Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-15
sPRECKELs, THE SUGAR KING"

How He Became the Master Of Millions
His Personal Appearance.
lSan Francisco Cor. Globe-Democrat-l
Claus Spreckels. commonly known as the
Sugar King Of the Sandwich Islands"
wields . power more democratic, II not
greater, than that of any other monopolist
in the world. Spreckels is q South
German, born in Hanover, man
Of small education, who came to this
country about 1880, and started In the
retail grocery business In Church street, New
York He made the impression on those who
knew him there as q man Of great business
shrewdness and Of the thrift which is pro-
verbal Of his raca He came out to Cali
fornia soon after the gold fever broke out,
and at once engaged in the grocery business
in this city, prsfsrring it to the hazards and
hardships Of mining. Everything which he
touched seemed to turn to gold. He made
large profits in his business. Combining with
several of his brothers who had come out
to the coast, he bought Q quarter interest
in the Albany brewery, In this city, for $4O,-
600. This was the foundation Of his present
large fortune and commercial Importance.
After running the brewery q few years, his
keen business instincts saw in sugar-refuing
. far moro profitable field Of enterprise.
OF Spreckels' wealth it Is impossible to
form any accurate estimate, because much
Of his property Is mortgaged, and it is un-
derstood the greater part Of his fortune is
embarked in the sugar business, which is apt
to depreciate he makes daily, the year
round. however, 600 barrels Of sugar, con-
tanning 275 pounds Of sugar each, worth an
average Of $50 barrel This makes busi-
ness Of SIS, 900 q day, or 900 year.
He makes a clear profit Of SO barrel, or
$1,000 day, which amounts to e, 100, 600 q
year. He controls the entire sugar trade of
the coast, which represents $40, ,001, 600 a
year. Down at Honolulu he puts on more
the airs Of an autocrat, and his course there
lately has put him into disfavor with both
the native and foreign population Last
January he loaned the king $1,000. 600.
Among his employees Spreckels Is probably
more popular than any other millionaire on
the coast, because he has always treated his
people we'll
He is Of medium height, compactly built
and dresses neatly. He has the face of q
typical German, with the high-cheek bones,
fair skin and blue eyes Of the Fatherland
His eye is as clear as that Of young man,
and his skin, though Drowned by exposure,
is also clean and healthy. His round head
il covered with . thick growth Of hair, rap
idly changing from gray to white. This Is
the only indication Of his years He has the
alert look and movement OF man of 80, and
in his steel-blue eyes Is look which goes far
to reveal his character. He married years
ago when he was poor man, comely Ger
man girl, who was then employed as de-
mestic in the family OF large eastern sugar
refiner, and she has proved a good wife and
mother. They have four sons and one
daughter. The father and the three older
sons, among whom is Adolph, who shot De
Young, are members Of the Pacific club, in
this city, where the sons are general favor
ties They ars all fine-looking mon Of pol
ished address, and have travelled much In
Europe