The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-30

Sharon, and couple of others, McCul-
louth had closed his engagement and was
ready to leave the city. His trunks were
packed and at the stage station ready to
make their journey to Reno. 1t was in
early evening, and after business hours,
when Ralston and few others conceived
the idea that it would be capital thing to
have Mccullough play once more, SO they
sent word to him that they wanted him to
appear that night in the Gladiator.
John sent back word that it was impossi-
bic; he.was prepared to go.to San Francisco,
and he could not delay his journey. This
would not do; play he must. Messengers
were sent to bring his baggage back, to
light up the theatre and make everything
ready. The theatre was small affair, and
would not seat more than 700 or 800 peo-
pie. Mccullough saw that it would not do
to refuse the men who had been his best
patrons and bankers, and so he made
ready. There was no door keeper that
night. It was free to an; but there was
man in the box-office who sold tickets sim
ply for the sake of appearances. 1t was
grand blowout, gotten up by the bank
people. The receipts that night amounted
to the unprecedented figure of $4,000,
and it was all contributed by three or four
men, most conspicuous among whom was
w. Z. Ralston. In short it was grand
drunk, and money was as free as the air Of
heaven. The plan pursued was for all con-
cerned to go to the ticket Office and buy
$500 worth of tickets each, after which all
would adjourn to wine cellar and wager
basket of wine that each one could tear
bis tickets up il the soonest time. When
they had concluded this game the box Of
fee was out of tickets, there was $4,000
in the till, Mr.. Mccullough had finished
the play, the floor was strewn with tickets,
and the whole party was as drunk as men
can we'll get This, in short, was the grand
incentive which ruled the nature of w. G..
/ RalstoD. # tsst-a Et- - 'f---.'
After the excitement of Virginia City,
Ralston went to San Francisco and took
charge of the bank as cashier. That he
was successful there can be none to deny.
Under the management of the officers I'M
der his regime the bank was one of the
most successful institutions on the CONT
neut. 1t was looked upon as bank that
was as firm as the adamantine hills which
guard the Pacific slope. 1t was found in
every enterprise that was inaugurated. 1t
ramifed into nearly every town in the
state of California. In short, the bank
was the state, it controlled everything-f-
nances, industries, politics. 1t was one
gigantic combination, great moneyed
ring.
Ralston here began to expand his extrav
lagancies. His mansion at st. Mateo was
one of the most elegant residences on thu
lslope. 1t was more like palace than ;
humble dwelling; it entertained PEG
pie in all the magni6cence of an Ara
bian dream. It's owner lived like king
He kept his relays of horses on the roaC
between the city and his country house
and travelled in all the style of an Orienta
PRINCE 1t was the resort of distinguished
visitors to the coast, and was maintained
with money which was set aside for tina
special purpose by the Bank of California
Many one who has been entertained be
meath this hospitable roof has closed hi
eyes and wondered how long that style o
extravaganza could possibly last.
Not only was Ralston extravagant in hi
manner of entertainments but he scattere,
money with lavish hand wherever it wa
asked, and often where it was least ez
pected. The bank became identified will
l mduy luttEeStS WulCu were COuSlucIeu eA
travagaht, The mining adventures O
Nevada were profuse and almost unparalle
ed; it owned mills and controlled stock t
an almost unheared-of degree. Finally, i
lightened its hand upon the mining stock
of the coast and played with them at vii
> 1t built the great hotel of the Pacific:
> ruled the state; it made and unmad
, senator's and governors. it did just abou
: as it pleased; and in it and above it all wa
|, distiuguishable the hand and connivancee
the man Ralston
n 1t would seem that to every game thel
E must come, sooner or lator, day of reel
: onning, and it reached Ralston when, aftt
1 the failure of the great money centre of Il
;. Golden state, and the precipitation of Il
t avalanche of disaster, he stepped off Il
n wharf on North beach End ended his gre;
. and peculiar career.