The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-04-04
FACrs sURPlss FICTION.
From "A Second Cooks TO "a Million.
aires EserlEE--.TIae IL mark.
able Career of "A Texas
Cattle King.
Columbu, (Gl) Enquirer

Coiumbu (Gl) Euqnirerl
A paragraph to the effect that Mr..
King, Of Texas, the largest owner OF
cattle in the world, has lately sent 80, 900
cattle % market, and that seventy herds
men were required to care for them, has
caused several river men to refresh their
recolIections. From their membrances,
Mr.. Kings career is most remarkable
one. 1t demonstrates what energy,
brains, economy and enterprise, added 10
chance and luck, can accomplish, though
the beginning be the most unpromising
and the least calculated for hope of fu-
ture success.
The name of this Texas millionaire is
Richard Kiag. The river men call him
"Mack" He was boru in New York,
and about the year 1910, he came from
Pittsburg to the Chattahoochee River as
steward on the steamboat TallapoOsa.
We are told that in those days and years
after, the average life ofssteamers on our
river was three to four years, and that it
was customary for the captains who re-
sided in the West to carry their boats to
! Pittsburg for the summer for repairs and
return In the fall. They received
enough freight on the round trip to pay
expenses. 1t was the era Of large float
ing palaces, side-wheelers, now suppressed
ed by light draught -wheelers.
There were no railroads. Everything
went to palachicola, and river men
made barrels Of money.
Mr. King, in the position Of steward,
piled the river for several years. One
gentleman remembers when he was sec
4 no r.
Tampa, Fla, and in short time he was
engaged IN service on Government boats
Returning to Columbus, he became strlk
inc pilot under Capts. Charlie Brockway
and Windgate. Altogether, he was OF
our river some seven or eight years, IL
very subordinate positions.
About the middle of 1916, he, witt
Mr.. John Sealy and others, went t
Texas, and he became pilot on the Ki'
J Grapde on the steamer Corvette, com
manded by Capt. Kennedy. Engaging
in speculation soon made him a partner
He bought a rancho, and the propert
increasing year by year, he now count
his stock by the hundreds CT thousand
and his possessions by millions. lie own
a magnificent residence in Western IeXa
: .ud miles of the best land in the State
e IL o.ontinues as a steamboat owner.
y Tho noo~ steward Of thirty years ago
orono the mon; lad princes of the lane
Fact + more marvellous than fiction ID ID
! has now large family, and is giving a. y
a children the best of educations -
King is very kind, friendly and generHo'
5 to his friends of the days of yore- vi
/ visited Texas since the war, and he gay
r him half Il fine steamboat, and all he G, ell
q tertains with hospitable welcome. Inc
still call him "Mack."
IN His wealth is estimated from two
y seven millions. =,
e He wrote one of his friends since II
re war he had just finished building zen
70 forty miles il length, and that 1t cost III
en- 81. 600 a mile. Those who know $
tx cattle increase in value one third eve
., year. NJ. .,,ol.,
~ When Oh our river he was not noted
IN special economy, but had his fun ike
&c .tother bows" and spent his money
eS freely. 1t is one of those instances wht
an bains and pluck see their opportunl
ar take advantage of it, roll up their sleev
he 90 in and win. The opening was lex
tn fhe time of the Mexican war, the m
lde found both, and found there was miil!
lat in it. He partly though, drltted
is enormous luck.