Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-06-14
Sketch of a California Millionaire.


Never was community so convulsed in our
young State as it has been during the past
month. A true record of events throughout
the State would put the bursting of the South
Sea Bubble and the annals of old Newgate TO
the blush, and Benton's Thirty Years in the
United States Senate would be but primer
in comparison of size.
Banks failinge crashing, swindlng mer-
chants suspending-some from failure of the
banks, others from rash speculations, few
from the absorption of their whole profits in
the payments of high rates of interest, but
scarcely one from fair, legitimate cause
New systems of fraud and villany are almost
daily exposed, and always does the exposure
come just too late TO afford Justice tu arrest
.i.e perpetrators. MeIggs s-nonest Harry
Meiggs-struck out in a somewhat new line,
although the elegant Wall street fnancier,
Schuyler, gave him cue but these two pale
before the brilliant accomplishments of the
latest oparator-G Hubert Sanders
This gentleman came to our city some three
small office, engaged with partner equally
poor, and the two hung out modest, yellow
painted sign, which told that they we're At
torneys and Counsellors.at Law Sanders is
Frenchman, believe /; hence he soon got
very fine practice from his countrymen. He
had married an American lady in one of the
aStp e1fIo thar of
girls one of dazzling beauty. The family
moved TO this city. The wonderful beauty of
the daughter drew TO their house crowds of
admirers-the wealth and aristocracy of our
city. A smile from the lovely fair one was a
bliss to ponder on. With increased practice
in his profession, Sanders plunged out in truly
fashionable style. His handsome daughter, in
winning suitors to herself, brought briefs TO
her father, as her admirers eagerly rivalled
each other in gaining his confidence and friend
ship, the better to succeed in their suit for the
daughter. Soon the family became noted in
high circles, and some even assigned TO them
the front rank among the ton. They rode in
the finest carriage in town, had the best horses
and plunged into all the extravaganza essential
to support their newly assumed position
| The beauty married a lawyer of some wealth,
Mr.. Albert Wheeler. The party given on
the occasion eclipsed anything of the sort ever
known in the country.
With the accumulation of business, Sanders
felt it necessary to purchase the appointment
of Notary Public, merely to facilitate his own
practice, for he was now a conveyancer, and
loaned other peoples money on the best Sc
cured real estate; and, having the authority
to take the acknowledgements Of the borrowing
and loaning parties in his office, he was saved
the trouble and annoyance of running here and
there to af1ix the notarial seal. He did the
largest business Of the kind in town. French
men especially confided in him. They were
not going TO put their money in banks, for
sometimes banks failed; they were determined
to invest safely; pusthcir money in mortgages
upon the best improved, well secured real es-
tate in the city,-so they went to Sanders,
and he did the business for them all.
| G. Hubert Sanders was now one of our
wealthiest citizens-certainly the most extrav-
agant. He drove span of sorrels before a
light buggy in the morning span Of blacks
to handsome rockaway, in the afternoon I:
and in the evening he sported carriage and
spanking pair Of bays. His Office hours were
shortened from 8 till 5, down from 10 till 2,
but between those hours he was always IN his
office, save at lunch hours, when, if any ol his
distinguished family were down shopping ne
would escort them to the ice cream saloon, and
the skill of the catering artistes was iaskea 10
their utmost, in providing dainties for them.
On one occasion last year, when strawber-
ries first appeared in the Market it is said
b;mseIf and Mrs. Wheeler ate the moderate al
lowance of 500 each, at single sitting
| The stories now told of his lavish extrava-
pance would fill fair sized octave. About
two weeks ago the eldest daughter was mar
red to gentleman in Sacramento. Another
magnificent and costly entertainment was Civ
on on the occasion. Young wife hunters