Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-18
The Earl Of Dunravsn-A Romance Of the
Pacific Coast.


Pacific Coast.
A Washington correspondent Of the
San Francisco Times, in writing up the
notabilties of California who are now 10
the national capital, gives the following
bit of romance about one of the best
kHown among them: Ti
Among the Californians here, James
NJ. Quinn, well-knewn to San Francis
cans, is probably the most celebrated,
because there is bit of romance at
tached to his history. 1t is briefly this /:
After an absence of twenty years, ia
Mexico and California, he returned to
Charleston, his native place, and there
found his father and mother deceased I;
but an old and faithful negro woman, his
nurse when child, had been intrusted
by his mother, before her death, with the
custody of box, to be delivered to her
son James, should he ever return. Upon
his arrival in Charleston. about two years
since, the old negress, learning of him,
sought him out and delivered the box
which she had so long and faithfully pre-
contents, it was found to contain papers,
documents and correspondence, estab-
fishing clearly his legal right to large
estate in Ireland. and to the title of Earl
of Dunraven. He Immediately placed
his papers in the hands Of Hughes, Deu-
yer & Peck, law firm of this city, and
Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Quinn will leave for
Ireland soon, to take possession of the
latter's estate. Who, among his old
friends in San Francisco, can fully real
izs that Jim Quinn, that used to be, is
now and was the Earl of Dunraven
On this hint the Times speaks of Mr..
Quinn as follows:
The strange freak of fortune narrated
in our Washington correspondence brings
to the memory of many an old Cslifor-
nian the lucky hombre who, after long
years of the viscissitudes of life on the
Pacific coast, has turned up the heir to
the Earl Of Dunraven and the master of
a splendid estate; the peer of the landed
gentry Of Ireland, and an important ac-
cession to the brilliant circles of Hiber-
nian nobility. James M. Quinn is a ma
tive of Charleston, s. G., and of Irish
ancestry. He came to California in early
days, and was particularly known at one
time as proprietor of the Willows"
favorte resort, afterward absorbed in the
rush of events. Failing in that, he went
to Portland, Oregon, opened public
house, made another failure of it, re
turned to San Francisco and put out his
shingle on Clay street, at saloon called
the Esmeralda" Mr.. Quinn was quite
a character in his way. he generally
attended the sessions Of the Legislature;
was noted for his scrupulous nicely in
costume, and certain reserved, distant
manner, which, while it did not tend to
increase the number of bis casual friends,
conveyed the idea that under his waist
coat beat o mobile" heart, aud that he
entertained high estimate and lively
appreciation of Mr.. Quinn personally,
and that sooner or later he would figure
in some brighter or loftier sphere. About
three years ago, becoming convinced that
San Francisco was no longer the adven-
turer's elysium that it had been in the
more primitive Jays of Ell Dorado, and
being troubled, withal, BY a chronic i'm
ecuniosity-unfortunately too frequent
among forty miners Mr.. Quinn went
to New York, found his way thence to
his Southern birthplace, and there learned
the agreeable fact that he was an Earl
and q rich man.
No doubt the new-msde nobleman will
support his honors with due digRity, and
with now and then pleasant reminis-
cence of his political experiences at
and glance generally at
the plebian life on the shores of the Pa
ci6c.