Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-30
Price Two Cents

] loon. The story is not generally known, as he was not @ man of wide acquaintance. and when he left the city all thought of him died out. Of those who used to take drinks from ais hands across the counter, but few recoe- nize him in his new sphere.
 'Along about IS45 nIackay came to this city in company with one two others in search of employment. He was 8 young man, strong, active and willing to work at almost any thing which would afford him a good living. An old two-story frame build ing stood at the corner over there and the front room had been used as a saloon. The proprietor closed up few months before,
 however, and the building was left without tenant. Mackay had some little money, and
 as the location was good one he resolved to start barroom there. He made 8 bargain with the proprietor and secured the place. opening up about week later. The room and it's fixtures would be in streng contrast with the fine saloons of the present day, with their gilded counters and fancy bars. The Ealls were covered with a simple coat of 1hite paint and the counter was a long, mar row one made of pine boards. Behind it was @ shelf on which sat some bottles and glasses. His coming was not taken much mo- tice of and none felt enough interest to in- quire from whence he came or who he was. de was an energetic and industrious man, polite and attentive to his customers, and his hort figure and smiling face could be seen at all times behiud the hsr-s He soon I4.t- 4p a very good trade, but he never appeared satis- jed. It was evident that he was not intend
 ed for such an avocation in life, as he was restless and, like Micawber, constantly wait ing for something to turn up.
 'The long looked-for day finally arrived and he started for California, little expecting that such good fortune as fell to his lot was awaiting him. In 1S49 the gold fever was at it's height, and every day emigrants were leaving for the Pacific coast, eager to reap the harvest of gold which they confidently -xpected was waiting for them. Mackay was me of the first persons in the city to be af- dicted with the fever, and he endeavored to induce number of friends to go with him. \ party of about twenty-five finally made up and he was one of the leaders in it. He sold his property interests for small 4un, and that was the last heard of him un- til he jumped suddenly into the lap of for tune. II was, " said the gentleman, ''in Califor- mia at the time of his arrival there, and
 watched his career with considerable interest. de had previously known Flood and OBrien
 and they were very fast friends. They were tt that time keeping a saloon in San Francis
 co and Mackay worked ln the mines. The
 two famous fields of wealth then were the California and the Consolidated Virginia,
 and he worked in both of them. He was a
 very shrewd man, tolerably well educated, and had some little knowledge of civil enei- ne6flDR lie cIedrly ShW tudt L0O10y 1uV6bL6O in the stock of either of these mines was sure to bring good results and every dollar he
 could raise was invested in that way. At his
 instance Flood and O'Brien went in with him,
 aud the three purchased stock at $3 8 share. Soon afterwards it went up to $7, and grsdu-
 all, increased to SIS. In this simple manner
 their fortunes were made, and almost before
 they knew it they were wealthy men. Mac
 kay then lived in a frame house on Sutter
 street, and his figure became familiar one
 ty the frequenters of the mines.
 'tHe was not married then, but met the
 woman who became his wife soon afterwards.
 This in itself is little romance and illus
 trates his character. She was a widow when
 he became acquainted with her, and was the
 daughter of Major Hupgleford, of New Or
 leans. She married doctor and moved to
 Nevada City, where her husband died some
 time afterwards. He was a poor man and
 left his wife and child in rather destitute cir
 cumstances. Mackay heard of this some
 months later and started subscription for
 the widows benefit, contributing hberally
 himself and raising neat little sum. This
 so touched the widows heart that she called
 on him to thank him for his kindness. She
 was young and pretty, with 8 childish face
 and winning ways, and captured Mackays
 heart completely. His courtship was quiet
 one and of short duration, and soon the
 pretty widow united her destiny with his.
 Mackay as then a rich man, but he kept
 widening his field of action until in connec-
 ton with Flood O'Brien and Fair he estab-
 lisbed the Nevada bank, and Louis McClain
 went from Baltimore to manage 1t. Since
 that time Mackay's career has been familiar
 to almost every school boy. Unlike the ma
 iority of men, however, he does not forget
 that he was once dependent himself, and his
 charity has been great. He is a member of
 the Catholic church and established an or
 plan asylum for the children of that denom-
 ination in Nevada City, which he still SUD- ports. He is always ready to give for chari-
 tvs sake and in addition is polite aud coarte-
 ous to everybody"