Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-14

In front of the st. Nicholas Hotel lie
went shambling along, with his eyes cast
down, dirty brIar-wood pipe in his mouth
ragged coat on his back, an old slouched
hat on his head, pants sadly the worse for
wear, rolled up over dirty brogans. His
whole get-up was strikingly suggestive.
"How much would you give for what is on
that old fellowf" / asked my compan-
ion. After he had turned and SURVEYED
him from head TO foot the answer came.
"Well, his old clothes might bring So at
secondhand shop; but why do you ask
that question:" Because" responded,
"that old specimen of humanity is worth
three or four millions, and he usually car
ries in those old clothes from 25, 900 to $780,
600 in United States securities" And such
are the facts. The man is named Connors.
Many years ago he landed in Halifax from
Ireland with but S1s in his pocket. Stroll
ling along Wator street he saw in Junk
shop large quantity OF old brass. An
idea struck him. Could he not make a
successful deal in old brass? He entered
and Inquired how much per pound would
be accepted for the junk. His next move
was in The direction of the piers on the riv-
er front. He found vessel about to sail
for Boston in ballast, and sought an inter-
view with the captain, who proved to be
countryman of his. From him he ascer-
tained the price of brass in Boston, and af-
ter little calculation they found that they
could clear about S4OO by buying out the
jnnkman. The skipper advanced the mon
nxr el,nh A..
er. They set sail for the Hub, where they
arrived in due time, and selling their car
go, cleared $3.50 by the transaction, which
they divided between them. Connors re-
NAMED in Boston, where he made few
more lucky speculations of this nature,
and then came to this city. He lived the
life of miser, in dilapidated tenement
house, cooking his own meals, and having
as his only companion little dog, with
whom he divided his frugal meals. Every
speculation he entered into yielded him
gold, and finally, when he had accumulat-
ed about 5000, he began to operate in real
estate. He was remarkably shrewd, and
everything he touched seemed to turn into
gold as if by magic. All this time his wife
and children remained in Ireland, aud
rarely would he eondescend 10 write them,
owing TO the necessity of purchasing the
postage stamp that would be involved.
His wealth doubled nearly every year;
lots purchased for a mere song enhanced
in value rapidly; and as he prospered he
placed much in tenement houses that gave
handsome profits. Some years ago he pur-
chased the Park Hotel, corner of Beekman
and Nassau streets. Later the Central
Park Hotel was erected by him, and still
later the Astor-P Place Hotel. He now owns,
ii is said, five or six hotels and other real
estate, valued in the aggregate at between
$S, 900, 900 and 1000, 900. Connors is a mi
ser in every sense of the word. A few
years ago he sent to Ireland and brought
out his eldest son TO aid him in the man
agement of his large estate. The young
man toiled diligently; but the old fellow
did not give him sufficient to pay his
board, and the young man left him and Is
now running reafe Office in Brook
lyn OH his own account. During all this
time Connors carefully guarded from every
one, including his son, his place of abode.
None of his tenants know where to find
him except on rent day, when he calls
promptly to the hour aud demands the ut
termost farthing.-N Y. Cor.