The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-10
RALSTON'S FAMOUS PALACE.
The Romnncc ~r the California bank Prrs'-
dents Lii. How warwick Nnrin Col
Iccted an ola Debt and Betty MARTIN g"t
"a .IlL Dr.. shn,.mm,. Opimlnn OF KnI.lnn.

Ir.,rd an <,id Drb, md nc,tv Martin got |
% sin Dress shar"n's Opinion Of Rnist"n.
SAN Francisco, May 2s.-ro-day we have
spent ut Belmont the magnificent country |
SCAT II tho late VIM. A. Halston. We have been |
the IA 'sis 80 senator sharon. into whose hands
Belmont fell after Ralstons suicide. Bel
mont Is situated about twenty-five miles from
San Francisco. II contains about 30 acres Oi
irrigated land. in the middle of which il u pal
ace which cost 81 500 900. There are twenty
five splendid horses greenhouses filled with
thousands of rare cxotics. and orange banana.
and lennon trees grow ny in the open air II
was here that Raston used to hold those mag
nifirent iotrs. even down To the eve of his bank
ruptcy. when he found himself IN debt to the
fabulous sum " tlGOOOOOO and broken
hearted, left the Presidents seat in the Bank Of
California. and went out to the bay and drowned
himself. senator Shnron who is runsid red to
be- worth anywhere from ten to twenty millions.
now keeps w Belmont, and cnicrtnins his
friends there every sunday. 1t is here that hc
entertained Lord Dulrcrin. Gen. sherman. and
in tact. whore he has entertained almost every
person of note who has VISITED the Pa IN, coasL
But Rnlston used to entertain his friends herr
10y the hundreds. 1t was no uncommon thing
for him 10 have ilt} people at breakfast No
ny tale can surpn-s the real story oi halston's
prinrcly entertainments. He would oii"p char
ter tram of cars out OF san Fran isco. Ill Them
with his friends. aud. with bands of mu~ic.winr.
and sumptuous banquet. make IA nil.ht OF il at
Belmont.
Do you think Raiston's mind was sound
when hc WIS doing these startling things ~ !
asked senator Sharon. as WANDER anl won
dcrrd through mirrorrd rooms and among
marbles and hronzcs. and oyer Auhusson and
Administer rarpcts. "DoNOu not tnink it was
inripient in-anityY'
Yes. " replied the senator. i think Rails
toms m nj was wrong for year before his sui
eide. Hrs unseli-hnr-S was mania. He lived
entirely Tor his friends. lie would wear the
coarse 81 clothes. eat the oommoucst food
himself. hut when ii came To- friend. or oven 10
a casual nrquantan 'cr he delighted to siartle
him with the most lavish entertainment"
" You were his partner" suggested.
Yes W. built tn" Paac" Hotel together: hut
before II was half done saw that Ril-ton WIS
on the verge OF ruin. don't think now when
! look back that poor Rnlsipn ever had IA hun
drcd thousand dollars free OF all debts in h-
lic."
And he died owing-?"
" H. died owing sixteen millions. He WIS
! President Of the Bank of California. hut thu
banks 'npital WIS only d shell for years. Ii WIS
all used to carry on his magnificent schemes
! Why when he died he was CARRYING Belmont
at an expense OF "a hundred thousand dollars 10
year carrying four millions in the Palace 10
| tel. "a hotel which cost i6.uOOuOO in gold; carry
ing million or 50 in thu Grand Hotel and ad
-
mi''"h-do'"r prN"'' r's'' Nee on lh'
I'm tur,n., '.',n,'n a,i l,'.,',,,,, ~, , ,.r,,,
ni In. B'nk OF Cai,i1ru',' H., II t"n.i,' ion dol.
lar standard when i WAS an nsoNcnt shell.
| h9l"l -~.y hai NtuW.
And YOU know how the bank stnodf
ba 9EH" and WIN W. pns6e Ehison te taii ' ~
how II Stood nr hnlu tnr ii.,. 10 80 H. Brnk.n-
cashier wlll I'll yuu. ana tnrm. sraully mid
sunluury. rather than TN oi his own ms
| forum. m. mi on nix hii walked n,rUi,ll.v
| ont t,tl'. lr..'. mann ,lll.d .in.-. Ii
Ami tn. OIL " III ON tl,. a. .,tls' WIS"
Smt'i, ,yV.ull In W. .ir'ntWT Hundreds
- hlufrrtf mon ~l,tl f.uis in fnr -'r,,i. nDi
t,.v 'n,. fin,~n..c',n-" ail sn frr, .',. Of
thee uIuu. II. uIl ith. % -lNttr lniI.Inii- of uul-
lars from tn. capital SIS of san Francesca an /
given IL t. the people. They w,r. Nlpprd him.
am what wonder th.t i1' SHOULD ,.., j..
sharon today and p.rsonal irl,ni oi lnlsion.
gives me- "a" lolowin- ,urld,ni ia the ilf' 90, til'
unlor'unW n.an wAi'n affords u clue to las
Mr. kt.ston in 1855 WAS a clerk on a Nii--i--
-ipii - .ainhpnt. T." WIS generous and poor.
on. day h"w.ni intot" tns.u- hogS 81 Lao
iamii'arN - H.
81 suN. Mart %. can't You lef mo have SON =
81 don't SOC how w. ,an, Billy. sad Nj Mar
tin. "uNIt-~ Nlu cll give rs SONIC 81 'uritN.
Vino rNu you get s.uduf-r for yHu -
Easiuu = rAt'hed his head a moment ami ADD
| mtt.tl tNlf hr couldn't give any security. sand
lac: Martin. ilit' iilt II W htuNr-- i'i.l hrpN"
but I've ..pt "a clanrr t. ~ ia with C. h. CARR
son Town 40 Panama. and | must nave 5000 90
scl there"
After "a while Mr. Martin decided that ho
would lend Rtsion 5000 ON his own count
and run tncr-e of payment. and ln NJ i To-
INN laisiou started doWntne rNrrtD ION Com
mOluIr Garrison. Iln- Wa~ lu Is
Dld kaistOAcvrr uay Martin | asked VI r.
Gooli.
a." I'll tell You how II was said Nh. Goold.
Rnl-tnn forgot all about 49, or ri-e he ln-i tr.k
Of Martin. But fourteen years alb,rward met
Martin IA New lOrn. II WAS broNc tnrn hlu-
soil gone All to pi'.rcs-hadnt dollar. lad
-tDu uf this time was AT IN" meridian OF his
glory, sncnIins money d, the millions. wei.
one daN Martin cam" up To- me looking very
serdy and Nrd me- II IA nv travels ia CaiitOr-
MIA hai ever met "a man hy the name of B4lly
hai-ton
" Billy Ralston 2" SAID !. " Billy Raj
s-t-0-ni Why know "A man boy tir NAME Of Wiz
liam 4 Kals'on-uSed 10 hc with Commodore
| Garrison ia Panama. II WIS lrii1 l,iil.tnn A
GARRISON In san Francisco. bat now KAl-t0n H.
at Tho hra! oi IT,
We'll. Mr.. Guold. thnts the same Billy Raj
ston that borrowed live nundr'd diiurs OF m"