The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-02

W
party was, ~ course, Democratic lie had been
FRIENDLY to the Central Pacific Railroad, which
had Just absorbed the Sacramento Union news
PAPER. The allies OF this paper In San Francisco,
the Buletin aud the can, two strong Journals,
Independent in politics, knew that Raston held
such mortgage ON the 1ud Californian. their
rival. that he controlled It. SO the new Is INK
81 Nevada. under Louis McLane, the son Of
Andrew Jackson's Secretary Of the Treas
ury. the IluUctin and eau, and the Demo-
craft and Independent parties went In toge'hc
against the bank Of lialston. Us credit was i'm
urned, its master indicted. His money ana the
ank's-for he was the bank, Its whole genius
ahd ms private account ran par'!lel WIN the
enterprises: mills, wagon works, real estate,
wuollen mills, irrigating dams, gqueducts what
not ihe cnemN money Wa IN "a a e.e, ana ne
Meantime gold WIS bixh IN New York, aud the
ntcd states Treasury buying, The ,salpon
r. ch,d out for It they would not loan. lie
could not pay drafts and acceptances. They
would not now take his bank "a gift, ~ the
moment = upp,rtuno to totally dcmolsh
Ralston's ComOin Itions and take what was
profitable out Of the wreck OF the estate. par
ticularly the Union Mining and Milling Com.
pany " and railroad Of Nevada. This road had
almost literally cost Raston nothing, being paid
Tor hy the mining companies. and IL had been
Ahddlns plth to him. The strong man had
made himself So strong that there was nobody
TO save INN. And when he saw ID. q Mills and
the soda ter people take his bank and order
man To leave the room,
Then n mari c muainsup his face,
the pleasant autOcrat for eleven years, and threw
himself INFO the sea; for there was no religion
he had ever learned except generosity and enter
prise. lie dled bold man at the end of Dir INA
whore he II Il been the hero throughout, and his
death nd that heather quctncss and fnrttude
III VI Which us lace became. Not perfect, nor
yet an example, he had a mastin character. The
worst OF all IA that 50 much kindness and chiv-
airy we're not parts OF any formula Of living
which the historian can commend. Bred rough
". inspired by a harrison ne had nothing for
lis wealth to ornament but social spirit and
her OpNplDpfugut.
rocrcst Chinaman in California was weather. In
poverty than this leader VI the coast. GATH.
RAIsTON's VISITORS.
Prom the Inter. ocean.
Personally, Ralston was no less remark able a
man than his operations would imply Each
morning at the bank he received hundreds uf
visitors men who had projects to promote, men
who wanted To- share IN his ventures, men who
wanted his endorsement of their schemes, who
came TO him for advice, to borrow money, to
consult about the politics OF Cali LORNA, Oregon,
or Nevada, In oil Of which he took active part,
making and unmnking candidates, Congress.
men, Governors, and county Ofiicials-and to all
he gave quick, rapid attention, exhibiting mar
veious mastery 81 details determining with as
t1ni'hing Iapidity, and acting almost AS soon as
There was none OF the brutal coarsoncss of a
Fisk apout him Ills residence was piece Of
magnificent display, but In all about II, though
In many things ford, there was nothing actually
vulgar. lie was aman OF some culture too and
was alw W vain Of the society of literIry folk,
and no correspondent Of a newspaper ever visit
ed California who was permitted - escape Raj
ston's hospitalities even II he would.
PAYING $4,000 ron ONE NIGHTS ENTERTAIN
MENT.
Prom ne CAicI0o Times
Ralston became generally known as n business
man, and his social life was at the same time a
matter OF comment among the people Of the
slope. He was known AS the man who set all
social conventionaliues at defiance. He cared
nothing for public opinion. He lived only for
W. c. Ralston and the pleasures which that in
cividlal experienced. lie outraged what little
there was OF docency in the mining camp, and
uAh IA Of egtIH al glaaa
mesa He maintained fast women within a
stones throw OF his home, where lived his wife
aud children. He did nothing by piccemeal A
| circumstance which happened during his So
1ourn In virginia CITY Will serve To illustrate
well as could ANYTHING else the prevailing
characteristics OF this strange man. john Nc
CullouRh, the tragedian, was In the height Of his
glory on the coast lie made visit to Nevada,
and had played several nights IN virginia City
to crowded houses. He was a special favorite
Of Raston, Sharon, aud couple OF others. Nc
| Cullough had closed bis engagement and was
ready to leave the city. His trunks were packed
and at the stage station ready to make their
journey TO Keno. II was IN the early evening
and after business hours. when Ralston and Il W
Others conceived the idea that II would be a cap
ital idea 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 II was impossible he was pre-
delay his Journey. This Would not do; play he
must. Messengers were sent To bring his bag
gaze back. to light w the theatre. and make
everything ready. The theatre was a small affair,
| and would not seat over 100 or NJ people. Nc
CulOugh saw that ~ would not do to refuse the
men who had been his best patrons and bankers,
| and 80 lie made ready. There was no doorseep-
| err that night. 1t was free to all but there was
| a man In the box once who sold tickets, simply
| for the sake OF appearance. II was "A grand bio
| out, gotten up by the bank people. The receipts
| that night amounted to the unprecedented
| figure OF 1890 and II was all contributed by
| three or four men, most Conspicuous among
whom was W. {. kalstUn. The plan pursued was
for ali concerned to 20 to the ticket office and
buy $500 worth OF tickets each. after which all
would adJou to a wine cellar ana wager bas-
| ket OF wine that each one would tear his tickets
| up in the soonest time. When they had con-
| cluded this game, the box ONCE was Out Of
| tickets there was $l32D In the TIL. Mr. Nc
| Cullouch had finished the play. the floor was
strewn with tickets, and the whole party was al
| drunk as men can We'll get
Not only was Kaston eXtravagant in his man
| ner OF entertainments, but he scattered money
| with a lavish hand wherever II was asked, and
| often where 1t was least expected. The bank
| became Identified with many interests which
were considered extravagant. The mining adj
| ventures Of Nevada were profuse aud almost
| unpaT uleed. II owned mills and controlled
! stocks to an almost unheard Of degree
| Finally It lightened Its hand upon the mininl
| will. 1t built the great hotel Of the Pacific Il
| ruled the State II made and unmade Senator
| aud Governors; 1t did just about as II pleased
and in II and above II all was distinguishable tn,
| hand OF Ralston,
lie was a native OF Georgetown Mass, and fo
| some time served as q pi ot on the Mississippi
| river boats. lie led an adventurous aud some
| what rec kless life, such as was common in thos'
| DAYS. He finally reached California, where
| after a series Of speculations and successes, h,
| became "a man OF wealth.