The New York herald., 1875-08-30
RALSTON'S RUIN.
Further Particulars as to the
Bank Of California.
A STARTLING STATEMENT PROMISED
Liabilities Fourteen Millions--As-
sets Six Millions.
THE PULPIT AND RALSTON.

SAN FRANCISCO, August 20, 1875.
The city to-day has resumed its wonted quiet The
excitement of the last few days has died out and gem
era feeling OF confidence to have followed. In
banking circles no further apparently felt
MERCHANTS EXCHANGE BANK
The Secretary Of the Merchants Exchange Bank in
an interview to-day, stated that the bank will resume
business in the morning without doubt. The trans
fers from the United States Treasury and the coin COL
lected from local sources have placed the institution in
condition to go usual, and is anticipated
tomorrow beyond what may be expected in the usual
course of business only.
THE SUSPENDED BANKS
The other suspended bank, the National Gold Bank
and Trust Company, report favorable progress but
they will not open for business for several days yet
THE MERCHANTS SOLID
Tomorrow collection day, but it is confidently be-
ieved that it will pass without any suspensions The
larger proportion of the mercantile community is in
condition to satisfy full demands presentation and
general disposition is evnced render aid and exen-
sion to those who need it.
MEMORIAL SERMONS YESTERDAY
In the city churches to-day the attendance was un-
usually large, drawn by the memorial sermons de-
livered in many of them the death Of Mr. Ralston,
late President of the suspended Bank of California The
general tenor of the discourses eulogstc on the
due discrimination in regard to the Of his
FUNERAL TODAY
The funeral tomorrow will undoubtedly be a most
imposing event. number OF civic and military So
cieties, together with other public and corporate
bodies, have sgnhed their intention Of attending tho
obscquies and large concourse of citizens will unite
in paying last tribute to the dead
BANKS IN INTERIOR.
Except in Los Angeles, where all the banks are tenn
porarily suspended the Bank of Caornias failure does
not seem to have affected the interior.
VIEWS OF THE DIRECTORS.
Although the Directors OF the Bank OF California as a
Board have perssteny refused to make public any of
their proceedings to-day facts have this evening
been obtained from individual members In view of the
death of Raston the Board have declined to make pub
lie any discovery they may have made until after the
funeral, when startling disclosures are promised 1t
admitted by member that the Board would not
have asked for Mr. Ralstons resignation grave
facts regarded the management had to light All
the Board agreed that he must leave the concern it
also practically admitted that the bank could not pay
depositors in full but would perhaps pay about eighty
per cent AS regards what has been said about the in
uence exerted BY the Gall and Bulletin their strc-
lures upon Raston in causing the crash, it ad-
mitted that the facts prove these structures to have
been well founded and that they could have had bad
effects the bank had it not been intrinsically
weak Tho gentlemen interviewed were disposed to be
very retcen but the above statement be received
as an unwilling expression OF facts.
A DIVIDEND.
Although detailed of its affairs has yet
been made it is well settled fact that the failure the
Bank of California is total and that will never attempt
to business It's stock worse than worthless
With liabilities OF than $14 000 0OO the highest
estimate puts its assets at ssOOoOOo; but it 10 doubtful
If So 900, 900 can be realized
DIRECTORS DECEIVED.
The directors, such Mills Tallant and other men of
undoubted integrity were deceived until the last by
false statements regarding the banks resources.
CAIFoRNIANs SKETCH OF RALsToN's CHARAc-
TER-THE ROMANCE OF LIFE ON THE PACIFIC
COAST.
The sad fate of the daring speculative genius OF the
Pacific slope is still the subject of conversation in bus
ness circles in this city.
A HERALD representative waited on some prominent
Californians who sojourning at the Windsor Hotel
among the gcst distinguished State Official and the
following information elected in response TO various
qucstions:-
''Yes knew William C. Ralston we'll He was a
whole -soued generous man. and could not say NO to
anybody who had fair business proposition to submit
consider that the whole of the State of California in
his death has sustained
LOSS.
His career has always been marked by patriotism
and public spirit 1t has been already published that
he of the Committee of Public Safety; his name
was of the first given to the Sanitary Commission
together with handsome subscription, and every in
dusry of the State had his support His business
judgment considered na lblc, yet did put so
much confidence in that after his gullibility
in investing short time ago in the great diamond
fraud, by which large sums Of money paid to men
for interest in company who to and work
immense
DIAMOND FIELDS
said to have been discovered In the West One Of your
townsmen inveigled into this Also and as he
is accounted shrcwd lawyer perhaps poor Ralston's
judgment not much in fault after all and in
deed, human ingenuity had almost been exhausted by
the rogues in going far to buy quantities of uncut
diamonds in Europe and Sailing certain fields and
rocks with them.
RALsroN WAS A TEMPERATE MAN
and ndefatigable worker After leaving his bank in
the afternoon he would drive the valley of Dabo
Canyon where his palatal country was situated
This is nearly twenty-five miles from San Francisco,
and relays Of fresh horses used to make
the journey. He often told me the fresh
air and excitement of the drive seemed
necessary to him after the arduous and exhaustng
mental labor OF business His house nearly always
full of guests and his hospitality was boundless Every
evening at ten O'Clock he would retire. matter how
many people he entertaining, saying 4 must be
excused | need sleep, and have to be on the road
early tomorrow morning His habit in this respect
was well known, and he at the bank each morning
at nine O'Clock In business he quick decided
and seemed to have unusual breadth OF thought
rare comprehension of character and subtle insight
into the nature Of all business affairs which made his
judgment of schemes wonderfully exact and true In
person he about FIVE feet eight inches high, had
broad shoulders and generally compactly built; his
eyes "A blush gray and his complexion norid
His wife Is an accomplished aud lovely lady, the niece
OF Colonel Fry, think he has -four children
FLOOD, 0'BREN AND HEYDENFELr PARTY,
who accredited with being in the conspiracy lock
up gold and thus rum the Bank of California,
almost as well known in San Francisco Ralson, on
OF their immense wealth, taken from the big
Bonanza mines, the riches of which have by
been overcsmatcd. An old miner told me yesterday
that IL probable there from $500 000, 900
to 81, 900 100000 worth OF silver in the Con-
soidated Virginia, Ophir, Caledonia, Savage and
California mines which these Bank of Nevada men
control Flood and OBrien began life saloon keepers
in Virginia CITY, and Heydcnfclt formerly judge.
lie fought a duel years ago with Harry Edgerton,
who insulted him by calling him negro in public