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Show LUCKY GOLD HUNTERS. torn of Those Who Struck It Rich In the Tlctor Fields Were Poor Men. During the period of first locations among the rich mines at Victor there were incidents which form an interesting interest-ing history concerning the character of the men and the peculiar circumstances under which they made their lucky finds. All of them were poor, and nearly all have quickly grown from poverty t affluence, while many others now shar the benefits of their fortune. It is weli known that the two leading discoverers were poor carpenters W. S. Stratton, the millionaire owner of the Independence, Independ-ence, and W. T. Shemwell, who found the Elkton. Of all men known to possess pos-sess wealth Mr. Stratton is one of the least pretentious, though lie realizes the ' benefits and blessings of fortune and says he will enjoy the uses of his money to the end of making the balance of his life pleasant. Shemwell, owning 100,-! 100,-! 000 shares in the Elkton, is over in Honolulu with his family, having a good time on an income of $1,000 per month. n It is well known that Burns and Doyle were also poor young men who found the rich Portland mine by the usual chances of the prospector and for some time were unaware of their good fortune. When they had reached a depth of 18 feet in the process of development work, John Haman, another poor prospector, pros-pector, purchased a third interest in the claim for $300. After the purchase, greatly to his joy and in one Bense to the discomfiture of the locators, an essay from the ore gave returns of $20, 000 in gold to tho ton. Immediately after that the partners shipped 19 small sacks that netted them $1,900 cash. Since that time these men have grown wealthy, and the group of mines belonging to the Portland continues to grow in riohness. Many others in the district are now going through the first stages of such experiences, and there are many more mountains and hills that will some day be scarred and drilled and honeycombed as Battle mountain appears to be today. Denver Times. |