This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Gold alchemist tale of Harkness and Wachtmeister in 1883
A San Francisco broker, Leander Harkness, interviews Heinrich Wachtmeister an alleged chemist who claims to produce real gold. The fake experiment unfolds with checks, a hidden laboratory, and a dramatic assay of a gold bar valued at $1,100, ending in disillusion as the supposed mine of wealth collapses and love interests collide.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harkness
Pacific Coast
Stock Exchange
Dye
Heinrich Wachtmeister
University of Utrecht
Dr. Wechtmeister
Mr. Harkness
Utrecht
Wachtmeister
Kathen Schrader
Max
United States
Kathen
Mr. Harbitsch
San Francisco
Hell Hach
Oue
Nonce
Sawyer
H. At Bateson
Max Sommer
Harbitach
Semmler
Ratcher
Lin
Katchen
Sssager
S Fashionable
National Live-Stock Journal
Seuton
The
G. L. Perkins
Oakland
Solomon Sayles
Charcot
Klein
Batault
Ochorowicz
Boston Herald
Mara
Schiaparelli
England
Italy
Detroit Free Press
Wilmington
New England
Transcaspian
Russia
Portland
Stoneware Company
Boston
Jack
Greyhound
Safa
Oliver Bilsworth Wood
St. Nicholas