Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-04-18
But Few Were Experienced in
Mining; Jobs Scarce in State

month-because It might make trouble for
the timekeepers.
welI-known old-time miner, employed at
| the Anaconda, was caught one afternoon
on the last day Of the month-slttine down, hy
/ Jack O'Nein mo fair ketch, Jack" he said.
This morning thee had on 3 black hat and
this afternoon thee have on q white one. I"
You're fired" Jack said They both went
up on the same cage. What's the chance for
q Job, Jack" the miner said as they neaEso
/ the surface. why, fired you few minutes
ago." o'NeiIi exclaimed. II know thee did
but IT'S the last Of the MONTH" the miner
answered. 7 might as well ask thee now
to come around tomorrow" He got his Job
back.
Men who we're discharged at one mine OF
the company In the middle or early part Of
the month didn't hesitate 70 change their
names and obtain employment ct another
mine.
Farmer Turns Miner
Tom Murphy, the son Of q Dakota farmer.
who had worked In several towns in Mon
tana ct mining and smelling, went TO Tona-
pah. He and Al Minkler, another Montana
man, took up a lot Of ground Minkler grew
discouraged, turned his holdings over to
Murphy and left for California
Tom was the type that nothing bothered It
was said Of him that The could sit an hour
without moving q muscle" Tom held down
his claims. when the boom o oo came am 70 Tons-
Si9 100000 was in stock and s6,0O0,00O In
cash He paid a visit to Butte shortly after
ward
Il wish you would help me locate my eous-
in, John Sullivan" he said. He is g Grass
Valley. Calf. man and he Is working in
the mines. would like 10 do something for
him"
When asked why he did not look in the
telephone directory for the party, he threw
out his hands hopelessiy. Il looked In the |
directory" he said, land found four pages I
Of him" He never located his cousin as far /
as known.
Thera vpara 1ot. - San. ava dor-,~ u ~.
Dos The miner Of today was the millionaire
Of tomorrow-and vice versa Murphy, when
he died several years ago was worth only
s25, 000 IL is said
In his lush days he went 20 Salt Lake City
and bought $4,000 worth Of mining machin-
cry. He rendered a check. Know anybody
here that win identify you" he was asked.
Tom hired hack and drove out to the
Orphan Boy smelter and asked Frank Slock
Did Montanan, who was foreman Of the plant.
% 60 with him to the business house to
That's good" the dealer said Now where
shall we find someone to identify Mr..
Murphy finally had to telegraph his bank
n Tonapah to wire g description Of him
md statement Of his standing to the Salt
Lake City people.
Charley Mahoney. vice president OF the
Western Federation OF Miners. who knew Muir
'hy wen, visited him in Tonapah. When he
earned OF the big block Of stock that Tom
arried and had examined the mine he urged
IF the leads were solid gold that stock
couldn't be worth the price It is quoted at"
le said. But Murphy was stubborn. 1T win
louble In value in five years" he declared .
optimism busted him In the END.
Loses Fortune
George Reynolds, Great Falls, Butte and ,
anaconda smelterman, got q Job in Old !
4extco after several other smeltermen had
urned 1t down because Mexican dollar is I
My worth go cents" they said. Reynolds also I
ot hold Of number Of mining claims which i
lie sold to the Oreene-Canannea for So 00O,0 :
It last reports his estate was reduced to the !
alue Of fine residence he had given his =
gife as q present In his palmy days lie had
lso legal action pending against a mining 8
ompany for q large sum. S
kd Boyce. president Of the Western Fedora
ion Of Miners is remembered on the Butte q
Ill as "a good miner" In Portland, Ore,
e Is known as a good millionaire kindly =
mployer, contributor to every charity and Z
warm supporter Of every worthwhile civic I
Movement. Boyce made his money out Of the v
lercules mine-Rnd kept It, Once q friend was
orth lot OF money--on paper Boyce thought n
ne friend had sure thing Nov, old man. 6
men you realize on that property" he said, Z
watch out for fakirs You viii be approached y
all types Of people, some honest enough
geryone VIII have something TO sell you s.
lat win make millions for your q
Today It is impossible to see him unless N
ne makes an appointment-or is an old =
ute man The fakirs have bounded him .
'azy.
Tommy Cruise was another who hung onto s.
g money. When Cruise was 8 poor prospector II
)hn Caplice, the Butte merchant was look n
lg over his books who IS this fellow. ;,
ruse7 he asked his manager Il see his e
anne scattered through the day book" he J.
as told that Cruise was prospector. Hadn't y
~ better 60 light on him7" he asked A o
" years later Cruise sold out to an Eng n
N company for several million dollars.
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