Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02
AN AUSTRIAN MILLIONAIRE.
Got His Ideas from America-Th.
Queer Uses He Made of Them.

From tho London Daily Newa
The death Of Baron WOrtheim, the greatest
Austrian manufacturer Of iron safes, has de-
prived Vienna Of very popular figure. Some
people laughed at him, to his very face, and all
who were not 80 successful a. he had been en-
We'd him. OF uncertain origin, he began his
career "a an apprentice, and managed to attain
wealth, fame, and even title. without genius
or even much talent. When young, he became
acquainted with one Wiese, who, having long
served in American iron-ssfe establishments,
was well versed in this branch of industry. He
conhded to Wertheim the secret of the Ameri-
can safe lock, and the latter persuaded some
friends to invest small capital in q manufac-
tory Of iron safes. He died worth about Six
million forms. Wertheim had a very effectual
manner Of advertising his safes. In almost
every town OF Europe, Constantnople not ex-
cepted, he subjected them publicly to the action
OF fire. They were always found to be Intact
when the fire was extinguished. The surprised
spectators OF course helped to spread the fame
OF the invention far and wide. 1t was In this
manner that Wertheim ultimately succeeded In
commanding almost exclusively the Eastern
market. He sent every pOtentate, great or
small, magnificent safe as a present, and by
this means obtained about forty-one decora-
tons, some OF them Ofthe highest order, Among
them, 1t should be said, there Is not Prussian
nor British one. He wore these decorations
upon every possible occasion, and the staunchest
supporters of honOrs OF this kind could not have
retrained from smile at sight of the wien little
man when he had all his crosses aud stars pin-
ned on to the front Of his old-fashioned frock-
coat He was never SO happy as when he could
enter q ball room dressed in this fashion and
everybody had nod Of recognition from him.
But with strained ears he listened whether the
nod was followed by "Good evening, Baron" Ii
the title were omitted he stared looked at the
offender severely through gold eye-glass and
did not return the salute. He was married
early In life, but he separated from his wife
promising to pay 8, 600 year for her SUPPORT.
He leaves the bulk of his large fortune to q
natural son, who was more surprised than the
world at large at this sudden good fortune. A
rev friends OF both sexes and his servants had
legacies left them. In his large palace on the
SchWarZenberg-place Baron Wertheim had q
small theater, of which he spoke, as did the
small potentates OF Germany In days gone by of
their temples Of the muses." He felt yery
hanpy among the little dancers and actresses;
who really believed in his greatness, but lately
he got tired OF the whole concern and seldom
set foot In his theater His funeral was In char
acter with his life. There was all the pomp and
hnery that could be obtain ed for money. and
the people of Vienna focked to the honse of
mourning to take a last farewell of the Iron
safe Baron. al they called him, ard also to see
wnat MS son was like, OF whose existence NO
one had dreamed before he was mentioned as
the heir OF millions. Every eve rested upon
MIN as he walked behind the hearse giving his
arm to diminutive lady in mourning his
mother. tie Is tall and rather handsome Int
the surprise at his sudden promotion in the
social scale was still apparent in his bearing.