The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
JOHN JACOB ASToR's PURcHAsE
buying the weii-khown Barreda Mansion IN
Newport for s1oI 900.


NEWPORT. May TO- Another millionaire
has been added to the already long list OF prop
erty owners In Newport Between II and i2
O'Clock to-day Mr.. Frank b. Porter. real estate
agent and Secretary Of the Narragansett Gun
Club. OF which Mr.. James Gordon Bennett Is
President. sold 10 Mr.. John Jacob Astor Of New
York. the estate on Bellevue avenue and the
Cl1s. known as the BarredA Mansion. the prop
erty OF Mr. A. d. Jessup Of Philadelphia. The
price paid was t20l 900 more than double what
Mr.. Jeesup paid for it about eighteen months
ago. This magnificent estate has a somewhat
unfortunate history. and there is good authority
Tor the statement that II was in consequence OF
the misiortunes which overlook the first two
owners oi the property that Mr.. James Gordon
II a year or two ago, The property originally
cost Mr.. +. l. Barreda. the Peruvian Minister.
between 100000 and ti00. 900. Owing 10 his
financial troubles he WAS compelled 10 part
Tlth i Tor something less II Iaaan 300 600.
took Mr.. Blodeett also for soon after his death.
in the fall OF 1871 the trustees sold the prop
erty, 10 Mr. A.. ID. Jessup OF Philadelphia. who
paid, 1t is Understood only sl00 600 for IT, That
Astor and family. Mrs. Astor dispensing bro.
mer d is77 Mr.. ". ". &stor has 'ps been suh IN
coming season. II Is understood that Mr. and
Mrs. John Jacob Astor will take possession OF
their new summer home the latter part OF June.
Senior Barreda was man Of colossal fortune
derived from mQnopaly Of the guano bust
ness. and increased by many shrewd CONNER
cial ventures in this country. He was a man OF
magnificent ideas. and whatever he undertook
was very likoly to assume enormons proper
tions His Newport villa has always been the
pride ot that fashionable summer resort II Ia
situated on the cliffs OF Bellevue avenue and
besides being in the centre OF It's fash
ionable LIE marked In Us appointments
could procure. It's spacious halls Included ac-
commodations ior small army OF visitors. Its
grounds were laid out with rare artistic skill
and taste. Its conservatory was filed with
eIotics. It's carriage house was stored with fine
equipaRes. and the stable with horses that were
During the season the villa was always crowded
with not only the bellies and beau0 OF Newport,
but with men Of large means. and known in the
business world RS magnates in banks. In rail-
roads and In large manufacturing companies.
Senior Barreda entertained like prince, and
ents. 10 whom he was constantly furnish
ing sensations. His most stupsndous under
Point, on tho Chesapeake Bay, a harbor that
should rival Hampton Roads, and be within ac-
eesslble distance Of Baltlnore. he bought a
front and took the preliminary steps 10 have a
railroad built from Drum Point 10 Baltimore.
Big contracts were entered into for materials.
the road WAS surveyed. and determined effort
was made TO get the Legislature OF Maryland 10
lend State aid 70 the project. rs one which was
Senior Barreda expatlated with intensity Of de-
scrlptlon upon the depth OF the water in his
harbor. and the importance Of Drum Point as
a site for great commercial city. TO be
the adjunct oi Baltimore and the pride Of
the State. Men OF means were urged to
take part In the enterprise. Some yielded. But
the required State aid was not secured, the road
was never completed and, worst q all, sehor
Barreda found that his fortune had become i'm.
paired. His obligations in this immense and
improbable venture required that he should
withdraw capital from remunerative invest
ments. One disaster followed another His
beautiful villa at Drum Point. which WAS as
much the talk OF the .newspapers as the one
II Newport. went in the crash. The Newport
=, "a went with the rest and was sold at q great
W.. W. a,e four years ago to W. 7, BlQdgett Of
t9ls, ,cltS. 'venue' corner of Twenty-fourth
street which SehT 1m H9rF'fs But 9'SqP2d obdP dsas r
tarse ters foilowHedh fTil1H ms arm this house went ont
Of his hands 20 bawent n vrorl
After Sehor Darredas failu Sis losses lie
VII: iniomltable will 10 retrieve stern rail-
made some profitable ventures In W ON was
road securities and when last heard /. for
IN California, on the fair road 10 another
tune.