Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-03
THE SPORT
Who Died Suddenly at the Pea
body Hotel.
Courier-JournaI. 2.

Courier-JOurnal 2.
A private dispatch from Memphis,
received about $50 o'clock last even
ing, announced the death Of Adrian
North a few hours before, in the Pea
body Hotel, that city. The news
spread rapidly among the sporting fra
%ternity, Of which Mr.. North had for
many years been among the wealthiest,
the luckiest, the most intelligent and
the best born. He was commonly
called "Adie" North, and being of a
most generous disposition, a familiar
figure at the bar and chief gambling
tables Of the city, his sudden. death
became the topic Of the hour.
Mr.. North left on the 1916 IN.
train Tuesday for New Orleans, to
where he was attracted by the ap.
preaching Mardi Gras feast. He was
accompanied by Jack Mellett, and it
was from Mellett that the news Of his
death was first received. The dead
man had been earnestly advised by his
physicians and friends not to 60 on
the journey, as he had only recovered
from a severe spell of sickness. DAYS
before starting he devoted himself
arduously to playing and is said to
have Won largely. He arrived ct
Memphis Wednesday evening at Z
o'clock and was at once obliged to re-
pair to his room, where he lay till
death. He is known to have taken
with him nearly $4,000 in cash, but
whether more than this sum could not
be ascertained. He also wore three
solitaire diamond studs, each stone
weighing nearly a carat. He wore two
diamond finger rings, one a cluster Of
nine stones and the other a solitaire.
He contemplated playing at New Or.
leans, and it was expected be would
return soou after Mardi Gras.
Adrian d. North was born in this
city in l843. His father was of the
banking firm OF North & Bassett, said
to be the first banking concern organ
lied in the city. The elder North
died in l845, leaving a large estate to
his wife, who died about FIVE months
ago. There was another son, Romeo,
who was known for years in banking
circles. He has been dead some time
This left Adrian the sole survivor of
the family, and to him descended the
fortune left to his mother when the
son was but two years Of age. 1t
amounted to $3.50, 900, principally ia
meney and bonds. The fine family
residence of the Norths, at No. 723
Third street, has for years been noted
as one Of the handsomest in the city.
Everything was done for this man
in his youth to enable him to fill an
honored place among his fellow-men,
but soon after leaving Harvard Col
lege he began a life of ease aud idle
ness, which obtained the mastery of
him and made him a confirmed gam.
bier. He came from Harvard a gradu-
ate of the university aud of the medi-
cal school Of that great college. He
never practiced, though beinR a
full iedged Doctor of Medicine. He
was a man of splendid mental
attainments, a lover of litera.
ture, a good conversationalist, an in.
telliget and original thinker, but un-
fortunately cursed throughout his life
with the wherewithal to live without
mental or physical effort. To him
money was a curse, and he was a
pattern of hundreds Of youths
who attained manhood at e
most demoralixing period in
the history of the country
Just at the breaking out of the war.
Though he had been for so many
years known simply as a gambler
about town, it was plain to all who
observed him that bsneath his out
ward appearances was hidden an
entirely different man. His boon
companions we're Tom Coleman, John
Young, Jack Mellett and such men.
His constitution was Of late shattered
to pieces with hard drink, and from
his over indulgence in drink it is
thought death was the final outcome.
He wa afflicted as we'll with erysipes
las. His pale face, partly covered
with a mustache and short chin
beard would be remembered if once
seen. He wss considered a ipe look.
ing man.
In the year 1858, then turning the
age OF manhood, he removed to New
York city aud connected himself
with the ship building firm OF Simon
Durham x Co. lie remained
away till 1870, when be returned to
Louisville, confirmed in bis gambling
habits. He never married, and the
only inheritor of his large fortune is
an uncle, now eighty years Of age, liv.
ing on Staten Island, seven miles from
New York City. This uncle ia on the
verge Of the grave, and has no living
relative, so that e becomes a question
Of speculation as to what will finally
become Of the fortune left by Adrian
North. He left no will. He was a
successful gambler and a shrewd man
in money affairs, and it is said be has
largely increased the fortune left him,
which, added to the money he is
alleged TO have inherited from other
sources, inolines some Of his intimate
friends to estimate his fortune at
nearly 100000.
Word was telegraphod last night
that the body would be cent on its
way to Louisville this evening.
The RenrIng Comptroller.