Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-09
". G. Raiston, the Late California
Banker.

A circumstance which happened during
bis sojourn in Virginia cry wlil serve 70
illustrate NJ well a. could anything else
,he ureyaIIinp characteristics of this
STRANGE man. John Mccullough, the
,ragfdInn. sas In the height Of his glory on
Tho coast He made visit 10 Nevada,
and had played several nights in Virginia
CIty N crowded houses. He was a special
fayorite Of Ralston, Sharon, and couple
OF others. Mccullough had closed his en-
vaomept and was ready 10 leave the city.
Ills trunks were packed and nj the stage
station ready 10 make their journey 10
Reno, Il was In the early evening, aud
after business hours, when italston ana
few others conceived the idea that u
would bc capital idea 10 have MG
Cnllough play once more, so they sem
word 10 him that they wanted him 10 APP
ncar that night in the Gladiator John
sent back word that II was impossible; he
was prepared 10 90 to San Francisco, and
he could not delay his Journey. This
would not do, play he must Mes
senpers were sent TO bring his baggage
bnck. 10 light up the iheater and make
everything ready. The theatsr was n
small affair, and would not seat more
Than 700 or 800 people. Mccullough saw
that il would not do 10 refuse the men
who had been his best patrons and bank
ers. and so he made ready. There was no
doorkecper that night. wasfrcc TO all but
there was man In the ox'oiiicc who sold
tickets simply Tor the sake oil appearances
II was a grand blowout, gotten up by The
bank people. The receipts That night
amounted 10 the unprecedented figure OF
flS, 900, and 1t was all contributed ny
three or four men, most conspicuous
among whom was w. &. Ralston. In
short Il was u grand drunk, and money
WAS as free as the air of heaven. The
plan ulrsucd was for all concerned 10 go
10 the ticket Office and buy $500 worth OF
tickets each, after which all would nd.
iourn 10 the wine.cellar and wager n
basket Of wine that each one could tear
his tickets up In the soonest time When
they had concluded this game the box
office WINS out Of tickets, there was Fl3,2OO
In The I'll, Mr., Mccullough had finished
the inlay. the lloor was strewn with tickets
and the whole party were rs drunk AS men
can well gel. This, In short, was the
grand incentive which ruled the nature OF
W. &. Ralston.
Amer the excitement of Virginia City
Ralston went 10 San Francisco and took
charge of the bank rs cashier. That he
was uiceessfi,, there can be none to deny
Under the management OF the officers un.
der his regime The bank was one OF the
most successful institutions on the cont.
nent. II was looked upon as a bank that
was as firm as the adamantine hills which
guard the Pacific slope. II was found 10
every enterprise that was inangurated. II
ramihed into nearly every town In the
State of California. In short, the bank
was the State, II controlled everything
finances, industries, politics. II was one
gigantic combination--a great moneycd
ring.
Ralston here began to expand his ex.
trayagancles. Ills mansion Mt san Mateo
was one of the most elegant residences on
the slope II was more like palace than
AN humble dwelling; II entertained PEG
ple In all the magnificence OF an Arabian
dream. It's owner lived like king. He
kent his relays Of horses on the road be.
tween the city and his country.house, and
travelled Ia all the style OF an Oriental
Prince. II was the resort OF distinguished