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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1901)
Wednesday, January 23, 1901 THE SUMPTER MINER BALDWIN AND HEARST Both Their Fortunes the Re sult of Chance. The following accout of how Luckv Baldwin and George Harst made their fortunes In mining operations Is going the rounds of the press: "Lucky Baldwin made tils first big strike In a most accidental wav. He was not a miner and kne nothing about mines," said a man from San Francisco, w ho keeps tab on the doings ot mru of millions. "He kept a livery stable hi San Francisco and made considerable monev. He always liked horse. They were hi hobby then just as they have been since, when he made himself uell known through his successes on the turf. "Some milling man owed Baldwin sev eral hundred dollirs for horses on a llverv bill or something and couldn't pay him. One day he offered Baldwin a lot of stoik in the Ophir mine, which was near the mines hi whkli Flood, O'Brien, Fair, Mackay and others were Interested. Ophir stock wasn't worth anything only a few cents a share nor were the other mines near It worth much then. Baldwin accepted the stock in payment of the debt and threw it in his safe, thinking that he might get something out of It some day. He had about 2,00050 shares. "One morning he woke up and found himself a millionaire. The Comstock mines had gone up and Ophir went up with them just because it was close to them. 'I he stock which had cost Baldwin a (ew cents a share were worth hundreds of dollars a share. He had sense enough to sell out at the proper time. "George Hearst's first strike was also accidental, although he was a practical miner. He was superintendent of a mine down in Arizona, where the men who con trolled the company simply wanted to keep a lot of men at work for the purpose of selling the stock at a profit. They did not think the mine was worth anything. They kept up the bluff as long as they could, but finally the bottom dropped out of the stock, and they sent Hearst word to stop work and take the men to Los Angeles to be paid off. "Hearst told the men they were to quit work that night and get rtady to abandon the mine at once. In a spirit of hilarity the men decided to celebrate by putting In just one big blast. Hearst did not object, and they put In a blast calculated to tear things to pieces. They set it off just at quitting time and stood back to watch the effect. The blast tore out tons of rock and dirt and made the place look like an earthquake had struck it. "Then the men went and got their sup per and prepared for an early start over the desert next morning. Heatst was too much of a miner, however, to leave with out examining the rock that had been torn out by the blast. He found what he knew was a very ricli vein of ore. After collecting a few samples of quartz he walked up to the little camp and joined the rest In preparing for the journey. He said nothing about his discovery. "The men were paid off in Los Angeles, and Hearst went on to San Francisco, where the president of the company paid him about (5,000 that was due him. That night he went into a faro bank and won $5,000 more. Next day he called on the president to settle up a few small matters, and when asked what he was going to do, said he was going east for a while to visit the folks. " 'By the way,' he said, M think I might do something with some of that Arizona mine stock In the east. I wouldn't mind trying, anyhow.' "The president thought the idea a good one and gave Hearst an option on several thousand shares. Hearst didn't want too many; he was afraid of creating suspi cion. Then he went to some men whom he knew owned stock in the mine, told them the same story that he had told the president and bought outiight all shares lie could pay for. " rill- put him in just the position he wanted. In three d.is he li.id the neces sary backing and was on the way to the mine with some experts. As a result, the companv was reorganized and the mine was reopened. Then the stock began to jump, and Hearst raked off about f 2,000, 000 and still retained a big block of stock. All of them even the former president made money, but Hearst made the most." EXTENSIVE STAGE SYSTEM. Covers Wide Stretches of Country in Oregon. While on his trip to Lakeview recently, Father McDevitt experienced the expos ure and hardships Incident to a winter stage ride of 700 miles. There Is little of pleasure in such a j unit at this time of e.ir, and one is left to make his own de cislon as to whether It would be more pleasant when the hot sun of summer beats down upon the deasert stretches which at places one must cross. How ever, that portion of the trip lying along the Upper Deschuttes would be more pleasant in July than December. In connection with staging, It is doubt ful If any place at this time remains a greater center of stage lines than is Burns. Leaving Ontario, Oregon, one may travel over connecting stage lines to Thermo, California, a distance of 650 miles. Leav ing Burns, and traveling over two ridges of the Blue mountains a traveler by stage would reach Sumpter, the great gold min ing town, in to miles. Or, driving from the latter line at Canon City he could, after riding 200 miles from Burns, see how J. W. Morrow, Frank Gilliam and J. W. Redington have built up the town of Hepp ner, which Henry Heppner founded and Dr. Shobe, lite of Pioche, Nevada, doc tored In its Infancy. But if the traveler did not wish to pass over the rich agricultural and grazing region about Long creek, Hamilton and Monument, and didn't care a cuss about the mountain scenery and big pine trees that abound along Wall creek, he could, from Canyon City, travel by stage down the John Day river, through one of the prettiest and mast productive valleys ever viewed. He could see the deserted placer ground at Spanish gulch, wheie pioneer miners tore up the eartli from creek bot tom to hill top, and carried away the gold galore. He could travel by Mitchell, where Bob Reed exceeded the jurisdiction of his office of justice of the peace In trying to do the right thing by a wife beater. Bob got the $300 fine, all right, but had to restore S250, a circumstance he regrets to this day. From Mitchell the stage traveler could proceed to Cross Hollows, alias Shanlko, the terminus of Oregon's young est railway line. These are the termini of the principal lines which touch at Bums, and if it were possible to collect the data of various stirring Incidents In their histories, an entertaining volume might be written of their lore. Harney County News. At the Club saloon, Dunphy & Gert ridge serve a line of goods equal to any that money will buy. OPERA HOUSE SALOON SUMPTER BKKR ON DRAUGHT BILLIARD AND POOL TABLES Agents for Matting ly and .Moore Whis key a ao-year-old whiskey as good as Elixir of Lite. All whiskies arc out of bond and guaran teed the genuine ar ticle. Popular re sort for Commer cial Travelers and Miners. SUMPTER, OREGON '''''''.'''''-- Prompt attention to orders for cut flow ers and floral pieces. City Green House Baker City, Oregon. T. G. Harrison, agent for Giant Pow der company. Something to depend upon Giant powder. Mining deeds for sale at this office. Never falls Giant powder. Golden Eagle Hotel American and European Plan T. T. DANILSON, PROPRIETOR Sample Rooms for Commercial Men. SUMI'TliR, OREGON k''''--'',l A. P. GOSS, President A. J. GOSS, Cashier & Bank of Sumpter 3 Trinticti t Canard lankln lailntn Interest Allowed on Time Deposits Drafts drawn on all parts of the world. Special attention to collections. Safety Deposit boxes for rent. SUMPTER, OREGON '''''' k'V'- i George W. Weigand... . 1 0 HIGH GRADE LIQUORS AND CIGARS Mining Men's Headquarters Next Door to Wonder Store iiuuiumi:, uiuiuuin vJWWW.'.'WWWr4 SUMPTER BOTTLING WORKS Manufacturer nl ml klnJt ul (.oil'onilrJ Drink ana CUtn. OprratrJ in riinnt'Cilnii will, (lie Kentucky Liquor Hous WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. GAGENA SLOAN, PROPS., SUMPTER, ORE. THE WONDER GEO. W. WEIGAND, PROPRIETOR. GENERAL MERCHANDISE A complete stock of Dry Goods, Ladles and Men's Furnishings, Boots, Shoes, Hats and Clothing. THE WONDER, BOURNE, OREGON l r 0 0