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3. The Legendary Walter George Let us pretend that by some time warp, it is one hundred years ago. We are in the village of Gold Hill, base of operations for Walter George Newman, one of the most colorful characters of the North Carolina gold rush; and everywhere we look are superstructures of mine shafts, huge piles of ore and the vast machinery of stamp mills. And there on Main Street is Walter George himself! Today , he is dressed like a city financier, but a touch more flamboyantly, in his dark suit with an ascot at his throat. As he hurries down the street on his way to the mine, Newman is a marked contrast to his surroundings where storefronts have the look of the Old West and horse drawn wagons are pulled up in front of them. Rough looking bearded men with heavy boots lift their hats to him as they swagger down the unpaved, muddy Main Street. Along with the pungent odor of wood smoke in the cold winter air is the indefinable smell of gold ... an atmosphere of underlying excitement ... of something always just about to happen. Walter George is going to be sure that it does, for his pockets are crammed with gold nuggets and one contains a vial filled with gold dust. A lovely young woman sits waiting in a fashionable carriage while the villagers of Gold Hill mining community pass and stare, curious to get a glimpse of Mrs. Walter George Newman. Inside the gleaming, black stanhope, she looks at her diamond and sapphire watch impatiently, recrosses her legs and for a moment there is a glimpse of black silk hose. It is almost time for the private train from New 36 The Legendary Walter George 37 York to arrive with their important guests. But where is Walter George? He said he had to make a trip to the mine. Why did he want to go over there like this at the last minute? He will be back though, even if the train is pulling in as he arrives. And at that moment a plump, pink faced man in a derby hat appears and jumps in beside her. We are here in time to catch a typical Walter George Newman production. Mrs. Newman looked at her husband as he got in the carriage. His face was perspiring and there was dirt on the sleeve of his almost ostentatiously expensive suit, but he was grinning like a boy. She wiped his forehead and then flicked his sleeve with her handkerchief. "Is something funny?" "My dear, that is going to be the richest mine our guests have ever seen. They will be literally stumbling over the gold." "George, you haven't ..." "Oh, but I have. Now, don't pretend to be so innocent. What do you think buys these?" He reached over and lifted the edge of her skirt exposing a silk clad ankle. "And baubles like this?" He touched her diamond watch. "Would they buy company stock the way they do if I showed them a mine with no gold?" The whistle of a train was heard and here it came, the small steam engine emitting clouds of steam into the crisp winter air pulling behind it a burgundy red Pullman car. "The Gold Hill Consolidated Company" 'embellished the side of the Pullman in brilliant gold letters. A red carpeted platform was pulled into place for the passengers to step upon, and a uniformed black porter took each visitor's arm as a dozen affluent businessmen emerged. .224.30.118] Project MUSE (2024-04-20 03:16 GMT) 38 The Gold Seekers · Richly attired in dark suits and overcoats, gold watch chains glittering across their middle, some had a copy of the Wall Street Journal under their arm and all carried expensive valises. In a moment an expansive, cordial Walter George was in their midst, the center of attention. He introduced his wife and for a few minutes the group stood exchanging pleasantries. Of course, the Wall Streeters were impressed by Walter George's private Pullman, for here was a man ofextravagant tastes surrounded with the most glittering trappings of success . The Newman "treatment" of potential investors included the train that had transported them here, replete with a bar and, oil this occasion, an entire New York floor show for their entertainment. "Refreshments! First refreshments!" he said motioning with a grandiose gesture in the direction of the Newman mansion and the men followed Walter George...

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