Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-12-31
THE PRINCES OF THE GOMSTOCk

AbUndancy.
Lastevening after half dozen or more
old-timers had concluded several games
of sancho-pedro in the Ormsby House
saloon and rejuvenated themselves
with the liquid consequences Of that
popular bar-room game, they pulled
their chairs about the large cylinder
stove, upon which they comfortably,
but inelegantly, cooked their rusty old
boots. and began to retrospect SO aud
IDLY as to attract the attention Of the
APPEAL reporter.
| WELL" remarked an old white
haired and grizzley-bearded man, after
a few Of the other unsuccessful old
timers had had their say, "Well, boys,
| came to the Comstock in the Fall of
go, and have personally known every
successful man on the lode. They were
all liberal, but the bosses for generosity
were those who made their fortunes
during and after the Point and Bel
cher rises Senator Jones and / mined
together in Calaveras county in early
days; and in ~ he told me that he
could clean up with $l0,000,0O0, three
million of which, ana sure, he divided
among his early friends. After he had
reached his rare prosperity, scarcely an
application for aid was made to him by
people whom he considered worthy,
that was not granted with degree of
pleasure on his part, such as would put
to shame the mercenary millionaires of
the East. There are scores of men on
this coast to-day, doing well, who owe
their prosperity to his munificeEce.
How much money he has to-day, l do
not know; but this l do know, that if
he could collect all the notes in his pos
session, which he received in the faith of
their being redeemed, he would be en-
abled to buy steamship line, if he felt
SO inclined. Senator Sharon, although
more careful in the partial dis
tribution of his colossal fortune, also did |
much in the direction of advancing the |
condition of his less fortunate friends Of
early California days. If he had done
no more than taken the noble stand in |
defense Of the late w. G. Ralston, who
was his true frineI when he sorely
needed one, at the memorable period of
the failure of the Bank of California,
and his subsequent substantial aid to
family Of the unfortunate banker, that
alone should stamp him as a man Of
rare generosity and gratitude" "The
Bonanza firm" continued the old man,
'scome in for a good, round share of
abuse from those who are not aware of
their rather quiet way of distributing
thousands here and there where the
,ivers believe that the recipients will
% permanently benefited by tho do
nations. I have it from one of Senator
Fairs most confidential friends that he
has within the past six years absolutely
ri ven away over a half million dollars
o the needy, and to distressed business
men with families, to save them from
shipwreck. So far as John
W. Mackay is concerned, there is not
ingle day of his life that he does not
respond to applications for aid,
# one character or another. Five years
.go, after having made little raise in
stocks, I went to San Francisco, re-
naming there several months, where l
net, who was at one time in the
ewelry business at Virginia, and sub
in the same line on Kearney
treet, for whom Mackay always pro-
essed kindly feeling. Shortly before
ny visit to the city the jeweler failed
n his business through unfortunate .
took ventures. He told me that John
". Mackay, hearing Of his embarrass- (
nent, sent for and told him that he
would pay his debts, and furthermore {
ave him $4,000 to start afresh, if he ]
veuld solemnly promise nevermore to 9
ouch share of stock again. The !
romise was made Mackay, as usual ]
ept his word, and the jeweler is to-day {
cling a large and prosperous trade.