradstreet
before that interview. AS the result
of our talk with this gentleman, we
concluded to go and see the best
and largest deposit of manganese on
this side of the world, and started for
it by the next train. We received
most courteous treatment from near
ly everyone of whom We made in
quiries, seeking information, and with
one notable exception We received
truthful replies. Because of the ex-
ception, We failed in finding the ore
which We desired to see.
The story of the horseback ride
makes a delightful story and gives
information of which We had no pre-
viOus knowledge.
''It is fact that Mr. Cruice and |
spent a whole week travelling about
the country, aiding as far as possible
eastern gentlemen to see what could
be seen in the way of mine develop
ment, mine prospects, and especially
those of manganese ore We were
undertaking to get all the informa-
ton possible which would, in the end,
benefit the country at large if the
inc
be found. The gentlemen who went
with us had not the slightest inten-
tfon of making immediate purchase
of any single property. Still it is
regretted that we missed seeing the
biggest and best of all
1 have always made it my affair to
listen to everything that anyone had
to say about the mineral character
istics of the state. l recognize that
large portion of the wealth of the
state lies in its minerals, ,and | have
never ceased to make inquiries of
and give consistent assistance to any
one who had information. 1t is my
chagrin that during the last month
of the many years which l have spend
in this search for Information to have
uncovered the first absence of truth
funless in my intercourse with peo-
pie interested in minerals.
1t is my pleasure to know that Mr.
Schellenger has gained by an act of
mine and that of my associates 1t
is my regret that my belief in the
truthfulness of human. nature led me
so far estray and to have discovered
that one may make mistakes in trust
ing and believing everything that is
told.
&c AS a matter of fact, had your dis