The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-11
CHAT ABOUT THE PACIFIC
BONANZA PEOPLE.

able thing to the possessor. l have
happened to know several very rich men,
but have never known one who was
happy. 1t seems to be the lot of every
rich man to be miserable. And yet
how eager We healthy, happy fellows
would be to change places with them
and take the chances. / went down
into the mines of Virginia City, Nevada,
several years ago with one of the richest
men in the world, John w. Mackay, the
largest owner of shares on the Comstock
lode and without doubt the richest man
on the Pacific Coast. Mackay is free,
open-hcarted. noble fellow, with heart
above silver mine. He is good-natur-
ed, the most modest of men, with hab
its as simple as Bucks county farmer.
He is Of Scoich-Irish parentage, and has
just the slightest roll TO his voice. He
goes about Virginia City in wooden
shirt, open n the throat, a dirty old hat
without band, and his trousers in his
boots. He told me while We were 60
ing through the California and Consol-
idated Virginia Mines, with millions of
dollars in sight in the green ore above
us, below us and about us, that he be-
gan his fortune on that lode NJ the end
OF pick, and that he did not believe
he was ever so happy as he was then
when he was earning his six or eight
dollars day. He said no doubt peo-
pie envicd his wealth, but that it was
thing that never brought happiness. |
told him what any other fellow would
have told him, that he could easily give
me his money and go back to his pick.
! think / even promised him that in case
The could not find a situation that /
would hire him myself and pay him the
highest wages on the lode. II seems to
me | should be happy with fifty or sixty
millions of dollars, but maybe not
There is very little enjoyment for Mac
kay. He does great deal of good,
which ought to make one happy, but he
has too much money. II is too much
trouble to take care of it. His wife and
children, as we all know, live in Paris,
and she surpasses all in the cos, and
brilliancy Of her entertainments. Mr..
Mackay goes over there several times
year, and although he is devoted to his
family, have an idea he does not en-
joy that sort of life. He gets sick there
after little while and he has to come
home. He has not good digestion,
and can neither eat well nor drink we'll.
So he goes back to his mines and works
like Chinaman-occasionally going to
San Francisco for 4 few days. What
he will do with all his money heaven
only knows.
James G. Fair, his partner, is another
case where money does not bring happi-
ness. know Fair very we'll, too-wc
came near being killed together once.
Fair used to be the real working super
intendent of the mines. Hewas 4 good,
jolly fellow, would take a drink with
you and oil you all over with his smooth
words. But in a few years the trouble
and anxiety and the head work togeth-
er broke him down. He lived under
ground about half the time and there
were always lot Of roughs about who
would not hesitate to knock him in the
head. Hiring, as he did, several thou
sand rough fellows, he made enemies
and had vengeance sworn against him
many time. He broke down and had
to give up and seek rest. He has just
returned from China, but I'll bet this
old pen nib that he will never get his
health-softcning of the brain is what
he has, ! believe.
Flood, the other partner of Mackay,
/ know too. He is almost rs rich as
Mackay. Flood is not a cultured man,
but he is very able one. He talks
well and appears well, but / fear the
letter he would write would not stand
criticism. Still he can hire n secretary
for five thousand year. II is the FASH
ion to abuse the bonanza men for being
Doors and ignoramuses, the children OF
accident, etc. Accidents may make a
fortune, but il does not double it and
does not keep it and use it for making
its possessor powerful. Flood and Mac
kay would appear in a company OF
brainy men quite as strong as Wander
bilt, Hilton, the Astors or Belmont
II they were merely ordinary miners the
sharps Of California street would have
had theirmoney long ago. Well, Flood
used to be 4 splendid fellow and every
body liked him. He spent most Of his
time on the street and took his drinks
with the regularity and precision of
Senator. Hard times came to Califor-
mia, and it was found that Flood had all
the money. Ralston, the Bank Of Cal
ifornia and "the street" owed Flood six
millions Of dollars on call. When his
immense building, the "Nevada Block"
was finished and he was ready to start
the Nevada Bank, he called for his six
millions. The California Bank suspend
ed, Ralston was behind about three mil
lions and drowned himself in the North
Fork. The people didn't seem to like
Flood so well after this. He fitted up
fine Offices in his building and became
"banker." He was never seen in his
old haunts, and he rode in his carriage.
Floods family are very affcctionate and
domestic, and Miss Jennie, said to be
engaged to young Grant, is a modest,
unaffected girl, who has the entire
charge Of the Flood mansion. She was
educated in convent, and does not wear
big diamonds and flash jewelry. What
Flood will do with all of his money
heaven only knows. Hesayshe doesn't
know himself what to do with it.-Phi2. |
0dekbkfd Timer.