The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-11

"Borax' Smiths Courage Helps
Him in Winning a Second
Fortune.
DON'T WEAKEN" HIS MOTTO
Now, at Age Of seventy-Three, He 10
Master Of Another Fortune Of Sow
eraI Miilions-Fiohtino Phil
osophy Adopted in Youth.


osophy Adopted in Youth.
| San Francisco.-His life slogan had
! been: Don't weaken! What is age7
Courage is the thing Refuse to be
| beaten! -
So when, at the age Of sixty five.
Francis NJ C"Borax'') Smith found
that his $2O,OOO,OOO fortune was gone
and that he was not only "br0ke" but
in debt to the tune Of several millions.
he didn't contemplate suicide. Nor did
he quit
Today, at the age of seventy-three,
he is master Of another fortune of sey-
eral millions and fighting with both
fists to regain his lost title of "Borax
King" And II he runs true to form
he's likely to get it.
An accident, occurring when he wlA
twenty-eight, caused 'Borax" Smith TO
adopt his fighting philosophy. He had
purchased a small timber claim In No
vada and taken contract to supply
with fuel a Nevada mine. One day
he returned to find four Mexicans and
an Indian, all armed, cutting down his
wood. Smith had but four cartridges
and rifle. But, thought he, the IN
truders did not know that Did ho
dare tackle five of them?
He Routs Trespassers.
Don't weaken!'' said his courage.
He fired two Shots The trespassers
fed.
1t was from his timber claim that
he first saw upon the adjacent desert
the broad white streaks that later
were to make his first fortune. His
borax discovery meant little If YOU
weakened" There was but little de
mand for it and the price was high.
About 600 tons year was used. rhe
recalls.
News of his discovery caused a ter
rife slump in value. His associates
quit.
Don't weaken !" said his courage
Smith stuck. He accumulated a for
tune of some $25,OO0OO0, but only az
ter he had Ione-handedly packed borax
out Of the desert and created big
market for it.
Then, with a large income to invest.
Smith became interested in q fast fer
ry system between San Francisco and
Oakland which, it is held practically
made the city of Oakland Huge ex-
penditures were involved and the rail
road competition came. At the age
OF sixty-tive he had developed cities,
but lost his fortune and plunged into
debt.
Don't weakenl' said his courage.
He saw his borax holdings sold to pay
loans. But also lie recalled that many
years back he had been one of the
interested in Il silver claim
that, to all appearances, would not
produce Smith had thought different
" and put in $4,000, taking stock in
payment This he had turned over to
MS wife just before the crash came.
And now in his extremity, the mine
was coming to his rescue.
Stakes AII-Wins.
He at once went after borax de
posits in the Searles lake region, Sc
cured leases after a hard fight In
Washington, and made the mine pay
'or his initial equipment If it failed
he mine was lost-and there was
,ome reason to believe that 1t might.
lust then came word that three pros
)ectOrs had found a bOrax mine In
Nevada, near the Grand Canyon. He
ode 80 miles on horseback into the
lesert to get there. He didn't have
line to appraise the property, for com
,etitors were In the field. He had to
let at once and only upon his Judg
nent.
Don't weaken! !" said his courage
4e 1esed the deal for quarter ofse{
= r. And he wAs@ ssYsnt
I Ne Judged wrong flfs FAST card WlLs :
,one He took the mine while aston
shed rivals looked on.
Today the firm announces that therel
$ $24 100000 worth Of borax in sight
here.
SO he has no cause to regret his
logan: Courage is the thing What
) age? Don't weaken"