Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-01

he began to place his feet with firm
ness upon the rungs Of the ladder
which was destined to lift him aubse.
quently to asummit OF financial great
ness.
In 1859 or GO, Ralston was invited
by the directors of the Bank OF Cali
fornia to leave his ways OF water and
to the more arduous and skillfnl du-
ties of running bank in tho new
mountain town OF Virginia City, which
was attracting attention by the dis
covery of rich mines. 1t was posi-
ton which called for the display Of a
peculiar order of talent 1t threw him
in contact with as shrewd class OF
men as breathed; it made him the
compeer OF men who lived by their
wits it precipitated him into tho vor-
tex of wild life which was moved by
insane excitement and perpetually
famed into flame by the strongest
passion. Everything at that place in
those days was wild with excitement.
1t was here, as a manager OF the branch
OF the bank of California, that Ralston
began that acceleration of life which
has ,hus suddenly plunged him into
eternity. He was surrounded by fast
men, dealt with fast men, lived q fast
life, and became in short time q man
of fast principles. "Nothing venture,
nothing gain" was the motto of tho
people. Risk all, win all, was the
principle; lose All-busted was the re-
suit. Money was almost 40 free 40 air.
aud its commercial value was COM
paratively unknown. Surrounded by
such influences, growing up under
such peculiarly fast surroundings, 1t
was not to be wondered at, perhaps,
that William G. Ralston became i'm
bued with the same fast principles and
found tho peculiar gambling, risking
element engrafted upon his very ma
tnre.
Rslston at this time became gener-
ally known as business man, and his
social life was at the same time q mat
ter OF comment amongst the people Of
| the slope. He was known az the man
who set all social conventionalities at
defiance. He cared nothing for public
opinion. Helived only for w. C.Ral.
ston and the pleasures " hich that in.
dividual experienced. He outraged
what little there was Of decency In the
mining camp, and lived . life Of wild
and almost utter recklessness. He
maintained fast women within a
stones throw of his home, where lived
his wife and children, and lavished
money and gems upon abandoned
characters In sufficient sums to make
scores Independent for life.
A circumstance which happened
during his sojourn in Virgins City
will serve to illustrate AZ well a. could
anything else the prevailing character
istics of this strange man. John Nc
Culloch, then was In the height of his
glory on the coast. He made . visit
to Nevada, and had played severa
nights in Virginia City to crowded
houses. He was . special friend o.
Ralston, Sharon and q couple of others
McCulloch had closed his engagement
and was ready to leave the city. Rails
ton and few others conceived that Il
would be capital idea to have Nc
Culloch play once more, 90 they sem
word to him that they wanted him Il
appear In the Gladiator"
Mccullough saw that it would moi
do to refuse the men who had beer
his best patrons ana bankers, ana o
ne made ready. Ihere was no goo.
keeper That night. IL was Tree 20 al
out there was q man IN the uox-omce
VINO sold tickets simpiy iof the sake
OF appearances. IL was grand Dlow
out, gotten up by the bank people
The receipts that night amounted e
the unprecedented hgure OF $l5,5u0
and 1t was oil contributed by tnes'
four men, most c0nsplcuous among
whom was w. q. Ralston. In shor
1t was q grand drunk, and money wa
as free az the air of heaven. The plat
pursued was for all concerned TO g
to the ticket office and buy $5OO WORT
OF tickets each, after whicn al Wonio
adjourn to wine cellar and wager
Sssxss o. wine .".s e. shs soa.n ., tca'
us uehe.s W ~ .nS sni. ~. . s.ao
Tia S Sny.n sE A w.s o nnt If i;ctatss AM
thara was xI9 9C11 IN tha I'M NJ No
Cmllonch had flnishad the pIay. IN,
flnnr VAS s.rown with ,;ct e,s and m,
whn,a n.rtr wa. a. drmnk a. ma,
cnnIn Wal, uet Th;s In short WA
the grand incentive which rnled IN,
nature If w. q. RaIston.
After Inc exci,oment Of yiru;ni,
Civ Ralston went To San Francisc.
and took chares of the Bank as cashier
That he was snccessfni there can b,
none to denv. Under the manaee
ment Of the officers nnaer h;s reo;s,
the bank was one Of the most success
ful institutions on the continent.
Rslston hero began to expand hi
extravapancies. His mansion At Sa,
Mateo was one of the most elegsn
residences ON the slope. twas NOR,
like a palace than an humble dwelling
Il entertained people In ali the mag
nificenco Of an Arabian dream, III
owrer lived like a king. He kept hi
RELAYS of horses on the road betwee,
the CITY and his country house, ani
travelled in Ali the style Of an Orients
nrince. II was the resort of distineuish
ed yisitors to the coast. and was main
tanned with money which was GO
ABIDE for that special PURPOSE by IN,
| rnr..s. -.