The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-16
A MrLLIoNAIRE'S RISE.

'eapeu rom 0ohipaidtAc poNetts anu ahscurity in this country, Tn the past hall .en,ary none stand out more prominent : than Iohn N. Mackay. the California millionaire. at present living in Paris lis name Is known all over the cont nent. and the vast project ot laying mother cable across the Atlantic, bring p, ;he other continent into instantaneous 6nnee,en with ours. wrh which he is ,o greatly identified, brings him before ne people again. To those familiar with
 IS career m the pas, few years, and snowing his immense wealth ana splen- i'd surroundings. II IS almost miraculous Sat. within the memory of comparative
 \ young men he was poor and obscure g,,hou. dollar in the world. Although much F ss been written and said about a,u. as a matter of course but few per sons are acquainted with his early life md the fac; that he was at one time a lesiden, of this city has never been made public. As reporter was passing down Main street yesterday gentleman stand .ag a, the corner cf Twelfth street re-
 marked You see that building over :heres" pointing to the house on the northwest corner of Twelfth and Main Upon the ref or,e.'> reply ng in 'he aiti m alive. he continued II suppose Il would surprise a number ot persons 10 know that Mackay once lived there. and <ep, a saloon. Tn. story IS not general Y known. as he was not man of wide acquaintance. and when he left the city all thought of him died out or those aho used to take drinks from his hands acr the counter. but few recognize him II his new sphere.
 Along abou, IS,5 Mackay came to :als ely Tn company with one or two others in search ofemployment. He as 4 young man, strong. active and wiling h work |, almos; any thing which would afford him good living An old. two story frame building sood al the corner over there, and the front room hsd been lsed AS a saloon. The proprietor closed sp few months before, however. and the building was left without tenant. Mackay had some iittle money, and AS he location was good one he resolved 10 starr barroom there. He made q bargain with the proprietor and secured the place, opening up about week later. The room and it's fixtures would be in strong contrast with the fine saloons of the present day, with their gilded coun- ,ers and fancy bars. The walls were covered with d simple coat of white paint and the counter was long. narrow one made of white board,. Behind t was a shelf on which sat some bottles and glasses. His coming was no, taken much notice of and none felt enough interest 10 inquire from whence he came or who he was. He was an energetic and indus nious man, polite and attentive to his customers, and his shor, figure and smil- ing face could be seen a, all times be- hind the bar. He soon bull, up a very good trade, but he never appeared sa,is- ned. It was evident that he was not in- tended for such an avoca,ion in life. as ne was restless and like Micawber. con- s,an,ly waiting for something to turn up.
 The long -looked-for day finally ar rived, and he started for California, little expecting that such good fortune as fell 10 his lot was awaiting him. In lS49 the gold fever was ct its height, and every day emigran,s were leaving for the Paoif- ic coast, eager 10 reap the hawes, of gold which they confidently expected was waiting for them. Mackay was one of ;he first persons in the city to be afflicted with the fever. and he endeavored 10 in- dace number of friends 10 50 si,h him A party of about twenty-five was finally made up, and he was one o! the leaders ln it He sold his property interests for small sum, and that was the last heard of him until he jumped suddenly into the lap of fortune.
 "l was, said the gentleman, in Cal itofnia at the time of his arrival there and watched his career with considerable interest He had previously known Flood and O'Brien, and they were very fast niends. They were at that time keeping saloon in San Francisco. and Naokay worked in the mines. The two famous aelds of wealth then were the California and the Consolidated Virginia, and he worked in both of them He was very shrewd man. tolerably well educated. and had some little knowledge of civil en- sineering. He clearly saw Ina; money invested in the stock of either of these mines was sure,. bring good results. and every dollar he could raise vas invested n that way. At his instance ! food and Brez went in with him, and the three purchased stock a, 5 share Soon af- rewards II went up to s7, and gradually increased 10 Sis. In ;his simple manner their fortunes were made, and almost be- fore they knew i, they were wealthy men Mackay then lived ln frame house on Sutter street. and his sgure became fa- miliar one 10 the fr.quensers of the mines
 He was not married then, but met the woman who became his wife soon after wards. This in itself is little romance and illustrates his character. She was a widow when he became acquainted with her, and was the daughter of Major Huagieford, of New Orleans. @She mar ried doctor and moved to Nevada City where her husband died some time after- yards He was poor man, and lei, his wife and child in rather destitute oircam- xances. Mackay heard Of this some months later, and started subscription for the widows oenefii- contributing lib erally himself, and raising . neat little sum- This SO touched the widows hear