Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-05-23
KEENE'S BONNY BRIDE.
Won In the Face of Fierce Opposition
Millions Won and Lost by the
Dauntless characteristics Fortitude
i'm Daring Successive Disasters.

Jim Meme mas had severe rSVerSSS
in his day" said well known broker
at the Windsor hotel last evening.
He has been up and down almost
score of times; he has seea fortune
of $50. 000,0 shrunk to less than
81, 900, 900 5u a month, and in few
days has dropped cool Sc, 900, 600 in
the street. | often wonder If these
frightful experiences in the financial
maelstrom have been considered by
him as tempestuous as those through
which he passed while counting the
then famous beauty of the Pacific
slope, Miss Dangerfield.
Mr.. keene was the son of English
parents, but is a Virginian by birth.
He was born in Lynchburg nearly
fifty years ago. He got his educatios
in the south and was originally train
ed for the bar HIS birth place at that
time was a sleepy little village and Of
fered few advantages to young hlan
endowed with the fiery and intrepid
spirit of Mr.. Keene. He early deter
mined to hang out his single" in
one Of the large cities; he visited Bal
timore and Washington. and subSe
quently came to n Y. He was then
attracted by the marvellous growth
and possible advantages for a shining
legal light in San Francisco. Once
convinced was to act and to act quick
ly, and in a few months he sailed into
the Golden Gate full of bright hopes,
a few well thambed law books,
scanty wardrobe and a scantier pock
etbook.
He soon felt the bitter pangs of
disappointment; he found that law
yers were not in demand in the Rin
ing districts; financial disputes and
territorial rights were not subjected
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 i'll that
igRborhood was gone. After drift
ing 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 the occupation he did not relinquish
the hope of some time returning to
his profession. He saved few dollars,
and when several years later affairs
on the Sl~pe were conducted in a
more orderly manner, he determined
to return to San Francisco and re-
sumo 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 investigation of them he
gained a familarlt.; with mining
operations that prompted him to
speculate In the mining stock. He
gradually abandoned law to take up
the stock brokerage business.
At this time he NIT Miss Danger
field She was the sister of Judge
Dangerfeld, who was then we'll
known as an astute and successful
jurist. Mr.. Keene became deeply i'm
pressed with the fine accomplish
ments, the beauty and the lovely
character of the young lady. With
characteristic energy he pressed his
suit, and though favorably received
by Miss Dangerfield, he was bitterly
opposed by her brother, the Judge.
He refused to listen to the entreaties
of his sister and snubbed Mr. Keene;
called him a ''curbstone broker" and
threatene! to disown his sister if she
married him. Her woman's love,
stronger than her brothers mandates,
conquered, and she married her
ardent sutton.
Just prior to Black Friday, in 1868,
Mr.. Keene by shrewd and quick ven
lures in the mining districts amassed
a comfortable fortune, and Judge
Dangerfield began to feel that as broth
er-ln-law Mr. Keene was worthy of re-
cognition. They were on fair terms
until 1870, when Mr. Keene was
stuck by financial cyclone; he went
under and his household effects were
sold out at auction. He suffered from
extreme deprivation for two years, but
during all these weary months, when
the necessary food was often lacking
to sustain his young wife and baby
boy, she gave him the fondest affec
ton and encouragement. During the
early part of 1872 Mr.. Keene was SO
reduced that he was unable to buy
himself a pair of shoes. He made a
little bit through the assistance of an
old mining friend, and his affairs be-
came 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,
OBren, John. w. Mackey and Rails
ton, of the Bank of California. He
held on to his bonanza stocks until
the Fall of 1874, when he sold out at
aa enormous profit. When Ralston,
of the California Bank, committed
suicide and things were going to
smash generally Mr. Keene, with So,
600, 600 or $4,000,000, came to this
city. He expended large sums in fit
ting up mansion for the lovely wife
who had been so true to him in his
hour of trial. He gave her costly
diamonds, fine turnouts, and every
luxury that his great wealth could
command.
In 1877 Mr.. Keene formed an ALI
ance with Mr. Gould and through the
successful manipulation of the stock
market increased his fortune to over
$40, 600, 000 Mr. Keene subsequently,
objected to certain course which he
luSlSlSu lldG h1F. Oou1u W DIS puTSuluS
they quarrelled and became bitter en-
emles Mr.. Gould vowed he would
break Keene, and early in 1873 he
accomplished his purpose. For a
second time Mrs Keene was compelled
to give up her home through the reck
less speculations of her husband, bat
no complaint passed her lips. With
the great boom IN the fall of 1878, and
the years 1879, 1880 and 1881, Mr..
keene again came TO the front, and
though bitterly opposed to Gould, he
amassed the colossal fortune of $40,
600, COO He rc-esta blished his wife in
a house of greater splendor, purchased
a cottage-t Newport and all that his
consldGratis III could devise was shower
ed upon the little lady who had twice
seen him wrecked. His son, Foxhall,
then quite youth, was envled by his
associates; his father lavished every
luxury upon him-a fine stable,
beautiful yacht and vast sums of peck
et-money
A few days ago Mr.. Keene for the
third time was forced to suspend. BY
unwise speculation in privileges since
January he had lost nearly $4,000,
900, and on May 1st, he could not
meet the trifing sum of $40, 600. His
cottage at Newport has been heavily
mOrtUaoe0 his mixtures and stud sold