St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
KEENE's BONNIE BRIDE.


lions Won and Lost Jy the Dauntless Ft.
nancfer.
dim Keene has had severe reverses in his
day." said a well known broker at the Wind
sor hotel. ''He has been up and down al
most score of times; he has seen fortune
of $40, 100000 shrink to less than 81, 900, 900
in month, and in few days has dropped
cool So, 900, 600 in the street. I often WON
der if these frightful experiences in the finan-
cial maestrom have been considered by him
as tempestuous as those through which he
passed while counting the then famous
beauty of the Pacific slope, Miss Danger
field.
Mr.. Keene was the son of English parents
but is Virginian by birth. He was born
in Lynchburg nearly fifty years ago. He
got his education in the south, and was orig
inally trained for the bar, His birthplace at
that time was sleepy little village, and Of
fcred few advantages to young man en-
lowed with the fiery and intrepid spirit OF
Mr.. Keene. He early determined to sshang
out his shinge'' in one of the large cities.
He visited Baltimore and Washington, and
subsequently came to New York. He was
then attracted by the marvellous growth and
possible advantage for shining legal light
in San Francisco. Once convinced was to
act and act quickly, and in few month he
sailed into the Golden gate full of bright
hopes, few well thumbed law books, Q
scanty wardrobe and scantier pocketbook.
He soon felt the bitter pangs Of disap.
pointment; he found that lawyers were not
in demand in the mining districts; financial
disputes and territorial rights were not sub.
jected to the laws delay, but were quickly
settled at the mouth of Derringer. Powder
and ball were the judge, jury and counsel,
and young Keene soon recognized that his
occupation in that neighborhood was gone.
After drifting about for several months he
found himself almost penniless, and was re-
duced to the necessity of peddling milk at
Shasta, Cal. While engaged in this occupa-
ton he did not relinquish the hope OF
some time returning to his profession.
He saved few dollars, and when severa
years later affairs on the slope were con-
Quoted in more orderly manner, he deter
mined to return to San Francisco and resume
the profession for which he was educated.
After his removal to that city, while still
young man, he was engaged as counsel in
some mining suits, and from his investiga.
ton of them he gained familiarity with
mining operations that prompted him to
speculate in mining stock. He gradually
abandoned law to take up the stock brokerage
business.
At this time he met Miss Dangerfeld. She
was the sister of Judge Dangerfeld, who was
then well known as an astute and successful
jurist Mr.. Keene became deedly impressed
with the fine accomplishments, the beauty,
and the lovely character of the young lady.
With characteristic energy he pressed his
suit, and, though favorably received by Miss
Dangerfeld, he was bitterly opposed by hel
brother, the judge. He refused to listen to
the entreaties of his sister and snubbed Mr..
Keene, called him a ''curbstone broker, ''and
threatened to disown his sister if she married
him. Her woman's love, stronger than heI
| brothers. mandates, conquered, and she
| married her ardent sutton.
| just prior to Black Friday, in 1858, Mr..
Keene, by shrewd and quick venture in the
| mining districts, amassed a comfortable for
tune, and Judge Dangerfeld began to feel
| that as brother-in-law, Mr.. Keene was worthy
of recognition. They were on fair terms
until 1870, when Mr.. Keene was struck by a
| financial cyclone; he went under and his
household effects were sold out at auction.
He suffered from extreme deprivation fol-
two years, but during all those weary months,
when the necessary food was often lacking
| to sustain his young wife and baby boy, she
| gave him the fondest affection and encour-
agement. During the early part Of 1872 Mr..
| hat Itli. all ~
buy himself pair of shoes. He made
little hit through the assistance of an old
| mining friend, and his affairs became
brighter. He finally pinned his faith to the
great bonanza stocks, bought them largely,
and shared the marvellous prosperity that the
| great mining boom showered upon Flood,
| the bank of California. He held on to his
bonanza stocks until the fall of 1874, when
he sold out at an enormous profit When
Ralston, of the California bank, committed
suicide, and things were going to smash
| generally, Mr.. Keene, with S3,000,000 or
4,000,0 900, came to this city. He expended
large sums in fitting up mansion for the
lovely wife who had been so true to him in
| the day of trial. He gave her
costly diamonds, fine turnouts, and
every luxury that his great wealth could
command. In 1877 Mr. Keene formed an
alliance with Mr.. Gould, and through the
successful management of the stock market
| increased his fortune to over 10000 900.
Mr.. Keene subsequently objected to GER
| tain course which he insisted Mr. Gould was
pursuing; they quarreled and became Bit
ter enemies Mr.. Gould vowed he would
break Keene, and early In 1878 he. accom-
plished his purpose. For the second time
Mrs. Keene was compelled to give up her
home through the reckless speculation of hei
| husband, but no complaint passed her lips
With the great boom in the fall of 1878
and the years of 1879, 1880, and 1881, Mr.
Keene again came to the front, and, though
bitterly opposed to Gould, he amassed the
colossal fortune of S20,000,000. He re-
] established his wife in house of greater
splendor, purchased cottage at Newport,
and all that his consideration could devise
was showered upon the little lady who had
twice seen him wrecked. His son, Fox
hall, then quite youth, was envied by his
associates. His father lavished every luxury
upon him-a fine stable, beautiful yacht,
/ and vast sums of money.
Mrs Keene has for years been known for
her quiet and judicious charities. She is a
devoted member of the Catholic church, and
has given largely Of her private means to the
many institutions under its control.
He Chung to His Cello.
Musical World.
Charles Reade tells one tale Of the TO