Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-10
Ralslon,a ReekIess socInI Lire.

1t was in Virginia City that Ralston
became acquainted with Sharon and
Jones, who were then inexperienced su-
perintendents Of mines, working upon a
salary, and with nothing more than this,
except 8 great deal of presumption.
They built the Reno and Virginia City
railroad, or rather the Bank Of Califor-
MIA did, which was a monopoly; the
bank reached out its tentacles and
grasped everything financially and com.
mercially. 1t established branches in
nearly every city. 1t put its money into
corporations. 1t finally got hold Of the
quicksilver mines, in which business
Ralston had once beenEengaged, and
soon monopolized the trade. In short,
the institution began to raise its impreg.
nable head of monopoly. Ralston al
this time became generally known as a
business man, and his social life was al
the same time matter of comment
among the people of the slope. He was
known as the man who set all social
eonventionalities at defiance. He cared
nothing for public opinion. He lived
only for W. G. Ralston and the pleasure
that individual experienced. he out.
ragged 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 stone s
throw of his house, where lived his wife
and children, and lavished money and
gems upon abandoned characters in suf.
fcient sums to make scores independ
ent for life. Money came and went like
the steady, profuse flow of deep stream.
He did nothing by piece meal. In con.
junction with his companions he scat
tered wealth with the lavish hand OF a
modern Cresus. A circumstance which
happened during his sojourn in Virginia
City will serve to illustrate as well as
could anything else the prevailing char.
acteristics of this strange man. John
Mccullough, the tragedian, was in the
hight Of 5is glory on the coast. He
made visit to Nevada, and had played
several nights in Virginia City to
crowded houses. he was a special ia.
vorite of Ralston, Sharon and couple
Of others. Mccullough 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 Reno. 1t was in the
early evening and after business
hours, when Ralston and few others
conceived the idea that it would be a
capital 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 it was impossible; he was prepared
10 20 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
theater, and make everything ready.
The theater was small affair, and would
not seat more than 700 or 800 people.
Mccullough saw that il would not do to
refuse the men who had been his best
patrons and bankers, and so he made
ready. There was no doorkeeper that
night. 1t was free to all; but there was
man in the box.ofiice who sold tickets
simply for the sake Of appearances. Il
was Q grand blowout gotten up by the
bank people. The receipts that night
amounted to the unprecedented figure
of $l3200, and II was all contributed by
three or four men, most conspicuous
among whom was VIC. Ralston. In
short It was grand drunk, and money
was as free as the air Of heaven, The
plan pursued was for all concerned to &C
! TO the ticket office and buy $500 worth o.