The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-04
THE LATE BONANZA KING.
"reminiscences of William s. 0'Brien,
the California Millionaire.
PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM.
His Energy, Good Luck, Generos-
ity and Simplicity.

Tho death OF W illiam :. C'bfisn the California
million aire already announced IN The HERALD,
termed prominent topic oil conversation yesterday
among bankers brokers IN ths CITY, where ne was
personally known many. Mr. Eugene Kelly, on being
questioned his knowledge OF tho decea3ed said:
..Of The carly lie Of Mr. UBrien know nothing.
have heard, however, that Flood & o'Bren ut one
time conducted OF those large saloons In San
Francisco which were very popular the early days
OF that city. have also understood that Nj. Mackey
and Mr.. FAIR on returning from the mines at one
time visited the establishment OF Flood d
UBricn las the miners generally didj and 10 that way
became ac1uaintc with their coantrymen COM
posing the dria named. Mr. Mackey being su-
perntendcnt oil some OF the mines, ana
Mr. Far being an engineer employed IN the
mtnos and, OF course having accurate knowledge Of
matters connected with mining, gave Flood and OBren
the beued: OF their knowledge and experience, and
suggested that they should commence dealing in min
ing stocks. II In this way that heard those gen.
tlemen nrst became connected. nave met Mr. o'Bren
In this city. He por.ly, handsome man. OF
most liberal aud generous disposition. he was very
much respected and had a large number OF friends
de OF the many who went TO Caiilor-
MA ia lis early days, when lawyers, doc
Tors ana members Of other proiessions wore
red shirts and drays nothing better presented
itself Some OF them established themselves in eat
ing saloons, drinking places, ana even IN gam
mud O'Brlen nave been dealing in INNING
stocks But IL must be some eight or ten
Years They anasscd, since they comnic need great
wealth.. In The hrst place they owned The
hnesA banking house in The United states,
ana large quantity Of vaiuasie real 60
mills Tor the nng oil their ina
N perfect assaying establishment NJ san Francisco
They large tracts Of mountain timber land IRON
ch they all the used IN the mining and
mcllng operations 1t said that the timber
Instance oil twenty. miles, ana this seems 10 be
magnificent enterprise, accomplished by their
axcoLIncrroSs OF A VISITOR
Ex-Alderman william H. McCarty, during an inter-
view with tue HERALD representative SAID -"ln 1871
i took trip 10 sun Francisco. and while there
formed the acquaintance OF Mr. O'Brten may
say here that me place was not altogether strange
10 me- as my ialher the first Street Commis-
sioner ever elected IN that city, he having becu
chosen Tor the position Al the same time
abaI David Broderick was elected United States
Senator. According TO the best Information Mir.
O'Brien came this country from Ireland when a
mere boy. He arrived IN New York, after
California while yet very young man. ! think
4 wus about the year lS49 or 1850 when
he lett this city Tor California. shortly alter his
rival IN the latter State he formed the acquaint.
ance OF Mr.. Flood, and, l think, That soon alter
Is 10 tins day a "bu" house. he .sbit"
houses different IRON the hotel bars IN this par
tcular the latter charged two ''bs, or quarter
OF a dollar tor drink. Mr.. O'Brlen continued that
years until ne smnsscd considerable
money, ana then he commenced Specializing in the
stocks different mines there. TWAS ABOUT this
time that he formed the acquaintance OF Mackey, tho
real discover c the Big Bonanza known as the Virginia
Consolidated, and the adjoining California Nine both
winch proved very RIGA. Previou 10 this Time Mr.
hacksy had been working as u miner. Is
IS generally believed that Mackey led Flood
Il 0Brien into the secret OF tho richness
those mines, and they, taking advantage OF the
Information. went to work, and think, spent at
least s. 600 COO before striking They worked
palienty aud for three years, relying
solely on the information impaired ny Mickey,
aud were ultimately Wen rewarded lor tneir outlay.
Their operations were carried on IN such a manner
that mono OUTSIDE oil their Immediate TRENDS knew
fhaNv ere ma
wealth vi mineral they were approaching. Whcn the
goal finally reached tho stock oE the market
jumped something ike $50 or $40 10 about $500
per snare.
Az UxAssUMIAo MAN
.sIn disposition Mr. " Brien remarkably lib
erai man. and notwithstanding his great wealth, no
Was noted tor his plain and anassuming manners.
d,u't think he was known 10 ever diivc more
at time. whoever lie LOOK
a hiking TO, u no found them financially distressed
he never Jailed TO open hI- purse 10 them. ! know
oil gentleman 10 particular who hai boon In bus
mesa All his lie anu considered himself rich
after making about 10000, 80
advised ny Food 0'Biicn regard to III. Jud.cious
Investment his money, that after specializing snort
lime IN INNING stocks ne found himself a million
nrIre. The nrm Flood 4 o'Bre unlike many other
bankers, never known TO deceive strangers VINO
sought their advice IN regard to investing money.
i RENE mber that just before the stock OF tho
Virginia Consoiidsted went down irieni OF
mine asked The advice Of Mr. o'Bren about
investing some money In mining stocks. HIS
In ton per cent gas stock OF San Francisco In "A
shorl iIlne aterward Virginia Consolidated and
GaIiornla ming stock down, aud has remained
depressed ever since. Mr. O'B.'cu clover,
whole souied man ana doD't believe he ever re-
suscd assistance 20 any one who asked him Tor aid
lie Tree aud joval In his disposition, and never
ignored panions OF his early days In regard
q his wealth, can safely DO stated that he was
worth ut least s2o,ooo.oo at Tue time OF his
aealh. He married, but he lett sisters residing
IN Canfornia HIS age could not nave been more than
foriy- AN when saw MIN 10 1871 ho was CON-
parativeiy young man aud looked me picture oil