A Sportsman 401 



allowed in the consideration of other business sub- 

 jects. The large advantages gained by some in 

 mining, exceptional cases of success, stimulate the 

 feeling for gain beyond the exercise of sound reason. 

 Mining interests therefore attract a class of adventurers 

 more plentiful than connected with other interests. 

 Many of these adventurers are ready to take ad- 

 vantage of the public in any manner and by any 

 dishonesty they can bring to bear, while other ad- 

 venturers, with a blind confidence arising from 

 ill-regulated and inexperienced conditions, although 

 sensible otherwise, will; lead on men far superior to 

 themselves in acuteness, and involve them in the fol- 

 lowing of an "ignis fatuus" phantom which leads to 

 mire and loss. This class is perhaps more dangerous 

 than the first. But the worst of all is the plausible 

 rogue who has confidence in his ignorance. 



This Meyers represented an entirely different type 

 than that of Williams, being a man of education 

 and some scholarly attainments, and the author of 

 some interesting articles regarding mechanical and 

 mining appliances, which had appeared in a prom- 

 inent mining journal. Despite this he proved to be 

 a man of impracticable ideas, deficient in good sense, 

 fantastic in action, and hyperbolic in illustrations; 

 arrogant to those we met on our route, untruthful, 

 and in fact a complete knave whose questionable 

 actions afterward gave him several experiences within 

 prison walls. He, however, stood well in the simple 

 community where he resided, excepting with the 

 store-keepers, and posed as an eminent authority 

 in scientific affairs, and having a comfortable and 

 scholarly appearance sustained at first pretty well 

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